Epidemiological data suggest a positive relationship between increased calcium intake and decreased fat and total body mass in healthy people (McCarron et al. 1984, Davies et al., 2000). An in-vitro model suggesting the role of cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate (cAMP) and phosphodiesterase 3B (PDE 3B) has been implicated in the relationship between calcium and lipolysis (Xue et al., 2001). The objective of the series of studies presented in this thesis was to investigate the ergogenicity of supplementary calcium in endurance exercise via studying its influence on substrate metabolism and body composition. Study 1 examined the effects of four weeks of calcium (citrate) supplementation (1000 mg elemental calcium/day) on 60 minutes of cycling at a submaximal intensity of 50%Wpeak. The results of this study indicated that calcium supplementation significantly improved body composition of the participants with a greater fat loss and increased lean mass observed in highly trained athletes as compared to the recreationally trained participants. In addition, four weeks of calcium supplementation also showed an enhanced trend of availability of fatty substrates in the plasma and consequently an increased trend towards higher fat oxidation during submaximal exercise. Study 2 and 3 thus examined the effects of calcium supplementation directly on performance during endurance events (25 and 10 mile cycling time trials (TT)) in highly trained athletes. Results from these studies indicate that following calcium supplementation there was a meaningful improvement in power output (PO) (~4%) during the 25TT and ~2.7% in 10TT with corresponding better completion times in both the time trials. This amounts to an increase in ~2-3% higher PO%peak and ~3-5% increase in power output at lactate threshold, with the higher percentages attributable to the 25TT and the lower end to the 10TT. This increase in PO was achieved without the corresponding increase in oxygen consumption, thus significantly improving the gross efficiency of the cyclists. In addition, four weeks of calcium supplementation once again exhibited the same trends in body composition as observed in study 1 of decreased fat mass and a concurrent increase in lean mass. The results from this set of investigation indicate that calcium plays a multifactorial role in performance enhancement of endurance events. This may have been achieved via a combination of influence on substrate metabolism and body composition. The impact of calcium on fatigue mechanisms and vascular tone may have also played a part in increasing PO and thus efficiency of the athletes. Thus the potential of calcium to enhance performance needs further investigation in studies with larger sample sizes and different training status of athletes.

Submitted by Gizele Lima (gizele.lima@inpa.gov.br) on 2017-07-21T13:59:05Z No. of bitstreams: 2 dissertao__vincius__final_20160107171535192.pdf: 8047254 bytes, checksum: 76c8deb8e741b4b1c23eaddae7b66e98 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-21T13:59:05Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 dissertao__vincius__final_20160107171535192.pdf: 8047254 bytes, checksum: 76c8deb8e741b4b1c23eaddae7b66e98 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-10-02 / With the emergence of Protected Areas (PA) and Conservation Units (UC) in the world, also there are problems related to the management of its surrounding areas, which can, according to their use, have different impacts on the objectives for which these areas They were created. In Brazil, these areas are highly regarded by the law as Buffer Zone (ZA). The criteria for its definition are large and can impact substantially different forms of land use and consequently the conservation of nature and its resources within the limits of UC. The objective of this work is to contribute to the improvement of ZA-making processes in Brazil. For this, technical and legal criteria used in Brazil and other Latin American countries, especially Argentina, Peru, Bolivia and Uruguay were organized in order to identify the differences and similarities in its definition in order to contribute to discussions on the criteria that could be incorporated in Brazil. In addition to the current regulations, case studies were selected in order to contribute to this discussion through concrete cases. Finally, online questionnaires were applied to Brazilian managers and planners, in order to obtain contributions about experiences on the subject of these professionals ZA. Although respondents recognize the key role of ZA, it is clear that their effectiveness has been compromised by the lack of implementation and better defining its boundaries, which has hampered its function of protecting the UC. This study identified a number of criteria for the definition of ZA that can be added to the methodological routes, such as the existence of indigenous reserves, Ramsar Sites and Biosphere Reserves. In addition, it is proposed an amendment to Decree 4,340 / 2002 which regulates Law 9985/2000, including specific chapter for Buffer Zones and establishing specific procedures for setting it to public consultation in pressure sources of identification and threats on the UC and creation of specific financial fund to promote economic activities with low environmental impact in ZA. / Com o surgimento das Áreas Protegidas (AP) ou Unidades de Conservação (UC) no mundo, também surgem problemas relacionados à gestão de suas áreas circundantes, que podem, de acordo com seu uso, ter diferentes impactos sobre os objetivos para as quais essas áreas foram criadas. No Brasil, tais áreas são conceituadas pela legislação como Zona de Amortecimento (ZA). Os critérios para sua definição são amplos e podem impactar de forma substancial as diferentes formas de uso da terra e, consequentemente, a conservação da natureza e de seus recursos dentro dos limites das UC. O objetivo deste trabalho é o de contribuir para a melhoria dos processos de definição de ZA no Brasil. Para isso, critérios técnicos e jurídicos utilizados no Brasil e outros países latino-americanos, especificamente Argentina, Peru, Bolívia e Uruguai foram sistematizados, visando identificar as diferenças e semelhanças em sua definição, de forma a contribuir com as discussões sobre critérios que poderiam ser incorporados no Brasil. Além das normas vigentes, estudos de caso foram selecionados com o objetivo de contribuir para essa discussão, por meio de casos concretos. Por fim, foram aplicados questionários online a gestores e planejadores brasileiros, a fim de a se obter contribuições a respeito das experiências desses profissionais sobre o tema ZA. Embora os entrevistados reconheçam o papel fundamental das ZA, percebe-se que sua eficácia vem sendo comprometida pela falta de implementação e melhor definição de seus limites, o que tem prejudicado a sua função de proteger as UC. Este estudo identificou alguns critérios para a definição de ZA que poderão ser somados aos roteiros metodológicos, como a existência de Terras Indígenas, Sítios Ramsar e Reservas da Biosfera. Além disso, propõe-se que seja alterado o Decreto 4.340/2002 que regulamenta a Lei 9985/2000, incluindo capítulo específico para Zonas de Amortecimento e estabelecendo procedimentos específicos para sua definição como consulta pública, identificação de fontes de pressão e ameaças sobre a UC, e criação de fundo financeiro específico para fomentar atividades econômicas de baixo impacto ambiental nas ZA.

<p>Istraživanja u okviru doktorske disertacije usmerena su ka razvoju<br />metode za projektovanje i optimizaciju sistema za montažu zasnovanih<br />na lean konceptu. Analizirani su postojeći instrumenti lean-a i posebno<br />je istražen njihov uticaj na razvoj sistema za montažu i analizu<br />ključnih parametara sistema. Na osnovu prethodnog istraživanja,<br />izvršena je selekcija instrumenata lean koncepta koji su<br />implementirani u metodu za projektovanje i optimizaciju sistema za<br />montažu. Verifikacija predložene metode realizovana je na studiji<br />slučaja optimizacije postojećeg sistema za montažu cirkulacionih<br />pumpi. Osim navedenog, izvršeno je i projektovanje potpuno novog<br />sistema za montažu cirkulacionih pumpi.</p> / <p>Research in this PhD thesis is focused on development of method for<br />optimization and design of assembly systems based on lean concept. Existing<br />instruments of lean are analysed especially their impact on development of<br />assembly system and key parameters analysis. Based on previous research a<br />selection of lean instruments was made and they were implemented in method<br />for optimization and design of assembly sustems. Verification of proposed<br />method was realized on case study where existing assembly system was<br />optimized. In adition to the above completely new assembly system was<br />designed using proposed method.</p>

This practice-based PhD takes the institution of the archive as its primary locus, and the position of the photograph within it. This approach opens up an interdisciplinary and post-representational investigation into the photographic image and its relationship to the companion descriptive text, as well as instigating a consideration of the structure and the management of both objects and descriptions in an archive situation. More specifically, the model of the visual content-based archive description is taken out of the confines of the institution and into visual practice. Different kinds of sets and collections of photographs are examined here, as well as traditional archives, but all through techniques of archival description, listing and organisation. The restricted institutional language structure becomes a conceptual writing technique when employed within this archive-related art practice. Positioned outside of the field of hermeneutical image analysis, this writing system is a form of information management, and, following archival conventions, does not attempt to assign meaning to the objects with which it engages. The practice predominantly takes the form of moving image or performance, always with text present (written or spoken). The image itself, paralleling a common archival situation, is often hidden or obscured, and the description allows a novel exploration of the image to take place and to be discussed. The largely decontextualised type of visual content-based description used emphasises the discrete and atemporal nature of the photograph and the synchrony of the moment of capture. It is acknowledged though, that the message and meaning of the single image is located outside of this moment of capture, and so may be subject to some speculation. The spatiotemporal context of the image, denied by the visual contentbased description, is brought back through ‘reading’ the archived image in its natural habitat, the archive list or catalogue. This relational situation reveals the fixed associations between images themselves and between images and their wider organisational structures. The description is ultimately identified as a ‘narrative pause’ (Fowler: 1991, p.25), and is celebrated as such. Inside the indexical and diachronic arrangement of the archive, images and descriptions are viewed through something other than a narrative gaze, as lists, and the juxtapositions therein, expose the acutely shallow time and non-chronological advancement of the archive.

Globalization requires a new understanding of the effect of attitudes in the decision making process, particularly when regional differences arise from different cultural and social norms. Information behavior is the part of behavioral economics that explores decision making stakeholders - consumers, businessmen or politicians, under conditions of bounded rationality. For consumers it is primarily important to buy local products from family farms. The aim of the thesis was to verify the effectiveness of that model in the Czech Republic, especially to fill in the empirical aspect of behavioral economics, relating to consumer behavior under unclear information as well as normal environments, thus understanding the indirect effect of perception on product information. Today these issues are gaining in importance in developed countries as well as in the Czech Republic. The high probability of "never researching product information" resides more within consumers with negative attitudes toward global issues (30%) than in consumers with positive attitudes towards those issues (about 1%). Attitudinal changes affect decreases among those "never searching for product information" (by 30%) as well as increasing "search-rates" (by 60%). In other words, the changes in attitude have significant effects on consumer behavior (Spillover effect). Predicting decision making behavior under unclear information also shows important results. Changes of attitude toward nutrient security, milk of origin or ingredients is associated with relative changes in behavior. A change of attitude will reduce the probability to sometimes buy products with unclear (15%) and increases the probability of buying products with clear information (17%). Empirical research of behaviors under uncertainty are long-term projects, however methodologies may vary differentially. By connecting the theory of planned behavior to the theory of information, these theses fill in the issues of behavioral economics theory. The practical implication is a methodological approach of the model.

No description available.

No description available.

The way that historians do research has changed as more and more digitised primary sources have become available online. Whilst desktop access to historical resources is becoming the norm in the digital age, many historians prefer working with original sources. This observation triggered an investigation into the information needs and behaviour of historians with a view to identifying ways in which information retrieval system (IRS) might be enhanced to meet their specific needs. During the investigation it became apparent that the information-seeking behaviour (ISB) of historians involves a great deal of creative thinking and that IRS aimed at historians would benefit from features specifically designed to stimulate their creativity. The research described here follows a “mixed methods” approach in which quantitative and qualitative research techniques have been applied sequentially. The first, quantitative, phase of the study concerned the question of which format of primary sources (original or digitised) historians prefer to work with and why. Results from an online questionnaire, distributed to historians in the UK, revealed the historians’ preference for originals but with a very positive attitude towards digitised sources, which were considered to be more “useful”. This led the study to explore ways in which the “usefulness” of IRS could be further improved to support historical research. The exploration of these issues involved a qualitative analysis based on “grounded theory” techniques and led to certain specific recommendations to the designers of future IRS intended to support historical research.

<p>U savremenoj nastavi klavira učenicima se postavlja sve veći broj zahteva od samog početka &scaron;kolovanja, usled konstantnog napretka savremenog pijanizma. Istovremeno, nastava klavira nije obavezna za pohađanje, a njeni ciljevi nisu samo &scaron;kolovanje budućih profesionalnih muzičara, već i buduće koncertne publike. Povećanjem obima i nivoa nastavnog gradiva u osnovnim &scaron;kolama i umnožavanjem zahteva u nastavi klavira, uz razumevanje da nastava klavira nije obavezna za pohađanje, javlja se potreba za razmatranjem mogućnosti novih pristupa u radu sa učenicima.<br />Značajan faktor nastave su udžbenici, zbog čega je predmet ove disertacije proučavanje kvaliteta savremenog udžbenika za nastavu klavira kao faktora nastave kojim se može uticati na celokupnu nastavu klavira. Uzimajući u obzir da su udžbenici u nastavi klavira neophodni u radu sa početnicima mlađeg &scaron;kolskog uzrasta zbog potpuno novog nastavnog gradiva koje im se prezentuje, predmet ove disertacije je upravo proučavanje kvaliteta savremenih udžbenika za navedeni uzrast i nivo sviranja učenika. Problemsko polje disertacije obuhvata razmatranje mogućnosti analize savremenih udžbenika za klavir, postavljanjem analitičkog okvira kao osnove za istraživanje. Cilj ove disertacije je istraživanje kvaliteta postojećih udžbenika za nastavu klavira za početnike mlađeg &scaron;kolskog uzrasta u kategorijama kvaliteta: nastavnih sadržaja, didaktičkog oblikovanja nastavnih sadržaja i jezika i drugih medija udžbenika. Instrument istraživanja su standardi i indikatori kvaliteta za udžbenike za klavir kreirani na osnovu analitičkog okvira izvedenog iz relevantne naučne literature i formulisanog u teorijskom delu ove disertacije. U disertaciji se koristi metoda komparativne analize sadržaja za proučavanje tri inostrana i jednog nacionalnog udžbenika za klavir za početnike mlađeg &scaron;kolskog uzrasta, a analizirani udžbenici su:</p><p>1. Benthien, A. (1997). Keyboard aktiv band 1 &amp; 2. Mainz: Schott Musik International<br />2. Palmer, W. A., Manus, M., Vick Lethco, A., Kowalchyk, G. &amp; Lancaster, E. L. (1997). Group Piano Course book 1 &amp; 2 &amp; 3 &amp; 4. USA: Alfred Publishing Co. Inc<br />3. Petrović, M. (1995). &Scaron;kolica za klavir nivo A i B. Knjaževac: Muzičko-izdavačko preduzeće &bdquo;Nota&rdquo;<br />4. Thompson, J. (1955). Easiest piano course 1&amp;2. Florence, Kentucky: The Willis Music Co.</p><p>Na osnovu dobijenih rezultata istraživanja utvrđeno je da analizirani udžbenici u dovoljnoj meri ispunjavaju zahteve postavljene instrumentom istraživanja. Rezultati istraživanja ukazuju da se najznačajnija razlika među analiziranim udžbenicima sastoji u načinu didaktičkog oblikovanja nastavnih sadržaja. Dovodeći u vezu potrebe savremene nastave klavira i rezultate sprovedenog istraživanja, u disertaciji su formirane implikacije za kreiranje novog savremenog udžbenika za nastavu klavira za početnike mlađeg &scaron;kolskog uzrasta.</p>

The long-term preservation of digital objects has become increasingly relevant. Libraries, public institutions and museums, but also companies are requesting solutions to store their digital files with all relevant contents and attributes for the future. This master thesis makes two contributions to the research in digital preservation.The first attempt is the creation of a testbed which stores many files in different file formats. These files can be used to evaluate the impact of preservation solutions. In this paper an environment for storing and describing files is being suggested and implemented.The second contribution is made by presenting a framework which is based on Utility Analysis for evaluating different preservation solutions. The application of a detailed hierarchy of objectives, considering the individual requirements of the user, will allow a reasonable and clear decision for a specific preservation solution, which can be supported with arguments. The theoretic framework is evaluated in two casestudies. For the first one the whole process is being realized, for the second example only the major part of the analysis, the objective tree, is treated in detail.