Thesis (MScAgric (Viticulture and Oenology. Wine Biotechnology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Necrotrophic fungi infect many economically important crop plants. This results in great losses in the agricultural sector world-wide. Understanding the nature by which plants respond to pathogens is imperative for genetically enhancing disease resistance in plants. Research tools have significantly contributed to our understanding of how the plant responds to pathogen attack, identifying an array of defence mechanisms used by plants upon attack. Many fungal pathogens secrete endopolygalacturonases (endoPGs) when infecting plants. These hydrolytic enzymes are inhibited by polygalacturonase-inhibiting proteins (PGIPs) associated with plant cell walls. PGIPs are well characterised and their current known functions are all linked to endoPG inhibition and the subsequent upregulation of plant defence pathways. Work on grapevine PGIPs have shown that apart from being efficient antifungal proteins, leading to protection of the plant against Botrytis cinerea when overexpressed, PGIPs might also have additional functions linked to cell wall strengthening. This working hypothesis formed the motivation of this study where a cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD) (1.1.1.195) gene was targeted for functional analysis in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum). Some previous work and genetic resources obtained is relevant to this study, specifically previously characterized transgenic tobacco lines overexpressing the Vitis vinifera pgip1 (Vvpgip1) gene. These lines have confirmed PGIP-specific resistance phenotypes against B. cinerea, as well as increased levels of CAD transcripts in healthy plants. Moreover, preliminary evaluations indicated increased lignin levels as well as differential expression of several other cell wall genes in these overexpressing lines (in the absence of infections). In this study we generated a transgenic tobacco population, overexpressing the native CAD14 gene, via Agrobacterium transformations. The transgene was overexpressed with the Cauliflower Mosaic Virus promoter (CaMV 35Sp). The CAD transgenic population was analyzed for transgene integration and expression and showed active transcription, even from leaves that normally don’t express CAD to high levels. These lines, together with the untransformed control, and a representative transgenic VvPGIP1 tobacco line previously characterized with elevated expression of CAD were used for all further analyses, specifically CAD activity assays of stems and leaves, as well as whole plant infections with B. cinerea. CAD enzyme activity assays were performed on healthy uninfected plant lines, without inducing native CAD expression or resistance phenotypes (i.e. without Botrytis infection). CAD activity was detected in leaves and stems, but a statistically sound separation between the CAD population and the untransformed control was only observed in the stems. The CAD assays also confirmed previous results that indicated that CAD transcription was upregulated in the PGIP line in the absence of infection. Overall, in all plant lines the stems exhibited 10-fold higher levels of CAD activity than the leaves, but the transgenic VvPGIP1 line showed a further 2-3-fold increase in CAD activity in the stems, when compared to the untransformed control and the majority of the CAD overexpressing lines. Disease assessment by whole plant infections with B. cinerea of the CAD transgenic plants revealed reduced disease susceptibility towards this pathogen. A reduction in disease susceptibility of 20 – 40% (based on lesion sizes) was observed for a homologous group of transgenic lines that was statistically clearly separated from the untransformed control plants following infection with Botrytis over an 11-day-period. The VvPGIP1 transgenic line displayed the strongest resistance phenotype, with reduction in susceptibility of 47%. The reduction in plant tissue maceration and lesion expansion was most pronounced in the VvPGIP1 line compared to the CAD transgenic plants, while the CAD transgenic plants showed more reduction than the untransformed control. In combination, the data confirms that CAD upregulation could lead to resistance phenotypes. Relating this data back to the previously observed upregulation of CAD in the VvPGIP1-overexpressing lines, the findings from this study corroborates that increased CAD activity contributes to the observed resistance phenotypes, possibility by strengthening the cell wall. In conclusion, this study yielded a characterized transgenic population overexpressing the CAD14 gene; this overexpression contributed to increased RNA transcription compared to the untransformed control plant, increased CAD activity (most notably in the stems) and a disease resistance phenotype against Botrytis. These findings corroborates the current working hypothesis in our group that PGIPs might have a role in preparing the plant cell for attack by contributing to specific cell wall changes. The exact mechanisms are still currently unknown and under investigation. The transgenic lines generated in this study will be invaluable in the subsequent analyses where these various phenotypes will be subjected to profiling and accurate cell wall analyses. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Nekrotrofiese swamme infekteer en beskadig verskeie ekonomies belangrike gewasse. Dit lei wêreldwyd tot groot verliese vir die landbousektor. Dit is noodsaaklik om te verstaan hoe plante reageer teenoor patogene, sodat die siekteweerstand van plante verbeter kan word. Navorsingshulpbronne het beduidend bygedra tot die kennis van plantreaksies tydens patogeniese aanvalle, en het sodoende ‘n reeks van weerstandmeganismes, wat die plant inspan tydens ‘n aanval, geïdentifiseer. Verskeie patogeniese swamme skei endopoligalakturonases (endoPGs) af tydens plantinfeksie. Hierdie hidrolitiese ensieme word geïnhibeer deur poligalakturonase-inhiberende proteïene (PGIPs) wat met die plantselwand geassosieerd is. PGIPs is goed gekarakteriseerd en al hulle huidiglik bekende funksies is gekoppel aan endoPG inhibisie en die daaropvolgende opregulering van plant weerstandspaaie. Navorsing op wingerd PGIPs het gewys dat, afgesien van die feit dat PGIPs goeie antifungiese proteïene is wat lei tot beskerming van die plant teen Botrytis cinerea wanneer dit ooruitgedruk word, PGIPs ook moontlik addisionele funksies verrig wat verwant is aan selwandversterking. Hierdie werkshipotese vorm die motivering vir hierdie studie waarin ‘n sinnamiel alkohol dehidrogenase (SAD) (1.1.1.195) geen geteiken is vir funksionele analise in tabak (Nicotiana tabacum). Vorige navorsing en genetiese hulpbronne daardeur verkry is belangrik vir hierdie studie, spesifiek die gekarakteriseerde transgeniese tabaklyne wat die Vitis vinifera pgip1 (Vvpgip1) geen ooruitdruk. Hierdie lyne besit bevestigde PGIP-spesifieke weerstandsfenotipes teen B. cinerea, sowel as hoër vlakke van SAD transkripte in gesonde plante. Voorlopige analises het ook aangedui dat hierdie ooruitdrukkende lyne hoër lignien vlakke het, asook differensiële uitdrukking van verskeie ander selwandgene (in die afwesigheid van infeksie). In hierdie studie is ‘n transgeniese tabakpopulasie gegenereer wat die natuurlike tabak SAD14 geen ooruitdruk, deur middel van Agrobacterium transformasie. Die transgeen is ooruitgedruk deur die Blomkool Mosaïek Virus promoter (CaMV 35Sp). Die SAD transgeniese populasie is geanaliseer vir transgeen integrasie en uitdrukking en het aktiewe transkriptering getoon, selfs in blare waar daar normaalweg nie hoë vlakke van SAD uitgedruk word nie. Hierdie lyne, die ongetransformeerde wilde-tipe kontrole sowel as ’n verteenwoordigende transgeniese VvPGIP1 tabaklyn wat vooraf gekarakteriseerd was met hoë SAD uitdrukking, is gebruik vir alle verdere analises, spesifiek SAD aktiwiteitstoetse in stingels en blare, asook heelplantinfeksies met B. cinerea. Aktiwiteitsanalises van die SAD ensiem is gedoen op gesonde ongeinfekteerde plantlyne, sonder om natuurlike tabak SAD uitdrukking of weerstandsfenotipes te induseer (dus sonder Botrytis infeksie). SAD aktiwiteit is waargeneem in beide die blare en stingels, maar ‘n statisties betekenisvolle skeiding is slegs gevind tussen die SAD populasie en die ongetransformeerde kontrole in die stingels. Die SAD toetse het ook vorige resultate bevestig wat aangedui het dat SAD transkripsie opgereguleer word in die PGIP lyn in die afwesigheid van infeksie. Die stingels het oor die algemeen ‘n 10-voudige vermeerdering in SAD aktiwiteitsvlakke getoon in vergelyking met die blare, maar die transgeniese VvPGIP1 lyn het ‘n verdere 2-3-voudige verhoging in SAD aktiwiteit gehad in die stingels ,in vergelyking met die ongetransformeerde kontrole en die meerderheid van die SADooruitdrukkende lyne. Siekteweerstand ondersoeke deur middel van heelplantinfeksies met B. cinerea van die SAD transgeniese plante, het verminderde vatbaarheid aangedui ten opsigte van hierdie patogeen. ‘n Afname in siekte-vatbaarheid van 20 – 40% (gebaseer op wondgroottes) is waargeneem vir ‘n homoloë groep transgeniese lyne wat statisties betekenisvol geskei kon word van die ongetransformeerde kontrole plante na infeksie met Botrytis in ‘n infeksietoets wat 11 dae geduur het. Die VvPGIP1 transgeniese lyn het die mees weerstandbiedende fenotipe gehad, met ‘n afname in siekte-vatbaarheid van 47%. Die afname in plantweefselafbreking en wondgrootte was die duidelikste in die VvPGIP1 lyn in vergelyking met die SAD transgeniese plante, terwyl die SAD transgeniese plante ‘n groter afname aangedui het as die ongetransformeerde kontrole. In kombinasie het die data bevestig dat SAD opregulasie kan lei tot weerstandbiedende fenotipes. Hierdie data, in vergelyking met die vorige bevinding van opregulasie van SAD in die VvPGIP1-ooruitdrukkende lyne, bevestig dat hoër SAD aktiwiteit bydra tot die waargenome weerstandbiedende fenotipes, moontlik deur versterking van die plantselwand. Ter afsluiting, hierdie studie het ‘n gekarakteriseerde transgeniese populasie wat die SAD14 geen ooruitdruk gelewer; hierdie ooruitdrukking het bygedra tot hoër RNA transkripsie in vergelyking met die kontrole, verhoogde SAD aktiwiteit (veral in die stingels) en siekteweerstandbiedende fenotipes teenoor Botrytis. Hierdie bevindinge ondersteun die huidige werkshipotese in ons groep dat PGIPs moontlik ‘n rol speel in die voorbereiding van die plantsel teen infeksie deur spesifieke selwandveranderinge te veroorsaak. Die spesifieke meganismes is steeds onbekend en word verder ondersoek. Die transgeniese lyne wat tydens hierdie studie gegenereer is, sal baie belangrik wees in opvolgende analises waar hierdie verskillende fenotipes gebruik kan word om die profiel van selwandkomponente, maar ook die akkurate selwandsamestelling te bestudeer.

Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) is the master regulator of genes involved in adaptation to hypoxia. The stability and transcriptional activity of HIF are regulated by post-translational hydroxylations: prolyl hydroxylation by the prolyl hydroxylase domain-containing enzymes PHD1 – 3 earmarks HIF for proteasomal degradation, whilst asparaginyl hydroxylation by factor inhibiting HIF (FIH) blocks the interaction of HIF with the transcriptional coactivators p300/CBP. The PHDs and FIH hydroxylate HIF directly from molecular oxygen and are therefore oxygen sensors. Recent literature shows that FIH also hydroxylates a number of proteins containing an ankyrin-repeat domain (ARD). Together with reports suggesting that the PHDs are involved in HIF-independent pathways, this suggests that the HIF hydroxylases may have a wide range of non-HIF targets. This thesis describes my investigations into novel substrates of the HIF hydroxylases. This work has characterized the FIH-dependent hydroxylation of the ARD-containing protein Notch1, and defined a consensus sequence for hydroxylation that corresponds to the ankyrin-repeat consensus. Using this consensus potential sites of hydroxylation in a novel ARD FIH substrate, myosin phosphatase targeting subunit 1 (MYPT1), were identified then subsequently confirmed and characterized. Notch1 competes with HIF for FIH hydroxylation. My experiments show that this occurs because Notch1 is a more efficient substrate than HIF, whilst studies on MYPT1 and other proteins indicate that competitive inhibition of FIH may be a general property of ARDs. There are more than 300 ARD proteins in the human genome, and this thesis demonstrates that FIH may hydroxylate a significant percentage of these. In addition to the analysis of ARD hydroxylation a proteomic investigation into novel PHD3 substrates has identified two candidate proteins, suggesting that the PHDs may also have multiple targets. These results have important implications for oxygen sensing, and indicate that post-translational hydroxylation is likely to be a widespread modification in cell biology.

In dieser Dissertation versuche ich, die zentralen Nitrogen-heterocyclischen Kerne, die Seitenketten und deren Position zu variieren. Als synthetische Strategie wurden Palladium-katalysierte Kupplungsreaktionen verwendet, um Seitenketten und Aryl-Substituenten einzuführen. Halogensubstituierte Diarylheterocyclen sind wichtige Intermediate in der Synthese der allgemeine Strukture. Die Einführung der gewünschten Seitenketten durch Carbon-Carbon und Carbon-Nitrogen-Bindungsknüpfung wurde durch Sonogashira-Kupplung, Heck-Kupplung und Buchwald-Hartwig-Aminierung erzielt. Mit der Sonogashira-Reaktion kann eine funktionalisierte Alkynylgruppe in die heterocyclischen Kerne effektiv und bequem eingeführt werden. Eine anschliessende katalytische Hydrierung der Alkynylgruppe führt zu funktionalisierten Alkyl substituierten Diarylheterocyclen. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurden mehr als 180 Substanzen synthetisiert. Unter ihnen sind ungefähr 130 neue Substanzen. 86 von ihnen passen in die allgemeine Strukture. / In the present thesis, I tried to vary the central nitrogen-heterocyclic cores, the functionalised side chains and its position of attachment. As a synthetic strategy, palladium-catalyzed coupling reactions were used to introduce side chains and aryl substituents into the central heterocycle. In this way the utility of such reactions to heterocyclic systems, which were neglected so far, could be figured out. Halogen substituted diaryl heterocycles are important intermediates in the synthesis of general structures. The introduction of the desired side chains by Carbon-Carbon bond formation reactions was achieved by Sonogashira coupling and Heck coupling. Buchwald-Hartwig amination and nucleophilic substitution were used to establish side chains which are connected to the core heterocycle by heteroatom-Carbon bonds. Sonogashira reaction turned out to be the most effective and convenient method to introduce functionalized alkynyl group into the heterocyclic cores. In the present work, more than 180 compounds were synthesized. Among them, about 130 compounds are new products. 86 of them fit into the general structure.

Submitted by Silvana Teresinha Dornelles Studzinski (sstudzinski) on 2016-06-13T12:30:24Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Anderson Krielow_.pdf: 4896609 bytes, checksum: 3095871759da3a275ad37c54877bb3ad (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-13T12:30:24Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Anderson Krielow_.pdf: 4896609 bytes, checksum: 3095871759da3a275ad37c54877bb3ad (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-03-28 / CNPQ – Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / É sabido que a Internet tem crescido vertiginosamente no contexto empresarial brasileiro. Nas empresas prestadoras de serviços eletrônicos (e-services), a compreensão do comportamento de compra on-line reforça as estratégias de venda de serviços pelo canal da Internet. Para as empresas consumidoras se habilitarem a utilizar e a comprar e-services, é fundamental que os prestadores de serviços conheçam as motivações, os receios e as resistências consideradas na compra de um serviço on-line. Para o desenvolvimento da pesquisa, foi criada uma escala e testado um modelo teórico contemplando os construtos, Iniciativa da Gestão, Fatores Externos, Conveniência, Segurança no Acesso aos Dados, Falta de Tempo, Falta de Conhecimento e Experiência, Custo, Risco Percebido, Limitações Tecnológicas, Intenção de Compra e Comportamento de Compra, considerando suas respectivas hipóteses. Para tanto, foi realizado um levantamento teórico que aborda o comércio eletrônico (e-commerce) de produtos e serviços, bem como a compreensão e a análise de construtos que afetam o comportamento de compra de serviços on-line. Posteriormente, realizou-se uma pesquisa qualitativa a partir de 28 entrevistas com Micro e Pequenas Empresas (MPEs) do Rio Grande do Sul, para estruturar os construtos e construir a escala. Considerando como pesquisa principal a quantitativa, realizou-se um levantamento (survey) com uma amostra de 537 MPEs do RS, a fim de investigar os aspectos apresentados anteriormente. A análise dos resultados foi feita com base em estatísticas multivariadas e realizou-se primeiramente, uma análise fatorial exploratória para agrupar as variáveis e confirmar o Modelo Teórico. Utilizou-se a Modelagem de Equações Estruturais para testar o modelo, investigar e analisar os elementos que compõem o fenômeno de estudo. Diante disso, foi possível propor uma escala para medir os fatores motivadores e inibidores, bem como a intenção e o comportamento de compra de e-services por MPEs no mercado B2B. Os resultados da pesquisa apontam que Modelo Teórico apresentou índices satisfatórios, considerando-se o ineditismo da escala. As contribuições que prevalecem são a comprovação de que a Iniciativa da Gestão, a Conveniência e a Segurança no Acesso aos dados dos Serviços On-line são fatores motivadores que influenciam positivamente a Intenção de Compra de e-service; a Falta de Conhecimento e Experiência, o Custo Elevado e o Risco Percebido são fatores inibidores que influenciam negativamente Intenção de Compra de e-service pelas MPEs no mercado B2B; e que a Intenção de Compra tem influência positiva sobre o Comportamento de Compra das Empresas estudadas / It is known that the Internet has grown dramatically in the Brazilian business environment. In companies providing electronic services (e-services), the understanding of online buying behavior reinforces the strategies of selling services by the internet channel. In order to enable consumer companies to use and to buy e-services, it is critical that service providers know the motivations, fears and resistances considered when purchasing an online service. For the development of this research, a Theoretical Model was tested contemplating the constructs, Management Initiative, External Factors, Convenience, Safety Data Access, Lack of Time, Lack of Knowledge and Experience, Cost, Perceived Risk, Technological limitations, Purchase Intent and Purchase Behavior, considering their respective cases. To this end, it was conducted a theoretical survey that covers electronic commerce (e-commerce) of products and services, as well as the understanding and analysis of constructs that affect the online services buying behavior. Subsequently, it was carried out a qualitative research from 28 interviews with Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) in Rio Grande do Sul (RS) to structure the constructs and to build scale. Considering primary the quantitative research, we carried out a survey with a sample of 537 MSEs in RS in order to investigate the issues presented above. The analysis was based on multivariate statistics and held first an exploratory factor analysis to group the variables and to confirm the Theoretical Model. We used the structural equation modeling to test the model, to investigate and to analyze the elements that compose the phenomenon of study. Thus, it was possible to propose a scale to measure the motivating factors and inhibitors, as well as buying behavior and buying intent of e-services for MSEs in B2B market. The research results indicate satisfactory indexes of the Theoretical Model, considering the uniqueness of the scale. Prominent contributions are the proof that Management Initiative, Convenience and Safety Data Access of Online Services are motivating factors that positively influence the Purchase Intent of e-service; Lack of Knowledge and Experience, High Cost and Perceived Risk are inhibiting factors that influence negatively Purchase Intent of e-service for MSEs in B2B market; and Purchase Intent has a positive influence on the Purchase Behavior of studied companies.

<p>This work consists of two parts: the theoretical and the experimental. In the theoretical part, some general and some language specific theories of tense, aspect and aktionsart are presented, and the temporal systems of Swedish and Polish are compared. </p><p>The theoretical part is not a mere review of the literature on the subject. The comparison of the descriptions of aspect and aktionsart by Slavic researchers with the universal theory of Smith (1991) and (1977) and with description of aktionsart in Swedish in Teleman et al. (1999) has allowed me for some important observations as to the nature of the long-lasting dispute about the differences between aspect and aktionsart.</p><p>The experimental part is a cross-sectional study on the role of the linguistic context on the acquisition of the pluperfect by Polish learners Swedish as a foreign language. The informants are university students studying Swedish as a foreign language. The language samples were collected by means of two types of tests: gap-filling and translation from Polish. </p><p>Twelve linguistic factors, each divided into two subgroups, were hypothesised to have affected the correct use of the pluperfect. All those hypotheses as to which of the subgroups may inhibit and which may facilitate the correct use of the pluperfect are grounded in linguistic theories, i.e. presented in the form of linguistically-based discussions as to what kind of effect, facilitative or inhibiting, each of the linguistic factors may have had, and why. </p><p>The effect of those factors upon the correct use of the pluperfect has been tested by means of a step-wise multiple regression which measured the simultaneous effect of each factor upon the correct use of the pluperfect. This method has confirmed the facilitative effect of the following six linguistic factors: intrasentential indication of topic time (subordinate clause), unbounded verb indicating topic time, agentive meaning of the target verb, specifying subordinate clause, statal pluperfect and location of the time of action of pluperfect clause outside the temporal frame of narrative plot.</p>

This work consists of two parts: the theoretical and the experimental. In the theoretical part, some general and some language specific theories of tense, aspect and aktionsart are presented, and the temporal systems of Swedish and Polish are compared. The theoretical part is not a mere review of the literature on the subject. The comparison of the descriptions of aspect and aktionsart by Slavic researchers with the universal theory of Smith (1991) and (1977) and with description of aktionsart in Swedish in Teleman et al. (1999) has allowed me for some important observations as to the nature of the long-lasting dispute about the differences between aspect and aktionsart. The experimental part is a cross-sectional study on the role of the linguistic context on the acquisition of the pluperfect by Polish learners Swedish as a foreign language. The informants are university students studying Swedish as a foreign language. The language samples were collected by means of two types of tests: gap-filling and translation from Polish. Twelve linguistic factors, each divided into two subgroups, were hypothesised to have affected the correct use of the pluperfect. All those hypotheses as to which of the subgroups may inhibit and which may facilitate the correct use of the pluperfect are grounded in linguistic theories, i.e. presented in the form of linguistically-based discussions as to what kind of effect, facilitative or inhibiting, each of the linguistic factors may have had, and why. The effect of those factors upon the correct use of the pluperfect has been tested by means of a step-wise multiple regression which measured the simultaneous effect of each factor upon the correct use of the pluperfect. This method has confirmed the facilitative effect of the following six linguistic factors: intrasentential indication of topic time (subordinate clause), unbounded verb indicating topic time, agentive meaning of the target verb, specifying subordinate clause, statal pluperfect and location of the time of action of pluperfect clause outside the temporal frame of narrative plot.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-03-15T19:32:55Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Renata de Souza Ferreira Medinaprot.pdf: 1481960 bytes, checksum: 9444f6cc48dc8f36e4df5d39111f6ba2 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-07-31 / The general objective of this study is to identify what factors lead medium-sized multinational companies to adopt IFRS Full or IFRS SME. In order to do so, the Institutional Theory was applied as research basis since it provides theoretical ground for the identification of the reason why companies make such a choice. This work also sought to identify which institutional changing mechanisms, whether coercive, mimetic and/or normative, are present when companies look for legitimacy in the process of adopting norms. The sample presented here comprises eight professionals responsible for decision making in accounting processes working for the referred companies, selected according to an availability criteria. This researched was carried out applying semi-structured interviews, which allow a deeper investigation of the issue. Collected material has been analyzed through Bardin's Technical Analysis of Content (2007). From the results, it was possible to identify that the companies have the IFRS Full as their first choice. It was also found that such decision is bound to the technical skill of the professional in charge, along with the growing perspective for the company within a short term. The professionals working in such companies do not analyze the available accounting choices in both cases, demonstrating that there is no relationship between the choice made and the evaluation of the model that best suits operations and results. Little prioritization/relevance by companies in adopting norms, as well as little interference by third parties and little interference by the mother company were found as inhibiting factors. As for the encouraging factor, the study found that the capacity of the professional in charge responds for the adoption of norms, which takes place as a result of normative and mimetic pressure when companies search for legitimacy. In addition, we submitted the results of this research to the Accounting Council (CRC SP) and the Big Four consulting firm, in order to have them validated and deepened, since those two have been often mentioned by the professionals. Such consulting raise aspects mostly approached by the professionals, i.e. the need for a more effective professional class representation and a support from auditing firms with the board of directors of the companies studied, in order to propel the processes of adopting norms and also to generate a sense of responsibility by the companies in such processes, besides holding the accounting professionals responsible. / O objetivo geral deste trabalho é identificar fatores que direcionam as empresas multinacionais de médio porte à adoção das IFRS Full ou da IFRS SME. Para isso, baseou-se, na Teoria Institucional, a qual fornece subsídios teóricos para identificar o porquê às empresas fazem essa escolha. Buscou identificar, ainda, sob qual mecanismo de mudança institucional as empresas buscam legitimação no processo de adoção das normas internacionais, sejam eles, coercitivo, mimético e/ou normativo. A amostra desta pesquisa foi composta por oito profissionais responsáveis pela tomada de decisão dos processos contábeis dessas empresas, os quais foram selecionados pelo critério de acessibilidade. Para realização desta pesquisa foram efetuadas entrevistas semiestruturadas, as quais permitem maior profundidade na investigação do problema. Os materiais coletados foram analisados utilizando a técnica de análise de conteúdo de Bardin (2007). Por meio dos resultados obtidos, foi possível identificar que as empresas, foco deste estudo, escolhem como first option, a adoção das IFRS Full. Pôde-se perceber que esta decisão está vinculada a capacitação técnica do profissional, paralelamente à perspectiva de crescimento dessas empresas a um período de curto a médio prazo. Verificou-se que os profissionais, que atuam nessas empresas, não efetuam análises das escolhas contábeis disponíveis nos dois modelos, demonstrando não haver relação entre escolha e avaliação do modelo que melhor se adeque as operações e aos resultados. Como fatores inibidores, identificou-se, a baixa priorização/importância à adoção pelas companhias, a baixa interferência de terceiros e a baixa interferência da matriz. Como fator indutor à adoção das normas internacionais, somente foi identificado, à capacitação profissional, a qual, por meio da pressão normativa e mimética, pôde ser percebida a busca pela legitimação. Ainda, buscando validar e aprofundar os resultados dessa pesquisa buscou-se junto ao órgão de classe, CRC SP, e junto as empresas de auditoria Big Four, à avalição dos resultados obtidos, uma vez que foram frequentemente citados pelos profissionais. Para esta avaliação foram apresentados os principais pontos levantados pelos profissionais, como, à necessidade de se ter um órgão de classe mais atuante e a necessidade de apoio das empresas de auditoria junto ao corpo diretivo dessas companhias, a fim de impulsionar o processo de adoção e também gerar responsabilização às empresas nesse processo, além da responsabilização dos profissionais.

Affective learning forms part of all kinds of educational experiences, regardless of whether the primary focus of learning is on the psychomotor or the cognitive domain. When students are exposed to these different types of educational experiences, their feelings or emotions will be stirred (Bastable 2003: 333). The aim of this study was to investigate the affective experiences of students who were enrolled for an online module, as part of their study programme. The study specifically aimed to investigate the meanings that students attached to their affective experiences during the module. The rationale of this study was based on the fact that students have affective experiences that influence their decision to persevere with a course. The purpose of this study was thus to explore and interpret the participants’ affective experiences in an online learning environment and to discover important categories of meaning (Marshall&Rossman 1999:33). The basis for the study was the fifth module of a two-year tutored master’s degree in computer-assisted education. This module, with its focus on e-learning, was presented entirely online for a period of six weeks. A game was played in cyberspace; and as the learning experiences of participants were based on surfing the Web, the game was called CyberSurfiver. In the e-learning environment, participants had to interact and communicate mainly by means of e-mail, Internet groups, and the online learning platform WebCT. Participants could also communicate synchronously by means of the Internet-based synchronous tool called Yahoo! Messenger. A qualitative approach was used for this research. A case study was chosen as a design for this study because it reflects particularistic, descriptive and heuristic characteristics. On the one hand, the case study could be related to the online culture but, on the other hand, the study aimed at interpreting meaning attached to experiences within the online culture. This study can be seen as falling within the constructivist-hermeneutic-interpretivist-qualitative paradigm. In this study, two focus group interviews were used as the principal method of data collection. The main purpose of the focus group interviews was to collect data about the affective experiences of participants. The first category identified during the data analysis and coding process of this study was called Curative Factors. The second category was called Process of Affective Development. It was concluded that the participants’ affective development could be compared to the levels of Krathwohl’s Taxonomy. The participants’ affective development were further assessed by means of a learning cycle model developed by Kort and Reilly (2002a:60-61). A third category namely <c>Inhibiting Factors was identified. The findings of this study emphasise the importance of the recognition of the holistic nature of the online students and their experiences, which imply that affective development cannot be separated from cognitive and psychomotor development. / Thesis (PhD (Curriculum Studies))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Curriculum Studies / unrestricted

Community policing is a joint community and police effort to reduce the incidents of crime, to the benefit of the basic human need of safety. Without community assistance, police alone cannot reduce the crime levels. Since 2012, there have been attempts to implement community policing in Westonaria. However, the success of the implementation thereof has proved to be problematic. The question arose as to what the reason for this limited success is. The researcher formulated research questions to determine the meaning of community policing, as well as the factors affecting the successful implementation thereof in the Westonaria policing precinct. To achieve the desired results, the researcher used different methodologies, and identified target groups and data collection techniques, which was analysed and interpreted. Literature and semi-structured interviews were used to collect data. Primary sources such as written materials of the South African Police Service (SAPS), National Development Plan 2030 and other documents that relate to community policing and crime prevention strategies were analysed. In addition, secondary sources such as dissertations and theses, newspaper articles and text books on community policing were also consulted. Interviews were conducted with SAPS members and local community members. The purposive sampling procedure was used to select participants who was knowledgeable and had experience on the research topic. This study gives an overall explanation of what community policing is, from the literature reviewed relevant to the study, with the aim to strengthen partnership between the SAPS and local community of Westonaria. Inhibiting factors in the police, as well as in the community, were identified and recommendations are made for the successful implementation of community policing in the area. / Criminology and Security Science / M.A. (Criminal Justice)

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Drought and cold conditions are among the major factors affecting plant growth and crop production globally. Dehydrins are group II late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins characterized by a conserved K-region (EKKGIMDKIKEKLPG consensus sequence) that accumulate in many plants during drought, low temperature, and high salinity to confer stress tolerance. While it has been demonstrated that overexpression of dehydrins improves cold tolerance in various crop plants, the mechanism leading to cold tolerance is still unclear. Previous studies reported phosphorylation of AtERD14 dehydrin by casein kinase II (CKII) led to an increase in calcium binding activity. Mass spectroscopy analysis determined that the phosphorylation was localized to a poly-serine (S) region. To further characterize the S-region, GST fused ERD14 mutants were created via site-directed mutagenesis and deletion of either the amino or carboxyl ends of ERD14 via the QuickChange® Multi Site-Directed Mutagenesis Kit. Phosphorylation of purified mutant proteins by CKII was analyzed via gel shift and direct phosphorylation assays. The effect of phosphorylation on calcium binding activity was also analyzed. Results showed the serine (S) residue at position 83 was crucial to phosphorylation-dependent molecular mass shift and Ca2+-binding activities followed by the serine residue at position 85 in importance. Mutation of serines at positions 83, 84, and 85 completely eliminated the phosphorylation-dependent gel shift and calcium binding. Examination of truncation mutants determined the N-terminal was an important region for protein structure modification and phosphorylation ability leading to Ca2+ activation. Calcium binding activity of the truncated mutants indicated the calcium binding site was localized in the region between the S-region and the K-region near the C-terminal end. To characterize the acidic dehydrins contribution to cold tolerance in vivo, three single (erd10, erd14, cor47) knockouts (KOs) were characterized. Single KOs produced no cold sensitive phenotype indicating the need for multiple dehydrin KOs in Arabidopsis in order to potentially produce a cold sensitive phenotype.