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Pulmonary valve stenosis (PS) is the most common congenital heart defect in dogs. The condition is due to abnormal valve anatomy present at birth that leads to stenosis of the right ventricular outflow tract. The valve stenosis results in pressure overload of the right ventricle. If severe enough, the stenosis leads to right ventricular hypertrophy, arrhythmias, exercise intolerance, and right-sided heart failure. Severity of disease is typically determined based on velocity of blood flow across the lesion via echocardiography. The median survival time for dogs with severe PS is 4-5 years with medical management, while moderately affected cases have a variable prognosis. The prognosis for mild PS is generally good. The Bulldog, which is the fourth most popular breed according to AKC dog rankings, is a breed highly overrepresented in PS cases. Due to this breed predisposition PS is suspected to be inherited. Mildly affected dogs are frequently not diagnosed as traditional auscultation-based tests are insensitive in dogs with profound airway sounds and barrel-shaped chests such as the Bulldog. These subclinical cases make it incredibly difficult to successfully screen and remove affected individuals from the breeding program. Thus, hindering breeding efforts to reduce disease prevalence. Therefore, the development of a genetic screening test represents the most practical approach to identification and reduction of disease frequency in the breed. Additionally, severe and moderately affected PS cases are treated with traditional balloon valvuloplasty, which has good but variable success. The procedure has a significant cost, does not restore normal function, and there is considerable anesthetic risk for the brachycephalic breeds that are predisposed to PS. Additionally, some PS-affected dogs have concurrent coronary anomalies, which are expensive to identify and make balloon valvuloplasty contraindicated, further highlighting the need for genetic screening tests for thi

Pulmonary valve stenosis (PS) is the most common congenital heart defect in dogs. The condition is due to abnormal valve anatomy present at birth that leads to stenosis of the right ventricular outflow tract. The valve stenosis results in pressure overload of the right ventricle. If severe enough, the stenosis leads to right ventricular hypertrophy, arrhythmias, exercise intolerance, and right-sided heart failure. Severity of disease is typically determined based on velocity of blood flow across the lesion via echocardiography. The median survival time for dogs with severe PS is 4-5 years with medical management, while moderately affected cases have a variable prognosis. The prognosis for mild PS is generally good. The Bulldog, which is the fourth most popular breed according to AKC dog rankings, is a breed highly overrepresented in PS cases. Due to this breed predisposition PS is suspected to be inherited. Mildly affected dogs are frequently not diagnosed as traditional auscultation-based tests are insensitive in dogs with profound airway sounds and barrel-shaped chests such as the Bulldog. These subclinical cases make it incredibly difficult to successfully screen and remove affected individuals from the breeding program. Thus, hindering breeding efforts to reduce disease prevalence. Therefore, the development of a genetic screening test represents the most practical approach to identification and reduction of disease frequency in the breed. Additionally, severe and moderately affected PS cases are treated with traditional balloon valvuloplasty, which has good but variable success. The procedure has a significant cost, does not restore normal function, and there is considerable anesthetic risk for the brachycephalic breeds that are predisposed to PS. Additionally, some PS-affected dogs have concurrent coronary anomalies, which are expensive to identify and make balloon valvuloplasty contraindicated, further highlighting the need for genetic screening tests for thi

With Nina Lee-Hecko and Ethan Chandler, piano., Series LXXIV, Number 132.; Ethan Hutchinson, Madison Relue, and Samantha Ragusin are voice students of Kathleen Maurer., This archival material has been provided for educational purposes. Ball State University Libraries recognizes that some historic items may include offensive content. Our statement regarding objectionable content is available at: https://dmr.bsu.edu/digital/about

The intensity of exercise-induced pain (EIP) reflects the metabolic environment in the exercising muscle, so during endurance exercise this may inform the intelligent regulation of work rate. Conversely, the acute debilitating effects of EIP on motor unit recruitment could impair the estimation of force produced by the muscle and impair judgement of current exercise intensity. This study investigated whether muscle pain that feels like EIP, administered via intramuscular injection of hypertonic saline, interferes with the ability to accurately reproduce torque in a muscle group relevant to locomotive exercise. Methods: On separate days, fourteen participants completed an isometric torque reproduction task of the knee extensors. Participants were required to produce torque at 15 and 20% maximal voluntary torque (MVIT), without visual feedback before (Baseline), during (Pain/No Pain), and after (Recovery) an injection of 0.9% isotonic saline (Control) or 5.8% hypertonic saline (Experimental) into the vastus lateralis of the right leg. Results: An elevated reported intensity of pain, and a significantly increased variance in mean contraction torque at both 15% (P=0.049) and 20% (P=0.002) MVIT was observed in the Experimental compared to the Control condition. Both 15 and 20% target torques were performed at a similar pain intensity in the Experimental condition (15% MVIT, 4.2 ± 1.9; 20% MVIT, 4.5 ± 2.2; P>0.05). Conclusion: These findings demonstrate that the increased muscle pain from the injection of hypertonic saline impeded accurate reproduction of knee extensor torque. These findings have implications for the detrimental impact of EIP on exercise regulation and endurance performance.

Coral reefs are currently threatened by both natural and human-driven disturbances, and climate change scenarios suggest that the health of future reefs is uncertain. To better inform management and preservation of coral reef ecosystems, it is critical that we understand the mechanisms that support recovery of coral habitat after coral mortality events. Macroalgae can inhibit coral recovery by preventing recruitment and growth of corals after a disturbance, leading to a shift in the dominant benthic community from coral to macroalgae. These macroalgal habitats do not support the same diversity of fish and other species as healthy coral reefs, and are thus undesirable on large scales. This dissertation addresses some processes that are important in the establishment and persistence of these macroalgal phase shifts. Through an enhanced understanding of macroalgal persistence, we may be able to identify (and protect) key species and processes that are critical to promoting coral reef recovery.I used the macroalga Turbinaria ornata as a model species to examine the potential for herbivore-algal feedbacks that can promote persistent macroalgal phase shifts. This species is perennial and patches appear to persist inter-annually once established. In areas where macroalgae is present, Turbinaria largely dominates the benthic community. Results of observational studies of tagged Turbinaria patches suggest that Turbinaria populations exhibit positive population growth (both number of adult thalli and patch area increased over a 2 year period). Several factors including high turnover rates of thalli, year-round reproduction, and a buffer of immature individuals that may act as a “seed bank” following a disturbance may contribute to the expansion of this species in the lagoons of Moorea.In addition, I used field experiments to assess the potential for associational refuge to provide a mechanism for Turbinaria persistence in the lagoons of Moorea. Results from these experiments

Coral reefs are currently threatened by both natural and human-driven disturbances, and climate change scenarios suggest that the health of future reefs is uncertain. To better inform management and preservation of coral reef ecosystems, it is critical that we understand the mechanisms that support recovery of coral habitat after coral mortality events. Macroalgae can inhibit coral recovery by preventing recruitment and growth of corals after a disturbance, leading to a shift in the dominant benthic community from coral to macroalgae. These macroalgal habitats do not support the same diversity of fish and other species as healthy coral reefs, and are thus undesirable on large scales. This dissertation addresses some processes that are important in the establishment and persistence of these macroalgal phase shifts. Through an enhanced understanding of macroalgal persistence, we may be able to identify (and protect) key species and processes that are critical to promoting coral reef recovery.I used the macroalga Turbinaria ornata as a model species to examine the potential for herbivore-algal feedbacks that can promote persistent macroalgal phase shifts. This species is perennial and patches appear to persist inter-annually once established. In areas where macroalgae is present, Turbinaria largely dominates the benthic community. Results of observational studies of tagged Turbinaria patches suggest that Turbinaria populations exhibit positive population growth (both number of adult thalli and patch area increased over a 2 year period). Several factors including high turnover rates of thalli, year-round reproduction, and a buffer of immature individuals that may act as a “seed bank” following a disturbance may contribute to the expansion of this species in the lagoons of Moorea.In addition, I used field experiments to assess the potential for associational refuge to provide a mechanism for Turbinaria persistence in the lagoons of Moorea. Results from these experiments

Establishing and maintaining a healthy diet is integral in promoting optimal health, growth and development. Moreover, the food choices we make and dietary behaviours we adopt are a reflection of the multiple personal, interpersonal and environmental factors to which we are exposed. Consequently, changing food habits and dietary behaviour is complex and requires the implementation of multifaceted public health strategies. Comprehensive nutrition education provided to adolescents during their school years is one such approach. Adolescence is a period of rapid psychological and physiological changes. At a socioemotional level, there is a decreased level of dependence on parents and a greater influence from peers and the environment. As a consequence, adolescents tend to be exposed to a plethora of well-marketed and advertised unhealthy foods. These changes can lead to the development of unhealthy dietary behaviours. At a cognitive level, however, adolescence is also marked as a time when the brain is malleable and the ability to process information and reason accelerates. During this period, adolescents develop the capability of thinking in abstract terms and simultaneously consider different perspectives towards an idea. Therefore, this stage of life provides a unique opportunity for learning and skill development relating to food and nutrition. Further, delivering nutrition education within the school setting is one of the most effective environments to educate and promote healthy food habits and behaviours. The aim of this study was to develop a framework demonstrating the interaction between student engagement and effective pedagogy, and how these constructs can be utilised in an adolescent nutrition education context. This framework will enable teachers, curriculum writers and academics to develop food and nutrition lessons for year 7-8 students, which acknowledge student engagement and effective pedagogy as a key focal point. A generic qualitative research appro

Hydrogen sulfide is a toxic gas that has been found to be a rising cause of accidental deaths in high concentration. Currently there is no effective treatment for hydrogen sulfide poisoning. Paraquat is a widely used herbicide that is harmful when ingested and is especially concerning with its potential use in terrorist plots. Cobinamide, a vitamin B₁₂ precursor, has been proven to be an effective antidote for cyanide poisoning. Based on the chemical properties of cobinamide and of hydrogen sulfide and paraquat, we hypothesized that cobinamide could potentially reduce hydrogen sulfide- and paraquat-induced cellular toxicity. In this study, we tested that hypothesis by assessing whether cobinamide could rescue cells exposed to hydrogen sulfide and paraquat. Two cell lines, African Green Monkey Cercopithecus aethiops fibroblast-like kidney cells (COS7) and human foreskin fibroblast cells (HFF), were used in the experiments. After exposure to hydrogen sulfide or paraquat, with or without cobinamide, cells were counted at 24, 48, and 72 hour time points in order to obtain a growth curve and to calculate the number of cell doublings. Our results demonstrated that 1mM of hydrogen sulfide significantly inhibited cell growth and 400[um]M cobinamide treatment effectively reversed the inhibition in both cell lines. A 2mM cobinamide treatment was capable of preventing cell growth inhibition induced by 1.35mM paraquat in both COS7 and HFF cells. These results form the foundation for further studies to determine if cobinamide might be an effective treatment for hydrogen sulfide and paraquat poisoning

Hydrogen sulfide is a toxic gas that has been found to be a rising cause of accidental deaths in high concentration. Currently there is no effective treatment for hydrogen sulfide poisoning. Paraquat is a widely used herbicide that is harmful when ingested and is especially concerning with its potential use in terrorist plots. Cobinamide, a vitamin B₁₂ precursor, has been proven to be an effective antidote for cyanide poisoning. Based on the chemical properties of cobinamide and of hydrogen sulfide and paraquat, we hypothesized that cobinamide could potentially reduce hydrogen sulfide- and paraquat-induced cellular toxicity. In this study, we tested that hypothesis by assessing whether cobinamide could rescue cells exposed to hydrogen sulfide and paraquat. Two cell lines, African Green Monkey Cercopithecus aethiops fibroblast-like kidney cells (COS7) and human foreskin fibroblast cells (HFF), were used in the experiments. After exposure to hydrogen sulfide or paraquat, with or without cobinamide, cells were counted at 24, 48, and 72 hour time points in order to obtain a growth curve and to calculate the number of cell doublings. Our results demonstrated that 1mM of hydrogen sulfide significantly inhibited cell growth and 400[um]M cobinamide treatment effectively reversed the inhibition in both cell lines. A 2mM cobinamide treatment was capable of preventing cell growth inhibition induced by 1.35mM paraquat in both COS7 and HFF cells. These results form the foundation for further studies to determine if cobinamide might be an effective treatment for hydrogen sulfide and paraquat poisoning

Hydrogen sulfide is a toxic gas that has been found to be a rising cause of accidental deaths in high concentration. Currently there is no effective treatment for hydrogen sulfide poisoning. Paraquat is a widely used herbicide that is harmful when ingested and is especially concerning with its potential use in terrorist plots. Cobinamide, a vitamin B₁₂ precursor, has been proven to be an effective antidote for cyanide poisoning. Based on the chemical properties of cobinamide and of hydrogen sulfide and paraquat, we hypothesized that cobinamide could potentially reduce hydrogen sulfide- and paraquat-induced cellular toxicity. In this study, we tested that hypothesis by assessing whether cobinamide could rescue cells exposed to hydrogen sulfide and paraquat. Two cell lines, African Green Monkey Cercopithecus aethiops fibroblast-like kidney cells (COS7) and human foreskin fibroblast cells (HFF), were used in the experiments. After exposure to hydrogen sulfide or paraquat, with or without cobinamide, cells were counted at 24, 48, and 72 hour time points in order to obtain a growth curve and to calculate the number of cell doublings. Our results demonstrated that 1mM of hydrogen sulfide significantly inhibited cell growth and 400[um]M cobinamide treatment effectively reversed the inhibition in both cell lines. A 2mM cobinamide treatment was capable of preventing cell growth inhibition induced by 1.35mM paraquat in both COS7 and HFF cells. These results form the foundation for further studies to determine if cobinamide might be an effective treatment for hydrogen sulfide and paraquat poisoning

This thesis investigates the space above buildings, as an uninhabited layer of the city, possessing vast amounts of interconnected space. This idea will be pursued through the insertion of rooftop housing over the existing buildings of Barrington Street, in downtown Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Through de-constructing the existing building fabric, as well as precedents of residential development, this project explores qualities of living above the city, as an alternative to urban sprawl and the notion of retreating from the city to live.

Sand dunes are critically endangered ecosystems, supporting a wide variety of specialist native flora and fauna. They have declined significantly in the past century, due to coastal development, exotic invasions, and stabilization using marram grass (Ammophilia arenaria). An increasing number of restoration groups have carried out small scale rehabilitations of using native sand binding plants spinifex (Spinifex sericeus) and pingao (Desmoschoenus spiralis). However like many other restoration ventures, efforts are not formally monitored, despite the potential for conservation of species in decline. This thesis seeks to investigate the social and ecological aspects of sand dune restoration in New Zealand. Firstly, the status of restoration in New Zealand was examined using web based surveys of dune restoration groups, identifying motivations, methods, and the use of monitoring in the restoration process. Secondly, the ecology of restored and marram dominated sand dunes was assessed. Vegetation surveys were conducted using transects of the width and length of dunes, measuring community composition. Invertebrates were caught using pitfall traps and sweep netting, sorted to order, and spiders, beetles and ants identified down to Recognizable Taxonomic Units (RTUs) or species where possible. Lizards were caught in pitfall traps, and tracking tunnels tracked the presence of small mammals in the dunes. Analysis of each variable involved the comparison of biodiversity data between restored and marram dominated dunes, at six sites across the Wellington region. The survey of dune restoration practitioners confirmed that restoration was generally based on the motivation of erosion protection and foreshore stabilization, however an increasing number of groups were interested in the conservation of flora. Conservation of fauna was a priority for only one of the respondents. Informal monitoring of restoration attempts was carried out by the majority of groups, but specific biodi

Sand dunes are critically endangered ecosystems, supporting a wide variety of specialist native flora and fauna. They have declined significantly in the past century, due to coastal development, exotic invasions, and stabilization using marram grass (Ammophilia arenaria). An increasing number of restoration groups have carried out small scale rehabilitations of using native sand binding plants spinifex (Spinifex sericeus) and pingao (Desmoschoenus spiralis). However like many other restoration ventures, efforts are not formally monitored, despite the potential for conservation of species in decline. This thesis seeks to investigate the social and ecological aspects of sand dune restoration in New Zealand. Firstly, the status of restoration in New Zealand was examined using web based surveys of dune restoration groups, identifying motivations, methods, and the use of monitoring in the restoration process. Secondly, the ecology of restored and marram dominated sand dunes was assessed. Vegetation surveys were conducted using transects of the width and length of dunes, measuring community composition. Invertebrates were caught using pitfall traps and sweep netting, sorted to order, and spiders, beetles and ants identified down to Recognizable Taxonomic Units (RTUs) or species where possible. Lizards were caught in pitfall traps, and tracking tunnels tracked the presence of small mammals in the dunes. Analysis of each variable involved the comparison of biodiversity data between restored and marram dominated dunes, at six sites across the Wellington region. The survey of dune restoration practitioners confirmed that restoration was generally based on the motivation of erosion protection and foreshore stabilization, however an increasing number of groups were interested in the conservation of flora. Conservation of fauna was a priority for only one of the respondents. Informal monitoring of restoration attempts was carried out by the majority of groups, but specific biodi

Sand dunes are critically endangered ecosystems, supporting a wide variety of specialist native flora and fauna. They have declined significantly in the past century, due to coastal development, exotic invasions, and stabilization using marram grass (Ammophilia arenaria). An increasing number of restoration groups have carried out small scale rehabilitations of using native sand binding plants spinifex (Spinifex sericeus) and pingao (Desmoschoenus spiralis). However like many other restoration ventures, efforts are not formally monitored, despite the potential for conservation of species in decline. This thesis seeks to investigate the social and ecological aspects of sand dune restoration in New Zealand. Firstly, the status of restoration in New Zealand was examined using web based surveys of dune restoration groups, identifying motivations, methods, and the use of monitoring in the restoration process. Secondly, the ecology of restored and marram dominated sand dunes was assessed. Vegetation surveys were conducted using transects of the width and length of dunes, measuring community composition. Invertebrates were caught using pitfall traps and sweep netting, sorted to order, and spiders, beetles and ants identified down to Recognizable Taxonomic Units (RTUs) or species where possible. Lizards were caught in pitfall traps, and tracking tunnels tracked the presence of small mammals in the dunes. Analysis of each variable involved the comparison of biodiversity data between restored and marram dominated dunes, at six sites across the Wellington region. The survey of dune restoration practitioners confirmed that restoration was generally based on the motivation of erosion protection and foreshore stabilization, however an increasing number of groups were interested in the conservation of flora. Conservation of fauna was a priority for only one of the respondents. Informal monitoring of restoration attempts was carried out by the majority of groups, but specific biodi

Sand dunes are critically endangered ecosystems, supporting a wide variety of specialist native flora and fauna. They have declined significantly in the past century, due to coastal development, exotic invasions, and stabilization using marram grass (Ammophilia arenaria). An increasing number of restoration groups have carried out small scale rehabilitations of using native sand binding plants spinifex (Spinifex sericeus) and pingao (Desmoschoenus spiralis). However like many other restoration ventures, efforts are not formally monitored, despite the potential for conservation of species in decline. This thesis seeks to investigate the social and ecological aspects of sand dune restoration in New Zealand. Firstly, the status of restoration in New Zealand was examined using web based surveys of dune restoration groups, identifying motivations, methods, and the use of monitoring in the restoration process. Secondly, the ecology of restored and marram dominated sand dunes was assessed. Vegetation surveys were conducted using transects of the width and length of dunes, measuring community composition. Invertebrates were caught using pitfall traps and sweep netting, sorted to order, and spiders, beetles and ants identified down to Recognizable Taxonomic Units (RTUs) or species where possible. Lizards were caught in pitfall traps, and tracking tunnels tracked the presence of small mammals in the dunes. Analysis of each variable involved the comparison of biodiversity data between restored and marram dominated dunes, at six sites across the Wellington region. The survey of dune restoration practitioners confirmed that restoration was generally based on the motivation of erosion protection and foreshore stabilization, however an increasing number of groups were interested in the conservation of flora. Conservation of fauna was a priority for only one of the respondents. Informal monitoring of restoration attempts was carried out by the majority of groups, but specific biodi

Sand dunes are critically endangered ecosystems, supporting a wide variety of specialist native flora and fauna. They have declined significantly in the past century, due to coastal development, exotic invasions, and stabilization using marram grass (Ammophilia arenaria). An increasing number of restoration groups have carried out small scale rehabilitations of using native sand binding plants spinifex (Spinifex sericeus) and pingao (Desmoschoenus spiralis). However like many other restoration ventures, efforts are not formally monitored, despite the potential for conservation of species in decline. This thesis seeks to investigate the social and ecological aspects of sand dune restoration in New Zealand. Firstly, the status of restoration in New Zealand was examined using web based surveys of dune restoration groups, identifying motivations, methods, and the use of monitoring in the restoration process. Secondly, the ecology of restored and marram dominated sand dunes was assessed. Vegetation surveys were conducted using transects of the width and length of dunes, measuring community composition. Invertebrates were caught using pitfall traps and sweep netting, sorted to order, and spiders, beetles and ants identified down to Recognizable Taxonomic Units (RTUs) or species where possible. Lizards were caught in pitfall traps, and tracking tunnels tracked the presence of small mammals in the dunes. Analysis of each variable involved the comparison of biodiversity data between restored and marram dominated dunes, at six sites across the Wellington region. The survey of dune restoration practitioners confirmed that restoration was generally based on the motivation of erosion protection and foreshore stabilization, however an increasing number of groups were interested in the conservation of flora. Conservation of fauna was a priority for only one of the respondents. Informal monitoring of restoration attempts was carried out by the majority of groups, but specific biodi

The INEA project (Identifying activity areas in Neolithic sites through Ethnographic Analysis of phytoliths and geochemical residues, https://research.bournemouth. ac.uk/2014/07/inea-project-2/) develops and applies a method that combines the analysis of plant remains (silica phytoliths) and geochemical residues to inform on construction methods and the use of space in recently abandoned historical villages and Neolithic settlements. It is a collaborative project based at Bournemouth University, in partnership with the Council for British Research in the Levant.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a highly prevalent condition that requires a comprehensive and coordinated response across sectors and disciplines. In the absence of a multisectoral framework, we developed a NAFLD-Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) framework to converge thinking about the design and delivery of NAFLD public health responses. A multidisciplinary group identified SDG targets and indicators for inclusion in the NAFLD-SDG framework through a two-stage process. Firstly, a core team of three researchers independently reviewed the 169 SDG targets and 231 unique indicators proposed by the Inter-Agency and Expert Group on SDG to select a shortlist. Over two Delphi rounds, a multidisciplinary group of 12 experts selected which of the shortlisted targets and indicators to include in the NAFLD-SDG framework. Respondents also provided written feedback on their selection. Targets and indicators with 75% or greater agreement were included in the final NAFLD-SDG framework. The final framework comprises 16 targets–representing 9% of all SDG targets and 62% (16/26) of the shortlisted targets–and seven indicators, accounting for 50% (7/14) of the shortlisted indicators and 3% of all SDG indicators. The selected targets and indicators cover a broad range of factors, from health, food and nutrition to education, the economy and the built environment. Addressing the challenge of NAFLD will require re-envisioning the liver health landscape, with a greater focus on joined-up systems thinking and action. The NAFLD-SDG framework can help guide this process, including by outlining the key stakeholders with whom the liver health community needs to engage.