Licentiatavhandling (sammanfattning) Karlstad : Karlstads universitet, 2008. / Härtill 2 uppsatser.

Thesis (M.A.)--Boston University / The morphology of the cellular constituents of the blood of Salmo trutta was investigated. Blood cell counts and differential counts were included. Cellular elements of the blood were found to be nucleated erythrocytes, lymphocytes, neutrophils, monocytes and thrombocytes. Dried smears of blood which had been stained with Wright's stain indicated the erythrocytes were flat elliptical cells . However, the phase microscope revealed the biconcave shape of the mature erythrocyte, the concavity being interrupted by the central nucleus. Average cell rreasurements were 16.5 microns in length and 10.2 microns in width. [TRUNCATED]

No description available.

Located at 2 pc, the L7.5+ T0.5 dwarfs system WISE J104915.57-531906.1 (Luhman 16 AB) is the third closest system known to Earth, making it a key benchmark for detailed investigation of brown dwarf atmospheric properties, thermal evolution, multiplicity, and planet-hosting frequency. In the first study of this series - based on a multicycle Hubble Space Telescope (HST) program - we provide an overview of the project and present improved estimates of positions, proper motions, annual parallax, mass ratio, and the current best assessment of the orbital parameters of the A-B pair. Our HST observations encompass the apparent periastron of the binary at 220.5 +/- 0.2 mas at epoch 2016.402. Although our data seem to be inconsistent with recent ground-based astrometric measurements, we also exclude the presence of third bodies down to Neptune masses and periods longer than a year.

No description available.

Abstract Background: The discovery of brown adipose tissue (BAT) in adults has sparked interest in its role as a therapeutic target in metabolic disorders. Preliminary studies have indicated that infrared thermography may be a promising way to quantify this thermogenic organ, which in humans is located primarily in the supraclavicular area and is activated by cold. However, ways to standardize infrared thermography methodology and to ensure measurements are reproducible have not been established. Objective: This study aims to establish a standardized and reproducible protocol to measure a thermal response to cold in the supraclavicular area. Method: In phase 1 of the study, thermal images of the supraclavicular area were taken on 3 occasions in 28 healthy adult males with mean age 23.95 ±5.87 years and mean BMI 25.20 ±3.93 kg/m2 who demonstrated a 100kcal/d increase in energy expenditure when exposed to 12ºC; a temperature known to increase BAT activity without shivering. During the first and second visits, participants were acclimated for 1 hour at 32ºC and room temperature (20-23ºC) respectively, followed by a 1 hour period of torso cold exposure at 12ºC using a cooling blanket. The third visit consisted of taking thermal images at room temperature over two hours. Body composition was measured with DEXA scanner. In phase 2, 3 trials of 32ºC acclimation followed by 12ºC cold exposure (32ºC-cold) were studied in 14 healthy adult males (mean age 20.93 ±2.4 years and mean BMI 23.55 ±3.15 kg/m2) for repeatability. The outdoor temperature on the morning of each visit was recorded from the website http://climate.weather.gc.ca in both phases. Results: In phase 1 the supraclavicular temperature stabilized after 45 minutes of acclimation at 32ºC and then rose abruptly with cooling, plateauing at 10 minutes. The change in supraclavicular temperature in response to cooling was greater after 32ºC compared to room temperature acclimation (0.22 ±0.19 vs 0.13±0.17ºC, p=0.053). There was no relation between outdoor temperature on the morning of the visit and the 32°C-cold thermal response (r=-0.18, p=0.14). The 32ºC-cold thermal response did not correlate with cervical and supraclavicular fat in 25 young males with BMI between 19.3-32.3 kg/m2 (r=-0.26, p=0.21). In phase 2, the thermal response after 32ºC acclimation was reproducible [intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.69 (0.14-0.72)]. Conclusion: Acclimation at 32ºC produces a greater and earlier response to cold in the supraclavicular area than room temperature acclimation. The thermal response after 32ºC acclimation is reproducible and unlikely to be affected by outdoor temperature and subcutaneous fat in the neck. These data suggest that the use of infrared thermography using the 32ºC-cold protocol may be effective for detecting the metabolic activity of brown adipose tissue. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

The study of mechanical properties of perpendicular to the grain research is important regarding connections within mass paneling and other wood connections. Research on wood properties perpendicular to grain and the effect of decay on this direction is needed. Brown-rot fungi are a major contributor in having to replace or repair wooden members; therefore, the objectives of this study were to study the effect brown-rot decay has on the mechanical properties of perpendicular to the grain over different periods of exposure; and to evaluate the efficacy of various methods on assessing decay on wood. The methods evaluated in this study were mass loss (ML), moisture content (MC), density, time of flight, modulus of elasticity in tension (ET) and ultimate tensile strength (UTS). In this study, low mean values of ML occurred but due to fungal activity, MC of specimens were highly affected. Among all methods tested, time of flight showed the highest significant correlations with ET and UTS. Neither initial or final time of flight correlated with MC, concluding NDT was the most consistent method in identifying early decay on mechanical properties of wood.

No description available.

A the'.is submitted to the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in the fulfillment of the requirements of the Degree of Magister Scientae. June 1992 / Aspects of the brown alga Pict~'ppt;eris lQ..n..qifolia at. Palm Beach, Natal, were investigated wi\'-;.hspecial reference to the effect of wave expozu~e~ A description of the species is giv~n and the nomencluture discussed. D~strib1i.ltion of n. ).or~gifolia was det~rmimad from literature and herbarium speof.mens . various r(\~:~thodosf measuring wave exposure were assessed and review~~d. At'!;:.emptswere made to quantify sand abrasion and deposition in tihe scudy si.tes. Morphological and structural aspect;s of the cha LLus were found to vary considerably with season and wave exposure" Light and scanning electron microscopy studie.s indicated the relatjvely complex cell organisation of this brown alga. The prolific regeneration from various thallus sections of .Q. longifolia indicate that regenerat.ion is an important survival strate 'JY following damage. Sexual reproduction and tetrasporogenesis were investigated. Sex.ual reproduction was not prolific in the field, however, tetraspores were abundant and are believed to be particul~rly importcmt in high wave exposure areas. 11. _j.Q.ngi;f'clige,x_periences a range of environmental conditions and responds to these with morphological, structural and reproductive &daptations.

The primary objective of my research was to test the hypothesis that the sperm release mechanism in the garden snail, Cantareus aspersus , is under nervous control. It was discovered that separate branches of the intestinal nerve innervate the seminal vesicle and the distal ovotestis duct, and sperm release from the seminal vesicle was achieved by electrical stimulation of this nerve. Stimulation of the penis nerve, right cerebropedal connective nerve, right mesocerebrum, visceral ganglion, and the everted reproductive organs elicited similar responses. Neurobiotin fills of the penis nerve (towards the penis) revealed putative sensory receptors at the base of the penis and within the genital atrium. Spermatophores from mated snails whose reproductive organs were treated with the local anaesthetic Lidocaine weighed significantly less than spermatophores from mated control snails, suggesting that mechanical stimulation during copulation triggers sperm release from the seminal vesicle.