The Streptococcus Anginosus Group (SAG) is a group of Gram-positive cocci which require carbon dioxide to grow. They are commensal members of the healthy upper respiratory, gastrointestinal and female urogenital tract; however, they are most commonly known as major pathogens in brain and liver abscesses, forming both mono- and polymicrobial infections. The Streptococcus invasion locus (sil), first identified as a virulence factor in Group A Streptococcus (GAS), has recently been identified in the SAG. The sil locus in GAS is a two component quorum-sensing system composed of three operons: silAB, coding for a two component system; silE/D/CR, coding for an ABC transporter and a signal peptide, and silC, which overlaps silCR on the opposite strand. The presence of exogenous SilCR activates SilA, which in turn upregulates the transcription of the silE/D/CR operon. In the SAG, however, silCR and silED have distinct promoters, and the SAG sil system lacks the silC gene. In this study, I examined the transcriptional dynamics of the sil system in S. intermedius B196. I determined that SilA is the major regulator of the genes in the sil system, being one of the first genes of the system to be expressed, and likely upregulates its own transcription. I also found evidence suggesting that, despite having its own promoter, silCR transcription may still be driven by the silED promoter. I also found evidence that suggests silED may be responsible for the export and/or processing of bacteriocins targeting closely related species or strains. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc) / The Streptococcus are a group of bacteria known for causing diseases ranging from strep throat to flesh-eating disease; however, many species of Streptococcus are usually non-pathogenic, and live in our bodies without causing harm. One group of these bacteria, the Streptococcus Anginosus Group (SAG), is commonly found in our mouths and gut and usually cause no harm; however, in some cases it can cause infections. How these organisms switch from being nonpathogenic to pathogenic is unknown, but recently a gene network that appears to play a role in infection, the Streptococcus invasion locus (sil), was identified in the SAG. This gene network senses the signals released by other bacteria with the network, and only turns on when enough signal is present. The goal of this study is to examine how the system works in the SAG in order to determine how these bacteria coordinate sil gene expression.

The purpose of this study was to examine how work locus of control and self-esteem relate to job satisfaction. Quantitative data were collected through an online questionnaire. The study included 126 participants who filled out the Short Index of Job Satisfaction, Work Locus of Control Scale and Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scale. It was hypothesized that work locus of control and self-esteem would be related to job satisfaction. Multiple regression analysis showed strong relations between the variables. Work locus of control and self-esteem explained 23 % of the variance in job satisfaction, which suggests that other variables also affect job satisfaction. The result from the study was consistent with previous research indicating that internal work locus of control and self-esteem predict job satisfaction. Future research is needed to investigate how individuals’ internal locus of control and self-esteem at the workplace could be increased. / Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka hur work locus of control och självkänsla relaterar till arbetstrivsel. Datainsamlingen utfördes kvantitativt genom användandet av ett självskattningsformulär. Studien omfattade totalt 126 deltagare som fyllde i Short Index of Job Satisfaction, Work Locus of Control Scale och Rosenbergs Self-Esteem Scale. Studiens hypoteser var att både work locus of control och självkänsla skulle relatera till arbetstrivsel. Resultatet från den multipla regressionsanalysen påvisade att arbetstrivsel har ett starkt samband med de undersökta variablerna. Work locus of control och självkänsla förklarade variationen i arbetstrivsel med ungefär 23 procent, vilket pekar på att även andra variabler kan påverka arbetstrivsel. Resultatet från denna studie var konsistent med tidigare forskning som indikerar att inre work locus of control och självkänsla predicerar arbetstrivsel. I framtida forskning hade det varit intressant att undersöka vad som ökar individers inre locus of control och självkänsla på arbetsplatsen.

This study aims to explore locus of control and care from the perspective of older people (aged 60 years and older) in relation to younger people. Nine older people (8 female and 1 male) living in the Vaalharts community in the Northern Cape province of South Africa participated in the research. From the perspective of older persons, locus of control in intergenerational relations refers to how they subjectively evaluate the control they exert in relation to the younger generation and the broader environment. The extent to which older persons subjectively evaluate rewards and punishments from the interpersonal context and the broader environment will inform the manifestations of control (internal or external). Internal locus of control refers to the subjective evaluation by older people: that they are in control of their lives and the environment, and that they can give and receive care. Older people with an external locus of control believe that their lives and environment are uncontrollable and governed by external factors. Little research has focused on locus of control and care in intergenerational relationships. The research was approved by the human research ethical committee of the Faculty of Health Sciences in the North-West University. Guidelines provided by the Health Professions Council of South Africa for psychologists were followed during and after the research process. A qualitative research approach was used. The participants were first selected by using purposive sampling. Data were gathered over three days by using the Mmogo method®. The older people were asked to make something using these materials to illustrate their experiences or the way in which they experienced care in relationship to younger people. The participants had the opportunity to explain their presentations and prompting questions were asked. The data were analysed by using thematic and visual analyses. Trustworthiness was ensured by testing for credibility, transferability, dependability and comformability. The data revealed four themes. First, the older people expressed internal locus control in relation to the younger people by accepting responsibility to care for them. In relation to the environment, they used the land proactively. In doing so, they demonstrated the expectation of being rewarded for their efforts: the land would provide them with the food as a reward. Second, older people demonstrated strategies associated with internal locus of control in relation to the younger people and the environment. They modelled expected behaviour, educated the younger people and monitored their school work. It is only in relation to disciplining younger people that older people demonstrated external locus of control. They sought external assistance to discipline the younger people, which included appeals to the police, God and the researchers. Third, the outcomes of the strategies to exercise control over the younger people were not effective, as the subjective expressions of disappointment and the rejecting behaviour of the younger people showed. Last, the older people tried to gain control over the younger people by applying escalating attempts at corporal discipline. These findings, in contributing to an understanding of locus of control and care, may be used to facilitate positive relationships between younger and older people, which are vital for both generations‟ well-being. / MA (Research Psychology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

This study aims to explore locus of control and care from the perspective of older people (aged 60 years and older) in relation to younger people. Nine older people (8 female and 1 male) living in the Vaalharts community in the Northern Cape province of South Africa participated in the research. From the perspective of older persons, locus of control in intergenerational relations refers to how they subjectively evaluate the control they exert in relation to the younger generation and the broader environment. The extent to which older persons subjectively evaluate rewards and punishments from the interpersonal context and the broader environment will inform the manifestations of control (internal or external). Internal locus of control refers to the subjective evaluation by older people: that they are in control of their lives and the environment, and that they can give and receive care. Older people with an external locus of control believe that their lives and environment are uncontrollable and governed by external factors. Little research has focused on locus of control and care in intergenerational relationships. The research was approved by the human research ethical committee of the Faculty of Health Sciences in the North-West University. Guidelines provided by the Health Professions Council of South Africa for psychologists were followed during and after the research process. A qualitative research approach was used. The participants were first selected by using purposive sampling. Data were gathered over three days by using the Mmogo method®. The older people were asked to make something using these materials to illustrate their experiences or the way in which they experienced care in relationship to younger people. The participants had the opportunity to explain their presentations and prompting questions were asked. The data were analysed by using thematic and visual analyses. Trustworthiness was ensured by testing for credibility, transferability, dependability and comformability. The data revealed four themes. First, the older people expressed internal locus control in relation to the younger people by accepting responsibility to care for them. In relation to the environment, they used the land proactively. In doing so, they demonstrated the expectation of being rewarded for their efforts: the land would provide them with the food as a reward. Second, older people demonstrated strategies associated with internal locus of control in relation to the younger people and the environment. They modelled expected behaviour, educated the younger people and monitored their school work. It is only in relation to disciplining younger people that older people demonstrated external locus of control. They sought external assistance to discipline the younger people, which included appeals to the police, God and the researchers. Third, the outcomes of the strategies to exercise control over the younger people were not effective, as the subjective expressions of disappointment and the rejecting behaviour of the younger people showed. Last, the older people tried to gain control over the younger people by applying escalating attempts at corporal discipline. These findings, in contributing to an understanding of locus of control and care, may be used to facilitate positive relationships between younger and older people, which are vital for both generations‟ well-being. / MA (Research Psychology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

The relationship between the business-formation process and the use of government or outside counselling is examined, by differentiating, among a total group of 78 small-firm owners, between those who created their ventures and those who bought them. The group of venture initiators was found as having requested government help in one-third of the start-ups, while none of the business buyers had resorted to such support. At the same time, the first group displayed a more internal locus of control disposition than the other, thus reinforcing earlier findings about entrepreneurs. Both groups, however, were strongly internal-oriented compared to general populations. SOMMAIRE: À partir d'un groupe de propriétaires, créateurs ou acquéreurs, de petites entreprises, l'auteur établit le rapport entre le processus d'établissement et le recours au counselling gouvernemental ou exterieur. On constate que le tiers des propriétaires qui ont créé leur entreprise ont demandé l'aide du gouvernement, contre aucun parmi ceux qui s'en sont portés acquéreurs. On a également constaté que le premier groupe avait une nette tendance à établir Ie siège du contrôle à l'interieur des structures comparativement aux autres, ce qui renforce les constatations précédentes au sujet des entrepreneurs. Toutefois, les deux groupes à l'étude mettaient un accent beaucoup plus prononcé sur le controle interne que le reste des entreprises.

Studier har visat att det finns ett samband mellan syskonplacering och locus of control, medan andra studier inte funnit något samband. Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka relationen mellan syskonplacering, kön och locus of control ur ett hälsoperspektiv hos gymnasieelever i årskurs 3. I undersökningen deltog 147 gymnasielever ifrån fem skolor i Kronobergs län. Resultatet visade att kön och syskonplacering samvarierade med intern health locus of control (F= 3,01;p< 0,03; ES= 6,2) och att syskonplacering och kön tillsammans inte visade någon signifikant inverkan på extern health locus of control (F= 2,20;p=<0,09; ES= 4,6). Fyndet kan indikera att manliga mellanbarn i större utsträckning strävar efter en intern health locus of control än kvinnliga mellanbarn.Nyckelord: Syskonplacering, health locus of control, intern- och extern locus of control, kön.

Al afrontar una enfermedad crónica, los aspectos de la vida comienzan a cambiar; impactando en la vida laboral y, por lo tanto, en la satisfacción que puede generarse frente a su estado laboral. Así también, la demanda de tratamientos y afecciones psicológicas impacta en la perspectiva frente a los factores externos que pueden controlar sobre su salud. La presente investigación busca determinar la relación entre el locus de control en la salud y la satisfacción laboral en personas diagnosticadas con diabetes mellitus II. Para ello, se utilizó un diseño correlacional, en el cual se evaluó a 90 personas diagnosticadas con diabetes mellitus II y que actualmente se encuentran laborando, con edad promedio de los participantes siendo de 58 años. Para esto, se aplicó la escala multidimensional para locus de control en la salud y la escala breve de satisfacción laboral. Los resultados muestran que no existe relación entre las variables entre las dimensiones de las variables (rho<16; p>.05). Demostrando que entre la perspectiva que tiene una persona referente a los acontecimientos que afectan su salud frente al nivel de satisfacción laboral que puedan sentir en sus centros laborales no hay una relación que los una. Por ello, esta investigación será de utilidad en un contexto clínico y organizacional de la psicóloga, teniendo en cuenta teorías de investigaciones y limitaciones que se encontraron. / Facing a chronic illness, aspects of life begin to change; impacting on working life and, therefore, on the satisfaction that can be generated with regard to their work status. Likewise, the demand for psychological treatments and conditions impacts the perspective in front of external factors that can control your health. This research seeks to determine the relationship between the locus of control in health and job satisfaction in people diagnosed with diabetes mellitus II. To do this, a correlational design was used, in which 90 people diagnosed with diabetes mellitus II and currently working were evaluated, with the average age of the participants being 58 years. For this, the multidimensional scale for locus of control in health and the brief scale of job satisfaction were applied. The results show that there is no relationship between the variables between the dimensions of the variables (rho <16; p> .05). Proving that between the perspective that a person has regarding the events that affect their health compared to the level of job satisfaction they may feel in their workplaces, there is no relationship that unites them. Therefore, this research will be useful in a clinical and organizational context of the psychologist, taking into account research theories and limitations that were found. / Tesis

Syftet med föreliggande studie var att undersöka hur födelseordning (syskonposition och kön) och ledarskap (ledare och icke-ledare) påverkar arbetsrelaterad upplevd kontroll (Work Locus of Control). Ett urval av 116 individer besvarade en enkät bestående av bakgrundsfrågor och mätskalan arbetsrelaterad upplevd kontroll, WLCS. Resultatet visade två signifikanta huvudeffekter av ledarskap respektive kön på arbetsrelaterad upplevd kontroll. Ledare och kvinnor hade en högre intern arbetsrelaterad upplevd kontroll än icke-ledare och män och bekräftar resultat från tidigare studier, men där resultatet skiljer sig för kvinnor. / The primary objective of this research was to investigate how birth order (sibling position and gender) and leadership (leader and non-leader) determine Work Locus of Control. The sample consisted of 116 individuals answered the survey, consisting of background questions and the Work Locus of Control scale, WLCS. The results showed two significant differences between leadership and gender, regarding Work Locus of Control. Leaders and women had a higher internal Work Locus of Control than non-leaders and men, which confirmed the results from previous studies, but whit different result for women.

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