Endophyte-infected (E+) tall fescue grass has been associated with fescue toxicosis, a costly syndrome characterized by poor cattle performance and health resulting in significant production losses. The fungal endophyte produces ergot alkaloids, which help the grass thrive in poor conditions but are toxic to mammals. A number of symptoms of fescue toxicosis can be related to vasoconstriction of bovine core, peripheral, and foregut vasculature. The first part of this series of experiments demonstrated ergot alkaloids were also vasoactive in midgut vasculature, with the exception of lysergic acid. Additionally, prior dietary exposure to ergot alkaloids decreased the contractile response of mesenteric vasculature to many of the ergot alkaloids tested. In the second part of this series, a non-invasive method was developed for measuring rumen motility in cannulated cattle. Using this technology without different dietary treatments, it was determined that 8 to 16 h after feeding was the least variable between animals and would provide the best opportunity to measure differences in motility. Application of this technique in the third part of this series investigated the effect of ruminally dosed ergot alkaloids on rumen motility. Treatments were not effective at inducing fescue toxicosis, and no differences in rumen motility variables were detected.

Supporters of a nutritional supplement, β-Hydroxy-β-Methylbutyrate (HMB) supplementation, claim that it will increase the muscular strength gains and lean muscle mass gains seen during a resistance training program. It has been suggested that HMB supplementation does this by preventing muscle damage or by regenerating damaged muscle cell membranes. However, no research has evaluated the effect of HMB supplementation on low frequency fatigue. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine if three weeks of HMB supplementation could attenuate the effects of low frequency fatigue caused by eccentric muscle contractions of the tibialis anterior muscle. A total of 33 healthy recreationally active subjects (18 males, 15 females; 23.2 ± 4.3 yr) were recruited for this study. All subjects preformed 4 sets of 25 eccentric contractions of the tibialis anterior muscle through a range of motion of 30 degrees. Recovery measures were taken for 20 minutes after the fatigue protocol and at 48 and 96 hours of recovery. The recovery measures included: Maximum voluntary contraction peak torque, 10 Hz peak torque, 50 Hz peak torque, 10/50 Hz peak torque ratio, and EMG measurements. Each subject served as their own control and limbs were randomly assigned to pre-supplement or post-supplement limbs. Following the pre-supplement fatigue protocol and recovery measures each subject completed three weeks of 3g/day HMB supplementation. After the supplementation period the post-supplement fatigue protocol was completed and recovery measures were taken. The 10 Hz peak torque and the 10/50 Hz torque ratio in the pre-supplement limb was still significantly reduced at the 96-hour recovery measurement time, indicating that it was still showing low frequency muscle fatigue at this time. Furthermore, the post-supplement limb, recovered from the fatigue protocol faster, and did not show any signs of low frequency muscle fatigue at the 48-hour recovery measurement time. In addition the pre-supplement limb had significant maximum voluntary contraction torque deficit at the 48-hour recovery measurement time and the post-supplement limb showed no significant deficits. The main findings of this study were that three weeks of HMB supplementation attenuated low frequency fatigue and maximum voluntary contraction torque reduction after an eccentric fatigue protocol.

Orientador: João Batista Aparecido / Banca: Cassio Roberto Macedo Maia / Banca: Alcides Padilha / Resumo: Realiza-se a formulação matemática do escoamento potencial no interior de contrações bidimensionais usando sistemas de coordenadas cartesianas e cilíndricas. Para tal considera-se que as geometrias das contrações sejam bidimensionais no sistema de coordenadas cartesianas e bidimensionais com simetria axial no sistema de coordenadas cilíndricas. A formulação é adaptada a partir das equações tridimensionais de Euler em coordenadas cartesianas e cilíndricas, fazendo-se as hipóteses de bidimensionalidade, regime permanente, fluido invíscido e escoamento irrotacional. O formalismo diferencial do escoamento potencial no interior de contrações bidimensionais é formalmente resolvido utilizando-se a Técnica da Transformada Integral Generalizada - TTIG - cuja fundamentação está na expansão de funções-quadrado-integráveis em séries de funções ortogonais. Desenvolveu-se algoritmos computacionais, em linguagem computacional Fortran 95, para simular as soluções formais obtidas e produzir resultados numéricos que possibilitassem a análise do escoamento potencial nas referidas contrações. Realizou-se extensivos testes numéricos para quatro famílias de geometrias das contrações, sendo que cada família ainda possuía diferentes funções modeladoras do formato de suas paredes, bem como os parâmetros razão e esbeltez e razão de contração. Analisou-se os resultados visando sintetizar aspectos e características de como as contrações operam e que formatos são mais adequados ou não / Abstract: It was done the mathematical formulation for potential flow inside two-dimensional contractions using both Cartesian and cylindrical coordinate systems. To achieve such aim it was considered that contraction geometries are two-dimensional in the Cartesian coordinate system and two-dimensional with axial symmetry in cylindrical system. Formulation is adapted from tri-dimensional Euler equations in Cartesian and cylindrical coordinate systems, doing hypothesis such as: two-dimensionality, steady flow regime, inviscid fluid and irrotational flow. Differential formulae that models potential flow inside two-dimensional contraction is formally solved using Generalized Integral Transform Technique - GITT - which is based upon orthogonal series expansion of square-integrable functions. It was developed some computational algorithms, using Fortran 95 computational language, to simulate the obtained formal solutions and to produce numerical results that allows potential flow analysis for referred contractions. It was done comprehensive numerical tests for four families of contraction geometries, being that each family yet has different contraction wall modeling functions, as well length and contraction ratios. Results were analyzed aiming to synthesize aspects and characteristics of how contractions operate and which forms are more adequate or not / Mestre

Bakgrund: En förlossning inleds med en latensfas som övergår till en aktiv fas och sedan till ett utdrivningsskede. Latensfasen kan vara svår att definiera kliniskt och kan variera så pass mycket att det inte finns ett normalt intervall och som begrepp är latensfasen otydlig. Syfte: Syftet var att få en fördjupning i begreppet latensfas i samband med graviditet och förlossning. Metod: Denna studie är en begreppsanalys som utgår från Walker Olszewski och Avant Coalsons modell för att kunna göra en fördjupning i det valda begreppet latensfas. I studien gjordes både en teoretisk fas och en fältstudiefas där fem barnmorskor verksamma inom förlossningsvård och mödrahälsovård intervjuades. Resultat: För att begreppet latensfas ska kunna existera behövs förutsättningar, till exempel graviditet och symtom på förlossningsarbete. Och ett resultat av begreppet blir en konsekvens, till exempel sjukhusvård. Latensfasen är en fas som är diffus och svårbedömd för många barnmorskor, ofta måste den födande kvinnan komma in för undersökning för att veta var i förlossningsarbetet hon befinner sig. Kriterier för när latensfasen övergår till aktiv fas varierar stort internationellt och kvinnor upplever latensfasen olika i intensitet och längd. Därför är det viktigt att barnmorskan är förstående och ger ett bra stöd. Slutsats: Under studiens gång har fem attribut hittats, diffus smärta och molande mensvärk, korta och oregelbundna sammandragningar, styrka och kraft i sammandragningarna, smärtsamma sammandragningar, ingen eller liten progress på livmoderhalsen och livmodermunnen, utan dessa attribut kan inte latensfasen existera. Klinisk tillämpbarhet: Med studien önskar vi att bland annat skapa trygghet och minska förvirring hos kvinnan genom att begreppet latensfas används likvärdigt bland barnmorskor. / Background: A childbirth begins with a latent phase that goes into an active phase and then into the delivery stage of childbirth. The latent phase can be difficult to define clinically and can vary so much that there is no normal interval and the latent phase of labor is unclear as a concept.Aim: The aim was to increase an understanding of the concept latent phase of labor relating to pregnancy and childbirth.Methods: This study is a concept analysis and to increase the understanding of the chosen concept, latent phase of labor, the study is based on Walker Olszewski and Avant Coalson's mode. The study included both a theoretical phase and a field study phase where five midwives in obstetrics and maternity care were interviewed.Results: In order for the concept of latent phase of labor to exist, conditions are needed, for example pregnancy and symptoms of labor. And a result of the concept becomes a consequence, for example hospital care. The latent phase of labor is a phase that is diffuse and difficult for many midwives to judge, the woman must almost always come in for examination to know where in labor progress she is. Criteria for when the latent phase of labor passes to active phase varies widely internationally and women experience the latent phase of labor differently in intensity and length. Therefor it is important that the midwife is understanding and provides moral support.Conclusion: Five attributes have been found during the study, diffuse pain and distressing menstruation pain, short and irregular contractions, strength and force in the contractions, painful contractions, nothing or a small progress on the cervix, the latent phase of labor cannot exist without these attributes.Clinical applicability: With this study we wish to create comfort and reduce confusion among women by making the concept latent phase equally among midwifes.

Esponjas (filo Porifera) são consideradas representantes atuais dos primeiros metazoários, com origens evolutivas próximas da transição de uma organização unicelular para aquela multicelular. Toda sua fisiologia é baseada em células especializadas, sem órgãos ou tecidos verdadeiros como encontrados em outros animais. No entanto, a presença de um sistema fortemente integrado pode ser constatada em sua habilidade de contrair o corpo de maneira rítmica e coordenada, ainda que a dinâmica e o controle desse processo sejam pouco conhecidos. Neste trabalho, análises de imagens em time-lapse sob um ciclo claro-escuro (12:12h) e sob luz constante mostram que as espécies Hymeniacidon heliophila e Tethya maza exibem padrões distintos de contrações corpóreas rítmicas, com variações circadianas em suas amplitudes. Diferenças observadas nos perfis das curvas das duas espécies podem ser devidas a diferenças em seus habitats de origem e/ou a diferenças em suas estruturas corpóreas. A manutenção desses ritmos sob luz constante indica a presença de um relógio endógeno em ambos os animais. Entre as vias envolvidas na sinalização desses processos a mais ubíqua é a da melatonina, um hormônio cuja presença tem sido demostrada em muitos filos animais, dos quais o mais basal é o Cnidaria. Considerando a ampla ação da melatonina como um sinalizador circadiano e a ausência de um sistema nervoso em esponjas, não seria surpreendente constatar um papel da molécula na coordenação dos movimentos desses animais. Ademais, o papel da molécula nas respostas imunes também já foi demonstrado ser de ampla distribuição. Nossas tentativas de revelar uma ação da molécula na reagregação celular de H. heliophila via receptores do tipo MT1 e MT2 não foram conclusivas. Alguns fatores que podem ter influenciado nas respostas divergentes da molécula são o estado imunitário e a presença de contaminantes no ambiente de origem do animal. Ainda, outros mecanismos de ação e/ou processos candidatos à ação da melatonina não devem ser descartados. Ainda que preliminares, nossos resultados são o primeiro relato da presença da melatonina no filo mais basal dentre os Metazoa / Sponges (phylum Porifera) are considered current representatives of the first metazoans, with evolutionary origins close to the transition from a unicellular to a multicellular organization. All of its physiology is based on specialized cells, without organs or real tissues as found in other animals. However, the presence of a strongly integrated system can be verified in its ability to contract the body in a rhythmic and coordinated way, althouth the dynamic and the control of this process are little known. In this work, time-lapse image analysis under a light-dark cycle (12:12h) and constant light shows that the species Hymeniacidon heliophila and Tethya maza display different patterns of body contractions, with circadian variations in their amplitudes. These dissimilar contraction profiles of the two species can be due to their original habitats and/or in their body structures. The maintenance of these rhythms under constant light indicates the presence of an endogenous clock in both animals. Among the pathways that participate in this process the most ubiquitous is that of melatonin, a hormone whose presence has been demonstrated in several animals phyla, of which the most basal until now is Cnidaria. Considering the melatonin action as a circadian signal and the absence of a nervous system in sponges, it would not be surprising that this molecule participates in coordination in these animals. In addition, the melatonin role in the immune responses has also been shown to be widely distributed. Our attempts to reveal a molecule action in the H. heliophila cellular reaggregation via MT1 and MT2 receptors were inconclusive. Some of the factors that may have influenced the molecule divergent responses are the immunity condition and the presence of contaminants in the original environment of the animals. Still, other mechanisms and/or processes that are candidates for melatonin action should not be discarded. Although preliminary, our results are the first report of the presence of melatonin in the most basal phylum among the Metazoa

No description available.

A pair of commuting bounded operators (S; P ) acting on a Hilbert space, is called a -contraction, if it has the symmetrised bides = f(z1 + z2; z1z2) : jz1j 1; jz2j 1g C2 as a spectral set. For every -contraction (S; P ), the operator equation S S P = DP F DP has a unique solution F 2 B(DP ) with numerical radius, denoted by w(F ), no greater than one, where DP is the positive square root of (I P P ) and DP = RanDP . This unique operator is called the fundamental operator of (S; P ). This thesis constructs an explicit normal boundary dilation for -contractions. A triple of commuting bounded operators (A; B; P ) acting on a Hilbert space with the tetra block E = f(a11; a22; detA) : A = a11 a12 with kAk 1g C 3 a21 a22 as a spectral set, is called a tetra block contraction. Every tetra block contraction possesses two fundamental operators and these are the unique solutions of A B P = DP F1DP ; and B A P = DP F2DP : Moreover, w(F1) and w(F2) are no greater than one. This thesis also constructs an explicit normal boundary dilation for tetra block contractions. In these constructions, the fundamental operators play a pivotal role. Both the dilations in the symmetrised bidisc and in the tetra block are proved to be minimal. But unlike the one variable case, uniqueness of minimal dilations fails in general in several variables, e.g., Ando's dilation is not unique, see [44]. However, we show that the dilations are unique under a certain natural condition. In view of the abundance of operators and their complicated structure, a basic problem in operator theory is to find nice functional models and complete sets of unitary invariants. We develop a functional model theory for a special class of triples of commuting bounded operators associated with the tetra block. We also find a set of complete unitary invariants for this special class. Along the way, we find a Burling-Lax-Halmos type of result for a triple of multiplication operators acting on vector-valued Hardy spaces. In both the model theory and unitary invariance, fundamental operators play a fundamental role. This thesis answers the question when two operators F and G with w(F ) and w(G) no greater than one, are admissible as fundamental operators, in other words, when there exists a -contraction (S; P ) such that F is the fundamental operator of (S; P ) and G is the fundamental operator of (S ; P ). This thesis also answers a similar question in the tetra block setting.

This study analyzed an individual's ability to perceive levels of exertion of an isometric contraction. Two samples of college students were tested under magnitude production or magnitude estimation. A significant F was obtained for the magnitude production condition. An insignificant F was obtained for the magnitude estimation condition. This study concludes that subjects tested under magnitude production will perceive the 100 percent level with the least amount of error and that error will increase as the percentages descend from the 100 percent level. Subjects tested under magnitude estimation will be equally in error when perceiving percentages of a maximum contraction of the forearm flexors.

No description available.

This dissertation proposes a uniqueness-based theory of definiteness that accounts for the semantics and the pragmatics of German (non-) contracted forms of a preposition and the definite determiner (e.g. ‘zum / zu dem’, ‘am / an dem’), but the analysis also carries over to definite descriptions in general. I propose that the definite determiner is ambiguous between a referential and a quantificational reading. Crucially, referential DDs exploit information provided in the surrounding linguistic context, while the interpretation of quantificational DDs heavily relies on extra-linguistic world knowledge that can be represented by an implicit free individual variable and an implicit free relation variable. Non-contracted forms are always interpreted referentially, whereas contracted forms receive quantificational interpretations. This proposal has a wide range of applications: It deals with anaphoric and demonstrative DDs, as well as with typical ‘uniqueness uses’ (such as ‘the moon’ or ‘the sun’), covarying DDs involving explicit and implicit antecedents, bridging definites, and, last but not least, so-called Weak Definites.