No description available.

Insectivorous bats alter relative use of metabolic substrates to match requirements of their activities, including energetically expensive flight. The “fasting while foraging” hypothesis states that the metabolic demands of flight often exceed energy intake while foraging, hence bats may metabolize fat stores (especially early in the night) to power flight with ketones, a byproduct of the normal oxidation of fatty acids. Previous studies in bats have found increases in the plasma ketone ß-hydroxybutyrate following food consumption paired with or without flight. However, no study has explored whether increases in plasma ß-hydroxybutyrate occur following flight without food consumption. We used metabolite analysis to examine changes in plasma ß-hydroxybutyrate as a function of flight duration in 2 groups (fall and spring) of captive big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus). We fasted bats for 12 hours prior to flight (exercise treatment) or rest (control), and then collected interfemoral vein blood. Exercise activity was quantified as flight time. For the Fall group, we collected three rest samples and one flight sample. Results for the Fall group were variable; interpretation of data patterns for this group may be complicated by changes in metabolism that occur in the fall when bats physiologically prepare for hibernation. To control for seasonal effects, we tested a second group of bats in the spring, collecting two rest and three flight samples. We found a positive correlation between flight duration and levels of plasma ß-hydroxybutyrate in the Spring group, which supports the fasting while foraging hypothesis. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc) / The “fasting while foraging” hypothesis states that the metabolic demands of flight can exceed energy intake from recently consumed prey items, so insectivorous bats may metabolize fat stores (especially early in the night) to power flight with ketones, a byproduct of the normal oxidation of fatty acids. Previous studies in bats have found increases in the plasma ketone ß-hydroxybutyrate following food consumption, but no study has explored whether increases in plasma ß-hydroxybutyrate occur following flight without food consumption. We collected and analyzed blood to examine changes in plasma ß-hydroxybutyrate following different flight durations in big brown bats. We explored both seasonal and captivity effects. To explore seasonal effects, we sampled blood from bats in the fall and the spring, times that are biologically significant to big brown bats. The spring is when bats move out of torpor, a form of hibernation, into an active state and the fall is when bats are preparing for entering into torpor. To explore captivity effects, we sampled blood from bats recently introduced to or established to captivity. Bats were fasted for 12 hours prior to flight (exercise treatment) or rest (control), and then blood was collected. We characterized exercise using flight time. We found that plasma ß-hydroxybutyrate increased after longer flight durations, which supports the fasting while foraging hypothesis.

Heart failure is a leading cause of death in the United States, impacting approximately 6.7 million people. Several comorbidities are associated with heart failure, contributing to adverse clinical outcomes. Among these comorbidities, diabetes is highlighted as a prominent risk factor for heart failure, with approximately 20-40% of heart failure patients having type 2 diabetes. As the prevalence of heart failure continues to rise, there is a need for novel therapeutic methods to address this concern. PPARGC1 and ESRR Induced Regulator in Muscle 1 (PERM1) is a striated muscle-specific regulator of mitochondrial bioenergetics, predominantly expressed in skeletal and cardiac muscle. Our group has previously demonstrated that PERM1 is downregulated in both human and mouse failing hearts, and that Perm1-knockout mice exhibit reduced cardiac contractility and energy reserve. However, the role of PERM1 in cardiac dysfunction in diabetes remains unknown. We hypothesized that loss of PERM1 increases vulnerability to metabolic insults and exacerbates diet-induced insulin resistance and cardiac dysfunction. To test this, C57BL/6N male wild-type (WT) and Perm1-knockout (Perm1-KO) mice were fed either a normal diet or a high-fat diet (HFD; 60% calories from fat) for up to 43 weeks. We found that PERM1 expression was upregulated in the hearts of WT mice after 8 weeks of HFD feeding, coinciding with an increased level of carnitine palmitoyltransferase 2 (CPT2), a key enzyme involved in mitochondrial fatty acid uptake. Importantly, both WT and Perm1-KO mice exhibited similar increases in total body weight, fat mass, and fasting blood glucose levels throughout 43 weeks of HFD feeding, suggesting that loss of PERM1 did not accelerate the development of either obesity or diabetes. Echocardiographic assessments showed that WT mice maintained systolic and diastolic function, despite moderate cardiac remodeling, manifested as a subtle but significant increase of left ventricle posterior (LVPW) wall thickness. Unexpectedly, 8 weeks HFD feeding partially restored systolic function in Perm1-KO mice with no change in LVPW thickening. These findings show that while HFD feeding induced obesity and insulin resistance, its effect on cardiac function was relatively moderate and neither was exacerbated by the loss of PERM1. Unexpectedly, this study suggests that HFD feeding in Perm1-KO mice could partially compensate for cardiac dysfunction. / Master of Science / Heart failure is a major health issue in the U.S, affecting 6.7 million people. About 20-40% of heart failure patients also have type-2 diabetes, making their condition worse. Due to its high prevalence, there is a need for new treatments to address this problem. One potential therapeutic strategy is a protein called PPARGC1 and ESRR Induced Regulator in Muscle 1 (PERM1), which plays a role in energy production in the heart and skeletal muscle. Our group has previously shown that levels of PERM1 drop in the failing heart, leading to weaker heart function. However, the role that PERM1 plays in heart failure with diabetes is unknown. We hypothesized that loss of PERM1 increases metabolic stress, insulin resistance, and cardiac dysfunction. To study how PERM1 affects the heart, we used mice with and without the PERM1 gene and fed them either a normal diet or a high-fat diet (HFD) to mimic conditions like obesity and diabetes. After 8 weeks of a HFD, we found that, while both groups of mice developed obesity and insulin resistance, the absence of PERM1 did not make these issues worse. Interestingly, we also found that HFD increased levels of PERM1 in the heart and increased levels of the protein carnitine palmitoyltransferase 2 (CPT2), which promotes fatty acid uptake in cells. In addition, HFD feeding appeared to partially improve systolic heart function in the mice lacking PERM1. Overall, this study suggests that losing PERM1 does not worsen heart problems in response to a high-fat diet, and in some cases, the diet might even help compensate for heart failure. These findings could lead to new insights into how the heart adapts to stress and metabolic changes.

Tyrimo objektas: Pilateso pratimų poveikis kvėpavimo funkcijai ir energetikai. Tyrimo tikslas: Nustatyti Pilateso pratimų poveikį kvėpavimo funkcijai ir energetikai. Tiriamieji: 28(±8) metų amžiaus moterys (n=13). Tyrimo uždaviniai: 1. Nustatyti moterų kvėpavimo funkcijos ir energetikos rodiklius prieš pradedant lankyti Pilateso užsiėmimus. 2. Nustatyti moterų kvėpavimo funkcijos ir energetikos rodiklius po mėnesio trukmės Pilateso pratimų atlikimo. 3. Nustatyti mėnesio trukmės Pilateso pratimų poveikį moterų kvėpavimo funkcijai ir energetikai. Hipotezė – dėl Pilateso pratimų poveikio gerėja žmogaus kvėpavimo funkcija bei mažėja energetinių rodiklių sąnaudos pratimų metu ir po jų. Rezultatai: atlikus kiekvienos tiriamosios duomenų rezultatų palyginimą atskirai, prieš treniruočių laikotarpį ir praėjus mėnesiui po treniruočių, tiriamųjų moterų gauti duomenų rezultatai yra tokie: deguonies ventiliacija (p=0,4583), deguonies ventiliacija kiekvienam žmogaus kūno kilogramui (p=0,2951), plaučių ventiliacijos iškvėpimo laikas litrais per minutę (p=0,2413) ir paros kalorijų norma (p=0,4869) nepakito, tačiau matoma rodiklių gerėjimo tendencija, o minutinis kvėpavimo tūris (p=0,4355), kraujo tūris pratekantis per širdį ir plaučius per vieną minutę (p=0,3378), anglies dioksido ventiliacija (p=0,4033) ir kūno masės indeksas (p=0,4229), kvėpavimo pasikeitimo santykis (p=0,3358) nekito. Išvados: 1. Prieš pradedant lankyti Pilateso užsiėmimus moterų minutinis kvėpavimo tūris, plaučių... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Study objective: Pilates exercises effect on pulmonary function and energetics. Study aim: Find out Pilates exercises effect on pulmonary function and energetics. Subjects: 28(±8) years old women (n=13). Study objectives: 1. Set women pulmonary function and energetics rate before starting Pilates method course. 2. Set women pulmonary function and energetics rate after one month of Pilates method course. 3. Set one month Pilates method effect on women pulmonary function and energetics rate. Hypothesis – Because of Pilates exercises effect, human pulmonary function is improving and energetics are getting lower during the exercise and in daily life. Results: After compairing each objective data results separately, before training period and after one month of training period, subject women data results are: oxygen ventilation (p=0,4583), oxygen ventilation per one kilogram of persons bodyweight (p=0,2951), pulmonary ventilation exhaling time liters per minute (p=0,2413) and daily calories intake (p=0,4869) did not changed statistically, but improvement of indicators is seen, respiratory volume per minute (p=0,4355), blood flow through the heart and lungs, per one minute (p=0,3378), carbon dioxide ventilation (p=0,4033), body mass index (p=0,4229), and pulmonary change ratio (p=0,3358) showed no changes. Conclusions: 1. Before starting the Pilates workouts, women respiratory volume per minute, pulmonary ventilation exhaling time liters per minute and pulmonary change ratio... [to full text]

The master thesis is concerned with the problems of the impact of additional taxation on economy and effectiveness of photovoltaic projects in the Czech Republic. Additional taxation applies to revenues coming from selling the electricity made by photovoltaic power plants between 2011 and 2013. The first part describes the theoretical factors influencing the methods of assessing the effectiveness of the investment project. At the beginning of the second part, the legislative background of renewable energy projects in the Czech Republic is described. All the factors influencing the effectiveness of the photovoltaic projects are reviewed; followed by the discussion of methods for assessing the effectiveness of the photovoltaic projects. At the end of the thesis the impact of additional taxation on the effectiveness of photovoltaic projects is assessed and compared between different sizes of projects.

The research described in this dissertation mainly covers the development of novel technologies for co-crystallisation along with the discovering of plumbagin co-crystal and thermodynamic interrelationship between the co-crystal polymorphs. Co-crystallisation is a fast growing field in the area of crystal design and has shown potential advantages in the field of pharmaceutical. Currently, many research groups are working on the development of new technologies for the synthesis of pure and stoichiometrically controlled co-crystals. In present study, three novel technologies have been developed for co-crystallisation, which include microwave assisted co-crystallisation, spherical crystallisation and microwave assisted sub-critical water processing. The microwave assisted co-crystallisation is a slurry based technology where, effects of drug solubility and dielectric properties of the solvent were investigated using caffeine / maleic acid as a model co-crystal pair. The mechanism of co-crystallisation under microwave irradiation has been proposed. The co-crystals of plumbagin with improved solubility were obtained with the coformers such as hydroquinone, resorcinol and urea using microwave assisted co-crystallisation technique. The spherical crystallisation technology was developed for co-crystallisation of carbamazepine / saccharin co-crystal pair and demonstrated its application for polymorphic control and as a potential technique for the purification of desired crystal form through surface energetic based separation. The thermodynamic interrelationship between Form I and Form II of carbamazepine / saccharin co-crystal was studied using different thermodynamic tests. The results obtained suggest that the carbamazepine / saccharin co-crystal polymorphs are monotropic. Microwave assisted sub-critical water processing has been explored as a green technology for the synthesis of co-crystals. Carbamazepine / saccharin co-crystal pair has been used as a model pair and effects of processing variables on the resulting crystal form and degradation of an API have been studied.

Le présent travail est une contribution au domaine de la récupération de l’énergie. La conversion mise en place est faite à échelle centimétrique, les puissances électriques produites étant suffisantes pour alimenter des dispositifs à basse consommation, comme par exemple les capteurs sans fil. Une technologie innovante pour la récupération de l’énergie thermique est proposée, l’objectif étant de fabriquer des dispositifs fins, flexibles et bas coût pour une utilisation sans radiateur. Le fonctionnement choisi repose sur une conversion de la chaleur en électricité en deux étapes : thermomécanique (réalisée avec des bilames thermiques) et mécano-électrique (réalisée avec des piézoélectriques). Plusieurs prototypes ont été élaborés, aboutissant à des dispositifs matriciels flexibles, d’une épaisseur de quelques millimètres et fonctionnant sans radiateur avec refroidissement par convection naturelle. Les signaux générés sont des pics de tension qui dépassent les 10 V, pour une puissance mécanique disponible autour de 200 µW à 75°C. Plusieurs études ont été réalisées pour l'optimisation des dispositifs et la caractérisation de leurs composants. Leurs lois d’échelle ont été déduites, prédisant un gain en puissance avec la miniaturisation. Des modèles ont été proposés pour le comportement du piézoélectrique et pour le comportement thermique d’un dispositif. Les premiers cas d’usage ont été identifiés et les premiers tests ont été faits dans les environnements proposés par des potentiels utilisateurs. / The present work is a contribution to the domain of energy harvesting. The developed conversion is made at centimeter scale, and the generated electrical power is sufficient for low power devices, as for example wireless sensor nodes. An innovative technology for heat energy harvesting is proposed, with the goal to fabricate thin, flexible, and low cost devices for a use without a heat sink. Their working principle relies on a two-step conversion of heat into electricity: thermo-mechanical (with thermal bimetals) and mechanoelectrical (with piezoelectrics). Several prototypes have been built, resulting in flexible matrix devices that are a few millimeters thick and work without a heat sink with natural convection. The generated signals are voltage peaks above 10 V, for an available mechanical power in the order of 200 µW around 75°C. Several studies have been done for the optimization of the devices and the characterization of their components. Scale laws have been established, and predict significant power gain with miniaturization. Analytical models have been elaborated for the behavior of the piezoelectric and for the thermal behavior of a device. The first use cases have been identified, and the first tests have been performed in environments proposed by potential end users.

L'étude de la biomécanique du geste sport a pour double objectif d'améliorer la performance et de minimiser le risque de blessures. De multiples études ont appliqué les principes de la biomécanique au mouvement du swing de golf. Toutefois, des biais méthodologiques et un manque de consensus ont conduit à des résultats parfois contradictoires. Ainsi, l'objectif premier de cette thèse a été d'effectuer une analyse exhaustive de l'état de l'art de la biomécanique appliquée au swing de golf. Le second objectif a été de concevoir et de mettre en place un protocole expérimental qui permette l'analyse du swing de golf. Et le troisième objectif a été de développer les modèles et analyses permettant l'étude du swing de golf. Cette partie a été effectuée à l'aide du développement d'un modèle musculo-squelettique via le logiciel OpenSim.34 joueurs ont été analysés dans le cadre de cette thèse. Les analyses ont porté sur de multiples éléments : géométriques, cinématiques, dynamiques et énergétiques. Différents critères ont été pris en compte, dont certains couramment pris en compte dans l'analyse du swing de golf (e.g. X-factor), dans l'analyse du mouvement (e.g. dynamique articulaire), mais aussi de nouveaux critères tels que le moment moteur ou le moment cinétique moteur.Des perspectives en termes de transferts vers les équipes médicales et les entraîneurs ont été proposées. / Studying biomechanics aspects of sport movements is aiming at improving performance and reducing injury risk. Several studies have used biomechanics concepts to study golf swing. However, several methodological biases and the lack of consensus have driven to contradictions. Thus, the first objective of this thesis was to do an exhaustive literature review of the biomechanics applied to golf swing. The second objective was to establish an experimental protocol for studying golf swing. And the third objective was to develop models and analysis to study golf swing. This part was done by a musculoskeletal model developed with OpenSim software.34 golf players have been analyzed for this thesis. Those analyses tackled multiples aspects : geometries, kinematics, kinetics and energetics. Several criteria have been taken into account, some from golf swing analysis (e.g. X-factor), from movement analysis (e.g. articular kinetics) and some new ones such as motor moment and motor kinetic moment.Perspectives for transferring results to medical staff and coaches were proposed.

Notre thèse tente de répondre à la question suivante : « Dans un contexte intégrant des caractéristiques identiques favorables à une réduction ou une modération de la consommation d’énergie domestique, celui du logement social locatif ayant fait l’objet d’un programme de réhabilitation thermique, tous les individus ont-ils des pratiques énergétiques semblables et quels sont les facteurs explicatifs de ces pratiques et de leurs possibles différences ? Dans un premier temps, considérant que l’on ne consomme pas de l’énergie pour elle-même mais pour produire un service par le moyen obligé d’un bien de service de l’énergie, nous avons identifié les pratiques des ménages en introduisant une classification selon qu’elles induisent une consommation ou, à l’inverse, une réduction de la consommation. A côté des pratiques d’acquisition d’équipement et de leur usage, nous avons également relevé des pratiques alternatives ou impliquant des tiers ayant pour effet induit une réduction de consommation. Dans un deuxième temps, nous avons repéré divers facteurs sous-tendant ces pratiques que nous avons regroupés en quatre catégories distinctes : l’identité y apparait comme centre intégrateur jouant un rôle clé. Sur ces bases, nous avons établi un profil pour chaque individu, rendant compte d’un alignement de caractéristiques favorables et défavorables à une réduction de consommation. Dans un troisième temps, nous avons pu repérer des similitudes entre profils, peu corrélées aux classifications statistiques habituelles, d’où nous avons extrapolé quatre types distincts. Ces fortes différences entre profils des individus, dont l’identité constitue le pivot, meten évidence la nécessité de leur prise en compte dans une perspective opérationnelle. Notre thèse interroge le modèle de consommation et de vie en société, ouvre des pistes vers la consolidation de l’efficacité énergétique, vers la sobriété en équipements, et l’enrichissement des identités sociales relationnelles. / This thesis aims to answer the following question: In a context integrating similar technical characteristics favorable to a reduction or moderation of household energy consumption, within a rental social housing project that was recently the object of a thermal rehabilitation program, do all the individuals display similar energy practices, and what are the explanatory factors for these practices and their differences, if any? Firstly, considering that energy is not consumed for itself but for producing a service by means of the consumption of various energy generating goods, we identified the household’s practices by introducing a classification of these practices according to whether they lead to an increase or to a reduction in consumption. Regarding practices of equipment acquisition and their use, we also have identified practices involving third parties as well as alternative practices leading to a reduction in consumption. Secondly, we identified various factors underlying these practices which we were able to group into four different categories among which identity appears as an integrating factor playing a key role. On these bases, we established a profile for each individual, showing a certain alignment of the characteristics that are either favorable or unfavorable to reduced consumption. Thirdly, we observed similarities between the profiles, weakly correlated with the usual statistical classifications, from which we have extrapolated four truly different types. These strong differences between individuals’ profiles, whose identity constitutes the pivot,highlights the importance of their consideration in an operational perspective. The thesis questions the pattern of consumption and life in our society and opens perspectives towards the consolidation of energy efficiency, towards moderation in equipment use, and towards the enrichment of relational social identities.

Animal movement is a ubiquitous process and can have consequences ranging from an individual’s energy expenditure to ecosystem dynamics. This study uses biologgers, primarily accelerometers, to record and examine the at-sea behaviours of black-legged kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla) during their breeding period. Accelerometers record the acceleration of an instrumented animal to give an indication of their behaviour and movements, yet their output can be particularly difficult to interpret. As such, this thesis begins with a method developed for the assignation of coarse-scale behaviours to accelerometry data. The method is a simple yet objective approach intended to be widely applicable. Using this method, we construct time-activity budgets for incubating and chick-rearing kittiwakes and apply activity-specific estimates of energy expenditure to these behaviours. We identify how kittiwakes allocate their time and what the energetic consequences of variation in time-allocation are. We present empirical evidence for chick-rearing kittiwakes expending more energy than incubating birds and identify that kittiwakes exhibit behavioural compensation whereby they limit energy expenditure across both foraging trips and days. We also examine the flight behaviour of kittiwakes in relation to extrinsic conditions. We find that wind conditions do not seem to influence broader scale patterns in movements during foraging trips, however kittiwakes do display behavioural plasticity in response to wind conditions by optimising their flight speeds towards maximum range speeds. We also identify that to optimise flight speeds, kittiwakes change the strength at which they flap their wings, rather than the frequency. Finally we present a serendipitous observation of predation of kittiwake chicks by a peregrine falcon. Although not directly related to movement ecology, this study documents novel predatory behaviour and highlights the importance of biological forces other than movement. Overall, the work presented in this thesis demonstrates that by examining the movement of individuals, it is possible to gain insights into various important aspects of their biology.