Les ligands orthostériques transmettent un signal complexe aux cellules en se fixant à l'intérieur de la pochette de liaison de leur récepteur cible. Le changement conformationel qui en résulte modifie l'efficacité du récepteur à recruter et activer les seconds messagers en amont des voies de signalisation, soit les protéines G hétérotrimériques dans le cas des récepteurs couplés aux protéines G (GPCRs). Ces variations entraînent une vaste gamme de modifications dans le milieu intracellulaire. Par exemple, l'activation de la protéine G q provoque entre autres l'activation de la phospholipase C? (PLC? ), la production d'inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (1P3), puis l'activation des protéines kinases C (PKC). L'activation de la protéine G s , pour sa part, stimule l'activité de l'adénylate cyclase (AC), ce qui entraîne la production d'AMPc et l'activation de la protéine kinase A (PKA). Un ligand n'influence pas nécessairement deux voies de signalisation indépendantes de façon similaire, ce qui lui confère la propriété de sélectivité fonctionnelle. Dans ce travail, nous avons caractérisé le profil pharmacologique de ligands orthostériques du récepteur FP de la PGF2? à l'aide d'un clone HEK-293-SL exprimant le récepteur FP de façon stable. La mesure de la production d'IP3 a permis d'évaluer la voie de la PLC alors que la mesure de la production d'AMP c a permis d'évaluer la voie de l'AC. Pour chacune d'entre elles, le fluprostenol s'est comporté comme un agoniste complet moins puissant que l'agoniste naturel. Le composé synthétique Al-8810 s'est comporté comme un agoniste partiel de la voie de la PLC, alors qu'il s'est avéré être un antagoniste de la voie de l'AC. Ces résultats démontrent que l'activité d'un ligand vis-à-vis un récepteur dépend du groupe d'effecteurs observé, ce qui illustre le concept de sélectivité fonctionnelle des ligands. L'étude des composés allostériques THG113 et THG113.824 démontre que ces derniers n'influencent pas la signalisation déclenchée en aval du récepteur FP par son agoniste naturel. Ces résultats suggèrent qu'ils agiraient comme antagoniste des effets de la PGF 2? par un mécanisme indépendant du récepteur FP. [Symboles non conformes]

<p>In the first part of this work, the influence of hydrogen on the structural and magnetic properties of Fe/V(001) superlattices was studied. The local structure of the vanadium-hydride layers was determined by extended x-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) measurements. The magnetic ordering in a weakly coupled Fe/V(001) superlattice was investigated using the magneto-optical Kerr effect (MOKE). The interlayer exchange coupling is weakened upon alloying with hydrogen and a phase with short-range magnetic order was observed.</p><p>The second part is concerned with first-principles calculations of magnetic materials, with a focus on magnetic recording applications. The uniaxial magnetic anisotropy energy (MAE) of Fe, Co, and Ni was calculated for tetragonal and trigonal structures. Based on an analysis of the electronic states of tetragonal Fe and Co at the center of the Brillouin zone, tetragonal Fe-Co alloys were proposed as a material that combines a large uniaxial MAE with a large saturation magnetization. This was confirmed by experimental studies on (Fe,Co)/Pt superlattices. The large uniaxial MAE of L1₀ FePt is caused by the large spin-orbit interaction on the Pt sites in connection with a strong hybridization between Fe and Pt. Furthermore, it was shown that the uniaxial MAE can be increased by alloying the Fe sublattice with Mn. The combination of the high-moment rare-earth (RE) metals with the high-<i>T</i>_C 3<i>d</i> transition metals in RE/Cr/Fe multilayers (RE = Gd, Tb, Dy) gives rise to a strong ferromagnetic effective exchange interaction between the Fe layers and the RE layer. The MAE of hcp Gd was found to have two principal contributions, namely the dipole interaction of the large localized 4<i>f</i> spins and the band electron magnetic anisotropy due to the spin-orbit interaction. The peculiar temperature dependence of the easy axis of magnetization was reproduced on a qualitative level.</p>

Problema de investigación El tema objeto de la presente investigación se centra en el análisis del funcionamiento del módulo de FCT (Formación en Centros de Trabajo) en los Ciclos Formativos, tanto de Grado Medio como de Grado Superior, relacionados con las Familias Profesionales técnico-industriales, pertenecientes a la nueva FP (Formación Profesional) específica de la Ley Orgánica General del Sistema Educativo (LOGSE) de 1990, que se está llevando a cabo en los institutos públicos y concertados de la provincia de Zaragoza. En este sentido, se pretende conocer y comprobar el funcionamiento de dicho módulo, necesario para la obtención del título correspondiente, mediante la percepción que tienen los tres agentes directamente implicados: alumnos, profesores y tutores de empresa.Muestra y método de muestreoLos datos concretos sobre la población de referencia que se han utilizado para el muestreo han sido tomados de los datos reales facilitados por la inspección del Servicio Provincial del Departamento de Educación y Ciencia de Zaragoza, en soporte informático, a finales del año 2000. Como la investigación sólo se va a centrar en las Familias Profesionales técnico-industriales, las distintas poblaciones quedaron formadas por: 930 alumnos, 70 profesores y 279 tutores de empresa. Definidas las poblaciones de estudio, el siguiente paso consiste en establecer las diferentes muestras. Éstas se han seleccionado empleando un muestreo polietápico (combinación de diversos métodos), no probabilístico por cuotas con afijación proporcional. Se decide establecer tantos estratos o cuotas como variables diferenciales para la selección de las muestras. Como primera de ellas se considera la Ubicación del Centro formativo, Zaragoza o municipios. En el segundo caso, se tiene en cuenta como variable la Titularidad del Centro, escuela pública o privada concertada. En el tercer y último caso, se establece la diferencia de Niveles Formativos, el de Grado Medio y el de Grado Superior. El investigador distribuyó 800 cuestionarios (400 de alumnos, 100 de profesores y 300 de tutores de empresa), de los cuales se perdieron entre un 10 y un 20% una vez depurados los datos, con lo que finalmente los cuestionarios útiles que constituyeron la muestra de investigación fueron 495 (289 de alumnos, 61 de profesores y 145 de tutores de empresa). Una vez seleccionadas las cuotas se escogen los centros de enseñanza secundaria por asignación del investigador. La muestra total ascendió a 20 centros, 15 de titularidad pública y 5 de la privada concertada.Metodología de trabajo Interesa detectar las opiniones y percepciones en relación al desarrollo de los convenios de prácticas en empresas del módulo de FCT de Familias Profesionales técnico-industriales en el ámbito provincial de Zaragoza. Pero, además, se quiere profundizar en el conocimiento del funcionamiento real de dicho módulo. Para ello, se intentarán combinar los dos grandes estilos de la investigación social y pedagógica, a saber, el cuantitativo y el cualitativo. Se trata de una investigación descriptiva (basada en datos cuantitativos y cualitativos), no sólo limitada a observar y descubrir fenómenos y situaciones que permitan comprender e interpretar lo que realmente se está haciendo, sino a proponer las propuestas oportunas para su mejora. Por ello, además del cuestionario como instrumento de recogida de datos, se realizarán entrevistas (no estructuradas), que serán volcadas en notas de campo para recabar información directa de los propios profesores, tutores de empresa y alumnos. El registro y contraste de las observaciones realizadas por el investigador servirán, a su vez, para reforzar la credibilidad de la investigación.Técnicas de análisis Se han valorado los cuestionarios, las entrevistas y la observación como los instrumentos más eficaces y operativos para obtener la información necesaria que permita dar respuesta a las intenciones planteadas para este trabajo de investigación.Los cuestionarios empleados han sido de tres tipos, de acuerdo a los destinatarios de los mismos: alumnos, profesores tutores de FCT y tutores de empresa. Esta variedad de cuestionarios corresponde a la necesidad de triangular la información obtenida, y se han preparado para facilitar su posterior tratamiento informático con el programa SPSS v.10.0. Dadas las características del principal instrumento utilizado, se ha recurrido al método Alfa de Cronbach para considerar la consistencia interna del cuestionario. El resultado obtenido permitió asegurar una fiabilidad aceptable, pues en todos los casos el coeficiente de fiabilidad fue superior a 0,80. Verificada la fiabilidad a través del procedimiento estadístico ya indicado, la validación ha sido realizada por la revisión crítica de jueces (validez de contenido) sobre la idoneidad, pertinencia y valía de los instrumentos empleados para el objeto de estudio. También se realizaron registros de entrevistas no estructuradas en un cuaderno de campo, sin cuestionario previo y en situaciones informales, a los distintos sujetos implicados. Paralelamente se empleó la técnica de la observación. Entre las técnicas de análisis principales que se emplearon, destacan las siguientes:- Depuración y análisis preliminar de los datos previamente codificados, a través de estadísticos descriptivos, con el objeto de evitar y corregir errores en los análisis específicos posteriores.- Estudio estadístico descriptivo de las variables empleadas para caracterizar las muestras de los colectivos participantes en la investigación, así como para comparar posibles diferencias entre centros públicos y concertados. Para dicho análisis se cuenta con las tablas de contingencia y chi-cuadrado.- Análisis de diferencias entre variables empleadas para la comparación y descripción de la formación desarrollada. Se cuenta en este caso con el contraste de medias (empleando como estadístico la t de Student, previa prueba de Levene para la igualdad de varianzas), las desviaciones típicas y algunas correlaciones específicas.- Clasificación de las respuestas proporcionadas por el registro de entrevistas informales, intentando llevar a cabo un proceso analítico riguroso (con ayuda de Excel) que permita codificar unas categorías que puedan ser comparadas entre sí, a fin de clarificar aquellos aspectos que en los cuestionarios se muestran poco estables, dudosos o contradictorios.Conclusiones finalesAunque siempre habrá cosas a mejorar para preparar de manera más adecuada a los alumnos de FP de especialidades técnico-industriales, como aspectos de cierta relevancia en la presente investigación merecen destacarse los siguientes:- La valoración realizada por los diferentes informantes implicados sobre el desarrollo de prácticas del módulo de FCT es positiva.- La duración del periodo de prácticas de FCT se considera, en general, suficiente.- La información que tienen los alumnos, profesores y tutores de empresa sobre el módulo de prácticas de FCT es suficiente.- La metodología didáctica empleada y el procedimiento de evaluación del módulo de FCT parece ser el adecuado.- El programa formativo de FCT se cumple según alumnos, profesores y tutores de empresa (aunque pueda haber desviaciones en algunos casos).- El grado de participación de los alumnos y tutores de empresa en la elaboración del programa formativo de prácticas de FCT es bastante escaso o casi nulo.- La escasa implicación de los agentes sociales (sindicatos y Cámara de Comercio e Industria) en los módulos de prácticas de FCT, según la opinión de los profesores y tutores de empresa.- Prácticamente todos los informantes consideran recomendable una experiencia como la desarrollada con este módulo de FCT, ya que ofrece más posibilidades laborales a su finalización.Líneas de investigación futuraExisten, pues, a partir del trabajo efectuado, líneas abiertas para posibles investigaciones futuras. A continuación se proponen algunas de ellas:- Investigación de las características de la oferta de empleo y las diferentes necesidades de Formación Profesional Específica (FPE) en el sector industrial, y también en otros sectores.- Analizar el cumplimiento del "Pacto por la Educación" en Aragón, cuyas actuaciones finalizan en el año 2006, en lo que hace referencia a la FP.- Estudio sobre la colaboración escuela-empresa para la actualización tecnológica y sociolaboral del profesorado de FP.- Realizar un estudio comparativo sobre la FCT desarrollada en nuestro país con la equivalente que se lleva a cabo en los países de la UE.- Investigar las relaciones que se establecen con el módulo de FCT entre alumnos y profesores, alumnos y tutores de empresa y/o profesores con tutores de empresa.- Análisis longitudinal de los alumnos que se incorporan al mercado de trabajo, una vez finalizado el módulo de FCT. - Estudiar a fondo la implicación de los profesores de FOL (Formación y Orientación Laboral) en la FCT actualmente.- Elaboración de un "Plan estratégico" para la mejora de la FCT, considerando los resultados y conclusiones aportados en la presente tesis doctoral.- Investigar la importancia de las competencias profesionales, valores y actitudes de los alumnos en el desarrollo del módulo de FCT.Es de esperar que algunas acciones de investigación futura, como las indicadas, puedan ser abordadas a corto y medio plazo. / Subject of the researchThe research is focused on the analysis of the performance of the FCT module (Training at Workplaces) in Training Cycles, both Middle Degree and Upper Degree, related to Technical-Industrial Professional Families, belonging to the new specific FP (Vocational Training) of the General Organic Law of the Educational System (LOGSE) of 1990, which is being established in state and private schools (sustained with public funds) in the province of Zaragoza.In this sense, we expect to know and to verify the performance of the module mentioned above, necessary to obtain the corresponding qualification, through the perception of the three agents directly involved: pupils, teachers and tutors at the enterprise.Sample and method of samplingThe specific data on the population of reference that have been used for the sampling have been taken from the real data provided by the inspectors of the Provincial Service of the Departament of Education and Science of Zaragoza, in data processing backup, at the end of the year 2000.As the investigation is only going to be focused on the Technical-Industrial Professional Families, the different populations were formed by: 930 pupils, 70 teachers and 279 tutors at the enterprise.After defining the populations of the study, the following step consists of establishing the different samples. These have been selected by employing a multistage sampling (combination of different methods), non-probability by quotas with proportional-affix. It has been decided to establish as many stratus or quotas as differencial variables for the selection of the samples. To start with, it is considered the location of the school: Zaragoza or its municipalities. In the second case, it is taken into account the character of the school: if it is a state or a private school. In the third and last case, the difference of Training Levels is established: Middle Degree and Upper Degree. The researcher distributed 800 questionnaires (400 for pupils, 100 for teachers and 300 for tutors at the enterprise), of which between 10 and 20% were lost once the data were debugged, so finally the useful questionnaires that constituted the sample of research were 495 (289 from pupils, 61 from teachers and 145 from tutors at the enterprise). After the quotas were chosen the secondary schools were assigned by the researcher. The total sample went up to 20 schools, 15 of state ownership and 5 sustained with public funds (though private).Methodology of workIt is interesting to consider the opinions and perceptions in relation with the development of the agreements of practices in enterprises of the FCT Professional module of Families Technical-Industrial Families in the provincial scope of Zaragoza. But, besides, we want to go further into the knowledge of the real functioning of the module. In order to do that we will try to combine the two main styles of pedagogical and social research, that is, the quantitative one and the qualitative one.It is a matter of a descriptive research (based on qualitative and quantitative data), not only limited to observe and discover phenomena and situations that permit us to understand and to interpret what is really being done, but to offer proposals for its improvement. In that sense, besides the questionnaire as an instrument of collecting data, interviews will be carried out (non structured), which will become field notes to obtain direct information from the teachers, tutors at the enterprise and pupils. The recording and contrasting of the observations carried out by the researcher will serve, at the same time, to reinforce the credibility of the research.Techniques of analysisThe questionnaires, the interviews and observation have been considered the most efficient instruments to obtain the necessary information that allows us to give an answer to the intentions of this research.The questionnaires used have been of three types according to the recipients: pupils, teachers-tutors of FCT and tutors at the enterprise. This variety of the questionnaires corresponds to the need of having three aspects of the information obtained (data triangulation), and they have been prepared to facilitate their subsequent data processing with the program SPSS v. 10.0. Considering the characteristics of the main instrument utilized, we have determined to use the method Alpha of Cronbach to consider the internal consistency of the questionnaire. The result obtained permitted us to assure an acceptable reliability, since in all the cases the coefficient of reliability went over 0,80. After verifying the reliability through the statistical procedure already indicated, the validation has been carried out with the critical revision by judges (content validity) on the suitability, relevance and value of the instruments employed for the subject of the study.Non structured interviews were carried out in a field notebook, too, without prior questionnaire and in informal situations, with the different subjects involved. The technique of observation was employed as well.The following techniques of analysis were employed among others:- Depuration and preliminary analysis of the data previously codified, through descriptive statistics, with the purpose to avoiding and correcting mistakes in the subsequent specific analyses.- Descriptive statistical study of the variables used to characterize the samples of the groups participating in the research, as well as to compare possible differences between state and subsidized schools. For that analysis, contingency tables and chi-square are used.- Analysis of differences among variables employed for the comparison and description of the training that was carried out. In this case the contrast of means (employing as statistics the Student's t-test, after to Levene test for the equality of variances), the standard deviations and some specific correlations will be used.- Classification of the answers provided by the informal interviews in an attempt to carry out a rigorous analytical process (with the help of Excel) that allows to codify some categories that can be compared among themselves, in order to clarify those aspects that are shown as little stable, doubtful or contradictory in the questionnaires.Final conclusionsAlthough there will always be aspects that can be improved in the training of pupils from Technical-Indusrial specialities in Vocational Studies (FP), this research has found the following ones specially relevant:- The evaluation carried out by the different informants involved in the development of practices of the FCT module is positive.- The length of the period of practices is considered, in general, sufficient.- The information that pupils, teachers and tutors at the enterprise have about the module of practices of FCT is sufficient.- The didactic methodology employed and the procedure of evaluation of the FCT module seem to be adequate.- The training programme of FCT is completed according to the pupils, teachers and tutors at the enterprise (although there may be deviations in some cases).- The degree of participation of the pupils and tutors at the enterprise in the elaboration of the training programme of practices of FCT is rather scarce or almost null.- The scarce implication of the social agents (trade unions and The Chamber of Commerce and Industry) in the modules of practices of FCT, according to the opinions of teachers and tutors at the enterprise.- Practically all the informants consider an experience like the one developed with this FCT module advisable, since it offers more possibilities in the work field when it is finished.Future lines of researchAs we can gather from all the information obtained, there are still open lines for future researchs. Some of them are proposed bellow:- Research of the characteristics of the job offer and the different needs for Specific Professional Training (FPE) in the industrial and other sectors.- Analysis of the observance of the "Pact for the Education" in Aragón, whose actions will finish in the year 2006, as far as FP is concerned.- Study of the cooperation school-enterprise for the technological and socio-technical updating of the FP teachers.- A comparative study between the FCT developed in our country and the equivalent one that is carries out in the countries of the EU.- Investigation of the relationships that are stablished among the pupils and the teachers, the pupils and the tutors at the enterprise, and/or the teachers with the tutors at the enterprise within the FCT module.- Longitudinal analysis of the pupils that are incorporated to the labor market, once the FCT module is finished.- Study in depth the implication of the FOL (Training and Labor Orientation) teachers in the FCT at present.- Elaboration of a strategic plan for the improvement of the FCT, considering the results and conclusions offered by this doctoral thesis.- Research into the importance of the professional competences, values and attitudes of the pupils in the development of the FCT module.It is to be expected that some further actions of research, such as those indicated, can be undertaken in the near future.

Ce mémoire est une présentation des travaux que l'auteur a réalisé en théorie des aneaux et des modules. Plus précisément l'auteur s'est consacré à l'étude des anneaux commutatifs arithmétiques et plus particulièrement aux anneaux de valuation (non nécessairement intègres). Le résultat le plus remaquable est la démonstration du théorème qui dit que tout annean local à type de module borné est un anneau de valuation presque maximal. Sont aussi présentés des résultats sur la localisation des modules injectifs et sur les enveloppes pure-injectives de certains modules.

In the first part of this work, the influence of hydrogen on the structural and magnetic properties of Fe/V(001) superlattices was studied. The local structure of the vanadium-hydride layers was determined by extended x-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) measurements. The magnetic ordering in a weakly coupled Fe/V(001) superlattice was investigated using the magneto-optical Kerr effect (MOKE). The interlayer exchange coupling is weakened upon alloying with hydrogen and a phase with short-range magnetic order was observed. The second part is concerned with first-principles calculations of magnetic materials, with a focus on magnetic recording applications. The uniaxial magnetic anisotropy energy (MAE) of Fe, Co, and Ni was calculated for tetragonal and trigonal structures. Based on an analysis of the electronic states of tetragonal Fe and Co at the center of the Brillouin zone, tetragonal Fe-Co alloys were proposed as a material that combines a large uniaxial MAE with a large saturation magnetization. This was confirmed by experimental studies on (Fe,Co)/Pt superlattices. The large uniaxial MAE of L10 FePt is caused by the large spin-orbit interaction on the Pt sites in connection with a strong hybridization between Fe and Pt. Furthermore, it was shown that the uniaxial MAE can be increased by alloying the Fe sublattice with Mn. The combination of the high-moment rare-earth (RE) metals with the high-TC 3d transition metals in RE/Cr/Fe multilayers (RE = Gd, Tb, Dy) gives rise to a strong ferromagnetic effective exchange interaction between the Fe layers and the RE layer. The MAE of hcp Gd was found to have two principal contributions, namely the dipole interaction of the large localized 4f spins and the band electron magnetic anisotropy due to the spin-orbit interaction. The peculiar temperature dependence of the easy axis of magnetization was reproduced on a qualitative level.

<strong>Background:</strong> Sub-Saharan Africa is home to 85% of the world's HIV-positive adolescents: an estimated 1.3-2.2 million 10-19 year olds. Adolescents living with HIV face multiple sexual and reproductive health risks: unwanted pregnancies and the risk of mother-to-child-transmission, risk of infecting partners, co-infection with other STIs, and the rising but undocumented risk of re-infection by potentially resistant HI-virus strains. Using contraception, especially condoms, is particularly challenging for all adolescents. It is even more difficult for HIV-positive adolescents due to HIV-related factors such as learning their HIV-positive status, withholding or disclosing their HIV-status to sexual partners, and accessing services in the home, clinics, and schools. This thesis aims to understand which factors shape sexual risk-taking among HIV-positive adolescents to inform the development of interventions that promote safe sexual practices in this population. <strong>Methodology:</strong> This thesis applies a socio-ecological model to investigate factors associated with sexual risk-taking among HIV-positive adolescents. It consists of three stand-alone papers: a systematic review and two quantitative papers based on a cross-sectional epidemiological and aetiological study of unprotected sex among HIV-positive adolescents and community controls in South Africa. Paper 1 is a systematic review of rates, correlates, and interventions to reduce sexual risk-taking among HIV-positive adolescents and youth in sub-Saharan Africa. Paper 2 looks at associations between HIV-status knowledge and disclosure and protective sexual practices in the cross-sectional study sample. Paper 3 explores the relationship between various social protection provisions and unprotected sex among HIV-positive adolescents. The candidate co-developed and conducted a community-traced study of adolescents in the Eastern Cape, in South Africa: 1,060 HIV-positive adolescents and 467 community controls. HIV-positive 10-19 year old adolescents were recruited from 53 government facilities in a health sub-district with antenatal HIV prevalence of over 30%. 90.1% of the eligible sample was traced, with only 4.1% refusing to take part. Community controls were neighbouring or co-habiting 10-19 year old adolescents, 92% of whom agreed to take part. Voluntary informed consent was obtained from adolescents and caregivers in the language of their choice: English or Xhosa. Questionnaires were administered by trained research assistants using mobile devices (tablets) with adolescent-friendly graphic content to ensure participant interest and reduce participant burden through skip-patterns. The systematic review (Paper 1) included studies located through electronic databases and grey literature. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were followed. Quantitative studies reporting on HIV-positive participants (10-24 year old) included data on at least one of eight outcomes (early sexual debut, inconsistent condom use, older sexual partner, transactional sex, multiple sexual partners, sex while intoxicated, sexually transmitted infections, and pregnancy). Only studies conducted in sub-Saharan Africa were included. The candidate and a second author independently piloted all processes, screened studies, extracted data independently, and resolved any discrepancies. Due to variance in reported rates and correlates, no meta-analyses was conducted. The systematic review informed the analyses conducted for the two quantitative papers. Analyses for Papers 2 and 3 used condom use at last sexual encounter (dichotomised either as safe sex/abstinence or unprotected sex) as the outcome, controlling for a series of covariates. Analyses used SPSS 22 and STATA 11. For each paper, the hypothesised factors were entered as independent variables in multivariate logistic regressions controlling for potential confounders. Based on the findings of the systematic review, gender moderation analyses was run entering a 2-way interaction term of gender*correlate in multivariate logistic regressions, controlling for covariates. Marginal effect models explored the effect of combinations of risk/ protective factors. Predicted probabilities for safe sex/ unprotected sex were computed for different two- and three-way combinations of the independent variables, controlling for covariates significantly associated with the outcome. Paper 2 tested the effect of three types of disclosure on protective sexual practices: (i) knowledge of one's own HIV-positive status, (ii) disclosing one's HIV-status to a partner, and (iii) knowing a partner's HIV-status. It compared HIV-positive status aware adolescents (n=794) with the rest of the sample (n=733). Paper 3 investigated associations between nine types of social protection provisions and unprotected sex. In line with UNICEF's definition, social protection was defined as any provision aimed at preventing, reducing and eliminating economic and social vulnerabilities to poverty and deprivation among HIV-positive adolescents. The nine social protection provisions tested by the analyses included ‘cash' and ‘care' factors accessed in the home, school, and community. <strong>Results: Paper 1 – ‘Sexual Risk-Taking among HIV-Positive Adolescents and Youth in Sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review of prevalence rates, risk factors, and interventions.'</strong> The systematic review (Chapter 4) found that, despite their heightened vulnerabilities and high rates of sexual risk-taking, there is a dearth of evidence on interventions which may help HIV-positive adolescents engage in safe sexual practices. The review included 35 studies, four of which were interventions aiming to reduce sexual risk-taking. The quality of the included studies was low with most studies (k=31) reporting findings from cross-sectional data. HIV-positive adolescents and youth reported high rates of sexual risk-taking, however findings were inconsistent about potential factors associated with sexual risk-taking. Factors consistently associated with sexual risk-taking in multivariate analyses included: food insecurity, living alone, living with a partner, and gender-based violence. No significant associations were reported for: rural residence, informal housing, anxiety, religious guidance, STI prevention knowledge, poor birth outcomes, orphanhood, parental monitoring, having a supportive family, social support, maternal education level, poverty, disclosing one's HIV-status to a partner, time on ART, ART adherence, receiving care at a hospital, opportunistic infections. However, most of the above associations were reported by only one study, therefore further analyses is needed to build the evidence base on potential determinants of sexual risk-taking among HIV-positive adolescents and youth. The included interventions consist of three individual- and group-based psychosocial interventions evaluated in three small-scale trials (n<150) and one large trial of combination interventions for HIV-positive orphaned adolescent girls (n=710). Three of these interventions had positive effects in reducing sexual risk-taking: an individual based 18-session counselling intervention in Uganda, a support group intervention in South Africa, and a combination intervention in Zimbabwe. <strong>Quantitative data analyses of cross-sectional study data:</strong> Overall, adolescents in the full sample (n=1,527) reported high rates of sexual activity (34.9%) and high rates of unprotected sex (22%), with adolescent girls reporting higher rates of unprotected sex than boys (33% vs. 7%).

The aim of this diploma thesis is to introduce methods of detection of the QRS complex and the subsequent detection of P waves. The intention is to create a program by specified method in the software Matlab which will be able to implement this method. The thesis describes the basic and important methods of detection and subsequent algorithm to detect P waves. Solution of the algorithm is tested on real data. It also describes the automatic signal evaluation and the results of this automatic function.

Titel: Förekommer samband mellan CSR och finansiella prestationer i känsliga industrier? En kvantitativ studie på 217 publika bolag inom industrisektorer i Danmark, Finland, Norge och Sverige Nivå: Examensarbete på Grundnivå (kandidatexamen) i ämnet företagsekonomi Författare: Albin Anderhök och Agit Dönmez Handledare: Jan Svanberg  Datum: 2023 – januari    Syfte: Syftet med studien är att undersöka sambandet mellan CSR och finansiella prestationer för en geografisk kontext karaktäriserad av en omfattande hållbarhetsreglering för börsnoterade företag i de nordiska länderna Danmark, Finland, Norge och Sverige med inriktning på känsliga industrisektorer som kan anses granskas i hög grad. Metod: Studien utgår från en positivistisk forskningsfilosofi med en hypotetisk-deduktiv ansats. Studien inkluderar en kvantitativ forskningsstrategi som genomförts med data från 217 publika företag i Danmark, Finland, Norge och Sverige för året 2021. Data som använts i studien har inhämtats från databasen Refinitiv Eikon som sedan har analyserats i statistikprogrammet SPSS. I studien mäts sambandet mellan CSR och FP med måttet ESG-score samt med finansiella måtten ROE, ROIC och NPM. Resultat &amp; Slutsats: Studiens resultat ger bevis på att det förekommer ett negativt samband mellan CSR och finansiella prestationer i känsliga industrier verksamma i Danmark, Finland, Norge och Sverige.  Examensarbetets bidrag: Denna studie är ett unikt bidrag till företagsekonomiska ämnesområdet redovisning om sambandet mellan CSR och FP genom att den undersöker en kombination av kontextuella omständigheter där effekten av CSR och FP kan förväntas vara särskilt starkt. Förslag till fortsatt forskning: Förslag på vidare forskning är att utföra en studie med likartad kontext som vår studie men att separera de olika ESG-dimensionerna i syfte att fastställa eventuella skillnader i samband med finansiella prestationer. Ytterligare förslag till vidare forskning kan även vara att genomföra studien med andra prestationsmått som eventuellt uppvisa annat samband mellan CSR och FP. Nyckelord: CSR, FP, finansiella prestationer, ESG, legitimitetsteorin, intressentteorin och institutionella teorin. / Title: Is there a relationship between CSR and financial performance in sensitive industries? A quantitative study of 217 public companies within industrial sectors in Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland  Level: Student thesis, final assignment for Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration  Author: Albin Anderhök and Agit Dönmez Supervisor: Jan Svanberg  Date: 2023 – January  Aim: The purpose of the study is to investigate the relationship between CSR and FP for a geographical context characterized by strict environmental regulation for listed companies in the Nordic countries Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Finland with a focus on sensitive industrial sectors that can be considered highly scrutinized. Method: The study is based on a positivistic research philosophy with a hypothetical-deductive approach. The study includes a quantitative research strategy carried out with data from 217 public companies in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Finland for the year 2021. Data used in the study has been obtained from the Refinitiv Eikon database which has then been analysed in the SPSS statistical program. In the study, the relationship between CSR and FP is measured with the measure ESG score as well as with the financial measures ROE, ROIC and NPM. Result &amp; Conclusions: The results of the study provide evidence that there is a negative relationship between CSR and financial performance in industries operating in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Finland. Contribution of the thesis: This study makes a unique contribution to accounting research on the relationship between CSR and FP in that it examines a combination of contextual circumstances where the effect of CSR and FP can be expected to be particularly strong. Suggestions for future research: Suggestions for further research is to carry out a study with a similar context to our study but to separate the different ESG-dimensions in order to determine any differences in connection with financial performance. Additional suggestions for further research could also be to carry out the study with other performance measures that may show a different relationship between CSR and FP. Key words: CSR, financial performance, ESG, legitimacy theory, stakeholder theory and institutional theory.

Les récepteurs couplés aux protéines-G (RCPGs) constituent la première étape d’une série de cascades signalétiques menant à la régulation d’une multitude de processus physiologiques. Dans le modèle classique connu, la liaison du ligand induit un changement de conformation du récepteur qui mène à sa forme active. Une fois activés, les RCPGs vont réguler l’activité d’une protéine membranaire cible qui peut être tant une enzyme qu’un canal ionique. L’interaction entre le récepteur et la cible nécessite l’intermédiaire d’une protéine hétérotrimérique appelée « protéine G », qui est activée pour favoriser l’échange du GDP (guanosine diphosphate) pour un GTP (guanosine triphosphate) et assurer la transduction du signal du récepteur à l’effecteur. Les mécanismes moléculaires menant à l’activation des effecteurs spécifiques via l’activation des RCPGs par les protéines G hétérotrimériques sont encore plutôt méconnus. Dans notre étude nous nous sommes intéressés aux récepteurs FP et PAF, à leurs ligands naturels, la PGF2α et le Carbamyl-PAF respectivement, et à des ligands à action antagoniste sur ces récepteurs. Des ligands considérés comme agonistes, sont des molécules qui interagissent avec le récepteur et induisent les mêmes effets que le ligand naturel. Les antagonistes, par contre, sont des molécules qui interagissent avec le récepteur et bloquent l’action du ligand naturel en prévenant le changement conformationnel du complexe, et ils peuvent avoir une action compétitive ou non-compétitive. Nous avons étudié aussi des ligands orthostériques et allostériques du récepteur FP des prostaglandines et du récepteur PAF. Un ligand orthostérique peut se comporter comme agoniste ou antagoniste en se fixant au site de liaison du ligand (agoniste) naturel. Un ligand allostérique est un agoniste ou antagoniste se fixant à un site autre que celui du ligand naturel entraînant un changement de conformation ayant pour conséquence soit une augmentation (effecteur positif), soit une diminution (effecteur négatif) de l'activité du ligand naturel. / G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) are involved in the first step of most signalling pathways that regulate a variety of physiological events. The classical view of GPCR activation suggests that ligand binding to the inactive receptor will trigger a conformational change leading to an active conformation of the receptor. The GPCRs activated regulate the activity of a target membrane protein which can then activate other signalling proteins such as enzymes and ionic channels. The interaction between the receptor and the target requires an intermediary, in this case an heterotrimeric protein named « G protein », which is activated in order to facilitate the exchange of GDP (guanosine diphospate) for a GTP (guanosine triphosphate) and allow the transduction of the signal from the receptor to the effector. The molecular mechanisms leading to the activation of signalling effectors via the activation of GPCRs by its heterotrimeric G protein have not yet been well characterized. We focused our study on two GPCRs, the FP and PAF receptors, their natural ligands, PGF2α and Carbamyl-PAF respectively, and their antagonist ligands. Agonists are ligands that bind to the target receptor and trigger the same effects as the natural ligand of the GPCR. In contrast with agonists, antagonist ligands are molecules that prevent the effects of the natural ligand by keeping the GPCR from changing to its active conformation and can be competitive or non-competitive. We have also studied orthosteric and allosteric ligands of the FP and PAF receptors. An orthosteric ligand binds the same site as the natural ligand of the receptor and can act as an agonist or an antagonist. In the contrary, an allosteric ligand will rather have a different binding site then the natural ligand (agonist) and can positively or negatively modulate the effects of the natural ligand.

Les récepteurs couplés aux protéines-G (RCPGs) constituent la première étape d’une série de cascades signalétiques menant à la régulation d’une multitude de processus physiologiques. Dans le modèle classique connu, la liaison du ligand induit un changement de conformation du récepteur qui mène à sa forme active. Une fois activés, les RCPGs vont réguler l’activité d’une protéine membranaire cible qui peut être tant une enzyme qu’un canal ionique. L’interaction entre le récepteur et la cible nécessite l’intermédiaire d’une protéine hétérotrimérique appelée « protéine G », qui est activée pour favoriser l’échange du GDP (guanosine diphosphate) pour un GTP (guanosine triphosphate) et assurer la transduction du signal du récepteur à l’effecteur. Les mécanismes moléculaires menant à l’activation des effecteurs spécifiques via l’activation des RCPGs par les protéines G hétérotrimériques sont encore plutôt méconnus. Dans notre étude nous nous sommes intéressés aux récepteurs FP et PAF, à leurs ligands naturels, la PGF2α et le Carbamyl-PAF respectivement, et à des ligands à action antagoniste sur ces récepteurs. Des ligands considérés comme agonistes, sont des molécules qui interagissent avec le récepteur et induisent les mêmes effets que le ligand naturel. Les antagonistes, par contre, sont des molécules qui interagissent avec le récepteur et bloquent l’action du ligand naturel en prévenant le changement conformationnel du complexe, et ils peuvent avoir une action compétitive ou non-compétitive. Nous avons étudié aussi des ligands orthostériques et allostériques du récepteur FP des prostaglandines et du récepteur PAF. Un ligand orthostérique peut se comporter comme agoniste ou antagoniste en se fixant au site de liaison du ligand (agoniste) naturel. Un ligand allostérique est un agoniste ou antagoniste se fixant à un site autre que celui du ligand naturel entraînant un changement de conformation ayant pour conséquence soit une augmentation (effecteur positif), soit une diminution (effecteur négatif) de l'activité du ligand naturel. / G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) are involved in the first step of most signalling pathways that regulate a variety of physiological events. The classical view of GPCR activation suggests that ligand binding to the inactive receptor will trigger a conformational change leading to an active conformation of the receptor. The GPCRs activated regulate the activity of a target membrane protein which can then activate other signalling proteins such as enzymes and ionic channels. The interaction between the receptor and the target requires an intermediary, in this case an heterotrimeric protein named « G protein », which is activated in order to facilitate the exchange of GDP (guanosine diphospate) for a GTP (guanosine triphosphate) and allow the transduction of the signal from the receptor to the effector. The molecular mechanisms leading to the activation of signalling effectors via the activation of GPCRs by its heterotrimeric G protein have not yet been well characterized. We focused our study on two GPCRs, the FP and PAF receptors, their natural ligands, PGF2α and Carbamyl-PAF respectively, and their antagonist ligands. Agonists are ligands that bind to the target receptor and trigger the same effects as the natural ligand of the GPCR. In contrast with agonists, antagonist ligands are molecules that prevent the effects of the natural ligand by keeping the GPCR from changing to its active conformation and can be competitive or non-competitive. We have also studied orthosteric and allosteric ligands of the FP and PAF receptors. An orthosteric ligand binds the same site as the natural ligand of the receptor and can act as an agonist or an antagonist. In the contrary, an allosteric ligand will rather have a different binding site then the natural ligand (agonist) and can positively or negatively modulate the effects of the natural ligand.