Joroisselän kuormitusselvitys

Joroisselkä on suurehko matala lahtialue, joka kuuluu Saimaan Haukiveteen. Joroisselän tilan on todettu heikentyneen ja osasuunnitelmia on jo tehty tilanteen korjaamiseksi. Tässä raportissa on selvitetty Joroisselkään tulevaa kuormitusta valuma-alueilta. Kuormitusta selvitettiin sekä Suomen ympäristökeskuksen vedenlaatumallin avulla, että vesinäytteenottojen perusteella. Kuormitusselvitys on ensimmäinen askel vesien hoidon suunnittelussa. Sillä saadaan tärkeää tietoa kuormituksen alueellisista eroista ja vesiensuojelulliset toimenpiteet voidaan kohdentaa alueille, joissa niillä saadaan paras mahdollinen vaikuttavuus. Selvityksen perusteella peltoviljelyn osuus Joroisselän kokonaisfosforikuormituksesta on noin 58 % ja typpikuormituksesta 28 %. Muulta maa-alueelta (metsät, suot, avomaat, kalliomaat, rakennetut alueet) tulevan fosforikuormituksen osuus on 25 % ja typpikuormituksen osuus 53 %. Loput kuormituksesta tulee haja-asutuksesta, pistekuormituksesta ja laskeumasta. Vesinäytteenoton perusteella kaukovaluma-alueista pinta-alaan suhteutettuna suurin kuormitus tulee Valvatuksen alueelta. Yksittäisistä pienistä puroista suurin kuormitus havaittiin tulevan Tyrinpurosta, johon tulee Joroisten kunnan jätevedenpuhdistamon puhdistetut vedet. Joroisselän vesienhoidon tavoitteena on rehevöitymisen pysäyttäminen sekä veden tilan parantaminen ja hyvän tilan turvaaminen myös jatkossa. Joroisten taajamassa sijaitsevalla vesialueella on tärkeä merkitys Joroisten alueen virkistyskäytössä. Joroisten alue kuuluu Vuoksen vesienhoitoalueeseen ja se on lisäksi yksi Etelä-Savon ELY-keskuksen vesienhoidollisista painopistealueista.

Allozyme variation in a natural population of Stryphnodendron adstringens in the Rio Preto State Park, southeastern Brazil

Leaves and fruits from 63 Stryphnodendron adstringens trees were sampled in the Rio Preto State Park to analyze allozyme segregation, tissue specific expression of allozyme loci, and their genetic parameters. The enzyme systems ADH, EST, ACP, PGM, PGI, GDH, G6PDH, GOT, IDH, LAP, MDH, PER and SKDH were assessed by means of starch-gel electrophoresis. The polymorphic systems PGI, IDH, MDH and GOT demonstrated a dimeric quaternary structure, while EST and PER were monomeric. The total expected genetic diversity (H E) for leaves and seeds were 0.325 and 0.244 respectively. The effective number of alleles per locus (A E) was 1.58 in leaves and 1.42 in seeds. The values of H E and A E observed in S. adstringens were comparatively higher than the average values seen in allozyme studies of other woody plants. The values of the fixation indices for the population, considering leaves (f = 0.070) and seeds (f = 0.107), were not significant. The high values of genetic diversity and of effective number of alleles per locus, as well as the non-significant fixation index and the adjustments of the Hardy-Weinberg proportions between generations for the pgi-1, mdh-2 and idh-1 loci, indicated random mating in this population. The enzyme systems EST and PER demonstrated their best resolution in leaf tissues, while the MDH, IDH, PGI and GOT systems demonstrated their best resolution in seed tissues.

Holstein white coat color and performance: phenotypic, genetic and environmental correlations

Correlations of measures of percentages of white coat color, five measures of production and two measures of reproduction were obtained from 4293 first lactation Holsteins from eight Florida dairy farms. Percentages of white coat color were analyzed as recorded and transformed by an extension of Box-Cox procedures. Statistical analyses were by derivative-free restricted maximum likelihood (DFREML) with an animal model. Phenotypic and genetic correlations of white percentage (not transformed) were with milk yield, 0.047 and 0.097; fat yield, 0.002 and 0.004; fat percentage, -0.047 and -0.090; protein yield, 0.024 and 0.048; protein percentage, -0.070 and -0.116; days open, -0.012 and -0.065; and calving interval, -0.007 and -0.029. Changes in magnitude of correlations were very small for all variables except days open. Genetic and phenotypic correlations of transformed values with days open were -0.027 and -0.140. Modest positive correlated responses would be expected for white coat color percentage following direct selection for milk, fat, and protein yields, but selection for fat and protein percentages, days open, or calving interval would lead to small decreases.

Plasma clearance and biodistribution of oxidatively modified 99mTc-ß-VLDL in rabbits

The biodistribution and removal from plasma (measured as fractional clearance rate, FCR, per hour) of native and oxidatively modified 99mtechnetium-labeled ß-very low density lipoprotein (99mTc-ß-VLDL) were investigated in hypercholesterolemic (HC) and control (C) three-month old New Zealand rabbits. The intracellular accumulation of ß-VLDL labeled with 99mTc was studied in vitro in THP-1 cells and monocyte-derived macrophages isolated from rabbits. After intravenous injection into C rabbits, copper-oxidized ß-VLDL (99mTc-ox-ß-VLDL) was cleared from the circulation faster (0.362 ± 0.070/h) than native ß-VLDL (99mTc-nat-ß-VLDL, 0.241 ± 0.070/h). In contrast, the FCR of 99mTc-ox-ß-VLDL in HC rabbits was lower (0.100 ± 0.048/h) than that of 99mTc-nat-ß-VLDL (0.163 ± 0.043/h). The hepatic uptake of radiolabeled lipoproteins was lower in HC rabbits (0.114 ± 0.071% injected dose/g tissue for 99mTc-nat-ß-VLDL and 0.116 ± 0.057% injected dose/g tissue for 99mTc-ox-ß-VLDL) than in C rabbits (0.301 ± 0.113% injected dose/g tissue for 99mTc-nat-ß-VLDL and 0.305 ± 0.149% injected dose/g tissue for 99mTc-ox-ß-VLDL). The uptake of 99mTc-nat-ß-VLDL and 99mTc-ox-ß-VLDL by atherosclerotic aorta lesions isolated from HC rabbits (99mTc-nat-ß-VLDL: 0.033 ± 0.012% injected dose/g tissue and 99mTc-ox-ß-VLDL: 0.039 ± 0.017% injected dose/g tissue) was higher in comparison to that of non-atherosclerotic aortas from C rabbits (99mTc-nat-ß-VLDL: 0.023 ± 0.010% injected dose/g tissue and 99mTc-ox-ß-VLDL: 0.019 ± 0.010% injected dose/g tissue). However, 99mTc-nat-ß-VLDL and 99mTc-ox-ß-VLDL were taken up by atherosclerotic lesions at similar rates. In vitro studies showed that both monocyte-derived macrophages isolated from rabbits and THP-1 macrophages significantly internalized more 99mTc-ox-ß-VLDL than 99mTc-nat-ß-VLDL. These results indicate that in cholesterol-fed rabbits 99mTc-ox-ß-VLDL is slowly cleared from plasma and accumulates in atherosclerotic lesions. However, although the extent of in vitro uptake of 99mTc-ox-ß-VLDL by macrophages was high, the in vivo accumulation of this radiolabeled lipoprotein by atherosclerotic lesions did not differ from that of 99mTc-nat-ß-VLDL.

Erythropoietin reduces the expression of myostatin in mdx dystrophic mice

Erythropoietin (EPO) has been well characterized as a renal glycoprotein hormone regulating red blood cell production by inhibiting apoptosis of erythrocyte progenitors in hematopoietic tissues. EPO exerts regulatory effects in cardiac and skeletal muscles. Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a lethal degenerative disorder of skeletal and cardiac muscle. In this study, we tested the possible therapeutic beneficial effect of recombinant EPO (rhEPO) in dystrophic muscles in mdx mice. Total strength was measured using a force transducer coupled to a computer. Gene expression for myostatin, transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) was determined by quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction. Myostatin expression was significantly decreased in quadriceps from mdx mice treated with rhEPO (rhEPO=0.60±0.11, control=1.07±0.11). On the other hand, rhEPO had no significant effect on the expression of TGF-β1 (rhEPO=0.95±0.14, control=1.05±0.16) and TNF-α (rhEPO=0.73±0.20, control=1.01±0.09). These results may help to clarify some of the direct actions of EPO on skeletal muscle.

Are serum cystatin C levels influenced by steroid doses in lupus nephritis patients?

INTRODUCTION: Cystatin C is considered a promising test to evaluate glomerular filtration rate, since it has characteristics of an ideal endogenous marker, being similar or even superior to serum creatinine according to some studies. However, it is possible that some factors (as corticotherapy) could have an influence on serum cystatin C levels regardless of the glomerular filtration rate. The aim of this study was to investigate if different doses of glucocorticoid could have an influence on serum cystatin C levels in lupus nephritis patients. METHODS: We evaluated 42 patients with lupus nephritis that performed 109 different blood collections; their mean age was 37.7 ± 13.1 years old, and 88% were female; the mean estimated glomerular filtration rate was of 61.9 ± 20.0 mL/min. Patients were divided according to their glucocorticoid dose in two groups: A - high (pulse therapy with methylprednisolone and prednisone > 0.5 mg/kg/d, n = 14) versus B - low doses (prednisone ≤ 0.5 mg/kg/d, n = 28). Serum creatinine levels were used as parameters for renal function comparison. Cystatin C was determined by an in-house methodology, using Luminex system flow citometry. RESULTS: Considering these groups, cystatin C levels were different only in the second visit (p = 0.106). But, when the serum creatinine levels were considered in the same groups, a marginally significant difference among them (p = 0.070) was observed, which suggested that the difference in cystatin C levels between the groups was caused by their respective glomerular filtration rate. There was not any difference between those groups that received or did not receive pulse therapy. CONCLUSION: Although some previous studies have shown that glucocorticoid has an influence on serum cystatin C levels, we have not observed such interference in the lupus nephritis patients submitted to corticotherapy.

Marcadores moleculares microssatélites na avaliação de sementes de soja com variação na coloração do hilo

Marcadores microssatélite têm sido utilizados na determinação da pureza genética em programas de melhoramento e de produção de sementes, visando garantir a qualidade genética das sementes. Objetivou-se neste trabalho demonstrar, com auxílio de marcadores moleculares microssatélites, que variações na coloração do hilo em sementes de soja, muitas vezes não constituem variação genética. Foram avaliadas sementes de soja da cultivar CD 222 que apresenta sementes com hilo preto, e de duas linhagens (CD 02RV-8444 e CD 01RV-7618), as quais apresentam sementes com hilo marrom. As sementes com variações na coloração e tonalidade do hilo encontradas em cada genótipo foram separadas visualmente em grupos. O DNA de cada semente foi extraído e analisado com marcadores microssatélites em "bulks" contendo DNA de cinco sementes. As variações encontradas na coloração do hilo da cultivar CD 222 e da linhagem CD 02RV-8444 não foram devidas à variação genética, considerando 16 locos microssatélites. Para a linhagem CD 01RV-7618, os bulks de sementes com hilo marrom pigmentado de preto (B1), com hilo marrom mais intenso (B2) e intermediário (B3), foram considerados iguais. Para esta mesma linhagem foi detectada diferença no bulk de sementes com hilo marrom menos intenso (B4), com o primer Satt 070. Duas sementes deste bulk apresentaram o mesmo padrão molecular observado para os outros bulks, no mesmo loco. As demais sementes foram consideradas misturas. A utilização de marcadores microssatélites demonstra que variações na cor ou tonalidade do hilo da soja nem sempre correspondem à variação genética.

L'Écho de Paris

1920/10/07 (Numéro 13200).

The influence of physical attractiveness and gender on perceived competence of sportscasters

The media tends to represent female athletes as women first and athletes second (Koivula, 1 999). The present study investigated whether this same trend was present for female sportscasters, using a self-presentational framework. Self-presentation is the process by which people try to control how others see them (Leary, 1995). One factor that may influence the type of image they try to project is their roles held in society, including gender roles. The gender roles for a man include dominance, assertiveness, and masculinity, while the gender roles for a woman include nurturer, femininity, and attractiveness (Deaux & Major, 1 987). By contrast, sports broadcasters are expected to be knowledgeable, assertive, and competent. Research suggests that female sports broadcasters are seen as less competent and less persuasive than male sports broadcasters (Mitrook & Dorr, 2001; Ordman & Zillmann, 1994, Toro, 2005). One reason for this difference may be that the gender roles for a man are much more similar to those of a sportscaster, compared to those of a woman. Thus, there may be a conflict between the two roles for women. The present study investigated whether the gender and perceived attractiveness of sportscasters influenced the audience's perceptions of the level of competence that a sportscaster demonstrates. Two hundred and four male (n =75) and female (n =129) undergraduate students were recruited from a southern Ontario university to participate in the study. The average age of the male participants was 21 .23 years {SD =1 .60), and the average age for female participants was 20.67 years {SD = 1 .31). The age range for all participants was from 19 to 30 years {M = 20.87 years, SD = 1 .45). Af^er providing informed consent, participants randomly received one of four possible questionnaire packages. The participants answered the demographic questionnaire, and then proceeded to view the picture and read the script of a sports newscast. Next, based on the picture and script, the participants answered the competence questionnaire, assessing the general, sport specific, and overall competence of the sportscaster. Once participants had finished, they returned the package to the researcher and were thanked for their time. Data was analyzed using an ANOVA to determine if general sport competence differs with respect to gender and attractiveness of the sportscaster. Overall, the ANOVA was non-significant (p > .05), indicating no differences on the dependent variable based on gender (F (3, 194) = .631, p = .426), attractiveness (F (3, 194) = .070, p = .791), or the interaction of the two {F (3, 194) = .043,/? = .836). Although none of the study hypotheses were supported, the study provided some insight to the perceived competence of female sportscasters. It is possible that female sportscasters are now seen as competent in the area of sports. Sample characteristics could also have influenced these results; the participants in the current study were primarily physical education and kinesiology students, who had experience participating in physical activity with both men and women. Future research should investigate this issue further by using a video sportscast. It is possible that delivery characteristics such as voice quality or eye contact may also impact perceptions of sportscasters.

The effects of the menstrual cycle and hormonal contraceptives on the central thermoeffector threshold temperatures and width of the interthreshold zone

Basal body temperature (BBT) and thermoeffector thresholds increase following ovulation in many women. This study investigated if solely central thermoregulatory alterations are responsible. Seven females in a non-contraceptive group (NCG) were compared with 5 monophasic contraceptive users (HCG) on separate accounts: pre-ovulation (Trial I; d 2-5) and post-ovulation (Trial 2; 4-8 d post-positive ovulation) for NCG, and active phase for HCG (d 2-5, d 18-21). During immersion in 28°C water to the axilla, participants exercised for 20-30 min on an underwater ergometer. After steadily sweating, immersion continued until metabolism increased two-fold due to shivering. Rectal (Tre) BBT was not different between trials for neither NCG (1: 37.34±0.16°C; 2: 37.35±0.27°C) nor HCG. At exercise termination, Tre forehead sweating cessation increased (P<0.05) in trial 2 irrespective of group (1: 37.55±0.39°C; 2: 37.90±0,46°C). Tre shivering onset did not increase (P>0.05) in trial 2 (1: 36.91±0.50°C; 2: 37.07±0,45°C). The widths of the interthreshold zone increased (P<0.05) in trial 2 (1: 0.64±0.22°C; 2: 0.82±0.37°C) due to the increased sweating threshold only. HCG cooled quicker (1: -l.15±0,43°C; 2: -1.00±0.50°C) than NCG participants (1: - 0.58±0.22°C; 2: -0.52±O.29°C), and tympanic (Tty) sweat thresholds were significantly (P<0.05) decreased (1: 34.76±0.54°C; 2: 35.39±0.61°C) versus NCG (l: 35.57±0.77°C; 2: 35.89±1.04°C). Lastly, Tre and Tty thresholds were significantly different (P

Discursos pronunciados en la tribuna cívica, en la Cámara de Diputados, en varias sociedades científicas y literarias y en otros lugares, desde el año de 1859 hasta el de 1884, coleccionados por la primera vez.

UANL

« L'affaire Tartuffe, or the Garrison officers rehearse Molière »

Compte rendu critique de la pièce de théâtre de Marianne Ackerman « L'affaire Tartuffe, or the Garrison officers rehearse Molière » (mise en scène : Fernand Rainville; assistance à la mise en scène : Monique Corbeil; scénographie : Jean Bard; éclairages : Lou Arteau; costumes : Paule-Josée Meunier; musique : Bill Gagnon et Geneviève Mauffette. Avec Anne-Marie Desbiens, Gaétan Dumont, Marie-Josée Gauthiet.J.M. Henry, Neil Kroetsch, Jœl Miller, Luc Picard, Yvon Roy, Philip Spensley, Aron Tager, Robert Vézina et Jeannie Walker. Production bilingue du Théâtre 1774, présentée au Théâtre Centaur du 6 au 23 septembre 1990).