<p>The purpose of this report is to implement and evaluate parts of the simulation software used in the SoCBUS project. In order to complete and evaluate the entire software package, a traffic model and a stimuli generator must be implemented. They are implemented and evaluated together with the entire simulator software. The purpose of the Traffic model is to model communication traffic as good and descriptive as possible. The output of the Traffic model is called a test case, which works as input for the Stimuli generator. The Stimuli generator computes and creates an event list for the Simulator. This report will investigate and motivate the presented traffic model and stimuli generator in detail. The simulator software is then tested with two separate test cases in order to investigate if the simulator software works properly. The results are promising and the simulator software behaves as expected.</p>

Planktivorous fish affect the species composition, size and morphology of their zooplankton prey by size selective predation. Remains of cladocerans are deposited in the lake sediments and this microfossil community hence reflects the historical changes in the planktivore fish community. Most earlier work on quantitatively inferring past planktivory deals with ephippia (resting eggs) of Daphnia, however these remains are very scarce in northern Swedish lakes. In these lakes, often dominated by fish that are not obligate planktivores, such as perch (Perca fluviatilis), the individual size to a large degree determines the type of resource consumed. Therefore, in these lakes, the size distribution as well as the density of the fish community determines the overall planktivoryThis thesis deals with evaluating the use of Bosmina remains in the sediment as indicators of past planktivory. I developed a transfer function based on Bosmina remains to be used in oligotrophic lakes with omnivorous species to reconstruct past planktivory. I test the transfer function in a lake where the history is to a large extent known. Furthermore, in this thesis a novel quantitative measure of planktivore pressure, the PCC (Planktivore Community Capacity) was developed. It was also possible to compare the morphology measurements of carapace length and mucro length of contemporary Bosmina sampled in the lake, with the same measurements on microfossils of Bosmina sedimented during the corresponding time period. By using the resurrection approach this thesis also evaluates the use of Ceriodaphnia clones as indicators of micro-evolutionary responses to past planktivory.From the studies in this thesis I can draw some major conclusions; the morphological measurements carapace length and mucro length of Bosmina can be used to infer past planktivory in northern Swedish lakes. PCC has a higher explanatory power than CPUE in these lakes dominated by omnivorous fish. The morphology of the contemporary Bosmina corresponds well with the remains found in the sediment dating from the same time period. Both the contemporary and microfossil Bosmina changes in body size characteristics was in turn strongly related to PPC. Finally, the hatching of Ceriodaphnia ephippia is promising for studying past planktivory, both because of the high viability of the ephippia and the relationship between eye area and inferred PCC.

Kyoto University (京都大学) / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(人間・環境学) / 甲第19069号 / 人博第722号 / 新制||人||173 / 32020 / 京都大学大学院人間・環境学研究科相関環境学専攻 / (主査)准教授 土屋 徹, 教授 宮下 英明, 教授 川本 卓男 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当

The family of Deg/HtrA proteases is present in a wide range of organisms from bacteria, archaea to eukaryota. These ATP-independent serine endopeptidases play key roles in the cellular protein quality control. The cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, a model organism for studies on photosynthesis, metabolism and renewable energy, contains three Deg proteases known as HhoA, HhoB and HtrA. The three proteases are important for survival in stress conditions, such as high light or temperature. In my work the biochemical characteristics of each protease were revealed in vitro and in vivo. In vitro studies performed using recombinant Synechocystis Deg proteases allowed conclusions about their oligomerization states, proteolytic activities and tertiary structure. The in vivo studies addressed their sub-cellular localization, expression and physiological importance by comparing wild-type Synechocystis cells with the three single mutants lacking one of the Deg proteases. HhoA seems to be involved in the cytoplasmic protein quality control. This protease is regulated post-transcriptional and post-translational: oligomerization, pH and/or cation-binding are some of the important factors to stimulate its proteolytic activity. Instead HhoB acts on periplasmic proteins and seems to be important for the transportation/secretion of proteins. While it has low proteolytic capacity, it may act as a chaperone. The stress-induced HtrA functions in the cellular tolerance against photosynthetic stress; additionally it might act as a protease partner of HhoB, generating a protease/chaperone complex. The results presented in this thesis lay the foundation for a better understanding of the dynamic protein quality control in cyanobacteria, which is undoubtedly important for various cellular metabolic pathways.

The diminishing of fossil fuels and growing concerns towards climate change have intensified biofuel production from renewable resources. Recently, progresses are made in microbial production of biofuels. Among various biofuels, isobutanol is gaining an increasing attention due to its high energy content and suitable chemical and physical properties, enabling it to be a suitable substitution of fossil fuel. In this study, instead of using heterotrophic microorganisms, we performed metabolic engineering of Synechocystis PCC 6803 (Synechocystis) for isobutanol production under autotrophic condition. After introduced 2-keto acid pathway, Synechocystis is able to produce isobutanol when provided with water, carbon dioxide and solar energy. When cultivated in an optimal condition (50 μmol photons m-1s-2 and adjusted pH to 7-8 with HCl), the engineered strain pEEK2-ST was able to produce 425 mg L-1 in-flask isobutanol titer and 911 mg L-1 cumulative isobutanol titer, respectively, in 46 days. There should be bottlenecks existing in 2-keto acid pathway based on the similar isobutanol production of strain pEEK2-ST with and without pyruvate addition. However, the attempt to identify potential bottlenecks of upstream genes by overexpressing ST and one of the three upstream genes failed, instead what we conclude is that the isobutanol production is tightly correlated to Kivd (ST) expression level. Thus, more strategies will be employed for identifying bottlenecks successfully and further improvement of isobutanol production in the future. In conclusion, this study demonstrates the importance of cultivation condition on isobutanol production in Synechocystis.

This essay investigates the relationship between a malfunctioning Default Mode Network (DMN) and the diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). A deeper understanding of how the DMN affects those brain processes which are implicated in MDD may offer new approaches to reduce the suffering of the very large number of MDD-afflicted patients. The MDD-DMN relationship has been investigated by studying scientific articles within the field of cognitive neuroscience and searching the articles for clues on how a malfunctioning DMN might correlate with the diagnosis of MDD. The essay concludes that there is much experimental evidence in support of there being a strong coupling between a malfunctioning DMN and the diagnosis of MDD.

Tese (doutorado)—Universidade de Brasília, Instituto de Relações Internacionais, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Relações Internacionais, 2017. / Submitted by Raquel Almeida (raquel.df13@gmail.com) on 2017-06-19T21:25:10Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2017_CléliaVirgíniaSantosPiragibe.pdf: 10753798 bytes, checksum: 4120b1d5d031726f2fe386814f49881a (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Raquel Viana (raquelviana@bce.unb.br) on 2017-06-21T22:43:59Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 2017_CléliaVirgíniaSantosPiragibe.pdf: 10753798 bytes, checksum: 4120b1d5d031726f2fe386814f49881a (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-06-21T22:43:59Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2017_CléliaVirgíniaSantosPiragibe.pdf: 10753798 bytes, checksum: 4120b1d5d031726f2fe386814f49881a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-06-21 / Esta tese propõe uma nova abordagem para analisar a singularidade do padrão de desenvolvimento da República Popular da China (RPC), pelo emprego do método de dependência da trajetória. A investigação dos mecanismos causais do desenvolvimento suis generis chinês valeu-se do procedimento de process-tracing para identificar aspectos institucionais das reformas econômicas sínicas de complexidade crescente, implementadas nas quatro últimas décadas sob a administração e o controle do Partido Comunista Chinês (PCC). Como legado, a República Popular da China atingiu a condição de segunda maior economia e de exportadora líder mundial, tornando-se a “fábrica do mundo”. Ao longo do processo de “reforma e abertura” a China conquistou proeminência crescente no mercado globalizado, ascendendo à condição de potência (re) emergente no Sistema Internacional. As mudanças propostas ao padrão de industrialização chinês - em favor de maior conteúdo de ciência e tecnologia, menor consumo de recursos e redução da poluição ambiental, na última década, visam a fazer frente aos desafios domésticos e externos que geram riscos à legitimidade do PCC e à estabilidade social na China. / This dissertation proposes a new approach to the singular pattern of development that have taken place in People’s Republic of China (PRC). To achieve this results, the path dependency methodology was applied, including the systematic examination (process tracing) of the causal mechanisms of the Chinese model. This trajectory was implemented with economic reforms of increasing complexity in favor of the market system, but without losing control of the direction of the changes of the State party and appeal to democratization. As a result, from the beginning of the economic reforms, more than 500 million of the Chinese population left extreme poverty and China became the worlds’ second largest economy and largest exporter, thus becoming the "factory of the world." On the other hand, its increasing world presence generated a vision of China 're-emergence' as a major power in the International System. The intended changes in the pattern of Chinese industrialization - in favor of greater science and technology applications and reduced consumption of resources and environment degradation - is the alternative proposed by the PRC’s government in the last decade to challenge international and domestic obstacles that have put at risk the legitimacy of the State-party and the internal social order.

The purpose of this report is to implement and evaluate parts of the simulation software used in the SoCBUS project. In order to complete and evaluate the entire software package, a traffic model and a stimuli generator must be implemented. They are implemented and evaluated together with the entire simulator software. The purpose of the Traffic model is to model communication traffic as good and descriptive as possible. The output of the Traffic model is called a test case, which works as input for the Stimuli generator. The Stimuli generator computes and creates an event list for the Simulator. This report will investigate and motivate the presented traffic model and stimuli generator in detail. The simulator software is then tested with two separate test cases in order to investigate if the simulator software works properly. The results are promising and the simulator software behaves as expected.

Class of 2015 Abstract / Objectives: To determine if using three-factor prothrombin complex concentrate (PCC) immediately prior to heart transplantation reduces blood product transfusions in patients bridged to heart transplantation by mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices who are treated with warfarin. Methods: This study retrospectively reviewed patients that either received PCC or received usual care (i.e. fresh frozen plasma – FFP) prior to heart transplantation. Outcomes that were evaluated included packed red blood cell (RBC), FFP, platelet and cryoprecipitate transfusions intra and five days post-operatively, Cell Saver autologous blood volume administered intra-operatively, chest tube output for the five days post-operatively, and thromboembolic events post-operatively. Results: There were 24 patients included in the study, 12 from each group. The PCC group showed significantly less intra-operative RBC transfusion (2.60 ± 1.49 units vs. 5.09 ± 2.42 units, p=0.018), Cell Saver autologous blood usage (2.60 ± 1.49 units vs. 4.02 ± 1.55 units, p=0.032), and FFP transfusion (2.14 ± 2.30 units vs. 10.94 ± 5.96 units, p=0.0005) than the usual care group. There was no difference in amount of vitamin K given, change in INR, platelets administered, cryoprecipitate administered, chest tube output, or thromboembolic events between the groups. The average dose of PCC was 31 units/kg IV; repeat doses were given to 2 patients. Conclusions: We propose that the use of PCC prior to heart transplant surgery for patients on MCS devices anticoagulated with warfarin may result in the reduction for the need of RBC’s, autologous blood use and FFP during surgery.

Many long-term care (LTC) facilities within the United States have replaced the institutional model of care with one that accepts person-centered care (PCC) as the guiding standard of practice. Quality training ensures that direct care staff have the skills and the knowledge in the delivery of quality PCC. However, many nurses and nursing assistants have expressed the desire for further training in PCC practices to effectively deliver quality care. The purpose of this study was to explore the types and length of training and education provided based on the perceptions and experiences of direct care staff related to their implementation of PCC practices. The theoretical framework for this study consisted of Rogers’ PCC approach theory and philosophy. A qualitative interpretative phenomenological design was used to examine the perceptions of training and education of 20 certified nursing assistants using semistructured interviews. Once the interviews were conducted and transcribed, the data were coded into superordinate themes that stemmed from participant responses. Themes of PCC practices, teaching modalities, learner type, length, and introduction of training were identified as a result of the data analysis. The data also revealed that it is important for LTC facilities to be aware of how they are providing PCC education and training to their staff so that they may provide their residents with quality individualized care that emphasizes the whole person. Study findings may inform LTC administrators, leaders, and managers on the deliverance of effective training and educational practices when implementing PCC models within their facilities. The results may also spur national LTC organizations to refocus their core beliefs, values, and culture towards a culture that considers the whole person.