Shikao Ikehara. / "December 10, 1951." / Bibliography: p. 21-22. / Army Signal Corps Contract DA36-039 sc-100, Project no. 8-102B-0. Dept. of the Army Project no. 3-99-10-022.

Candida albicans est un champignon commensal de l’homme, mais aussi l'un des agents pathogènes fongiques les plus répandus. C. albicans alterne entre formes levure et filamenteuses (pseudohyphes ou hyphes), une transition morphologique déclenchée par divers signaux environnementaux et jouant un rôle important dans la virulence. Un réseau de régulation complexe, faisant intervenir de nombreux facteurs de transcription, gouverne la transition levure-hyphe. L’objectif de ce travail de thèse était d’étudier la fonction et l’interaction avec ce réseau de régulation de deux facteurs de transcription, Skn7 et Orf19 .217. L’identification des circuits de transcription gouvernés par Skn7, par des approches globales d’étude de la transcription et de la fixation à la chromatine, indique un double rôle dual dans la régulation de la réponse au stress osmotique/oxydatif et de la croissance filamenteuse. L’analyse des interactions génétiques a révélé des relations fonctionnelles entre Skn7 et les principaux régulateurs de la morphogenèse. En outre, Skn7 est indispensable pour limiter l'accumulation d'espèces réactives à l'oxygène (ROS) pendant la croissance filamenteuse sur milieu solide. La caractérisation de mutants spécifiques de Skn7 a mis en évidence un découplage de cette dernière fonction et de la fonction de Skn7 dans la morphogénèse.Orf19.217 est impliqué dans la virulence de C. albicans, mais sa fonction biologique reste incertaine. Notre étude montre que Orf19.217 régule divers processus, tels que la morphogenèse, la modification de la paroi cellulaire et la réponse au stress. D'autres expériences sont en cours pour élucider son rôle dans la virulence / Candida albicans is a diploid fungus, commensal of most healthy individuals, but also one of the most prevalent human fungal pathogens. C. albicans has the ability to switch between the unicellular yeast form and filamentous forms (pseudohyphae or hyphae). This transition is triggered by various environmental cues and plays important roles in C. albicans virulence. An intricate regulatory network involving many transcription factors controls the yeast-to-hypha transition. The aim of this PhD was to explore the function of two transcription factors, Skn7 and Orf19.217, whose overexpression triggers filamentation independently of hypha-inducing cues, and their interplay with the morphogenetic regulatory network. Mapping of the Skn7 transcriptional circuitry, through combination of genome-wide expression and location technologies, pointed to a dual regulatory role encompassing osmotic/oxidative stress response and filamentous growth. Genetic interaction analyses revealed close functional interactions between Skn7 and master regulators of morphogenesis. Furthermore, Skn7 was crucial for limiting the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) during filamentous growth on solid medium. Interestingly, functional domain mapping using site-directed mutagenesis allowed decoupling of Skn7 function in morphogenesis from protection against intracellular ROS. Orf19.217 was previously implicated in C. albicans virulence, but its biological function remains unclear. Preliminary data showed that Orf19.217 regulates several processes, including morphogenesis, cell wall modifications and stress response. Further experiments are ongoing to elucidate the role of this gene in virulence

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Postpartum depression is a condition that displays symptoms such as insomnia, anxiety, and difficulties with feeling happiness. This affects approximately 10–17 % of pregnant women and new mothers around the world. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA-axis) and the downregulation of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) signaling are believed to be a part of the pathology behind postpartum depression, although it is currently not known in detail what causes the condition to develop. Women with postpartum depression are believed to have a hyperactive HPA-axis due to an increased sensitivity to estrogen and progesterone. If postpartum depression is left untreated, there could be severe consequences. For example, women who have had postpartum depression have a three times higher risk of death than those who have not encountered the condition. There could also be consequences for the newborn since there is for instance a risk of impaired cognitive ability among children whose mother has had postpartum depression. Psychological treatment consists of cognitive behavior therapy and interpersonal therapy among others. Today there is no approved medication in Sweden for the indication postpartum depression but there is two in the US, brexanolone and zuranolone. Brexanolone is administered by intravenous infusion, which limits the patient to hospital treatment. Zuranolone is a synthetic molecule that is designed to imitate the neurosteroid allopregnanolone as an agonist for the GABAa-receptor. It is the first medication for the indication that is administered orally. The mechanism of action is not fully elucidated but zuranolone binds to GABAa-receptors, upregulates the expression of GABA-receptors and increases GABA-signaling.  The purpose of this literature study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of zuranolone for the treatment of postpartum depression. Five relevant clinical studies were collected from the database PubMed. The results show a statistically significant difference compared to placebo that zuranolone seems to be effective for postpartum depression using several self-assessment scales, e.g. the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD-17), the Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (HRSA) and the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). Zuranolone was also shown to be effective in treatment of insomnia as shown by an increase of objective sleep efficacy. The most common side effect was somnolence and beside that there were not many severe side effects throughout the studies. Since self-assessment scales were used, the results can vary due to how different people proceed their emotions and thoughts. Even though it is currently unknown if zuranolone is safe for breastfeeding women, the medication gives mothers a chance to feel better without having to undergo hospital treatment, which is the case with brexanolone. More studies are needed, for instance to investigate if zuranolone is safe to use for adolescents or breastfeeding women. It is also necessary to do a follow-up on how the treated patients´ mental health displays months, or years, after treatment. / Förlossningsdepression är ett tillstånd som ger symtom som sömnsvårigheter, ångest och att känna sig nedstämd. Detta beräknas drabba ca 10–17% av alla gravida eller nyblivna mammor världen över. Det är inte helt klarlagt vad tillståndet beror på men det tros ha en koppling till bl.a. hypotalamus-hypofysbinjure-axeln (HPA-axeln) och en nedreglering av gamma-amino-smörsyra(GABA)-signalering. HPAaxeln tros vara överaktiv på grund av ökad känslighet för hormonerna östrogen och progesteron hos patienter med förlossningsdepression. Sjukdomen kan ge negativa effekter för både kvinnan och barnet, till exempel ses en tre gånger högre dödsrisk hos mammor som haft förlossningsdepression och en risk för nedsatt kognitiv förmåga hos barnet vars mamma haft förlossningsdepression. Förlossningsdepression kan ibland behandlas psykologiskt med exempelvis kognitiv beteendeterapi (KBT) eller interpersonell terapi (IPT) men ibland också med läkemedel. I Sverige finns ännu inget godkänt läkemedel med indikationen men i USA finns det två, brexanolon samt zuranolon. Brexanolon ges som intravenös infusion vilket begränsar patienten till sjukhusinläggning. Zuranolon är en syntetisk molekyl som efterliknar neurosteroiden allopregnanolon och är det första läkemedlet med indikationen förlossningsdepression som ges peroralt. Dess verkningsmekanism är delvis okänd men zuranolon binder in till GABAa-receptorer och uppreglerar uttrycket av GABA-receptorer samt ökar GABAsignalering.   Syftet med denna litteraturstudie var att undersöka om zuranolon är en säker och effektiv behandling vid förlossningsdepression. Detta gjordes genom en artikelsökning via databasen PubMed där fem relevanta kliniska studier valdes ut. Studierna visade att zuranolon är en effektiv behandling då preparatet visade en statistiskt signifikant skillnad jämfört med placebo på flera självskattningsskalor, som Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD-17), Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (HRSA) och MontgomeryÅsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). Zuranolon visade sig också vara effektiv vid behandling av sömnsvårigheter då objektiv sömneffektivitet ökade. Den vanligaste biverkningen var trötthet och det förekom inte många allvarliga biverkningar. Eftersom resultaten främst mättes med självskattningsskalor kan variation uppstå då olika individer tolkar och känner känslor och tankar på olika sätt. Även om det ännu är oklart om zuranolon är säkert för ammande kvinnor och deras nyfödda barn, ger läkemedlet möjligheten för nyblivna mammor att må bättre utan att behöva behandlas på sjukhus, till skillnad från brexanolon. Fler studier behöver utföras för att ta reda på långtidseffekter, studier inkluderande fler olika typer av grupper samt undersökningar om zuranolon passerar över i bröstmjölk och påverkar det nyfödda barnet.

Section 217 of the Constitution of South Africa regulates the procurement of goods and or services by any organ of state. Similarly, this section mandates state-owned institutions to adhere to a procurement system that promotes groups that were previously disadvantaged by past colonial and apartheid regimes. In this dissertation I argue that due to South Africa’s oppressive culture, the law has been ineffective in promoting the socio economic interests of black women due to race, gender and class subjugation. Firstly, central to my argument is the judiciary’s traditional role that is still steeped in an interpretative process of the law that is detrimental to the transformative spirit of the Constitution. In identifying the South African judiciary system as positivistic in nature I will critically analyse the Sonke Gender Justice Network v Malema hate speech court case. I posit that the Equality Court’s decision was mainly result based and as a result fell short of addressing the core issues affecting black women on the basis of race, gender and class which mirror the substantial part of the South African socio economic structure. Secondly, in support of my argument, I criticise a legislative framework that perpetuates socio economic disparities at the expense of a group in society it claims to protect. Whilst I will rely on American Legal Realism and Critical Legal Studies in support of my arguments, my main theoretical approach will be based on Critical Race Feminism. Lastly, intersectionality will be used in contextualising the interrelationships of race, gender and class as they impact on black women’s material circumstances in the regulatory legislative public procurement process. When the Constitution came into effect in 1994 South Africa became an egalitarian state. Nevertheless, the country is struggling with the prevalence of unemployment, poverty, HIV/Aids, skills shortages, male violence including rape, to name just a few. These social ills pose a threat to a Constitution that extolls values like dignity, freedom and equality for all. It so happens also that the majority of the people confronted by these socio economic challenges are black women. The tender process faces numerous challenges and by identifying the South African culture as oppressive supported by a legal process that stifles transformation, this study expounds the experiences of black women by engaging in a contextual analysis of the courts and legislation. This consciousness raising exercise is not meant to portray black women as victims or invoking “special treatment” in the legal realm. It resonates with Steve Biko’s theme of black consciousness, being aware of the marginalisation and addressing it. Black consciousness represents an emancipatory state and optimistic outlook. Consciousness raising situates the oppression of black women in any form as a site for struggle, a struggle for social and individual change. / Dissertation (LLM)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / gm2014 / Jurisprudence / unrestricted

The Domestic Workers Skills Development Project, funded by the National Skills Fund, was designed to improve the skill levels of domestic workers in South Africa. It also was intended to address their historical lack of education and to advance their socio-economic circumstances. This study investigates the implementation of this project within the framework of community development. Basadi Pele Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organisation, was a participant in this project. The central question was how to empower marginalised women through skills development. This implies a learning process for domestic workers and all involved. Different learning theories are investigated to develop an understanding of how these illiterate adult women learned during this opportunity. The conclusion reached by this study is that a gender sensitive environment, created by government institutions and the NGO involved, enabled domestic workers to change their lives and circumstances; enhancing this project and contributing to its success. / Development Studies / M.A. (Development Studies)

El CO2 es una variable clave que afecta tanto al desarrollo como a la fisiología de las plantas, por lo que los incrementos derivados del cambio climático afectarán al crecimiento de los cultivos. Muchas de las respuestas fisiológicas observadas frente al aumento del CO2 están influenciadas por su interacción con otros estreses, como por ejemplo la salinidad, debido al creciente aumento de las áreas afectadas por la salinidad y su impacto sobre la masa vegetal. Por ello, en esta Tesis, se expone como la agricultura desarrolla una función muy importante en la lucha contra el cambio climático debido a su papel como secuestradores de CO2 atmosférico. Las conclusiones de este trabajo ayudarán a clarificar aspectos esenciales para elegir las soluciones más efectivas en este ámbito junto con otras problemáticas dadas en nuestras tierras de cultivos como son el estrés salino, el cual se verá implementado por dicho cambio climático. / CO2 is a variable key that affects both development and the plant physiology, so that the increases resulting from climate change will affect crop growth. Many of the observed physiological responses to increased CO2 in front are influenced by its interaction with other stresses, such as salinity, due to the increasing of the areas affected by the salinity and its impact on the vegetation. Therefore, in this thesis agriculture is exposed as a very important place in the fight against climate change due to its role as kidnappers of atmospheric CO2. The conclusions of this work help clarify what is essential to choose the best solutions effective in this area along with other issues given in our crop lands such as salt stress, which will be implemented by the climate change

The Domestic Workers Skills Development Project, funded by the National Skills Fund, was designed to improve the skill levels of domestic workers in South Africa. It also was intended to address their historical lack of education and to advance their socio-economic circumstances. This study investigates the implementation of this project within the framework of community development. Basadi Pele Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organisation, was a participant in this project. The central question was how to empower marginalised women through skills development. This implies a learning process for domestic workers and all involved. Different learning theories are investigated to develop an understanding of how these illiterate adult women learned during this opportunity. The conclusion reached by this study is that a gender sensitive environment, created by government institutions and the NGO involved, enabled domestic workers to change their lives and circumstances; enhancing this project and contributing to its success. / Development Studies / M.A. (Development Studies)

No description available.

No description available.