The main mammalian circadian pacemaker stored in suprachiasmatic nuclei of the hypothalamus (SCN) is adapted to changes in the external environement by synchronization of its endogenous period with periodic changes of light and dark during day and night. The information about light travels via glutamatergic retinohypothalamic tract to the ventrolateral part of the SCN. Activation of ionotropic glutamate receptors in this area provably mediates the transfer of information about light on the transcriptional mechanism of light-sensitive cells. The role of the NMDA type of ionotropic glutamate receptors is well studied in this field and it is known that some NMDA receptor subunits show a circadian rhythm and an increased expression after a light pulse. Signalization via AMPA type receptors is much less elucidated. The aim of this thesis was to determine which AMPA receptor subunits are expressed in the SCN of the rat and if these subunits show a daily rhythm of expression and a reactivity to light pulse, as well as to outline the possible roles of distinct AMPA receptor subunits in the SCN. Keywords: circadian rhythms, suprachiasmatic nuclei, glutamate receptors, AMPA

Glucocorticoids are mammalian steroid hormones secreted from the adrenal gland. The basal levels of glucocorticoids show a pronounced diurnal rhythm with maximum at the beginning of the active period and minimum at its end. Glucocorticoids have an influence over a variety of metabolic functions and their secretion is tightly regulated. This regulation also depends on the circadian system, which utilizes glucocorticoids to entrain the peripheral tissues by inducing rhythmic gene expression. The mechanisms by which glucocorticoids influence mammalian circadian system has not yet been precisely defined, especially concerning the influence of glucocorticoid signalling on gene expression in different tissues and the dynamics of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) occupancy. This thesis studies the influence of ablation of glucocorticoid signalization induced by adrenalectomy on the clock gene expression of in the central clock in the suprachiasmatic nucleus and peripheral clocks in the hippocampus and distal colon. The effect of adrenalectomy on gene expression is compared with the effect of restricting the feeding time, which has also been shown to affect glucocorticoid levels in the body. Other experiments were aimed at elucidating impact of changing the activity of GR on gene expression using synthetic GR...

There is a substantial amount of evidence that suggests that driver drowsiness plays a significant role in road accidents. Alarming recent statistics are raising the interest in equipping vehicles with driver drowsiness detection systems. This dissertation describes the design and implementation of a driver drowsiness detection system that is based on the analysis of visual input consisting of the driver's face and eyes. The resulting system combines off-the-shelf software components for face detection, human skin color detection and eye state classification in a novel way. It follows a behavioral methodology by performing a non-invasive monitoring of external cues describing a driver's level of drowsiness. We look at this complex problem from a systems engineering point of view in order to go from a proof-of-concept prototype to a stable software framework. Our system utilizes two detection and analysis methods: (i) face detection with eye region extrapolation and (ii) eye state classification. Additionally, we use two confirmation processes - one based on custom skin color detection, the other based on nod detection - to make the system more robust and resilient while not sacrificing speed significantly. The system was designed to be dynamic and adaptable to conform to the current conditions and hardware capabilities. / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2014. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

O treinamento aeróbico é recomendado para a redução da pressão arterial (PA) de hipertensos. Existe uma forte associação entre a redução aguda da PA após uma sessão de exercício aeróbico e o efeito hipotensor crônico do treinamento, sendo que alguns estudos demonstraram que o efeito hipotensor agudo é maior quando o exercício é executado ao final do dia, sugerindo que o treinamento também tenha maior efeito se executado nessa fase do dia, o que ainda não foi investigado. Assim, o objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar e comparar, em hipertensos medicados, o efeito do treinamento aeróbico realizado pela manhã e ao final do dia sobre a PA e seus mecanismos hemodinâmicos e autonômicos, bem como sobre a qualidade do sono. Para tanto, 50 homens hipertensos medicados (30 a 65 anos) foram alocados, de maneira aleatória, em 3 grupos: treinamento pela manhã (MT, iniciado entre 7- 9h), treinamento ao final dia (FDT, iniciado entre 18-20h) e controle (GC - metade em cada horário). As intervenções foram realizadas 3 vezes por semana por 10 semanas. No MT e FDT, os indivíduos pedalaram em cicloergômetro (45min, intensidade entre limiares ventilatórios). No GC, eles fizeram 30 min de alongamento por sessão. No inicio e ao final do estudo, foram avaliados: PA ambulatorial; qualidade do sono; e a PA clínica e seus mecanismos hemodinâmicos e autonômicos medidos entre 7-9h e entre 18-20h. ANOVAs mistas de 2 fatores foram empregadas, considerando-se p<=0,05. A PA diastólica de 24h (p=0,04) e de sono (p=0,05) diminuíram apenas no FDT de forma diferente do MT e GC e qualidade de sono não se alterou significantemente em nenhum grupo. Nas avaliações realizadas entre 7-9h, a PA sistólica, a PA média e a resistência vascular periférica (RVP) diminuíram de forma diferente do GC apenas no FDT (-5±6 mmHg, -4±4 mmHg e -3±3U, p<0,05). A frequência cardíaca (FC) diminuiu e o balanço simpatovagal diferiu do GC de forma similar no MT e FDT, enquanto a sensibilidade barorreflexa cardíaca (SBRc) aumentou nos dois grupos de treinamento, porém mais no FDT (+0,4±0,4 vs. +0,3±0,6 ms/mmHg, p=0,002). A modulação vasomotora simpática (VTPAS) não aumentou no MT e diminuiu no FDT, ambos diferentes do GC (p=0,001). Nas avaliações realizadas entre 18-20h, a PA sistólica (p<0,001), a PA média (p<0,001) e a RVP (p=0,03) reduziram significantemente e de forma diferente do GC apenas no FDT. Portanto, em hipertensos medicados, o treinamento aeróbico realizado ao final do dia promove redução da PA clínica e ambulatorial. Essa queda ocorre devido à diminuição da RVP, provavelmente decorrente da redução da modulação simpática vasomotora, o que se acompanha de redução da FC, possivelmente associada à melhora da modulação autonômica cardiovascular. O treinamento realizado pela manhã reduz a FC e melhora a modulação autonômica cardiovascular. Dessa forma, em homens hipertensos medicados, o treinamento aeróbico realizado ao final do dia é mais eficaz em reduzir a PA e o risco cardiovascular, sendo o mais indicado nessa população / Aerobic training is recommended to decrease blood pressure (BP) in hypertension. There is a strong correlation between the hypotensive post-effect of a single aerobic exercise session and the chronic hypotensive effect produced by aerobic training, and some studies have demonstrated that this acute hypotensive effect is greater when exercise is executed in the evening, which suggests that training effect might also be greater when performed at this time of day. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess and compare, in treated hypertensive men, the effect of aerobic training performed in the morning and in the evening on BP and its hemodynamic and autonomic mechanisms, as well as on sleep quality. For this, 50 treated hypertensive men (30 to 65 years old) were randomly allocated into 3 groups: morning training (MT, starting between 7-9 a.m.), evening training (ET, starting between 6-8 p.m.) and control group (CG, half at each time of day). The interventions were performed 3times/week for 10 weeks. MT and ET was composed by cycling on an ergometer (45 min, intensity between the ventilatory thresholds). CG performed stretching for 30 min. At the beginning and end of the study, the following variables were assessed: ambulatory BP; sleep quality, and clinic BP and its hemodynamics and autonomic mechanisms measured between 7-9a.m. and between 6-8 p.m. Two-way mixed ANOVAs were employed, considering p<=0.05. Twentyfour hour (p=0.04) and asleep (p=0.05) diastolic BPs decreased only in the ET; which was different from MT and CG, while sleep quality did not change in any group. For assessments made between 7-9 a.m., systolic BP, mean BP and systemic vascular resistance (SVR) decreased only in FDT, which was different from CG (-5±6 mmHg, -4±4 mmHg e -3±3U, p<0.05). Heart rate (HR) decreased and sympathovagal balance was different from CG in the MT and ET, while cardiac baroreflex sensibility (cBRS) increased in both training groups, but the increase was greater in the ET (+0.4±0.4 vs. +0.3±0.6 ms/mmHg, p=0,002). Sympathetic vasomotor modulation (TVSBP) did not change in MT and decreased in the ET, with both responses different from CG (p=0.001). For assessments made between 6-8 p.m., systolic BP (p<0.001), mean BP (p<0.001) and SVR (p=0.03) decreased significantly only in FDT and these responses were different from the MT and CG. Therefore, in treated hypertensive men, aerobic training performed in the evening decreases clinic and ambulatory BP. These reduction occurs due to a decrease in SVR, possibly due to the decrease in sympathetic vasomotor modulation; and it is followed by a decrease in HR, possibly associated to an improvement of cardiovascular autonomic modulation. Aerobic training performed in the morning decreases HR and improves cardiovascular autonomic modulation. Thus, in treated hypertensive men, aerobic training performed in the evening is more effective to decrease BP and cardiovascular risk, being more indicated to these patients

The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of training at a particular time of day on anaerobic capacity in the morning and in the afternoon.

Objetivo: Avaliar a influencia da iluminação artificial nos ritmos biológicos e metabolismo por meio de dois experimentos em ratos Wistar. O primeiro avalia mudanças de fotoperíodo que mimetizem a sazonalidade; o segundo, a qualidade da iluminação artificial (espectro de cor) no ciclo claro/escuro (LD). Métodos: Experimento1 - Três grupos de animais: Controle (CL; n=6, ciclo LD de 12/12); grupo que inicia com fotoperíodo longo (LP/SP; n=7; LD 16.5:7.5); grupo que inicia com fotoperíodo curto (SP/LP; n=7; LD 7.5:16.5). Os grupos experimentais passaram por 18 dias no fotoperíodo inicial, 17 dias de redução ou aumento gradual do fotoperíodo, 18 dias no fotoperíodo inverso ao que iniciou. Experimento 2 - 36 animais foram mantidos 108 dias em ciclo LD 16:8h, divididos em 2 grupos: Standard Light (SL; n=18), mantidos sob iluminação com espectro de cor padrão (LED, 4000K); e Circadian Light (CL; n=18) com alterações de espectro de cor ao longo do dia (LED, 2700-6500K). Em ambos os estudos, níveis de atividade e temperatura, além de melatonina e corticosterona sérica, foram mensurados. No Experimento 2, além das pesagens semanais, após eutanásia a gordura visceral foi medida. Os parâmetros circadianos foram obtidos por meio da análise de séries temporais. Na análise estatística foram usados os testes paramétricos ou não paramétricos, de acordo com a normalidade dos dados. Resultados: A quantidade de atividade noturna, além dos níveis de corticosterona foram menores no grupo SP/LP (p<0.05). Portanto, os animais demonstraram pior adaptação dos ritmos à transição do fotoperíodo de dia curto para longo (SP/LP). A qualidade de iluminação também influenciou o comportamento animal. O grupo CL apresentou melhores parâmetros rítmicos que o grupo SL, por exemplo, menor intracyclevariability, maior amplitude e quantidade de atividade (p<0.05). Apesar de o peso corporal ter sido similar, o grupo SL apresentou maior quantidade de gordura visceral (p<0.05). Parâmetros rítmicos de atividade correlacionaram com a concentração de melatonina somente no grupo CL, enquanto que parâmetros rítmicos correlacionaram com a concentração de corticosterona principalmente no grupo SL. Conclusões: Nosso estudo reforça a relevância da iluminação como um fator importante na regulação do comportamento e metabolismo, sugerindo que o a iluminação artificial comumente utilizada, sem variação de espectro de cor, é um forte fator facilitador do processo de cronodisrupção e aumento de gordura visceral. Ainda, o sistema de iluminação utilizado frequentemente nos alojamentos experimentais podem ser subótimas para simular o ambiente natural. Apoio: FIPE/HCPA, CNPq, CAPES e Luxion Iluminação. / Objective:To evaluate the influence of artificial illumination on biological rhythms and metabolism by two experiments whit Wistar rats. The first one evaluated changes in photoperiod that mimetics seasonality; the second one, the quality of artificial light (color spectrum) on light/dark cycle (LD). Methods: Experiment 1 – Three animal groups: Control (CL; n=6, LD cycle 12/12); group that started with long photoperiod (LP/SP; n = 7; LD 16.5:7.5); group that started with short photoperiod (SP/LP; n=7; LD 7.5:16.5). Experimental groups passed for 18 day in a start photoperiod, 17 days of gradual increase or decrease of photoperiod, 18 days on inverse photoperiod to what start.Experiment 2 – 36 animals were kept for 108 days in a LD cycle of 16:8h, divided in 2 groups: Standard Light (SL; n=18), kept under illumination with standard color spectrum (LED, 4000K); and Circadian Light (CL; n=18) with changes of color spectrum during the day (LED, 2700-6500K). In both studies, activity and temperature levels, as well as serum melatonin and corticosterone, were measured. On Experiment 2, in addition to weekly weighing, after euthanasia the visceral fat was measures. The circadian parameters were obtained by temporal series analyses. In statistical analyses were used parametric or non-parametric tests, according the normality of data. Results:Amount of activity on dark, besides corticosterone levels were lower on SL/LP group (p<0.05). So, animals showed low rhythms adaptation to photoperiod transitions from short to long light (SL/LP). The quality of illumination also influenced in animal behavior. The CL group presented better rhythmic parameters than SL group, for example, low intracycle variability, high amplitude and quantity of activity (p<0.05). Although body weight was similar, SL group presented higher amount of visceral fat (p<0.05). Rhythmic parameters of activity correlated with the melatonin concentration just in CL group, whereas rhythmic parameters correlated whit corticosterone concentration principally in SL group. Conclusions: Our study reinforces the relevance of illumination as an important factor on metabolic and behavioral regulation, suggesting that artificial illumination commonly used, without color spectrum variation, is a strong facilitating factor on the process of chronodisruption and increase of visceral fat. Thus, the illumination system frequently used in experimental accommodation could be suboptimal for to simulate the natural environment. Support:FIPE/HCPA, CNPq, CAPES andLuxionIluminação.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is a debilitating condition in which severe, ongoing fatigue is the most prominent of a complex of somatic, psychological and neuropsychological symptoms. The aetiology of CFS remains uncertain and, to date, efforts to distinguish a clear pathophysiological profile for the disorder have been unsuccessful. Current evidence suggests that, rather than being a discrete disease entity with a single cause, CFS is a clinical condition resulting from the interaction of a number of pathophysiological factors, including acute infections, stress and psychiatric disorder. Recently, there has been some interest in the proposition that disordered circadian time-keeping may contribute to the development and/or course of the illness. The rationale for the investigation of circadian factors in CFS is based on the fact that disorders known to be associated with circadian dysregulation, such as jet lag and shiftwork related syndromes have a high degree of symptomatological overlap with CFS. Also, the presence of circadian disturbance could account, in part, for other phenomenological aspects of CFS, including the high rates of comorbid affective disturbance, and the reports of low-level immune dyregulation among sufferers. While several recent studies have produced some evidence of chronobiological dysregulation in CFS patients, much work remains before conclusions can be drawn about the presence, nature and clinical significance of circadian disturbance in CFS. This thesis describes a series of studies that were designed to systematically investigate: 1. whether CFS is associated with a state of circadian dysregulation, and 2. whether circadian dysregulation contributes significantly to the symptomatology of CFS. The first of the 5 studies reported here compared the circadian patterns of sleep-activity of CFS sufferers with those of healthy controls. Results indicated that CFS patients' sleep-activity cycles were significantly phase delayed compared to controls, and that some aspects of their circadian profiles of sleep-activity were related to some measures of sleep-disturbance and well-being. Studies 2 and 3 investigated the relationship between rhythms of sleep-wake and core temperature in CFS patients and healthy controls. The major finding from these studies was that sleep-wake and core temperature rhythms appear to be less effectively synchronised. Further evidence was collected that suggested that there was a relationship between circadian parameters and symptom measures in the CFS group. While this indicated that circadian dysregulation is linked in some way to the symptoms of CFS, assessment of the actual clinical significance of circadian disturbances required the use of a prospective methodology. The final two studies, therefore, report on a placebo-controlled trial of clinical interventions that were designed to restore circadian integrity to CFS patients, in order to see whether this would lead to a reduction in symptom number or severity. Results indicated that, although patients experienced improvements across a range of measures of symptoms and functional capacity, these were small in magnitude, of unlikely clinical significance, and no greater, in general, to improvements reported by patients who underwent placebo treatment. These results, along with those of the earlier studies, are discussed with respect to their implications regarding the presence and significance of circadian dysregulation. It is concluded that, while they provide evidence that CFS is associated with a degree of both internal and external circadian desynchrony, these findings suggest that circadian dysregulation is likely to be only a peripheral, contributor to the processes that generate and maintain the symptom complex. These findings are discussed with respect to how they contribute to our overall understanding of this multi-dimensional condition, and the implications they have for the continuing effort to investigate the causes and treatment of CFS.

Bibliography: leaves 89-118 / viii, 118 leaves : ill ; 31 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 1987

In nature, all organisms face the daily challenges created by a fluctuating environment. Circadian clocks synchronize behaviour and physiology allowing an organism to adapt to and predict daily changes to environmental conditions. In the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, circadian clocks reside in a set of ~150 neurons in the brain, collectively referred to as the central clock, and in the cells of many peripheral tissues. The central clock regulates daily behavioural rhythms, whereas peripheral clocks are thought to regulate the local metabolic activities of the cells in which they reside. In this thesis, I demonstrate that a peripheral clock resides in the abdominal fat body, a tissue analogous to the mammalian liver and adipocytes. Moreover, I show that flies display a temporal feeding pattern that is partly regulated by a peripheral clock. I propose that the central clock and peripheral clocks coordinate to regulate the timing of fly feeding behaviour.

In nature, all organisms face the daily challenges created by a fluctuating environment. Circadian clocks synchronize behaviour and physiology allowing an organism to adapt to and predict daily changes to environmental conditions. In the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, circadian clocks reside in a set of ~150 neurons in the brain, collectively referred to as the central clock, and in the cells of many peripheral tissues. The central clock regulates daily behavioural rhythms, whereas peripheral clocks are thought to regulate the local metabolic activities of the cells in which they reside. In this thesis, I demonstrate that a peripheral clock resides in the abdominal fat body, a tissue analogous to the mammalian liver and adipocytes. Moreover, I show that flies display a temporal feeding pattern that is partly regulated by a peripheral clock. I propose that the central clock and peripheral clocks coordinate to regulate the timing of fly feeding behaviour.