Longitudinal distribution patterns and habitat associations of juvenile coho salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch in tributaries of the Little Susitna River, Alaska

Thesis (M.S.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2014Understanding how headwater streams function as rearing habitats for juvenile coho salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch is essential for effective population management and conservation. To inform habitat restoration activities within the Matanuska-Susitna Valley, Alaska, I determined upstream distribution limits, validated abundance estimates, and established fish habitat relationships in two headwater stream tributaries of the Little Susitna River in 2010-11. Using a low-effort, spatially continuous sampling approach and linear mixed-effects models, I related local- and landscape-scale habitat associations to abundance estimates. All-aged coho salmon composed approximately 98% of all fish sampled and inhabited the entire stream length to their upstream limits. Age-1+ fish resided in 64% and 44% of the stream length for the two sampled streams. The mean upstream elevation limit for all-aged fish in these streams was 278m and 267m. For age- 1+ fish, the upstream elevation limit in the two streams was 275m and 238m. Percent slope at the distribution limit of all-aged fish was consistent across streams at 5%, whereas percent slope for age-1+ fish correspond to 4% and 6%. Elevation and percent slope consistently described upstream distribution limits among age classes. Therefore, we must consider these landscape features when prioritizing restoration projects in headwater streams

Using renewable energy to power wastewater treatment plants in Singapore

Thesis (M. Eng.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2010.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.Includes bibliographical references (p. 59-62).Wastewater treatment is a very energy intensive industry. Singapore has a state-of-the-art wastewater treatment system that uses a number of sustainable techniques that greatly improve its overall efficiency. The centralized Changi Water Reclamation Plant is one of the most advanced treatment facilities in the world. However, there are smaller, less efficient wastewater treatment plants still in use in Singapore. One of those is located in the Kranji Catchment region adjacent to the Lim Chu Kang Air Force Base. Called BJ725, this facility consists of a primary settler and a trickling filter. The purpose of this study is to determine the feasibility of using wind power, solar power, or methane gas combustion to meet the treatment facility's energy requirement. As the first part of this feasibility study, BJ725's energy requirement was analyzed. Additionally, wind and solar output was computed given historical meteorological conditions in Singapore, and the amount of power produced during methane gas combustion was computed given sludge output at BJ725. The outcome of these calculations showed mixed results. There was not one day of wind strong enough to produce usable energy in the 33-year meteorological dataset analyzed. Thus, there is essentially no potential for wind energy to be used in Singapore. Solar energy proved to be economically viable, but only with at least a 63 percent rebate. Sludge digestion and methane gas combustion proved to be by far the most economically viable option for wastewater treatment plants in Singapore. In the case of BJ725, approximately S$8,000 of yearly income can be generated if sludge digestion and methane gas combustion is utilized. Overall, sludge digestion seems to be the best option for wastewater treatment plants throughout the rest of the world. However, the three options studied are site specific and should be analyzed on a location-specific basis.by Kevin John Foley.M.Eng

Characteristics of strength and conditioning coaches in Canada

The formal field of strength and conditioning (S&C) is relatively young in Canada when compared to the United States of America (USA). Identifying the characteristics of Canadian S&C coaches will serve as an evaluation and point of comparison for future strategy and direction. The primary purpose of this study was to gather information about the demographic characteristics of S&C coaches in Canada including age, sex, minority status, salary, education, and certification. Secondly, this study compared expert and non-expert Canadian S&C coaches. While the demographics of S&C coaches has been examined in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in the USA, this study was the first to our knowledge to examine characteristics of Canadian S&C coaches. The criteria and study of expert coaches has been done on Canadian sport coaches but not for S&C coaches. This research aimed to combine both concepts of defining the characteristics of Canadian S&C coaches while also categorizing them as expert and non-experts based on a working definition of coaching expertise

Acute Regulation of Na+-K+-ATPase Activity in Skeletal Muscles of Different Fibre Type Composition in Response to Insulin Exposure

The Na+-K+-ATPase (pump) is a transmembrane, multi-subunit (α and β) protein that is expressed in all cells, and particularly in skeletal muscle cells. In one cycle, it pumps 3 Na+ ions out of the cell and 2 K+ ions into the cell at the expense of 1 ATP molecule. This enzyme is responsible for maintaining muscle cell excitability. This is of particular importance during contractile activity, when the flux of Na+ and K+ across the cell membrane is high. The activity of the Na+-K+-ATPase is highly regulated and very responsive to hormonal stimuli. Previous research has shown that 20-30 min insulin exposure in vivo induces the translocation of pumps from intracellular stores to the plasma membrane. However, no study has examined the catalytic properties of this enzyme in response to short insulin exposures. The objective of this study was to investigate the response of the Na+-K+-ATPase to short insulin incubation in vitro in muscles of different fibre type. It was hypothesized that the short insulin treatment would result in an increase in pump activity, not only through translocation but also increased intrinsic activity. Using an in vitro model, rat soleus (Sol), red gastrocnemius (RG), and white gastrocnemius (WG) muscle homogenates were incubated at 37°C for 5 min with and without 75μM insulin (Ins). Next, in order to separate mechanisms of translocation and intrinsic activation, the plasma (SLP) and endosomal (EN) membranes were separated through a fractionation procedure. This allowed the investigation of insulin-induced increases in intrinsic activity in SLP and EN fractions of Na+-K+-ATPase; SLP and EN (non-treated) membranes were incubated at 37°C for 5 min with and without 75μM insulin. Lastly, muscle homogenates were insulin-treated for 5 min at 37°C with 625μM insulin prior to fractionation. These SLP and EN fractions (insulin-treated) were then incubated at 37°C for 5 min with and without 75μM insulin. Na+-K+-ATPase maximal activity (Vmax, mmol•mg prot-1•h-1) and km (substrate affinity), α2 content, and tyrosine phosphorylation (Tyr-P) were probed. It was found that insulin increased Vmax (P<0.05) in Sol and RG, but not WG, homogenates (Con vs Ins, Sol=221±17 vs 256±21; RG=190±14 vs 256±18; WG=104±4.6 vs 99±1.8). In non-treated fractions, insulin increased Vmax (P<0.05) in Sol and RG SLP fractions (Con vs Ins, Sol=1710±186 vs 1970±231; RG=1476±128 vs 1655±139). A main effect, Con<Ins (P<0.05) was observed in non-treated WG SLP. Insulin also increased Vmax in non-treated RG EN (Con vs Ins, 246±38 vs 304±43). In insulin-treated fractions, insulin increased Vmax¬ in RG SLP only (Con vs Ins, 1145±119 vs 1426±150). Increased Vmax was not observed in insulin-treated fractions when compared to non-treated fractions. No evidence of translocation or increased Tyr-P was detected with insulin treatment via α2 Western blotting. Short insulin exposure induced increases in Na+-K+-ATPase activity, and these increases were due to stimulation of intrinsic activity and not due to translocation

Gene expression differs in susceptible and resistant amphibians exposed to Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis.

Chytridiomycosis, the disease caused by the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), has devastated global amphibian biodiversity. Nevertheless, some hosts avoid disease after Bd exposure even as others experience near-complete extirpation. It remains unclear whether the amphibian adaptive immune system plays a role in Bd defence. Here, we describe gene expression in two host species-one susceptible to chytridiomycosis and one resistant-following exposure to two Bd isolates that differ in virulence. Susceptible wood frogs (Rana sylvatica) had high infection loads and mortality when exposed to the more virulent Bd isolate but lower infection loads and no fatal disease when exposed to the less virulent isolate. Resistant American bullfrogs (R. catesbeiana) had high survival across treatments and rapidly cleared Bd infection or avoided infection entirely. We found widespread upregulation of adaptive immune genes and downregulation of important metabolic and cellular maintenance components in wood frogs after Bd exposure, whereas American bullfrogs showed little gene expression change and no evidence of an adaptive immune response. Wood frog responses suggest that adaptive immune defences may be ineffective against virulent Bd isolates that can cause rapid physiological dysfunction. By contrast, American bullfrogs exhibited robust resistance to Bd that is likely attributable, at least in part, to their continued upkeep of metabolic and skin integrity pathways as well as greater antimicrobial peptide expression compared to wood frogs, regardless of exposure. Greater understanding of these defences will ultimately help conservationists manage chytridiomycosis

Attitudes toward Rubella and Varicella Vaccination during Preconception Care

Introduction. MMR and Varicella vaccines contain live attenuated virus, a contraindication during pregnancy. For this reason, it is important to clinically assess barriers to vaccination during the preconception time period to avoid the known fetal morbidity associated with congenital Rubella or Varicella infection. Methods. To determine the prevalence of patients with nonimmune status for Rubella and Varicella in the setting of advanced reproductive care. Secondary outcomes of interest included further understanding nonimmune reproductive-aged women's attitudes toward MMR and Varicella vaccination during the preconception time frame. Patient records were with lab orders for Rubella or Varicella immunoglobulin titers, placed at the KU Advanced Reproductive Care clinic between January 2017 and June 2020. A cross-sectional survey was administered to patients with a laboratory reported negative titer result. Results. Prevalence of nonimmunity within the study population to either Rubella and/or Varicella was 10.7% (n=1,979), to Rubella, 6.0% (n=134) and to Varicella, 3.8% (n=85) out of a total 2,217 patient records reviewed. The women who did not receive recommended vaccines following a nonimmune titer result (n=19) most commonly cited their rationale was to not further delay fertility treatment (n=8). Conclusions. The prevalence of nonimmune persons in the study population fell within the range recognized to be sufficient for herd immunity. The risk/benefit analysis of postponing fertility treatment to achieve adequate levels of immunity should be a focused discussion when establishing fertility treatment goals with patients in the setting of advanced reproductive care