Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Sunburn'

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2005.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Sunburn on apple and pear fruit results in large losses of export volumes in South African orchards. Producers estimate that losses due to sunburn are often about 10- 20%. Knowledge of temperature thresholds for sunburn as well as technologies available to manage sunburn is important to increase producer earnings. The effect of evaporative cooling on fruit surface temperature and sunburn was evaluated on 'Cripps' Pink', 'Royal Gala' and 'Fuji' apples as well as 'Forelle' pears. Evaporative cooling was effective in reducing fruit surface temperature by 0.6-3.7°C. Apple fruit under evaporative cooling treatments appeared to have acclimatised and had significantly higher surface temperatures when dry (0.9-4.7°C) than non-cooled fruit. This acclimitasing effect could be due to a modification of the cuticular wax layer. Futher trials are needed to investigate the cause of this acclimatising effect. The acclimatising effect was not found on 'Forelle' pears. Sunburn was reduced significantly only on 'Royal Gala' apples. Spraying 'Braeburn', 'Granny Smith', and 'Fuji' apples with reflective kaolin-based particle film (Surround WP) significantly reduced sunburn on 'Braeburn', 'Granny Smith' and 'Fuji' apple cultivars. Surround WP applications reduced leaf stomatal conductance and photosynthetic rate. Four applications of Surround WP with a commercial blower sprayer increased total soluble solids in 'Braeburn' . Four applications with a blower and five applications with a tower sprayer resulted in increased fruit size, higher flesh firmness, and lower percentage starch breakdown in 'Granny Smith'. Surround WP treatments slightly improved fruit colour in 'Granny Smith' apples. Futher trials are needed to establish whether Surround WP can,be reliably and economically removed from apple fruit and to evaluate the storage quality of fruit cleansed in this way. The effect of fruit surface temperatures (24°C, 30°C, 33-35°C, 40-43°C and 48-49°C) for increasing periods of time (two, four, six or eight hours) on maximum quantum yield of fluorescence (Fv/Fm) was measured on exposed and shaded sides of detached 'Cripps' Pink' and 'Royal Gala' apples. Measurements were taken directly after removal from the chamber as well as 12 hours later to assess recovery. Permanent damage to Photo system II (PSII) occurred between 48-49°C irrespective of duration, with permanent damage possible at 42-43°C when exposure exceeded six hours. There were no meaningful differences in Fv/Fm between shaded and exposed sides of apple fruit after exposure to high temperature. Duration of exposure was important in lowering PSU efficiency in 'Cripps' Pink' but less so in 'Royal Gala'. 'Cripps' Pink' apples harvested later in the season appeared to be able to recover from heat stress better than apples harvested earlier in the season. However, we only studied the effects of high temperature on apple tissues. More research is needed to establish the reaction of apple tissues to high temperatures in the presence of sunlight.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Sonbrand op appel en peervrugte kom jaarliks voor in Suid-Afrikaanse boorde en lei tot groot afnames in vrugte wat geskik is vir die uitvoermark. Produsente beraam dat verliese a.g.v. sonbrand jaarliks 10-20% beloop. Kennis van drempelwaarde temperature vir die ontwikkeling van sonbrand sowel as die tegnologieë wat beskikbaar is om sonbrand te bekamp, is van groot belang om uitpakke te verbeter. Die effek van oorhoofse besproeïng op vrugtemperature en sonbrand van 'Cripps' Pink', 'Royal Gala' en 'Fuji' appels sowel as 'Forelle' pere is ondersoek. Oorhoofse besproeïng het vrugtemperature betekenisvol verlaag in al die proewe. Dit wil voorkom of appels onder oorhoofse besproeïng geakklimatiseer het en dié appels het hoër skil temperature geopenbaar wanneer hulle droog was as die kontrole vrugte. Moontlik is die effek te wyte aan 'n verandering in die kutikulêre waslaag. Verdere proewe om hierdie verskynsel te probeer verklaar is nodig. Die effek is nie waargeneem op die 'Forelle' pere nie. Sonbrand is betekenisvol verminder op 'Royal Gala' appels. Toediening van weerkaatsende kaolin-gebaseerde partikels (Surround'" WP) het sonbrand betenisvol verlaag op 'Braeburn' , 'Granny Smith', en 'Fuji' appels. Surround® WP toedienings het blaarhuidmondjie-geleiding en die tempo van fotosintese verlaag. Vier toedienings van Surround® WP met 'n kommersiële waaierblaser het totale oplosbare vastestowwe (TOVS) beduidend verhoog in 'Braeburn' appels. Vier toedienings met 'n waaierblaser en vyf toedienings met 'n toring spuitkar het gelei tot 'n verhoging in vrugmassa en vrugferrnheid, en 'n verlaging in persentasie styselafbraak in 'Granny Smith' appels. Surround® WP toedienings het gelei tot effens beter kleur op 'Granny Smith' appels. Verdere proewe is nodig om te bepaal of Surround® WP op 'n betroubare en ekonomiese wyse van vrugte verwyder kan word in die pakstoor, en wat die hou-vermoë is van appels wat só behandel is. Die effek van vrugoppervlaktemperature (24°C, 30°C, 33-35°C, 40-43°C en 48-49°C) vir toenemende tydsdure (twee, vier, ses en agt ure) op maksimum kwantum-opbrengs van fluoressensie is gemeet op sonkante en skadukante van geplukte 'Cripps' Pink' en 'Royal Gala' appels. Metings is geneem direk na verwydering uit die oonde sowel as 12 ure later om moontlike herstel waar te neem. Permanente skade aan Fotosisteem II (PSII) het plaasgevind tussen 48-49°C ongeag tydsduur, met permanente skade ook moontlik by 42-43°C wanneer blootstelling aan genoemde temperature ses ure oorskry het. Daar was geen betekenisvolle verskille in Fv/Fm tussen skadu- en sonkante van appels na blootstelling aan hoë temperature nie. Die tydsduur van blootstelling was belangrik om PSII effektiwiteit te verlaag in 'Cripps' Pink', maar minder so in 'Royal Gala'. Dit wil voorkom of 'Cripps' Pink' appels later in die seisoen beter daartoe in staat is om te herstel van hitte stres as vroeër in die seisoen. Ons het egter slegs die effek van hoë temperature op appel weefsels ondersoek. Verdere proewe is nodig om die reaksie van appelweefsels op hoë temperature in die teenwoordigheid van sonlig te ondersoek.

Thesis (MScAgric)--Stellenbosch University, 2011.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Research was carried out to increase the current knowledge on sunburn development and its control in apples. In addition to its chief causes, viz. high irradiance and high temperatures, water stress has long been thought to contribute to sunburn susceptibility. Certain fruit chemical and textural characteristics have also been suspected to increase sunburn, while it is not clear how factors such as crop load affect sunburn in relation to other fruit quality parameters. In red and blushed cultivars, sunburn could be underestimated due to masking by the red colour overlay. Half and total irrigation water were withheld for two weeks in ‘Cripps’ Pink’ apples while in a concomitant trial, mulching with vermicompost (plus a thin layer of woodchips), woodchips, plant compost and black geotextile were used to regulate plant water by reducing soil evaporative loss. Sunburn increased with an increase in moisture stress. Mulching had no effect on plant water status, but it generally enhanced plant photochemistry, reducing fruit surface temperature (FST) and sunburn. Chemical and textural characteristics of exposed, but non-burned ‘Cripps’ Pink’ apples were compared with that of fruit with induced and naturally occurring sunburn. Flesh firmness, total soluble solids (TSS), and titratable acidity (TA) of induced and naturally occurring sunburnt fruit did not differ from each other, but were significantly different from the non-burnt fruit. Based on this, we concluded that sunburn induces textural and compositional changes in sunburnt fruit rather than some fruit being predisposed to develop sunburn due to their texture and chemical composition. Differences in heat stress tolerance, flesh texture and chemical composition of sun exposed and shaded fruit sides seem to relate to their light exposure history. The effect of crop load on sunburn and fruit quality were assessed on a fruit cluster level in 2008-09 and on a whole tree basis in 2009-10 in ‘Cripps’ Pink’. In 2008-09, sunburn, red colour and the proportion of first grade fruit decreased with an increase in number of fruit per cluster. Crop load did not have an effect on sunburn and fruit colour in 2009-10 although the lowest thinning severity seemed to increase sunburn severity while the proportion of first grade fruit was highest for the highest thinning severity. Fruit number per cluster had no effect on fruit size, while at the whole tree level, fruit size decreased with increasing crop load. Flesh firmness, starch breakdown, TA and TSS were neither affected by the number of fruit per cluster nor the crop load of the tree as a whole. Green ‘Granny Smith’ and ‘Golden Delicious’, blushed ‘Royal Gala’, ‘Fuji’, ‘Braeburn’ and ‘Cripps’ Pink’, and full red ‘Topred’ were used to assess how red colour (anthocyanins) masks superficial sunburn browning and bleaching. The greater reduction in superficial sunburn, but not in sunburn necrosis in red and blushed compared to green cultivars with increasing red colour a month towards harvest seemed to confirm the effect of masking.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie navorsing is verrig ter uitbreiding van die huidige kennis oor die ontwikkeling en beheer van sonbrand in appels. Addisioneel tot die hoof oorsake van sonbrand, naamlik hoë irradiasie en hoë temperatuur, word waterstres gesien as bydraend tot sonbrandsensitiwiteit. Daar word ook vermoed dat sekere chemiese en teksturele eienskappe van die vrug sonbrand kan verhoog terwyl daar nie duidelikheid is oor hoe faktore soos oeslading sonbrand relatief tot ander vrugkwaliteitparameters kan affekteer nie. Die omvang van sonbrand in rooi en bloskultivars kan dalk onderskat word vanweë maskering deur die oorliggende rooi pigmentasie. Besproeiing is vir twee weke gehalveer of gestop in ‘Cripps’ Pink’ appels. Sonbrand het toegeneem met ‘n toename in vogstres. ‘n Deklaag van vermikompos (plus ‘n dun laag houtstukkies), houtstukkies, plantkompos en ‘n swart geotekstiel is toegedien om die plant waterstatus te reguleer deur evaporasie vanuit die grond te beperk. Die deklae het geen effek op die plant waterstatus gehad nie, maar het wel die blaar fotochemie bevorder en terselftertyd die vrugoppervlaktemperatuur verlaag en sonbrand verminder. Die chemiese en tekturele eienskappe van sonligblootgestelde ‘Cripps’ Pink’ appels sonder sonbrand is vergelyk met vrugte met geïnduseerde sonbrand en vrugte met sonbrand wat natuurlik ontwikkel het. Vrugvleisfermheid, totale oplosbare vastestowwe (TOV) en titreerbare suur (TS) van vrugte met natuurlik en geïnduseerde sonbrand het nie onderling verskil nie, maar het wel betekesnisvol verskil van vrugte sonder sonbrand. Ons het gevolglik afgelei dat sonbrand teksturele en komposisionele veranderinge teweeg bring eerder as dat sekere vrugte gepredisponeer word om sonbrand te ontwikkel vanweë hul tekstuur en chemiese samestelling. Dit kom voor dat verskille in hittestres toleransie, tekstuur en chemiese samestelling tussen die sonligblootgestelde en skadu kante van appels verband hou met hul verskil in sonligblootstelling. Die effek van oeslading op sonbrand en vrugkwaliteit in ‘Cripps’ Pink’ is ge-evalueer op trosvlak in 2008-09 en op ‘n per boom basis in 2009-10. Sonbrand, rooi kleur en die proporsie eersteklas vrugte het afgeneem met ‘n toename in die aantal vrugte per tros. Op ‘n per boom basis is rooi kleur en sonbrand egter nie deur oeslading geaffekteer nie. Die laagste vlak van vruguitdunning het wel oënskynlik die graad van sonbrand verhoog terwyl die hoogste vlak van vruguitdunning tot ‘n toename in die proporsie eersteklas vrugte gelei het. Die aantal vrugte per tros het geen effek op vruggrootte gehad nie terwyl vruggrootte afgeneem het met oeslading op ‘n heelboombasis. Vrugvleisfermheid, styselafbraak, TOV en TS is nie deur aantal vrugte per tros of die oeslading per boom geaffekteer nie. Groen ‘Granny Smith’ en ‘Golden Delicious’, rooiblos ‘Royal Gala’, ‘Fuji’, ‘Braeburn’ en ‘Cripps’ Pink’, en volrooi ‘Topred’ is gebruik om die maskering van oppervlakkige sonbrandverbruining en –verbleiking deur rooi antosianien te bestudeer. Oppervlakkige sonbrand het minder toegeneem in die maand voor oes in die rooi- en bloskultivars as in die groen kultivars terwyl vrugkleur skynbaar nie die aanwesigheid van die meer sigbare sonbrandnekrose geaffekteer het nie. Maskering speel dus ‘n rol in die aanwesigheid van sigbare sonbrand.

I use video and material fragments to investigate the collapse of virtual and physical spaces as memories, lived environments, and digital interfaces become overlaid and interchangeable. I am interested in the capacity for technology to propose alternative strategies in which to engage with the world as we continue to extend ourselves in new and enduring methods. Seemingly unremarkable fragments offer new potentials in questioning meaning, worth, and care within spaces of downtime, boredom, and play. This document accompanies my thesis exhibition a window the color of her sunburn. It provides background information on selected fragments and residues from my own life alongside philosophical and art historical research, which informs my exhibition.

Class of 2012 Abstract
Specific Aims: To perform a pilot survey assessing the user benefit perceived by University of Arizona students regarding topical photoprotectants and their ability to prevent solar skin damage, including sunburn and carcinogenesis. In addition, to analyze the data obtained from the survey to identify incongruence between the FDA defined indication for the OTC sun protectants and the anticipated benefit expressed by University of Arizona students. Methods: An anonymous, paper based questionnaire consisting of four demographic questions and ten questions pertaining to sunscreen knowledge and use was distributed to students at the beginning of a full class. Questionnaires that were not at least ninety percent complete were excluded. All available students in the college of pharmacy in years one, two, and three were invited to participate. Main Results: Based on the survey analysis, 75% of pharmacy students have insufficient knowledge of FDA-approved use and guidelines for this class of OTC drugs. Conclusions: A need for training/instructional measures that aim at increasing adequate drug competency and consumer counseling skills has been identified in the area of FDA-regulated sunscreen products. An opportunity for an increased involvement of professional pharmacists in optimizing consumers' sunscreen selection and use has been identified.

The inability to tan properly after sun exposure strongly correlates with increased incidence of skin cancer. The melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) is a transmembrane Gs-coupled cell surface receptor found on epidermal melanocytes that transmits pro-survival and pro-differentiation signals mediated by the second messenger cAMP. Humans carrying loss-of-function polymorphisms in MC1R signaling exhibit higher incidences of skin cancers including melanoma. This study focused on the physiologic effects of topical application of forskolin, an adenylate cyclase activator, in extension (Mc1re/e) K14-SCF animals, which model the fair-skinned UV-sensitive human. Twice daily application of the drug promoted accelerated pigmentation, increased skin darkening due to epidermal deposition of melanin pigment, and induced epidermal melanin, which protected the skin against UV injury as judged by “minimal erythematous dose” (MED). Moreover, MC1R signaling regulated the expression of antioxidant enzymes at the transcriptional level. The human melanoma cell line A375, known to harbor a loss-of-function signaling mutation in MC1R, was used to determine effects of cAMP stimulation on the expression of antioxidant enzymes. We observed increases in expression of genes that control the biosynthesis and regulation of glutathione including the transcription factor nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2), glutathione peroxidase, GPX, and glutathione reductase GSR. In addition, there is an increase in manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) at the protein level. There was accumulation of MnSOD in the mitochondria after pharmacologic induction of cAMP with forskolin. Addition of the oxidative agent H2O2 enhanced the expression of MnSOD at the protein level as early as one hour after MC1R stimulation. Oxygen consumption rate on mitochondria was measured using Seahorse analysis; pharmacologic activation of MC1R/cAMP signaling did not affect mitochondrial metabolism. In addition, topical application of a crude extract of Solidago inhibited UV-induced inflammation in K14-SCF mice. Several UV-induced cytokines, including TNF-α, were down-regulated at the transcriptional level after topical application of Solidago extract. Together, these results indicate that MC1R signaling protects melanocytes from UV damage by regulating antioxidant enzyme expression and suggest that pharmacologic cAMP induction may be a useful preventive mechanism against UV-mediated skin sunburn and oxidative injury.

Excess exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is the only readily modifiable skin cancer risk factor, and childhood exposure is implicated in melanoma aetiology. To assist the design and evaluation of child sun protection interventions in the school and community context, this first comprehensive study used electronic monitors to record time-stamped, second-by-second UVR exposure of 325 children (from 28 randomly selected New Zealand primary schools) who kept a diary record of concurrent activities and sun-protective practices and completed a sun-related knowledge, attitudes and usual behaviours questionnaire. School principals and Health promoters (HPs) were interviewed about school and community sun protection efforts. Using the Haddon matrix and Ottawa Charter of Health Promotion to guide research, four potential domains of influence were identified: the physical and social environments, protective products, and host (child). Two key outcomes identified were child UVR exposure and sun-protective practices. A path model was developed where potential influences on these outcomes included school, community, host factors (demographics, skin type, sun-related attitudes, and sun-related knowledge), and pattern of concurrent outdoor activity. Seven specific hypotheses were defined to investigate the effects of host, school and community factors on UVR exposure, sun-protective practices, and sun-related knowledge, attitudes and behaviours. To test for the effects of host factors, day of the week and activity on UVR exposure and sun-protective practices, linear mixed models containing these factors and interactions between Year level-sex, activity-Year level and activity-sex, accounting for clustering within schools and allowing for repeated measures, were applied. Logistic regression with a random school effect was used to assess differences in scored student questionnaire items. Structural equation modelling was implemented to consider associations between sun-related knowledge, attitudes and behaviours, and other explanatory factors for variations in UVR exposure and sun-protective practices. Three of the seven specific hypotheses were supported. There were statistically significant differences in UVR exposure by sex, skin type, day of the week and activity, and sex-activity and Year level-activity interactions. Passive pursuits were associated with the highest UVR exposure rates compared to outdoor active, travel and unclassified pursuits. There were statistically significant differences in sun-protective practices by sex, ethnicity and skin type, and sex-activity and Year level-activity interactions. Girls tended to have higher sun protection scores than boys, but were more likely to sunbathe and use sunscreen. Children identifying with Pacific Island ethnicities had higher scores than children with other ethnicities, and children with Fitzpatrick skin types I and II had higher scores than children with skin types III, IV and V. School and community factors were not associated with UVR exposure, sun-protective practices, sun-related knowledge, attitudes and behaviours, but school and HPs� scores were relatively high, reflecting the significant time and effort spent promoting youth sun protection. Trends for Year level indicated that whereas child sun-related knowledge increased with Year level, attitudes and behaviours supportive of sun protection declined. When considering sun-related knowledge, attitudes and behaviours simultaneously, knowledge was only significantly associated with behaviours when mediated by attitudes. The study findings have implications for child sun protection interventions.

Thesis (MScAgric)--Stellenbosch University, 2012.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: An investigation into the effects of different mulches on the root environment, encompassing physical, chemical and biological factors of the soil, on two different soil types was done in the form of a field trial on ‘Cripps’ Pink’ apples. Three organic mulches were tested: compost, vermi-castings and woodchips, as well as an inorganic mulch, geotextile fabric, and were compared against clean cultivation. The organic treatments resulted in improved physical conditions (lower bulk densities) in the heavier soil, as well as, a reduction in temperature fluctuations and a general increase in soil temperatures during the seasons, in both sites. The geotextile fabric treatment resulted in increased soil moisture levels in the top 40 cm, predominantly in the heavier soil. The compost treatment resulted in high soil moisture levels in the top 40 cm only in the lighter soil. The vermi-castings treatment achieved superior results in terms of changing the nutrient status of the heavier soil. It resulted in significantly higher pH, P (phosphorus), N (nitrogen), K (potassium), Mg (magnesium), Zn (zinc), Mn (Manganese), B (boron), as well as the cation exchange capacity and some exchangeable cations, such as, Na+ (sodium ions), K+ (potassium ions) and Mg+ (magnesium ions). The compost treatment resulted in significantly higher Ca (calcium) and Ca+ (calcium ions) in the heavier soil compared to the other treatments. The organic mulches, including the woodchips treatment, consistently resulted in higher mineral levels and therefore performed the best in this regard and did so in the heavier soil. In contrast to the heavier soil, none of the treatments were successful in ameliorating the nutrient status of the lighter soil, with the exception however of the increased percentage C as a result of the compost and vermi-castings treatments. The compost treatment realised consistently higher mychorrizael colonization in both sites, however, not always significantly higher than the other treatments. The vermi-castings treatment realised consistently lower plant parasitic nematodes numbers. Higher free-living nematodes were also frequently realised during both seasons and in both sites. The organic mulches therefore proved promising with regard to soil biota. The organic treatments, with the exception of the vermi-castings treatment, resulted in improved root number and distribution in the heavier soil. The vermi-castings treatment resulted in a superior root environment and did not need to enhance its root system in order to achieve good fruit yield and quality. In contrast, the geotextile fabric treatment performed better in this regard in the lighter soil. The geotextile fabric treatment also achieved the lowest weed counts, quantified as winter weeds, in both sites. Yield efficiency, in the heavier soil, and the incidence of sunburn in both sites, were influenced by mulching. In the heavier soil, the woodchips treatment resulted in the highest yield efficiency and the compost treatment consistently resulted in the highest incidence of sunburn. In the lighter soil the control treatment resulted in the highest incidence of sunburn. The vermi-castings treatment consistently resulted in lower incidences of sunburn. Due to the limited quantification of irrigation in this trial, the consequence of irrigation on different mulches was not evaluated and should be considered for future research.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: ‘n Ondersoek na die effek van verskillende deklae op die wortelomgewing, insluitende fisiese, chemiese en biologiese grond faktore, is uitgevoer as ‘n veldproef of twee verskillende grondtipes, op ‘Cripps’ Pink’ appels. Drie organiese deklae is ge-evalueer naamlik: kompos, ‘vermi-castings’ en houtspaanders, asook ‘n anorganiese geotekstiel materiaal deklaag, en vergelyk met ‘n kontrole van skoon bewerking. Die organiese behandelings het verbeterde fisiese kondisies (laer bulkdigtheid) in die swaarder grond, asook ‘n verlaging in temperatuur fluktuasies en algemene verhoging in grondtemperature gedurende die seisoene in beide persele tot gevolg gehad. Die geotekstiel behandeling het verhoogde grondvog-vlakke in die boonste 40 cm in beide persele tot gevolg gehad, alhoewel dit meer prominent in die swaarder grond was. In sanderige grondperseel, het die kompos behandeling hoër grondvog-vlakke in die boonste 40 cm getoon as die ander behandelings. Die ‘vermi-castings’ behandeling het die beste resultate in terme van verbetering van nutrient- vlakke in die swaarder grond behaal. Dit het ‘n betekenisvol hoër pH, P (fosfaat), N (stikstof), K (kalium), Mg (magnesium), Zn (sink), Mn (mangaan), B (boron), katioon uitruilings kapasiteit en sommige uitruilbare katione soos , Na+ (natrium ione), K+ (kalium ione) en Mg+ (magnesium ione) as die ander behandelings in die swaarder gehad. Die kompos behandeling het betekenisvol hoër Ca (kalsium) en Ca+ (kalsium ione) in die swaarder grond getoon. Die organiese behandelings, insluitend die houtspaander behandeling, het dus in die geval, konstant die beste resultate te opsigte van hoër nutriënt vlakke in die swaarder grond getoon. Inteenstelling met die swaarder grond, het geen behandling daarin geslaag om die grondvoedingstatus van die sanderige grond te verbeter nie, met uitsondering die verhoogde persentasie C as ‘n resultaat van die kompos en ‘vermi-castings’ behandelings. Die kompos behandeling het konstant hoër mychorriza-kolonisasie teweeg gebring in beide persele, alhoewel nie altyd betekenisvol hoër as die ander behandelings was nie. Die ‘vermicastings’ behandeling het konstant ‘n laer persentasie plant-parasitiese nematodes getoon. Meer vry-lewende nematodes het ook gereeld oor die totale vier jaar wat die volledige proef gestrek het, op beide persele, voorgekom. Die organiese deklae toon dus belowende resultate in terme van biota. Die organiese behandelings, met uitsondering van die ‘vermi-castings’ behandeling, het verhoogte wortel ontwikkeling en -verspreiding in die swaarder grond tot gevolg gehad, Die ‘vermi-castings’ behandeling het ‘n besondere goeie wortelomgewing geskep en ‘n verbetering in die wortelstelsel om ‘n goeie opbrengs en kwaliteit te behaal, was nie nodig nie. Daarinteen het die geotekstiel behandeling beter resultate in die meer sanderige grond behaal. Die geotekstiel behandeling het ook die laagste onkruidstand in beide persele gehad. Opbrengs, in die swaarder grond, en die voorkoms van sonbrand in beide persele, is beïnvloed deur die dekgewasse. In die swaarder grondperseel het die houtspaanders behandeling die hoogste opbrengs getoon en die kompos behandeling, konstant die hoogste voorkoms van sonbrand. In die ligter, sanderige grondperseel, is die hoogste sonbrand voorkoms gemeet in die kontrole behandeling. Die ‘vermi-castings’ behandeling het die laagste sonbrand voorkoms getoon. Weens die beperkte kwantifisering van die besproeiing in die proef, is die gevolge van besproeiing op verskillende deklae nie ondersoek nie en behoort dit oorweeg te word in toekomstige navorsing.

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Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico - CNPq
The importance of using effective and safe sunscreens is an undeniable reality, requiring formulators to obtain enough technical and scientific knowledge to overcome trade barriers. For this purpose was conducted this study using factorial design in the optimization of processes in order to achieve a stable formulation of a sun protection factor (SPF) of medium protection, with action against dermal damage induced by UV radiation. To evaluate the influence of the independent variables (type of wax, emollient and sensory modifier) on the dependent variables (pH, droplet size, conductivity, spreadability, stickiness and FPS), it was elaborated a factorial design 2³ with 8 formulations, which were characterized in relation to the organoleptic and physico-chemical parameters. The results showed that the variables pH, conductivity and viscosity correlated by analysis of variance (ANOVA). Confronting all correlation factors - response, the formulations selected for stability study were F1, F2 and F5. The stability results revealed that F1 significant difference for viscosity (T90 - environment), F2 for viscosity (T60 - environment and refrigerator) and F5 to pH (T90 - environment and ultraviolet light). For registration purposes, it was continued the research on the safety testing required by Anvisa in F1 formulation due to have lower cost. 30 Swiss mice were used (Mus musculus), adult males housed under temperature controlled light / dark cycle of 12 / 12h with standard food and water ad libitum. Animals received UVB irradiation stemmed from a Philips® TL 40W lamp / 12 RS, divided into six groups (n = 5). After being sacrificed it was obtained histologic sections of skin stained with hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and measured the thickness of the skin layers and the number of nucleated cells for each animal. The histopathological results showed that the formulation chosen softened histopathologic skin changes with reduction of sunburn cells, the number of layers of nucleated cells in the epidermis and absence of inflammatory infiltrate in the subepidermal region, obtaining the expected protective effect. At the end the purpose of the study was achieved proving to be a very important work with scientific support, developed by factorial design, a not so used tool in cosmetology area.
A importância do uso de fotoprotetores eficazes e seguros é uma realidade indiscutível, sendo necessário que os formuladores detenham conhecimentos técnico e cientifico suficientes para ultrapassar as barreiras comerciais. Com esse propósito foi conduzido o presente estudo que utilizou o planejamento fatorial na otimização de processos a fim de obter uma formulação estável de fator de proteção solar (FPS) de média proteção, com ação contra danos dérmicos induzidos pela radiação UV. Para avaliar a influência das variáveis independentes (tipo de cera, emoliente e agente modificador de sensorial) sobre as variáveis dependentes (pH, tamanho de gotículas, condutividade, espalhabilidade, viscosidade e FPS), elaborou-se um planejamento fatorial 2³ com 8 formulações, as quais foram caracterizadas em relação aos parâmetros organolépticos e físico-químicos. Os resultados mostraram que as variáveis pH, condutividade e viscosidade apresentaram correlação por análise de variância (ANOVA). Ao confrontar todas as correlações fatores – resposta, as formulações selecionadas para o estudo de estabilidade foram F1, F2 e F5. Os resultados de estabilidade revelaram que F1 apresentou diferença significativa para viscosidade (T90 - ambiente), F2 para viscosidade (T60 - ambiente e geladeira) e F5 para pH (T90 - ambiente e luz ultravioleta). Para fins de registro, foi dada continuidade às pesquisas com os testes de segurança exigidos pela Anvisa na formulação F1 em virtude de possuir menor custo. Foram utilizados 30 camundongos Swiss (Mus musculus), machos adultos alojados sob temperatura controlada ciclo claro/escuro de 12/12h, com ração padrão e água ad libitum. Os animais receberam irradiação UVB provinda ® de uma lâmpada Philips TL 40W/12 RS, sendo divididos em seis grupos (n=5). Após serem sacrificados foram obtidos cortes histológicos da epiderme corados com hematoxilina-eosina (HE), sendo avaliada a espessura, o número de camadas de células nucleadas e o número de células de queimadura solar da epiderme, bem como a presença de infiltrado inflamatório na região subepidérmica de cada animal. Os resultados histopatológicos demonstraram que a formulação escolhida amenizou as alterações histopatológicas da pele, com redução do número de células de queimadura solar, do número de camadas de células nucleadas na epiderme e ausência de infiltrado inflamatório na região subepidérmica, obtendo o efeito protetor esperado. Ao final o objetivo do estudo foi atingido provando ser um trabalho de grande relevância e respaldo científico, desenvolvido por planejamento fatorial, ferramenta pouco utilizada na área de cosmetologia.

I first became enamoured with vampire Gothic after reading Bram Stoker's Dracula in high school, but gradually became dissatisfied with the Australian adaptations of the sub-genre. In looking for examples of Australian vampire Gothic, a survey of more than 50 short stories, 23 novels and five movies made by Australians reveals fewer than half were set in an identifiably Australian setting. Even fewer make use of three key, landscape-related tropes of vampire Gothic - darkness, earth and ruins. Why are so few Australian vampire stories set in Australia? In what ways can the metaphorical elements of vampire Gothic be applied to the Sunburnt Country? This paper seeks to answer these questions by examining examples of Australian vampire narratives, including film. Particular attention is given to Mudrooroo's Master of the Ghost Dreaming series which, more than any other Australian novel, succeeds in manipulating and subverting the tropes of vampire Gothic. The process of adaptation of vampire Gothic to the Australian environment, both natural and man-made, is also a core concern of my own novel, Vampires' Bane, which uses earth, darkness and a modern permutation of ruins to explore its metaphorical intentions. Through examining previous works and through my own creative process, Vampires' Bane, I argue that Australia's growing urbanisation can be juxtaposed against the vampire-hostile natural environment to enhance the tropes of vampire Gothic, and make Australia a suitable home for narratives that explore the ongoing evolution of Count Dracula and his many-faceted descendants.

I first became enamoured with vampire Gothic after reading Bram Stoker's Dracula in high school, but gradually became dissatisfied with the Australian adaptations of the sub-genre. In looking for examples of Australian vampire Gothic, a survey of more than 50 short stories, 23 novels and five movies made by Australians reveals fewer than half were set in an identifiably Australian setting. Even fewer make use of three key, landscape-related tropes of vampire Gothic - darkness, earth and ruins. Why are so few Australian vampire stories set in Australia? In what ways can the metaphorical elements of vampire Gothic be applied to the Sunburnt Country? This paper seeks to answer these questions by examining examples of Australian vampire narratives, including film. Particular attention is given to Mudrooroo's Master of the Ghost Dreaming series which, more than any other Australian novel, succeeds in manipulating and subverting the tropes of vampire Gothic. The process of adaptation of vampire Gothic to the Australian environment, both natural and man-made, is also a core concern of my own novel, Vampires' Bane, which uses earth, darkness and a modern permutation of ruins to explore its metaphorical intentions. Through examining previous works and through my own creative process, Vampires' Bane, I argue that Australia's growing urbanisation can be juxtaposed against the vampire-hostile natural environment to enhance the tropes of vampire Gothic, and make Australia a suitable home for narratives that explore the ongoing evolution of Count Dracula and his many-faceted descendants.

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Objective: to evaluate the prevalence of sunburn and its risk factors among subjects aged between 10 and 29 years in urban area of Pelotas, a Southern Brazilian city. Methods: a cross-sectional population based study, using a multiple stage sampling, was carried out between October and December of 2005. Sunburn was defined as burning of the skin after sun exposure. Chi-square test was used to compare proportions and Poisson regression with design effect and robust adjustment of variance was applied in the multivariate analysis. Results: a total of 1597 household were visited and 1604 individuals aged between 10 and 29 years were interviewed, of which 1412 reported that had been exposed to the sun in the previous summer. Among those exposed to the sun, 48.7% reported sunburn in the previous year. The following variables were associated with sunburning in the multivariate analysis: white skin (RP 1,41 CI 95% 1,12-1,79), higher sensitivity of the skin to the sun (RP 1,84 CI 95% 1,64-2,06), age between 15 and 19 years (RP 1,30 CI 95% 1,12-1,50), to belong to the higher quartile of income (RP 1,20 CI 95% 1,01-1,42) and to make irregular use of sunscreen (RP 1,23 CI 95% 1,08-1,42). Conclusion: the prevalence of sunburn was high, and exposure to the sun in safe schedules and with adequate methods of protection must be stimulated.
Objetivos: determinar a prevalência de queimadura solar e fatores de risco em indivíduos com idade entre 10 e 29 anos residentes na zona urbana de Pelotas, no sul do Brasil. Métodos: estudo transversal de base populacional com amostragem em múltiplos estágios, realizado entre os meses de outubro e dezembro de 2005. Queimadura solar foi definida como ardência na pele após exposição ao sol. Para as comparações entre proporções, utilizou-se teste do qui-quadrado com correção de Yates para as tabelas 2x2, enquanto que na análise multivariada utilizou-se a regressão de Poisson com controle para efeito de delineamento e ajuste robusto da variância. Resultados: nos1597 domicílios visitados foram entrevistados 1604 pessoas com idade entre 10 e 29 anos, dos quais 1412 relataram exposição ao sol no último verão. As perdas e recusas somaram 5,5%. Queimadura solar no último ano foi relatada por 48,7% dos entrevistados. Na análise multivariada cor da pele branca (RP 1,41 IC 95% 1,12-1,79), maior sensibilidade da pele quando exposta ao sol (RP 1,84 IC 95% 1,64-2,06), idade entre 15 e 19 anos (RP 1,30 IC 95% 1,12-1,50), pertencer ao quartil de maior renda (RP 1,20 IC 95% 1,01-1,42) e fazer uso irregular de fotoprotetor (RP 1,23 IC 95% 1,08-1,42) estiveram associadas à ocorrência de queimadura. Conclusão: A prevalência de queimadura solar na população estudada é alta e a exposição solar em horários seguros e com métodos de proteção adequados deve ser estimulada.

The international classification of diseases (ICD) is used in healthcare as a health care classification system. The classification provides a system of diagnostic codes for classifying all diseases.The diseases includes nuanced classifications of a wide variety of signs, symptoms, abnormal findings, complaints, social circumstances,and external causes of injury or disease. The current digital systemsfor navigating through medical records are in some areas sub-optimaland could require an extensive revision. When designing a system fornavigating through a database, in this case a set of diagnostic codes, retrieving to familiar layouts such as lists of links could intuitively become the default approach. However, resorting to familiarity, as done with the current configuration of digital ICDnavigation, may leave beneficial perks unexplored. For this thesis,an interactive sunburst diagram for the ICD codes was created toexplore areas in which a more unorthodox navigation model couldpossibly excel - This included measuring ease of use, navigationefficiency measured in time to achieve specified goals and number of clicks accumulated when navigating. The results gave no clear indication that a sunburst diagram used in this domain would bedisadvantageous or inadequate but rather suggested certain benefits.The participants using the Sunburst model for ICD navigationaccumulated less clicks, gave a more accurate estimation of how much time was spent to accomplish navigation tasks and also suggested an improvement of ergonomics.

This thesis explores the consequentiality of practices and processes carried out by actors as they attempt to tackle grand challenges. Recent calls for more actionable research on these issues have led scholars to investigate the processes through which organizations make sense of and articulate responses to grand challenges, the relative success these responses generate, and the ways in which we can empirically capture these processes. Despite these insights, few studies have looked at the role of prevalent social mechanisms, such as commensuration and legitimation, in shaping the ways responses to grand challenges are articulated, evolve over time, and affect change. We also lack strategies for studying the consequentiality of such processes. Informed by a qualitative case study of a multi-stakeholder partnership, that was formed to tackle waterway health degradation in a critical water basin discharging its waters into the Great Barrier Reef, I address each of these puzzles in three articles. First, I investigate the link between actions aimed at responding to a grand challenge and their outcomes. I propose three linking strategies that can help scholars (re)accord actions, responses, and outcomes when investigating organizations’ efforts to address grand challenges. In the second article, I focus on the role legitimacy plays in shaping actors’ ability to tackle a grand challenge. I offer a process model of (de)legitimating a response to a grand challenge highlighting the double-edged nature of legitimacy. In the third article, I open the commensuration ‘black box’ by revealing the dynamics behind commensuration practices and theorize on the reasons why commensuration can enable the inclusion of multiple evaluative principles while also hinder progress by generating unproductive ambiguity. Together, these three articles contribute to our theorizing of the consequentiality of practices and processes constituting the tackling of grand challenges.

Background: Determinants of vitamin D status are of interest when studying the epidemiology of disease in population groups because vitamin D is now recognized to decrease the risk of diseases such as osteoporosis, cancer, and cardiovascular disease. Understanding modifiable determinants of vitamin D status are important for managing vitamin D deficiency at the individual level and for addressing this issue at population level. Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the associations between serum vitamin D status (deficiency and insufficiency) and distinct demographic, dietary, and lifestyle characteristics of adults in the United States using a large, nationally representative sample survey, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2005-2006. Methods: The study sample consisted of 2340 adults aged 20-59 who had serum 25(OH)D measured and who had completed various questionnaires concerning dietary intake of vitamin D and other lifestyle factors. Multivariate logistic regression was used to estimate the odds ratio (OR) of vitamin D deficiency, insufficiency, and sufficiency in adults based on distinct demographic, dietary, and lifestyle characteristics. Statistical significance was set at α < 0.05. Results: The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was higher in obese adults than in underweight to normal weight adults (50.9% ± 4.57 vs. 29.3% ± 3.57), higher in adults who reported no sunburns than in adults who reported ≥ 3 sunburns (49.9% ± 3.82 vs. 18.0% ± 3.07), and higher in adults who use sun protective measures regularly than in adults who do not (48.4% ± 3.93 vs. 27.0% ± 3.75). The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency increased as dietary intake of vitamin D decreased. Non-Hispanic black adults were significantly more likely to be vitamin D deficient (OR = 45.27, 95% CI = 17.27-118.64) and insufficient (OR = 9.37, 95% CI = 3.43-25.61) than non-Hispanic white adults. Significant positive associations were found between vitamin D deficiency and several characteristics, namely obesity (OR = 7.43, 95% CI = 4.33-12.77), physical inactivity (OR = 1.63, 95% CI = 1.03-2.58) poor dietary vitamin D intake (OR = 2.34, 95% CI = 1.44-3.81), non-supplement use or supplement use with a low amount of vitamin D (OR = 1.75, 95% CI = 1.05-2.89), and activities that decrease exposure to sunlight (from OR = 2.97, 95% CI = 2.14-4.13 to OR = 5.30, 95% CI = 3.17-8.85). Conclusion: The results of this nationally representative study demonstrate that obesity, physical inactivity, poor dietary intake of vitamin D, and low sunlight exposure increases the risk for vitamin D deficiency in U.S adults. Future studies are needed to investigate whether vitamin D supplementation, sunlight exposure, and vitamin D-fortified foods are efficient in correcting vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency among these groups.

Bibliography: leaves 164-172.
Nectarivores feed on aqueous sugar solutions, and their water balance is tightly linked to their energy balance. When nectar is dilute and energy demands are high, consumption of a large excess of preformed water is inevitable. Physiological implications of nectarivory for the lesser double-collared sunbird, Nectarinia chalybea, have been investigated here. Sunbirds consumed 2.7 times their body mass (8 g) per day when feeding on 0.4 M sucrose at an ambient temperature of 10°C, and excreted 87 % of the water. When feeding on 1.2 M sucrose at 30°C, sunbirds drank only 0.5 times their body mass of water daily. In view of the sometimes high flux of water, combined with the low electrolyte concentrations of nectar, sunbirds must be efficient at conserving ions to maintainelectrolyte balance. When 15 mM each of KCl and NaCI were included in a diet of 0.4 M sucrose, sunbirds precisely maintained electrolyte balance by increasing cation excretion from 2 to 17 mM. Considering the high preformed water content of dilute nectar, sunbirds may expend large amounts of energy warming their food to body temperature, which was measured as 42°C irrespective of diet. Modelling revealed that sunbirds feeding on dilute (0.4 M) sucrose at 18°C would use the same proportion of their daily energy intake (4 %) to warm their food as high-latitude aquatic endotherms feeding on fish or invertebrates just above freezing point. The evaporative water loss (and therefore evaporative heat loss) of N. chalybea increased as dietary sucrose concentration decreased (more than two-fold between 1.2 and 0.2 M).

Soil Sunburst was applied at the rate of one quart per acre at two treatment levels (single vs. two applications, applied once per cutting) in irrigation water to a first year stand of CUF 101 alfalfa. Treatments were applied in the first irrigation after the previous cutting in May and June 1996. Treatments applied in May increased relative feed value by over 10% compared to the untreated check in the first cutting (June) after application. This increased alfalfa quality rating from fair to good which increased value of hay by approximately $14 /acre. Mean yields between the treatments and untreated plots were similar, although average yields in untreated plots were 50-90 lbs /acre greater than in treated plots. Yields and quality data were not able to be obtained the second harvest (July), not allowing differences, if any, between one and two applications to be determined immediately after the second application. Yields and hay quality values for treatments in the August harvest were almost identical, indicating that treatment effects noted from the May application (and possibly those of the June application) were short term effects, as they did not continue through the August cutting.

In questa tesi verrà mostrato un sistema innovativo, finalizzato a supportare l’esplorazione e l’analisi di collezioni di articoli scientifici. Il nome stesso, DocuDipity, deriva dall’unione di "Document" e "Serendipity", cioè fare scoperte inattese sui documenti e in particolare sul modo in cui i sono scritti. Grazie a DocuDipity è possibile individuare particolare proprietà degli articoli, ad esempio la distribuzione delle citazioni o dei contributi di autori diversi, senza l’obbligo di sfogliare pagina per pagina gli articoli.

The fast capacity growth of cheap storage devices presents an ever-growing problem of scale for digital forensic investigations. One aspect of scale problem in the forensic process is the need for new approaches to visually presenting and analyzing large amounts of data. Current generation of tools universally employ three basic GUI components—trees, tables, and viewers—to present all relevant information. This approach is not scalable as increasing the size of the input data leads to a proportional increase in the amount of data presented to the analyst. We present an alternative approach, which leverages data visualization techniques to provide a more intuitive interface to explore the forensic target. We use tree visualization techniques to give the analyst both a high-level view of the file system and an efficient means to drill down into the details. Further, we provide means to search for keywords and filter the data by time period.

Thesis (M.S.)--Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
Keywords: hierarchy; sunburst; dimension reduction; high dimensional data set; multidimensional visualization; parallel coordinates; scatterplot matrices; star glyphs. Includes bibliographical references (p. 86-91).

Thesis (M.S.)--Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
Keywords: Eclipse plug-in; tracer; timeline; software visualization; sunburst; SoftViz; ParaVis; error categorization framework; debugging; program understanding. Includes bibliographical references (p. 85-89).

No
High personal UVR doses can be gained during leisure activities, causing intense self-resolving inflammation (sunburn) of unprotected skin. UVR activates release of membrane fatty acids and upregulates their metabolism by cyclooxygenases (COX) and lipoxygenases (LOX) to different eicosanoids. While COX-derived prostaglandin (PG)E2 is a potent mediator of sunburn vasodilatation, LOX-derived 15-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (HETE) and its lipoxin metabolites may contribute to sunburn limitation. We explored the relationships between expression of these lipid mediators and the clinical and histological outcomes, comparing responses of individuals prone and more resistant to sunburn. An acute UVR exposure of 12 SED (standard erythema dose) was applied to buttock skin of 32 white Caucasians (n = 16 phototype I/II, n = 16 phototype III/IV), and over the subsequent 72 h assessments were made of skin erythema, immunohistochemical expression of leukocyte markers, COX-2, 12-LOX, 15-LOX and nitric oxide synthase (NOS), and eicosanoid levels by LC/ESI-MS/MS. Evidence of a significant inflammatory response was seen earlier in phototype I/II with regard to expression of erythema (4h, p < 0.001), neutrophil infiltration (24 h, p = 0.01), epidermal COX-2 (24 h, p < 0.05) and 12-LOX (24 h, p < 0.01), and dermal eNOS (24 h, p < 0.05) proteins, although CD3+ lymphocyte infiltration showed an earlier increase in phototype III/IV (24 h, p < 0.05). Although erythema was equivalent at 72 h in both groups, phototype I/II showed higher PGE2 accompanied by elevated 15-HETE, and a strong positive correlation was seen between these mediators (n = 18, r = 0.805, p = 0.0001). Hence anti-inflammatory eicosanoid 15-HETE may temper the pro-inflammatory milieu in sunburn, having greater influence in those prone to sunburn than those more resistant, given the same high UVR exposure conditions.
The Wellcome Trust

博士
臺北醫學大學
藥學系(碩博士班)
101
We try to use the black tea aqueous extract (BTE) to develop natural and safe sunscreen: In animal models, BTE exhibited provide remarkable protection that reduced the severity of adverse effects of overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Skin of the dorsal areas of ICR mice were pretreated with cream containing 1% BTE(2 mg/cm2 or 20 mg/cm2), then ICR mice were then irradiated with either UVA (236.08 J/cm2), UVB (118.04 J/cm2), or UVC (19.67 J/cm2). After 5 days, the dorsal skin of mice pretreated with cream containing 1% BTE (20 mg/cm2) exhibited normal or slight erythema, slight scabbing and did not show hyperproliferation of keratinocytes compared to control animals. These results demonstrated that 1% BTE had a significant protective effect against irradiation with UVA, UVB, and UVC. BTE as a natural sunscreen agent and the sunscreen effect of the BTE may result from caffeine and gallic acid. The next study objective was to investigate the feasibility of using niosomes as a delivery vesicle for the dermal administration of BTE in vitro as a sunscreen. Multilamellar niosomes were obtained by means of a previously reported ''film'' method. In vitro penetration experiments through nude mouse skin membrane were carried out to evaluate the potential of niosomes as a dermal formulation. Penetration rates of caffeine- and gallic acid-loaded niosomes in a steady state were higher than dispersion in aqueous solutions. In the near future, BTE can be dermally delivered by niosomes as a sunscreen agent. The third study described a novel carrier, the ethosomal system, composed of non-ionic surfactants, ethanol, and water. Compared to an BTE solution, the non-ionic ethosomal formulation of caffeine- and gallic acid-loaded dramatically enhanced the adsorption of caffeine or gallic acid onto hair surfaces in vitro. Non-ionic ethosomal formulation were much more efficient at delivering and absorption to the hair surface than ethanol solution. This formulation may have the potential for development as a hair dye and protection agent.

No
Acute exposure of human skin to the ultraviolet radiation (UVR) in sunlight results in the sunburn response. This is mediated in part by pro-inflammatory eicosanoids and other bioactive lipids, which are in turn produced via mechanisms including UVR-induction of oxidative stress, cell signalling and gene expression. Sunburn is a self-limiting inflammation offering a convenient and accessible system for the study of human cutaneous lipid metabolism. Recent lipidomic applications have revealed that a wider diversity of eicosanoids may be involved in the sunburn response than previously appreciated. This article reviews the effects of UVR on cutaneous lipids and examines the contribution of bioactive lipid mediators in the development of sunburn. Since human skin is an active site of polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) metabolism, and these macronutrients can influence the production of eicosanoids/bioactive lipids, as well as modulate cell signalling, gene expression and oxidative stress, the application of PUFA as potential photoprotective agents is also considered.

yes
Sunburn is a commonly occurring acute inflammatory process, with dermal vasodilatation and leukocyte infiltration as central features. Ultraviolet (UV) B-induced hydrolysis of membrane phospholipids releases polyunsaturated fatty acids and their subsequent metabolism by cyclooxygenases (COX) and lipoxygenases (LOX) may produce potent eicosanoid mediators modulating different stages of the inflammation. Our objective was to identify candidate eicosanoids formed during the sunburn reaction in relation to its clinical and histological course. We exposed skin of healthy humans (n=32) to UVB and for 72h examined (i) expression of pro- and anti-inflammatory eicosanoids using LC/ESI-MS/MS and (ii) immunohistochemical expression of COX-2, 12-LOX, 15-LOX and leucocyte markers, while (iii) quantifying clinical erythema. We show that vasodilatory prostaglandins (PG)E2, PGF2¿ and PGE3 accompany the erythema in the first 24-48h, associated with increased COX-2 expression at 24h. Novel, potent leukocyte chemoattractants 11-, 12- and 8-monohydroxy-eicosatetraenoic acid (-HETE) are elevated from 4-72h, in association with peak dermal neutrophil influx at 24h, and increased dermal CD3+ lymphocytes and 12- and 15-LOX expression from 24-72h. Anti-inflammatory metabolite 15-HETE shows later expression, peaking at 72h. Sunburn is characterized by overlapping phases of increases in COX products followed by LOX products that may regulate subsequent events and ultimately its resolution.
The Wellcome Trust

Southern Africa is characterised by an unpredictable environment with daily and seasonal temperature fluctuations. As a local or non-migratory endothermic species occurring over an altitudinal gradient from the Drakensberg to the coast of KwaZulu- Natal in southern Africa, Amethyst Sunbirds (Chalcomitra amethystina) experience challenging thermal conditions and increased energetic stress as a result of ambient temperature variation. Flexibility of metabolic rates within a species allows for the colonization of different habitats along an altitudinal and thus temperature gradient. It was predicted that over this altitudinal gradient Amethyst Sunbirds would exhibit variation in metabolic rates, particularly basal metabolic rates, pre- and postacclimation, as well as variation in hematocrit levels in winter and summer trials. It was also predicted that Amethyst Sunbirds would exhibit seasonal variation in metabolic parameters. Sunbirds were caught in a winter and summer season (2006-2007) using mist nets in three locations; Underberg (1553 m), Howick (1075 m) and Oribi Gorge (541 m). Upon capture, metabolic rate was measured indirectly by quantifying oxygen consumption (VO2) using flow through respirometry, at 5 and 25°C. Birds were then acclimated at 25°C for 6 weeks on a 12L:12D cycle. VO2 was measured postacclimation at 8 different temperatures (15, 5, 10, 20, 30, 28, 25 and 33°C). Hematocrit levels were taken pre-acclimation and pre-release. Winter and summer data were compared. In the winter trials it was found that there was little variation in VO2 between individuals from the same locality, whereas significant variation was observed at the same temperatures between localities and thus between altitudes. The subpopulation from the highest altitudinal site had the highest basal metabolic rate (BMR). Summer trials showed that metabolic rates did not differ significantly between altitudinal subpopulations of Amethyst Sunbirds, however, BMR was observed to decrease as altitude decreased. The comparison of seasonal data showed that Amethyst Sunbird subpopulations from Underberg and Howick showed higher post-acclimation VO2 values per temperature in winter than in summer trials. Post-acclimation resting metabolic rate (RMR) values for Howick subpopulations were generally higher in winter than in summer, Underberg Amethyst Sunbirds showed a significant difference between summer and winter RMR at 5 and 10°C and Howick sunbirds showed a significant difference in RMR between seasons at 5°C. The Oribi Gorge subpopulation, however, showed no significant differences in metabolic rate between any temperatures when comparing a summer and a winter season. Thermal neutral zones of all of the subpopulations of Amethyst Sunbirds shifted between the winter and summer trial period. This study thus emphasized the need to understand plasticity in metabolic rates and acknowledge altitudinal and seasonal differences within a species, in order to make accurate predictions about a species thermal physiology and responses to changes in ambient temperatures. In particular, the variation in BMR, which is usually used as a species specific value, should be acknowledged in comparative studies of avian metabolic rates or in climate change models.
Thesis (M.Sc.) - University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2007.

碩士
國立中興大學
中國文學系所
105
Stone relief of Han dynasty was a comprehensive way of expression, which not only reflected the social culture of Han, but also revealed a mythological world full of Han people’s imagination and desire. The subjects used in Han’s stone relief were all-inclusive, on which depicted Han people’s daily life, social manner, thought, custom and belief. The thriving and prosperous Han dynasty was able to recurrence on those stone and brick reliefs. Han people lived a joyful life, and wished to have an equally joyful afterlife; no matter alive or dead, they pursued hope and fantasy. Han dynasty lasted over four hundred years, everything such from social life, mythological belief to funeral custom under this feudal society structure were carved gloriously on reliefs that found inside the tombs. Bird was one of the mostly used symbols of stone relief, which repeatedly appeared in reliefs such as ” Yi Shot Down the Suns”, ” The bird fly with the sun”, ”The three-legs crow stands by the Queen Mother of the West ”, ” Chinese Phoenix”, etc. Among these reliefs, bird often came along with the sun; hence the main research focus of this thesis falls on the composition of sunbird. This thesis comprised three sections, which all in relation to sunbird mythology. The first section based on “Yi Shot Down the Suns”, and tried to exploit the meaning of “Yi Shot Down the Suns” of Han dynasty by investigating the composition arrangement of the tree, bird and shooter. The second section focused on the sunbird appeared with Xi-he and Fu-xi, by comparing the archaeological finds of the Neolithic Age, Qin and Han dynasty and the descriptions in classical literatures to analyze how did sunbird transit from the Warring States to Han dynasty. The last section focused on sunbird mythology of the “three-legged crow” that always came along with the Queen Mother of the West. Finding the connections among the Queen Mother of the West, bird messenger of Queen Mother of the West and three-legged bird from classical literatures, and investigated the composition arrangement of the Queen Mother of the West and three-legged crow and the sunbird mythology of Han that derived from three-legged crow. Literary anthropology leads the mainstream of contemporary mythology research, interpreting the original meanings of primitive art, such as paintings, carvings and antiquities by scientific methods and bringing broader research space for literature study. This thesis applied the investigation method of literary anthropology to study the images on those archaeological stone reliefs, and tried to reinterpret the meanings of sunbird from ancient times to Han dynasty by exploiting their composition arrangements in hopes of getting back the fragments of the long-forgotten sunbird mythology.

This thesis investigates the impact of ICT on the learning outcomes for Learning Disabilities (LD) or special needs students, in a special school setting. The literature reported a significant prevalence of LD universally, ranging from physical and mild to extreme disabilities. It highlighted that there are a significant number of students with learning disabilities who require assistance and support in their learning. Assistive technology plays a significant role for educators and students with learning disabilities in facilitating the learning outcomes. The Internet and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) play a major part in shaping the knowledge and skills of LD students. Assistive technology has introduced awareness for both educators and students and, for the past decade, there has been a growing effort in designing and developing ICT based platforms to enhance the learning outcomes of these students. With the emergence of new technologies like Web 2.0, the need to design appropriate tools and provide an environment that is conducive to successful learning is stronger. This thesis examines the various teaching methodologies and ICT innovation in a holistic way. The literature shows that although there are some studies that investigate the impact of technology on the learning for special needs students, most of the data are second source. This study presents results from participant observations in two outer suburban special schools with students aged between 14-18 years, and in addition, examines the role and impact of Education Department policies on the schools‘ ICT environment. These observations are compared with a study based on an individual case of a student from Prep to Year 12 and TAFE. This study identified different categories of special needs students who were catered for in these special schools. These ranged from students with physical or cognitive disabilities, to mainstream students placed temporarily in a hospital. The latter group received ICT support to continue their studies which is now facilitated through a virtual classroom environment.