In this thesis we present two important closely related examples of Bratteli diagrams: the Pascal triangle and the Eulerian Bratteli diagram. The former is well-known and related to binomial coefficients. The latter, which is the main object of the thesis, is related to the Eulerian numbers. Bratteli diagrams were introduced in 1972 by Ola Bratteli in his study of approximately finite dimensional (AF) C*-algebras. In 1976, George Arthur Elliott associated to an AF C*-algebra or to a corresponding Bratteli diagram an ordered group, he called dimension group. In the first part of the thesis we study the space of infinite paths of the Eulerian diagram, and we realize it as a projective limit of finite permutation groups. In the second part, we study the state space of the dimension group associated to the Eulerian Bratteli diagram. It is a compact convex set and we describe its extremal points. Finally, we use this description to give a necessary and sufficient condition for an element of this dimension group to be positive.

Trauma Informed Care is a framework that helps people recognize the widespread prevalence of trauma and integrate knowledge of its effects into policies and practices. While libraries have a reputation for being places of sanctuary, the framework of TIC is not always evident in these environments, according to Tolley, whose book, “A Trauma-Informed Approach to Libraries,” was published by the American Library Association in 2020. In her talk, Tolley will discuss the core concepts of TIC and illustrate the gaps of philosophy and service that are commonly experienced in libraries. She will set the foundation for why trauma-informed practices should be applied to libraries and provide suggestions of how to apply concrete TIC steps to construct an inclusive space for all.

Regulatory T cells (Treg) are a suppressive subset of helper T cells that controls immune responses using a variety of mechanisms. Despite initially being thought of as a homogenous population, Treg cells were recently found to adapt their function to their environment and acquire specialized phenotypes depending on their tissue of residence. The molecular mechanisms underlying this functional and tissular adaptation remain to be fully elucidated.In the course of this work, we studied the role of transcription factor c-Maf in the differentiation and the function of Treg cells. For this, we used a murine model invalidated for c-Maf specifically in Treg cells. Transcription factor c-Maf is preferentially expressed by intestinal Treg cells, particularly among the RORγt+ Treg subset, which controls immune responses directed towards the gut microbiota. We have shown that the differentiation of RORγt+ Treg cells results from the integration of multiple environmental signals, highlighting the plasticity of Treg specialization. Furthermore, we have shown that c-Maf is required for the differentiation of RORγt+ Treg cells as well as the expression of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 by intestinal Treg cells, thus endowing Treg cells with the ability to control homeostatic Th17 responses in the intestine. Mice deficient for c-Maf in Treg cells exhibit an exacerbated Th17 response and spontaneously develop colitis. However, c-Maf-deficient mice develop fewer polyps in a model of colitis-associated colon cancer. This suggests that c-Maf expression in Treg cells plays a beneficial role on intestinal homeostasis at steady state, but is detrimental in a tumoral context.Our results allow a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in the specialization of intestinal Treg cells. The knowledge of these mechanisms is crucial for the identification of new therapeutic targets in the context of inflammatory bowel disease and colon cancer. / Doctorat en Sciences / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

Thesis advisor: Dunwei . Wang / C₁ chemistry, referring to CO₂ reduction and CH₄ conversion, is very important not only from environmental consideration, but also from chemical perspective. However, high activation barrier and poor product selectivity control hinder the development of both reactions. New approach like photo-assisted method is promising to solve these challenges. In addition, understanding the reaction mechanism and designing new catalysts could provide further insights and improve the performance. Specifically, I successfully demonstrated selective photoelectrochemical (PEC) CO₂ reduction to CO by Si photocathode and metal complex catalysts, resulting in low applied bias. Then I further studied how proton donor would affect the electrode-catalyst interaction by comparing two Re complex with almost identical structure, which further results in different product selectivity. Further, I studied PEC CH₄ oxidation by TiO₂, where photoexcited species participate in the chemical reactions. Selective CH₄ oxidation to CO was demonstrated under room temperature and ambient pressure. Detailed mechanistic investigation by experimental and theoretical efforts revealed a synergistic effect by adjacent Ti³⁺ for selective CO production. I also focused on direct CH₄ conversion to oxygenate by thermocatalysis. Single atom and dinuclear Ir center were created on silicon oxide (SBA-15), which showed great activity towards oxygenate production. Systematic experimental investigations implied a synergistic effect by adjacent Ir atom for acetic acid formation. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2019. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Chemistry.

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Die suffiziente Atemwegssicherung ist eine der wichtigsten Aufgaben des Anästhesisten. Die endotracheale Intubation mit dem konventionellen Laryngoskop nach Macintosh stellt aktuell den Goldstandard dar. Gerade bei aspirationsgefährdeten Patienten sollte die Intubation zügig, aber dennoch schonend und sicher erfolgen. Die Rapid Sequence Induction als Sonderform der Narkoseeinleitung ist hier das Mittel der Wahl. Bei Vorliegen eines schwierigen Atemweges kann diese aber massiv erschwert sein. Eine relativ neue Alternative abseits der konventionellen Laryngoskopie bietet hier die Anwendung der Videolaryngoskopie. Das C-MAC der Firma Karl Storz ist ein Vertreter dieser Videolaryngoskope und erst seit wenigen Jahren auf dem Markt erhältlich. Basierend auf bisherigen Studien sollte nun im Rahmen der klinischen Anwendung des C-MAC bei Blitzintubationen eine etwaige Überlegenheit im Vergleich mit der direkten Laryngoskopie evaluiert werden. Um diese Frage weiter zu klären, wurden in dieser Studie Daten von 60 Patienten erhoben, die vor Elektivoperationen in der Augen- und HNO-Heilkunde eine RSI benötigten. Jeweils 30 Patienten wurden randomisiert, entweder mit Hilfe des C-MAC-Videolaryngoskopes oder des konventionellen Laryngoskopes nach Macintosh, intubiert. Der Intubation mit dem Videolaryngoskop vorgeschaltet war immer eine direkte Laryngoskopie. Primärer Endpunkt der Studie war der Intubationserfolg. Bezüglich dieses Endpunktes zeigte sich keine Überlegenheit des C-MAC, da der Intubationserfolg in beiden Gruppen exakt gleich war. Es gelangen 96,7 % der Intubationen jeweils im ersten Versuch. Hinsichtlich der Intubationsdauer bestanden keine Vorteile durch die Verwendung der Videolaryngoskopie. In der Versuchsgruppe benötigten die Intubationen im Mittel 33,2 Sekunden und damit 15,3 Sekunden länger als in der Kontrollgruppe, in der die Intubationen im Durchschnitt 17,9 Sekunden in Anspruch nahmen. Es zeigte sich eine klinisch relevante Überlegenheit des C-MAC bezüglich der Klassifikation nach Cormack und Lehane, also eine Verbesserung der Glottisvisualisierung. Aufgrund der primär besseren Visualisierung der Stimmbandebene wurden signifikant weniger Optimierungshilfen benötigt. Einschränkend ist hierbei zu erwähnen, dass die Tubuspassage trotz optimaler Sichtverhältnisse massiv erschwert sein kann, da in der Videolaryngoskopie die orale nicht mit der pharyngealen und der laryngealen Achse übereinstimmen muss und somit eine starke Divergenz zwischen der visuellen und der anatomischen Achse zu Intubationsproblemen führen kann. Der Schwierigkeitsgrad der Intubationen war bei Anwendung des C-MAC geringer als in der Kontrollgruppe, was sich somit in niedrigeren Werten bezüglich der Intubation Difficulty Scale widerspiegelte. Es bestanden keine signifikanten Unterschiede hinsichtlich der Vermeidung von, durch die Intubation verursachten, Schleimhautblutungen und postoperativen Beschwerden. Die beiden Laryngoskopietechniken hatten keinen unterschiedlichen Einfluss auf die hämodynamischen Parameter der Probanden. Insgesamt sollten beide Methoden als gleichwertig betrachtet werden. Das C-MAC stellt somit eine nützliche Alternative bei der RSI dar. Aufgrund der besseren Visualisierungsmöglichkeiten eignet sich die Videolaryngoskopie besonders beim schwierigen Atemweg. / Airway management is one of the most important skills for an Anesthetist to master. The endotracheal intubation using a Macintosh Blade for conventional laryngoscopy is the gold standard for airway management. In patients at high risk for pulmonary aspiration the intubation should be completed quickly as possible, but also without causing injury. Rapid Sequence Induction is an anesthesia induction technique designed to facilitate rapid tracheal intubation in these patients. In patients with a (suspected) difficult airway this can be a real challenge. A relatively new approach to provide an alternative to the conventional direct laryngoscopy is the use of the video laryngoscopy. The C-MAC Blade produced by the company KARL STORZ is an example of the video laryngoscope and has been available for a few years. Based on recent studies this study compares the use of the C-MAC versus conventional laryngoscopy in a clinical setting for the RSI to evaluate if an eventual superiority is present. To investigate this question, we studied the data of 60 Patients receiving elective Ear/Nose/Throat or Ocular surgery who required a rapid sequence induction. We randomly allocated the patients into 2 groups who where either intubated with help of the CMAC Videolaryngoscope or conventionally with Macintosch blade. The primary endpoint of the study was a successful endotracheal intubation. Regarding the primary endpoint the study showed no advantage for the Videolaryngoscope group, as the rate of successful endotracheal intubation was exactly the same in both groups. In 96,7% the first intubation attempt was successful. Considering the length of time it took to intubate the patient there was also no advantage for the Videolaryngoscope. In the CMAC group the time required to intubate was on average 33,2 seconds and therefore 15,3 seconds longer than the control group where the intubation took on average 17,9 seconds. It could be shown that there is a clinically relevant improvement in the classification system of Cormack-Lehane when using CMAC, as well as better view of the glottis. As a result, a significant reduction of the number of tools to optimize the view were needed. It must be said though, that placing the endotracheal tube can be more difficult, even though there is improved laryngeal imaging. This is due to the fact that with video laryngoscopy the oral axis does not line up with the pharyngeal and laryngeal axis resulting in a strong divergence of the visual and anatomical axis which can lead to intubation difficulties. The difficulty rating the endotracheal intubation was lower in the CMAC group as compared to the control group which correlated with the low rating in the difficulty scale. There was no significant difference in the avoidance of mucosal bleeding or postoperative complaints due to the endotracheal intubation. Both laryngoscope techniques showed no difference on the hemodynamic parameters of the subjects. In conclusion both methods can be seen as equivalent. The CMAC is a useful alternative when performing a rapid sequence induction. As a result of the better visualization of the glottis the video laryngoscope can be a useful tool in patients with

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Alterations in the microbiota have been observed in many human diseases, including diseases of neurodegeneration. However, specific microbiome factors that either promote or protect against neurodegeneration are largely unknown. We examined the effects of human microbiota in tauopathies, a class of age-associated neurodegenerative diseases that are characterized by the accumulation of tau protein inclusions. Using a Caenorhabditis elegans model expressing an aggregate prone human tau protein, we examined the influence of specific bacteria present in the human respiratory tract on neurodegeneration. We identified a bacterial species, Rothia aeria, that is neuroprotective in a C. elegans model of tauopathy. We determined that the R. aeria induced neuroprotection observed in PLM neurons is fat-3 dependent. fat-3 encodes the protein Delta (6)-fatty-acid desaturase. We also showed that a lipid(s) produced by R. aeria decreases neurodegeneration in C. elegans. Further investigation is needed to identify the lipid and the underlying mechanism. / Dissertation / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / The human body hosts trillions of microbes, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. These components make up the human microbiota. Gut microbiota have an essential role in human health. In correlative studies, alterations in gut microbiota have been observed in many human diseases and conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Diet, antibiotics, and probiotics change the composition of the microbiota and could decrease or increase the risk of developing AD. Modulation of the microbiome through diet and other interventions could be beneficial for AD. AD, the most common type of dementia, is a progressive brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and mental skills. The Alzheimer’s Society of Canada estimates that over half a million Canadians live with dementia, increasing significantly by 2031. The total estimated indirect and direct costs of dementia in 2016 in Canada was $10.4 billion. Currently, no treatments slow or stop Alzheimer’s disease and available medications can only improve the symptoms in some patients. One of the main characteristics of AD is the accumulation of a protein called tau in neurons. In this research, we look at the impact of microbiota on AD using Caenorhabditis elegans as a model organism. C. elegans is a free-living nematode. These nematodes are small, transparent, feed on bacteria and have a simple nervous system. All these criteria make C. elegans a perfect model for studying the impact of microbiota on AD. We exposed the C. elegans model of AD with high tau aggregation in their neurons to different bacteria collected from human microbiota and measured their neuronal health. We have found several species of bacteria that decreased neurodegeneration in this model. Currently, we are investigating how these bacteria improve neuronal health. Our findings suggest the involvement of human microbiota in AD. This suggests future treatment and preventative measures for AD should also consider microbiota composition. The result of this research will expand our knowledge of AD development and progression.

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No description available.