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Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus, is a double-stranded DNA γ - herpesvirus and the main causative agent of Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS). γ - herpesviruses undergo both lytic and latent replication cycles; and encode proteins that modulate host transcription at the RNA level, by inducing decay of certain mRNAs. Here we describe a mechanism that allows the viral endo-/exonuclease SOX to recognise mRNA targets on the basis of an RNA motif and fold. To induce rapid RNA degradation by subverting the main host mRNA degradation pathway SOX was shown to directly bind Xrn1. This may shed light as to how some viruses evade the host antiviral response and how mRNA degradation processes in the eukaryotic cell are involves in this.

Hydrogen bonding is one of the most useful interactions for the self-assembly of molecular subunits into well-defined supramolecular structures. Recent attention has been focused on systems capable of forming strong, directional, and reversible quadruple hydrogen bonds. Meijer et al. have made a significant impact in this area with the synthesis of stable DDAA dimers based on ureidopyrimidinones (Upy) with a 7 1 dimerisation constant greater than 10 M" in chloroform. This work is reviewed in Chapter I of this thesis. A less attractive feature of the Upy unit is the possibility of up to three tautomeric forms in solution. The nature of the substituents at C-6 has been shown to influence the tautomeric equilibrium. Chapter II of this thesis describes the synthesis of an ureidopyrimidinone compound incorporating an electron-donating group (/7-C6H4NH2) at the C-6 position, which has led to the formation of the dimeric form DADA in DMSO-6- It was the first time that the hydrogen bonded dimeric Upy was observed in such a polar solvent. Chapter III describes the use of quadruple hydrogen bonded Upy units in the chain extension of various energetic (PolyGlyn) and non-energetic (polyether and polycarbonate based) telechelic polymers, which has led to the formation of supramolecular polymers with increased elastomeric properties. In addition, the development of an alternative synthetic approach avoiding the use of isocyanate has been successfully achieved leading to supramolecular polymers of improved quality. In addition, the synthesis of bifunctional Upys incorporating small chiral spacers has been achieved and described in Chapter IV. Notably, it was found that the use of diethyl L-tartrate or butane diol led to the formation of extremely stable cyclic dimers in chloroform with a dimerisation constant greater than 108 M"1. The formation of new intramolecular hydrogen bonds within the cyclic species was observed in the crystal structure and was found to stabilise the dimeric form in solution. Finally, the design of a new quadruple hydrogen bonded DDAA array based on cytosine has been successfully achieved via a straightforward synthetic strategy (Chapter V). The structure of the linear DDAA/A ADD dimer was revealed in the solid state and in solution with a dimerization constant greater than 105 M"1 in chloroform. The synthesis of the first generation of polymers based on this new unit has been achieved. The obtained results show great potential for the future material applications.

The master's thesis discusses values orientation and career choice of male and female non-Anglo American college students. A review of sociological literature related to value schemes of Black Americans, Mexican Americans, and Oriental Americans revealed that previous research is based almost entirely upon inferences made from studies relating career patterns to academic majors. In order to establish work values schemes more directly, a study at the University of Texas randomly surveyed 148 students with diverse backgrounds and interests. Students rated 45 work values on a scale from "important" to "unimportant" and answered 11 queries about their personal and ethnic backgrounds and career goals. Findings indicated that, although values related to life-style, achievement, creativity, and economic returns were emphasized by all students, there were differences in work values by sex and ethnic groups. Whereas female students tended to stress altruism and supervisory relationships, males valued independence, economic returns, and intellectual stimulation. Black-Americans valued economic returns considerably more than all other groups and Mexican Americans valued security second only to way of life. Oriental students scored significantly lower on all scales than did the other groups, indicating that they demand less values fulfillment from their work. Questionnaires, tables of analyses, and a bibliography are appended. (Author/DB)

Cette recherche a pour objet la construction et les échanges de savoirs environnementaux qui interviennent lors de démarches participatives de type Agenda 21 local (A21L) pour lesquelles les acteurs-habitants se trouvent de plus en plus sollicités. À cette occasion, un rapprochement s’opère entre des acteurs issus d’une communauté d’expertise scientifique et des acteurs issus d’une communauté d’habitants afin d’appréhender la complexité des questions socioécologiques au sein de territoires en projets de «développement durable ». Or, les projets territoriaux ne recoupent pas toujours les projets d’habiter plus personnels, faisant jouer une diversité de rapports au savoir et de temporalités environnementales dans la dialogique qui s’y joue. À cet effet, la littérature de recherche suggère que les temporalités environnementales devraient être prises en compte afin d’améliorer une gestion environnementale intégrée au sein des territoires en projets. À partir d’une étude de cas menée sur le piémont des Pyrénées centrales, cette recherche s’attache à décrire et à mieux comprendre le processus de construction, de mobilisation et de croisement de savoirs environnementaux au sein d’une dynamique dialogique, et de cerner les enjeux qui trament la relation savoirs-pouvoirs au coeur desquels les temporalités environnementales occupent un rôle décisif qu’il s’avère utile de considérer, aussi bien au regard de l’habitabilité des territoires de vie aux prises avec les changements environnementaux, qu’en ce qui concerne le développement et la prise en compte d’une expertise citoyenne. Les résultats de cette recherche montrent par quels ressorts discursifs, temporels, mais aussi pédagogistes, les savoirs des habitants subissent une requalification d’ordre technoscientifique par le projet institué et à travers une dynamique de participation publique caractérisée par un faible gradient dialogique et sous l’influence de la formation discursive du développement durable. Des habitants, notamment néopaysans et néoruraux, saisissent toutefois des opportunités instituantes au sein des dispositifs participatifs pour manifester leur créativité socioécologique, ancrée dans leur habiter au quotidien, et soutenir des innovations discrètes soucieuses du bien commun en matière d’environnement. On observe que la dynamique dialogique du savoir environnemental est indissociablement liée à la prise en compte des temporalités socioécologiques et que des temporalités écoformatives jouent un rôle décisif au regard du rapport au savoir en lien avec les changements environnementaux, dessinant une rationalité socioécologique en devenir. Les temporalités socioécologiques et écoformatives constituent également un levier politique et stratégique majeur aussi bien pour concrétiser la dialogique du savoir environnemental intervenant au sein de démarches participatives que plus largement, pour favoriser un dialogue territorial en vue d’une habitabilité socioécologique. _____________________________________________________________________________ MOTS-CLÉS DE L’AUTEUR : temporalités environnementales, dialogique du savoir, habiter, expertise citoyenne

This paper is about the current state of gated subdivisions in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana. It provides a list, map, and relevant census data of the gated subdivisions in each of the three cities in the parish in which they are found—Baton Rouge, Central, and Zachary—and the unincorporated areas of the parish. It also examines comprehensive plan elements that relate to gated subdivisions, and whether actual gated developments adhere to the plan’s principles. It is important to examine gated developments in East Baton Rouge Parish because they have an effect on the social, fiscal, and public health of their inhabitants and the surrounding communities. The population of East Baton Rouge Parish is growing, which means that new housing units will be built in the near future, many in new subdivisions. The characteristics and placement of housing are major components of an area’s quality of life, and the governments in East Baton Rouge Parish have the opportunity and the responsibility to influence future quality of life by carefully and thoroughly considering their residential developments. An understanding of gated neighborhoods in the area will add to citizens’ and governments’ ability to thoroughly consider future residential development. No comprehensive list or map of gated subdivisions exists for any part of the parish. By mapping them now, and providing a “state of the parish” report, interested citizens and planners at all levels of government can track the increase or decrease of gated communities. Showing that there is sometimes a difference between a comprehensive plan’s stated objective and the reality of gated communities may encourage closer scrutiny before future gated developments are approved.