Report No. 31: The Role of Social Protection as an Economic Stabiliser: Lessons from the Current Crisis

Report based on a study conducted for the European Parliament, Bonn 2010 (188 pages)

不動による骨格筋の萎縮・炎症に対するメカニカルストレスの改善効果

早大学位記番号:新8044早稲田大

Economic developments in the Italian regions in 2006

The Economy of the Italian Regions in the year 2006 analyzes the evolution of production, labour market, financial aggregates and regional public finances in the four main Italian territorial areas. Topics analyzed focus on structural change in the Italian economy; trends in Mezzogiorno's exports; the evolution of local markets for university-level education after the introduction of a three-year degree; and the composition of households' financial assets and liabilities. Also examined are regional regulation in the commerce sector and the management of local public transportation. Two final points of focus relate to local public finances: the degree of regional taxation flexibility, and the main peculiarities of the five special statute regions.Italian Regions, Economic Developments

KISSPEPTIN FUNCTION IN FEMALE BOVINE REPRODUCTION

Kisspeptin is a modulator of GnRH and LH secretion in mammalian species. The regulator effect of kisspeptin on the hypothalamic-hypophysial-gonadal axis is unknown in the bovine species. The overall objective of the thesis was to determine the mechanism of action of kisspeptin on the GnRH-LH system and its effect on ovarian follicular dynamics in pubertal cattle. In the first study, the distribution of kisspeptin immunoreactive cells and their neuronal association with GnRH positive neurons was characterized during the proestrous, metestrous and diestrous stages of the estrous cycle in cows (n=7). Kisspeptin perikarya were distributed in two main populations in cows: a cranial cluster located in the preoptic area of the brainstem, and a caudal aggregation in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus. The percentage of kisspeptin immunoreactive fibers in the preoptic area (P=0.01) and the close association with GnRH perikarya (P=0.09) increased during the low progesterone period and proestrous phase of the estrous cycle in cows respectively. In the second study, the effect of peripheral administration of the shortest form of kisspeptin (kisspeptin-10) was evaluated in sexually mature female cattle (n=52) during the luteal period of the estrous cycle. Intravenous treatment with the human kisspeptin-10 sequence enhanced the plasma LH concentration to a greater extent than intramuscular treatment (P<0.01). Kisspeptin administration induced increased LH in a dose dependent fashion (P<0.01) and increased the dominant follicular size when given at high dose (15mg) during the first ovarian follicular wave. The objective of the third study was to compare the effect of a single intravenous bolus versus multiple injections of the human versus murine kisspeptin on Luteinizing hormone secretion; furthermore, the fate of the dominant follicle was compared during the low-progesterone environment in pubertal heifers (n=72). A single bolus injection or multiple intravenous injections of human kisspeptin-10 given over 2 hours period increased LH plasma concentrations more than the respective treatments with murine kisspeptin-10 (P<0.01). Also, 45 mg of human kisspeptin-10 given over a period of two hours (3 to 9 intravenous injections) induced a similar ovulation rate as GnRH treatment (P=0.44). The mechanism of peripheral administration of kisspeptin on LH release and ovulation was elucidated in the last study (n=21). After two hours of administration, kisspeptin-10 did not enhance GnRH neuron activation in the preoptic area or the hypothalamus of cows. However, after cows were given a GnRH antagonist, kisspeptin treatment was not able to increase plasma LH concentrations and induce ovulation in pubertal heifers. This observation suggests that LH release is mediated by GnRH secretion, but may not induce de-novo GnRH synthesis after exogenous peripheral administration of kisspeptin. In summary, we have determined the mechanism of action of peripheral administration of kisspeptin on reproductive control in mature cattle. For the first time, we have demonstrated that the peripheral use of kisspeptin induces ovulation and follicular wave emergence in cattle, and that this effect is dependent on the GnRH system

Nutritional knowledge and dietary practices among Division I athletes: Do college athletes understand and fulfill sex specific nutritional and metabolic requirements?

ABSTRACT Objective: This study evaluated and compared male and female college athletes’ dietary habits, their general nutrition knowledge, and understanding of their daily metabolic requirements during training and non-training days. The goal was to 1) determine whether a nutritional gender gap existed between male and female college athletes and 2) assess whether the level of nutritional knowledge of student athletes was generally sufficient to meet their sex- specific dietary needs. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used to gather dietary data from Syracuse University student athletes. Participants were asked to complete an online survey (Qualtrics Software, Qualtrics.com) approved by the Syracuse University Athletics Department and by the Syracuse University Institutional Review Board. Student athletes recruited to the study were asked to report their dietary habits and to complete a questionnaire to measure their nutritional knowledge. A subset of questions assessed individual perception of the calories and macronutrients required to support athletic performance during training and non-training days. Caloric requirements during athletic training were estimated for each individual using the Mifflin St. Jeor equation. Each formula was adjusted for activity level according to the physical demands of the sport. Macronutrient requirements were estimated by adjusting the current nutrition recommendations to the metabolic demands of each sport and between sexes. The recorded macronutrient and caloric intakes were statistically compared to estimated ideal values for each individual based on sex and sport appropriate activity factors. Participants: Athletes were recruited from all Division I sports at Syracuse University. Responses were received from students participating in lacrosse, soccer, field hockey, tennis, cross-country, basketball ice hockey, track and field, rowing and football. Respondents included 88 females and 27 males; an additional 10 participants failed to complete the survey. Results: The level of nutritional knowledge did not significantly differ between males and females (p= 0.4193) or between sports (Χ2=9.48, df=8, p=0.0546). Individuals with high knowledge scores were more likely to have taken a nutrition course. For every 1 point increase in the knowledge score obtained, the odds of having taken a nutrition class increased by about 8.9% (p=0.0305). There were no correlations between the level of nutritional knowledge and dietary habits other than an unexpected positive correlation with fast food consumption. Male and female athletes both appeared to be aware of their increased caloric requirements for training days. No differences were found between estimated total daily energy expenditure (TDEE) and actual caloric consumption. Conclusion: This study found that although both male and female athletes possess a good understanding of caloric needs during training days, their dietary knowledge did not necessarily translate into dietary patterns consistent with best practices. Future research should attempt to identify the reasons why athlete dietary knowledge might not translate into practices that are consistent with maximizing performance

Training-to-Beat bioreactor for investigating Engineered Cardiac Tissues: design, development & validation

In last the decades, advances relevant to the generation of 3D Engineered Cardiac Tissues (ECTs) have been made. In reason of this, ECTs are now considered a great promise for in vitro studies of cardiac development, disease and, eventually, for strategies for the repair of the structure and function of the injured myocardium. Among the several physical stimuli which have been exploited to improve the functionality and maturation of ECTs, a preeminent role has been ascribed to mechanical stimulation. Appropriate mechanical stimulation can be recreated and maintained within bioreactors, which are devices/platforms devoted to mimic the physiological milieu in a monitored/controlled culture environment, where the engineered constructs can be properly stimulated. One main limitation of the bioreactor-based strategy for cardiac tissue engineering applications is that the devices which are currently used are meant to passively apply to ECTs a stimulus predefined by the user, regardless of their level of maturation along the duration of the in vitro culture. In this scenario, and trying to overcome current limitations, a novel bioreactor design has been conceived for the investigation of 3D ECTs with a biomimetic approach. Technically, the here proposed bioreactor is capable (1) to apply native-like or pathologic mechanical stimuli (cyclic strain) by means of a reliable linear actuator operating in a wide range of strains and frequencies, and (2) to monitor in real-time both chemo-physical parameters (e.g. oxygen tension, pH) of the milieu and the mechanical stiffness of ECTs by means of dedicated sensors, eventually adapting the stimulation to the actual stage of maturation of the constructs. As a proof of concept, a first experimental campaign has been carried out with a double aim: (1) to verify the bioreactor feasibility in delivering mechanical cyclical stimulation to 3D fibrin-based, ring shaped Engineered Cardiac Tissues (ECTs); (2) to assess the effect of cyclic strain on tissue maturation, contractility and modification on its mechanical properties. In detail, the bioreactor platform has been preliminarily tested to verify protocols for hold on, sterilization, and control of the delivered mechanical stimuli. Firstly, the suitability of the bioreactor platform in culturing ad-hoc designed constructs, in terms of ease of use and capability in setting the stimulation parameters, has been tested. Then, the observed maturation of ring shaped ECTs subject to sinusoidal cyclic strain within the bioreactor has confirmed the potency of the proposed approach and the instrumental role of mechanical stimulation in ECTs maturation and in the development of an adult-like cardiac phenotype responsive to electrical excitation. Even if further validation steps are required before the implementation of culture strategy fully adaptive in terms of mechanical stimuli applied to the engineered cardiac constructs, the developed bioreactor represents a valuable proof of concept for, in its most advanced operational mode, biomimetic culturing of engineered cardiac constructs