In this diploma thesis I will deal with symbolism and meanings of exotic cat beasts in different spheres of the Roman Empire. First part will emphasize cat beasts in general. Familiarization with species and subspecies of these beasts and their appearance in time of the greatest territorial expansion of the Roman Empire. In the next main chapter, which contain several sections, I will look into their effect on different parts of people's life (art, funerary context, entertainment etc.). Part of these chapters will be also comparation of the impact of cat beasts on cultures around Roman Empire, on the basis of which I want to evaluate which parts of this impact Romans could adopt and which part are their own. In the end part of thesis, I will focus on archaeological findings related directly with exotic cat beasts. In the very end this work contain also bibliography list of used literature and list of illustrations. Key words Cat beasts, Roman Empire, culture, art, propaganda, arena, gladiator, lion, leopard, tiger, impact.

Orientador: Aulus Cavalieri Carciofi / Resumo: O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito de duas variedades de sorgo, processadas diferentemente, na palatabilidade, digestibilidade dos nutrientes, produtos de fermentação fecal e microbiota em gatos adultos. Quatro dietas com composições similares foram formuladas com milho (Mi), arroz integral (AI), sorgo vermelho (SV) ou sorgo branco (SB) como principal fonte de carboidrato. As dietas Mi e AI foram moídas apenas com peneira de 1,0 mm (média), enquanto que as dietas SV e SB foram moídas com peneiras de 0,8 mm (fina), 1,0 mm e 1,6 mm (grossa), totalizando oito dietas. O experimento foi delineado em blocos casualizados, com quatro blocos de 16 gatos, dois gatos por dieta em cada bloco, totalizando oito repetições por tratamento e 64 unidades experimentais. Após o período de adaptação, a digestibilidade dos nutrientes foi calculada pelo método de coleta fecal total e o escore fecal foi avaliado. Amostras fecais frescas foram coletadas para análise dos produtos de fermentação, medição do pH, aminas biogênicas e microbiota. Valores de P <0,05 foram considerados significativos. A palatabilidade foi maior nas dietas SV e SB na moagem média do que nas dietas Mi e AI (P <0,01), e a dieta SB apresentou maior consumo que SV (P <0,05). Para a dieta SV, a maior granulometria apresentou melhor consumo do que a menor granulometria (P <0,05). Não houve diferença significativa na digestibilidade aparente dos nutrientes entre as dietas, exceto uma redução na digestibilidade da matéria s... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of two sorghum varieties, processed differently, on palatability, nutrient digestibility and fecal fermentation products in adult cats. Four diets with similar compositions were formulated with corn (C), brown rice (BR), red sorghum (RS) or white sorghum (WS) as the main carbohydrate source. The C and BR diets were ground with 1.0 mm (medium) screen sieve; RS and WS were ground with sieve sizes of 0.5 mm (fine), 1.0 mm and 1.6 mm (coarse) each, totaling eight diets. The experiment was a randomized complete block design with four blocks of 16 cats, two cats per diet in each block, totaling eight replicates per treatment and 64 experimental units. After the adaptation period the nutrient digestibility was calculated by the total fecal collection method and the fecal score was evaluated. Fresh fecal samples were collected for analysis of fermentation products, pH measurement, biogenic amines and microbiota. Values of P <0.05 were considered significant. Palatability was higher for RS and WS diets at medium particle size than C and BR diets (P <0.01) and WS presented higher intake than RS (P <0.05). For RS, bigger particle size had better consumption than small particle size (P <0.05). There were no differences in apparent digestibility of the nutrients between the diets, except lower DM for WS with bigger particle size (P = 0.007). Fecal production, score and ammonia were similar between diets (P> 0.05). Fecal pH was lower a... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

Among the psychological interpretations of Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Black Cat,” trauma theory has yet to make an appearance. However, the confessional nature of the story shifts—via a trauma reading—from an attempt by the narrator to ease his guilt to his attempt to understand what happened to him. The narrator’s murder of his wife traumatized him, causing erasures in the timeline and several forms of dissociation. These erasures and dissociations cause an uncanny effect within the story, which occurs as the past, present, and future are conflated and as the narrator’s mind is both known and hidden. The narrator’s tale is an attempt at working through his trauma to come to an understanding and acceptance of the events. However, the unclear timeline—both how much time has passed since his wife’s death and the passage of time in the story—suggests that the narrator does not have enough critical distance from the events, so telling his tale becomes a form of reliving that does not relieve the confusion he experiences. Ultimately, the narrator’s confession does not provide the understanding he hopes for, which places the burden of creating an understanding of the story on the individual reader.

Kardiomyopathien (KMP) sind bei Katzen die häufigste kardiovaskuläre Erkrankung und ein wichtiger Grund für Morbidität und Mortalität (FOX et al. 1995). Die morphologische und strukturelle Veränderung des Myokards entsteht definitionsgemäß in Abwesenheit von Klappenerkrankungen, kongenitalen Defekten oder koronaren Gefäßerkrankungen. Unterschieden werden können primäre und sekundäre Kardiomyopathien. Primäre Kardiomyopathien (1°KMP) sind genetisch oder idiopathisch bedingt. Anhand des Phänotyps können hypertrophe (HKMP), restriktive (RKMP), unklassifizierte (UKMP), dilatative (DKMP) und arrhythmogene rechtsventrikuläre (ARVC) Kardiomyopathie unterschieden werden. Sekundäre Kardiomyopathien (2°KMP) werden durch eine systemische Erkrankung ausgelöst. Als Ursachen werden insbesondere Hyperthyreose, systemische Hypertension, Myokarditis, Taurinmangel, Kortikosteroidapplikation, chronische Niereninsuffizienz (CNI), anhaltende Tachyarrhythmie, Diabetes mellitus, Anämie, Neoplasie, Anthrazykline, Hypersomatotropismus, Sepsis und Myopathie beschrieben. In der Literatur machen die sekundären Kardiomyopathien bisher noch einen relativ geringen Anteil der Kardiomyopathien aus. Die für diese Untersuchung ausgewerteten Daten von Katzen mit Myokarderkrankungen wurden innerhalb von 29 Monaten erhoben. Einschlusskriterien waren das Vorliegen des Signalements, der Anamnese, des Blutdrucks und einer standardisierten echokardiografischen Untersuchung. Außerdem musste zur Erfassung der häufigsten auslösenden Erkrankungen bei Patienten über neun Jahren das Gesamtthyroxin erfasst worden sein, bei Polyurie und Polydipsie die Parameter Harnstoff, Kreatinin und Glukose und bei blassen Schleimhäuten der Hämatokrit. Von den 106 Katzen, die den Einschlusskriterien entsprachen, machte die 2°KMP mit 50 Katzen (47%) den größten Anteil aus. Zweithäufigste Kardiomyopathie war die HKMP mit 39 Fällen (37%), gefolgt von UKMP (9 Katzen, 8%), RKMP (6 Katzen, 6%) und DKMP (2 Katzen, 2%). Das Signalement der Katzen mit 82 EKH (77%) eine signifikante Häufung dieser Rasse, die aber der Verteilung der Rassen im Patientengut entspricht (p<0,001). Im Mittel waren die Katzen 9 Jahre alt (1-17 Jahre). Die Katzen mit HKMP waren signifikant jünger als die Katzen der anderen Gruppen (p<0,001). Die Katzen über 12 Jahre zeigten signifikant häufiger eine 2°KMP als eine 1°KMP (p=0,001). Mit 74% (n=78) waren Kater signifikant häufiger betroffen als Kätzinnen (p=0,001). Die 28 Kätzinnen waren mit 64% (n=18) häufiger an einer 2°KMP erkrankt als an einer primären Kardiomyopathie (p=0,03). Beim Gewicht (mittleres Gewicht 4,7 kg, Median 4,2 kg; 2-9 kg) zeigten sich keine relevanten Unterschiede zwischen den Gruppen. Das häufigste Symptom war bei 37% der Katzen (n=38) Dyspnoe. Weitere respiratorische Probleme waren Husten (n=5, 5%) und Maulatmung (n=3, 3%). Bei sechs Tieren (6%) lag eine arterielle Thrombembolie mit Paraplegie vor. Aszites und subkutane Ödeme waren bei je zwei Tieren (2%) auffällig. 11% der Katzen (n=12) hatten einen anderen Vorstellungsgrund: bei sieben Katzen lag eine Harnabsatzstörung (feline lower urinary tract disease) und bei fünf ein Trauma vor. Bei der kardialen Auskultation waren 53 (50%) Katzen mit einem systolischen Herzgeräusch vom Lautstärkegrad 1-4/6 auffällig. Signifikant häufiger als in den anderen Gruppen war bei den Katzen mit HKMP ein Herzgeräusch zu verzeichnen (p <0,001). Bei 48 (45%) Katzen lag ein Galopprhythmus vor, bei 11 der Tiere (10%) in Kombination mit einem Herzgeräusch. Die Katzen mit Galopprhythmus waren signifikant häufiger dekompensiert als die mit Herzgeräusch oder ohne abnormen Auskultationsbefund (p=0,001). Die kardiogene Dyspnoe als häufigster Vorstellungsgrund (n=38) wurde in 45% (n=17) der Fälle durch ein Lungenödem, in 26% (n=10) durch einen Pleuraerguss und in 29% (n=11) durch die Kombination beider bedingt. Katzen mit RKMP hatten signifikant häufiger einen Pleuraerguss als Katzen der anderen Gruppen (p=0,001). Von den Katzen mit UKMP lag hingegen häufiger ein Lungenödem vor (p=0,016). Aszites trat bei keiner Katze mit HKMP und RKMP auf. Alle Katzen mit RKMP und DKMP gehörten der ISACHC-Klasse 3 (International Small Animal Cardiac Health Council) an (p<0,001). Sieben der neun Katzen mit UKMP (78%) entsprachen ebenfalls dieser Klasse. Die Katzen mit RKMP zeigten die am stärksten ausgeprägte linksatriale Dilatation (LADs 27,4 mm; 23,8-30,5 mm), die mit 2°KMP die am wenigsten ausgeprägte (19,2 mm; 13,4-28,2 mm). Innerhalb der 2°KMP (n=50) lag bei 19 Katzen eine Hyperthyreose, bei 16 CNI und bei 15 Tieren systemische Hypertension vor. Weitere Ursachen waren Glukokortikoidgabe (n=4), Anämie (n=2), Diabetes mellitus (n=2) und schwere Lungenerkrankung oder Pyothorax (n=4). Eine Kombination dieser Erkrankungen bestand bei 24% (n=12) der Katzen. Unter Vernachlässigung potentiell auslösender Erkrankungen ergab eine Klassifizierung der 50 Katzen mit 2°KMP anhand des Phänotyps bei 68% (n=34) eine HKMP. Eine UKMP machte 18% (n=9) und eine RKMP 14% (n=7) aus. Hyperthyreose auch in Kombination mit anderen Erkrankungen war in 84% (16/19) ebenso wie systemische Hypertension in 80% (12/15) mit linksventrikulärer Hypertrophie assoziiert. Mit 47% übersteigt die Häufigkeit der 2°KMP deutlich die Angaben in der Literatur. Zusätzliche Fälle können als 1°KMP fehlinterpretiert worden sein, während eine erworbene Begleiterkrankung neben einer 1°KMP fälschlicherweise als 2°KMP gewertet sein kann. In jedem Fall betonen die Ergebnisse dieser Untersuchung aber die Wichtigkeit weiterführender diagnostischer Schritte, um Erkrankungen mit Auswirkungen auf das Myokard zu identifizieren. Inwieweit eine kausale Therapie die Rückbildung myokardialer Veränderungen erlaubt, müssen weitere Untersuchungen klären.

Cat scratch disease (CSD) is a self limited zoonotic disease that presents most commonly as a regional lymphadenopathy. We are reporting a case of a 25-year-old male patient who presented with fever and large right inguinal lymphadenopathy. The diagnosis of cat scratch disease was confirmed based on the characteristic cytopathological features on aspirate smears from the lymph node and the serological titers for Bartonella henselae. This case report emphasizes the importance of combining Bartonella serology, and cytopathology in the diagnostic work-up of febrile lymphadenopathy and suspected CSD since the culture of this organism is arduous.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency acknowledges that indoor environments can impact the health of students and can affect concentration, attendance, and student performance (USEPA 2008). In a school year, children are required by the Florida Department of Education to be in school for a total of 180 days, which is 795 hours spent in a classroom (FLDOE 2008). In the elementary school setting, kindergarten classes typically spend a portion of the school day with floor-based activities. The American Lung Association (ALA) states that over 6.8 million children under the age of 18 are affected by asthma (ALA 2008). Allergic reactions and/or sensitization to allergens such as dust, animal dander, and cockroaches are among triggers associated with asthma cases. Literature suggests looking at the areas where individuals spend a considerable amount of time to identify potential exposure sources. Currently, many of these studies have been done regarding the home indoor environment; however, few specifically document the concentrations in carpeting in elementary schools and the exposure time associated with floor-based activities. The objective of this research was to quantify the concentrations of cat (Felis domesticus I), dust mite (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus I, Dermatophagoides farinae I), and cockroach (Blatella germanica) allergens in carpeting in an elementary school kindergarten class and to document and quantify student group activities that are floor-based. One Florida elementary school classroom was identified as the study site. A total of eight reservoir dust samples were collected during the school year to be analyzed for Felis domesticus I, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus I, Dermatophagoides farinae I, and Blatella germanica allergens. The sampling reservoir was the carpeting used for group floor-based activities by the school children. Dust samples from the carpet were analyzed by The Johns Hopkins University Reference Laboratory for Dermatology, Allergy, and Clinical Immunology (DACI). The sample collection methodology followed the "Dust Analysis Instructions for Use" provided by the DACI laboratory, along with the "nozzle sock" sampling media. Following discussions with the kindergarten teacher regarding curriculum and scheduled classroom activities, group floor activities were identified. The kindergarten class was observed periodically throughout a school year to document and quantify classroom activities that were floor-based. The information documented includes: occupancy of classroom, occupied floor area, occupant density, and time spent on carpeting. Felis domesticus I (Fel d I) measurements ranged from 2,206 - 10,558 ng of allergen/g of settled dust, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus I (Der p I) measurements ranged from 3,408 - 86,704 ng/g and Dermatophagoides farinae I (Der f I) measurements ranged from 704 - 6,720 ng/g, and Blatella germanica (Bla g I) measurements were below detection limits. Based upon the DACI criteria, dust mite concentrations were moderate to high and cat concentrations were low to moderate. Kindergarten children spent approximately 38% of classroom time in floor-based activities.

Les lymphoproliférations à cellules T du tractus gastro-intestinal (GI-TLPD) sont des lymphomes digestifs T primitifs très rares de l’homme, de diagnostic complexe, pour lesquels aucun consensus thérapeutique n’a encore été établi. Par ailleurs, une lymphoprolifération digestive indolente à cellules T (T-LGIL) émergente est décrite dans l’espèce féline et représente actuellement la première tumeur digestive chez le chat. La physiopathologie de ces deux entités reste très mal définie.Nous avons analysé de manière extensive les prélèvements de 22 chats présentant un T-LGIL sur les plans clinique, paraclinique, histopathologique et moléculaire. Nos données indiquent que les caractéristiques du T-LGIL sont très similaires à celles de la GI-TLPD humaine et valident que ce modèle animal est pertinent pour l’étude de la maladie chez l’homme. Nous avons en outre mis en évidence une dérégulation de la voie JAK/STAT lors de T-LGIL qui pourrait représenter une cible thérapeutique d’intérêt, commune aux deux espèces. Dans la seconde partie du travail, notre objectif a été l’identification de biomarqueurs susceptibles de discriminer les lymphoproliférations indolentes félines de bas-grade des entérites lymphoplasmocytaires, ce diagnostic différentiel étant un défi dans l’espèce féline. Nous avons établi de nouveaux critères histologiques et immunohistochimiques. En revanche, les données du séquençage du microbiote n’ont pas mis en évidence de différence significative entre les deux groupes.La synthèse de ces données nous a permis de proposer un nouveau modèle de lymphomagenèse basé sur un continuum entre une entéropathie inflammatoire chronique et l’émergence de clones néoplasiques T au sein de la muqueuse intestinale. Dans la suite de ce travail, un séquençage du virome ainsi qu’une analyse pangénomique et pantranscriptomique par whole genome et RNA sequencing sont actuellement en cours afin d’identifier les altérations oncogéniques impliquées dans la pathogenèse des T-LGIL. / T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder of the GI tract (GI T-LPD) is a rare and often misdiagnosed human primary gastrointestinal T-cell lymphoma, for which there is currently no therapeutic consensus. Meanwhile, an emerging indolent GI lymphoma subtype affecting the ageing domestic cat, named feline T-cell low grade intestinal lymphoma (T-LGIL) has become the first digestive neoplasia in this species. Little is known about the pathogenesis of indolent T-LPD in both species.We therefore analyzed digestive samples of 22 cats diagnosed with T-LGIL and therefore, we performed an extensive clinical, paraclinical, histopathological and molecular characterization. Our data indicate that T-LGIL displays similar features as human GI TLPD and hence, may be considered as a relevant animal model for the human disease. We also showed that JAK/STAT pathway was deregulated in T-LGIL and could represent a potential therapeutictarget for both species.In the second part of the work, we aimed to identify biomarkers that can discriminate T-LGIL from its main differential diagnosis, i.e. lymphocytic-plasmacytic enteritis. We detected specific histological and immunohistochemical features. However, microbiota profiles were similar between both groups.Altogether, these results prompted us to propose a new lymphomagenesis model based on a continuum between inflammatory bowel disease and clonal emergence of small T-cell lymphocytes within the intestinal mucosa. Further studies including virome sequencing, whole genome sequencing and RNA-sequencing are ongoing to better define specific oncogenic somatic events involved in T-LGIL pathogenesis.

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Proteases have a fundamental role in regulating diverse biological processes and are important in the biotechnological and medical fields. Therapeutic proteases have great potential but have been limited due to the lack of high throughput protein engineering methods. In this thesis, a method was developed for high throughput screening of protease libraries based on competitive growth in selective media. A proof-of-principle method using the Tobacco Etch Virus protease (TEVp) was developed. TEVp and the reporter consisting of an aggregation-prone peptide amyloidbeta42 (Aβ42) genetically fused to the antibiotic resistance enzyme chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT), were co-expressed in Escherichia coli. The CAT enzyme makes the cells resistant to Chloramphenicol (Cml). Two different reporters containing different cleavage sites situated between the Aβ42 and CAT were used for which TEVp has distinguishable proteolysis efficiencies. Cleavage of the fusion protein would give the cell a growth advantage in media with Cml since the CAT enzyme would avoid misfolding due to Aβ42. The method demonstrates that cells with different substrates can be differentiated based on their survival. A 100-fold enrichment of clones expressing the efficient substrate was also demonstrated from a background of 1:1000 of clones expressing the inefficiently cleaved substrate. Moreover, a semi-rational TEVp library was successfully cloned and co-electroporated with the reporter into E. coli for future selection.