Metabolic perturbations associated with the consumption of a ketogenic medium-chain TAG diet in dogs with idiopathic epilepsy

Consumption of diets containing medium-chain TAG (MCT) has been shown to confer neuroprotective effects. We aim to identify the global metabolic perturbations associated with consumption of a ketogenic diet (medium-chain TAG diet (MCTD)) in dogs with idiopathic epilepsy. We used ultra-performance liquid chromatography-MS (UPLC-MS) to generate metabolic and lipidomic profiles of fasted canine serum and made comparisons between the MCTD and standardised placebo diet phases. We identified metabolites that differed significantly between diet phases using metabolite fragmentation profiles generated by tandem MS (UPLC–MS/MS). Consumption of the MCTD resulted in significant differences in serum metabolic profiles when compared with the placebo diet, where sixteen altered lipid metabolites were identified. Consumption of the MCTD resulted in reduced abundances of palmitoylcarnitine, octadecenoylcarnitine, stearoylcarnitine and significant changes, both reduced and increased abundances, of phosphatidylcholine (PC) metabolites. There was a significant increase in abundance of the saturated C17 : 0 fatty acyl moieties during the MCTD phase. Lysophosphatidylcholine (17 : 0) (P=0·01) and PC (17:0/20:4) (P=0·03) were both significantly higher in abundance during the MCTD. The data presented in this study highlight global changes in lipid metabolism, and, of particular interest, in the C17 : 0 moieties, as a result of MCT consumption. Elucidating the global metabolic response of MCT consumption will not only improve the administration of current ketogenic diets for neurological disease models but also provides new avenues for research to develop better diet therapies with improved neuroprotective efficacies. Future studies should clarify the involvement and importance of C17 : 0 moieties in endogenous MCT metabolic pathways

Evaluating Consumer Action’s worker advice service

Consumer Action Law Centre (“Consumer Action”) improves the lives of Victorians by advancing fairness in the marketplace. To this end, we publish consumer law information, run a legal advice service, conduct strategic casework and litigation, offer telephone financial counselling and deliver outreach training to financial counsellors. Our direct service activities inform our law reform agenda, which we pursue through research, policy work and campaigns. We influence policy and law makers to ensure fair treatment and just outcomes for consumers, especially people who have low incomes and are vulnerable. Our advice service is staffed by lawyers with expertise in consumer and consumer credit and debt law. Through the service, we provide free legal information and advice to individuals and ‘legal secondary consultations’ to community workers, including financial counsellors, other community lawyers and social workers. These LSCs are the subject of this evaluation report

Retroactively rewriting the revolution : the discursive mobilization of sustainability in La Habana, Cuba

textThe intent of my thesis is to demonstrate how the discourse of sustainability, specifically sustainable urban agriculture, has traversed borders. It is no longer the innovation of the United Nations. It has been adopted, manipulated, and exported to fit a variety of objectives. However, despite its vast travels, the discourse and praxis of sustainability privileges food production over food consumption especially in the Global South. In the process of consuming this idea, this mantra, this labor, many overlook, intentionally or not, the racialized, gendered and classed politics of consumption. I utilize Cuba as a case study to exemplify how sustainability has been adopted by other nations and provide grounded examples of the effects of this state-sponsored meta-narrative. My central argument is that the Cuban State's discourse and practice supports their politicized ideals of agricultural production by marginalizing food consumption. They accomplish this goal by creating a narrative of production at both the national and local level. The Cuban government supports sustainable production through speeches, local newspapers and sponsorship of particular agricultural organizations. On a local level, pamphlets, workshops and everyday conversations mirror the State's discourse and tout agricultural production as a panacea to Cuba's current state of low food security. I want to bring to light the complexities of Cuba's urban agricultural model. I do not intent to dispute the importance of their accomplishments in urban agriculture, however I also do not want to praise their impressive strides blindly. Despite their political leanings, like any nation, their relationship with food is raced, classed and gendered.Latin American Studie

CLINICAL OUTCOMES POST-IMPLANTATION OF MULTIFOCAL AND TORIC INTRAOCULAR LENSES

In order to increase spectacle independence following cataract surgery and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation; correction of spherical refractive error, astigmatic error and presbyopia should all be given careful consideration. There are many premium IOLs, including multifocal intraocular lenses (MIOLs) and toric intraocular lenses (TIOLs), available to surgeons. In order to select the appropriate IOL to meet a patient’s lifestyle and expectations, clinicians must fully understand the characteristics of MIOL and TIOL designs. To date, there remain unanswered questions pertaining to MIOLs and TIOLs and by rigorous comparison of such lenses, this thesis aims to address some of the gaps in the current literature. This thesis aims to evaluate a robust protocol for investigating clinical outcomes in MIOLs that would allow for comparison between future studies. This methodology was used in a randomised control trial and a cohort study. Included in this protocol is the detailed analysis of defocus profiles. This thesis investigates polynomial curve fitting to establish the most suitable curve and curve fitting method for use in future analysis of MIOLs with detailed defocus metrics. Defocus curves can highlight the differences in optical performance in MIOLs of differing addition powers, however, to add further complexity, previous literature has highlighted that addition power can vary individual to individual based on their ocular anatomy. Thus, investigation of an easily accessible clinical method to predict the likely achieved addition power post-implantation was performed. A randomised intra-patient contralateral eye study assessed refractive outcomes and rotational stability in TIOLs. In addition, the performance of the corresponding manufacturer’s calculators was evaluated in regard to refractive predictability and appropriate TIOL selection. This thesis highlights the clinical features of modern MIOL and TIOL designs, demonstrating both the benefits and challenges incurred following implantation.University of Plymout

Private Lands Conservation in Puerto Rico

41 p. ; 28 cmhttps://scholar.law.colorado.edu/books_reports_studies/1161/thumbnail.jp

Private Lands Conservation in Puerto Rico

41 p. ; 28 cmhttps://scholar.law.colorado.edu/books_reports_studies/1161/thumbnail.jp