Résumé The presented work addresses the issue of the double-tracking nature of a dominant position in European competition law. The aim of the integration efforts during the establishment of the EU was the creation of an internal market, especially the customs union. In order to achieve this state, it was necessary to take a number of integration measures and create a legal framework, i.e. conditions, under which economic competition in the internal market could operate effectively. In this context a variety of legislation valid for the whole EU territory has been accepted. However, in the context of the economic competition this work analyzes the legislation on market dominance carried out first in Article 102 of TFEU (Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union) prohibiting restrictive business practices in the form of abuse of a dominant position and also in Council Regulation (EEC) No 4064/89 and later in Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 regulating the control of concentrations between undertakings. In case of both the legislations the crucial question is the "dominant position" of an enterprise in the market, while Article 102 of TFEU represents the ex post control, i.e. applies only to the possible abuse of the dominant position, and in this sense the dominant position itself is not the...

The extensive and sometimes incorrect and noncompliant use of various types of antimicrobial agents has accelerated the development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). In fact, AMR has become one of the greatest global threat to human health in this era. The broad-spectrum antibiotics aminoglycosides (AGs) display excellent potency against most Gram-negative bacteria, mycobacteria, and some Gram-positive bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus. The AG antibiotics amikacin, gentamicin, kanamycin, and tobramycin are still commonly prescribed in the U.S.A. for the treatment of serious infections. Unfortunately, bacteria evolve to acquire resistance to AGs via four different mechanisms: i) changing in membrane permeability to resist drugs from entering, ii) upregulating efflux pumps for active removal of intracellular AGs, iii) modifying the antimicrobial target(s) to prevent drugs binding to their targets, and iv) acquiring resistance enzymes to chemically inactivate the compounds. Amongst all, the acquisition of resistance enzymes, AG-modifying enzymes (AMEs), is the most common resistance mechanism identified. Depending on the chemistry each enzyme catalyzes, AMEs can be further divided into AG N-acetyltransferases (AACs), AG O-phosphotransferases (APHs), and AG O-nucleotidyltransferases. To overcome AME-related resistance, we need to better understand these resistance enzymes and further seek ways to either escape or inhibit their actions. In this dissertation, I summarized my efforts to characterize the AAC(6') domain and its mutant enzymes from a bifunctional AME, AAC(6')-Ie/APH(2")-Ia as well as another common AME, APH(3')-IIa. I also explained my attempt to inhibit the action of various AAC enzymes using metal salts. In an effort to explore the current resistance epidemic, I evaluated the resistance against carbapenem and AG antibiotics and the correlation between the resistance profiles and the AME genes in a collection of 122 Pseudomonas aeruginosa clinical isolates obtained from the University of Kentucky Hospital System. Besides tackling the resistance mechanisms in bacteria, I have also attempted to explore a new antifungal option by repurposing an existing antipsychotic drug, bromperidol, and a panel of its derivatives into a combination therapy with the azole antifungals against a variety of pathogenic yeasts and filamentous fungi.

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Les solutions de tensioactifs de faibles concentrations sont composées de micelles de diverses formes, principalement des micelles cylindriques libres ou peu enchevêtrées. Sous écoulement de cisaillement, ces solutions présentent un comportement rhéoépaississant "augmentation de la viscosité". Ce phénomène est lié à la formation d'une nouvelle structure induite par le cisaillement (Shear Induced Structure : SIS). L'objectif majeur de cette étude est de connaître les propriétés de rhéoépaississement de quatre systèmes, en faisant varier de manière contrôlée les dimensions des micelles en procédant au changement de la longueur de la chaîne aliphatique.<br />Les systèmes retenus appartiennent à la famille de CnTAB (C12-, C14-, C16- et C18TAB). Nous avons effectué une comparaison entre des résultats de rhéométrie, rhéo-optique, vélocimétrie ultrasonore et diffusion de neutrons aux petits angles. L'ensemble de ce travail a abouti à une description des formes et des dimensions des micelles présentent à l'équilibre. Sous écoulement, il a été déduit que les dimensions des micelles sont grandes et facilement orientables même aux faibles cisaillements quand la chaîne aliphatique est longue. Au déclenchement du rhéoépaississement, la structure induite est totalement orientée et se modifie dans le sens de l'écoulement. Aux taux de cisaillement élevés, les systèmes ont un comportement rhéologique identique, de même que la structure demeure orientée. Sur la base de nos résultats et de ceux de travaux antérieurs, nous avons proposé un modèle décrivant les transitions de formes micellaires liées au comportement sous écoulement des solutions micellaires.

<p>Ventriculo-peritoneal shunting is the most commonly used method for the treatment of paediatric hydrocephalus. Despite improved shunts and surgical techniques there are still complications. This retrospective study focuses on diagnoses and treatment of shunt malfunction and infections. Cost/benefit of using an adjustable shunt was assessed. Two adjustable cerebrospinal fluid shunts and their compatible antisiphon devices were compared in-vitro.</p><p>In 21 of 46 children the standard shunt was changed to an adjustable one due to over-drainage. Adjustment of the shunt was performed in 73% of the children thereby avoiding surgery in several cases. This was a financial advantage.</p><p>Ascites or an abdominal pseudocyst without infection was detected in eight children due to resorption difficulties. A ventriculo-atrial shunt was inserted for a period of time. In three children it could successfully be reverted to a ventriculo-peritoneal.</p><p>In six children papilloedema was the only sign of shunt dysfunction. At revision the intracranial pressure ranged from 25 to 52 cm H₂O. Fundoscopic examination in children older than 8 years may detect symptomless shunt malfunction.</p><p>During a 13-year period 39 shunt infections were diagnosed. Skin bacteria were found in 80%. Prolonged and anaerobic cultures increased the detection rate by more than one third. The intraventricular infections were treated with intraventricular and systemic antibiotics resulting in quick sterilisation. No relapses were encountered. In five older children with distal catheter infection <i>Propionibacterium acne</i> was found. These were treated with intravenous antibiotics and exchanging of the shunt system.</p><p>Strata NSC^TM and Codman Hakim^TM worked according to the manufacturers except at the lowest setting. The resistance was below and in the lower range of the physiological one respectively. The antisiphon device of Strata shunt had to be placed in line with shunt to function properly. </p>

Ventriculo-peritoneal shunting is the most commonly used method for the treatment of paediatric hydrocephalus. Despite improved shunts and surgical techniques there are still complications. This retrospective study focuses on diagnoses and treatment of shunt malfunction and infections. Cost/benefit of using an adjustable shunt was assessed. Two adjustable cerebrospinal fluid shunts and their compatible antisiphon devices were compared in-vitro. In 21 of 46 children the standard shunt was changed to an adjustable one due to over-drainage. Adjustment of the shunt was performed in 73% of the children thereby avoiding surgery in several cases. This was a financial advantage. Ascites or an abdominal pseudocyst without infection was detected in eight children due to resorption difficulties. A ventriculo-atrial shunt was inserted for a period of time. In three children it could successfully be reverted to a ventriculo-peritoneal. In six children papilloedema was the only sign of shunt dysfunction. At revision the intracranial pressure ranged from 25 to 52 cm H2O. Fundoscopic examination in children older than 8 years may detect symptomless shunt malfunction. During a 13-year period 39 shunt infections were diagnosed. Skin bacteria were found in 80%. Prolonged and anaerobic cultures increased the detection rate by more than one third. The intraventricular infections were treated with intraventricular and systemic antibiotics resulting in quick sterilisation. No relapses were encountered. In five older children with distal catheter infection Propionibacterium acne was found. These were treated with intravenous antibiotics and exchanging of the shunt system. Strata NSCTM and Codman HakimTM worked according to the manufacturers except at the lowest setting. The resistance was below and in the lower range of the physiological one respectively. The antisiphon device of Strata shunt had to be placed in line with shunt to function properly.

Det övergripande syftet med min C-uppsats är att granska lärarens bedömning och perceptio-ner för elever i behov av särskilt stöd och vidare belysa vilka möjligheter och begränsningar de anser sig ha för att kunna ta hänsyn till elever i behov av särskilt stöd samt få en syn på de skolsituationer som barn och elever med dolda funktionshinder och i behov av särskilt stöd kan befinna sig i. För att få svar på mina frågor har sex lärare inklusive en special lärare intervjuats och samti-digt diskuterades de psykologiska och biologiska faktorer kring barns och ungdomars utveck-ling. Den historiska återblicken ger oss en uppfattning på hur begreppet ”en skola för alla” har utvecklats inom loppet av tiden och vilka syn på barn i behov av särskilt stöd har pedagogerna idag. De centrala frågorna rörde sig om pedagogernas uppfattning om barn med koncentra-tionssvårigheter och deras syn på diagnostisering av barn med problem. En inkluderande inte-grering i jämförelse med segregering diskuterades också samt hur pedagogerna kan hjälpa dessa barn. Eleverna i skolan är olika och deras olikheter måste mötas med omtanke. För att uppfylla de-ras behov krävs kunniga och kompetenta personal i skolan. Skolan måste ha en fungerande och tillfredställande elevvård för att kunna nå skolans mål. Skolornas neddragningar på grund av ekonomiska problem gör att barn med dolda funktionshinder misslyckas allt oftare i da-gens skola. Dessa orsakar att barn får ett dåligt självförtroende med upprepade misslyckande och försämrar deras problem. Allmänt finns det en del olika faktorer som ligger bakom barn med koncentrations svårighe-ter. De biologisk och ärftliga faktorer samt tillväxtmiljön och deras samhällsställning kan ge-nerellt nämnas. Brist på tid, ekonomi och kunskap i skolorna är det en barriär för att kunna hjälpa barn med svårigheter. / The comprehensive purpose with this paper is to have a look at teacher’s assessment and per-ception of pupils with special educational needs. And further illustrate which possibilities and restrictions they believe to have, to take children with special educational needs into consid-eration and get a view of school situations who children with hidden functional disability and with special educations needs are at the present. To get answer to my questions, six teachers inclusive a special teacher for pupils with im-paired disabilities have been interviewed and discussed the psychological and biological fac-tors around children’s development. The historical review gave us a perceptive on how defini-tion of “school for all” has been developed during the time and what is teacher’s opinion on children with special needs today. The central questions were concentrating on teachers un-derstanding of children with concentration difficulty and their opinion on diagnostic of chil-dren with problems. An “including integration” compared to segregating been discussed as well and finally discussed how teachers can help these children. Pupils in school are not comparable and these differences must meets carefully. To meet chil-dren’s requirements schools have need of personnel’s competence and proficiency. Schools required having functioning and satisfactory pupil welfare to achieve the aim. Lowering of school resources due to economical problems do that child with hidden functional disability fails more often in schools these days. These effects cause that children get a horrific self-confidence and worsen their problems. Generally, there are different factors behind the con-centrations difficulty. The biological and hereditary factors as well as home environment and their class society can points out in general. Lacking of time, economy and knowledge stops teachers to helping children in school.

Le massif de Tropoja est le plus septentrional des massifs de la ceinture orientale des ophiolites d'Albanie dont les caractères pétrologiques et métallogéniques s'apparentent aux produits magmatiques des arcs insulaires immatures. Quatre niveaux enrichis en chromite ont été définis d'après leur stratigraphie, leur structure et leur composition : trois dans le manteau et un dans les cumulats. D'importantes variations de la fugacité en oxygène ont accompagné la formation des chromitites et des minéralisations en élement du groupe du platine qui leur sont associées. Au Sud du massif, une forte fugacité en oxygène couplée à une faible fugacité en soufre seraient responsables de la précipitation, directement à partir du magma, d'alliages de fer et de platine, qui forment la minéralisation platinifère caractéristiques des cumulas de Tropoja. Cette minéralisation, rare dans les autres massifs ophiolitiques, est située dans un niveau bréchique, à l'interface de dunites basales et de pyroxénites. Les teneurs de platine, qui peuvent atteindre 11 grammes par tonne, sont corrélées positivement aux concentrations de chrome. Trois stades minéralisants y ont été définis, le dernier étant lié à des interactions entre minéraux et fluides tardifs. D'autres caractéristiques minéralogiques de cette minéralisation, importantes pour le traitement des minerais, ont été obtenues grâce à une étude statistique. Au Nord du massif, les minéralisations platinifères, localisées dans le manteau, sont associées à des sulfures de métaux de base.

En nedgång har setts i Sverige och Europa när det gäller luftföroreningar de senast årtiondena. Nedgången beror bland annat på minskade emissioner från industrier, övergång från uppvärmning med olje- och kolpannor till fjärrvärme och förbättrad bränslekvalitet. Denna studie utvärderar lufthalts- och nedfallsmätningar gjorda i närheten av pappers- och massaindustrin Korsnäs i Gävle. Mätserierna startar vid sent 1970-tal och går fram till årsskiftet 2009/2010. Nedfall av stoft, sulfat, natrium, kalcium och lufthalter av svaveldioxid samt sot studerades. Jämförelser gjordes med Korsnäs miljöförbättrande åtgärder och emissioner under tidsperioden och med andra mätningar gjorda i Sverige och Gävleborgs län. Studien visade en nedgång av svaveldioxidhalterna i luften. Detta stämmer bra med en kraftig reduktion av svavelemissionerna från fabriksområdet under tidigt 1990-tal då installationer av reningsanläggningar skedde på de största emissionskällorna av svaveldioxid. En minskning av svavelhalten i eldningsoljan från Karskär Energi AB, ett energikombinat ägt av Korsnäs på samma fabriksområde, bidrog under samma tidperiod även till emissionsminskningen. Sothalten visade ingen nedåtgående trend under perioden men var säsongsberoende med i genomsnitt högre halter på vinterhalvåret. Troligtvis berodde detta på förbränningsanläggningar i närområdet, så som enskild förbränning och Karskär Energi AB. Fördelning av de högsta lufthalterna visade inte högre halter av svaveldioxid och sot när medelvindriktningen var ostlig och därmed blåste från fabriksområdet mot mätstationen utan när vindriktningen var sydvästlig och blåste från inlandet. Det totala stoft- och kalciumnedfallet visade ingen nedgång men hade i genomsnitt högre uppmätta halter på sommarhalvåret. Sulfatnedfallet visade högre halter under sent 1980-tal för att därefter minska och natriumnedfallet minskade något under perioden. Inga tydliga kopplingar kunde ses mellan lufthalter respektive nedfall och emissionerna från fabriksområdet när dataserierna sorterades efter vindriktning, vindhastighet och efter sommar- respektive vinterhalvår. Nedfall och lufthalter var inte högre, förutom för svaveldioxid, när jämförelser gjordes med andra mätningar i Sverige och Gävleborgs län och samtliga mätningar låg under periodens gällande nationella gränsvärden. / A decline has been seen in Sweden and Europe when it comes to air pollution the last decades. The decline is partly due to reduced emissions from industries, switching from heating using oil and coal boilers to district heating and better fuel quality. This study evaluates deposition and air concentration measurements made in the vicinity of the pulp and paper industry Korsnäs in Gävle. The measurement series starts at the late 1970s and goes up to year-end 2009/2010. Deposition of dust, sulphate, sodium, calcium and air concentrations of sulphur dioxide and soot were studied. Comparisons were made with Korsnäs environmental measures and emissions during the same time period and with other measurements made in Sweden and Gävleborgs County. The study showed a decrease in sulphur dioxide concentrations in the air. This fits well with a major reduction of sulphur emissions from the factory area in the early 1990s when installations of treatment plants were made at the largest emission sources of sulphur dioxide. Reducing the sulphur content of fuel oil from Karskär Energi AB, an energy combine owned by Korsnäs in the same factory area, contributed to the decrease during the same time period. Air concentrations of soot showed no downward trend over the years, but were seasonal, with higher average soot concentrations in the winter. This was most likely caused by the burning of fuel oil from both the private sector and Karskär Energi AB. The largest air concentrations did not show higher levels of sulphur dioxide and soot when the mean wind direction was easterly and thus blew from factory area toward the monitoring station but when the wind direction was southwesterly and blew from inland. The total dust and calcium deposition showed no decline but had higher average measured levels in the summer. Sulphate deposition showed high levels during the late 1980s but has thereafter decreased. The sodium deposition decreased a little during the time period. No clear connection was found between deposition/air concentrations and emissions from the factory area when the data series were sorted by wind direction, wind speed and after the summer and winter months. Depositions and air concentrations were not higher except for sulphur dioxide when the comparison was made with other measurements in Sweden and Gävleborg County. All measurements were below the then current national limits.

Document formatted into pages; contains 115 pages. / Title from PDF of title page. / Original thesis was submitted in HTML and can be accessed at http://www.lib.usf.edu/EDT-db/theses/available/etd-10262001-162331/unrestricted/default.htm / Thesis (M.S.)--University of South Florida, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references. / Text (Electronic thesis) in PDF format. / ABSTRACT: The purposes of this research were to determine the efficacy of using the Ogawa]a passive sampling device (PSD) to measure ammonia and to identify significant ammonia sources adjacent to Hillsborough and Tampa Bay. Ninety-four samplers were deployed over a 180-km2 area for two weeks in October 2001. Within the area sampled were located suburbs, an urban center, major highways, port activities, fertilizer manufacturing, wastewater treatment, coal-combustion power plants, warehousing and dairy farming. The sampled locations were arranged in a triangular grid pattern spaced 1.5 km apart. The pattern was designed to locate circular hot spots with a minimum radius of 0.75 km. The minimum, maximum, mean, and median ammonia concentrations were 0.06, 15, 2.0, and 1.5 mg/m3, respectively, and the estimated precision was 16%. Hot spots identified from kriged concentration data coincided with inventoried ammonia sources. / ABSTRACT: The relative bias and precision of the PSD based on collocation with an annular denuder system were (plus or minus) 30 % and 20 %. / System requirements: World Wide Web browser and PDF reader. / Mode of access: World Wide Web.