Stress is known to alter immune function, both in positive and negative ways. The disparate effects of stress on immune function remains an active area of investigation. This thesis investigates how the application of social disruption stress either prior to or concurrent with infection alters the neuropathogenesis of Theiler's murine encephalitis virus. Experiment 1 verified that social disruption prior to infection exacerbated the course of infection. Experiment 2 examined application of social disruption concurrent with infection, and found that this may produce a delay in symptom onset, and possibly a protective effect. Experiment 3 directly compared the two schedules to each other. The previous findings were replicated and expanded with additional measures (both behavioral and physiological) that further verified the earlier findings. Social disruption applied prior to infection resulted in greater behavioral and physiological exacerbation of the disease. Concurrently applied stress remained protective or inhibitory in the disease progression. Timing of stress is one of several quantitative aspects of stress that has been found to impact the stress-immune interaction and should be further investigated.

Eukaryotic gene transcription plays a regulatory role in mammalian developmental processes. It has been shown that transcriptional control is an important mechanism for specification of neurotransmitter phenotypes. In the mammalian central nervous system, the transcription factor AP-2 family is one of the critical regulatory factors for neural gene expression and neuronal development. It has been shown that several genes in the monoaminergic systems have AP-2 binding sites in regulatory regions, suggesting a regulatory role of AP-2 also in the adult brain. Brainstem monoamines are implicated in the expression of personality traits and imbalances in these systems may give rise to psychiatric disorders. The gene encoding AP-2β includes a polymorphic region consisting of a tetranucleotide repeat of [CAAA]4-5 in intron 2. Studies on AP-2β genotype in relation to personality and platelet MAO activity, a trait-dependant marker for personality, are presented in this thesis. Furthermore, correlations between brainstem levels of AP-2α and AP-2β and monoamine turnover in projection areas in rat forebrain are reported. These results strengthen the notion that the AP-2 family is important regulators of the monoaminergic systems in the adult brain. Furthermore, two studies are presented in this thesis with analyses indicating a role for AP-2 in the molecular mechanism of antidepressant drugs. Altogether, this thesis presents data supporting our notion that the transcription factor AP-2 family is involved in the regulation of the monoaminergic systems both pre- and postnatally, and, therefore, might be involved in the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric disorders.

The CNS monoaminergic systems are considered as the head engine regulating neuropsychiatric functions and personality. Transcription factor AP-2 is known to be essential for the development of the brainstem including the monoaminergic nuclei, and has the ability to regulate many genes in the monoaminergic systems. The ability of transcription factors to regulate specific gene expression, has lately made them hot candidates as drug targets. In this thesis, results indicating a role of AP-2 in the molecular effects of the antidepressant drugs citalopram and phenelzine, are presented. A polymorphism in the second intron of the gene encoding AP-2ß has previously been associated with anxiety-related personality traits as estimated by the Karolinska Scales of Personality (KSP). In this thesis, results confirming this association, gained by using a larger material and several different personality scales, are presented. Furthermore, data is presented showing an association between the activity of platelet monoamine oxidase, a trait-dependent marker for personality, and the genotype of the AP-2ß intron 2 polymorphism. The functional importance of the AP-2ß intron 2 polymorphism has not yet been elucidated. Included in this thesis are results showing that the AP-2ß intron 2 polymorphism is not in linkage disequilibrium with the only other described polymorphism in the AP-2ß gene, i.e. in the AP-2ß promoter (-67 G/A). Introns have in several studies been shown to include binding sites for regulatory proteins, and thus, to be important in transcriptional regulation. Results are presented demonstrating that one human brain nuclear protein binds only to the long variant of the AP-2ß intron 2 polymorphism. If this protein is involved in the regulation of the AP-2ß gene, it would affect the expression levels of the AP-2ß protein. In general, this thesis further establishes the role of transcription factor AP-2 as a regulatory factor of importance for personality and monoaminergic functions.

Neural stem and progenitor cells (NSPC) can differentiate to neurons and glial cells. NSPC are easily propagated in vitro and are therefore an attractive tool for tissue regeneration. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a common cause for death and disabilities. A fundamental problem following TBI is tissue loss. Animal studies aiming at cell replacement have encountered difficulties in achieving sufficient graft survival and differentiation. To improve outcome of grafted cells after experimental TBI (controlled cortical impact, CCI) in mice, we compared two transplantation settings. NSPC were transplanted either directly upon CCI to the injured parenchyma, or one week after injury to the contralateral ventricle. Enhanced survival of transplanted cells and differentiation were seen when cells were deposited in the ventricle. To further enhance cell survival, efforts were made to reduce the inflammatory response to TBI by administration of ibuprofen to mice that had been subjected to CCI. Inflammation was reduced, as monitored by a decrease in inflammatory markers. Cell survival as well as differentiation to early neuroblasts seemed to be improved. To device a 3D system for future transplantation studies, NSPC from different ages were cultured in a hydrogel consisting of hyaluronan and collagen. Cells survived and proliferated in this culturing condition and the greatest neuronal differentiating ability was seen in cells from the newborn mouse brain. NSPC were also used in a model of peripheral nervous system injury, and xeno-transplanted to rats where the dorsal root ganglion had been removed. Cells survived and differentiated to neurons and glia, furthermore demonstrating their usefulness as a tool for tissue regeneration.

The United Kingdom’s Civil Aviation Authority published the national aviation forecast in 2008. The forecast predicts that domestic traffic will increase by 3.5% per year, and that international traffic will grow, on average, by 4.5% during 2010-2020. Based on this prediction, the traffic density will increase dramatically in the future, and airspace will be more and more congested. Usually, there are two potential solutions to deal with this situation: improving the ability of air traffic flow management is one solution; reducing the separation minimum of aircraft is another solution. However, this thesis focuses on the second solution, based on constraints of communication, navigation and surveillance systems (CNS). Cont?d.

Abstract The motive of thesis is trying to find out the role of information system security via the researching company ¡V CTS Corporation¡¦s disaster recovery plan and present a model to discuss with that. While through the researching procedure, we found out that most of information security systems obey the BS 7799-2 and ISO 17799 even the CNS 17799 in the world. Through the help of investigation of the questionnaire, all evidence just show out that how to construct and recognize the information security system is the issue and trend for enterprise to do after the ISO 9000 and QS 9000. Since 1978, the case study company, CTS Corporation has had fire and evacuation procedures, which were informally supported by various committees. An emergency plan, which was issued March 24, 1980, incorporated the functions of these committees and provided more formalized procedures for responding to emergencies. The emergency plan was later reissued as know of ¡§CTS Corporation Disaster Recovery Plan¡¨ as one of policy to be followed. In thesis, widely discuss the risk and evaluation of information security and show up some of major case of the information security for domestic and international by sequence of the date. Present some of overview from industry¡Bgovernment and academic how to face such of information security around the enterprises. Final conduct of 10 control sets, 36 control subjects and 127 control items with 8 abstracts of ISO 17799 introduction from BS 7799-1 and BS 779902 with comparison of ISO 17799 totally. Compare and distinguish the variance from CTS Corporation and those of international standard for the information security system, we deploy 4 steps of development the information security system as of: Information Security Policy; Documentation and Implementation; Risks Management and Information Security Management Security (ISMS). Provide evidence of questionnaires of the case study company. Summary three of dimensions for five(5) issues of ¡§Environment & Infrastructure¡¨, seven(7) issues of ¡§Disaster Recovering Planning¡¨ and six(6) issues of ¡§Business Contingency Planning¡¨ to conduce a Disaster Recovery Planning¡¦s Deployment Model for seven steps of four scenario as a conclusion.

Stress is known to alter immune function, both in positive and negative ways. The disparate effects of stress on immune function remains an active area of investigation. This thesis investigates how the application of social disruption stress either prior to or concurrent with infection alters the neuropathogenesis of Theiler's murine encephalitis virus. Experiment 1 verified that social disruption prior to infection exacerbated the course of infection. Experiment 2 examined application of social disruption concurrent with infection, and found that this may produce a delay in symptom onset, and possibly a protective effect. Experiment 3 directly compared the two schedules to each other. The previous findings were replicated and expanded with additional measures (both behavioral and physiological) that further verified the earlier findings. Social disruption applied prior to infection resulted in greater behavioral and physiological exacerbation of the disease. Concurrently applied stress remained protective or inhibitory in the disease progression. Timing of stress is one of several quantitative aspects of stress that has been found to impact the stress-immune interaction and should be further investigated.

In insects, ecdysis is an important feature of growth and development and is tightly controlled by a variety of neuropeptides. In holometabolous insects, crustacean cardioactive peptide (CCAP) is one of many factors that regulate ecdysis behaviours; however, not much is known about the control of ecdysis in hemimetabolous insects. In this thesis, the CCAP-signaling pathway is shown to be essential for successful ecdysis in the hemimetabolous insect, Rhodnius prolixus. The cDNA sequence of the CCAP gene has been cloned from the R. prolixus central nervous system (CNS) and the functional role of CCAP as a neuromodulator/neurotransmitter demonstrated. Specifically, the expression of RhoprCCAP in CNS neurons producing extensive CCAP-like immunoreactive processes within the neuropile indicates that CCAP plays central roles in coordination of other neurons. RhoprCCAP also acts as a neurohomone/neuromodulator released peripherally to coordinate many tissues. Thus, CCAP-like immunoreactive processes are found in neurohemal sites and also on peripheral tissues. The RhoprCCAP receptor (RhoprCCAPR) has been cloned and shown to be a G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR). RhoprCCAPR expression is observed in the CNS and certain peripheral tissues of R. prolixus. Also, CCAP stimulates hindgut contractions and increases the heartbeat rate in a dose-dependent manner. The involvement of CCAP in R. prolixus ecdysis has been investigated. Up-regulation of the RhoprCCAP transcript in the CNS and the RhoprCCAP receptor (RhoprCCAPR) transcript in the CNS and specific peripheral tissues was observed immediately prior to ecdysis. Also, decreasing staining intensity of CCAP-like immunoreactivity in neurons immediately following ecdysis indicates the release of CCAP during ecdysis. The critical importance of the CCAP-signalling pathway was further demonstrated by knockdown of the RhoprCCAP and RhoprCCAPR transcripts utilizing double stranded RNA interference. Insects with these transcripts knocked down have high mortality (up to 84%), typically at the expected time of ecdysis, or have ecdysis extremely delayed. Taken together, this thesis demonstrates that RhoprCCAP plays a crucial role in regulating ecdysis behaviours in R. prolixus, and clearly shows the conserved nature of the CCAP-signaling pathway in ecdysis for both holometabolous and hemimetabolous insects.

In insects, ecdysis is an important feature of growth and development and is tightly controlled by a variety of neuropeptides. In holometabolous insects, crustacean cardioactive peptide (CCAP) is one of many factors that regulate ecdysis behaviours; however, not much is known about the control of ecdysis in hemimetabolous insects. In this thesis, the CCAP-signaling pathway is shown to be essential for successful ecdysis in the hemimetabolous insect, Rhodnius prolixus. The cDNA sequence of the CCAP gene has been cloned from the R. prolixus central nervous system (CNS) and the functional role of CCAP as a neuromodulator/neurotransmitter demonstrated. Specifically, the expression of RhoprCCAP in CNS neurons producing extensive CCAP-like immunoreactive processes within the neuropile indicates that CCAP plays central roles in coordination of other neurons. RhoprCCAP also acts as a neurohomone/neuromodulator released peripherally to coordinate many tissues. Thus, CCAP-like immunoreactive processes are found in neurohemal sites and also on peripheral tissues. The RhoprCCAP receptor (RhoprCCAPR) has been cloned and shown to be a G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR). RhoprCCAPR expression is observed in the CNS and certain peripheral tissues of R. prolixus. Also, CCAP stimulates hindgut contractions and increases the heartbeat rate in a dose-dependent manner. The involvement of CCAP in R. prolixus ecdysis has been investigated. Up-regulation of the RhoprCCAP transcript in the CNS and the RhoprCCAP receptor (RhoprCCAPR) transcript in the CNS and specific peripheral tissues was observed immediately prior to ecdysis. Also, decreasing staining intensity of CCAP-like immunoreactivity in neurons immediately following ecdysis indicates the release of CCAP during ecdysis. The critical importance of the CCAP-signalling pathway was further demonstrated by knockdown of the RhoprCCAP and RhoprCCAPR transcripts utilizing double stranded RNA interference. Insects with these transcripts knocked down have high mortality (up to 84%), typically at the expected time of ecdysis, or have ecdysis extremely delayed. Taken together, this thesis demonstrates that RhoprCCAP plays a crucial role in regulating ecdysis behaviours in R. prolixus, and clearly shows the conserved nature of the CCAP-signaling pathway in ecdysis for both holometabolous and hemimetabolous insects.

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