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1
Mokhtari, Yacine. "Stabilisation et contrôle de quelques systèmes hyperboliques." Electronic Thesis or Diss., Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 2021. http://www.theses.fr/2021UBFCD024.
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Cette thèse est consacrée à l’étude de deux problèmes issus de la théorie du contrôle des EDP. Dans un premier temps, on étudie le comportement asymptotique de la solution du système de von Kàrmàn viscoélastique unidimensionnel avec retard. On montre que ce dernier est bien posé dans un espace fonctionnel convenable en utilisant la méthode de Faedo-Galerkin. Pour établir notre résultat de stabilité, on utilise la méthode de Lyapunov en construisant une fonctionnelle adéquate. Dans un deuxième temps, on étudie le problème de la contrôlabilité et de la stabilisation par le bord pour l’équation des ondes unidimensionnelle dans un domaine non cylindrique. Pour la contrôlabilité, on utilise la méthode des caractéristiques pour construire l’unique solution du problème. Nous sommes alors capables de donner l’expression explicite du contrôle pour lequel le système atteint le point d’équilibre après un certain temps. De plus, on montre que ce temps est optimal. Pour la stabilisation, nous fournissons une condition nécessaire et suffisante pour que l’énergie du système décroisse à un taux prédéterminé. De plus, l’influence de la géométrie du domaine et l’influence d’un amortisseur dépendant du temps sont clarifiées. Dans un troisième temps, on étudie la contrôlabilité par le bord de deux ´équations d’ondes couplées par un couplage d’ordre un avec coefficients qui dépendent de l’espace et du temps. On fournit une condition nécessaire et suffisante pour la contrôlabilité exacte en haute fréquences dansle cas général et pour la continuation unique dans le cas cascadeThis thesis is devoted to the study of two problems related to the theory of control of PDE.In a first time, we study the asymptotic behavior of the solution to the one-dimensional viscoelastic von Kàrmàn system with delay. We prove that the latter system is well-posed in a suitable functional space using the Faedo-Galerkin method. To establish our stability result, we employ the Lyapunov method by using a suitable candidate functional.In a second time, we study the problem of boundary controllability and stabilization for the one-dimensional wave equation in non-cylindrical domains. For the controllability, one uses the characteristics method to build the unique solution. We will then be able to give the explicit expression of the controls for which the system reaches the equilibrium point after a certain time. Moreover, we show that this time is optimal.For the stabilization, we provide a necessary and sufficient condition that guarantees the energy decay at any desired rate. In addition, the influences of the domain geometry and time-dependent feedback are clarified. In a third time, we study the boundary controllability of two coupled one-dimensional wave equations with first-order coupling terms with coefficients depending on space and time. We give a necessary and sufficient conditions for both exact controllability in high frequency in the general case and for the unique continuation in the cascade case
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Samarakoon, Kamalanath Bandara. "Use of smart meters for frequency and voltage control." Thesis, Cardiff University, 2012. http://orca.cf.ac.uk/35740/.
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A load control scheme that used frequency measurements of a smart meter for controlling domestic appliances to provide primary response was investigated. An experimental rig was developed to test and demonstrate the scheme. The amount of loads to be controlled to limit the frequency drop of the Great Britain (GB) power system to a set of minimum allowable frequencies was found. Operating speeds and the limitations of the components of the load controller in providing primary response are discussed. It is shown that if smart meters are to play any role in primary response then the speed at which the system frequency is measured must be increased very considerably. Load profile of fridges/freezers, washers/dryers and hobs/ovens in the GB power system were constructed. Then the percentages of appliances required to be in the load control scheme to shed the estimated amount of controllable loads, were calculated. It is found that the total controllable load requirement can be provided using fridges and freezers alone. Since many washers/dryers and hobs/ovens do not operate at night, they can not then provide a significant amount of controllable loads. However, using these appliances in the day time, the amount of fridges and freezers in the load control scheme can be reduced significantly. The ability of the proposed smart metering system in the UK to report available demand response from the appliances to the network operator was investigated. It was found that the communication network would not support reporting demand response in near real-time. Using load profiles of appliances for 40,000 houses, it was shown that by installing aggregation devices at distribution transformers and substations, the demand response can be reported to the network operator every minute. By aggregating and sending changes only, the impact of reporting demand response in near real-time on communication network reduces significantly. The ability of a state estimator to estimate distribution network voltages using smart meter measurements obtained on the previous day was evaluated. The improvement 10 of the accuracy of the estimated voltages with the number of nodes providing near real-time measurements obtained from distributed generators was also investigated. It was found that when the voltages are estimated using the previous day’s measurements without using any near real-time measurement, the voltage error at all nodes were high. By using near-real time measurements obtained from distributed generators, the error can be reduced significantly.
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McMahon, David Paul. "Modelling charge transport in organic semiconductors." Thesis, University of Warwick, 2011. http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/35740/.
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Modelling of the charge transport in different types of organic semiconductors (molecular crystals and semicrystalline polymers) is undertaken using a number of different methods. Using a polarisable force field we have determined the extent of the external reorganisation energy for hole transport in molecular crystals. We have found that this key parameter is very small for naphthalene, anthracene, tetracene, pentacene and rubrene and discussed the implications of this finding in the context of charge transport modelling. Charge trapping in organic crystals due to defect states is studied by computation of the rate of escape of a trapped charge carrier using non-adiabatic rate theory. Two cases are considered, the first is hopping between separate identical defect states and the second is hopping from a defect state into the bulk (delocalised) states. This latter process is determined as the more likely to occur for a realistic defect concentration. The necessity of the inclusion of an effective quantum mode of vibration for the accurate computation of the rate is also demonstrated. A linear scaling method based on the definition of a localised molecular orbital set is devised for the computation of the electronic structure of a conjugated polymer (poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT)). Utilising a combined classical and quantum chemical approach we show that charge carriers are localised in correspondence with long-lived traps which are also present in the crystalline phase of the polymer. The regio-regularity of P3HT is shown to have little impact on the shape and tail of the density of states; we compute the 2D localised trap density as ~3.1×1013 cm-2, a value which is not found to significantly change with the regioregularity. The states in the tail of the density of states are found to be predominantly localised but energetically close to delocalised "quasi-band" states which are accessible under device operation.
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Stinson, Felicia Ann. "Giving setting character : identity and place in American Southern literature." Thesis, Kingston University, 2015. http://eprints.kingston.ac.uk/35840/.
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In an effort to address and to rectify the overabundance of stereotype in regional literature of the American South, this dissertation seeks to recontextualize the traditional markers and the use of sense of place to determine setting. Instead, the thesis emphasizes and explores how relationships of identity through attitudes of dysfunction and obsession can give place or land agency within a narrative, thus reinvigorating the value and authenticity of the regional narrative beyond common and expected patterns. This is exemplified and analyzed in close readings of contemporary Southern writers who defy the traditional narrative, e.g. Jesmyn Ward, Benh Zeitlin, and Karen Russell, as well as canonical authors whose success can be seen in the appearance of these attitudes and development of identity for place, e.g. William Faulkner and Margaret Mitchell. The accompanying novel excerpts serve to highlight even further the execution and power of this literary form for a post-millennium Southern Literature, which can evade its growing presence as a genre literature and regains its position as a figurehead for the significance of regional writing.
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Abuzeinab, A. "Implementing green business models in the UK construction industry : opportunities and challenges." Thesis, University of Salford, 2015. http://usir.salford.ac.uk/35640/.
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Green business models (GBMs) have the potential to deliver a much better performance compared to conventional business models (BMs) in this age of sustainability. The question of how construction companies can transform their BMs based on green value propositions is both highly relevant for management and poorly understood to date. This study empirically investigates GBMs transformations in the UK construction industry. The study closely scrutinises how GBMs are defined and understood by adopting a set of defined five elements from business and management literature: namely, green value proposition (GVP); target group (TG); key activities (KA); key resources (KR); and financial logic (FL). It also identifies changes, benefits, and challenges associated with GBMs to ultimately propose a guideline for GBMs implementation. It adopts a qualitative method to provide a diagnostic exploratory study and conducts 19 semi-structured interviews with academics and managers from various construction companies. This study applies thematic analysis as the main data analysis technique and further analyses and validates the findings by utilising interpretive structural modeling (ISM) and interpretive ranking process (IRP) techniques. ISM and IRP techniques are novel contributions to GBMs and construction research. The emergent findings are then validated and refined by conducting structured interviews with 4 academics and 1 director from a contractor practice. A BM is considered to be green when a business changes element (s) of its BM to create and capture a business opportunity or a proposition for TGs that provides environmental improvement coupled with economic benefits. The key findings reveal that GBMs can link environmental sustainability with economic success in a systematic manner. They show that GBMs transformations require strong change capabilities and radically influence the way in which companies conduct business. In addition, they demonstrate the interrelation between the different GBMs elements and show that the GVP and FL represent the foundation of GBMs. The challenges that emerged from this research include: government constraints; financial constraints; industry constraints; company constrains; and lack of demand. However, the ISM analysis demonstrates that government policies are the root challenges that hinder GBMs transformations. Despite the challenges posed, GBMs have the potential to deliver credibility, financial and long-term viability benefits for construction companies. The study proposes and validates a guideline for GBMs implementation for the UK construction industry. The guideline starts with creating top-management receptiveness and support the importance of capturing green demand to be converted into GVPs. It also stresses the importance of out-sourcing of some of the KA and KR and highlights the function of marketing and promotions. In addition, the guideline includes various reviewing and monitoring points to be fed to the top-management. Although the BMs and GBMs are new in the construction discipline, this research, as far as can be established, is one of the few empirical academic works introducing and defining GBMs in the construction context. This study contributes originally to GBMs research by developing a structured relationship between the different GBMs elements and by ranking the elements with reference to benefit areas. The relationship between the GBM elements informs construction managers that the smallest details are not vital in a GBM instead how every element of it fits together as a whole reinforcing system is important matter. Consequently, the different elements of the GBM should never be analysed or developed in isolation. To capture economic benefits offered by environmental sustainability, construction companies need to concentrate on greening the whole BM rather than products and processes only. Finally, the study draws a list of recommendations for increasing GBMs uptake and suggests further research opportunities, particularly in the areas of GBMs elements and networks. Key words: Business models, construction industry, environmental sustainability, green business models, UK.
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Georgiou, Irene. "Organocatalysis using bifunctional aminoboronic acids : application to the asymmetric aldol reaction." Thesis, Durham University, 2012. http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/3540/.
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The organocatalytic iminium activation strategy acting cooperatively with a Lewis acidic group has been applied to the development of a novel generation of proline-based aminoboronic acid catalysts. Key steps for their synthesis included (-)-sparteine mediated asymmetric deprotonation of N-Boc-pyrrolidine, copper(I) catalysed borylation of alkylhalides and catalysed hydroboration of alkenes. The evaluation of the first proline-based aminoboronic acids is described in the context of organocatalysed aldol reactions between p-nitrobenzaldehyde and acetone. Enhanced reactivity and enantioselectivity observed in the presence of a boronate ester analogue of the catalyst resulted in further examination regarding the role of the esterification diol in these organocatalytic reactions. Notably, 11B NMR studies have been assessed, allowing the evaluation of different diols in terms of stability and Lewis acid tuning, and plausible identification of the catalytic species present. The feasibility of the catalyst under optimised reaction conditions was demonstrated in the aldol reaction of different substrates. Extended mechanistic studies lead to the proposal of a catalytic cycle in which a highly organised transition state plays a key role for both the reactivity and enantioselectivity observed. Finally, strategies employed to further examine both reactivity and asymmetric induction of the free boronic acid catalyst are discussed, examing the carbon length chain between the secondary amine moiety and the boronic acid group of the catalyst.
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Saunders, Pamela C. "The religious influences in funerary practices in the Parish of Sheffield 1843 to the present." Thesis, University of Sheffield, 2002. http://etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/3540/.
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This study aims to investigate the relationship between funerary rituals and religion in the Parish of Sheffield in order to shed light on present day customs and practices. In the past, most studies have attempted to relate religion and ritual from the base of changing belief systems; this present investigation analyses the means whereby the secular nature of funerary customs is brought into a vital relationship with the sacred by the rites of passage of death, and their associated myths and legends. The study is divided into three principal areas of research covering pertinent general and specific aspects of funerary rituals. The first section sets the central core of the research upon a more general foundation of relevant literature, and an overview of funerary rituals and religion. A resume of the history of Sheffield and the laws of burial and cremation then places the study into both a wider and a comparative context of time and place. The research then centres on a study of current funeral practices in Sheffield: the Sheffield funeral trade; the influences of religion upon death rituals in relation to the city; the people of Sheffield who experience these funerals, and the places of committal available to them. The research draws on its primary database of 67 respondents from representative religions, complemented by selective databases covering non-specific mourners, religious representatives, and associated trades, services and professions.
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Hewish, Andrew. "Tropologies of the line." Thesis, Royal College of Art, 2018. http://researchonline.rca.ac.uk/3540/.
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This thesis articulates a tropology of the line, when presented in the singular, across theory, literature and visual art. It articulates and tests the singular line’s rhetoric and associated values exhibited in these modes of cultural production, suggesting that they cross-refer in light of Agamben’s arguments put forth in his Signature of All Things (2009), using a discourse following Lyotard’s concept of ‘drift’ put forth in his Driftworks (1984), and addresses the question of how such a study might be written from within the locus of the subject matter itself.
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Arcaroli, Cristian. "Interfaccia grafica per l'elaborazione di immagini microscopiche di colture batteriche geneticamente modificate." Master's thesis, Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, 2012. http://amslaurea.unibo.it/3540/.
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Le moderne tecniche di imaging e i recenti sviluppi nel campo della visione computazionale consentono sempre più diffusamente l'utilizzo di metodi di image analysis, specialmente in ambito medico e biologico, permettendo un maggiore supporto sia alla diagnosi, sia alla ricerca.
Il lavoro svolto in questa tesi si pone in un contesto di ricerca di carattere interdisciplinare, e riguarda il progetto e la realizzazione di un‘interfaccia grafica per l'analisi di colture batteriche geneticamente modificate, marcate con proteine fluorescenti (GFP), acquisite tramite un microscopio ad epifluorescenza.
Nota la funzione di risposta del sistema di acquisizione delle immagini, l'analisi quantitativa delle colture batteriche è effettuata mediante la misurazione di proprietà legate all'intensità della risposta al marcatore fluorescente. L'interfaccia consente un'analisi sia globale dei batteri individuati nell'immagine, sia di singoli gruppi di batteri selezionati dall'utente, fornendo utili informazioni statistiche, sia in forma grafica che numerica.
Per la realizzazione dell'interfaccia sono state adottate tecniche di ingegneria del software, con particolare enfasi alla interazione uomo-macchina e seguendo criteri di usability, al fine di consentire un corretto utilizzo dello strumento anche da parte di personale senza conoscenza in campo informatico.
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Jaax, Alexander. "Essays on disparities in innovative performance and economic development in emerging countries : a regional and firm-level investigation." Thesis, London School of Economics and Political Science (University of London), 2016. http://etheses.lse.ac.uk/3540/.
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The global economic system has been undergoing fundamental changes since the 1980s. Many emerging countries drastically increased their openness to trade and foreign investments. Formerly socialist countries entered a transition towards a market-based model and deepened their integration into the global economy. As a result, the geography of trade, investment flows, and innovation is becoming more multipolar. This thesis seeks to improve our understanding of the links between these macro-level shifts and the geography of innovation, spatial patterns of economic deprivation, as well as firm-level outcomes in emerging countries. This thesis is structured into an introductory chapter and four analytical papers. The introductory chapter outlines three themes corresponding to the areas to which this thesis makes a contribution: (1) the interplay of the local and the global dimension in shaping regional patterns of knowledge creation, (2) the link between the relative weight of the private sector and spatial patterns of economic deprivation, and (3) the role of global production networks and the changing geography of trade in shaping regional patterns of innovative performance and heterogeneous firm-level outcomes. The first paper examines the geography of innovation in Russia, adopting a perspective that combines Soviet-era legacies, contemporaneous regional conditions, and global linkages. The results shed light on multinational enterprises’ (MNEs) role as key agents providing Russian regions with knowledge from distant places. The findings simultaneously point to the importance of path dependencies in regional patterns of knowledge generation. The second paper investigates the link between regional innovative performance in Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia and investments of MNEs categorized by entry mode and business function. The analysis suggests that the relationship between global linkages established by MNEs and regional knowledge creation is jointly shaped by the heterogeneity of MNEs’ investments and the heterogeneity of region-specific conditions in Latin American economies at different stages of technological development. The third paper focuses on Vietnam, a country that has seen some provinces act as pioneers and others as laggards in the journey towards an outward-oriented marketbased economy. The link between the private sector’s weight in the economy and economic deprivation is a topic of considerable policy interest, but its subnational dimension remains underexplored. The analysis considers the relationship between provincial differences in the change of private firms’ formal employment share and changes in the geography of economic deprivation. The findings reveal that increases in private firms’ employment share are associated with reductions in poverty. MNEs appear to be a key driver of this association. Finally, the fourth paper concerns Vietnam’s growing trade with China. It looks at the link between imports from China and firm-level outcomes in Vietnam’s manufacturing sector. The results show that, contrary to previous findings for advanced economies, exposure to imports from China is positively linked with firm-level employment. Information on trade in intermediates suggests that inputs imported from China may support Vietnam’s export growth. The findings cast light on the necessity to consider the role of global production networks and trade in intermediates when assessing the developmental implications of changing trade patterns.
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Ly, Birama Apho. "The Determinants of the Use of Telemedicine in Senegal." Thesis, Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10393/35140.
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Introduction
In Senegal, as in many countries, physicians are unevenly distributed. This situation leads to health inequalities, but the solutions adopted to distribute physicians equitably do not give satisfactory results. This situation pushes decision-makers and researchers to look for other solutions such as telemedicine. This technology-based solution is considered to be a good means to improve physician recruitment and retention in underserved areas, thus improving access to healthcare in these areas, but it is still underused in Senegalese health facilities.
Objective
This study aimed to identify the determinants of the use of telemedicine in Senegal. More specifically, it aimed to identify the individual (micro) and contextual (meso and macro) factors that influence the use of telemedicine in Senegal.
Method
The study involved mixed methods: a descriptive qualitative study involving individual interviews and a cross-sectional quantitative study involving questionnaires. The first method was used to study the individual (micro) factors such as physicians’ beliefs on the use of telemedicine and physicians’ perception of the impact of telemedicine on their recruitment and retention in underserved areas. It was also used to study the contextual meso (technical, organizational and ethical) and macro (financial, political, legal and socioeconomic) factors that influence the use of telemedicine. The second method was used to study participants’ intention to use telemedicine in their professional activities, another individual (micro) factor. This study included physicians working in public hospitals, those working in district health, and telemedicine projects managers. Qualitative data was collected through individual interviews, transcribed and imported into NVivo 10 where they were coded thematically. Quantitative data was collected by administering questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS 23.
Results
The results showed that telemedicine could contribute to, but could not guarantee the recruitment and retention of Senegalese physicians in underserved areas. It was found that physicians in Senegal have both positive and negative behavioural, normative and control beliefs that can encourage or discourage them from using telemedicine in their professional practice. The most salient behavioural beliefs were that telemedicine makes experts’ opinions accessible across distances (positive behavioural belief), but could lead to medical errors (negative behavioural belief). The most common normative beliefs were that their patients would most probably approve the use of telemedicine (positive normative belief) while their colleagues working in the public sector might disapprove of it (negative normative belief). The most reported control beliefs were that the use of telemedicine is easy (positive control belief), but could be time-consuming (negative control belief). For physicians in Senegal, the findings also demonstrate that the probability that they will use telemedicine in their professional activities is moderate and influenced by their perceived behavioural control which, in turn, is influenced by their positive and negative control beliefs. Finally, the results demonstrate that many contextual meso (technical, organizational and ethical) and macro (financial, political, legal and socioeconomic) factors influence the use of telemedicine in Senegal.
Conclusion
The results of this study can inform the choice of telemedicine development strategies. These strategies can help to promote the use of telemedicine in Senegal, which in turn can help to increase physician recruitment and retention in underserved areas, resulting in better access to healthcare and, and as a result improved population health.
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Jrade, Lyne. "Exploring the Experiences of Infertile Arab Immigrant Women: A Qualitative Study." Thesis, Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10393/35340.
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Background: Infertility rates in the Middle East and North Africa are among the highest worldwide. Despite its elevated prevalence among men and women, infertility is mainly blamed on women’s reproductive health failures. Consequently, infertility threatens women’s social and marital security, social power, and status in society. In Canada, the Arab population constitutes the second largest group of newcomers, but very little research has explored Arab immigrant women’s experiences with and access to comprehensive reproductive health services.
Objectives: This project aimed to fill a gap in the literature on reproductive health in Ontario. This study explored: 1) Arab women’s experiences with infertility and infertility-related services in Ontario; 2) the barriers these women face when seeking these services; and 3) possible ways infertility-related information and services could be improved.
Methods: This qualitative study consisted of in-depth interviews with Arab immigrant women and interviews with key informants. We used a multi-modal recruitment strategy including social media ads, flyers, advertisements through community organizations, and an Arabic-language radiobroadcast. We analyzed both components for content and themes using deductive and inductive techniques.
Results: Participants struggled with primary infertility, mainly due to polycystic ovarian syndrome or endometriosis. Women identified cost, socio-cultural dynamics, stigma, and embarrassment as barriers to seeking treatment. Women described existing services as lacking comprehensive information, cultural sensitivity, and emotional support.
Conclusions: Our findings suggest that Arab immigrants face barriers in accessing infertility care in Ontario. These services can be improved through engaging in education and awareness raising efforts, providing psychosocial support services, and building bridges between organizations and the community.
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Jensen, Mary Claire. "Measuring Music Reading: A Guide to Assessment Methods." Thesis, Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10393/35540.
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Music reading is a complex skill. In order to better understand the reading process and evaluate the effects of teaching intervention, it is essential to measure this skill. Research in the field of music pedagogy has provided a number of studies concerned with the measurement of music reading, using varying methods of assessment. However, the corpus of literature is lacking in organization and clarity, in part due to the fact that the assessment methods come from diverse disciplines and the studies themselves may present a number of inconsistencies. Using a research model based on systematic review, the objective of the thesis is to provide an organized synopsis of music reading assessment methods. The thesis has identified and compiled a corpus of 88 relevant studies, with an emphasis on experimental keyboard research in the Western, classical, tonal tradition, though studies with woodwind, brass, percussion, and vocal instrumentation are included as necessary. The assessment methods employed in the studies are classified according to one of three broad categories: test measurements, eye-tracking measurements, and neurological measurements. The purpose of this guide is to be a reference for researchers and educational practitioners, and includes comparison and summary charts and a concluding index.
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McElroy, Brianna. "Pre-Service Teachers' Perspectives: Discussion Boards to Foster Critical Thinking and Knowledge Growth." Thesis, Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/10393/35840.
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In today’s society it is expected that individuals completing teacher education programs harness the skill of critical thinking before entering into the classroom practice. This qualitative case study focuses on three (3) pre-service teachers’ experience in a teacher education course that was redesigned to foster and develop critical thinking skills and knowledge growth by the introduction of online discussion forums. This study was guided by the following question “How has the implementation of online discussion boards in the redesign of the two sections of a mandatory course of the Bachelor of Education program at a Canadian university supported the development of pre-service teachers critical thinking and contributed to their knowledge growth related to course content”? Data was collected from three (3) participants enrolled in the course, using semi-structured interviews and the data from the online discussion threads. Results show participants do not have a unified understanding of critical thinking and that online discussion boards can impact participant’s critical thinking development and knowledge growth provided they are given a strong foundation in the content area and have adequate time to reflect on the information presented. As well, findings revealed that participants used online discussion boards as a type of social media interface. By examining the participant’s perceptions and postings of online discussion boards, this study provides insights into how critical thinking can be developed in pre-service teachers through an online medium. Additionally, this study considers and how these skills might be translated into classroom practice.
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Monyoncho, Evans Angwenyi. "In-Situ and Computational Studies of Ethanol Electrooxidation Reaction: Rational Catalyst Design Strategies." Thesis, Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/10393/35940.
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Fuel cells represent a promising technology for clean power generation because they convert chemical energy (fuel) into electrical energy with high efficiency and low-to-none emission of pollutants. Direct ethanol fuel cells (DEFCs) have several advantages compared to the most studied hydrogen and methanol fuel cells. First and foremost, ethanol is a non-toxic liquid, which lowers the investment of handling facilities because the current infrastructure for gasoline can be largely used. Second, ethanol can be conveniently produced from biomass, hence is carbon neutral which mitigates increasing atmospheric CO2. Last but not least, if completely oxidized to CO2, ethanol has a higher energy density than methanol since it can deliver 12 electrons per molecule. The almost exclusive oxidation to acetic acid overshadows the attractiveness of DEFCs considerably, as the energy density is divided by 3. The standard potential of acetic acid formation indicates that a reaction path including acetic acid, leads to inevitable potential losses of about 0.4 V (difference between ideal potential for CO2 and acetic acid "production").
The development of alkaline DEFCs had also been hampered by the lack of stable and efficient anion exchange membranes. Fortunately, this challenge has been well tackled in recent years,8,9 making the development of alkaline fuel cells (AFCs) which are of particular technological interest due to their simple designs and ability to operate at low temperatures (25-100 °C). In alkaline conditions, the kinetic of both the cathodic oxygen reduction and the anodic ethanol oxidation is facilitated. Furthermore, the expensive Pt catalyst can be replaced by the lower-cost and more active transition metals such as Pd.
The main objectives of this project are: i) to provide detailed fundamental understanding of ethanol oxidation reaction on transition metal surfaces in alkaline media, ii) to propose the best rational catalyst design strategies to cleave the C–C bond during ethanol electrooxidation. To achieve these goals two methodologies are used, i.e., in-situ identification of ethanol electrooxidation products using polarization modulation infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (PM-IRRAS) and mechanistic investigation using computational studies in the framework of density functional theory (DFT). The PM-IRRAS technique was advanced in this project to the level of distinguishing electrooxidation products at the surface of the nanoparticles (electrode) and in the bulk-phase of the electrolyte. This new PM-IRRAS utility makes it possible to detect molecules such as CO2 which desorbs from the catalyst surface as soon as they are formed. The DFT insights in this project, provides an explanation as to why it is difficult to break the C–C bond in ethanol and is used for screening the top candidate metals for further studies.
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Tabarraee, Kamran. "Dynamic average-value modeling of the 120° VSI-commutated brushless dc motors with non-sinusoidal back EMF." Thesis, University of British Columbia, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/2429/35740.
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For large and small signal analysis of electromechanical systems with power electronic devices such as Brushless DC (BLDC) motor-inverter drives, average-value models (AVMs) are indisputable. Average-value models are typically orders of magnitude faster than the corresponding detailed models. This advantage makes AVMs ideal for representing motor-drive components in system level studies. Derivation of accurate dynamic average-value model of BLDC motor-drive system is generally challenging and requires careful averaging of the stator phase voltages and currents over a prototypical switching interval (SI) to find the corresponding average-value relationships for the state variables and the resulting electromagnetic torque.
The so-called 120° voltage source inverter (VSI) driven brushless dc (BLDC) motors are very common in many commercial and industrial applications. This thesis extends the previous work and presents a new and improved dynamic average-value model (AVM) for such BLDC motor-drive systems. The new model is explicit and uses a proper model of the permanent magnet synchronous machine with non-sinusoidal rotor flux. The model utilizes multiple reference frame theory to properly include the back EMF harmonics as well as commutation and conduction intervals into the averaged voltage and torque relationships. The commutation angle is readily obtained from the detailed simulation.
The proposed model is then demonstrated on two typical industrial BLDC motors with differently-shaped back EMF waveforms (i.e. trapezoidal and close to sinusoidal). The results of studies are compared with experimental measurements as well as previously established state-of-the-art models, whereas the new model is shown to provide appreciable improvement especially for machines with pronounced trapezoidal back EMF.
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Robson, Neil David. "Analysis of cloned aromatic catabolic genes from Klebsiella pneumaniae." Thesis, University of Leicester, 1992. http://hdl.handle.net/2381/35140.
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The organisation of two aromatic catabolic pathways operational in Klebsiella pneumoniae has been investigated through the analysis of plasmid-based genomic clones. A single genomic clone encoding all of the activities required for the metabolism of 3-hydroxybenzoate was isolated on an 8.0Kbp SphI fragment via a cloning strategy determined by the analysis of an existing partial clone. The presence of a plasmid containing this fragment allowed strains of Escherichia coli to grow on 3- hydroxybenzoate as sole carbon and energy source. Sub-cloning experiments revealed that the genes involved in this pathway;mhbm encoding 3-hydroxybenzoate mono-oxygenase, mhbD encoding 2,5-dihydroxybenzoate dioxygenase, mhbl (maleylpyruvate isomerase), mhbH (fumarylpyruvate hydrolase) and the regulator gene mhbR, were arranged in the order mhbRDHMI. Preliminary analysis of the regulatory system has suggested that the expression of the mhb genes is under positive control. High level expression of the 2,5-dihydroxybenzoate dioxygenase encoded by mhbD was detected from several sub-clones. This allowed the development of a three-step purification procedure which resulted in a preparation suitable for N-terminal amino acid sequence determination. Full nucleotide sequence was obtained for the mhbD gene with assignment of the reading frame made on the basis of the protein's N-terminal sequence. Comparison of this sequence with existing databases failed to detect strong homologies with other dioxygenases. Two discrete genomic clones encoding genes involved in the catabolism of homoprotocatechuate (HPC); hpcB encoding HPC dioxygenase, hpcC (CHMS dehydrogenase), hpcD (CHM isomerase), hpcE (COHED decarboxylase), hpcF (HHDD isomerase), hpcG (OHED hydratase), hpcH (HHED aldolase) and hpcR (regulator gene), were subjected to restriction analysis and the gene organisation investigated by the sub-cloning. of specific fragments. The genes were found to be arranged in the order hpcR(EF)CBDGH where the precise relationship of the hpcE and hpcF genes was not defined. This gene order is identical to that determined for the corresponding system in Escherichia coli C.
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Rich, T. C. G. "Phototropism in light-grown mustard (Sinapis alba L.) seedlings." Thesis, University of Leicester, 1986. http://hdl.handle.net/2381/35340.
Full textAbstract:
This thesis is an investigation of the mechanisms of blue-light- mediated phototropism in higher plants. Phototropism was analysed in light-grown mustard (Sinapis alba L.) seedlings under low pressure sodium (SOX) lamps to minimise the involvement of phytochrome. Light-grown mustard seedlings do not show a blue-light-mediated inhibition of axis extension growth and the Blaauw theory must therefore be rejected as an explanation of phototropism. Phototropic curvature was established by an inhibition of growth on the illuminated side of the hypocotyl accompanied by an equal but opposite acceleration on the shaded side, with little or no change in net growth. This pattern of differential growth can be modified by light-growth responses separate from those involved in phototropism. Preliminary results from a biophysical analysis of cell growth using micro-pressure probes indicates phototropic growth responses are caused by changes in wall rheological properties, possibly by wall extensibility alone. There is a complex relationship between the kinetics of phototropism and stimulus fluence rate. The lag time is independent of fluence rate. The initial rate of curvature was directly proportional to log fluence rate between threshold and saturation fluence rates. Following this initial phase, gravitropic compensation and auto-tropic straightening modify curvature, which can no longer be used as a quantitative measure of phototropism. Implications for measurement of the response and selection of appropriate photobiological conditions are outlined. The magnitude of the internal light gradient influences the rate of curvature. The experimental results are discussed in relation to other knowledge of the phototropic transduction chain. The results are not inconsistent with the Cholodny-Went theory of phototropism. Preliminary data indicating phytochrome-mediated phototropism are presented, and the comparison of lag times in plant physiology is also discussed.
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Davidson, Anne Leslie. "Key performance indicators in humanitarian logistics." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/35540.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2006.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 86-87).
Non-profit humanitarian relief organizations have typically been unable to measure the performance of their supply chains due to an inability to centrally capture data from operations. With the recent development and implementation of information technology systems that can support the logistics function of these organizations, the data is now available to measure performance, but what is still lacking is a central framework of metrics that measures performance according to the organization's strategic goals. First, this thesis reviews the best practices noted in performance measurement systems of the logistics functions in military and commercial organizations and applies them to the humanitarian sector. Second, the thesis suggests a framework of key performance indicators to be implemented in an international non-profit humanitarian organization based on the unique strategic goals of the sector. The thesis then applies this proposed framework to two actual operations performed by this organization.
(cont.) The analysis performed herein proves that a measurement system would help strengthen the organization's ability to deliver goods to beneficiaries more efficiently and effectively. Finally, the thesis addresses feasibility issues of implementing a measurement system in the non-profit sector and also describes the next steps of opportunities related to measurement systems within humanitarian logistics.
by Anne Leslie Davidson.
M.Eng.in Logistics
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Russ, David Phillip. "Analysis of a heavy lift launch vehicle design using small liquid rocket engines." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1988. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/35340.
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Speth, Raymond L. 1981. "Effects of curvature and strain on a lean premixed methane-hydrogen-air flame." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/35640.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2006.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 74-77).
The elemental flame is a subgrid model for turbulent combustion, parameterized by time-varying strain rate and curvature. This thesis develops the unsteady one-dimensional governing equations for the elemental flame incorporating detailed chemical kinetics and transport and a robust and efficient numerical method for solving the governing equations. Hydrogen enrichment of some hydrocarbon fuels has been shown to improve stability and extend flammability limits of lean premixed combustion in a number of recent experiments. It is suggested that these trends may be explained by the impact of hydrogen on the flame response to stretch and curvature. The elemental flame model is used to simulate premixed hydrogen-enriched methane flames in positively curved, negatively curved and planar configurations at varying strain rates. Curvature and stretch couple with non-unity species Lewis numbers to affect the burning rates and flame structure. Hydrogen addition is found to increase burning rate and resistance to flame stretch under all conditions. Positive curvature reinforces the effect of hydrogen enrichment, while negative curvature diminishes it.
(cont.) The effects of strong curvature cannot be explained solely in terms of flame stretch. Hydrogen enriched flames display increases in radical concentrations and a broadening of the reaction zone. Detailed analysis of the chemical kinetics shows that high strain rates lead to incomplete oxidation; hydrogen addition tends to mitigate this effect.
by Raymond Levi Speth.
S.M.
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Wagner, Elaine Ann. "On-board automatic aid and advisory for pilots of control-impaired aircraft." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1988. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/35940.
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Lacruz, Alvarez Alfonso de. "Damage response of sandwich plates subject to dynamic loads." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1995. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/35040.
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Thomas, Henry George. "Experimental and theoretical studies of phase transitions and micellar size distributions in ternary surfactant systems." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1995. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/35440.
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Christensen, R. O. "Conflict and change among the Khyber Afridis : a study of British policy and tribal society on the North-West Frontier, 1839-1947." Thesis, University of Leicester, 1987. http://hdl.handle.net/2381/35540.
Full textAbstract:
This thesis is concerned with the relationship between one of the most important of the 'independent' Pakhtun tribes of the North-West Frontier and the British-Indian government during its century of administration of this strategically sensitive region. The study is based mainly on previously unconsulted records in the India Office Library and Records, London, and in archives in Pakistan. Additional material has been obtained through interviews with tribesmen, and with past and present frontier officials. Following the Introduction, the thesis is divided into four parts Part I surveys the most important aspects of tribal social organisation. Particular attention is given to those features of the Afridi economy, value-system and political structure which influenced or were influenced by the tribe's relationship with external government. The analysis, although based largely on historical material, includes a critical examination of relevant anthropological theory. Part II examines the strategic considerations underlying British policy on the North-West Frontier and government efforts to establish a satisfactory system of tribal 'management'. There is a detailed analysis of the effectiveness of such measures as the patient of tribal allowances and attempts to work through the traditional tribal leadership. Part III considers the impact of demographic growth, the opening up of new sources of income, and the development of new means of communication on Afridi society. In the long run such changes contributed to political tensions within the tribe, and generated new forms of conflict between tribe and government. Part IV looks at the main areas of conflict between the Afridis and the British administration, including such matters as tribal raiding. There is an analytical case- study of the tribal rising of 1897. Considerable attention is also given to the evolution of Afridi politics in the 20th century, under the influence of such factors as Afghan policy and Indian nationalism.
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Casal, Jorge José. "Photocontrol of internode extension growth in Sinapis alba L." Thesis, University of Leicester, 1989. http://hdl.handle.net/2381/35440.
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This study is concerned with the responses of internode extension rate in white-light-grown Sinapis alba seedlings to light: the kinetics, nature and organ localization of the photoreceptors and possible transduction chains. Phytochrome status was modified either by means of red, or far-red, light pulses given at the end of the photoperiod, or by supplementing white fluorescent light with different fluence rates of far-red light during the photoperiod. The status of specific blue light-absorbing photoreceptor(s) was modified by supplementing a background of blue-deficient light with different fluence rates of blue light. Low Pfr/P established in the leaves induced a promotion of internode extension rate that persisted for ca 24 h after the plant returned to high Pfr/P. The effect of Pfr/P during dark periods is due mainly to this persistent response. Several fluence-rate-dependent responses were revealed: (a), blue light reaching the leaves modulates the responsiveness of the internode to a reduction of Pfr/P restricted to the internode itself; (b), blue light reaching the leaves inhibits internode extension in subsequent darkness; (c), for a given period in darkness, internode growth rate is higher if Pfr/P is reduced before, rather than at the beginning of darkness, or at the beginning of darkness, rather than later; (d), the transition from light to darkness causes a rapid reduction (lag 10 min) of internode extension rate. A correlation (kinetics and localization) between the extracellular activity of one moderately acidic peroxidase isoform extracted from the internodes, and the effect of Pfr/P on internode extension rate is presented. The activity of another extracellular peroxidase isoform was unaffected by Pfr/P, but showed a rapid increase after wounding. This treatment caused no significant effects on the isoform controlled by Pfr/P. Present findings are discussed in relation to the ecological significance and the physiological basis of the control of internode extension growth by light.
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Bartholomew, C. "Molecular analysis of human and mouse interferon-α gene structure and function." Thesis, University of Leicester, 1986. http://hdl.handle.net/2381/35240.
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Four human IFNo: chromosomal genes have been isolated from a newly constructed placental DNA library in XL47. Restriction and sequencing analysis revealed that each gene had been described previously. However, one gene, SMTlll.lA, which encodes a full length IFN, is an allelic varient of a previously characterised pseudogene, thus indicating some degeneracy of the IFNa gene family. A chimaeric gene comprising the MuIFNx1 promoter (-188 to +52) and cat gene coding sequences has been constructed in vitro, enabling promoter function to be examined in mouse cells. Reproducible polyrI.rC mediated induction of CAT expression from the MuIFNx1 promoter has been demonstrated in pools of stably transfected, but not transiently transfected, L929 cells. Monitoring mRNA production revealed the transient accumulation of correctly initiated hybrid gene transcripts which precede optimum CAT production. Aspects of the structure/function relationship of the MuIFNx1 promoter have been investigated by oligonucleofide site directed mutagenesis. Comparative studies of IFNx promoter sequences identified prospective regulatory regions for mutagenesis. Quantitative CAT assays have been employed for promoter assessment. Additionally, the construction of a pseudogene comprising the wildtype MuIFNa1 promoter linked to an internally deleted cat gene has enabled both mutant and wildtype promoters functioning simultaneously in the same cell population to be assessed by S-1 nuclease protection studies using a common probe. Such studies have revealed three distinct cis-acting regions implicated in MuIFNx1 promoter function. Two are located upstream of the TATA box, defined by mutations at -87 and between -66 and -33 respectively. These reduce promoter activity 2 to 5 fold. The third, is defined by a mutation at +14, within the untranslated leader sequence. This enhances activity 2 to 3 fold. A deletion derivative of the MuIFNx1 promoter containing only 94bp of upstream sequence is inactive. Cis-activation by the Mo-MuSV enhancer restores inducibility to this promoter whereas the intact MuIFNx1 promoter is refractory to this element. This suggests that distinct cis-acting sequences dictate the efficiency and regulation of MuIFNx1 gene transcription.
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Hilton, Vincent Colin. "Architecture of deep-marine confined sandstone bodies, Eocene-Oligocene Gres d'Annot formation, SE France." Thesis, University of Leicester, 1994. http://hdl.handle.net/2381/35040.
Full textAbstract:
The Tertiary upper Eocene-lower Oligocene Gres d'Annot Formation of southeast France essentially is a sand-rich deep-marine turbidite system deposited in a foreland basin with a structurally complex basin-floor topography, where local basinal highs exceeded 400 m over 8 km. Overall, the Gres d'Annot Formation lacks features typical of submarine fans. Deposition of turbidite sandstones and other sediment gravity flow deposits first occurred within basinal topographic lows as a passive fill which progressively buried these features. Within the southern part of the Gres d'Annot Formation outcrops two separate basin-floor systems are identified on the basis of palaeocurrent dispersal patterns and sandstone onlaps against the basin floor topography. These two systems are the eastern basin-floor system, and the western basin-floor system. The eastern basin-floor system includes the Gres d'Annot Formation outcrops from Peira Cava, Contes and Menton. The oldest part of the sandstone succession in the eastern system is located at Peira Cava where deposition took place at the base of a local submarine slope as relatively sand-rich deposits which tend to shale out into the more distal parts of the basin. The sandstone succession in the Contes and Menton areas show an upsection change from amalgamated and non-amalgamated sandstone packets to essentially amalgamated sandstones. The western basin-floor system includes the St Antonin, Entrevaux, Annot and Grand Coyer outcrops of the Gres d'Annot Fonnation. The St Antonin section comprises three members, each showing an upsection change from thin-bedded to thick bedded turbidites to debris-flow conglomerates, to thin bedded sandstones interpreted as distal shelf/upper-slope storm deposits. The Entrevaux succession shows an upsection change from thin-bedded fine-grained to thicker bedded and coarser grained turbidites. The Annot sandstone succession shows an upsection change from essentially non-amalgamated sandstones to amalgamated sandstone packets and interbedded thin-bedded relatively fine-grained turbidites. The Grand Coyer succession comprises amalgamated turbidite sandstone packets with interbedded sandstone and mudstone packets with small-scale channel development within some of the sandstone/mudstone packets. The western basin-floor system is interpreted as an overall progradation and aggradation of a sand-rich submarine ramp/delta slope into the deeper parts of the western basin floor system. Comparisons of the Gres d'Annot Formation with the deep-marine sandstone reservoirs of the Palaeogene of the northern North Sea, show a similarity of confinement of sandstones and sandstone lobes and may provide a useful comparative system.
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Juna, Amjad. "Investigation of low-cost infrared sensing for intelligent deployment of occupant restraints." Thesis, Loughborough University, 2005. https://dspace.lboro.ac.uk/2134/35940.
Full textAbstract:
In automotive transport, airbags and seatbelts are effective at restraining the driver and passenger in the event of a crash, with statistics showing a dramatic reduction in the number of casualties from road crashes. However, statistics also show that a small number of these people have been injured or even killed from striking the airbag, and that the elderly and small children are especially at risk of airbag-related injury. This is the result of the fact that in-car restraint systems were designed for the average male at an average speed of 50 km/hr, and people outside these norms are at risk. Therefore one of the future safety goals of the car manufacturers is to deploy sensors that would gain more information about the driver or passenger of their cars in order to tailor the safety systems specifically for that person, and this is the goal of this project. This thesis describes a novel approach to occupant detection, position measurement and monitoring using a low-cost thermal imaging based system, which is a departure from traditional video camera-based systems, and at an affordable price. Experiments were carried out using a specially designed test rig and a car driving simulator with members of the public. Results have shown that the thermal imager can detect a human in a car cabin mock up and provide crucial real-time position data, which could be used to support intelligent restraint deployment. Other valuable information has been detected such as whether the driver is smoking, drinking a hot or cold drink, using a mobile phone, which can help to infer the level of driver attentiveness or engagement.
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Fonseca, Allex Jardim da. "Ensaios sobre a economia do câncer de colo de útero : teorias e evidências para o caso de Roraima." reponame:Biblioteca Digital de Teses e Dissertações da UFRGS, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10183/35440.
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O câncer de colo de útero (CCU) é um dos mais danosos que afetam as mulheres, especialmente em países em desenvolvimento, onde os programas de prevenção (baseados no exame de Papanicolaou) não se mostram efetivos. Vacinas contra o HPV foram disponibilizadas em 2007 como prevenção primária do CCU. Apresentam boa eficácia e segurança, porém um elevado custo para sua incorporação. O objetivo desta dissertação é avaliar a incidência de câncer de colo de útero no estado de Roraima, seu impacto econômico, e o perfil sócio-econômico das portadoras de CCU tratada no SUS, além de realizar análises de custo-efetividade e custo-utilidade da inclusão da vacinação para o HPV aos programas preventivos vigentes. A dissertação é composta por 2 ensaios cujo tema unificador é a análise econômica de estratégias de combate ao CCU. No primeiro ensaio, todos os exames histopatológicos e citológicos emitidos em Roraima em 2009 foram revisados, juntamente com os prontuários médicos de todas as pacientes portadoras de CCU. Todos os procedimentos terapêuticos e diagnósticos realizados em 2009 em portadoras de CCU foram registrados. Prospectivamente foram entrevistadas as pacientes portadoras de CCU abordando tópicos sócio-econômicos. Foram registrados 90 casos de CCU em Roraima em 2009. A incidência correspondeu a 46,2 casos novos por 100.000 mulheres, a maior do Brasil. As portadoras do CCU demonstram perfil econômico desfavorável, exclusão social, e baixo conhecimento e adesão precária aos programas preventivos de saúde feminina. O impacto anual do CCU para gestão em saúde de Roraima é superior a R$8 mil por caso. Este ensaio ressalta a inequidade de acesso aos programas preventivos em Roraima, excluindo da cobertura de rastreio o subgrupo que mais se beneficiaria, e gerando custos elevados. O segundo ensaio realiza avaliações econômicas da incorporação da vacina para o HPV para o estado de Roraima. Foi desenvolvido um modelo de coorte de Markov como instrumento analítico de simulação da história natural do HPV até a progressão para CCU, levando em consideração os programas preventivos. As probabilidades de transição foram baseadas preferencialmente em dados empíricos locais e nacionais. Após calibração satisfatória e considerando valores de caso-base, a adição a vacinação para HPV reduziria em 35% a incidência de CCU, em cenário de realização de 3 testes de Papanicolaou ao longo da vida. A razão incremental de custo-efetividade foi de R$ 2.556 para cada ano de vida ajustado pela qualidade (AVAQ) poupado. As análises de sensibilidade confirmam a robustez deste resultado. A vacinação possui perfil favorável do ponto de vista de custo-utilidade, e sua inclusão no calendário vacinal resultaria em redução substancial da incidência e mortalidade por CCU em Roraima.Invasive cervical cancer (ICC) is one of the most damaging that affect women, especially in developing countries, where preventive programs (based on the Pap smear) haven’t achieved effectiveness. HPV vaccines have recently been proposed as primary prevention of ICC. They show good efficacy and safety, but a high cost for its acquisition. Objectives: The objective of this dissertation is to evaluate the incidence of ICC in Roraima, its economic impact, and the socioeconomic profile of ICC carriers assisted in the public health system, and to perform a costeffectiveness and cost-utility analysis of adding HPV vaccination to current preventive programs. In the first essay, all histopathologic and cytologic reports issued in Roraima in 2009 were reviewed, along with the medical records of all patients diagnosed with ICC. All therapeutic and diagnostic procedures performed in 2009 in women with ICC cervix carcinoma were recorded. These patients were argued prospectively, addressing socio-economic topics. We registered 90 cases of cervical cancer in Roraima in 2009. The incidence corresponded to 46.2 new cases per 100,000 women. Carriers of the ICC showed unfavorable economic profile, social exclusion, deficient knowledge on ICC prevention and low adherence to the screening preventive programs. The annual impact of the ICC in Roraima is over R$ 8,000 per case. This essay highlights the inequity of access to preventive programs in Roraima, that excludes the subgroup of the population who would mostly benefit from screening, resulting in elevated costs. The second essay conducted economic evaluations of the incorporation of HPV vaccine to preventive programs in Roraima. A Markov cohort model was developed as an analytic tool to simulate the natural history of HPV and its progress to ICC, considering the current preventive programs. Transition probabilities were based mainly on empirical data of local and national studies. After satisfactory calibration values and considering the base case, the addition of HPV vaccination would reduce by 35% the incidence of ICC, in a scenario of three Pap tests throughout life. The incremental ratio of cost-effectiveness was R$ 2,556 for each year of quality-adjusted life (QALY) saved. The sensitivity analysis confirms the robustness of this result. Vaccination has a favorable profile in terms of cost-utility, and its inclusion in the immunization schedule would result in substantial reduction in incidence and mortality of ICC in Roraima.
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Perren, Lee John. "Investigating the Performance Of Electrical Resistivity Arrays." Thesis, Virginia Tech, 2005. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/35240.
Full textAbstract:
2D inversion modeling of synthetic data is used to evaluate the performance of five electrical resistivity arrays, with the primary criteria being the reproduction of sharp model boundaries. 2D synthetic noise free data were calculated simulating a modern fixed spacing multi-electrode cable. Twelve 2D synthetic models, resembling a number of different geologic situations, were used to investigate performance of the dipole-dipole, pole-dipole, pole-pole, Wenner and Schlumberger arrays
Although the synthetic, noise-free data were well matched for all inversions, many of the inversion results exhibit substantial mismatches from the true model. The greatest resistivity mismatches are near model discontinuities. Resistivity mismatches become worse with depth and the geometry of geologic boundaries in the deep portion of the models are not well reproduced by any of the arrays. Field surveys must be designed so that the geologic target is in the middle of the data constrained region. Different arrays performed best for different models and a practical table is presented allowing the practitioner to choose the optimal array for the particular geologic situation under investigation. Although the dipole-dipole and pole-dipole arrays may not be the optimal array for a given geology, they rarely fail for any model, and thus are recommended for reconnaissance or preliminary investigations in regions of unknown geology.
Contrary to traditional advice found in textbooks, based on 1D profiling and sounding, and data plot comparison, this study, using 2D data and 2D inversion, finds the Wenner and Schlumberger arrays, thought to perform poorly for vertical boundaries, performed well for a vertical boundary and a thin vertical resistor. Similarly, the dipole-dipole and pole-dipole arrays, thought to perform poorly for horizontal and dipping boundaries, performed well for several models containing those geometries. Another interesting finding is that changing the polarity of geologic units from resistors to conductors changed relative array performance in most models.Master of Science
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Fall, Cheikh Latyr. "A wireless, wearable and multimodal body-machine interface design framework for individuals with severe disabilities." Doctoral thesis, Université Laval, 2019. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11794/35440.
Full textAbstract:
Les technologies d’assistance jouent un rôle important dans le quotidien des personnes en situation de handicap, notamment dans l’amélioration de leur autonomie de vie. Certaines d’entre elles à l’exemple des fauteuils roulants motorisés et autres bras robotiques articulés, requièrent une interaction au moyen d’interfaces dédiées capables de traduire l’intention de l’utilisateur. Les individus dont le niveau de paralysie confère de bonnes capacités résiduelles arrivent à interagir avec les interfaces de contrôle nécessitant une intervention mécanique et un certain niveau de dextérité (joysitck, boutons de contrôle, clavier, switch, souris etc). Cependant, certains types de handicap (lésion ou malformation médullaire, paralysie cérébrale, traumatismes à la suite d’un accident, absence congénital de membres du haut du corps, etc) peuvent entraîner une perte d’autonomie des doigts, des avant-bras ou des bras, rendant impossibles le recours à ces outils de contrôle. Dès lors, il est essentiel de concevoir des solutions alternatives capables de pallier ce manque. Partout à travers le monde, des chercheurs réalisent des prouesses technologiques et conçoivent des interfaces corps-machine adaptés à des handicaps spécifiques. Certaines d’entre elles utilisent les signaux bio-physiologiques (électromyoraphie (EMG), électroencéphalographie (EEG), électrocorticographie (ECoG), électrocculographie (EOG)), image de l’activité musculaire, cérébrale et occulographique du corps humain, qu’elles traduisent en moyens de contrôle relatifs à un mouvement, une intention formulée par le cerveau, etc. D’autres se servent de capteurs d’image capable d’être robuste dans un environnement donné, pour traduire la direction du regard, la position de la tête ou l’expression faciale en vecteurs de contrôle. Bien qu’ayant fait montre de leur efficacité, ces techniques sont parfois trop coûteuses, sensibles à l’environnement dans lequel elles sont utilisés, peuvent être encombrantes et contre-intuitives, ce qui explique le gap existant entre les besoins réels, la recherche et le marché des solutions de contrôle alternatives disponibles. Ce projet propose un “framework” embarqué, permettant d’interfacer différents types de modalités de mesure des capacités résiduelles des patients, au sein d’un réseau de capteurs corporels sans-fils multimodales. Son architecture est conçue de façon à pouvoir prendre en compte différents types de handicap et octroyer une large gamme de scénarios de contrôle pouvant s’adapter facilement aux aptitudes physiques de son utilisateur. In fine, l’interface corps-machine que ce projet propose, explore des approches nouvelles, se voulant pallier aux limitations des solutions existantes et favoriser l’autonomie de vie des individus en situation de handicap.Assistive technologies play an important role in the day-to-day lives of people with disabilities, in particular in improving their autonomy. Tools such as motorized wheelchairs, assistive robotic arms, etc, require interaction through dedicated interfaces capable of translating the user’s intention. Individuals whose level of paralysis allows good residual abilities can interact with control interfaces requiring mechanical intervention and a good level of dexterity (joysitck, control buttons, keyboard, switch, mouse etc). However, certain types of disability (spinal cord injury or malformation, cerebral palsy, trauma following an accident, congenital absence of upper body limbs, etc.) may result in loss of autonomy of the fingers, forearms or arms, making it impossible to use these control tools. Therefore, it is essential to design alternative solutions to overcome this lack. Researchers around the world are realizing technological prowess by designing body-machine interfaces adapted to specific handicaps. Some of them use bio-physiological signals (electromyography (EMG), electroencephalography (EEG), electrocorticography (ECoG), electrocculography (EOG)), images of the muscular, cerebral and occulographic activity of the human body, for translation into means of control with respect to a movement, an intention formulated by the brain, etc. Others use image sensors that can be robust in a given environment, to translate the direction of gaze, the position of the head, or facials expressions, into control vectors. Although they were proved to be efficient, these techniques are sometimes too expensive, sensitive to the environment in which they are used, can be cumbersome and counter-intuitive, which explains the gap between existing needs, research and development, and the market of commercially available alternative control solutions. This project provides a "framework" that enables the design of flexible, modular, adaptive and wearable body-machine interfaces for the severely disabled. The proposed system, which implements a wireless and multimodal body sensor network, allows for different types of modalities the measure the residual capacities of individuals with severe disabilities for translation into intuitive control commands. The architecture is designed to accommodate different types of disabilities and provide a wide range of control scenarios. Ultimately, the body-machine interface that this project proposes, explores new approaches, aiming to overcome the limitations of existing solutions and to promote the autonomy of life of individuals with disabilities.
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Spurlock, Derek Scott. "Modeling Flows for Assessing Tidal Energy Generation Potential." Thesis, Virginia Tech, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/35140.
Full textAbstract:
Tidal energy is a clean, sustainable, reliable, predictable source of energy. Recent developments in underwater turbines have made harvesting tidal energy feasible. Determining the power potential available in a given water body can be accomplished by using numerical hydraulic models to predict the flow velocity at a location of interest. The East River in Manhattan has been used here in an effort to develop a modeling methodology for assessing the power potential of a site. Two two-dimensional CFD models, FESWMS and TUFLOW, as well as one one-dimensional model, HEC-RAS, are used to analyze flows in the East River. Comparisons are made between the models and TUFLOW proves to best represent flows in the East River. HEC-RAS provides accurate results; however, the one-dimensional results lack the necessary detail of a two-dimensional model. FESWMS cannot produce results that mimic actual flow conditions in the East River. Using the TUFLOW model, power and energy estimates are made. These estimates show that a two-dimensional model, such as TUFLOW, can be a great tool for engineers and planners developing tidal energy projects. Using the results of this work, a methodology is developed to assess power potential at other sites using publicly available data.Master of Science
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Weiss, Paula. "Ab initio and Direct Quasiclassical Trajectory Study of the F + CH₄ → HF + CH₃ and F + C₂H₆ → HF + C₂H₅ Reactions." Thesis, Virginia Tech, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/35340.
Full textAbstract:
The reparametization of semiempirical Hamiltonians is an emerging method used
in direct dynamics studies. The use of semiempirical Hamiltonians in direct dynamics
studies diminishes the computational cost of trajectory calculations and negates the need
for an analytical potential energy surface when performing reaction dynamics studies.
The reparametization of semiempirical Hamiltonians increases the agreement with
experiment and high level ab initio theory. We have chosen to create one set of new
parameters that apply to two related reactions, F + CH4 â HF + CH3 and F + C2H6 â HF
+ C2H5. We have performed an electronic structure study for these reactions. The ab
initio data obtained from the electronic structure study is then used as the reference for a
reparametization of the PM3 Hamiltonian. The reparametization has improved the ab
initio and PM3 reaction energy and potential energy surface scan agreement. This new
set of parameters for PM3 (SRP-PM3) is used to perform a direct quasiclassical trajectory
study of the reactions. The vibrational and rotational HF distributions calculated using
SRP-PM3 are compared with experiments. We have observed an improvement in the
agreement with experimental vibrational distributions but have seen no change in the
rotational distributions.Master of Science
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Grist, Joseph Daniel. "Analysis of a Blue Catfish Population in a Southeastern Reservoir: Lake Norman, North Carolina." Thesis, Virginia Tech, 2002. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/35040.
Full textAbstract:
This investigation examined the diet, growth, movement, population genetics, and possible consumption demands of an introduced blue catfish Ictalurus furcatus population in Lake Norman, North Carolina. Clupeids, Corbicula fluminea, and Chara were the predominant food items (percent stomach contents by weight) found in blue catfish, and varied by season, lake-region, and fish size-class. Lake Norman blue catfish grow at a slower rate than has been reported for other reservoir populations, with fair to poor body conditions (Wr<85) early in life, but improving with increases in length (Wr>95).
Movements and home ranges of blue catfish in Lake Norman were extremely varied, but individual blue catfish did establish specific seasonal home ranges and exhibited site fidelity. A spawning area in the upper region of the lake was identified and data suggested that blue catfish may have segregated populations within Lake Norman.
The Lake Norman blue catfish population exhibited relatively little genetic variability, and was genetically differentiated from populations from Santee-Cooper, SC, and Arkansas. Genetic diversity could have been limited by a population bottleneck at the founding of the population or in subsequent generations.
A consumption model indicated that 5.0 kg/ha to 8.3 kg/ha of clupeid standing stock could be eaten annually by blue catfish in Lake Norman based on percent stomach contents by weight data, and 21 kg/ha to 42 kg/ha based on percent caloric contribution calculations. This may reduce the possible production of other game fish species, including the put-grow-take striped bass Morone saxatilis fishery.Master of Science
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Ubben, Carolyn Wilson. "An Urban Graduate Center." Thesis, Virginia Tech, 1997. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/35440.
Full textAbstract:
The Urban Graduate Center is an academic village for graduate studies in an urban setting. The project seeks to establish a campus setting for students and professors who will primarily attend the Graduate Center on evenings and weekends. The Graduate Center seeks to extend the fabric of the existing urban area into an abandoned railroad yard site. The project involves a building complex the approximate size of a small city block. The building complex includes places for learning, places for meeting, and places for contemplation.
The project offers the opportunity to investigate the process of designing architecture. While the project relates to needs of particular users the discoveries and methods of meeting these needs can be applied to many different forms of architecture. The various functions that will occur in the urban graduate center provide the chance to investigate issues of organization, scale, transitions, and details.Master of Architecture
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Boe, Maria. "Utilizing Visual Illusions To Identify and Understand Perceptual Discrepancies in Product Design." Thesis, Virginia Tech, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/35840.
Full textAbstract:
There are often discrepancies in how a product is perceived in different representation media employed in typical product development processes. The first goal of this research project was to determine how visual illusions influence a designer's perception of a product across three representations: industrial design sketches, computer aided design (CAD) models, and physical prototypes (FDM rapid prototyping). A visualization experiment was conducted in which participants were asked to report how they perceived the shape and size of certain features, representing two types of illusions across the three model representations. Their statements were analyzed to identify the trends of how these two illusions affect overall appearance, categorized by representation type and the users' backgrounds (i.e., specialization and years of experience). The participants included students and professionals with various levels of engineering and industrial design experience. The analysis shows that there are differences in how designers see models depending on the representation media, and to some degree depending on the participants' professional background. The second goal was to explore the process of identifying such illusions automatically during the design process. In this regard, a discussion on how to implement the results from the visualization experiment is presented. Emphasis is on the potential development of a tool in CAD systems that would identify illusory effects and subsequently suggest potential design solutions. The possibility of using spectral analysis (fast Fourier transform) for an automated shape recognition capability in CAD systems is discussed.Master of Science
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Tuohy, Brent Travis. "Development of Biodynamic Modules for Forensic Applications." Thesis, Virginia Tech, 2000. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/35940.
Full textAbstract:
Work has been done to develop the computer laboratory portion of a course in biodynamic modeling, with particular emphasis towards applications in forensic engineering. Three course modules have been developed which explore the whiplash injury mechanism, pilot ejection and windblast, and gait analysis. These case studies make use of software entitled MADYMO (MAthematical DYnamic MOdeling). Each case study provides the scene, outcome, details, and instructions for setup of the biodynamic model. An "In-House" User's Manual has also been written so that students without previous MADYMO or UNIX experience can become proficient at using the program. Through the case studies presented within this thesis, students will gain insight into injury mechanisms and learn valuable biomechanical modeling tools.Master of Science
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Johnson, Sarah Marie. "Urban Renewal." Thesis, Virginia Tech, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/35740.
Full textAbstract:
This thesis is an exploration of how an existing parking lot in Washington, DC is transformed into a greenspace with ten public pavilions. This structured garden is designed to promote solitude and reflection and to develop an awareness of path, movement, composition, scale, and material.Master of Architecture
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Ammerman, David Allen. "Household capital structure and financial resilience: evidence from the Netherlands." Diss., Kansas State University, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/2097/35240.
Full textAbstract:
Doctor of PhilosophySchool of Family Studies and Human Services
Maurice M. MacDonald
Since 2008, the effects of the Great Recession have lingered in memory and in public discourse, and have underscored the need to better understand the determinants of financial resilience. Financial resilience refers to the household’s ability to absorb and respond to financial shocks (MacKinnon & Derickson, 2013). A financial shock may be induced by a rapid decline in income or asset values, an increase in expenses, or some combination thereof. Solvency -- the relationship between a household’s assets and liabilities -- is one aspect of financial resilience: maintaining a healthy debt ratio affords a household the opportunity to liquidate assets to meet debt obligations in response to a financial shock. Thus, the practical question which inspired this dissertation was "what is the right amount of debt for the household?" Within the personal finance and consumer economics literature, borrowing and saving -- behaviors which influence household solvency -- are conceptualized in part as functions of individual future orientation. The premise that resources are fungible, however, has led to the characterization of concurrent borrowing and saving as a behavioral anomaly. Corporate finance, by contrast, does not characterize this common practice as an anomaly, but suggests that concurrent borrowing and saving is, in part, a matter of balancing the costs and benefits of debt. However, theories of corporate finance cannot predict or explain how individual future orientation might influence a household’s capital structure. Thus, this dissertation adds to the literature by exploring precisely this question: how does individual future orientation influence household capital structure? The present results suggest, in contrast to the existing body of research, that future orientation is positively associated with an individual’s propensity to use leverage to finance investments; but that within a complex family resource management system, this individual propensity is moderated by the relative bargaining power of the other members of the household.
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Zigo, Stefan John. "Photoionization of isomeric molecules: from the weak-field to the strong-field limit." Diss., Kansas State University, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/2097/35440.
Full textAbstract:
Doctor of PhilosophyDepartment of Physics
Carlos A. Trallero
Ultra-fast spectroscopy has become a common tool for understanding the structure and dynamics of atoms and molecules, as evidenced by the award of the 1999 Nobel Prize in Chemistry to Ahmed H. Zewail for his pioneering work in femtochemistry. The use of shorter and more energetic laser pulses have given rise to high intensity table-top light sources in the visible and infrared which have pushed spectroscopic measurements of atomic and molecular systems into the strong-field limit. Within this limit, there are unique phenomena that are still not well understood. Many of such phenomena involve a photoionization step. For three decades, there has been a steady investigation of the single ionization of atomic systems in the strong-field regime both experimentally and theoretically. The investigation of the ionization of more complex molecular systems is of great interest presently and will help with the understanding of ultra-fast spectroscopy as a whole. In this thesis, we explore the single ionization of molecules in the presence of a strong electric field. In particular, we study molecular isomer pairs, molecules that are the same elementally, but different structurally. The main goal of this work is to compare the ionization yields of these similar molecular pairs as a function of intensity and gain some insight into what differences caused by their structure contribute to how they ionize in the strong-field limit. Through our studies we explore a wavelength dependence of the photoionization yield in order to move from the multi-photon regime of ionization to the tunneling regime with increasing wavelength. Also, in contrast to our strong-field studies, we investigate isomeric molecules in the weak-field limit through single photon absorption by measuring the total ionization yield as a function of photon energy. Our findings shed light on the complexities of photoionization in both the strong- and weak-field limits and will serve as examples for the continued understanding of single ionization both experimentally and theoretically.
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Ari, Akin Pervin. "Chemically leavened gluten free sorghum bread." Thesis, Kansas State University, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/2097/35740.
Full textAbstract:
Master of ScienceDepartment of Grain Science and Industry
Rebecca A. Regan
Sorghum is unique in terms of its resistance to drought and heat and is grown and consumed around the globe. Moreover, sorghum does not contain gluten and has potential in the gluten-free market. A blend of non-wheat flour, starch and hydrocolloid typically provide the structure of gluten-free products. Most research on sorghum bread uses a yeast leavened process, HPMC gum, rice flour and corn, potato, or tapioca starch. Little is known about the functionality or interactions of different starches and hydrocolloids in sorghum batter. The objectives of this study were to examine starch-hydrocolloid interaction in chemically leavened gluten free sorghum bread; to evaluate the effects of different ingredients on gluten free bread quality made with sorghum flour: starch (tapioca starch, rice flour and potato starch): hydrocolloid (HPMC, locust bean gum and xanthan) and to develop a chemically leavened gluten free sorghum bread method. Bread was baked as pup loaves. Volume index was measured using the AACCI Method 10-91.01 template, crumb grain was evaluated using the C-Cell Imaging System and texture was determined with the TA.XT Plus Texture Analyzer. The base formula was commercial sorghum flour, water, starch, hydrocolloid, sugar, salt, shortening and double acting baking powder. Sorghum flour: starch (tapioca starch, rice flour and potato starch) ratios of 70:30, 80:20 and 90:10 were tested. Loaves containing all levels of rice flour had the same volume index (~165) as 100% sorghum flour (168) while all levels of tapioca starch and potato starch produced significantly smaller loaves (~150). The ratio of 90% sorghum flour and 10% starch (tapioca starch, rice flour and potato starch) was selected. The type and level of hydrocolloid significantly impacted loaf volume, grain and texture. Starch-hydrocolloid combinations which produced the best loaves were tapioca starch + 3% HPMC, rice flour + 3% xanthan and potato starch + 4% xanthan. Following initial optimization experiment, egg ingredients, fat, baking powder and water were added and evaluated individually to develop an optimized formulation. In general, addition of egg ingredients, shortening and oil did not improve the overall quality of sorghum based bread and were not added to the formula. However, emulsified shortening was effective. The best level of emulsified shortening was determined to be 3% for the breads with sorghum flour: tapioca starch or sorghum flour: potato starch and 5% for bread made with sorghum flour: rice flour. The best baking powder (SALP and MCP) levels were 5, 8 and 5% for sorghum flour: tapioca starch bread, sorghum flour: rice flour bread and sorghum flour: potato starch bread, respectively. Optimum levels of water for sorghum flour: tapioca starch bread, sorghum flour: rice flour bread, and sorghum flour: potato starch bread were 120, 110 and 120%, respectively. This research showed that different starch sources have different interactions with other ingredients in chemically leavened sorghum based gluten free bread.
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Côté, Olivier. "Conception d'une monture stabilisatrice pour un télescope embarqué sur ballon stratosphérique." Master's thesis, Université Laval, 2019. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11794/35740.
Full text
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Bozyk, Ronald. "Law and Grace in the Work of St. Ilarion, Metropolitan of Kyiv (1051-1054 AD)." Doctoral thesis, Université Laval, 2019. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11794/35840.
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Gallardo, Prada Álex César. "Sistema para el proceso de detracciones y retenciones BSP y CASS en el Perú y, generación del PDT 3540." Bachelor's thesis, Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas (UPC), 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/10757/274139.
Full textAbstract:
El presente trabajo tiene como finalidad desarrollar e implementar en toda sus etapas una solución automatizada para el proceso de detracciones y retenciones BSP (Plan de liquidación para aerolíneas comerciales) y CASS (Plan de liquidación para aerolíneas de carga) de las aerolíneas en el Perú y que además permita realizar la generación automática del PDT 3540 para las aerolíneas que forman parte del plan BSP, con la finalidad de que la información generada por estos procesos pueda integrarse en otros sistemas globalizadores. Este proceso le permitirá, consistentemente, una reducción de costos operativos y sobretodo un mayor y mejor dinamismo en la gestión de detracciones y retenciones BSP y CASS de las aerolíneas en el Perú. El primer capítulo permite situarnos en la fundamentación teórica referida al contexto del tema. El segundo capítulo desarrolla el tema de la solución propuesta. Para ello inicia exponiendo el objetivo general y los específicos, junto con la respectiva fundamentación y los indicadores que permitan identificar los hitos de avance alcanzados. El tercer capítulo se refiere al modelado de negocio, describiendo la lista de los actores del negocio, del diagrama de casos de uso de negocio, con las respectivas especificaciones de los casos de uso de negocio implicados en el proyecto, los diagramas de actividades y la lista de actividades a automatizar. El cuarto capítulo se refiere a los requerimientos funcionales y no funcionales del sistema, en él se muestra los casos de uso de sistema identificados, además de sus respectivas especificaciones. El quinto capítulo se refiere a la arquitectura de software en donde se detallará la construcción de la solución propuesta.Tesis
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Hernández, Guillamón María del Mar. "Contribució de l'Amino Oxidasa Sensible a Semicarbazida en el dany vascular: implicació en la malaltia d'Alzheimer i l'Angiopatia Cerebral Amiloide." Doctoral thesis, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 2005. http://hdl.handle.net/10803/3540.
Full textAbstract:
L'objectiu principal de la present tesis doctoral ha estat l'estudi de la possible contribució de l'Amino Oxidasa Sensible a Semicarbazida (SSAO) en el dany vascular, la seva implicació en l'Angiopatia Cerebral Amiloide (CAA) i la Malaltia d'Alzheimer (AD). La SSAO és un enzim multifuncional, al qual se li han atribuït diferents papers biològics depenent del teixit on es localitzi. La seva expressió es troba amplament distribuïda en mamífers, especialment en teixits altament vascularitzats, associat a cèl·lules endotelial i de múscul llis. Així mateix, existeix una forma de SSAO soluble present en el plasma de totes les espècies de mamífers estudiades.
En el present treball, en primer lloc, es va estudiar la possible alteració de l'enzim en el desordre neurodegeneratiu tipus AD associat a CAA. Els resultats obtinguts van permetre demostrar, per una part, una sobreexpressió SSAO a nivell cerebrovascular humà en pacients amb AD-CAA. Per altra banda, es va determinar l'activitat SSAO plasmàtica de pacients amb demència tipus AD esporàdic i es va establir una correlació positiva entre els valors d'activitat SSAO soluble present en plasma i la severitat de la demència.
Donat que els productes generats de l'acció catalítica de la SSAO són considerats altament reactius i amb propietats potencialment tòxiques, es va estudiar l'efecte de l'oxidació del substrat fisiològic de la SSAO, la metilamina, sobre cèl·lules vasculars en cultiu. Els resultats van permetre confirmar que l'oxidació de la metilamina, per part tant de la SSAO soluble com la SSAO tissular, era capaç d'induir apoptosis en cèl·lules de múscul llis.
En resum, en situacions patològiques, on els nivells de SSAO cel·lular i SSAO soluble es troben incrementats, la seva acció catalítica podria contribuir al dany vascular en desordenes cerebrovasculars com l'Angiopatia Cerebral Amiloide associada a la Malaltia d'Alzheimer.
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Hauck, Cory David. "Entropy-based moment closures in semiconductor models." College Park, Md. : University of Maryland, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/1903/3540.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (Ph. D.) -- University of Maryland, College Park, 2006.Thesis research directed by: Applied Mathematics and Scientific Computation Program. Title from t.p. of PDF. Includes bibliographical references. Published by UMI Dissertation Services, Ann Arbor, Mich. Also available in paper.
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Bustamante, Alicelena de Oliveira. "Cinco espécies novas de Metharpiniinae (Amphipoda : Phoxocephalidae) no litoral do Rio de Janeiro." Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, 2000. http://hdl.handle.net/11422/3540.
Full textAbstract:
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CAPES
A família Phoxocephalidae compreende espécies que habitam sedimentos não consolidados. Embora seja amplamente distribuída no mundo, é pouco conhecida no litoral do Brasil. Há cerca de 200 espécies mas, apenas cinco foram registradas no Brasil na região de Ubatuba/SP: Microphoxus cornutus (Schellenherg, 1931); Heterophoxus videns Barnard. 1930; Pseudharpinia dentata Schellenberg, 1931: Harpiniopsis galerus Barnand, 1960 e Phoxocephalus homilis Barnard, 1960. O presente estudo descreve cinco espécies encontradas no litoral do Rio de Janeiro. São descritos e desenhados três espécies de Microphoxus, uma de Metharpinia e uma de Grandifoxus. Os dois últimos gêneros são citados pela primeira vez para o Brasil.
The family Phoxocephalidae comprises species inhabiting soft-bottoned surfaces. Although it is widely distributed throughout the world, such a family is poorly know on Brazilian coast. There are approximately 200 species, but only five have been registered in Ubatuha. São Paulo, BraziL namely. Microphoxus cornutus (Schellenberg, 1931): Heterophoxus videns Barnard, 1930: Pseudharpinia dentata Schellenherg, 1931: Harpiniopsis galerus Barnand, 1960 e Phoxocephalus homilis Barnard, 1960. The present study has decribed five species found along Rio de Janeiro coast. lt has included descriptions and drawings or three species from Microphoxus, one from Metharpinia and one from Grandifoxus. The last two genera have been cited for the first time in Brazil.
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Garzon, Delvaux Pedro Andres. "Woodfuel supply chain integration in the South West of England : a transaction costs approach to bioenergy development." Thesis, University of Exeter, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10036/3540.
Full textAbstract:
The wood energy market remains nascent in the UK, despite climate change policies and energy security concerns. Transaction costs have been identified as one barrier to woodfuel development. However, few studies provide explicit insights into such barriers to spontaneous exchange in this sector and how they influence its formation. The study approaches the development of woodfuel in the South West Region of England through Transaction Costs Economics (TCE) and aims to identify the appropriate governance structure of the supply chain as a response to existing transactions costs. When transaction costs increase, seamless market exchange gradually gives way to credible contracting and even to full vertical integration or unified ownership. The TCE approach provides insights to analyse friction and barriers to exchange and allows for a dialogue between economics, law and day-to-day business decision-making. Fuel procurement from woodfuel suppliers to woodfuel users is central to this project in looking at the barriers to exchange. Original data was collected through 42 in-depth interviews, mainly with suppliers themselves but also from Forestry Commission, regional agencies, NGOs and lobbies involved. The results suggest the influence of transaction costs. Also, there is some evidence that wood-energy regional actors are embracing organisational diversity from known rural business structures to less familiar ones in the UK, such as cooperatives and new partnerships as answers to, among other factors, transaction costs. The evidence suggests that not only support to demand and supply is necessary, as generally identified, but it is also needed at its interface by supporting the governance of the supply chain. Some practical implications for both public and private sectors are identified to better articulate the response to this need.
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Mingo, Chivon A. "Identifying and Addressing Health Disparities in Black Older Adults with Osteoarthritis." Scholar Commons, 2010. http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/3540.
Full textAbstract:
Osteoarthritis (OA), the most common form of arthritis in older adults, often results in pain, disability and poor psychological well-being. Compared to White adults, Black adults consistently report more pain, more activity limitations, and have different perceptions about OA. Racial disparities also exist in treatments, and prevalence of arthritis. It is imperative to have effective interventions and treatment options for older Blacks. Yet, few arthritis interventions have included Black participants in their samples, and nearly all of those have failed to report separate analyses indicating the effectiveness for Black adults, thus leaving a gap in the literature. The purpose of this study is to begin to identify factors needed to design arthritis interventions that will reduce barriers and increase appeal to Blacks.
The present dissertation consists of one study with two related parts. The first part consists of a needs assessment that examined intervention preferences, barriers to healthcare, knowledge about interventions and care, utilization, and health beliefs among Black and White adults with self-reported physician-diagnosed OA. The second part evaluated materials used in an existing arthritis intervention for acceptability. The study was based on the Arthritis Self Management Program (ASMP). Frequencies were examined to determine needs related to arthritis healthcare of Blacks and Whites recruited from the community. Independent samples t-tests and Pearson’s Chi-square analyses were examined to determine group differences between Blacks and Whites.
Blacks were more likely to report cost, lack of trust, fear of being the only person of their race, lack of recommendation from their doctor, and lack of recommendation of a family or friends as barriers to participating in arthritis interventions. In addition, Blacks were more likely to prefer the intervention content, structure and delivery, and arthritis resources presented in the needs assessment in comparison to Whites. As for the evaluation of the intervention materials, Blacks and Whites were similar on most sections.
Based on our findings we suggest that practical adaptations (e.g., cost) be made to existing arthritis interventions to increase cultural sensitivity. Such adaptations have the potential to minimize barriers and offer a program that would be appealing to Blacks with OA.