Dissertationen zum Thema „CHP pant“

The global energy demand supplies mainly from fossil fuels, which is neither sustainable nor environmentally friendly and aims to global warming. Therefore, both more investments in renewable energy sources such as bioenergy are required, as well as new technologies such as carbon capture and storage (CCS) to handle the emissions from existing combined heat and power (CHP) plants. In this degree project, the focus is to determine the moisture content, ash content, heating value, and elemental compositions of solid biofuel mixtures in real-time by utilizing the optical technique of near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy. A total number of 150 samples of solid biofuel mixtures were prepared and illuminated by NIR light. All spectra of the samples were recorded in a wavenumber range of 12000 cm-1 – 400 cm-1 in a dish on a turn table which was in a moving mode with a speed of 0.5 m/s. Each sample was scanned three times to avoid, or at least minimize the deviation of the spectra and the samples were mixed between each scan to get more reliable representative spectra data. Partial least square regression models were created to analyze the spectra data. A data split was done randomly, 100 for calibration and 50 for validation. Then the data was pre-processed with different methods including multiplicative scatter correction (MSC), standard normal variate (SNV), Savitzky-Golay 1st derivative (SG 1st), Savitzky-Golay 2nd derivative (SG 2nd), and orthogonal signal correction (OSC) to reduce noise and scatter effect. The results of NIR spectra treated by OSC method obtained  , RMSE and SE of 0.900, 2.241 and 2.204, respectively for prediction of moisture content, 0.424, 0.913 and 0.922 for prediction of ash content, 0.640, 0.370 and 0.368 for prediction of heating value, respectively. The obtained prediction of  , RMSE and SE were 0.687, 0.066 and 0.058 for nitrogen, 0.636, 0.361 and 0.364 for carbon, 0.483, 0.269 and 0.270 for hydrogen, respectively. As the results shows, these models to predict the ash content and hydrogen content has a lower accuracy than what is expected in process modeling while the prediction of moisture content has the highest accuracy.

This thesis summarizes Danielle Riede's current art practice by detailing her materials, processes and inspiration. It also contextualizes her "Room Paintings" within the context of art history and contemporary art-making.

The use of biomass-based combined heat and power (CHP) plants is considered by the EU administration to be an effective way to increase the use of renewables in the energy system, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to alleviate the dependency on imported fossil fuels. At present in Sweden, most of the CHP plants are operated in part-load mode because of variations in heat demand. Further use of the potential heat capacity from CHP plants is an opportunity for integration with other heat-demanding processes. Retrofitting the conventional CHP plants by integration with bioethanol and pellet production processes is considered a feasible and efficient way to improve the plants’ performances.   Modeling and simulation of the CHP plant integrated with feedstock upgrading, bioethanol production and pellet production is performed to analyze the technical and economic feasibility. When integrating with bioethanol production, the exhaust flue gas from the CHP plant is used to dry the hydrolysis solid residues (HSR) instead of direct condensation in the flue gas condenser (FGC). This drying process not only increases the overall energy efficiency (OEE) of the CHP plant but also increases the power output relative to the system using only a FGC. Furthermore, if steam is extracted from the turbine of the CHP plant and if it is used to dry the HSR together with the exhaust flue gas, pellets can be produced and the bioethanol production costs can be reduced by 30% compared with ethanol cogeneration plants.   Three optional pellet production processes integrated with an existing biomass-based CHP plant using different raw materials are studied to determine their annual performance. The option of pellet production integrated with the existing CHP plant using exhaust flue gas and superheated steam for drying allows for a low specific pellet production cost, short payback time and significant CO2 reduction. A common advantage of the three options is a dramatic increase in the total annual power production and a significant CO2 reduction, in spite of a decrease in power efficiency.   The retrofitted biomass-based CHP plants play a crucial role in the present and future regional energy system. The total costs are minimized for the studied energy system by using wastes as energy sources. Analyses of scenarios for the coming decades are performed to describe how to achieve a regional fossil fuel-free energy system. It is possible to achieve the target by upgrading and retrofitting the present energy plants and constructing new ones. The conditions and obstacles have also been presented and discussed through optimizing the locations for proposed new energy plants and planting energy crops.
REMOWE, CSC

Thesis (B.A.(Hons))--University of Adelaide, Centre for Asian Studies and Dept. of Music Studies, 1995.
Accompanying cassette contains four pieces of zheng music performed by the author. Bibliography: leaves 95-98.

Gli obiettivi di questo elaborato sono fondamentalmente caratterizzare dei provini (realizzati in Maraging steel e Stainless steel attraverso DMLS) a fatica oligociclica, distinguerne il comportamento in base all'orientamento di costruzione ed analizzare tutti i fattori che possono influenzare la vita di un provino. Esaminando questa caratterizzazione, è possibile avvicinarci all'idea di impiegare direttamente nel processo produttivo pezzi realizzati e montati direttamente in produzione. Dopo una breve introduzione sull'additive manufacturing e sul suo sviluppo nel corso degli anni con le varie tecnologie di stampa (analizzandone i relativi vantaggi e svantaggi), vengono accennati i costi della tecnologia di cui ci occuperemo. Dopo una prima introduzione sui materiali impiegati, vengono introdotti i provini protagonisti dell'esperienza, la macchina utilizzata e lo svolgimento della prova. Segue un'illustrazione dei vari orientamenti di costruzione del provino e di come variano le proprietà meccaniche quando sottoposto a fatica. In seguito sono analizzate le tensioni residue sui provini (post sinterizzazione) ed i trattamenti eseguibili, presentando la loro influenza sulle proprietà meccaniche. Infine è analizzata la meccanica della frattura, in particolare la propagazione della cricca. Tradizionalmente, si è sempre analizzato il comportamento dei provini secondo i due orientamenti classici, orizzontale e verticale: in questo elaborato verrà presentato, per quanto reperibile dai documenti scientifici, anche il loro comportamento a 45°. Grazie a queste nuove caratterizzazioni, è sempre più possibile analizzare a pieno il comportamento delle proprietà meccaniche di ogni prodotto realizzato mediante questa tecnologia, facendo riferimento (nel caso di analisi di forme geometriche complesse) ai modelli più semplici già analizzati.

Denna uppsats undersöker hur samma historiska händelse kan ha olika betydelser i film. Idag är människor mer benägna att se en film om en historisk händelse än att läsa en historiebok, och detta innebär att vi måste lära oss att förstå de konventioner som används för att placera historia på film. Historiefilmen kan sägas besitta en palimpsestisk historiskt medvetenhet där lager av fakta och myt smälter samman, hellre än att skiljas åt. Men för att en historisk händelse ska passa in i filmens tidsram måste den bearbetas och detta resulterar i att vissa människor, händelser och rörelser prioriteras, medan andra utesluts. Därför undersöker denna uppsats vad som lagts till / uteslutits och effekterna på sammanhanget och trovärdighet, hur filmen hävdar sin autenticitet, och hur upphovsmannen påverkar trovärdigheten. Analysresultaten av två filmer om den kubanska revolutionen, visar att beroende på vilken del av den historisk händelsen som skildras, skapar filmerna helt olika berättelser med olika budskap. Medan filmen Che-Argentinaren (2008) fungerar som en hyllning av gerillanledaren Che Guevara som Kubas frälsare, visar en vänsterideologi och uttrycker USA förakt, skildrar däremot den andra filmen The Lost City (2005) revolutionens baksida. Den visar en högerideologi, familjevärderingar och USA som frihetens och drömmarnas land. Båda filmerna använder sig av liknande stilistiska strategier för att uppnå illusionen av autenticitet, och filmernas upphovsmän påverkar filmernas trovärdighet i olika grad. Vad jag i uppsatsen till sist menar är att historiefilmen inte bör tas som sanning, utan har en viktig roll som intresseväckare, som förhoppningsvis leder till att åskådaren blir intresserad av att söka sig mer kunskap.
This paper examines how the same historical event can have different meanings in films. Today people are more likely to watch a film about a historical event than to read a history book, and this means that we must learn and understand the conventions used to place history on film. The history film can be said to possess a palimpsetic historical consciousness in which layers of fact and myth come together rather than be separated. But for a historical event to fit within the film's time frame, it must be processed and this results in that certain people, events and movements are given priority, while others are excluded. Therefore, this paper studies what has been added/excluded and the effects on the context and credibility,how the film claims its authenticity, and how the author/filmmakers affects the credibility. The results of the analysis of two films about the Cuban revolution, shows that depending on which part of the historical event depicted, the films create entirely different stories with very different message. While the film Che-Part One (2008) serves as a celebration of the guerrilla fighter Che Guevara as Cuba's savior, according to a leftist ideology and the film is expressing U.S. disdain, the other film The Lost City (2005) however, portrays the revolutions backside, it shows a right-wing ideology, family values and the U.S. as the land of freedom and dreams. Both films use similar stylistic strategies to achieve illusion of authenticity, and the films' creators affect the films credibility in different amounts. What I finally conclude, is that the history film should not be considered as truth, but serve to arouse interest, which will hopefully lead the spectator to seek more knowledge about the historical event.

Climate change represents a challenging problem in public policy. This project examines various policy solutions to rising emissions, and suggests one that might be best suited to Canada, a highly-integrated, highly-developed economy which relies on natural resources, including fossil fuels, for its balance of payments, governmental revenues, and a small portion of its GDP. It adopts a public policy framework from Simpson, Rivers and Jaccard (2008) to analyze policy solutions using the following criteria: political acceptability, economic efficiency, administrative feasibility and effectiveness at reducing emissions. Additionally, it offers substantial discussion relating to the potential constraints and opportunities to climate change policy presented by NAFTA, compliance with which is key to the viability of any emissions regime. It advocates an upstream cap-and-trade system, integrated with the NAFTA area and regulated by an empowered Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC), as well as complementary policies to lower emissions in inelastic sectors.
Graduate
mat.huff@gmail.com

M.Ing.
Intelligent object identification (the ability to find the identity, position and orientation of an remote object) in a Manufacturing environment plays an important role in the areas of Automation and Manufacturing. Radio frequency identification (RFID) systems have solve the problem of finding the identity of a remote object, but it fails to determine the position and orientation. The Global Positioning System (GPS) have a solution to find the position of a remote object in the global environment, but in a Manufacturing environment it fails. The main obstacle to overcome in finding a unique solution with radio frequency technology is reflections. This thesis investigates the idea of finding the identity, position (and orientation) of a (dormant) chip remotely. The chip transmits a binary signal at 244kHz. The string is Amplitude modulated. The receiver demodulates the signal to obtain the chip's identity. The receiver antenna is divided into four quadrants. First the quadrant in which the chip is located are determined. Three different voltages are then measured to obtain the position of the chip in the specific quadrant. Reflections can be ignored since the system works at a low frequency.

碩士
國立臺灣科技大學
機械工程系
106
In the study, the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) numerical software is used to simulate the pressure and velocity fields around a finite cylinder having a circular cover cap of two different sizes. The top of the cylinder has a 1D or 2D cap, and Reynolds numbers ($Re_{D}$) are 250, 560 and 1080, respectively. In the study, the center of the cap is set as the origin of the coordinates, and the results on the cross section (Y-Z plane) and the vertical cut section (X-Y plane) are discussed respectively. The pressure distribution results on the cylinder wall surface show that the section near the free end of the cylinder (X/D = -0.03) is affected by the three-dimensional flow, and the absolute values of both the maximum positive pressure coefficient and negative pressure coefficient are smaller than the results at the middle sections of the cylinder (X/D = -1, -2, -6, - 10). The section near the base of the cylinder is significantly affected by the wall boundary layer, and the absolute values of the maximum positive pressure coefficient and negative pressure coefficient are even smaller than the results of the section near the free end of the cylinder. The local friction coefficient around the cylinder surface becomes smaller when the Reynolds number increases in the section near the free end and the middle section; in the section near the free end of the cylinder, the local friction coefficient against the incident flow angle of the cylinder with a 2D cap fluctuates more significantly than that of the cylinder with a 1D cap. The pressure drag coefficient near the base section is smaller than those of the free end and middle sections. The integrated shear stress results show that the friction drag coefficient near the free end section of the cylinder with a 2D cap is smaller than that of the cylinder with the 1D cap. The total drag coefficient is comprised of the friction drag coefficient and the pressure drag coefficient, and the total drag coefficient near the free end section of the cylinder with the 2D cap is significantly smaller than that of the cylinder with 1D cap. The simulated total drag coefficient at the middle section of the cylinder confirms the experimental results of the previous studies (ReD = 250, CD≈1.29; ReD= 560, CD≈1.15; ReD = 1080, CD≈1). The simulated results of the velocity fields around the circular cover cap show that when the Reynolds number increases, the boundary layer thickness on the cap decreases, and the recirculation bubble appears when the Reynolds number reaches 1080. Comparisons between the numerical simulation results and the previous PIV results show that when the cap size increases, the downwash flow from the free end becomes away from the cylinder on the observed X-Y plane (Z/D = 0), and a pair of symmetrical and counter-rotating vortexes form in the wake region on the observed Y-Z plane (X/D = -1.5, -5.5, -10.5).

博士
國立臺中教育大學
語文教育學系碩博士班
103
Since the lifting of the Martial Law and the rise of Feminism, a substantial number of women’s autobiographies have been published in Taiwan. Autobiographical writing is considered the best strategic tool for a woman to make herself heard. By truthfully writing about themselves, the female writers are replacing the once predominant, often fabricated histories with their personal tales—that is, narrating the “her-story” in their own words. This essay concentrates on the autobiographical writings by Chi Pang-yuan, Nie Hua-ling and Lucy Chen, delves into the writers’ circumstances in the Diaspora and how they reflect the times, and analyzes the similarities and differences among their respective historical backgrounds. “Diaspora” and “Postcolonialism” being its main methodologies, this essay aims to learn the female writers’ “narratives of life” and how they position themselves in an autobiographical, diasporic context. There are seven chapters in this essay. “Introduction” explains the author’s research motivation and goals, and defines the features of women’s autobiographies respectively in the East and the West. It also reviews previous research results and presents the writing concepts. Chapter 2 “Cultivation: Literary Enlightenment and Development between the Sino-Japanese War and the 1960s” tells how Chi Pang-yuan, Nie Hua-ling and Lucy Chen developed their literary senses, and how literature-related policies in post-war years and the trends of the 1950s and 1960s influenced literary development in Taiwan. These findings serve as the foundations of the ensuing chapters. Chapter 3 “Forced Exile: A Manifestation of Life’s Map” shows the lives of Chi Pang-yuan, Nie Hua-ling and Lucy Chen following the roots and routes of Diaspora. Here, life’s maps and forms are manifested by re-presenting and re-creating “place.” Chapter 4 “Pursuits: Callings from Utopia” studies the “callings” for Chi Pang-yuan, Nie Hua-ling and Lucy Chen as they take their life’s journeys. By imagining, constructing and pursuing one’s Utopia, personal ideals and values may be improved. Chapter 5 “Mending History: Constructing Folk History” suggests that Chi Pang-yuan and Nie Hua-ling attempt to retrieve what has either been omitted or neglected in official histories through the writings about their family’s past, in addition to constructing women’s everyday history. This chapter also delves into how the three writers reconstructed their identities after the lifting of the Martial Law, when political and social circumstances evolved along. Chapter 6 “Positioning: Finding a Stance on which Women Speak for Themselves” analyzes the narratives which Chi Pang-yuan, Nie Hua-ling and Lucy Chen use, so as to understand how they find a stance and speak for themselves through empowerment, and even list their own contributions to Taiwanese literature. It is in this way they express the depths of their lives while discovering their female subjectivity. Chapter 7 “Conclusion” respectively concludes the characteristics of the autobiographical writings by Chi Pang-yuan, Nie Hua-ling and Lucy Chen. This chapter also acknowledges the virtues of this genre, while pointing out the topics worth further study.

碩士
國立成功大學
地球科學系
84
ABSTRACT This study intended to infer the reasons of the concentrated fossil bed to be formed by the occurrences of concentrated Molluska fossilsin Liu-Chung-Chi Formation and based on the inferences of these causesto reconstruct the paleo-sedimentary environment. In the field work of Liu-Chung-Chi Formation, 11 sections and 50 outcrops with fossil have been completed. In order to have precise basis for describing the fossil concentrated bed in the field, this work makes some measurement of the fossil from outcrops extensively and defines the range og high, middle and low fragmental degree whichcan indicate separately the size of fossils or fossil fragments showed in outcrops in the range below 0.5cm, 0.5cm to 1cm and above 1cm. The density is the ratio in the unit stretched line. The ratio of above 0.2 means high density, that of 0.2 to 0.1 means middle density and that of below 0.1 means low density. The results of fragmental degreeand fossil density may use for the reference of fossil occurrence.(Johnson,1960) There were 76 genus including 115 species having been examined fromfossil samples. The paleoecological analysis in this work was aimed onthe fossil assemblages. By the result of the similarity ratio analysis, there are 24 fossil ecological areas. The differences of organism habits between the south part and the north part may indicate that the sedimentary environment were different. By the analysis of livingenvironments, 14 assemlages were defined and they belong to the sandy bottom of 50 meters depth. The trophic structure analysis (Scott,1978)shows multi-environments of Liu-Chung-Chi Formation and could be predicted the general framework of ecological environment. According to these analysis and combined with the occurrences offossil distributed in the field (Kidwell,1985 ; Norris,1986 et al) andthe possible lithological signlificance on the organism (Purdy,1964 ; Scott,1978 et al), this work can conclude eight reasons of the formation of concentrated fossil bed. According to the evolution of the sedimentary environment of thesesections accomplished by the paleo-environment reconstruction from eachoutcrop and the relations among each section, this work can find fourcycles of transgression and regression. The shallowest environment should be around the shoreface and the deepest one should be to thebottom of middle shelf. This result could be correlated with the universal paleo-sea-level evolution which can correlate with the secondregression of this study. The environmental evolution of each section in the Liu-Chung- ChiFormation was not in uniform conditions. The south part Tzeng-Wen-Chisection have special organism assemblage. The result of analysis showedthat the section should belong to a special bay sedimentary environmentand it did not reflect the conditions of sections of north part. According to these data, this study can infer that the frequent changein the north part of Liu-Chung-Chi Formation should locate in the foreland basin of tectonic structure and that condition may due to somecomplex environment factors. However the sedimentary environment of thesouth part would be major of bay sedimentary thick-beded muddy rock under the balance of basin deepening and sedimentation.Key words : Liu-Chung-Chi Formation, Molluska, Fossil Occurrences.

碩士
國立臺灣科技大學
機械工程系
102
This research studies characteristics of the near wake region by the vertical incompressible flow past a finite-length horizontal cylinder with a cap at the tip. The diameter, D, of the cylinder is 0.64 cm and the length, L = 15 cm, of the cylinder is placed into the test section of the water tunnel. The sizes of three caps are 2D (= 1.28 cm),3D (= 1.92 cm) and 4D (= 2.56 cm) respectively. Experiments were carried out in a vertical closed-loop water tunnel with the Reynolds numbers of 250, 560 and 1080. Flow structures were observed by the flow visualization method and Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) technique was used to measure velocity fields. Experimental results show that when the size of the cap increases, the region which is influenced by the downwash effect decreases. The vortex shedding starts to take place in the wake region at the location with a distance of 1D, 2D or 3D from the cylinder tip along the cylinder length direction for the cases with the cap size of 4D, 3D or 2D respectively. The bifurcation line forms in the wake region and is away from the horizontal cylinder about the distance of 3D, 2D or 1.5D for the cases with the cap size of 4D, 3D or 2D respectively. The maximum values of average vorticity and average shear strain, which are estimated by using the time-averaged velocity field, both increase with higher Reynolds number, or with the smaller cap size.

碩士
國立臺南大學
國語文學系中國文學碩士在職專班
102
Legendary stories are a part of oral-literature. The fables of miracles don’t always meet the scientific concepts, but reflect the trust , belief , faith and goodness of those worshippers’ spirits. Nan Tian Temple, located in Xing-yuan tribe, Chi-pan village, Gukeng township, has left behind the innumerable miracles and the fable. However, no one has kept any records or written materials. The study is aimed at Nan Tian Temple’s belief and legend, along with the two local tribes’ humanity, economy, and life. As to the content of the study, chapter 1 “Introduction” describes the motivation, the purpose, and the range of the study as well as the research methodology and the literature reviews. Chapter 2 discusses the exploitation and the development of Xing-yuan tribe, including its geographical environment and setting, humanities development, and the effects Zhao-an the Lin clan have upon Nan Tian Temple’s development. Chapter 3 narrates Nan Tian Temple’s history, temple organization, and sacrificial ceremony. Chapter 4 divides Nan Tian Temple’s miracles and legends into six types: miracle manifestation, protecting the humans from evil spirits, blocking off disasters , and diseases, solving difficulties and disputes, giving children and helping delivering, and the rest. Chapter 5 is the conclusion of the results of above chapters. It is expected that this essay may preserve some important cultural assets for Xing-yuan tribe, Chi-pan village and Nan Tian Temple so that the local descendants can have better understanding of their own growth environment and the faith center.

碩士
環球科技大學
中小企業經營策略管理研究所
105
The aims of the study were to explore the cultivation of manpower about channels, network vessels and regimen care by standardization education system. In the standardization education system, the learners will be best by the manpower cultivation program, and the learners will have a sense of achievement in their career. In the standardization education system, the enterprise will be sustainable management. The study applied interview record, literature review and historical materials analysis, to discuss: 1.In Taiwan, channels, network vessels enterprise is a perfectly competitive market. The channels, network vessels enterprises are potential. 2.Some of the channels, network vessels enterprises can’t keep up to date. The ability of employees is not so regular. There are some of defect in the channels, network vessels enterprises. 3.Training courses are designed by different learner.

碩士
國立新竹教育大學
中國語文學系碩士班
103
Abstract The present study aims to explore female literary activities in the 1940s in Shanghai, primarily based on Guan Lou, Su Jing, Pan Liou-tai, Shin Chi-mei, and Yu Chao-ming’s works. The current study would like to investigate how literary magazines and female literary works form under the governance of Japan, the reason why female literary works prosper, the writing style of female writers in her group or personal writing experience, the female awareness in their works during this special period, and also compare the literary activities among these five female writers. The research would center on such literary magazines as Women’s Voice, Heaven and Earth, Today’s Women, and other related magazines or journals as well. In theory, this research would properly adopt cultural field brought up by French sociologist Pierre Bourdieu and other feminist studies to examine different literary cultural producers’ writing strategies and attitudes in the literary circle in Shanghai, and also delineate the contour of female literary activities and cultural field in the 1940s in Shanghai in three aspects of print culture dominated by females, female writing, and female perspective.

碩士
中山醫學大學
生化暨生物科技研究所
95
part I To investigate the effect of Ginseng panaxadiol saponin pure compound Rg1 on apoptotic, survival, fibrosis and cardiac hypertrophy mechanisms in overtraining rat models, Sixty Wistar rats were assigned to six groups: control (C) , overload exercise (swimming 2 times for 3 hours/time )(E), overload exercise followed by recovery (ER), Rg1 control (Cg), treatment with Rg1 plus endurance exercise (Eg) and treatment with Rg1 plus endurance exercise followed by recovery (ERg). Cg, Eg and ERg rats were sequential fed with ginseng Rg1(0.1mg/kg) twice/day for three days, and in the 4th day animals swim for another 2 times (3 hours/time) and then fed with a high carbohydrate diet, followed by recovery. Results show that a significant reduction in cardiac hypertrophy and decreased proteins level in both death receptor and mitochondrial pathways in Eg rats as compared with E rats. In addition endurance exercise caused more prominent cardiac fibrosis accompanied with high activation of MMP9 and decreased the levels of MMP inhibitors TIMP2 in E rats than those of Eg rats. It concluded that overtraining could induce serious impairment on cardiac injury, but Rg1 can improve cardiac function and positively prevent cardiac injury caused by overtraining. part II High blood lipid and oxidation of low-density lipoprotein(LDL) have been known to play important roles in atherosclerosis, which could lead to coronary and cerebral vascular disease, the leading cause of mortality in Taiwan. Li-Fu formula(composed of celery, black fungus, mushroom, saliva miltior rhiza, crataegi cuneata and stragali radix) is one of the represent tative formulas for blood activating in traditional Chinese medicine and may play rolesin anti-hypertension, lipid lowering, diuresis, and improvement of cardiac function.the function of the meLi-Fu formula is not that the science tests, the mechanism has not been known. To investigate the effect of Li-Fu formula on apoptotic, survival and cardiac hypertrophy mechanisms in cardiomyocyte of hasmster fed with a high cholesterol diet. For an 8 week feed period, 24 male Golden Syrian hamsters (7 week old ) were randomly assigned to seven diet groups, including control 0.2% cholesterol, 2% Li-Fu formula. Results show that a significant reduction in cardiac hypertrophy and decreased proteins level in both death receptor and mitochondrial pathways in Li-Fu formula hamsters as compared with 2%cholesterol hamsters. We suggested that Li-Fu formula may be useful for prevention of cardiovascular disease.

Les facteurs génétiques peuvent apporter des réponses à plusieurs questions que nous nous posons sur les traits humains, les maladies et la réaction aux médicaments, entre autres. Avec le temps, le développement continu d'outils d'analyse génétique nous a permis d'examiner ces facteurs et de trouver des explications pertinentes. Cette thèse explore plusieurs méthodes et outils génétiques, tels que le séquençage pan-exomique et le génotypage sur puce, dans un contexte d'analyse familial et populationnel pour étudier ces facteurs génétiques qui jouent un rôle dans une maladie rare, la cardiomyopathie dilatée (DCM), et dans deux traits complexes soient les globules rouges et les plaquettes. DCM est une maladie rare qui est définie par un ventricule gauche dilaté et une dysfonction systolique. Environ 30% des cas de DCM sont héréditaires, et plus de 50 gènes ont été associés à un rôle dans la pathogénicité de DCM. Le dépistage génétique est un outil de référence dans la gestion clinique de DCM familiale. Par contre, pour la majorité des patients, les tests génétiques ne parviennent pas à identifier une mutation causale dans un gène candidat. Les cellules sanguines remplissent une variété de fonctions biologiques, incluant le transport de l'oxygène, les fonctions immunologiques, ainsi que la guérison de plaies. Les niveaux de ces cellules et leurs paramètres auxiliaires sont mesurés par un test sanguin, et une différence avec les valeurs optimales peut signifier certains troubles. De plus, ces traits sont étudiés méticuleusement dans le contexte des maladies cardiovasculaires (CVD) où différents niveaux sont associés avec un risque variable de CVD ou sont des prédicteurs de complications de CVD. iii J'ai examiné la DCM et les traits sanguins avec comme objectif de découvrir des nouvelles associations de mutations génétiques. Pour la DCM, j'ai évalué la pertinence d'un séquençage pan-exomique dans un environnement clinique. Je rapporte plusieurs nouvelles mutations dans des gènes candidats (DSP, LMNA, MYH7, MYPN, RBM20, TNNT2) et des mutations nonsenses dans deux gènes nouvellement associés (TTN et BAG3), et je démontre que les mutations nonsenses influencent la maladie d'une manière différente des autres mutations causales. Je rapporte aussi une mutation dans un nouveau gène, FLNC, qui cause une forme rare et distincte de cardiomyopathie. Pour l'étude des traits complexes, dans le grand consortium Blood Cell Consortium (BCX), j'ai utilisé l’exomechip pour disséquer le rôle des variantes rares et communes dans les globules rouges et les plaquettes. J'ai identifié 16 nouvelles régions génomiques associées avec les globules rouges et 15 avec les plaquettes, parmi lesquelles se retrouvent plusieurs variantes de basses fréquences (MAP1A, HNF4A, ITGA2B, APOH), et j'ai démontré un chevauchement significatif de régions associées avec d'autres traits, incluant les lipides. Mes résultats sur la DCM ont mis en évidence le rôle de plusieurs gènes candidats, et suggèrent un traitement différent au niveau de la gestion clinique des patients qui portent des mutations dans BAG3 et FLNC. En ce qui concerne les traits sanguins, mes résultats contribuent à enrichir le répertoire de régions associées avec ces traits, soulignant l'importance de l'utilisation de grands ensembles de données pour détecter les variantes rares ou de basses fréquences. La découverte de gènes dans les maladies rares et les traits complexes contribue à la compréhension des mécanismes sous-jacents qui ultimement favorisera de meilleurs diagnostics, gestions et traitements de maladies.
Genetic factors hold within them the answers to many questions we have on human traits, disease, and drug response among others. With time, the continuously advancing genetic tools have enabled us to examine those factors and provided and continue to provide astonishing answers. This thesis utilizes various methods of genetic tools such as exome sequencing and chip-based genotyping data in the context of both family and population-based analyses to interrogate the genetic factors that play a role in a rare disease, dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), and in two complex traits, red blood cells and platelets. DCM is a rare disease that is defined by a dilated left ventricle and systolic dysfunction. It is estimated that 30% of DCM cases are hereditary and more than 50 genes have been linked to play a role in the pathogenesis of DCM. Genetic screening of known genes is a gold standard tool in the clinical management of familial DCM. However, in the majority of probands, genetic testing fails to identify the causal mutation. Blood cells play a variety of biological functions including oxygen transport, immunological functions, and wound healing. Levels of these cells and their associated indices are measured by a blood test, and deviation from optimal values may indicate certain disorders. Additionally, these traits are heavily studied in the context of cardiovascular disease (CVD) where different levels associate with a variable risk of CVD or are predictors of CVD complications or outcomes (for example, a higher level of white blood cells or lower level of hemoglobin). I examined both DCM and blood cell traits and aimed to discover new mutations and variants that are associated with each. For DCM, I evaluated the value of whole exome vi sequencing in a clinical setting, and I report a number of novel mutations in candidate genes (DSP, LMNA, MYH7, MYPN, RBM20, TNNT2) and truncating mutations in two newly established genes, TTN and BAG3, and I demonstrate that truncating mutations in the latter influence disease differently than other causal mutations. I also report a mutation in a novel gene, FLNC that causes a rare and distinct form of cardiomyopathy. In examining complex traits, I dissected the role of common and rare variants in red blood cells and platelets within a large consortium, the Blood Cell Consortium (BCX) using the ExomeChip, and identified 16 novel loci associated with red blood cell traits and 15 with platelet traits, some of which harbored low-frequency variants (MAP1A, HNF4A, ITGA2B, APOH), and demonstrated a substantial overlap with other phenotypes predominantly lipids. My results on DCM establish the role of a number of candidate genes in this disorder and suggest a different course of clinical management for patients that carry mutations in BAG3 and FLNC. As for blood cell traits, my results contributed to expanding the repertoire of loci associated with red blood cell and platelet traits and illustrate the importance of using large datasets to discover low-frequency or rare variants. Gene discovery in rare disease and complex traits gives insight into the underlying mechanisms which ultimately contributes to a better diagnosis, management, and treatment of disease.

During her theoretical training as an educational psychologist, the researcher was intrigued and fascinated by the expositions on the functioning of the self. With this study she pursued her goal to gain a clearer understanding of the formation and development of the self in a child, with the focus on the child in middle childhood (6 -12 years). In this study, she mainly focused on understanding the connection between the three crucial components of the self, self-concept and self-esteem. Her passion for art inspired her to be inventive and apply artistic creative methods of drawing, painting and clay human modelling as projective means to access the child’s unconscious mind, revealing pivotal experiences and emotions, revealing how the child relates to his or her self. According to this qualitative arts-based research study, the DAP (Draw a Person) and variations of PAP (Paint a Person) and CAP (Create a Person) with the use of appropriate DAP, PAP and CAP questionnaires, seem relevant therapeutic projective measures to assist in educational psychology in exploring the child’s self.
Further Teacher Education
M. Ed. (Guidance and Counselling)