Thesis (M.S.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 196-201). Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1962. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [122]-123).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1958. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 293-298).

A sepse é responsável por uma alta taxa de internação hospitalar e morbimortalidade. Devido à gravidade do quadro clínico e às limitações dos métodos tradicionais para identificação e isolamento bacteriano, é recomendado o início empírico de antimicrobiano(s) de largo espectro. O desenvolvimento da biologia molecular, particularmente da reação em cadeia da polimerase (PCR), tornou possível o diagnóstico rápido de agentes infecciosos. Entretanto, devido à diversidade dos possíveis agentes etiológicos na sepse, a utilização da PCR com primers específicos para cada agente se torna pouco prática. Com a PCR de largo espectro é possível que em uma só reação se identifique qualquer bactéria, possibilitando um tratamento precoce e direcionado. Desta forma, este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o papel da PCR de largo espectro no diagnóstico etiológico de pacientes com sepse e a comparação desta técnica com os métodos tradicionais de cultura. Foram incluídos 74 pacientes com diagnóstico de sepse atendidos na Unidade de Emergência do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto USP e 14 voluntários sadios. Foi realizada a extração do DNA do soro, plasma e buffy-coat dos pacientes, seguida da realização da PCR de largo espectro com dois diferentes pares de primers, e sequenciamento das amostras positivas. Dos 74 pacientes, 39 (53%) eram homens; a média de idade foi 55 ± 19 anos; 37 (50%) tiveram sepse grave e 37 (50%) choque séptico; e a mortalidade foi 51%. A maioria das infecções primárias teve origem respiratória (66%), seguida de infecções gênito-urinárias (20%). A hemocultura foi positiva em 22 (30%) pacientes, e sua positividade foi significativamente maior em pacientes mais velhos (p< 0,05) e com valores mais altos de proteína C reativa (CRP) (p< 0,05). A PCR de largo espectro foi positiva em 44 (59%) pacientes considerando os dois pares de primers, sendo sua positividade significativamente maior que a da hemocultura (p< 0,001). Para o par Bak11W/Bak2 ela foi positiva em 25 (34%) pacientes, e para o par Taf/Tar, em 29 (39%) pacientes. Em relação às frações do sangue, amostras de 24 pacientes foram positivas na fração soro; 22 na fração plasma; e 18 na fração buffy-coat. Nenhuma característica clínica ou demográfica dos pacientes influenciou a positividade da PCR de largo espectro. A PCR de largo espectro foi negativa em todas as frações do sangue dos voluntários sadios. A sensibilidade, especificidade, valor preditivo positivo e valor preditivo negativo da PCR foram 59%, 100%, 100% e 32%, respectivamente. Em 40 (54%) pacientes os resultados da PCR e hemocultura foram concordantes. O coeficiente de concordância kappa obtido foi 0,147 (p = 0,131). Em relação ao sequenciamento, em 21 amostras de 16 pacientes foi possível identificar um agente etiológico. As bactérias mais detectadas foram Escherichia coli (3), Enterococcus sp. (2), Staphylococcus sp. (2) e Ralstonia sp. (2). Em apenas dois pacientes as amostras tiveram a mesma espécie bacteriana detectada na hemocultura e PCR de largo espectro (E. coli e Streptococcus pneumoniae). Em resumo, a PCR de largo espectro foi mais sensível do que a hemocultura na identificação bacteriana em pacientes com sepse atendidos em um Hospital de Emergência / Sepsis is responsible for a high rate of hospitalization and mortality. Due to the severity of clinical presentation and limitation of traditional methods for bacterial identification and isolation, it is recommended to initiate empirically broad-spectrum antimicrobial treatment. The development of molecular biology, particularly the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), enabled to realize a rapid diagnosis of infectious agents. However, due to the diversity of possible etiologic agents in sepsis, the use of PCR with specific primers for each agent becomes impractical. With the broad-range PCR, it is possible, in a single reaction, to identify any bacteria, allowing an early and directed treatment. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the role of broad-range PCR in the etiologic diagnosis of patients with sepsis and compare this technique with traditional methods of culture. Seventy-four patients with sepsis admitted to the Emergency Unit of Clinical Hospital of Ribeirão Preto Medical School USP and 14 controls were included in the study. DNA from serum, plasma and buffy-coat were extracted from all patients and controls. Broad-range PCR was performed in all samples, followed by DNA sequencing of the amplicons. Out of 74 patients, 39 (53%) were male, mean age was 55 ± 19 years old; 37 (50%) patients had severe sepsis and 37 (50%) septic shock; the mortality rate was 51%. Most of primary infections were from respiratory tract (66%), followed by urinary tract infection (20%). Blood culture was positive in 22 (30%) patients, and its positivity was greater in older patients (p< 0,05) and patients with higher levels of C reactive protein (CRP) (p< 0,05). Broad-range PCR was positive in 44 (59%) patients, when considering both pairs of primers, and was significantly increased compared to blood culture positivity (p< 0,001). Broad-range PCR using Bak11W/Bak2 primers was positive in 25 (34%) patients, and using Taf/Tar primers, in 29 (39%) patients. Related to blood fractions, samples from 24 patients were positive in serum; 22 in plasma fraction; and 18 in buffy-coat. None of clinical and demographic characteristics influenced the broad-range PCR positivity. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predicted value and negative predictive value, when considered healthy persons as negative control, were 59%, 100%, 100% and 32%, respectively. In 40 (54%) patients, blood culture and PCR results were concordant. The concordance coefficient kappa obtained was 0,147 (p = 0,131). Regarding to etiologic agents, in 21 samples, from 16 patients, a bacteria was identified by sequencing. The most common bacteria were Escherichia coli (3), Enterococcus sp. (2), Staphylococcus sp. (2) and Ralstonia sp. (2). In only two patients, the same bacterial species were identified in both, blood culture and broad-range PCR (E. coli e Streptococcus pneumoniae). In conclusion, broad-range PCR was more sensitive than blood culture for bacterial identification in septic patients admitted to an Emergency Unit

This thesis concerns the study of selected Ceratocystis species and Ophiostoma species infecting wounds on broad-leaved trees, particularly those occurring in Africa. However, two chapters also deal with these fungi from Australia, Norway, Sweden and Austria. The dissertation is comprised of a literature review, followed by four research chapters, addressing the occurrence of Ceratocystis spp. and Ophiostoma spp. in Africa, Australia and Norway. The first chapter of the dissertation is a review of Ceratocystis spp. and Ophiostoma spp. with particular reference to Africa, hardwood tree species and wound infections. The review highlights the importance of wood and trees, especially on the African continent, and discusses the threat of deforestation. This is despite efforts by many African countries to establish forests of non-native tree species to address the demand for wood and wood products on the continent. Reforestation is associated with increased risks of the introduction of pests and pathogens, including species of Ceratocystis and Ophiostoma. The taxonomic history of these two fungal genera is summarized, and the review further focuses on the economically important species in these genera, particularly those infecting hardwood tree species on the African continent. The lack of information regarding Ceratocystis spp. and Ophiostoma spp. on hardwood trees in Africa is thus highlighted. Furthermore, the review summarised the dispersal mechanisms of these pathogens, highlighting dispersal too and infection of wounds. Ceratocystis pirilliformis was described in 2003 and it is the only species in the Ceratocystis fimbriata species complex that has pear-shaped ascomatal bases. This fungus was first described from Australia where Eucalyptus spp. are endemic. It was later reported from South Africa on Eucalyptus grandis trees. Chapter two of this dissertation attempts to address questions regarding the geographic distribution, impact and origin of C. pirilliformis in South Africa. This was in line with the fact that it has been suggested that the fungus is likely native to Australia. To address this question, surveys were conducted in many Eucalyptus planting areas in South Africa and the genetic diversity of the fungus in the country was investigated using microsatellite markers previously developed for C. fimbriata. C. pirilliformis was found in three Eucalyptus-growing areas of South Africa, which has considerably increased the known geographic range of the fungus in South Africa. The gene diversity as well as the genotypic diversity for the fungus was found to be very low in the country and the population is apparently clonal. Results thus support the view that C. pirilliformis was accidentally introduced into South Africa. In chapter three of this dissertation, O. quercus is reported for the first time from wounds on non-native Acacia mearnsii in Uganda. In addition a new Pesotum sp., P. australi prov. nom. is described from wounds on native A. mearnsii in Australia. This fungus resembles other Pesotum anamorphs of Ophiostoma in many ways, especially species of the O. piceae complex. However, it can be distinguished from these species by many morphological traits and also based on phylogenetic inference. The closest phylogenetic neighbor of P. australi prov. nom. is O. quercus. The fact that it was isolated from A. mearnsii in Australia indicates that it is probably a native fungus in that area. In chapter four, two Ceratocystis spp. and one Ophiostoma sp. are described as new to science, from wounds on native broad-leaved tree in South Africa. Three other Ophiostomaspp. are also reported in this study. Until recently, very little research has been done with regard to Ceratocystis spp. and Ophiostoma spp. occurring on native tree species in Africa. However, results presented in this chapter strongly suggest that these fungi are common on native trees in Africa and many other species, including potential pathogens await discovery. Chapter five of the dissertation reports, for the first time, Ophiostoma catonianum, O. pluriannulatum and O. quercus from native broad-leaved trees in Norway. It also reports O. catonianum for the first time from Austria and O. quercus for the first time from Sweden. In the past, very little research has been undertaken to explore the diversity of these fungi on hardwood trees in the Nordic countries or other parts of Europe, where most research has been focused on Ceratocystis spp. and Ophiostoma spp. associated with conifer-infesting bark beetles. This chapter represents a preliminary study with important discoveries. It indicates that these fungi are common on wounds on hardwood trees in Europe and emphasizes the importance of expanding these studies in the Nordic countries, to include more hosts and geographic areas. Such studies will almost certainly reveal more species and possibly new species of Ceratocystis and Ophiostoma. / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Microbiology and Plant Pathology / Unrestricted

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South Africa is listed among the world's top ten countries with the highest unemployment levels (World Bank, 2018). The National Development Plan (2013) envisioned that by 2030, 90% of new jobs in the country will be created by small and growing enterprises. Worryingly however, South Africa lags in meeting its target for job creation as set out in the National Development Plan despite some effort made by the government to promote and grow small businesses. Globally small and medium enterprises have been acknowledged for their key role in driving economic growth, job creation and poverty alleviation. Despite this important role, South Africa still has one of the highest small and medium enterprise (SME) failure rates in the world (Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, 2014). To circumvent this challenge, the South African government established development strategies including the notable Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) to drive the growth and expansion of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). BBBEE is intended to drive enterprise and supplier development (ESD) and improve the development and long-term growth of SMEs. Notably, large private corporations in South Africa have made significant investments in ESD; however many SMEs fail to survive past three years. This study therefore investigates the extent to which integration into a large corporate value chain promotes the sustainability of a SME. The study also examines the impediments that inhibit the growth of SMEs that are integrated in large corporate value chains. The research was conducted using an explanatory qualitative methodology. Five SME owners and six large corporate managers were interviewed to assess their perspectives and opinions on the SME-Corporate relationship. The research results concluded that corporate initiatives on ESD are of a significant benefit to SME growth, however challenges such as negative corporate perception and access to external funding remain a hindrance to SME growth. The study proposed recommendations to improve the successful integration of SMEs into corporate value chains.

The ANC government has implemented various mechanisms to promote inclusivity of all economic citizens over the past 15 years. The main objectives of all the policies was to promote economic transformation in order to enable meaningful participation of black people in the economy and to change the racial composition of ownership and management structures of existing and new enterprises. The purpose of the research was to determine the contribution of Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) to the financial performance of companies on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) during the economic recession. The underlying assumption was that companies with greater overall BBBEE compliance rating should outperform companies with a lower overall BEE compliance rating. The top BBBEE rated companies on the JSE were analysed to determine whether these companies outperformed that sector indices. Market-to-book-value, Price-Earnings Ratio and Annual Return were used as financial performance measures. The results showed that there was a positive correlation between the companies’ BBBEE rating and the financial performance. On further investigation it was revealed that on average the companies with greater BBBEE ratings did not outperform companies with lower BBBEE ratings nor did they outperform the sector indices Copyright 2011, University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. Please cite as follows: Van Heerden, JH 2011, Contribution of broad-based black economic empowerment to the financial performance of companies listed on the JSE during a recession, MBA dissertation, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, viewed yymmdd < http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-03202012-121101 / > F12/4/211/gm / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2011. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・論文博士 / 博士(医学) / 乙第13110号 / 論医博第2128号 / 新制||医||1022(附属図書館) / (主査)教授 髙折 晃史, 教授 佐藤 俊哉, 教授 川上 浩司 / 学位規則第4条第2項該当 / Doctor of Medical Science / Kyoto University / DFAM

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