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Linden, Danitsja Stephanie van der. "Ewe size and nutrition during pregnancy : effects on metabolic and productive performance of the offspring : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Animal Science at Massey University, Turitea, Palmerston North, New Zealand." Massey University, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/10179/1343.
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Exposure of the fetus to adverse conditions in utero may result in developmental adaptations that alter metabolism and postnatal growth of the offspring. This thesis investigated the effects of dam size and nutrition during pregnancy on growth, metabolic function and lactational and productive performance of the female offspring to two years of age. Four-hundred and fifty heavy (60.8 kg ± 0.18) and 450 light (42.5 kg ± 0.17) dams were randomly allocated to ad libitum or maintenance nutritional regimens from days 21 - 140 of pregnancy, under pastoral grazing conditions. From one week prior to lambing, all dams were fed ad libitum until weaning. After weaning, female progeny were managed and fed under pastoral conditions as one group. Maternal nutrition during pregnancy affected lamb growth to weaning, however, after weaning lamb growth was affected by dam size. Dam size had no effect on glucose metabolism, adrenal function or fat metabolism in 16-month-old female twin offspring. Dam nutrition during pregnancy had a minor effect on glucose metabolism and no effect on adrenal function or lipolysis, however, it did possibly affect gluconeogenesis and/or glycogenolysis, with increased glucose production in ewes born to maintenance-fed dams. Ewes born to dams fed maintenance showed greater milk production, lactose percentage, lactose and crude protein yield. Ewes born to heavy dams showed greater milk production and lactose yield. Dam size had no effect on reproductive performance of the female offspring. Being born to a larger dam showed no advantages over being born to smaller dams, for number of lambs born and weight of lambs at birth and weaning. ‘Grand’dam maintenance nutrition increased lamb birth and weaning weight and lamb growth rates of the ‘grand’offspring. Ewes born to maintenance-fed dams could have an advantage over ewes born to ad libitum-fed dams in physiological stressful situations in life as their liver may be able to supply more glucose to support their growing conceptus and milk production to increase the chances of survival of their offspring. These results indicate that it is possible to programme the offspring by feeding their dams differently during pregnancy under grazing conditions. With a better understanding of how offspring can be programmed through different maternal nutritional regimens, it may be possible to significantly increase the production potential of the New Zealand ewe population.
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Campbell, Regenia Beth Phillips. "Arrested and Aberrant: Effects of Amoxicillin in a Murine Model of Chlamydial Infection." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2013. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/2269.
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Chlamydia trachomatis is the most common sexually transmitted bacterial disease agent worldwide, and, though frequently asymptomatic, can cause extreme pathology including infertility. Chlamydial species exhibit a unique biphasic developmental cycle. Once attached to a cell surface, infectious elementary bodies (EB) are internalized within an inclusion, the membrane-bound structure in which EB transform to noninfectious, replicable reticulate bodies (RB). After multiple rounds of division, RB condense to form EB, which are released and can infect new host cells. In culture, exposure to stressors, such as beta-lactam antibiotics, induce chlamydiae to reversibly detour from normal development into a noninfectious, viable state termed persistence. Cell culture data suggest that persistent forms are resistant to azithromycin (AZM), a front-line antibiotic, and are able to alter the host transcriptome. Though persistence has been described in culture for over 50 years, whether or not it: i) occurs in vivo; and ii) influences chlamydial pathogenesis, transmission and therapy has remained unresolved. To address these questions, we developed an animal model of persistent chlamydial infection using amoxicillin (AMX) treatment. AMX exposure decreased shedding of infectious chlamydiae in C. muridarum-infected mice without affecting chlamydial viability, demonstrating the presence of persistent chlamydiae. Shedding of infectious EB resumed following AMX cessation. Shedding data and microarray analyses suggested that host immunity might limit chlamydia’s exit from persistence in our model. Thus, we hypothesized that cyclophosphamide (CTX) treatment would increase the magnitude of chlamydial shedding observed after AMX-treatment cessation. CTX treatment increased post-AMX shedding by more than 10-fold compared to AMX-only controls. To determine whether persistent chlamydiae are resistant to antibiotic eradication in vivo, we induced persistence by administering AMX and treated mice with various AZM dosing regimes. Persistently infected mice demonstrated increased treatment failure following AZM therapy compared to productively infected controls. These data suggest that persistent chlamydiae are refractory to treatment in vivo and provide an explanation for the observation that treatment fails in some patients. In addition to creating the first fully characterized, experimentally tractable, in vivo model of chlamydial persistence, these experiments provide evidence that persistent/stressed chlamydial forms may serve as a long-term reservoir of infectious organisms in vivo.
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Staufer, Lorry E. "Teen pregnancy prevention programs a systematic review of effects on pregnancy rates /." [Denver, Colo.] : Regis University, 2008. http://165.236.235.140/lib/LStaufer2008.pdf.
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Schuessler, Thomas F. "A computer controlled research ventilator for small animals /." Thesis, McGill University, 1993. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=69704.
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Understanding the mechanical properties of the respiratory system is an important task in pulmonary physiology. Current research often involves small mammals (mice, rats or guinea pigs) which are easily obtained in large numbers as pure bred strains, thus allowing statistically reliable results with minimal inter-animal variation to be obtained. However, due to the small flow amplitudes involved, the input impedance of common flow measurement devices is often too low to reliably measure tracheal flow. Furthermore, experimental setups are usually very limited in the types of volume, pressure or flow perturbations they can apply to the respiratory system. The computer controlled research ventilator for small animals described here overcomes both problems. Tracheal flow is estimated from the position of the ventilator piston and the pressure within the cylinder. Furthermore, the setup is capable of applying any desired volume perturbation with a bandwidth up to 55 Hz.
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Olszynko-Gryn, Jesse. "Pregnancy testing in Britain, c.1900-67 : laboratories, animals and demand from doctors, patients and consumers." Thesis, University of Cambridge, 2015. https://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.708529.
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Siegel, Angeline M. "Unspoken connections| Scientists' intersubjective experiences with animals." Thesis, Saybrook University, 2015. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=3711355.
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<p> Little is known about the scientist-animal relationship; therefore, the aim of this study was to learn how moments of intersubjectivity, or "oneness" are created and experienced by scientists. It is by appreciating the risks and vulnerabilities intrinsic to human-animal relationships that propel the present investigation. The current cultural bias of valuing objectification and detachment as the predominant form of scientific investigation overlooks relational subtleties intrinsic to deriving meaning from humananimal studies. By examining scientists and their descriptions of intersubjectivity with their animal participants, a greater understanding of society's philosophical and ethical deliberations on the human-animal relationship may be revealed. An exploratory, sequential mixed-method design was utilized to phenomenologically examine intersubjectivity, as well as to measure the prevalence of its dimensions within the larger academic population. Phenomenological analysis from ten interviews identified humananimal intersubjectivity as having four significant phases: <i>joint mindfulness, synchronized embodiment, intrinsic belonging </i>, and <i>transcendental awareness</i>. Spearman correlational analysis from fifty-four responses to the online survey supported these findings, as well as identified a potential link with the variables of proximity (r<sub> s</sub> = .469, p < .05, n=25), closeness (r<sub>s</sub> = .483, p < .01, n=25), similarity (r<sub>s</sub> = .483, p < .01, n=25) and embodied awareness (r<sub>s</sub> = .421, p < .01, n=25) that account for variation in the scientific population. When examining past behavior as it related to current scientific practices, gender differences emerged that resemble those reported by neuroanatomical studies. Lastly, further mixed analysis identified academic and cultural risks that were met by employing concealment and silencing strategies. These results add valuable depth in the interpretation of intersubjectivity and its relationship with scientific behavior, as well as insight into the role of intersubjectivity within ethical and philosophical debates.</p>
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Ali, Cairo F. "Animal rights and animal research." The Ohio State University, 1987. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1371556393.
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Birtwell, B. "The experience of pregnancy for vulnerable women." Thesis, Canterbury Christ Church University, 2012. http://create.canterbury.ac.uk/11179/.
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Section A is a literature review focused on critically evaluating theory and research relating to three variables commonly experienced by vulnerable pregnant women. These pose a ‘risk’ to unborn babies and include: social exclusion, stress and poor attachment (NICE, 2010). Selected interventions for reducing the known ‘risks’ are critically evaluated, as well as qualitative studies into the experiences of pregnancy for vulnerable women. Gaps in existing theory and research are discussed, leading to suggestions for future research, including further qualitative study of vulnerable women’s experiences of pregnancy. Section B presents a study into eight vulnerable women’s experiences of pregnancy and the Mellow Bumps antenatal intervention. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was used to make sense of participants’ experiences. The analysis revealed pregnancy was a time of reflection, when participants felt their bodies were being taken over, they felt more emotional than usual, relationships were important, and new identities developed. Pregnancy was a “normalising” experience, which provided an opportunity to build positive representations of the self. Mellow Bumps supported this. Implications for clinical practice and future research are discussed.
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DiBenedetto, Lynn M. "An Examination of the Hypothalamo-neurohypophysial System of the Rat: Restoration of the Vasopressinergic System." eScholarship@UMMS, 1997. https://escholarship.umassmed.edu/gsbs_diss/169.
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The hypothalamo-neurohypophysial model has been studied for many years. Of note, when the axons of the magnocellular, peptidergic neurons of the supraoptic nucleus (SON) and paraventricular nucleus (PVN) are transected or crushed, varying degrees of polydipsia and polyuria ensue as the result of measurable losses of vasopressin (AVP) within the organism's circulation. Following insult, these hypothalamic cells show a remarkable capacity to reorganize themselves within the proximal areas of the infundibular stalk and median eminence and form what has come to be known as a new 'mini neural lobe' . While the surviving neurons sprout new projections toward the level of the external zone, vascular hypertrophy is marked throughout the new neurohypophysis and new neurohemal contacts have been identified (at the ultrastructural level) associated with these vessels. In parallel with this vascular hypertrophy is a measurable re-release of vasopressin into the circulation. This new 'mini neural lobe' now has the morphological and physiological appearance of an intact neural lobe and is capable of releasing AVP in response to changes in water balance.
While the ability of these axons to reorganize is more characteristic of the peripheral nervous system (PNS), this model system provides an unique opportunity to study axonal regeneration of the central nervous system (CNS). Not only the mechanisms underlying the restoration of AVP function following axotomy but the extent to which various magnocellular neuron populations are involved in the regenerative process may also be analyzed. Before attempting to identify putative markers associated with this regenerative process, it was necessary to carefully characterize the system following axonal injury. Using Sprague Dawley rats, we repeated previous physiological studies which had examined the intake of water and output of urine following hypophysectomy. In addition, we also correlated the restoration of water balance with the return of AVP release, as measured by radioimmunoassay. These data defined a temporal framework in which magnocellular AVP regeneration occurs.
As a result of repeating these physiological studies, we noted several inconsistencies between other previously published work. First, the time course of AVP recovery did not agree with other published results, nor did the first appearance of AVP immunoreactivity . We did not observe a complete recovery of water balance as previously reported and the degree of magnocellular death was inconsistent with other reports. In light of these many conflicting observations between several historical reports and our own results, we did a basic physiological re-characterization of the hypothalamo-neurohypohysial system following hypophysectomy. By means of immunohistochemistry, we also demonstrated the re-appearance of AVP within the new the 'mini neural lobe ' concomitant with the increased appearance of synapsin I, a marker associated with the presence of mature and presumably functioning synapses to be no sooner than 28 days following surgical removal of the hypophysis.
Immunocytochemistry was also used in conjunction with retrograde fluorescent labeling to extend the previous studies and include a 2-D analysis of cell survival throughout the PVN and SON following hypophysectomy or neurohypophysectomy. As reported previously, magnocellular neuronal loss is greater within the SON, particularly the hypophysectomized subject, and less so within the PVN; again with the greater loss in the PVN of the hypophysectomized animal. Based upon our observations and other recent reports, we suggest the possibility that some cells of the hypothalamo-neurohypophysial system or some other extrahypothalamic cell population may be capable of expressing vasopressin in response to neurohypophysectomy. We provide initial evidence that glial cells of the third ventricle may indeed be involved.
Finally, one of the ultimate goals of using this as a model system of CNS regeneration is to understand the underlying mechanisms and components essential to central nervous tissue regeneration. Toward that end I have been involved with the initial studies to optimize an adenovirus delivery system which will be capable of incorporating various putative neurotransmitter and/or peptide anti-sense messages, being injected into the neurohypophysis and transported back into the cells of the hypothalamo-neurohypophysial system. Once these antisense sequences are expressed by the cells following axotomy, the sequence of expression of various proteins in response to injury may be elucidated.
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Fletcher, Tifani R., Andrea D. Clements, Lana McGrady, and Beth A. Bailey. "Religious Commitment and Depression During Pregnancy." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2013. https://dc.etsu.edu/etsu-works/7265.
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Bruwer, Floris Johannes. "Die invloed van selenium en β-karoteentoediening op geselekteerde plasmaparameters en die dragtigheidsyfer van ontvangerkoeie tydens embrio-oorplasing". Diss., University of Pretoria, 2000. http://hdl.handle.net/2263/29494.
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Hierdie studie het ten doel gehad om die effekte van Se en β-karoteentoediening op vit A, vit E, konsepsietempo en progesteroonvlakke tydens embrio-oorplasings in ontvangerkoeie te ondersoek. Die effekte van die verskillende faktore op mekaar sou ook bepaal word. In Totaal van 142 multipare koeie wat in vier groepe verdeel is, was as ontvangers vir die studie gebruik. Die groepe was as volg behandel: Groep 1 (35 koeie), 50 mg Se en 1500 mg vit E intramuskulêr 6 en 3 weke voor die oorplasings; Groep 2 (36 koeie), 300 mg l1-karoteen per os per bees per dag vanaf 6 weke voor die oorlasings; Groep 3 (36 koeie), vit E/Se en β-karoteen soos in Groepe 1 en 2 respektiewelik; Groep 4 (35 koeie) negatiewe kontrole groep met geen behandeling nie. Elke ontvanger het 6 weke voor oorplasing vit ADE oraal ontvang. Embrios is na 20, 19, 19 en 18 ontvangers van Groepe 1, 2, 3 en 4 onderskeidelik oorgeplaas. Bloedmonsters is van elke dier vir ontledings in die middel van die oorplantingsperiode getrek. Die toediening van Se was hoogs betekenisvol met RBS GSH-Px aktiwiteit gekorreleer R2 = 0,32960, (n = 136, P = 0,0000). Die toediening van β-karoteen was ook hoogs betekenisvol gekorreleer met die RBS GSH-Px aktiwiteit, R2 = 0,18950, (n=136, P< 0,0000). Die RBS GSH-Px aktiwiteit was 7,49,6,61,10,75 en 4,5 EE 11x1010 RBS vir Groepe 1, 2, 3 en 4 onderskeidelik. Groepe 1 en 3,1 en 4, 2 en 3, 2 en 4, en 3 en 4 het betekenisvol van mekaar verskil maar nie Groepe 1 en 2 nie. Daar was geen verband tussen β-karoteen plasmavlakke en RBS GSH¬Px aktiwiteit nie. Die orale toediening van β-karoteen het plasmavlakke duidelik laat styg en was betekenisvol met die β-karoteen plasmavlakke gekorreleer R2 = 0,09296, (n = 134, P=O,0003). Die groepe wat β-karoteen ontvang het, Groepe 2 en 3, se plasmavlakke was merkbaar hoër as die van Groepe 1 en 4 wat niks ontvang het nie. Die groep se waardes was 8,72, 10,13, 9,53 en 8,50 µmol/l vir Groepe 1, 2, 3 en 4 respektiewelik. Groepe 1 en 2, 2 en 4, en 3 en 4 het betekenisvol van mekaar verskil (P=0,0021) maar nie Groepe 1 en 3, en 1 en 4 nie. Daar was 'n positiewe korrelasie tussen die toediening van vit E/Se en die a¬tocoferol plasmavlakke, R2 = 0,06344, (n = 134, P=0,0033). Daar was egter geen aanduiding van 'n verband tussen RBS GSH-Px aktiwiteit en α-tocoferol plasmavlakke nie. Daar was wel In betekenisvolle korrelasie tussen α-tocoferol en β-karoteen plasmavlakke (P=0,0001). Die groepswaardes was 11,90, 10,59, 11,67 en 10,56 vir Groepe 1, 2, 3 en 4 onderskeidelik. Groepe 1 en 2, en 1 en 4 het betekenisvol van mekaar verskil (P=0,0334) maar nie die ander groepe, Groepe 1 en 3, 2 en 3, 2 en 4, en 3 en 4 nie. Die korrelasie tussen die toediening van Se en die retinol plasmavlakke was nie statisties betekenisvol nie (P=0,0671) maar tussen RBS GSH-Px aktiwiteit en retinol plasmavlakke was dit wel betekenisvol R2 = 0,03086, (n = 133, P=0,0431). Daar was ook In waarskynlike korrelasie tussen die toediening van β-karoteen en die retinol plasmavlak (P=0,0835) maar geen korrelasie tussen β-karoteen plasmavlakke en retinol plasmavlakke nie. Die groepwaardes was 1,068, 1,065, 1,154 en 1,026 µmol/l vir Groepe 1, 2, 3 en 4 onderskeidelik. Die dragtigheidstempo na die oorplasing van embrios was 50,0%, 47,4%, 31,5% en 27,8% vir Groepe 1, 2, 3 en 4 onderskeidelik. Die verskille was nie betekenisvol nie. Daar was 'n negatiewe korrelasie tussen die β-karoteen plasmavlakke en progesteroon plasmavlakke vir die eerste 5-9 dae van die estrussiklus. Retinol plasmavlakke en progesteroon plasmavlakke was wel positief gekorreleer (P=O,0317). Die groepswaardes was 5,67, 2,90, 4,28 en 5,60 µmol/l vir Groepe 1, 2, 3 en 4 onderskeidelik. RBS GSH-Px was betekenisvol gekorreleer met corpus luteum grootte maar corpus luteum grootte was nie met progesteroon waardes gekorreleer nie. Daar was geen statistiese verskille tussen die groepe ten opsigte van estruslengte en die tydsduur tussen prostaglandientoediening en estrus nie. Op individuele basis was daar wel In betekenisvolle korrelasie van β-karoteen plasmavlak met beide estruslengte (P=O,0298) en die tydsduur tussen prostaglandientoediening en estrus (P=0,0130). Estruslengte en die tydsduur tussen prostaglandien en estrus was ook betekenisvol met mekaar gekorreleer (P < 0,0000).<br>This study addressed some of the effects that selenium and β-carotene administration have on vit A, vit E, conception rates, progesterone levels, oestrus length, interval from PG to oestrus and corpus luteum size in embryo recipients. A total of 142 multiparous cows asigned to 4 test groups, were used as recipients in this study. Group 1 (35 cows) received 50 mg Se and 1500 mg vit E intramuscularly 6 and 3 weeks before transfer, Group 2 (36 cows) received 300 mg β-carotene orally per cow per day starting 6 weeks prior to transfer, Group 3 (36 cows) received both vit ElSe and β-carotene as per Group 1 and 2 and Group 4 (35 cows) was a negative control, with no treatment. All recipients received vit ADE orally 6 weeks before transfers. Embryos were transferred to 20, 19, 19, and 18 recipients of the Groups 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively. Blood for analysis was drawn from all the recipients in the middle of the transferal week, being day 3 of the 5-day period. The administration of selenium was highly significantly correlated with the corresponding RBS GSH-Px activity R2 = 0,3290, (n = 135, P < 0,0000). The β-¬carotene administration was also highly significantly correlated with the RBS GSH¬Px activities R2 = 0,18950, (n = 136, P < 0,0000). However, there were no correlation between the β-carotene plasma levels and that of the RBS GSH-Px activities. The RBS GSH-Px were 7,49, 6,61, 10,75 and 4,5 Enzyme Units 11x1010 RBS for Groups 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively. Groups 1 and 3, 1 and 4, 2 and 3, 2 and 4, and 3 and 4 differ significantly from each other but not Groups 1 and 2. There were no connection between B-carotene plasma levels and RBS GSH-Px activities. The treatment of β-carotene itself was succesful and was significantly correlated with the resulting β-carotene plasma levels R2 = 0,09296, (n = 134, P = 0,0033). The β-carotene plasma levels of the groups that received β-carotene, Groups 2 and 3, were noticeably higher than those of Group 1 and 4, which did not receive β-carotene. The values were 8,72, 10,13, 9,53 and 8,5 µmol/l for Groups 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively. Groups 1 and 2, 2 and 4, and 3 and 4 differed significantly from one another (P = 0,0021) but not those of Groups 1 and 3, and 1 and 4. There was a positive correlation between the administration of Se and the retinol plasma levels (P = 0,0671) and a positive significant correlation between the RBS GSH-Px and the retinol plasma levels R2 = 0,03086, (n = 133, P = 0,0431). There was also a positive correlation between the administration of β-carotene and the retinol plasma levels (P = 0,0835) but no correlation between β-carotene plasma levels and retinol plasma levels. The values were 1,068, 1,065, 1,154 and 1,026 µmol/ for Groups 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively. The pregnancy rate after embryo transferal were 50%, 47,4%, 31,5% and 27,8% for Groups 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively. The differences were not significant. There was a negative correlation between β-carotene plasma levels and progesterone plasma levels for the first 5 to 9 days of the oestrus cycle. Retinol plasma levels however were significantly correlated with progesterone plasma levels (P = 0,0317). The progesterone levels were 5,67, 2,90, 4,28 and 5,60 µmol/ for Groups 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively. The RBS GSH-Px activity was significantly correlated with corpus luteum size (P = 0,0445) but corpus size was not correlated with progesterone values. There were no statistical differences amongst the groups, between oestrus length and the interval from prostaglandin to oestrus. However on an individual basis there was a significant correlation between β-carotene plasma levels and both the oestrus length (P = 0,0298) and the interval from prostaglandin to oestrus (P = 0,0130). Oestrus length and the interval from prostaglandin to oestrus were also significantly correlated with each other (P < 0,0000).<br>Dissertation (MMedVet)--University of Pretoria, 2000.<br>Production Animal Studies<br>MMedVet<br>Unrestricted
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Macleod, Catriona. "The 'causes' of teenage pregnancy: review of South African research - Part 2." Sage Publications, 1999. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/5993.
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This article forms the second of a two-part series in which South African research on teenage pregnancy is reviewed. Part 1 of the series dealt with the consequences of teenage pregnancy; this paper reviews the 'causes' thereof. International literature is incorporated in the discussion by way of comparison. Contributory factors which have been investigated by South African researchers include: reproductive ignorance; the earlier occurrence of menarche; risktaking behaviour; psychological problems; peer influence; co-ercive sexual relations; dysfunctional family patterns; poor health services; socio-economic status; the breakdown of cultural traditions; and the cultural value placed on children. Preston-Whyte and colleagues present a revisionist argument, stating that early pregnancy may represent a rational life choice for certain adolescent women. The article is concluded with comments on methodological problems encountered in the South African research, and a discussion on the implications in terms of policy formulation.
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Russell, Sarah, Randi G. Bastian, Tifani A. Fletcher, Lana McGrady, Andrea D. Clements, and Beth Bailey. "Inattention and Risk Factors for Unplanned Pregnancy." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2014. https://dc.etsu.edu/etsu-works/7257.
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Aspects of ADHD, such as inattention, may be predictive of unplanned pregnancy. An unplanned pregnancy can have negative effects on both maternal and child health. Women surprised by pregnancy may not be physically, emotionally, or financially capable of caring for a child and may postpone or neglect prenatal care.In 2006, approximately 49% of pregnancies were unplanned in the United States. Furthermore, in Tennessee, the percentage was even higher with 56% of pregnancies being unintended. Maternal Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) has been linked to decreased female contraceptive use and to increased risky sexual behavior. Failure to use contraception significantly increases the risk of unplanned pregnancy. This study examined inattention (a characteristic known to be elevated in individuals diagnosed with ADHD) and risk factors (i.e., marital status, education, depression) associated with unplanned pregnancy in Appalachian women. Information was collected from pregnant women recruited from Southern Appalachia as part of the Tennessee Intervention for Pregnant Smokers Program. As part of the larger study, women completed detailed research interviews upon entry into prenatal care. A total of 457 pregnant women had responses on the measures of interest in the current investigation. Logistic regression was performed to assess the ability of Inattention (determined by the Current Symptoms Scale) to predict the probability of a woman experiencing an unplanned pregnancy. The full logistic regression model containing all predictors was statistically significant Χ2 (7, N=457) = 92.35, p <.001 indicating that the predictors as a set reliably distinguished between those women who did, and did not, have an unplanned pregnancy. Inattention had an Adjusted Odds Ratio of 1.76, CI (1.09, 2.86) p =.02 indicating that controlling for the other variables in the model, those women who scored high on the Inattention measure were significantly more likely to experience an unplanned pregnancy. This model correctly classified 76.8% of participants. Additionally, consistent with previous research findings, women who were unmarried and had lower levels of education were also significantly more likely to have an unintended pregnancy. Furthermore, women who reported higher levels of depressive symptoms were significantly more likely toexperience an unplanned pregnancy. Ages and at-risk alcohol use (TACE) were also examined in this study but did not significantly contribute to the model. These results confirm that known risk factors were also found in this population. This study found that inattention predicted unplanned pregnancy. Because inattention is one aspect of ADHD, this could suggest that women diagnosed with ADHD would be more likely than others to experience an unplanned pregnancy. Identifying risk factors can assist health practitioners to target women who are at risk for unplanned pregnancy for purposeful discussion on contraceptive options.
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Fletcher, Tifani R., Lana McGrady, Andrea D. Clements, and Beth A. Bailey. "Perceptions of Smoking Cessation Barriers During Pregnancy." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2013. https://dc.etsu.edu/etsu-works/7263.
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Introduction: Smoking during pregnancy can lead to many negative health outcomesfor the mother and child. More than 30% of pregnant women in rural Appalachia smoke, which is three times the national average. Prenatal appointments present a unique opportunity for health care professionals to address smoking in this population. However, many cessation efforts during pregnancy address only the physical health impact of smoking rather than the personal circumstances surrounding cigarette use. Therefore, the current project investigated self-reported barriers to pregnancy smoking cessationand whether these differed by smoking cessation status at delivery. Methods: Study participants (N=459) were women from the state-funded Tennessee Intervention for Pregnant Smokers (TIPS) program who were self-reported smokers at the beginning of their pregnancy. Women receiving prenatal care in Northeast Tennessee were recruited for participation. The majority of participants were Caucasian, low income, and received state-assisted medical insurance coverage. Participants completed multiple questionnaires, including an assessment of background characteristics and smoking behaviors/beliefs. Of interest to the current investigation was the following open-ended question, asked at entry into prenatal care: “What do you see as the biggest barriers to your quitting smoking (i.e. what would be most likely to keep you from being able to quit)?” Common themes of responses were developed and coded using an iterative process by three independent reviewers, resulting in ten themes. Finally, medical charts were reviewedfor self-reported smoking status at delivery, and participants were subsequently coded as either continued smokers (N=347) or successful quitters (N=112). Results: The majority of women, regardless of delivery smoking status, responded that stress was their primary barrier to smoking cessation, followed by second-hand smoke. Significant differences were found between continuing smokers and those who were able to quit, with quitters less likely to report stress, Χ2 (1, 459) = 7.32, p = .007, or emotional/mental health Χ2 (1, 459) = 12.90, p < .001), as barriers. Continued smokers also listed significantly more barriers per person than quitters t(238.2) = -2.81, p = .005, while quitters were more likely to report that they had no barriers to smoking cessation. Conclusions and Implications: This study suggests that smoking cessation interventions during pregnancy should specifically address stress management and emotional/mental health, as well as second hand smoke, and underlines the importance of addressing mental health issues early in pregnancy. In sum, understanding women’s perceptions of why they believe they cannot quit smoking during pregnancy may help in the development of more effective smoking cessation interventions.
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Layton, Raymond J. "Macroinvertebrate colonization and production in new experimental ponds." Diss., This resource online, 1989. http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-03042009-040552/.
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Melonas, Alexander Paul. "Situated Animals: A Critique of Social Constructivist Excesses in Political Theory." Diss., Temple University Libraries, 2015. http://cdm16002.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p245801coll10/id/321722.
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Political Science<br>Ph.D.<br>In this dissertation I explore the ramifications of political theory being freed from two opposed extremes of biologism and social constructivism because, ultimately, the human animal is both a biological creature and capable of becoming. While it has been highly significant for humanistic scholars to challenge the governing authority of the "hard sciences" as the prime site of legitimacy in modern scholarship, the position of critique has transformed into one of outright and unqualified hostility. I resist this commitment to show that work at the intersection of the human biological sciences and political theory need not amount to political conservatism or pessimism. To this end, I address two questions with the aim of (re-)situating the human animal as a common property in political theory. First, I explore and challenge the commitments that inform the strict social constructionist thesis. This move leads to a second consideration: what questions are open if we see the problem not as biology, but as biological determinism? I make four arguments in this dissertation. First, I use Ernst Cassirer to show that "human" and "animal" can be integrated in a philosophical anthropology in a constructive way, one that avoids the reductionism implied in the term "animal" (or biological creature) and the naiveté of conceiving of human beings as though they are distinct from or wholly independent of nature. Second, I use Marxist materialism to integrate the human biological sciences with a meaningful theory of human freedom. Third, I work at the intersection of contemporary political theories of identity and the human biological sciences to reconcile the effects of "predispositions" with the effects of our social identities. I do so in a way that resists essentialism. Finally, I use feminist scholarship to argue that the human biological sciences cannot be used to justify hierarchy, or rather, that "hard science" doesn't in any meaningful sense say anything at all about equality.<br>Temple University--Theses
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Mason, Zoe. "Qualitative research into anorexia nervosa and its impact on the experience of pregnancy." Thesis, University of Oxford, 2010. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.531935.
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Macleod, Catriona. "Teenage pregnancy and its 'negative' consequences: review of South African research - Part 1." Sage Publications, 1999. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/5982.
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Teenage pregnancy emerged as a social issue within the United States in the 1970s, and somewhat later in South Africa, In this article I review South African research and literature concerning the consequences of teenage pregnancy, because it is on this level that teenage pregnancy is formulated as a problem, The literature is reviewed against the backdrop of some international research in order to provide a basis for comparison, Research on the disruption of schooling, socio-economic disadvantage, obstetric outcomes, inadequate mothering, neglect and abuse, relationship difficulties and demographic concerns is reviewed, Various gaps in the South African literature are identified, These include an inadequate theoretical grounding, a lack of gender and historical analyses, and no exploration of the power relations within which teenage pregnancy occurs.
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Fletcher, Tifani R., Andrea D. Clements, Beth A. Bailey, and Lana McGrady. "Stress, Self-Esteem, and Smoking During Pregnancy." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2012. https://dc.etsu.edu/etsu-works/7266.
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Lawford, Karen. "First Nations Women's Evacuation During Pregnancy from Rural and Remote Reserves." Thèse, Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10393/20356.
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Pregnant First Nations women who live on reserves in rural and remote regions of Canada are routinely evacuated to urban cities to await labour and birth; this is commonly referred to as Health Canada’s evacuation policy. I produced two stand alone papers to investigate this policy. In the first, I investigated the development and implementation of the Canadian government’s evacuation policy. Archival research showed that the evacuation policy began to take shape in 1892 and was founded on Canada’s goals to assimilate and civilize First Nations. My second paper employed First Nations feminist theory to understand why the evacuation policy does not result in good health, especially for First Nations women. Because the evacuation policy is incongruent with First Nations’ epistemologies, it compromises First Nations’ health. I offer policy recommendations to promote First Nations health in a way that is consistent with First Nations’ epistemologies and goals towards self-determination and self-governance.
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Fletcher, Tifani, Andrea D. Clements, and Beth A. Bailey. "Intimate Partner Violence During Pregnancy in Appalachian Women." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2016. https://dc.etsu.edu/etsu-works/7246.
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Ram, Fiona. "Distress during pregnancy : an exploration of protective factors and offspring outcomes : a research portfolio." Thesis, University of Edinburgh, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/1842/16451.
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Background: Maternal mental health during pregnancy and its effects on offspring outcomes have received increased attention as a public health concern. This thesis aimed to examine and evaluate current research into the long term effects of maternal antenatal anxiety on offspring’s psychological development and markers of developmental psychopathology. This thesis also aimed to identify protective factors to parental distress during pregnancy. Self-compassion and adult attachment security have been found to be protective psychological factors for ameliorating stress in general adult samples. Therefore the empirical paper aimed to investigate the effect of these factors during the antenatal period. Method: A systematic literature review of prospective studies examining the effects of maternal antenatal anxiety on child psychopathology and neurodevelopment literature identified 16 relevant prospective studies. The empirical study recruited a general population sample of women and their partners during their second trimester of pregnancy. They completed self-report assessments of self-compassion, adult attachment security, mood and antenatal attachment. Neonatal birth outcome data was collected as follow-up data. Results: The systematic literature review results indicate that maternal antenatal anxiety can be measured and does have a negative impact on offspring development. The results also identified a broad risk phenotype, suggesting that interventions should not necessarily only be targeted at women reaching clinical caseness. The review highlighted a lack of specificity regarding possible psychological mechanisms of the relationship between maternal antenatal anxiety and offspring outcomes. The results of the empirical paper indicated that higher levels of self-compassion and attachment security were related to fewer self-reported symptoms of distress in mothers and their partners. Self-compassion was found to mediate the relationship between attachment security and distress in mothers. Neither antenatal attachment nor neonatal birth outcomes were significantly related to attachment security, self-compassion or levels of distress. Conclusions: The results of the systematic review should broaden public health concern. A need for future research is identified in terms of understanding the process of maternal-foetal programming, protective mediating factors and effective interventions. The role of self-compassion as a protective mediating factor is discussed in relation to identification and treatment of distress during the antenatal period.
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Hines, Dustin J., and University of Lethbridge Faculty of Arts and Science. "The role of cues and the hippocampus in home base behaviour." Thesis, Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Faculty of Arts and Science, 2004, 2004. http://hdl.handle.net/10133/646.
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The thesis examines the ability of animals to construct a home base. The home
base is a point in space where animals rear, groom, and circle and is a primary element in
organized spatial behaviour (Eilam and Golani 1989). Once animals establish a home
base, they make outward trips and stops, and after a series of trips and stops they return
again to the home base. The home base behaviour of animals acts as a platform for asking
questions about the cognitive organization of an environment. The thesis describes five
main findings. Control and hippocampectomized animals use (1) proximal and (2) distal
cues to form a home base and organize their behaviour. (3) Control and olfactory
bulbectomized animals form home bases in the dark where as hippocampectomized
animals are impaired suggesting self-movement but not olfactory cues play a role in
home base behaviour. A final set of experiments demonstrated that control and
hippocampectomized animals learn the position of (4) proximal and (5) distal cues so that
in the cue's absence, animals still form a home base at that position. The demonstration
that a central feature of exploratory behaviour, establishing a home base, is preserved in
hippocampectomized rats in relation to proximal, distal, and conditioned visual cues -
reveals that exploratory behaviour remains organized after hippocampal lesions. The
inability of hippocampectomized rats to form a virtual home base in the absence of visual
cues is discussed in relation to the idea that the hippocampus contributes to inertial
behaviour that may be dependent upon self-movement cues.<br>xv, 232 leaves : ill. ; 29 cm.
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Wiarsih, Wiwin. "Empowerment as a way to improve nutrition in pregnancy in Waru Jaya, West Java Indonesia : an action research study /." St. John's, NF : [s.n.], 2002.
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Hendricks, Farah. "A participatory action research approach to engaging peer educators in the prevention of teenage pregnancy." Thesis, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/10948/16011.
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The phenomenon of teenage pregnancy among school-going youth is on the increase in South Africa, despite the existence of a number of intervention programmes. Although both curricular and co-curricular awareness programmes targeting this phenomenon are currently employed within South African schools, these programmes have patently not met with much success, since the problem remains acute. It was the question why these programmes are not succeeding in alleviating the problem that prompted my interest in undertaking this study. Based on literature that suggests that those programmes that are successful in reaching the youth are designed through participatory processes, rather than being designed by outside experts, my thesis proposes that prevention programmes that are designed and implemented by the youth for the youth may be more successful in helping them to make healthy decisions in terms of their sexual behaviour. This study attempted to engage youth in a participatory way in identifying and exploring their perceptions of teenage pregnancy and using the knowledge thus gained to design, implement and evaluate prevention strategies in their school. The study is informed by social learning theory and adopted a participatory action research (PAR) design, which is located in a critical paradigm. I purposefully recruited twenty-four youths (14 females and 10 males) to participate. The primary research question that guided this study was: “How can peer educators be engaged to create prevention strategies to reduce teenage pregnancy and its impacts?” The following sub-questions were identified from the primary research question: What do learners themselves know feel and experience with regard to the causes and effects of teenage pregnancy How might a participatory methodology help learners to create relevant and contextualised strategies for addressing teenage pregnancy? How can such strategies be implemented in a school system? What recommendations could be made for addressing teenage pregnancy in a contextualised way? The research was conducted in two cycles. In Cycle One, data was generated through two focus group discussions, led by a young researcher from the community to encourage openness and honesty. In addition through snowball sampling, six teenage mothers and two teenage fathers agreed to be interviewed individually. The same questions were asked in the two discussions and the individual interviews, namely: “What do you know, feel and think about teenage pregnancy?” In the first cycle, I responded to my first sub-research question. Interviews, drawings and focus group discussions were used to generate data. Three themes emerged from the data to provide insight into how the youth at the school perceived the phenomenon of teenage pregnancy. The findings from this cycle revealed certain tensions between what youth said they needed and what adults, such as teachers and parents, thought they needed to know. The participating teenagers regarded themselves as sexual beings, while the adults in their sphere of influence preached abstinence, moralised or merely cited the facts, without entering into any discussion of how young people could deal with social pressures and better protect themselves against unplanned pregnancy. The participating youth were clearly aware of how to prevent pregnancy, but the social barriers to using condoms or contraceptive pills were a stumbling block. They possessed knowledge of the potential consequences of risky behaviour, but this did not stop them from engaging in such behaviour. In the second cycle of the research, the participants used the findings of the first cycle to develop prevention messages and strategies to convey these messages to their peers. They used participatory visual methods to accomplish this. The findings from this cycle revealed that a peer education approach helped participants to increase maturity in sexual decision-making, had a positive effect on the learning and acquisition of new skills, and improved critical thinking relating to sexuality. The study also had a positive impact on other learners’ knowledge and the attitudes displayed by both learners and teachers, and also led to improvements in school policies related to sexuality education. It is contended that the study contributed important theoretical and methodological insights. Knowledge generated from the study could make a contribution to the field of sexuality education and how it should be approached in schools, particularly in communities facing social and economic adversity. The methodological contribution of this study provided guidelines and theory on how participatory action research and participatory methods can be implemented in schools to enable youth to influence change in their schools, not only regarding teenage pregnancy, but also other social issues.
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Inzunza, José. "New micromanipulative techniques in reproductive biology /." Stockholm, 2003. http://diss.kib.ki.se/2003/91-7349-568-9/.
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Bagchi, Tamishraha. "Immune mechanisms in murine brucellosis : studies with strain RB51, a rough mutant of Brucella abortus /." Diss., This resource online, 1990. http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-09162005-115020/.
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Qolesa, Sandra Kegomodicwe. "Factors influencing teenage pregnancy in Heidedal location, Mangaung District." University of the Western Cape, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/11394/6261.
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Magister Public Health - MPH (Public Health)<br>Teenage pregnancy remains a complex issue globally. According to the World Health Organisation
(2014), the average global birth rate of girls aged 15-19 years was 49 per 1000 births reported
globally. In South Africa, the general household survey conducted in 2014 revealed that 5.6% of
females 14-19 years were reported to have been pregnant in 2013, with teenage pregnancy
increasing by age from 0.8% for the age group of 14 years to 11.9% for teenagers aged 19 years.
In South Africa, a range of health policies and programs exist to address teenage pregnancy,
including school-based sex education, peer education programmes, adolescent friendly clinic
initiatives and mass media interventions. Despite such initiatives, the number of teenagers becoming
pregnant remains high. Teenage pregnancy reported in Mangaung district is 7%, which is three
times more than the provincial target of 2% for teenage pregnancy. This research therefore aimed
to explore the reasons behind teenage pregnancy in Heidedal, Mangaung District, Free State
Province, South Africa.
Two in- depth interviews were conducted, one with twelve teenage mothers and the other with four
key informants who were selected based on insight and experience they possess in working with
teenagers. The key informants suitable for the study included a nurse, life orientation teacher, ward
councillor and a counsellor working for a non-governmental organization that supports the
implementation of youth programmes in the health facility. Thematic analysis was used to analyse
data and key themes, afterwards concepts were interpreted so that explanations could be constructed
to answer the research aim and objectives.
The study aimed to contribute to understanding reasons behind the high teenage pregnancy rates in
Mangaung District. This information will be useful to policy makers in developing policies and
strategies that will address factors identified to be influencing teenage pregnancy.
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Himmler, Brett T., and University of Lethbridge Faculty of Arts and Science. "The effect of playful experiences on the plasticity and metaplasticity of the brain." Thesis, Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Dept. of Neuroscience, 2011, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10133/3081.
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The influence of play behavior on the brain was investigated through plasticity and metaplasticity methodology. Regions in both cortical and sub-cortical areas were investigated. Animals in both studies either experienced play with juvenile partners or did not experience play by being paired with an adult. Play experience alone was shown to affect the plasticity in the prefrontal cortex, although it did not show structural changes to sub-cortical regions. If animals were given nicotine after play experiences, the affects of play in the prefrontal cortex were abolished. In addition, playful behaviors appear to prime some sub-cortical regions of the brain for expression of later plasticity. Thus, play appears to alter the structure of multiple brain areas, but do so in different ways.<br>ix, 67 leaves ; 29 cm
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Ogwu, Anthony Chibuzor. "Adherence to antiretroviral therapy amongst women commenced on treatment during pregnancy at research clinics in Botswana." Thesis, University of the Western Cape, 2010. http://etd.uwc.ac.za/index.php?module=etd&action=viewtitle&id=gen8Srv25Nme4_4809_1308307951.
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<p>The study aimed to assess the level of adherence and to identify the barriers to adherence and the motivations for good adherence to antiretroviral therapy, amongst women who commenced treatment while pregnant at research clinics in Molepolole, Mochudi, Lobatse and Gaborone.</p>
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Houliara, Natalia. "A portfolio of research, professional practice and critical literature review in the psychological aspects of pregnancy." Thesis, City University London, 2011. http://openaccess.city.ac.uk/1077/.
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Clements, Andrea D., Wallace E. Jr Dixon, and J. Gorneiwicz. "Maternal Temperament as a Predictor of Pregnancy, Birth, and Breastfeeding Outcomes." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2007. https://dc.etsu.edu/etsu-works/7288.
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Clements, Andrea D., and Beth A. Bailey. "Predicting Prenatal Care Utilization: Pregnancy Intention, Marital Status, Education, and Religiosity." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2015. https://dc.etsu.edu/etsu-works/7249.
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Fang, Yu-Hua. "Quantification of Pharmacokinetics in Small Animals with Molecular Imaging and Compartment Modeling Analysis." Cleveland, Ohio : Case Western Reserve University, 2009. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1238635584.
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Thesis (Ph.D.)--Case Western Reserve University, 2009<br>Department of Biomedical Engineering Abstract Title from OhioLINK abstract screen (viewed on 10 April 2009) Available online via the OhioLINK ETD Center
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Lyons, Daniel Louis. "Protecting animals versus the pursuit of knowledge : the evolution of the British animal research policy network." Thesis, University of Sheffield, 2006. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.434527.
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Bueno, Aline [UNESP]. "Repercussões de diferentes intensidades glicêmicas no início do desenvolvimento embrionário de ratas." Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/11449/99239.
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Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:29:52Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0
Previous issue date: 2012-02-10Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T18:59:47Z : No. of bitstreams: 1
bueno_a_me_botfm.pdf: 693767 bytes, checksum: 41a33fd1c28d4062c5457b2ea2de4450 (MD5)<br>Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)<br>In vitro studies suggest that maternal hyperglycemia insult impairs the early embryogenesis in the preimplantation period. In this paper, we show that streptozotocin given at birth day of life or in adulthood of rats caused hyperglycemic state. Regardless of hyperglycemic intensities (mild or severe diabetes), the embryos of these dams presented development retardation and decreased development competence. Apoptosis was detected using terminal dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assays, and the morulas from mild and severe diabetic rats have a higher incidence of apoptotic cells than control embryos. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha, a cytokine whose synthesis is up-regulated in the diabetic uterus, did not alter the incidence of TUNEL-positive nuclei. The glycemic intensity is related with the increased in the apoptosis indexes in morulas. On the other hand, dams with hyperglycemia, regardless of the glycemic intensity and of the tumor necrosis factor-alpha level presented preimplantation embryos with development retardation and increase of non-viable preimplantation embryos, suggesting that the presence of the hyperglycemia leads to a decreased competence development of preimplantation embryos
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Bolstad, K. S. "Systematics of the Onychoteuthidae Gray, 1847 (Cephalopoda: Oegopsida) a thesis submitted to the Earth & Oceanic Sciences Research Institute, Auckland University of Technology in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, supervised by Dr Steve O'Shea, 2008." Click here to access this resource online, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/10292/414.
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Lenaway, Dennis David. "Evaluation of a public-private certified nurse-midwife maternity program for indigent women /." Thesis, Connect to this title online; UW restricted, 1995. http://hdl.handle.net/1773/10872.
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Horne, Kirsty Elizabeth. "The relationship between disturbed sleep and cognitive functioning during pregnancy : an exploratory study : & clinical research portfolio." Thesis, University of Glasgow, 2010. http://theses.gla.ac.uk/2121/.
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Women commonly complain of cognitive impairment during pregnancy; although some research has confirmed impairments using objective tests, the aetiology of this is uncertain. The relationship between disturbed sleep during pregnancy and cognitive functioning has not been specifically investigated. Using a correlational design, the present study aimed to examine the relationship between disturbed sleep and cognitive functioning during pregnancy. Method: Sixty-four women in the third trimester of pregnancy completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and the Insomnia Severity Index. A sub-sample also undertook actigraphic monitoring to obtain objective estimates of sleep quality. Cognitive functioning was measured subjectively using the Cognitive Failures Questionnaire and objectively using the IntegNeuro computer package. Results: Women reported significant sleep disturbance, which was confirmed by actigraphic monitoring in a sub-sample. Poorer subjective and objective sleep quality was related to more self-reported cognitive failures. Subjective sleep quality was also significantly correlated with objective measures of delayed verbal recall, but not to other domains of cognitive functioning. Poorer objectively measured sleep was related to decreased vigilance. Women reporting significant sleep disturbance reported significantly more cognitive failures than good sleepers, although this difference was not reflected by performance on objective cognitive tests. Conclusion: Sleep disturbance during pregnancy is related to subjective cognitive impairment and to some domains of cognitive performance using objective cognitive tests.
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John, Kevin H., Tifani R. Fletcher, Andrea D. Clements, Beth A. Bailey, and Lana McGrady. "Perceptions of Smoking Health Risks During Pregnancy: Comparison of Smokers and Non-Smokers." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2012. https://dc.etsu.edu/etsu-works/7270.
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Smoking during pregnancy is not only harmful to the mother, but the unborn baby as well. In East Tennessee, smoking rates during pregnancy are more than three times the national average. Smoking cessation interventions have been shown to assist in lowering smoking levels during pregnancy. More successful intervention strategies may be developed if pregnant mothers’ beliefs on how smoking harms themselves and their child are examined and addressed. It was hypothesized that there is a significant difference between smoking status (smoker or non-smoker) and perceptions of the amount of harm smoking can cause to the baby, and to themselves. Participants included 577 pregnant women, both smokers and nonsmokers, enrolled in the Tennessee Intervention for Pregnant Smokers program. Participants met with a case worker during a first trimester interview, and answered several questionnaires. The questionnaires included several items regarding their perceptions of harm from cigarette smoking to their unborn baby and to themselves. For the overall analysis of differences in smoking status, participants who answered that smoking was “somewhat” or “no, not harmful at all” were compared to those that answered “yes, a great deal harmful”. Two Chi-square tests for independence indicated a significant association between smoking status and perception of how smoking harms the baby, χ2 (1, 578) = 65.85, p < .001, and a significant association between smoking status and perception of how smoking harms the participants’ heath χ2 (1, 578) = 26.07, p < .001. Non-smokers were more likely than smokers to answer that smoking is “yes, a great deal harmful” to the baby and to themselves. The results also suggest that participants as a whole, regardless of smoking status, believe that smoking is more harmful to themselves than to their unborn baby. Qualitative analysis revealed the top five categories of responses (most to least frequent) given by participants on how they believed smoking harmed their unborn baby: low birth weight, lung and respiration problems, premature birth, developmental problems, and birth defects. The most frequent responses given by participants on how they believed smoking was personally harmful were: lung and respiration problems, cancer, heart and blood problems, physical appearance concerns, and life expectancy or death. Non-smokers gave proportionally more responses overall than smokers. One interesting observation is that while smokers seemed aware of the risk of preterm birth and low birth weight, it was non-smokers who were more likely to state that smoking could cause developmental problems and birth defects. Perhaps cessation interventions would be improved by focusing on women’s perceptions of these possible consequences of smoking during pregnancy to their unborn child. This knowledge is beneficial because analyzing perceptions of harm from smoking could lead to more successful smoking cessation interventions during pregnancy.
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Bueno, Aline. "Repercussões de diferentes intensidades glicêmicas no início do desenvolvimento embrionário de ratas /." Botucatu : [s.n.], 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/11449/99239.
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Orientador: Débora Cristina Damasceno<br>Coorientador: Yuri Karen Sinzato<br>Banca: Maria José Sparça Salles<br>Banca: Felipe Perecin<br>Resumo: Não disponível<br>Abstract: In vitro studies suggest that maternal hyperglycemia insult impairs the early embryogenesis in the preimplantation period. In this paper, we show that streptozotocin given at birth day of life or in adulthood of rats caused hyperglycemic state. Regardless of hyperglycemic intensities (mild or severe diabetes), the embryos of these dams presented development retardation and decreased development competence. Apoptosis was detected using terminal dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assays, and the morulas from mild and severe diabetic rats have a higher incidence of apoptotic cells than control embryos. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha, a cytokine whose synthesis is up-regulated in the diabetic uterus, did not alter the incidence of TUNEL-positive nuclei. The glycemic intensity is related with the increased in the apoptosis indexes in morulas. On the other hand, dams with hyperglycemia, regardless of the glycemic intensity and of the tumor necrosis factor-alpha level presented preimplantation embryos with development retardation and increase of non-viable preimplantation embryos, suggesting that the presence of the hyperglycemia leads to a decreased competence development of preimplantation embryos<br>Mestre
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Lowings, Michael D., and University of Lethbridge Faculty of Arts and Science. "Epigenetic regulation of stroke recovery : changes in DNA methylation and micro-RNA regulation following stroke and EGF/EPO neurogenesis therapy." Thesis, Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Dept. of Biological Sciences, c2010, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/10133/2570.
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Stroke is one of the most common, and damaging, neurological afflictions.
Stroke causes widespread and variable chronic effects, due to the limited regenerative
ability of the adult brain. Altered gene expression induces neuronal changes
necessary for plasticity-dependent recovery, effects which can be enhanced by growth
hormone-based pharmaceuticals. These processes are driven by alterations in the
informational capacity of the genome – changes driven by epigenetic regulators.
Following experimental strokes, and treatment with EGF and EPO, this study shows
that two epigenetic regulatory mechanisms, DNA methylation and microRNA
regulation, are significantly altered, both in treated and untreated animals.
Specifically, treatment induces a net global suppression of miRNA activity, which
appears to modify the physical behaviour of neurons in domains ranging from
plasticity and memory formation, growth and replication, and potentially even to
neurological disease signalling. The confirmation of epigenetic alterations following
a stroke indicates a future role for epigenetic neuro-pharmacology in stroke
management.<br>x, [99] leaves : ill. (some col.) ; 29 cm
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Charlton, Rachel. "The general practice research database as an alternative to registries for studying drug safety in pregnancy : anticonvulsants as a case study." Thesis, University of Bath, 2012. https://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.557803.
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Background: In recent years, there has been an increase in the use of automated healthcare databases for drug safety in pregnancy evaluation; their suitability for this purpose needs to be evaluated. Aim: To evaluate the utility of the United Kingdom’s General Practice Research Database (GPRD) to act as an alternative to pregnancy registries, using anticonvulsants as a case study. Methods: Pregnancies in women with epilepsy were identified and first trimester anticonvulsant exposure was determined. Major congenital malformations in the offspring were identified and verified. The risk of major congenital malformations following exposure to a range of anticonvulsants was calculated and compared to those reported by the UK Epilepsy and Pregnancy Register. The ability to identify a known teratogenic association using GPRD data was also assessed. An algorithm was created to identify and classify different types of pregnancy loss in an automated manner. Results: The risks of a pregnancy outcome with a major congenital malformation following first trimester anticonvulsant exposures, were found to be similar in the GPRD to those of the UK Register. The number of exposures to individual products in the GPRD was often small and therefore lacked statistical power. It was, however, possible to identify a known teratogenic association using data from the GPRD. Verification of the algorithm developed to classify pregnancy losses demonstrated that, although not perfect, it would be a beneficial tool when using the GPRD for drug safety in pregnancy research. Conclusion: It is unlikely a single data source or study design will be sufficient for monitoring all aspects of the safety of medicine use during pregnancy. The GPRD has the potential to make a valuable contribution to this field of research and could play an important role in complementing the work of other surveillance systems.
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Molina, Leonardo A. "Alteration of neural dynamics in the rat medial prefrontal cortex by an NMDA antagonist." Thesis, Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Dept. of Neuroscience, c2012, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10133/3264.
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NMDA receptor antagonists such as Ketamine and PCP are potent psychoactive drugs used recreationally. This class of drug induces a number of phenomena in humans similar to those associated with schizophrenia including reduced selective attention, altered working memory, thought disorders and hallucinations. These psychotomimetic drugs have thus been used as a longstanding model to study this disease in animals. Importantly, such animal models allow for recording of brain activity using invasive techniques that are inappropriate in humans. Previous electrophysiological studies have shown that MK-801, a potent non-competitive NMDA receptor antagonist, increases gamma-frequency oscillations and produces a state of disinhibition in the prefrontal cortex of rats wherein the activity of putative excitatory pyramidal neurons increases while the activity of putative inhibitory interneurons decreases. These features are relevant to schizophrenia because molecular evidence suggests dysfunction of inhibitory cortical interneurons, while electroencephalographic recordings show altered gamma-frequency oscillations in this disease. It has been hypothesized that the disinhibited cortical state produces “noisy” information processing, but this has not been directly observed in the interaction of neuronal firing in either humans or animal models. We therefore tested this hypothesis by examining the synchronization of neural activity in the NMDA receptor antagonist model of schizophrenia. We used high-density electrophysiological recordings in the medial prefrontal cortex of freely moving rats before and after systemic injection of MK-801. Analysis of these recordings revealed that drug administration: (i) increases gamma power in field potentials in a manner dissociated from increased locomotion; (ii) does not change the gamma power in multi-unit activity; (iii) decreases spike synchronization among putative pyramidal neurons in the gamma range (30ms), and despite of this it (iv) does not change the synchronization between gamma-range field potentials or between sum-of-spikes and field potentials. These effects in synchronization may be revealing of potent cognitive effects associated with NMDA receptor antagonism, and may reflect impaired communication processing hypothesized to occur in schizophrenia.<br>xi, 42 leaves : ill. ; 29 cm
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Frede, David. "A tale of two zoos : a study in watching people watching animals." University of Sydney, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/2123/3762.
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Doctor of Philosophy<br>Zoological gardens, or zoos, keep and display wild animals, mainly for the purposes of education, conservation and biological research. However, it is evident that a significant component of zoos is the vast number of people who visit them, since without the support of visitors, zoos would not be financially viable and would cease to exist. This research investigates the behaviours of these visitors and develops an understanding of their awareness relating to what they see and do while they are in the zoo, along with their motivations for visiting. The study focuses on two major metropolitan zoos in Australia: Adelaide (in South Australia) and Taronga (in Sydney, New South Wales). A brief historical account contextualises changes, raising awareness of the significance of visitors to the livelihood of zoos. More and more zoos are integrating into their management routines different programmes that relate to the care and welfare of the animals. Despite recent growth in scientific attention, which has focused on human-animal relationships, little research has been conducted relating to the human visitor in the zoo. To date, decisions made by administrators have been based upon assumptions of the visitors’ understanding of the work of zoos rather than on actual quantitative findings. This empirical research is significant in that it uses both quantitative and qualitative methods to appraise factual data and information. The data from unobtrusive tracking observations at different exhibits, combined with the results of questionnaire surveys, are used to explore and assess the perceptions of visitors. In developing a demographic profile of the people who visit zoos, this work considers the motivations and the frequency of visitors. Various factors that influence the viewing patterns of visitors are explored to assess the popularity of exhibits, and the perceptions of visitors relating to animals and enclosures are investigated, to assess the diverse levels of satisfaction. Case studies explore the perceptions and understandings of visitors towards the use of enrichment items, the use of signs and labels, and a hypothetical approach to the feeding of carnivores in zoos. The results are important in that they contribute essential knowledge that describes the perceptions of a wide range of people who visit zoos, along with their expectations, since it is crucial for these institutions to maintain their popularity with the public.
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Cyphers, Natalie, Andrea D. Clements, and Jody L. Ralph. "The Relationship between Religiosity and Health-Promoting Behaviors in Pregnant Women at Pregnancy Resource Centers." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2016. https://dc.etsu.edu/etsu-works/7245.
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Clark, Callie Anne Marie, and University of Lethbridge Faculty of Arts and Science. "Sound-induced behavioural activation in the normal and haloperidol-treated rat." Thesis, Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience , c2008, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/10133/1293.
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Diseases of the central and peripheral nervous systems affect one in five people in North America. Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease, after Alzheimer’s disease, and occurs in approximately 1% of the general North American population. PD is a progressive movement disorder that is characterized by resting tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia (slowness of movement) or akinesia (absence of spontaneous movement), as well as postural instability. Current treatment of PD is symptom-based, and no pharmacological treatment currently exists to slow the progression of bradykinesia and akinesia. In fact, pharmacological therapies produce motor side effects in advanced stages of the disease. Given the difficulty in initiating and controlling movement as PD advances, and the ineffectiveness of medical therapies after prolonged treatment, physical and music therapies can be used to supplement classical therapies. Listening to, and performing, music affects a number of neural regions, including those that mediate motor behaviour, arousal or activation, and emotion. Despite anatomical connections between the auditory and motor systems at the level of the spinal cord, brain stem, midbrain, and cortex, the neural and behavioural mechanisms for sound-induced activation remains unclear. It is known, however, that PD patients recruit external sensory stimuli to improve movement. The aim of the current research was to create an animal model of sound-induced activation and to test the effect of previous motoric experience on the potency of auditory stimuli. To investigate behavioural activation in the normal and haloperidol-treated rat, two tasks were used: 1) orienting responses were analyzed for movement components in saline and haloperidol treated rats
v
to find out if rats responded in the same to a variety of naturally produced and generated activating sounds, and 2) a grid climbing task allowed for the righting components of naïve and familiar cataleptic rats to be compared. Our findings revealed that familiar auditory cues could release parkinsonian rats from catalepsy. The current research supports the theory that auditory stimulation retains “special access” to motor regions otherwise impaired in PD and likely bypasses basal ganglia circuitry to normalize movement through alternative pathways.<br>xiv, 142 leaves : ill. (some col.) ; 29 cm
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Hardy, Jared C., and University of Lethbridge Faculty of Arts and Science. "Behavioral correlates of unilateral dopamine depletion in the MPP+ rat model of Parkinson's Disease." Thesis, Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Faculty of Arts and Science, 2007, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/10133/385.
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Conventional cylinder test measures have limited sensitivity in determining hemiparkinson rat forelimb use asymmetry and approximating substantia nigra (SN) dopaminergic neuron loss. This thesis investigates which cylinder test measures of hemiparkinson rat forelimb use asymmetry best predict methamphetamine-induced rotation and extent of dopaminergic neuron loss. Long-Evans rats were cylinder-tested after unilateral 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+)-induced SN dopamine depletion. Time and count of numerous forepaw wall contact patterns were documented for MPP+ hemiparkinson rats and sham-operated controls using frame-by-frame video analysis, then regressed against methamphetamine-induced rotation and tyrosine hydroxylase-positive neuron depletion. Severely dopamine-asymmetric rats initiated movements slower and less often with the contralateral-to-lesion forepaw, indicating that the cylinder test may be used to assess Parkinson Disease motor impairments of bradykinesia and akinesia. Several new time and count asymmetry measures may improve cylinder test sensitivity to hemiparkinson-specific forelimb use asymmetries.<br>xi, 103 leaves : ill. ; 29 cm.
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Zelinski, Erin L., and University of Lethbridge Faculty of Arts and Science. "Impacts of chronic and acute phase-shifting in male and female rats." Thesis, Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Dept. of Neuroscience, c2010, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/10133/2590.
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This thesis assessed the impacts of acute and chronic phase-shifting on learning
and memory in male and female rats. Previous research has revealed impaired retention
immediately following circadian disruption and on the acquisition of new associations.
However, whether behaviour resumes normality following circadian re-entrainment is
unresolved. Following circadian re-entrainment, retention of pre-phase-shift acquired
associations on Morris water task (MWT) and a visual discrimination task designed on
the 8-arm radial maze were tested. Subsequently, an extradimensional set shift (EDS)
using the 8-arm radial maze was performed. Acute circadian disruption negatively
impacted retention in males and females, but only male rats without running wheels
exhibited impairment following chronic phase-shifting on MWT performance. Retention
on the visual discrimination task was impaired following chronic, but not acute, circadian
disruption. Chronic, but not acute, phase-shifting negatively impacted performance on the
EDS. Generally, phase-shifting produced differential negative impacts on cognitive
function in rats.<br>xiv, 181 leaves : ill. (some col.) ; 29 cm
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Bailey, Beth A., Judy G. McCook, A. L. Hodge, Andrea D. Clements, and Lana McGrady. "Quitting Smoking During Pregnancy and Birth Outcomes: Evidence of Gains Following Cessation by Third Trimester." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2011. https://dc.etsu.edu/etsu-works/7278.
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