193 research outputs found
Improved resistance to root pests: final report to Grape and Wine Research & Development Corporation
No full textThere were two major aims of this project, which was jointly funded by GWRDC and CRCV2. The first aim was to identify and characterise grapevine genes involved in the plantâ s interaction
with phylloxera and/or root-knot nematode. This information could be used to design strategies for engineering novel resistance to these pests in grapevine. The second aim of the project was to develop and use systems to rapidly assess candidate genes for preventing infestation of vine roots by phylloxera and/or root-knot nematode. Progress towards both goals was achieved despite premature termination of the project after 4, instead of 7 years.Project Leader: Dr. Robyn van Heeswijck until her retirement in July, 2002, then Prof. Steve Tyerman (in an administrative capacity); Author Details: Dr Tricia Franks (using text from the original application by Dr. Robyn van Heeswijck
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The effects of a 7-month high impact jumping intervention on bone mass in pre-pubescent boys and girls
No full textHigh impact loading activities such as jumping, performed during childhood is advocated as one preventive method for increasing peak bone mass. Thus, we conducted a randomized intervention to examine the effect of high impact loading on bone mass in 34 pre-pubescent boys and girl over a seven month period. Participants meeting all inclusion criteria were randomized into either a jumping (n=18) or stretching group (n=16), both of which exercised three times per week for 15 minutes. The jumping group completed 100 jumps off 24-inch boxes each session, while the stretching group performed low impact flexibility exercises. Attrition was 85% (6 drop outs), with an overall attendance rate of 95%. Bone area and bone mineral content (BMC) was assessed using dual energy x-ray absorptiometery (Ho logic QDR 1000/W) for the left hip (femoral neck, greater trochanter, total hip), and lumbar spine (L[subscript 2-4]). Other measures were body composition (Lang skinfold calipers); physical activity (self-report questionnaire); and calcium intake (food survey). All measurements were assessed at baseline and 7 months. Significance is denoted as p.05); however, gender differences were found for FN BMC at baseline (p.05). No group by gender interactions were found at baseline or at the completion of the seven month intervention. No significant differences between groups were identified for body composition, physical activity, or calcium intake in repeated measures ANOVA analyses (p>.05). In conclusion, 100 jumps performed 3 times per week at approximately 8x body weight were sufficient to stimulate an osteogenic response at the femoral neck in pre-pubescent boys and girls. Implementing jumping exercises into regular physical activity programs during pre-pubescent growing years may increase peak bone mass and potentially reduce the onset of osteoporosis
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The growing skeleton : influence of lifestyle and the development of normative data using DXA
No full textTo examine the potential for exercise to build bone mass during growth, objectives of this dissertation included: 1) determine the effects of 7 months of jumping followed by 7 months of detraining on hip and spine bone mass in the prepubertal children; 2) determine variables that best predict bone mineral content (BMC;g) of the hip and spine in order to develop prediction equations for healthy, Caucasian children, specific to Hologic fan-beam DXA machines; and 3) to examine the potential synergy between calcium intake and the bone response to jump training in prepubertal children. Results/Conclusions Objective 1 (Chapters 2, 3 and 4): children who performed 300 jumps/week at a load magnitude of 8 body weights had significantly greater 7-month changes for BMC at the femoral neck and lumbar spine than controls (4.5% and 3.1%, respectively), and significantly greater 7-month changes for bone area (BA; cm²) at the femoral neck than controls (2.9%). After 7- months of detraining (no box jumping exercises) the jumping group maintained 4% greater BMC and 4% greater BA at the femoral neck than controls. By contrast, at the spine, gains in BMC from the intervention were not retained after an equivalent period of detraining. These data indicate that high-impact jumping enhances growth at the hip. Results/Conclusions Objective 2 (Chapter 5): Age, height, and weight were entered as predictor variables in order to create regression models for healthy, young Caucasian boys and girls. Of these, height and weight independently predicted femoral neck and total hip BMC in both boys (femoral neck: R²=.48, total hip: R²=.63) and girls (femoral neck: R²=.49, total hip R²=.65). Height best predicted spine BMC in boys (R²=.58), but both height and weight independently predicted spine BMC in girls (R²=.54). We report that height and weight not age, best predict bone mineral content at the hip and spine. Results/Conclusions Objective 3 (Chapter 6): Children responded similarly to the jumping program regardless of calcium intake. 73% of our population had dietary intakes of calcium that met the recommended values for their age group
The individual and combined effects of exercise and collagenase on the rodent Achilles tendon
No full textIndiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)Tendinopathy is a common degenerative pathology that is characterized by activity related pain, focal tendon tenderness, intratendinous imaging changes, and typically results in changes in the histological, mechanical, and molecular properties of the tendon. Tendinopathy is difficult to study in humans, which has contributed to limited knowledge of the pathology, and thus a lack of appropriate treatment options. However, most believe that the pathology is degenerative as a result of a combination of both extrinsic and intrinsic factors.
In order to gain understanding of this pathology, animal models are required. Because each tendon is naturally exposed to different conditions, a universal model is not feasible; therefore, an appropriate animal model must be established for each tendon susceptible to degenerative changes. While acceptable models have been developed for several tendons, a reliable model for the Achilles tendon remains elusive. The purpose of this dissertation was to develop an animal model of Achilles tendinopathy by investigating the individual and combined effects of an intrinsic and extrinsic factor on the rodent Achilles tendon.
Rats selectively bred for high capacity running and Sprague Dawley rats underwent uphill treadmill running (an extrinsic factor) to mechanically overload the Achilles tendon or served as cage controls. Collagenase (intrinsic factor) was injected into one Achilles tendon in each animal to intrinsically break down the tendon. There were no interactions between uphill running and collagenase injection, indicating that the influence of the two factors was independent. Uphill treadmill running alone failed to produce any pathological changes in the histological or mechanical characteristics of the Achilles tendon, but did modify molecular activity. Intratendinous collagenase injection had negative effects on the histological, mechanical, and molecular properties of the tendon.
The results of this dissertation demonstrated that the combined introduction of uphill treadmill running and collagenase injection did not lead to degenerative changes consistent with human Achilles tendinopathy. Intratendiouns collagenase injection negatively influenced the tendon; however, these changes were generally transient and not influenced by mechanical overload. Future studies should consider combinations of other intrinsic and extrinsic factors in an effort to develop an animal model that replicates human Achilles tendinopathy
'Making its own history': New Zealand historical fiction for children,1862-2008
No full textThis thesis considers historical fiction for children and young people dealing with New Zealand history from the arrival of the first Polynesian settlers to the end of the nineteenth century. It provides both a comprehensive survey of historical novels published between 1862 and the end of 2008, and an analysis of the way the same historical events and periods have been depicted in historical novels written at different times. Individual chapters discuss books set during specific historical periods or dealing with particular events - the pre-European period, early contact, nineteenth century immigration, the New Zealand Wars, the gold rushes, and the colonial period - in chronological order of publication. Since children's literature is particularly adept at reflecting and promoting the dominant ideas of the society in which it is produced, the chronological consideration of these texts reveals contemporary attitudes to such issues as race relations, gender roles, class, war and conflict, and concepts of national identity, as well as the way historical fiction has responded to societal changes since the 1860s.
The predominant themes of historical fiction set prior to 1900 are: the arrival of settlers in New Zealand; encounters with the country's indigenous inhabitants; the taming of the often hostile landscape; the assertion of the settlers' claims to 'belong' in their new land; and the establishment of New Zealand as a nation with distinctive characteristics. There are perceptible nuances and differences in the way these themes are discussed depending on the historical moment in which individual authors are writing. Novels of the Victorian period and early twentieth century reflect the imperialistic and evangelistic ethos of the time, and present the British settlers' right to colonize the land and the ensuing dispossession of Māori as largely unproblematic. Subsequent historical novels, particularly those written since the 1960s, offer a more inclusive version of New Zealand history, although the lack of historical fiction for children by Māori writers means that Eurocentric views of history continue to dominate, and that all representations of Māori and their history are mediated through Pakeha writers.
Shifts in social attitudes have resulted in changes in the treatment of Māori in historical novels for children, and similar changes have occurred in the portrayal of gender, class, and ethnicity. The passage of time has seen increased agency and a wider variety of roles allocated to Māori, female and working class characters, as well as greater ethnic diversity. Developments in New Zealand historiography are also reflected in fiction, although at times historical fiction prefigures written histories, or provides alternative views by depicting the experience of women, children and Māori, who often did not feature in conventional histories. While many historical novels for children, especially the earlier texts, are adventure stories set in the past and are not necessarily concerned with historical verisimilitude, an increasing number attempt to present authentic recreations of historical periods, including accounts of actual people and events, based on extensive research, and reinforced with peritextual material in the form of historical notes, bibliographies, maps and photographs.
The role of New Zealand historical fiction for children and young people has been not only to entertain young readers and inform them about their country's past, but to create and foster a sense of national identity
Realizing the right to health through the use of health print materials in the Western Cape, South Africa
No full textIncludes bibliographical references.This qualitative study was conducted in Cape Town, South Africa in 2010. It examines the effectiveness of promotional educational pamphlets on the awareness, understandings and practice of the right to health among eight civil society organizations and their constituents
Ultrasound Produced by a Conventional Therapeutic Ultrasound Unit Accelerates Fracture Repair
No full textAbstract
Background and Purpose. A recent novel application of ultrasound therapy is the treatment of bone fractures. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect on fracture repair of ultrasound produced by a conventional therapeutic ultrasound unit as used by physical therapists. Subjects and Methods. Bilateral midshaft femur fractures were created in 30 adult male Long-Evans rats. Ultrasound therapy was commenced on the first day after fracture and introduced 5 days a week for 20 minutes a day. Each animal was treated unilaterally with active ultrasound and contralaterally with inactive ultrasound. Active ultrasound involved a 2-millisecond burst of 1.0-MHz sine waves repeating at 100 Hz. The spatially averaged, temporally averaged intensity was set at 0.1 W/cm2. Animals were killed at 25 and 40 days after fracture induction, and the fractures were assessed for bone mass and strength. Results. There were no differences between fractures treated with active ultrasound and fractures treated with inactive ultrasound at 25 days. However, at 40 days, active ultrasound-treated fractures had 16.9% greater bone mineral content at the fracture site than inactive ultrasound-treated fractures. This change resulted in a 25.8% increase in bone size, as opposed to an increase in bone density, and contributed to active ultrasound-treated fractures having 81.3% greater mechanical strength than inactive ultrasound-treated fractures. Discussion and Conclusion. These data indicate that ultrasound produced by a conventional therapeutic ultrasound unit as traditionally used by physical therapists may be used to facilitate fracture repair. However, careful interpretation of this controlled laboratory study is warranted until its findings are confirmed by clinical trials. [Warden SJ, Fuchs RK, Kessler CK, et al. Ultrasound produced by a conventional therapeutic ultrasound unit accelerates fracture repair. Phys Ther. 2006;86:1118–1127.]</jats:p
Specialized Connective Tissue: Bone, the Structural Framework of the Upper Extremity
No full textBone is a connective tissue containing cells, fibers, and ground substance. There are many functions in the body in which the bone participates, such as storing minerals, providing internal support, protecting vital organs, enabling movement, and providing attachment sites for muscles and tendons. Bone is unique because its collagen framework absorbs energy, whereas the mineral encased within the matrix allows bone to resist deformation. This article provides an overview of the structure and function of bone tissue from a macroscopic to microscopic level and discusses the physiological processes contributing to upper extremity bone health. It concludes by discussing common conditions influencing upper extremity bone health
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