This study was conducted to test the silver spoon hypothesis that earlylife nutritional conditions impact development, performance and fitness of the birdsgreat tit (Parus major) nestlings. We investigated whether fatty acid affects immunityand metabolism during the altricial period by examining the expressions of geneTLR4 (immunity related) and COX 2 (metabolism related) against a dietarymanipulation on great tit nestlings in urban vs. rural environments. The resultssuggested that arachidonic acid had no significant effect on TLR4 expression, but atendency to induce immune response, regardless of urban or rural conditions. Thestrength of immune response was however negatively correlated with laying date. Theurban great tit nestlings had a higher COX 2 gene expression than rural ones, andarachidonic acid suppressed COX 2.Thus no strong support to the hypothesis was found for the studied great titpopulations. It showed, however, i) there is a tendency of increasing immune responsewith extra fatty acid in the diet, and ii) arachidonic acid suppress metabolism. Fattyacid involved in a multiple physiological processes and this complex need to beelaborated in future studies.

Dissertation submitted to the in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master's Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, Technikon Natal, 1997. / Sacroiliac syndrome is a painful, debilitating condition that may cause considerable discomfort (Haldeman 1992), it is a common condition causing low back pain (Mierau, et al 1984, Guo and Zhao 1994), it is also believed by Bernard and Cassidy (1991) to be a frequently overlooked source of low back pain. Between 9 and 19.5 % of all sickness absence days are due to low back pain (Andersson 1981) / M

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Kyoto University (京都大学) / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(工学) / 甲第14624号 / 工博第3092号 / 新制||工||1460(附属図書館) / 26976 / UT51-2009-D336 / 京都大学大学院工学研究科電気工学専攻 / (主査)教授 引原 隆士, 教授 北野 正雄, 准教授 山田 啓文 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当

M.Tech. / Purpose: Heachaches are a very common complaint among society today, and as a result there are a vast number of individuals seeking medical treatment specifically for headaches (Alix and Bates, 1999). The impact that headaches have on a patients quality of life far exceeds that of other conditions such as osteoarthritis and hypertension. Primary headaches such as Cervicogenic, Cluster and Tension-type headaches have no specific underlying cause. However, it has been shown that spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) can be used as an effective tool in the treatment of these primary headaches (Brontford, Assendelft, Evans, Haas, and Bouter, 2001; Khoury, 2000 and Vernon, 1995). A Cervicogenic Headache is defined by the North American Cervicogenic Society (NACHS) as referred pain perceived in any region of the head caused by a primary nociceptive source in the musculoskeletal tissues innervated by cervical nerves. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of upper cervical spine manipulation in conjunction with Interferential current and Ultrasound therapy, compared to upper cervical spine manipulations alone as a treatment protocol for Cervicogenic headaches. Method: This study consisted of two groups; both Group 1 and Group 2 consisted of 15 participants with Cervicogenic headaches. The participants were between the ages of 18 and 55 years. Potential participants were examined and accepted based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Group 1 received spinal manipulative therapy over restricted segments in the upper cervical spine C1-C3 levels. Group 2 received a combination treatment with Interferential current and Ultrasound therapy over active myofascial trigger points in the Posterior Cervical muscles in conjunction with spinal manipulative therapy over restricted segments in the upper cervical spine C1-C3 levels. Objective and subjective findings were based on the treatments. Procedure: The participants received six treatments in total over a three week period that is two treatments a week for three weeks followed by a seventh consultation visit where only subjective and objective measurements was taken. The participants completed a Numerical Pain Rating Scale and Headache Disability Index Questionnaire. Algometer readings were taken over the most sensitive trigger point in the Posterior Cervical muscles. Group 1 received spinal manipulative therapy over restricted segments in the upper cervical spine and Group 2 received a ten minute combination treatment with Interferential current and Ultrasound therapy over active myofascial trigger points in the Posterior Cervical muscles in conjunction with spinal manipulative therapy over restricted segments in the upper cervical spine. The same treatment procedures were administered over the study; subjective and objective readings were only taken at visits 1, 4 and 7. Results: In terms of objective measurements based on the pressure Algometer readings, a statistically significant difference was revealed within both Group 1 and Group 2 individually over time. No statistically significant difference in muscle sensitivity between the two groups over time was revealed. However, Group 1 showed a larger overall clinically significant difference in Posterior Cervical muscle sensitivity. In terms of subjective measurements based on the Headache Disability Index Questionnaire scores, a statistically significant difference was revealed within both Group 1 and Group 2 individually over time. No statistically significant difference in terms of intensity, duration and frequency of the headaches between the groups over time was revealed. However, Group 1 had a greater clinical reduction in intensity, duration and frequency of headaches when compared to Group 2. In terms of subjective measurements based on the Numerical Pain Rating Scale scores, a statistically significant difference was revealed within both Group 1 and Group 2 individually over time. A statistically significant difference in terms of intensity of the headaches between the groups over time was revealed. The overall clinical improvement was similar for both groups however Group 1 had a slightly greater clinical reduction in headache intensity when compared to Group 1. Conclusion: Both groups showed an overall improvement in the headache symptoms as well as Posterior Cervical muscle sensitivity; however Group 1 showed a greater clinical improvement when compared to Group 2.

M.Tech.

M.Tech. (Chiropractic) / The purpose of this study was to compare the immediate effect of upper versus lower cervical manipulation on the vertebral artery blood flow in asymptomatic individuals. Thirty patients of both genders between the ages of 18-45 years of age, volunteered to participate in this study. Each participant presented with at least one upper and one lower rotary cervical facet restriction. Each participant was randomly placed into either Group 1 whom received upper cervical manipulation, or Group 2 whom received lower cervical manipulation. Any participants who presented with positive VBAI signs or symptoms were excluded from this study. The Medison SonoAce 8000 Ultrasound System was used to objectively measure the blood flow as close to C1-C2 region as possible, contralateral to the side of the adjustment contact. Three measurements were recorded in total which included neutral, pre-manipulation and post-manipulation. As this study included asymptomatic participants, no subjective data was collected. Statistical analysis was performed where the intragroup analysis was done using the Paired Sample t-test and inter-group analysis was done using the Independent Samples t-test to check for statistically significant results less than the p-value of 0.05. There were no statistically significant results found in Group 1 and Group 2 in isolation in the intragroup analysis as well as when compared in the intergroup analysis. Upper cervical manipulation resulted in a slight percentage increase in mean blood flow velocity. Lower cervical manipulation resulted in a decreased end diastolic blood flow velocity after manipulation which indicated the possibility of vertebrobasilar occlusion, however, it did not result in much change with regards to mean blood flow velocity. In addition, upper as well as lower cervical v manipulation had a minimally insignificant dilating effect on the diameter of the upper vertebral artery which may have been due to reflex vasodilation. This study demonstrated no statistically significant changes in isolation in the intragroup analysis as well as when compared in the intergroup analysis. Lower cervical manipulation did however have a moderate influence on the upper vertebral artery blood flow but overall was still less stressful in comparison to upper cervical manipulation. Additional studies are suggested to clarify these findings further.

Ce mémoire décrit la conception, la modélisation et la commande d’un manipulateur pneumatique,fondé sur un principe de traction aérodynamique original. De puissants jets d’air verticauxpermettent de créer un flux d’air horizontal pour manipuler des objets sans contact. Les objetssont maintenus en constante lévitation sur la surface grâce à un coussin d’air, et peuvent positionnés selon trois degrés de libert´ du plan, grâce à la combinaison adéquate et distribuéede jets d’air verticaux. Nous détaillons la conception d’un prototype original de manipulateurexploitant ce principe fluidique. Ce prototype a été intégré dans une plate-forme expérimentaleafin de valider le principe de manipulation : le système permet de déplacer des objets à unevitesse atteignant 180 mm/s. Nous avons modélisé le fonctionnement de la surface selon plusieursméthodes. Un premier modèle comportemental, fond´e sur des données expérimentales, aété établi. Il permet de simuler l’´evolution de la position d’un objet sur la surface, selon un degréde liberté . Deux modèles de connaissance, fond´es sur une étude aérodynamique fondamentale,donnent l’´evolution de la position de l’objet selon respectivement deux et trois degrés de libertédu plan. Chacun des modèles a été validé expérimentalement. Nous avons synthétisé différentscontrˆoleurs afin d’asservir la position de l’objet : un premier, de type PID, et un second, de typerobuste (méthode H1). La commande de un, puis deux degrés de liberté du système, a permisd’atteindre de bonnes performances : temps de réponse d’environ 2 s et dépassement souventinférieur à 5%. Nous avons également étudié un micro-manipulateur pneumatique permettant ded´eplacer des objets de taille millimétrique selon deux directions, grâce à des jets d’air inclinés.Ces objets peuvent atteindre des vitesses de 123 mm/s. La résolution du positionnement estinférieure à 0.4 μm. / This thesis presents the design, the modeling and the control of a pneumatic manipulatorbased on an original aerodynamic traction principle. An horizontal air flow is induced by strongvertical air jets in order to manipulate objects without contact. The objects are maintained inconstant levitation on an air cushion. Three degrees of freedom positioning of the objects canbe realized thanks to the right combination of distributed air jets. The design of an originalmanipulator using this aerodynamic principle is detailed. The device has been integrated in anexperimental setup in order to validate the manipulation principle : objects can reach velocityof 180 mm/s. Several models of the system have been established. A first model, based on experimentaldata, gives the evolution of the 1 DOF-position of an object on the device. Twoother models, based on a fundamental aerodynamic study, respectively give the evolution of the2- and 3-DOF position of the objet. The three models have been validated experimentally. Inorder to control the position of the object, different controllers have been designed : a PID oneand a robust H1 one. The control of one and two degrees of freedom of the device gives goodperformances : settling time of around 2 s and overshoot less than 5% in most of the cases. Wehave also studied a micro-manipulator that is able to position millimetric sized objects, in twodirections, thanks to inclined air jets. Objects can reach velocity of 123 mm/s, and the resolutionof the positioning is less than 0.4 μm.

Dans ce travail, nous analysons le concept de manipulation à travers une théorie élargie qui inclut le réalisme des entités et la théorie causale de la manipulation. Dans une seconde étape, nous appliquons cette théorie à plusieurs expériences scientifiques. Cette thèse est articulée autour de quatre parties : Dans la Partie I nous exposons le concept de manipulation. Nous examinons le réalisme structurel en mettant l’accent sur ses difficultés concernant particulièrement les incertitudes ontologiques de la physique. Cet examen du réalisme structurel nous permettra de développer un réalisme des entités qui est susceptible de constituer une alternative au réalisme structurel.La partie II est consacrée aux aspects clés du réalisme des entités, c’est-à-dire ses fondements, ses arguments ainsi qu’une définition aussi précise que possible du concept de manipulation.Dans la partie III, nous élaborons une théorie générale de la manipulation/intervention qui est basée sur le réalisme des entités et la théorie de Woodward sur l’intervention, l’invariance et la profondeur de l’explication des évènements causaux. Nous allons développer trois éléments : 1-un système des conditions de l’intervention, 2- une typologie de l’intervention, 3-l’intervention probabiliste. Ce dernier type de l’intervention est applicable à l’expérience EPR. Dans la partie IV- Nous appliquons cette théorie à cinq expériences scientifiques : l’expérience EPR, l’expérience de l’électrodynamique quantique en cavité, l’expérience sur l’effet Zeeman, l’expérience du Tevatron (collisions de protons) et la dernière est non des moindres, est une expérience d’astrophysique (ondes gravitationnelles). Dans chacune de ces expériences, notre théorie a trouvé une application réussie. Toutes les conditions de l’intervention sont applicables sur les cinq expériences et une typologie bien définie de l’intervention a été élaborée et qui met en évidence les résultats de l’intervention dans les différentes séquences de ces expériences.Par conséquent, notre théorie de la manipulation reflète une utilité authentique et réelle dans différent domaines de la physique et de l’astrophysique. Un pareil résultat est important tenant compte du rôle de la manipulation expérimentale pour la science moderne. / In this work, we analyze the concept of manipulation through a comprehensive theory which includes the entity realism and the causal theory of manipulation. At the second stage, we implement this theory to several scientific experiments. It is divided into four parts:In Part I, we will have a long journey until we will reach the true concept of manipulation. We analyze the structural realism and we explore its difficulties regarding ontological problems of physics. Our survey of structural realism enables to open a new way to developing entity realism instead of structural realism.Part II will be dedicated to the core aspect of entity realism such as its foundations, its arguments and our aim to reach a global definition of manipulation concept.In Part III I will achieve my aim which is elaborating a global theory of manipulation/intervention based on entity realism and the Woodward theory of intervention, invariance and depth explanation of causal events. We will develop three items : 1- a system of intervention conditions 2-a typology of intervention, 3-probabilistic intervention. Such type of intervention is applicable to EPR experiment. In Part IV, we implement our theory to five scientific experiments: EPR experiment, electrodynamics cavity experiment, Zeeman effect experiment, Tevatron experiment (collision of protons) and last but not least an astrophysical experiment (gravitational waves).In each case, our theory is successful. All intervention conditions are applicable to our five experiments and a well defined typology of intervention is developed based on intervention results through different stages of those experiments. Therefore, the theory of manipulation shows a real and genuine application in different domains of physics and astrophysics. Such result is important regarding the role of manipulation in modern science.

Dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master's Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, Technikon Natal, 1999. / To investigate the efficacy of adjusting the ankle in the treatment of subacute and chronic grade I and II ankle inversion sprains. The researcher hypothesised that adjusting a symptomatic ankle, in terms of the above, would result in a more significant improvement than that of a placebo treatment / M