Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (App) est l’agent étiologique de la pleuropneumonie porcine, une infection pulmonaire contagieuse chez les porcs. Parmi les nombreux mécanismes de virulence retrouvés chez les bactéries, la formation de biofilms joue souvent un rôle important dans la pathogenèse. Il a été récemment démontré qu’App avait la capacité de former des biofilms in vitro. Dans notre laboratoire, la formation de biofilms par App a été évaluée en microplaques dans différents milieux de culture. Nous avons démontré que la souche de référence de sérotype 1 est capable de former des biofilms. Le but de ce travail est d’identifier des gènes impliqués dans la biosynthèse et dans la régulation de l’expression des biofilms chez App. L’objectif de cette étude était de générer une banque de mutants d’App 4074NalR à l’aide du transposon mini-Tn10. Cette banque de 1200 mutants a été criblée à l’aide du modèle in vitro de formation de biofilms en microplaques et en tubes : 24 mutants démontrant une formation de biofilms modifiée par rapport à la souche mère App 4074NalR ont été sélectionnés et identifiés, nous permettant ainsi de localiser le site d’insertion du transposon. Une analyse a permis d’identifier de nouveaux gènes impliqués dans la biosynthèse et dans la régulation de l’expression des biofilms chez App. Notre criblage a permis d’identifier 16 gènes connus impliqués dans la formation de biofilms chez App (hns) ou chez d’autres pathogènes (potD2, ptsI, tig and rpmF) mais également de nouveaux gènes impliqués dans la formation de biofilm (APL_0049, APL_0637 and APL_1572). Une caractérisation plus poussée de ces gènes nous permettra d’améliorer la compréhension des mécanismes impliqués dans la formation de biofilm chez App. / A. pleuropneumoniae (App) is the causative agent of porcine pleuropneumonia, a contagious pulmonary infection in swine. Among the numerous virulence mechanisms found in bacteria, the formation of biofilms often plays an important role in pathogenesis. It has been recently demonstrated that App has the ability to form biofilms in vitro. In our laboratory, the formation of biofilms by App has been evaluated in microplates under different growth conditions. We showed that the reference strain of serotype 1 is capable of forming biofilms when cultured in a specific growth medium. The objective of this work is to identifiy genes implicated in the biosynthesis and regulation of biofilm formation in App. The objective of this study was to generate a mutant library of App using the mini-Tn10 transposon. A total of 1200 mutants has been screened with the help of in vitro models for biofilm formation which use microtiter plates or test tubes; 24 mutants exhibited modified biofilm formation when compared to the parental strain 4074NalR. The selection and identification of these mutants allowed the identification of the insertion site of the transposon. Analysis revealed novel genes implicated in biosynthesis and regulation of the biofilm formation in App. Our screen allowed the identification of genes already associated in biofilm formation of App (hns) or other pathogens (potD2, ptsI, tig and rpmF). Genes (APL_0049, APL_0637 and APL_1573) that have not yet been associated with biofilm formation were also identified. Further characterization of the genes mentioned above would permit a greater understanding of the mechanisms implicated in biofilm formation of App.

No description available.

Patients suffering from transsexualism (TS) who apply for sex reassignment surgery (SRS) go through a complex evaluation process before being accepted for treatment. In general, the results from SRS are satisfying. However, further knowledge is needed to clearly delineate transsexualism from other related gender identity disorders (GID) and to improve the selection of candidates for SRS. Personality has for a long time been considered as the key concept for that purpose but systematic studies using reliable instruments are lacking. The present study aims at improving the assessment procedure, validating the concept of transsexualism and studying the outcome of SRS and important prognostic factors. Two methodological studies deal with the development and validation of two self-report instruments based on DSM-III-R: SCID screen covering Axis II personality disorders/traits and Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF-scale, Axis V). SCID screen diagnoses of personality disorders (PD) were compared with diagnoses from independent structured interviews by means of the SCID-II. The overall kappa in identifying a PD was 0.78 varying from 0.34 to 0.81 for the specific PDs when cut-off was adjusted. When applied to a group of GID-patients SCID screen diagnoses agreed well with clinical diagnoses (kappa 0.77). Self-report of the GAF also proved to be a reliable (overall Pearson r=0.62) and useful method and the study lends further support to the validity of Axis V. In three papers a group of 19 transsexuals was studied by means of a) SCID screen to examine their personality in a dimensional and traditional categorical way, b) the GAF-scale to study psychosocial functioning, c) Structural Analysis of Social Behavior (SASB) to examine self-image and d) Defense Mechanism Test (DMT) to analyze psychological defense structures from a psychodynamic perspective. Patients with atypical gender identity disorders (GIDAANT) and patients with borderline personality disorders as well as healthy subjects were used as contrast groups. Among the transsexuals 10 out of 19 had an additional axis I disorder and 37% had at least one PD, predominantly within cluster B. When analyzed dimensionally according to SCID screen, frequent subthreshold personality pathology was found and biological women fulfilled more axis II criteria than men. TS had less axis I and II pathology compared with GIDAANT and psychiatric patients. According to SASB, TS had a positive self-image with both self-control and spontaneous self and predominating self-love. They appeared significantly more healthy on self-image measures than GIDAANT patients. The DMT revealed a different pattern; TS patients were more disturbed in several areas than patients with borderline personality disorder. TS showed no ”emotional investment” and poorer reality orientation in contrast to both healthy controls and the borderline group but shared a similar pregenital pathology with the borderline patients. Finally, five-year outcome was studied among the transsexuals from a multidimensional approach (e.g. work, interpersonal relations, partnership, subjective opinion) and related to index- measurements on DSM-III-R, SCID screen, GAF, SASB and DMT. Based on combined outcome variables, 68% of the subjects were judged to have improved and 16% had an unsatisfactory outcome. One single case regretted the sex change. SCID screen pathology and SASB disturbances emerged as significant predictors for negative outcome, as well as male biological sex and lack of partnership. It was concluded, that although outcome is in general very favorable, the instruments under investigation, in particular SCID screen and SASB, revealed valuable prognostic information and they are suggested to become part of the future routine assessment of candidates for SRS. / <p>Diss. (sammanfattning) Umeå : Umeå universitet, 1995, härtill 6 uppsatser.</p> / digitalisering@umu

Plant growth and development depends on controlled cell expansion. This, in itself, is determined by the plant cell wall, a structural matrix of polysaccharides encasing the plant cell. One line of investigation that has proven particularly successful in elucidating the components of the plant cell wall machinery has been the forward genetic screens of cell wall mutants. In this study, the molecular and cellular characterisation of sloughy, a cell separation mutant in Arabidopsis thaliana, was commenced. This mutant has a striking phenotype, with files of elongating epidermal cells snaking away from the adjacent epidermal cells and from the underlying cortex, loosing contact from the side walls while remaining attached at the cell ends, in a manner reminiscent of border-like cells in the root cap of arabidopsis. The sloughy mutation was fine mapped to a short region on chromosome I using high resolution melt point analysis. On sequencing all five genes in this region, a single nucleotide mutation, introducing a stop codon, was detected in exon 2 in the previously-described heat shock transcription factor SCHIZORIZA that results in a truncated protein missing several conserved domains essential for activity. SCHIZORIZA acts as a cell fate determinate in the root meristem to promote cortex fate, while suppressing epidermal and root cap fate in the mature ground tissue. Although the literature on schizoriza mutants has focused on the developing root meristem, with little documentation on the cell separation phenotype further up in the roots, the investigation of a collection of schizoriza TILLING mutants revealed that aberrant cell separation was ubiquitous to schizoriza mutants with a severely truncated protein. To investigate cell identity in the mature roots, sloughy was crossed to GAL4-GFP enhancer trap lines that act as cell-specific markers. Epidermal identity lines revealed that sloughy possessed a supernumerary ground tissue layer with epidermal identity. A cortex and endodermal line revealed that these two identities are restricted to the endodermal layer and the next ground tissue layer out. There was no indication of root cap identity in the mature root with any of the root cap lines used, although partial lateral root cap identity has been previously described in the epidermal and subepidermal cell layers in the meristem of schizoriza mutants expressing SOMBRERO-GFP, a lateral root cap-specific transcription factor. Immunolabelling of cell wall epitopes revealed that the JIM13 antibody, which specifically labels arabinogalactan-proteins in wild-type root caps, often labelled the epidermal cells and surrounding mucilage further up the in the roots of sloughy. The aberrant cell separation present in sloughy is thought to be a consequence of epidermal cells possessing partial lateral root cap identity. The data on sloughy/schizoriza is sufficient to generate a model on how a meristem developmental gene can generate a cell separation phenotype in the mature roots. Loss of SCHIZORIZA causes confused cell identity in the root meristem that results in an epidermal and subepidermal layer possessing mixed epidermal and lateral root cap identity. The distinctive properties of border-like cells in the root cap of arabidopsis have been linked to unique cell wall maturation and developmental processes, implicating the cellulases CEL3 and CEL5, the pectin glycosyltransferase QUA1, the pectin methyltransferase QUA2 and other pectolytic enzymes. The ectopic expression of these cell wall enzymes in the epidermal and subepidermal layers of sloughy roots result in reduced adhesion along the sides of the cell, while the ends remain attached, causing the observed cell separation phenotype.

Problem gambling currently affects between 5-7% of youth ages 12-18 (Hardooon & Derevensky, 2002); however, rates of problem gambling among youth who are involved with the Juvenile Justice System are more than twice that of school sample rates (Lieberman & Cuadrado, 2002). Furthermore, disordered gambling often co-occurs with substance use and criminal activity (Huang & Boyer, 2007), issues that are compounded in the Juvenile Justice population. The current study assessed gambling behaviors and risk factors of 145 youth involved in juvenile, juvenile drug, and family courts. Results indicated that nearly 13% of these youth are currently problem gamblers, and that males and African-Americans had higher problem gambling rates than female and Caucasian youth. Furthermore, gambling-related crime, substance use, scope of gambling activities, and time in detention facilities were all predictive of problem gambling severity, while suicidal ideation, urban environment, and lottery sales per capita were not. Finally, having a parent with a gambling problem also emerged as a risk factor;however, the risk was greater for males than for females. These results present a distinct need for youth to be screened for gambling problems upon entering and exiting the Juvenile Justice System, and for prevention and intervention services to be offered within juvenile and family court settings. Furthermore, communities need to take an active role in preventing youth gambling problems through increasing public awareness and insuring that appropriate and accurate messages reflecting gambling opportunities and outcomes are presented.

Prostaglandin E2, postulated to be immunosuppressive to the tumor bearing host, is produced and excreted in elevated quantities by many tumors. Arachidonic acid, the precursor molecule for PGE2, is released from membrane phospholipids by phospholipase A2. Phospholipase A2 has been proposed as the rate limiting enzyme in the production of prostaglandin E2.Phospholipase A2 from different sources varies in substrate specificities, pH optima, and Ca ++ concentration requirements. Therefore, the determination of its specific activity depends on the development of appropriate incubation, extraction, and identification methodologies.This study attempted to develop methodologies for determination of PLA2 activity using enzymes from snake venom, mouse liver, and normal and tumored mouse mammarytissue. The method of substrate preparation, kind of substrate, amount of protein, length of incubation, and addition of KC1 and deoxycholate were varied. Reaction products were extracted and isolated with hexame, and methylated with diazomethane. The methyl esters were identified by gas liquid chromatography. Quantitative analyses were based on proportionality of experimental peak areas to internal standard peak area.Activity could not be demonstrated with snake venom or liver PLA2 preparations. Low specific activity was obtained in some tumor and normal mammary tissue extracts. These studies will be used as a basis for developing an optimal assay system for PLA2 from normal and tumored mouse mammary tissue.

No description available.

The purpose of the study was to investigate the construct validity of the Total Individual Progress Level I Pre-kindergarten Screen (TIP) for males and females. Exploratory factor analysis of the items was used to determine the underlying dimensions of TIP.The subjects were 799 students from a rural and suburban school district adjacent to a larger city in east-central Indiana who were screened prior to kindergarten entrance during the years 1977 to 1984. The sample was split to allow for cross-validation of the exploratory factor analysis results.The covariance structures of males and females were judged to be similar. Therefore, a principal components analysis using SPSS-X (Nie, 1983) was used to determine the optional number of factors to retain for males and females together in two separate samples. Judgements regarding the number of factors to retain was based on the scree plot and eigenvalue greater than one criteria (Reynolds & Paget, 1981). Both orthogonal and oblique rotations were explored for 3-, 4-, 5-, and 6-factor solutions using principal factoring with iterations.The four-factor varimax solutions for Sample 1 and Sample 2 were found to provide the best solution of TIP. The same four constructs were found in both samples and were extracted in the same order, indicating reliability of this factor solution of TIP. The factors were named, in order, Language, Visual, Gross Motor, and Speech Mechanics.The results obtained in the two samples were compared in regard to Rummel's (1970) considerations. Similarities were found in number of retained factors, configuration of the variables, complexity of the solution, variance accounted for by the factors, and communalities. In addition, results of Tucker's congruence coefficient and Cattell's salient variable similarity index indicated factorial similarity for all four factors across both samples.The four derived factors did not completely resemble the four pre-established subscales of TIP.The Concepts subscale did not emerge as a separate construct and the Hearing and communication subscale was broken into two different factors. Fewer items comprised the four-factor varimax solution. Only two of the extracted factors, Gross Motor and Visual, resembled the pre-established subscales of Motor and Vision and Visual, respectively.

Computer applications can be described as largely rigid structures within which an information seeker must navigate in search of information - each screen, each transaction having underlying unique code. The larger the application, the higher the number of lines of code and the larger the size of the application executable. This study suggests an alternative pattern based approach, an approach driven by the information seeker. This alternative approach makes use of value embedded in intelligent patterns to assemble rules and logic constituents, numerous patterns aggregating to form a ‟virtual screen‟ based on the need of the information seeker. Once the information need is satisfied, the atomic rules and logic constituents dissipate and return to a base state. These same constituents are available, are reassembled and form the succeeding ‟virtual screen‟ to satisfy the following request. The pattern based approach makes use of multiple pattern ‟instances‟ to deliver functionality each pattern instance has a specific embedded value. Numbers of these patterns aggregate to drive the formation of a ‟virtual screen‟ built using patterns, each pattern referencing and associating (physical) atomic logic and spatial constituents. This is analogous to painting a picture using removable dots. The dots can be used to describe a fish, and then, once appreciation has been completed, the image is destroyed and the dots are returned to the palette. These same dots can later be reapplied to present the picture of a dog, if that is requested by the information seeker. In both pictures the same ‟dots‟ are applied and reused. The form of the fish and dog are retained as value embedded within the patterns, the dots are building blocks aligned using instructions within the patterns. This group classifies current solutions within the ‟Artefact-Pattern-Artefact‟ (APA) group and the pattern based approach within the ‟Pattern-Artefact-Pattern‟ (PAP) group. An overview and characteristics of each are discussed. The study concludes by presenting the results obtained when using a prototype developed using the PAP approach. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Information Technology))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2011

Computer applications can be described as largely rigid structures within which an information seeker must navigate in search of information - each screen, each transaction having underlying unique code. The larger the application, the higher the number of lines of code and the larger the size of the application executable. This study suggests an alternative pattern based approach, an approach driven by the information seeker. This alternative approach makes use of value embedded in intelligent patterns to assemble rules and logic constituents, numerous patterns aggregating to form a ‟virtual screen‟ based on the need of the information seeker. Once the information need is satisfied, the atomic rules and logic constituents dissipate and return to a base state. These same constituents are available, are reassembled and form the succeeding ‟virtual screen‟ to satisfy the following request. The pattern based approach makes use of multiple pattern ‟instances‟ to deliver functionality each pattern instance has a specific embedded value. Numbers of these patterns aggregate to drive the formation of a ‟virtual screen‟ built using patterns, each pattern referencing and associating (physical) atomic logic and spatial constituents. This is analogous to painting a picture using removable dots. The dots can be used to describe a fish, and then, once appreciation has been completed, the image is destroyed and the dots are returned to the palette. These same dots can later be reapplied to present the picture of a dog, if that is requested by the information seeker. In both pictures the same ‟dots‟ are applied and reused. The form of the fish and dog are retained as value embedded within the patterns, the dots are building blocks aligned using instructions within the patterns. This group classifies current solutions within the ‟Artefact-Pattern-Artefact‟ (APA) group and the pattern based approach within the ‟Pattern-Artefact-Pattern‟ (PAP) group. An overview and characteristics of each are discussed. The study concludes by presenting the results obtained when using a prototype developed using the PAP approach. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Information Technology))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2011