Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Diversity Factor'

Tendon injuries significantly impact quality of life and are often career ending. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy is known to augment intrinsic tendon healing, however, little is known of the stem cells endogenous to tendon, the microenvironmental cues that induce tendon differentiation, and whether individual cells in an inflammatory milieu respond differently to these cues. To address these questions, a three-dimensional tenogenesis assay was developed as an efficient and reproducible metric of cellular capacity to differentiate toward tendon. In contrast to more complex assays of tenogenesis, this design incorporates a simple apparatus using commercially available plasticware for the application of uniaxial static strain in in a type I collagen cell-seeded hydrogel construct. Tendon-related gene expression, glycosaminoglycan levels, elongated cell morphologies and parallel cell alignments are enhanced with BMP-12 induction over ten days of culture. This dissertation provides novel insight to the roles of growth factors in MSC tenogenesis. Tendon healing in vivo is dependent on endogenous tendon stem cells (TSC) that mediate the inflammatory response to injury and promote synthesis of collagen and matrix remodeling, among other extracellular processes. Recent evidence suggests that these cells exist on a spectrum of differentiation potencies, and may be differently committed to the tendon fate. Individual stem cells were isolated from the tendon, and their capacities for proliferation, tri-lineage differentiation and tenogenesis were evaluated. Three distinct TSC phenotypes were revealed, and significant, positive correlations were found in quadra-differentiation potency (toward four lineages) and the expression of a strong, composite tendon phenotype. These studies have important implications in the current standard-of-care in regenerative therapies for tendon. Our benchtop tenogenesis assay can be used to determine the therapeutic potential of allogeneic MSC lines and MSCs from novel sources for 'off-the-shelf' treatments. Our study of TSCs lends valuable insight to the diversity of cell phenotypes found in tendon, and the potential contributions of each phenotype to tendon healing and homeostasis. These results further strengthen the status of tendon as a superior source of stem cells for tendon repair.
Ph. D.
Tendons are fibrous, elastic bands of collagen that connect muscles to bones and are essential to movement and proper functioning of the skeletal system. Weight-bearing tendons like the Achilles in humans and superficial digital flexor tendons in horses are particularly prone to damage and degeneration with overuse and/or aging. Bone marrow-derived stem cell treatments have shown promise in the reduction of pain and inflammation, and restoration of native tendon structure and function in cases of severe tendon injuries. However, the roles of stem cells in tendon healing, particularly their ability to transition to cell types native to tendon and integrate with an environment distinct from their own is unknown. Culturing of stem cells in three dimensional (3D) environments has enabled us to identify and understand the biochemical and mechanical signals that trigger stem cell transitions to tendon cells in tendons, but currently available 3D culture systems are complex and inefficient. In this dissertation we have developed a cost-effective and high throughput 3D culture system to assay the potential of stem cells to form tendon cells and composite tendon-like tissues. Toward this, we have also optimized the effects of known tendon proteins on the tendon fate in 3D culture of stem cells. Like most adult tissues, the tendon encompasses an in-house repository of stem cells. Tendon stem cells (TSCs) are primarily responsible for the inflammatory and reparative responses to tendon injury. Recent evidence suggests that TSCs are diverse in character, and differ from each other in their ability to form cells and tissues of fat, bone and cartilage. In this work, we provide evidence that TSCs are also differently committed to forming tendon tissue, and moreover that significant inter-relationships among gene expression patterns in these cells directly contribute to cultural diversity. In sum, our results provide novel insight to the roles of stem cells in tendon healing, particularly their response to subtle changes in their biochemical environment, and the contributions of individual cells in a milieu to a holistic reparative response.

To acquire its characteristic structural and functional complexity, the mammalian nervous system must undergo several critical developmental processes. One such process requires factors that regulate the decision of dividing progenitors to leave the cell cycle and activate the neuronal differentiation program. It is shown in this thesis that the murine runt-related gene Runx1 is expressed in proliferating cells on the basal side of the murine olfactory epithelium. Disruption of Runx1 function in vivo does not result in a change in the quantity of progenitors but leads to a decrease in precursor number and an increase in differentiated ORNs. These effects result in premature and ectopic ORN differentiation. Further, exogenous Runx1 expression in cultured olfactory neural progenitors causes an expansion of the mitotic cell population. In agreement with these findings, exogenous Runx1 expression also promotes cortical neural progenitor cell proliferation without inhibiting neuronal differentiation. These effects appear to involve transcriptional repression mechanisms. Consistent with this possibility, Runx1 represses transcription driven by the promoter of the cell cycle inhibitor p21Cip1 in cortical progenitors. Taken together, these findings suggest a previously unrecognized role for Runx1 in coordinating the proliferation and neuronal differentiation of selected populations of neural progenitors/precursors.
Another significant step in the development of the mammalian nervous system is the acquisition of distinctive neuronal traits. This thesis also shows that Runx1 is expressed in selected populations of postmitotic neurons of the murine embryonic central and peripheral nervous systems. In embryos lacking Runx1 activity, hindbrain branchiovisceral motor neuron precursors of the cholinergie lineage are correctly specified but then fail to enter successive stages of differentiation and undergo increased cell death resulting in neuronal loss in the mantle layer. Runx1 inactivation also leads to a loss of selected sensory neurons in trigeminal and vestibulocochlear ganglia. These findings uncover previously unrecognized roles for Runx1 in the regulation of neuronal subtype specification.
This thesis thus presents a novel factor which functions at several steps in the development of the mammalian nervous system and adds to the growing body of work on the processes involved in elaborating such a complex and vital structure.

Kyoto University (京都大学)
0048
新制・論文博士
博士(農学)
乙第13017号
論農博第2827号
新制||農||1042(附属図書館)
学位論文||H28||N4964(農学部図書室)
32945
京都大学大学院農学研究科農学専攻
(主査)教授 土井 元章, 教授 裏出 令子, 教授 奥本 裕
学位規則第4条第2項該当

The gut microbiota and its metabolites – namely short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) – interact with the digestive, immune, and nervous systems. Microbiota with disrupted composition are highly associated with obesity, gastrointestinal symptoms, and chronic inflammation. Levels of SCFAs in the feces can represent dynamics of the microbiota, and they represent one mechanism by which the microbiota interacts with its host. This study aimed to further our understanding of associations between microbiota bacterial diversity and SCFAs, immune markers, BMI, and GI symptoms and to identify bacteria that are differentially abundant in different BMI groups and with synbiotic supplementation. Data (SCFAs, immunoglobulins, body mass index, fecal fiber, fecal protein, measures of GI symptoms, and 16s RNA sequences, n=11) was extracted from a randomized control trial investigating the effects of synbiotic supplementation in non-celiac gluten-sensitive participants. QIIME2 was used to process 16s RNA data, analyze quantitative, qualitative, phylogenetic quantitative, and phylogenetic qualitative measures of alpha and beta diversity and to perform an analysis of composition of microbiomes (ANCOM) for identification of differential abundances. Multiple metrics of alpha diversity were found to significantly correlate with IgG4, IgM, IL-2, acetate, propionate, isobutyrate, valerate, isovalerate, caproate, heartburn, urgent need to defecate, and feelings of incomplete evacuation. Multiple metrics of beta diversity were significantly different between normal and overweight, normal and obese, and overweight and obese BMI classification groups. Beta diversity was also found to significantly correlate with IgG1, IgG3, IgG4, IgA, IL-6, IL-8, fecal fiber, propionate, butyrate, heartburn, acid regurgitation, nausea and vomiting, bloating, abdominal distension, increased gas, and eructation. The synbiotic intervention did not significantly alter alpha or beta diversity. An ANCOM identified bacterial taxa differentially abundant with BMI shifts and synbiotic supplementation, though these taxa were not those included in the synbiotic. Findings demonstrate alpha and beta diversity associations with various SCFAs, GI symptoms, immune markers, and BMI, and the results of the placebo-controlled intervention suggest careful consideration of placebo contents moving forward. This research supports plans to apply analysis to larger sample sizes to elucidate changes microbial profiles that are associated with clinically relevant biomarkers and symptoms.

This body of work is concerned with the genetics of craniofacial morphology and specifically with that of the cranial sutures which form fibrous articulations between the calvarial bones. The premature fusion of these sutures, known as craniosynostosis, is a common developmental abnormality and has been extensively utilised here as a tool through which to study the genetics of suture morphogenesis and craniofacial diversity. Investigations began with a search for polymorphisms associated with normal variation in human craniofacial characteristics. Denaturing High-Performance Liquid chromatography was used to identify polymorphisms in two genes causative for craniosynostosis by analysing DNA from a large cohort of individuals from four ethnogeographic populations. A single nucleotide polymorphism in fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 was identified as being associated with variation in the cephalic index, a common measure of cranial shape. To further, and specifically, investigate the molecular processes of suture morphogenesis gene expression was compared between unfused and prematurely fusing/fused suture tissues isolated from patients with craniosynostosis. Two approaches, both utilising Affymetrix gene expression microarrays, were used to identify genes differentially expressed during premature suture fusion. The first was a novel method which utilised the observation that explant cells from both fused and unfused suture tissue, cultured in minimal medium, produce a gene expression profile characteristic of minimally differentiated osteoblastic cells. Consequently, gene expression was compared between prematurely fused suture tissues and their corresponding in vitro de-differentiated cells. In addition to those genes known to be involved in suture morphogenesis, a large number of novel genes were identified which were up-regulated in the differentiated in vivo state and are thus implicated in premature suture fusion and in vivo osteoblast differentiation. The second microarray study involved an extensive analysis of 16 suture tissues and compared gene expression between unfused (n=9) and fusing/fused sutures (n=7). Again, both known genes and a substantially large number of novel genes were identified as being differentially expressed. Some of these novel genes included retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4), glypican 3 (GPC3), C1q tumour necrosis factor 3 (C1QTNF3), and WNT inhibitory factor 1 (WIF1). The known functions of these genes are suggestive of potential roles in suture morphogenesis. Realtime quantitative RT PCR (QRT-PCR) was used to verify the differential expression patterns observed for 11 genes and Western blot analysis and confocal microscopy was used to investigate the protein expression for 3 genes of interest. RBP4 was found to be localised on the ectocranial surface of unfused sutures and in cells lining the osteogenic fronts while GPC3 was localised to suture mesenchyme of unfused sutures. A comparison between each unfused suture (coronal, sagittal, metopic, and lambdoid) demonstrated that gene expression profiles are suture-specific which, based on the identification of differentially expressed genes, suggests possible molecular bases for the differential timing of normal fusion and the response of each suture to different craniosynostosis mutations. One observation of particular interest was the presence of cartilage in unfused lambdoid sutures, suggesting a role for chondrogenesis in posterior skull sutures which have generally been thought to develop by intramembranous ossification without a cartilage precursor. Finally, the effects of common media supplements used in in vitro experiments to stimulate differentiation of calvarial suture-derived cells were investigated with respect to their ability to induce in vivo-like gene expression. The response to standard differentiation medium (ascorbic acid + β-glycerophosphate) with and without dexamethasone was measured by both mineralisation and matrix formation assays and QRT-PCR of genes identified in the above described microarray studies. Both media induced collagen matrix and bone nodule formation indicative of differentiating osteoblasts. However, the genes expression profiles induced by both media differed and neither recapitulated the levels and profiles of gene expression observed in vivo for cells isolated from both fused and unfused suture tissues. This study has implications for translating results from in vitro work to the in vivo situation. Significantly, the dedifferentiation microarray study identified differentially expressed genes whose products may be considered candidates as more appropriate osteogenic supplements that may be used during in vitro experiments to better induce in vivo-like osteoblast differentiation. This study has made a substantial contribution to the identification of novel genes and pathways involved in controlling human suture morphogenesis and craniofacial diversity. The results from this research will stimulate new areas of inquiry which will one day aid in the development of better diagnostics and therapeutics for craniosynostosis, and other craniofacial and more general skeletal abnormalities.

This body of work is concerned with the genetics of craniofacial morphology and specifically with that of the cranial sutures which form fibrous articulations between the calvarial bones. The premature fusion of these sutures, known as craniosynostosis, is a common developmental abnormality and has been extensively utilised here as a tool through which to study the genetics of suture morphogenesis and craniofacial diversity. Investigations began with a search for polymorphisms associated with normal variation in human craniofacial characteristics. Denaturing High-Performance Liquid chromatography was used to identify polymorphisms in two genes causative for craniosynostosis by analysing DNA from a large cohort of individuals from four ethnogeographic populations. A single nucleotide polymorphism in fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 was identified as being associated with variation in the cephalic index, a common measure of cranial shape. To further, and specifically, investigate the molecular processes of suture morphogenesis gene expression was compared between unfused and prematurely fusing/fused suture tissues isolated from patients with craniosynostosis. Two approaches, both utilising Affymetrix gene expression microarrays, were used to identify genes differentially expressed during premature suture fusion. The first was a novel method which utilised the observation that explant cells from both fused and unfused suture tissue, cultured in minimal medium, produce a gene expression profile characteristic of minimally differentiated osteoblastic cells. Consequently, gene expression was compared between prematurely fused suture tissues and their corresponding in vitro de-differentiated cells. In addition to those genes known to be involved in suture morphogenesis, a large number of novel genes were identified which were up-regulated in the differentiated in vivo state and are thus implicated in premature suture fusion and in vivo osteoblast differentiation. The second microarray study involved an extensive analysis of 16 suture tissues and compared gene expression between unfused (n=9) and fusing/fused sutures (n=7). Again, both known genes and a substantially large number of novel genes were identified as being differentially expressed. Some of these novel genes included retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4), glypican 3 (GPC3), C1q tumour necrosis factor 3 (C1QTNF3), and WNT inhibitory factor 1 (WIF1). The known functions of these genes are suggestive of potential roles in suture morphogenesis. Realtime quantitative RT PCR (QRT-PCR) was used to verify the differential expression patterns observed for 11 genes and Western blot analysis and confocal microscopy was used to investigate the protein expression for 3 genes of interest. RBP4 was found to be localised on the ectocranial surface of unfused sutures and in cells lining the osteogenic fronts while GPC3 was localised to suture mesenchyme of unfused sutures. A comparison between each unfused suture (coronal, sagittal, metopic, and lambdoid) demonstrated that gene expression profiles are suture-specific which, based on the identification of differentially expressed genes, suggests possible molecular bases for the differential timing of normal fusion and the response of each suture to different craniosynostosis mutations. One observation of particular interest was the presence of cartilage in unfused lambdoid sutures, suggesting a role for chondrogenesis in posterior skull sutures which have generally been thought to develop by intramembranous ossification without a cartilage precursor. Finally, the effects of common media supplements used in in vitro experiments to stimulate differentiation of calvarial suture-derived cells were investigated with respect to their ability to induce in vivo-like gene expression. The response to standard differentiation medium (ascorbic acid + β-glycerophosphate) with and without dexamethasone was measured by both mineralisation and matrix formation assays and QRT-PCR of genes identified in the above described microarray studies. Both media induced collagen matrix and bone nodule formation indicative of differentiating osteoblasts. However, the genes expression profiles induced by both media differed and neither recapitulated the levels and profiles of gene expression observed in vivo for cells isolated from both fused and unfused suture tissues. This study has implications for translating results from in vitro work to the in vivo situation. Significantly, the dedifferentiation microarray study identified differentially expressed genes whose products may be considered candidates as more appropriate osteogenic supplements that may be used during in vitro experiments to better induce in vivo-like osteoblast differentiation. This study has made a substantial contribution to the identification of novel genes and pathways involved in controlling human suture morphogenesis and craniofacial diversity. The results from this research will stimulate new areas of inquiry which will one day aid in the development of better diagnostics and therapeutics for craniosynostosis, and other craniofacial and more general skeletal abnormalities.

1.Культурно-цивілізаційний простір Європи і Україна: особливості становлення та сучасні тенденції розвитку: колективна монографія / керівник авторського колективу і науковий редактор − А. І. Кудряченко // Інститут європейських досліджень НАН України. − К. : Університет «Україна», 2010. − 405 с. − [Електронний ресурс]. − Режим доступу: http://elibrary.ivinas.gov.ua/67/1/ cultprostir.pdf 2. Тойнбі А. Дж. Дослідження історії / А. Дж. Тойнбі. – К.: Основи, 2004. – 615 с. 3. Huntington S. The Clash of Civilizations And the remaking of World Order –[Електронний ресурс]. − Режим доступу: https://www.stetson.edu/artsci/politicalscience/media/clash.pdf 4. Taylor Ch. Religion and European Integration. Religion in the New Europe / еd. by Krzysztof Michalski. Central European University Press, ‒ 2013. ‒ P. 1–22. 5. The future of the global Muslim population. Europe. Pew Research Center. – January 27, 2011. – [Електронний ресурс]. − Режим доступу: http://www.pewforum. org/2011/01/27/future-of-the-global-muslimpopulationregional-europe
Islam is the fastest-growing religion in Europe, primarily due to immigration and higher fertility rates among Muslims. For most European countries, in terms of socio-economic and demographic calculations, the need for an influx of immigrants was due to the trends of aging nations and the needs of the European labor market. Migration processes are becoming an important factor in socio-religious transformation in Europe and require finding ways to integrate Muslim communities into European societies, one of the goals of which is to preserve the national identity of European countries. The purpose of the scientific work is to identify and substantiate the impact of Islamic factor in the European cultural-civilization space. The civilization is a system whose constituent elements are peoples, nations, states, integrated into a certain integrity, the system-forming factor of which is the value-world unity, accumulated primarily in religious experience and spiritual practice. Of course, different civilizations have common features of an objective nature, such as language, history, religion, customs, institutions.
Іслам є найбільш швидкозростаючою релігією в Європі, в першу чергу завдяки імміграції та підвищенню рівня народжуваності серед мусульман. Для більшості європейських країн, з точки зору соціально-економічних та демографічних розрахунків, необхідність припливу іммігрантів зумовлена ​​тенденціями старіння націй та потребами європейського ринку праці. Міграційні процеси стають важливим фактором соціально-релігійної трансформації в Європі і вимагають пошуку шляхів інтеграції мусульманських спільнот до європейських суспільств, однією з цілей яких є збереження національної ідентичності європейських країн. Метою наукової роботи є виявлення та обґрунтування впливу ісламського чинника на європейський культурно-цивілізаційний простір. Цивілізація - це система, складовими елементами якої є народи, нації, держави, інтегровані в певну цілісність, системоутворюючим фактором якої є цілісність-світова єдність, накопичена насамперед у релігійному досвіді та духовній практиці. Звичайно, різні цивілізації мають спільні риси об’єктивного характеру, такі як мова, історія, релігія, звичаї, установи.

This research study investigates the application of phase shifter-based smart antenna system in distributed beamforming. It examines the way to optimise the transmit power by jointly maximising the directivity of the array antennas and the weight vector for distributed beamforming. This research study concludes that maximising directivity can lead to better transmit power minimisation compared to maximising field intensity. This study also concludes that signal to noise power ratio maximisation subject to a power constraint and power minimisation subject to a signal to noise power ratio constraint yield the same results.

Mestrado em Economia Internacional
Desde 1996 que as empresas portuguesas têm vindo a escolher o Brasil como mercado de eleição para a localização dos seus investimentos. Este país passou a ser um factor crucial na definição das estratégias de internacionalização das empresas portuguesas. As teorias que argumentam que o processo de internacionalização é um processo de decisões incrementais no sentido de um envolvimento crescente das empresas em operações internacionais, sugerem que quando a experiência das empresas acerca do desenvolvimento destas operações é reduzida, estas optarão de início por investir em países psicologicamente/culturalmente mais próximos do país de origem. O presente trabalho parte do pressuposto de que a proximidade cultural entre Portugal e o Brasil foi um factor influente no processo de decisão conducente ao investimento das empresas portuguesas neste país. São estudados cinco casos de empresas portuguesas que investiram no Brasil, no sentido de confirmar ou não este pressuposto. As questões relacionadas com a gestão dos recursos humanos e o recurso das empresas aos gestores expatriados, são igualmente analisadas por se entender que é a este nível que a gestão da diversidade cultural coloca mais problemas.
Since 1996 portuguese companies have chosen Brazil as a preference market for the location of its investments. This country thus became a crucial element in the definition of the internationalization strategies in the portuguese companies. The theories that consider the internationalization as an incremental process, in which the companies will become gradually more involved in international operations, argue that these companies, because of their scarce experience about these operations will choose, in an initial stage, to locate its investments in psychology/culturally countries close to their home market. This work starts with the argument that cultural proximity between Portugal and Brazil was an influent factor in the decision process that has lead the companies to invest in Brazil. Five cases of portuguese companies that have invested in Brazil, are studied, with the goal of confirming, or not, this argument. Issues concerning human resource management, as well the use of international managers as a resource are also analysed, because of the assumption that it is on this level that management of cultural diversity faces more problems.

Contemporary attitudes in affluent Western societies are characterised by a growing emphasis on individual freedom. What, then, does this commitment to liberty entail for our openness to diversity; and ultimately for liberal democracy? Previous research on popular attitudes, for example by Ronald Inglehart, tends to assume that valuing freedom entails an encouragement of a plurality of life-styles. This thesis, by contrast, argues that there are several ideals of freedom in public opinion; ideals that may have opposing consequences for our permissiveness towards ways of life that differ from our own. The introductory essay in this book suggests that Isaiah Berlin’s theory of positive and negative freedom provides a fruitful analytical framework, which helps theorise and empirically nuance our picture of popular ideals of freedom. Essay I goes on to present a novel, psychological, interpretation of Berlin’s Two Concepts of Liberty. This essay also suggests that Berlin was critical not only of enlightened ideals of positive liberty, but also of romantic ones, which might be even more widespread today. Essay II then applies Berlin’s framework to contemporary survey data. Through confirmatory factor and regression analyses, this essay demonstrates that Berlin’s negative-positive distinction does in fact hold also in popular opinion; and that the two dimensions have rather different effects on moral and legal permissiveness. Essay III, finally, revisits a recent example of disrespect in the name of liberty: the Danish cartoon controversy. This essay develops the concept of ‘romantic liberalism’, thereby deepening our knowledge of romantic ideals of positive liberty, and their particularly disrespectful tendencies. Drawing on Isaiah Berlin, and his critique of positive liberty, the essays in this thesis together suggest that it is crucial for liberal democracy to recognise the existence of treacherous liberties: ideals that lead their supporters to ridicule, condemn, or even prohibit ways of life that differ from their own – all in the name of liberty.
The Impact of Religion

L'hévéa (Hevea brasiliensis) est la seule source de caoutchouc naturel commercialisé à travers le monde. En Afrique et en Asie, la maladie 'Corynespora Leaf Fall' (CLF), causée par le champignon nécrotrophe Corynespora cassiicola, affecte les plantations hévéicoles en provoquant des défoliations massives sur les clones les plus sensibles. L’évaluation précoce de la sensibilité des clones dans les programmes de sélection est un enjeu majeur pour écarter les individus les plus sensibles des programmes de développement et ainsi réduire la pression de la maladie. Une des méthodes d’évaluation envisagée consiste à tester indirectement la sensibilité des clones aux effecteurs fongiques responsables de la virulence (test toxinique). Parmi tous les effecteurs potentiels du champignon identifiés in silico, seule la cassiicoline Cas1 a été purifiée et caractérisée à ce jour. Il s’agit d’une petite glycoprotéine sécrétée qui jouerait un rôle dans les phases précoces de l’infection en induisant la nécrose des tissus. Les souches porteuses du gène Cas1 sont parmi les plus agressives sur les clones d'hévéa testés. Néanmoins, certaines souches de C. cassiicola ne produisant pas de cassiicoline présentent tout de même une agressivité modérée, suggérant l'implication d'autres effecteurs dans l'établissement de la maladie CLF. Les objectifs de cette thèse sont (i) de déterminer si la sensibilité à la cassiicoline Cas1 est un critère de sélection pertinent pour identifier les clones d’hévéa les plus sensibles à la maladie CLF, et (ii) d’identifier chez l’hévéa des facteurs de sensibilité à la cassiicoline Cas1. Nous avons d'abord analysé l’inoculum naturel et montré que les souches porteuses du gène Cas1 représentent un quart de la population de C. cassiicola dans les plantations d’hévéa d’Afrique de l’Ouest, le reste étant majoritairement constitué de souches dépourvues du gène codant la cassiicoline (Type A/Cas0). Nous avons ensuite créé un mutant de délétion du gène Cas1 pour la souche de référence CCP et comparé sa virulence à celle de la souche sauvage. Nous avons ainsi pu montrer que la cassiicoline Cas1 est bien un effecteur de nécrotrophie déterminant pour la virulence de C. cassiicola chez l’hévéa puisque la souche délétée perd toute virulence sur les clones testés. Enfin, nous avons recherché chez l'hévéa des facteurs de sensibilité à la cassiicoline Cas1 à travers deux approches. La technique de "double hybride en levures" nous a permis d'identifier une trentaine de protéines candidates qui pourraient interagir physiquement avec la toxine. Une approche transcriptomique, nous a permis d’identifier les gènes d’hévéa dont l’expression est modifiée suite à l’application de la cassiicoline purifiée, en comparant un clone sensible (PB260) et un clone tolérant (RRIM600). En conclusion, ces travaux ont permis de mieux comprendre les mécanismes impliqués dans l'interaction compatible entre C. cassiicola et l'hévéa et ouvrent la voie de la sélection assistée par effecteur
The rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis) is the primary commercial source of natural rubber worldwide. In Asia and Africa, H. brasiliensis is affected by the Corynespora leaf fall (CLF) disease, caused by the broad-spectrum necrotrophic fungus Corynespora cassiicola. During severe attacks, massive fall of young leaves can occur in susceptible cultivars. Early evaluation of the susceptibility of rubber clones in breeding programs is required to avoid developing highly susceptible clones that would amplify the disease. An indirect phenotyping procedure envisaged consists in testing the sensitivity to the fungal toxins (or effectors) rather than the susceptibility to the fungus itself (toxin test). Among all putative effectors identified in silico, only cassiicolin Cas1 has been purified and characterized to date. This small secreted glycoprotein was for long suspected to play a role in the early phase of infection by inducing tissue necrosis. Strains carrying the Cas1 gene are the most aggressive on tested rubber clones. However, strains without cassiicolin gene (called Cas0) still show moderate aggressiveness, suggesting the existence of effectors other than cassiicolin. The objectives of this study are (i) to determine if susceptibility to cassiicolin Cas1 is a relevant selection criterion to eliminate the rubber clones most susceptible to CLF disease, and (ii) identify molecular factors involved in the sensitivity to Cas1, in rubber tree. We have thus analyzed the typology of a large set of C. cassiicola isolates collected from various rubber plantations in West Africa. Our results show that isolates carrying the cassiicolin isoform Cas1 are widely represented, but that the most represented type (A/Cas0) are isolates without cassiicolin gene. Here we show that deletion of the cassiicolin gene in the isolate CCP resulted in a total loss of virulence. This clearly demonstrated that cassiicolin is indeed a necrotrophic effector required for the virulence of isolate CCP in rubber tree. Finally, we have investigated susceptibility factors to cassiicolin Cas1 on rubber tree with two different approaches. We identified about thirty candidate proteins that could physically interact with the toxin, through the two-hybrid assay. A transcriptomic approach allowed us to identify the rubber genes differentially expressed in response to the purified cassiicolin, comparing a susceptible clone (PB260) and a tolerant clone (RRIM600). In conclusion, we think that the necrotrophic effector Cas1 can be an interesting tool for effector-based selection of tolerant clones for African plantations; however, efforts should also be placed on A/Cas0 isolates, in order to identify potential necrotrophic effector(s) responsible for their virulence. This would enlarge the potential of effector-based selection

Des travaux antérieurs de l’équipe ont démontré l’impact majeur de la lymphopénie (<1Giga/L), détectée avant tout traitement, sur la survie globale des patients atteints d’un cancer solide en phase métastatique, soulignant ainsi l’importance du système immunitaire dans le contrôle de la progression tumorale. Au cours de mon projet de thèse, j’ai analysé l’apport de la diversité combinatoire de la chaine β du TCR, autre indicateur de la qualité du système immunitaire, en tant que marqueur pronostique chez des patientes atteintes de cancer du sein en phase métastatique. J’ai pu montrer qu’un score combinant la diversité des TCR et le nombre de lymphocytes (score NDL) est un facteur indépendant de mauvais pronostic en analyse multivariée. Ce score permet l’identification d’une sous population de patientes à risque qui présente à la fois une lymphopénie et une faible diversité (< 33%) combinatoire du TCR et pour laquelle une très forte réduction de la médiane de survie est observée. Nous avons également réalisé une étude plus approfondie de l’impact des sous-populations de lymphocytes et des cytokines plasmatiques produites. En parallèle, j’ai été amené à développer des tests de biologie moléculaire pour améliorer l’étude de la diversité du répertoire des TCR au niveau génomique. Ces travaux nous ouvrent la voie vers de nouvelles stratégies thérapeutiques qui intégreraient les perturbations du système immunitaire. En effet, suite à ces résultats, un essai clinique basé sur l’administration d’IL-7, cytokine permettant l’expansion des cellules T avant ou pendant la chimiothérapie vient d’être activé au Centre Léon Bérard
Previous work of the team demonstrated the major impact of lymphopenia (<1Giga/L), detected before treatment, on overall survival of patients with solid metastatic cancer, highlighting the importance of immune system in controlling tumor progression. During my thesis project, I analyzed the contribution of the combinatorial diversity of the TCR β chain, another indicator of the quality of the immune system, as a prognostic marker in patients with metastatic breast cancer. I was able to show that a score combining the diversity of TCR and the number of lymphocytes (score NDL) is an independent factor of poor prognostic in multivariate analysis. This score allows identification of a subpopulation of patients at risk who has both a lymphopenia and a low combinatorial diversity (<33%) of TCR and for which a reduction in the median survival was observed. We also made further study of the impact of subpopulations of lymphocytes and plasma cytokines. In parallel, I developed molecular tests to improve the study of TCR repertoire diversity at the genomic level. This work opens the door to new therapeutic strategies that would consider immune system dysfunctions. Indeed, following these results, a clinical trial based on the administration of IL-7 cytokine for the expansion of T cells before or during chemotherapy has been activated at the Centre Léon Bérard

O gene fator regulador de interferon 4 (IRF4), localizado na região cromossômica 6p25- p23, é um membro da família de fatores reguladores de interferon (IRF), um grupo de fatores de transcrição de ligação ao DNA, sendo IRF4 primariamente associado ao desenvolvimento e resposta imune e expresso exclusivamente em células do sistema imunológico e em linhagens melanocíticas. Embora muitos estudos tenham associado IRF4 a diversas condições, como melanoma e leucemia linfocítica crônica, um recente Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) identificou que alelos do SNP rs12203592 (intron 4) estão associados com variação fenotípica em relação à presença de sardas, pigmentação da pele, cabelos e olhos. Estudos funcionais realizados em células melanocíticas humanas e de camundongos revelaram que este SNP está diretamente envolvido na regulação da expressão de IRF4, sugerindo uma clara função na pigmentação do melanócito. Apesar destes achados, a diversidade das regiões regulatórias e codificadora de IRF4 não foi até o momento analisada em populações miscigenadas. A fim de avaliar se outros sítios de variação ao longo do gene IRF4 podem estar associados à pigmentação humana, as regiões regulatórias (promotora e 3´UTR) e codificadora (9 exons e regiões intrônicas flanqueadoras, incluindo o SNP rs12203592) foram analisadas por sequenciamento de nova geração em uma amostra miscigenada da população brasileira. A amostra populacional foi composta por 228 indivíduos não aparentados de Ribeirão Preto, estado de São Paulo, Brasil, os quais foram estratificados de acordo com a pigmentação da pele (clara, média e escura), olhos (azul, verde, castanho-claros e castanho-escuros), cabelo (ruivo, loiro-claro, loiroescuro, castanho-claro, castanho-escuro e preto) bem como em relação à presença de sardas e intensidade de cabelos grisalhos. Bibliotecas de DNA foram preparadas utilizando o Sistema de Enriquecimento de Alvo Haloplex (Agilent Technologies) e sequenciadas na plataforma MiSeq (Illumina). Os pacotes de software CutAdapt, BWA and GATK foram utilizados, respectivamente, para trimagem das sequências dos adaptadores, alinhamento e identificação de variantes. Haplótipos e alelos não identificados foram inferidos pelo método PHASE, embora a fase conhecida entre os sítios de variação (obtida pelo GATK) tenha sido levada em consideração. Um total de 105 sítios de variação foram identificados. Apenas dois deles apresentaram frequências genotípicas que não atendem ao esperado pelo equilíbrio de Hardy-Weinberg (EHW). Dezoito destes SNPs apresentaram forte associação a pelo menos uma característica de pigmentação. Entretanto, se a conservadora correção de Bonferroni para múltiplos testes for levada em consideração, apenas duas associações, ambas envolvendo o SNP rs12203592, permanecem significativas: a associação do alelo T com pele clara e olhos azuis. Este resultado está de acordo com estudos prévios, que reportam que o alelo rs12203592*T leva a uma menor ativação de IRF4 e a uma expressão reduzida da tirosinase, resultando em sensibilidade ao sol e olhos azuis. Foi inferido um total de 101 haplótipos, estando a distribuição destes de acordo com o esperado pelo EHW. Quando os haplótipos foram divididos em haplótipos da promotora, codificadora e 3´UTR foram observadas, respectivamente, 17, 29 e 37 diferentes combinações haplotípicas. Várias associações foram identificadas, particularmente envolvendo o haplótipo mais frequente da promotora, os dois haplótipos mais frequentes da codificadora e o haplótipo mais frequente da 3´UTR, todos associados com pele clara, olhos azuis, cabelos castanhos e cabelos grisalhos. Estes resultados sugerem que outras variantes além de rs12203592, quando consideradas em um contexto haplotípico, são associadas com a pigmentação humana.
The Interferon Regulatory Factor 4 (IRF4) gene, located at chromosomal region 6p25- p23, is a member of the interferon regulatory factor (IRF) family, a group of DNAbinding transcription factors, with the IRF4 primarily associated with immune system development and response and expressed exclusively in immune system cells and melanocytic lineages. Although many studies have shown that IRF4 is associated with many human conditions, such as melanoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia, a recent Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) identified that alleles from the SNP rs12203592 (intron 4) is also associated with phenotypic variation regarding presence of freckles, hair, eye and skin pigmentation. Functional studies in human and mice melanin-containing cells revealed that such SNP is directly involved in the regulation of IRF4 expression, suggesting a clear role in melanocyte pigmentation. In spite of these findings, the regulatory and coding IRF4 diversities in admixed populations have not been evaluated so far. In order to verify if other variation sites spread across the IRF4 gene may be associated with human pigmentation, the regulatory (promoter and 3\'UTR regions) and coding (9 exons and flanking intronic regions, including the SNP rs12203592) regions were analyzed by next-generation sequencing procedures in a Brazilian admixed population sample. The population sample was composed of 228 unrelated individuals from the Ribeirão Preto area, São Paulo State, Brazil, which were stratified according to eye (blue, green, hazel, light-brown, and dark-brown), hair (red, blond, dark-blond, light-brown, dark-brown and black) and skin (light, intermediate and dark) pigmentation, as well as regarding the presence of freckles and intensity of hair greying. DNA libraries were prepared using the Haloplex Target Enrichment System (Agilent Technologies) and sequenced at the MiSeq platform (Illumina). CutAdapt, BWA and GATK software packages were used for trimming adaptor sequences, alignment and genotype calling, respectively. Missing alleles and haplotypes were inferred by using the PHASE method, although the known phase between variable sites (obtained by GATK) was taken into account. A total of 105 variation sites were identified. Only two of them presented genotype frequencies that did not fit Hardy- Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) expectations. Eighteen of these SNPs presented strong association with at least one pigmentation feature. However, if the conservative Bonferroni correction for multiple tests is taken into account, only two associations, both of them involving the rs12203592 SNP, remain significant: allele T associated with light skin and blue eyes. This result is in agreement with previous reports that the rs12203592*T allele leads to reduced IRF4 activation and reduced tyrosinase expression, leading to sun sensitivity and blue eyes. A total of 101 different haplotypes were inferred, and haplotype distribution was in agreement to HWE expectations. When haplotypes were subdivided in promoter, coding and 3\'UTR haplotypes, 17, 29 and 37 different haplotypes were observed, respectively. Various associations were identified, particularly involving the most frequent promoter haplotype, the two most frequent coding (only one of them with allele rs12203592*T), and the most frequent 3\'UTR, all of them with light skin, blue eyes, brown hair and hair greying. These results suggest that other variation sites besides rs12203592, when considered in a haplotypic background, are associated with human pigmentation.

The geomorphic diversity (or the natural variability within and between geomorphic structures) of fluvial systems provides an indication of river health and biological activity as well as their resilience to change. Despite this, few studies have investigated the controls on geomorphic diversity and, as a result, our understanding of this fundamental aspect of rivers is incomplete. Similarly, investigations into the controlling factors on channel morphology tend to be limited in scope. For example, the influence of physical and anthropogenic external factors on the morphology of fluvial systems has typically been examined through the study of the effects of a single factor (e.g., woody debris) on either the cross-sectional form, the shape of the long-profile, the bed structure or the channel pattern of a river system. As rivers have been shown to adjust their channel morphologies to external controls (Knighton 2000) over all four of these degrees of freedom, isolating individual degrees of freedom may miss out on the complex interactions that occur between them. The aim of this study, therefore, is to examine the multi-scale and multifactor influences of physical and anthropogenic external factors (particularly confinement, riparian vegetation, woody debris, obstructions and anthropogenic impoundment) on the geomorphic structure and diversity of river systems at a range of scales, using the Turon River in Central West New South Wales as a case study. In this study, river channels were examined at four scales (i.e., cross-section, long-profile, bedform and bar unit) to assess the influence of five external factors (confinement, riparian vegetation, woody debris, obstructions (i.e., islands and in-channel bars) and anthropogenic impoundment (i.e., a causeway)) on the geomorphic diversity of the Turon River. To accomplish this, a total of 231 cross-sections were surveyed over a 600 m reach. These data were then used to calculate the size and variability of cross-sections, long-profiles, bedforms and bar units within the study reach. Morphology and diversity at each scale (and for each factor) were tested for statistical differences using non-parametric uni-variate approaches. The results presented in this study suggest that the presence of obstructions is the most influential external factor on channel size in the Turon River, affecting the size and shape of cross-sections, long-profiles and, to a lesser extent, bedforms and bar-units. That is, obstructed channels were found to be significantly different to channels devoid of obstructions insofar as they were smaller, shallower, contained steeper channel gradients had more vertical variation in their long-profiles, had longer pool-riffle sequence spacing and were of a different channel form to channel reaches devoid of obstructions. Obstructions, in association with the presence and type of woody debris, were also observed to be the most influential factors on the diversity of river channels. For example, the presence of either obstructions or woody debris increased the variability of crosssectional and bedform parameters, while the type of woody debris present influenced the variability of the long-profile’s vertical and angular variations (i.e., the vertical and angular variations in long-profiles containing in-channel woody debris were less variable than those with on-bank woody debris). Importantly, cross-sections are impacted upon more than long profiles, with their size and variability affected by both large-scale external factors (e.g., confinement and riparian vegetation) and small-scale influences (e.g., obstructions and impoundments). For example, cross-sections within confined reaches were found to be larger but less diverse than crosssections in unconfined channels, while the reverse is true for obstructed cross-sections (i.e., obstructed cross-sections were smaller and more diverse than unobstructed channels). Conversely, pool-riffle sequences were the least affected river components, only being influenced by obstructions and, to a lesser extent, woody debris. That is, bar-units within obstructed channels were smaller, longer and more asymmetric than bar-units within channels devoid of obstructions. The results presented in this study also indicate that the variability of channel characteristics was affected more by the influence of external factors than channel dimensions. Additionally, the findings of this study indicate a reversal in the influence external factors have on the size and shape of a channel and its diversity. That is, smaller channels were found to be more diverse than larger channels. This is the first study to examine the influence of multiple factors on multiple scales within a river reach. The results of this investigation illustrate that river systems have complex responses to a combination of different physical and anthropogenic external factors that are evident at multiple scales (from cross-sections through to bar units). Additionally, it has shown that interactions between the external factors in a reach can result in a highly geomorphically diverse environment.

Cultural diversity in the workplace is the presence of multiple cultures or groups within the work environment. This diversity in culture can be as a result of a difference in origin or nationality, difference in society, difference in religion or a difference in tradition. A multinational company (MNC), also referred to as a transnational company is an organisation that is registered and operates in multiple countries but is managed from the home country. Today’s ever increasing rate of globalization and the expansion of organisations into countries other than their own has created workplaces where cultural diversity is the norm and where workplaces are no longer characterized by a single or monoculture. This study explores the cultural diversity of an Argentinian multinational company, My Multinational Company (MMC), operating in Argentina and South Africa. MMC is a market leader in the production, procurement and export of citrus products. There is a plethora of information on cultural diversity which identifies various factors which influence cultural diversity. The purpose of this study is therefore to enhance the current understanding of cultural diversity within a multinational company by identifying the factors which influence cultural diversity in a multinational company. The approach to this study is quantitative in nature and the paradigm to be followed is positivistic, based on an empirical study and questionnaire. The empirical study assesses previous work relating to cultural diversity and identifies the factors which influence cultural diversity. The questionnaire was developed from the literature and distributed to MMC employees in Argentina and South Africa in order to determine their similarities and differences. The results of the empirical study identified areas of improvement for MMC. Recommendations were then made based on the literature review and the analysis of the empirical results.

Cephalopods constitute an important faunistic group in marine ecosystems, representing keystone elements in marine food webs. Additionally, they are an important fishing resource, and their contribution to worldwide fishery landings has been rising significantly over the last decades. In the Mediterranean Sea, several local short-term studies on cephalopod abundance and distribution exist, but few integrate longer time scales and larger areas. The present thesis work combines large-scale, long-term studies on cephalopods community composition, diversity and abundance (Part I) with small-scale, local case studies around the Balearic Islands (Part II). First, a community analysis was conducted at the whole Mediterranean scale in order to describe the present status and reveal possible differences between the western and the eastern Mediterranean sub-basins (Chapter 2). The aim was to compare assemblage structures between sub-basins together with the influence of large-scale environmental gradients on species composition. While basins did not differ significantly in cephalopod species composition, relative species contributions varied. Cephalopods are very sensitive to environmental changes, and adapt quickly due to their short life cycle and typically seasonal semelparity impeding generation buffering. Therefore sea surface temperature (SST) and chlorophyll a (Chl a) were hypothesised and documented as important drivers of cephalopod assemblages. While their importance differed between sub-basins, depth was confirmed as the most important factor structuring cephalopod communities. At the same spatial scale, cephalopod diversity was analysed during two decades (Chapter 3). Results revealed the absence of clear longitudinal or latitudinal gradients in cephalopod diversity, combined with no distinct temporal trends over the last twenty years. Besides, temporal changes in diversity varied between various Mediterranean sub-regions. Location, depth, SST and productivity regime resulted to influence diversity. To assess whether environmental variability impacts cephalopod populations at species level, the influence of SST and surface primary production on the spatial structuring and the population dynamics of two commercially important cephalopod species was investigated (Chapter 4). Although Octopus vulgaris and Illex coindetii exhibit contrasting life history traits and inhabit different habitats, long-term abundance trends and synchronic behaviour of their populations was similar, and population sub-structuring across the Mediterranean Sea were revealed. In consistency with former chapters, SST and Chl a regimes were shown to be significant drivers of distribution patterns and inter-annual abundance fluctuations. The motivation for the second part of the thesis was fuelled by the present situation in the Mediterranean Sea, where cephalopod stocks are presumably overexploited, but where their ad-hoc assessment and management is far from being implemented. To contribute to existing knowledge of the current situation in the Balearic Sea, a case study on cuttlefish fishery, life-history and population dynamics was conducted using short-term and intra-annual data (Chapter 5). Possible drivers of cuttlefish abundance fluctuations were analysed, revealing significant influences of SST and local climatic variability. While the study provided an overview of possible intrinsic and extrinsic drivers of cuttlefish population fluctuations in the Balearic Sea, the next step was applying stock assessment techniques to cuttlefish and squid fisheries of this area (Chapter 6). Being the first application of depletion methods to Mediterranean cephalopod stocks, the study combined information of those two fisheries with the evaluation of this stock assessment method for short life cycle species. Results uncovered existing problems and suggested that the current sampling scheme under the EU-Data Collection Framework is inadequate for cephalopods in view of the assessment´s data requirements. Consequently, a modification of the existing scheme was proposed.
Los cefalópodos constituyen un grupo faunístico importante en los ecosistemas marinos, representando elementos clave en la estructura y dinámica de las redes tróficas. Además, son un importante recurso pesquero y su contribución a los desembarcos pesqueros mundiales se ha incrementado significativamente en las últimas décadas. En el Mar Mediterráneo existen varios estudios locales sobre la abundancia y distribución de cefalópodos, pero pocos integran escalas temporales largas y áreas extensas. Esta tesis combina estudios sobre la estructura de la comunidad, la diversidad y la abundancia de cefalópodos a gran escala espacio-temporal (Parte I) con estudios a escala local alrededor de las Islas Baleares (Parte II). En primer lugar, se realizó un análisis de la comunidad de cefalópodos a escala de todo el Mediterráneo para describir el estado actual y determinar posibles diferencias entre las sub-cuencas occidental y oriental (Capítulo 2). El objetivo fue comparar la estructura de las comunidades faunísticas entre estas dos sub-cuencas y analizar la influencia de gradientes ambientales a gran escala sobre la composición específica. Aunque no se observaron diferencias significativas en la composición específica, las contribuciones relativas de las diferentes especies variaron entre ambas cuencas. Debido a su corto ciclo vital y estrategia reproductiva semélpara, los cefalópodos son muy sensibles a los cambios ambientales, adaptándose a ellos con relativa rapidez. Se esperaba, por tanto, que factores ambientales como la temperatura superficial del mar (SST) y el contenido de clorofila a (Chl a) fueran factores importantes en la estructuración de las comunidades de cefalópodos. Si bien su importancia difirió entre las dos sub-cuencas, se confirmó que la profundidad era el factor estructural más importante en dichas comunidades. Se analizaron también cambios en la diversidad específica de las comunidades de cefalópodos a escala de todo el Mediterráneo durante los últimos 20 años (Capítulo 3). Los resultados no mostraron ninguna tendencia temporal ni espacial (latitud, longitud) clara y homogénea en la diversidad. Las únicas tendencias temporales observadas variaron entre diferentes sub-regiones, siendo la posición geográfica, profundidad, SST y productividad los principales factores determinantes de estas tendencias. Para confirmar la importancia de la variabilidad ambiental a nivel específico, se analizó la influencia de la SST y la producción primaria en la estructura espacial y la dinámica poblacional de dos especies de cefalópodos de importancia comercial (Capítulo 4). Aunque Octopus vulgaris e Illex coindetii exhiben diferentes estrategias vitales y viven en diferentes hábitats, las tendencias temporales a largo plazo en su abundancia y el comportamiento sincrónico de sus poblaciones fueron similares, observándose sub-poblaciones temporalmente persistentes a lo largo de todo el Mediterráneo. En consonancia con los capítulos anteriores, la SST y Chla resultaron ser factores significativos en la definición de patrones de distribución y fluctuaciones interanuales de la abundancia. La segunda parte de la tesis estaba motivada por la situación actual de los cefalópodos en el Mar Mediterráneo, donde no existen medidas de evaluación y gestión específica para este grupo y algunas de sus poblaciones se encuentran sobreexplotadas. Para contribuir al conocimiento de la situación actual en el Mar Balear, se analizó la pesquería, ciclo vital y dinámica poblacional de la sepia utilizando series temporales intra-anuales (Capítulo 5). El análisis de diferentes factores ambientales reveló que la SST y la variabilidad climática local influían significativamente en las fluctuaciones de abundancia de la especie. En un trabajo posterior (Capítulo 6) se aplicaron técnicas de evaluación de stocks a las pesquerías de sepia y calamar de las Islas Baleares utilizando datos procedentes de la EU Data Collection Framework (DCF). Hasta donde sabemos, este trabajo constituye la primera aplicación de los Lesly-Delury Depletion Methods a stocks de cefalópodos del Mediterráneo. Los resultados demostraron que el esquema actual de muestreo de la DCF es inadecuado para la evaluación de cefalópodos y se proponen posibles modificaciones.
Els cefalòpodes constitueixen un grup faunístic important als ecosistemes marins, essent elements clau a les xarxes tròfiques. A més, són importants recursos pesquers i la seva contribució als desembarcs pesquers mundials s’ha incrementat en les últimes dècades. representant al voltant del 30% de la captura desembarcada a nivell mundial. Al Mar Mediterrani existeixen varis estudis locals sobre l’abundància i distribució de cefalòpodes, però pocs integren escales temporals llargues i àrees extenses. Aquesta tesi combina estudis sobre la composició de la comunitat, la diversitat i l’abundància de cefalòpodes a gran escala espaciotemporal (Part I) amb estudis a escala local al voltant de les Illes Balears (Part II). En primer lloc, es va realitzar un anàlisi de les comunitats de cefalòpodes a escala de tot el Mediterrani per descriure l’estat actual i determinar possibles diferències entre les sub-conques occidental i oriental (Capítol 2). L’objectiu fou comparar l’estructura de les comunitats faunístiques entre sub-conques i analitzar la influència de gradients ambientals a gran escala sobre la composició específica. Tot i que no s’observaren diferències significatives en la composició específica, les contribucions relatives de les diferents espècies variaren entre sub-conques. Degut al seu cicle vital curt i estratègia reproductiva semèlpara els cefalòpodes són molt sensibles als canvis ambientals, adaptant-se a ells amb relativa rapidesa. S’esperava, per tant, que factors ambientals com la temperatura superficial del mar (SST) i el contingut de clorofil·la a (Chla) fossin factors importants en l’estructuració de les comunitats de cefalòpodes. Si bé la seva importància va diferir entres les dues sub-conques, es va confirmar que la profunditat era el factor estructural més important en aquestes comunitats. S’analitzaren també canvies en la diversitat específica de les comunitats de cefalòpodes a escala de tot el Mediterrani durant els últims 20 anys (Capítol 3). Els resultats no mostraren cap tendència temporal ni espacial (latitud, longitud) clara i homogènia en la diversitat. Les úniques tendències temporals observades variaren entre diferents sub-regions, essent la posició geogràfica, profunditat, SST i productivitat els principals factors determinants d’aquestes tendències. Per tal de confirmar la importància de la variabilitat ambiental a nivell específic, es va investigar la influència de la SST i la producció primària en l’estructuració espacial i la dinàmica poblacional de dues espècies de cefalòpodes d’importància comercial (Capítol 4). Tot i que Octopus vulgaris i Illex coindetii tenen característiques vitals diferents i viuen en hàbitats diferents, les tendències temporals a llarg plaç en la seva l’abundància i el comportament sincrònic de les seves poblacions va ser similar, observant-se sub-poblacions temporalment persistents al llarg del Mediterrani. En consonància amb els capítols anteriors, la SST i Chla resultaren ser factors significatius en la definició de patrons de distribució i fluctuacions interanuals de l’abundància. La segona part de la tesi estava motivada per la situació actual dels cefalòpodes al Mar Mediterrani, on no existeixen mesures d’avaluació i gestió específica per aquest grup i algunes de les seves poblacions es troben sobre-explotades. Per contribuir al coneixement de la situació actual al Mar Balear, es va analitzar la pesqueria, cicle vital i dinàmica poblacional de la sípia utilitzant sèries temporals intra-anuals (Capítol 5). L’anàlisi de diferents factors ambientals va revelar que la SST i la variabilitat climàtica local influïen significativament en les fluctuacions d’abundància de l’espècie. En un treball posterior (Capítol 6) s’aplicaren tècniques d’avaluació d’stocks a les pesqueries de sípia i calamar de les Illes Balears utilitzant dades procedents de la EU Data Collection Framework (DCF). Fins on sabem, aquest treball constitueix la primera aplicació dels Lesly-Delury Depletion Methods a stocks de cefalòpodes del Mediterrani. Els resultats demostraren que l’esquema actual de mostratge de la DCF és inadequat per a l’avaluació de cefalòpodes i es proposen possibles modificacions.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, 2007.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 89-106). Also available via the World Wide Web: http://etd.lsu.edu/docs/available/etd-06272007-084024/unrestricted/CETP_diss_2007_06_21.pdf

Le droit peut rencontrer le non-droit. Ceci est possible et avéré car le processus judiciaire de l’adéquation d’une solution juridique abstraite à un cas concret d’espèce impose au juge nécessairement une adaptation au droit applicable. Ceci est particulièrement vrai en droit international car l’adaptation du droit en vue de son application l’amène à glisser vers une ouverture vers des éléments étrangers au droit.Cette étude vise à fournir une systématisation théorique de la qualification et de l’utilisation par le juge international du facteur extra-juridiqueLa réflexion doit alors débuter par une première identification des facteurs extra-juridiques dans le raisonnement judiciaire, et cela, à travers une lecture exégétique de la jurisprudence consultative et contentieuse. L’identification de tels éléments étrangers au droit permettra ainsi la détermination et l’analyse des critères utilisés par le juge international et l’existence d’une éventuelle taxinomie entre les différents facteurs.Si le juge international accepte le recours au non-droit, une telle ouverture n’est pas sans signification. La portée des facteurs extra-juridiques sur la jurisprudence de la Cour doit alors être recherchée. Il s’agit d’une portée double, d’une part normative, et d’autre part substantielle. Les facteurs extra-juridiques ont en effet un rôle de structuration du discours juridique international, lorsqu’intégrés au droit, car ils facilitent le travail d’individualisation des différentes espèces à travers leur rôle adjuvant dans l’interprétation des faits et car ils facilitent également le travail de contextualisation des décisions à travers leur façonnage de la norme internationale. Les facteurs extra-juridiques disposent également d’un rôle dans l’évolution de la norme internationale car ils contribuent à la diversité culturelle des juges de la Cour, et de ce fait, sont eux-même vecteurs d’interdisciplinarité, tout en permettant une interprétation évolutive de la norme international et en contribuant à l’ouverture vers de tendances nouvelles
Law can meet non-law. This is possible and true since the judicial process of adequacy of an abstract judicial solution to a concrete case imposes an adaptation to the applicable law. This is particularly correct in international law field because the law adaptation to its application brings it to open itself to foreign element of the law.This study intends to provide a theoretical systematization of the qualification and the use of extra-legal factor by the international judge.Reflexion must begin with a first identification of extra-legal factors in the legal thinking through an exegetic lecture of advisory proceedings and contentious cases. The identification of these elements strangers to law will allow the determination and the analysis of the criteria used by international judge(s) and the existence of an eventual classification between such different factors.If international judge accepts to have resort to lawlessness, this opening is not meaningless. Extra-legal factors’ scope on case law must be researched. It’s about a double scope, firstly normative and secondly substantial. Extra-legal factors do have indeed a role in the structuration of international law speech, once integrated to law, because they facilitate the different cases’ individualisation work through their helping role in facts’ interpretation and because they facilitate the decisions’ contextualization work as well, through an international rule shaping. They also have a role in the evolution of international rule since they contribute to the cultural diversity of the ICJ’s judges and, thereby, they become vectors of interdisciplinarity, while they allow an evolutive interpretation of international rule and they contribute to the opening to new tendances

Abstract The high increase in traffic and data rate for future generations of mobile communication systems, with simultaneous requirement for reduced power consumption, makes Multihop Cellular Networks (MCNs) an attractive technology. To exploit the potentials of MCNs a number of new network paradigms are proposed in this thesis. First, a new algorithm for efficient relaying topology control is presented to jointly optimize the relaying topology, routing and scheduling resulting in a two dimensional or space time routing protocol. The algorithm is aware of intercell interference (ICI), and requires coordinated action between the cells to jointly choose the relaying topology and scheduling to minimize the system performance degradation due to ICI. This framework is extended to include the optimization of power control. Both conventional and cooperative relaying schemes are considered. In addition, a novel sequential genetic algorithm (SGA) is proposed as a heuristic approximation to reconfigure the optimum relaying topology as the network traffic changes. Network coding is used to combine the uplink and downlink transmissions, and incorporate it into the optimum bidirectional relaying with ICI awareness. Seeking for a more tractable network model to effectively use context awareness and relying on the latest results on network information theory, we apply a hexagonal tessellation for inner partition of the cell into smaller subcells of radius r. By using only one single topology control parameter (r), we jointly optimize routing, scheduling and power control to obtain the optimum trade-off between throughput, delay and power consumption in multicast MCNs. This model enables high resolution optimization and motivates the further study of network protocols for MCNs. A new concept for route discovery protocols is developed and the trade-off between cooperative diversity and spatial reuse is analyzed by using this model. Finally, a new architecture for MCN is considered where multihop transmissions are performed by a Delay Tolerant Network, and new solutions to enhance the performance of multicast applications for multimedia content delivery are presented. Numerical results have shown that the algorithms suggested in this thesis provide significant improvement with respect to the existing results, and are expected to have significant impact in the analysis and design of future cellular networks
Tiivistelmä Tiedonsiirron ja tiedonsiirtonopeuksien suuri kasvu sekä tehonkulutuksen pieneneminen tulevien sukupolvien matkapuhelinjärjestelmissä tekevät monihyppyiset matkapuhelinverkot houkutteleviksi vaihtoehdoiksi. Tässä työssä esitetään uusia tiedonsiirtoverkkojen paradigmoja monihyppyisten matkapuhelinverkkojen hyödyntämiseksi. Työssä esitellään uusi algoritmi tehokkaaseen releointitopologian hallintaan, joka optimoi yhtäaikaisesti topologian, reitityksen sekä lähetyshetkien ajoituksen ja mahdollistaa tila-aika-reititysprotokollan toteutuksen. Esitetty algoritmi huomioi solujen keskinäishäiriön ja vaaditulla solujen välisellä koordinoidulla hallinnalla saadaan yhdessä valittua topologia ja ajoitus, jotka minimoivat solujen keskinäisistä häiriöistä johtuvan suorituskyvyn heikentymisen. Myöhemmin tätä viitekehystä on laajennettu lisäämällä siihen tehonsäädön optimointi. Työssä on tutkittu sekä perinteisiä että kooperatiivisia releointimenetelmiä. Lisäksi työssä esitetään uusi geneettinen algoritmi heuristiseksi approksimaatioksi verkon liikenteen muutoksen vaatimaan releointitopologian uudelleen järjestelyyn. Työssä tarkastellaan lisäksi verkkokoodausta ylä- ja alasuuntaan tapahtuvan tiedonsiirron yhdistämiseksi sisällyttämällä se solujen keskinäishäiriön huomioivaan kahdensuuntaiseen releointiin. Etsittäessä paremmin mukautuvaa ja kontekstitietoisuutta hyödyntävää verkkomallia, joka käyttää hyväkseen viimeisimpiä verkkojen informaatioteoreettisia tuloksia, voidaan verkon solut pilkkoa pienempiin kuusikulmaisiin alisoluihin. Käyttämällä ainoastaan näiden alisolujen sädettä r voidaan puolestaan verkon reititys, ajoitus ja tehon säätö optimoida yhtäaikaisesti saavuttaen paras mahdollinen kompromissi verkon läpäisyn, viiveen ja tehonkulutuksen välillä. Kehitetty malli mahdollistaa korkean resoluution optimoinnin ja motivoi uusien verkkoprotokollien kehitystä monihyppyisissä matkapuhelinverkoissa. Tätä mallia käyttäen esitellään myös uusi konsepti reitinetsintäprotokollille sekä analysoidaan kooperatiivisen diversiteetin ja tila-avaruudessa tapahtuvan uudelleenkäytön välistä kompromissiratkaisua. Lopuksi työssä tarkastellaan monihyppyisen matkapuhelinverkon uutta arkkitehtuuria, jossa monihyppylähetykset suoritetaan viivesietoisella verkolla ja esitetään uusia ratkaisuja multimediasisällön monilähetysten tehokkuuden parantamiseksi. Työssä saadut tulokset osoittavat, että ehdotetut algoritmit parantavat järjestelmien suorituskykyä verrattuna aiemmin tiedossa olleisiin tuloksiin. Työn tuloksilla voidaan olettaa myös olevan suuri vaikutus tulevaisuuden matkapuhelinverkkojen analysointiin ja suunnitteluun

Le réseau de distribution occupe une place centrale dans la transition énergétique. Cela se traduit par deux modifications clés pour le réseau : une (r)évolution des usages et une (r)évolution numérique. Dans ce contexte, cette thèse commence par dresser une nouvelle cartographie des usages des données provenant des compteurs intelligents. À partir de cette cartographie, la thèse va approfondir deux thématiques centrales d'une grande importance dans le contexte de transition énergétique. La première est une analyse du coefficient de foisonnement des charges Basse Tension (BT) et de son estimation. La seconde concerne l'estimation des courbes de charge des clients du réseau BT à partir d'une méthode innovante
The distribution grid occupies a central position in the energy transition. This results in two key changes for the network: an (r)evolution of uses and a digital (r)evolution. In this context, this thesis begins by creating a new mapping of the uses of data from smart meters. Building upon this mapping, the thesis will delve into two central themes of great importance in the context of energy transition. The first is an analysis of the Diversity Factor of Low Voltage (LV) charges and its estimation. The second involves estimating the load curves of customers on the LV grid using an innovative method

Le genre Aeromonas regroupe des bactéries ubiquitaires vivant essentiellement dans les environnements hydriques. Ces pathogènes opportunistes de l’homme et de nombreux animaux possèdent un large répertoire de facteurs associés à la virulence. Bien que des pathotypes aient été proposés et que certaines espèces semblent plus fréquemment isolées en clinique humaine et vétérinaire, leur pouvoir pathogène demeure mal compris, notamment en raison du faible nombre d’études fonctionnelles et du manque d’investigations tenant compte de la diversité génétique et de la complexité des comportements biologiques du genre Aeromonas.Nous avons émis l’hypothèse que chez un pathogène opportuniste d’origine environnementale aussi polyvalent et ubiquitaire qu’Aeromonas, la structuration en complexes d’espèces avec une remarquable diversité génétique/génomique des populations, le polymorphisme des facteurs de virulence et les interactions au sein de communautés « pathogènes » puissent être des facteurs d’adaptation au comportement pathogène. Afin de vérifier cette hypothèse, nous avons étudié i) la diversification au sein d’un complexe d’espèces, « A. media », utilisé comme modèle au moyen d’une étude de population intégrant la génétique et la phylogénie multilocus, les mécanismes d’évolution, la génomique comparative mais également les données phénotypiques, de modes de vie et d’habitats et, ii) la patho-génomique de facteurs de virulence reconnus (aérolysine, entérotoxines thermostable et thermolabile, exotoxine A, protéase à sérine, composants et effecteurs du système de sécrétion de type III, et flagelline latérale) pour une population représentative de la diversité des espèces actuellement connue dans le genre (30 espèces) et iii) le comportement pathogène in vivo (modèle Caenorhabditis elegans) et in vitro (cytotoxicité et cytoadhésion, production de biofilm, motilité) et la signalisation intercellulaire (quorum-sensing de type I) à l’échelle de populations impliquées dans les aéromonoses mixtes (5% des aéromonoses humaines) définies par l’isolement d’au moins 2 clones distincts d’Aeromonas.Le phénomène de spéciation décrit avec l’exemple du complexe A. media, agrégeant 3 espèces génomiques, démontre qu’Aeromonas possède une structure de population en complexes d’espèces dont la diversité génétique et génomique ainsi que les modes d’évolution (mutations et recombinaisons) révèlent divers potentiels adaptatifs et patho-adaptatifs associés à l’émergence de lignées. Au sein du complexe A. media, l’espèce A. rivipollensis semble plus adaptée à un mode de vie associé à des hôtes et possède des gènes spécifiques de résistance à des stress environnementaux. Aeromonas possède de nombreux facteurs de virulence présentant diverses histoires évolutives. Certains montrent une phylogénie dépendante de l’évolution du core-génome, suggérant l’implication de ces gènes dans des processus de spéciation en relation avec l’adaptation à diverses niches. L’étude des performances de PCRs de virulence a révélé des insuffisances majeures dans la sensibilité des méthodes évaluées principalement liées au polymorphisme génétique des facteurs de virulence. Nous avons également montré que des populations mixtes d’Aeromonas isolées d’échantillons cliniques pouvaient modifier le déroulement de l’infection en modèles in vivo et in vitro probablement par mécanisme de coopération ou de compétition avec mise en jeu de signaux de communication cellule-cellule.L’importante complexité d’Aeromonas retrouvée à travers la structure de population, le polymorphisme des facteurs de virulence et les comportements de multicellularité sont autant de facteurs potentiels d’adaptation au comportement infectieux qui permettent d’expliquer au moins en partie les difficultés rencontrées dans l’élucidation de pouvoir pathogène de ces bactéries
Aeromonas groups ubiquitous bacteria mainly living in aquatic environments. These opportunistic pathogens for human and numerous animals have a large repertoire of virulence-associated factors. Although pathotypes were proposed and despite some species are more frequently isolated in human and animal infections, their pathogenicity is still poorly understood, mostly because very few comprehensive functional studies are available and because investigations taking into account the genetic diversity and the biological complexity within the genus are lacking.We assumed that for an opportunistic bacterial pathogen of environmental origin as versatile and ubiquitous as Aeromonas, the population structure in complex of species, the outstanding genetic/genomic diversity, the polymorphism of virulence factors and the interactions within pathogenic populations can act as factors driving the adaptation to a pathogenic behaviour. To test this hypothesis, we studied i) the diversification within “A. media”, a complex of species used as a model by a population study that included multilocus genetics, phylogenetics, evolutionary features, comparative genomics, as well as phenotypics, lifestyle and habitat ii) the patho-genomics of well-known virulence factors in aeromonads (aerolysin, thermolabile and thermostable enterotoxins, exotoxin A, serine protease, components and effectors of type III secretion system, and lateral flagellin) in a population that is representative of the known taxonomic diversity in the genus (30 species) and iii) the pathogenic behaviour using an in vivo model (Caenorhabditis elegans), an in vitro model (cytotoxicity, cytoadhesion, biofilm production, motility), and intercellular signals production (type I quorum-sensing) for populations involved in mixed aeromonosis, i.e. 5% of human aeromonosis defined by the isolation of at least 2 distinct clones.The phenomenon of speciation described in the complex “A. media” that aggregates 3 genomic species demonstrates that Aeromonas harbours a population structured in complexes of closely related species whose genetic and genomic diversity, as well as evolution mode (mutations and recombinations) reveal a wide adaptative and patho-adaptative potential linked to lineage emergence. Among the complex “A. media”, the species A. rivipollensis seems to be more adapted to a host-associated lifestyle and harbours specific genes for the resistance to environmental stress. Aeromonas has a wide range of virulence-associated genes, which presented diverse evolutive history. Some of them display a phylogeny linked to the core-genome evolution. These results suggest that these genes are involved in speciation processes probably related to niches adaptation. The evaluation of performances of virulence PCRs revealed major lacks of sensitivity of tested methods mainly due to the genetic polymorphism of the virulence factors. By using in vivo models and in vitro models, we also showed that Aeromonas mixed populations recovered from clinical samples could change the course of infection, likely through a cooperative or competitive mechanism that involves cell-to-cell signalling.The high complexity of Aeromonas results from its population structure, virulence factors polymorphism and multicellular behaviours. They are all putative adaptation factors to a pathogenic behaviour that may explain at least partially the difficulties encountered to elucidate pathogenicity of these bacteria

Affirmative action to redress past discriminatory practices is being implemented on a growing scale in the world, and is creating more diversity in the workforce of organizations. With the implementation of affirmative action in organizations, dramatic changes in the composition of the workforce takes place, especially at management level. Many leaders and managers have a poor awareness of the impact of changes in workforce composition on individual and organizational performance and its management. The central issue in dealing with workforce diversity is power-sharing. A heightened awareness in managers with regard to workforce diversity means becoming open to differences between employees. It also presuppose the creation of an inclusive environment that new groups will need to be let into positions of decisionmaking and influence. Beyond opening the system, organizations will need to create strategies to help staff at all levels to overcome their resistance to this demographic transformation, and deal with one another in harmonious, co-operative ways. Racial fears and tensions have historically shaped the management style of dominant groups to the point where thoughtless prejudice and stereotypical reactions have become the norm. Reactions of workers to such a management style reflects distrust. Diversity-related performance problems can be encountered in organizations, due to the role that diversity plays in individual and organizational behaviour. Dominant groups may project prejudice and stereotyping that result in relationship and task performance problems. Negative effects like absenteeism, lack of training and so forth, give rise to inefficiency and low productivity. Thus, diversity-related problems can increase with increases in diversity (due to affirmative action and employment equity programmes), resulting in an increase in its negative effects on organizational efficiency, if diversity is not managed. The South African economy cannot afford the disregard for the management of diversity. Such disregard poses three dilemmas. The first dilemma is the reality of the consequences of Affirmative action in the context of the management of diversity. Whilst any increase in the level of task non-competitiveness cannot be afforded and accommodated (which in itself is the result of increasing diversity that is not managed), affirmative action has to be implemented. Against this background, it is obvious that South African organizations do not have the option of not understanding the dynamics of affirmative action and its role in the dynamics of workforce diversity. The second dilemma is that there exists a research-need to understand workforce diversity and its issues (diversity-related problems) in South Africa as a prerequisite for developing strategies that are more effective than legislation in dealing with employee-perceptions of equity in the workplace. The third dilemma is the issue of knowing how to manage diversity. Most research in the world to date on was done on “unmanaged diversity”. The status quo of diversity in South Africa is such that diversity related problems are intrinsic to the types of diversity discussed in this study. Diversity will increase in South Africa, which may facilitate the deterioration of the status quo. To reduce the possible negative impacts of this development, the need exists for research to address the three dilemmas discussed. The research method included firstly a literature study on the most recent appropriate perspectives on the dynamics of workforce diversity, and secondly a research design that was used to determine the diversity-related organization form factors of workforce diversity in South Africa. In chapter 2 workforce diversity was studied in the context of Behavioural science, specifically in its contribution to organizational behaviour, with emphasis on group behaviour. Shortcomings of the established Interactional Model of Cultural of Diversity (IMCD) in explaining diversity-related group behaviour is remedied to satisfy research requirements of this study. A new paradigm of workforce diversity is created by integrating research perspectives on diverse-team processes, change-models and the IMCD. The outcome of this study is tested within the context of the results of a pilot-study done in 1997 on the progress made in managing diversity in South Africa. In chapter 3 the management of workforce diversity is studied. The transformation of homogeneity through affirmative action to increased diversity, is investigated. Dimensions of workforce diversity and its role and nature in diversity processes is studied. Most relevant empirical South African research perspectives on the dimensions of diversity in South Africa are integrated with conclusions of chapters 2 and 3 in the construction of a Cultural-specific change model of workforce diversity. In chapter 4 the research design was outlined The diversity-related organization form (mono-cultural, non discriminatory or multicultural), dimensions and factors of workforce diversity is empirically determined at two levels: Firstly, organization form, dimensions, and factors of workforce diversity are identified in a descriptive study. Secondly, the factors of workforce diversity is then determined in a causal study. In chapter 5 the results were reported in terms of the dimensions and organization form that was determined, and the identified factors. The results of the determination of the factors, are presented in the context of a theoretical model of workforce diversity in South Africa, that was established in the causal study. In chapter 6 conclusions and recommendations were reported strictly on the basis of the data of the empirical study and the results. The factors that were determined, are presented as transformational (long-term leadership), and transactional (short-term management) factors. Recommendations are made on appropriate strategies and interventions to manage workforce diversity. This study has limitations that impose constraints on the scope of the study. The population sample is an unrestricted non-probability convenience sample, with size n = 614. Thus, it is very difficult to estimate precision, and interpretations of variance of the mean statistic has to be done very conservatively. The results of the analysis of covariance to be used in inferential methods is affected by the sample’s status as a convenience sample, as variances affect.
Thesis (DBA (Organizational Behaviour))--University of Pretoria, 2001.
Human Resource Management
unrestricted

Les alpages laitiers des alpes du nord externes (france) representent un type de systeme ecologique original refletant les effets des pratiques d'eleveurs (fertilisation, paturage) combines aux contraintes du milieu montagnard (etage subalpin). Face aux mutations recentes des modes d'exploitation des alpages, des recherches ont ete engagees pour comprendre et prevoir l'impact des pratiques pastorales sur la dynamique de ces pelouses d'altitude. Nous proposons un modele d'evolution de la composition botanique qui integre l'effet des facteurs anthropiques et celui des facteurs edaphiques. Ce modele s'appuie sur une analyse factorielle des correspondances portant sur un echantillonnage de six cent releves floristiques couvrant l'ensemble de la zone d'etude. La reconstitution des trajectoires dynamiques se fait principalement par une approche synchronique, completee par des observations diachroniques qui ont permis de preciser les vitesses d'evolution de la vegetation. L'essentiel des travaux porte sur des situations de deprise: la dynamique de la vegetation y reflete une degradation de la fertilite des sols consecutive a l'abandon ou a l'allegement de la fertilisation. Cette evolution est generalement lente: deux a cinq decennies sont necessaires pour que l'on enregistre des changements notables dans la composition botanique. Les resultats mettent egalement en evidence l'influence des parametres edaphiques sur les limites et le deroulement de ces successions. Les modalites d'evolution de la vegetation et la hierarchie des facteurs sont precisees dans des trajectoires-types qui permettent d'adapter localement la demarche de diagnostic ecologique. Differents indicateurs, relatifs aux processus physiologiques ou demographiques d'evolution de la vegetation, sont testes afin de preciser ou d'anticiper le diagnostic floristique. Les indices de diversite specifique ou factorielle restent d'un usage delicat en raison de leur sensibilite a l'egard des methodes d'echantillonnage et d'observation. Les indices de nutrition minerale font rapidement apparaitre les modifications d'equilibres trophiques qui suivent l'arret ou la reprise de la fertilisation

According to the Habitats Directive (92/43/ECC) a habitat is defined as “the terrestrial or aquatic area, whether entirely natural or semi-natural, differentiated by its geographical, biotic and abiotic characteristics, in which the species live in any state of their life cycle”. Moreover, according to the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (2008/56/EC), each member state has to characterize the diversity of its natural marine spaces by means of the habitats cartography, represented by their biotic characteristics and using appropriate classifications systems. In Catalonia, to fulfill these needs, an exhaustive cartography of the littoral habitats was carried out, characterizing and identifying them according to Corine Biotopes, EUNIS (European Nature Information System) classification and LPRE (Lista Patrón de los Hábitats Españoles) whether they grow over rocks, sand, gravel, pebbles or mud. The littoral zone can be divided into three levels: supralittoral (rarely submerged and usually affected by splash), mediolittoral (emerged and usually swept by the waves) and infralittoral (usually submerged). Organisms are distributed vertically following the humidity gradient and generating a gradual and continuous succession of different communities/habitats from the supralittoral level to the upper infralittoral level. Data derived from the characterization, identification and accurate cartography of coastal marine habitats on rocky shores along the Catalan coast, has allowed the development of this Doctoral Thesis that is divided into three main chapters, two of which have already been published in Scientific Journals
Segons la Directiva Hàbitats (92/43/ECC) un hàbitat es defineix com “una àrea aquàtica o terrestre, tant natural com seminatural, diferenciada per les seves característiques geogràfiques, biòtiques i abiòtiques, on les espècies hi viuen en qualsevol etapa del seu cicle de vida”. A més, d’acord amb la Directiva Marc d’Estratègia Marina (2008/56/EC), cada estat membre té l’obligació de caracteritzar la diversitat dels seus espais naturals marins mitjançant una cartografia dels hàbitats, representats per les seves característiques biòtiques i utilitzant sistemes de classificació apropiats. A Catalunya, per complir amb aquests requeriments, es va realitzar una cartografia exhaustiva dels hàbitats litorals, caracteritzant-los i identificant-los segons els sistemes de classificació CORINE Biotopes, EUNIS (European Nature Information System) i LPRE (Lista Patrón de los Hábitats Españoles), tant si es presentaven sobre roca, sorra, graves, còdols o fangs. La zona litoral pot ser dividida en tres estatges: supralitoral (rarament submergit i afectat regularment pels esquitxos), mediolitoral (emergit i constantment remullat per les onades), i infralitoral (habitualment submergit). Els organismes es distribueixen verticalment seguint el gradient d’humitat, tot generant una successió contínua de diferents comunitats/hàbitats des de l’estatge supralitoral fins a la part superior de l’estatge infralitoral. Les dades provinents de la caracterització, identificació i cartografia acurada dels hàbitats marins costaners rocosos al llarg de la costa catalana, han permès la realització d’aquesta tesi doctoral, la qual es divideix en tres capítols principals, dos dels quals ja han estat publicats en revistes científiques
Programa de Doctorat en Medi Ambient

La fabrique du discontinu apparaît dans les romans des Goncourt sous différents aspects. Elle résulte de la formation des deux frères qui portent un intérêt particulier aux objets rares et aux détails. Se voulant modernes, les écrivains ne cessent de critiquer le roman idéaliste qu’ils considèrent comme une forme usée et montrent une préférence pour le modèle fantaisiste. Dans leur tentative de « tuer le romanesque », les auteurs de En 18.. font du roman un espace de liberté où ils n’hésitent pas à briser la linéarité du récit, à morceler la matière narrative en des petits chapitres, bref, à donner au lecteur un texte laconique qui sollicite sa collaboration. Constitué de plusieurs fragments du Journal, le roman des Goncourt devient le réservoir de textes de première main. La genèse de l’œuvre participe ainsi à la création de la discontinuité et engendre une grande diversité discursive et générique qui deviendra source de la modernité des romans goncourtiens
The fashioning of the discontinuous takes various forms in the novels of Goncourt. It results from the construction of two brothers who have a particular interest in rare objects and details. In a bid to be modern, writers constantly criticize the idealist novel as a used form and show a preference for the whimsical model. In their attempt to "kill the romance", the authors of En 18 ..make the novel a space of freedom where they do not hesitate to break the linearity of the story, to break up the narrative material into small chapters, and to give the reader a terse text that solicits his collaboration. Consisting of several fragments of the Journal, the novel Goncourt becomes the reservoir of firsthand texts. The genesis of the work, thus, contributes to the creation of discontinuity and generates a great discursive and generic diversity that will become the source of the modernity of the Goncourt novels

Abstract The evolution of sociality is often associated with close relatedness and genetic similarity of interacting individuals. However, colonies of advanced social insects (e.g. ants, bees and wasps) characterized by large colony size and division of tasks, are also shaped by acquisition of genetic diversity by polyandry, polygyny, recombination and even by hybridization. The balance between forces selecting for high relatedness on one hand and for improved colony performance though increased genetic diversity on the other hand forms an intriguing area of research. My study has produced the first genetic linkage maps for ants (Acromyrmex echinatior and Pogonomyrmex rugosus) and social wasps (Vespula vulgaris). Together with the findings of earlier honeybee research, it is shown that advanced eusocial insects have higher recombination rates than any other insect (or animal) studied so far. The estimates obtained here were 14 cM/Mb for P. rugosus, 9.7 cM/Mb for V. vulgaris and 6.2 cM/Mb for A. echinatior. Pogonomyrmex harvester ants have a genetic caste determination system in which workers arise from mating between two hybridizing lineages whereas sexuals are produced by within-lineage mating. I evaluated the origin of the lineages and the caste determination system by using 751 variable nuclear genetic markers. Fertile hybrids would lead to introgression, particularly in genomic regions characterized by a high recombination rate and lack of strongly selected loci. The hybridizing lineages (lineage pairs J1/J2 and H1/H2) showed many fixed differences. Nineteen of them were in the constructed linkage map, scattered in different linkage groups. The results suggest that there has been no recent introgression. As the hybrids are viable (as workers), caste differentiation can be affected by many loci scattered throughout the ant genome or by a small number of very strongly selected loci. Genetic diversity in colonies of the ant Formica cinerea is affected by varying levels of polygyny. I tested the hypotheses that the prevalence of endosymbiotic bacteria can vary in polygynous colonies but be either very low or very high in monogynous colonies. However, I found no association between the level of polygyny and endosymbiont prevalence. In addition to Wolbachia, I found two other endosymbiotic bacteria Cardinium and Candidatus Serratia symbiotica which have not been earlier reported from ants. Genetic diversity in insect colonies is affected by polyandry and polygyny. My results indicate that high a recombination rate is also an important factor influencing diversity. Genotypically diverse progenies can enhance colony success, e.g. through effects on division of labour or defence against pathogens. Recombination differs from the other factors in its effects on genetic relatedness among colony members.

Cheaper and more rapid DNA sequencing has led to the accumulation of large amounts of genetic data and has fueled the development of new methods to analyze this data. Using population genetics theory and computational methods we can explore the evolutionary forces that shape genetic variation within and among populations of humans and malaria parasites. Demographic events such as population size change influence current patterns of genetic variation. Accounting for the demographic history of a population is critical in the interpretation of population genetic analyses, particularly in detecting of regions under selection and in making inferences about linkage disequilibrium. Characterizing how recombination rates evolve is critical for the efficient design of association studies and, in turn, the understanding of the genetics behind complex phenotypes. In malaria parasites, recombination is a key element in the creation of a wide array of antigens, which help invade host cells. We examine patterns of genetic variation in humans and malaria and explore how demographic history and recombination rates affect these patterns.

Geoscience attracts few African American and Hispanic/Latino students to the major and has historically not retained women at the same rate as men. Many factors have been proposed to explain these disparities but no quantitative study addressed geoscience diversity at the undergraduate level. To examine potential barriers to recruitment and retention, we interviewed geoscience majors from two large public universities in the U.S. and gathered 'critical incidents,' or life experiences that affected choice of a geoscience major. Critical incidents were classified by time period (when they occurred), grouped by outcome, sorted into categories, and compared by race/ethnicity and gender. Three manuscripts -- each involving different analyses of the critical incident dataset -- comprise this dissertation. Among many findings, our study showed that that white, Hispanic/Latino, and African American students reported different types of experiences affecting major choice while growing up. For instance, 81% of white students reported outdoor experiences (e.g., camping, hiking) as children, whereas Hispanics (33%) and African Americans (22%) reported significantly fewer outdoor experiences from the same time period. Men and women geoscience majors also reported differences. In one example, men (92%) reported at least one positive experience involving career and economics factors; far fewer women (50%) reported the same. Our results can inform recruiting and retention practices. Geoscience programs can provide field trips for all prospective majors, target on-campus advertising towards diverse student groups, meet with academic advisors of incoming freshmen to encourage African American and Hispanic students to enroll in introductory geology courses, and provide major and career information to parents of prospective majors. To better recruit and retain women, geoscience programs can emphasize other, non-economic factors when advertising the degree, promoting internships, and developing field and academic experiences.

Les cellules souches neurales (CSNs) de la zone sous-ventriculaire (ZSV) présentent une activité germinale intense tout au long de la vie d'un individu. Les CSNs postnatales sont régionalisées en microdomaines exprimant des facteurs de transcription spécifiques et générant des sous-types neuronaux distincts dans le bulbe olfactif (BO). Les interneurones calrétinine (CalR+) représentent la plus grande population d'interneurones périglomérulaires (PG) du BO produits après la naissance. Cependant, contrairement à d'autres, il existe peu d'informations concernant leur origine, leur diversité et leur fonction dans le BO, ainsi que les facteurs de transcription impliqués dans leur génération. Des études antérieures ont mis en évidence que les interneurones CalR + PG sont générés à la fois par les microdomaines médial et dorsal de la ZSV, et ont suggéré que le facteur de transcription Sp8 serait impliqué dans leur génération. Ce travail de thèse a eu pour objectif : 1) d'affiner les approches actuelles afin de manipuler l'expression génique dans les CSNs de la ZSV postnatale d'une manière contrôlée temporellement, 2) d'explorer l'origine et la fonction des interneurones CalR + périglomérulaires, 3) d'étudier le rôle du facteur de transcription Sp8 dans le codage transcriptionnel de la spécification des interneurones CalR + périglomérulaires ainsi que leur maturation. Ainsi, une approche d'électroporation postnatale classique a été affinée afin de pouvoir manipuler l'expression des gènes dans les CSNs de la ZSV et ainsi permettre de cartographier le devenir à long terme de la progénie des CSNs et de manipuler génétiquement ces CSNs à une étape précise de leur différentiation. Le perfectionnement de cette approche a permis d'identifier deux sous-populations d'interneurones CalR + présentant des origines spatiales et temporelles différentes après la naissance, ainsi que d'explorer les implications fonctionnelles et morphologiques de cette diversité. Ainsi, une fraction importante et non décrite d'interneurones CalR + PG présente des propriétés de neurones immatures (c'est-à-dire qu'elle reçoit peu d'entrées synaptiques et est faiblement excitable), remettant en question leur rôle dans le traitement de l'information olfactive. Enfin, des manipulations génétiques du facteur de transcription Sp8 à divers stades de la différenciation des interneurones CalR+ ont mis en évidence son rôle dans la survie à long terme des interneurones CalR + PG matures, tout en excluant un rôle dans leur spécification précoce. Ces résultats amène ainsi un éclairage nouveau sur l'origine, la diversité et le codage transcriptionnel des interneurones CalR + PG et appellent à une caractérisation plus précise de leur rôle dans le traitement de l'information olfactive
The subventricular zone (SVZ) is a brain region that shows intense germinal activity throughout postnatal life. The postnatal SVZ is subdivided in microdomains containing neural stem cells (NSCs) that express defined transcription factors and generate distinct neuronal subtypes in the olfactory bulb (OB). Calretinin-expressing (CalR+) interneurons represent the largest population of OB periglomerular interneurons produced after birth. Yet, in contrast to others, limited information exists regarding their origin, diversity and function in the OB, as well as the transcription factors that guide their generation. Previous studies highlighted that CalR+ PG interneurons are generated by both the medial and dorsal SVZ microdomains, and suggested that the transcription factor Sp8 is involved in their generation.This work aimed at 1) refining current approaches for manipulating gene expression in postnatal SVZ NSCs in a temporally controlled manner, 2) exploring the origin and the function of CalR+ periglomerular neurons, 3) investigating the role of Sp8 in the transcriptional coding of CalR+ periglomerular interneurons specification and maturation.Refinement of the classical electroporation approach allowed the long-term fate mapping and timely-controlled genetic manipulation of NSCs of the SVZ. Using this refined approach allowed identifying two subpopulations of CalR+ interneurons that show different spatial and temporal origins after birth, as well as to explore the functional and morphological correlates of this diversity. A large and previously non-described fraction of CalR+ periglomerular interneurons exhibits properties of immature neurons (i.e. little synaptic inputs and weak excitability), questioning their role in olfactory processing. Finally, genetic manipulations of the transcription factor Sp8 at different stages during CalR+ interneuron differentiation highlighted its role in the long-term survival of mature CalR+ periglomerular interneurons, while excluding a role in their early specification. Altogether these results shed new lights on the origin, diversity and transcriptional coding of CalR+ periglomerular i nterneurons and call for a characterization of their role in olfactory processing

I examined a system of 378-riverine rock pools situated along the James River in Richmond, Virginia, to uncover the factors influencing their macroinvertebrate diversity and community composition. I characterized (total = 60) the physical characteristics, water quality, hydrology, and community assemblages in July 2009 for a subset of pools. I examined whether selected environmental factors (pH, nearest neighbor distance, depth, surface area and inundation height) were related to macroinvertebrate diversity and community composition. Species richness and total abundance of all taxa increased with pool pH and surface area. Ordination indicates that nearest neighbor distance (NND) and pH varied significantly among pools. My findings indicate that macroinvertebrate diversity in this rock pool system were mainly related to the surface area, pH and NND.

For decades, sexual expression in older adulthood was a taboo topic in the public discourse and ignored in the empirical literature. As a result of several significant sociocultural changes and medical developments as well as an increasingly older population, however, perspectives are shifting and acceptance and interest in the sexual lives of older adults is growing. The purpose of this dissertation was to investigate sexual well-being in older adulthood and explore its diversity. Study 1 involved a systematic review of the literature on factors associated with the maintenance and cessation of sexual activity in adults 60 years of age and older. Data were extracted from a total of 57 studies and each was assessed for methodological quality. Surprisingly, only four factors (i.e., partner’s interest in sexual activity, past frequency of sexual activity, presence of erectile dysfunction, and partner-related illness) were consistently related, in more than one study, to whether or not older adults were sexually active. Significant variability in study results highlighted methodological caveats of the body of literature, but also the heterogeneity of older adults’ sexuality. Study 2 built upon the findings and recommendations of Study 1 and further examined diversity in sexual well-being. Sexual function and satisfaction, the absence of sexuality-related distress, breadth of sexual experience, and overall frequency of sexual activity were considered as indicators of sexual well-being. The Dual Control Model of Sexual Response (DCM) was used as the theoretical framework in this study of women 50 years of age and older. The DCM posits that sexual response depends on the relative activation of sexual excitatory and sexual inhibitory processes, two separate and independent systems. Study 2 results indicated that, independently, women’s propensities for sexual excitation and sexual inhibition were significantly associated with the majority of the indicators of sexual well-being and the directions of associations were consistent with the tenets of the DCM. The only association that proved not statistically significant was the relationship between sexual excitation and sexual distress. When examined together, sexual excitation and sexual inhibition factors significantly predicted sexual function, satisfaction, and frequency. Sexual distress was predicted more strongly by sexual inhibition factors and sexual breadth by sexual excitation factors. Partner physical and mental health and participant mental health were further identified as moderating variables of these associations. The results of Study 2 expand current knowledge regarding the DCM and its relevance to older women; sexual excitation and sexual inhibition appear to have heuristic value to better understand the variability in sexual activity and well-being in women aged 50 years and older. The results of this dissertation have important implications for the study of sexuality and ageing, perhaps most prominently in terms of highlighting the inter-individual variation in older adulthood and the conclusion that generalizations about “older adults” as a group may not be appropriate.

The objective of this study was to explore how counsellors understand and incorporate ethno-cultural (EC) diversity factors in alcohol and drug (A&D) counselling, in order to glean practical information that may contribute to culturally competent and safe practices. Qualitative interviews within an Interpretive Description (Thorne, 2008) approach were conducted with 23 A&D counsellors, 4 of whom reported serving as both counsellors and supervisors. As per design, additional information rich sources were sought that included interviews with 4 participants identifying as other professionals affiliated with A&D services (program managers, directors and consultants). All participants were affiliated with the Lower Mainland, British Columbia, health authorities. Interviews were analyzed using Miles and Hubermans’ (1994) framework. Counsellors demonstrated varying levels of awareness and positions towards EC differences with conversations ranging from overemphasis on similarities to consideration of EC factors as an ethical and integral part of practice. Participants’ view of “addiction” also seemed to inform how they spoke about the relevance of EC factors in therapy. An integrated approach to A&D care revealed multiple levels of analysis and consideration of clients’ socio-cultural contexts. The addiction as a disease model, however, constructed A&D problems as universal and EC factors as secondary. The A&D organizational context included a discussion of strengths and barriers to provision of services to diverse clients. Perspectives that constructed EC differences as secondary seemed to be accompanied with limited self-reflection and examples of application into practice. On the other hand, reflexive practices embedded within social justice elements pointed to counsellors articulating specific examples of integrating EC factors in therapy. Relevant ethical dimensions as well as implications for practice, theory and research were identified.

The present research proposes a general model of Transnational Teams (TNTs) to investigate how value placed on cultural diversity, cultural adaptation, communication quality, and trust affect the performance of TNTs and their interaction to each other. TNTs contribute to decisions about a firm's total portfolio of transnational interests, global brands and products, organizational configuration, and global sourcing strategy. Qualitative and quantitative methods are applied in this study of thirty members of TNTs from diverse teams. Based on the qualitative and quantitative analysis, relationships between theory and practice are examined. The analysis shows that there is a strong relationship between trust and performance of TNTs.

Dans quelle mesure la prise en compte du fait religieux, par les organisations, participe à l’émergence de nouvelles pratiques managériales ? Telle est la problématique posée par notre thèse. Celle-ci s’articule autour de cinq questions :1) Quel est l’état des représentations du fait religieux dans les organisations ? 2) Dans quelle mesure les représentations, du fait religieux, conditionnent- elles le basculement, de la prise en compte, vers un positionnement lui étant favorable ou défavorable ? 3) En quoi une répartition des organisations, par secteur, par taille…, des postures adoptées par les organisations face au fait religieux éclairerait- elle la compréhension de ce phénomène? 4) Quel est le niveau managérial le plus sollicité par les organisations pour traiter le fait religieux? 5) A quel niveau de traitement les pratiques managériales sont-elles plus appropriées pour éviter une performance réduite du capital humain ?
To what extent the inclusion of the religious fact by the organizations participates in the emergence of new managerial practices? That’s the problematic raised by our study which is built around five questions :1) What’s the state of the religious fact representations in organizations? 2) To what extent the representations of the religious fact determine the consideration's failover, positioning it in a favorable or unfavorable way ? 3) How a distribution of organizations by sector, by size ..., of postures adopted by organizations face to the religious fact would enlighten the understanding of this phenomenon? 4) What’s the managerial level the most solicited by organizations to deal with the religious fact? 5) At what treatment level, are the management practices more appropriate to avoid a reduced performance of human capital?

Archaea are abundant in extreme environments but they are also a prevalent component of microbial communities in soils, marine or freshwater plankton and sediments. Many studies highlighted the prominent role of marine sedimentary Archaea in global nutrient cycles. Less information is available, however, on the diversity, abundance and ecological role of Archaea in freshwater sediments. A serious pitfall for the study of Archaea is their low cultivability under laboratory-controlled conditions thus constraining the progress towards the complete understanding of their metabolic capabilities and ecological functions. Most of the work is thus based on molecular techniques that allow the identification and quantification of target microorganisms without their cultivation. In this PhD project, we applied a combination of high-throughput sequencing and quantitative PCR to investigate the distribution, abundance and composition of archaeal communities in sediments from different freshwater systems (lakes, lagoons and reservoirs encompassing a wide range of conditions and typologies). The work has been focused in two archaeal groups consistently found, and especially abundant, in sediments: the phylum Bathyarchaeota and the class Thermoplasmata
Els arqueus abunden en ambients extrems però també són un component rellevant dels sòls, del plàncton oceànic i lacustre i dels sediments. Molts estudis han destacat la importància dels arqueus en els cicles de nutrients dels sediments marins tant a escala local com global. En canvi, es disposa de menys informació sobre la diversitat, abundància i paper que juguen els arqueus en sediments d’aigua dolça a excepció dels metanògens. Com a dificultat afegida, la majoria d’arqueus sedimentaris no s’han pogut cultivar encara al laboratori, el que dificulta el seu estudi. La solució a aquests problemes passa per l’aplicació de tècniques moleculars que permeten la identificació i recompte dels microorganismes diana sense necessitat de cultivar-los. En aquesta tesi s’han combinat diferents tècniques moleculars (seqüenciació massiva i PCR quantitativa) per a conèixer la distribució, abundància i composició de les comunitats d’arqueus en sediments de sistemes aquàtics d’aigua dolça (llacs, llacunes i embassaments amb diferents condicions i tipologies). La tesi s’ha centrat en dos grups d’arqueus que són ubics i especialment abundants en sediments: el fílum Bathyarchaeota i la classe Thermoplasmata

With increasing human populations and a rise in people migrating to urban areas there will be a corresponding rise in urbanisation across the globe. Urban green spaces are therefore becoming increasingly important for biodiversity as reserves and movement corridors. This thesis aimed to understand the impacts of traffic and environmental related factors on the ability of green space to be wildlife reserves using the town of Bracknell, Berkshire, UK, as a model urban area. Concentrations of NO2 declined with distance from the road but urban green spaces showed many exceedances of NO2 and NOx critical levels. There were decreases in soil moisture and total C and N at the road edge but increases in soil pH, C:N, titanium, chromium, nickel, copper, zinc, cadmium and lead. Some protection of urban green spaces from the road could be achieved with the use of tree shelterbelts. It was found that roads had a significant affect on plant communities; with more bare ground, moss, herbs and stress-tolerator species and less grass and competitive species near to the road edge. These changes are related to differences in the environmental conditions at the roadside. Carabid species richness, abundance and diversity and invertebrate abundance and plant diversity were all higher at the road edge than the site centres, indicating that these groups are able to take advantage of the road edge habitat. Overall, sites with decreased mowing had more invertebrates and the bioindicators carabids and woodlice. Reducing mowing frequency therefore provides a simple method to improve urban green spaces for biodiversity. Furthermore, older and larger sites had greater biodiversity. This thesis has demonstrated that environmental and traffic related factors have significant effects on urban biodiversity. There are methods which could be employed, however, to lessen these impacts to allow urban green space to act as effective wildlife reserves.

Magister Commercii (Industrial Psychology) - MCom(IPS)
The aim of the study was to identify the retention variables highlighted as most important by call centre agents at a financial institution in the Western Cape. In addition, to assess which of the independent variables they place more importance on; and to determine whether differences exist between the retention variables highlighted as most important by the respective age and gender groups.

This thesis is structured as three papers and aims to explore three main alliance factors that relate to firm performance, with a sample of China and Taiwan companies from the printed circuit board industry and plastic rubber industry. Firm performance depends on firm strategy and how resources are configured. A critical alliance factor is alliance strategy, which can determine how firms form and operate their alliances. Alliance strategy can be either a standalone strategy or a portfolio strategy. I attempt to determine (1) if managerial characteristics and compensation package relate to the choice of alliance strategy; (2) if alliance strategy impacts on alliance diversities and firm performance relationships; (3) if alliance capabilities impact on the alliance strategy and firm performance relationship. Paper 1 builds on upper echelon theory and agency theory. I theorise that managerial characteristics and compensation package are the key determinants to understand why executives adopt different alliance strategies. The results show that tenure, executives’ educational background, functional background and variable pay are important to predict the choice of an alliance strategy. Paper 2 builds on the resource-based view. I explore the alliance strategy as a moderating influence between alliance diversities (partner, functional and governance) and firm performance. The results show that alliance strategy impacts on partner diversity and firm performance. However, it does not impact on the functional diversity-firm performance and governance diversity-firm performance relationships. Governance diversity is related to firm performance only when partner diversity is also considered. Paper 3 builds on the resource-based view. I suggest that alliance capabilities are a mediating influence between alliance strategy and firm performance. The results demonstrate that individual alliance capabilities complement standalone alliance strategy, and portfolio alliance capabilities and individual alliance capabilities both complement portfolio alliance strategy. Theoretical contributions, possible future research and managerial implications are discussed in relation to current theories of alliance strategy, alliance diversity and alliance capabilities.

Includes abstract.
Includes bibliographical references.
The aim of this study was to investigate some of the factors that are associated with support of diversity in the South African workplace. Three particular factors were considered: employees’ race and gender and the degree to which employees felt their socio-emotional needs for acceptance or empowerment had been addressed. The importance of satisfying individuals’ socio-emotional needs for them to be willing to engage with members of other groups is highlighted in Shnabel and Nadler’s (2008) Needs-Based Model of Reconciliation (NBMR), which states that groups are only willing to reconcile once their socio-emotional needs have been addressed. Furthermore, the model specifies that these needs are different for members of groups who were victims in a conflict situation compared to those who belong to the perpetrating group. While victims have a need for empowerment in order to be seen as equal players in society, perpetrators want to feel accepted in society and thus have a need for acceptance. Based on the literature reviewed the study’s first hypothesis stated that previously disadvantaged groups would place more value on diversity than previously advantaged groups and that women would value diversity more than men. The second hypothesis was that previously advantaged groups have a higher need for acceptance than empowerment and previously disadvantaged groups have a higher need for empowerment than acceptance. The last hypothesis proposed that the lower their need for empowerment, the more previously disadvantaged individuals would value diversity and the lower their need for acceptance, the more previously advantaged individuals would value diversity.

Döden angår oss alla och vår kulturella bakgrund har stor betydelse för hur vi möter den. Palliativ vård fokuserar på att ge stöd och lindring till döende patienter för att öka deras livskvalitet. Av Sveriges invånare har var sjätte utländsk bakgrund och detta ställer andra och delvis nya krav på sjukvården. Syftet med studien var att belysa faktorer som påverkar sjuksköterskans palliativa omvårdnad till patienter från andra kulturer. Studien är en litteraturöversikt där tolv artiklar analyserats utifrån syftet. I resultatet finns många olika faktorer som påverkar sjuksköterskans omvårdnadsarbete av palliativa patienter i en mångkulturell vårdsituation. Resultatet delades upp i tre huvudkategorier: kulturell kommunikation, kulturell medvetenhet/kunskap och kulturella skillnader/behov. För att kunna ge patienter med annan kulturell bakgrund en palliativ omvårdnad med hög kvalitet behövs medvetenhet och kunskap hos sjuksköterskan om deras specifika behov. Utvidgad utbildning och diskussion behövs i ämnet och svenska empiriska studier som belyser dessa patienter och anhörigas behov. Det är nödvändigt att både den specialiserade palliativa vården och övrig vård tar del i både forskning och utbildning, eftersom palliativa patienter från andra kulturer finns inom de flesta specialiteter.

Notre recherche est focalisée sur le rôle du contrôleur de gestion dans les compagnies d’assurance d’un pays appartenant à une région de perturbations économiques et politiques continues tel que le Liban.Ainsi, notre thèse vise à saisir les conditions dans lesquelles les sociétés d’assurance libanaises choisissent leurs pratiques de contrôle de gestion, et plus précisément à déterminer les différents facteurs de contingence qui peuvent influer sur la fonction contrôle de gestion des compagnies d’assurance au Liban. L’emploi de deux méthodologies a permis d’obtenir un éclairage approfondi des pratiques de contrôle de gestion dans les sociétés d’assurance au Liban. L’étude exploratoire menée auprès de sept compagnies d’assurance a mis en exergue l’existence de deux types de fonction contrôle de gestion, qui se distinguent par leur autonomie relative vis-à-vis de la direction générale de l’entreprise.Plus particulièrement, le rôle du contrôleur de gestion dépend de sa position dans la structure, et sa marge d’autorité varie selon son rattachement hiérarchique.Une typologie plus large est réalisée ensuite par une étude quantitative approfondie à l’aide d’un questionnaire, menée auprès de seize compagnies d’assurance libanaises. L’étude quantitative a apporté un éclairage plus précis en mettant en exergue l’existence de trois types du système de contrôle de gestion dans les sociétés d’assurance libanaises : le système de contrôle de gestion organisationnel, le système de contrôle de gestion partagé, et le système d’information général. L’adoption d’un de ces trois types diffère selon des facteurs de contingence comme la taille, l’internationalisation de la société, la nature de l’actionnariat…, mais aussi la conception de la fonction de contrôle de gestion par la gouvernance de l’organisation
Our research focuses on the role of the management controller in insurance companies in a country belonging to a region of continuous economic and political disturbances such as Lebanon.Thus, our thesis aims to capture the conditions under which Lebanese insurance companies choose their management control practice, and more specifically to determine the different contingency factors that can influence the management control function of insurance companies in Lebanon.The use of two methodologies has provided an insight into management control practices in insurance companies in Lebanon.The exploratory study conducted within seven insurance companies highlighted the existence of two types of management control functions, which are distinguished by their relative autonomy vis-à-vis of the company general management.More particularly, the role of the management controller depends on his position within the structure, and his authority margin varies according to his hierarchical connection.A broader typology is then carried out by a thorough quantitative study using a survey conducted among sixteen Lebanese insurance companies.The quantitative study shed more light on the existence of three types of management control systems in Lebanese insurance companies: the organizational management control system, the shared management control system, and the general information system. The adoption of one of these three types differs according to several contingency factors such as the company’s size, the internationalization of the company, the nature of the shareholding ..., and also according to the conception of the management control function designated by the governance of the organization

Made available in DSpace on 2015-04-17T14:55:26Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 815263 bytes, checksum: b2a7881211ea09539084f0360e28deeb (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-04-30
Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES
Based on diet, microhabitat use and morphometry data, we investigated the importance of ecological and historical (phylogenetic) factors an anuran assemblage (16 species) in a urban fragment of Atlantic Rainforest in northeast Brazil. The niche breadth for microhabitat use was low for all species, while diet niche breadth was high for the majority. The main food categories were Coleoptera and Orthoptera, and the close related species showed distinct diet. The pseudo-community analysis indicated the presence of structure for diet and microhabitat use. The canonical phylogenetic ordination detected historical effects in microhabitat use and morphology for Hylidae and Leptodactylidae. However, none historical effect was found for diet. Then, we conclude that the structure found in null models is phylogenetic for microhabitat and ecological for diet. Nevertheless, it can be stated that recent perturbations could be more important in structure assemblage, due to low diversity and great diet plasticity of species, indicating possible ecological release.
A busca por padrões na partição de recursos é revela informações acerca das interações ecológicas das espécies. Baseando-se em dados da dieta, uso de microhábitat, morfometria nós investigamos a importância dos fatores ecológicos e históricos (filogenéticos) na organização de uma taxocenose de anuros (16 espécies) de um fragmento urbano de Floresta Atlântica no nordeste brasileiro. A largura de nicho de uso de microhábitat foi baixa para todas as espécies, enquanto a de dieta foi alta para a maioria. As principais categorias alimentares foram Coleoptera e Orthoptera, sendo que as espécies mais próximas filogeneticamente apresentaram dieta distinta. A análise de pseudo-comunidades indicou a presença de estrutura para dieta e uso de microhábitat. A análise de ordenação canônica detectou efeito histórico no uso de microhábitat e morfometria para as famílias Hylidae e Leptodactilydae, porém, nenhum efeito histórico foi encontrado para dieta. Com isso, concluímos que a estrutura encontrada nas análises de modelos nulos são de ordem filogenética para microhábitat e ecológica para a dieta. Contudo, pode-se afirmar que as perturbações recentes podem ser mais importantes na estruturação da taxocenose, em virtude da baixa diversidade e grande plasticidade alimentar das mesmas, indicando possível liberação ecológica.

Le parasite microsporidien Nosema ceranae est un pathogène émergent de l'abeille européenne (Apis mellifera). Il provoque une maladie appelée nosémose qui peut induire de fortes mortalités dans les colonies. La présence de N. ceranae dans les ruches n'est pas toutefois pas systématiquement associée à des symptômes ou à une dépopulation, ce qui suggère une variabilité de sa virulence. Une hypothèse proposée pour expliquer cette variation repose sur l'existence potentielle de variants parasitaires de niveaux de virulence différents. Ce travail a eu pour objectif d'évaluer le polymorphisme de N. ceranae par une approche multilocus, dans le but de savoir s'il est possible de différencier des isolats parasitaires. La diversité nucléotidique de dix marqueurs génétiques a été évaluée dans des abeilles géographiquement éloignées. L'analyse du polymorphisme de ces gènes a révélé un fort contenu allélique au sein même d'un individu hôte mais une absence de divergence entre les populations parasitaires issues d'hôtes distincts. Ces données montrent que cette approche multilocus ne permet de pas de différencier des isolats de N. ceranae, mais que des populations parasitaires similaires infectent des abeilles géographiquement distantes. Ces données sont en accord avec l'hypothèse d'une colonisation récente d'A. mellifera par N. ceranae mais posent de nombreuses questions quand à l'origine de la diversité parasitaire au sein d'un seul individu. Le second volet de cette thèse a eu pour objectif de rechercher dans le génome de N. ceranae des gènes codant de potentiels facteurs de virulence puis de produire des protéines recombinantes et des anticorps dirigés contre ces facteurs. Ces anticorps devaient permettre de localiser ces protéines d'intérêt au niveau subcellulaire dans des tissus infectés.

Abstract Recognition of the importance of a regional perspective for understanding the structure and dynamics of local assemblages has stimulated the emergence of the field of macroecology. Most attention has been directed to terrestrial ecosystems, while large-scale patterns in biodiversity of aquatic organisms have received less attention. In this thesis I examined patterns of aquatic diversity across several geographic areas and scales, in an effort to understand some of the environmental and spatial factors determining species diversity in aquatic environments. The main objectives of this thesis were: (i) to examine the latitudinal diversity patterns of marine crustaceans and molluscs and their relationship to large scale environmental gradients, (ii) to study macroinvertebrate species richness in headwater streams at two spatial extents, within and across drainage systems, and assess the relative importance of local, landscape and regional variables, and (iii) to study diversity patterns of macroorganisms vs microorganism, comparing distance decay patterns of stream diatoms, macroinvertebrates and bryophytes. Latitudinal diversity patterns of crustaceans and molluscs were clearly related to larval developmental mode. An increase in species richness towards high latitudes was found for species with direct development, whereas richness of species with planktotrophic development decreased poleward. Sea surface temperature was the most important environmental gradient related to species richness of both phyla and each developmental mode, but with different effects on each mode. Stream macroinvertebrate species richness at the bioregion extent was negatively related to water humic content. Another factor related to species richness at the bioregion extent was elevation range, a variable linked to stream topographic heterogeneity. Local environmental variables explained most of the variation in species richness at the drainage system extent, however high among-region variability was evident. Patterns between macro- and microorganism may not be fundamentally different, but the level of environmental control varied, being strongest for diatoms, while some groups of benthic macroinvertebrates exhibited relatively strong dispersal limitation. The relative importance of niche vs. dispersal processes is not simply a function of organism size but other traits (e.g. life-history type, dispersal capacity) may obscure this relationship.

Caddisflies (Insecta, Trichoptera) is one of the most important group of benthic components in temperate freshwater ecosystems. They are sensitive to changes of physical and chemical parameters in water bodies, so often used to assess the ecological status of the water body. The main objective of this work was to investigate the caddisfly fauna, diversity, species distribution and rarity in Lithuania, to evaluate the influence of environmental factors on the distribution and abundance of caddisflies in different habitats of Lithuanian rivers. The results obtained supplement the knowledge of the fauna, diversity and distribution of caddisflies and other benthic invertebrate animals of Lithuanian rivers. The determined patterns of caddisfly distribution and abundance are important in optimizing biodiversity conservation measures. The results are important for improvement of methods for biotic assessment of ecological status of Lithuanian rivers. For the first time 22 new species of caddisfly were discovered and the checklist of Lithuanian caddisfly was updated. The relation between Lithuanian caddisfly distribution and abundance was determined. Seasonal flight periods for caddisfly adults and the factors influenting the flight dynamics were estimated. The environmental factors influencing the distribution and abundance of caddisfly taxa (families, genera, species) in Lithuanian rivers were detected. The significance of caddisflies in the communities of benthic invertebrates of... [to full text]
Apsiuvos (Insecta, Trichoptera) yra vienas svarbiausių vidutinio klimato gėlavandenių ekosistemų bentoso komponentų. Būdamos jautrios vandens telkinių fizinių ir cheminių parametrų pokyčiams, dažnai naudojamos vandens telkinių ekologinės būklės bioindikacijai. Gauti darbo rezultatai papildo žinias apie apsiuvų ir kitų bentoso bestuburių fauną, įvairovę, paplitimą ir gausumą Lietuvos upėse. Nustatyti apsiuvų paplitimo ir gausumo dėsningumai yra svarbūs optimizuojant bioįvairovės apsaugos priemones. Darbo rezultatai svarbūs tobulinant Lietuvos upių ekologinės būklės biotinio vertinimo metodus. Pirmą kartą buvo rastos 22 naujos apsiuvų rūšys ir atnaujintas Lietuvos apsiuvų faunos sąrašas. Nustatyta priklausomybė tarp Lietuvos apsiuvų paplitimo ir gausumo. Nustatyti apsiuvų suaugėlių sezoninio skraidymo tipai ir veiksniai kurie turi įtakos skraidymo dinamikai. Išaiškinti aplinkos veiksniai, kurie daro įtaką apsiuvų taksonų (šeimų, genčių, rūšių) paplitimui ir gausumui Lietuvos upėse. Įvertinta apsiuvų reikšmė skirtingų Lietuvos upių bentoso bestuburių bendrijų sudėtyje. Patikslintos apsiuvų taksonų bioindikacinės ypatybės Lietuvos sąlygomis ir pateiktos tekančių vandenų ekologinės būklės vertinimo rekomendacijos.