Orientador: Aulus Cavalieri Carciofi / Banca: Aparecido Antonio Camacho / Banca: Mirela Tinucci Costa / Banca: Francisco José albuquerque de Paula / Banca: Sílvia Regina Ricci Lucas / Resumo: Objetiva-se com o tratamento da obesidade em gatos a redução de massa corporal gorda com mínima perda de massa magra, bem como o fornecimento de nutrientes em quantidade suficiente para manter a saúde dos animais durante a perda de peso e favorecer a manutenção do peso após o término do regime. A elevação nas concentrações de proteína em dietas para perda de peso tem se mostrado benéfica em muitas espécies. Neste trabalho foram avaliadas duas rações com diferentes concentrações de proteína bruta na perda de 20% do peso corporal e subseqüente manutenção do peso em gatos. Constituíram-se dois grupos, sendo um grupo controle (Co; n=8), que recebeu dieta com 29% de proteína e outro que recebeu dieta com 42% de proteína, denominado alta proteína (AP; n=7). As características da perda de peso em machos (n=8) e fêmeas (n=7) também foram avaliadas. Composição corporal (DXA), ingestão de energia metabolizável (EM), concentrações hormonais e bioquímicas séricas e balanço de nitrogênio dos animais foram quantificadas durante a perda de peso. Houve perda de massa magra (MM) no grupo Co (p<0,05), mas não no grupo AP (p>0,05) durante o emagrecimento. Embora não tenha sido encontrada diferença na taxa de perda de peso, a dieta AP possibilitou maior ingestão calórica (EM/kg de peso0,4) que Co para se atingir igual emagrecimento semanal. Houve redução (p<0,05) na leptinemia ao longo da perda de peso, em ambos os grupos, sem outras alterações hormonais detectáveis. Após a perda de peso, os animais foram introduzidos numa fase de manutenção do peso (MAN) por 17 semanas. Ambos os grupos passaram a receber um mesmo alimento hipocalórico, em quantidade suficiente para manter o peso corporal. Os gatos que receberam maior quantidade de proteína durante a perda de peso (AP) apresentaram maior necessidade energética que Co durante a MAN (p<0,001) ...(Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Treatment of cat obesity aims to minimize the loss of lean body mass, to supply nutrient quantities sufficient for maintaining animal health during weight loss and to facilitate weight loss maintenance once dieting is completed. Elevated protein concentrations in weight loss diets have shown to be beneficial for many species. In this study, two diets with differing crude protein concentrations (29% versus 42%) were evaluated for 20% weight loss and subsequent weight loss maintenance in cats. A control group (Co; n=8) received the 29% protein diet while another group, denominated high protein (HP; n=7), received the 42% diet. Weight loss characteristics of males (n=8) and females (n=7) were also evaluated. Body composition (DXA), ingestion of metabolizable energy (ME), hormonal and biochemical serum concentrations and nitrogen balance of the animals were quantified during the weight loss period. The lean mass (LM) loss observed for Co group (p<0.05) during weight reduction was not observed for HP group (p>0.05). HP diet allowed a greater cat caloric ingestion (ME/kg body weight0.4) to maintain the same weekly weight loss than Co group (p<0.05). There was a reduction (p<0.05) in leptin throughout the weight loss period in both groups. After weight loss, animals began a of 17 weeks phase of weight loss maintenance (MAN). Both groups were fed a same commercial hypocaloric food, in quantity sufficient to maintain body weight. Cats of the HP group presented a greater energy requirement during to stabilize body weight after regimen (p<0.001). There were no differences in body composition parameters between the two groups at the end of MAN (p>0.05). Males presented greater LM and less body fat, and required more ME to achieve the same weight loss rate than females (p<0.001). It was concluded that, for cats, HP diet aided LM maintenance during weight loss and allowed for greater caloric ingestion ...(Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

SOCIAL INPACT OF THE MENTAL ANOREXIA AFFECTING CHILDREN´S PATIENTS ON HE FAMILY In choosing the subject of my degree work I was influenced fundamentally by my experience gained during the department of children´s psychiatry. At thes very interesting work I had opportunity to become acquainted not only with various psychiatric diagnoses but with plenty of human fates in particular. The girls with plenty of human fates in particular. The girls wth mental anorexia were frequent patients of this department. During their long-term and often repeated hospitalization I met both the patients and the whole families. That´s why I could follow the development of the children affected like this and the impact of this illness on the family as well. The mental anorexia is a very grave and lingering illness belonging to the group of disorders in food ingestion. The consequences of this illness for he health can be of an persistent character and it is not exceptional that this illness is even fatal. The therapy is spite of all therapeutical possibilities, the modern psychiatry has at disposal. Therefore, the families of the patients have not only to get over the fear for the life and health of their members, but they have also to overcome longlasting psychological stress connected with the care of the person affected like this. This care can influence the running of the family fundamentally. It often happens that the family has to reduce the professional activities with respect to the exacting care. This can result in aggravation of the economic situation of the family. A considerable lowering of the living standard and the following crisis can take place in families with low incomes. Permanent psychological stress, deterioration of the economic situation and fair for the child can influence also the relations between individual members of the family. It is no exception that this stress has an adverse effect on the marriage of the parents, and that expecially in the case that the marriage was a problematic one as early as before the child fell ill.

INTRODUÇÃO. A ingestão aguda de 500 ml de água pode elevar a pressão arterial de forma expressiva em indivíduos com disfunção autonômica, mas parece não afetar os níveis pressóricos de indivíduos jovens saudáveis. Na hipertensão arterial sistêmica podem ocorrer alterações na modulação autonômica e, em ratos hipertensos, há evidências de que a ingestão de água seja capaz de promover aumento da pressão arterial. Entretanto, em seres humanos hipertensos, os efeitos da ingestão aguda de água ainda não são conhecidos. OBJETIVOS. Avaliar os efeitos hemodinâmicos e autonômicos da ingestão aguda de água em indivíduos portadores de hipertensão arterial sistêmica, bem como investigar os mecanismos fisiológicos envolvidos na resposta pressora. MÉTODOS. Participaram do estudo 8 indivíduos portadores de hipertensão arterial sistêmica leve (idade = 42,5±7,8 anos; índice de massa corporal= 27,1±3,4 kg/cm2) e 10 indivíduos normotensos (idade = 37,3±7,5 anos; índice de massa corporal = 25,8±3,2 kg/cm2), os quais foram submetidos à ingestão de 500 ml de água após repouso na posição supina por 30 minutos. Foram avaliadas a pressão arterial (Finapress, Ohmeda), a freqüência cardíaca, o fluxo sangüíneo do antebraço, a resistência vascular do antebraço e a atividade nervosa simpática muscular no basal e aos 10, 20 e 30 minutos após a ingestão de água. Amostras sangüíneas venosas foram coletadas no basal e aos 10 e 30 minutos após a ingestão de água, para calcular as mudanças no volume plasmático. A variabilidade da pressão arterial sistólica e da freqüência cardíaca foi avaliada por análise espectral, utilizando-se a Transformação Rápida de Fourier. RESULTADOS. A ingestão de água resultou em significativo aumento máximo das pressões arteriais sistólica (Hipertensos = 19±7 mmHg; Normotensos = 17±7 mmHg, p = 0,001) e diastólica (Hipertensos = 14±4 mmHg; Normotensos = 14±5 mmHg, p = 0,001) nos indivíduos hipertensos e normotensos. Ambos os grupos também apresentaram significativa elevação máxima da resistência vascular no antebraço (Hipertensos = 19±11 unidades; Normotensos = 20±13 unidades, p = 0,001) e da atividade nervosa simpática muscular (Hipertensos = 8±2 disparos/min; Normotensos = 8±4 disparos/min, p = 0,001). RESULTADOS. Após a ingestão de água, houve redução da freqüência cardíaca (Hipertensos = - 5,6±2,1 bat/min; Normotensos = - 5,4±7,3 bat/min, p = 0,002), do fluxo sangüíneo no antebraço (Hipertensos = - 0,5±0,4 ml/min/100 ml tecidual; Normotensos = - 0,7±0,6 ml/min/100 ml tecidual, p = 0,001) e do volume plasmático (Hipertensos = - 0,8±0,8 %; Normotensos = - 1,0±0,9%, p = 0,002) nos indivíduos hipertensos e normotensos. A variabilidade da freqüência cardíaca e da pressão arterial sistólica não foi alterada pela ingestão de água. CONCLUSÃO. A ingestão aguda de água eleva similarmente as pressões arteriais sistólica e diastólica de indivíduos hipertensos leves e normotensos, provavelmente por aumento da resistência vascular periférica, secundário à ativação simpática. / Introduction. An acute water ingestion of 500 ml may significantly increase blood pressure in individuals with autonomic dysfunction. However, it doesn’t seem to influence the pressure levels of young, healthy subjects. When a systemic arterial hypertension is present, alterations can occur in the autonomic modulation mechanism, and there is scientific evidence that acute water drinking is responsible for increases in the arterial blood pressure of laboratory rats with hypertension. However, in human subjects with hypertension, the effects of an acute water ingestion are not yet well known. Objectives. The current study aims to evaluate haemodynamics and autonomic response to acute water ingestion in human subjects that have systemic arterial hypertension, as well as to study the physiological mechanisms underlying in the pressure elevation phenomena. Method. The human subjects that participated were divided up into two study groups. The first group of eight subjects, had been diagnosed with stage I systemic hypertension (ages = 42.5±7.8 years; with a body mass index = 27.1±3.4 kg/cm2), and the second group consisted of 10 subjects that had normal pressure readings (ages = 37.3±7.5 years; with a body mass index equivalent to 25.8±3.2 kg/cm2). All participants had drunk 500ml of water, after resting for 30 minutes in the supine position. The following parameters were studied: arterial blood pressure (Finapress, Ohmeda), heart rate, forearm blood flow, forearm vascular resistance and basal muscle sympathetic nerve activity after 10, 20, and 30 minutes, immediately following the acute water ingestion. Venous blood samples were collected during the basal period of 10 and 30 minutes after water drinking, in order to calculate plasmatic volume changes. Systolic pressure and heart rate variability were evaluated by spectral analysis, utilizing the Fast Fourier Transform. Results. There was a significant maximum increase in systolic and diastolic arterial pressure, in both, hypertensive and normotensive human subjects, as a direct consequence of acute water ingestion. Systolic pressure increase was of 19±7 mmHg, in hypertensive subjects; while the same pressure increase was of 17±7 mmHg, for normotensive subjects, (p = 0.001). Similarly, the diastolic pressure increase in hypertensive subjects had an equivalent to 14±4 mmHg, and in normotensive subjects showed an increase equivalent to 14±5 mmHg, (p = 0.001). Similarly, the diastolic pressure increase in hypertensive subjects had an equivalent to 14±4 mmHg, and in normotensive subjects showed an increase equivalent to 14±5 mmHg, (p = 0.001). Also, both groups presented a significant maximum increase in forearm vascular resistance (Hypertensive = 19±11 units; normotensive = 20±13 units, p = 0.001) and in muscle sympathetic nerve activity (Hypertensive = 8±2 bursts/min, normotensive = 8±4 bursts/min, p = 0.001). After acute water ingestion, both, hypertensive and normotensive human subjects showed a decreased heart rate, forearm blood flow, and plasmatic volume. The heart rate decrease in hypertensive subjects was equal to - 5.6±2.1 beats/min; and for normotensive subjects was = - 5.4±7.3 beats/min, (p = 0.002), the forearm blood flow decrease in hypertensive subjects was = - 0.5±0.4 ml/min/100 ml tissue, and in normotensive subjects was = - 0.7±0.6 ml/min/100 ml tissue, (p = 0.001), and the plasmatic volume drop in hypertensive subjects was = - 0.8±0.8 %; and for normotensive subjects was = - 1.0±0.9%, (p = 0.002). Heart rate and systolic arterial pressure variability were not altered by acute water ingestion. CONCLUSION. An acute water ingestion equally increases systolic and diastolic arterial pressure in human subjects with stage I hypertension, as well as those normotensive ones, probably by increasing peripheral vascular resistance, which is secondary to sympathetic activity.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-07-29T15:13:50Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 tese helio ciencia animal.pdf: 455708 bytes, checksum: 78cc58c19ba93b461c2e9c3fbc8b9a4a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-03-27 / The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of high grain diets on performance, carcass characteristics, feeding behavior and fecal parameters of 20 Nelore bovines with 28 months of age. The diets DT + BIN (10% sugar cane bagasse, 54.52% cracked sorghum, 10.94% whole cotton seed hulls, 18% soybean hulls, 2.54% soybean meal and 4% powder vitamin/mineral supplement), MGI (10% soybean hulls, 75% whole corn grain and 15% pellet vitamin/mineral supplement) and DT (44.44% cracked sorghum, 16.7% whole cotton seed hulls, 28.89% soybean hulls and 10% powder vitamin/mineral supplement) were offered to the animals in tie stalls in a completely randomized experimental design. Intake was determined through subtraction of the feed minus orts. Diets were offered to the animals in two daily meals, at 8h (60%) and 17h (40%), aiming approximately 5% of orts. Animals were weighed in the beginning of the experiment and every 21 days, always in water fasting and 14 hours after the last meal. The pH and the lengths of the half-carcasses were measured in the cool store after the cooling process had been completely finished. The areas of AOL and EGSO were taken from the left half-carcass in the 12th rib. Registrations of time spent with feeding, rumination, rest and water intake were done by visual observations of the animals every five minutes during 24 hours. For determination of feces pH and fecal starch, samples of feces were taken from the rectum of each bovine. There was difference for final weight and metabolic weight (P<0.05). Animals fed the diet DT + BIN (498.43 kg final weight and 93.27 kg metabolic weight) and the diet MGI (481.67 kg final weight and 90.32 kg metabolic weight) were more efficient than the ones fed the diet DT (456.43 kg final weight and 88.52 kg metabolic weight). Dry matter intake was greatest for the animals fed the diet DT+BIN (9.24 kg/day) and MGI (7.34 kg/day) than animals fed the diet DT (6.92 kg/day). When intake was expressed as percentage of bodyweight, the treatment DT + BIN was 20.99% higher than MGI and 26.59% than DT. There was difference (P<0.05) in the weight of fresh carcass (PCQ) and thickness of subcutaneous fat (EGSS). PCQ in the treatment DT + BIN (281.81 kg) was higher than DT (238.2 kg), but did not differ from MGI (268.98 kg). Likewise, EGSS in the diet DT+BIN was 12.36% higher than the diet MGI and 50% higher than the diet DT. There was difference for time spent with mastication, rumination, rest and water intake among diets (P<0.05), except for the time spent with feeding. Times spent for rumination and mastication were higher in the treatment DT + BIN (181.2 and 278.4 min/day), however there was no difference (P>0.05) between the diets MGI (94.2 and 171 min/day) and DT (60 and 148.2 min/day). Times spent for rest and water intake differed among treatments, with means of 436.8 and 4.46 min/day in the diet DT+BIN, 546 and 2.81 min/day in the diet MGI and 568.8 and 4.02 in the diet DT. Means of percentage of fecal starch, fecal dry matter, pH in the site of starch fermentation and starch intake were not influenced by diets (P>0.05). Score of fecal consistency and feces NDF were affected (P<0.05) by treatments, with means of 3.12 and 46.29% in the diet DT+BIN, 2.92 and 35.65% in the diet MGI and 3.2 and 48.97% in the diet DT. The addition of 10% of BIN in high grain diet improves dry matter intake, weight gain and carcass quality. The MGI diet was greater than the DT diet in terms of daily weight gain at 84 days and fresh carcass weight. Times spent for rumination, mastication and feed efficiency (g NDF/h) and (g peNDF/h) were greatest in the diet DT+BIN. The fecal consistency evaluated in the animals belonged to the diet DT+BIN, scored as firm, suggests that these animals presented better ruminal fermentation / O objetivo deste trabalho foi de avaliar os efeitos de dietas de alta proporção de concentrado, sobre os desempenhos e características de carcaça, comportamento ingestivo e indicadores fecais de 20 bovinos Nelore, com idade de 28 meses. As dietas DT+BIN (10% de bagaço de cana in natura , 54,52% de sorgo moído, 10,94% de caroço de algodão, 18% de casca de soja, 2,54% de farelo de soja e 4% de núcleo farelado), MGI (10% de casca de soja, 75% de milho grão e 15% de núcleo peletizado) e DT (44,44% de sorgo moído, 16,70% de caroço de algodão, 28,89% de casca de soja e 10% de núcleo farelado) foram distribuídas aos animais em delineamento inteiramente casualizado em baias individuais. O consumo das dietas e dos nutrientes, foi determinado mediante diferenças entre o oferecido e as sobras. As dietas, depois de pesadas, foram distribuídas aos animais na forma de mistura total em duas refeições diárias, sendo 60% do total às 8h e 40% do total às 17h, permitindo-se sobras de aproximadamente 5% do ofertado. As pesagens dos animais foram realizadas no início do período experimental e a cada 21 dias, sempre em jejum hídrico e alimentar de 14 horas. Foram mensurados o pH e os comprimentos das meias-carcaças no momento da saída das câmaras, após o processo de resfriamento. Da meia-carcaça esquerda foram medidas AOL, EGSO à altura da 12a costela. No registro do tempo gasto em alimentação, ruminação, ócio e ingestão de água foram adotadas observações visuais dos animais a cada cinco minutos, por quatro períodos integrais de 24 horas. Para determinação do pH das fezes e do amido fecal, amostras de fezes foram coletadas do reto de cada bovino. Houve diferença significativa (P<0,05) para as características de ganho de peso final e peso metabólico, sendo que os animais do tratamento DT+BIN peso final (498,43 kg e peso metabólico de 93,27 kg) e os animais do tratamento MGI peso final (481,67 kg e peso metabólico de 90,32 kg) foram mais eficientes do que os animais do tratamento DT com peso final (456,43 kg e peso metabólico de 88,52 kg). No desempenho de características de consumo, os animais que ingeriram as dietas DT+BIN (9,24 kg/dia) e MGI (7,34 kg/dia) foram mais eficientes do que os que consumiram a dieta DT (6,92 kg/dia). O consumo em percentagem do peso vivo do tratamento DT+BIN foi maior em 20,99% em analogia ao tratamento MGI e 26,59% ao DT. Na avaliação da carcaça houve diferença significativa (P<0,05) somente para os atributos, peso de carcaça quente (PCQ) e espessura de gordura subcutânea subjetiva (EGSS). O PCQ do tratamento DT+BIN (281,81 kg) foi superior ao tratamento DT (238,20 kg), e não diferiu do tratamento MGI (268,98 kg). A característica EGSS foi superior para o tratamento DT+BIN em 12,36% quando confrontado ao tratamento MGI e 50% mais elevado quando cotejado ao tratamento DT. Houve diferenças nos tempos usados em mastigação, ruminação, ócio e ingestão de água entre os tratamentos (P<0,05), exceto para o tempo gasto em alimentação. Os tempos empregados em ruminação e mastigação foram maiores para o tratamento DT+BIN (181,20 e 278,40 min/dia), porém, quanto aos tratamentos MGI (94,20 e 171 min/dia) e DT (60 e 148,20 min/dia) não ocorreram diferenças (P>0,05). Os tempos de ócios e ingestões de água diferiram entre si, com valores de 436,80 e 4,46 min/dia para o tratamento DT+BIN, 546,0 e 2,81 min/dia para o tratamento MGI e 568,80 e 4,02 min/dia para o tratamento DT. Os valores médios em percentagem do amido fecal, matéria seca fecal, medida de pH para o local de fermentação do amido e consumo de amido/kg não foram influenciados (P>0,05) pelos tratamentos. O escore de consistência fecal e FDN das fezes foram influênciados (P<0,05) pelos tratamentos com valores de escore e FDN fecal de 3,12 e 46,29% para o tratamento DT+BIN, 2,92 e 35,65% para o tratamento MGI e 3,20 e 48,97% para o tratamento DT. A adição de 10% de BIN em dieta totalmente concentrada, promove melhoria no consumo de MS, g/kg de PV, % de MS em relação ao PV, maior peso e acabamento de carcaça. A dieta de alto grão (MGI) foi superior a dieta de alta proporção de concentrado (DT) para a característica de ganho de peso final aos 84 dias e peso de carcaça quente. O tempo gasto com ruminação, mastigação e a eficiência de alimentação (g FDN/h) e (g de FDNfe/h) foi mais alto para a dieta com adição de BIN. A consistência de fezes avaliada nos bovinos do tratamento DT+BIN com 90% de concentrado e 10% de BIN classificada como firme evidencia que estes animais tiveram uma melhor fermentação ruminal

Quantitative soil ingestion studies employing a mass balance tracer approach have been used to determine soil ingestion rate for use in human health risk assessments (HHRAs). Past studies have focused on soil ingestion in populations living in urban/suburban environments and the results have been highly variable. Moreover, there is a paucity of reliable quantitative soil ingestion data to support human health risk assessments of other lifestyles that may be predisposed to ingesting soil, such as indigenous populations following traditional lifestyles. Thus, the primary objective of the research was to determine if populations following lifestyles typical of traditional land use practices in rural or wilderness areas ingest more soil than populations living in urban or suburban environments. Further, the research investigated the use of alternative mass balance tracers, specifically isotopes of the 238U and 232Th decay series, to reduce soil ingestion estimate variability. Mass balance tracer methods were developed and validated in a pilot canine study, and methods using isotope tracers were adapted to permit quantification of sediment ingestion in the benthic fish Moxostoma macrolepidotum (Shorthead Redhorse Sucker). A pilot human soil ingestion study of 7 subjects from an Aboriginal community in British Columbia was conducted over a 3-week period. The mean soil ingestion rate calculated using the daily means of the 4 elemental tracers with the lowest food-to-soil ratios (i.e., Al, Ce, La, Si) was observed to be approximately 74 mg d-1 (standard deviation 91 mg d-1), The median soil ingestion rate was 60 mg d-1, and the 90th percentile was 196 mg d-1. These soil ingestion rate estimates are higher than those currently recommended for HHRAs of adults, and higher than those obtained in most previous studies of adults. However, the estimates are much lower than the earlier qualitative assessments for subsistence lifestyles (i.e., 330-400 mg d-1). The study results also demonstrated that isotopes of the 238U and 232Th decay series radionuclide are not reliable mass balance tracers for estimating soil ingestion in humans; however, they may be useful for quantifying soil and sediment ingestion in wildlife.

Choisir une source de nourriture adaptée à ses besoins est d'une importance vitale. Cette sélection est basée sur des indices sensoriels mais la valeur nutritive réelle des aliments consommés ne peut être évaluée qu'après son ingestion par les senseurs métaboliques internes. Se rappeler cette valeur requiert un type particulier de mémoire associative car les indices sensoriels présents durant la sélection et la consommation de la nourriture doivent être associés à une information métabolique disponible après un délai. Les mécanismes de ce type d'association restent à décrire. La drosophile représente un modèle de choix pour ce type d'étude car les outils génétiques disponibles permettent la manipulation de l'expression génique et de l'activité neurale avec une grande précision. Associer une odeur avec un sucre chez des drosophiles à jeun induit la formation de mémoire associative à court terme (MCT) qui perdure quelques heures. Si le sucre est énergétique, on observe la formation d'une mémoire associative à long terme (MLT) perdurant plusieurs jours. Nous avons entrepris d'identifier spécifiquement les mécanismes de formation de la MLT appétitive.Nous avons pu démontrer que la formation de la MLT se fait en deux étapes : premièrement une association goût/odeur est formée, puis un rétrocontrôle métabolique intervient de façon différée pour consolider à long terme cette association si l'ingestion est suivie dans les premières heures d'un apport énergétique. Bien que la signalisation AMPc/PKA soit centrale pour les formations de la MCT et de la MLT, cette dernière requiert des réseaux neuronaux différents et fait appel à des acteurs moléculaires de la voie spécifiques. / Food selection according to energetic requirement is crucial. This selection is based on sensory cues, but true nutritious content is evaluated by a post-ingestion mechanism. Remembering this value requires to associate sensory cues available during food selection and consumption with metabolic information available only after a long delay that can exceed one hour. Mechanisms of such associations are poorly known.Drosophila represents a good model for this type of study since available genetic tools allow a fine control of genetic expression and neuronal activity. Association between an odor and sugar in starved flies induces short-term memory formation (STM) lasting for a couple of hours when the sugar is not energetic but induces the formation of long-term memory (LTM) lasting for days when it is energetic. We have tried to identify specific mechanisms of appetitive LTM formation.We showed that LTM formation is a two-step process: first, an odor/taste association is made. Then a delayed metabolic feedback acts in order to consolidate this association into LTM if sugar ingestion is followed by energetic supply within the three first hours. Although cAMP/PKA-signaling pathway is a central process for both STM and LTM formation, the last one involves different neural networks and needs specific molecular actors.

The proposed study examined the relationship between parental anxiety, measured both subjectively (via self-report questionnaires) and objectively (via salivary cortisol) and the child's feeding progress. Children diagnosed with a feeding disorder were recruited with their parents at Our Children's House at Baylor (n=19; 11 females, 8 males). The patients and their parents were housed in the clinic for an eight-week intensive multidisciplinary pediatric feeding disorder treatment program. Calorie intake was recorded daily as outcome measures of treatment progression. Parental anxiety was measured by the Pediatric Inventory for Parents (PIP), state anxiety on the State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and by salivary cortisol at three different time points. The present study attempted to examine whether parental feeding (phase three of treatment program) would continue to cause a decrease in the child's caloric intake. In averaging ten meals prior to parental feeding in comparison to the average of ten meals following parental feeding, there was no significant difference as measured by a t-test. Paired t-tests examined parental anxiety from time one to time two and found that salivary cortisol increased significantly t(15) = -6.07, p = .000 from Time 1 (M = 2.30, SD = 1.64) to Time 2 (M = 5.24, SD = 2.58). This demonstrated that while parental anxiety increased as measured by salivary cortisol, the children continued to make improvements. This may be the result of the multidisciplinary feeding program which encompassed a strong behavioral component and parent training. Even though the current results did not demonstrate a direct relationship between parental stress and caloric intake, parental stress as measured by salivary cortisol did increase.

The efficacy of multidisciplinary inpatient and outpatient treatment for transitioning children with severe pediatric feeding disorders from gastrostomy tube dependency to oral nutrition was investigated utilizing caloric and fluid intakes as an outcome measure. The study involved 29 children ages 12 months to 5 years of age with gastrostomy tube dependency. Treatments were provided by speech therapists, occupational therapist, dietician and psychologist for a 30 day period. Four treatment groups were evaluated and average intakes compared at 4 observation periods including pretreatment, initiation of treatment, completion of treatment at 30 days and 4 month follow-up. Children receiving inpatient treatment for feeding disorders evidenced significant differences in oral caloric intake from pretreatment to discharge than outpatient treatment (p < .01) and wait list control group (p = .04). Oral caloric intake from discharge to 4 month follow up yielded no significant differences indicating treatment gains were maintained. Change in environment and caretaker showed a significant effect for the inpatient group (d = 1.89). Effects of treatment by age and weight at 4 month follow up were also analyzed.

As the demand to improve the fuel efficiency of current commercial aircraft increases, new commercial airliner concepts such as the Blended Wing Body has been researched on and studied in various aspects over the years as an efficient alternative to the conventional transport configuration. One particular aspect of the Blended Wing Body is the use of the propulsive fuselage concept. In this concept, the fuselage boundary layer is ingested by the engine and this is aimed at producing benefits such as improved fuel efficiency, reduced ram drag as well as lower structural weight of the engine. During the ingestion process, the low momentum boundary layer is re-energized by the propulsion system before exiting into the atmosphere. In this way, the ingested flow does not contribute to the wake deficit and hence, the overall drag of the aircraft is reduced. Since thrust equal drag in steady and level flight, and power is equal to thrust multiplied by velocity, the reduction in drag implies a reduction in the power required to drive the vehicle.In essence, the ingestion of the boundary layer which leads to a lower inlet stagnation pressure represents a direct thermodynamic penalty. However, the momentum deficit captured by the engine represents a drag reduction to the aircraft. In this way, the propulsion system performance suffers a decrease in engine efficiency while the aircraft drag is reduced in proportion to the amount of boundary layer flow that is ingested. Therefore, a trade-off exists between the increase in aircraft drag reduction and the decrease in engine performance as more boundary layer is consumed. Another important concern is the significant flow distortion which can lead to increased vibration and fatigue of the fan and compressor blades in particular. This flow distortion is characterized by the distortion coefficient, a standard widely used in the aircraft engine industry. While it was found that the ingestion of the boundary layer can provide a decrease in fuel burn of several percentages, the benefits of boundary layer ingestion have shown to be very sensitive to the magnitude of the fan and duct losses. Hence, it is crucial that fan designers are able to design new rotor blades that are able to withstand the flow distortion while ensuring that engine performance degradation is kept to a minimum in order to maximize the overall gain in fuel efficiency.The main aim of this research is therefore to understand and analyse the rotor performance under both uniform and non-uniform inflow condition. This will then provide insights into the main fluid mechanism affecting rotor performance under such conditions. As such, the early phase of this research was focused on the development of an in-house blade modeller which was then later used in the parametrization and reconstruction of the NASA Rotor 67. Other than the development of the Blade Modeller, this research was also focused on the coupling of an open-source meshing software, SALOME to the Blade modeller which will then allow the user to achieve automated meshing needed for the design optimization process. The main highlight of this thesis is on the detailed analysis of the blade to blade domain as well as the overall rotor performance under non uniform inflow condition.

Coins occasionally cause health problems. These have a wide range of presentations and can affect multiple organ systems. This article presents a review of the medical literature addressing health problems caused by coins. These problems can be categorized as follows: (1) respiratory manifestations of ingested coins, (2) gastrointestinal manifestations of swallowed coins, (3) systemic effects of swallowed coins, (4) clinical management of swallowed coins, (5) allergic manifestations of coin exposure, and (6) miscellaneous health issues related to swallowed coins.