<p>Ube3a is a HECT domain E3 ubiquitin ligase originally recognized for its role in degrading p53 in the presence of the human papilloma virus protein E6. Loss of maternal Ube3a expression causes Angelman syndrome, a severe neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by mental retardation, ataxia, epilepsy, lack of speech, and a unique behavioral phenotype that includes a happy demeanor and frequent laughing. However, characterization of the endogenous properties and cellular role for Ube3a has been limited. Over the last few years, an interesting cohort of Ube3a interacting partners and putative substrates were named, though the consequences of these interactions were not thoroughly investigated. These include two Golgi localized proteins - PIST and Golgin-160 - as well as several proteins that can regulate trafficking of proteins at the Golgi apparatus: Src family kinases, ubiquilin, and tuberin. Therefore, we decided to focus on whether Ube3a could regulate Golgi structure or function.</p><p>In this dissertation, I will describe a new role for Ube3a at the Golgi apparatus in the regulation of intralumenal ion homeostasis. First, I characterized the expression pattern of endogenous Ube3a and overexpressed Ube3a isoforms by immunostaining and fractionation and demonstrated that although Ube3a has diffuse nuclear/cytoplasmic localization, it also associates with membrane fractions. I also confirmed that Ube3a interacts endogenously with both PIST and Golgin-160. Next, I demonstrated that Golgi morphology is perturbed in a cell line with stable knockdown of Ube3a. I found that the Golgi apparatus in Ube3a knockdown cells is under-acidifed, and that this is the primary defect underlying the disrupted Golgi morphology. Finally, I extended these findings in vivo and examined the morphology of the Golgi apparatus in the brains of Angelman syndrome model mice. The Golgi structures in the visual cortex of these mice appeared disorganized by immunohistochemistry and individual cisternae were significantly distended by electron microscopy, consistent with a defect in ion homeostasis at the Golgi apparatus. These findings define new cellular role for Ube3a at the Golgi apparatus and provide insight into the pathogenesis of Angelman syndrome.</p> / Dissertation

The Universal Basic Education (UBE) was designed to address the social problem of drop outs in secondary schools, but dropout rates in secondary schools are still at a 42% high in Enugu State, Nigeria. This study sought to understand teachers' perceptions of the program, the ways the UBE impacted the dropout problem, and what could be done to the UBE program to make it more effective. This study provided an important contribution to the literature, as it examined an often neglected perspective: the input of teachers in the field, as opposed to those of policy planners at the top. The conceptual framework was Elmore's bottom-up approach to implementation theory, which promotes the use of a backward mapping structure to evaluate a policy/reform implementation and proffers points for future changes. A case study design was employed, using 10 participants and 5 schools across 3 school forms. Interview data were analyzed employing the inductive coding structure to identify themes and patterns. Results indicated that the UBE implementation was only observed in public schools and that no attention was paid to curriculum development. Better planning, implementation, monitoring, and more stakeholder involvement were suggested for higher impacting future reforms. The implication for social change include exposing the factors that surrounded the implementation of the UBE whilst describing the importance of stakeholders in reforms, and how stakeholder involvement could be harnessed to producing better impacting reforms in Nigeria.

L’objectiu general d’aquesta tesi és conèixer la prevalença i el patró de consum d’alcohol d’una mostra de 2,137 estudiants de la Universitat de Girona (17-35 anys). S’utilitzà un disseny multimètode integrant la metodologia quantitativa (estudi d’enquesta) amb la metodología qualitativa (grups focals). Un 65% dels joves són consumidors habituals d’alcohol. La influència social de pares, germans i amics és una variable crucial en la iniciació i manteniment del consum d’aquesta droga. El consum habitual és més freqüent entre aquells que van experimentar més precoçment amb la substància. Entre els homes és més habitual el consum massiu, però més dones efectuen consums considerats d’alt risc. Els joves reconeixen algunes repercussions socials de l’abús de l’alcohol però no en perceben per a la salut física. Aquests resultats mostren la necessitat de: endarrerir l’edat de primera experimentació, informar del risc del consum d’alcohol i fomentar un oci nocturn alternatiu i saludable. / The main objective of this thesis was to determine the prevalence and patterns of alcohol consumption in a sample of 2137 college students from Girona (17-35 years old). A multimethod design using a quantitative methodology (survey) and qualitative methodology (focus groups) was employed. 65% of the participants were regular users of alcohol. The social influence of parents, siblings and friends was a crucial variable in the initiation and maintenance of alcohol use. In addition, regular use was more common amongthose who were younger when they first experimented with the substance. Binge drinking was more common among men, while high risk alcohol consumption was more common among women. However, participants acknowledged negative social consequences of alcohol abuse but they did not perceive any physical consequences. These results show the need to: delay the age of first experimentation, inform of the risks of alcohol consumption and promote a healthy alternative nightlife.

Abstracts and keywords in English, Afrikaans, Zulu and Northern Sotho / The main aim of this study is to obtain the MASTER OF ARTS degree. Secondly this study gives clarity on the study of long-term offenders in a maximum security prison. Offenders detained in maximum security prisons are given long-term imprisonment by the court of law. Long-term imprisonment goes along with high level of stress in correctional facilities. As a result, the development and treatment programs offered for inmates form part of the study. This study is important for the South African correctional system due to some of the categories of offenders in maximum security prisons. / Die hoofoogmerk van hierdie studie is om ʼn MAGISTER-graad te verwerf. Die studie gee tweedens duidelikheid oor die bestudering van langtermynoortreders in ʼn maksimumsekuriteittronk. Oortreders wat in maksimumsekuriteittronke aangehou word, word langtermyngevangenisstraf opgelê deur ʼn geregshof. Langtermyngevangenisstraf word geassosieer met hoë stresvlakke in korrektiewe fasiliteite. Die ontwikkeling- en behandelingprogramme wat aan gevangenes gebied word, vorm deel van hierdie studie. Hierdie studie is belangrik vir die Suid-Afrikaanse korrektiewe stelsel en sommige van die kategorieë van oortreders in maksimumsekuriteittronke. / Okuyiyona nhloso enkulu yalolu cwaningo ngukuthola iziqu zemiyezane ye-MASTER OF ARTS. Okwesibili, lolu cwaningo luyacacisa mayelana nokucwaninga ngezaphulamthetho ezingahle zibuye ziphinde (long-term offenders), ezisuke sisejele elinokuvikeleka okuseqophelweni eliphezulu. Izaphulamthetho eziboshelwe emajele anokuvikeleka okuseqophelweni eliphezulu zisuke zigwetshwe yinkantolo yomthetho ukuthi zihlale ejele isikhathi eside. Ezindaweni zokuhlumelelisa izimilo, ukuboshwa isikhathi eside kuhambelana namazinga aphezulu engcindezi (stress). Izinhlelo ezakhelwe ukuthuthukisa kanye nokwelapha iziboshwa ziyizinto eziyingxenye yalolu cwaningo. Lolu cwaningo lusemqoka maqondana nohlelo lwaseNingizimu Afrika lokuhlumelelisa izimilo kanye nakwezinye izigaba zezaphulamthetho emajele anokuvikeleka okuseqophelweni eliphezulu. / Maikemišetšo a magolo a nyakišišo ye ke go hwetša lengwalo la thuto la MASTASE (MA). Sa bobedi, nyakišišo ye e fa tlhaloso ka ga nyakišišo ya basenyi ba paka ye telele ka kgolegong ya bagolegwa bao ba lego kotsi kudu. Basenyi bao ba golegilwego ka dikgolegong tša bagolegwa bao ba lego kotsi kudu ba fiwa kahlolo ya paka ye telele ke kgorotsheko ya molao. Kahlolo ya paka ye telele e amantšhwa le maemo a godimo a kgatelelo ka gare ga mafelo a tshokollo. Mananeo a tshwaro le tshokollo ao a abelwago bagolegwammogo a bopa karolo ya nyakišišo. Nyakišišo ye e bohlokwa go mokgwa wa Afrika Borwa wa tshokollo le go magoro a mangwe a basenyi ka gare ga dikgolego tša bagolegwa bao ba lego kotsi kudu. / Corrections Management / M.A. (Corrections Management)