Feasibility and acceptability pilot study of an online weight loss program in rural, underserved communities.

Background: The purpose of this intervention was to investigate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of an online weight loss program, EMPOWER, in rural, underserved communities.

Methods: Adults with a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25 kg/m living in rural counties were recruited through collaboration with University of Illinois Extension. The intervention lasted 1 year including online educations sessions, nutrition and lifestyle coaching, and diet and weight monitoring a novel web application, MealPlot.

RECOMBITEK CANINE DISTEMPER VACCINE AS AN ALTERNATIVE FOR PUREVAX DISTEMPER VACCINE IN ENDANGERED BLACK-FOOTED FERRETS ().

Black-footed ferrets () are an endangered species in North America that are highly sensitive to canine distemper virus (CDV) infections and any exposure could be devastating to species recovery. The U.S.

A positive approach to adolescent sexual health promotion: a qualitative evaluation of key stakeholder perceptions of the Australian Positive Adolescent Sexual Health (PASH) Conference.

Background: Positive youth development (PYD) models are effective in improving adolescent sexual health. Adolescent programs including peer educators, parents and the wider community also demonstrate effectiveness in improving sexual health outcomes. An innovative Positive Adolescent Sexual Health (PASH) Conference model has been introduced in Northern NSW, Australia.

The fat body of bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) tadpoles during metamorphosis: changes in mass, histology, and melatonin content and effect of food deprivation.

The fat body of Lithobates catesbeianus (formerly Rana catesbeiana) tadpoles was studied during metamorphosis and after food deprivation in order to detect changes in its weight, adipocyte size, histology, and melatonin content. Bullfrog tadpoles have large fat bodies throughout their long larval life. Fat bodies increase in absolute weight, and weight relative to body mass, during late stages of prometamorphosis, peaking just before climax, and then decreasing, especially during the latter stages of transformation into the froglet.

Comparison of strength of the human-animal bond between Hispanic and non-Hispanic owners of pet dogs and cats.

Objective: To assess differences in strength of the human-animal bond between Hispanic and non-Hispanic owners and determine whether these variations were associated with differences in medical care for pets.

Design: Survey.

Sample Population: 419 pet owners presenting a dog or cat for veterinary services at private veterinary clinics in Aurora, Colo; Chula Vista, Calif; and Mexico City.

Effects of bilateral and unilateral ophthalmectomy on plasma melatonin in Rana tadpoles and froglets under various experimental conditions.

The effect of ophthalmectomy (enucleation) on plasma melatonin in Rana tadpoles and froglets was studied under various experimental conditions to determine if ocular melatonin is released into the circulation from the eyes and to study the factors which might affect this process. Where operations occurred in early or mid-photophase on a 12 light:12 dark (12L:12D) cycle (light onset at 08:00 h), sampling in mid-light and mid-dark revealed that scotophase plasma melatonin was reduced at all developmental stages, with the more significant effects occurring before metamorphic climax. Experiments sampling prometamorphic tadpoles six times in a 24h period on 18L:6D, 12L:12D, or 6L:18D five days after enucleation also showed a significant lowering of plasma melatonin in the dark, so that the scotophase peak was virtually eliminated on all the LD cycles.

Influence of the photocycle and thermocycle on rhythms of plasma thyroxine and plasma and ocular melatonin in late metamorphic stages of the bullfrog tadpole, Rana catesbeiana.

The diel fluctuations in plasma thyroxine (T(4)) and plasma and ocular melatonin entrain to the light/dark (LD) cycle in the bullfrog tadpole, although the phase of the rhythms changes during development. Previous studies on the rhythmicity of these hormones were conducted under various LD cycles, but with a constant temperature, raising the question of the role of the natural thermocycle in determining the phase of the rhythms, and the changes that occur in the hormone levels and rhythms during late metamorphosis. To study this question, tadpoles were acclimated to simulated natural conditions of 14.

Developmental and diel profiles of plasma corticosteroids in the bullfrog, Rana catesbeiana.

Corticosteroids synergize with the thyroid hormone (TH) at late metamorphic stages and might have a role in the hormonal regulation of amphibian metamorphosis. This role could be influenced by diel fluctuations, particularly if the peak of the plasma corticoids changed in relation to the TH peaks. Diel variation in plasma corticosteroids was studied in Rana catesbeiana prometamorphic and climax tadpoles on 18:6, 12:12 and 6:18 light:dark (LD) cycles.

Developmental and diel changes in plasma thyroxine and plasma and ocular melatonin in the larval and juvenile bullfrog, Rana catesbeiana.

Diel variation in plasma thyroxine (T(4)), and plasma and ocular melatonin was studied in Rana catesbeiana tadpoles and postmetamorphic froglets on 12:12 and 6:18 light/dark (LD) regimens. A progressive rise in plasma T(4) initiates metamorphosis while melatonin can modulate metamorphic progress. Changes in the phase of the rhythms of these two hormones during development might influence the hormonal regulation of metamorphosis.

Melatonin, diel rhythms, and metamorphosis in anuran amphibians.

Melatonin is present in picogram quantities in the plasma of anuran tadpoles, although the origin of circulating melatonin is not known. Melatonin may have a role in metamorphosis because it is a thyroid antagonist, whose level falls at the metamorphic climax when the thyroid hormones peak. Melatonin rhythms in plasma and eyes are entrained to the light/dark (LD) cycle and affected by temperature.

Influence of Melatonin on the Rate of Rana pipiens Tadpole Metamorphosis In Vivo and Regression of Thyroxine-Treated Tail Tips In Vitro: (tadpole/metamorphosis/thyroxine/melatonin/tissue culture).

Metamorphosis of Rana pipiens tadpoles may be retarded when the light phase of the light/dark (LD) cycle is shortened or when thyroxine (T ) is given in the dark because melatonin peaks during the dark. Injection of premetamorphic tadpoles in spontaneous metamorphosis with melatonin (15 μg) retarded tail growth and hindlimb development on 18L:6D but had no significant effect on 6L:18D. During induced metamorphosis (30 μg/liter T ), melatonin injections retarded tail resorption on 18L:6D and accelerated it on 6L:18D, but did not affect the hindlimb.

Influence of Photoperiod, Daylength, and Feeding Schedule on Tadpole Growth and Development: (tadpole/metamorphosis/thyroxine/photoperiod/feeding schedule).

The metamorphic rate of Rana pipiens tadpoles was studied under different photoperiods, daylengths, and feeding schedules. Tail resorption and hindlimb growth and development induced by immersion in 30 μg/l thyroxine (T ) were accelerated under longer photoperiods and continuous light when 6L: 18D, 12L: 12D, 18L: 6D, and 24L regimes were compared. Constant light exposure did not produce faster development than an 18 hr photoperiod, and initially was less effective.