No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

<p> Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common lethal autosomal recessive genetic disorder that affects the Caucasian population. CF is caused by mutations in the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), and is characterized by a viscous airway surface liquid (ASL) that impairs mucociliary function and facilitates bacterial infection. The molecular mechanisms by which these symptoms result from CFTR malfunction are unclear. We hypothesized that expression and secretion of innate immune proteins is altered in CF ASL. </p><p> We sought to use cell culture models in which the only source of secreted proteins was differentiated airway epithelium. Since CFTR localizes to the apical surface of airway submucosal glands (SMG) and ciliated epithelium, cell culture models that recapitulate two parts of respiratory tract epithelium were studied: 1) SMG acini and 2) mucociliary epithelium. </p><p> We developed a three-dimensional system wherein CF (&Delta;F508/&Delta;F508) and non-CF human bronchial epithelial (HBE) cells differentiated on Matrigel into polarized glandular acini with mature lumens by two weeks with no significant variability in size. Bronchial acini expressed and secreted SMG proteins, MUC5B and lysozyme, at day 22, and exhibited vectorial secretions that were collected along with acinar cell lysates. Proteome profiling demonstrated unique protein signatures for each cellular space. However, abundant contaminating proteins from Matrigel and growth media were identified. Therefore, the ALI cell culture model of airway epithelium was chosen for quantitative proteomic comparison of CF and non-CF HBE apical secretions because the protein-rich media does not contact the apical surface. </p><p> CF and non-CF HBE cells were labeled by stable isotope labeling with amino acids in cell culture and differentiated at ALI. LC-MS/MS and bioinformatic analysis identified seventy-one proteins with altered levels in CF secretions (+/&minus;1.5 fold-change; p-value&lt;0.05). Validation with antibody based biochemical assays demonstrated increased levels of MUC5AC, MUC5B, fibronectin and MMP9, and increased proteolysis/activation of complement C3, in CF secretions. Overall, the function of altered proteins in the CF secretome is indicative of an airway epithelium in a state of repair and altered immunity in the absence of infection, suggesting the downstream consequences of mutated CFTR in CF airways set the stage for chronic inflammation and infection.</p>

<p> In the first chapter, we revise the taxonomy of a lineage of plant bugs (Hemiptera: Miridae) that has radiated in the islands of French Polynesia. Six species of endemic <i>Pseudoloxops</i> plant bugs were previously known from two islands in French Polynesia, indicating a small radiation. We collected ecological, morphological, molecular, and geographical data for hundreds of fresh and historical <i>Pseudoloxops</i> specimens, expanding the genus' range to nine islands in two archipelagoes (the Austral and Society Islands). We combined all of the above data sources in an iterative integrative taxonomy framework to test the six existing species hypotheses and to search for new diversity. </p><p> In the second chapter, we explore the relative importance of ecology and geographic isolation in this lineage to provide a first approximation of whether the radiation was adaptive or non-adaptive. We collected <i> Pseudoloxops</i> from a wide range of plants, with 27 species in 25 different plant families and 13 orders. We then inferred a combined Bayesian molecular phylogeny from three genes, including 25 of the 26 known <i>Pseudoloxops </i> species, to examine the roles of plant affiliation and geography (island distribution) in speciation. We reconstructed the ancestral states using parsimony for these two characters, and found 12 speciation events that were well-supported in the phylogeny. Both plant-switching and island-hopping were correlated with speciation. For the 7 speciation events for which we could unequivocally determine plant affiliation before and after speciation, 4 were associated with a plant shift. For the 8 speciation events where island distribution could be reconstructed, two involved shifts to a new island. There were 5 cases for which we could determine both character states before and after speciation. In three of them, speciation occurred within the same locality with a switch in plant taxonomic order, suggesting that the lineage has great dietary versatility. However, much more research into feeding needs to be conducted, as anecdotal evidence from <i>Pseudoloxops</i> outside of French Polynesia suggests they may be facultative predators. In the other two speciation events, there was neither a geographic shift nor a change in plant affiliation, suggesting some other mechanism for speciation. Based on our results, both plant-switching and geography have played a role in the diversification of this radiation. </p><p> In the third chapter, we address the larger societal impact of taxonomic and biodiversity research by examining the effect of a natural history-driven curriculum on elementary schoolchildren's scientific knowledge. While studies have demonstrated the potential for natural history education to improve children's attitudes towards and knowledge of science and nature, few studies have been done in areas where indigenous culture heavily influences children's worldview. The lead author taught a nine-month natural history/biodiversity class focused on insects and plants to fifth-graders at the Pao Pao elementary school on the French Polynesian island of Moorea and tested their scientific knowledge before and after receiving the program. We compared their results to a control that did not receive the program, and while both cohorts improved, the experimental group's improvement was significantly greater (mean of 82.2% vs. 30.5%). We performed a delayed post-test evaluation three years after the conclusion of the program with a subset of the experimental cohort to test their retention and interest in science. Finally, the qualitative coding of the experimental group's test and survey responses revealed both the influence of indigenous culture on their scientific understanding and the appeal of taxonomy and field trips to children. When prompted for an example of a native plant, 24% of the experimental group named a plant introduced by the Polynesians, suggesting the misconception that plants with a prevalent role in indigenous culture have always been there. In the follow-up survey, 36.7% mentioned the field trips among their memories of the course, and 20% gave full scientific names for species they recalled from the class. The latter contrasts with the commonly held belief that taxonomy is too arcane to connect with the general public. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)</p>

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

Uppsatsen undersöker med en systematisk litteraturöversikt centrala teman inom ledarskapsforsk­ningen mellan åren 1940 och 2010. Finns det någon skillnad mellan äldre (1940-1999) och yngre ledarskapsforskning (2000-2010)? Vidare undersöks typ av artik­lar, var de är skrivna och av vem. Uppsatsens analys består av 2815 artiklar som har ordet ”leadership” i titeln, fo­kus var innehållet i titlarna. Utifrån dem analyserades 3910 ord ur titlarna, resultatet blev nio cen­trala teman inom nämnd tidspe­riod. Centrala te­man som hittades var: (1) Individu­alist­iskt/personligt, (2) toppstyrning/hierarkiskt, (3) ut­veckl­ing/förbättring, (4) kommunikation, (5) so­cialt, (6) medarbe­tarskap, (7) vär­de­ord, (8) emotioner och (9) situat­ion/kontext. Toppstyrning/hierarkiskt är vanli­gare i den äldre forskningen än inom den yngre där medarbetarskap är vanligare. Huvudre­sultatet är att medarbe­tar­skap är det vanligaste temat. USA är ledande inom ledarskapsforskningen, den kvantitativa me­toden är dominerande, och man­liga fors­kare bibehåller den hegemoniska ställningen. / In this systematic literature review, the fundamental themes in leadership research between the years 1940 and 2010 were examined, and if there is any difference between older (1940-1999) and younger leadership research (2000-2010). And what kind of articles where they and written by whom? The analysis consists of 2815 articles; focus was the content of the titles. Based on them the analysis was 3910 words, as resulted in nine fundamental themes from the mentioned period of time. The themes were: (1) Individualistic/personal, (2) top-down/hierarchical, (3) development/ enhancement, (4) communication, (5) social, (6) employeeship, (7) values, (8) emotions, and (9) situation/context. Top-down/ hierarchical is more frequent in the older research than in the younger where employeeship is more common. The main result is that employeeship is the most common theme. The U.S. was behind most of the articles and the quantitative method is dominating the research arena, and the male researchers retain the hegemonic position in leadership research.