Ventilator-associated events (VAEs) are patients' complications of respiratory conditions including ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). Research shows that VAP is the most common hospital-acquired infection among ventilated patients and a leading source of mortality. With greater risk for complications among ventilated- supported patients, nurses working in the ICU must keep abreast of new knowledge and update expertise to develop technical and clinical skills in daily practice. The purpose of this project was to assess whether an educational intervention would increase the ICU nurses' level of knowledge of the evidence-based intervention. Knowles' adult learning theory was chosen for this project. A paired-samples t-test was conducted to examine nurses' knowledge of VAE/VAP using a questionnaire measuring knowledge of VAP; 58 ICU nurses participated an educational intervention. Findings showed that nurses had an increase in knowledge following the education (M = 11.43, SD = .775) compared to nurses prior to education (M = 9.55, SD = .976), t(57) = -26.884, p < .001. Results of this project may guide the use of an evidence-based practice educational intervention to improve the quality and safety of ventilated patients. The implications for positive social change include preventing VAEs/VAP among patients, thus decreasing the length of hospital stay, cost, and deaths related to ventilator infections.

No description available.

Abstract Burrow-associated diagenetic alteration and eventual reservoir quality parameters such as porosity and permeability may be altered due to reorganization of the sediment fabric associated with animal burrowing, or result from heterogeneous cement distribution influenced by the bioturbate texture. Petrographic analysis has significant application in recognizing burrow-associated porosity characteristics in marine sandstones. Petrographic analysis can provide mineral identification due to diagenetic chemical alterations and textural evidence regarding cementation history that can lead to more accurate hydrocarbon target interpretations. Overlooking burrow structures may lead to misinterpretations of permeability streaks in hydrocarbon reservoirs. This may be extremely important for reservoirs where slight permeability variations have an effect on hydrocarbon reserve calculations. Understanding biogeochemical reactions and burrow-associated diagenesis that ultimately control reservoir quality is necessary if production from ancient bioturbated marine sandstone reservoirs is to be optimized.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a gammaherpesvirus that persistently infects more than 90% of the human population and its latent infection is associated with several malignancies. EBNA1 is the only viral protein required for the persistence of EBV episomes through its contributions to the replication, mitotic segregation of EBV episomes, and transcriptional activation of viral latency genes. These functions require EBNA1 binding to the DNA elements within the EBV genome that are important for transcription and replication, and interactions of EBNA1 with cellular factors. The aim of this thesis is to characterize the functional significance of the interactions between EBNA1 and chromatin-associated proteins NAP1, TAF-I, and Brd4, particularly in EBNA1-mediated transcription and DNA replication. Here I investigated the interactions of EBNA1 with NAP1 or TAF-I that were previously discovered in our laboratory by proteomic methods. I found that EBNA1 binds directly to NAP1 and to the β isoform of TAF-I, resulting in increased solubility of EBNA1 in vitro. Brd4 was also found to bind to EBNA1 and this interaction is mediated by an EBNA1 sequence essential for transactivation. Brd4, NAP1 and TAF-I all localize with EBNA1 to the transcriptional element and alteration of their levels inhibits transcriptional activation, suggesting that these proteins contribute to EBNA1-dependent transactivation through protein complex formation at the transcriptional element. On the other hand, only TAF-I is recruited to the origin of replication by EBNA1 and acts as a repressor for EBNA1-mediated DNA replication. My data suggest that this negative regulation is linked to TAF-I’s ability to interfere with histone methylation and thus to alter chromatin structure at the origin of DNA replication. Finally, I showed that NAP1 and TAF-I are required for expression of lytic protein BZLF1 and that TAF-I associates with the BZLF1 promoter during lytic reactivation.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a gammaherpesvirus that persistently infects more than 90% of the human population and its latent infection is associated with several malignancies. EBNA1 is the only viral protein required for the persistence of EBV episomes through its contributions to the replication, mitotic segregation of EBV episomes, and transcriptional activation of viral latency genes. These functions require EBNA1 binding to the DNA elements within the EBV genome that are important for transcription and replication, and interactions of EBNA1 with cellular factors. The aim of this thesis is to characterize the functional significance of the interactions between EBNA1 and chromatin-associated proteins NAP1, TAF-I, and Brd4, particularly in EBNA1-mediated transcription and DNA replication. Here I investigated the interactions of EBNA1 with NAP1 or TAF-I that were previously discovered in our laboratory by proteomic methods. I found that EBNA1 binds directly to NAP1 and to the β isoform of TAF-I, resulting in increased solubility of EBNA1 in vitro. Brd4 was also found to bind to EBNA1 and this interaction is mediated by an EBNA1 sequence essential for transactivation. Brd4, NAP1 and TAF-I all localize with EBNA1 to the transcriptional element and alteration of their levels inhibits transcriptional activation, suggesting that these proteins contribute to EBNA1-dependent transactivation through protein complex formation at the transcriptional element. On the other hand, only TAF-I is recruited to the origin of replication by EBNA1 and acts as a repressor for EBNA1-mediated DNA replication. My data suggest that this negative regulation is linked to TAF-I’s ability to interfere with histone methylation and thus to alter chromatin structure at the origin of DNA replication. Finally, I showed that NAP1 and TAF-I are required for expression of lytic protein BZLF1 and that TAF-I associates with the BZLF1 promoter during lytic reactivation.

No description available.

Thesis (Ed.D.)--Teachers College, Columbia University. / Typescript; issued also on microfilm. Includes tables. Sponsor: Norton L. Beach. Dissertation Committee: Gordon N. Mackenzie. Includes bibliographical references.

Le thymus est un organe permettant le développement des lymphocytes T, partie intégrante du système immunitaire. Ces cellules sont communément associées au système immunitaire adaptatif, bien que certaines populations, dont les lymphocytes iNKT et T©tm, soient associées au système immunitaire inné. De manière générale, ces lymphocytes « innés » sont capables de répondre très rapidement à différents signaux d’activation, par la production rapide et massive d’IL‐4, d’IFN‐© et d’IL‐17. Notre laboratoire a mis en évidence l’existence de deux sous‐populations de lymphocytes iNKT, iNKT conventionnels et iNKT17, ayant deux voies de différenciation thymique bien distinctes, mais dont les mécanismes de détermination sont encore inconnus. Il a été montré que « SLAM‐associated protein » (SAP) est indispensable au développement des lymphocytes iNKT, puisqu’ils sont absents chez les souris déficientes en SAP. D’autre part, ces mêmes souris montrent également une déficience de la réponse Th2. Nous avons alors émis l’hypothèse que SAP pourrait être impliqué dans la production d’IL‐4 par les lymphocytes iNKT, et dans la détermination des deux sous‐populations de lymphocytes iNKT conventionnel ou producteur d’IL‐17. Dans une première partie, nous avons utilisé des souris triple mutantes Sap‐/‐ V©14Tg‐ROR(©t)‐Egfp, permettant l’étude des sous‐populations de lymphocytes iNKT malgré la déficience en SAP. Nous avons ainsi montré que SAP est indispensable à l’acquisition thymique de la capacité de production d’IL‐4 par les lymphocytes iNKT conventionnels. Chez ces souris déficientes en SAP, nous avons observé une augmentation de la fréquence des lymphocytes iNKT17 ROR©tpos producteurs d’IL‐17, ce qui montre clairement que SAP n’est pas nécessaire pour l’acquisition des propriétés fonctionnelles des lymphocytes iNKT17. Nous avons ainsi mis en évidence une nouvelle fonction de SAP dans le développement thymique des cellules iNKT productrices d’IL‐4. De plus, nos résultats montrent que SAP est un point de contrôle obligatoire déterminant l’orientation de la différenciation thymique des cellules iNKT vers les cellules iNKT17 ou vers les cellules iNKT conventionnelles. En parallèle des lymphocytes iNKT17 présents dans le thymus, nous avons également analysé une autre population T particulière : des thymocytes TCR©posCD4pos matures et producteurs d’IL‐17, les lymphocytes Th17 naturels. Nous avons mis en évidence que ces lymphocytes expriment le facteur de transcription ROR©t. Ces lymphocytes T CD4posCD8negCD44hiROR©tpos sont capables de produire rapidement et massivement de l’IL‐17, mais requièrent l’IL‐23 pour co‐produire l’IL‐22. De plus, ils se distinguent des lymphocytes Th17 induits, ou conventionnels, par l’expression du facteur de transcription PLZF et par leur capacité à répondre très rapidement à des stimuli pro‐inflammatoires, nommément l’IL‐23 associé à l’IL‐1©et un agoniste TLR4. Les résultats obtenus durant cette thèse ouvrent donc de nombreuses perspectives de recherches fondamentale et thérapeutique, domaine dans lequel l’IL‐17 est devenu une cible privilégiée pour le traitement des maladies auto‐immunes / Pas de résumé en anglais

Magister Curationis - MCur / Infections (including healthcare-associated infections) are one of the leading causes of neonatal morbidity and mortality, yet these deaths could be prevented by cost-effective interventions. Handwashing (HW) is crucial to preventing the spread of antimicrobial resistance and reducing healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs). However, healthcare workers' compliance with optimal practices remains low in most settings.The purpose of this study was to determine the compliance with HW among nurses and midwives caring for newborn babies at Rwamagana Health Facilities, and the extent to which demographic and cognitive characteristics predict nurses' HW compliance. The study’s methodology involved a cross-sectional approach encompassing descriptive and quantitative methods. The data was collected over a period of 3 weeks from a total sample of 139 nursemidwives. An anonymous self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data; out of 139 questionnaires distributed 134 were returned back completed, giving a rate of 96.4%. The data analysis was done using SPSS software version 21.The results demonstrate that a mean self-reported HW compliance rate was 82.00% (SD= 13.60). A compliance rate of 80% or greater was confirmed by most of the participants in the study (79.1%). The highest reported rate of hand washing was HW after exposure to the newborn's body fluids (M= 89.33%; SD= 14.878),while results revealed that nurses tend to perform less HW after touching an object in the vicinity of the patient(73.43%; SD=22.81). A multiple regression analysis revealed that attitudes, subjective norms and intentions were unique independent predictors of HW compliance. However, results did not show any relationship between HW and nurses' demographic characteristics.This study recommends that, strategies aiming to improve HW compliance must be focused on concepts that predict HW. Further research ought to be conducted using observational approach.

Adeno-associated virus type 2 (AAV-2) integrates preferentially into a defined site on human chromosome 19, and has been developed as a gene therapy vector. We propose to use this unique recombination event for site-specific integration of transgenes in plants. This strategy would alleviate problems associated with current plant transformation methods that integrate transgenes randomly. The AAV-2 gene encoding the enzyme that catalyzes the insertion (rep78) was introduced into Arabidopsis thaliana via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. PCR and sequence analysis confirmed the presence of rep78 in two plant lines. RT-PCR demonstrated rep78 transcription in one plant line, but protein could not be detected in either line. / Master of Science