Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / In mammals, the liver plays a central role in whole-body lipid metabolism. Unfortunately, dysregulation of these pathways has been implicated in hyperlipidemias. In recent years, a significant association between the trace element selenium and hypercholesterolaemia in human and animals has been reported. This study was designed to investigate a potential hypolipidaemic effect of diphenyl diselenide ((PhSe)2) in Triton WR-1339-induced hyperlipidaemia in mice. Triton was administered intraperitoneally (400 mg/kg) to overnight-fasted mice to develop acute hyperlipidaemia. (PhSe)2 was administered orally (10 mg/kg) 30 min before Triton. At 24 h after Triton injection, blood samples were collected to measure plasma lipid levels. The hepatic thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and ascorbic acid levels as well as catalase and glutathione peroxidase activity were recorded. (PhSe)2 administration significantly lowered total cholesterol, non-high- density lipoprotein-cholesterol and triglycerides,whilst it increased high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels in plasma of hyperlipidaemic mice. Neither oxidative stress nor the antioxidant effect of (PhSe)2 was observed in the mouse liver in this experimental protocol. These findings indicated that (PhSe)2 was able to lower plasma lipid concentrations. Further studies are needed to elucidate the exact mechanism by which (PhSe)2 exerted its hypolipidaemic effect in the management of hyperlipidaemia. / Nos mamíferos, o fígado desempenha um papel extremamente importante na manutenção da homeostase do metabolismo dos lipídios plasmáticos. Entretanto, problemas na regulação desses mecanismos têm sido implicados na ocorrência de dislipidemias (alterações na concentração adequada de lipídios no plasma). Nos últimos anos, tem sido evidenciada a existência de uma relação entre os níveis de selênio (Se) e o aumento nas concentrações plasmáticas de lipídios em humanos e animais. Dessa forma, o presente trabalho teve por objetivo investigar um possível efeito hipolipidêmico do (PhSe)2, um composto orgânico de Se, no modelo de hiperlipidemia aguda induzida por Triton WR-1339 em camundongos, bem como investigar se a hiperlipidemia aguda induzida pela administração intraperitonial (i.p.) de Triton WR-1339 altera parâmetros relacionados à ocorrência de dano oxidativo no tecido hepático de camundongos e determinar se o efeito antioxidante do (PhSe)2 está presente nesse processo. Para isso, o Triton WR-1339 foi injetado i.p. (400 mg/kg) em camundongos que estavam em jejum de 12 horas. O (PhSe)2 foi administrado oralmente (10 mg/kg) 30 minutos antes do Triton WR-1339. 24 horas após a injeção do Triton WR-1339, amostras de sangue foram coletadas para dosagem das concentrações de lipídios plasmáticos. Os níveis de espécies reativas ao ácido tiobarbitúrico (TBARS) e ácido ascórbico, bem como a atividade das enzimas catalase e glutationa peroxidase foram determinados no tecido hepático. A administração de (PhSe)2 foi capaz de prevenir o aumento nos níveis de colesterol total, colesterol não-HDL e triglicerídeos bem como aumentar os níveis de HDL-colesterol no plasma de camundongos hiperlipidêmicos. No protocolo experimental utilizado nesse estudo não foram observadas alterações nos parâmetros hepáticos de estresse oxidativo analisados. Conseqüentemente, o efeito antioxidante do (PhSe)2 não pode ser verificado. Os resultados obtidos nesse trabalho encorajam a realização de estudos posteriores no intuito de elucidar o exato mecanismo através do qual o (PhSe)2 exerce seu efeito hipolipidêmico.

Der Zander (Sander lucioperca) hat großes Potential für die Aquakultur in Europa. Die Verbreitung wird durch einen Mangel an Satzmaterial erschwert, welcher durch Variabilität der Gametenqualität verursacht wird. Im Gegensatz zu Effekten der ganzjährigen Reproduktion oder der Laicherfahrung, war besonders die Weibchengröße mit Variabilität der Eiqualität assoziiert. Sehr große Weibchen zeigten einen verringerten Reproduktionserfolg. Maternale Faktoren waren mit Aspekten der Eizusammensetzung (bes. Fettsäuren) verknüpft, welche wiederum mit Befruchtungsraten und Embryoüberleben korrelierten. Zusätzlich waren Trockengewicht, Cortisolgehalt und Größe der Eier mit der Fekundität und dem Entwicklungspotential der Eier verknüpft. Ein erheblicher Anteil der Variabilität in der Eientwicklung (47.1% Befruchtung; 58.2% 24 h, 47% 48 h, 43.9% 72 h Embryoüberleben; 46.6% Schlupf; 88.9% geschlüpfte Larven) konnte durch eine Kombination von maternalen Merkmalen und Eiparametern erklärt werden. Obwohl ein hoher Befruchtungserfolg (durchschnittlich 89.2%) verzeichnet wurde, gibt es Möglichkeiten um Befruchtungsprotokolle hinsichtlich der Handhabung männlicher Gameten beim Zander zu optimieren. Die Spermien verschiedener Männchen werden häufig vor der Befruchtung zusammengeführt (Pooling) oder kurz Zeit (Stunden) gelagert bis ovulierte Eier zur Verfügung stehen. Ein Verlust der Spermienqualität (Motilität, Geschwindigkeit) während kurzer Lagerung konnte durch Puffer oder die Zugabe von Melatonin bzw. Progesteron nicht verhindert werden. Die Transfusion von Seminalflüssigkeit zwischen Spermien mit niedriger und hoher Qualität resultierte in einer Abnahme bei Männchen mit anfänglich hoher Spermiengeschwindigkeit. Die Qualität von Spermien mit niedriger Qualität wurde nicht gesteigert. Diese Erkenntnisse liefern Empfehlungen für das Management von Brutbetrieben und zeigen Potential zur Optimierung von Reproduktionsprotokollen bezüglich der in vitro Befruchtung beim Zander auf. / The pikeperch (Sander lucioperca) has great potential for European aquaculture diversification, but the propagation is impeded by a shortage of stocking material caused by variability in gamete quality. Here, maternal size rather than out-of-season spawning or spawning experience was associated with variability in egg quality with very large females showing decreasing reproductive performance. Maternal factors were linked to the egg composition mainly in regard to fatty acid (FA) profiles, which in turn were correlated with rates of fertilization and embryo survival. In addition, egg size, dry weight and cortisol content were associated with fecundity and embryo survival until hatching. Consequently, a substantial variability in egg developmental performance could be explained (47.1% fertilization; 58.2% 24 h, 47% 48 h, 43.9% 72 h embryo survival; 46.6% hatching; 88.9% hatched larvae) by a combination of maternal traits and egg quality parameters. Despite the overall high fertilization observed here (89.2% on average), there is still potential for fine tuning of protocols for in vitro fertilization in pikeperch with regard to the management of male gametes. Sperm of different males is often pooled prior to fertilization or stored for short periods (hours) until ovulated eggs become available. A loss of sperm quality (motility, velocity) could not be prevented during short-term storage using sperm extenders and enhancement supplements (melatonin, progesterone). Transfusion of seminal fluid between low and high quality sperm to assess pooling effects resulted in a significant decrease in sperm with high initial velocity, whereas the velocity of low quality sperm could not be improved. These findings deliver valuable management advice for hatcheries and indicate potential for optimization in regard to in vitro reproduction protocols in pikeperch.

No description available.

The author is going to argue that Russian evangelical bodies − Stundists, Baptists, Pashkovites, Mennonite Brethren, and Evangelical Christians − had their origins in Western piety; likewise Molokans − in Russian Orthodox piety. Biblical piety became the key factor which united these otherwise different movements. I. V. Kargel’s life was a crossroad of these influences. Having become a key figure among Russian evangelicals Kargel actually embodied many features of these movements long before they united historically. Thus, his writing would qualify as a good source for studying Russian evangelical hermeneutics. The hypothesis for this study is that since Russian evangelicals were primarily pietistic at their roots, their theological hermeneutic is expected to be of pietistic and devotional nature. This means that Scripture would have prime authority. Personal and group studies of the Bible would be carried with the purpose of believers’ edification. The Holy Spirit would be expected to use the pages of Scripture to speak directly to the believers. There would not be much theologizing but rather a desire to “live Christ” in practical life. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Church History and Church Policy / unrestricted

No description available.

Im Fokus dieser Dissertation steht die Zerstörung des Lebensraumes von Schlangen durch anthropogene Einflüsse im Zusammenhang mit dem Auftreten von Schlangenbissen bei Menschen. Zum Schutz der Schlangen und dem Problem der Schlangenbisse wurden vier wesentliche Anforderungen erarbeitet. Mit Hilfe eines Artenverteilungsmodells wurden die ökologischen Nischen von 29 Giftschlangenarten aus Bangladesch und von zehn Kobraarten (Naja) aus Asien ermittelt. Auf lokaler Ebene wurde festgestellt, dass Überschwemmungen, Waldtypen, Ökosysteme und klimatische Parameter das Verbreitungsgebiet der Schlangenarten in Bangladesch beeinflussen. Auf regionaler Ebene sind anthropogene Faktoren wie die Zerstörung von Schlangenlebensräumen, Handel, Ausbeutung und Tötung von Schlangen wahrscheinlich die Hauptursachen für den Rückgang der Populationen der asiatischen Naja. Auf beiden Ebenen führt der Klimawandel zu einer Verkleinerung der ökologischen Nischen von Schlangenarten in Bangladesch und Asien. In Bangladesch könnten die untersuchten Arten innerhalb der nächsten 50 Jahre mehr als 90 % ihren derzeitigen Lebensraum verlieren (Asiatische Naja durchschnittlich 56 % (12 bis 100 %)). Wenn günstige Nischen nicht erhalten werden können, könnten viele Schlangenarten in einigen Ländern Asiens, darunter Bangladesch, in wenigen Jahrzehnten aussterben. Darüber hinaus wurde in der vorliegenden Studie geschätzt, dass die Zahl der jährlichen Schlangenbisse in Bangladesch mehr als doppelt so hoch sein könnte wie bisher angenommen. Da der Klimawandel zu einer geografischen Verschiebung günstiger Nischen führen kann, kann sich diese Veränderung auch auf die Häufigkeit von Schlangenbissen auswirken. Bei der Analyse von Giftvariationen und der Wirksamkeit von Antivenomen wurde festgestellt, dass isolierte Populationen deutliche intraspezifischere Giftvariationen zeigen. / Snakes are threatened by habitat degradation and anthropogenic impacts, while accidental encounters between humans and snakes may result in snakebite incidents. Thus, the conservation of snakes snakebite problem, a global public health emergency, are interconnected. I found four primary needs for a combined solution to satisfy both above causes. A species distribution model was employed to identify the ecological niches of 29 venomous snake species from Bangladesh and of ten cobra species (Naja) from Asia. At the local scale, flood events, forest types, ecosystems, and climatic parameters were found to shape the range of snake species in Bangladesh. At the regional scale, anthropogenic factors, like snake habitat destruction, trade, exploitation, and snake killings are likely to be the main causes for the decrease in populations of Asian Naja. At both levels, climate change causes shrinking and fragmenting the ecological niches of snake species in Bangladesh and Asia. In Bangladesh, the studied species may lose more than 90% of their current climatic niche within the next 50 years. In the same timeframe, Asiatic Naja may lose an average of 56% (12- 100%) of the area of suitable climatic niches. If favourable niches cannot be preserved, many snake species might go extinct from several countries in Asia in a few decades, including Bangladesh. In addition, the present study estimated that there might be more than double the amount of annual snakebite incidents in Bangladesh than previously estimated. As climate change may cause geographical shifting of favourable niches, this change may also have consequences for the frequency of snakebites, so snakebite should be considered a climate driven dynamic public health problem. While analysing venom variations and the efficacy of antivenom, I found that venom should be sampled from geographically or ecologically isolated populations of each venomous snake, because isolated populations have shown distinct intraspecific venom variations.

The Germanic initial sound combination wr (e.g. in *wrītan 'write') has not been preserved in any standard language. In the Scandinavian languages the development of this sound combination has resulted in five different initial sounds or sound combinations, namely rw, r, w, br and vr. The aim of this study is to describe the occurrence of these sound combinations, and to explain their age and origin. A limited number of words, mainly from Swedish dialects, has been investigated. The Swedish material has been assembled in a collection that has largely also been mapped, and so has a collection of Norwegian dialect material. The result shows that br is frequent in the Swedish dialects and that it also occurs in Trøndelagen and Østlandet in Norway, and on Jutland. R is widespread in Norway and occurs in Sweden in some words in Norrland, Dalarna, Värmland, Dalsland, Uppland and on the island of Gotland. Rw has been documented in Upper Dalarna, and w in the same area, as well as in the Kalix dialect in northernmost Sweden. The author demonstrates that the Norwegian loss of w might have started already in the 6th century in western Norway. The loss on Gotland is independent and can be demonstrated in Old Gutnish. The metathesis rw is found in Swedish and Norwegian 13-14th century sources from Uppland, Västmanland, Östergötland and southeastern Norway. The developments wr &gt; r and wr &gt; rw probably have their roots in a difference between the west Norwegian wr and the east Norwegian and Swedish war which is documented from PrimScand times. W is a secondary development of rw. The change wr &gt; br can be dated by place-name material to the early 15th century. The change wr &gt; vr appears to have taken place at approximately the same time. The author demonstrates that the result, wr &gt; br or wr &gt; yr, is apparently governed by certain phonetic factors. The failure of the Germanic wr to survive depends on the combination being phonetically complex. The risk that w would be lost was therefore considerable. However, differentiating forces worked for its retention. All developments emanating from wr, apparently disparate, can be seen as features of a larger process where a general linguistic tendency towards a weakening of sounds is confronted by conservative forces, with the above results as a consequence. / <p>Doktorsavhandling vid Uppsala universitet 1991</p>

With a deep Chandra/HETGS exposure of WR 6, we have resolved emission lines whose profiles show that the X-rays originate from a uniformly expanding spherical wind of high X-ray-continuum optical depth. The presence of strong helium-like forbidden lines places the source of X-ray emission at tens to hundreds of stellar radii from the photosphere. Variability was present in X-rays and simultaneous optical photometry, but neither were correlated with the known period of the system or with each other. An enhanced abundance of sodium revealed nuclear-processed material, a quantity related to the evolutionary state of the star. The characterization of the extent and nature of the hot plasma in WR 6 will help to pave the way to a more fundamental theoretical understanding of the winds and evolution of massive stars.

No description available.

Mesosaurier, kleine Reptilien aus dem Unteren Perm, gelten als die frühesten aquatischen Reptilien. Trotz ihrer kurzen Existenz und begrenzten Verbreitung bieten sie wichtige Einblicke in die frühe Amnioten-Evolution. Diese Arbeit fasst vier Artikel zusammen, die Aspekte der Anatomie, Ontogenese und Ökologie von Mesosauridae beleuchten. Kapitel 1 behandelt die Knochenhistologie und Pachyosterosklerose in Mesosaurierknochen, was auf eine vollständig aquatische Lebensweise hinweist. Wir identifizieren auch eine große intraspezifische Variation, die möglicherweise durch unregelmäßige Probenahmeorte beeinflusst wird. Kapitel 2 untersucht die morpho¬logische Variation bei Mesosauriern und deren Umwelt-verteilung basierend auf ihrer Größe. Ontogenetische Veränderungen stehen im Zusammenhang mit dem Wechsel des Ablagerungsmilieus und deuten auf Veränderungen in Ernährung und Lebensraum mit dem Wachstum hin. In Kapitel 3 wird die kaudale Autotomie bei Mesosauriern überprüft und das Vorhandensein kaudaler Bruchebenen bestätigt. Wir schlagen eine stärker von den Extremitäten angetriebene Fortbewegung vor. Unsere Ergebnisse legen nahe, dass kaudale Autotomie ursprünglich in einer breiten Gruppe von Reptilien vorhanden war, anstatt konvergent in verschiedenen Linien entstanden zu sein. Kapitel 4 beschreibt auf Grundlage von Mesosaurier-Exemplaren vier grundlegende axiale Entwicklungs-modelle bei Amnioten und rekonstruiert ihren ursprünglichen Zustand in der Klade. Diese Muster bleiben im Laufe der Zeit relativ stabil, obwohl regionale Einflüsse möglich sind. Diese Erkenntnisse beleuchten wichtige Aspekte der Mesosaurier-Paläontologie und unterstreichen ihre Bedeutung für die Erforschung der Evolution früher Amnioten. / The enigmatic mesosaurs were small, reptiles that lived during the Lower Permian period and were the earliest known reptiles to return to living in water. Despite their short existence and restricted geographical distribution, mesosaurs can provide important evidence about the early evolution of amniotes and the colonization of aquatic environments. This thesis regroups four articles published in peer-reviewed journals that investigate aspects of the anatomy, ontogeny, and ecology of Mesosauridae. In Chapter 1, my co-authors and I study bone histology and pachyosterosclerosis in the long bones, vertebrae, and ribs of mesosaurs. Thin sections show a high degree of osteosclerosis in their bones, supporting a fully aquatic lifestyle. We also recover a large intraspecific variation in Mesosauridae, albeit possibly due to irregular sampling locations. In Chapter 2 we examine morphological variation in mesosaurs and the environmental distribution of individuals as a function of size. We highlight ontogenetic changes in mesosaurs associated with a transition across depositional environments, which suggest that mesosaurs underwent diet and life environment change with growth. In Chapter 3, we review the information on caudal autotomy in mesosaurs. We confirm the presence of caudal fracture planes in the clade and propose a more limb-driven propulsion than previously considered. Our results also suggest that caudal autotomy was ancestrally present in a large radiation of reptiles, rather than a feature evolved convergently in multiple lineages. In Chapter 4, based on data in mesosaur specimens, we describe four axial developmental patterns in amniotes and reconstruct their ancestral condition in the clade. We demonstrate that these patterns are relatively stable throughout time, albeit possibly affected by regionalization. These new elements reveal crucial aspects of mesosaur paleontology and substantiate their significance for studying the evolution of early amniotes.