In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurde die Präsentationsfunktion der LEW-Ratten-MHC-Klasse-II-Moleküle RT1B und RT1D für verschiedene Super- und Peptidantigene sowie die Generierung gemischter MHC-Klasse-II-Isotypen in der LEW-Ratte untersucht. Sag sind Proteine bakterieller und viraler Herkunft und führen nach Bindung an MHC-Klasse-II-Moleküle durch Interaktion mit dem TZR-Vb-Teil zu einer von der TZR-Spezifität unabhängigen Aktivierung von T-Zellen, die bis zu 30 % der Gesamt-T-Zellpopulation eines Organismus erfassen kann. Die dadurch bedingte Mediatorenfreisetzung aus T- oder konsekutiv aktivierten Zellen ist einerseits für die Entwicklung bestimmter akuter Krankheitsbilder wie des toxischen Schocksyndroms, Gastroenteritiden u. a. verantwortlich, kann aber auch potentiell zu einer Aktivierung autoreaktiver T-Zellen und der Entstehung von Autoimmunkrankheiten beitragen. Zur Untersuchung der LEW-MHC-Klasse-II-Charakteristika wurden zunächst mittels retroviralen Gentransfers RT1B- und RT1D-Gene in L929-Zellen übertragen und die Oberflächenexpression durch die mAK Ox6 und 14-4-4S nachgewiesen. Anschließend erfolgte der Nachweis einer Sag-Präsentation durch Stimulation des LEW-Vb8.2-TZH 53/4 durch die bakteriellen Sag SEB, SEC1-3, MAS und YPM und von aus Lymphknoten isolierten LEW-T-Zellen durch SEC1, MAS und YPM, die beide mit der durch eine HLA-DR1-positive Zelllinie getragenen Aktivierung verglichen wurden. Beide Experimente ergaben für die Sag des primär humanpathogen Staph. aureus eine weitaus stärkere Reaktivität in Anwesenheit humaner gegenüber LEW-MHC-Klasse-II-Molekülen bei RT1B-dominierter Antwort innerhalb der präsentatorischen Rattenmoleküle. Für SEB ergaben sich zusätzlich Hinweise auf eine MHC-Klasse-II-unabhängige Aktivierung. Das von Yersinia pseudotuberculosis produzierte Sag YPM wurde ebenfalls wesentlich besser von humanen als LEW-MHC-Klasse-II-Molekülen präsentiert, zeigte allerdings nur geringe Unterschiede zwischen RT1B und RT1D. Für das aus Nagern isolierte Sag von Mykoplasma arthritidis MAS konnte eine präferentielle Bindung an RT1D mit HLA-DR1-ähnlicher Stimulationskapazität nachgewiesen werden. Darüber hinaus wurden die generierten Zelllinien auf Präsentation der definierten Antigene L.casein und gpMBP gegenüber reaktiven TZH getestet. Dabei konnte die RT1D-restringierte Antwort von Klon19 auf L.casein und die RT1B-restringierte Antwort von 53/4 auf gpMBP bestätigt werden. Ebenfalls wurden die erstellten Transfektanten mit einem viralen Sag der Maus, dem vSag7-Gen des mtv7, transfiziert und auf Stimulation des TZH RG17 und von LEW-Lymphozyten getestet. Dabei zeigte sich eine geringe Reaktivität gegenüber den erstellten Transfektanten, die RT1B-dominiert war. Gleichzeitig ergaben sich in der Auswertung Hinweise für einen vSag7-Transfer von MHC-Klasse-II-negativen Produzenten auf MHC-Klasse-II-positive Rattenzellen, die durch weitere Experimente inklusive eines In-vivo-Tests bestätigt werden konnten. In der Generierung gemischter Isotypen aus MHC-Klasse-II-Einzelkettengenen der LEW-Ratte konnte gezeigt werde, dass die Übertragung der RT1DaBb-Genkombination mit Hilfe eines retroviralen Gentransfers auf P80- und L929-Zellen nicht zu einer sicher detektierbaren Oberflächenexpression führte, auch nicht bei Koübertragung der invarianten Kette der Maus. Durch einen Western Blot unter reduzierenden Bedingungen konnte eine bezüglich Molekulargewicht und Quantität zu einem regulären RT1B-Molekül differente RT1Bb-Einzelkette in der Kombination RT1DaBb nachgewiesen werden. / In the work at hand the presenting function of LEW rat MHC class II molecules RT1B and RT1D for various superantigens and antigens as well as the generation of mixed MHC class II isotypes in the LEW rat have been investigated. Superantigens are proteins of bacterial and viral origin, which lead to a TCR-specificity-independent activation of up to 30 % of the individual's T-cell population by interacting with the Vb part of the T-cell receptor after having bound to an MHC class II molecule. The release of mediators by T- and consecutively activated cells causes on the one hand development of acute diseases like toxic shock syndrome, gastroenteritis and other, but can also potentially activate autoreactive T-cells and lead to autoimmune diseases. In order to examine characteristics of LEW MHC class II molecules, first RT1B and RT1D chain genes were transferred into L929 cells via a retroviral transfection system and surface expression was demonstrated by using the monoclonal antibodies Ox6 and 14-4-4S. Successively, superantigen presentation was verified by stimulation of the LEW Vb8.2+ T-cell hybridoma 53/4 by bacterial superantigens SEB, SEC1-3, MAS and YPM and of LEW T-cells isolated from lymph nodes by SEC1, MAS and YPM. Both results were compared to activation in context of an HLA-DR1+ cell line. Experiments showed a much higher reactivity for the superantigens of human pathogen staph. aureus in presence of human versus LEW MHC class II molecules and an RT1B dominated answer amongst LEW presentatory molecules. Additionally, clues for MHC class II independent activation were found in case of SEB. The superantigen of yersinia pseudotuberculosis YPM was also much better presented by human than LEW MHC class II molecules while showing little differences between RT1B and RT1D. MAS bound preferentially to RT1D and equal stimulative capacity compared to HLA-DR1 could be detected. Accessorily, generated cell lines were analysed for presentation of peptide antigens L.casein and gpMBP towards reactive T-cell hybridomas, in which RT1D-restricted answer of Klon19 to L.casein and RT1B-restricted answer of 53/4 to gpMBP could be confirmed. Also generated cell lines were transfected with a viral mouse superantigen, the vsag7 gene of mtv7, and tested for stimulation of the RG17 T-cell hybridoma and LEW lymphocytes. Low reactivity towards transfected cell lines was detected, which was dominated by RT1B. Additionally, evidence for a transfer of vsag7 from MHC class II- producers to MHC class II+ rat cells could be found, which was enhanced by additional experiments including in vivo testing. Attempting to create mixed isotypes consisting of LEW rat MHC class II chains, it was demonstrated, that transferring the gene combination RT1DaBb via retroviral gene transfer into P80 and L929 cell lines resulted in no certain surface expression, also not under cotransfection of these cells with mouse invariant chain. Using western blot method under reducing conditions, a RT1Bb single chain different to the one of the regular RT1B molecule concerning molecular weight and quantitiy could be detected in the combination RT1DaBb.

This research is an attempt to understand the relations between the Ottoman imperial government and the local administrators of Egypt, namely the mamluk beys. Gaining more financial and political power, they commenced to challenge the authority of the Ottoman governor of Egypt in the mid-eighteenth century alongside the incessant struggles between each other. Using a variety of Ottoman archival documents and contemporary narrative sources, I examine the factors behind the mamluk beys’ authority expansion that resulted in uprising of Ali Bey al-Kabir (Bulutkapan). Throughout the dissertation I pursue two arguments, which address key issues in Ottoman political historiography. The first argument concerns with the underlying causes of the mamluk beys’ extended authority. I show that short-tenured governors encountered with financially and politically powerful local components, which may be considered as a result of the decentralized administration system of the Ottoman Empire. Mamluk beys’ ambition to accumulate more financial income led them to contact European consuls directly in order to open Suez trade for them. The second argument concerns the centre-periphery relations of the Ottoman Empire. I show that, although they gained power and challenged the pasha, the mamluk beys did not establish an autonomous administration during the eighteenth century. The Ottoman Empire managed the short-term uprising of Ali Bey quickly by taking due precautions.

This thesis contributes to the study of religions, particularly Islam, in the successor states of former Yugoslavia from 1989 to 2009. The theoretical contributions of this work lie in the comparison of the communist and post-communist periods, where clear similarities and differences have been drawn for better understanding of the continuity between them. Current works on the state of Islam and Muslim communities in the Balkans have mainly focused on recent developments without insight into the conditions and effects of religious life under communism. This work is concerned with the continuity of religious practice from the communist period, religious changes and the revival of Islam at the institutional, public, intellectual and individual level. The thesis begins with a historical background of the region and the arrival of Islam. It moves then to examine constitutional and legislative changes regarding religion and their impact on Islam. After analysing the most visible signs of an Islamic revival at the institutional level, the thesis examines the place of Islam in the public arena, analysing the media, public gatherings, Muslim organizations and mosque construction. It then focuses on intellectual changes and similarities within the communist period. The concluding chapter explains the scope and reasons for the Islamic revival.

This research studies mass-elite dimensions of support for the EU in Bulgaria. The scope is to fill a missing gap in the existing literatures on public opinion and party positions on European integration providing an in-depth study on a specific case of Central and Eastern Europe before accession. In order to present the most comprehensive study, the research employs quantitative and qualitative research methodologies in the form of cross tabulations of public opinion surveys, contents and discourse analysis of election programmes, parliamentary debates and elite interviews. The main research question is what the level of support was for the EU at mass and elite levels in Bulgaria during the accession process, and what the relationship between them was. The results are likely to be valid well beyond the specific interest of the research in all current member states and candidate countries. The main conclusions drawn from this project are that in Bulgaria the utilitarian and proxy models of support explain well the high degree of public support for EU membership before accession and in that respect Bulgaria conforms to the analysis of past academic contributions on public opinion in Central and Eastern Europe. At elite level European integration was perceived positively and debated in broad terms until the Copenhagen criteria for accession were formulated. In the latter part of the transition EU membership was established as a valence issue in Bulgarian party politics but the parties differed in their visions of the EU according to ideology, their coalition potential and positions in the party system. Moreover, the level of support for the EU in Bulgaria was influenced by internal (domestic) and external (EU related) factors associated with European integration. Chapters 2 and 3 of the thesis provide a contextual framework for the empirical chapters by describing the environment in which support for the EU in Bulgaria was formed and developed. Chapters 4, 5 and 6 analyse the public and elite debates on European integration. The concluding Chapter 7 builds upon the thesis' findings by suggesting new avenues for research.

This interview with Dr. Oscar Christensen was conducted mostly by email over several years, starting in 2003. The original purpose of the interview was to clarify the values and beliefs that were the foundation for Dr. Christensen's work as an Adlerian family counselor with the intent of developing a book on Adlerian family therapy in the future. The interview process was interrupted when Dr. Christensen became terminally ill.

This thesis has examined the Bolshevik newspaper, Pravda, which began its broadcasting life in April 1912, for the period of the Balkan Wars from October 1912 to October 1913. The objectives of this study are to present and examine the position towards the Balkan Wars of a political group, which viewed the world and the Ottoman Empire from a different angle than the traditional Russian political position of the time, and would seize the power only five years later in Russia.

This dissertation analyzes the role of the Greek &ldquo / other&rdquo / in the process of Turkish national identity formation. Addressing the transformation of Turkish identity from multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-religious imperial character into a homogeneous and unitary national form, this thesis mainly focuses on the changing attitude of the Ottoman elites of the last period and the modern Turkish state elites towards the Greeks in domestic and foreign affairs. In fact, this change can be evaluated as a part of constructing a Turkish nation which had been long carried out as break from the plural Ottoman inheritance. Within this context, this dissertation aims to understand the importance of Greek culture in Turkish identity, the stimulating role of the Greek existence in Anatolia during the Turkish War of Independence, neglect of the Turkish history writing about the Greek background or the Rumi identity and besides, the fragile relations between Turkey and Greece via questioning the overlapping aspects of Turkish nationalism and Greek &ldquo / otherization&rdquo / .

This thesis is to explore the associations between two major factors and the pricing policy of the Depositary Receipt (DR) from the past experiences of Taiwanese listed companies. We first apply regression models to investigate the relationship between the first factor, the percentage change of the stock prices in that year of Taiwan Stock Exchange (TWSE) and the premium/discount in pricing DR. Then, we examine the connection between the second factor, the percentage change of the issuing companies¡¦ stock prices within the past 180 calendar days in TWSE prior to the offering of DR and it¡¦ final pricing. We also interviewed several financial experts to collect the industry norms on the pricing strategies of DR in order to help the future issuers meet their expectations. We have concluded the following: 1. With the significance level of 95%, there is no linear relationship between the final pricing of DR and the percentage change of the stock prices of TWSE. 2. With the significance level of 95%, there is also no linear relationship between the final pricing of DR and the percentage change of the issuer¡¦s stock prices for the past 180 days. 3. With the significance level of 95%, there exists very significant negative linear relationship between the final pricing of DR and the percentage change of the issuer¡¦s stock prices for the past 180 days, if we exclude all the cases of enjoying premium in DR pricing and all the stock prices that have a percentage increase over 170% prior to the offering of DR. 4. The best pricing policy for a company to issue a DR is to sign a contract with the bookrunner in which the limited discount percentage of DR¡¦s offering is guaranteed.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Atatürk Universitesi. / At head of title: Atatürk Üniversitesi Edebiyat Fakültesi. Türk Dili ve Edebiyatı Bölümü.

SPEECH BY THE MINISTER OF HEALTH, DR MANTO TSHABALALA-MSIMANG, MP, DURING THE RENAMING OF GA-RANKUWA HOSPITAL TO GEORGE MUKHARI HOSPITAL, Ga-Rankuwa, 3 November 2003