Filetype
This thesis examines the influence of threat perceptions on the formation of Georgian national identity, aiming to explore the functions of perceived threats as obstacles to a reinforcement of civic elements in the conception of nation. The focus for analysis is threatening perceptions and depictions of each other by the Georgian government and the Armenian minority of the Javakheti region. Threat
This thesis is a case study about the prospect of organic small-scale farmers in Pudukottai, Tamil Nadu, South India, with conventional small scale-farmers as a reference group. The aim is to look at what opportunities these farmers have in relation to their economic and social context. To look at these aspects you need to understand the aspiration and values of the farmers which all goes accordin
This report presents a protocol for assessing team performance in terms of control based on cognitive systems engineering theories. The protocol changes the focus of team performance assessment from good and bad behaviours towards the team’s activity. By using Hollnagel’s contextual control model (COCOM) a protocol is developed so that team activity can be categorised into four control modes. Data
Osteopetrosis caused by defective acid secretion by the osteoclast, is characterized by defective bone resorption, increased osteoclast numbers, while bone formation is normal or increased. In contrast the bones are of poor quality, despite this uncoupling of formation from resorption. To shed light on the effect of uncoupling in adult mice with respect to bone strength, we transplanted irradiated
Small leucine-rich proteoglycans (SLRPs) regulate extracellular matrix organization, a process essential in development, tissue repair, and metastasis. In vivo interactions of biglycan and fibromodulin, two SLRPs highly expressed in tendons and bones, were investigated by generating biglycan/fibromodulin double-deficient mice. Here we show that collagen fibrils in tendons from mice deficient in bi
Enol MEM ethers 4 and 15 and the corresponding enol acetates were hydrogenated over Pd/C with very high (>99%) diastereoselectivity to saturated -lactones. A stereochemical generalization can be formulated thus: trans-5,6-disubstituted 1-oxa-3-cyclohexen-2-ones (e.g. 14 and 15) are hydrogenated over Pd with high selectivity from the side trans to the C(6)-substituent. A mechanistic rationalization
Using in situ hybridization, hormone-sensitive lipase was found to be expressed in a stage-dependent manner in Sertoli cells of rat testis. No expression was found in Leydig cells but expression in spermatids could not be excluded. These results suggest a role for hormone-sensitive lipase in the metabolism of lipid droplets in Sertoli cells, in contrast to its previously proposed function in stero
The paper describes a project aiming at constructing functional mimics of the oxygen evolving complex in photosystem II, coupled to photoinduced charge separation. Biomimetic electron donors, manganese complexes and tyrosine, have been linked to a Ru(II)-polypyridine photosensitiser. Oxidation of the donors by intramolecular electron transfer from the photooxidised Ru(III) complex was demonstrated
Context: Inflammation and adipogenesis are two parallel processes with increased activity in severe Graves' ophthalmopathy. Objective: The aim of this work was to define target genes for therapeutic intervention in adipogenesis and inflammation in Graves' ophthalmopathy. Design: Orbital tissue was obtained from patients with ophthalmopathy in acute or chronic phase undergoing orbital surgery to st
Vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms have been implicated in susceptibility to tuberculosis (TB), but reports have been inconsistent. We genotyped the VDR single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) FokI, BsmI, ApaI, and TaqI in 1139 case patients and control subjects and 382 families from The Gambia, Guinea, and Guinea-Bissau. The transmission-disequilibrium test on family data showed a signifi
Production of synthesis gas by catalytic reforming of product gas from biomass gasification can lead to catalyst deactivation by the exposure to ash compounds present in the flue gas. The impact of fly ash from biomass gasification on reforming catalysts was studied at the laboratory scale. The investigated catalyst was Pt/Rh based, and it was exposed to generated K2SO4 aerosol particles and to ae
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether power Doppler predicts ovarian response to gonadotrophin stimulation during in vitro fertilization (IVF). METHODS: Forty-five women were divided into low-reserve (n = 12) and normal-reserve (n = 33) ovarian groups, according to antral follicle count. Transvaginal three-dimensional power Doppler ultrasonographic examinations were performed after pituitary downregulati
Sampling methodology (e.g. population-based vs. clinical samples, anonymous self-reports vs. data collected as part of mandated treatment) affects the validity of conclusions drawn from research addressing the etiology of adolescent sexual offending. Studies of unselected samples allow testing of the generalizability of etiological models suggested from investigation of selected clinical or forens
The functional implication of previously shown effects on pial wall morphology by sympathectomy was tested. Following either ganglionic or pre-ganglionic denervation in 1-week-old rats the passive arterial compliance was reduced in basal cerebral arteries of 20-week-old normotensive, but not of hypertensive animals. The magnitude of the denervation induced stiffness was similar to the alteration s
The synthesis of the Linear B type 2 trisaccharide (Galalpha3Galbeta4GlcNAc-betaOTMSEt) and the corresponding 2-carboxyethyl beta-thioglycoside is described, as well as coupling of the latter to Sepharose.
1. The impacts of nutrients (phosphorus and nitrogen) and planktivorous fish on phytoplankton composition and biomass were studied in six shallow, macrophyte-dominated lakes across Europe using mesocosm experiments. 2. Phytoplankton biomass was more influenced by nutrients than by densities of planktivorous fish. Nutrient addition resulted in increased algal biomass at all locations. In some exper
It is difficult to determine whether transient folding intermediates have a cooperative (or first-order) folding transition without measuring their rates of formation directly. An intermediate I could be formed by a second-order transition from a denatured state D that is progressively changed into I as conditions are changed. We have not been able to monitor the rate of formation of the folding i
Osteoadherin (OSAD) is a keratan sulfate proteoglycan recently isolated from bovine and rat bone. Based on results obtained from in vitro experiments, the protein was shown to bind osteoblasts via the integrin receptor alpha(v)beta(3). Due to OSAD's capacity to bind hydroxyapatite crystals, a role for the protein in the mineralization process has also been suggested. To test these hypotheses in an
