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1
Diaz, Pedro, and Grant Skrepnek. "Marginal Tax Rates and Innovative Activity in the Biotech Sector." The University of Arizona, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/614244.
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Class of 2013 AbstractSpecific Aims: To assess the association between marginal tax rates (MTR) and innovative output of biotechnology firms. The MTR plays an important role in firms’ financing choices. Assessment of a firm’s tax status may reveal how firms decide on investment policies that affect R&D. Methods: A retrospective database analysis was used. Subjects included were firms within the biotechnology sector with the Standard Industrial Classification code of 2836 from 1980 - 2011. MTR Data was obtained from the S&P Compustat database, and Patent data was obtained from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Changes in MTR’s on outcomes of patents were analyzed by performing an inferential analysis. Generalized estimating equations (GEE) were used, specifically utilizing a GEE regression with a negative binomial distributional family with log link, independent correlation structure and robust standard error variance calculation. Patents were regressed by the lagged change in MTR, after interest deductions. Main Results: The lag years 2 and 5 of the MTR change were statistically significant, (p = 0.031) and (p = 0.026) for each model respectively. Every one unit increase in the change of the MTRs was associated with large and significant drops in patents 78.8% (IRR = 0.212), 90.7% (IRR = 0.093), 92.7% (IRR = 0.073) at year 2 lag and 84.8% (IRR = 0.152), 92.6% (IRR = 0.074) at year 5 lag. Conclusion: An increase in the change of the MTR results in significant drops in patenting activity.
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Fullmer, Matthew Osden. "Physical Activity Rates and Motivational Profiles of Adolescents While Keeping a Daily Leisure-Time Physical Activity Record." BYU ScholarsArchive, 2016. https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/5693.
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The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between keeping a daily leisure-time physical activity record and adolescent (a) feelings of competence toward leisure-time physical activity, (b) motivational profiles toward leisure-time physical activity, and (c) leisure-time physical activity behaviors. Participants were 124 junior high and high school physical education (PE) students. Students completed the Behavioural Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire–2, the Godin Leisure–Time Exercise Questionnaire, the Perceived Competence Scale, and were assigned to keep an online leisure-time physical activity record for three weeks as part of their regular PE class. A 2 (gender) x 4 (trials) repeated measures ANCOVA was used to examine the relationships between recording compliance and the variables of perceived competence, motivation, and physical activity. Results showed a significant interaction between recording compliance and leisure-time physical activity. As students kept the leisure-time physical activity record, boys' leisure-time physical activity levels significantly increased and girls' leisure-time physical activity levels significantly decreased. Also, a significant interaction between recording compliance and introjected regulation was found. The more students recorded the less motivated they were by guilt and obligation to exercise in their leisure time. Lastly a significant interaction was found between recording compliance and intrinsic regulation, showing that the more students recorded the more intrinsically motivated they were to exercise in their leisure time. Implications and suggestions are set forth for PE professionals.
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Moore, Sarah Letitia. "The effects of an oral reading activity on rates of oral reading." The Ohio State University, 2007. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1186828829.
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Shelile, Teboho. "The term structure of interest rates and economic activity in South Africa." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002729.
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Many research papers have documented the positive relationship between the slope of the yield curve and future real economic activity in different countries and different time periods. One explanation of this link is based on monetary policy. The forecasting ability of the term spread on economic growth is based on the fact that interest rates reflect the expectations of investors about the future economic situation when deciding about their plans for consumption and investment. This thesis examined the predictive ability of the term structure of interest rates on economic activity, and the effects of different monetary policy regimes on the predictive ability of the term spread. The South African experience offers a unique opportunity to examine this issue, as the country has experienced numerous monetary policy frameworks since the 1970s. The study employed the Generalised Method Moments technique, since it is considered to be more efficient than Ordinary Least Squares. Results presented in this thesis established that the term structure successfully predicted real economic activity during the entire research period with the exception of the last sub-period (2000-2004) when using the multivariate model. In the periods of financial market liberalisation and interest rates deregulation the term structure was found to be a better predictor of economic activity in South Africa. These findings emphasise the importance of considering the prevailing economic environment in testing the term structure theory.
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Shrestha, Sushma. "Devaluation and aggregate economic activity in Asian developing countries /." View online, 2008. http://repository.eiu.edu/theses/docs/32211131464729.pdf.
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Bornemann, Tobias, and Benjamin Oßwald. "The Effect of Intellectual Property Boxes on Innovative Activity & Effective Tax Rates." WU Vienna University of Economics and Business, Universität Wien, 2019. http://epub.wu.ac.at/6059/1/SSRN%2Did3115977.pdf.
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We investigate whether and to what extent the adoption of an intellectual property box increases innovative activity and the extent to which different types of firms benefit financially. We examine the adoption of the intellectual property box in Belgium because it allows us to cleanly identify the impact on innovative activity and effective tax rates. Our results indicate an overall increase in innovative activity as proxied by patent applications, grants, and highly-skilled employment, at the expense of patent quality. We also provide evidence that firms with patents on average enjoy 7.2% to 7.9% lower effective tax rates, with the greatest financial benefits accruing to multinational firms compared to domestic firms. Within multinational firms, those without income shifting opportunities appear to benefit more than other multinationals with income shifting opportunities.Series: WU International Taxation Research Paper Series
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Benham, Lindsey Kaye. "The Effects of Music on Physical Activity Rates of Junior High Physical Education Students." BYU ScholarsArchive, 2014. https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/4370.
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Music is used and can be found in everyday life and throughout society. With many studies pointing towards music being a motivating stimulus for exercise, it is plausible that music would positively affect the physical activity rates of junior high school students in physical education classes. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine the effects of popular music on physical activity rates, via pedometry, and enjoyment levels of junior high physical education students. There were 305 junior high physical education students that participated in the study with 151 being male and 154 being female. This was a quasi-experimental study using a two conditions, with and without music, by two activities, basketball and volleyball, cross-over design. It is found that across all grades and gender, more steps were taken with music in both activities versus without music. No statistically significant differences are noted in time in activity between activities with music than without. When comparing the level of enjoyment of the activities with music versus without across genders and all grades, the level of enjoyment is higher with music than without, though the difference is not statistically significant. While statistically significant differences can be found and attributed to the very nature of the differences between volleyball and basketball, there are also several statistical significances found that can be described and attributed to the intervention of the use of music during that activity. Therefore, if teachers are looking for a way for their students to increase step counts and increase the level of enjoyment their students feel throughout an activity, adding music to the background of the activity will help teachers to achieve those goals.
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Nazirizadeh, Susan. "Estimates of load rates on the lower limb joints using smartphone accelerometers during physical activity." Thesis, University of Southampton, 2018. https://eprints.soton.ac.uk/422272/.
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Although the causes and pathology of the progression of osteoarthritis are not entirely understood, an active lifestyle avoiding excessive load on the joints can control symptoms of osteoarthritis (e.g. joint pain and stiffness). The aim of this thesis was to develop, validate, and test an algorithm for estimating impact loading through the lower limbs using wearables (smartphones and smartwatches). The viscoelastic nature of articular cartilage means it is susceptible to high load rates, hence, the mean load rate magnitude was estimated from accelerometer recordings of wearables and used as a surrogate for estimating impact loading on the lower limb joints. The validity of the mean load rate magnitude was assessed against the gold standard equipment, the force plate (R2 = 0.77). Further, the mean load rate magnitude was used as a feature in the classification of everyday activities with support vector machine classifiers with an accuracy of 80%. An app was then developed which monitored mean load rate magnitude using Markov chain Monte Carlo methods for testing the reliability of monitoring over a period of seven days. The accumulated mean load rate magnitude was used to estimate the error, êsmartphone = 2.66%, for seven-day recordings. Finally, a function to score pain was added to the final version of the app, termed OAppTM. A single case study assessed the ability of OAppTM to compare osteoarthritis-related pain to mean load rate magnitude with a low positive correlation of r = 0.38. To conclude, this thesis developed, assessed the validation, and tested a load rate magnitude algorithm, which estimated load rate on the lower limb joints with the accelerometer sensors of wearables. These results form the basis for further research to develop a clinical tool for monitoring load rate and supporting patients to maintain an active lifestyle by avoiding excessive load on their lower limb joints.
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Park, Kwangwoo J. "Casual relations among stock returns, real activity, inflation, and money growth : a reconsideration of the evidence /." free to MU campus, to others for purchase, 1996. http://wwwlib.umi.com/cr/mo/fullcit?p9821338.
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Wicker, Thomas, Yeisoo Yu, Georg Haberer, Klaus F. X. Mayer, Pradeep Reddy Marri, Steve Rounsley, Mingsheng Chen, et al. "DNA transposon activity is associated with increased mutation rates in genes of rice and other grasses." NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/621772.
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DNA (class 2) transposons are mobile genetic elements which move within their 'host' genome through excising and re-inserting elsewhere. Although the rice genome contains tens of thousands of such elements, their actual role in evolution is still unclear. Analysing over 650 transposon polymorphisms in the rice species Oryza sativa and Oryza glaberrima, we find that DNA repair following transposon excisions is associated with an increased number of mutations in the sequences neighbouring the transposon. Indeed, the 3,000 bp flanking the excised transposons can contain over 10 times more mutations than the genome-wide average. Since DNA transposons preferably insert near genes, this is correlated with increases in mutation rates in coding sequences and regulatory regions. Most importantly, we find this phenomenon also in maize, wheat and barley. Thus, these findings suggest that DNA transposon activity is a major evolutionary force in grasses which provide the basis of most food consumed by humankind.
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Rostagno, Luciano Martin. "Essays on exchange rates central banks' interventions, effects on gold mining activity, and anticipating market risk /." abstract, 2008. http://0-gateway.proquest.com.innopac.library.unr.edu/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation&res_dat=xri:pqdiss&rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:3316377.
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Lawrence, Cameron Eoin. "Measurement of 222Rn Exhalation Rates and 210Pb Deposition Rates in a Tropical Environment." Thesis, Queensland University of Technology, 2006. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/16291/1/Cameron_Lawrence_Thesis.pdf.
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This thesis provides the measurements of 222Rn exhalation rates, 210Pb deposition rates and excess 210Pb inventories for locations in and around Ranger Uranium Mine and Jabiru located within Kakadu National Park, Australia. Radon-222 is part of the natural 238U series decay chain and the only gas to be found in the series under normal conditions. Part of the natural redistribution of 222Rn in the environment is a portion exhales from the ground and disperses into the atmosphere. Here it decays via a series of short-lived progeny, that attach themselves to aerosol particles, to the long lived isotope 210Pb (T1/2 = 22.3 y). Attached and unattached 210Pb is removed from the atmosphere through wet and dry deposition and deposited on the surface of the earth, the fraction deposited on soils is gradually transported through the soil and can create a depth profile of 210Pb. Here it decays to the stable isotope 206Pb completing the 238U series.
Measurements of 222Rn exhalation rates and 210Pb deposition rates were performed over complete seasonal cycles, August 2002 - July 2003 and May 2003 - May 2004 respectively. The area is categorised as wet and dry tropics and it experiences two distinct seasonal patterns, a dry season (May-October) with little or no precipitation events and a wet season (December-March) with almost daily precipitation and monsoonal troughs. November and April are regarded as transitional months. As the natural processes of 222Rn exhalation and 210Pb deposition are heavily influenced by soil moisture and precipitation respectively, seasonal variations in the exhalation and deposition rates were expected. It was observed that 222Rn exhalation rates decreased throughout the wet season when the increase in soil moisture retarded exhalation. Lead-210 deposition peaked throughout the wet season as precipitation is the major scavenging process of this isotope from the atmosphere.
Radon-222 is influenced by other parameters such as 226Ra activity concentration and distribution, soil porosity and grain size. With the removal of the influence of soil moisture during the dry season it was possible to examine the effect of these other variables in a more comprehensive manner. This resulted in categorisation of geomorphic landscapes from which the 222Rn exhalation rate to 226Ra activity concentration ratios were similar during the dry season. These results can be extended to estimate dry season 222Rn exhalation rates from tropical locations from a measurement of 226Ra activity concentration.
Through modelling the 210Pb budget on local and regional scales it was observed that there is a net loss of 210Pb from the region, the majority of which occurs during the dry season. This has been attributed to the fact that 210Pb attached to aerosols is transported great distance with the prevailing trade winds created by a Hadley Circulation cell predominant during the dry season (winter) months. By including the influence of factors such as water inundation and natural 210Pb redistribution in the soil wet season budgeting of 210Pb on local and regional scales gave very good results.
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Lawrence, Cameron Eoin. "Measurement of 222Rn Exhalation Rates and 210Pb Deposition Rates in a Tropical Environment." Queensland University of Technology, 2006. http://eprints.qut.edu.au/16291/.
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This thesis provides the measurements of 222Rn exhalation rates, 210Pb deposition rates and excess 210Pb inventories for locations in and around Ranger Uranium Mine and Jabiru located within Kakadu National Park, Australia. Radon-222 is part of the natural 238U series decay chain and the only gas to be found in the series under normal conditions. Part of the natural redistribution of 222Rn in the environment is a portion exhales from the ground and disperses into the atmosphere. Here it decays via a series of short-lived progeny, that attach themselves to aerosol particles, to the long lived isotope 210Pb (T1/2 = 22.3 y). Attached and unattached 210Pb is removed from the atmosphere through wet and dry deposition and deposited on the surface of the earth, the fraction deposited on soils is gradually transported through the soil and can create a depth profile of 210Pb. Here it decays to the stable isotope 206Pb completing the 238U series. Measurements of 222Rn exhalation rates and 210Pb deposition rates were performed over complete seasonal cycles, August 2002 - July 2003 and May 2003 - May 2004 respectively. The area is categorised as wet and dry tropics and it experiences two distinct seasonal patterns, a dry season (May-October) with little or no precipitation events and a wet season (December-March) with almost daily precipitation and monsoonal troughs. November and April are regarded as transitional months. As the natural processes of 222Rn exhalation and 210Pb deposition are heavily influenced by soil moisture and precipitation respectively, seasonal variations in the exhalation and deposition rates were expected. It was observed that 222Rn exhalation rates decreased throughout the wet season when the increase in soil moisture retarded exhalation. Lead-210 deposition peaked throughout the wet season as precipitation is the major scavenging process of this isotope from the atmosphere. Radon-222 is influenced by other parameters such as 226Ra activity concentration and distribution, soil porosity and grain size. With the removal of the influence of soil moisture during the dry season it was possible to examine the effect of these other variables in a more comprehensive manner. This resulted in categorisation of geomorphic landscapes from which the 222Rn exhalation rate to 226Ra activity concentration ratios were similar during the dry season. These results can be extended to estimate dry season 222Rn exhalation rates from tropical locations from a measurement of 226Ra activity concentration. Through modelling the 210Pb budget on local and regional scales it was observed that there is a net loss of 210Pb from the region, the majority of which occurs during the dry season. This has been attributed to the fact that 210Pb attached to aerosols is transported great distance with the prevailing trade winds created by a Hadley Circulation cell predominant during the dry season (winter) months. By including the influence of factors such as water inundation and natural 210Pb redistribution in the soil wet season budgeting of 210Pb on local and regional scales gave very good results.
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Wu, Guo Jian. "Examining the Expectations Hypothesis of the Term Structure of Interest Rates and the Predictive Power of the Term Spread on Future Economic Activity in New Zealand." Thesis, University of Canterbury. Economics and Finance, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10092/3394.
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This thesis consists of two parts: the first examines the Expectations Hypothesis of the Term Structure for New Zealand, and the latter examines the predictive power of the term spread on future economic activity in New Zealand. For both parts, I divide the sample period into two sub-sample periods – the pre-OCR period and the OCR period.
Using Mankiw & Miron’s (1986) approach for testing the expectations hypothesis, the findings in this paper suggest that the theory is consistent with New Zealand data during the OCR period. I attribute the success of the theory to the introduction of the Official Cash Rate system in March 1999. The change from targeting the settlement cash balance to targeting an interest rate variable has substantially improved the predictability of short-term interest rates.
In regards to the predictive power of the spread, the findings in this paper support the conventional view that the spread is positively related to future economic activity. Using Hamilton & Kim’s (2002) approach, I decomposed the term spread into an expectation component and a term premium in an attempt to find out whether these two variables have distinctly separate effect on future economic activity. My findings are in contrast to that reported by Hamilton & Kim. In particular, I find that the term premium in some cases is significant and negatively related to future economic activity in New Zealand. I attribute the negative relationship to lower long-term interest rates and a fallen term premium in New Zealand.
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Hurst, Martin David. "Hillslope morphology as an indicator of landscape evolution in tectonically active landscapes." Thesis, University of Edinburgh, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/1842/12228.
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Hillslopes comprise the majority of unglaciated upland landscapes; they are the primary source for the production of sediment from bedrock, and the routing system by which sediment is delivered to the channel network. Yet the nature of hillslope response to changes in tectonic, climatic or base-level boundary conditions is poorly understood in terms of the spatial and temporal distribution of hillslope morphology. Here I exploit a previously published framework for exploring hillslope morphology in high relief landscapes (Roering et al., 2007), to address several critical questions: Does high resolution topography allow understanding of the processes and rates by which sediment is redistributed on hillslopes? If so, can hillslope morphology be used to map the spatial distribution of erosion rates and facilitate interpretation of the timing and magnitude of tectonic forcing, particularly in transient landscapes which are adjusting their erosion rates? And to what extent does variation in lithology influence hillslope evolution and morphology, and the ability to interpret process rates from hillslope form? In this thesis I sought to explain hillslope adjustment to changing boundary conditions through combining the predictions of analytical and numerical models with detailed analysis of real, high resolution topographic datasets (derived from LiDAR), focusing on two landscapes where the influence of tectonic forcing on base-level history is relatively well constrained, the Middle Fork Feather River in the northern Sierra Nevada, and the Dragon’s Back Pressure Ridge, on the Carrizo Plain, both in California. The Sierra Nevada of California is a west-tilted fault block composed primarily of granitoids formed during Mesozoic arc volcanism. The block underwent acceleration in uplift 5 - 3.5 Ma which is hypothesised to be caused be the drop-off of a dense root from the lower crust and replacement by hot asthenosphere, causing crustal buoyancy. A relict landscape has thus been uplifted and dissected by the major drainage routes crossing the range, which have eroded rapidly to form deep canyons. The fluvial network is characterised by breaks in slope (knickpoints) which migrate into the landscape to transmit the signal of increased erosion, setting baselevel conditions for adjacent hillslopes. Theoretical predictions for the morphology of hillslopes governed by a nonlinear sediment transport law, if the hillslopes have attained steady state (i.e. they are eroding in concert with base-level fall in adjacent valleys) reveal that the curvature of hilltops will be linearly proportional to erosion rates or rate of base-level fall. I present innovative techniques to extract hilltop networks and sample their adjacent hillslopes in order to test the utility of hilltop curvature for estimating erosion rates. This work is carried out in granitoid lithologies where the influence of bedrock heterogeneity is assumed no to be a first order control on hillslope morphology. Existing and new cosmogenic radionuclide analyses in the Feather River basin, California, suggest that erosion rates vary by over an order of magnitude from the remnant upland landscape to the incised river canyon. Hilltop curvature increases with erosion rates, allowing calibration of the hillslope sediment transport coefficient, which controls the relationship between hillslope gradient and sediment flux. This in turn allows the estimation of erosion rates throughout the landscape by mapping the spatial distribution of hilltop curvature. Additionally, despite the landscape containing gradient-limited hillslopes, hilltop curvature continues to increase with rising erosion rates, reflecting higher erosion rates than can be predicted by hillslope gradient. The distribution of hillslope morphology conforms well to predictions of a nonlinear sediment transport model, with measured values of hillslope relief varying with the product of hilltop curvature and hillslope length (proxy for erosion rate) in a manner similar to that predicted by Roering et al. (2007). Hilltop curvature can thus be used to estimate erosion rates in landscapes undergoing a transient adjustment to changing boundary conditions provided that the response timescale of hillslopes is short relative to channels. Having focused on a landscape with roughly uniform bedrock geology to isolate drivers of geomorphic change, I sought to evaluate whether these techniques could be extended across lithologic contacts and throughout the landscape. Underlying geology influences the efficacy of soil production and transport on hillslopes, and resistance to erosion by valley-forming processes. Here, quantitative analysis of LiDAR digital terrain models was performed to search for a topographic signature in two distinct lithologies in the Feather River catchment in northern California; granodiorite and deformed volcanics. The two sites, separated by <2 km and spanning similar elevations, are assumed to have similar climatic and denudation histories. Responding to increased erosion rates, transient hillslopes exhibit high gradient but low hilltop curvature in the metavolcanics relative to theoretical predictions for steady state hillslopes. However, hillslopes in the granodiorite have, for the most part, variation in hilltop curvature, hillslope length and hillslope relief similar to model predictions for steady state hillslopes. The curvature of hilltops adjacent to main stem channels implies that the coefficient of sediment transport is two times larger in the granodiorite (c. 8.8 m2 ka-1) than in the metavolcanics (c. 4.8 m2 ka-1). The data suggest that hillslopes get shorter as erosion rates increase due to the increased influence of debris flows in valley incision, suggesting that drainage density increases with erosion rate. The incision wave associated with more rapid erosion in the Feather River has propagated further into a basin developed on the metavolcanics and hence this substrate is less resistant to channel incision. I review an inventory of values for the transport coefficient for hillslope sediment transport but find that no clear patterns emerge with varying lithology. However in unconsolidated substrates, precipitation may play an important role in modulating sediment transport through variation in rain splash impact frequency and the frequency of wetting/drying, freeze/thaw, and expansion/contraction cycles. Finally I apply the same techniques to study hillslope morphology to a landscape where the tectonic history has a documented influence on landscape development. The Dragon’s Back pressure ridge, Carrizo Plain, CA, consists of a series of small catchments adjacent to the San Andreas fault, where previous detailed geologic mapping has allowed the spatial and temporal distribution of uplift to be constrained. This landscape offers a hitherto unique opportunity to study the temporal evolution of hillslope morphology via ergodic substitution. I show that the time evolution of a sensitive indicator of erosion rate, hilltop curvature, can be predicted using a nonlinear sediment flux law. Further to this, the temporal evolution of relief and hilltop curvature experiences hysteresis as the landscape grows and decays. Relative to steady-state predictions, hillslope morphologies exhibit higher than expected values for relief during active uplift or landscape growth, and lower than expected relief during landscape decay. Therefore landscapes growing due to fault activity can be distinguished from those with quiescent faults undergoing topographic decay.
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Wos, Melissa Louise, and n/a. "Methods For Understanding Bacterial Metabolic Activity In Activated Sludge." Griffith University. School of Environmental Engineering, 2005. http://www4.gu.edu.au:8080/adt-root/public/adt-QGU20061031.151641.
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Biological wastewater treatment relies on the diverse and complex metabolic activities of bacteria to remove pollutants. Its success depends on the metabolic efficiency of the bacteria. Activated sludge models use parameters that attempt to depict bacterial growth and metabolic processes. However, current methods do not separate metabolic activity from growth and maintenance. As a result, activated sludge processes are misinterpreted or over-simplified. Alternative methods for gauging bacterial activity have been proposed and include the measurements of cellular derived compounds that relate specifically to energy cycling and include Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide [NADH]. To date, NADH has been largely measured within activated sludge using commercial online fluorimeters with in situ probes. However, this current method provides a measure of the 'bulk' (raw) fluorescence within the system, resulting in difficulties when interpreting fluorescence data and poor sensitivity for detecting changes in intracellular [NADH]. This study has developed a more reliable method for estimating intracellular [NADH] and thus metabolic activity within activated sludge systems. Separating extracellular from intracellular [NADH] in samples was crucial because NADH was released and accumulates in the extracellular environment at a concentration of 200 ~M immediately following bacterial death or lysis. This concentration did not decline overtime. This not only caused high background fluorescence but also reduced the sensitivity of detection for changes in intracellular [NADH]. In particular, considerably higher [NADH] values to those from the extracellular suspensions were obtained following extraction of the intracellular material, suggesting that the cell membranes were not being penetrated by the excitable light source. Of the extraction procedures examined, filtration followed by extraction of the intracellular material with a hot Tris buffer was the most efficient and was recommended for accurate estimates of intracellular [NADH] in situ. In addition, standards were used to quantify NADH (moles per cell and/or unit volume) from unknown samples. The limits of detection were found to be 1.058 - 353 uM, whereas concentrations above 353 jAM self-quenched. Sample concentrations were always within these limits of detection. Hence, the sensitivity, reliability and experimental application of the original method was improved upon and able to be used for the direct measurement of microbial metabolic activity, something that has not been demonstrated before now. This study found that bacteria have between 106~ I 08 NADH molecules per cell depending on their metabolic state. A highly metabolically active bacterial cell had between 1O6~ tO7 NADH molecules, while a less active bacterial cell had between to7 -to8 NADH molecules. These measurements of metabolic activity were simultaneously monitored alongside other measures of bacterial growth, such as the incorporation of radiolabelled thymidine into DNA as a direct measure of DNA replication (new cell synthesis), the incorporation of radiolabelled leucine into protein as a direct measure of protein synthesis, oxygen uptake rates (OUR) as a direct measure of respiration, ATP as a measure of potential energy and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) as a measure of substrate assimilation. As OUR deceased, bacterial growth (using both the thymidine and leucine assays), specific [NADH] and specific [ATP] increased. High OUR and substrate oxidation rates simultaneous with low specific [NADH] indicated high rates of electron transport and thus efficient metabolic activity. Also, low OUR and substrate oxidation rates simultaneous with high specific [NADHI indicated inefficient rates of electron transport, therefore inhibiting oxidative phosphorylation (ATP production). A lack of oxygen as the terminal electron acceptor did not efficiently reoxidise NADH to NAD and resulted in an accumulation of NADH within the cell. Thus, a measure of low specific [NADHI was linked to the efficient rate of reoxidation of NADH to NAD* and reflects high metabolic efficiency. DNA and protein syntheses were coupled following substrate enrichment (glucose or acetate), indicating that bacteria were in balanced growth. However, DNA and protein syntheses became uncoupled once substrate was depleted, indicating unbalanced growth. An average Leu:TdR ratio of 7.4 was determined for activated sludge and was comparable to values published from marine systems. This ratio increased during log growth phase and decreased during stationary growth phases. Specific growth rates determined using the [3HITdR and [3H]Leu assay yielded values ranging from 2 - 10.5 d' and from 2.5 - 6 d1, respectively and were comparable to published values. Changes in OUR, NADH, ATE', DNA replication and protein synthesis were statistically ordinated using multidimensional scaling, and changes (in magnitude and direction) in bacterial metabolic activity were observed. Such methods enable the tracing of where bacteria divert their energies, such as to growth or maintenance and thus provide a greater understanding of bacterial behaviour in activated sludge. While studying anoxic and anaerobic conditions were beyond the scope of this work, the use of such methods to monitor bacterial metabolic activity under such conditions is warranted.
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Bent, Denzil. "A comparison of Brine evaporation rates under controlled conditions in a laboratory." University of the Western Cape, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/11394/6443.
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Magister Scientiae - MSc (Environ & Water Science)There are growing concerns around the environmental issues related to processed water as the demand for potable water is on the increase in South Africa. Effluents discharged from various sectors such as water treatment facilities pose a constant threat to the environment and natural water resources, including rivers and groundwater due to their poor chemical and physical composition. As a result, the demand for predicting the elevated concentrations of salts in a spatial and temporal dimension is constantly growing. The effluent at the eMalahleni water reclamation plant in Mpumalanga, South Africa, is being processed through a triple reverse osmosis that improves the water quality of the mine water to potable standards. Two water quality streams emerge from this process, i.e. a potable standard and the other a brine concentrate which is stored in ponds. Brine ponds are used for inland brine disposal in the eMalahleni water reclamation plant. The large volumes and limited capacity to store brines has placed great emphasis on enhanced evaporation rates to increase the efficiency of the ponds. In order to improve the rate of brine evaporation in the pond, an understanding of the effect of brine salt content and other parameters affecting the rate of evaporation is required. This study aimed at establishing the physical and chemical behaviour of the brine from the eMalahleni plant in a controlled environment. The investigation incorporated actual brine from the eMalahleni plant as well as synthetic salts typical of the major components of the eMalahleni brine.
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Pearson, Hoover Patricia. "Rates of bone loss in postmenopausal women, relationship to calcium intake, calcium absorption, serum estrogen, body mass and physical activity." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 1999. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk1/tape9/PQDD_0034/NQ66231.pdf.
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Casey, Erin M. "UTILIZATION OF WEB‐BASED APP TO TARGET OBESOGENIC FACTORS IN RURAL KENTUCKY COUNTIES WITH HIGH RATES OF OBESITY." UKnowledge, 2018. https://uknowledge.uky.edu/foodsci_etds/60.
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Due to socioeconomic disparities and geographic isolation, rural Kentucky residents bear a greater burden of poor health compared to national averages. Specifically, rural Kentucky residents are at greater risk of becoming obese and suffering from comorbidities of obesity such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease. The purpose of the present study was two-fold. First, we the barriers to nutrition and physical activity unique to rural Kentucky counties which high proportions of obese adults (< 40%) were examined and extrapolated. Second, this information was used to develop a health and wellness app tailored to rural Kentucky counties. The objective was met via a formative assessment regarding causes for obesity in three rural Kentucky counties using focus groups. From these discussions, two major themes arose: barriers to good nutrition and physical activity, and desired web‐app features. From this assessment, FitFaceoff was developed and released into the same counties. Usage and user interaction were assessed using GoogleAnalytics™ software. Analysis revealed poor user liking and unsuccessful implementation of FitFaceoff, however further qualitative research is needed to evaluate poor user reception of FitFaceoff and possible future directions.
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Dierks, Tamara J. "Descriptive study of intramural activity offerings and entry rates in college/university intramural programs with a student population between 10,001-30,000." Virtual Press, 1998. http://liblink.bsu.edu/uhtbin/catkey/1115743.
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Recreation programs have become important resources on college campuses. They can provide important benefits to students and to the university. Students benefit from the opportunity to participate in leisure activities, which helps them develop a healthy lifestyle. The university benefits from the assistance in retaining students who might otherwise terminate their enrollment. This study presents information regarding intramural programs at colleges and universities in 1997. The following questions were researched: 1) What activities are currently being offered for intramural competition in universities that are institutional members of the NIRSA and list a student population between 10,001 and 30,000? 2) How many teams compete in these events? 3) What percent of the university community participates in intramural sports? The study surveyed those colleges and universities who were institutional members of the National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA) in 1997, and had a listed student population between 10,001-30,000. A total of 150 institutions met the criteria and wereincluded in the study. These 150 institutions were grouped into three population categories (10,001-15,000; 15,001-20,000; 20,001-30,000). They were also grouped into six regional categories, as defined by the NIRSA. A survey return rate of 71% was achieved. Survey respondents were asked to list the activities offered in their intramural programs, and the number of teams entered in those activities. Respondents were also asked to identify the percent of the university community that participates in intramural sports. Over 50% of respondents indicated that 11-40% of their campus community participates in intramural sports. It is difficult to draw comparisons in any given activity. The number of teams entered varied significantly from one institution to another. Recreation professionals can use this study to identify new activities to add to their intramural programs. The information can assist in identifying intramural activities that might be of interest to students on their campus. Activities that draw a large number of teams at other institutions might be successful on many campuses. Activities that do not attract many entries may not be of interest to students, and are therefore less likely to be successful on other campuses.School of Physical Education
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Aveline, Priscilla. "Effets du ranélate de strontium et de l’exercice physique sur le tissu osseux de rates ovariectomisées : rôle de l’ostéocyte." Thesis, Orléans, 2015. http://www.theses.fr/2015ORLE2045.
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Le ranelate de strontium (RS) est un traitement anti-ostéoporotique agissant sur la formation osseuse via les ostéoblastes et la résorption osseuse via les ostéoclastes grâce au Calcium Sensing Receptor (CaSR). L’activité physique (EXE) est bien connue pour améliorer les propriétés osseuses. Dans ce travail, nous avons étudié ① l’effet de différentes activités physiques (tapis roulant et impact). Nous avons observé que 10 impacts par jour pendant 8 semaines à 45cm de hauteur ont eu des effets bénéfiques sur l’os (paramètres de microarchitecture et biomécanique, marqueurs du remodelage). ② L’étude du RS et de l’EXE sur l’os de rate ovariectomisée a montré que le RS a des effets comparables à l’EXE et que le RS+EXE ont des effets cumulatifs sur l’os (paramètres de microarchitecture et biomécanique, marqueurs du remodelage). ③ Enfin, une étude in vivo sur des MLO-Y4 a montré la présence des CaSR sur la membrane des ostéocytes et leur nombre est modulé en fonction de la concentration en RS. De plus, le RS a un effet sur la différenciation des CSM lors d’une différenciation ostéogénique en favorisant la différenciation ostéocytaire et elle est modulée par la concentration en RS. En conclusion, ce travail a démontré l’importance d’une pratique d’un exercice physique et du traitement du RS contre l’ostéoporose : maintien de la balance du remodelage osseux du côté de la formation. L’effet cumulatif du RS+EXE s’explique par le fait que le RS agit sur les ostéoblastes, ostéocytes et ostéoclastes via les CaSR et l’EXE sur les mécanorécepteurs des ostéocytesStrontium ranelate (SR) is an anti-osteoroporotic treatment acting on bone formation via osteoblasts and bone resorption via osteoclasts thanks to Calcium Sensing Receptor (CaSR). Physical activity is well known to improve bone properties. In this work, we studied ① different physical acticities (treadmill and impact). We observed that 10 impacts per day during 8 weeks from 45cm of height had beneficial effects on bone (microarchitecture and biomechanical parameters, bone remodeling markers). ② The study of SR and EXE effects on bone ovariectomized rats showed that RS had similar effects to EXE and SR+EXE had cumulative effects on bone (microarchitecture and biomechanical parameters, bone remodeling markers). ③ Finally, an in vivo study on MLO-Y4 showed CaSR presence on osteocyte with their number depending on SR concentration. Moreover, RS had positive effects on CSM differentiation in favor of osteocyte differentiation and it is modulated by SR concentration. In conclusion, this work has demonstrated the importance of taking physical exercise as well as SR treatment for osteoporosis: maintaining the bone remodeling in favor of bone formation. The cumulative effect of SR+EXE is explained by the fact the SR acts on osteoblasts, osteocytes and osteoclasts via CaSR and the EXE on osteocyte mechanoreceptors
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O'Connor, Linda-Lou. "Effects of hybridization, feeding behavior, and parity rates of the common house mosquito (Culex pipiens L.) on late season West Nile virus activity." Access to citation, abstract and download form provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company; downloadable PDF file, 139 p, 2009. http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=1707917201&sid=3&Fmt=2&clientId=8331&RQT=309&VName=PQD.
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Rowlands, Patricia. "A study of the effect of in-practice referral meetings on GP secondary care referral rates and GPs' perceptions of factors influencing referral activity." Thesis, St George's, University of London, 2003. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.406237.
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Rauluševičienė, Raimonda. "Arterinio kraujospūdžio žąsto, riešo ir piršto srityse kitimai atliekant pratimus esant statiniam ir dinaminiam krūviui." Master's thesis, Lithuanian Academic Libraries Network (LABT), 2005. http://vddb.library.lt/obj/LT-eLABa-0001:E.02~2005~D_20050621_084916-74916.
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SUMMARY
Purpose of work:
Ascertain and estimate the change of arterial blood pressure in the areas of arm, wrist, finger and the change of heart��s systole frequency using static and dynamic strain for all kinds of groups: different age and sex.
Goals:
1. Ascertain the effect of static and dynamic strain for arterial blood pressure and for heart‘s systole frequency.
2. Examine the phenomenon of blood repartition and the arterial blood pressure registering investigative groups of different age and sex.
3. Estimate the effect of static exercise for the change of arterial blood pressure in different investigative groups.
4. Estimate the effect of dynamic exercise for the change of arterial blood pressure in different investigative groups.
Contingent of investigative and the methods of investigation:
The contingent of investigative is constituted by 67 sound investigative, without any clinical complaints: 38 are men and 29 – women. 15 men and 16 women, they performed the static exercise to fortify the muscles of back. 23 men and 13 women, they performed the dynamic exercise to fortify the muscles of shoulders. To estimate functional rate of heart we were using the measurers of arterial blood pressure OMRON. The measurers were registered 2 times: before the exercise and 60s after the exercise. Arterial blood pressure was measured in 3 places of left hand-in the areas of arm, wrist and finger registering systolic and diastolic blood pressure. The systole frequency of heart... [to full text]
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Coleman, Kristie Russell. "The Effects of an ActiPed Pedometer Intervention Program on Body Composition and Aerobic Capacity of Youth in a School System in East Tennessee." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2010. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/1713.
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The purpose of this study is to determine if the ActiPed Pedometer Intervention Program would sustain or improve aerobic capacity or body composition scores over a 12-week period for students ages 8-12 in a school system in East Tennessee. Obesity is an epidemic in Tennessee and in the United States. In fact, Tennessee has the 5th highest obesity rates for youth in the United States. National and State Legislations with physical activity and wellness mandates are being passed at an alarming rate as the need to combat the obesity epidemic is astonishing. The responsibility to decrease the obesity rates in children is falling on schools systems, administrators, school nutrition personnel, and teachers. Therefore, the search for effective programs to fight the "battle of the bulge" in a school setting is becoming increasingly popular. This study focused on the ActiPed Pedometer Program and its effort to increase activity levels of students in a school setting.
The local Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) composed and received a grant from Wellmont Health System to help Activate Bristol and get students moving. The YMCA partnered with the Bristol Tennessee City School System in the fight against inactivity and childhood diabetes implementing the ActiPed Pedometer Intervention Program in January of 2008.
Secondary data were collected by the investigator which included pretest and posttest Fitness Tests measures for body composition and aerobic capacity scores for both a treatment and a control group to determine success of the program. There were 310 students in the treatment group and 295 students in the control group for the body composition analysis for students at a healthy weight. The body composition analysis for overweight students included 83 students in the treatment group and 82 students in the control group. The aerobic capacity analysis for students at a healthy weight included 371 students in the treatment group and 323 students in the control group. The aerobic capacity analysis for overweight students included 78 students in the treatment group and 79 students in the control group. Population numbers differed because of missing or incomplete data on students.
Base level findings revealed mixed results. Because a successful score is dependent on age and gender, students' scores were analyzed accordingly using Chi Square and Independent t tests. Statistically, the ActiPed Intervention Program did not appear to have a great impact on aerobic capacity scores or body mass index scores for students for the 12-week period. However, all groups had positive mean gains. A significant difference was found for 9-year-old girls in aerobic capacity gains between the control and treatment group. Eight-year-olds, 9-year-olds, and 10-year-olds tended to have more positive results and higher gains than 11 and 12-year-olds.
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Joly, Pierre. "Etude des effets de mélanges d'herbicides employés sur le maïs, sur les communautés microbiennes édaphiques : approche en microcosmes." Phd thesis, Université Blaise Pascal - Clermont-Ferrand II, 2014. http://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-01020037.
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Ces travaux s'inscrivent dans une problématique actuelle de compréhension des effets, encore peu connus, des mélanges de pesticides dans le sol. Les formulations d'herbicides S-métolachlore (Dual Gold Safeneur®), mésotrione (Callisto®) et nicosulfuron (Milagro®) ont été appliquées en mélanges et à la dose agronomique recommandée. Les molécules formulées sont plus toxiques que les molécules actives seules (Microtox®) et aucun effet synergique ou antagoniste des mélanges n'a été observé. Cependant, ces mélanges impactent transitoirement et à court terme les communautés microbiennes du sol de Limagne, sans modifier les paramètres généraux de structure et d'abondance. Toutefois, des effets ont été mis en évidence sur des communautés sensibles telles que les phototrophes ou celles impliquées dans les processus de nitrification et de dénitrification. De plus, une comparaison des effets des mélanges sur les communautés phototrophes de deux sols souligne l'importante toxicité du Dual Gold Safeneur® et remet en cause son utilisation d'un point de vue écotoxicologique.
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Furtado, Juliana Haetinger. "ESTUDO DO EMPREGO FORMAL POR SETOR DE ATIVIDADE ECONÔMICA NA REGIÃO SUL DO BRASIL DE 2003 A 2014." Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, 2016. http://repositorio.ufsm.br/handle/1/8396.
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Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível SuperiorThe global and national political and economic situation reflects directly on changes in the labor market. Concern about the employability, generate new jobs, as well as security and formality of these, and, places that no longer exist causing unemployment, it is constantly agenda in the academic literature, the media and at the same time government concern. In this context, the objective in this research was to analyze the absolute indicators of formal employment, initially in the eight sectors of the economy (mineral extraction, manufacturing, industrial and public utility services, construction, trade, services, agriculture and public administration) and, subsequently adjust predictive models in four major economic sectors (construction, trade, manufacturing and services). First, there was a descriptive analysis of dismissals in the state of Rio Grande do Sul between January 2004 and December 2014. Then, the analysis extended to the other states of the South region of Brazil (Santa Catarina and Paraná) jointly between 05/2003 and 12/2014. For this, we used the secondary database of the General Register of Employed and Unemployed, made available by the Ministry of Labor and Employment. For data analysis and model adjustments, we used a methodology developed by Box and Jenkins to time series. Initial results indicated significant growth trend of dismissals in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, in seven of the eight sectors of this economy. Second time, were set twelve statistical models forecast that showed seasonal component. Through the models found, it was possible to determine the forecast of formal employment by sector of economic activity in southern Brazil, based on values outside of the sample. In conclusion, the models found showed satisfactory predictions as accompanied the process of the actual values, indicating low average percentage absolute error.
A situação político-econômica mundial e nacional reflete diretamente nas transformações ocorridas no mercado de trabalho. A preocupação com a empregabilidade, geração de novos empregos, bem como a segurança e formalidade destes, e, as vagas que deixam de existir ocasionando o desemprego, é pauta constantemente na literatura acadêmica, na mídia e ao mesmo tempo preocupação do governo. Neste contexto, o objetivo proposto nesta pesquisa foi analisar os indicadores absolutos do emprego formal, inicialmente nos oito setores da economia (extrativa mineral, indústria de transformação, serviços industriais de utilidade pública, construção civil, comércio, serviços, agropecuária e administração pública) e, posteriormente, ajustar modelos de previsão no quatro maiores setores de atividade econômica (construção civil, comércio, indústria de transformação e serviços). Primeiramente, realizou-se uma análise descritiva dos desligamentos no estado do Rio Grande do Sul entre janeiro de 2004 e dezembro de 2014. Em seguida, a análise estendeu-se aos demais estados da região Sul do Brasil (Santa Catarina e Paraná) de forma conjunta entre 05/2003 e 12/2014. Para isso, utilizou-se a base de dados secundários do Cadastro Geral de Empregados e Desempregados, disponibilizados pelo Ministério do Trabalho e Emprego. Para as análises dos dados e ajustes de modelos, empregou-se a metodologia desenvolvida por Box e Jenkins para séries temporais. Os resultados iniciais indicaram tendência significativa de crescimento dos desligamentos no estado do Rio Grande do Sul, em sete dos oito setores da economia avaliados. Em segundo momento, foram ajustados doze modelos estatísticos de previsão que apresentaram componente sazonal. Por meio dos modelos encontrados, foi possível determinar a previsão do emprego formal por setor de atividade econômica na região Sul do Brasil, com base nos valores fora da amostra. Conclui-se que, os modelos encontrados apresentaram previsões satisfatórias, pois acompanharam o processo dos valores reais, evidenciando baixo erro absoluto percentual médio.
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Casey, Arthur Clifford. "A Study of the Relationship of Student Participation in the Activities Program to Student Achievement, Attendance and Scores on College Admissions Examinations." Thesis, North Texas State University, 1985. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc331575/.
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This investigation studied the impact of male student involvement in selected school activities upon grade-point averages, rates of attendance and college entrance examination scores. The main purpose of this study was to provide data for state officials, school administrators, and school boards as they seek to make decisions concerning the activities program and its place in the educational system. The specific purpose was to determine if involvement in selected school activities had any relationship to the variables grade-point average, attendance, and scores on college entrance examinations. The study was carried out in four large Texas high schools with a total student population of 6,456. Male participants in seven major school activities were randomly selected. This process produced a total sample of 280 male students representing participation in seven activities in four high schools. Each activity was represented by a sample of forty male students. The conclusions were drawn that (1) there is a positive relationship between participation in the activities program by male students and attendance rate, grade-point average, and scores on the Scholastic Aptitude Test and (2) there was no negative relationship between participation in the activities program and the participants' ability to receive a high school education.
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Ávila, Vanessa Perlin Ferraro de. "Efeito dos ruídos gerados por atividade humana em ratas wistar: avaliação da natimortalidade e desenvolvimento ponderal dos neonatos." reponame:Biblioteca Digital de Teses e Dissertações da UFRGS, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10183/48965.
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Animais de laboratório estão sujeitos a uma variedade de ruídos diários que podem afetar seu bem estar, havendo estudos que apontam o trabalho humano nas salas de animais como uma importante fonte de ruídos com intensidades e frequências variáveis capazes de causar alterações comportamentais e fisiológicas nesses animais. Este trabalho teve como objetivo analisar os possíveis efeitos dos ruídos gerados durante a atividade humana na gestação de ratas wistar e no crescimento ponderal dos neonatos. Quarenta e quatro ratas wistar de 120 dias de idade, alojadas em sistema de gaiola aberta, oriundas do CREAL/UFRGS, foram acasaladas e submetidas à rotina de trabalho normal (grupo controle) ou expostas a ruídos em duas sessões de 20 minutos/dia com intervalo de 15 segundos entre cada ruído (grupo tratado) durante toda a gestação e na primeira semana de vida dos filhotes. Os ruídos foram previamente selecionados com base no trabalho humano realizado nas salas de animais e registrados por meio do microfone de um medidor de nível de pressão sonora com resposta de frequência 20 Hz-20kHz. As frequências foram avaliadas utilizando-se um software editor de áudio (Audacity® 1.3). Os partos de ambos os grupos (tratado e controle) foram acompanhados e durante os mesmos anotou-se o número de filhotes vivos e natimortos. Para avaliação do peso ponderal dos neonatos pesaram-se os três filhotes maiores de cada ninhada das fêmeas uma vez ao dia entre 14:00 e 16:00 hs. Utilizou-se o teste- T para análise do número de natimortos no qual demonstrou diferença significativa (p= 0,021) entre os grupos. O teste de variância Anova para medidas repetidas e o Tukey-Kramer foram utilizados para comparar o peso médio dos três filhotes maiores, o qual foi observado diferença significativa do peso médio dos três filhotes maiores nos dias 4 (p= 0,0026),5 (p<0,001),6 (p=0,0005) e 7 (p< 0,0001). Este estudo demonstra que ruídos gerados por atividade humana podem gerar filhotes natimortos e interferir no comportamento materno diminuindo o peso do filhote a partir do quarto dia na primeira semana de vida.Laboratory animals are subjected to a variety of daily noises which can affect their well-being. There are studies that suggest the human work in animal rooms is an important source of noise with varying frequencies and intensities which may cause physiological and behavioral changes in the animals. This work had as its main objective the analysis of the possible effects that the noise generated by professionals while doing their activities may have on pregnancy of Wistar rats, evaluating the natimortality and the weight development of newborns. Fourty-for 120 days old Wistar rats from CREAL/UFRGS accommodated in an open cage system have been paired and have undergone a normal work routine (control group) or have been exposed to noise in two sessions of 20 minutes/day with interval of 15 seconds between each noise (treated group) throughout their pregnancy and in the first week of their offspring’s life. The noises were previously selected on the basis of the human work carried out in animal rooms and recorded through the use of a microphone sound pressure level meter frequency response of 20 Hz-20kHz. The frequencies were evaluated using an audio editor software (Audacity® 1.3). The delivery in both groups (treated and control) were accompanied and during them it was taken note the number of living and stillborn offspring. To evaluate the weight of newborns, the three biggest ones of each litter rats were weighed up once a day between 2:00 and 4:00 p.m. It was used the T-test for examining the number of stillborns which showed a significant difference (p = 0.021) between the groups. The Anova variance test for repeated measures and the Tukey- Kramer test were used to compare the average weight of the three biggest offspring. It was observed significant difference of average weight in the three biggest ones on day 4 (p = 0.0026), 5 (p < 0.001), 6 (p = 0.0005) and 7 (p < 0.0001). This study shows that noise generated by human activity may cause stillborn offspring and interfere with maternal behavior by decreasing the weight of the new born from the fourth day the first week of life.
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Lindberg, Andreas. "Classification of Financial Instruments." Thesis, KTH, Matematisk statistik, 2019. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-252565.
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In this thesis a general framework and accompanying guidelines for how to classify financial instruments within the fair value hierarchy (included within IFRS 13) is presented. IFRS 13 introduces a broad and loosely defined regulation of how to classify a financial instrument which leaves room for misinterpretation and uncertainties. In this thesis the pricing of financial instruments and behaviour of the market data used as inputs in the models has been investigated. This is to give better insight into what is classified as significant market data, how it is used and how it is approximated. Instruments that have been investigated are autocalls, swaps, European options and Asian options. The result is presented as general recommendations for how to classify the specified instruments with clearer boarders introduced between the levels in the hierarchy. Methods and deductions introduced in the thesis could also further be implemented in classification of closely related financial instruments but has been limited in this thesis due to time restrictions. Nyckelord på svenska IFRS, Finansiella instrument, Klassificering, Fair value, Fair value hierarchy, Autocall, Swap, Europeisk option, Asiatisk option, Implicit volatilitet, Korrelation, Marknadsaktivitet, RäntesatserI denna uppsats är ett generellt ramverk och medföljande riktlinjer för hur man klassificerar finansiella instrument inom fair value hierarkin (inkluderad i IFRS 13) presenterat. IFRS 13 introducerar en bred och löst definierad regulation om hur klassificering finansiella instrument ska gå till som lämnar rum för feltolkningar och oklarheter. I denna uppsats har prissättningen av finansiella instrument och beteende av marknadsdata som används i modellerna undersökts. Detta ger en bättre inblick i vad som klassificeras som signifikant marknadsdata, hur den används och hur den kan approximeras. Instrument som har undersökts är autocalls, swaps, europeiska optioner och asiatiska optioner. Resultatet presenteras som allmänna rekommendationer för hur man klassificerar de angivna instrumenten med tydligare gränser som införts mellan nivåerna i hierarkin. Metoder och slutsatser som är presenterade i uppsatsen kan även vidare användas vid klassifikation av liknande finansiella instrument men har i denna avhandling begränsats på grund av tidsskäl.
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Litster, Caroline Elizabeth. "Heart rate, heart rate variability, electrodermal activity and the differentiation-of-deception /." Title page, table of contents and abstract only, 2002. http://web4.library.adelaide.edu.au/theses/09SSPS/09sspsl7769.pdf.
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Gagliardo, Karina Martinez. "Efeito do exercício físico no envelhecimento inicial do plexo mioentérico do colo de rato Wistar: estudo quantitativo, morfométrico e ultra-estrutural." Universidade de São Paulo, 2006. http://www.teses.usp.br/teses/disponiveis/10/10132/tde-15072009-104317/.
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O conhecimento de todas as facetas que envolvem o processo de envelhecimento é uma necessidade atual, uma vez que a população idosa vem aumentando em todo mundo. O sistema digestório é um importante alvo das alterações do envelhecimento, sendo a constipação um freqüente distúrbio referido. Por esta razão, estudos sobre os neurônios do plexo mioentérico são necessários. Ainda, sabendo que a atividade física é uma terapêutica indicada para se evitar a constipação, este trabalho teve por objetivos estudar quantitativamente e qualitativamente os efeitos do envelhecimento nos neurônios NADH- e NADPH-diaforase reativos do plexo mioentérico do colo de ratos adultos (GRUPO A) e de meia-idade (GRUPO B), assim como o possível efeito da atividade física (corrida) sobre os neurônios dos animais de meia-idade (GRUPO C). Ainda, a presente pesquisa objetivou verificar as possíveis alterações da camada muscular (circular e longitudinal) do colo, assim como a ultra-estrutura neuronal nos diferentes grupos. Quanto à morfologia, nenhuma alteração neuronal ou no arranjo do plexo foi constatada. Entretanto, uma maior quantidade de colágeno ao redor do gânglio foi verificada nos animais do Grupo B. Alterações quantitativas foram encontradas tanto nos neurônios NADH-d reativos como nos NADPH-d reativos. Ambas populações neuronais tiveram a densidade diminuída com o envelhecimento, sendo significativa (P>0,05) apenas nos neurônios NADPH-d reativos. Em relação à atividade física, somente os neurônios NADPH-d reativos tiveram a densidade significativamente diminuída (P>0,05), enquanto que os neurônios NADH-d reativos tiveram a densidade ligeiramente aumentada. Nenhuma alteração significativa (P>0,05) foi verificada na área do perfil neuronal e na espessura da camada muscular do colo.The known of all facets that involve this process is an actual necessity, once time the aging population is increasing in whole world. The digestory system is an important target of the aging alterations, being the constipation a frequent disturbance related. For this reason, studies about the neurons of the myenteric plexus are necessary. Moreover, knowing that the physical activity is a therapeutic recommended to avoid the constipation, this research have as objectives study quantitatively and qualitatively the effects of aging in the NADH- and NADPH-diaphorase reactive neurons of the myenteric plexus of the colon of adult rats (group A) and middle-aged (group B), as well as the possible effects of physical activity (running) about the neurons of middle-aged animals (group C). Furthermore, the present research also aimed verifies possible alterations in the muscle layers (circular and longitudinal) of colon, as well as the neuronal ultra-structure in all groups. In relation to the morphology, no neuronal alteration or in the arrangement of the plexus was showed. However, a major amount of collagen around the ganglion was verified in the animals of the group B. The quantitative alterations were showed both in the neurons NADH-d reactive and in the NADPH-reactive. Both neuronal populations had a decrease in the density with the aging, being significant (P>0,05) only in the neurons NADPH-d reactive. In relation to the physical activity, only the neurons NADPH-reactive had a decrease significant in the density (P>0,05), while the neurons NADH-d reactive had the density a little increased. No significant alterations (P>0,05) were verified in the neuronal profile area and in the thickness of the muscle layers of the colon.
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Rowlands, Ann V. "The measurement of physical activity in children." Thesis, Bangor University, 1998. https://research.bangor.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/the-measurement-of-physical-activity-in-children(1fdce5ef-f1dd-49f7-964d-fe7cee7ca9dc).html.
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This thesis includes one qualitative literature review, three empirical studies and one meta-analysis examining the measurement of physical activity in children. Previous research has highlighted the difficulties inherent in measuring children's habitual activity. This has lead to confusion regarding the relationships between physical activity and health in children. Recently a new type of activity monitor has been developed. Uniaxial (WAM, Computer Science Applications, Shalimar, Florida, USA) and triaxial (Tritrac, Professional Products, a division of Reining International, Madison, WI, USA) accelerometers that record temporal, frequency and intensity information of movement are now commercially available. The aims of this thesis were to evaluate the validity of these and other measures of physical activity in children, to examine the relationship between physical activity and body fat in children and to investigate the effect the mode of activity measurement has on this relationship. The main findings were: a) The Tritrac provided a significantly better estimate of scaled oxygen consumption during typical children's activities than the WAM, heart rate or pedometry; b) Physical activity, measured by the Tritrac or the pedometer, was inversely correlated with body fat and positively correlated with aerobic fitness; c) Heart rate measures of physical activity did not correlate significantly with body fat or aerobic fitness; d) Meta-analytic procedures showed a small to moderate relationship between activity levels and body fat in children; e) The strength of this relationship was heavily dependent on the method used to assess activity levels. Observation methods produced an effect size significantly higher than questionnaire or heart rate methods, though not significantly different to motion counter methods. In conclusion it appears that heart rate methods are inappropriate for the assessment of habitual activity in children. The use of motion counters or observation methods for assessing activity are recommended. Motion counter methods are particularly appropriate for medium to large sample sizes.
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Abdul, Rahman Hala. "Multi-Sensor Based Activity Recognition˸ Development and Validation in Real-Life context." Thesis, Rennes, École normale supérieure, 2017. http://www.theses.fr/2017ENSR0011/document.
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Donahue, Vicki S. "Phospholipase c activity in retinal pigment epithelium." Virtual Press, 1997. http://liblink.bsu.edu/uhtbin/catkey/1041916.
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The role of the retinal pigment epithelial cells on the viability and renewal of photoreceptors has been well demonstrated in the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) strain of rat. These rats are characterized by an inherited time-dependent degeneration of their photoreceptors. This degeneration is apparently due to the inability of the retinal pigment epithelial cells to adequately ingest fragments of photoreceptor membrane that are shed during the course of photoreceptor membrane renewal. The buildup of photoreceptor material in the interphotoreceptor space ultimately leads to the degeneration of photoreceptors in these animals. With regard to the pigment epithelial cells, neither the mechanism mediating the ingestion process in normal rats nor the nature of the defect of this process in RCS rats is understood.It is the goal of this proposed research to assay for the presence of phospholipase C in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells and to determine possible modulators of the enzyme in an attempt to associate this with the process of phagocytosis.Department of Biology
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Marin, Robert G. "The Reserve Personnel, Navy Manyear Rate Activity-Based Costing Model." Thesis, Monterey, Calif. : Springfield, Va. : Naval Postgraduate School ; Available from National Technical Information Service, 1995. http://handle.dtic.mil/100.2/ADA302994.
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Lassell, Deborah Deanna. "Heart rate monitor feedback and children's levels of physical activity /." view abstract or download file of text, 2006. http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=1283960311&sid=1&Fmt=2&clientId=11238&RQT=309&VName=PQD.
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Thesis (D. Ed.)--University of Oregon, 2006.Typescript. Includes vita and abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 111-116). Also available for download via the World Wide Web; free to University of Oregon users.
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Bekale, Raymonde Bamboukou. "Investigation of the antidiabetic activity of Cnicusbenedictus L. in rats." University of the Western Cape, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/11394/5455.
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Magister Pharmaceuticae - MPharmDiabetes Mellitus, one of the major diseases affecting human population all over the world has caused significant morbidity and mortality. The management of this condition has raised the demand of safe and cost effective remedial measures due to several side effects associated with the present use of modern medicines. Thus, it is crucial to explore other options for diabetes management such as the use of medical plants. Cnicus benedictus L. is one of the known plant species used by traditional medicine practitioners in South Africa for the treatment of various ailments including inflammatory conditions, pain and diabetes. Even though the plant species has been extensively studied, scientifically, no evidence exists in literature to corroborate the claim made by traditional medicine practitioners of its therapeutic success in the treatment of diabetes and pain. Therefore, the objectives of this present study were: to investigate the antidiabetic activity of C. benedictus using leaf methanol extract of the plant species on animal model involving male and female Albino rats; to investigate the antinociceptive activity of the plant species on mice; to determine the safety profile of the plant by investigating the acute toxicity and to carry out HPLC study in order to characterize the plant species. Animals were divided into groups of six each and fasted overnight prior to the induction of diabetes in rats using Streptozocin (STZ). The plasma glucose was measured at intervals of 30 min for 4 hours by means of a glucometer. Cnicus benedictus (100 – 400 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly reduced the blood glucose concentrations of fasted normal rats with percentage maximum reduction ranging from 46 to 79% and chlorpropramide (250 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly reduced the blood glucose concentrations of fasted normal rats by 84%. Cnicus benedictus (100 – 400 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly reduced the blood glucose concentrations of STZinduced diabetic rats with percentage maximum reduction ranging from 44.82 to 66.04% and chlorpropramide (250 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly reduced the blood glucose concentration of STZ-induced diabetic rats by 71.71%. In the oral glucose tolerance test, administration of leaf methanol extract of Cnicus benedictus (100 – 400 mg/kg, i.p.) following oral glucose load on fasted normoglycaemic rats significantly reduced the increased blood glucose concentrations with percentage maximum reduction ranging from 42.45 to 70.75%. Chlorpropramide (250 mg/kg, i.p.) following oral glucose load on fasted normoglycaemic rats significantly reduce the increased blood glucose concentration with a percentage maximum reduction of 79.04%. In acetic acid writhing test, animals were divided into groups of eight per dose. Cnicus benedictus (25-400 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly reduced the number of writhes in mice with percentage inhibition of the writhes ranging from 67.95 to 73.71%. Indomethacin (20 mg/kg, i.p.) and paracetamol (500 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly reduced the number of writhes in mice with percentage inhibition of 75.44 and 69.18% respectively. Combined treatment of lowest and sub-effective doses of C.benedictus (12.5 mg/kg, i.p.) and indomethacin (10 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly reduced the writhes with a percentage inhibition of 58.32%. In hot plat test, animals were divided into groups of eight per dose. Cnicus benedictus (25-400 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly delayed the reaction times of the mice to hot-plate thermal stimulation. Morphine (10 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly delayed the reaction time of the mice to the hot-plate stimulation. The no-adverse-effect-level (NOAEL) of leaf methanol extract of Cnicus benedictus was obtained at 3200 mg/kg (p.o.) and the LD50 value of the plant species was found to be 4000 mg/kg (p.o.). The HPLC fingerprint of the leaf methanol extract of Cnicusbenedictus showed distinct peaks at the following retention times of 6.387, 14.628, 18.431, 23.228 and 29.829 min. In conclusion, the data obtained showed that leaf methanol extract of Cnicus benedictus possesses both antidiabetic and antinocipetive activities.
National Research Foundation (NRF)
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Hines, Gregory M. (Gregory Manuel). "Brain Activity in Rats Exposed to Short-Term External Electrical Fields." Thesis, North Texas State University, 1985. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc504068/.
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The effects of external electric fields (EEF) on brain activity in anesthetized rats were studied. The field strengths used, 9 kV/m and 5 kV/m, both D.C. and A.C. (60Hz) were in the range of those measured beneath current overhead transmission lines. Brain activity was monitored from surface electrodes and from electrodes stereotaxically implanted in the posterior-lateral portion of the hypothalamus. It was found that 9 kV/m and 5 kV/m EEF's both D.C. and A.C. brought about statistically significant changes in hypothalamic activity, however, the effects were bi-directional, (i.e. increases and decreases). Only seven of the 60 animals exposed showed changes in the EEG recorded with surface electrodes. The data clearly indicate that (1) anesthetized animals do respond to a change in the external electric field around them, (2) the hypothalamus may contain special electro-receptors that, in turn, may alter various other physiological processes, and (3) the data indicates the need for further research to help government agencies to establish more adequate safety guidelines.
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Parlin, Adam Fletcher. "Activity, Heat Exchange, and Energetics during Thermoregulation." Miami University / OhioLINK, 2019. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1569671412540066.
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Souza, Filho Edison Ticle de Andrade Melo e. "A estrutura a termo das taxas de juro e a trajetória futura de inflação e atividade econômica: um estudo sobre o caso brasileiro." reponame:Repositório Institucional do FGV, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/10438/2065.
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Previous issue date: 2007-02-13T00:00:00ZThis paper’s main objective is to provide empirical evidence that the term structure spread contains valuable information about both future inflation and economic activity paths, using Brazil’s data since 1999 to 2006. Estimation using industrial production figures (IBGE) has shown weak results, yield curve spread coefficients were significant at 5% level of confidence (for 3 to 18 months ahead of projection). Even when controlled for other explicative variables, the yield curve spread has kept its predictive power. Estimation using real GDP figures (IBGE) provided very weak results and not significant coefficients. On the other hand, empirical evidence indicated that the term structure slope does have a great deal of predictive power for future changes in inflation (IPCA), irrespective of the slope measure chosen. Again, even when controlled for other explicative variables, the yield curve spread has shown additional information about future inflation path. The evidence in this paper suggests that central banks might pay attention to the information contained in the term structure, acknowledging it as another important input for their process of monetary policy decision.
O objetivo deste trabalho é examinar a hipótese de que a estrutura a termo das taxas de juros é um bom indicador antecedente das trajetórias futuras da inflação e da atividade econômica, especificamente para o caso brasileiro, no período de 1999 a 2006. As evidências empíricas, examinadas através de regressões da inclinação da curva de juros realizadas contra a variação futura da produção industrial (IBGE) apresentaram resultados pouco robustos, porém coeficientes significativos a 5% (para prazos de projeção de 3 a 18 meses). Quando controlada para outras variáveis explicativas, manteve seu poder de previsão, sugerindo que há conteúdo informacional relevante na inclinação da curva de juros para previsão da produção industrial futura. As regressões realizadas contra a variação futura do PIB a preços constantes (IBGE) apresentaram resultados bastante fracos e coeficientes pouco significativos. Por outro lado, os resultados empíricos das regressões do spread da curva de juros contra a variação futura da inflação (IPCA) mostraram-se robustos, para todas as especificações de diferencial de curva de juros. Novamente, quando controlada para outras variáveis explicativas, manteve seu poder de previsão. As conclusões deste trabalho permitem sugerir aos bancos centrais estar atentos à informação contida na estrutura a termo de juros, utilizando-a como mais um input de informação nos modelos utilizados pela autoridade monetária para suas decisões de política monetária.
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Spangenberg, Elin. "Housing laboratory dogs and rats : implications of physical and social activity /." Uppsala : Dept. of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 2007. http://epsilon.slu.se/2007103.pdf.
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Spencer, Robert Michael. "Rhythmic motor system control by projection neuron activity pattern and rate." Miami University / OhioLINK, 2016. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1461269867.
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Pettersson, Ulrika. "Comparison between two different activity diaries for children and an activity meter." Thesis, Uppsala universitet, Institutionen för kvinnors och barns hälsa, 2019. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-395047.
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Background: The level of activity in an individual can be the difference between health and illness. Physical inactivity can cause diseases such as osteoporosis and type-2 diabetes. It has been reported that children live an increasingly inactive life, with less than the recommended a total of 60 minutes daily for children and adolescents of 6-17 years of age. Objective: The objective was to compare two activity diaries and how the results correspond to measurements by an activity meter. Material and methods: This study included 12 children who each carried an activity meter for four days to measure Total Energy Expenditure. In parallel, they filled in two different activity diaries. In the diaries two different calculation methods were used, with a Physical Activity Ratio value or a Metabolic Equivalent of Task value which then was inserted into equations to calculate Total Energy Expenditure. Anthropometric measurements were obtained by use of a stadiometer, a caliper and a bioimpedance scale. Results: The results from the Physical Activity Ratio diary indicated a better match with the results from the activity meter. Conclusions: Between the two diaries significant difference in how the activities were estimated were found, where an overestimation could be seen in the diary that used the Metabolic Equivalent of Task. Differences could also be seen between the activity meter and both diaries, also here the difference were bigger with the Metabolic Equivalent of Task diary. The Physical Activity Ratio diary was better matched with the activity meter.
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Wójcik, Weronika. "Evaluation of microbiological activity during the deammonification process for nitrogen removal." Thesis, KTH, VA-teknik, Vatten, Avlopp och Avfall, 2011. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-96300.
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This master thesis is based on own studies. A four-month study was performed at Hammarby Sjostad Research Station, which is located in Stockholm. One-stage deammonification process was evaluated in two different system configurations in pilot plant scale. The theoretical background for this thesis works is presented in the first part and where is presented negative impacts of nitrogen compounds in environment and requirements for purified wastewater in European Union (Sweden and Poland). In the next part of the thesis the nitrogen cycle is described and with focus on biological reactions for nitrogen removal. Especially, nitrification/denitrification and anammox processes are described with special focus on parameters affecting the anammox process performance and its advantages and disadvantages of using this process. Experimental results from the four-month study and evaluation of the microbial activity are described in the last part.
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Watkins, Andrew. "Collaborative venture capital activity in the London metropolitan region : entrepreneurial capacity building through corporate partnering?" Thesis, London School of Economics and Political Science (University of London), 2013. http://etheses.lse.ac.uk/763/.
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Venture capital firms are collaborative and location specific actors. A significant source of specialised factor inputs (knowledge, expertise, resources, and finance) for investing in new high tech companies are large corporations, making them potentially complementary partners for independent venture capital firms in collaborations from which considerable value adding capacity might be derived. Employing a qualitative approach based on in-depth interviews with 30 London based technology oriented venture capital firm, this study (1) captures and explains the how, why, and under what circumstances do venture capital firms collaborate with large corporations and their corporate venturing divisions, and (2) the role that geographic proximity plays in facilitating this collaboration. Using a cross sector comparison, the core of the research inquires as to the structures employed, and the motivations and conditions for which this collaborative activity is pursued. In addition, it assesses the facilitating role that geographic proximity, and the opportunities and capacities of the London metropolitan region might play. The findings demonstrate that collaboration between venture capital firms and large corporations is increasingly common, but more formal collaborative structures are the exception. Driving this collaboration is the exchange of complementary knowledge for purposes of better investment selection and for improving options for investment exit. Geographic proximity plays a facilitating role and is particularly important during the investment selection phase. While the significance of co-location is somewhat downplayed, collaboration is indirectly facilitated through the innovation capacities and the opportunities for network interaction and international knowledge exchange which the London metropolitan region offers.
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Major, Bernard J. "Environmental factors affecting pre-maturity alpha-amylase activity in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum)." Thesis, Open University, 1999. http://oro.open.ac.uk/54878/.
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Pre-maturity alpha-amylase activity (PMAA) in the absence of sprouting is one of four causes of low Hagberg falling number (HFN) in UK winter wheat (Triticum aestivum), reducing the quality and value of milled flour. Other causes include the retention of pericarp alpha-amylase activity (RPAA), pre-maturity sprouting (PrMS) and post-maturity sprouting (PoMS). This thesis investigated the effects of environmental factors on PMAA which currently occurs in a variable and unpredictable fashion under UK weather conditions. A multi-site field experiment on four cultivars (Haven, Hornet, Pastiche and Riband), at four sites (Harper Adams University College, University of Nottingham, University of Aberdeen and ADAS-Bridgets) between 1994-1996 was undertaken to:- establish the frequency of the causes of low HFN; examine the relationship between grain drying-rate and PMAA; determine if it was possible to predict combine harvest HFN. A range of techniques including a visual sprouting assessment, fluorescein dibutyrate staining, iso-electric focusing and a beta-limit dextrin gel and iodine staining test were used to allow the cause of low HFN to be established. Of the forty crops analysed, 22 cases (45%) had detectable amounts of alpha-amylase activity. PMAA was identified solely in 2 cases (5%), in combination with PoMS in 8 cases (20%), in combination with RPAA in one case (2%), with PoMS occurring solely in 11 cases (28%). The HFN fell below the breadmaking standard of 250 s in 18 of the 36 site x year x cultivar combinations analysed. This was attributed solely to PMAA in two cases (11 %), a combination of PMAA and PoMS in a further eight cases (44%) and solely to PoMS in eight cases(44%). There were no cases where PrMS or RPAA reduced the HFN to below 250 s. The hypothesis that PMAA is related to the grain drying-rate between 40-20 % moisture content was tested. Grain drying-rate was determined by linear regression analysis using moisture content measurements made at regular intervals during grain development. In site x year x cultivar combinations where PMAA was detected the grain drying-rate was significantly (P = 0.047) lower (mean = 1.90 cf. 2.30% moisture loss day-1), suggesting a slow grain drying-rate enhances PMAA. However, the low frequency of occurrence of PMAA in isolation prevented quantification of this relationship. Initiation of PMAA in the grain, was shown to occur from a grain moisture content of 47.8%. A pre-harvest sample taken by hand at 850 °C-days (35 % moisture, Zadoks growth stage 85-87) was shown to enable a prediction of combine harvest HFN to be made in the absence of subsequent rainfall and PoMS. The 95 % confidence limits associated with this HFN prediction were however wide. The hypothesis that transient changes in temperature early in grain development may affect PMAA, before the onset of any grain drying-rate effects, was tested in five controlled-environment cabinet experiments. Of 36 cultivar x time of transfer combinations undertaken from a 16/ 10°C to a 26 /20°C temperature regime, six led to a significant increase (P < 0.05) arid one led to a significant decrease in PMAA. Of the 18 cultivar x time of transfer combinations undertaken from a 25 / 20°C to a 16 / 10°C temperature regime, one led to a significant increase and one led to a significant decrease in PMAA. A comparison between the field and controlled-environment experiment results highlighted that after conditions putatively stimulating PMAA had been encountered, subsequent environmental factors, such as mean temperature and relative humidity may also affect PMAA. It was concluded that PMAA can be enhanced by transient increases in temperature before the grain reaches 40% moisture content and by a slow grain drying-rate between 40-20% moisture content. The variability in the results, however, also suggested other environmental factors were influencing PMAA.
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Barbosa, Raphael de Almeida. "As surpresas na política monetária e suas implicações na estrutura a termo de juros: o caso brasileiro." reponame:Repositório Institucional do FGV, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10438/2639.
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Previous issue date: 2009-02-05T00:00:00ZO objetivo do trabalho é estudar a relação entre 'surpresas' na política monetária, reveladas pelas mudanças não-esperadas na taxa de juros de curto prazo (Selic) e a estrutura a termo da curva de juros para o caso brasileiro. Será testado o efeito de movimentos não-esperados da política monetária sobre a estrutura a termo de juros, utilizando como medida de surpresa da política monetária o erro de previsão do mercado para a taxa de juros estabelecida pela autoridade monetária. O trabalho está estruturado em 4 capítulos, além desta introdução. A introdução consiste no detalhamento da importância do problema e como o trabalho está organizado. O capítulo 1 compreende a revisão da literatura em duas partes: a parte 1 realiza uma síntese de alguns trabalhos sobre o tema e a parte subseqüente apresenta alguns resultados empíricos já conhecidos. No capítulo 2 será estudado o caso brasileiro, e definida a metodologia e hipóteses analisadas. O terceiro capítulo consiste nas estimações e resultados. Por último, o capítulo 4 disserta a respeito das conclusões obtidas, limitações do trabalho e questões para futuras pesquisas.
The purpose of this dissertation is to study the relatioship between the short-term interest rate (Selic) and the term structure through changes in monetary policy for the Brazilian case. It will test the effect of non-expected monetary policy movements (the "surprises") on the term structure, using as a surprise of monetary policy the market errors in predictions for interest rate set by monetary authority. This monograph is divided into 4 sections, besides an introduction. The introduction details the importance of the problem and how the monograph will be organized. Chapter 1 covers the literature review into two parts: part one deal with main theoretical hypothesis to explain the term structure of interest rate and part two reviews the main empirical results to test that hypothesis. Chapter 2 will discuss the methodology and assumptions used to analyze the Brazilian case. The third chapter consists of estimates and results. Finally, chapter 4 concludes indicating the main findings, as well as the limitations of the presente dissertation, and issues for future research.
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Blackwood, Susan Kim. "Aspects of fitness and physical activity patterns in Edinburgh school children." Thesis, Open University, 1997. http://oro.open.ac.uk/57657/.
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There is growing concern that many children in Britain do not take sufficient exercise to benefit cardiovascular health. This is supported by extensive evidence advocating the importance of regular physical activity for lifelong health and well-being, and is of particular relevance in Scotland given it's notorious record of adult coronary heart disease death. This study examined aspects of fitness and physical activity in groups of Edinburgh school children, aged between 13 and 14 years. A three stage investigation was adopted: Phase One: A repeated measures, same subject design was used to examine the reliability and validity of selected measures (20m shuttle run test, peak oxygen uptake (V02 Peak), and anthropometric measures). Thirty three children (15 boys, 18 girls) performed each test on 3 separate days. Anthropometric measures showed strong reliability (r > 0.94, n=33) whilst reliability for the treadmill test ofV02 peak and shuttle run performance was lower (r=0.89 and r=0.79 respectively). Multiple regression analysis yielded a new equation for predicting V02 peak for children. This age specific prediction equation incorporated shuttle run performance in conjunction with skinfold thickness measures (Boys, R2=0.64 SEE=3.46; Girls, R2=0.79, SEE=2.81). Repeat testing was also recommended. Phase Two: An evaluation of methods of heart rate data analysis to assess physical activity in children. Twenty eight children (14 boys, 14 girls) wore continuous heart rate monitors (polar Electro PE4000, Finland) over a period of 7 days (Monday to Sunday), mean duration 737 (+/-55) mins/day. A detailed 7 day self report activity diary was also completed. Variability of heart rate measures was high (R=0.10-0.30), and it was noted that using data for just 4 days or less resulted in considerable underestimation of total weekly activity levels (44-100% error). If activity levels are to be compared against current recommendations, researchers must endeavour to achieve weekly rather than daily estimates of activity. Evaluation of methods of heart rate data analysis showed good correlation between heart rate activity indices and reported seven day activity. For boys strongest correlation was achieved using the number of 5 minute periods with HR > 139 b.min"l and the number of 5 minute periods with HR > 50% heart rate reserve (r=0.80, n=14). Total activity time was similar for both males and females but girls engaged in fewer sustained bouts of activity (>5 minutes) and a better correlate with activity in females was achieved using the total number of elevated heart rates (total HR > 50% heart rate reserve, r=0.64, n=14). Phase Three: A cross sectional survey was conducted to investigate standards of aerobic fitness and patterns of physical activity in groups of Edinburgh school children. Height, weight, skinfold thickness, shuttle run performance and physical activity (assessed by heart rate monitoring and activity diary) were recorded in a sample of 91 children (44 Boys, 47 Girls). Overall, males performed significantly better on the shuttle run test (t=5.4, df=88, p < 0.05), had higher predicted peak oxygen uptake (t=5.6, df=87, p < 0.05), and engaged in more bouts of moderate to vigorous activity than females. Seventy percent of boys and 50% of girls fulfilled current physical activity guidelines. Most activities were school based (131 mins per week as compared to 85 mins per week of out of school activities). Activity tended to be sporadic with active days interspersed with inactive days (mean 3.2 +/·1.6 days per week). After school activities specifically targeting young girls should be promoted.
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Levin, April Robyn. "Early Seizure Blockade: Preventing Long-Term Epileptic Activity in Wag/Rij Rats." Yale University, 2008. http://ymtdl.med.yale.edu/theses/available/etd-08152007-130206/.
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The purpose of this study was to determine how early seizure blockade with ethosuximide (ESX) would influence ion channel expression and long-term spike-wave discharge (SWD) activity in epileptic WAG/Rij rats. The goal was to elucidate the question Do seizures beget seizures? in a genetically prone model and if so, to attempt to interrupt this cycle by early intervention. In our first experiment, we used immunocytochemistry to determine the effect of ESX on cortical expression of ion channels in treated and untreated WAG/Rij rats and age-matched Wistar controls. This experiment revealed that treatment with ESX blocked the upregulation of Nav1.1 and Nav1.6 as well as the downregulation of HCN1 that is associated with epileptic activity in rats (p < .05). In a second experiment, WAG/Rij rats were divided into 3 groups: untreated (H2O), temporary early treatment (ESX 4 month), and continuous early treatment (ESX continuous), and SWD activity was measured by electroencephalogram (EEG) at various timepoints. This second experiment revealed that animals in the ESX 4 month group spent less percent time in SWD (0.242 ± .068 SEM) than animals in the H2O group (0.769 ± .060 SEM, p < .001), although they spent slightly more percent time in SWD than animals in the ESX continuous group (0.020 ± .065 SEM, p = .003). This effect was predominantly due to seizure number, and average seizure duration did not vary among the three groups. Additionally, power spectrum analysis revealed a significant correlation when the difference between power spectra for H2O and ESX 4 month rats was compared to the power spectrum of a seizure (Pearson correlation equals 0.955, 2-tailed significance < .000000001), suggesting quantitatively that seizures were reduced by temporary early treatment. This suggests that early prevention of SWD may reduce the burden of seizures later in life, and that possibilities for prevention of genetic absence epilepsy should be further investigated.