Η διπλωματική ασχολείται με τα ετερογενή δίκτυα επόμενης γενιάς και με τα πρωτόκολλα ασφαλείας. Μελέτησα το σύνολο πρωτοκόλλων ΑΑΑ, τα οποία εξασφαλίζουν την πιστοποίηση, εξουσιοδότηση και τη λογιστική χρέωση, όπως παρατηρείται στα σύγχρονα δίκτυα. Κατόπιν, μελέτησα το σύστημα IMS, το οποίο εννοποιεί ασύρματα και σταθέρά δίκτυα μεταξύ τους, χρησιμιοποιώντας κοινά πρωτόκολλα που χρησιμοποιούνται στο μοντέλο TCP/IP (Internet). Τέλος, καταγράφονται συνηθισμένες επιθέσεις στην αρχιτεκτονική του IMS, με και χωρίς τη χρήση του SBC, που αποτελεί μία μονάδα ενίσχυσης ασφαλείας. / This project studies the heterogenous, next generation's networks and the security protocols that they use. The protocols AAA, which ensure the correct and safe authentication, authorization and accounting in these networks, have been studied. Thenwhile, I studied the IMS system, which unites wireless and wired networks, using comon protocols that are used in TCP/IP model(Internet). Finally, I present the results of a group of comon threats, with and without the use of the unit SBC, which is a unit that amplify the system's security.

Το αντικείμενο αυτής της διπλωματικής εργασίας είναι η μελέτη της δομής υπηρεσιών πάνω στα 0ίκτυα Επόμενης Γενιάς (Next Generation Networks, NGN). Συγκεκριμένα, περιγράφεται η αρχιτεκτονική IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) πάνω στην οποία βασίζεται η δομή των 0ικτύων Επόμενης Γενιάς. Στα πλαίσια της παρούσας διπλωματικής εργασίας γίνεται αρχικά μια σύντομη αναφορά στο ιστορικό δημιουργίας του IMS, ενώ στην συνέχεια γίνεται μια εκτεταμένη περιγραφή του μοντέλου και του τρόπου λειτουργίας του IMS. Συγκεκριμένα, αναλύονται οι οντότητες και τα σημεία αναφοράς από τα οποία αποτελείται το IMS καθώς και τα πρωτόκολλα που χρησιμοποιεί. Στη συνέχεια γίνεται μία αναφορά στην ασφάλεια του IMS, όπου αναφέρονται πιθανοί κίνδυνοι και απειλές για το IMS καθώς και τρόποι αντιμετώπισής τους. Έπειτα, παρουσιάζονται και περιγράφονται αναλυτικά οι υπηρεσίες που μπορεί να προσφέρει το IMS στα πλαίσια των 0ικτύων Επόμενης Γενιάς. Τέλος, γίνεται παρουσίαση ενός παραδείγματος εφαρμογής της υπηρεσίας VoIP πάνω από την IMS αρχιτεκτονική. Για την υλοποίηση αυτού του παραδείγματος χρησιμοποιήθηκε το πρόγραμμα προσομοίωσης OPNET 10.0, ενώ συλλέχθηκαν αποτελέσματα σχετικά με τη συμπεριφορά του πρωτοκόλλου SIP και της υπηρεσίας VoIP σε IMS περιβάλλον. / The objective of this diploma thesis is the study of the service structure of Next Generation Networks (NGN). Especially, the IMS architecture (IP Multimedia Subsystem) is being described, which the NGN structure is based on. Initially, there is a quick reference to the history of the development of IMS, and continually an extensive description is being made about the model and the functional mode of IMS. Next, security aspects of IMS are being described, and continually there is a presentation about the services that IMS offers. Finally, an example is being presented regarding the application of VoIP service using the IMS architecture. For the configuration of this example, the simulation program OPNET 10.0 was used, while results were collected regarding the behavior of SIP protocol and VoIP service in the IMS environment.

Recent advancements in molecular biology such as next generation sequencing and more sensitive and rapid molecular detection methods like qPCR, have historically been developed for clinical applications in human genetics and for health care diagnostic purposes. The high demand for faster and more accurate molecular assays in the health care field has driven rapid development of inexpensive molecular techniques that when applied to the science of environmental microbiology, provides an unprecedented level of understanding of the microbial world around us. The goal of this dissertation is to begin to apply more advanced molecular technologies to problems in applied environmental microbiology. Appendix A is a brief literature review of next generation sequencing technologies for applications in environmental microbiology. Appendix B focuses on the development of a more robust virus nucleic extraction kit for the detection of viral genomes from environmental samples found to contain high concentrations of qPCR inhibitors, such as humic acids or heavy metals. Appendix C summarizes one of the largest virus surveys done in the US, using state of the art qPCR technologies in both wastewater influent and effluent from two wastewater treatment plants in the Southwest. Data suggests that traditional virus indicators may not be a viable tool to evaluate fecally impacted source water or virus removal during water treatment. The third study summarized in Appendix D, provides one of the first insights into the microbial ecology of biofilms utilized as biological treatment media using Roche 454 amplicon sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene.

Metagenomics is the study of a collective microbial genetic content recovered directly from natural (e.g., soil, ocean, and freshwater) or host-associated (e.g., human gut, skin, and oral) environmental communities that contain microorganisms, i.e., microbiomes. The rapid technological developments in next generation sequencing (NGS) technologies, enabling to sequence tens or hundreds of millions of short DNA fragments (or reads) in a single run, facilitates the studies of multiple microorganisms lived in environmental communities. Metagenomics, a relatively new but fast growing field, allows us to understand the diversity of microbes, their functions, cooperation, and evolution in a particular ecosystem. Also, it assists us to identify significantly different metabolic potentials in different environments. Particularly, metagenomic analysis on the basis of functional features (e.g., pathways, subsystems, functional roles) enables to contribute the genomic contents of microbes to human health and leads us to understand how the microbes affect human health by analyzing a metagenomic data corresponding to two or multiple populations with different clinical phenotypes (e.g., diseased and healthy, or different treatments). Currently, metagenomic analysis has substantial impact not only on genetic and environmental areas, but also on clinical applications. In our study, we focus on the development of computational and statistical methods for functional metagnomic analysis of sequencing data that is obtained from various environmental microbial samples/communities.

Bakgrund:I sjuksköterskeutbildningen betonas betydelsen av samarbete med patienters anhöriga. I takt med att synen på psykisk ohälsa förändrades avvecklades den institutionsbaserade vårdformen. 1995 års psykiatrireform syftade till att stärka dessa patienters rättigheter och ställning i samhället Syfte:Beskriva anhörigas upplevelser av att ha en närstående med psykisk ohälsa. Metod:En litteraturöversikt gjord enligt Fribergs (2010) metod för litteraturöversikter. Efter sökningar i databaserna Academic search premiere, Cinahl Plus with Full Text, Medline och PsychInfo valdes tolv kvalitativa artiklar för att analyseras. Den teoretiska referensramen för arbetet är Katie Erikssons lidandebegrepp. Utifrån det har författarna svarat på två frågeställningar: 1)På vilket sätt påverkas anhörigas livvsituation och vad får det för konsekvenser? 2)Vad kan sjuksköterskan göra för att lindra anhörigas lidande? Resultat:Anhöriga bär i det tysta ett tungt ansvar i vården av sina närstående. Ansvaret genererar känslor av förlust, sorg, ensamhet, oro, frustration, skuld och självuppoffring. Många upplever att samarbetet med vården inte fungerar. Information, möjlighet till involvering, samt god vårdtillgänglighet efterfrågas. Anhöriga söker sig bortom vården för att hitta sätt att hantera situationen. Diskussion:Trots att vården skall arbeta för att inkludera anhöriga i vården av sina närstående upplever anhöriga dåligt bemötande. Brister i information, tillänglighet och involvering leder hos de anhöriga till ökat lidande. Orsak till denna upplevda ovilja till samarbete skulle kunna vara att det psykodynamiska synsättet med familjen som sjukdomsorsak lever kvar. / Background:In the nursing education the importance of cooperation with the patients nextof kin is emphasized. Following the changed view on mental illness the institutionalized mental care was phased out. The psychiatric reform of 1995 aimed to reinforce the psychiatric patients rights and positions in the society. Aim:To describe the experiences of the next of kin of mentally ill persons. Method:A literature review was performed according to Fribergs (2010) method for literature review. After searches performed in the databases Cinahl Plus withFull Text, Academic search premiere, Medline and PsychInfo twelvequalitative articles were choosed for analyzis. The theoretical framework of the review is Katie Eriksson’s concept of suffering.Based on her theory the authors have answered following questions: 1) In what way is the next of kins life and situation affected and what are the consequences? 2) How can a nurse ease the suffering of the next of kin? Results:The next of kin carry a big responsibility in the care. The responsibility creates feelings of loss, sorrow, loneliness, worry, frustration, guilt and self affacement. The next of kin experience the cooperation with health care malfunctioning. Information, involvement and availability are desirable features of the health care. The next of kin tend to look beyond the health care to find support. Discussion:Despite guidelines for involving the next of kin in care, they experience bad encounter in contact with formal care. Lack of information, availability and involvement leads to increased suffering for the next of kin. A possible reasonfor the experienced unwillingness of cooperation could be that thepsychodynamic point of view regarding the family as a cause of disease is maintained in the psychiatric care.

Syftet med litteraturstudien var att beskriva hur hälso-och sjukvårdspersonalens bemötande påverkar närstående till personer som vårdas palliativt samt beskriva närståendes behov av stöd under vårdtiden. Vidare var syftet att granska inkluderade artiklars design. Litteraturstudien var av beskrivande design och inkluderade 13 artiklar som söktes fram i databaserna PubMed och Academic Search Elite samt genom manuell sökning. Huvudresultatet visade att närstående var närvarande dygnet runt vilket begränsade deras frihet samt att bidragande stöd kunde lindra vårdtyngden och underlätta för närstående. Stödet från hälso- och sjukvårdpersonal beskrevs både som svagt och tillfredställande. Information saknades och var ibland motstridig och bristfällig. Relevant information kunde minska vårdtyngden, känslor av rädsla, osäkerhet och ensamhet samt underlätta till att behålla kontroll. Delaktighet samt involvering i omvårdnaden och beslutsfattandet var starkt stödjande samt ett sätt att behålla kontroll. Närstående tappade lätt kontroll då det professionella stödet inte var tillgängligt eller saknades helt, informationen var bristfällig samt då resurserna var otillräckliga. Det var viktigt att personalen tog sig tid, såg närstående, talade direkt till dem samt bekräftade dem. Slutsatsen bedömdes vara att närstående har ett behov av stöd under vårdtiden genom delaktighet, information och kontroll. Ett positivt och stödjande bemötande från hälso- och sjukvårdpersonalen kan stärka närstående. / The purpose of this study was to describe how health care professionals’ standard of conduct affects next of kin to people in palliative care and describe what support next of kin were in need of during time of care. A further aim was to examine the included articles´ design. The literature study was of a descriptive design and included 13 articles that were searched in PubMed, Academic Search Elite and by manual search. Main results showed that next of kin were present around the clock which limited their freedom. Contributing support could alleviate the care burden and facilitate next of kin. Support from health care professionals was described as both weak and satisfying. Information was lacking and was sometimes conflicting and inadequate. Relevant information could reduce care burden, feelings of fear, uncertainty and loneliness and also facilitate the retention of control. Participation and involvement in care and decision-making was highly supportive and a way to maintain control. Next of kin easily lost control when professional support was not available or missing entirely, when the information was incomplete and resources were inadequate. It was important that the staff took the time, saw to the next of kin, spoke directly to them and confirmed them. The conclusion were that next of kin has a need for support during the time of care through participation, information and control A positive and supporting response from health care professionals can strengthen next of kin.

In this thesis I investigate what ‘authenticity’ means in a contemporary popular context and how it is used in the staging of bodies. Furthermore, I analyse works of dance and fashion from the past fifteen years with a focus on their strategies of challenging the notion of ‘bodily authenticity’.   When ‘an authentic body’ is sought by participants or demanded by judges and ‘experts’ on popular makeover and casting TV shows such as The Swan (Fox 2004) or Germany’s Next Topmodel (Pro 7 2006-present) this refers to the physical visualisation of what is perceived/presented as the participants ‘inner self’. I scrutinise the staging techniques and the codes of appearance that bodies have to comply with in order to be deemed ‘authentic’ on the shows. To define them and place them in the history of the idea of ‘bodily authenticity’, I complement my study with an outline of how ‘authenticity’ was understood in the Enlightenment and what techniques were used to stage the body when the concept gained currency, for instance in the writings of Rousseau. My analysis makes clear that 'bodily authenticity' on the two TV shows is achieved by strictly following gender-normative codes of beauty and by a depiction of 'working hard'. But various techniques also mask the hard work, for example by showing a participant ‘having fun’ performing it.   Contemporary works of dance and fashion challenge the problematic implications in the notion of ‘bodily authenticity’. I analyse three strategies of undermining the ‘authentic’ ideal in a total of seven pieces. These strategies are hyperbole which exaggerates the beauty code implicit in ‘authentic appearance’; multiplicity which undermines ‘authenticity’s’ essentialism and estrangement which denies the notion of individual authorship. In conclusion, I place the staging strategies used in my examples in a wider cultural context and highlight potential problems inherent in their critiques. / <p>Thesis is done in ’co-tutelle’ with Freie Universität Berlin. </p>

The effects of a mutation in one gene can occasionally be suppressed by mutation in another gene. Genetic suppression indicates functional relationships and provides clues about the mechanism and order of action in genetic pathways. Here I explored the existing yeast deletion collection to identify suppressor relationships. The collection was released in 2000 and it is known that some strains in the collection have acquired mutations. Whole genome sequencing of 48 yeast deletion strains corresponding to 26 genome integrity genes was performed. High-throughput sequencing revealed a broad mutational spectrum including point mutations, indels, and copy number variations. I identified and experimentally validated two new suppressor mutations (sgs1 mutations in both top3Δ and rmi1Δ strains) corresponding to gene pairs with previously known suppressor relationships. Thus, high-throughput sequencing and analysis of yeast deletion strains can identify suppressor mutations. The resulting genome sequences also provide a baseline for future laboratory evolution experiments.

<p>Neurodevelopmental disorders develop over time and are characterized by a wide variety of mental, behavioral, and physical phenotypes. The categorization of neurodevelopmental disorders encompasses a broad range of conditions including intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, cerebral palsy, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and epilepsy, among others. Diagnostic classifications of neurodevelopmental disorders are complicated by comorbidities among these neurodevelopmental disorders, unidentified causal genes, and growing evidence of shared genetic risk factors. </p><p>We sought to identify the genetic underpinnings of a variety of neurodevelopmental disorders, with a particular emphasis on the epilepsies, by employing next&ndash;generation sequencing to thoroughly interrogate genetic variation in the human genome/exome. First, we investigated four families presenting with a seemingly identical and previously undescribed neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by congenital microcephaly, intellectual disability, progressive cerebral atrophy, and intractable seizures. These families all exhibited an apparent autosomal recessive pattern of inheritance. Second, we investigated a heterogeneous cohort of &sim;60 undiagnosed patients, the majority of whom suffered from severe neurodevelopmental disorders with a suspected genetic etiology. Third, we investigated 264 patients with epileptic encephalopathies &mdash; severe childhood epilepsy disorders &mdash; looking specifically at infantile spasms and Lennox&ndash;Gastaut syndrome. Finally, we investigated &sim;40 large multiplex epilepsy families with complex phenotypic constellations and unclear modes of inheritance. The studied neurodevelopmental disorders exhibited a range of genetic complexity, from clear Mendelian disorders to common complex disorders, resulting in varying degrees of success in the identification of clearly causal genetic variants. </p><p>In the first project, we successfully identified the disease&ndash;causing gene. We show that recessive mutations in <italic>ASNS </italic> (encoding asparagine synthetase) are responsible for this previously undescribed neurodevelopmental disorder. We also characterized the causal mutations <italic>in vitro</italic> and studied Asns&ndash;deficient mice that mimicked aspects of the patient phenotype. This work describes ASNS deficiency as a novel neurodevelopmental disorder, identifies three distinct causal mutations in the ASNS gene, and indicates that asparagine synthesis is essential for the proper development and function of the brain.</p><p>In the second project, we exome sequenced 62 undiagnosed patients and their unaffected biological parents (trios). By analyzing all identified variants that were annotated as putatively functional and observed as a novel genotype in the probands (not observed in the unaffected parents or controls), we obtained a genetic diagnosis for 32% (20/62) of these patients. Additionally, we identify strong candidate variants in 31% (13/42) of the undiagnosed cases. We also present additional analysis methods for moving beyond traditional screens, e.g., considering only securely implicated genes, or subjecting qualifying variants from any gene to two unique analysis approaches. This work adds to the growing evidence for the utility of diagnostic exome sequencing, increases patient sizes for rare neurodevelopmental disorders (enabling more detailed analyses of the phenotypic spectrum), and proposes novel analysis approaches which will likely become beneficial as the number of sequenced undiagnosed patients grows. </p><p>In the third project, we again employ a trio&ndash;based exome sequencing design to investigate the role of <italic>de novo</italic> mutations in two classical forms of epileptic encephalopathy. We find a significant excess of <italic>de novo</italic> mutations in the &sim;4,000 genes that are the most intolerant to functional genetic variation in the human population (P = 2.9 x 10<super>&ndash;3</super>, likelihood analysis). We provide clear statistical evidence for two novel genes associated with epileptic encephalopathy &mdash; <italic>GABRB3</italic> and <italic>ALG13</italic>. Together with the 15 well&ndash;established epileptic encephalopathy genes, we statistically confirm the association of an additional ten putative epileptic encephalopathy genes. We show that only &sim;12% of epileptic encephalopathy patients in our cohort are explained by <italic>de novo</italic> mutations in one of these 24 genes, highlighting the extreme locus heterogeneity of the epileptic encephalopathies. </p><p>Finally, we investigated multiplex epilepsy families to uncover novel epilepsy susceptibility factors. Candidate variants emerging from sequencing within discovery families were further assessed by cosegregation testing, variant association testing in a case&ndash;control cohort, and gene&ndash;based resequencing in a cohort of additional multiplex epilepsy families. Despite employing multiple approaches, we did not identify any clear genetic associations with epilepsy. This work has, however, identified a set of candidates that may include real risk factors for epilepsy; the most promising of these is the <italic>MYCBP2</italic> gene. This work emphasizes the extremely high locus and allelic heterogeneity of the epilepsies and demonstrates that very large sample sizes are needed to uncover novel genetic risk factors. </p><p>Collectively, this body of work has securely implicated three novel neurodevelopmental disease genes that inform the underlying pathology of these disorders. Furthermore, in the final three studies, this work has highlighted additional candidate variants and genes that may ultimately be validated as disease&ndash;causing as sample sizes increase.</p> / Dissertation

Mastreviruses (family Geminiviridae) are plant-infecting viruses with circular single-stranded (ss) DNA genomes (~2.7kb). The genus Mastrevirus is comprised of thirty-two species which are transmitted by leafhoppers belonging to the genus Cicadulina. Mastreviruses are widely distributed and have been found in the Middle East, Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa and surrounding islands. Only one species, dragonfly-associated mastrevirus has so far been identified in the Americas, isolated from a dragonfly in Puerto Rico. Species can be group based on the host(s) they infect, those which infect monocotyledonous (monocot) plants and those which infect dicotyledonous (dicot) plants. In recent years many new mastrevirus species have been discovered. Several of these new discoveries can largely been attributed to the development of new molecular tools. The current state of sequencing platforms has made it affordable and easier to characterise mastreviruses at a genome level thus allowing scientists to delve deeper into understanding the dynamics of mastreviruses. A few mastrevirus species have been identified as important agricultural pathogens and as a result have been the focus of much of the mastrevirus research. Maize streak virus, strain A (MSV-A) has been the most extensively studied due to the devastating impact it has on maize production in Africa. Studies have shown that MSV-A likely emerged as a pathogen of maize less than 250 years following introduction of maize in Africa by early European settlers. There is compelling evidence to suggest that MSV-A is likely the result of recombination events between wild grass adapted MSV strains. It therefore is equally important to monitor viruses infecting non-cultivated plants in order to gain a greater understanding of the epidemiological dynamics of mastreviruses, which in turn is essential for implementing disease management strategies. The objective of the research undertaken as part of this PhD thesis was to investigate global mastrevirus dynamics focusing on diversity, host and geographic ranges, mechanisms of evolution, phylogeography and possible origins of these viruses. In addition to this a viral metagenomic approach was used in order to identify novel mastreviruses or mastrevirus-like present in New Zealand. The dynamics of the monocot-infecting mastreviruses are investigated in Chapter Two and Three. The work described in these two chapters focus mainly on mastreviruses which infect non-cultivated grasses in Africa and Australia, a total of 161 full mastrevirus genomes were recovered collectively in the two studies. Chapter Two reveals a high level of mastrevirus diversity present in Australia with the discovery of four new species and several new strains of previously characterised species. An extensive sampling effort in Africa undertaken in Chapter Three reveals a broader host range and geographic distribution of the African monocot-infecting mastreviruses than previously documented. Mosaic patterns of recombination are evident among both the Australian and African monocot-infecting mastreviruses. In Chapters Four, Five and Six a comprehensive investigation was undertaken focusing on the dicot-infecting mastreviruses. The study undertaken in Chapter Four entailed the recovery of 49 full mastrevirus genomes from Australia, the Middle East, Africa, Turkey and the Indian Subcontinent to investigate the diversity of dicot-infecting mastreviruses from a global context. Analyses revealed a high degree of CpCDV strain diversity and extended the known geographic range of CpCDV. For the first time phylogeographic analysis was able to investigate the origins of the dicot-infecting mastreviruses. Results revealed the likely origin of the most recent common ancestor (MRCA) of these viruses is likely closer to Australia than anywhere else that dicot-infecting mastreviruses have been sampled and illuminated a supported series of historical movements following the emergence of the MRCA. In Chapter Five two novel mastreviruses Australian-like mastreviruses were isolated from chickpea material from Pakistan. A comprehensive analysis of CpCDV isolates in the major pulse growing regions of Sudan in Chapter Six reveals that this region harbours a high degree of strain diversity. Complex patterns of intra-species recombination indicate these strains are evidently circulating in these regions and infecting the same hosts, driving the emergence of new CpCDV strains. Collectively the results discussed in Chapters Two through Six extended the current knowledge of mastrevirus diversity. The natural host range of many mastreviruses has proven to be more extensive than previously documented, with many species having overlapping host ranges and hence these hosts could be acting as ‘mixing vessels’ enabling inter-species recombination. Patterns of recombination and selection were observed in both the monocot-infecting and the dicot-infecting mastreviruses further elucidating the mechanisms these viruses employ to evolve rapidly. Extensive sampling in a wide range of geographic regions provides insights into the true geographic range of species such as MSV and CpCDV. Given that mastreviruses have been able to move globally and Australia has been identified as a major mastrevirus diversity hotspot it is conceivable that mastreviruses are also present in New Zealand. In Chapter Seven and Eight this is explored by using a viral metagenomic approach to investigate the ssDNA viral populations associated with wild grasses and sewage material in New Zealand. Although no mastreviruses were recovered, this endeavour resulted in the discovery of more than 50 novel circular Rep-encoding ssDNA (CRESS DNA) viruses associated with non-cultivated grasses and treated sewage material, many of which are similar to mastreviruses and other geminiviruses. These discoveries expand current knowledge on the diversity of ssDNA viruses present in New Zealand and further highlight this viral metagenomic approach as an effective method for ssDNA virus discovery. Overall the results discussed in this thesis provide insights into mastrevirus diversity and dynamics as well as revealing a wealth of novel CRESS DNA viruses, some of which share similarities to geminiviruses.