Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), immunohistochemistry, electrophysiological recording, and intraneuronal injection of the neuronal tracer biocytin were integrated in a study of the functional expression of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) receptors in the guinea pig enteric nervous system. RT-PCR revealed expression of CRF1 receptor mRNA, but not CRF2, in both myenteric and submucosal plexuses. Immunoreactivity for the CRF1 receptor was distributed widely in the myenteric plexus of the stomach and small and large intestine and in the submucosal plexus of the small and large intestine. CRF1 receptor immunoreactivity was coexpressed with calbindin, choline acetyltransferase, and substance P in the myenteric plexus. In the submucosal plexus, CRF1 receptor immunoreactivity was found in neurons that expressed calbindin, substance P, choline acetyltransferase, or neuropeptide Y. Application of CRF evoked slowly activating depolarizing responses associated with elevated excitability in both myenteric and submucosal neurons. Histological analysis of biocytin-filled neurons revealed that both uniaxonal neurons with S-type electrophysiological behavior and neurons with AH-type electrophysiological behavior and Dogiel II morphology responded to CRF. The CRF-evoked depolarizing responses were suppressed by the CRF1/ CRF2 receptor antagonist astressin and the selective CRF1 receptor antagonist NBI27914 and were unaffected by the selective CRF 2 receptor antagonist antisauvagine-30. The findings support the hypothesis that the CRF1 receptor mediates the excitatory actions of CRF on neurons in the enteric nervous system. Actions on enteric neurons might underlie the neural mechanisms by which stress-related release of CRF in the periphery alters intestinal propulsive motor function, mucosal secretion, and barrier functions.

The synchronization of flight mechanics with respiration and echolocation call emission by bats, while economizing these behaviors, presumably puts compressive loads on the cartilaginous rings that hold open the respiratory tract. Previous work has shown that during postnatal development of Artibeus jamaicensis (Phyllostomidae), the onset of adult echolocation call emission rate coincides with calcification of the larynx, and the development of flight coincides with tracheal ring calcification. In the present study, I assessed the level of reinforcement of the respiratory system in 13 bat species representing six families that use stereotypical modes of echolocation (i.e. duty cycle % and intensity). Using computed tomography, the degree of mineralization or ossification of the tracheal rings, cricoid, thyroid and arytenoid cartilages were determined for non-echolocators, tongue clicking, low-duty cycle low-intensity, low-duty cycle high-intensity, and high-duty cycle high-intensity echolocating bats. While all bats had evidence of cervical tracheal ring mineralization, about half the species had evidence of thoracic tracheal ring calcification. Larger bats (Phyllostomus hastatus and Pterpodidae sp.) exhibited more extensive tracheal ring mineralization, suggesting an underlying cause independent of laryngeal echolocation. Within most of the laryngeally echolocating species, the degree of mineralization or ossification of the larynx was dependent on the mode of echolocation system used. Low-duty cycle low-intensity bats had extensively mineralized cricoids, and zero to very minor mineralization of the thyroids and arytenoids. Low-duty cycle high-intensity bats had extensively mineralized cricoids, and patches of thyroid and arytenoid mineralization. The high-duty cycle high-intensity rhinolophids and hipposiderid had extensively ossified cricoids, large patches of ossification on the thyroids, and heavily ossified arytenoids. The high-duty cycle high-intensity echolocator, Pteronotus parnellii, had mineralization patterns and laryngeal morphology very similar to the other low-duty cycle high-intensity mormoopid species, perhaps suggesting relatively recent evolution of high-duty cycle echolocation in P. parnellii compared with the Old World high-duty cycle echolocators (Rhinolophidae and Hipposideridae). All laryngeal echolocators exhibited mineralized or ossified lateral expansions of the cricoid for articulation with the inferior horn of the thyroid, these were most prominent in the high-duty cycle high-intensity rhinolophids and hipposiderid, and least prominent in the low-duty cycle low-intensity echolocators. The non-laryngeal echolocators had extensively ossified cricoid and thyroid cartilages, and no evidence of mineralization/ossification of the arytenoids or lateral expansions of the cricoid. While the non-echolocators had extensive ossification of the larynx, it was inconsistent with that seen in the laryngeal echolocators.

The focus of this thesis is to investigate the role of voice pitch (the perception of fundamental frequency and/or corresponding harmonics) and apparent vocal tract length (VTL-the perception of the vocal tract resonances i.e. formant frequencies) in perceptions of trustworthiness and other related social attributions. Past research has found that women trust men with relatively higher pitched voices as long-term romantic partners. People with relatively higher pitched voices are also judged as more cooperative than people with relatively lower pitched voices. However, women choose men with relatively lower pitched voices when asked to select which leaders are more trustworthy and make better economic decisions. In study 1, I used “The Trust Game” to determine whether women trust men with higher or lower pitched voices to evenly divide a sum of money. Women trusted men with relatively higher pitched voices more often. Thus, even though men with lower pitched voices are more often elected to office, and are CEOs of larger companies that make more money, women trust men with relatively low pitched voices less than men with relatively high pitched voices to equitably distribute money. Surprisingly, no studies have examined the relationship between VTL and trust, but one recent study examined the relationship between VTL and perceptions of cooperation. In study 2, I was the first to test the role of voice pitch and VTL on perceptions of trust and cooperation. In general, people with higher frequency voices (high pitch and a shorter VTL) were relatively more cooperative and trustworthy than people with lower frequency voices (low pitch and a longer VTL). Despite correlations between the effects of voice frequency manipulations on ratings of trustworthiness and cooperativeness, the amount to which people thought pitch and VTL affected cooperativeness and trustworthiness was different enough to determine that these two constructs overlap, but are not synonymous. Together, these studies show that despite the fact that masculine men tend to win political elections and run large and successful companies, they are viewed as uncooperative and untrustworthy. Future research should investigate if those who win political elections and run successful companies do so because they keep more than their fair share of money. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

No description available.

No description available.

Complex medication regimens have major implications on patient therapy. When we consider that these regimen therapies can also be further convoluted by co-morbidity, it is then seen as an essential opportunity to research possible solutions to alleviate such complications. Globally identified conditions such as the Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV) and Tuberculosis (TB) are known to have such complications within their respective regimens. In many cases, the regimental therapies themselves are overbearing with high pill burdens having to be taken in segregated manners throughout the day. Within a standard TB regimen, isoniazid and rifampicin are seen to have a deleterious drug-drug interaction in which the bioavailability is compromised through formation of an insoluble complex. Despite this interaction, the 2 active drugs must be taken concurrently for successful TB therapy. No true solution exists as fixed dose combinations of isoniazid and rifampicin (Rifinah®) are still in production despite the detrimental interaction that impedes successful bioavailability. The once daily multi-unit drug delivery system (ODMUS) has the benefits of superseding the described problems and aiding in therapeutic outcomes. Preliminary studies utilized preliminary testing to ascertain the science surrounding the 2 components of the ODMUS, the memblet and the multiparticulate components. pH-sensitive polymers (Eudragit® L100-55 and E 100) were of critical importance to the success of the system and were individually manipulated for each component to produce a novel memblet and multiparticulate system through a unique salting out approach. Primary studies focused on drug release testing and drug entrapment for the multiparticulate component. Testing of the memblet system addressed dissolution and thermal analysis. Utilizing this data, a series of process variables were used to achieve an optimized formulation through a Box- Behnken statistical design. Optimized formulations used response testing to establish the optimal characteristics of both components. Multiparticulates achieved controlled release for 12 hours with an enhanced 71% drug entrapment efficiency. Memblet release profiles were confirmed over 2 hours with a maximal Tg of 56°C. Molecular modeling corroborated release understanding for both components. Surface area and porosity analysis, surface morphology, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy as well as thermal, rheological and mechanical analysis were additional tests undertaken on the optimized formulations. In vivo analysis was the final testing to verify validity of the ODMUS components and utilized a pig model for the investigation. UPLC blood analysis revealed increase blood levels of INH (CmaxINH= 0.0138ng/mL) and RIF (CmaxRIF= 0.052ng/mL) in relation to conventional dosage forms validating segregated site-specific release and increased bioavailability. Ideally, a segregated means of drug delivery throughout the gastrointestinal tract was achieved such that an enhanced bioavailability, a more controlled release and a simplified medication regimen was produced. This study aimed to achieve said goals through novel technique analysis, innovation and globally approved science to critically assess the success of the ODMUS as a potential means to reduce the complexities of medication regimen therapy.

The animal phylogeny and feeding habits would affect the composition of gastrointestinal tract¡]GI tract¡^microbiota. GI tract microbiota plays an important role in host health and nutrient provision. In this study, we used PCR-DGGE and bacterial 16S rDNA sequencing to analyze the GI tract bacterial diversity of four animals with different feeding habits in Shou-Shan zoo, including one carnivore, one omnivore and two herbivores, in which one ruminant and one non-ruminant. The results show a great difference between GI tract bacterial diversity of the four animals. The abundance of GI tract bacterial diversity increased from carnivore, omnivore to herbivore. Comparing the similarity of the GI tract bacterial community structures of these four animals, the carnivore possessed the most different composition, to other animals, the next was the omnivore, while the two herbivores show the highest similarity to each other. Our results also indicated that the GI tract microbiota of these four different animals were very stable during the investigating period. We also found that two individuals of the same species had a very similar bacterial compositions in their GI tracts at different time point. This finding indicated that the bacterial compositions of GI tract in the four animals were affected mostly by the host phylogeny and their feeding habits. Moreover, according to bacterial 16S rDNA sequencing and idencification, results show that the Firmicutes were the dominant bacterial phyum in all four animals GI tracts, the amount of Bacteroides was much less than Firmicutes. This result might caused by the highly starch content in their feed. Large amount of carbohydrate-degrading, protein-degrading, lipid-degrading bacteria were found in all of these different animals. Fiber-degrading bacteria Fibrobacteres were identified in the GI tracts of the herbivores and omnivore, but not the carnivore, showing that GI tract microbiota plays an important role to provide nutrient and assist energy to the host.

Thesis--Odense. / Summary in Danish. Includes bibliographical references (p. 136-[147]) and index.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karol. inst., 2002. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karolinska institutet, 2006. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.