Fiber Type and Cross-Sectional Area Characteristics in Hindlimb Muscles of the Long-Lived Ames Dwarf Mouse

Background: Ageing is associated with sarcopenia and a change of composition in muscle fibers. Ames dwarf mice have been found to have a decreased susceptibility to the deleterious effects of the ageing process, when compared to a normal mouse counterpart. This study looks at the muscle composition of the Ames dwarf mouse compared to the normal mouse by analyzing two muscles, ELD and Sol. Methods: Researchers harvested hind limb muscles from Ames dwarf mice and normal mice. The fours muscles were EDL, Sol, Gastrocnemius/Plantaris, and TA. EDL and Sol were sliced and stained with fast and slow twitch and H&E stains. Muscle cell diameter and fast and slow twitch percentage were measured through images obtained. Results: The following results were obtained using SPSS, version 18. For EDL, no significant difference was found between age of mice. A sig diff was found when comparing the total means of the type of mice. For Soleus, a significant interaction was found (p Discussion: These results suggest that there are physiological differences between normal and Ames dwarf mice. Researchers expected to find a significant decrease is muscle cell diameter as the mouse aged; however, results showed that the muscle cell diameter actually increased with age. This may be due to the mouse not reaching full maturity during the age groups used in this study. The Further research is needed to substantiate the results of this study. Researchers suggest analyzing age groups of 24 months

Trauma in journalism : mental health impacts in TV news field journalists

Professional project report submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Arts in Journalism from the School of Journalism, University of Missouri--Columbia.This project is a case study using qualitative research methods to examine mental health impacts of TV news field journalists who cover breaking news and severe weather on a consistent basis. The study also uses the cognitive appraisal theory to look at how journalists act, react, cope, and exhibit emotional responses while covering breaking news and severe weather stories. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 TV news field journalists and one TV news manager within The E.W. Scripps Company to answer the following research question: What are the mental health impacts TV news field crews experience from consistent coverage of breaking news and severe weather? Interviews with the TV news field journalists focused on their experience covering breaking news and severe weather in their careers, personal and professional impacts from this type of coverage, how they act, react, cope and exhibit emotions while covering breaking news and severe weather, their experience with trauma training, and any areas of opportunity they feel could help the industry regarding this issue. The interview with the TV news manager focused on their experience covering breaking news and severe weather in their career, their mental health philosophy as a TV news manager, areas of opportunity they believe could be useful, and their responses to areas of opportunity brought up by TV news field journalists interviewed in this project. The answer to the overall research question brought a variety of different responses when it comes to mental health impacts. Similar trends could be found in answers related to trauma training experience and areas of opportunity to address this issue.Includes bibliographical references

Estampas do quotidiano : um novo veículo cultural a partir de visualidades urbanas encontradas na superfície das cidades

Observar a malha urbana de uma cidade moderna é explorar um extenso conjunto de imagens que, por meio de códigos, comunica estados sociais. São graffitis, rabiscos, adesivos e cartazes, dentre outras formas de arte urbana, que tomam conta da camada epitelial da cidade procurando a compreensão dos transeuntes. Assim, cores e formas apoderam-se de sentido e transformam-se em símbolos culturais, costurando-se na construção de imaginários, sentimentos e memórias enraizadas no íntimo da cidade. A superfície urbana sofre constante interferência do homem, evidenciando a intenção em exteriorizar os pensamentos e reproduzir o mundo à sua volta, de acordo com sua perspectiva. A cidade é compreendida, então, como um produto cultural, munido de múltiplos discursos transgressores que gritam significados individuais e transeuntes cujos papéis oscilam continuamente entre agentes transformadores e produtos transformados. A partir das visualidades encontradas em intervenções artísticas urbanas localizadas nas cidades de Lisboa e São Paulo, a presente dissertação tem a pretensão de aproximar os diálogos culturais urbanos e a moda em um novo veículo cultural, permitindo assim a expansão dos discursos. Esse novo canal é materializado, por meio do design de superfície têxtil, em estampa, compreendida como um meio de comunicação de caráter sedutor, capaz de dar continuidade às narrativas, agregar valores simbólicos e diferenciar produtos do vestuário.To observe the urban environment of a modern city is to explore an extensive set of images that, through coding methods, indicates social conditions. Graffiti, scribbles, stickers and posters, among other forms of urban art, have always been present on the epithelial layer of big cities, exposing the presence of cultural symbols and seeking for an understanding of passers-by. As a result, colors and shapes acquire directions and sew themselves inside the construction of imagination, feelings and memories deep-rooted in the inner city. The urban surface suffers a constant interference of the human being, highlighting his intention in making experiences and copying the world around, according to his perspective. This way, the city shall be understood as a cultural product, full of multiple transgressive discourses shouting discourses charged of individual meanings and transpassers whose roles continually range from agents of changes and transformed products. Reasoned in the visualities from street art interventions located in Lisbon and São Paulo, this initiative attempts to approach urban cultural dialogues and fashion using a new cultural vehicle, providing the discourses’ expansion. The new conduit is constructed through the surface design in fashion pattern, which could be understood as a potentially seductive means of communication capable of continuing the narratives, prizing symbolic values and distinguishing fashion products

Novel gallium(III) complexes transported by MDR1 P-glycoprotein: potential PET imaging agents for probing P-glycoprotein-mediated transport activity in vivo

AbstractBackground: Multidrug resistance (MDR) mediated by expression of MDR1 P-glycoprotein (Pgp) represents one of the best characterized barriers to chemotherapy in cancer patients. Positron emission tomography (PET) agents for analysis of Pgp-mediated drug transport activity in vivo would enable noninvasive assessment of chemotherapeutic regimens and MDR gene therapy.Results: Candidate Schiff-base phenolic gallium(III) complexes were synthesized from their heptadentate precursors and gallium(III)acetylacetonate. Crystal structures demonstrated a hexacoordinated central gallium with overall trans-pseudo-octahedral geometry. Radiolabeled 67Ga-complexes were obtained in high purity and screened in drug-sensitive (Pgp−) and MDR (Pgp+) tumor cells. Compared with control, lead compound 6 demonstrated antagonist-reversible 55-fold lower accumulation in Pgp-expressing MDR cells. Furthermore, compared with wild-type control, quantitative pharmacokinetic analysis showed markedly increased penetration and retention of 6 in brain and liver tissues of mdr1a/b(−/−) gene disrupted mice, correctly mapping Pgp-mediated transport activity at the capillary blood–brain barrier and hepatocellular biliary cannalicular surface in vivo.Conclusions: These results indicate that gallium(III) complex 6 is recognized by MDR1 Pgp as an avid transport substrate, thereby providing a useful scaffold to generate 68Ga radiopharmaceuticals for molecular imaging of Pgp transport activity in tumors and tissues in vivo using PET

Teachers' perceptions of bullying behavior

Includes bibliographical references

Precedent Studies for Transitioning Highway Commercial Corridors from Rural to Urban Services and Land Uses

One of Scott County’s main commercial corridors is U.S. Highway 169, which runs along the Minnesota River between Shakopee and Belle Plaine. MnDOT has slated this highway for future conversion to a freeway from the Twin Cities to Mankato, with limited access and grade-separated interchanges. Currently, the corridor is guided for a mix of rural businesses, industries, and extraction uses. Two major regional investments will dramatically change the nature of this corridor: the future TH 41 river freeway bridge connecting Highways 169 and 212; and a future regional wastewater treatment plant that will allow much of the highway corridor to develop with urban services and land uses in the future. This report discusses several case studies showing how similar rural highway corridors have transitioned to urban services, including the processes or organizational frameworks used to engage multiple jurisdictions, stakeholders, landowners, and business interests; visualization tools or other techniques used to engage the public in such planning efforts; appropriate interim land uses in a rural highway commercial corridor planned for future urbanization; and lessons learned from these efforts. The findings from this project were used to formulate a comprehensive work plan and grant applications to undertake a major corridor study in 2010–2011.This project was supported by a grant from the Community Growth Options (U-CGO) program, a joint project of the Center for Urban and Regional Affairs (CURA) and the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota, with funding from the McKnight Foundation

Hassan Area Historic Preservation

Hassan Township, which will celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2010, has many historic structures at risk of demolition as development encroaches. A graduate student in urban and regional planning helped the township to identify and inventory historically and culturally significant structures in the community, conduct interviews with long-time residents of the community to record their recollections about historic structures and sites in the community Hassan, and identify methods to preserve and protect the community's local heritage. Project partners included the Hassan Historical Society, the Minnesota Historical Society, the Hennepin County Historical Society, and Three Rivers Park District. Hassan Township and the Hassan Area Historical Society will use the information from this report to determine the best approach to historic preservation in the community, and to prioritize historic sites and structures for preservation. The project has resulted in discussions with staff from the neighboring City of Rogers to coordinate historic preservation efforts in light of the orderly annexation agreement between the two communities.This project was supported by a grant from the Community Growth Options (U-CGO) program, a joint project of the Center for Urban and Regional Affairs (CURA) and the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota, with funding from the McKnight Foundation

Updating and Incorporating Sustainability into Scott County’s Zoning Code

The Scott County Planning Department was updating the county’s zoning and subdivision ordinances to implement its newly adopted 2030 Comprehensive Plan Update. The County had recently formed a farm advisory task force to help the Planning Department, among other things, evaluate the county’s zoning rules as they relate to farming and agricultural land uses. However, the department did not have the resources to research emerging trends and best practices in agricultural zoning approaches. In addition, the Planning Department was concerned that the county development code does not adequately acknowledge or address emerging trends in sustainable development practices. A graduate student in urban and regional planning researched agricultural zoning approaches in other counties in large metropolitan areas that are experiencing rapid urbanization, and conducted an audit of the county’s development code with respect to emerging sustainability practices in the areas of alternative energy systems, tree preservation, water quality, and stormwater management. The resulting report and audit, which included a series of example and model ordinances, were used by the Farm Advisory Task Force and the Scott County Planning Advisory Commission to recommend specific ordinance updates to the Planning Department and Planning Commission.This project was supported by a grant from the Community Growth Options (U-CGO) program, a joint project of the Center for Urban and Regional Affairs (CURA) and the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota, with funding from the McKnight Foundation