Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / A Escherichia coli enteroagregativa (EAEC) é um patotipo emergente e heterogêneo que causa a diarréia aguda ou persistente em indivíduos de diferentes faixas etárias e em pacientes imunocomprometidos. Além disso, EAEC é um dos principais agentes etiológicos da diarréia dos viajantes. O padrão de aderência agregativa de EAEC está associado ao plasmídeo de aderência agregativa (pAA). Genes presentes no plasmídeo e no cromossomo codificam proteínas envolvidas na secreção extracelular de fatores de virulência na superfície ou diretamente na célula hospedeira. A capacidade de produção de muco e biofilme, elaboração de toxinas, aderência e indução de inflamação intensa na mucosa intestinal são importantes características da patogenicidade de EAEC. Nesse estudo, determinamos o perfil genotípico de genes do sistema de secreção Tipo V (SST5) e sistema de secreção Tipo VI (SST6) em cepas de EAEC. Os genes do SST5 ocorreram com mais frequência que os genes do SST6. A presença de pelo menos um gene do SST5 foi detectada em 79% das cepas, enquanto que os genes relacionados ao SST6 foram detectados em apenas 42% das cepas analisadas. A produção de biofilme foi observada em teste quantitativo e verificamos que 67% das cepas produziram biofilme. No teste qualitativo, o tipo de biofilme que predomina é o biofilme moderado (11 cepas), seguido do biofilme forte (9 cepas) e do biofilme discreto (4 cepas). A presença ou ausência de genes do SST5 e SST6 não parece interferir com a capacidade de produção de biofilme, nem com o tipo de biofilme formado. Em ensaios de citotoxicidade, apenas 25% das cepas EAEC (sobrenadante) causaram redução significativa na viabilidade de células T84 avaliada pelo teste de redução com MTT. Nossos resultados mostram que as cepas EAEC isoladas de crianças com diarréia aguda ou de grupo controle são invasoras para células T84. Ao compararmos a capacidade invasora das cepas clinicas e controle, observamos que a média do índice de internalização obtido nas 15 cepas do grupo clinico foi de 5,7% 1,7 e para as 9 cepas do grupo controle foi de 2.4 % 0,7; entretanto essa diferença observada não foi estatisticamente significativa. Não foi possível correlacionar o perfil genotípico dos genes do SST5 e SST6 com o perfil fenotípico analisado (formação de biofilme, citotoxicidade e invasão).O que pode ser atribuído a heterogeneidade genotípica e fenotípica, uma característica relevante de cepas EAEC. / Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) is an emerging and heterogeneous pathotype that causes acute or persistent diarrhea in individuals of different age groups and HIV-positive patients. In addition, EAEC is a major etiologic agent of travelers' diarrhea. The pattern of aggregative adherence of EAEC is associated with the aggregative adherence plasmid (pAA). Genes present in the plasmid and chromosome encode proteins involved in extracellular secretion of virulence factors on the surface or directly into the host cell. The production of mucus, biofilm and toxins; and induction of intense inflammation in the intestinal mucosa and mucosal adherence are major features of EAEC pathogenesis. In this study, we determined the genotypic profile of type V secretion system (T5SS) and type VI secretion system (T6SS) genes in EAEC strains. T5SS genes occurred more frequently than T6SS genes. The presence of at least one T5SS gene was detected in 79% of the strains, while genes related with T6SS were detected in only 42% of the strains tested. The biofilm production was observed in quantitative test, we have found that 67% of strains produced biofilm. In the qualitative test, we detected three distinctive patterns of biofilm formation: moderate (11 strains), strong (9 strains) and discrete biofilm (4 strains). The presence or absence of T5SS and T6SS genes do not interfere with the ability to produce biofilm, neither with biofilm pattern. In cytotoxicity assays, only 25% of EAEC strains (supernatant)resulted in significant reduction of T84 cells activity as evaluated by MTT reduction test. Our results show that EAEC strains isolated from children with acute diarrhea or the control group are able to invade T84 cells. When comparing the invasive ability of clinical and control strains, we observed that the average rate of internalization obtained in 15 clinical strains was 5.7% 1.7, for the nine strains of control group was 2.4% 0. 7, however this difference was not statistically significant. It was not possible to correlate the genotypic profile of T5SS and T6SS genes with the phenotypic profile analysed (biofilm formation, cytotoxicity and invasion), which can be attributed to genotypic and phenotypic heterogeneity, an important characteristic of EAEC strains

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / A Escherichia coli enteroagregativa (EAEC) é um patotipo emergente e heterogêneo que causa a diarréia aguda ou persistente em indivíduos de diferentes faixas etárias e em pacientes imunocomprometidos. Além disso, EAEC é um dos principais agentes etiológicos da diarréia dos viajantes. O padrão de aderência agregativa de EAEC está associado ao plasmídeo de aderência agregativa (pAA). Genes presentes no plasmídeo e no cromossomo codificam proteínas envolvidas na secreção extracelular de fatores de virulência na superfície ou diretamente na célula hospedeira. A capacidade de produção de muco e biofilme, elaboração de toxinas, aderência e indução de inflamação intensa na mucosa intestinal são importantes características da patogenicidade de EAEC. Nesse estudo, determinamos o perfil genotípico de genes do sistema de secreção Tipo V (SST5) e sistema de secreção Tipo VI (SST6) em cepas de EAEC. Os genes do SST5 ocorreram com mais frequência que os genes do SST6. A presença de pelo menos um gene do SST5 foi detectada em 79% das cepas, enquanto que os genes relacionados ao SST6 foram detectados em apenas 42% das cepas analisadas. A produção de biofilme foi observada em teste quantitativo e verificamos que 67% das cepas produziram biofilme. No teste qualitativo, o tipo de biofilme que predomina é o biofilme moderado (11 cepas), seguido do biofilme forte (9 cepas) e do biofilme discreto (4 cepas). A presença ou ausência de genes do SST5 e SST6 não parece interferir com a capacidade de produção de biofilme, nem com o tipo de biofilme formado. Em ensaios de citotoxicidade, apenas 25% das cepas EAEC (sobrenadante) causaram redução significativa na viabilidade de células T84 avaliada pelo teste de redução com MTT. Nossos resultados mostram que as cepas EAEC isoladas de crianças com diarréia aguda ou de grupo controle são invasoras para células T84. Ao compararmos a capacidade invasora das cepas clinicas e controle, observamos que a média do índice de internalização obtido nas 15 cepas do grupo clinico foi de 5,7% 1,7 e para as 9 cepas do grupo controle foi de 2.4 % 0,7; entretanto essa diferença observada não foi estatisticamente significativa. Não foi possível correlacionar o perfil genotípico dos genes do SST5 e SST6 com o perfil fenotípico analisado (formação de biofilme, citotoxicidade e invasão).O que pode ser atribuído a heterogeneidade genotípica e fenotípica, uma característica relevante de cepas EAEC. / Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) is an emerging and heterogeneous pathotype that causes acute or persistent diarrhea in individuals of different age groups and HIV-positive patients. In addition, EAEC is a major etiologic agent of travelers' diarrhea. The pattern of aggregative adherence of EAEC is associated with the aggregative adherence plasmid (pAA). Genes present in the plasmid and chromosome encode proteins involved in extracellular secretion of virulence factors on the surface or directly into the host cell. The production of mucus, biofilm and toxins; and induction of intense inflammation in the intestinal mucosa and mucosal adherence are major features of EAEC pathogenesis. In this study, we determined the genotypic profile of type V secretion system (T5SS) and type VI secretion system (T6SS) genes in EAEC strains. T5SS genes occurred more frequently than T6SS genes. The presence of at least one T5SS gene was detected in 79% of the strains, while genes related with T6SS were detected in only 42% of the strains tested. The biofilm production was observed in quantitative test, we have found that 67% of strains produced biofilm. In the qualitative test, we detected three distinctive patterns of biofilm formation: moderate (11 strains), strong (9 strains) and discrete biofilm (4 strains). The presence or absence of T5SS and T6SS genes do not interfere with the ability to produce biofilm, neither with biofilm pattern. In cytotoxicity assays, only 25% of EAEC strains (supernatant)resulted in significant reduction of T84 cells activity as evaluated by MTT reduction test. Our results show that EAEC strains isolated from children with acute diarrhea or the control group are able to invade T84 cells. When comparing the invasive ability of clinical and control strains, we observed that the average rate of internalization obtained in 15 clinical strains was 5.7% 1.7, for the nine strains of control group was 2.4% 0. 7, however this difference was not statistically significant. It was not possible to correlate the genotypic profile of T5SS and T6SS genes with the phenotypic profile analysed (biofilm formation, cytotoxicity and invasion), which can be attributed to genotypic and phenotypic heterogeneity, an important characteristic of EAEC strains

EditorialThe text doesn´t have an abstract / El texto no presenta resumen

Although Philippe de Mézières (ca 1327-1405) was born into a not very influential gentry family from northern France, his steep career brought him to the Holy Land. As a diplomat and an ardent supporter of the idea of the Crusades, he got to visit the most important European royal courts, thus securing the attention of historians. He consciously reflects the political and social climate in Europe at the time, he explores religious issues and even own experiences - in short, de Mézières vast literary work is one of the most remarkable images of Europe during the late Middle Ages and the thinking of a medieval man of a high social status. Thanks to Philippe de Mézières' presence at the Royal Court of Charles IV in Prague and their likely meeting in Paris in 1378, we can trace evident links to Luxembourg politics in his work, to the Czech Kingdom and even to Charles IV himself, including his son Wenceslas. As a Crusades theoretician, de Mézières got himself involved in the highest levels of European politics, yet he constantly emphasized the need for morality, peace and cohesiveness in the courts. The thesis uses an example of one of de Mézières' later works, his Letter to Richard II (Epistre au roi Richarti, 1395), to explore diplomatic ties in Western Europe in the fourteenth century and pursues...

In many countries over the world (including Sweden), metal toxicity in freshwater resources causes a severe drinking water quality problem and poses a threat to the environment and human health. Among the different toxic metals in the water resources of Sweden, arsenic and uranium are the biggest threats to health. These elements, over long time consumption, may even lead to cancer and/or neurological disorder. Most of the wells are installed in crystalline and sedimentary bedrock and the received water comes from water bearing fractures in the bedrock. The handling of such water is an issue and there is a need to reduce the arsenic and uranium exposure by improving processes and technologies. It is a very serious problem demanding a safe, sustainable and eco-friendly arsenic and uranium removal technology prior to drinking water supply. Different treatment systems are available, but many of them are not suitable due to their high cost, operation complexity and waste management issues. Through this study, chitosan biopolymer the second largest abundant polysaccharide on earth after cellulose, was verified as a potential adsorbent for arsenic(V) and uranium(VI) removal from water solution. Adsorbent characterizations were also conducted by XRD, FTIR, SEM, UV-visible spectrum and TGA/DTA investigations. Bench-scale batch experiments were conducted using chitosan biopolymer (DDA-85%) as an adsorbent to determine the arsenic(V) and uranium(VI) removal efficiency, by allowing four important effective parameters e.g. chitosan dosages, pH, contact time and contaminant concentration. The adsorption data at optimum conditions were fitted with Langmuir, Freundlich and Dubinin-Radushkhevic (D-R) isotherm and Lagergren pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order kinetic model to investigate the adsorption process. The characterization of materials assured the presence of effective amino, hydroxyl, and carboxyl groups of chitosan. Another advanntage is that the materials are bio-degradable. The results show that the arsenic(V) and uranium(VI) removal efficiency was 100% and 97.45% after 300 minutes with optimum pH of 6.0 and 7.0 respectively. The optimum adsorbent dosages and initial concentration were 60 and 80g/L and 100 and 250 µg/L respectively. The adsorption process was suitably described by Freundlich isotherm (R2 = 0.9933) and Langmuir isotherm (R2 = 0.9858) correspondingly for arsenic(V) uranium(VI) compared to other isotherms. This is an important indicator of homogeneous monolayer adsorption of metals. For both of arsenic(V) and uranium(VI), pseudo-second-order explained the adsorption kinetics better than pseudo-first-order and the second-order kinetic regression coefficient (R2) were 0.9959 and 0.9672 correspondingly. Connecting to the above mentioned results, it can be summed up that the chitosan biopolymer (DDA 85%) can be used as an inexpensive, sustainable and environment-friendly treatment option for arsenic(V) and uranium(VI) contaminated drinking water. / I många länder världen runt (även i Sverige) orsakar metallers toxicitet besvärliga vattenkvalitetsproblem och utgör ett hot mot människors hälsa. Bland de toxiska metaller som finns i svenska vatten utgör arsenik och uran i dricksvatten allvarliga hälsorisker vid långvarig exposition då de kan orsaka cancer och neurologiska problem. Flertalet brunnar är installerade i kristallint berg och sedimentära bergarter och vattnet kommer vanligen från sprickor i berggrunden. Hanteringen av sådant vatten kan kräva reduktion av expositionen för arsenik- och uraninnehåll genom förbättrade processer och teknologier. Detta är ett angeläget problem som kräver en säker, pålitlig och ekovänlig teknologi att tillämpas innan vattnet distribueras. En rad olika behandlingssystem är tillgängliga men många av dem är inte lämpliga beroende på deras höga kostnad, den komplicerade tillämpningen och problem med hanteringen av restprodukter. I denna studie has biopolymeren chitosan, den näst vanligaste polymeren efter cellulosa, konstaterats vara en möjlig adsorbent för att avlägsna arsenik(V) och uran(VI) från vatten. Karakterisering av adsorbenten har också genomförts genom XRD, FTIR, SEM, UV och strålning i synligt ljus samt TGA/DTA undersökningar. Batch-tester i bänkskala har genomförts med användning av chitosan (DDA-85%) som adsorbent för att bestämma dess förmåga att avlägsna arsenik(V) och uran(VI)genom att variera fyra parametrar, nämligen kontakttid, pH, dos av chitosan och halt av föroreningen. Adsorptionsdata vid optimala förhållanden bestämdes genom tillämpning av Langmuir, Freundlich och Dubinin-Radushkhevic (D-R) isotermerna. Vidare tillämpades Lagergrens pseudo-first-order och pseudo-second-order kinetiska modell för att undersöka adsorptionsprocessen. Karakteriseringen av materialet visade förefintligheten av effektiva amino- (N-H), hydroxyl- (O-H) samt karboxylgrupper (C=O) i chitosan-polysackariden och att det är lätt nedbrytbart. Preliminära resultat visar att reduktionen av arsenik(V) och uran(VI) var 100 respektive 97,45 % efter 300 minuters kontakttid med optimalt pH på 6,0 respektive 7,0. De optimala doserna av adsorbent och den initiala koncentrationen var 60 och 80 g/L och 100 och 250 µg/L. Adsorptions process beskrevs bäst av Freundlich-isotermen för arsenik(V) (R2 = 0.9933) och med Langmuir-isotermen för uran(VI) (R2 = 0,9858) jämfört med andra isotermer vilket var en viktig indikation på en homogen monolager-adsorption. För både arsenik(V) och uran(VI) beskrev pseudo-second order adsorptionen bättre än pseudo-first-order. Second-order kinetiska regressionskoefficienten (R2) var 0.9959 och 0.9872 respektive. De ovanstående resultaten visar sammanfattningsvis att chitosan (DDA-85%) kan användas som en billig, pålitlig och miljövänlig behandlingsmetod av vatten för arsenik(V) och uran(VI). / <p>QC 20150526</p> / ChitoClean

In this dissertation a novel alternative system concept for monocular-inertial egomotion and landmark position determination is introduced. It is mainly motivated by an in-depth analysis of the observability and consistency of the classic simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) approach, which is based on a world-centric model of an agent and its environment. Within the novel system concept - a body-centric agent and environment model, - a pseudo-world centric motion propagation, - and closed-form initialization procedures are introduced. This approach allows for combining the advantageous observability properties of body-centric modeling and the advantageous motion propagation properties of world-centric modeling. A consistency focused and simulation based evaluation demonstrates the capabilities as well as the limitations of the proposed concept. / In dieser Dissertation wird ein neuartiges, alternatives Systemkonzept für die monokular-inertiale Eigenbewegungs- und Landmarkenpositionserfassung vorgestellt. Dieses Systemkonzept ist maßgeblich motiviert durch eine detaillierte Analyse der Beobachtbarkeits- und Konsistenzeigenschaften des klassischen Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM), welches auf einer weltzentrischen Modellierung eines Agenten und seiner Umgebung basiert. Innerhalb des neuen Systemkonzeptes werden - eine körperzentrische Modellierung des Agenten und seiner Umgebung, - eine pseudo-weltzentrische Bewegungspropagation, - und geschlossene Initialisierungsprozeduren eingeführt. Dieser Ansatz erlaubt es, die günstigen Beobachtbarkeitseigenschaften körperzentrischer Modellierung und die günstigen Propagationseigenschaften weltzentrischer Modellierung zu kombinieren. Sowohl die Fähigkeiten als auch die Limitierungen dieses Ansatzes werden abschließend mit Hilfe von Simulationen und einem starken Fokus auf Schätzkonsistenz demonstriert.

The letter to the Romans conveys a message of God's love and how through his grace, he has prepared a way to liberate mankind from a life of sin to a life of righteousness. But the way the message is presented, this grace may easily be misunderstood as an encouragement for people to live in sin. In Chapter 6:1-14, a concise but detailed outline of the message of the epistle unfolds into two main sections, namely, the Indicative and the Imperative. Key statements in these sections are: 'How can we who have died to sin, continue to live in it?' (6:2), and 'Consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God' (6:11). Failure to distinguish the separate meanings of these statements may lead to the conclusion that the pericope encourages libertinism. In outlining the:meaning of this expression, 'We have died to sin ... ', I hope to make a contribution for a better understanding of the message of this pericope, namely: The grace of God that enables believers to live a righteous / Biblical and Ancient Studies / M.A. (Theology)

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: See full text for the abstract / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Sien volteks vir die opsomming

Traditionally, Arthur Johnston has been judged proxime accessit to George Buchanan in the world of Scottish neo-Latin poetry, and particularly in the versification of the Book of Psalms. The thesis offers a counterpoint to that theme. More of his poetry came under scrutiny at the close of the nineteenth century, when an edition of his Parerga and Epigrammata of 1632, turned scholarly attention to his secular poems. This study examines the poems written between 1599 and 1622 during Johnston’s peregrenatio academica in Europe – poems which depict him at the moment of his emergence onto the public stage, and which offer insights into his life, and the worlds he occupied, during those years. Part one of the thesis will examine his early years and his move into the academic world in Aberdeen and at Heidelberg University. Part two will consider the years he passed as a teacher of philosophy at the Huguenot Academy in Sedan, the independent principality on the northern border of France. It will look, too, at the evidence of his year spent in Padua, where he studied to become a physician. Part three will focus on the years 1619-22 when his longest secular poems were composed. He wrote and published with an eye to achieving a post in the medical circle around James VI and I. The thesis concludes by considering the retreat he made from Europe and London to his home in Aberdeen, and looks briefly at one of the small poems he wrote in 1623-24. Throughout, themes emerge of Johnston’s irenic preferences, and his response to the disturbance to intellectual life brought about by Calvinist division, and by the crisis heralded by the Bohemian Revolt.

This thesis is the first attempt to provide an assessment of Scottish-Jacobean foreign relations within a European context in the years before 1603. Moreover, it represents the only cohesive study of the events that formed the foundation of the diplomatic policies and practices of the first ruler of the Three Kingdoms. Whilst extensive research has been conducted on the British and English aspects of James VI & I's diplomatic activities, very little work has been done on James's foreign policies prior to his accession to the English throne. James VI ruled Scotland for almost twenty years before he took on the additional role of King of England and Ireland. It was in his homeland that James developed and refined his diplomatic skills, and built the relationships with foreign powers that would continue throughout his life. James's pre-1603 relationships with Denmark-Norway, France, Spain, the Papacy, the German and Italian states, the Spanish Netherlands and the United Provinces all influenced his later ‘British' policies, and it is only through a study such as this that their effects can be fully understood. Through its broad scope and unique perspective, this thesis not only contributes to Scottish historiography, but also strengthens and updates our understanding of Jacobean diplomacy. Furthermore, it adds to European perspectives of international politics by re-integrating Scotland into the narrative of late sixteenth century European diplomatic history.