No description available.

Accidentally killing or feeling responsible for another person’s death constitutes a traumatic event that is unique from any other traumatic stressor. Considering the frequency of incidents such as deaths resulting from road traffic accidents (RTAs), it is surprising that the academic literature regarding those who have accidentally killed is almost none existent. This study therefore aimed to gain an insight into the lived experiences of drivers who have caused an accidental death. Five participants were recruited through an on-line advertisement; all were drivers directly involved in a RTA that occurred suddenly, unexpectedly, without planning or intention and resulted in the death of a person. An interpretative phenomenological approach was used to analyse data collected through semistructured interviews. Three main themes emerged from the participants’ accounts: trying to make sense of a life changing moment; struggling to cope with the trauma of causing a death and a changed sense of self. These findings are discussed in relation to the relevant literature. Clinical implications, methodological limitations and directions for future research are presented. The study provides a valuable insight for any professional working with people who have caused, or feel responsible for, an accidental death. It is hoped that this study will be a catalyst for discussion and future research.

Miestų žalieji plotai – urbanizuotos gamtinės sistemos, vis labiau kelia mokslininkų ir teritorijų valdytojų susirūpinimą dėl jų alergeninio potencialo ir užterštumo invazinėmis rūšimis, kurios visokeriopai kenkia žmogui ir gamtai ir plinta iš miestų įsiliedamos į mažiau antropogenizuotas gamtines sistemas. Šiame darbe aprašyti dėsningumai ir pateikti duomenys naudingi Pakruojo miesto gyventojams ir mokslininkams. Darbo tikslas – ištirti kokie, invaziniai ir polinozes sukeliantys augalai aptinkami ir kaip jie paplitę Pakruojyje; nustatyti invazinių ir polinozes sukeliančių augalų ir jų sąžalynų paplitimo vietas; atlikti žaliųjų plotų šienavimo darbų įvertinimą Pakruojo mieste; parengti rekomendacijas, remiantis tyrimų rezultatais, kaip tvarkytis su invaziniais ir polinozes sukeliančiais augalais Pakruojo mieste. Išanalizavus invazinių augalų paplitimą Pakruojo mieste 2013 m.- paaiškėjo, jog Pakruojo mieste dažniausiai aptinkami iš Šiaurės Amerikos atkeliavę augalai: (Acer negundo L.) 64 radimvietės, (Solidago canadensis L.) 32 radimvietės, (Echinocystis lobata Mi- chx.) 11 radimviečių, (Phalacroloma septentrionale Fern. et Wieg.) 22 radimvietės, (Solidago altissima L). Atlikus lauko tyrimus paaiškėjo, jog Pakruojo mieste aptinkamos polinozes sukeliančios pievų žolių 13 atpažintų rūšių. Gausumu 80% pasižyminčios 2 rūšys: (Phalaris arundinacea L.), (Lolium perenne L.). Polinozes sukeliančių piktžolių tyrimas... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Urban green areas - urban natural systems are increasingly posing scientists and land managers 'concerns about contamination of allergenic potential, and invasive species are harmful to humans and the full nature and spread of urban tunes into less anthropogenic impact on natural systems. This thesis describes the patterns and provide data useful Pakruojis residents and scientists. The aim - to explore how invasive and cause nasal plants are found and how they are distributed Pakruojyje; identify invasive plants cause nasal and sprouts prevalence ; green areas to make mowing work in assessment Pakruojis ; develop recommendations based on the research results, how to deal with invasive plants and cause nasal Pakruojis city. The analysis of the spread of invasive plants Pakruojis in 2013 years - It turned out that in Pakruojis commonly found in North American plants arrived (Lat. Acer palmatum L.) 64 original location (Lat. Solidago canadensis L.) 32 original location ( Lat. Echinocystis lobata Mi - chx .) 11 location sites ( Lat. Phalacroloma septentrionale Fern . Wiegers et.) 22 original location ( Lat. Solidago altissima L ) . After field studies showed that Pakruojis detected in nasal cause meadow grass 13 recognized species. Characterized by an abundance of 80% of the 2 species (Lat. Phalaris arundinacea L.) (Lat. Lolium perenne L.) . Nasal -causing weed survey was conducted in 2013. Pakruojo... [to full text]

Lic.-avh. Uppsala : Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet, 2006. / Härtill 2 uppsatser. Felaktigt institutionsnamn i publikationen. Rätt namn: Department of Entomology.

The prospective student who has been accepted and who fails to arrive on the college campus despite his apparent intentions presents a problem to secondary school principals as well as to college officials. Non-arrivals are common on the admissions records of every college or university. (14) Alden B. Threasher reports admissions attrition percentages ranged from 3 percent to 55 percent with averages of 27 percent to 46 percent in a study of 58 institutions grouped by type.

No description available.

Les canaux potassiques sensibles à l'ATP (K-ATP) jouent un rôle fondamental au sein de la cellule, puisqu'ils ajustent le potentiel de membrane en fonction de l'état métabolique. Ils combinent deux types de protéines: le récepteur des Sulfonylurée (SUR), protéine régulatrice faisant partie des transporteurs ABC, et le canal potassique rectifiant entrant Kir6. Elles s'associent en formant un hétérooctamère (4 SUR/4 Kir6) d'une taille de ~ 1MDa. A l'heure actuelle, l'unique structure disponible de ce complexe est une structure basse-résolution de 18 Å qui ne permet pas de visualiser correctement l'arrangement des différentes sous-unités. Le but principal de ce projet de thèse était d'obtenir des informations à la fois structurales et fonctionnelles sur le couplage entre Kir6.2 et SUR.Il existe 2 isoformes du Kir6 humain (Kir6.1 et 6.2) et 3 isoformes de SUR : SUR1, principalement exprimée avec Kir6.2 dans les cellules β pancréatiques et les neurones ; SUR2A, très abondante avec Kir6.1 dans les muscles cardiaques et squelettiques ; et SUR2B, présent avec Kir6.1 au niveau des muscles lisses. La façon dont SUR est capable de moduler l'ouverture du canal en réponse à la fixation d'un ligand est encore mal comprise.Au sein du canal K-ATP, SUR a un rôle de modulateur du gating de Kir6.2. Il a été montré que trois résidus (E1305, I1910, L1313) dans SUR2A, étaient impliqués dans la « voie d'activation » liant la fixation d'un ligand sur SUR2A et l'ouverture du canal Kir6. Afin d'examiner le rôle des résidus correspondants au sein de SUR1, nous avons réalisé des chimères entre SUR1 et le transporteur ABC MRP1 (qui n'interagit pas avec Kir6.2) et utilisé la technique du patch-clamp pour évaluer leur fonctionnalité. Nos résultats ont montré que les mêmes résidus au sein de SUR1 et SUR2A sont impliqués dans l'association fonctionnelle avec Kir6.2, mais que les spécificités au niveau de la chaine latérale pourraient expliquer les propriétés propres aux canaux pancréatiques et cardiaques. En effet, dans le pancréas, les canaux SUR1/Kir6.2 sont partiellement actifs au repos tandis que les canaux SUR2A/Kir6.2 du cœur sont principalement fermés. Cette spécificité peut être expliquée par les interactions spécifiques de SUR1 et SUR2A avec Kir6.2.La participation du canal Kir6.2 dans le couplage avec SUR ne peut être facilement étudiée puisque la région allant du N-terminal de Kir6.2 jusqu'à sa première hélice est physiquement associée à SUR. Des mutations à ce niveau pourraient affecter à la fois l'interaction physique et fonctionnelle avec SUR. Pour passer outre cet obstacle, nous avons utilisé la technologie ICCR développée dans notre laboratoire. Les ICCRs sont des protéines artificielles créées par couplage physique du C-terminal d'un RCPG au N-terminal de Kir6.2. Cette technologie permet l'étude de la fonction du N-ter de Kir6.2 puisque la fusion entre le RCPG et le canal assure une association fonctionnelle : le signal électrique généré par le canal ionique est directement lié à la fixation du ligand sur le RCPG. Le domaine reliant les deux protéines est essentiel pour la fonction de l'ICCR et sa longueur affecte la régulation du canal. De façon intéressante, deux ICCRs de même longueur mais ayant 9 résidus de différence présentent deux phénotypes différents : un fonctionnel, un inactif. L'ICCR inatif est caractérisé par la perte des résidus 26 à 34 du N-ter contenant 5 arginines. Nous avons réalisé la cartographie fonctionnelle de ces résidus essentiels pour la régulation de Kir6.2. Successivement, nous avons effectué les mêmes mutations d'arginines au sein du canal naturel K-ATP, mais n'avons pas observé de différence entre le canal muté et sauvage. Ces résultats suggèrent qu'il existe au moins deux voie de régulation pour le gating de Kir6.2 : une via les arginines du N-ter (utilisé par les RCPGs) et l'autre, toujours inconnue, utilisée par SUR. / ATP-sensitive potassium (K-ATP) channels play a key role in adjusting the membrane potential to the metabolic state of cells. They result from the unique combination of two proteins: the SulfonylUrea Receptor (SUR), a protein of the ABC transporters family, and the inward rectifier K+ channel Kir6. Both subunits associate to form a heterooctamer (4 SUR/4 Kir6) of ~ 1MDa. A high-resolution structure of the complex is still missing. To date, only a 18 Å structure of the full complex is available. Unfortunately, the low resolution prevent visualization of subunits arrangement. This PhD project aimed at obtaining structural and functional information on the functional coupling between Kir6.2 and SUR. Structural studies are still in progress.While 2 isoforms of the human Kir6 protein exists (Kir6.1 and 6.2), 3 isoforms of the SUR protein are known: SUR1, mostly expressed in pancreatic β-cells and neurons mainly with Kir6.2, SUR2A, abundant in cardiac and skeletal muscle mainly with Kir6.2, and SUR2B, found in smooth muscle mostly with Kir6.1. How SUR modulates channel gating in response to the binding of ligands is still poorly understood.The SUR protein belongs to a family of transporters but in K-ATP works as a gating modulator. How a 'transporter' modulate Kir6 gating? In SUR2A three residues (E1305, I1310, L1313) were found to be implicated in the ‘activation pathway' linking binding of openers to SUR2A and channel opening. To examine the role of the matching residues in the SUR1 isoform, we designed chimeras between SUR1 and the ABC transporter MRP1 (which does not interact with Kir6.2), and used patch clamp to assess the functionality of SUR1/MRP1 K-ATP chimeric channels. Our results reveal that the same residues in SUR1 and SUR2A are involved in the functional association with Kir6.2, but they display side-chain specificities that could account for the contrasted properties of pancreatic and cardiac K-ATP channels. In fact, in pancreas, SUR1/Kir6.2 channels are partly active at rest while in cardiomyocytes SUR2A/Kir6.2 channels are mostly closed. This divergence of function could be related to differences in the interaction of SUR1 and SUR2A with Kir6.2.The participation of the Kir6.2 channel in the coupling with SUR cannot be easily studied, as the region spanning from Kir6.2 N-terminal to its first helix is in thigh physical association with SUR. Mutations at this level could affect both physical and functional interaction with the regulatory subunit. To overcome this obstacle we used the ICCR technology developed in our laboratory. ICCRs are artificial proteins created by physical and functional linkage of a GPCR C-terminus to the Kir6.2 N-terminus. ICCRs provide a unique method to study the function of the Kir6.2 channel N-terminal, as the fusion between GPCR and channel ensure physical association. In ICCRs the electrical signal generated by the ion channel is directly linked to ligand binding on the GPCR. The domain linking GPCR and channel is crucial for ICCR function and its length affects channel regulation. Interestingly, two ICCRs, having identical linker length but nine residues differences at the fusion point, showed different phenotypes: one functional, one inactive (no channel regulation). The inactive ICCR is characterized by the lack of residues 26 to 34 in the channel N-terminus containing 5 arginines. We functionally mapped these arginines and identify specific residues essential for Kir6.2 regulation. Successively, we transferred this knowledge to the K-ATP mutating the previously found essential arginines. Here, we did not observe any change compared to wild-type channels. This result suggest that there are at least two ways to modulate Kir6.2 gating: one through the arginines in the N-terminal (used by the GPCR) and another, still unknown, used by SUR.

Regression testing is an essential part of developing and maintaining software. It helps verify that changes to the software have not introduced any new bugs, and that the functionality still works as intended. However, for this verification to be valid, the executed tests must be assumed to be deterministic, i.e. produce the same output under the same circumstances. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. A test that exhibits non-deterministic behavior is said to be flaky. Flaky tests can severely inhibit the benefits of regression testing, as developers must figure out whether a failing test is due to a bug in the system under test (SUT) or test flakiness. Moreover, the non-deterministic nature of flaky tests poses several problems. Not only are the failures difficult to reproduce and debug, but developers are more likely to ignore the outcome of flaky tests, potentially leading to overlooked bugs in the SUT. The aim of this thesis was to investigate the applicability of execution tracing techniques as a means of providing root cause analysis for flaky tests in the randomness and network categories. This involved reproducing and studying flakiness, as well as implementing and evaluating a prototype with the ability to analyze runtime behavior in flaky tests. To gain a better understanding of reproducibility and common traits among flaky tests in the selected categories, a pre-study was conducted. Based on the outcome of the pre-study and findings in related literature, the network category was dropped entirely, and two techniques were chosen to be implemented. The implementation process resulted in the FlakyPy tool, a plugin for pytest that provides root cause analysis aimed at randomness flakiness. When run against a dataset of 22 flaky tests, the tool was able to identify potential root causes in 15 of these. This serves as an indication that execution tracing has the potential of detecting possible root causes in flaky randomness tests in Python. However, more research is needed to evaluate how developers perceive the usefulness of such tools.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is an independent predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and allcause mortality. Significantly, it is considered a modifiable cardiovascular risk factor as its regression increases overall survival and reduces the frequency of adverse cardiac events. A clear understanding of LVH pathogenesis is thus imperative to facilitate improved risk stratification and therapeutic intervention. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), an inherited cardiac disorder, is a model disease for elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying LVH development. LVH, in the absence of increased external loading conditions, is its quintessential clinical feature, resulting from mutations in genes encoding sarcomeric proteins. The LVH phenotype in HCM exhibits marked variability even amongst family members who carry the same disease-causing mutation. Phenotypic expression is thus determined by the causal mutation and additional determinants including the environment, epigenetics and modifier genes. Thus far, factors investigated as potential hypertrophy modifiers in HCM have been relatively removed from the primary stimulus for LVH; and the few studies that have been replicated yielded inconsistent results. We hypothesized that the factors that closely interact with the primary stimulus of faulty sarcomeric functioning, have a greater capacity to modulate it, and ultimately the LVH phenotype in HCM. Plausible candidate modifiers would include factors relating to the structure or function of the sarcomere, including known HCM-causal genes; and the enzymes that function in sarcomere-based energetics. Indeed, the literature highlights the relevance of sarcomeric proteins, Ca2+-handling and myocardial energetics in the development of LVH in HCM. This study, therefore, set out to evaluate the hypertrophy-modifying capacity of such factors by means of family-based genetic association testing in 27 South African HCM families in which one of three unique HCM-causing founder mutations segregates. Moreover, the single and combined effects of 76 variants within 26 candidate genes encoding sarcomeric or sarcomere-associated proteins were investigated. The study identified a modifying role in the development of hypertrophy in HCM for each of the candidate genes investigated with the exception of the metabolic protein-encoding gene, PRKAG1. More specifically, single variant association analyses identified a modifying role for variants within the genes MYH7, TPM1 and MYL2, which encode proteins of the sarcomere, as well as the genes CPT1B, CKM, ALDOA and PRKAB2, which encode metabolic proteins. Haplotype-based association analyses identified combined modifying effects for variants within the genes ACTC, TPM1, MYL2, MYL3 and MYBPC3, which encode proteins of the sarcomere, as well as the genes CD36, PDK4, CKM, PFKM, PPARA, PPARG, PGC1A, PRKAA2, PRKAG2 and PRKAG3, which encode metabolic proteins. Moreover, a number of variants and haplotypes showed statistically significant differences in effect amongst the three HCM founder mutation groups. The HCM-modifier genes identified were prioritised for future studies according to the number of significant results obtained for the four tests of association performed. The genes TPM1 and MYBPC3, which encode sarcomeric proteins, as well as the genes PFKM and PRKAG2, which encode metabolic proteins, were identified as stronger candidates for future studies as they delivered multiple significant results for various statistical tests. This study makes a novel contribution to the field of hypertrophy research as it tested the hypothesis that structural or energy-related factors located within the sarcomere may act as modifiers of cardiac hypertrophy in HCM, and succeeded in identifying a modifying role for many of the candidate genes selected. The significant results include substantial single and within-genecontext variant effects; and identified sizeable variation in the risk of developing LVH owing to the compound effect of the modifier and the individual founder mutations. Collectively, these findings enhance the current understanding of genotype/phenotype correlations and may, as consequence, improve patient risk stratification and choice of treatment. Moreover, these findings emphasize the potential for modulation of disease by further elucidation of some of the avenues identified. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Linker ventrikulêre hipertrofie (LVH) is ‘n onafhanklike voorspeller van kardiovaskulêre morbiditeit en van mortaliteit weens alle oorsake. Van belang is dat dit ‘n wysigbare kardiovaskulêre risiko faktor is, aangesien die afname daarvan algehele oorlewing verhoog en die frekwensie van nadelige kardiale voorvalle verlaag. ‘n Duidelike begrip van LVH patogenese is dus noodsaaklik om verbeterde risiko stratifikasie en terapeutiese intervensie te fasiliteer. Hipertrofiese kardiomiopatie (HKM), ‘n oorerflike hart-siekte, is ‘n model-siekte vir die uitpluis van die molekulêre meganismes onderliggend aan die ontwikkeling van LVH. LVH, in die afwesigheid van verhoogde eksterne lading, is die kern kliniese simptoom van HKM en die gevolg van mutasies in die gene wat kodeer vir sarkomeriese proteïene. Die LVH fenotiepe in HKM toon merkbare veranderlikheid selfs in familie-lede wat dieselfde siekte-veroorsakende mutasie dra. Die fenotiepe word dus bepaal deur die siekte-veroorsakende mutasie asook addisionele determinante insluitend die omgewing, epigenetika en modifiserende gene. Potensiële hipertrofie-modifiseerders wat tot dusver bestudeer is, is betreklik verwyder van die primêre stimulus vir LVH en die paar studies wat gerepliseer is, het teenstrydige resultate gelewer. Ons hipoteseer dat die faktore wat in noue interaksie met die primêre stimulus van foutiewe sarkomeriese funksionering is, ‘n groter kapasitieit het om dit en uiteindelik die LVH fenotiepe in HKM, te moduleer. Aanneemlike kandidaat-modifiseerders sou insluit faktore wat betrekking het tot die struktuur en funksie van die sarkomeer insluitend HKM-oorsaaklike gene en die ensieme wat funksioneer in sarkomeer-gebaseerde energetika. Die literatuur beklemtoon inderdaad die relevansie van sarkomeriese proteïene, Ca2+-hantering en miokardiese energetika in die ontwikkeling van LVM in HKM. Hierdie studie het beoog om die hipertrofie-modifiserende kapasiteit van sulke faktore te evalueer deur middel van familie-gebaseerde genetiese assosiasie toetse in 27 Suid-Afrikaanse HKM families waarin een van drie unieke HKM-stigter mutasies segregeer. Verder was die enkel en gekombineerde effekte van 76 variante binne 26 kandidaat gene wat kodeer vir sarkomeer en sarkomeer-geassosieerde proteïene, ondersoek. Hierdie studie het ‘n modifiserende rol in die ontwikkeling van hipertrofie in HKM geïdentifiseer vir elk van die kandidaat gene wat ondersoek is, met uitsluiting van die PRKAG1, wat kodeer vir ‘n metaboliese proteïen. Meer spesifiek, enkel variant assosiasie analises het ‘n modifiserende rol geïdentifiseer vir variante in die gene MYH7, TPM1 en MYL2, wat kodeer vir sarkomeriese proteïene, asook die gene CPT1B, CKM, ALDOA en PRKAB2, wat kodeer vir metabolise proteïene. Haplotipe-gebaseerde assosiasie-analises het gekombineerde modifiserende effekte geïdentifiseer vir variante in die gene ACTC, TPM1, MYL2, MYL3 en MYBPC3, wat kodeer vir strukturele proteïene van die sarkomeer asook die gene CD36, PDK4, CKM, PFKM, PPARA, PPARG, PGC1A, PRKAA2, PRKAG2 en PRKAG3, wat kodeer vir metabolise proteïene. Verder het ‘n aantal variante en haplotipes statisties betekenisvolle verskille in effek tussen die drie HKM-stigter mutasie groepe getoon. Die HKM-modifiserende gene wat geïdentifiseer is, is verder geprioritiseer vir toekomstige studies volgens die aantal beduidende resultate wat vir die vier assosiasie toetse verkry is. Die gene TPM1 and MYBPC3, wat kodeer vir sarkomeriese proteïene, asook die gene PFKM and PRKAG2, wat kodeer vir metaboliese proteïene, is geïdentifiseer as sterker kandidate vir verdere studies omdat veelvuldige beduidende resultate vir die verskeie statistiese toetse deur hulle gelewer is. Hierdie studie maak ‘n nuwe bydrae tot die veld van hipertrofie navorsing omdat dit die hipotese dat strukturele en energie-verwante faktore, wat binne die sarkomeer geposisioneer is, potensieel as modifiseerders van kardiale hipertropfie in HKM kan optree, ondersoek het. Dit slaag ook daarin om ‘n modifiserende rol vir baie van die geselekteerde kandidaatgene te identifiseer. Die beduidende resultate sluit in aansienlike enkel en binne-geen-konteks variant-effekte en aansienlike variasie in die risiko vir LVH ontwikkeling verskuldig aan die gekombineerde effek van modifiseerder en individuele stigter mutasies. Gesamentlik verbeter hierdie bevindinge die huidige begrip van genotipe/fenotipe korrelasies en dit mag tot gevolg hê verbeterde pasiënt risiko stratifikasie en keuse van behandeling. Verder beklemtoon hierdie bevindinge die potensiaal vir siekte modulering deur verdere uitpluis van sekere van hierdie geïdentifiseerde navorsingsrigtings. / National Research Foundation / Dr. Paul van Helden / Stellenbosch University

Thesis deals with the development of risk management in the construction industry in Czech republic in time of the economic crisis since 2007. There is in detail described the present and paste state of the construction industry in this thesis, thanks to construction output index, the volume of construction output, etc. There is overview of accidents and deaths in costuction industry, history of risk management in the construction industry and the main reasones of injuries and deaths in the construction industry described in this thesis. The aim of this thesis is to inform about development and efectiveness of risk management and evaluate work injuries in construction industry with the assumption further development.