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1
Zieger, Johannes [Verfasser], Arno [Gutachter] Kleber, Ulf [Gutachter] Linnemann, and Christoph [Gutachter] Breitkreuz. "The Namibian Karoo Supergroup as an example for supercontinent scale sediment dynamics / Johannes Zieger ; Gutachter: Arno Kleber, Ulf Linnemann, Christoph Breitkreuz." Dresden : Technische Universität Dresden, 2021. http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bsz:14-qucosa2-758204.
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Adam, Martin Scott. "An investigation of hydrogen bonded molecular systems using X-ray and neutron diffraction." Thesis, University of Glasgow, 2009. http://theses.gla.ac.uk/556/.
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The main focuses of this project have been investigations of a variety of hydrogen bonding systems for unusual behaviour such as disordered or migrating hydrogens/protons with both single crystal X-ray and neutron diffraction, crystallisation of a large number of molecular complexes of the chloranilic acid molecule, and examining the bifurcated hydrogen bond motif found in many of the chloranilic acid co-crystals discovered. The neutron single crystal diffraction instruments SXD and VIVALDI have been used to provide conclusive results in cases of suspected unusual hydrogen bond behaviour in molecular materials. 2,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid and its isomer 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid have been examined using X-ray and neutron diffraction to investigate possible disordered cooperative hydrogen bond systems. The energy difference of the three possible tautomers of 2,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid in different environments have been calculated in theoretical computations which concur with the neutron results. Single crystal neutron diffraction experiments were also carried out on isonicotinamidium formate, 2-iodoaniliium picrate, chloranilic acid 2,4-lutidine and malonic acid, where unusual behaviour in the hydrogen systems was also suspected. The molecular complexes of chloranilic acid with various pyridine-based molecules have been the main focus of the X-ray diffraction work of this thesis. Multiple crystallisations over a range of different conditions were set up for chloranilic acid with various series of molecules including lutidines (dimethylpyridines) and picolines (methylpyridines). This resulted in a large number of new crystal structures, determined by X-ray diffraction and all found to contain a bifurcated hydrogen bond motif producing two robust hydrogen-bonded supramolecular synthons. The investigation examines the bifurcated hydrogen bond interactions and the suitability of chloranilic acid complexes for crystal engineering. The two related supramolecular synthon units are discussed and difference Fourier maps and Hirshfeld surfaces used to examine the hydrogen bond architecture. Bromanilic acid co-crystals are also studied to examine the effect of the halogen in the crystal structures.
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Salih, Alaa A. "The effect of dividend policy on market value : UK empirical study." Thesis, Durham University, 2010. http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/556/.
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This study tackles the relationship between dividend policy and market value of companies in the UK through three empirical models. The aim of the first model was to test the validity of the Irrelevant Theory empirically by exploring the relationship between dividend type (cash dividend, share dividend and share repurchase), earnings (EPS) and investment policy (retained earnings per share) with the market value of a company. This is achieved through the use of annual and semi-annual data for 362 companies in different UK sectors by adopting Panel Data for the period extending from 1998 to 2007 (twenty periods), where the fixed-effect (within) regression model was used to examine this sample . The second model examines if companies favour the investment policy dividend policy by investigating whether or not companies follow a residual dividends policy. This has been identified by following the methodology of Baker and Smith (2006), based on the calculation of Standardized Free Cash Flow (SFCF) for 590 UK companies in different sectors for the period from 1998 to 2007 by using annual data. The third model seeks to explore managerial preferences regarding dividend type and the most important factors affecting the company management when setting dividends policy. In this respect, the importance of the following factors has been tested: the company’s market value; the financing decision; the investment decision; signaling theory; agency theory; and shareholder structure. The questionnaire methodology used for this model where it was distributed to 1319 UK companies in different sectors. The number of responses was 208 responses is equivalent to 15.77% of the total distributed). The study arrived at a number of important results that can be summarized as follows: 1) The invalidity of the Irrelevant Theory, as the results show that there is a relationship between dividend policy and market value of a company; 2) There is a relationship between earnings, investment policy and the market value, which indicates that the dividends policy, announced earnings and investment policy work together in affecting the market value of a company; 3) UK companies, on the whole, do not adopt a residual dividends policy, implying no preference for investment policy over dividend policy, except for the two sectors banking and insurance companies where the results showed that they follow the residuals dividends policy 4) Most UK companies’ managements prefer cash dividends to other venues choices because of its easy implementation; and 5) The most important factor affecting UK companies’ managements when they set their dividends policy is shareholder structure while the least factor listed in importance is agency theory.
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Harris, Charlotte. "The investigation of murder in France and England : a comparative account." Thesis, London School of Economics and Political Science (University of London), 2008. http://etheses.lse.ac.uk/556/.
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This thesis – based on 13 months' fieldwork observing specialized murder squads and justice personnel - examines the processes and practices of murder investigation in France and England. There is relatively little, particularly ethnographic, research in this field and my work is - to my knowledge - the first comparison of how these countries, often contrasted as instances of the archetypal inquisitorial and adversarial criminal justice systems, respond in practice to criminal homicide. The thesis includes a detailed analysis of two similar cases that occurred in the French and English research sites. The cases are followed from the discovery of the body to the end of the trial. Highlighting two emblematic events within each process - the case conference in England and the reconstitution (or reconstruction) in France - I also explore the epistemological and sociological assumptions behind investigative procedures. Although some of the activities observed in the two countries were similar, key differences were also found in the methods by which the investigations were progressed and recorded, the involvement of detectives at various stages of the investigation, the manner in which the media were used, and the way in which the offender and victim were treated - all of which affected how the investigators viewed their work and the nature of what formed the substance of the cases. A key theme discussed is the way the words used to describe similar processes and roles revealed the different ways in which the two countries viewed the criminal justice process. In my conclusion, I suggest that part of the reason for the differences relates to the way the two societies conceive of the criminal. In England the criminal is seen as someone outside of society and this attitude to criminality affects all those who deal with it – including murder investigators. In France, crime and the investigation of murder has an accepted role in 'normal' life.
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Masinara, Elena. "Scelta ed integrazione nell'ufficio tecnico di un sistema CAD-CAM per la produzione di utensili mediante tecniche di benchmark." Master's thesis, Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, 2009. http://amslaurea.unibo.it/556/.
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Martini, Paola <1973>. "Il Maghreb racconta: la forma breve nella narrativa femminile contemporanea." Doctoral thesis, Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, 2007. http://amsdottorato.unibo.it/556/.
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Smith, Simon Gareth. "Buddhism and the postmodern : the nature of identity and tradition in contemporary society." Thesis, University of Leeds, 1997. http://etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/556/.
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By and large, modem societies have understood themselves to be increasingly without religion. This is reflected in religion's marginalised position within academic disciplines such as sociology and philosophy and, in turn, their isolation from developments in religious studies. The discipline of religious studies itself has sometimes colluded in this process of marginalisation and isolation by a reluctance to engage with the intellectual dynamism of similarly eclectic disciplines such as cultural studies, as well as with current developments in sociology and philosophy. This is now beginning to change, and the purpose of this thesis is to contribute to this transformation by drawing upon debates surrounding the notion of 'postmodemity', and to suggest that forms of religious tradition not only persist in contemporary Western societies, but can exhibit a dynamic and challenging engagement with the cultural conditions which shape them. Concentrating on notions of self-hood and identity, I argue that the encounter between Buddhism and Western society provides an opportunity to examine a role for the religious in the context of a modernity which appears to exhibit increasingly ephemeral aspects, culminating with the postmodern. By initially drawing on examples in colonial and post-colonial South East Asia, I argue that Western and Buddhist cultural forms interacted in a manner which presaged the formation of the complex cultural hybridities that occur in contemporary Western society. Here, through the use of what I shall call 'quasi-knowledge' and 'quasi-memory', individuals are exposed to a multiplicity of cultural phenomena in attempting to establish coherent biographies for themselves, such exposure being reflected in the ephemeral nature of self-perception which is instrumental in the formation of the postmodern self. I suggest that both Buddhism and the postmodern operate in milieux which function on several levels of reality. These, to some extent, equate to certain dichotomies which may be found in modernity, and provide a context in which to establish a continued and significant role for religion at all of these levels. This can be reflected in my notion of a 'de-universalised' society which can encompass both secular and religious narratives - being a product of the tensions found between the two. As a consequence of this, I argue that it is possible to regard religion as a significant factor in understanding contemporary self-hood; as something which is both at the root of its development, and central to its continued evolution.
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Ibrahim, Sani [Verfasser], and Barbara [Gutachter] Sponholz. "Évolution des paysages dunaires fixés par la végétation au Niger / Sani Ibrahim. Gutachter: Barbara Sponholz." Würzburg : Universität Würzburg, 2016. http://d-nb.info/1111637970/34.
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Schladant, Michelle. "An Examination of Parent Perspectives on Augmentative and Alternative Communication Systems in Children with Fragile X Syndrome." Scholarly Repository, 2011. http://scholarlyrepository.miami.edu/oa_dissertations/556.
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The purposes of this qualitative inquiry were as follows: (a) to understand how mothers of children with fragile X syndrome (FXS) used augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems in the home, (b) to capture their views regarding AAC use, and (c) to examine the support they received in the process. Data was collected using participant observations, semi-structured interviews and review of archival educational records and were analyzed using grounded theory methods. Results revealed that for children with FXS, the interplay of children’s complex developmental challenges, mothers’ internal struggles, and the absence of external supports leads to limited and variable use of AAC in the home.
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Hoskins, Sara Grace. "16th Century Cast-Bronze Ordnance at the Museu de Angra do Heroismo." Texas A&M University, 2003. http://hdl.handle.net/1969.1/556.
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Within the collections of the Museu de Angra do Heroismo (Terceira Island, Azores, Portugal) are nine cast bronze guns from the 16th century. Most were raised from the seafloor between the 1960s and 1990s, but this study comprises the first in-depth research into their design and manufacture. The importance of this kind of study lies in the fact that ordnance is commonly found on shipwrecks of this time. A greater knowledge of guns will help provide information about the ships from which they came.
Careful documentation and study of the Museu de Angra cannon will add greatly to their value as museum exhibits, by allowing museum patrons to better understand where the guns came from, how they were cast, and why they were important. This documentation adds to our knowledge of Western European gunfounding technology during the sixteenth century, as four different countries commissioned the guns: Portugal, Spain, France, and England. With detailed documentation and publication, the Museu de Angra bronze guns can be added to the bibliography of ordnance of this period, which will aid future researchers who encounter similar pieces.
The Museu de Angra bronze guns, as symbols of the military and naval power of the countries that commissioned them, were sent aboard ships, into the field, and mounted on fortress walls. Bronze guns of this time period are particularly important, as bronze was an expensive commodity, and the demand for ordnance was increasing rapidly. Countries developed more effective ways to make use of iron for the founding of guns, and the use of bronze became more symbolic of wealth. The information that each gun contains includes both the cutting-edge military technology of the time and the artistic statement of the founder. Some of the finest metalwork of the period was displayed in cast bronze guns, and due to the founding techniques, no two are the same, making each an important piece of history.
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Miller, Joseph. "Direct Multielemental Analysis of Solid Samples Using Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectometry and Pulsed Radio Frequency Glow Discharge Mass Spectrometry." TopSCHOLAR®, 2003. http://digitalcommons.wku.edu/theses/556.
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Direct solid sampling is an area of analytical research that has generated a large amount of interest in recent years. Two analysis systems offering fast and nondestructive methods of determining the elemental composition of substances, without requiring complicated sample preparation procedures, are laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (LA-ICPMS) and radio frequency glow discharge mass spectroscopy (rf-GDMS). A Cetac LSX-200 laser system coupled to a LECO Renaissance ICPMS was utilized to analyze coal and ash samples prepared by incorporation into a lithium borate matrix to form a disk. In addition, a VG 9000 Glow Discharge Mass Spectrometer (GDMS) with Nier-Johnson reverse ion optic geometry, equipped with a radio frequency source (rf-source), was used for the determination of nonconductors or insulators in addition to the normal metals and semiconductors previously determined by dc-source analysis. Further addition of a pulse generator to the rf-source resulted in a variable duty cycle, allowing greater ionization efficiency without the risk of catastrophic damage to the sample. The results of this research indicate that the LA-ICPMS system can be used to directly determine the composition of ash samples, with further method development, and that the Prf-GDMS system can be used successfully to analyze nonconductive solid samples including bone tissue.
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Lundell, Carmen. "Sports Programs as a Vehicle to Empower Adolescent Girls in Muslim Countries." Scholarship @ Claremont, 2013. http://scholarship.claremont.edu/cmc_theses/556.
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This paper explores the empowerment of adolescent girls through sport using two case studies. Both case studies take place in predominantly Muslim countries: Egypt and Bangladesh. The sports programs also are both implemented through schools, public in Egypt and private in Bangladesh. I also evaluate the feasibility of establishing sports programs across the world. Because of Afghanistan’s especially harsh circumstances for women, the final chapter strategizes methods to implement similar programs there. I conclude by assessing the future of girls' sports programs in the Middle East and whether or not governments and international organizations should continue investing in these programs.
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Lewis, Lisa, and University of Lethbridge School of Health Sciences. "Tantric transformations, a non-dual journey from sexual trauma to wholeness : a phenomenological hermeneutics approach." Thesis, Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, School of Health Sciences, 2007, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/10133/556.
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This thesis explores the Tantric transformational journey from sexual trauma to
wholeness. The research question offers to explain, “What are the experiences of women
who have experienced sexual trauma and have embraced the non-dual path of Tantra as a
transformational journey to wholeness?” A phenomenological hermeneutic method of
study was used to investigate and understand themes that surfaced from the coparticipants
narratives.
The narratives were gathered from research interviews that were conducted with
the six co-participants. From these interviews, thirteen themes emerged. The following
themes are: 1) discovering sexuality, 2) trauma: splitting the soul in two, 3) the betrayal
bond of trauma 4) from betrayal by others to the betrayal of self, 5) befriending the self,
6) sacred spot healing, 7) releasement: a catapult into presence, 8) saying ‘yes’ to pain,
saying ‘yes’ to pleasure, 8) embracing the open sky of awareness, 9) the power of
presence in the here and now, 10) total freedom in the always, already, available ‘now’,
11) sublime and mundane: merging into oneness, 12) non-dual: vastness of oneness 13)
suchness of life. Finally, a summary of findings as well as limitations of this study and
the implications of counselling are discussed.viii, 175 leaves ; 29 cm. --
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Riley, Christopher P. "Somali-African American conflict in Linden Postcolonial realities and the implications for radical democracy /." Connect to this title online, 2005. http://hdl.handle.net/1811/556.
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Thesis (Honors)--Ohio State University, 2005.Title from first page of PDF file. Document formattted into pages: contains 33 p. Includes bibliographical references (p. 30-33). Available online via Ohio State University's Knowledge Bank.
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Shiraishi, Hisako. "Design of an Analog VLSI Cochlea." University of Sydney. Electrical and Information Engineering, 2003. http://hdl.handle.net/2123/556.
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The cochlea is an organ which extracts frequency information from the input sound wave. It also produces nerve signals, which are further analysed by the brain and ultimately lead to perception of the sound. An existing model of the cochlea by Fragni`ere is first analysed by simulation. This passive model is found to have the properties that the living cochlea does in terms of the frequency response. An analog VLSI circuit implementation of this cochlear model in CMOS weak inversion is proposed, using log-domain filters in current domain. It is fabricated on a chip and a measurement of a basilar membrane section is performed. The measurement shows a reasonable agreement to the model. However, the circuit is found to have a problem related to transistor mismatch, causing different behaviour in identical circuit blocks. An active cochlear model is proposed to overcome this problem. The model incorporates the effect of the outer hair cells in the living cochlea, which controls the quality factor of the basilar membrane filters. The outer hair cells are incorporated as an extra voltage source in series with the basilar membrane resonator. Its value saturates as the input signal becomes larger, making the behaviour rather closer to that of a passive model. The simulation results show this nonlinear phenomenon, which is also seen in the living cochlea. The contribution of this thesis is summarised as follows: a) the first CMOS weak inversion current domain basilar membrane resonator is designed and fabricated, and b) the first active two-dimensional cochlear model for analog VLSI implementation is developed.
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Jonker, Liezl. "Resilience factors in families living with a member with a mental disorder." Thesis, Link to online version, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/10019/556.
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Brite, Brooke M. "How the death of a father/husband affects the mother-child rela[t]tionship." Manhattan, Kan. : Kansas State University, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/2097/556.
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Zhou, Yun. "Spin-dependent electron transport in nanomagnetic thin film devices." Thesis, University of Plymouth, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10026.1/556.
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Spin-dependent electron transport in submicron/nano sized magnetic thin film devices fabricated using the optical lithography, e-beam lithography and focused ion beam (FIB) was investigated with the primary aim to find the ballistic magnetoresistance (BMR) in thin film nanoconstrictions. All experimental results were analysed in combination with micromagnetic simulations. The magnetisation reversal processes were investigated in a submicron half-pinned NiFe stripe with a microconstriction. An asymmetric MR curve was observed, and micromagnetic simulations verified it was due to the exchange-bias on the left side, which changed the magnetic switching mechanism. The effects of different pinning sites on the magnetisation switching and domain wall displacement were studied in NiFe film and spin-valve based nanodevices. A sign of domain wall MR was seen on the transversal MR curve of the NiFe nanodevice due to the domain wall induced electron scattering. The size effect on the magnetisation switching and interlayer magnetostatic coupling was demonstrated and characterised in synthetic antiferromagnet (SAF)-pinned spin-valve nanorings. It has been clarified by micromagnetic simulations that these nanorings exhibit a double or single magnetisation switching process, which is determined by the magnetostatic coupling as a function of the ring diameter. The interlayer magnetostatic coupling was efficiently reduced in large SAF-pinned nanorings, resulting in a small shift of the minor MR curve, which is beneficial to the magnetic memory applications. In-situ MR measurements and the investigation of domain wall properties have been carried out in FIB patterned NiFe film nanoconstrictions. Spin-valve like sharp transitions were observed on the MR curves in the 80 nm/130 nm wide nanoconstriction devices. However, our analysis of the results by micromagnetic simulations and domain observations with scanning electron microscopy with polarisation analysis (SEMPA) concluded that these sharp MR transitions originated from the anisotropic magnetoresistance (AMR) effect, due to the fast magnetisation rotation in the nanoconstriction, and not from BMR. The numerical investigation has proved that a further reduction of the constriction width/length is necessary for large MR values.
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Hamilton, Morag. "Scottish country of origin : its role and value in the identities of Scottish premium/luxury brands." Thesis, Robert Gordon University, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/10059/556.
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The focus of this study is the role and function of country of origin (COO) in the creation and communication of the brand identities of Scottish premium/luxury brands. It applies the identity concept which is well developed in the branding literature to the COO literature where the focus on the consumer perspective of country image has resulted in the area of origin management being underdeveloped. Recognising the paucity of COO literature which examines the mechanisms and processes used by luxury brands to communicate COO, these are also analysed. The study uses an innovative two stage sequential mixed methods research design. In the first stage, the macro perspective is gained from the analysis of a database of companies compiled specifically for the study covering six categories of Scottish premium/luxury brands. Additionally a postal survey and analysis of company web pages gather a mix of qualitative and quantitative data to examine the role of COO. The second stage gains strategic insights from semi structured interviews with business elites achieving in depth understanding of the decision making process regarding the strategic advantages of COO in brand identities. The value of the study lies in the contribution to knowledge from frameworks which identify: the characteristics which differentiate companies within and across luxury sectors and organisational structure models which reflect the dominant ownership structures in the Scottish food and beverage, textiles/cashmere and whisky sectors; the dimensions of Scottish premium/luxury brands across a range of product categories; the motivations and drivers for adopting a COO identity; the criteria which distinguish COO brands; the COO communication process. The importance of COO as a key differentiating device which conveys competitive advantage is developed using the metaphor of COO as the anchor which locates the brand in a place which evokes symbolic, emotional and psychological associations and provides the brand with protection and security.
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Price, David John. "USE OF IN-SITU FISH POPULATIONS FOR BIOMONITORING POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYL AND METAL POLLUTION IN MODERATELY IMPACTED FRESHWATER STREAMS." UKnowledge, 2007. http://uknowledge.uky.edu/gradschool_diss/556.
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Water, sediments, floodplain soils, and fish from Big and Little Bayou creeks were assessed for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and metals in 1987-2005. The streams were impacted by effluents from the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant (PGDP). PCBs were rarely detected in water samples. Aroclor 1248 detections in sediments and floodplains were sporadic, but 1254 and 1260 were consistent. Seasonal variations were only observed for Aroclor 1248. Detection of PCBs in floodplains indicated recent influx of contaminated sediments. Species-specific PCB residues patterns were studied for Lepomis cyanellus, L. megalotis, L. macrochirus, and Campostoma anomalum. Highest PCB concentrations were found in stoneroller minnows. PCBs decreased over time in sunfish species, but retained a baseline level. No relationships were found between sunfish age and PCB concentrations. At low PCB levels, green sunfish body burden (BB) did not correlate with lipid content. A certain PCB concentration must be exceeded before PCB BB correlates with lipid content. Stream flows differed by season, and fish PCB BB differed by season, but stream flow did not correlate with fish BB. Congener groups corresponded to Aroclor concentrations. Higher chlorinated biphenyls peaked in the spring for sport fish. PCBs remobilized in the spring resulted in higher summer BB for the stoneroller minnows, whereas sunfish eliminated PCBs by summer. This variability was due to the sunfishs ability to regulate PCBs. Metal concentrations did not display the seasonal variability evident in the PCB data. Water metals may have peaked during storm events and decreased rapidly. Water Pb increased with time, but the source could not determined. Zinc in Little Bayou creek likely originated from the PGDP. Except for Cu and Zn, stoneroller minnow metal BB decreased with time. Metal BB were used to determine bioavailable fractions. Less than half of the water column Cd, Cr, Fe, and Pb in impacted areas were bioavailable to stoneroller minnows, whereas 59% of Ag, 73% of Cu, and 64% of Zn were bioavailable. Cumulative criterion units were calculated to determine additive metal impacts, and proved useful in locating sectors with possible ecological impact. In-situ monitors proved valuable in studying PCB and metal behavior under real-world conditions.
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Chintakula, Goutam. "SCHOTTKY DIODES ON COPPER PHTHALOCYANINE NANOWIRE ARRAYS EMBEDDED IN POROUS ALUMINA TEMPLATES." UKnowledge, 2008. http://uknowledge.uky.edu/gradschool_theses/556.
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Vertically aligned nanowire arrays of copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) and CuPc-Al Schottky diodes, of controllable diameter and length were fabricated by cathodic electrodeposition of CuPc into anodized alumina (AAO) templates, followed by annealing at 300 ºC in Argon. AAO over Aluminum tape and that over ITO-glass were both used as starting templates for the device fabrication. Depending on the dimensions of the starting AAO template, diameters of CuPc nanowires ranged from 30 nm to 40 nm and the lengths ranged from 500 nm to 1 μm. The temperature dependence of the phase and the absorption spectrum of the nanowires are reported. The electrodeposited nanowires (as prepared) had the preferred crystallite orientation of the α-phase. ITO formed the ohmic contact and Schottky contacts were formed between CuPc and aluminum. Insertion of a thin layer of PEDOT:PSS between CuPc nanowires and the ITO electrode improved the contact and reduced the series resistance by an order of magnitude. Schottky diodes were characterized and analyzed at room temperature and at cryogenic temperatures.
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Lieuw, Iris. "Time Frequency Analysis of Neural Oscillations in Multi-Attribute Decision-Making." Scholarship @ Claremont, 2015. http://scholarship.claremont.edu/scripps_theses/556.
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In our daily lives, we often make decisions that require the use of self-control, weighing trade-offs between various attributes: for example, selecting a food based on its health rather than its taste. Previous research suggests that re-weighting attributes may rely on selective attention, associated with decreased neural oscillations over posterior brain regions in the alpha (8-12 Hz) frequency range. Here, we utilized the high temporal resolution and whole-brain coverage of electroencephalography (EEG) to test this hypothesis in data collected from hungry human subjects exercising dietary self-control. Prior analysis of this data has found time-locked neural activity associated with each food’s perceived taste and health properties from approximately 400 to 650 ms after stimulus onset (Harris et al., 2013). We conducted time-frequency analyses to examine the role of alpha-band oscillations in this attribute weighting. Specifically, we predicted that there would be decreased alpha power in posterior electrodes beginning approximately 400 ms after stimulus onset for the presentation of healthy food relative to unhealthy food, reflecting shifts in selective attention. Consistent with this hypothesis, we found a significant decrease in alpha power for presentations of healthy relative to unhealthy foods. As predicted, this effect was most pronounced at posterior occipital and parietal electrodes and was significant from approximately 450 to 700 ms post-stimulus onset. Additionally, we found significant alpha-band decreases in right temporal electrodes during these times. These results extend previous attention research to multi-attribute choice, suggesting that the re-weighting of attributes can be measured neuro-computationally.
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Lauwers, Tom. "Aligning Capabilities of Interactive Educational Tools to Learner Goals." Research Showcase @ CMU, 2010. http://repository.cmu.edu/dissertations/556.
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This thesis is about a design process for creating educationally relevant tools. I submit that the key to creating tools that are educationally relevant is to focus on ensuring a high degree of alignment between the designed tool and the broader educational context into which the tool will be integrated. The thesis presents methods and processes for creating a tool that is both well aligned and relevant.
The design domain of the thesis is described by a set of tools I refer to as “Configurable Embodied Interfaces”. Configurable embodied interfaces have a number of key features, they: Can sense their local surroundings through the detection of such environmental and physical parameters as light, sound, imagery, device acceleration, etc. Act on their local environment by outputting sound, light, imagery, motion of the device, etc. Are configurable in such a way as to link these inputs and outputs in a nearly unlimited number of ways. Contain active ways for users to either directly create new programs linking input and output, or to easily re-configure them by running different programs on them. Are user focused; they assume that a human being is manipulating them in some way, through affecting input and observing output of the interface.
Spurred by the growth of cheap computation and sensing, a large number of educational programs have been built around use of configurable embodied interfaces in the last three decades. These programs exist in both formal and informal educational settings and are in use from early childhood through adult and community education. Typically, configurable embodied interfaces are used as tools in three major and sometimes overlapping areas: computer Science education, creative and engineering design education, and traditional science and math education.
This work details three examples of collaborations between technologists and educators that led to the creation of educationally successful tools; these three examples share a focus on creating a configurable embodied interface to tackle a specific cognitive and affective set of learning goals, but differ completely in the location of the learning environment, the age and interests of the learners, and the nature of the learning goals. Through the exploration of the methods used, an analysis of the general and context-specific features of the design processes of the three accounts, and a comparison of the process used in this thesis to a conventional engineering design process, this work provides case studies and a set of guidelines that can inform technologists interested in designing educationally relevant embodied interfaces
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Laureano, Cynthia Marisa da Silva. "The evaluation of a premarital enrichment programme for second marriages / Cynthia Laurean." Thesis, North-West University, 2004. http://hdl.handle.net/10394/556.
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The aim of the research was to evaluate the premarital enrichment programme designed by
Pretorius (1997) for couples who wish to remarry. The study was motivated by literature, which
shows a high likelihood of divorce among divorcees who remarry. Three interested couples
responded to advertisements placed in a local Potchefstroom newspaper and announcements
made in churches. A qualitative (case study method) research design was used. The programme
consisted of six two-hour sessions. The programme was conducted over two weekends. The first
three sessions were held with all three couples and the last three sessions with each couple
separately due to conflicting schedules. The effect of the programme was assessed by five
measuring instruments, participants' metaphoric drawings of their relationships, semi-structured
interviews, and the researcher's observations of the interaction between the participants. The
assessment took place a week before and four weeks after the programme presentation. The
results obtained indicated that two of the couples experienced changes whilst the other couple
experienced minimal change. The change that occurred in the two couples were with regards to
their communication and conflict management, their implementation of boundaries, intimacy,
security in their relationship, growth, and dyadic adjustment. It was concluded that the premarital
enrichment programme prepared two couples for remarriage, specifically with regards to their
adjustment in the relationship.Thesis (M.A. (Clinical Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2005.
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Hardcastle, David Mark. "Multidimensional continued fractions : ergodic properties and strong convergence." Thesis, Heriot-Watt University, 2000. http://hdl.handle.net/10399/556.
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Michel, Torsten. "Shrouded in darkness : a phenomenological path towards a new social ontology in international relations." Thesis, St Andrews, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/10023/556.
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Oler, Jennifer S. "The Effect of Religiosity and Spirituality on Work Practices and Trust Levels in Managers and their Subordinates in Food and Nutrition Care Departments." BYU ScholarsArchive, 2004. https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/556.
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The purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which religiosity and spirituality affected daily work practices and leader/follower trust levels in foodservice and nutrition directors and their subordinates. A similar 72-item survey questionnaire was developed for both the directors and employees, which was completed by 129 directors and 530 employees. Both questionnaires contained questions on demographics, religious influences on work practices, trust characteristics, and three validated measures of religiosity: 1) worship service attendance (1=Religiosity Score), 2) influence of spiritual beliefs on daily life, and 3) frequency of prayer (2 + 3=Spirituality Score). Frequency data was gathered for all questions. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Pearson's Correlation were used to assess the relationship of directors' and employees' Religiosity and Spirituality Scores compared to their daily work practices and trust levels. Two-sample t-tests evaluated differences in directors' and employees' perceived trust levels toward each other. Most directors and employees were women and Caucasian. Most of the directors and employees had earned a Master's degree and bachelor's degree, respectively. The religion most frequently reported was Protestant. Data analysis of the Religiosity and Spirituality Scores and demographics showed some differences in ethnic group, gender, age, and education level, although there was no consistently identified trend. Well over one-third of directors (40.3%) and employees (36.3%) attended worship services at least four times the previous month. The more directors and employees attended worship services, the more likely they were to demonstrate specific spiritual actions and attitudes at work. Generally, religiosity and spirituality did not appear to influence perceived trustworthiness in directors and employees. However, both directors and employees were rated as being highly trustworthy by their counterpart(s). Directors and employees tend to over-rate their own trustworthiness when compared to ratings by the opposite discipline. Degree of religiosity and spirituality did not consistently affect the way directors and employees rated each others' trustworthiness though it was related to how they perceived their own trustworthiness. Directors expected that their employees were more committed to their jobs than they actually were.
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Земцов, В. Н. "Великая армия Наполеона в Бородинском сражении : Автореф. дис. ... д-ра ист. наук: 07.00.03." Thesis, Изд-во Урал. пед. ун-та, 2002. http://hdl.handle.net/10995/556.
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O'Connell, Ryan M. "Construction of an ABF-1 inducible expression cell line utilized to conduct a microarray analysis." Scholarly Commons, 2001. https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/uop_etds/556.
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ABF-1 is a human class ll basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor that is expressed predominately in EBV immortalized and activated B lymphocytes. A human cell line was stably transfected with a tetracycline regulated ABF-1 expression vector. The cell line revealed tight regulation of ABF-1 expression following stable incorporation of the vector into the genomic DNA. Upon induction of ABF-1 expression, the cell line exhibited a dramatic growth rate decrease. In order to monitor genes regulated by ABF-1, cells were collected both before and after induced ABF-1 expression and subjected to a microarray analysis. Early interpretations of the microarray data support the findings that ABF-1 may be regulating gene expression in a manner that facilitates withdrawal from the cell cycle.
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Bushnaq, Taqwa Abdulraheem. "Diet and lifestyle factors associated with vitamin D status in healthy women living in the United Kingdom and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia." Thesis, Manchester Metropolitan University, 2016. http://e-space.mmu.ac.uk/556/.
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Background: Vitamin D is integral to bone health and skeletal growth. There is now growing evidence that vitamin D deficiency is one of the most common diseases worldwide, not only in countries with limited sunshine, such as the United Kingdom (UK) but also in countries with substantial sunshine, such as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Aims: The aim of the research was to study vitamin D intake and lifestyle factors that may affect vitamin D production in women adopting different clothing styles within two countries, Saudi women in the KSA, as well as the UK covered (UKc) and the UK uncovered (UKun) women. Methods: The study methods were designed to collect participants’ dietary vitamin D intake, sun exposure routine, other influential lifestyle factors, and vitamin D status. Participants were asked to complete, a vitamin D questionnaire (which included: demographic information, food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and sun-exposure questionnaire), a 3-day food diary, and a blood sample was taken. A total of 192 participants were recruited and of these 145 completed the vitamin D questionnaire. The 3-day food diary were completed by 57 women, and 79 women gave a blood sample. Data were explained as mean±standard-deviations or percentage(frequency). Statistical test including ANOVA and Chi-square was used to determine differences between groups. Regression modelling was used to determine predictors of doctor-diagnosed vitamin D deficiency. Results: The FFQ estimation of dietary vitamin D intake was 3.6±3µg/day, 9.2±11µg/day, and 8.6±6.5µg/day, for the KSA, the UKc and the UKun group respectively (p˂0.01). The 3-day food diary estimation of dietary vitamin D intake was 1.4±1.3µg/day, 1.0±1.0µg/day, 3.3±3.2µg/day, for the KSA, the UKc and the UKun group respectively (p=0.03). Bland-Altman plot showed the two methods had low agreement, mean difference -3.93µg. The sun-exposure assessment at peak-time was 2.3±2.8hour/day, 3.0±2.4hour/day, 1.2±1.4 hour/day for the KSA, the UKc and the UKun group respectively (p˂0.01). Whereas, assessment of fractions of exposed body surface area (BSA) at peak-time was 0.11±0.04, 0.09±0.03, 0.14±0.09 for the KSA, the UKc and the UKun group respectively (p˂0.01). The reported data of vitamin D status showed that previous diagnoses of vitamin D deficiency reported by 28.3%(n=41) of the participants, KSA 8.3%(n=12), UKc 17.9%(n=26) and UKun 2.1%(n=3). The collected blood samples showed that 79%(n=15) of the KSA group had vitamin D deficiency, with average level 7.53±6.91ng/ml. However, vitamin D level of the UK groups could not be obtained. Logistic regression modelling identified that supplements use and reasons for supplementation, log of average BSA exposed at peak hours and residency were predictors of being diagnosed with vitamin D deficiency of the total population (n=192). Conclusion: Dietary vitamin D intake was very low for all the study groups regardless of residency. Sun-exposure habits varied between the group and this was most significant factor in previously diagnosed vitamin D deficiency. It may be difficult to change sun-exposure habits due to cultural or religious reasons and therefore dietary factors need to be studied to identify alternatives to sun-exposure in those who do not wish to expose their skin.
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Sawula, Christopher Paul. ""The Hidden Springs of Prejudice and Oppression": Slavery and Abolitionism in Connecticut." Thesis, Boston College, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/2345/556.
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Thesis advisor: Cynthia L. LyerlyExamines the rise and fall of slavery in Connecticut from the American Revolution to the state's 1848 law abolishing slavery. Also explores the racism present among the state's abolitionists and general populace that differentiated it from surrounding New England states. Explains the distinct nature of Connecticut abolitionism when compared to the national organization
Thesis (BA) — Boston College, 2008
Submitted to: Boston College. College of Arts and Sciences
Discipline: History
Discipline: History Honors Program
Discipline: College Honors Program
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Limón, Diana M. "Designing and Implementing an Inclusive Small School : A Case Study of Transformational Leadership." Digital Commons at Loyola Marymount University and Loyola Law School, 2007. https://digitalcommons.lmu.edu/etd/556.
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Children with specific learning disabilities (SLDs) are often placed in a separate and unequal learning environment in public schools. Although federal legislation governing children with SLDs requires they receive their education in the least restrictive environment (LRE), which is the general education setting, many are placed in other settings, including Special Day Class (SDC) and the Resource Specialist Program (RSP). Leaders are critical to the process of designing and implementing a school culture inclusive of students with SLDs, yet few are prepared for the responsibility. A school that affords students the opportunity to learn about and practice respect, diversity, and the democratic process is made possible through a leader who makes decisions based on what is best for the children, knowing that separate educational systems for children with is unjust. Based on a review of literature of (a) leading based on the characteristics of transformational leadership, (b) managing change, (c) having an awareness and understanding of the regulations governing special education, and (d) designing and implementing new structures, the following three questions gave purpose to this study: .What organizational processes are essential for the design and implementation of an inclusive Small School? .What leadership knowledge and beliefs are essential for the design and implementation of an inclusive Small School? .What leadership practices and behaviors are essential for the design and implementation of an inclusive Small School?
Qualitative methodology, including interviews, observations, and document review, were used to gather information to respond to the questions.
The premise of this case study is that a leader who embodies the characteristics of a transformational leader can design and implement an inclusive Small School, as it has the capacity to provide the structure for the inclusion of children with SLDs and their non-disabled peers. A triangulation of qualitative data was conducted, which included (a) interviews with the school leader and small groups of additional stakeholders; (b) observations of the leader in various settings with multiple stakeholders; and (c) document review of public and personal records.
The data yielded six primary findings in response to the three questions that flamed this case study. In response to the first question, which addressed the organizational processes essential for the design and implementation of an inclusive Small School, restructuring provided an opportunity for creativity and was the essential finding of the organizational processes. The second question, which explored the leadership knowledge and beliefs essential for the design and implementation of an inclusive Small School, yielded several findings, including (1) knowledge of the characteristics of an inclusive school culture, (2) belief in the value of building and maintaining relationships, (3) belief in shared decision making, and (4) knowledge of how to create a safe learning environment. The final question, which examined the leadership practices and behaviors essential for the design and implementation of an inclusive Small School, provided one primary finding, to maintain the focus on students and their needs.
The information gathered from this study contributes to the limited literature on the role of the leader in designing and implementing an inclusive Small School at the middle school level.
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Floyd, Shelley Ann. "Neuropsychological, Cognitive and Physiological Implications of Barefoot Running on Working Memory." UNF Digital Commons, 2015. http://digitalcommons.unf.edu/etd/556.
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The aim of the present study was to compare the effects of barefoot versus shod running on working memory. I recruited exercise science students from the University of North Florida who exercised recreationally. Participants ran both barefoot and shod while hitting targets (poker chips) on a running track and without targets. I measured working memory using backward digit recall and also recorded participants’ heart rate, speed, and target accuracy. The main finding from this study was that working memory performance increased in the barefoot condition when participants hit targets (poker chips). This result supports the idea that additional attention is needed when running barefoot to avoid stepping on objects that could potentially cause harm to the foot. Significant increases in participant’s heart rate were also found in the barefoot condition but not in the shod condition. No significant differences found in participants’ speed in the barefoot or shod condition, nor were there any in the target or no target condition. Together, these findings suggest that individuals working memory increases after at least sixteen minutes of barefoot running if they have to look at the ground to avoid objects that may cause harm to their feet. Barefoot running may help individuals of all ages; from delaying the onset of cognitive deterioration in the elderly, obesity prevention for individuals of all ages, to providing a boost in cognitive performance for children who are behind their peers in school.
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Martinez, Vilarino Sofia. "Thermal and transport properties of layered silicate nanomaterials subjected to extreme thermal cycling." ScholarWorks@UNO, 2007. http://scholarworks.uno.edu/td/556.
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There is a raising need to design a safe and efficient cryogenic fuel tank for the new generation of reusable launch vehicles. The new tank design focuses on composite materials that can achieve the drastic reduction of empty/non-payload and structural weight. In addition to the materials to be compatible with cryogenic temperatures, interior components of the vehicle may be subjected to significantly elevated temperatures due to heat conduction from the vehicle surfaces during and after atmospheric re-entry. Therefore, there is the need to understand the performance of the composites after experiencing extreme thermal environments. Polymer-layered nanocomposites were studied to determine if they can reduce the permeation to the liquid nitrogen used as fuel in the next generation of space vehicles. Due to the non-permeable nature of the silicates and the exfoliated structure they adopt into the polymer matrix the addition of nanoclays into a polymer is expected to reduce the permeation to several gases without sacrificing the mechanical strength of the nanocomposite as well as providing additional improvements such as increase of thermal stability of the nanocomposite. Several types of matrixes modified with different types and content of nanoclays were tested and their permeability coefficient was calculated. The permeability values obtained for the different formulations assisted to understand the transport properties of nanoclay modified composites. In addition to this, thermal characterization was performed with the help of dynamic mechanical analysis, thermogravimetric analyses and differential scanning calorimetry studies. To determine if the nanoclay modified nanocomposites were affected by extreme temperatures the samples were subjected to thermal cycling. Comparison of the transport and thermal properties before and after cycling helped to analyze the effect of the addition of the nanoclays in the nanocomposites. Positron annihilation spectroscopy (PAS) was utilized to comprehend how the distribution of the free volume was affected by the presence of the nanoclays and by the thermal cycling applied. Different permeability models were utilized in an attempt to validate the experimental results of the different nanocomposite structures. This analysis was used to provide additional insight into many aspects of the experimental results obtained in this study.
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Hennenfent, Gilles, and Felix J. Herrmann. "Random sampling: new insights into the reconstruction of coarsely-sampled wavefields." Society of Exploration Geophysicists, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/2429/556.
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In this paper, we turn the interpolation problem of
coarsely-sampled data into a denoising problem. From
this point of view, we illustrate the benefit of random
sampling at sub-Nyquist rate over regular sampling at
the same rate. We show that, using nonlinear sparsity promoting
optimization, coarse random sampling may
actually lead to significantly better wavefield reconstruction
than equivalent regularly sampled data.
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COSTA, Rafael Gomes da. "Sistema de auxílio para o direcionamento da atenção no diagnóstico de acidentes em usinas nucleares baseado em inteligência artificial." reponame:Repositório Institucional do IEN, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/ien/556.
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A identificação de transientes numa central nuclear é freqüentemente uma tarefa muito difícil e, normalmente, depende, basicamente, da cognição humana. A identificação precoce dos desvios inesperados nos comportamentos com estado estacionário é um passo essencial para a operação, controle e gestão de acidentes em centrais nucleares. As bases para a identificação estão na percepção de que diferentes falhas e anomalias no sistema conduzem a distintos padrões evolutivos nas variáveis envolvidas no processo. Durante um evento anormal, o operador deve controlar uma grande quantidade de informação a partir dos instrumentos, próprios a cada tipo específico de evento. Contudo, diversos modelos baseados em sistemas especialistas, redes neurais e lógica fuzzy estão sendo desenvolvidos para a identificação de transientes. No presente trabalho, a investigação centra-se na possibilidade de se utilizar uma ferramenta de modelagem Neuro-Fuzzy para uma eficiente identificação de transientes, com o objetivo de auxiliar o operador a tomar decisões em relação ao procedimento a ser seguido em situações de acidentes / transientes em centrais nucleares. O sistema proposto utiliza redes neurais artificiais (RNA), como primeiro nível de diagnóstico. A partir da identificação de transientes preliminar desenvolvida pela RNA, o sistema de lógica fuzzy analisa os resultados, emitindo importante grau de confiabilidade. Uma avaliação preliminar do sistema desenvolvido foi feita no Laboratório de Interface Homem-Sistema (LABIHS).
Transient identification in Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) is often a very hard task and may involve a great amount of human cognition. The early identification of unexpected departures from steady state behavior is an essential step for the operation, control and accident management in NPPs. The bases for the transient identification relay on the evidence that different system faults and anomalies lead to different pattern evolution in the involved process variables. During an abnormal event, the operator must monitor a great amount of information from the instruments that represents a specific type of event. Several systems based on specialist systems, neural-networks, and fuzzy logic have been developed for transient identification. In the work, we investigate the possibility of using a Neuro-Fuzzy modeling tool for efficient transient identification, aiming to helping the operator crew to take decisions relative to the procedure to be followed in situations of accidents/transients at NPPs. The proposed system uses artificial neural networks (ANN) as first level transient diagnostic. After the ANN has done the preliminary transient type identification, a fuzzy-logic system analyzes the results emitting reliability degree of it. A preliminary evaluation of the developed system was made at the Human-System Interface Laboratory (LABIHS). The obtained results show that the system can help the operators to take decisions during transients/accidents in the plant.
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Rodrigues, Luan Fernandes. "Capim Marandu submetido a doses de nitrogênio sob estratégias de manejo do pastejo." Universidade Federal do Tocantins, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/11612/556.
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Objetivou-se avaliar os efeitos do uso de duas estratégias de manejo do pastejo
com adubação nitrogenada no capim Marandu, buscando possíveis vantagens na
adoção de tais práticas no ecótono Cerrado-Amazônia. O experimento avaliou
características morfogênicas, estruturais, agronômicas e produtivas do capim
Marandu. Este fora conduzido em delineamento em blocos casualizados em
arranjo com parcelas subdivididas 4x2 com 4 blocos. Os tratamentos consistiram
de combinações entre dois períodos de descanso e quatro doses de nitrogênio,
sendo os períodos de descanso de 28 dias (PD28dias) e altura de 40 cm (PD40cm) e
as doses de nitrogênio de 0, 150, 300 e 450 kg de N.ha-1.ano-1, aplicadas na forma
de sulfato de amônio. Permitiu-se verificar através das variáveis morfogênicas e
estruturais que os melhores índices para o PD40cm foram obtidos quando houve
aplicação na faixa de 280 a 333 kg de N.ha-1, enquanto a dose de 450 kg de N.ha-
1 foi a que obteve mais resultados desejados para PD28dias. Também se verificou
que a estratégia de uso com PD40cm promoveu a redução de respostas em
decorrência da senescência, impulsionado pelo aumento da adubação
nitrogenada, demonstrados pela redução da TSF, NFM e aumento da DVF. O uso
de altura para definir o período de descanso possibilitou a redução do intervalo de
dia para a entrada dos animais para alimentação quando houve uma aplicação
maior de nitrogênio. A altura de 40 cm mostrou-se que pode ser acima do ponto
ideal para coleta do capim Marandu, sendo recomendado avaliações com alturas
menores para ecótono Cerrado-Amazônia.This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the use of two grazing management strategies with nitrogen fertilization in Marandu grass, looking for possible advantages in adopting such practices in ecotone Cerrado-Amazon. The experiment evaluated morphogenesis, structural, agronomic and productive Marandu grass. This was conducted in a randomized block design in a split plot arrangement with 4x2 with 4 blocks. The treatments consisted of combinations between two rest periods and four doses of nitrogen, with rest periods of 28 days (PD28days) and height of 40 cm (PD40cm) and nitrogen doses of 0, 150, 300 and 450 kg N.ha-1.year-1, applied in the form of ammonium sulfate. Allowed to check through the morphogenetic and structural variables that the best rates for PD40cm were obtained when there was application in the range 280-333 kg N.ha-1, while the dose of 450 kg N.ha-1 was which obtained more desired results for PD28days. It was also found that the use of strategy PD40cm promoted the reduction of responses because of senescence, driven by increased nitrogen fertilization, demonstrated by the reduction of TSF, NFM and increased DVF. The use of height to set the rest period has reduced the day interval for the entry of animals for food when there was a greater application of nitrogen. The height of 40 cm was shown to be above the ideal point for collecting Marandu grass is recommended ratings with lower heights to ecotone Cerrado-Amazon.
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Mezzomo, Luis André Mendonça. "Preservação do rebordo alveolar: ensaio clínico randomizado e revisão sistemática da literatura." Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/10923/556.
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license.txt: 581 bytes, checksum: 44ea52f0b7567232681c6e3d72285adc (MD5)Several techniques and materials have been suggested for the preservation of the alveolar ridge (ARP) following tooth extraction and prior to implant placement. This study, which is composed by two manuscripts, aimed to evaluate, through a randomized clinical trial, the radiographical bone changes following ARP with two different biomaterials and, through a systematic review of the literature, the evidences of the effect of this procedure following tooth extraction and whether it allows implant placement (with or without further augmentation). In the first paper, alveolar ridge preservation was performed in 27 patients randomized in 2 groups. Synthetic bone substitute (SBS) or a bovine-derived xenograft (BDX), both with a collagen barrier membrane (Bio-Gide®), have been used in the test and control groups, respectively. Standardised periapical x-rays were taken at regular time intervals from baseline (BL) to 8 months (8M). The levels of the alveolar bone crest at the mesial (Mbh), distal (Dbh) and central aspects (Cbh) of the socket were measured at all time points and compared to intrasurgical measurements. All the obtained radiographs were subtracted from the follow-up images.The gain, loss and unchanged areas in terms of grey values were tested for significant difference between the two groups. In the second chapter, both electronic and hand search looked for references that met specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. Two reviewers performed calibrated and independent screening, whereas a third reviewer was consulted for any disagreement. Randomized clinical trials, controlled clinical trials and prospective studies with a minimum of five patients and an unassisted socket healing as a control were included. The experimental clinical study showed that, between BL-8M, the Mbh and Dbh showed mean differences of 0. 9 ± 1. 2 mm and 0. 7 ± 1. 8mm, and 0. 4 ± 1. 3 mm and 0. 7 ± 1. 3mm, in the test and control groups, respectively (P>0. 05). Both treatments presented similar gain in grey values between the time intervals. The SBS presented less loss in grey values between BL-4M and BL-8M (P<0. 05). Radiographic assessment underestimated the intrasurgical measurements (mesial and distal) of an average 0. 3mm (95% CI, 0. 02-0. 6). Many different techniques, materials and methodologies were presented in the fourteen publications reviewed, making direct comparisons difficult. The radiographic findings of the randomized clinical trial showed that both types of bone grafts were efficient in preserving the dimensions of the alveolar ridge following tooth extraction, nevertheless any of them presented superiority in terms of radiographic alveolar bone changes from baseline to 8 months.The findings of the systematic review of the literature corroborated some of the preliminary findings of the clinical study and showed that, despite the heterogeneity of the studies, there is evidence that ridge preservation procedures are effective in limiting post extraction ridge dimensional loss and are accompanied by a different degree of bone regeneration, with varying amounts of residual particles of the “grafting materials”. However, the exposure of membranes with GTR procedures may compromise the results. There is no evidence to support the superiority of one technique over the other as well as the importance of ridge preservation in improving the ability of placing implants, implant survival/ success rate, aesthetics, treatment economy, timing or patient satisfaction.
Várias técnicas e materiais têm sido sugeridos para a preservação do rebordo alveolar (PRA) após a extração dentária e antes da colocação do implante. Este estudo, o qual é composto por dois manuscritos, buscou avaliar, através de um ensaio clínico randomizado, as alterações ósseas radiográficas após a PRA com dois diferentes biomateriais e, através de uma revisão sistemática da literatura, as evidências do efeito deste procedimento após a extração dentária e se ele permite a colocação do implante (com ou sem enxerto adicional). No primeiro capítulo, a preservação do rebordo alveolar foi realizada em 27 pacientes divididos em 2 grupos. Um substituto ósseo sintético (SOS) ou um xenoenxerto derivado de bovinos (XDB), ambos com uma membrana de colágeno como barreira (Bio-Gide®), foram utilizados nos grupos teste e controle, respectivamente. Radiografias periapicais padronizadas foram tiradas em intervalos regulares de tempo, do tempo inicial (TI) aos 8 meses (8M). Os níveis da crista óssea alveolar nos aspectos mesial (Mav), distal (Dav) e central (Cav) do alvéolo foram medidas em todos os intervalos de tempo e comparados às medições intra-cirúrgicas. Todas as radiografias obtidas foram subtraídas das imagens de acompanhamento. As áreas de ganho, de perda ou inalteradas em termos de níveis de cinza foram testadas para diferença significativa entre os dois grupos. No segundo capítulo, ambas pesquisas eletrônica e manual procuraram por referências que atenderam a critérios específicos de inclusão e exclusão. Dois revisores realizaram uma triagem calibrada e independente, enquanto que um terceiro revisor foi consultado em caso de discordâncias. Ensaios clínicos randomizados, ensaios clínicos controlados e estudos prospectivos com um mínimo de cinco pacientes e a cicatrização natural do alvéolo como controle foram incluídos.O estudo clínico experimental revelou que, entre TI-8M, a Mav e Dav mostraram diferenças médias de 0,9 ± 1,2 mm e 0,7 ± 1,8mm, e 0,4 ± 1,3 mm e 0,7 ± 1,3mm, nos grupos teste e controle, respectivamente (P>0. 05). Ambos os tratamentos mostraram ganhos similares em níveis de cinza entre os intervalos de tempo. O SOS mostrou menos perda nos níveis de cinza entre TI-4M e TI-8M (P<0. 05). A avaliação radiográfica subestimou as medições intra-cirúrgicas (mesial e distal) em 0,3mm na média (95% IC, 0,02-0,6). Muitas técnicas, materiais e metodologias diferentes foram apresentadas nas quatorze publicações revisadas, tornando as comparações diretas difíceis. Os achados radiográficos do ensaio clínico randomizado mostraram que ambos os tipos de enxerto ósseo foram eficientes na preservação das dimensões do rebordo alveolar após a extração dentária, porém nenhum deles mostrou superioridade em termos de alterações radiográficas do osso alveolar do tempo inicial aos 8 meses. Os resultados da revisão sistemática da literatura corroboraram alguns dos achados 13 preliminares do estudo clínico e mostraram que, apesar da heterogeneidade dos estudos, há evidência que os procedimentos de preservação do rebordo são eficazes na limitação da perda dimensional do rebordo pós-extração e são acompanhados por um grau diferente de regeneração óssea, com variadas quantidades de partículas residuais dos “materiais de enxerto”. Entretanto, a exposição de membranas nos procedimentos de regeneração óssea guiada pode comprometer os resultados. Não há evidência para sustentar a superioridade de uma técnica sobre a outra assim como a importância da preservação do rebordo em melhorar a possibilidade de colocar implantes, as taxas de sucesso/ sobrevivência dos implantes, estética, economia do tratamento, tempo de tratamento e satisfação do paciente.
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Filion, Potts Tera M. "Biomimetic Synthetic Tissue Scaffolds for Bone Regeneration: A Dissertation." eScholarship@UMMS, 2011. https://escholarship.umassmed.edu/gsbs_diss/556.
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Injury to bone is one of the most prevalent and costly medical conditions. Clinical treatment of volumetric bone loss or hard-to-heal bony lesions often requires the use of proper bone grafting materials, with or without adjuvant anabolic therapeutics. Despite significant problems associated with autografting (donor site morbidity, limited supplies) and allografting (disease transmissions, high graft failure rates) procedures, synthetic bone grafts remain the least utilized clinically. Existing synthetic orthopaedic biomaterials rarely possess a combination of bone-like structural and biochemical properties required for robust osteointegration, scalable and user-friendly characteristics indispensable for successful clinical translations. This thesis tests the hypothesis that by recapitulating key structural elements and biochemical components of bone in 3- and 2-dimensional biomaterials, scalable synthetic bone grafts can be designed to enable expedited healing of hard-to-heal volumetric bone loss. Specifically, FlexBone, a 3-dimensional hydrogel scaffold encapsulating 50 wt% of structurally well integrated nanocrylstalline hydroxyapatite, the main inorganic component of bone, was developed. The large surface area of nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite combined with its intrinsic affinity to proteins and its excellent structural integration with the hydrogel matrix enabled FlexBone to both sequester endogenous protein signals upon press-fitting into an area of skeletal defect and to deliver exogenous protein therapeutics in a localized and sustained manner. We demonstrated that FlexBone enabled the functional healing of critical-size long bone defects in rats in 8 – 12 weeks with the addition of a very low dose of osteogenic growth factor BMP-2/7. This promising synthetic bone graft is now being explored for the delivery of multiple growth factors to expedite the healing of diabetic bony lesions. In addition, a 2-dimensional electrospun cellulose fibrous mesh was chemically modified with sulfate residues to mimic sulfated polysaccharide ECM components of skeletal tissues to enabled progenitor cell attachment and differentiation as well as controlled retention and localized/sustained delivery of protein therapeutics. This sulfated fibrous mesh is currently explored as synthetic periosteum to augment the osteointegration of devitalized structural allografts. Finally, a rat subcutaneous implantation model developed to examine the biocompatibility of newly developed biodegradable shape memory polymer bone substitutes is also presented.
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Yang, Baoyao. "Distribution alignment for unsupervised domain adaptation: cross-domain feature learning and synthesis." HKBU Institutional Repository, 2018. https://repository.hkbu.edu.hk/etd_oa/556.
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In recent years, many machine learning algorithms have been developed and widely applied in various applications. However, most of them have considered the data distributions of the training and test datasets to be similar. This thesis concerns on the decrease of generalization ability in a test dataset when the data distribution is different from that of the training dataset. As labels may be unavailable in the test dataset in practical applications, we follow the effective approach of unsupervised domain adaptation and propose distribution alignment methods to improve the generalization ability of models learned from the training dataset in the test dataset. To solve the problem of joint distribution alignment without target labels, we propose a new criterion of domain-shared group sparsity that is an equivalent condition for equal conditional distribution. A domain-shared group-sparse dictionary learning model is built with the proposed criterion, and a cross-domain label propagation method is developed to learn a target-domain classifier using the domain-shared group-sparse representations and the target-specific information from the target data. Experimental results show that the proposed method achieves good performance on cross-domain face and object recognition. Moreover, most distribution alignment methods have not considered the difference in distribution structures, which results in insufficient alignment across domains. Therefore, a novel graph alignment method is proposed, which aligns both data representations and distribution structural information across the source and target domains. An adversarial network is developed for graph alignment by mapping both source and target data to a feature space where the data are distributed with unified structure criteria. Promising results have been obtained in the experiments on cross-dataset digit and object recognition. Problem of dataset bias also exists in human pose estimation across datasets with different image qualities. Thus, this thesis proposes to synthesize target body parts for cross-domain distribution alignment, to address the problem of cross-quality pose estimation. A translative dictionary is learned to associate the source and target domains, and a cross-quality adaptation model is developed to refine the source pose estimator using the synthesized target body parts. We perform cross-quality experiments on three datasets with different image quality using two state-of-the-art pose estimators, and compare the proposed method with five unsupervised domain adaptation methods. Our experimental results show that the proposed method outperforms not only the source pose estimators, but also other unsupervised domain adaptation methods.
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Palmer, II Bedford Eugene Frank. "INTEGRATING AFRICAN-CENTERED WORLDVIEW AND ACCULTURATION AS PREDICTORS OF POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGICAL OUTCOMES IN AFRICAN AMERICANS." OpenSIUC, 2012. https://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/dissertations/556.
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The purpose of this study was to examine potential relationships between African-centered cultural factors and psychological outcomes in adults who are of African descent. Current literature was reviewed in order to provide an understanding of the development and conceptualization of African-centered theories of worldview and acculturation as cultural constructs. Four hypotheses were tested, 1a) greater African-centered worldview is expected to be associated with higher self-esteem, and 1b) lower psychological distress, 2a) relationships between African-centered worldview and self-esteem, and 2b) African-centered worldview and psychological distress would be moderated by acculturative strategy. Survey packets containing the Worldview Analysis Scale (Obasi et al., 2009), the Measurement of Acculturation Strategies for People of African Descent scale (Obasi & Leong, 2010), the Outcome Questionnaire (OQ-45; Lambert et al., 2004) and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSE; Rosenberg, 1965), were given to 99 participants in a community sample of people of African descent. Two hierarchal regressions were used to calculate the associations. Significant relationships were found between African-centered worldview and self-esteem, as well as African-centered worldview and psychological distress. Insufficient statistical power may have contributed to the inability to identify a moderator effect for acculturation strategy. Results were discussed in relation to building strength based cultural approaches to psychological theory, research, and practice.
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Wang, Qiang. "PHYTOTOXICITY OF SILVER NANOPARTICLES TO ARABIDOPSIS THALIANA IN HYDROPONIC AND SOIL SYSTEMS." OpenSIUC, 2011. https://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/theses/556.
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With the recent development of nanotechnology, there has been increased production of engineered nanomaterials but limited containment strategies, resulting in inevitable release of a large amount of engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) in the environment. Many ENPs have potential adverse impacts on the environment, and one of the most commonly used ENPs, silver nanoparticle (AgNP), has attracted increased global concern. The current study focused on phytotoxicity of AgNPs to a model plant, Arabidopsis thaliana. Silver nanoparticles were introduced into the growth medium for the wild type A. thaliana plants and root uptake and translocation of AgNPs were examined in hydroponic growth condition. We also conducted growth stage based phenotypic analysis by growing A. thaliana throughout its life cycle in soil. The result indicated that: (1) wild type seeds germination was not affected by either AgNPs or their dissolved Ag+ ions; (2) AgNPs exposure resulted in a concentration- and size- dependent inhibition effect to the root elongation; (3) confocal and electron microscopy indicated that AgNPs could be taken up by seedling roots, yet most of AgNPs attached to the surface of seedling root cap; (4) AgNPs and their dissolved Ag+ ions at tested concentrations had little influence on the vegetative growth of A. thaliana, but they accelerated the floral development; and (5) the effect on the floral development stage reduced the quality of second-generation (F1) seeds, as indicated by their lower germination rate. In conclusion, AgNPs displayed both acute and chronic phytotoxicity to A. thaliana.
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Oliveira, Eduardo Marques e. Silva Rocha de. "Efeito da lixiviação pela água da chuva sobre a composição da biomassa de arbustos recolhidos na floresta na região Litoral-Centro." Master's thesis, Universidade de Aveiro, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/10773/556.
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Mestrado em 2º Ciclo em Engenharia do AmbienteA biomassa florestal é um recurso com enormes potencialidades enquanto fonte energética renovável, alternativa ao uso de combustíveis fósseis. A floresta portuguesa encontra-se repleta de espécies arbustivas como consequência da sua má gestão. O tojo, e em particular as espécies Ulex europaeus e Ulex micranthus, apresentam uma densidade de biomassa significativa da região Litoral-Centro, que permite considerar o seu aproveitamento energético. Este trabalho pretende caracterizar o teor em elementos voláteis e nutrientes destas espécies, em paralelo com a avaliação do efeito da lixiviação pela água da chuva, em condições controladas, sobre a composição da biomassa com vista à produção de um biocombustível. Ao longo da realização deste trabalho, foi possível verificar a mobilidade de alguns elementos causada pela precipitação, o que permite reduzir os impactos ambientais associados ao aproveitamento deste tipo de vegetação como combustível. Verificou-se que é possível remover da biomassa quantidades consideráveis de elementos, como o potássio (84 % ), cloreto (87 %), fósforo (45 %) e sódio (56 %), o que pode representar melhoria ao nível da optimização dos processos de combustão, na minimização da formação de compostos corrosivos e de gases nocivos ou tóxicos, resultantes da utilização de biomassa como combustível. Para tal, foi necessário realizar pesquisa bibliográfica para definição de métodos e protocolos que permitissem o desenvolver do trabalho experimental no campo e no laboratório. Estabeleceu-se o enquadramento nacional e ibérico na área da biomassa florestal e foi efectuado o levantamento das actuais técnicas de tratamento e processamento deste tipo de combustível. Para terminar, procurou-se relacionar aspectos da fisiologia vegetal com os resultados da composição, próxima, elementar, e do teor em cloretos e metais alcalinos, obtidos para amostras de biomassa e de água lixiviante.
Forest biomass is a resource with great potential as a renewable energy sorce and as an alternative to the use of fossil fuels. The Portuguese forest is crammed with shrubs species as a consequence of poor management practices. Goarse, and in particular Ulex europaeus and the Ulex micranthus species, have high biomass densities in the central-coast region, predicting it as a favourable energetic opportunity. This work intends the characterization of the concentration of volatile elements and nutrients, in parallel with the evaluation of the effect of rainfall leaching, in controlled conditions, over the biomass composition, in it!s exploitation as a biofuel point of view. During the execution of this work, it was possible to identify the mobility of some elements due to the effect of rainfall, allowing to minimize it!s environmental impacts, associated to the use of this type of vegetation as fuel. It was verified that it is possible to remove considerable amounts of nutrients such as potassium (84 %), chlorides (87 %), phosphorus (45 %) or sodium (56 %) from the biomass, witch may represent improvements in terms of the optimization of the combustion processes, the decreased production of corrosive composites and harmful or toxic gases, as a result of its use as a biofuel. It was necessary to carry through bibliographical research for the definition of methods and protocols that allowed the development of the experimental work in the field and in the laboratory. It was gathered information of the Portuguese and the Iberian state of the art regarding forest biomass issues, and current techniques of fuel handling and processing, as well. To finish, aspects of the vegetal physiology were compared to the close, elemental analysis, the alkaline chlorides and metals, obtained in biomass and leaching samples.
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Menning, Nancy Lee. "Reading nature religiously: Lectio Divina, environmental ethics, and the literary nonfiction of Terry Tempest Williams." Diss., University of Iowa, 2010. https://ir.uiowa.edu/etd/556.
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This dissertation describes a method for constructing a religious environmental ethic modeled on the spiritual practice of lectio divina, or devotional reading. Lectio divina is an explicitly religious way of reading, distinguished from other modes of reading not by what is read--even sacred scriptures can be read for mastery of content, for entertainment, etc.--but by how it is read. In lectio divina, the reader engages the text with a willingness to be transformed by an encounter with the sacred, mediated somehow by the text. This vulnerability is inherent in a religious reading, as is the intimacy implicit in the repeated engagement with the text that is central to the practice of lectio divina. The emphasis on vulnerability and intimacy marks this religious approach to environmental ethics as a form of virtue ethics.
Consistent with the traditional insight conveyed by the two-books metaphor, whereby Christians believed God was revealed both in the Book of Scripture and the Book of Nature, I map the classic stages of lectio divina onto a reading not of scripture but of the natural world. Paying attention requires careful observation, the naming and description of relevant details, and awareness and articulation of emotional responses as one repeatedly visits natural settings. Pondering requires a willingness to enter deeply into the religious, scientific, and other sources that help us understand the natural world and our place within it, as well as a willingness to reflect critically upon those sources. Responding calls upon readers of nature to take definite actions that flow out of the previous stages of paying attention and pondering, utilizing knowledge born of familiarity to address environmental challenges while also protecting natural settings in which the unnamable sacred can be encountered. Surrendering involves acknowledging human limits of understanding, will, and action, and nonetheless finding rest and restoration by trusting in some force beyond the merely human. I illustrate this argument with interpretations of literary works by Terry Tempest Williams, thereby asserting the relevance of religiosity to human transformation and to efforts to imaginatively embody human-land relationships that further human and ecological flourishing.
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Landom, Kevin Lee. "Introduced Sport Fish and Fish Conservation in a Novel Food Web: Evidence of Predatory Impact." DigitalCommons@USU, 2010. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/556.
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This study addressed a fundamental question in applied ecology and conservation; what is the predatory impact of introduced piscivorous sport fish on imperiled native fish populations? More specifically, which of many introduced species and size-classes represent the greatest threats and should be targeted for control? In order to explore this important question, an integrated analysis of stable isotopes, quantified observed diet analysis, and stable isotope mass-balance models were used to quantify trophic interactions. These tools were used to construct food web models that were then compared to draw inferences regarding the relative contribution of prey fish, including rare native fish, to the diet of introduced sport fish. The stable isotope-derived food web illustrated a slight decoupling in energy flow between a pelagic and a benthic-littoral sub-web. The quantified diet analysis suggested piscivory was low overall, and that the introduced sport fish assemblage relied heavily on zooplankton and aquatic insect prey. The integrated stable isotope and quantified diet analysis demonstrated that the consumption of prey fish, particularly pelagic prey fish, was typically underestimated using stomach content analyses. From the evaluation, comparison, and integration of food web models, I suggest that substantial predation was occurring on the early life stages of Utah Lake fishes, including native fishes, and it was not being observed using stomach content analysis. My comparative modeling demonstrated that introduced sport fish are an impediment to native fish conservation and identified the small size-class of white bass as the most immediate threat.
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Wherry, Susan Amelia. "Climate Change Effects and Water Vulnerability in the Molalla Pudding River Basin, Oregon, USA." PDXScholar, 2012. https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/open_access_etds/556.
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Water management plans are typically developed using historical data records and historical return periods for extreme events, such as floods or droughts. Since these analyses of return periods typically assume a certain degree of stationarity (constant mean, standard deviation, distribution) in hydrologic variables, the potential future impacts of climate change are excluded. In developing water management plans, predicted changes to climate variables should be considered to evaluate the degree of non-stationarity that may exist in the future. In this way, regions most sensitive to climate change can be identified and managed appropriately. This study performed such a task by using predicted climate data that were downscaled from general circulation models (GCM) by regional climate models (RCM) to compare climate variables in the historical period of 1971-1998 to the future period of 2041-2068. The study evaluated the precipitation and minimum/maximum temperature data from five different GCM/RCM combinations: 1) CCSM/CRCM; 2) CCSM/WRFG; 3) CGCM3/CRCM; 4) CGCM3/WRFG; and 5) HadCM3/HRM3. The five datasets were then used to calculate drought indices and drive a calibrated PRMS model of the Molalla Pudding river basin in order to evaluate changes in droughts and streamflow. The predicted changes in droughts and streamflow were then evaluated with social/economic factors for twelve cities in the Molalla Pudding river basin by two different water vulnerability indices. The index values were used to determine a rank for each city that indicated its relative vulnerability to water scarcity as compared to the other cities. In this study, three out of the five datasets predicted increased precipitation (+97-115 mm/year) over the Molalla Pudding basin and the two datasets using the CCSM GCM data predicted either no change or slightly decreased precipitation (-60 mm/year) over the Molalla Pudding basin in 2041-2068. All datasets predicted increased minimum and maximum average temperature of +1.5°C and +1.4°C respectively, and all datasets displayed increasing trends in temperature. The drought indices predicted fewer drought events (-2.4 events) over 2041-2068 with no change in duration, and no change to the number of serious drought events over 2041-2068 but with increased durations (+1.9 months). Results from the hydrologic modeling predicted increased streamflow (+4-249 cfs) in four out of the five future datasets. Using the predicted changes in hydrologic variables and social/economic census data from 2000, two types of water vulnerability indices were calculated for the twelve cities of interest. The results suggested that cities in the western portion of the basin would be more susceptible to current and future water vulnerability due to high irrigation demands for water and high social vulnerability as determined by minority populations and higher poverty, while the small cities with less dependence on agriculture would be less vulnerable.
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Posey, Teri, and Cynthia Ann Munn-Haywood. "CORRELATION BETWEEN USE OF FAMILY VISITATION CENTERS AND FAMILY REUNIFICATION." CSUSB ScholarWorks, 2017. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd/556.
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The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of San Bernardino County’s Family Visitation Centers (FVC) and their effect on improving rates of reunification in families that use the visit centers, as opposed to those families who do not use the visit centers. The FVC were developed out of the Department Human Services Redesign to enhance the visitation experience for families, staff and others involved in the process. The FVC centers are a place to provide safe visits, in a non-sterile environment, for children to maintain the bonds with their parents that they have been removed from by child welfare while in a reunification process. The County of San Bernardino has invested approximately 1.9 million dollars annually into the FVC’s, and to date, there has not been a clear evaluation as to the effectiveness in reunifying families faster with usage of the FVC.
The researchers used a descriptive statistical approach to examine the effect FVC’s has on the reunification process. The research methods used were quantitative in design and included comparative research, looking both at the results of clients use and non-use of the FVC’s. Data was collected February 2017. The size of our sample was ninety cases that used the FVC, and ninety families that did not use the center in the same regions, but were participating in visits and in reunification services, 180 families in total. To ensure that a random sample was used, a third-party person collected statistical information from Case Management System/Child Welfare System (CMS/CWS). The list was composed from preselected data included in the San Bernardino County Visitation Center Instrument. The variables used included families that were in the reunification process and having visits either at a CFS office or at the FVC, primary and secondary reason for removal, age of youngest child, age of parent, race/ethnicity, if a visit occurred and number of months in placement.
Data was collected using every fifth family was selected, the researchers received a list, with only the above pertinent information for each of the families. The researchers did not need any Protected Identifying Information (PII) and no human subjects were used. All items related to the research was maintained in electronic form on password protected computers and was only calculated and read in a protected area.
The hope of this research project was to find out if the money being invested in the FVC was working toward returning children in shorter time frames, than the traditional way of handling visits within the county at the CFS offices. Results from this study could change things dramatically within CFS. Positive outcomes could allow for more outside contracted agencies to be used to promote faster reunification, while lightening the duties of the social worker. Negative results could result in the FVC losing funding, the department would go back to supervising the visits within the offices, many social worker hours would be used supervising visits, the visit could be affected by the presence of the social worker. The outcomes could change business on a daily basis for the department or FVC in that, adjustments may need to be made, and provide a different standard of ideology of what visitation should be for families that are trying to work through their case plans to reunify with their children. This study found families who used visitation centers had longer placement episodes lengths than non-visitation center users. This outcome is contrary to our assumption, use of visitation centers help families reunify in less time
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McMahon, Mallory Lynn. "Part A: THE USE OF NONIONIC ASSOCIATIVE POLYMERS FOR THE THICKENING AND EMULSIFYING OF PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS/ Part B: THE SYNTHESIS OF A MANGANESE SOD MIMETIC FOR REACTIVE COATINGS." DigitalCommons@CalPoly, 2011. https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/theses/556.
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Part A
The use of nonionic associative thickeners was proposed for personal care applications. Various limitations of current rheology modifiers used in personal care were discussed. Nonionic associative polymers were examined as both thickeners and emulsifiers. The structure/property relationship for nonionic polymers and their ability to thicken and emulsify were fully examined. Results showed an increase in thickening efficiency for nonionic associative polymers with higher log(P) (partition coefficient) values. This was due to the formation of smaller aggregates and increased bridging between aggregates. The connection between oil polarity, log(P) of the associative polymer, and emulsion stability showed no relationship however; as the log(P) value of the polymer decreased, emulsion stability increased. The effects of nonionic associative polymer molecular weight and thickening efficiency proved to be positive; as molecular weight increased, thickening efficiency increased. Specific interactions between nonionic associative thickeners and common ingredients in personal care products were also explored. The interaction between nonionic associative thickeners and surfactants proved to be dependent on surfactant type as well as hydrophobe shape and size on the associative thickener. There appeared to a clear effect of salt on the thickening and emulsifying capabilities of the nonionic associative polymers but the exact interaction was not yet determined.
Part B
Superoxide dismutation (SOD) chemistry pertaining to manganese enzymes was explored. A series of manganese SOD mimetic enzymes were synthesized and their SOD activity was examined. The McCord-Fridovich Assay showed mimetic enzymes containing secondary amine bonds and electron difficiency around bonding sites had higher SOD activity. Click chemistry was used for the synthesis of a 1,4-triazole containing tridentate ligand. The ideal reaction conditions chosen for the click reaction was a solvent blend of 1:1 dichloromethane and water with copper sulfate and sodium ascorbate as a catalyst. The tridentate ligand was grafted onto azido-functionalized polystyrene. Infrared spectroscopy was used to confirm the completion of the click reaction. The azide peak at 2100 cm-1 was removed after the click reaction was performed on the azido-functionalized polystyrene.
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Spengler, Stephen. "Educators' Perceptions of a 21st Century Digital Literacy Framework." ScholarWorks, 2015. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/556.
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The concept of literacy has expanded to include understanding and effective utilization of information, media, and technology. The Children's Internet Protection Act requires school districts to teach proper online use and behavior. The lack of a technology requirement in a rural, public school district in Northeastern Pennsylvania that meets the needs of 21st century learners and the conditions of the Children's Internet Protection Act was the rationale for the development of this project study. The study's conceptual framework stemmed from theories related to new literacies, multimodality, computer education practices, and millennial learners. The research questions examined educators' perceptions of topics and skills to include in a curricular framework that addressed the lack of a comprehensive technology requirement to improve 21st century digital literacy skills for all students. A qualitative case study design was selected and data from 40 open ended questionnaires, one 5-member focus group discussion, and two 6-member focus group discussions were open coded and thematically analyzed. Emergent themes relating to a digital literacy course framework included information access skills and the application of technology. Findings were validated through member checking and triangulated with 62 existing curricular documents. The project for this study consisted of a curricular framework for a 90 day 21st century digital literacy high school course that can be used by any school district to enhance the preparation of students for life after high school. Such use of the findings and culminating project may positively affect social change through a modern definition of literacy thus contributing towards the development of a positive and prepared 21st century citizenry.
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Lyons, Kristin. "THE CASE OF LIMBO: THE SEARCH FOR IDENTITY IN SYLVIA PLATH’S SHORT FICTION AND THE BELL JAR." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2020. https://dc.etsu.edu/honors/556.
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Though Sylvia Plath’s poems and novel undergo frequent scholarly research, her short fiction is often overlooked. Plath’s journals influenced her short fiction writing, and her stories reflected Plath’s lived experiences. Plath’s short fiction, like her other works, explore themes of identity and detachment. Each of her protagonists exist in a personal limbo, and they strive to find their identities and to fit the roles in which they occupy. This thesis focuses on “Mary Ventura and the Ninth Kingdom,” stories from Johnny Panic and the Bible of Dreams, and additional research from scholarly journals and biographies, with comparisons to identity struggles shown in The Bell Jar and The Unabridged Journals of Sylvia Plath. I found the catalysts for their identity crises stem from observations surrounding femininity, societal roles, and psychological wellness. Furthermore, this research shows Plath’s subjective writing habits and highlights her protagonists’ commonalities throughout her writing career.