晚清於西元1905年廢除科舉制度，並欲以西式新學堂代替科舉以育才選才，而數量龐大的傳統知識份子，以致失去其原本入仕的管道。本文先概述晚清廢科舉的來龍去脈，以理解科舉被停廢的緣由；而後再進一步討論當時政府對廢科舉所採取的配套措施，藉此探討新教育制度的實施情況，士子是否能與其順利銜接，以及未來的工作與出路，以了解入仕或往其他領域發展之士人佔所有科舉出身者的比率。簡言之，本文研究目的有三：一、探討科舉廢除後，傳統士人在社會變遷下的適應情形；二、探討代替科舉而起的新教育制度運作情形；三、探討科舉制度變遷的意義與對現代教育的啟示。 本文的研究對象為甲辰科進士273人、舉人8,000人、貢生35,000以及生員55,0000人。研究發現，甲辰科進士於朝考除授後，仍有97位的晚清經歷可考，進入民國後則有75位；而中下層傳統知識份子中，有約三成進入新式學堂中，其餘七成可能任議員、塾師、學堂職員、入仕、任職於民間機構，或者逐漸沒落。從研究發現中可得知，傳統知識份子於科舉廢除後，雖仍有相當影響力但其發展已大不如前，尤其是中下階層的傳統知識份子而言；而取代科舉的西式新學堂，則達到疏散大量生員的功能。 該措施對現代教育的啟示，則有三點：一、需有足夠的經費；二、舊有教育制度不宜全部廢除；三、不宜忽略舊式人才。而對後續的研究建議則有。 / The Civil Service Examination was abolished and replaced by the new western school system in late Ching China (1905). Thereafter, traditional intellectuals who passed the Civil Service Examination lost the channels to be officials. This study includes two parts. The first one is to describe the process and the reasons of abolishing Civil Service Examination. In order to inquire the transformation of the traditional intellectuals under the new education system. The second one is to discuss the supporting measures, including the new career of the traditional intellectuals. The main purposes of this study are as follows: (i) to inquire how the traditional intellectuals adapt to new social circumstances. (ii) To explore the operation of the new education system. (iii) To discuss the implications in modern education. The subjects of this study include 273 chia-chen-ko chin-shihs(甲辰科進士), 8,000 chu-jen(舉人), 35,000 kung-sheng(貢生), and 55,0000 hsiu tsai(生員). The findings of this study are: (i) The records of those who passed Cho-examination the trends of 97 chia-chen-ko chin-shihs in late Ching and 75 chia-chen-ko chin-shihs in ROC were found. (ii) The 30％ of chu-jen, kung-sheng, and hsiu tsai studied or taught in new type schools. The rest of them, 70% of the middle-low rank ones, served as congressmen, teachers of Ssu-shu, staffs of new school, officials, employees of private sectors or no records be found in the new era. (iii) After the Civil Service Examination being abolished, traditional intellectuals still had considerable influence than before but declining, especially the middle-lower rank of traditional intellectuals. (iv) New schools have achieved the goal of relocating traditional intellectuals.

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Late blight caused by Phytophthora infestans on potato and tomato causes major economic losses worldwide. Until the 1980s, P. infestans populations outside its centre of origin (either central Mexico or the Andean region) only consisted of one mating type (A1), which prevented the pathogen from reproducing sexually. Pathogen populations outside the centre of origin most likely only consisted of a few genotypes prior to the 1980’s. Pan globally, these genotypes probably first consisted of genotype/s that had mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplotype Ia, which was subsequently replaced by a mtDNA haplotype Ib genotype known as the US-1 lineage. This relative simple population structure of the pathogen changed almost worldwide in the late 1970s and early 1980s, when a second set of migrations took place from the centre of origin. These populations contained both A1 and A2 mating type isolates that consisted of several different genotypes, which were more virulent than the pre-1970s genotypes and resulted in the displacement of these genotypes almost worldwide. Some of the new genotypes were also resistant to metalaxyl, the fungicide that was most effective in controlling late blight. In Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), the characteristics of P. infestans populations are not well documented in most countries except South Africa, Kenya and Uganda. Previous studies in SSA showed that populations were dominated by the US-1 lineage and its variants. The exceptions were reports of the presence of a few mtDNA haplotype Ia isolates in Rwanda and Ethiopia. The current study aimed to determine the population structure of P. infestans in eight selected SSA countries (Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Malawi, Mozambique and South Africa), mainly on potato and on a limited scale on tomato and petunia, using ‘old’ markers (mating type determination, glucose-6-phosphate isomerase [Gpi] genotyping, mtDNA haplotyping, DNA fingerprinting with probe RG-57 and metalaxyl sensitivity). Populations were further also genotyped using seven recently published Simple Sequence Repeats (SSRs) markers. This information would help to define the population structure of P. infestans in SSA for the first time on a regional basis, and will also determine whether new migrations have taken place since the last characterization studies took place in 2001. A survey in the eight SSA countries yielded a total of 281 P. infestans isolates, mainly obtained from potato fields (Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Malawi and South Africa), but also from tomato (Malawi, Mozambique and South Africa) and Petunia ´ hybrida (South Africa) that were characterized. Characterization of subsets of the isolates with the ‘old’ markers (176 isolates for mating type, 281 isolates for mtDNA, 70 isolates for [Gpi] and 49 isolates with restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis with probe RG-57), showed that most of the isolates belonged to the US-1 genotype or its variants (US-1.10 and US-1.11). The exception were isolates that belonged to genotype KE-1 (A1 mating type, mtDNA haplotype Ia, Gpi 90/100 and unique RG-57 genotype) that was identified in two fields in Kenya. Genotype KE-1, based on the ‘old’ marker data, is related to genotypes (RW-1 and RW-2) previously identified in Rwanda, and several Ecuadorean and European genotypes. Metalaxyl sensitivity testing of 64 isolates showed that metalaxyl resistant potato isolates were present in all the countries except Malawi, whereas all the tomato isolates were sensitive. Genotyping of 176 isolates with seven recently published simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers revealed a high number (79) of multi-locus genotypes (MLGs) in SSA. However, when locus D13, which was difficult to score, was excluded only 35 MLGs were identified. When locus D13 was excluded from analyses of molecular variance (AMOVA), (i) there was no significant genetic differentiation between populations from central-east Africa (Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda), south-east Africa (Malawi and Mozambique) and South Africa, (ii) the KE-1 population was genetically differentiated (Fst = 0.33; P = 0.001) from the US-1 and US-1.10 populations and (iii) genetic differentiation between populations from potato and tomato was low (Fst = 0.07; P = 0.004). The study has expanded the worldwide genotypic database of P. infestans for SSA. Previously, no populations were characterized from Burundi, Malawi and Mozambique. The characterization work showed that migrations seem unlikely to have taken place in SSA, or if these did occur, it was on a very limited scale. The more severe epidemics in some SSA countries could be due to the presence of metalaxyl resistance. Furthermore, the occurrence of mutations or mitotic recombination might have resulted in more aggressive and/or better adapted genotypes, for example the US-1.10 lineage that was only detected in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. The significance of the discovery of the KE-1 genotype in Kenya needs further investigation since it might (i) be an asexual descendent of genotypes (RW-1 and RW-2) that were previously reported in Rwanda in the 1980s, (ii) previously have gone undetected due to the small surveys that were conducted in SSA, (iii) be a new migrant from countries other than SSA or (iv) have been introduced in the very first introductions into Kenya prior to the 1970s. The SSR results from the survey will allow comparison of the SSA late blight populations with other populations worldwide through the EucaBlight database in future studies. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Laatroes, veroorsaak deur Phytophthora infestans op aartappel en tamatie, veroorsaak groot ekonomiese verliese wêreldwyd. Phytophthora infestans populasies buite hul kern van oorsprong (óf sentraal Meksiko óf die Andes area), het tot die 1980’s slegs uit een paringstipe (A1) bestaan, wat verhoed het dat die patogeen geslagtelik vermeerder. Patogeenpopulasies buite die kern van oorsprong, het heel moontlik vóór die 1980’s slegs uit ‘n paar genotipes bestaan. Wêreldwyd, het hierdie genotipes moontlik aanvanklik uit genotipe(s) bestaan wat mitokondriale DNS (mtDNS) haplotipe Ia bevat het, wat later met ‘n mtDNS haplotipe Ib genotipe, bekend as die US-1 genotipe, vervang is. Hierdie relatiewe eenvoudige populasiestruktuur van die patogeen, het omtrent wêreldwyd in die láát 1970’s en vroeë 1980’s verander, toe ‘n tweede stel migrasies vanaf die patogeen se kern van oorsprong plaasgevind het. Hierdie populasies het beide A1 en A2 paringstipe isolate ingesluit, wat uit verskeie verskillende genotipes bestaan het, wat meer virulent as die vóór-1970’s genotipes was, en wat die verskuiwing van hierdie genotipes omtrent wêrelwyd tot gevolg gehad het. Sommige van die nuwe genotipes was ook weerstandbiedend teen metalaksiel, die fungisied wat mees effektief in die beheer van laatroes was. Die kenmerke van P. infestans populasies is nie goed in die meeste lande in Sub- Sahara Afrika (SSA) gedokumenteer nie, behalwe vir Suid-Afrika, Kenia en Uganda. Vorige studies in SSA het aangedui dat populasies deur die US-1 genotipe en sy variante gedomineer word. Die uitsonderings was aantekeninge oor die teenwoordigheid van ‘n paar mtDNS haplotipe Ia isolate in Rwanda en Etiopië. Die huidige studie was daarop gemik om die populasiestruktuur van P. infestans in agt geselekteerde SSA lande (Burundi, Kenia, Rwanda, Tanzanië, Uganda, Malawi, Mosambiek en Suid-Afrika), hoofsaaklik op aartappel en op ‘n beperkte skaal op tamatie en petunia, vas te stel, deur die gebruik van ‘ou’ merkers (paringstipe-bepaling, glukose-6-fosfaat isomerase [Gpi] genotipering, mtDNS haplotipering, DNS fingerafdrukke met RG-57 en metalaksielsensitiwiteit). Die genotipe van populasies is verder ook bepaal deur gebruik te maak van sewe onlangs-gepubliseerde “Simple Sequence Repeats (SSRs)” merkers. Hierdie inligting sal help om die populasiestruktuur van P. infestans in SSA vir die eerste keer op ‘n streeksbasis vas te stel, en sal ook bepaal of nuwe migrasies sedert die laaste karakteriseringstudies wat in 2001 uitgevoer is, plaasgevind het. ‘n Opname in die agt SSA lande, het ‘n totaal van 281 P. infestans isolate opgelewer, hoofsaaklik vanaf aartappellande (Tanzanië, Kenia, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Malawi en Suid-Afrika), maar ook vanaf tamatie (Malawi, Mosambiek en Suid- Afrika) en Petunia ´ hybrida (Suid-Afrika) wat gekarakteriseer is. Karakterisering van geselekteerde isolate met die ‘ou’ merkers (176 isolate vir paringstipe, 281 isolate vir mtDNS, 70 isolate vir Gpi en 49 isolate met restriksiefragment-lengte-polimorfismeanalise met RG-57), het aangetoon dat die meeste van die isolate aan die US-1 genotipe of sy variante (US-1.10 en US-1.11) behoort het. Die uitsondering was isolate wat tot die genotipe KE-1 behoort het (A1 paringstipe, mtDNS haplotipe Ia, Gpi 90/100 en unieke RG-57 genotipe) wat in twee velde in Kenia geïdentifiseer is. Genotipe KE-1, gebaseer op die ‘ou’ merkerdata, is aan genotipes (RW-1 en RW-2) verwant, wat voorheen in Rwanda, en verskeie Ekwadoreaanse en Europese lande geïdentifiseer is. Metalaksielsensitiwiteitstoetsing van 64 isolate het aangetoon dat metalaksiel-weerstandbiedende aartappel-isolate in al die lande teenwoordig was, behalwe vir Malawi, terwyl al die tamatie-isolate sensitief was. Genotipering van 176 isolate met sewe onlangs gepubliseerde “Simple Sequence Repeat” (SSR) merkers, het ‘n hoë aantal (79) multilokus genotipes (MLGs) in SSA aangedui. Met die uitsluiting van lokus D13, wat moeilik was om te evalueer, is slegs 35 MLGs egter geïdentifiseer. Met die uitsluiting van lokus D13 uit die analise van molekulêre variansie (AMOVA), was (i) daar geen betekenisvolle genetiese differensiasie tussen populasies van sentraal-oos Afrika (Burundi, Kenia, Rwanda, Tanzanië en Uganda), suid-oos Afrika (Malawi en Mosambiek) en Suid-Afrika nie, (ii) die KE-1 populasie geneties (Fst = 0.33; P = 0.001) van die US-1 en US-1.10 populasies gedifferensieerd en (iii) genetiese differensiasie tussen populasies vanaf aartappel en tamatie laag (Fst = 0.07; P = 0.004). Die studie het die wêreldwye genotipe-databasis van P. infestans vir SSA uitgebrei. Voorheen is geen populasies vanuit Burundi, Malawi en Mosambiek gekarakteriseer nie. Die karakteriseringswerk het aangetoon dat die waarskynlikheid klein is dat migrasies in SSA plaasgevind het, of indien dit wel plaasgevind het, dit op ‘n baie beperkte skaal plaasgevind. Die meer ernstige epidemies in sommige SSA lande kan die gevolg wees van die teenwoordigheid van metalaksiel-weerstand. Die voorkoms van mutasies of mitotiese rekombinasie kon verder meer aggressiewe en/of beter aangepaste genotipes tot gevolg gehad het, byvoorbeeld die US-1.10 genotipe wat slegs in die Westelike Kaapprovinsie van Suid-Afrika waargeneem is. Die betekenis van die ontdekking van die KE-1 genotipe in Kenia benodig verdere ondersoek aangesien dit (i) ‘n ongeslagtelike afstammeling van genotipes (RW-1 en RW-2) mag wees wat voorheen in die 1980’s in Rwanda aangeteken is, (ii) voorheen nie waargeneem is nie weens die klein opnames wat in SSA uitgevoer is, (iii) ‘n nuwe genotipe van lande buite die SSA kan wees of (iv) ingebring is tydens die heel eerste inkoms in Kenia vóór die 1970’s. Die SSR resultate van die opname sal vergelykings tussen die SSA laatroespopulasies en ander populasies wêreldwyd toelaat, deur gebruik te maak van die EucaBlight databasis in toekomstige studies.

The following thesis describes and analyses the representation of lung cancer in the Canadian print media. The thesis employs a theoretical framework comprised of Giddens’ theory of reflexivity and Goffman’s theory of framing, to understand the social dynamics of negotiation behind the disease’s portrayal in the media, in a late modern context. Late modernity was defined by institutional reflexivity and a focus on understanding and mitigating risk. The research was conducted through a content analysis and examined quantitative trends that contributed to a subsequent qualitative interpretation. The results show that the coverage of lung cancer decreased over time. The analysis shows a discourse of a biomedical institution that has unsuccessfully controlled the disease, a lack of patient advocacy, particularly among celebrities, and a continued conflation of smoking behaviour and lung cancer, all of which contributed to the decreasing coverage. The framing processes point to a society focused on understanding risk through studying the disease’s causes, as well as one concerned with legislative debate and behavioural prevention. The emergence of a frame focused on the patient’s lived experience might contribute to an improved representation of the disease.

Torre Abbey was a rural Premonstratensian monastery in south-east Devon. Although in many ways atypical of its order, not least in the quality and quantity of its surviving source material, Torre provides an excellent case study of how a medium-sized medieval monastery interacted with the world around it, and how the abbey itself was affected by that interaction. Divided into three broad sections, this thesis first examines the role of local landowners and others as patrons of the house in the most obvious sense, that of the bestowal of lands or other assets upon the house. Torre was relatively successful in this regard, and an examination of the architectural and archaeological record indicates a continuation of that relationship after the thirteenth century. The second section notes areas of conflict with the laity. Disputes could and did arise over both temporal and spiritual affairs, as well as through the involvement of a number of lay figures in the administration and patronage of the house. In both respects, notable incidents in the mid-fourteenth century highlight the complexities of the canons’ relationships with the secular world. These are further explored in an analysis of the abbey’s role during the Hundred Years’ War and the Wars of the Roses, two conflicts which greatly affected the locality, but required vastly differing approaches by the canons. Finally, the effect of society on the canons themselves is considered. It is possible to recover some picture of their origins, both social and geographic, as well as some idea of the size of the community in the fifteenth century, and discuss the repercussions for an understanding of monastic recruitment. Finally, the dynamic of the community over the entire history of the abbey is considered in terms of the scattered source material, utilising both architectural and documentary evidence.

Recent concern over the effects of ocean acidification upon calcifying organisms in the modern ocean has highlighted the aragonitic shelled thecosomatous pteropods as being at a high risk. Laboratory studies have shown that increased pCO2, leading to decreased pH and low carbonate concentrations, has a negative impact on the ability of pteropods to calcify and maintain their shells. This study presents the micropalaeontological analysis of marine cores from the Caribbean Sea, Mediterranean Sea and Indian Ocean. Pteropods, heteropods and planktic foraminifera were picked from samples to provide palaeoenvironmental data for each core. Determination of pteropod calcification was made using the Limacina Dissolution Index (LDX) and the average shell size of Limacina inflata specimens. Pteropod calcification indices were compared to global ice volume and Vostok atmospheric CO2 concentrations to determine any associations between climate and calcification. Results show that changes in surface ocean carbonate concentrations throughout the Late Pleistocene did affect the calcification of thecosomatous pteropods. These effects can be detected in shells from marine sediments that are located well above the aragonite lysocline and have not undergone post-depositional dissolution. The results of this study confirm the findings of laboratory studies, showing a decrease in calcification during interglacial periods, when surface ocean carbonate concentrations were lower. During glacial periods, calcification was enhanced due to the increased availability of carbonate. This trend was found in all sediments studied, indicating that the response of pteropods to past climate change is of global significance. These results demonstrate that pteropods have been negatively affected by oceanic pH levels relatively higher and changing at a lesser rate than those predicted for the 21st Century. Results also establish the use of pteropods and heteropods in reconstructing surface ocean conditions. The LDX is a fast and appropriate way of determining variations in surface water carbonate saturation. Abundances of key species were also found to constrain palaeotemperatures better than planktic foraminifera, a use which could be further developed.

Die Kaiserschnittrate erhöhte sich in den letzten Jahrzehnten in zahlreichen geburtshilflichen Kliniken. Diese Entwicklung ist problematisch, weil damit eine erhöhte pulmonale Morbidität der Neugeborenen verbunden sein kann. Die vor­ liegende Arbeit untersucht die Anpassung von späten Frühgeborenen (34,0–36,6 SSW) und 2 Gruppen von reifen Neugeborenen (37,0–37,6 und 40,6–40,6 SSW) in einem Level 1 Zentrum in Abhängigkeit vom Geburtsmodus. Eingeschlos­ sen wurden primär gesunde Kinder, die im Verlauf eines Jahres geboren wurden. Ausge­ schlossen wurden Kinder mit nachgewiesener angeborener Anomalie und Kinder mit einer schweren Anpassungsstörung (Apgar 5‘<6). Die Kaiserschnittrate lag bei 22% und war am höch­ sten bei späten Frühgeborenen (39%) im Ver­ gleich zu Kindern der 37. (30 %) und der 40. SSW (11%). Die Rate der Kinder, die mit CPAP behan­ delt werden mussten fiel von 88 % in der 34. SSW auf 17% in der 37. und 8% in der 40. SSW. Kinder nach Kaiserschnitt mussten im Vergleich zur spontan geborenen Kindern signifikant häufiger mit CPAP therapiert werden (50 vs. 12%). Dieser Unterschied war für späte Frühgeborene deutlich (82 vs. 36 %) und lag niedriger bei in der 37. (33 vs. 9 %) und 40. (26 vs. 6 %) SSW geborenen Kindern. Der deutlichste Unterschied fiel bei in der 36. SSW geborenen Kindern auf (66 vs. 9%). Die Ergebnisse der Analyse dokumentieren, dass ein Kaiserschnitt bei primär gesunden Kindern zu einer schlechteren respiratorischen Anpassung führt. Dies gilt besonders, jedoch nicht nur, für späte Frühgeborene und dort besonders für Kinder, die in der 36. SSW geboren werden. Die weltweit wachsende Rate von Kaiserschnittent­ bindungen sollte immer wieder kritisch hinter­ fragt werden. Eine Kaiserschnittentbindung ohne klare Indikation führt zu einer erhöhten Rate an respiratorischen Anpassungsstörungen, zur neo­ natologischen Aufnahme der Kinder und damit verbunden zu einer Störung der Mutter­Kind­Bindung, sowie zu einer unnötigen finanziellen Belastung des Gesundheitssystems. Es ist zu wünschen, dass die Daten der Studie benutzt werden, um in der Diskussion zwischen Eltern, Geburtshelfern und Neo­ natologen immer den besten Geburtsweg für das Kind zu finden. / The rates of delivery by Cesarean section (CS) have been trending upwards in recent decades, perhaps leading to higher rates of dysfunction in respiratory adaptation in newborns. We present epidemiological data for pulmonary adaptation by mode of delivery for healthy late preterm and term infants born at a regional tertiary care center. The overall CS rate was 22 % with the lar­ gest proportion of these in late preterms (39%). This drops to 30% in infants born after 37 weeks gestation and to 11% for those born after 40 weeks. Infants needing respiratory support de­ creased significantly as gestational age increased: 88% at 34 weeks, 67% at 35 weeks, 28% at 36 weeks, 17% at 37 weeks and 8% at 40 weeks. The risk of respiratory morbidity following CS as compared to vaginal delivery (VD) was substan­ tially higher. 50% of infants born by CS needed respiratory support compared to only 12% fol­ lowing VD. 82% of all late preterm infants born by CS developed respiratory morbidity compared to 36 % following VD. Comparable data for infants born after 37 and 40 weeks gestation were 33% compared to 9 % and 26 % compared to 6 % respec­ tively. Late preterm infants born after 36 weeks gestation showed the most marked difference by mode of birth with 66 % needing respiratory sup­ port following CS as compared to only 9 % follow­ ing VD. Our data could be useful in counselling parents about risk associated with delivery by Cesarean section. A critical view should be taken of increasing CS rates worldwide because of a clear correlation in increased morbidity in infants, especially late preterm infants.

Abstract   This thesis examines the role of women who went as missionaries to China between the 1890’s and the 1930’s, with a special regard to the Swedish missionary Sally Nordling. I think it is interesting to find out more about their motives. What made these women choose to go far away from their homes in Europe to live and work for God?   I have noted that there is not much written about these women and I hope that this thesis will shed light on this part of history, and that I will be able to give my own personal reflections. Through analysing different biographies written about female missionaries that lived in China I hope to be able to answer my hypothesis that women through their religious conviction were able to escape their restricted lives. The main research question for this thesis is whether female missionaries were allowed to do similar work as men when going to China.

Bien qu'ayant fait l'objet d'études depuis près de deux siècles, les sélaciens (requins et raies) du Crétacé supérieur du Bassin Anglo-Parisien ne sont que partiellement connus. L'étude de 22 faunes provenant de gisements d'âges Cénomanien à Campanien en Grande Bretagne et nord de la France a permis d'améliorer significativement les connaissances sur ces communautés de sélaciens. Les horizons échantillonnés, principalement représentés par des craies phosphatées, ont livré environ 38000 restes dentaires. Ces derniers ont permis l'identification et la description de 150 taxa comprenant 130 espèces de requins et 20 espèces de batoïdes. En plus d'un nombre important de nouvelles occurrences stratigraphiques et géographiques, cette étude décrit 25 nouvelles espèces et 7 nouveaux genres en dehors de taxa, probablement nouveaux, laissés en nomenclature ouverte. Le nombre important de taxa considérés, combiné à des données publiées sur les sélaciens du nord-ouest de l'Europe et du Western Interior Seaway, ont permis d'étudier différents événements dans la diversité de ce groupe, à travers l'utilisation de méthodes de raréfaction et de ré-échantillonnage. Plusieurs bioévénements ont pu être identifiés et corrélés à différents changements environnementaux. De nombreux aspects paléoécologiques de ces faunes sont aussi discutés. Diverses méthodes d'ordination (clusters, analyses de correspondance) ont été appliquées à la fois sur les données morpho-fonctionelles (types dentaires préalablement testés sur des faunes actuelles) et taxonomiques des 22 faunes considérées. Plusieurs facteurs environnementaux sont proposés pour expliquer la distribution observée et les affinités paléoenvironnementales de certains taxa sont discutées. Différentes mesures de diversité ont permis d'identifier l'hétérogénéité de l'habitat comme principal facteur contrôlant la diversité et dominance d'espèces dans les faunes santoniennes et campaniennes. La diversité beta des nombreuses faunes du Campanien inférieur a été étudiée et indique une absence de provincialité dans le bassin. Enfin, les comparaisons faites avec des faunes publiées du nord-ouest de l'Euro pe ont permis d'identifier les distributions paléoécologiques générales pour ce groupe. / Although studied for nearly two centuries, Late Cretaceous selachians (sharks, rays and skates) from the Anglo-Paris Basin are still imperfectly known. The study of 22 selachians (sharks, rays and skates) faunas from Cenomanian to Campanian horizons in Great Britain and northern France allowed a significant advance in our knowledge on these assemblages and their communities. The (mainly phosphatic) chalks sampled yielded about 38 000 selachian fossil remains, mostly teeth. 150 taxa, comprising 130 shark and 20 batoid species, were identified and described. In addition to the large number of new stratigraphic and geographic ranges recognised here, 25 new species and 7 new genera are described beside a number of new taxa that are left in open nomenclature. The large number of taxa included in this work, along with other published data from NW Europe and Western Interior Seaway, allowed diversity patterns of Late Cretaceous selachians to be studie d through the use of various rarefaction and re-sampling methods. The various bioevents identified could all be correlated to global environmental changes such as temperature and sea level variations as well as changes in water mass distribution. Several palaeoecological aspects of these assemblages are also discussed. The use of morpho-functional dental types provided a promising approach area in assessing changes in the morpho-functional structure of some modern selachian assemblages depending on environmental conditions. Ordination methods (clusters, CA) used on both the taxonomic and morpho-functional structure of the faunas considered here, allowed the identification of groupings among the different assemblages. Accordingly, various environmental factors are proposed to explain the observed distribution and the palaeoenvironmental affinities of some taxa are discussed. Diversity measurements proved to be rich in information and allowed the identification of habitat hete rogeneity as the main controlling factor on the diversity and evenness of the Santonian-Campanian faunas. The beta diversity of the numerous Early Campanian faunas is also discussed and indicates low provinciality in the basin. Finally, comparisons with other assemblages from other NW basins allowed general palaeoecological distributions to be identified.

RNA interference (RNAi) is a gene regulation mechanism conserved among eukaryotes. To silence gene expression, RNAi relies on a short single-stranded guide RNA to steer the RNA-induced Silencing Complex (RISC) to mRNAs with guide strand-complementary sequences. RNAi is a highly membrane-associated process. The RISC complex is likely loaded at the rough Endoplasmic Reticulum, where it can bind to and degrade mRNAs. Components of the RISC complex also colocalize to late endosomes, and the efficiency of RNAi-mediated silencing is affected by changes in late endosome to lysosome fusion. RNAi can be systemic and inherited, effecting gene silencing in distal tissues and in the offspring. In this thesis, the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans was used to identify and characterize factors connecting systemic and inherited RNAi to the endomembrane system. We identify two SNARE proteins, SEC-22 and SYX-6, that both act as negative regulators of RNAi. SNAREs are necessary for vesicle fusion. Both SEC-22 and SYX-6 localize to late endosomes, and both interact with systemic RNAi protein SID-5 in a yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) screen. We find that in addition to its function in systemic RNAi, SID-5 is required for proper maturation of late endosomes. Furthermore, we identify the putative RNA-binding protein C12D8.1 as a novel regulator of RNAi inheritance. Mutant C12D8.1 animals will have enhanced inheritance of RNAi silencing, which negatively affects the ability of the progeny to silence new targets using RNAi. Finally, we describe a novel, object-based method for estimating significance in colocalization studies. This method helped us describe and quantify spatial relations between fluorophore-labeled proteins in situations where such analyses would otherwise be impossible. In conclusion, the work presented here further elucidates the connection between cellular RNAi, the endomembrane system, and the outside world.

No description available.