The concept of maximal oxygen consumption (VO2 max) implies that there is a limit to the amount of oxygen that can be consumed by an organism in a given time. Many attempts have been made to delineate exactly what factor or factors are limiting to VO2 max. Current models focus on the steps over which oxygen must traverse in order to get from the ambient air to the mitochondria. However, no model has addressed the issue of whether or not carbon dioxide flux may impose a limit to VO2 max. Impedance of carbon dioxide flux may have a deleterious effect on intracellular pH, which in turn, may effect mitochondrial oxidative performance.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Ohio University, November, 2009. / Release of full electronic text on OhioLINK has been delayed until December 1, 2014. Title from PDF t.p. Includes bibliographical references.

Regulation of photosynthesis and primary production in globally important cyanobacterium Prochlorococcus marinus under nitrogen and light stress were examined. The study investigated the model describing relationship between photosynthetic activity and primary production. The photosynthetic energy budget and the efficiency of converting the photosynthetic energy into biomass were described. Molecular and physiological approaches were applied to analyse the utilization of photosynthetic energy and regulation of metabolism to investigate the influence of streamlined oxygen-evolving cluster on the photosynthetic activities.

Web mashup is a lightweight technology used to integrate data from remote sources without direct access to their databases. As a data consumer, a Web mashup application creates new contents by retrieving data through the Web application programming interface (API) provided by the external sources. As a data provider, the service program publishes its Web API and implements the specified functions. In the project reported by this thesis, we have implemented two Web mashup applications to enhance the Web site oystersentinel.org: the Perkinsus marinus model and the Oil Spill model. Each model overlay geospatial data from a local database on top of a coastal map from Google Maps. In addition, we have designed a Web-based data publishing service. In this experimental system, we illustrated a successful Web mashup interface that allows outside developers to access the data about the local oyster stock assessment.

Spinal cord injury induces anatomical plasticity throughout the nervous system, including distant locations in the brain. Several types of injury-induced plasticity have been identified, such as neurite sprouting, axon regeneration and synaptic remodeling. However, the molecular mechanisms involved in anatomical plasticity after injury are unclear, as is the extent to which injury-induced plasticity in the brain is conserved across vertebrate lineages. Here, I used lampreys to identify the molecular mechanisms in mediating anatomical plasticity, because lampreys undergo anatomical plasticity and functional recovery after a complete spinal cord transection. Due to their robust roles in neurite outgrowth during neuronal development, I examined synapsin and synaptotagmin for their potential involvement in anatomical plasticity after injury. I found increased synapsin I mRNA throughout the lamprey brain as well as increased protein levels of synapsin I, phospho-synapsin (Ser 9) and synaptotagmin in the lamprey hindbrain after injury, suggestive of anatomical plasticity. Anatomical plasticity was confirmed at the ultrastructural level, where I found increased neurite density in the lamprey hindbrain after injury. Other molecular mechanisms that promote anatomical plasticity have been previously identified, such as cyclic AMP (cAMP). However, the cellular mechanisms and the molecular targets of cAMP in mediating anatomical plasticity are unclear. My investigation of cAMP revealed that cAMP enhanced the number of regenerated axons beyond the lesion site in lampreys after injury. For the first time in a spinal cord injury model, I found cAMP prevented the death of axotomized neurons that normally have a high tendency to die after injury. In addition, cAMP promoted more regenerating axons to re-grow in straighter paths rather than turning rostrally towards the brain stem. At the molecular level, I found cAMP increased synaptotagmin protein level at the regenerating axon tips, suggestive of enhanced axon elongation. Taken together, my results show that neurite sprouting in the brain and the cAMP-enhanced axon regeneration are conserved responses in vertebrates after spinal cord injury. In addition, my results suggest that at least some developmental pathways are activated during injury-induced and cAMP-enhanced anatomical plasticity. Further understanding of these pathways will provide insights for improving recovery after spinal cord injury. / text

Seit etwa 1400 war der Ablass ein Gegenstand des vorreformatorischen landesherrlichen Kirchenregiments. Ablassanbieter im eigenen Territorium wurden gefördert, kirchliche Indulgenzen, deren Geldertrag außer Landes ging, einer strengen Aufsicht unterworfen. Vor allem die großen päpstlichen Ablasskampagnen der Jahre um 1500 standen im Fokus landesherrlicher Überwachung. Ein frühes Beispiel bietet die bislang kaum beachtete Kampagne für den Türkenkreuzzug, die der päpstliche Kollektor Marinus de Fregeno 1457/58 in Mitteldeutschland durchführte. Umfangreiche Akten der kursächsischen Kanzlei zeichnen ein plastisches Bild ihrer Resonanz in der Bevölkerung und liefern Einblick in Motive und Methoden der Ablasskontrolle Kurfürst Friedrichs II. von Sachsen (1428–1464). Das Buch bietet eine Edition dieses einzigartigen Quellenmaterials, analysiert die personellen Netzwerke der Ablassverkündung und beleuchtet die Handlungsspielräume, die sich einem päpstlichen Kommissar zwischen Kooperation und Konflikt mit der Obrigkeit eröffneten. Ein Ausblick auf die weitere Entwicklung der wettinischen Ablasspolitik thematisiert diese als Indikator fürstlicher Kuriennähe, bestimmt ihr Verhältnis zur zeitgenössischen Ablasskritik und bezieht Stellung zur Frage, ob die weltliche Kontrolle die Intensität der Ablassfrömmigkeit bereits vor der Veröffentlichung von Luthers Thesen geschmälert haben könnte.

[Truncated abstract] This study describes the results of a four and a half year investigation examining local regulation of ion transport through pumping epithelial cells. The study focussed on the standard isolated toad skin preparation, made famous by Hans Ussing. Originally, the objective was to perform some simple manipulations on the isolated toad skin, a standard and well-tested epithelial layer, which, according to the literature, was a well-behaved and stable preparation. The purpose of doing these toad skin experiments was to gain familiarity with the experimental techniques, such as measuring the open-circuit voltage (Voc) and the short-circuit current (Isc) across an epithelium. In the process, the experimental information that was obtained was to assist in the development and refinement of a mathematical model of a single pumping epithelial cell . . . Finally, it should be emphasised the toad skin was a convenient tissue model for exploring more general issues such as: (i) how pumping epithelial cells may adjust to changes in the extracellular environment by locally regulating their membrane conductances; (2) how the topology of a cell can influence its function (i.e. the topology can determine whether a cell is optimised for salt transport or water transport). (3) how different cells, with different functions, may be positioned in apposition in a pumping epithelial tissue so that gradients generated by one cell type can be utilised by another. From a broader perspective, it is likely that such issues are also applicable to other pumping epithelia, and ultimately, may assist in understanding how these epithelia function.

No description available.

Submitted by Irvana Coutinho (irvana@ufpa.br) on 2012-06-13T12:20:41Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertacao_AntComposicaoCentesimal.pdf: 857530 bytes, checksum: 1c1d2ed288e685c30c18f545d000f2d1 (MD5) license_rdf: 23898 bytes, checksum: e363e809996cf46ada20da1accfcd9c7 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Irvana Coutinho(irvana@ufpa.br) on 2012-06-13T12:21:01Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertacao_AntComposicaoCentesimal.pdf: 857530 bytes, checksum: 1c1d2ed288e685c30c18f545d000f2d1 (MD5) license_rdf: 23898 bytes, checksum: e363e809996cf46ada20da1accfcd9c7 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2012-06-13T12:21:01Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertacao_AntComposicaoCentesimal.pdf: 857530 bytes, checksum: 1c1d2ed288e685c30c18f545d000f2d1 (MD5) license_rdf: 23898 bytes, checksum: e363e809996cf46ada20da1accfcd9c7 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007 / A espécie Acetes marinus Omori, 1975, possui total aproveitamento alimentar constituindo-se em uma espécie de grande importância nutritiva para a população regional onde ocorre, porém, é muito pouco estudada. Visando contribuir com um melhor aproveitamento deste recurso foram realizadas coletas mensais de A. marinus durantes os meses de janeiro de 2006 a junho de 2007, em duas praias, próximas da cidade de Cametá, no baixo Tocantins. Foram determinadas a composição centesimal (%) e o teor de colesterol (mg/100g) relacionado aos parâmetros ambientais: pH, temperatura e material em suspensão da sub-superfície da água. A caracterização do desenvolvimento ovariano, baseado nas modificações macro e microscópicas. Para essas duas praias o pH médio anual foi de 7,52 ± 0,71, a temperatura foi de 26,57°C ± 1,26, e o material em suspensão foi de 73mg/L ± 65,53. Para a composição centesimal do A. marinus obteve-se: 87,1 % ± 1,1- umidade; 9,8% ±1,3-cinzas; 71% ± 1,8-proteínas; 5,4% ± 2,9-lipídios; 13,7% ± 2,6- carboidratos; 387,6% ± 13,2 Kcal-valor calórico. O teor de colesterol foi de 374,87mg/100g ± 207,08. Foi revelado um grande potencial nutricional, principalmente protéico, desta espécie, porém esta é rica em colesterol. E para o desenvolvimento ovariano foram descritos três estágios de maturação, baseados em quatro diferentes tipos de ovócitos. / The specie Acetes marinus Omori, 1975, have full use as food constituting themselves into a kind of nutritional importance to the regional population, however, it is few studied. To contribute to a better use of this resource were conducted monthly collections of A. marinus during the months of January 2006 to June 2007, in two beaches, near of the Cametá town in low Tocantins river. They were certain the composition centesimal (%) and the content of cholesterol (mg/100g) relating to environmental parameters: pH, temperature and material in suspension of the subsurface water. The characterization of ovarian development, were based on the macro-and microscopic changes. For these two beaches the annual average pH was 7.52 ± 0.71, the temperature was 26.57 ° C ± 1.26, and the material in suspension was 73mg / L ± 65.53. For the composition centesimal of A. marinus got itself: 87.1% ± 1.1- moisture; 9.8% ± 1.3-ash, 71% ± 1.8-protein, 5.4% ± 2.9-lipids; 13.7 % ± 2,6- carbohydrates; 387.6% ± 13.2 kcal - calorific value. The content of cholesterol was 374.87 mg/100g ± 207.08. Was revealed a large potential nutrition, especially protein, for this species, but it is rich in cholesterol. And for developing ovarian were described three stages of maturation, based on four different types of oocytes.

Surfactants are one of the more ubiquitous contaminants in aquatic systems. Their importance as toxic components of pesticide formulations has, however, been largely overlooked. Amphibians particularly, as inhabitants of shallow, temporary and often lentic aquatic environments may be at risk from exposure to these chemicals when they enter aquatic systems. This thesis presents data on the toxicity of surfactants to amphibians. Several experimental exposures were conducted with embryo-larval, tadpole and adult developmental stages of the Australian species- Crinia insignifera, Helcioporus eyrei, Limnodynastes dorsalis and Litoria moorei and the exotic species- Bufo marinus and Xenopus laevis. Animals were variously exposed to glyphosate formulations that contain a high proportion of nonionic surfactants, or commercial pesticide wetting agents (alcohol alkoxylate and nonylphenol ethoxylate (NPE) surfactants). Feeding stage tadpoles of C.insignifera, H. eyrei, L. dorsalis and L. moorei were exposed to three commercial glyphosate formulations, glyphosate isopropylamine and glyphosate acid in static-renewal acute toxicity tests. The 48-h LC50 values for Roundup Herbicide (MON 2139) tested against tadpoles of C. insignifera, H. eyrei, L. dorsalis and L. moorei ranged between 8.1 and 32.2 mg/L (2.9 and 11.6 mg/L glyphosate acid equivalent (ae)), while the 48-h LC50 values for Roundup Herbicide tested against adult and newly metamorphosed C. insignifera ranged from 137-144 mg/L (49.4-51.8 mg/L ae). / Touchdown Herbicide (4 LC-E) tested against tadpoles of C. insignifera, H. eyrei, L. dorsalis and L. moorei was slightly less toxic than Roundup with 48-h LC50 values ranging between 27.3 and 48.7 mg/L (9.0 and 16.1 mg/L ae). Roundup Biactive (MON 77920) was practically non-toxic to tadpoles of the same four species producing 48-h LC50 values of 911 mg/L (328 mg/L ae) for L. moorei and >1000 mg/L (>360 mg/L ae) for C. insignifera, H. eyrei and L. dorsalis. Glyphosate isopropylamine was practically non-toxic producing no mortality amongst tadpoles of any of the four species over 48 h, at concentrations between 503 and 684 mg/L (343 and 466 mg/L ae). The toxicity of technical grade glyphosate acid (48-h LC50, 81.2-121 mg/L) is likely to be due to acid intolerance. Feeding stage tadpoles of B. marinus, X laevis, C. insignifera, H.eyrei, L. dorsalis and L. moorei were exposed to NPE and alcohol alkoxylate in static renewal acute toxicity tests. All species exhibited non-specific narcosis following exposure to both these surfactants. The 48-h EC50 values for NPE ranged between 1.1 mg/L (mild narcosis) and 12.1 mg/L (full narcosis). The 48-h EC50 values for alcohol alkoxylate ranged between 5.3 mg/L (mild narcosis) and 25.4 mg/L (full narcosis). Xenopus laevis was the most sensitive species tested. The sensitivity of the other five species was size dependent with larger species displaying greater tolerance. Replicate acute toxicity tests with B. marinus exposed to NPE at 30 degrees celsius over 96 hours indicated that the narcotic effects were not particularly time dependant. / The mean 24, 48, 72 and 96-h EC50 (mild narcosis) were 3.6, 3.7, 3.5 and 3.5 mg/L respectively. The mean 24, 48, 72, and 96-h EC50 (full narcosis) values were 4.0, 4.1, 4.2 and 4.0 respectively. Acute toxicity tests with B. marinus exposed to NPE at 30 degrees celsius under conditions of low dissolved oxygen (0.8-2.3 mg/L) produced a two to threefold increase in toxicity. The 12-h EC50 values ranged from 1.4 to 2.2 mg/L. The embryotoxicity of NPE was determined in X. laevis, L. adelaidensis and C. insignifera using a Frog Embryo Teratogenesis assay-Xenopus (FETAX). The 96-h LC50, EC50 and MCIG (LOEC) values for X. laevis were 3.9 to 5.4 mg/L, 2.8 to 4.6 mg/L and 1.0 to 3.0 mg/L respectively. The 140-h LC50, ECSO and MCIG values for L. adelaidensis were 9.2 mg/L, 8.8 mg/L and 5.1 to 6.0 ing/L respectively. The 134-h LC50, EC50 and MCIG values for C. insignifera were 6.4 mg/L, 4.5 mg/L and 4.0 mg/L respectively. Teratogenicity indices for the three species ranged between 1.0 and 1.6 indicating either no or low teratogenicity. Xenopus laevis was the more sensitive of the three species and the only species that displayed indisputable terata. The acute toxicity data indicated that the amphibian species tested were of similar sensitivity to fish and some invertebrates. Developmental retardation and oestrogenic effects following exposure to nonylphenol ethoxylate were indicated by sublethal toxicity tests. Crinia insignifera embryos were exposed during early embryogenesis to sublethal concentrations of NPE. / Exposure to NPE did not affect either weight nor size (snout-vent length) at metamorphosis. Exposure to 5.0mg/L NPE resulted in a significant delay in the time required to reach metamorphosis. Also, exposure to 3.0 mg/L NPE for the first 6 days of embryonic development or exposure to 5.0 mg/L NPE from day 2 to day 6 resulted in a statistically significant predominance in the female phenotype amongst metamorphosing froglets. Exposure for the first five days to 1.5 ing/L or 3.0 mg/L NPE had no effect on sex ratio. The results indicated that exposure to NPEs has endocrine disruptive effects in this species and that a narrow window of susceptibility exists for the induction of predominantly female phenotype. This study has also followed the degradation of a mixture of NPE oligomers and the concomitant formation of individual oligomers in static die-away tests with and without illumination in freshwater. Over 33 days in darkness there was a progressive and complete loss of long chain oligomers (NPEO(subscript)8-17), transient increases and subsequent loss of short to medium chain oligomers (NPE0(subscript)4-7), and large persistent increases (approximately 1000%) in short chain oligomers (NPE0(subscript)1-3). In the presence of illumination, biodegradation was retarded and heterotrophic bacterial proliferation was inhibited. After 33 days there was complete loss of long chain oligomers (NPE0(subscript)9-17), incomplete loss of medium chain oligomers (NPE0(subscript)6.8) and increases in short chain oligomers (NPE0(subscript)1-5). / This thesis discusses the importance of persistent metabolites of NPE degradation as it pertains to the habitat, developmental time frame and ecology of amphibians. Degradation of NPE is likely to occur over a time frame that is longer than that required for complete embryogenesis and metamorphosis of many species of amphibians, and may easily encompass those critical stages of development during which oestrogenic metabolites can affect development.