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1
Millidine, Karen J. "Within- and among-individual variation in metabolic rate in juvenile Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar." Thesis, University of Glasgow, 2008. http://theses.gla.ac.uk/477/.
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Animals may adopt a range of energy strategies to persist and perhaps prosper under various prevailing environmental conditions. For example, they may achieve similar growth by investing heavily in maintaining a high capacity food capture and processing system or by using a lower capacity system that is cheap to run but which is less effective at accruing further resources. The way that individuals within species allocate energy resources is an intriguing issue that has implications for understanding competition, population structuring and the response of populations to environmental change. Energy budgets account quantitatively for the pathways by which food energy results in variation in somatic resources and constitute an important basis for evaluating links between behaviour and aspects of performance. Atlantic salmon have been an important model for exploring relationships between growth performance, metabolic strategies and individual behaviour. Juvenile salmonid fish have been a particularly useful subject for exploring individual variation in metabolism because it has been possible to relate standard metabolic rate (SMR) to behavioural traits and lifestyle within a species. SMR correlates with dominance status, which is reflected in the ability of fish to access high value food patches and may promote faster growth under some conditions. This thesis focuses on the within- and among-individual variation in SMR and looks at how a fish’s external environment and social interactions can influence its SMR, and whether this variation in SMR can affect other aspects of metabolism such as feeding. Experiments were carried out to determine: (A) whether the presence of a shelter reduces SMR; this may provide an additional reason for the extent to which these fish will compete aggressively for shelters when these are limiting (Chapter 2); (B) the extent of intraspecific variation in SDA (i.e. differences in the measured parameters that are used to define SDA), and to test whether the SDA for a given meal varies as a function of individual traits such as SMR. If SMR is directly related to scope for growth, then the speed and size of the SDA response should also correlate with SMR (Chapter 3); (C) whether ventilation rate is sufficiently accurately related to metabolic rate (MR) at a range of temperatures and activities so as to allow energy expenditure to be predicted outside a respirometer (Chapter 4); and (D) how visual isolation and the presence of a conspecific can affect SMR, using the method developed in the previous chapter (Chapter 5). Access to shelter was shown to have a significant impact on SMR, producing on average a 30% increase in metabolic costs in the absence of shelter. Therefore, the presence of appropriate shelter not only reduces the risk of predation but also provides a metabolic benefit to fish that is likely to have implications for growth performance and activity budgets. Variation in SMR was shown to affect the profile of energy consumption during digestion of a meal. The peak in post-prandial oxygen consumption, the duration of elevated metabolism and the overall magnitude of SDA all increased with the size of meal consumed. However, for a given meal size, fish with a higher SMR also had a higher peak and greater magnitude of SDA, yet experienced a shorter duration over which metabolism was elevated following the meal. Intraspecific variation in SMR is thus linked to variation in digestive strategies, although the costs and benefits of a given SMR are likely to vary with resource availability and predictability. Ventilation frequency was shown to be a good correlate of MR, since MR was found to correlate strongly with VR in all fish tested, at all temperatures and the relationship was independent of causal factor. The relationship was linear, and both the slope and corresponding intercept of the regression equation were strongly dependent on the fish’s body weight and the test temperature. Visual measurements of VR may therefore provide a highly accurate, cheap and non-invasive method of measuring the energy consumption of fish engaged in natural behaviours. Comparing SMR of individual fish when alone with response to presence and absence of physical shelters showed that all fish exhibited a reduction in SMR when provided with an appropriate shelter. However, when grouped, there were both positive and negative group effects on SMR depending on the relative size of fish. The consequences are that, although the group effect on SMR may be small on average, at the population level it is large, of variable sign and profoundly important in terms of the overall energy budget at the individual level. This thesis therefore shows that metabolic rates can vary extensively within as well as between individuals, depending on the context, and this variation will have profound effects on overall energy budgets.
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Gambaro, Ludovica. "Why are childcare workers low paid? : an analysis of pay in the UK childcare sector, 1994-2008." Thesis, London School of Economics and Political Science (University of London), 2012. http://etheses.lse.ac.uk/477/.
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The thesis examines pay among British childcare workers from 1994 to 2008. It uses childcare as an example of female care occupations and selects the UK as a case study because in recent years childcare services have expanded substantially. As childcare provision has become increasingly formal, the issue of the rewards attached to this type of work has become more pressing. The thesis asks why childcare workers in the UK have traditionally received low pay and to what extent they continue to do so. It explores the changes in childcare policy that have taken place since the mid-1990s in order to understand whether Government’s increased commitment to childcare services has resulted in an improvement in workers’ pay. The thesis develops a multi-layered analysis. First, based on a review of policy documents and secondary sources, the thesis examines British childcare policy and identifies the challenges to higher pay in the sector. Second, the thesis investigates changes in the characteristics and pay of the childcare workforce between 1994 and 2008 by using data from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) and from the Early Years and Childcare Providers survey. Finally, cultural assumptions about caring motivations and pay are explored on the basis of data from the LFS as well as findings from interviews with childcare workers. The thesis makes three main contributions. Using a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods and a variety of information sources, it offers evidence on changes in the remuneration of British childcare workers, paying close attention to the way childcare policy, education policy and labour market institutions influence wage levels. Furthermore, drawing from the example of childcare in the UK, the thesis contributes to the wider debate on the undervaluation of women’s work by pointing to some of the institutional dynamics that account for low pay in the sector. Finally, the thesis highlights the direct labour market impact of a childcare and early education policies, thus exploring an important dimension of welfare state analysis.
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Papandrea, Enzo <1975>. "Tomographic inversion of MIPAS measurements; optimization of retrieval grids and generation of innovative products." Doctoral thesis, Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, 2007. http://amsdottorato.unibo.it/477/.
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Stefanelli, Francesco. "Analisi dei flussi e di relayout nella valutazione di ampliamento del mix produttivo: il caso Baioni Crushing Plants S.p.A." Master's thesis, Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, 2009. http://amslaurea.unibo.it/477/.
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Haigh, John Stephen. "The influence of yarn production and processing variables on loop distortion in plain knit fabrics." Thesis, University of Leeds, 1987. http://etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/477/.
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After reviewing past work into the geometry of the symmetrical idealised plain knit loop, an account is given of the present knowledge of loop distortion, which represents one of the major problem areas of the knitting industry. The shortcomings of this knowledge are shown to be that, although a large number of processing variables have been demonstrated to be associated with loop distortion, there have been no systematic studies of the defect and there have been virtually no attempts to explain it in terms of fundamental physical characteristics of the yarn. Eleven yarn production and processing variables are examined within the framework of factorially designed experiments. The influence of these independent variables is statistically related both to ranked levels of loop distortion and to values of yarn physical characteristics. The two latter groups of data are also inter-related by rank correlation. It is shown that loop distortion is dependent upon at least three yarn characteristics which, in turn, are dependent upon particular production and processing variables. These three are yarn bending hysteresis, bending rigidity, and count regularity. The greater propensity for wool to distort in comparison to acrylic is explained in relation to these characteristics, and to their different changes during processes such as steam setting and package dyeing. The work is finally reviewed both from the point of view of the manufacturer, who wishes to be able to predict the likelihood that a particular yarn will cause distortion, and the textile technologist who is not only interested in choosing the optimum yarn production conditions for minimum distortion, but would like to improve the fabric appearance by changes or additions to established production routes.
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Гризовська, Лілія Олександрівна. "Трансформування промислового підприємства в інноваційно-активне на основі розвитку персоналу." Thesis, Тернопільський національний технічний університет ім. Івана Пулюя, 2015. http://elartu.tntu.edu.ua/handle/123456789/5650.
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Гегельська, О. В. "Особливості девіантної поведінки в умовах трансформації українського суспільства." Thesis, Національний авіаційний університет, 2016. http://er.nau.edu.ua/handle/NAU/19550.
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Дeвіaнтнa пoвeдінкa особистості - складне явищe, яке передбачає біологічні,
психологічні та насамперед соціальні аспекти. Зараз значно зростає ризик щодо
криз в суспільстві, також спостерігається погіршення процесів відтворення
соціального досвіду. На сучасному етапі розвитку суспільства простежуються процеси дестабілізації певних сфер суспільного життя та поширення різних форм прояву девіантної поведінки.
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Горідько, Руслана Володимирівна. "Економічна сутність та особливості інвестиційної діяльності." Thesis, Національний авіаційний університет, 2009. http://er.nau.edu.ua/handle/NAU/10556.
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Горідько Р.В. Економічна сутність та особливості інвестиційної діяльності / Науково - практична конференція "Інноваційно - інвестиційні проблеми розвитку економіки України": тези доповідей, Київ 2009р. / М-во освіти і науки України // К.: НАУ. С. 37-38
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Mir, Sadiq Ahmed. "From villages 477 and 482 to suburbia : the suburbanisation of Glasgow's Pakistani community." Thesis, University of Glasgow, 2005. http://theses.gla.ac.uk/2747/.
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Посохов, Игорь Михайлович. "Государственное регулирование цен на продукцию социального значения." Thesis, Харьковский национальный университет им. В. Н. Каразина, 2009. http://repository.kpi.kharkov.ua/handle/KhPI-Press/30670.
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Диссертация на соискание научной степени кандидата экономических наук по специальности 08.00.03 – экономика и управление национальным хозяйством – Харьковский национальный университет имени В. Н. Каразина, Харьков, 2009.
В диссертации автором обоснованы теоретические, методические и практические вопросы совершенствования управления ценообразованием как направление развития социально-экономической стратегии формирования в Украине новой модели экономического развития. Разработки автора основаны на собственном исследовании государственного регулирования цен на социально значимую продукцию и анализе работы системы органов ценообразования. Исследуются сущность, цели, особенности и механизмы государственного регулирования цен. Теоретически обоснована необходимость влияния государства на ценовую политику на современном этапе развития экономики, теоретически направления и предложены научно-методические подходы к совершенствованию государственной ценовой политики. Получили дальнейшее развитие научно-теоретическое обоснование государственного регулирования цен на современном этапе развития Украины, классификация целей и методов государственного регулирования цен, исследование эффективности государственного регулирования цен на рынке социально значимых продовольственных товаров на примере рынка хлеба и подсолнечного масла, перспективы развития системы ценообразования в условиях вступления Украины в ВТО. В процессе исследования выполнена классификация целей и методов государственного регулирования цен. Классификация методов государственного регулирования цен, в соответствии принципам управления по дополнительному набору признаков, отражает использование методов государственного регулирования цен в Украине. Выделены характерные особенности государственного регулирования цен, современной социальной политики и предложены направления их оптимизации. Предлагаются рекомендации по совершенствованию социально значимого перечня товаров и услуг, согласно которому осуществляется регулирование цен в Украине. Предлагаются рекомендации по совершенствованию нормативной базы в области ценообразования, рекомендации по совершенствованию работы Государственной инспекции по контролю за ценами и системы ценообразования, предложены составляющие механизма управления тендерными закупками, как косвенного механизма государственного регулирования цен на социально значимые товары.The Dissertation on competition of a scientific degree of the candidate of economic sciences on a speciality 08.00.13 - Economics and Governance of a National Economy, Kharkiv National Karazina University, Kharkiv, 2009. The goal of this dissertation is to research the theoretical, methodical and practical questions of improvement of pricing management as development concept of "social and economic strategy of formation of the new economic development model in Ukraine". The dissertation offers recommendations on improvement of normative base in the field of pricing, recommendations on improvement of work of governmental price management inspection and the pricing system. Also the mechanism of tender purchases management, as the indirect mechanism of governmental price regulation for socially significant production is offered.
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Zamora, Lauren Maria. "Inputs and Biogeochemical Impacts of Nutrient Deposition on the Subtropical North Atlantic." Scholarly Repository, 2010. http://scholarlyrepository.miami.edu/oa_dissertations/477.
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Atmospheric nitrogen deposition to the ocean has more than doubled in the past 150 years due to anthropogenic activity, reaching levels comparable with nitrogen fixation in the subtropical North Atlantic. Previous studies have suggested that atmospherically deposited N may increase export production, decrease surface water phosphate levels, and substantially impact geochemical estimates of nitrogen fixation. This dissertation reports on the magnitude and biogeochemical fate of soluble N and P deposition in the subtropical North Atlantic. Aerosol and wet deposition time-series samples were used to determine the fluxes, sources, and N:P ratios of atmospheric nutrient deposition. Based on the magnitudes of total soluble N and P deposition, atmospheric nutrients are estimated to supply ~10-50% of allochthonous N to the North Atlantic subtropical gyre. Samples gathered in Barbados, the Canary Islands, and Miami indicate that atmospheric N sources are primarily anthropogenic (and thus, increasing) and that P sources are primarily natural (and thus relatively steady). Because inorganic nutrient concentrations in surface waters are in the low nM range, increasing P stress in surface waters may occur as a result of increasing N deposition. This assessment is supported by modeling studies, which also indicate that deposition would enhance surface P depletion. Inorganic N contributes nearly all (85-87%) of atmospherically deposited soluble N; the majority (~60%) of the remaining soluble organic N is comprised of an incompletely characterized pool of volatile basic organic N. Water soluble organic P contributes ~20-50% of soluble P. Because organic P contributes a relatively higher portion of soluble P as compared to organic N, the inclusion of organic matter in deposition estimates could both enhance the expected level of export production and reduce the predicted levels of P stress induced by atmospheric deposition. Further modeling studies indicate that the fate of atmospheric nutrients in the subtropical North Atlantic is controlled by non-Redfieldian processes, and that atmospheric nutrients eventually accumulate in the main thermocline. The research presented here suggests that future increases in atmospheric N emissions could have long-term impacts on surface ocean biology and nutrient cycles in the subtropical North Atlantic.
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Brown, Jason Daniels. "Synchronization and Media Exchange in Large-Scale Caenorhabditis elegans Cultures." DigitalCommons@USU, 2009. http://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/477.
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The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is a model organism for understanding sensory molecules of multicellular organisms. Ovulating hermaphrodites produce putative pheromone(s) that cause male attraction. Because pheromones are produced in such small quantities, adult conditioned-media from large-scale synchronous culture is necessary to analyze these pheromones. Current protocols for culture synchronization have volume constraints that limit large-scale synchronous cultures and current methodology for adult conditioned-media production is impractical.
Modification of Tangential Flow Filtration (TFF) systems was investigated for use as a method to increase the volume limits of bleach egg harvest for C. elegans culture synchronization. Also, an adult retention device built within the culture vessel was investigated to optimize the environment for aseptic conditioned-media production from dense large-scale C. elegans cultures.
During this investigation, we have shown that synchronous C. elegans cultures for adult conditioned-media production can be grown at scales larger than reported before, with potential for further scale up. Our growth methodologies have also yielded denser cultures than previously achieved at large scales. Since rapid bleach harvesting appears to be the bottleneck for large-scale production of synchronous C. elegans cultures, our approach of using modified TFF systems with mesh to retain C. elegans eggs increased the amount of eggs that could be bleach harvested at one time. Using this method we have been able to achieve up to 5x103 synchronous C. elegans per mL at a 50L scale. Since scale-up of TFF is straightforward, our results suggest that the technique reported here can easily be applied to larger scale systems for production of adult conditioned-media for C. elegans. Further, the adult retention device within the culture vessel can ensure that the whole process remains aseptic.
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Schirmer, Amy. "Hey, That's Not Fair! A Comparison of Faculty and Department Head Fairness Perceptions of Pregnancy Leave Practices." TopSCHOLAR®, 2005. http://digitalcommons.wku.edu/theses/477.
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As more women enter the workforce, employers are increasingly faced with issues such as pregnancy leave. This study addresses perceptions of faculty pregnancy leave practices in a university setting. In part, this study is a replication/follow-up to a study conducted in 1995 on the perceptions of procedural justice when establishing a maternity leave policy. This study examined current pregnancy leave practices and faculty and department head perceptions of fairness of such leave to the pregnant faculty member and other faculty members. Options used most frequently in 1995 are still the options most frequently used by department heads in 2005. Faculty and department heads were in agreement about the options they are most willing to use, option fairness to pregnant faculty, and option fairness to other faculty. Only one of the three options that required more effort from other faculty to cover pregnancy leave was perceived as less fair to other faculty by department heads and faculty members. That option was the one in which the faculty member received no compensation for covering classes. Department head ratings of willingness to use an option were related to their ratings of fairness to pregnant faculty and related to the perceived fairness of that option to other faculty members. Both department heads and faculty perceived the participative decision-making method to be more appropriate for determining which option to use to cover pregnancy leave. The data from this research should prove useful to department heads, deans, and faculty members as they determine which options will be used to determine class coverage for pregnancy leave.
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Yuen, Sze Wai. "Individual vs. Aggregate Decision Making – Diversification Discount." Scholarship @ Claremont, 2012. http://scholarship.claremont.edu/cmc_theses/477.
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This paper studies via experimental setting whether diversification discount exists and what factors affect the magnitude of the discount. The results suggest that experience before decision increases the likelihood of exercising the real option of conglomerates. People are also more likely to convert if it is less risky to do so.
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Kim, Jung Hee (Ginny). "Career expectations and requirements of undergraduate hospitality students and the hospitality industry an analysis of differences : a thesis submitted to AUT University in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of International Hospitality Management (MIHM), 2008 /." Click here to access this resource online, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/10292/477.
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The hospitality industry has seen rapid growth through the last three decades. The hospitality industry in New Zealand is still growing steadily. According to the Ministry of Tourism (2008, para. 3), “Visitor expenditure is forecast (from 2008 to 2014) to increase from $13.73 billion to $19.05 billion per annum, an increase of 41.4%” (Ministry of tourism, 2008b). Therefore, in response to the needs of the industry, training providers have established a number of hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism degrees (O'Mahony & Sillitoe, 2001). However, previous studies have identified that hospitality management degrees tend to lack importance in the actual world (Harkison, 2004a, 2004b; Steele; 2003). Hospitality management students seem to rate the value of their degrees higher than do employees in the industry (Collins, 2002; Raybould & Wilkins, 2005). Therefore, there are gaps between the expectations and assumptions of students and those of hospitality professionals, which have led to problems in the hospitality industry. This study has taken three steps to identify: 1) how career expectations, assumptions and requirements differ between undergraduate hospitality management students and management employees in the hospitality industry; 2) The working histories of managerial employees and their perceptions of the industry’s needs; 3) Establish the perceived value of hospitality management degrees amongst hospitality management undergraduate students and the hospitality industry. To do so, a comprehensive literature review was undertaken, and questionnaires were collected from 137 undergraduates enrolled in a Bachelor of International Hospitality Management degree at AUT University and 74 managerial employees in the hotel industry. After an analysis of the data, the researcher examined and compared the results of both groups’ data with relation to the findings of the literature review. The following key points emerged from the research: most students expected that they would work in the hospitality industry after completing their course and supposed that their first work field would be in a Food and Beverage department at a management trainee level. The results of the survey show a match between students’ long-term career expectations and the working history of employees. Students also seem to understand the environment of the hospitality industry well. These results show that students organise well, planning for their future careers, and these results were similar with those of some previous studies (Brien, 2004; Harkison, 2004b; Jenkins, 2001). The results of this study identified similarities and differences of perceptions between undergraduate students and managerial employees in the hotel industry. Similarities of students’ perceptions and managerial employees’ perceptions are; • Commitment is rated as the most important factor in determining success, while personality is rated the most important attribute for an employee in the hospitality industry. • A degree in hospitality management is not recognised as an important qualification by students or employee respondents. Working experience is more important than a bachelor degree of hospitality management for a prospective employee. • Students and managerial employees believe that the hospitality educators know the industry well, although educators and employees have different understandings of career expectations. • Both parties believe that internship might help hospitality students’ careers in the industry. Differences of perceptions between undergraduate students and managerial employees are; • Students believe that knowledge of the industry and experience are the most significant factors for a new employee in the hospitality industry but employees indicate personality. • Employees believe that using initiative skills are the most important factor for an employee’s career development, whereas students answer communication skills. • Students believe that a hospitality management bachelor degree will contribute more to the hotel business but employees believe that having three years’ experience will contribute more. • Students consider that an employee with a bachelor’s degree in hospitality will receive higher starting salaries than someone without, but employees disagree. • Students suggest that a bachelor of hospitality management degree will affect opportunities for promotion, but employees do not share that opinion. This study found that even if students and managerial employees share some common opinions, many gaps still exist between them. Therefore, the researcher suggests recommendations relating to students’ expectations and assumptions of their job entry level, the working environment in the hospitality industry, the needs of the hospitality industry, and the value of a bachelors degree of hospitality management. Furthermore, the researcher identifies some limitations of this study and areas for further research.
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Kolesnikov, Inna. "Master's piano recital." Manhattan, Kan. : Kansas State University, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/2097/477.
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Van, Eeden Suzanne. ""Almal kom na Lubbe" : die skoenmakerverhaal van A.P. Lubbe en Seun (Edms.) Bpk. 1918-2001 /." Thesis, Link to the online version, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/10019/477.
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Keene, Thomas Edward. "Beset by secrecy and beleaguered by rivals : the Special Operations Executive and military operations in Western Europe 1940-1942, with special reference to Operation Frankton." Thesis, University of Plymouth, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10026.1/477.
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The intention of this thesis is to investigate the circumstances and background surrounding the early development and deployment of the Special Operations Executive (SOE), Britain's clandestine secret service created by Winston Churchill in 1940 to 'set Europe ablaze.' It will examine the climate in which SOE was created, the feasibility of the tasks it was expected to perform and the relationships it established with Churchill, the Cabinet Office, the Chiefs of Staff, the Foreign Office, the Admiralty and Army, the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) and Combined Operations. It will examine how these organisations succeeded or failed to work towards a common wartime objective. The focus of the thesis is concerned primarily with the political moves and counter-moves in London that dominated the early years of SOE's six year existence. It will concentrate therefore upon 1940-1942, the critical early years before planning for the Second Front 'militarised' SOE's clandestine role. There is thus little reference to SOE in The Balkans, in Holland or the Middle East or to the actual deployment and modus operandi of SOE agents in the field. Their stories of courage and betrayal, of penetration, capture or evasion are mentioned only in so far as they illuminate the struggle to establish a wider SOE credibility in London. The single exception to this is Operation Frankton, the 'Cockleshell Heroes' raid on Bordeaux shipping in December 1942. The planning, execution and result of this raid were determined by Combined Operations' relationship with SOE and led to an outcome that was shaped by SOE's sense of secrecy, rivalry and political encirclement. This thesis will attempt to unravel those critical and complex relationships.
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Fang, Caodi. "CHARACTERIZATION OF POLYPHENOL OXIDASE AND ANTIOXIDANTS FROM PAWPAW (ASIMINA TRIBOLA) FRUIT." UKnowledge, 2007. http://uknowledge.uky.edu/gradschool_theses/477.
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The latest generation of fighter aircraft utilizes a 270Vdc power system [1]. Such high voltage DC power systems are difficult to protect with conventional circuit breakers because the current does not automatically go to zero twice per cycle during a fault like it does in an AC power system and thus arcing of the contacts is a problem. Solid state power controllers (SSPCs) are the solid state equivalent of a circuit breaker that do not arc and which can respond more rapidly to a fault than a mechanical breaker [2]. Present SSPCs are limited to lower voltages and currents by the available power semiconductors [8,9]. This dissertation presents design and experimental results for a SSPC that utilizes SiC power JFETs for the SSPC power switch to extend SSPC capability to higher voltages and currents in a space that is smaller than what is practically achievable with a Si power switch. The research started with the thermal analysis of the SSPCs power switch, which will guide the development of a SiC JFET multi-chip power module to be fabricated by Solid State Devices Inc. (SSDI) using JFETs from SiCED and/or Semisouth LLC. Multiple multi-chip power modules will be paralleled to make the SSPC switch. Fabricated devices were evaluated thermally both statically and dynamically and electrically both statically and dynamically. In addition to the SiC module research a detailed design of the high voltage SSPC control circuit capable of operating at 200andamp;ordm;C was completed including detailed analysis, modeling and simulations, detailed schematic diagrams and detailed drawings. Finally breadboards of selected control circuits were fabricated and tested to verify simulation results. Methods for testing SiC JFET devices under transient thermal conditions unique to the SSPC application was also developed.
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Woodfork, Jerry D. "The effects of an assertive discipline approach on disciplnary problems in selected high schools." DigitalCommons@Robert W. Woodruff Library, Atlanta University Center, 1987. http://digitalcommons.auctr.edu/dissertations/477.
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This study explored the effectiveness of an assertive discipline approach in six Atlanta high schools. The major research question guiding the study was: To what extent does an assertive discipline approach influence the incidence of inschool suspensions, out-of-school suspensions, and disciplinary referrals when used by assertive and nonassertive administrators. So that an adequate sample could be selected for the study, a survey was conducted to identify six public high schools in Atlanta using the assertive discipline approach. Forty-five administrators responded to a questionnaire containing 17 questions. Three null hypotheses were posted for testing that related to the selected discipline variables: (1) There will be no significant difference in the incidence of inschool suspensions between those administrators using Lee Canter’s assertive discipline approach and those administrators using a nonassertive discipline approach in the Atlanta high schools, (2) There will be no significant difference in the incidence of out-of-school suspensions between those administrators using Lee Canter’s assertive discipline approach and those administrators using a nonassertive discipline approach in the Atlanta high schools, and (3) There will be no significant difference in the incidence of disciplinary referrals between those administrators using Lee Canter’s assertive discipline approach and those administrators using a nonassertive discipline approach in the Atlanta high schools. The t test was used for testing the hypotheses. The interpretation of results of the t tests of differences between sample means for three null hypotheses showed that the null hypotheses were not rejected. The primary conclusion drawn from the findings was that there was no significant difference in the incidences of inschool suspensions, out-of-school suspensions, and disciplinary referrals, for high school administrators who used Lee Canter’s assertive discipline approach as compared to a nonassertive discipline approach with ninth and tenth grade students in six Atlanta high schools. The findings also indicated that within each of the six high schools in the sample, some administrators preferred an assertive discipline approach while others used a nonassertive discipline approach. Therefore, the influence of one discipline approach within a school was counter-balanced with an alternative discipline approach. Another mediating factor which may have influenced the results of the study was the interactive group process stipulated by the student discipline guidelines. The guidelines stipulated certain reporting, documentation, and notification processes which required the input and influence of others (other administrators, teachers, parerts, students) in the decisions regarding a disciplinary problem. While the administrator had the authority to make the final decision regarding a disciplinary action, he may not have behaved consistently in accordance with a specific discipline approach.
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Bothma, Tanya. "Investigating the role of the NO-cGMP pathway in an animal model of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) / Tanya Bothma." Thesis, North-West University, 2004. http://hdl.handle.net/10394/477.
Full textAbstract:
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a severe anxiety disorder characterised by
hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA)-axis abnormalities, hyperarousal, anxiety,
flashbacks of trauma memories and avoidance. Increasing evidence is now
accumulating that the disorder is also associated with shrinkage of the hippocampus
and cognitive dysfunction that may have its origin in stress-induced excitotoxicity.
Animal studies have indeed highlighted a potential role of the excitotoxic glutamatenitric
oxide (NO) pathway in the stress response. Since PTSD appears to be an
illness that progresses and worsens over time after an initial severe traumatic event,
this study has used an animal model that emphasises repeated trauma to investigate
the effect of stress on hippocampal NO synthase (NOS) activity, the release of the
nitrogen oxide metabolites of NO (NOx), and also the evoked release of cGMP.
Furthermore, the modulation and dependency of these responses on glutamate, NO
and cGMP activity using drugs selective for these targets, will also be investigated.
Rats (n=10/group) were exposed to repeated stress together with saline or drug
administration immediately after the stress procedure and continuing for one week
post-stress. The animals were then sacrificed for assay of hippocampal NOS activity,
NO, and cGMP accumulation. Animals received either the glutamate-NMDA receptor
antagonist, memantine (MEM;5mg/kg ip/d), the neuronal NOS selective inhibitor, 7-
nitroindazole monosodium salt (7-NINA;20mg/kg ip/d), the cGMP-specific PDE
inhibitor, sildenafil (SIL;10mg/kg ip/d) or the NFkb antagonist, pyrollidine
dithiocarbamate (PDTC;70mg/kg ip/d). The latter inhibits the nuclear transcription
factor, NFkb, responsible for inducing the expression of iNOS, while it also appears
to mediate the glutamatergic actions on NOS expression,
Stress significantly increased hippocampal NOS activity, as well as significantly
increased hippocampal cGMP and NO, levels. These increases were blocked by pretreatment
with either PDTC or 7-NINA, while memantine was without effect. Sildenafil
significantly augmented stress induced NO, accumulation, as well as cGMP.
although the latter failed to reach significance. 7-NINA and memantine significantly
blocked the increase in cGMP evoked by time-dependent sensitisation (TDS)-stress,
with PDTC attenuating this response, but not significantly. Additionally, administration
of each drug separately for seven days without exposure to stress, did not evoke
significant changes in NOx levels, compared to the control group. However,
significant increases in cGMP levels, compared to the control group, were found with
all four drugs.
Repeated trauma therefore activates the NO-cGMP pathway, possibly involving
actions on both nNOS and iNOS. The NMDA receptor appears less involved after
chronic repeated stress, and may have limited therapeutic implications. Sub-cellular
NO-modulation, however, may represent an important therapeutic strategy in
preventing the effects of severe stress and in treating PTSD.Thesis (M.Sc. (Pharmacology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2005.
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Stewart, Lily C. "Canonizing Episcopal 'Naughtiness': Negative Depictions of Bishops and the Bishopric in Late Antique and Medieval Hagiography." Scholarship @ Claremont, 2014. http://scholarship.claremont.edu/scripps_theses/477.
Full textAbstract:
The purpose of this thesis is to explore the nuances and implications of the negative portrayals of bishops and the bishopric in late antique and medieval Catholic hagiography. I will consider how and why members of the episcopacy were painted so negatively, and how hagiographers got away with drawing such negative connotations around the office itself. In doing this, I will consider how these texts address real social anxieties surrounding the bishopric, and argue that they work apologetically for the episcopacy by establishing the corruptibility of the office's human aspect as an expected norm, and highlighting in contrast the extreme difficulty and laudability of living up to the office's divine aspect.
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Spiers, Stephen. "The application of pulsed laser photoacoustic spectroscopy to the investigation of blood glucose concentrations." Thesis, Heriot-Watt University, 2001. http://hdl.handle.net/10399/477.
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Shneider, Alexander M. "Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon induced intracellular signaling and lymphocyte apoptosis /." Roskilde : Roskilde University Center, Institute of Life Science and Chemistry, 1998. http://hdl.handle.net/1800/477.
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McLelland, Andrew John. "The relative use of form 8-k disclosures a trading response analysis /." Diss., Texas A&M University, 2003. http://hdl.handle.net/1969/477.
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Li, Lin. "Computer modeling of a vertical array in a stratified ocean /." Online version of thesis as technical report, 1995. http://hdl.handle.net/1912/477.
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Powell, McNutt Jennifer R. "Church & society in eighteenth-century Geneva, 1700-1789." Thesis, St Andrews, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/10023/477.
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Bloom, Kelly. "Orientalism in French 19th Century Art." Thesis, Boston College, 2004. http://hdl.handle.net/2345/477.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis advisor: Jeffery HoweThe Orient has been a mythical, looming presence since the foundation of Islam in the 7th century. It has always been the “Other” that Edward Said wrote about in his 1979 book Orientalism. The gulf of misunderstanding between the myth and the reality of the Near East still exists today in the 21st century. Napoleon's invasion of Egypt in 1798 and the subsequent colonization of the Near East is perhaps the defining moment in the Western perception of the Near East. At the beginning of modern colonization, Napoleon and his companions arrived in the Near East convinced of their own superiority and authority; they were Orientalists. The supposed superiority of Europeans justified the colonization of Islamic lands. Said never specifically wrote about art; however, his theories on colonialism and Orientalism still apply. Linda Nochlin first made use of them in her article “The Imaginary Orient” from 1983. Artists such as Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, Eugène Delacroix and Jean-Léon Gérôme demonstrate Said's idea of representing the Islamic “Other” as a culturally inferior and backward people, especially in their portrayal of women. The development of photography in the late 19th century added another dimension to this view of the Orient, with its seemingly objective viewpoint
Thesis (BA) — Boston College, 2004
Submitted to: Boston College. College of Arts and Sciences
Discipline: Fine Arts
Discipline: College Honors Program
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Linquist, Alicia G. "Knockdown of vitellogenin by RNAi increases survivorship but exhibits similar physiological responses to ovariectomy in grasshoppers." UNF Digital Commons, 2013. http://digitalcommons.unf.edu/etd/477.
Full textAbstract:
Reduced reproduction has been shown to increase lifespan in many animals, yet the mechanisms behind this trade-off are mostly unknown. A previous study has shown that in the lubber grasshopper, Romalea microptera, ovariectomized (OVX) individuals have a 30% increase in lifespan relative to controls (Sham). In a separate study, an increase in fat body mass and a halting of ovarian growth were seen upon reduction of vitellogenin transcript via RNAi (VgRNAi). These data suggest that VgRNAi increases lifespan through the trade-off between reproduction and longevity and animals with combined ovariectomy and VgRNAi, might show additive physiological responses. In this study, we used two injection control groups for the VgRNAi treatment, namely buffer injection or injection with RNAi against a 90kDa hexamerin storage protein (Hex90RNAi). We have combined these manipulations to test lifespans upon: OVX & VgRNAi, OVX & Hex90RNAi, OVX & Buffer, Sham & VgRNAi, Sham & Hex90RNAi, and Sham & Buffer. Ovariectomy and VgRNAi exhibited similar reductions in feeding (~40%) and extensions in lifespan (13-21%) but showed differences in vitellogenin protein levels. This study also observed the effects of reduced reproduction on hexamerin storage proteins. We observed that upon ovariectomy and VgRNAi, hexamerins were increased, emphasizing the importance of protein in insect life extension. When methods to reduce reproduction were combined (OVX VgRNAi), no additive physiological responses were observed, suggesting ovariectomy and VgRNAi each extend lifespan by overlapping or convergent pathways.
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Ahmed, Syed Adeel. "Usability Studies with Virtual and Traditional Computer Aided Design Environments." ScholarWorks@UNO, 2006. http://scholarworks.uno.edu/td/477.
Full textAbstract:
For both the CAVETM and the adaptable technology possessed by the University of New Orleans, crystal eye glasses are used to produce a stereoscopic view, and an ascension flock of birds tracking system is employed for tracking of the user's head position and position of a wand in 3D space. It is argued that with these immersive technologies along the use of gestures and hand movements should provide a more natural interface with the immersive virtual environment. This allows a more rapid and efficient set of actions to recognize geometry, interaction with a spatial environment, the ability to find errors, or navigate through an environment. The wand interface is used to provide an improved means of interaction. This study quantitatively measures the differences in interaction when compared with traditional human computer interfaces. This work uses competitive usability in four different Benchmarks: 1) navigation, 2) error detection/correction, 3) spatial awareness, and 4) a “shopping list†of error identifications. This work expands on [Butler & Satter's, 2005] work by conducting tests in the CAVETM system, rather than principally employing workbench technology. During testing, the testers are given some time to “play around†with the CAVETM environment for familiarity before undertaking a specific exercise. The testers are then instructed regarding tasks to be completed, and are asked to work quickly without sacrificing accuracy. The research team timed each task, counted errors, and recorded activity on evaluation sheets for each Benchmark test. At the completion of the testing scenarios involving Benchmarks 1, 2, 3, or 4, the subjects were given a survey document and asked to respond by checking boxes to communicate their subjective opinions.
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Takahashi, André. "Efeitos da solução de Carnoy no reparo ósseo em cavidades experimentais de tíbias de ratos." Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/10923/477.
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Made available in DSpace on 2011-12-27T14:14:22Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2
000409050-0.pdf: 4761695 bytes, checksum: 304fc514158de2cbb7ba0115144a77a3 (MD5)
license.txt: 581 bytes, checksum: 44ea52f0b7567232681c6e3d72285adc (MD5)This paper discusses topics related to the planning and implementation of nonrandomised clinical studies in oral and maxillofacial surgery. A well-conducted case-series is appropriate to demonstrate the safety of a surgical intervention. The case-series design involves the provision of a defined intervention to a group of patients with the ultimate objective of describing the final outcome, including such occurrences as complications. There is no alternative procedure serving as a control. The key aspects are to ensure enrolment of all eligible patients and to obtain a sufficiently large sample size to allow precise and valid estimation of complication risks. Targeted complications should be clearly defined and fully documented during a pre-defined follow-up period. Loss to follow-up should be minimised.Comparative studies are required to demonstrate treatment effectiveness. If a randomised controlled trial (RCT) is not feasible, an observational design such as a cohort or a case-control study should be considered. In observational designs, the treatment decision is made by the surgeons. In a case-control study, patients are selected based on their outcomes and their treatment or exposure status is recorded retrospectively. In a cohort study, groups of patients are selected based on their treatment and are followed for outcomes. There are numerous variations. Data can be collected prospectively or retrospectively; comparison groups may be concurrent or non-concurrent, or studied at different locations. The optimal design is tailored to clinical questions and research settings, while keeping in mind the respective methodological strengths and weaknesses of available options. The strength of the observational study is its proximity to daily clinical practice. The limitations are the possibility of numerous biases and confounding factors. Despite many challenges to the internal validity of non-randomised studies in orthopaedics surgery, it is possible to use such designs in order to provide reasonably valid answers to clinically important questions.
[. . . ] Essa tese apresenta três artigos: o primeiro relacionado a estratégias no planejamento e na condução de estudos não aleatórios na Cirurgia e Traumatologia Bucomaxilofacial (CTBMF), esse artigo faz considerações sobre o tipo de pesquisa clínica adotada peculiarmente na área de CTBMF, considerando as dificuldades e limitações de se realizar estudos clínicos baseados em fortes evidências científicas nessa área; o segundo; uma revisão de literatura sobre o ameloblastoma enfocando os aspectos histopatológicos e as implicações clínicas na indicação dos tratamentos; e o terceiro é um estudo experimental em tíbias de ratos que avalia o reparo ósseo em cavidades submetidas ao contato com solução de Carnoy. O primeiro estudo avalia os possíveis desenhos e estratégias para se conduzir um estudo clínico. No caso de tratamento de ameloblastomas o melhor desenho que 10 proporcionará uma evidencia científica válida são séries-de-casos prospectivos e ou estudos coorte. O segundo artigo faz uma revisão da literatura sobre os tipos anatomopatológicos de ameloblastomas com o objetivo de determinar uma relação entre as características histológicas e o comportamento biológico do tumor. E finalmente, no terceiro artigo, a solução de Carnoy é testada experimentalmente em cavidades ósseas e as alterações no reparo ósseo são avaliadas, essa solução tem sido utilizada para diminuir a taxa de recidiva do ameloblastoma unicístico, após a enucleação do tumor [. . . ]
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Stoicov, Calin. "Pathogenesis of the Helicobacter Induced Mucosal Disease: A Dissertation." eScholarship@UMMS, 2010. https://escholarship.umassmed.edu/gsbs_diss/477.
Full textAbstract:
Helicobacter pylori causes chronic gastritis, peptic ulceration and gastric cancer. This bacterium is one of the most prevalent in the world, but affects mostly the populations with a lower socioeconomical status. While it causes gastric and duodenal ulcers in only 20% of infected patients, less then 1% will develop gastric adenocarcinoma. In fact, H. pylori is the most important risk factor in developing gastric cancer. Epidemiological studies have shown that 80% of gastric cancer patients are H. pylori positive. The outcome of the infection with this bacterium depends on bacterial factors, diet, genetic background of the host, and coinfection with other microorganisms. The most important cofactor in H. pylori induced disease is the host immune response, even though the exact mechanism of how the bacterium is causing disease is unknown.
The structural complexity of Helicobacter bacteria makes us believe that different bacterial factors interact with different components of the innate immunity. However, as a whole bacterium it may need mainly the TLR2 receptor to trigger an immune response. The type of adaptive immunity developed in response to Helicobacter is crucial in determining the consequences of infection. It is now known for decades that a susceptible host will follow the infection with a strong Th1 immune response. IFNγ, IL-12, IL-1β and TNF-α are the key components of a strong adaptive Th1 response. This is further supported by our work, where deficient T-bet (a master regulator for Th1 response) mice were protected against gastric cancer, despite maintaining an infection at similar levels to wild type mice. On the other hand, a host that is resistant to Helicobacter develops an infection that is followed by a Th2 response sparing the mucosa from severe inflammation. Human studies looking at single nucleotide polymorphism of cytokines, like IL-1β, IL-10 and TNF-α have clearly demonstrated how genotypes that result in high levels of IL-1β and TNF-α, but low IL-10 expression may confer a 50-fold higher risk in developing gastric cancer.
The outcome of Helicobacter infection clearly relies on the immune response and genetic background, however the coinfection of the host with other pathogens should not be ignored as this may result in modulation of the adaptive immunity. In studying this, we took advantage of the Balb/C mice that are known to be protected against Helicobacter induced inflammation by mounting a strong Th2 polarization. We were able to switch their adaptive immunity to Th1 by coinfected them with a T. gondii infection (a well known Th1 infection in mice). The dual infected mice developed severe gastritis, parietal cell loss and metaplastic changes. These experiments have clearly shown how unrelated pathogens may interact and result in different clinical outcomes of the infected host.
A strong immune response that results in severe inflammation will also cause a cascade of apoptotic changes in the mucosa. A strict balance between proliferation and apoptosis is needed, as its disruption may result in uncontrolled proliferation, transformation and metaplasia. The Fas Ag pathway is the leading cause of apoptosis in the Helicobacter-induced inflammation. One mechanism for escaping Fas mediating apoptosis is upregulation of MHCII receptor. Fas Ag and MHCII receptor interaction inhibits Fas mediated apoptosis by an impairment of the Fas Ag receptor aggregation when stimulated by Fas ligand. Because H. pylori infection is associated with an upregulation of the MHCII levels on gastric epithelial cells, this indeed may be one mechanism by which cells escape apoptosis.
The link between chronic inflammation and cancer is well known since the past century. Helicobacter infection is a prime example how a chronic inflammatory state is causing uncontrolled cell proliferation that results in cancer. The cell biology of “cancer” is regarded not as an accumulation of cells that divide without any control, but rather as an organ formed of cancer stem cells, tumor stromal support cells, myofibroblasts and endothelial cells, which function as a group. The properties of the cancer stem cells are to self-renew and differentiate into tumor cells thus maintaining the tumor grow, emphasizing that a striking similarity exists between cancer stem cells and tissue stem cells.
We looked into what role would BMDCs play in chronic inflammation that causes cancer. Using the mouse model of Helicobacter induced adenocarcinoma we discovered that gastric cancer originates from a mesenchymal stem cell coming from bone marrow. We believe that chronic inflammation, in our case of the stomach, sets up the perfect stage for bone marrow stem cells to migrate to the stomach where they are exposed to inflammatory stimuli and transform into cancer stem cells. One of the mechanism by which the MSC migrate to the inflammation site is the CXCR4/SDF-1 axis.
Our work sheds new light on Helicobacter induced gastric cancer pathogenesis. I hope that our findings will promote the development of new therapies in the fight against this deadly disease.
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Chen, Song. "Design, synthesis and characterization of A-D-A structural porphyrin small molecules for bulk heterojunction organic solar cell applications." HKBU Institutional Repository, 2017. https://repository.hkbu.edu.hk/etd_oa/477.
Full textAbstract:
Bulk heterojunction organic solar cells (BHJ OSCs) have been recognized as one of the most promising next generation green technology alternatives to inorganic solar cells because of the low-cost, lightweight, flexibility. Specifically, the use of small molecules instead of polymers as donors in BHJ OSC have been developed very fast recently because small molecules can be facilely synthesized and easily purified, and have a determined molecular structure without batch-to-batch variations. To date, those among the most efficient small molecules were constructed as acceptor-donor-acceptor (A-D-A) structural configuration from electron-rich units such as benzodithiophene (BDT), dithienosilole (DTS), oligothiophene units, and electron-deficient units such as benzothiadiazole (BT), diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP), isoindigo (IID) and perylenediimide (PDI). Surprisingly, porphyrins were rarely studied either in polymers or π-conjugated small molecules as donor materials, though they have unique chemistry together with excellent photochemical and electrochemical properties, such as facile functionalization of the periphery and the variation of the central atom (metal ions), strong UV-visible absorption, ultrafast photoinduced charge separation in porphyrin-fullerene systems. In this research work, we design, synthesize and characterize new porphyrin-based small molecules with acceptor-donor-acceptor (A-D-A) configuration for bulk heterojunction organic solar cells, and investigate their structure-property relationships, specifically the effect of peripheral and backbone alkyl side-chains, π-conjugated linkers as well as electron-deficient ending units on the charge mobility, film morphology and solar cell performances. In Chapter 1, a general review on the historic and recent development of BHJ OSCs was given first, including the major components and working principle of OSC, the versatile organic semiconductors and their performances in OSCs. In chapter 2, six A-D-A structural porphyrin small molecules were designed and synthesized, in which different peripheral alkyl substitutions are attached to the meso-position of porphyrin core (CS-I, CS-II, CS-III, CS-4, CS-5 and CS-6), and 3-ethylrhodanine is used as terminal group. Their UV-visible absorption in solid, energy level, blend film morphology, charge mobility and cell performance are dependent on the different peripheral substitutions. The active layer consists of these six small molecules as donor materials and PC71BM as the acceptor material with an optimized film thickness. Although all six molecules show similar optical spectrum in solutions, the introduction of linear alkyl side chains can promote thin-film nanostructural order, especially shown to shorten π-π stacking distances between backbones and increase the correlation lengths of both π-π stacking and lamellar spacing, leading to higher efficiency in this serial. Among them, the highest power conversion efficiency of 9.09% has been achieved by CS-4 based devices. In chapter 3, another two new A-D-A porphyrin small molecules (PTTR and PTTCNR) have been developed, which are similar in structure to CS-I, II and III, except that the linker is phenylethynyl in CS-I, II and III, whereas it is terthiophenylethynyl in PTTR and PTTCNR. The highest power conversion efficiency of 8.21% is achieved by PTTCNR, corresponding to a JSC of 14.30 mA cm−2, VOC of 0.82 V, and FF of 70.01%. The excellent device performances can be ascribed to the conjugated structure of porphyrin with 3,3''-dihexyl-terthiophene and the aliphatic 2-octylundecyl peripheral substitutions, which not only effectively increase the solar flux coverage between the conventional Soret and Q bands of porphyrin unit, but also optimize molecular packing through polymorphism associated with side-chain and the π-conjugated backbones, and form the blend films with [6,6]-phenyl-C71-butyric acid methyl ester (PC71BM) characteristics of bi-continuous, interpenetrating networks required for efficient charge separation and transportation.;In chapter 4, we designed and synthesized a new dimeric porphyrin donor molecule (CS-DP) containing A-π2-D-π1-D-π2-A architecture by coupling of two zinc porphyrin cores through ethynyl linker. Interestingly, it can harvests the photons up to deep near-infrared (NIR) region in the absorption spectrum. From the past decades, it has been found that developing donor molecules with the absorption spectral in NIR region is a challenging key factor to get the high performance BHJ OSCs. Solar cell devices employing CS-DP as a donor exhibit a highest power conversion efficiency of 8.23%, corresponding to JSC = 15.14 mA cm-2, VOC = 0.781 mV and FF = 69.8% under AM 1.5G solar radiation. The high efficiency of this molecule is attributed to a panchromatic IPCE action spectrum from 300 nm to 1000 nm. Also, this performance is best for the reported deep NIR organic solar cells based on single small molecule and PC71BM system so far. We envision that this new small bandgap dimeric porphyrin is very promising to use in ternary and multi-junction applications as well as NIR photodetectors. In chapter 5, a series of new A-D-A structural porphyrin small molecules (CS-10, CS-11 and CS-12) have been prepared, that contain the same meso-thienyl-thioalkyl substituted porphyrin core and 3-ethylrhodanine ending unit, but varies with different numbers of phenylethynyl linker. Using them as donors for solution-processed organic solar cells, the device based on CS-10 featuring single phenyl ethynyl π-linker exhibits high power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 7.0%. The results indicate that meso-thienyl-thioalkyl substitution and controlled π-linker length is beneficial to tune the optoelectronic properties, film morphology and consequently performance of porphyrin-based BHJ OSCs. In chapter 6, two symmetrical tetra-meso-substituted porphyrin molecules (ZnP and CuP) have been prepared in gram-scale through the direct condensation of pyrrole and 4-[bis(4-methoxyphenyl)amino]benzaldehyde. Its Zn(II) and Cu(II) complexes exhibit excellent thermal and electrochemical stability, specifically, high hole mobility and very favorable energetics for hole extraction that render them attractive for implementation as new hole transporting materials in organometallic halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs). As expected, the use of ZnP as HTM in PSCs affords a competitive PCE of 17.78%, which is comparable to the most powerful HTM of Spiro-OMeTAD (18.59%) under the same working conditions. Meanwhile, the metal centers affect somewhat the photovoltaic performances that CuP as HTM produces a relative lower PCE of 15.36%. Notably, the perovskite solar cells employing ZnP show longer stability than that of Spiro-OMeTAD. Moreover, the two porphyrin-based HTMs can be prepared from relatively cheap raw materials with a facile synthetic route. The results demonstrate that ZnP and CuP can be a new class of HTMs for efficient and stable perovskite solar cells. To the best of our knowledge, this is the highest performance for porphyrin-based perovskite solar cells with PCE > 17%. The dissertation was completed with conclusions and outlooks in chapter 7.
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Kaur, Tejbeer. "TARGETING COCHLEAR INFLAMMATION FOR THE TREATMENT OF CISPLATIN OTOTOXICITY." OpenSIUC, 2012. https://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/dissertations/477.
Full textAbstract:
Hearing loss or deafness, in its most serious form, affects an estimated 28 million people in America. One of the forms of hearing loss, known as ototoxicity, refers to damage to the ear (-oto) due to xenobiotics. Cisplatin is the most widely used antineoplastic agent in the treatment of various solid tumors. Cisplatin toxicity can lead to severe effects on the kidneys, nervous system and auditory system which significantly reduce the quality of life of cancer patients. While nephrotoxicity could be alleviated by hydration and diuresis, cisplatin-induced ototoxicity is permanent and there is currently no approved treatment for this condition. Previous studies have shown that the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is a critical event that initiates damage to the outer hair cells (OHCs), stria vascularis (SVA) and spiral ganglion cells (SG) of the cochlea, leading to hearing loss after cisplatin treatment. However, the mechanism(s) underlying the transition from ROS generation to the manifestation of ototoxicity is (are) not clearly defined. Recent studies have also implicated inflammatory pathways in cisplatin-induced cell death. Various transcription factors have been linked to the induction of inflammation mediated by cisplatin in the cochlea. Recent study demonstrate that cisplatin activates signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) a transcription factor implicated in inflammation, which mediates damage to utricular hair cell and could also confer cisplatin-induced hearing loss. The aim of this study is to further define a role of STAT1 in cochlear inflammation and in cisplatin-mediated ototoxicity. Based on preliminary data, we hypothesize that STAT1 plays an integral role in cisplatin-mediated inflammation and hearing loss. Our data show that STAT1 couples ROS to the inflammatory process in the cochlea. The major source of ROS appears to be the NOX3 NADPH oxidase system, knockdown of which by short interfering (si)RNA reduces STAT1 activation by cisplatin and alleviates hearing loss. Activation of STAT1 by cisplatin involves phosphorylation of Serine 727 by mitogen activated protein kinases such as extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 and p38. Knockdown of STAT1 by trans-tympanic administration of siRNA reduces damage to OHCs and protects against cisplatin-induced hearing loss in rats. STAT1 siRNA attenuates the production of inflammatory mediators, such as tumor necrosis factor- α (TNF-α), and reduces the recruitment of inflammatory cells to the cochlea. Furthermore, inhibition of TNF-α by trans-tympanic administration of etanercept, a clinically used TNF-α antagonist, protects against OHC damage and cisplatin-induced hearing loss. These data suggest that targeting STAT1 or the inflammatory genes it regulates could serve as useful strategies for preventing cisplatin-induced hearing loss and improve the overall quality of life of cancer patients.
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Austin, Bradley Dwight. "In Deference to the Primary Mission: Environmental Policy of the U. S. Department of Defense, 1957-1995." OpenSIUC, 2008. https://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/theses/477.
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This paper explores the environmental policies and practices of the U. S. Department of Defense (DoD) from the late 1950s until the mid 1990s in relation to the views and attitudes of the American people. While by no means a comprehensive examination of the military and each of the branches, this paper covers the general attitudes and rationales of the DoD as a whole. The time frame covered deviates from more obvious choices, such as "since World War II" or a specific decade, intentionally. Cutting off 15 or so years from each end could situate this work as the middle of a three -volume set for a number of reasons. For the starting time, nearly a generation passed since World War II. This allowed adequate time for the younger populace to play a role in the decisionmaking process. This also allowed for a beginning just prior to Sikes Act and America's renewed interest in the environment. At the other end, the terminus follows the end of the Cold War and two rounds of military downsizing. This set up a time of not only preventing environmental harm in the future, but also digging in and cleaning past harm for the future. As such, this leaves ample room for future work to concentrate on the time periods omitted here. The chapters cover the topic by decade with extra emphasis given to weather modification, which spanned multiple decades in such a manner thatcould not be effectively covered broken apart. For the latter decades, the focus follows more closely to Presidential Administrations. This method could not be fully utilized during the preceding discussion, in part due to the unique and revolutionary nature of the overall upheaval of the 1960s. The information included in the appendices provides a more detailed look into the ideas of the American people, which could not be included in the body of the text without detracting from the flow and readability. The appendices include a chapter on the public's responses to the General Social Surveys administered from 1972 to 1991. The questions examined have been grouped biennially in sequential even and odd years.
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Albre, Jérôme. "Le complexe Erebia tyndarus (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae) : biogéographie, évolution et théorie des refuges froids interglaciaires." Toulouse 3, 2007. http://thesesups.ups-tlse.fr/477/.
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Le genre Erebia Dalman, 1816 (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae), parmi les plus diversifiés de la région Holarctique, est inféodé aux milieux froids montagnards et arctiques. Dans la première moitié du 20ème siècle, des études ont permis de classifier les espèces, mais de nombreux points restaient à éclaircir. Le groupe E. Tyndarus (Esper, 1781), représenté dans la plupart des montagnes de la région Holarctique a, par ailleurs, fait l'objet d'un intérêt tout particulier. En effet, ses espèces, difficiles à différencier, sont issues d'une radiation récente liée aux changements climatiques majeurs du Pléistocène. De récentes études phylogénétiques ont également abouti à des résultats relativement divergents. Cependant, une partie importante de l'information n'a pas été prise en compte, seules quelques populations des taxa européens ayant été considérées. C'est donc autour de ce groupe Holarctique qu'est axée la problématique de ce travail. Une première étude moléculaire utilisant le gène ND5 a été entreprise sur diverses espèces d'Erebia provenant de toute la région Holarctique. Bien que faiblement résolutive, elle a permis de mettre en évidence de nombreux groupes monophylétiques, parmi lesquels le groupe E. Tyndarus. Une étude morphométrique basée sur les pièces génitales des mâles a permis de différencier la plupart des espèces et sous-espèces du groupe, ainsi que deux morphotypes pour l'espèce la plus problématique (E. Cassioides). Le séquençage d'un gène supplémentaire (CoxII) nous a amené à proposer une révision taxonomique du groupe, les sous-espèces rondoui, benacensis et transcaucasica ayant très certainement atteint le statut d'espèce. . .The genus Erebia Dalman, 1816 (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae), among the most diversified of the Holarctic region, inhabits exclusively arctic and alpine areas. In the first part of the 20th century, the species were classified in different groups, but numerous points remained unclear. In addition, the E. Tyndarus (Esper, 1781) group, inhabiting most of the mountain massifs of the Holarctic region, was particularly studied. Indeed, its species, difficult to identify, are the result of a recent radiation related the global changes of the Pleistocene. Moreover, molecular studies led to divergent results. This can be linked to an insufficient sampling effort, only some European taxa being considered. The present work is thus centred on the Holarctic E. Tyndarus species group. A first explorative study, using the ND5 gene sequences, was attempted on diverse Holarctic species of Erebia. Even if lowly resolved, numerous monophyletic groups were underlined, among which the E. Tyndarus group. Morphometric analyses, based on the genital features of the males, allowed the characterization of most of the species and sub-species of the group, plus two distinct morphotypes for the more complex species (E. Cassioides). The use of a supplementary gene (CoxII) led us to propose some taxonomic changes, the sub-species rondoui, benacensis and transcaucasica being sufficiently divergent to be considered as species. The evolutionary history of the group was also retraced, and the datings underlined an interesting parallel between the glacial-interglacial transitions of the Pleistocene and the main speciation events. . .
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Ritzhaupt, Albert Dieter. "Effects of Time-Compressed Audio and Adjunct Images on Learner Recall, Recognition, and Satisfaction." Scholar Commons, 2007. https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/477.
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The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of time-compressed narration and representational adjunct images on undergraduate college students' 1) ability to recall and recognize information in a multimedia learning environment, and 2) overall satisfaction with this type of learning environment. The goals of this research were to shed light on time-compression technology incorporated into multimedia learning environments, help fill the existing gap in the research literature by merging two disjoint bodies of research, and aid instructors and instructional designers to better understand time-compression technology while creating rigorous multimedia materials.
This research was guided by the underlying principles of multimedia learning. The experiment was a 4 Audio Speeds (1.0 = normal vs. 1.5 = moderate vs. 2.0 = fast vs. 2.5 = fastest rate) x Adjunct Image (Image Present vs. Image Absent) factorial design. Audio speed and adjunct image both served as between subject conditions. Cued-recall, content recognition and learner satisfaction served as the dependent measures. Multimedia interventions were developed to execute this design.
A total of 305 research participants were recruited from a public, southeastern university in the United States in this study. Fifty-five percent of the participants were male and 92% indicated that English was their primary language. Forty-nine percent of the participants were junior classification, 4% were freshman, 19% were sophomore, 26% were seniors, with the remaining indicating other. The median age of the participants was 22, and ranges in age from 18 to 53 years old.
Data were analyzed using a series of factorial Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) procedures. Results showed statistically significant differences at 2.5 times the normal audio speed, in which performance on cued-recall and content recognition tasks was significantly lower than other audio speeds. Furthermore, representational adjunct images had a significant positive effect on cued-recall, but not content recognition. Participants in the normal audio speed and picture present groups were significantly more satisfied than other treatments. Recommendations for future research are provided as well as advice for instructors, instructional designers and learners interested in time-compression technology.
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Chitte, Sree Divya. "Source localization from received signal strength under lognormal shadowing." Thesis, University of Iowa, 2010. https://ir.uiowa.edu/etd/477.
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This thesis considers statistical issues in source localization from the received signal strength (RSS) measurements at sensor locations, under the practical assumption of log-normal shadowing. Distance information of source from sensor locations can be estimated from RSS measurements and many algorithms directly use powers of distances to localize the source, even though distance measurements are not directly available. The first part of the thesis considers the statistical analysis of distance estimation from RSS measurments. We show that the underlying problem is inefficient and there is only one unbiased estimator for this problem and its mean square error (MSE) grows exponentially with noise power. Later, we provide the linear minimum mean square error (MMSE) estimator whose bias and MSE are bounded in noise power. The second part of the thesis establishes an isomorphism between estimates of differences between squares of distances and the source location. This is used to completely characterize the class of unbiased estimates of the source location and to show that their MSEs grow exponentially with noise powers. Later, we propose an estimate based on the linear MMSE estimate of distances that has error variance and bias that is bounded in the noise variance.
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Cohen, Noah G. "Evaluating the Ecological Status of the Introduced Nile Monitor (Varanus niloticus) in Florida: Forecasting Presence and Population Expansion Using Computational Geographic Information Systems." Thesis, NSUWorks, 2017. https://nsuworks.nova.edu/occ_stuetd/477.
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The Nile monitor (Varanus niloticus) is a large, carnivorous lizard that has become a notorious invasive species in Florida, USA. Initially released in the 1980s from the pet trade, the species has since established at least three breeding populations and spread throughout much of southern Florida. While current control efforts have failed to eradicate V. niloticus, it is important to attain a better understanding of its invasive dynamics to guide and inform better control strategies. In this study, available georeferenced records of V. niloticus in Florida were compiled and linked to a habitat classification map to evaluate ecotype preferences. Factored with bioclimatic data, the regional spread of V. niloticus was modelled for contemporary and projected (i.e., in the year 2050) presence using Maxent and Mahalanobis Distance models. Study results indicate that V. niloticus maintains a strong presence in eastern Lee County on the southwestern coast. Populations in Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties on the southeastern coast may be interconnected, contrary to current descriptions that they are separated from each another. Model forecasts of conditions for the year 2050 identify widespread expansion of V. niloticus in Florida, particularly northward with the establishment of a new population center in Pasco County in the western central peninsula. This is the first known modelling study of V. niloticus in Florida and identifies regions at greater risk for future population expansion.
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Garrett, Heather Kaori. "FESTIVALS, SPORT, AND FOOD: JAPANESE AMERICAN COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT IN POSTWAR LOS ANGELES AND SOUTH BAY." CSUSB ScholarWorks, 2017. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd/477.
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This study fills a critical gap in research on the immediate postwar history of Japanese American community culture in Los Angeles and South Bay. The purpose of this thesis is to contribute research and literature of the immediate postwar period between the late 1940s resettlement period and the 1960s. During the early to mid-1940s, Americans witnessed World War II and the unlawful incarceration of over 120,000 Japanese Americans. In the 1960s, the Sansei (third generation) started to reshape the character and cultural expressions of Japanese American communities, including their development of the Yellow Power Movement in the context of the Black and Brown Power Movements in California. The period between these bookends, however, requires further research and academic study, and it is to the literature of the immediate postwar period that this thesis contributes.
Furthermore, this thesis contributes to the nearly absent literature of Japanese American community redevelopment in the transboundary Los Angeles/South Bay area. It is in this area that we find the largest and fastest growing postwar Japanese American population in the country. This community built lasting networks and relationships through the revival of cultural celebrations like Obon and Nisei Week, sport and recreation – namely baseball and bowling, and ethnic resources in the form of food and ethnic markets. These relationships laid the foundations for later social activism and the redefining of the Japanese American community. Far from a period of silence or inactivity, Japanese Americans actively shaped and reshaped their communities in ways that refused to allow the wartime incarceration experience, so fresh in their minds, to define them.
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Ainley, Benjamin R. "'Better Make It a Double': Perceived Relatedness Increases Reported Attractiveness." DigitalCommons@CalPoly, 2011. https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/theses/477.
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Sexual selection shaped psychological mechanisms in both sexes to assess potential mates for evidence of mate quality (Buss, 2005). Attraction preferences are one such mechanism (Sugiyama, 2005) and physical attraction preferences are sensitive to fitness-promoting traits present in a potential mate. Physically attractive traits are thought to act as signals of good genetic quality (Neff & Pitcher, 2005) and are preferred because of the advantage such quality bestows towards reproductive success. Specifically, genetic quality is proposed to be a biological requirement necessary for physically attractive traits to develop and be maintained (Johnstone & Grafen, 1993). Furthermore, genetic quality is heritable to offspring, thereby increasing offspring reproductive success (Orr, 2009).
All mating decisions inherently involve trade-offs due to costs inflicted on time and resources when choosing a long-term mate. Assessing a mate for genetic quality is imperative to ensuring one selects a quality mate with heritable fitness benefits towards offspring reproductive success (Buss, 2005). In order to minimize costs and maximize benefits when making mate selection decisions, humans use multiple and redundant signals of mate quality (Fink & Penton-Voak, 2002; Møller & Pomiankowski, 1993). Accordingly, this study supposed that siblings act as redundant signals of genetic quality that would factor into mating decisions. Because genetic quality is heritable (Houle, 1991) and visible through physical attractiveness (Thornhill & Gangestad, 1999), this study explored the possibility that knowledge of relatedness influenced attractiveness judgments of human faces.
Supporting the main hypothesis of the current study, siblings affected judgments of physical attractiveness for target faces. Analyses showed this effect to be driven entirely by female raters for both male [t(62)=3.87, p<.001] and female [t(61)=2.24, p=.029] target faces. Secondary analyses examining the effects of sibling pair attractiveness differences (low vs. high) showed that relatedness significantly increased female ratings of facial attractiveness for both low and high facially attractive male and low facially attractive female target faces. Results offer two possible conclusions as to the role relatedness may serve in mate quality assessments that align with parental investment as well as kin selection assumptions.
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Zukowski, Susan Lynn. "Biopsychosocial Factors That Discriminate Between White Collar Offenders and Business Professionals." ScholarWorks, 2015. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/477.
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White collar crime is pervasive with a larger financial impact to society than violent or street crime, yet it has been understudied. Violent and street offender research has moved beyond the examination of motive and opportunity to study personality, demographics, sociological influences, and psychological influences on development and criminal behavior; however, the bulk of white collar offender research has focused on greed as a motivator and organizational opportunity. Legislative efforts have attempted to curtail white collar crime, but incidents of crime continue to rise, resulting in a continued need to understand white collar offenders and the influences on offender behavior. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the multivariate difference between white collar offenders (n = 62) and business professionals (n = 121). Theoretically guided by the biopsychosocial model and prior empirical findings, 36 variables were univariately tested for group differences; 10 were significant and used in discriminant function analysis. White collar offenders tended to be female, have high neuroticism and alcohol abuse scores, and have low scores on narcissism and attribution. Drug use was positively correlated with the white collar offender profile, while income, openness, hostility, and anger were inversely related. The profile and correlates provide a deeper understanding of those who choose to cross legal and ethical lines. Positive social change could be realized through targeted collegiate business training programs to address risk characteristics and promote protective factors of ethics, integrity, and leadership.
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Manning, Seth. "Factionalism in the Democratic Party 1936-1964." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2019. https://dc.etsu.edu/honors/477.
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The period of 1936-1964 in the Democratic Party was one of intense factional conflict between the rising Northern liberals, buoyed by FDR’s presidency, and the Southern conservatives who had dominated the party for a half-century. Intertwined prominently with the struggle for civil rights, this period illustrates the complex battles that held the fate of other issues such as labor, foreign policy, and economic ideology in the balance. This thesis aims to explain how and why the Northern liberal faction came to defeat the Southern conservatives in the Democratic Party through a multi-faceted approach examining organizations, strategy, arenas of competition, and political opportunities of each faction. I conclude that an alliance between the labor movement and African-Americans formed the basis on which the liberal faction was able to organize and build its strength, eventually surpassing the Southern Democratic faction by passing the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This passage forced the realignment of Southern states as Southern Democrats sided with Republicans at the national level. However, the party position changes that precipitated liberal Democratic support for the bill began much earlier, starting in the 1930s, another key conclusion of this thesis.
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Weakley, Anne. "Conscious of Her Own Power: Hester Piozzi's Character Creation in Anecdotes of the Late Samuel Johnson LL.D., During the Last Twenty Years of His Life." VCU Scholars Compass, 2013. http://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/etd/477.
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This project highlights aspects of Hester Piozzi’s approach to biography in Anecdotes of the Late Samuel Johnson LL. D. During the Last Twenty Years of His Life in order to analyze her use of accumulated cultural and social capital. I highlight similarities between Anecdotes and Samuel Johnson’s model for biography given in Rambler #60 and show how Piozzi adheres to his advice as she characterizes Johnson as a pious genius, intolerantly opinionated, and self-indulgent, yet unwilling to accept those qualities in others. I analyze how her editorial choices characterize her as a reliable source of information and a blameless victim of Johnson’s need for attention. This study proves Anecdotes and the corresponding entries in Thraliana are important because her deliberate revisioning of her history speaks to her ability to manipulate social expectations in order to revive her literary career and actively contribute to eighteenth-century British economy, culture, and society.
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Pond, Ian. "Toward an Understanding of the Breakdown of Heat Transfer Modeling in Reciprocating Flows." ScholarWorks @ UVM, 2015. http://scholarworks.uvm.edu/graddis/477.
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Reynolds average Navier-Stokes (RANS) modeling has established itself as a critical design tool in many engineering applications, thanks to its superior computational efficiency. The drawbacks of RANS models are well known, but not necessarily well understood: poor prediction of transition, non-equilibrium flows, mixing and heat transfer, to name the ones relevant to our study. In the present study, we use a direct numerical simulation (DNS) of a reciprocating channel flow driven by an oscillating pressure gradient to test several low- and high-Reynolds' RANS models. Temperature is introduced as a passive scalar to study heat transfer modeling. Low-Reynolds' models manage to capture the overall physics of wall shear and heat flux well, yet with some phase discrepancies, whereas high-Reynolds' models fail. We have derived an integral method for wall shear and wall heat flux analysis, which reveals the contributing terms for both metrics. This method shows that the qualitative agreement appears more serendipitous than driven by the ability of the models to capture the correct physics. The integral method is shown to be more insightful in the benchmarking of RANS models than the typical comparisons of statistical quantities. This method enables the identification of the sources of discrepancies in energy budget equations. For instance, in the wall heat flux, one model is shown to have an out of phase dynamic behavior when compared to the benchmark results, demonstrating a significant issue in the physics predicted by this model. Our study demonstrates that the integral method applied to RANS modeling yields information not previously available that should guide the derivation of physically more accurate models.
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Yiu, Lai Kuen Candy. "Chinese character synthesis : towards universal Chinese information exchange." HKBU Institutional Repository, 2003. http://repository.hkbu.edu.hk/etd_ra/477.
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Bodisch, Anja Maria. "Tracking spoor of the wild woman archetype during a university merger." Thesis, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/10948/477.
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Universities in South Africa are currently undergoing mergers. Intended for commercial gain, mergers rarely accommodate the psychological milieu of staff. Similarly, the majority of studies conducted with respect to university mergers adopt a quantitative approach. This study adopts a qualitative approach and locates the researcher within the epicentre of the research, using a case study, with the researcher as unit of analysis. The lack of merger studies that focus on the experiences of minority groups, including women, prompted me, as researcher, to adopt a feminist approach to conduct this study in the context of the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University merger. A Jungian gendered view, which endorses the personal experiences of minority groups, explored the connection between organisational change and concomitant opportunities for psychic growth. The primary purpose of this study was to explore the presence of the Wild Woman archetype during a university merger. The data that made up this study were contained in my field notes, research journal and a wall montage. An analysis of the qualitative data and a comparison of Jung’s archetypal theory and Pinkola Estés’ theory of the Wild Woman archetype, enabled the researcher to find evidence of the presence of the Wild Woman archetype during the university merger. The secondary purpose of the study was to document the findings which could act as a spoor which other women could follow on their journey towards connecting with their own Wild Woman archetype. The limitations of this study, and recommendations for future research are also offered.
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Ndou, Portia. "The competitiveness of the South African citrus industry in the face of the changing global health and environmental standards." Thesis, University of Fort Hare, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10353/477.
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In recent years, concern about food safety linked to health issues has seen a rise in private food safety standards in addition to the regulations set by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO). These have presented challenges to producers and exporters of agricultural food products especially the producers of fresh fruits and vegetables. In spite of the food safety-linked challenges from the demand side, the vast range of business-environment forces pose equally formidable challenges that negatively impact on the exporting industries’ ability to maintain or improve their market shares and their ability to compete in world markets. The objective of this study was therefore to establish the competitiveness of the South African citrus industry in the international markets within this prevailing scenario. Due to the diversity of the definitions of competitiveness as a concept, this study formulated the following working definition: “the ability to create, deliver and maintain value and constant market share through strategic management of the industrial environment or competitiveness drivers”. This was based on the understanding that the international market shares of an industry are a function of forces in the business environment which range from intra-industry, external and national as well as the international elements. The unit of analysis were the citrus producers engaged in export of their products and the study made use of 151 responses by producers. The study adopted a five-step approach to the analysis of the performance of the South African citrus industry in the global markets, starting with the analysis of the Constant Market Share (CMS) of the South African citrus industry in various world markets, establishing the impact of the business environmental factors upon competitiveness, establishing the costs of compliance with private food safety standards, determining the non-price benefits of compliance with the standards, as well as highlighting the strategies for enhancing long-term competitiveness of the industry in the international markets. South Africa is one of the top three countries dominating the citrus fruit export market. Since its entry into the citrus fruit exports market in the 1900s, the industry has sustained its activity in the international market. The Constant Market Share Analysis shows that, amidst the challenges on the international market side, and the changes in the business environment, over much of which the industry has limited control and influence, the industry has maintained its competitive advantage in several markets. The CMS shows that South Africa’s lemons are competitive in America. Despite a negative trend, the South African grapefruit has been competitive in France, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain. Oranges have been competitive in the Greece, Italy, Portugal, UK, Asian and Northern Europe markets. Competitiveness in these markets has been due to the inherent competitiveness of the industry. Competitiveness in such markets as the Middle East has been attributed to the relatively rapid growth of these markets. The South African citrus industry has similarly undergone many major processes of transformation. The business environmental factors influencing its performance have ranged reform to the challenges beyond the country’s borders. These factors directly and indirectly affect the performance of the industry in the export market. They have influenced the flow of fruits into different international destinations. Of major concern are the food safety and private standards. Challenges in traditional markets as well as opportunities presented by demand from newly emerging citrus consuming nations have seen a diversification in the marketing of the South African citrus. The intensity of competition in the global market is reflected by the fluctuations in the market shares in different markets as well as the increase and fluctuations of fruit rejection rates in some lucrative markets such as America. A combination of challenging national environmental forces and stringent demand conditions negatively impact on revenues especially from markets characterised by price competitiveness. This study identified cost of production, foreign market support systems, adaptability, worker skills, challenges of management in an international environment and government policies such as labour and trade policies as some of the most influential obstacles to competitiveness. Some of the most competiveness-enhancing factors were market availability, market size, market information, market growth and the availability of research institutions. However, compliance with private standards still poses a challenge to the exporters. The different performance levels of the industry in various markets prove the dissimilarity of the demand conditions in the global market. These are supported by the negative influence associated with the foreign market support regimes as well as the challenges associated with compliance with private food safety standards. While market availability, market growth, market information and size were identified as enhancing competitiveness, the fluctuations and inconsistencies in the competitiveness of the industry in different foreign markets require more than finding markets. Resource allocation by both the government and the industry may need to take into account the off-setting of the national challenges and support of farmers faced with distorted and unfair international playing fields. Otherwise, market availability is not a challenge for the industry save meeting the specifications therewith as well as price competitiveness which is unattainable for the South African citrus producers faced with high production costs. For the purposes of further study, it is recommended that account should be taken of all the products marketed by the industry (including processed products such as fruit juices) in order to have a whole picture of the competitiveness of the industry in the international market. This study also proffers a new theoretical framework for the analysis of the business environment for the citrus industry and other agro-businesses. This framework takes into account the indispensability of the food safety standards and measures as well as the diversity of the global consumer and the non-negotiability of food trade for the sustenance of the growing population.
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Gil, Wenceslao. "The (Ab)use of Politics and Eroticism in the Culture of the Spanish Transition to Democracy (1975-1982)." FIU Digital Commons, 2011. http://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/477.
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This dissertation analyzes the (ab)use of politics and eroticism within the framework of the Transition to democracy in Spain, its social and cultural impact—on literature, film, music, and popular media—, and its consequences. After a period of nearly four decades, when the country was subjected to a totalitarian regime, Spanish society underwent a process of democratic restoration. As a result, the two topics considered taboo during almost forty years of repression—i.e., politics and sexuality/eroticism—, gushed out fiercely. Every aspect of culture was influenced by and intrinsically linked to them. However, while we have been offered a more or less global approach to the Transition—the Transition as a whole—, and some studies have focused on diverse areas, no research to date has covered in depth the significance of those issues during that historical moment.
Considering the facts stated above, it was imperative to conduct a more detailed analysis of the influence of both eroticism and politics on the cultural production of the Transition from different perspectives. Although the academic intelligentsia has often rejected them as expressions of mass culture, we must consider Pierre Bourdieu’s theories—in line with the tradition of classical sociology, that includes science, law, and religion, together with artistic activities—, Michel Foucault’s ideas on sexuality, and New Historicism, examining texts and their contexts.
This work concludes that the (ab)use of both subjects during the Spanish Transition was a reaction to a repressive condition. It led to extremes, to societal transgression and, in most cases, to the objectification of women because of the impositions of a patriarchal society. It was, however, part of a learning and, in a sense, cathartic process that led, eventually, to the reestablishment of the status quo, to a more equitable and multicultural society where men, women, and any political or sexual tendencies are respected—at least, in theory.
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Fourie, Elmarie. "Role of technology and media in tertiary education : an overview." Journal for New Generation Sciences, Vol 3, Issue 2: Central University of Technology, Free State, Bloemfontein, 2005. http://hdl.handle.net/11462/477.
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Published ArticleIt seems traditional training methods are no longer able to satisfy learners' learning needs and experiences. Although most of today's learners use some form of information technology in their learning, they are actively encouraging their learning environments to be value-adding and more stimulating. Tomorrow's learners will demand access to more technological and media resources and will depend on their university's ability to deliver. This introductory presentation explores the reason why tertiary institutions should be actively involved with electronic learning and information technology. The advantages of asynchronous and synchronous instructions are addressed while the communication profiles of developing, least developed and selected Southern African countries are mentioned. Special attention is given to some factors which inhibit electronic learning at our tertiary institutions. Finally, recommendations are made for the optimal use of information technology to enhance learners' learning experiences.