This investigation examined the ability of the self-reported Veterans Specific Activity Questionnaire (VSAQ) and the Yale Physical Activity Survey (YPAS) to predict an individual’s performance on a timed walking assessment. Twenty subjects 65 years of age and older (73.5 ± 4.8) volunteered for the study. There were 13 women and nine men. Subjects participated in an individual interview in which the VSAQ and the YPAS were administered. The subjects then participated in a timed 25 meter walking test (16.5 ± 2.5). The 25 meter walking test was given twice and the times for each individual was averaged. Descriptive analysis of the YPAS demonstrated that the predominant reported level of energy expenditure was used for work activities (50% ± 18.4). The least amount of calories for the entire group was expended in caretaking with a mean percentage of 3.3% (± 6.1). Exercise was the second highest calorie expending category with 21.9% (± 14.0) of total calories. However, recreational activities were a close third with a mean of 17% (± 19.0). Yard work represented 7.8% (± 7.8) of total calories. The mean score for the VSAQ was 7.4 (± 3.4). The regression analysis demonstrated that age, gender, and VSAQ score were significant predictors of physical performance on the walking test (p<0.05) (Time= -1.78 +0.274 Age +2.22 Gender - 0.366 VSAQ). The r-squared value for this was 62.5%. Performance time was significantly predicted by adding the selected values from the YPAS (exercise and work) and the value from the VSAQ (Time= 18.5 - 0.566 VSAQ +0.0568 %Exer + 0.0350 %Work). The r-squared value for this was 52.6%. There was also a significant correlation (p<0.05) between age, time, and performance (r²=0.5). Therefore, the VSAQ appears to be an alternative assessment tool for physical activity in this selected elderly population. / Master of Science

Helicoverpa armigera is an insect, causes important economical losses in crops. To reduce this loss, chemical insecticides such as pyrethroids have been commonly used against H. armigera in farming areas all over the world. However, excess and continuous usages of them cause resistance development in H. armigera. Insects develop resistance against applied insecticides by following three main mechanisms / by reducing the amount of insecticide entering into the insect body, developing insensitivity of the insecticide effective site and increasing detoxification metabolism of insecticides such as increased metabolism of them in midgut tissue of H. armigera. Therefore, changes in differentially expressed midgut proteins were analysed at protein level with two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2D-PAGE) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight-mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) together with examine biochemical activity changes of certain detoxification enzymes such as esterases (EST) and glutathione S-transferases (GST). Moreover, transcriptional level analysis of certain genes from EST and GST systems together with cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (CYP450) system were done with quantitative real-time PCR method, too. According to the comparative proteome analysis, it was found that H. armigera field samples overcome pyrethroid stress mainly by increasing energy metabolism related proteins expressions such as ATP synthase, Vacuolar ATPase A and B and arginine kinase proteins. Furthermore, certain detoxification enzymes such as thioredoxin peroxidase and NADPH cytochrome P450 reductase were up-regulated in Mardin population, suggesting that they were actively participating in response to pyrethroid stress. NADPH cytochrome P450 reductase could play a role in detoxification of toxic pyrethroid metabolites such as 3-phenoxybenzaldehyde. However, while glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) were not found up-regulated in the comparative proteome analysis, biochemical assays (GST-CDNB, GST-DCNB and GST-PNBC) showed significant increases in enzyme activities in the Adana and in the Mardin field population, as compared to the susceptible strain. Furthermore, GST-DCNB and GST-PNBC activities showed significant increase in &Ccedil / anakkale population. As overcoming energy crisis may lead to an increase in oxidative stress, detoxification enzymes (GSTs and thioredoxin peroxidase) might be involved in pathways for eliminating toxic reactive oxygen species such as H2O2. Similarly, although esterases (EST) were not found as differentially expressed, biochemical assays for ESTs showed significant increases in enzymatic activities in the Adana and the Mardin field populations. Thus, ESTs are also proposed to be involved in developing resistance as an initiator of pyrethroid metabolism in H. armigera from Turkey. Quantitative real-time PCR results showed that while CYP9A14 gene expression was up-regulated in all analyzed field populations, CYP9A12 gene expression was up-regulated in both &Ccedil / anakkale and Mardin populations. CYP4S1 gene expression was also up-regulated only in Mardin field population. However, while CYP6B7 gene expression together with CYP9A12 and CYP4S1 genes expressions were down-regulated in Adana population, CYP6B7 gene expression was not significantly changed in both &Ccedil / anakkale and Mardin populations. In addition, GST, GSTX01 and ESTX018 gene expressions were not significantly changed in all field populations in comparison to susceptible population. Therefore, CYP9A14, CYP9A12 and CYP4S1 genes proposed to be involved in detoxification of toxic pyrethroid metabolites possibly through regulation of NADPH cytochrome P450 reductase. In conclusion, it is suggested that one of the main mechanisms of resistance development is increased energy metabolism in the midgut tissue of H. armigera which may be a general prerequisite for compensating the costs of energy-consuming detoxification processes.

タンデトロン加速器質量分析計業績報告 Summaries of Researches Using AMS 2005 (平成17)年度

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / The Uraniferous Province of Lagoa Real, in the region of Caetité, located in midwest Bahia State, is considered the most important uraniferous reserve of Brazil. Because it is a uranium mining region, it is important to be evaluated and monitored in order to obtain information on the chemical composition and concentration of radionuclides in water and soil. In this study we determined the specific activity of some radionuclides in soil and water samples collected in February 2014, when high rainfall in the region. The concentration of the activities of radionuclides 226,228Ra and 234,238U in water samples and radionuclides 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in soil samples were found by different techniques of nuclear spectrometry. The water samples showed higher specific activity (134 + 4) mBq / L for 226Ra and (208 + 9) mBq / L for 228Ra. Concerning the isotopes of uranium, the highest activity in the water was (172 + 10) mBq / L for 238U and (447 + 20) mBq / L for 234U. In the soil samples was noted that especially the 40K was most active. The highest value obtained for this radioactive nuclide was (155 + 11) .10 Bq / kg. In samples sand beaches of Rio de Janeiro and Aracaju, used as a reference, the highest activity was the 232Th with (36.4 + 6.1) Bq / kg, and for the 40K all showed a specific activity of < 50 Bq / kg. The soil samples represented very low specific activity for radionuclides investigated, compared to the values established in the Brazilian criteria for exclusion, exemption and waiver as radiation protection requirement. The effective doses were calculated from the activity concentrations of radioactive nuclides in water and their dose coefficients. Two samples exceeded the limits recommended by the WHO that is 100 mSv / a, (144.2 mSv / a) and (102.2 mSv / a), but both are not ingested by the population. The most effective dose calculated for water samples ingested by the population was 58.6 mSv / a, value within the recommended limit. From the data obtained, it can be concluded that the samples did not indicate a high concentration as TENORM and that there seems to be contamination of Caetité region due handling ore in the region. The presence of radionuclides in the samples is due to the nature of the soil region and the operation of uranium. / A Província Uranífera de Lagoa Real, na região de Caetité e Lagoa Real, situado no centro sul da Bahia, atualmente é considerada a mais importante reserva uranífera do Brasil. Por se tratar de uma região de exploração do minério de urânio, é importante ser avaliada e monitorada para que se obtenham informações da composição química e concentração de radionuclídeos na água e no solo. Neste trabalho determinou-se a atividade específica de alguns radionuclídeos em amostras de águas e solos coletadas em fevereiro de 2014, época de alto índice pluviométrico na região. A concentração das atividades dos radionuclídeos 226,228Ra e 234,238U em amostras de água e dos radionuclídeos 226Ra, 232Th e 40K em amostras de solos foram encontrados por diferentes técnicas de espectrometria nuclear. A amostra de água com maior atividade específica apresentou (134 + 4) mBq/L para 226Ra e (208 + 9) mBq/L para 228Ra. Tratando-se isótopos de urânio, a maior atividade na água foi de (172 + 10) mBq/L para o 238U e de (447 + 20) mBq/L para 234U. Nas amostras de solo foi notado que especialmente o 40K apresentou maior atividade. O maior valor obtido para este nuclídeo radioativo foi (155 + 11).10 Bq/kg. Em amostras de areia de praias do Rio de Janeiro e de Aracaju, usadas como referência, a maior atividade foi do 232Th com (36,4 + 6,1) Bq/kg, sendo que para o 40K todas apresentaram uma atividade específica de < 50 Bq/kg. As amostras de solos representaram muito baixa atividade específica para os radionuclídeos investigados, comparadas aos valores estabelecidos nos critérios brasileiros de exclusão, isenção e dispensa como requisito de proteção radiológica. As doses efetivas foram calculadas a partir das concentrações de atividade dos nuclídeos radioativos encontrados na água e de seus coeficientes de dose. Duas amostras excederam os limites recomendados pela OMS que é de 100 mSv/a, (144,2 mSv/a) e (102,2 mSv/a), mas ambas não são ingeridas pela população. A maior dose efetiva calculada para amostras de água ingeridas pela população foi 58,6 mSv/a, valor dentro do limite recomendado. A partir dos dados obtidos, pode-se concluir que as amostras não indicaram uma concentração elevada como TENORM e que não parece haver contaminação da região de Caetité devido movimentação de minério na região. A presença de radionuclídeos nas amostras de solo se deve à natureza do solo da região e não à exploração de urânio.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a Gram-negative rod, aerobic, non-fermenting, oxidase positive, pigment producing, and nutritionally versatile bacterium. Infections by P. aeruginosa are the most important cause of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients, given virulence factor production that suppresses antibiotic therapy and promotes persistent infection. This research is the first comprehensive report of the pyrimidine biosynthetic pathway for all phases of growth in minimal and rich media coupled with the evaluation of virulence factor production of P. aeruginosa in comparison to four other bacterial species (Pseudomonas putida, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Burkholderia cepacia, and Escherichia coli wild-type strains). Cellular growth and passing genetic information to the next generation depend on the synthesis of purines and pyrimidines, the precursors of DNA and RNA. The pyrimidine biosynthetic pathway is essential and found in most organisms, with the exception of a few parasites that depend upon the pyrimidine salvage pathway for growth. Both the pyrimidine biosynthetic and salvage enzymes are targets for chemotherapeutic agents. In our laboratory, research on pyrimidine auxotrophic mutants showed the role of the pyrimidine biosynthetic pathway and its intermediates on P. aeruginosa metabolism and impaired virulence factors production. The present research shows that pyrimidine enzymes are active in all phases of growth, including the production of two forms of ATCase in the late log phase in P. aeruginosa. This finding may be explained by the displacement of the inactive PyrC' by the active PyrC or PyrC2 to form a new and larger pyrBC encoded ATCase. Pseudomonas aeruginosa wild-type appears to produce by far the most virulence factors, haemolysin, iron chelation, rhamnolipid, adherence, and three types of motility (swimming, swarming, and twitching) investigated in this study, when compared to the other four wild-type strains. Growth analysis was carried out as typically done in minimal medium but also in rich medium to simulate conditions in the blood and lung tissues of humans as P. aeruginosa infections develop.

Nucleoside 5'-Diphosphate Kinase (NdPK EC 2.7.4.6) is an enzyme (phosphotransferase) with extraordinary characteristics due to its unique ability to transfer phosphor groups to interconvert all nucleoside di- and triphosphates as a part of the DNA synthesis. Due to Biovica International AB's use of signaling and complementing enzymes in their in vitro diagnostic (IVD) test assays for Thymidine Kinase activity, an investigation was proposed to evaluate NdPK, which is a complementing enzyme in the assay. The aim of the study was to evaluate the enzymatic turnover of the enzyme NdPK with a spectrophotometric assay to obtain the specific activity (Units/mg solid protein). To determine the specific activity, enzyme kinetic methodology was applied, including the Michaelis-Menten model. In this study, the method is proposed as a general internal control procedure for the company, as a tool for function control of the different purchased enzymes used in their products in development. Results from the study reflects the different methods used to gain the specific activity for NdPK, where they were compared with the already specified specific activity from the manufacturing company. The results were auspicious, but before the method's authorization as an internal quality procedure, a few amendments are in mind. For instance, determining a method for the graphical readings, validating the method for quality control, and investigating if the method is applicable to other complementing enzymes. In conclusion, the method for determining the specific activity of the enzyme NdPK can be done, by executing the procedure of colorimetric enzyme assay.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / Measurements of radioactivity in the environment are of great importance in monitoring and control of radiation levels to which humans are exposed directly or indirectly. Two nuclear power plants are planned in the northeast Brazilian region by the Ministry of Mines and Energy under the National Energy Plan 2030. Even without defining the exact location were these new plants would be built; there is great speculation that new units will soon be built along the banks of the San Francisco River. This region is extremely poor in studies from the standpoint of determining the type of radionuclide and radioactivity in the environment, being practically non-existent in the literature data on the state of Sergipe. This study aimed to contribute to analysis of the occurrence of natural and artificial radioactive material in soil, water and food products of the State of Sergipe, focusing primarily on Neópolis Plateau region, which is located the banks of the Rio San Francisco. For this purpose, radionuclides found in all samples collected from soil and cement, fertilizer and food chain products were analyzed by gamma spectrometry, whose activity was measured employing a HPGe detector. The highest activity was determined due to K-40 (1636 + 35) ´ 10 Bq.kg-1 in KCl fertilizer, and the lowest activity was due to Bi-212 (0.001 + 0.009) Bq.kg-1 in lemon peel. The activities of radionuclides measured in all samples are below the Brazilian criteria for exclusion, exemption and waiver required for protection against radiation. Be-7 was detected in organic fertilizers and lemon peel and Th-232 found in samples of soil and cement in the state of Sergipe, both unprecedented results in the literature. It was also detected Cs-137 in some samples, probably from fertilizers and food additives imported from northern countries, yet their activities do not pose a risk to the population. / Medições de radioatividade no ambiente têm grande importância na monitoração e controle de níveis de radiação a que o homem está exposto, direta ou indiretamente. Duas centrais nucleares são previstas no nordeste pelo Ministério de Minas e Energia segundo o Plano Nacional de Energia 2030. Mesmo sem a definição do local exato onde serão construídas essas novas centrais, há grande especulação que novas unidades serão em breve construídas ao longo das margens do rio São Francisco. Esta região é extremamente pobre em estudos do ponto de vista da determinação do tipo de radionuclídeos e da radioatividade presentes no meio ambiente, sendo praticamente inexistente na literatura dados sobre o Estado de Sergipe. Este trabalho teve por objetivo contribuir com análises da ocorrência de material radioativo natural e artificial no solo, água e produtos alimentícios do Estado de Sergipe, focando a região do Platô de Neópolis, grande produtora de alimentos nesse Estado, e que se localiza as margens do Rio São Francisco. Para este fim, todos os radionuclídeos encontrados nas amostras coletadas de solo e cimento, fertilizantes e produtos da cadeia alimentar foram analisados por espectrometria gama, cuja atividade de foi medida empregando-se um detector HPGe. A maior atividade determinada foi devido ao K-40 (1636 + 35) ´ 10 Bq.kg-1 no fertilizante KCl; e a menor atividade foi devido ao Bi-212 (0,001 + 0,009) Bq.kg-1 na casca de limão. As atividades de radionuclídeos medidos em todas as amostras estão abaixo do limite de brasileiros dos critérios de exclusão, isenção e dispensa exigidos para proteção contra as radiações. Foi detectado Be-7 em adubos orgânicos e casca de limão e Th-232 encontrado em amostras de solo e cimento no estado de Sergipe, ambos os resultados sem precedentes na literatura. Foi também detectado Cs-137 em algumas amostras, provavelmente proveniente de fertilizantes e complementos alimentares importados de países do hemisfério norte; no entanto suas atividades não representam risco para a população.