L’elaborato analizza la ricezione del pensiero di Origene di Alessandria (c. 184-c.253) nell’opera del teologo arminiano Jean Le Clerc (1657-1736), soffermandosi in particolare sulla concezione origeniana della libertà e sulle questioni che vi sono annesse. Tale analisi consente anche di chiarire alcune pratiche argomentative e dinamiche intellettuali, soprattutto riguardanti i dibattiti religiosi ed interconfessionali, nella seconda metà del XVII secolo. L’elaborato è diviso in tre sezioni. La prima, di carattere introduttivo, mira ad indagare le premesse epistemologiche di Le Clerc, nonché la sua relazione con le auctoritates religiose ed intellettuali del passato. La seconda sezione prende in esame le citazioni dirette di Origene presenti nella vasta produzione di Le Clerc, come pure i suoi rimandi all’opera dell’Alessandrino e al suo pensiero, consentendo in questo modo di delineare un quadro preciso dell’Origene letto e reinterpretato da Le Clerc. La terza sezione restringe infine il campo d’indagine allo sguardo che Le Clerc porta sulla dimensione più propriamente teologica di Origene ed in particolar modo su quel nodo di concetti che ruota attorno al tema della libertà umana (peccato originale, grazia e predestinazione, il problema del male). Questo studio mostra come, malgrado l’indubbia, e talvolta malcelata, simpatia per Origene, Le Clerc non possa essere definito tout court un ‘origenista’, dal momento che la sua visione epistemologica, scritturale e teologica lo distanzia da una acritica e piena adesione al pensiero dell’Alessandrino. / The present thesis analyses the reception of the thought of Origen of Alexandria (c. 184-c. 253) in Jean Le Clerc (1657-1736). Its particular focus is on Origen's conception of freedom and the theological doctrines related to it. The goal of this thesis is to uncover, through Le Clerc's use of Origen, some of the argumentative practices and the intellectual dynamics of the time, in particular in religious, especially inter-confessional, debates. This thesis is divided into three main parts. The first part has mainly an introductory character and looks at the epistemological assumptions of Le Clerc and his relationship with intellectual and religious authorities of the past. The second part reviews the various ways in which Le Clerc quoted, referred to or otherwise made use of the thought or the name of Origen in his vast production. This part provides a first result in that it frames, in general, Le Clerc's reception of Origen. This step is, at the same time, also preparatory for the material contained in part three. In the third part, only the material is considered which is strictly related to Origen's idea of freedom and the related theological doctrines of original sin, grace/predestination, and the problem of evil. The result of this analysis, as it appears form the examination of argumentative practices in the previous sections, is that Le Clerc was no simple "Origenist" but neither was he was fully uncommitted to the Origenian cause. A full commitment to Origen, despite this strong sympathy, was still hindered by Le Clerc's epistemological, scriptural and theological outlook.

In my thesis I deal with a biblical "myth" of the original sin and with a question how this topic can demonstrate the genesis of gender duality in a sense of superiority and inferiority using the authors catholic and feminist theology and subsequent data collection. The topic of the original sin is being analysed from a gender view -first in the theoretical part of the thesis that has helped me to continue to the following part of a research. The research consists of semi-structured interviews with a group of people belonging to a specific community. These people were born in the Czech villages in Romania and live nowadays in the Czech Republic. The original sin and its "myth" are still being presented at the level of a myth. His consequences remain in the background of the society and public attention. That is why I decided to deal with this topic. In this way I connect my own interest with this group, which includes a minority of a society with special characteristics. The aim of this thesis is to present the consequences of the original sin on a theoretical level and in terms of research, which I also contribute to with my interviews. And so to answer the research question regarding the influence of minority companies mostly from the standpoint of faith.

No description available.

[ES] Las infusiones exógenas de insulina son vitales para las personas con diabetes tipo 1 para suplir parcialmente la incapacidad del páncreas de secretar insulina. Sin embargo, las terapias intensivas actuales pueden restringir la calidad de vida de los pacientes. Los pacientes con esta enfermedad tienen que tomar decisiones constantemente sobre las dosis de insulina que lleva a la glucosa a niveles seguros. Si no lo consiguen, pueden sufrir las complicaciones crónicas y agudas derivadas de los niveles anormalmente altos o bajos de glucosa. La regulación automática de glucosa con sistemas de páncreas artificial prometía reducir la carga del autocontrol de la enfermedad al mismo tiempo que se mejoraba el tiempo en normoglucemia y se reducía la variabilidad. Sin embargo, estas promesas sólo se han cumplido parcialmente. Aunque esta tecnología mejora el control glucémico que logran las terapias tradicionales, la ingesta de alimentos y la práctica de ejercicio limitan la eficiencia de los sistemas de páncreas artificial durante el día. De hecho, los sistemas comerciales sólo pueden hacerles frente con la ayuda de los pacientes. Para compensar las ingestas, los pacientes deben anunciar el contenido de carbohidratos al sistema. Para el ejercicio, deben anunciar el inicio de la actividad o tomar medidas preventivas como modificar la referencia de glucosa o reducir la basal con mucha antelación. Estas exigencias no sólo no ayudan a reducir la carga del paciente, sino que pueden comprometer la eficiencia del sistema cuando el paciente se equivoca al estimar los carbohidratos, omite el anuncio de la comida o no puede planificar el ejercicio. Así pues, esta tesis propone nuevos métodos para eliminar el anuncio de ingestas y ejercicio lo que ayudaría a reducir la intervención del paciente en los sistemas de páncreas artificial, y, en consecuencia, mejorar la calidad de vida. Desde un punto de vista de control, las ingestas y el ejercicio pueden considerarse perturbaciones. Esta tesis explota métodos de la literatura de rechazo de perturbaciones y acomodación de fallos para lograr el objetivo de la tesis. En concreto, hay que destacar tres aplicaciones: 1) se ha desarrollado un observador super-twisting para detectar comidas no anunciadas como primer paso para su compensación; 2) se ha diseñado un observador de modos deslizantes de primer orden para la estimación de la ratio de aparición de glucosa, la cual ha sido integrada en un generador de bolos para compensar las comidas; 3) se ha empleado el principio de diseño por modelo interno para mitigar el efecto de las ingestas de alimentos y ejercicio, añadiendo sugerencias de carbohidratos de rescate a la insulina. Como resultado, las contribuciones de esta tesis allanan el camino para el desarrollo de sistemas de páncreas artificial sin anuncios, que liberen al paciente de la carga de la gestión de la diabetes. / [CA] Les infusions exògenes d'insulina són vitals per a les persones amb diabetis tipus 1 per a suplir parcialment l'incapacitat del pàncrees de secretar insulina. No obstant, les teràpies intensives actuals poden restringir la qualitat de vida dels pacients. Les persones amb aquesta malaltia han de prendre decisions contínuament sobre la dosi d'insulina que fa que la glucosa estiga en valors segurs. Si no ho aconsegueixen, poden sofrir les complicacions cròniques i agudes derivades dels nivells anormalment alts o baixos de glucosa. La regulació automàtica de glucosa amb sistemes de pàncrees artificials prometia reduir la càrrega d'autocontrol de la malaltia al mateix temps que es millorava el temps en normoglucèmia i es reduïa la variabilitat. No obstant, aquestes promeses s'han complit només parcialment. Encara que aquesta tecnologia millora el control de la glucosa, la ingesta d'aliments i la pràctica d'exercici limiten l'eficiència dels sistemes de pàncrees artificials durant el dia. De fet, els sistemes comercials només poden fer-les front amb la ajuda dels pacients. Per a compensar les ingestes, el pacients han d'anunciar al sistema la quantitat de carbohidrats. Per al exercici, han d'anunciar l'inici de l'activitat o prendre mesures preventives com modificar la referència de glucosa o reduir la infusió basal d'insulina. Aquestes exigències no només no ajuden a reduir la càrrega al pacient, sinó que poden comprometre l'eficiència del sistema quan el pacient confon la estimació dels carbohidrats, omet l'anunciament de la ingesta o no pot planificar l'exercici. Així doncs, aquesta tesi proposa nous mètodes per a eliminar l'anunciament d'ingestes i exercici permetent reduir així la intervenció del pacient, i, en conseqüència, millorar la qualitat de vida. Des del punt de vista de control, les ingestes i el exercici poden considerar-se pertorbacions. Aquesta tesi explota mètodes de la literatura de rebuig de pertorbacions i acomodament de fallades. En particular, es destaquen tres aplicacions: 1) s'ha desenvolupat un observador super-twisting per a detectar ingestes no anunciades com a primer pas per a la seua compensació; 2) se ha dissenyat un observador de modes lliscants per a estimar el rati d'aparició de glucosa de la ingesta, el qual s'ha integrat en un generador de bols d'insulina per compensar les ingestes; 3) se ha empleat el principi de disseny per model intern per a mitigar l'efecte de les ingestes i exercici, incorporant recomanacions de carbohidrats a la insulina. Com a resultat, les contribucions d'aquesta tesi obren el camí per a desenvolupar sistemes de pàncrees artificial sense anunciaments, que alliberen al pacient de la càrrega de la gestió de la diabetis. / [EN] Exogenous insulin infusions are vital for people with type 1 diabetes to partially make up for the inability of the pancreas to secrete insulin. However, current intensive therapies may restrict patients' quality of life. People with this disease have to constantly make decisions about insulin doses to bring glucose levels to a safe range. If unsuccessful, they may suffer from chronic and acute complications related to abnormally high and low glucose values. The automatic regulation of glucose with artificial pancreas systems promised to reduce patients' self-control burdens while improving time in normoglycemia and decreasing variability. However, these promises are fulfilled only partially. Although this technology outperforms the glycemic outcomes achieved by conventional therapies, meal intake and physical activity limit its daytime performance. Indeed, commercially available systems only can handle them with the support of the patients. For meals, patients must announce the carbohydrate content to the system. For exercise, they must notify the activity or take preventive actions like changing glucose setpoint or decreasing basal well ahead before exercise. These demands do not help reduce the patient's burden. They even can compromise the system performance when the patient misestimates the carbohydrate content, omits the meal announcement, or cannot plan the exercise event. Hence, this thesis proposes new methods to eliminate the need for meal and exercise announcements, thus reducing patient intervention in artificial pancreas systems for a better quality of life. From a control perspective, meals and exercise can be regarded as disturbances; therefore, this thesis exploits methods from the disturbance rejection and fault accommodation literature to achieve the thesis goal. Specifically, the following three applications must be highlighted: 1) a super-twisting-based residual generator has been developed to detect unannounced meals as the first step to their compensations; 2) a sliding-mode disturbance observer has been designed to estimate the glucose meal appearance, which is fed into a bolusing algorithm to compensate the meals; 3) the internal model principle is employed to mitigate the effects of meal intakes and exercise, supplementing insulin infusions with carbohydrate recommendations. As a result, the contributions of this thesis pave the way for the development of announcement-free artificial pancreas systems, releasing patients from the burden of diabetes management. / This work was partially supported by: grant DPI2016-78831-C2-1-R funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by “ERDF A way of making Europe”; grant PID2019-107722RB-C21 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033; and grant ACIF/2017/021 funded by the Generalitat Valenciana through European Social Funds (FSE). Also, the grant BEFPI/2019/077, funded by the Generalitat Valenciana through FSE funds, supported a 7-month research stay at Physiological da University (Óbudai Egyetem, Óbuda, Budapest, Hungary) / Sala Mira, I. (2023). New Contributions Towards Meal and Exercise Announcement-Free Artificial Pancreas Systems [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/192684

Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) have played a crucial role in moving socially responsibility considerations up on the private equity industry’s agenda. DFIs add a development impact criterion to traditional financial performance goals in the investment industry and play a catalytic role by mobilizing other investors. The gap in research regarding DFIs implications and significance in the investment community from a SRI perspective is evident. The development impact objective introduced by the DFIs is examined to understand its effects on fund managers’ decision-making and if it exists a trade-off between this objective and financial performance. An understanding of how DFIs control fund managers to act in accordance to their objective as well as how they determine compensation schemes to incentivize them to pursue high return on investments, is discussed in relation to the agency theory. Furthermore, stakeholder/shareholder consideration is examined in relation to the subject. The aim of this study is to examine how the behavior of fund managers is affected by the involvement of a DFI investor and try to add to the understanding of their significance as institutional investors in developing markets. Previous studies have been more focused on determining the financial performance of socially responsible investments by using very similar quantitative data collection methods. This thesis undertakes an in-depth approach with the purpose to understand the fund manager’s drives as well as how a DFI involvement affects the behavior and decision-making process.   This thesis undertook a qualitative research strategy and semi-structured interviews were used as the tool to understand the fund managers’ personals beliefs and perceptions of how the relationship with DFIs affect them. The selection criteria for the fund managers was that they needed to work in a fund in which a DFIs has invested. We also included DFI investors in order to understand their point of view. The interview was recorded, transcribed and later divided into themes in accordance with the thematic approach, following six steps. Our findings show that Development Finance Institutions plays an important role in emerging markets and affect fund manager behavior to a certain extent. They did not perceive a trade-off between financial performance goals and development impact objectives. We conclude that DFIs increase fund manager focus on ESG/SEE elements in the investment process. DFIs requirements and reporting obligations is used as a tool to ensure that the fund manager act in accordance to DFI objective. The fund managers were neither willing to sacrifice commercial return in favor of development impact. Lastly, the interest among the DFIs and commercial investors is fairly similar, hence reducing the conflict of interest between investors.

Text in Afrikaans, with summaries in Afrikaans and English / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 383-403) / Die woordestryd oor goddelike inspirasie van alles wat in die Bybel staan, as gevolg van die uitgesproke stellings van Johannes Du Plessis, het tot ‘n krisis gelei wat as baken in die annale van die Ned. Geref. Kerk beskou word. Die meeste van sy standpunte word vandag as waarheid aanvaar en hy het bygedra tot die intellektuele debat oor die Bybel as Woord van God wat vandag nog aangaan. Du Plessis se herkoms, opleiding en verdienste as predikant en saakgelastigde van die Kerk word kortliks bespreek. Hy was die talentvolle seun en enigste kind van 'n Afrikaanse predikant en 'n Engelse vrou, die dogter van 'n sendeling van die LMS. Hy word professor aan die Kweekskool en met kennis opgedoen tydens verdere studie oorsee, het hy gewys op dele van die Bybel wat nie aan goddelike inspirasie toegeskryf kan word nie. Hy het dit ook duidelik gestel dat hy as teoloog en leermeester nie kon glo sonder om te probeer verstaan nie. Hy het sy bevindinge bekend gemaak in Het Zoeklicht, 'n maandblad wat bedoel was om as soeklig te dien om verskillende vorms van “duisternis” in beide godsdiens en die politiek, betref, aan die lig te bring. Oortuig van die waarde van die Hoër Kritiek, het hy dit as sy plig geag om wat hy deur wye leeswerk en kritiese ondersoek rakende die oorsprong, vorm en inhoud van die Ou Testamentiese boeke bekom het, bekend te maak. Artikels van dié aard, eers in De Kerkbode en daarna in Het Zoeklicht, het gelei tot beroering onder behoudende lesers wat gekant was teen enige veranderinge in die prediking. Hulle was veral ontstoke oor sy siening dat die belydenisskrifte wat spruit uit die dae van die Hervorming 500 jaar tevore, oop was vir herformulering. Klagtes dat Du Plessis op 'n gevaarlike pad was, was die begin van wat gelei het tot 'n krisis in die Kerk, en uiteindelik tot 'n buitengewone sinode in 1930 toe hy van sy pos onthef is. Die behoudende reaksie van die meerderheid was dat die Bybel die onfeilbare Woord van God is. Die gevolg was dat 'n groot aantal van die leiers van die Kerk, aanhangers van die Nasionale Party wat in 1948 aan bewind gekom het, tekste uit die Bybel gebruik het om die beleid van Apartheid Skriftuurlik te begrond. Ná byna veertig jaar van 'n onkritiese benadering tot die Bybel, is die geloof in 'n foutlose Bybel weer bevraagteken. Tussen die eerlike teoloë wat dit gewaag het om te wys op foute en inkonsekwenthede, was Ferdinand Deist en Willem Vorster. Albei het hulle opleiding as predikante voltooi maar het hulle nie beroepbaar gestel nie omdat hulle met verdere studie voortgegaan het en hulle openlik uitgespreek het teen die misbruik van Bybelse gegewens om apartheid te regverdig. Geskool aan die Kweekskool in Stellenbosch, het Deist hom onderskei as geleerde wat sy drang na dieper ondersoek gepaar het met 'n piëtisme waarop hy uiting gegee het in 'n stortvloed van akademiese en populêre geskrifte ― wat nie altyd gestrook het met sy stelling dat die Woord van God nie met 'n gelyk-aan-teken aan mekaar verbind kan word nie. Vorster, wat sy opleiding aan die Universiteit van Pretoria ontvang het, het ewe bekend geraak en het internasionale erkenning geniet vir sy toepassing van die semantiek op studies van die Nuwe Testament. Daarby het hy sy kennis van die Nabye Oosterse tale toepaslik gevind in sy bydrae tot The New Quest om meer te wete te kom oor die historiese Jesus, 'n Jood en Galileër wat vir 'n kort periode opgetree het as leermeester en eskatologiese profeet. In die studie van bydraes van die drie geleerdes tot ons verstaan van die Bybel, is ook aandag geskenk aan 'n ander aspek van die Bybel as problematiese teks: Die nadruk wat skrywers en redaktors van die Bybelse gebeure, geplaas het op mans as vaders en seuns ten koste van vroue, moeders en dogters. Die gevolg was dat meeste van die sogenaamde Kerkvaders genoeg in die Bybel kon vind om hulle te identifiseer met die neerhalende beeld wat in Die Openbaring (14:3-4) geskep word van vroue, opvallend in stryd met die inhoud van Genesis 1:26-31. / The controversy started by Johannes Du Plessis over the question whether everything in the Bible was inspired by God, caused a crisis in the Dutch Reformed Church, which is listed as a beacon in its history. Most of the points he raised are accepted as truth today, and started an intellectual debate that is still going on. Information relating to Du Plessis’ origins, training, and achievements as a minister and church official is briefly noted. He was the talented son, and only child of an Afrikaner father and minister of religion, and an English mother, the daughter of an LMS missionary. He became a professor at the Seminary in Stellenbosch, after his studies overseas had caused him to question parts of the Old Testament text that could not be regarded as divinely inspired. He also made it quite clear that believing without trying to understand was not possible for him as a theologian and teacher. He proclaimed his findings in Het Zoeklicht, a monthly magazine intended to serve as a searchlight and an organ to reveal the “darkness” that was still prevalent in both religion and politics. Aware of the value of Higher Criticism of the Old Testament, he regarded it his duty to make known what he had found in reading widely and in critical research on the origins, form and content of the books of the Bible. Articles to this effect published first in De Kerkbode and then in Het Zoeklicht, caused an outcry from conservative readers who were opposed to any changes in the teaching of the church. They were especially enraged by his view that the confessions drawn up by Reformers 500 years earlier, were open for review. Complaints that Du Plessis was on a dangerous path, marked the beginning of what was regarded as a crisis in the Church, and in the end led to Du Plessis being relieved of his post by a special Synod convened in 1930. The views of the conservative majority, however, prevailed. As a result, a large number of leading ministers and theologians, who openly supported the Nationalist government that came into power in 1948, provided assurance that the concept of separation of racial groups was in accordance with Scripture. After nearly forty years of an uncritical approach to the Bible, the belief in in-errancy was again questioned. Among the few theologians who dared to point out errors and inconsistencies in various texts, were Ferdinand Deist and Willem Vorster. Both trained as ministers, they chose to continue their studies and openly expressed themselves against the abuse of Biblical texts to support the ideology of apartheid. Trained at the Seminary in Stellenbosch, Deist turned out to be a noted scholar who combined his urge for honest critical study with a pietism expressed in a flood of academic and popular publications ― which were not always consistent with his own statement that The Word of God could not be connected to Scripture with an is-equal-to symbol. Vorster, who received his education at the University of Pretoria, became equally well known as a scholar and gained international recognition for his application of semantics in the study of the Gospels. He also applied his knowledge of languages in what came to be known as The New Quest for the historical Jesus who, as a Jew and a Galilean, distinguished himself during a brief period as a teacher and eschatological prophet. In the study of the contributions of these three outstanding men to our understanding of the Bible, another major aspect of the Bible as problematic text is addressed: The emphasis the authors and redactors of the Scriptures placed on the roles of men, fathers and sons, patently to the exclusion of women, mothers and daughters. As a result many of the so-called Church Fathers found in the Bible sufficient material to look down upon women ― the verdict expressed in Revelations 14:3-4 being one of numerous texts pointing to women as objects of derision in glaring contradiction to the contents of Genesis 1:26-31. / Biblical and Ancient Studies / D. Phil. (Biblical Studies)

Cardiovascular diseases are among the leading causes of death worldwide and particularly in the developed World. The search for new therapeutic approaches for improving the functions of the damaged heart is therefore a critical endeavour. Myocardial infarction, which can lead to heart failure, is associated with irreversible loss of functional cardiomyocytes. The loss of cardiomyocytes poses a major difficulty for treating the damaged heart since terminally differentiated cardiomyocytes have very limited regeneration potential. Currently, the only effective treatment for severe heart failure is heart transplantation but this option is limited by the acute shortage of donor hearts. The high incidence of heart diseases and the scarcity donor hearts underline the urgent need to find alternative therapeutic approaches for treating cardiovascular diseases. Pluripotent embryonic stem (ES) cells can differentiate into functional cardiomyocytes. Therefore the engraftment of ES cell-derived functional cardiomyocytes or cardiac progenitor cells into the damaged heart to regenerate healthy myocardial tissues may be used to treat damaged hearts. Stem cell-based therapy therefore holds a great potential as a very attractive alternative to heart transplant for treating heart failure and other cardiovascular diseases. A major obstacle to the realisation of stem cell-based therapy is the lack of donor cells and this in turn is due to the fact that, currently, the molecular mechanisms or the regulatory signal transduction mechanisms that are responsible for mediating ES cell differentiation into cardiomyocytes are not well understood. Overcoming this huge scientific challenge is absolutely necessary before the use of stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes to treat the damaged heart can become a reality. Therefore the aim of this thesis was to investigate the signal transduction pathways that are involved in the differentiation of stem cells into cardiomyocytes. The first objective was the establishment and use of cardiomyocyte differentiation models using H9c2 cells and P19 stem cells to accomplish the specific objectives of the thesis. The specific objectives of the thesis were, the investigation of the roles of (i) nitric oxide (ii) protein kinase C (PKC), (iii) p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) (vi) phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and (vi) nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kB) signalling pathways in the differentiation of stem cells to cardiomyocytes and, more importantly, to identify where possible any points of convergence and potential cross-talk between pathways that may be critical for differentiation to occur. P19 cells were routinely cultured in alpha minimal essential medium (α-MEM) supplemented with 100 units/ml penicillin /100 μg/ml streptomycin and 10% foetal bovine serum (FBS). P19 cell differentiation was initiated by culturing the cells in microbiological plates in medium containing 0.8 % DMSO to form embryoid bodies (EB). This was followed by transfer of EBs to cell culture grade dishes after four days. H9c2 cells were cultured in Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle’s medium (DMEM) supplemented with 10% FBS. Differentiation was initiated by incubating the cells in medium containing 1% FBS. In both models, when drugs were employed, they were added to cells for one hour prior to initiating differentiation. Cell monolayers were monitored daily over a period of 12 or 14 days. H9c2 cells were monitored for morphological changes and P19 cells were monitored for beating cardiomyocytes. Lysates were generated in parallel for western blot analysis of changes in cardiac myosin heavy chain (MHC), ventricular myosin chain light chain 1(MLC-1v) or troponin I (cTnI) using specific monoclonal antibodies. H9c2 cells cultured in 1% serum underwent differentiation as shown by the timedependent formation of myotubes, accompanied by a parallel increase in expression of both MHC and MLC-1v. These changes were however not apparent until 4 to 6 days after growth arrest and increased with time, reaching a peak at day 12 to 14. P19 stem cells cultured in DMSO containing medium differentiated as shown by the timedependent appearance of beating cardiomyocytes and this was accompanied by the expression of cTnI. The differentiation of both P19 stem cells and H9c2 into cardiomyocytes was blocked by the PI3K inhibitor LY294002, PKC inhibitor BIM-I and the p38 MAPK inhibitor SB2035800. However when LY294002, BIM-I or SB2035800 were added after the initiation of DMSO-induced P19 stem cell differentiation, each inhibitor failed to block the cell differentiation into beating cardiomyocytes. The NF-kB activation inhibitor, CAPE, blocked H9c2 cell differentiation into cardiomyocytes. Fast nitric oxide releasing donors (SIN-1 and NOC-5) markedly delayed the onset of differentiation of H9c2 cells into cardiomyocytes while slow nitric oxide releasing donors (SNAP and NOC-18) were less effective in delaying the onset of differentiation or long term differentiation of H9c2 cells into cardiomyocytes. Akt (protein kinase B) is the key downstream target of PI3K. Our cross-talk data also showed that PKC inhibition and p38 MAPK inhibition respectively enhanced and reduced the activation of Akt, as determined by the phosphorylation of Akt at serine residue 473. In conclusion, PKC, PI3K, p38 MAPK and NF-kB are relevant for the differentiation of stem cells into cardiomyocytes. Our data also show that the PKC, PI3K and p38 MAPK signalling pathways are activated as very early events during the differentiation of stem cells into cardiomyocytes. Our data also suggest that PKC may negatively regulate Akt activation while p38 MAPK inhibition inhibits Akt activation. Our fast NO releasing donor data suggest that nitric oxide may negatively regulate H9c2 cell differentiation.

The goal of this study is to evaluate, in which manner the Non-Israelites turn to Yahweh. It works with a combination of narrative analysis and intertextuality. The book of Jonah contains two symmetrical parts (1-2 and 3-4), each part containing three scenes, each scene relating to a scene in the other part: 1.1-3 // 3.1-3a; 1.4-16 // 3.3b-10; 2.1-11 // 4.1-11. The structure of 1.4-16, including the inner development of the mariners, shows that a conversion of the Seamen to Yahweh is intended. In the same manner the structure of 3.3b-10 and the positive characterization of the Ninevites show that a conversion to the one true God is intended. These results are each confirmed by an intertextual analysis of 1.14 and 16 and of the faith, the repentance and the God who relents. Result: The book of Jonah teaches that Non-Israelites can have a relationship with Yahweh. This is possible through an Israelite, becoming reality by conversion of the Heathen. / Ziel der vorliegenden Studie ist zu erheben, in wieweit sich die Nichtisraeliten (Seeleute und Niniviten) dem wahren Gott zuwenden. Sie geht methodisch mit einer Kombination aus Erzähltextanalyse und Intertextualität vor. Das Jonabuch besteht aus zwei symmetrischen Hälften (Jon 1-2 und 3-4) mit je 3 Szenen, die einander gegenüberstehen: 1,1-3 // 3,1-3a; 1,4-16 // 3,3b-10; 2,1-11 // 4,1-11. Die Struktur der Seeszene (Jon 1,4-16), sowie die innere Entwicklung der Seeleute zeigen, dass eine Bekehrung zu Jahwe intendiert ist. Diese Einsicht wird von der intertextuellen Analyse von Vers 14 und 16 bestätigt. Ebenso erweist die Struktur der Niniveperikope (3,3b-10) und die positive Charakterisierung der Niniviten eine Bekehrung zum wahren Gott, ein Ergebnis, das von der intertextuellen Analyse des Glaubens, der Buße, sowie der Reue Gottes gestützt wird. Ergebnis: Das Jonabuch lehrt, dass Menschen außerhalb Israels eine Beziehung zu Jahwe haben können, vermittelt durch einen Israeliten und realisiert, wenn sich die Heiden bekehren. / Biblical and Ancient Studies / M. Th. (Old Testament)

Esta investigación ha identificado los instrumentos de contabilidad de gestión que los gestores de las organizaciones no lucrativas, y más concretamente de los colegios de economistas de España, utilizan y pueden utilizar como sistemas de información para el control de la gestión y para la mejora de su eficiencia, eficacia y economía. Se han realizado tres estudios empíricos: 1. A los gestores de los colegios de economistas, para conocer situación y nivel de implantación de instrumentos de control de gestión .2. Se ha centrado en el análisis de la situación a nivel también de instrumentos de contabilidad de gestión de determinadas asociaciones inglesas que están destinadas a profesionales que ejercen en especialidades que en España pueden realizar los economistas. 3. A usuarios de los colegios, par ver nivel de calidad de los servicios y actividades que los colegios realizan y los efectos de la profesionalidad múltiple que los caracteriza. / It presents the results of a study about management control in non-profit organizations, focusing on the particular case of the Associations of Economists in Spain. In order to do it, a revision of literature and empirical studies have taken place to find out the implementation and level development of the instruments of management accounting in non-profit organizations. The study has been completed with three empirical studies, first directed to Associations of Economists in Spain, the second to associations from the UK related to the economy and the company, and, third directed to users from an Economists'Professional Association. Moreover, interviews of managers of different Associations from the UK have been made.

Att integrera insamling och analysering av användardata inom produktutveckling förekommer hos företag inom alla branscher över hela världen. Användardata kan ge ett företag information om användare och den informationen kan i sin tur utnyttjas för att utveckla befintliga och nya produkter. Syftet med studien är att undersöka hur användardata och andra arbetssätt i kombination kan identifiera och tillfredsställa kundbehov under utveckling av webbplatser och appar. För att besvara frågeställningen byggdes en teoretisk referensram från en vetenskaplig litteraturstudie. En stor del av litteraturstudien består av Kano modellen för att förklara sambandet mellan olika kundbehov och kundtillfredsställelse. Vidare presenteras vanligt förekommande användardata och andra arbetssätt. Sedan genomfördes en kvalitativstudie hos fyra företag som arbetar med produktutveckling av appar och/eller webbplatser. Den kvalitativa studien bestod av semi-strukturerade intervjuer. Resultaten från den kvalitativa studien analyserades sedan och jämfördes mot den teoretiska referensramen. Efter analys och diskussion av resultaten visar studien att en kombination av användardata och andra arbetssätt är fördelaktigt i en produktutvecklingsprocess för att uppnå hög kundtillfredsställelse. Vidare upptäcker studien svårigheten i att mäta kundtillfredsställelse då användares behov ständigt förändras samt för att tillfredsställelse oftast mäts på specifika produktfunktioner, inte produkten i sin helhet. / Integrating collection and analysis of user data within product development is occurring in companies worldwide and across all industries. User data can provide a company with information about the users which can be utilized to develop existing and new products. This study aims to explore how a combination of user data and other work methods can identify and satisfy customer needs during the development of websites and apps. To answer the research questions a theoretical framework was built from a scientific literature study. The literature study gives much focus to the Kano model to explain the connection between different customer needs and customer satisfaction. Additionally, common user data and other work methods are presented. Subsequently, a qualitative study was conducted at four companies who are working with product development of apps and/or websites. The qualitative study consisted of semi-structured interviews. The results from the qualitative study were analysed and compared to the theoretical framework. After analysis and discussion, the study shows that a combination of user data and other work methods is profitable in a product development process to achieve high customer satisfaction. Furthermore, the study discovers the difficulties in measuring customer satisfaction since customer needs are constantly changing and also because customer satisfaction is often measured on specific product features, not the product as a whole.