title: Characterizing the Catalytic Action of μ-Calpain on Myofibrillar Protein Structure

authors: Fraser-Smith, Emma Louise

subjects: Calpain

abstract: Solving the problem of inconsistent meat tenderness is a top priority of the meat industry. This requires a greater understanding of the processes that affect meat tenderness and the adoption of such information by the meat industry. It is essential that we understand the mechanism of meat tenderisation of which, the calpain protease system is believed to play a central role.
This thesis focuses on three aspects; characterisation of calpain activity, the effect of porcine μ-calpain on myofibril degradation and the effect of μ-calpain on specific proteins desmin and troponin-T.
To study the effect of calpain activity, fluorogenic assays were used to determine: μ-calpain concentration for optimal peptide cleavage; calcium requirements and the effect of chelating substances on the activity of μ-calpain. In addition, the affinity of μ-calpain for substrates CalS-I and CalS-III were assessed.
The effect of μ-calpain on myofibril degradation was evaluated through the use of myofibrillar fragmentation index and density marker beads. Myofibrils were digested at three different temperatures for varying time periods. Conflicting results were displayed and it was concluded that these methods are not accurate, thus further research should be conducted to ensure inconsistencies are eliminated.
Specific proteins desmin and troponin-T have previously been shown to exhibit degradation in the presence of calcium and μ-calpain. SDS-polyacrylamide electrophoresis, western blotting and densitometry measurements were utilized to investigate this effect. It was concluded that μ-calpain plays a significant role in the post mortem proteolysis of myofibrillar protein.
This thesis provides information and strives to give a better understanding of the proteolytic changes that occur within muscle. Understanding how these mechanisms affect meat on a cellular level, can help to control the influence they inflict on meat quality.

text: Characterizing the Catalytic Action of μ-Calpain on Myofibrillar Protein Structure Solving the problem of inconsistent meat tenderness is a top priority of the meat industry. This requires a greater understanding of the processes that affect meat tenderness and the adoption of such information by the meat industry. It is essential that we understand the mechanism of meat tenderisation of which, the calpain protease system is believed to play a central role.
This thesis focuses on three aspects; characterisation of calpain activity, the effect of porcine μ-calpain on myofibril degradation and the effect of μ-calpain on specific proteins desmin and troponin-T.
To study the effect of calpain activity, fluorogenic assays were used to determine: μ-calpain concentration for optimal peptide cleavage; calcium requirements and the effect of chelating substances on the activity of μ-calpain. In addition, the affinity of μ-calpain for substrates CalS-I and CalS-III were assessed.
The effect of μ-calpain on myofibril degradation was evaluated through the use of myofibrillar fragmentation index and density marker beads. Myofibrils were digested at three different temperatures for varying time periods. Conflicting results were displayed and it was concluded that these methods are not accurate, thus further research should be conducted to ensure inconsistencies are eliminated.
Specific proteins desmin and troponin-T have previously been shown to exhibit degradation in the presence of calcium and μ-calpain. SDS-polyacrylamide electrophoresis, western blotting and densitometry measurements were utilized to investigate this effect. It was concluded that μ-calpain plays a significant role in the post mortem proteolysis of myofibrillar protein.
This thesis provides information and strives to give a better understanding of the proteolytic changes that occur within muscle. Understanding how these mechanisms affect meat on a cellular level, can help to control the influence they inflict on meat quality.

year: 2006

title: Being Jacques Villeneuve: Formula One, 'Agency' and the Fan

authors: Sturm, Damion

subjects: Fandom

abstract: In this thesis, I analyse my fandom for the Formula One driver, Jacques Villeneuve.  Despite its rampant commercialism, innovative mediation, prestige and popular status within global sport, Formula One is surprisingly an under-researched topic in academia.  Moreover, 'intense' fandom has often been stigmatised; at worst associating such individuals with pathological and obsessive behaviours or refuting their affections as merely symptomatic of the socio-economic forces that transform fans into duped consumers.  This thesis argues against such simplistic disqualifications and reconceptualises fandom in light of how the structure/agency binary has itself been reconceptualised within media and cultural studies.  Rather than privileging either the determining social, mediated and commercial structures, or championing the 'active agential' capacities of social individuals, Grossberg's notions of 'affect' and 'structured mobility' are drawn upon to underpin a more flexible explanation of contemporary fandom.  In particular, affect offers theoretical purchase for how fans form attachments with selective media objects and why these come to 'matter' for specific individuals.  Furthermore, by marrying affect with 'structured mobility', affective investments are recognised for their capacity to 'anchor' individuals in specific and concrete spatial/temporal 'moments' of social reality as they navigate both the mediated apparatus of the sport and the structured social, cultural and economic terrain that shapes their mediated fandom.  Such insights are developed through a 'funnelling' approach in this thesis which moves from an examination of collective Formula One fandom to my own, exploring the affective traces of a friction that Villeneuve's maverick status provided within the broader machinery of the sport and to which this fan has responded.

text: Being Jacques Villeneuve: Formula One, 'Agency' and the Fan In this thesis, I analyse my fandom for the Formula One driver, Jacques Villeneuve.  Despite its rampant commercialism, innovative mediation, prestige and popular status within global sport, Formula One is surprisingly an under-researched topic in academia.  Moreover, 'intense' fandom has often been stigmatised; at worst associating such individuals with pathological and obsessive behaviours or refuting their affections as merely symptomatic of the socio-economic forces that transform fans into duped consumers.  This thesis argues against such simplistic disqualifications and reconceptualises fandom in light of how the structure/agency binary has itself been reconceptualised within media and cultural studies.  Rather than privileging either the determining social, mediated and commercial structures, or championing the 'active agential' capacities of social individuals, Grossberg's notions of 'affect' and 'structured mobility' are drawn upon to underpin a more flexible explanation of contemporary fandom.  In particular, affect offers theoretical purchase for how fans form attachments with selective media objects and why these come to 'matter' for specific individuals.  Furthermore, by marrying affect with 'structured mobility', affective investments are recognised for their capacity to 'anchor' individuals in specific and concrete spatial/temporal 'moments' of social reality as they navigate both the mediated apparatus of the sport and the structured social, cultural and economic terrain that shapes their mediated fandom.  Such insights are developed through a 'funnelling' approach in this thesis which moves from an examination of collective Formula One fandom to my own, exploring the affective traces of a friction that Villeneuve's maverick status provided within the broader machinery of the sport and to which this fan has responded.

year: 2009

title: Evaluation of the whanau carers training programme delivered by LIFE Unlimited

authors: Ashwell, Allanah

subjects: Maori

abstract: In response to the needs of Maori informal carers, a training programme was developed for whanau carers in the Waikato region.  It was delivered by LIFE Unlimited.  It is a unique training programme in that it is community driven and focuses on informal caregivers who are Maori.  The overarching aim of the whanau carers training programme is to provide increased training and support of informal carers.  This report aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the whanau carers training programme, including: the unique nature of the programme, the critical success factors, the barriers to success if any, and suggested improvements.  The report concludes the programme has had a positive and definite impact upon the whanau carers.  The evaluation team observed that the overall programme works very well and fulfils its stated obligations to the Ministry of Health.  The programmes are delivered well, and are well received by the client group.

text: Evaluation of the whanau carers training programme delivered by LIFE Unlimited In response to the needs of Maori informal carers, a training programme was developed for whanau carers in the Waikato region.  It was delivered by LIFE Unlimited.  It is a unique training programme in that it is community driven and focuses on informal caregivers who are Maori.  The overarching aim of the whanau carers training programme is to provide increased training and support of informal carers.  This report aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the whanau carers training programme, including: the unique nature of the programme, the critical success factors, the barriers to success if any, and suggested improvements.  The report concludes the programme has had a positive and definite impact upon the whanau carers.  The evaluation team observed that the overall programme works very well and fulfils its stated obligations to the Ministry of Health.  The programmes are delivered well, and are well received by the client group.

year: 2004-02