L’exposition du fœtus à l’éthanol est reconnue comme étant la principale cause de maladies évitables lors du développement. Une forte exposition à l’alcool durant la gestation peut occasionner des dysmorphies cranio-faciales et des retards mentaux, ainsi que des troubles d’apprentissages et du comportement. Le développement du système visuel est également perturbé chez une grande majorité d’enfants qui ont été exposés à l’alcool. Lorsque les doses prises sont élevées, le système visuel peut présenter une panoplie de symptômes comme une augmentation de la tortuosité des vaisseaux rétiniens, de la myopie, de l’hypermétropie, du strabisme et une hypoplasie du nerf optique. Cependant, très peu d’études se sont penchées sur les effets de plus faibles doses sur le développement du système visuel du primate. Le singe est un excellent modèle pour étudier le système visuel car il possède plusieurs similitudes avec l’humain tant au niveau développemental qu’au niveau structurel. De plus, le singe utilisé, le Chlrocebus aethiops sabeus, possède l’avantage que des individus de cette espèce ont une consommation naturelle et volontaire à l’alcool. Une étude (Clarren et al., 1990) a suggéré qu’une faible exposition à l’alcool du fœtus du primate non humain occasionnait une diminution du nombre de cellules ganglionnaires de la rétine (CGRs). Étant donné que le corps genouillé latéral dorsal (CGLd) reçoit la plupart de ses intrants de la rétine, il est raisonnable d’assumer que les couches rétino-récipientes du CGLd devraient être aussi affectées. Nous avons alors émis l’hypothèse que le CGLd devrait également subir une diminution du nombre de neurones. Pour la première fois, nous avons utilisé une méthode stéréologique pour quantifier le nombre de cellules dans les couches parvo- (P) et magnocellulaires (M) du CGLd. Contrairement à notre hypothèse de départ, nous n’avons pas observé de diminution dans le nombre global de neurones dans le CGLd des animaux exposés à l’alcool par rapport à des sujets contrôles, ni une diminution de son volume. Nous avons toutefois observé une diminution de la taille du corps cellulaire seulement dans la population M du CGLd. Ces résultats suggèrent que le système visuel est affecté par une faible exposition à l’alcool durant son développement qui devrait se traduire sur le comportement par des déficits dans les fonctions de la voie M. / An alcohol exposition during the gestation is recognized as the leading causes of preventable developmental disorders. A heavy exposure to ethanol can lead to a litany of symptoms ranging from cranio-facial dysmorphology and mental retardation to developmental learning and behavioural disorders. The visual system development is also the target for a high percentage of children exposed prenatally to alcohol. When the concentrations are relatively high, the visual system can show signs of increased tortuosity of the retina vessels, myopia, hyperopia, strabismus and hypoplasia of the optic nerve. Few studies have examined the effects of a moderate exposure to alcohol on the development of the primate visual system. The monkey is an excellent model to study the visual system because this model owns a lot of similarities with human at the developmental and structural levels. Moreover, the monkey used for this study, Chlrocebus sabeus, naturally and voluntarily consumes alcohol. One study (Clarren et al., 1990) suggested that a low dose exposure of alcohol induce a diminution of neurons in the ganglion retinal cell population. But, no information is given about the numbers and the cell population of neurons. We hypothesized that the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) should show a decrease in the number of neurons after moderate prenatal exposure to alcohol. The LGN is a key region because it is situated between the region that receives visual information, the retina, and the first visual region that analyzes the visual information, the primary visual cortex (V1). We utilized a stereological method to study the effects of moderate doses of alcohol on the neuronal population of the LGN in the non-human primate. In opposition to our hypothesis, we have not observed any diminution in the number of neurons or the volume of the LGN. However, we have found a diminution in the neuronal volume of only the magnocellular (M) region. These results suggest that the visual system is affected by a low dose of alcohol that should translate into deficits in the functions of the M pathway.

I detta arbete undersöks Incoterms® 2010 maritima villkor, FAS. Framförallt hur det kommer sig att den inte används lika ofta som de övriga samt vad som är avgörande vid valet av villkor. Undersökningen genomfördes med en kvalitativ ansats och data samlades in genom litteraturstudie samt två kvalitativa intervjuer: en företagsrepresentant och en sakkunnig inom logistikrätt. En teorigenomgång av både allmän karaktär av Incoterms® samt tidigare forskning kring dess användning blev grunden till det teoretiska ramverket. Resultatet visar flera olika faktorer till att FAS inte används lika ofta som de övriga villkoren. De mest framträdande faktorerna är riskövergången, brytpunkter, betalning samt okunskap. / This work presents a study of the Incoterms® 2010 seaterm, FAS. The main questions are; why is it not used as often as the other terms for sea transportation, and, what are the main decisions when choosing Incoterms®. The study was carried out with a qualitative approach and data were collected through a literature study and two qualitative interviews; one with a company representative, and one who is an expert in logistics law. A theoretical review of Incoterms® and previous research, constructs the theoretical framework used. The result show several aspects for FAS not being used as often as the other terms. Most common aspects are; passing of risk, break point, payment and lack of knowledge.

Melanoma cutâneo ainda constitui a principal causa de morte por câncer de pele nos países desenvolvidos. A variabilidade do comportamento clínico dessa neoplasia tem sido apenas parcialmente explicada pelos aspectos clínicos e histológicos, e a identificação de variáveis biológicas pode vir a ser importante na determinação de grupos de risco específicos. Foram estudados 69 pacientes com melanoma cutâneo primário de diversos graus de gravidade, tratados entre 1990 e 2007, com o intuito de verificar aspectos clínicos e epidemiológicos, preparar Tissue microarray (TMA) para estudo dos melanomas cutâneos primários com espessura maior que 1,0 mm, avaliar por análise imuno-histoquímica a expressão das proteínas da apoptose celular Bcl2, Bax, Bak, Apaf-1, Caspase 3, Caspase 9, Caspase 8, FasL e Fas em nevos-controle e em melanomas primários com espessuras menores e maiores que 1mm, e correlacionar a expressão dessas proteínas da apoptose com a evolução de melanomas cutâneos primários. Os resultados ratificaram tanto dados epidemiológicos já publicados em relação a sexo, idade e local da lesão, quanto a correlação entre a evolução da doença e os índices de Breslow. A análise dos escores compostos relativos à expressão das proteínas da apoptose revelou que o perfil imuno-histoquímico dessas proteínas parece não ter significado prognóstico, uma vez que não houve diferenças de expressão entre pacientes com e sem doença disseminada. Não foram encontradas alterações na expressão das proteínas da apoptose estudadas que pudessem sugerir o seu envolvimento tanto na gênese quanto na progressão de melanoma primário. O perfil imuno-histoquímico com tendência pró-apoptótica parece indicar que outros fatores seriam responsáveis pelo crescimento e disseminação da neoplasia / Cutaneous melanoma still constitutes the main cause of skin cancer death in developed world. Clinical behavior variability of this neoplasia has been only partially explained by clinical and histological aspects, and identification of biological variables can be important for determining specific risk groups. Sixty nine (69) patients with mild to severe primary cutaneous melanoma treated in 1990-2007 were studied aiming at (a) verifying clinical epidemiological aspects, (b) generating a Tissue microarray (TMA) for characterizing proteins expression of cutaneous melanoma > 1.0 mm, (c) analyzing the immunohistochemical expression of the apoptosis proteins Bcl2, Bax, Bak, Apaf-1, Caspase 3, Caspase 9, Caspase 8, FasL e Fas in 10 control nevi and in primary melanomas with thickness 1mm, (d) and correlating these proteins expression with the disease prognosis. Results have ratified known epidemiological date on gender, age and lesion localization as well as the correlation between the disease prognosis and the Breslow\'s indexes. Analysis of the composite scores relating to apoptosis proteins has revealed that their immunohistochemical profile seems to be not significant for determining the disease prognosis, since no differences in proteins expression were found when compared patients with and without disease dissemination. Alterations in proteins expression suggesting their role in the genesis as well as in the prognosis of primary melanoma were not evidenced. Immunohistochemical profile with pro-apoptosis trend seems to indicate other factor as responsible for the neoplasia growth and dissemination

A interação entre a imunidade inata e adaptativa acontece durante diversas fases da resposta imune. Os Toll-like receptors (TLRs) tem importante papel na ativação de macrófagos e portanto, no conjunto de moléculas secretadas por estas células. Pouco se sabe sobre o papel destas substâncias no processo de contração da população de células T ativadas (Activation-induced cell death - AICD). Portanto, o objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar se macrófagos estimulados com diferentes agonistas de TLRs poderiam produzir fatores solúveis com capacidade modulatória da morte por AICD. Primeiramente, demonstramos que tanto a linhagem macrofágica J774, quanto os macrófagos derivados de medula óssea (BMDMs) expressam todos os TLRs, com excessão do TLR11. Comprovamos que estas proteínas são funcionais, uma vez que o estímulo com agonistas de TLRs leva à ativação de NF-<font face=\"Symbol\">&#954B nestes macrófagos. Finalmente, mostramos que os sobrenadantes gerados pelos macrófagos são capazes de proteger as células DO11.10 da AICD, via a regulação negativa de FasL, parcialmente mediada por PGE2. / The interaction between innate and adaptative immunity occurs in several phases of the immune response. The Toll-like receptors (TLRs) have an important role in the activation of macrophages directly acting on the molecules secreted by these cells. Little is known about the role of these secreted molecules on the survival control of activated T lymphocytes (Activation-induced cell death - AICD). Therefore, the objective of the present work was to evaluate the effects of soluble factors produced by macrophages activated with several TLRs agonists, on the survival of T lymphocytes. First we sought the expression of TRLs on both bone marrow-derived and J774 macrophage cell line and we could see that both cells express all TLRs, except for TLR 11. The stimulation of both cells with TLRs agonists leads to the expression of NF-<font face=\"Symbol\">&#954B and the production of soluble factors that are able to protect DO11.10 T lymphocyte cell line from AICD, via down regulation of FasL partially mediated by PGE2.

Stormwater is water that originates from snow or rainfall and that cannot naturally infiltrate the soil. When stormwater flows from hard surfaces it can transport different pollutants to watercourses. By measuring turbidity continuously and using the relationship between turbidity and pollutants the pollutant levels can be estimated. The aim of this study was partly to investigate the relationship between turbidity and phosphorus, metals and PAHs in stormwater in three catchment areas. This study also aimed to investigate how the distribution between dissolved and particulate bound concentrations of phosphorus and metals varied during different rain courses and at different catchment areas. The study was carried out in Uppsala and included continuous measurement of turbidity in three stormwater wells in three catchment areas. Seven samples were also taken at different precipitation occasions in both stormwater and in Fyrisån. In Svartbäcken there was a strong relationship between turbidity and phosphorus and metals. In Librobäck there was an indication that there was a strong relationship between turbidity and some metals and PAH:s. There was no relationship between turbidity and pollutants in Luthagen. Based on these samples, it is difficult to draw any conclusions about why the connections differed for certain pollutants and catchment areas. Due to the fact that the number of measuring points was too few the continuous measurement could not be used to estimate variations in pollution levels. To be able to use the continuous measurement, a longer sampling period and different precipitation occasions is needed. The continuous measurements were used to get an idea of when the samples were taken during the stormwater flow. The results also showed that all pollutants were mostly particulate bound for samples taken at the beginning of a precipitation occasion and with some precipitation during the sampling. For samples that did not take place in connection with stormwater runoff events, the distribution varied for the pollutants in the study. It has not been possible to see a clear trend for how the distribution between dissolved and particulate bound pollutants has varied between different catchment areas. / Dagvatten är vatten som uppkommer vid regn eller vid snösmältning och som inte kan infiltrera naturligt i marken. När dagvattnet avrinner ytligt på marken kan det föra med sig föroreningar till recipienten. Genom att mäta turbiditet kontinuerligt och utnyttja eventuella samband med föroreningar kan föroreningshalter i dagvatten uppskattas. Studien hade två huvudsakliga syften varav det ena var att undersöka samband mellan turbiditet och fosfor, metaller samt PAH:er i dagvatten i tre avrinningsområden. Detta för att se om sambanden kunde användas för att med hjälp av kontinuerlig mätning av turbiditet uppskatta föroreningshalter vid avrinningsområdena. Det andra syftet var att undersöka hur fördelningen mellan lösta och partikulärt bundna andelar fosfor och metaller varierade under olika regnförlopp och vid olika avrinningsområden.  Studien utfördes i Uppsala och innefattade delvis kontinuerlig mätning av turbiditet i tre dagvattenbrunnar i tre avrinningsområden. Det gjordes även sju stickprovtagningar vid olika nederbördstillfällen i både dagvatten och i Fyrisån. I Svartbäcken visade resultaten att det fanns starka samband mellan turbiditet och fosfor och metaller. I Librobäck fanns det en indikation för starka samband mellan turbiditet och fosfor samt vissa metaller och PAH:er. I Luthagen fanns det dock inga samband mellan turbiditet och undersökta föroreningarna. Utifrån dessa prover var det svårt att dra några slutsatser kring varför sambanden skilde sig åt för vissa föroreningar och avrinningsområden. På grund av att antalet mätpunkter var för få kunde inte den kontinuerliga mätningen användas för att uppskatta variationer av föroreningshalter. För att kunna använda den kontinuerliga mätningen behövs en längre provtagningsperiod med fler provtagningar.  Resultatet visade även att den partikulärt bundna andelen dominerade för alla föroreningar vid de provtagningar som togs i början på ett nederbördstillfälle och vid viss nederbörd. Vid provtagningar som utfördes senare under nederbördstillfället varierade fördelningen för de olika föroreningarna. Det har inte varit möjligt att se en tydlig trend för hur fördelningen mellan lösta och partikulärt bundna föroreningar varierade mellan olika avrinningsområden.

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Prior research has shown that even the most subjective fair value estimates are value-relevant (Song et al. 2010, Kolev 2009, Goh et al. 2009) and that managers appear to use Level 3 valuations opportunistically (Valencia 2011, Fiechter and Meyer 2009). However, the association between “traditional” measures of aggressiveness in financial reporting and biased estimates of fair value has not been previously studied. I test whether aggressiveness, as measured by discretionary accruals, real activities manipulation, and meeting-or-beating analysts’ consensus estimates, is positively associated with realized and unrealized gains and losses on Level instruments. Overall, I find limited support that aggressive firms opportunistically use fair value measurements to overstate earnings. Inferences remain the same whether only the unrealized component of gains/losses are examined and whether firms are classified into “suspect” or “non-suspect” groups.

Mémoire numérisé par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

Mémoire numérisé par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

Thèse numérisée par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.