The influence of antioxidant supplementation on markers of inflammation and the relationship to oxidative stress after exercise

Interest in the relationship between inflammation and oxidative stress has increased dramatically in recent years, not only within the clinical setting but also in the fields of exercise biochemistry and immunology. Inflammation and oxidative stress share a common role in the etiology of a variety Of Chronic diseases. During exercise, inflammation and oxidative stress are linked via muscle metabolism and muscle damage. Because oxidative stress and inflammation have traditionally been associated with fatigue and impaired recovery from exercise, research has focused on nutritional strategies aimed at reducing these effects. In this review, we have evaluated the findings of studies involving antioxidant supplementation on alterations in markers of inflammation (e.g., cytokines, C-reactive protein and cortisol). This review focuses predominantly on the role of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species generated from muscle metabolism and muscle damage during exercise and on the modulatory effects of antioxidant supplements. Furthermore, we have analyzed the influence of factors such as the dose, timing, supplementation period and bioavailability of antioxidant nutrients. (C) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Aflatoxins and their relationship with sugars in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Aspergillus spp. produce aflatoxins in peanut, which poses a health risk to humans and animals, as well as affecting the marketability of peanuts. The current research found that more aflatoxin is produced under rain fed (RF) compared to irrigated (IRR) conditions, and was more predominant in juvenile (R3-5 stage) compared to older (R6-8 stage) pods. No aflatoxin was recorded in marketable pods of the Streeton cultivar in either of the growing conditions, whereas the cultivar NC-7 produced aflatoxin under RF conditions only. Sugars such as glucose, fructose and sucrose were positively correlated with total aflatoxins. It appears that Aspergillus utilises these simple carbohydrates as substrates in biosynthesis of aflatoxins.

Young people's perceptions of police: The impact of race and ethnicity

The continuing problematic nature of interactions between police and youth, especially those of particular ethnic and racial groups, is well-documented. However, our understanding of the development of those attitudes is less well-understood. Using a sample of 14-year-olds from 5 state schools in eastern Australia, we examine how race and ethnicity structure youths' perceptions and assessments of police, and their attitudes towards legal authority. In particular, we explore racial/ethnic differences in the intergenerational transmission of perceptions of police.

The pharmacology of adrenomedullin receptors and their relationship to CGRP receptors

Adrenomedullin (AM) has two specific receptors formed by the calcitonin-receptor-like receptor (CL) and receptor activity-modifying protein (RAMP) 2 or 3. These are known as AM1 and AM2 receptors, respectively. In addition, AM has appreciable affinity for the CGRP1 receptor, composed of CL and RAMP1. The AM1 receptor has a high degree of selectivity for AM over CGRP and other peptides, and AM 22-52 is an effective antagonist at this receptor. By contrast, the AM2 receptor shows less specificity for AM, having appreciable affinity for βCGRP. Here, CGRP8-37 is either equipotent or more effective as an antagonist than AM22-52, depending on the species from which the receptor components are derived. Thus, under the appropriate circumstances it seems that βCGRP might be able to activate both CGRP 1 and AM2 receptors and AM could activate both AM 1 and AM2 receptors as well as CGRP1 receptors. Current peptide antagonists are not sufficiently selective to discriminate between these three receptors. The CGRP-selectivity of RAMP1 and RAMP3 may be conferred by a putative disulfide bond from the N-terminus to the middle of the extracellular domain of these molecules. This is not present in RAMP2. Copyright © 2004 Humana Press Inc. All rights of any nature whatsoever reserved.

Individual spirit at work and its relationship with employee work attitudes and organisational outcomes:An empirical examination in corporate Thailand

The purpose of this thesis is to conduct empirical research in corporate Thailand in order to (1) validate the Spirit at Work Scale (2) investigate the relationships between individual spirit at work and three employee work attitudinal variables (job satisfaction, organisational identification and psychological well-being) and three organisational outcomes (in-role performance, organisational citizenship behaviours (OCB), and turnover intentions) (3) further examine causal relations among these organisational behaviour variables with a longitudinal design (4) examine three employee work attitudes as mediator variables between individual spirit at work and three organisational outcomes and (5) explore the potential antecedents of organisational conditions that foster employee experienced individual spirit at work. The two pilot studies with 155 UK and 175, 715 Thai samples were conducted for validation testing of the main measure used in this study: Spirit at Work Scale (Kinjerski & Skrypnek, 2006a). The results of the two studies including discriminant validity analyses strongly provided supportive evidence that Spirit at Work Scale (SAWS) is a sound psychometric measure and also a distinct construct from the three work attitude constructs. The final model of SAWS contains a total of twelve items; a three factor structure (meaning in work, sense of community, and spiritual connection) in which the sub-factors loaded on higher order factors and also had very acceptable reliability. In line with these results it was decided to use the second-order of SAWS model for Thai samples in the main study and subsequent analysis. The 715 completed questionnaires were received from the first wave of data collection during July - August 2008 and the second wave was conducted again within the same organisations and 501 completed questionnaires were received during March - April 2009. Data were obtained through 49 organisations which were from three types of organisations within Thailand: public organisations, for-profit organisations, and notfor-profit organisations. Confirmatory factor analysis of all measures used in the study and hypothesised model were tested with structural equation modelling techniques. The results were greatly supportive for the direct structural model and partially supportive for the fully mediated model. Moreover, there were different findings across self report and supervisor rating on performance and OCB models. Additionally, the antecedent conditions that fostered employees experienced individual spirit at work and the implications of these findings for research and practice are discussed.

Beta/A4 deposits and their relationship to senile plaques in Alzheimer's disease

The density and spatial pattern of immunostained beta/A4 deposits and mature senile plaques (SP) stained by the Glees method were compared in Alzheimer's diseased brain. Thirty-seven percent of the variance in Glees SP density in a tissue could be explained by beta/A4. Both lesions were clustered with the beta/A4 clusters often larger than the Glees SP clusters. Beta/A4 and Glees SP cluster size were not correlated in a tissue. The size of Glees SP clusters was positively correlated with SP density but no correlation could be detected for beta/A4. Hence, the density and spatial pattern of beta/A4 deposits in most tissues did not predict the development of Glees SP.

Investigating the supply and demand relationship in a profession: the English and Welsh schools of librarianship and information Studies and the Higher Education Library and Information Services employment sector in England and Wales.

Concern has been expressed in the professional literature - borne out by professional experience and observation - that the supply and demand relationship existing between the 13 English and Welsh Library and Information Studies (LIS) Schools (as providers of `First Professional' staff) and the Higher Education Library and Information Services (HE LIS) sector of England and Wales (as one group of employers of such staff) is unsatisfactory and needs attention. An appropriate methodology to investigate this problem was devised. A basic content analysis of Schools' curricular and recruitment material intended for public consumption was undertaken to establish an overview of the LIS initial professional education system in England and Wales, and to identify and analyse any covert messages imparted to readers. This was followed by a mix of Main Questionnaires and Semi-Structured Interviews with appropriate populations. The investigation revealed some serious areas of dissatisfaction by the HE LIS Chiefs with the role and function of the Schools. Considerable divergence of views emerged on the state of the working relationships between the two sectors and on the Schools' successes in meeting the needs of the HE LIS sector and on CPD provision. There were, however, areas of substantial and consistent agreement between the two sectors. The main implications of the findings were that those areas encompassing divergence of views were worrying and needed addressing by both sides. Possible ways forward included recommendations on improving the image of the profession purveyed by the Schools; the forming of closer and more effective inter-sectoral relationships; recognising fully the importance of `practicum' and increasing and sustaining the network of `practicum' providers.

Getting along with others:an examination of the ethnomethodological roots of perference organization and its relationship to complimenting

The well-established sociolinguistic literature on complimenting claims that compliments are formulaic (Manes and Wolfson 1981). The purpose of this thesis is to demonstrate that the claim is invalid, to describe an alternative approach to the study of compliments, and to draw on an extensive collection of compliments in order to show that complimenting is a diverse, interactive process. A prerequisite for such work is a means of deciding whether a given utterance is a compliment, but this issue is neglected in the literature. The conversation analytic notion of preference appeared capable of providing this criterion, but research revealed that it was too ill-defined to serve such a purpose. The thesis was, therefore, obliged to clarify the notion of preference before applying it to a study of compliments. The necessary clarification was found in the enthnomethodological roots of conversation analysis, and the thesis provides a clear and consistent means of determining whether utterances are preferred to dispreferred. The criteria used in the determination of preference are applied, in the final chapter, to the study of compliments. The results of the study contrast markedly with those of the sociolinguistic researchers, and they provide significant grounds for rejecting the claim that compliments are formulaic.