Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'CB₂'

Gewitterzellen mit ihren negativen Begleiterscheinungen wie Starkregen, Hagel oder Fallwinden verursachen Verspätungen sowie Flugausfälle und sind damit für höhere Kosten der Airlines und Flughafenbetreiber verantwortlich. Eine verlässliche Vorhersage von Gewittern bis zu mehreren Stunden könnte dagegen den Entscheidungsträgern am Flughafen einen größeren zeitlichen Spielraum geben, um auf mögliche Gewitterzellen angemessen zu reagieren und adäquate Maßnahmen zu ergreifen. Zur Bereitstellung zuverlässiger Gewittervorhersagen bis zu sechs Stunden wurde Cb-LIKE am Deutschen Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR) entwickelt. Der neue Gewittervorhersagealgorithmus wird in der vorliegenden Dissertation detailliert vorgestellt. Cb-LIKE ist ein automatisiertes System, das unter Verwendung von Modelldaten des COSMO-DE Wettermodells des Deutschen Wetterdienstes (DWD) Gebiete ausweist, die eher für oder gegen eine Entwicklung von Gewittern sprechen. Vier atmosphärische Parameter (CAPE, Vertikalwind, Radarreflektivität und Temperatur an der Wolkenobergrenze) fließen in das System ein. Eine neu entwickelte „Best-Member-Selection“ sorgt dabei durch einen Abgleich zur aktuellen Gewittersituation für die automatische Auswahl des realistischsten Modelllaufes aus einem Ensemble. Dadurch wird die beste Datengrundlage für die Berechnung der Gewittervorhersagen gewährleistet. Für die Auswahl des besten Members stehen vier verschiedene Modi zur Verfügung. Ein neu entwickeltes Fuzzy-Logik System ermöglicht anschließend die Kombination der Modelldaten und die Berechnung eines Gewitterindikators von 11,6¯6 bis 88,3¯3 für jeden Gitterpunkt des Modells für die nächsten sechs Stunden in stündlichen Intervallen. Je höher der Wert des Indikators, desto mehr sprechen die Modellparameter für die Entstehung von Gewittern. Zusätzlich wird die Vorhersagequalität des neuen Algorithmus anhand einer umfassenden Verifikation unter Verwendung einer „neighbourhood-verification“ Technik und von „multi-event contingency tables“ untersucht. Für die Sommerperiode 2012 weist Cb-LIKE im Vergleich zur COSMO-DE Radarreflektivität bessere Werte in den Verifikationsgrößen auf. So ist das „Fehlalarmverhältnis“ für den neuen Algorithmus niedriger (0,48 zu 0,56), die „Wahrscheinlichkeit der Detektion“ (0,52 zu 0,45) und der „Critical Success Index“ (0,50 zu 0,48) fallen dagegen höher aus. Die Resultate zeigen, dass der Cb- LIKE Algorithmus eine sinnvolle neue Methodik für Gewittervorhersagen von hoher Qualität auf der Datenbasis des COSMO-DE Modells darstellt. Die Ergebnisse aus der Verifikation ermöglichen außerdem die Übersetzung des Cb-LIKE Indikatorfeldes in die gewünschten probabilistischen Gewittervorhersagen. Zusätzlich wird die erfolgreiche Implementierung der Cb-LIKE Gewittervorhersagen in das WxFUSION System, eine graphische Benutzeroberfläche, vorgestellt.
Thunderstorm cells with their adverse weather hazards like heavy rain, hail or downbursts cause delays and flight cancellations at airports and, as a negative result, the airlines and airport operators have to bear high additional cost. A reliable thunderstorm forecast up to several hours could provide more time for the decision makers at the airport for an appropriate reaction on possible storm cells and initiation of adequate counteractions. To provide the required thunderstorm forecasts up to six hours Cb-LIKE has been developed at the DLR (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt) Institute of Atmospheric Physics. The development of the new algorithm is described in detail in the present dissertation. Cb-LIKE is an automated system which designates areas with possible thunderstorm development by using model data of the COSMO-DE numerical weather prediction model, which is driven by the German Meteorological Service (DWD). Four atmospheric parameters (CAPE, vertical wind velocity, radar reflectivity and cloud top temperature) of the model output are used within the system. A newly developed “Best-Member-Selection“ allows the automatic selection of that model run of a COSMO-DE model ensemble which matches best the observed storm situation. Thereby, the application of the best available data basis for the calculation of the thunderstorm forecasts is ensured. Altogether there are four different modes for the selection of the best member. A newly developed fuzzy logic system enables the subsequent combination of the model data and the calculation of a thunderstorm indicator within a value range of 11. ¯ 66 up to 88. ¯ 33 for each grid point of the model domain for the following six hours in hourly intervals. The higher the indicator the more the model parameters imply the development of thunderstorms. The forecasting quality of the new algorithm is demonstrated by a thorough verification using a neighborhood verification approach and multi-event contingency tables. For the summer period of 2012 Cb-LIKE shows better results in the verification scores in comparison to the COSMO-DE radar reflectivity. For example the new algorithm features a lower „False Alarm Ratio“ (0,48 to 0,56) and a higher „Probability of Detection“ (0,52 to 0,45) and „Critical Success Index“ (0,50 to 0,48). The results show that Cb-LIKE is a sensible novel approach to obtain probabilistic thunderstorm forecasts of high quality on the data basis of the COSMO-DE model. Finally, the implementation of the Cb-LIKE forecasts into the WxFUSION system which is a graphical user interface is presented.

The primary argument in favor of mass customization is the delivery of superior customer value. Using willingness-to-pay (WTP) measurements, Franke & Piller (2004) have recently shown that customers designing their own watches with design toolkits are willing to pay premiums of more than 100% (DWTP). In the course of three studies, we found that this type of value increment is not a singular occurrence but might rather be a general phenomenon, as we again found average DWTPs of more than 100% among customers designing their own cell phone covers, T-shirts, and scarves. Building on this, we discuss the sources of benefits that are likely to explain this tremendous value increment. We argue that compared to conventional standard products, a mass-customized product might render the following utilitarian and hedonic benefits: (1) First, the output might be beneficial as self-designed products offer a much closer fit between individual needs and product characteristics. In addition to this mere functional benefit, extra value might also stem from (2) the perceived uniqueness of the self-designed product. As the customer takes on the role of an active codesigner, there may also be two general 'do-it-yourself effects': (3) First, the process of designing per se is likely to allow the customer to meet hedonic or experiential needs (process benefit). (4) Customers may also be likely to value the output of self-design more highly if they take pride in having created something on their own (instead of traditionally buying something created by somebody else). This is referred to as the 'pride of authorship' effect. (author's abstract)

What type of reward attracts customers to loyalty programs? Given the increasing importance of loyalty programs, this question matters. Six sequential studies investigated whether monetary rewards universally attract people more than nonmonetary rewards. Results suggest that monetary rewards elicit a very robust attractiveness premium both on the level of individual rewards as well as on the level of entire reward programs. Across different industries, the more monetary loyalty program was consistently perceived as more attractive, and it was more likely to inspire intentions to join the program. Even in light of variations in consumption goals (hedonic vs. utilitarian), the effect persisted. The effect is not only consistent; it is also nonnegligible with medium effect sizes emerging in most settings. We discuss ensuing variations in effect sizes and conclude that monetarism holds a pervasive temptation for consumers that managers cannot ignore.

The diploma thesis evaluates the financial health of the company CB Auto a.s., by using the methods of financial analysis. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the financial health with regard to the expansion of the portfolio of the company to open a new department OJETÉ VOZY Das Welt Auto Škoda Plus v Českých Budějovicích in 2013. The financial analysis is applied to period from 2010 to 2014. The thesis is divided into two parts, theoretical and application part. The basic terms from the financial analysis field are summarized in the theoretical part. This part also describes particular methods. These methods are applied in application part. Based on the results of this analysis the overall financial health is evaluated. Then there is introduced the proposal for improving the situation of the company in future.

Orientador: João Cesar Bedran de Castro
Coorientador: José Antunes Rodrigues
Banca: Roberta Okamoto
Banca: Keico Okino Nonaka
Resumo: O objetivo do presente estudo foi caracterizar o impacto da breve bloqueio dos receptores canabinóides CB1 ou CB2 durante o período neonatal sobre o crescimento somático e desenvolvimento esquelético durante a infância, puberdade e na idade adulta em ratos. Ratos Wistar recém-nascidos foram distribuídos aleatoriamente em seis grupos, três grupos do sexo masculino e três grupos femininos. Os grupos tratados receberam durante os primeiros sete dias de vida de uma dose subcutânea de antagonistas dos receptores CB1 (AM251) ou CB₂ (SR144528) (3 mg/kg dissolvidos em 50 uL de veículo composto em álcool absoluto e tampão fosfato salino - PBS). Os grupos controle receberam a solução veículo com mesmo volume e período. O peso corporal foi mensurado aos 20, 40, 120 dias de idade e os fêmures direitos foram coletados. O comprimento e a espessura dos fêmures foram medidos e a densidade mineral óssea areal (DMO areal) foi determinada por meio de um densitômetro de dupla emissão de raios-X (DEXA). O teste biomecânico de flexão da cabeça do fêmur foi utilizado para avaliar a força máxima, a energia para fratura, e rigidez extrínseca dos ossos. Ganho de massa corporal, DMO areal e propriedades biomecânicas do osso aumentaram rapidamente com a idade em todos os grupos. Entre animais veículo, os padrões de dimorfismo sexual esquelética foram evidentes após a puberdade. No entanto, o bloqueio neonatal dos receptores canabinóides CB1 e CB2 promoveu um efeito transitório e sexo-dependentes sobre a massa corporal e desenvolvimento ósseo ao longo da vida, e que a inibição neonatal desses receptores nos machos promoveu um efeito bifásico sobre a aquisição de DMO areal ao longo do desenvolvimento, e aumento da fragilidade óssea nos machos AM251 na idade adulta. Este estudo demonstrou que...
Abstract: The aim of the present study was to characterize the impact of brief blockade of cannabinoid CB1 or CB2 receptors during neonatal period on somatic growth and skeletal development during childhood, puberty, and adulthood in rats. Newborn Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups, three male groups and three female groups. The treated groups received during the firsts seven days of life a subcutaneous dose of a CB1 (AM251) or CB₂ (SR144528) receptors antagonist (3 mg/kg dissolved in 50 μl of a vehicle consisting of absolute ethanol and phosphate buffered saline - PBS). Control groups received the vehicle solution in the same volume and period. Body weight was measured at 20, 40, 120 days of age and femurs were collected. The length and thickness of the femurs were measured and the areal bone mineral density (areal BMD) was determined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). Biomechanical femoral neck bending testing was used to evaluate bone breaking strength, energy to fracture, and extrinsic stiffness. Weight gain, areal BMD and bone biomechanical properties increased rapidly with respect to age in all groups. In vehicle animals, skeletal sexual dimorphism patterns were evident after puberty. However, neonatal blockade of cannabinoid CB1 and CB2 receptors promoted a transient and sex-dependent effect on the body weight and bone development throughout the life, and that neonatal inhibiting the CB1 and CB2 receptors in males promotes a biphasic effect on the acquisition of areal BMD throughout development, and increased bone fragility in males AM251 in adulthood. This study demonstrated that brief blockade of cannabinoid CB1 or CB2 receptors during neonatal period causes a long-lasting and sex-dependents modification in somatic growth and skeletal development in rats
Mestre

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Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)
O objetivo do presente estudo foi caracterizar o impacto da breve bloqueio dos receptores canabinóides CB1 ou CB2 durante o período neonatal sobre o crescimento somático e desenvolvimento esquelético durante a infância, puberdade e na idade adulta em ratos. Ratos Wistar recém-nascidos foram distribuídos aleatoriamente em seis grupos, três grupos do sexo masculino e três grupos femininos. Os grupos tratados receberam durante os primeiros sete dias de vida de uma dose subcutânea de antagonistas dos receptores CB1 (AM251) ou CB₂ (SR144528) (3 mg/kg dissolvidos em 50 uL de veículo composto em álcool absoluto e tampão fosfato salino - PBS). Os grupos controle receberam a solução veículo com mesmo volume e período. O peso corporal foi mensurado aos 20, 40, 120 dias de idade e os fêmures direitos foram coletados. O comprimento e a espessura dos fêmures foram medidos e a densidade mineral óssea areal (DMO areal) foi determinada por meio de um densitômetro de dupla emissão de raios-X (DEXA). O teste biomecânico de flexão da cabeça do fêmur foi utilizado para avaliar a força máxima, a energia para fratura, e rigidez extrínseca dos ossos. Ganho de massa corporal, DMO areal e propriedades biomecânicas do osso aumentaram rapidamente com a idade em todos os grupos. Entre animais veículo, os padrões de dimorfismo sexual esquelética foram evidentes após a puberdade. No entanto, o bloqueio neonatal dos receptores canabinóides CB1 e CB2 promoveu um efeito transitório e sexo-dependentes sobre a massa corporal e desenvolvimento ósseo ao longo da vida, e que a inibição neonatal desses receptores nos machos promoveu um efeito bifásico sobre a aquisição de DMO areal ao longo do desenvolvimento, e aumento da fragilidade óssea nos machos AM251 na idade adulta. Este estudo demonstrou que...
The aim of the present study was to characterize the impact of brief blockade of cannabinoid CB1 or CB2 receptors during neonatal period on somatic growth and skeletal development during childhood, puberty, and adulthood in rats. Newborn Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups, three male groups and three female groups. The treated groups received during the firsts seven days of life a subcutaneous dose of a CB1 (AM251) or CB₂ (SR144528) receptors antagonist (3 mg/kg dissolved in 50 μl of a vehicle consisting of absolute ethanol and phosphate buffered saline - PBS). Control groups received the vehicle solution in the same volume and period. Body weight was measured at 20, 40, 120 days of age and femurs were collected. The length and thickness of the femurs were measured and the areal bone mineral density (areal BMD) was determined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). Biomechanical femoral neck bending testing was used to evaluate bone breaking strength, energy to fracture, and extrinsic stiffness. Weight gain, areal BMD and bone biomechanical properties increased rapidly with respect to age in all groups. In vehicle animals, skeletal sexual dimorphism patterns were evident after puberty. However, neonatal blockade of cannabinoid CB1 and CB2 receptors promoted a transient and sex-dependent effect on the body weight and bone development throughout the life, and that neonatal inhibiting the CB1 and CB2 receptors in males promotes a biphasic effect on the acquisition of areal BMD throughout development, and increased bone fragility in males AM251 in adulthood. This study demonstrated that brief blockade of cannabinoid CB1 or CB2 receptors during neonatal period causes a long-lasting and sex-dependents modification in somatic growth and skeletal development in rats

Cette étude contribue à une compréhension assez fine du comportement du matériau, caoutchouc naturel renforcé avec du noir de carbone (NR-CB). Des sollicitations, monotones et cycliques, uniaxiales et multiaxiales, ont permis de dégager les principaux phénomènes physiques ainsi que leur influence sur le comportement de l’élastomère. Ensuite, nous avons modélisé le comportement du matériau par deux lois : la première est hyperélastique incompressible et la seconde est compressible endommageable. Enfin, une comparaison entre ces deux modèles a été effectuée. Par ailleurs, l’étude expérimentale de la fatigue sous chargements complexes a permis de décrire les interactions entre les sollicitations axiales et de torsion ainsi que l’effet du déphasage sur la localisation et la durée de vie. Cette analyse est complétée par des études fractographiques permettant l’identification des différentes phases de fissuration (échelle macroscopique) et des sites d’amorçage (échelle microscopique). Enfin, nous avons établi un critère de prévision de la durée de vie robuste sous chargements complexes. Ce critère prévoit la localisation de l’amorçage, l’orientation de fissures et le nombre de cycles à l’amorçage. Il a été validé sur des éprouvettes de structure et sur des pièces industrielles. Enfin, nous avons comparé ce critère à un modèle pris dans la littérature
This work explores the mechanical behaviour of a carbon-black reinforced natural rubber (NR-CB) subjected to monotonic, cyclic, uniaxial and multiaxial loading. Several physical phenomena have been identified. In particular, we have characterised the material compressibility under various kinds of loading conditions and confirmed the results by means of microscopic observations. Consequently, in order to describe the material behaviour, we have considered and compared two constitutive models: the first one is hyperelastic incompressible whereas the second one is more realistic as it uses a damage-induced compressible approach. Furthermore, fatigue experimental results obtained under complex loading histories allow to describe the interaction between axial and torsional loading. In particular, the phase angle effect on the lifetime and the crack location have been determined. These analyses were supported by fractographic observations that allow the identification of different tearing steps (macroscopic scale) and initiation sites (microscopic scale). Finally, we have established a model able to predict the location and orientation of cracks, as well as lifetime under complex loading. This criterion has been validated for complex geometry and industrial components. Finally, we have compared this model with another taken in literature

Endocannabinoid (eCB) system is composed of endogenous CB ligands including anandamide (AEA) and 2-Arachidonyl glycerol (2-AG), enzymes involved in their biosynthesis and degradation such as diacylglycerol lipase-α (DAGL- α), and CB receptors. Primarily, there are three types of CB receptors - CB receptor 1(CB1), CB receptor 2 (CB2) and non CB1 non CB2 types of CB receptor (e.g. GPR, TRPV1) and they belong to G-protein (Gi/o) coupled receptors (GPCR) family.CB1 receptors are abundant in the brain where they modulate neuronal activities. On the other hand, CB2 receptors are predominantly expressed in the immune cells and regulate the growth and proliferation of different immune cells and modulate the activities of cytokines network and anti-oxidant machinery in stress conditions. Inflammation plays a central role in hearing loss (HL) caused by different ototoxic insults including anti-neoplastic agents such as cisplatin, aminoglycosides and acoustic trauma. These insults can trigger chronic production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in regions of cochlea such as organ of Corti, stria vascularis (SVA), spiral ligament (SL) and spiral ganglion neurons (SG). This leads to increased synthesis of pro-inflammatory cytokines, disruption of mitochondrial membrane integrity, activation of DNA damage/repair pathways and activation of pro-apoptotic enzymes. Jeong et al. (2007) have shown that CB2 receptor specific agonist (JWH-015) protects the HEI-OC1 hair cell cultures against cisplatin-induced cytotoxicity in-vitro. The goal of the current study was to examine the distribution and function of CB receptors (mainly CB2) in the cochlea and determine whether activation of these receptors could protect the cochlea by altering the expression of ROS generating proteins, along with pro-inflammatory and pro-apoptotic proteins. This study also investigated whether inhibition of eCB synthesis can causes HL. Aim 1 of the current study investigated the expression of CB receptors in the cochlea using different in-vivo models such as male Wistar rat and knock-in mice with GFP-tagged CB2 receptors, in-vitro models such as organotypic culture of neonatal mouse (C57BL/6) cochlea and University of Bristol organ of Corti (UB/OC1) cells. We show that both CB1 and CB2 receptors are expressed in the outer and the inner hair cells (OHCs and IHCs), SV, SG and supporting cells (SCs) included outer and inner pillar cells. The distribution of DAGL- α was also examined in the male Wistar rats and we found the similar distribution pattern of this enzymes as CB2. DAGL- α catalyzes the hydrolysis of DAG to synthesize 2-AG, which acts as a chief endogenous CB2 ligand. Our initial studies suggested a role of CB2 and not CB1 in protection, leading us to focus on CB2 receptors for subsequent studies. Aim 2 examined the otoprotective role of trans-tympanic application of CB2 specific agonist (JWH-015) against cisplatin-induced hearing loss in male Wistar rats. Activation of CB2 receptors restored cisplatin-induced elevations in ABR thresholds which was significantly reversed by CB2 antagonist AM-630. Pre-treatment with JWH-015 protected against cisplatin-induced loss of hair cell and synaptic ribbons. In-vitro studies in UB/OC-1 cells demonstrated that pre-treatment of JWH-015 modulates the activities of signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 and 3 (STAT1 and STAT3), increases the expression of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-xL, indicating its role in regulating the apoptosis Activation of CB2 also abrogated cisplatin-induced decrease in Na+/K+ATPase- α in the SV and SL fibrocytes and ameliorated the expression of different pro-inflammatory genes including TRPV1, COX2, NOX3, KIM1, iNOS and TNF- α. We also found that blocking of CB2 by AM630 itself resulted in hearing loss and loss in CB2 receptors, indicating eCB system is tonically active and could be important for physiological function of the cochlea. Indeed, we observed that inhibition of DAGL- α by RHC80267 results in HL. Aim 3 of this current study investigated whether pre-treatment of CB2 agonist will interfere with anti-cancer efficacy of cisplatin against various cancer cell lines head and neck cancer cells (UMSCC10B), and colon cancer cells (HCT116). Our data indicate that JWH-015 did not interfere with cisplatin-induced apoptosis in these cells. Overall, this study provides novel insights into the essential role eCBs plays in protection the cochlea under non-stressed conditions and following exposure to ototoxic agents. It also demonstrates that application of exogenous CB2 agonist (JWH-015) could serve as an effective protective agent against cisplatin ototoxicity These data suggest that localized delivery of CB2 agonists should be studied in human for protection against hearing loss.

Thesis: M. Eng., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, 2014.
This electronic version was submitted by the student author. The certified thesis is available in the Institute Archives and Special Collections.
Cataloged from student-submitted PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 39-40).
This thesis describes CB-DPOR, an algorithm for quickly finding bugs in lock-free data structures. CB-DPOR is a combination of the CHESS and DPOR model checking algorithms. CB-DPOR performs similar to the concurrently developed preemption-bounded BPOR algorithm. CODEX is a tool for finding bugs in lock-free data structures. CODEX implements CBDPOR and this thesis demonstrates how to use CODEX to find bugs. This thesis describes new bugs in open-source lock-free data structures, and compares the performance of CBDPOR with the earlier model checking algorithms CHESS, DPOR, and PCT. CB-DPOR find bugs one to two orders of magnitude faster than earlier algorithms.
by Jelle van den Hooff.
M. Eng.

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Esta dissertação desenvolve um estudo sobre a educação trabalhada no Centro de Defesa da Vida e dos Direitos Humanos Carmem Bascarán – CDVDH/CB. O objetivo geral do trabalho foi analisar o caráter educativo do CDVDH/CB presente em suas ações no enfrentamento ao trabalho escravo contemporâneo, na cidade de Açailândia-MA. Os objetivos específicos foram os seguintes: a) verificar como ocorrem as parceiras com outras instituições para o desenvolvimento das ações educacionais de enfrentamento ao trabalho escravo; b) avaliar como acontece a formação dos educadores e lideranças que atuam no CDVDH/CB c) compreender a metodologia do CDVDH/CB a partir de suas ações. Foram estudadas as seguintes categorias: trabalho, trabalho escravo contemporâneo, educação não formal e direitos humanos. A metodologia deste trabalho baseou-se na modalidade de pesquisa analítica de natureza qualitativa. Na busca dos dados, recorremos aos seguintes instrumentos metodológicos: pesquisa bibliográfica, documental e entrevista semiestruturada. Para contextualização da problemática do trabalho escravo contemporâneo e o espaço geográfico da Amazônia Oriental, onde ele tem grande incidência, localidade de atuação do CDVDH/CB, buscamos aporte teórico no materialismo histórico-dialético marxista. Defrontando-nos com as entrevistas, podemos conhecer a forma como são trabalhadas as ações educativas, as parcerias, a formação de educadores e a metodologia do CDVDH/CB e, a partir daí, conhecer o seu caráter educativo. Diante do estudo, foi possível perceber o envolvimento dos que fazem o CDVDH/CB, além de conhecer as particularidades da educação desenvolvida no movimento social.
This Dissertation develops a study about education performed in Center of the Defense of Life and Human Rights Carmen Bascarán (in Portuguese, Centro de Defesa da Vida e dos Direitos Humanos - CDVDH/CB). The general goal of the study was to analyze the educational features of the CDVDH/CB present in its actions in confrontation with contemporary slave labor, in Açailândia city, state of Maranhão, Brazil. The specific goals were: a) verifying how the partnerships with other institutions occur for the development of educational actions to confront to the slave labor; b) evaluating how the educators’ formation occurs and the leaderships that preside in CDVDH/CB; c) understanding the methodology of CDVDH/CB from their actions. We study the following categories: labor, contemporary slave labor, non-formal education and human rights. The methodology of this paper was based on the model of qualitative analysis research. In search of data, we appealed the following methodological instruments: bibliographical research, documental research and semi-structured interview. In order to contextualize the contemporary slave labor problem and the geographic space of Eastern Amazon, where it has a great incidence, local of CDVDH/CB, we seek theoretical support in Marxist historical-dialectical materialism. When we confront the interviews, we can know how the educational actions are worked, the partnerships, the educators’ formation and the methodology of CDVDH/CB and, then, to know its educational features. Before the study, it was possible to perceive the involvement of those who make the CDVDH / CB, besides knowing the particularities of the education developed in the social movement.

The purpose of this doctoral dissertation is to contribute to the investigation of the regional organization of the system of settlements in the regions of the ‘Eastern Ro-man Empire’ (ERE) during the Early Byzantine period (EBP). By ‘EBP’ we mean the historical period comprising from the 4th to the end of the 6th century AD. By ‘regional organization’ we mean the administrative system of rule of the ERE with its five hierarchical levels of organization: a) the Empire; b) its division into admin-istrative regions (dioceses); c) the division of these into smaller regional unities (provinces); d) cities (polis), and e) market towns – villages (komes – choria) within each province. This system includes 3,048 units of analysis, settlements belonging to all hierarchical levels, and it yields their distinguishing features, through geographic - spatial and historical -cultural criteria. The dissertation’s object of study is the regional organization of settlements of the EBP, with emphasis on the 6th century. Its goal was the cartographic representation of the regions of the ERE and creation of maps that are defined by the data of politi-cal geography and described by the data of physical and cultural geography. Through the creation of historical sections in the 4th, 5th, and 6th centuries, diachronic regional transformations in the EBP were examined. A further goal was to create a database of cultural and geographic information concerning the entirety of settle-ments, in which are recorded the period of founding, the diachronic presence of each, with historical alterations of its name, including also its modern name and the state to which it belongs today. The dissertation conveys the totality of regional sites in the ERE, contributes to making the regional organization of settlements in the EBP better known, and enriches the diachronic study of both the settlements and culture of the Eastern Mediterranean. The dissertation is composed of three parts: Part I. Introduction; Part II: The regional structure of the Empire; Part III: Conclusions. Part I: Chapter 1 offers a scholarly overview and defines the goals, objects of study, and purpose (A.1), contents (A.2), primary sources (A.3) and methodology (Α.4), with a description of the techniques of cartography, map-making (atlas-making) and table-making. Part I also includes the historical framework of the EBP (Chapter 2), with its main socio-economic and political parameters. Chapter 3 concerns the geo-morphology and organization of the Empire (administrative boundaries, production activities and spatial administrative hierarchy, both political and ecclesiastical). Part II: Chapter 4 deals with the regional structure of the Empire and is allocated to a study of the organization of the 64 provinces in each of the six dioceses. The level of internal description of each diocese and province refers to variables that concern administrative division, geomorphology, and settlements (three levels: capitals, cit-ies, and market towns – villages). Two categories of variables were created: histori-cal-cultural data, and geographic-spatial data. The total of 3,048 settlements and the recording of variables along diachronic and synchronic axes, aided by the computer software SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences), allowed observations of a statistical nature as well as structural correlations between and among variables used for analysis. The data are complemented cartographically by 90 maps, done on the basis of the road network (3 variables: inter-regional, main, secondary) and their individual geomorphology. Part III: Chapter 5 describes the results of the analysis of the regional organization of the six dioceses, while Chapter 6 presents the results for the overall picture of the Empire (6.1), followed by the results for the articulation of the road network (6.2). These sub-sections are followed by the network of settlements (6.3), with conclud-ing observations of a statistical nature concerning the regional organization of set-tlements and the static/dynamic nature of the settlement system. The structure of the network of settlements is expressed through an attempt at modeling. In addition, basic statistical correlations and cross-tabulations concerning the hierarchy of set-tlements and their various parameters (period of founding, morphology of terrain, road network, transportation / communication features) are listed. The conclusions of this doctoral dissertation can be summarised as follows: During the Early Byzantine Period the Eastern Roman Empire, with its six large administra-tive dioceses and 64 provinces, occupied the regions around the Eastern Mediterra-nean, joining districts from three continents. The geomorphology and the landscapes of the region are varied and complex. Much of the land is mountainous though there are a few very important plains. There are eight types of vegetation varying from desert to beech forest. Olive cultivation accounted for an important percentage of the cultivatable land at that time.The primary sector was developed and there was self-sufficiency, which depended on cooperation between individual farmers as to what was grown. The secondary sector was also developed: there were government owned factories in many provin-cial capitals, as well as private artisan. There was also government owned mines and quarries for the excavation and the supply of raw materials.The network of settlements: their historical and cultural characteristics: 12,5% of the 3,048 settlements were founded in the Archaic period, 7.3% in the Classical, 17,8% in the Hellenistic, 42% in the Roman and 20,4% in the Early Byzantine pe-riod. Cross correlation between the number of settlements and their dates of founda-tion demonstrates that a much larger number of settlements arose after the Hellenis-tic period than were constructed before this period. It also shows that the Early Byz-antine provincial capitals were largely founded during the Hellenistic period. In ad-dition it shows that more than the 50% of the cities were founded in the Hellenistic and Roman period, while only about 12% were founded during the EBP. With re-gard to smaller settlements, we can observe that roughly 50% were founded in the Roman period, while only 25% were set up during the EBP. The fact that more than 80% of the total settlements in the Roman and EBP were minor settlements suggests a tendency towards agrarization of the society.The geographical - spatial characteristics and the morphology of the land: We ob-serve that 41% of the settlements were located between 0 – 300m, 12,5% were lo-cated between 300 – 600m and 43% were found higher in the mountains. From the cross-correlation of the timescale of the settlement with the geomorphology we see that 56% of the capitals and 50% of the cities are located in flat regions, while 47% of minor settlements are located in mountainous regions. 72% of settlements are close to water. 34% of the settlements are located on transregional road axes, 9% of these on main and the 14% on secondary roads, while 43% are not connected in this way. 14% of the settlements represent nodal points on the road system, 11% are ports, while nodes and ports constitute the 2%. The structure of the network of set-tlements ,using the capital city Constantinople as a point of reference, corresponds on the first level to a radial spatial model, the diffusion of which, extends as a spatial web into the three continents. On the second level there are individual linear spatial models that follow the seashores of the Mediterranean and the Euxeinos Pontos and follow passages to the hinterland, frequently through river valleys. The network of settlements and the road network are of course, closely linked.A substantial density of settlements, founded in the EBP, is found in Pontike Dioe-ceses, in the regions near Constantinople, as well as in the Anatolike Dioeceses, in the regions, that are related with the new religion, as the Palestine. There is a me-dium sized concentration of settlements in the Thrakike, Asiane and Aigyptiake Dioeceses, while there is a small concentration in the Dioeceses of Illyrikon. In gen-eral there is a large concentration of settlements in Greece; in the plateau of Asia Minor; in the southern parts of Syria and Palestine, (mainly in the coastal plateaus between Tyre and Gaza and following the banks of the Nile).In the Eastern Mediterranean the foundation of settlements began in the Archaic period and continued in the Classical period with the city – state as its main model. Slowly, during Hellenistic period minor size settlements began to dominate. In the Roman and Early Byzantine period, 80% of the new foundations were minor size settlements. Of the five historical periods, the foundation of settlements was at its most intense during the Roman period. The EBP continued this trend, though the development of new settlements was only half that which had been carried out under the Roman rule. The amount of flat land was very limited, yet the spread of settle-ments in flat and mountainous lands was almost the same. In the Roman and EBP, the higher percentage of settlements was founded in mountainous regions and these settlements were, in the beginning, small.The administrative structure had a pyramid-like form with the emperor at the top and a tree-like structure down the whole length of the hierarchy. The administrative power predominated over the military and there was a strengthened bureaucracy and a state centralism. The network was able to function because it was supported by two connected infrastructures: The first was concerned with the organized use of human resources: the bureaucracy: the administrators of the regional political power, whose main job was the collection of taxes and resources, and the control and the management of the means of production. The second was the physical infrastructure which enabled the trade, manufacture and transport generated by the administrators to be carried out, as well as facilitating the exchange of ideas, to and from the capital city. The network of roads ensured good communications and thus enabled this effi-cient system of central control to be implemented throughout the empire. The hier-archical structure at all organizational levels constitutes one from the distinctive features of the early Byzantine mode of production. This structure runs through the spatial dimension of the regional organization, that was cartographically surveyed on three levels: 1. On the land-planning level, which deals with the whole Eastern Roman Empire. 2. On the regional level, which was concerned with the Dioeceses. 3. On the provincial level, which deals with the Prov-inces. 3,048 settlements were recorded, located, categorized and organised in a data-base, a number that represents the total number of settlements known from archaeo-logical studies to have been active during the period being studied.From the above statements it can be seen that in the Early Byzantine period the Eastern Roman Empire was wealthy in the sense that it was productive, that there was a growing network of roads and dense pattern of settlements. The fact that many small settlements were founded at this time shows that not only was there a trend towards agrarization, but also suggests that the role of the cities was changing in those places where the number of small settlements increased within the same re-gion. The investigation of the regional organisation in the EBP shows that both the settle-ments at all levels, and the infrastructures of the Eastern Roman Empire were in good shape. It presents a picture of an empire, where the number the of rural and urban settlements is increasing while being organized in a hierarchical structure throughout the region. The thesis has made an effort to create a holistic picture of the geographical and administrative form of the Eastern Roman Empire, which can easily be analyzed in smaller spatial parts and recomposed in bigger, showing on each level the cultural characteristics of the settlements network, through the loca-tion, mapping and categorisation of the network. The present research was designed to contribute to the overall study of the regional landscapes of the Eastern Roman Empire and it contributes by analyzing regional organization of settlements in the Early Byzantine period. In this way it enriches the diachronic study of settlements of the Eastern Mediterranean and her culture with quantitative and qualitative elements.

This thesis addresses the twin questions of technology and the human, ultimately questioning the validity of either category and pointing toward their dissolution in transhumanism. Starting with a discussion of the question of technology in organization studies, the thesis takes issue with the way in which discussion has focused on the technology- object pole of a dualism at the neglect of the human subject that occupies the opposing pole. Following a methodological call for symmetry the thesis reconsiders the question of technology in light of its human other and visa versa. Working with the ideas of Friedrich Nietzsche and Deleuze and Guattari, the thesis suggests that there is a problem with maintaining a distinct conception of the human, separated a priori from questions of technology and language. In seeking to avoid an essentialism either of the (technological) object, or the (human) subject, the thesis reconsiders the question of the human, language and technics through an examination of the work of William S. Burroughs. Combining Burroughs' ideas with those of Deleuze and Guattari, a conception of the 'transhuman' is developed which, in opposition to a transcendental humanism, articulates the immanent implication of technology and language in the production of subjectivity, and points to the more radical potentials of new technology in figuring alternative modes of subjectivization and social organization.

This thesis examines the recent development of the policy discourses of creativity in England and Korea. It aims to analyse the values that the word „creativity‟ represents in policy terms, challenge their underlying assumptions, and explore how the idea of creativity has been implicated in each country‟s cultural policy formations. It also provides a critical examination of the similarities and differences between the two countries. In so doing, this thesis attempts to challenge the absence of cultural policy research on creativity and provide a meaningful scholarly contribution to the existing field of cultural policy studies. In order to provide a comprehensive and critical analysis of the emergence and development of the creativity discourses in England and Korea, the study employs a social scientific method of relational thinking that draws on Pierre Bourdieu‟s field theory. By challenging the existing tradition of cultural policy discussion that is either implicitly or explicitly informed by a dichotomous thinking between intrinsic and instrumental values of culture, the study proposes a new critical approach to understanding and examining the complex dynamics of cultural policy issues surrounding the idea of creativity in policy terms. Based on the Bourdieusian heuristic tool of relational thinking, the thesis explores how the idea of creativity has become politically reconstructed so as to serve specific interests, values and dispositions that correspond to a particular political position, rather than a recognised field of cultural or creative practices. By closely examining the policy contexts of the government‟s creative education initiatives Creative Partnerships in England and Korea Arts and Culture Education Service in Korea, the thesis suggests that there are distinctive parallels between the English and Korean cases; not simply in the developmental trajectory of creativity discourses, but also in the broader aspect that relates to the shaping of cultural policy formations and recent paradigm shifts in cultural policy thinking. The study examines the extent to which these commonalities can be interpreted as an instance of „policy convergence‟ between the two countries.

It has been a while now since his untimely passing on the 25th September,2003. Edward Said was one of the most prolific public intellectuals of the 20th century and his model of the intellectual is still a source of inspiration and respect. The present thesis engages in the debate around the intellectual and his/her relationship to the public sphere. It argues that Said’s thoughts in ‘Traveling Theory’ provide not only a theory of critical consciousness but also a politically empowering tool by use of which intellectuals are able penetrate spheres. Political public spheres have always been the defining spheres of intellectual figures throughout history. This triggers the starting point of connection; it suggests that Said’s model of the public intellectual represents a residual figure of the man of letters. It argues that both the man of letters and public intellectuals, in different epochs, were made to suffer the consequences of the transformations of the public spheres. Yet, Said’s model strikes a balance between the professional and the amateur. The political tool in the traveling theory acts here as a defining element of the intellectuals’ practice in achieving some form of balance between those spheres. Said’s theatre of thought has shown an indefatigable commitment to a connection between spheres; academic, public and political. It is through his politics of humanism that he beautifully conflates ideas and ideals. His politics in the struggle for Palestine is in fact a politics of truth, coexistence and reconciliation. This also manifested itself in his political writings, beginning from Question of Palestine and continuing until Freud and the non-European. Finally, it is his intellectual legacy and his legacy as a public intellectual that makes him so relevant to the recent Arab Spring. Having looked back at two years of his life (1967-1993) and recalled his spirit when looking at Arab intellectuals’ interventions in the Arab Spring, one can clearly glimpse Said’s underlying alternatives, which reverberated in some of the Arab intellectuals as a model of the intellectual who can act beyond ideology.

This thesis presents a comparative study of cultural policy in Britain and Italy. It provides a historical reconstruction of the cultural, legal and administrative contexts for cultural policy-making in the two countries, with a view of highlighting how cultural policy priorities have changed over time. The discussion of the growing popularity, in Italy, of notions of the cultural heritage as an engine for local economic development and as a resource that can allow the government to find the resources it needs to finance infrastructural works is given particular emphasis. Indeed, this probably represents the most original contribution made to the field of cultural policy research, in that Italy is a much under-researched country, and extant literature in English is almost non-existent. The main argument that the discussion aims to substantiate is that, despite being rooted in very different cultural and administrative traditions, both the British and Italian cultural policy debates seem to display a growing popularity of an instrumentalist rhetoric, which justifies public subsidy of the cultural sector on the grounds of the alleged beneficial impacts of the sector in the social and economic spheres. The main contribution of the thesis to the current understanding of instrumental cultural policy is therefore to offer plausible explanations for this recent trend. The thesis argues that the current situation, both in Italy and the UK, can be best understood in the light of the global phenomenon of neo-liberal globalisation, and the tendency for policy-transfer between countries that it tends to promote.

This study examines the theoretical contradictions of 'cultural democracy' in Britain and the United States. Cultural democracy here refers to the claim that community participation in cultural activities (artistic production and consumption) leads to participation in a democratic society. In Britain 'cultural democracy' has been associated especially with the 'community arts' movement of the 1970s and 1980s. Using Gramsci's theory of 'hegemony' as a framework for analysis, I will argue that the theoretical inconsistencies of 'cultural democracy' in the 1970s and 1980s can be traced back to a fundamental contradiction in British and U.S. cultural policy, between 'materialist' and 'idealist' conceptions of culture. This contradiction has resulted in moments of crisis in British and U.S. cultural policy, followed by periods of 'unstable equilibrium'. In support of this argument I will focus on four of these moments of contradiction and crisis. First I will develop my hypothetical model of contradiction, crisis and equilibrium in relation to the British community arts movement in the 1970s and 1980s. Then I will apply this model to three successive 'moments of crisis' in British and U.S. cultural policy: the 'civilising mission' of the late nineteenth century public cultural institutions in Britain and the U.S., particularly the settlement house; the U.S. federal arts projects of the 1930s; dilemmas of access and accountability in recent media policy. I will conclude by exploring some alternative theoretical formulations of the relationship between 'culture' and 'community' and their possible application to cultural policy and cultural democracy.

This thesis examines the dress and personal appearance of members of the middle and lower classes during Late Antiquity. Although members of this social stratum are often represented in Late Antique written sources, their clothing is rarely described in any detail, nor can artistic depictions be relied upon to illustrate their garments realistically. Information has therefore been assembled on garments and garment fragments from over 52 museum and archaeological collections, in order to assess the ways that cloth and clothing was made, embellished, cared for and recycled during this period. Together with knowledge gained by making and modelling exact replicas based on extant garments, this has enabled both the accurate depiction of the dress of ordinary people during this period, and the more precise interpretation of Late Antique descriptions and depictions of the clothed figure. By further assessing this information using different theoretical approaches including that of ‘object biography’, this thesis goes on to explore the ways in which cultural meaning is invested in clothing, and what this tells us both about the people who made, wore and used it, and about the society of which they were a part.

Les espèces de Plasmodium induisent une réponse immunitaire spécifique, qui stimulent la libération de cytokines et entraînent des réponses protectrices ou pathologique. Dans les modèles murins, ses réponses dépendent des combinaisons de la souche de souris et de l’espèce Plasmodium utilisés. Les souris C57BL/6 infectées, avec un nombre relativement faible de Plasmodium chabaudi AS, expérimentent une infection qui n’est pas fatale et une résistance à l'infection associée avec une réponse inflammatoire forte qui implique l'interleukine-12 et l'activation précoce des cellules T CD4+ avec une production élevée de IFN-γ et TNF-α. Cette réponse pro inflammatoire est par la suite contrôlée par l'IL-10 qui mène au contrôle et à la résolution de l'infection. Cependant, les souris qui succombent à l’infection développent la parasitémie fulminante et une infection mortelle. La cause des différences de résolution n'est pas bien comprise, bien que les principaux composants de protection et les réponses immunitaires pathologiques sont bien connus. Cette étude utilise le modèle de Plasmodium chabaudi dans le souris C57BL/6, pour: 1) comparer la résolution de l'infection et de la pathologie entre le P. chabaudi AS qui est relativement non virulentes et la plus virulentes de P. chabaudi CB; 2) déterminer si les différences dans la réplication des parasites, charge parasitaire ou les réponses immunitaire de l'hôte contribuent a des différences pathologiques; 3) ) chercher à déterminer ce qui mène les différences dans la réponse immunitaire de l'hôte. P. chabaudi CB provoque une infection plus sévère chez les souris C57BL/6 par rapport à P. chabaudi AS, avec une mortalité de ±40% endéans 12 jours et une moyenne des pics de 50% par rapport à 30% observé dans des souris infectées avec P. chabaudi AS. Aucune différence n’a été observé entre la charge corporelle des parasites durant les infections de P. chabaudi AS comparée a celle de P. chabaudi CB. Un taux élevé de cellules NK a été constaté dans les rate des souris infectées par P. chabaudi AS au niveau maximum de parasitémie, tandis que le taux des cellules NK dans les rates des souris infectées par P. chabaudi CB est resté constant tout au long de l'infection. Par conséquent, la poussée du taux des cellules NK contribue a l’infection non virulente des clones P. chabaudi AS. Ceci est du à la capacité cytolytique des cellules NK ainsi qu’à la production des IFN- γ. Le nombre de lymphocytes T CD4+ présents dans les rates des souris C57BL/6 infectées par P. chabaudi CB était inférieur a celui des lymphocytes T CD4+ présent dans les rates des souris infectées par P. chabaudi AS ; 1 fois moins de cellules T CD4+l'IFN-γ+ et 2 fois moins de cellules l'IL-10 +T CD4+ ont été observés. Une analyse plus approfondie a illustré que les cellules l'IL-10+ IFN-γ+ T CD4+ sont plus fréquentes chez les souris infectées par P. chabaudi AS. L'absence des cellules d'IL-10+ IFN-γ+ T CD4+ chez les souris infectées par P. chabaudi CB contribue à la pathologie, parce que ces cellules limitent les réactions inflammatoires mortelles et améliorent la perte de poids, l'hypothermie et l'anémie, en régulant l'immunopathologie. Les différences observées dans les réponses immunitaires ne sont pas contrôlées par l'interaction des parasites spécifiques tel que glycophosphatidylinositol avec TLR2, mais plutôt par l'IFN-α/β. Bien qu’ IFN-α/β n’ont pas été détecté dans le plasma, des niveaux plus élevés d'IFN-α/β d'ARNm transcrits ont été trouvés dans la rate de C57BL/6 infectées par P. chabaudi CB au cinquième jour d’infection. Le manque d’IFN-α/βR limite la pathologie et l’infection P. chabaudi CB virulentes sans affecter les infections P. chabaudi AS non virulentes
Plasmodium species induces a specific immune response, stimulating the release of cytokines, resulting in either protective or pathological responses. In mouse models, this is depended on mouse strain or parasite combination used. C57BL/6 infected with relatively low numbers of Plasmodium chabaudi AS pRBC experience a non-lethal infection and resistance is associated with robust inflammatory responses that involves IL-12, early activation of CD4+Th1 cells with production of high levels of IFN-γ and TNF-α, this pro-inflammatory response is subsequently controlled by IL-10 leading to control and resolution of infection. However, mice that succumb to infection develop fulminant parasitaemia and increase mortality. The cause of the differences in infection outcome is not well understood, although the principal components of protective and pathological immune responses are well known. Using the model of Plasmodium chabaudi in C57BL/6, this study addresses the following; 1) compares the course of infection and pathology between the relatively avirulent P. chabaudi AS and the more virulent P. chabaudi CB; 2) investigates whether differences in parasite replication, parasite load or host immune responses contribute to differences in pathology; 3) what mediates the differences in host immune response? P. chabaudi CB causes a more severe infection in C57BL/6 compared to P. chabaudi AS, with ±40% mortality within 12 days and mean peak parasitaemia of 50% compared to 30% in P. chabaudi AS infected mice. There was no difference in total body parasite load between the P. chabaudi AS and CB infections. A High number of NK cells was found in the spleen of P. chabaudi AS infected mice at peak parasitaemia, whereas NK cells numbers in spleen of P. chabaudi CB infected mice remained constant throughout infection. Hence, the elevated NK cells contribute to parasite clearance in the avirulent P. chabaudi AS clone, because of its IFN-γ production and cytolytic activity. P. chabaudi CB infected C57BL/6 were found to have reduced number of CD4+T cells in the spleen, with 1-fold decrease in IFN-γ+CD4+T cells and 2-fold decrease in IL-10+ CD4+T cells when compared to CD4+T cells from P. chabaudi AS infected mice. Further analysis showed that IL-10+IFN-γ+CD4+T cells were more prevalent in P. chabaudi AS infected mice. The absence of IL-10+IFN-γ+CD4+T cells in P. chabaudi CB infected C57BL/6 contributes to pathology, because these cells limit lethal inflammatory responses and ameliorate weight loss, hypothermia and anemia, by regulating immunopathology. The differences observed in immune responses are not mediated by interaction of parasite specific GPIs with TLR2, but rather by IFN-α/β. Although IFN-α/β were not detected in plasma, higher levels of IFN-α/β mRNA transcripts were found in the spleen of P. chabaudi CB infected C57BL/6 on day 5. IFN-α/βR deficiency limits virulent P. chabaudi CB infections with no effect on avirulent P. chabaudi AS infections

A 3,4-metilenodioximetanfetamina (MDMA) é a principal substância psicoativa comercializada ilegalmente em comprimidos de ecstasy. O MDMA é uma droga de ação psicotrópica e uso proscrito, conforme lista F (grupo F2) da ANVISA, pois apresenta propriedades alucinógenas e estimulantes e seu uso/abuso pode gerar uma série de danos à saúde dos usuários. O desenvolvimento de eletrodos quimicamente modificados (EQMs) na eletroanalítica tem por finalidade a obtenção de sistemas de detecção mais sensíveis e seletivos para o analito de interesse. Também, considera-se necessário desenvolver novas técnicas e métodos para a detecção de compostos em amostras de interesse forense, a fim de obter ferramentas para auxiliar os cientistas forenses no combate ao comércio ilícito de substâncias. Conforme problemática exposta, este trabalho teve por finalidade o desenvolvimento de eletrodos quimicamente modificados utilizando como modificadores da superfície eletródica de carbono vítreo o Nafion e Nafion/CB[7], utilizando deposição por drop coating e spin coating para a detecção de MDMA através das técnicas de voltametria cíclica e onda quadrada. Conforme o sistema empregado, os melhores EQMs desenvolvidos foram de Nafion (1,5% v/v) e Nafion (1,5% v/v)/CB[7] (10,0 µg.mL-1). Os EQMs desenvolvidos apresentaram limite de detecção e quantificação na faixa de traços e menores que aqueles reportados em outros trabalhos da literatura. Considerando a aplicação dos EQMs para a detecção de MDMA em amostras de ecstasy, verificaram-se as respostas voltamétricas de outras substâncias: cafeína, metanfetamina, teobromina, lidocaína, cloridrato de procaína, (±)-metanfetamina e cloridrato de cocaína. Nas condições experimentais empregadas, observou-se que as substâncias estudadas não atuam como falsos positivos para o MDMA. Paralelamente, obtiveram-se onze lotes de comprimidos de ecstasy (apreendidos e cedidos pela Polícia técnico-científica de Ribeirão Preto-SP) e realizaram-se análises qualitativas e quantitativas nos mesmos, utilizando técnicas colorimétricas (Marquis, Ácido sulfúrico, Simon e Simon com acetona) e cromatográficas (CG-EM E CLAE-EM). Considerando o melhor EQM desenvolvido, quantificaram-se 11 lotes de ecstasy pela técnica voltamétrica e cromatográfica, dentre os lotes estudados, dois não continham MDMA, um apresentou uma mistura de MDMA e cafeína e os demais continham MDMA. A concentração de MDMA presente nos lotes variou de 0 até 61 % em massa. A detecção de MDMA em ecstasy pelo método voltamétrico desenvolvido se mostrou viável e sensível para o analito de interesse.
The 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is the main psychoactive component of ecstasy tablets, that have an illicit trade. MDMA has been an illicit psychotropic drug, and it has a prohibited use (group F2, in ANVISAs F list), because of its hallucinogenic and stimulating effects, and the use/abuse can poses serials health risks. The development of chemically modified electrodes (CME) in electroanalytical methods aims to get more sensitive and selective systems to detect the analytes. In this context, it is necessary to develop new techniques and methodologies to the detection of illicit samples; it provides more tools to help the forensic scientists to combat the illicit drug trade. So, this work focused in the development of chemically modified electrodes (CMEs) with modifications on the glassy carbon surface by drop coating and spin coating using Nafion and Nafion/CB[7] solutions. The CMEs were tested using cyclic, and square wave voltammetry to detect MDMA. Considering the employed system, the best CMEs were made by Nafion (1.5% v/v), and Nafion (1.5% v/v)/CB[7] (10.0 µg.mL-1) thin films. It was possible to observe better sensitivities for these sensors, in comparison to other MDMA studies reported in the literature. The specificity of the proposed sensors was checked in relation to other drugs: caffeine, methamphetamine, theobromine, lidocaine, procaine hydrochloride, and cocaine hydrochloride. These drugs do not interfere in this voltammetric method. Additionally, we studied eleven lots of ecstasy samples, allowed by the Scientific Police - Ribeirão Preto-SP, and we provide qualitative and quantitative studies using colorimetric techniques (Marquis, Sulfuric acid, Simon, and Simon with acetone), and chromatografic techniques (GC-MS and HPLC-MS). The MDMA quantification in real samples was obtained by high performance liquid chromatography with a mass spectrophotometer, and we compared with the voltammetric technique, using the developed CME. Between the analyzed lots, two of them didnt present in their composition, one lot had a mix of caffeine and MDMA, and another presented MDMA. The MDMAs concentration in lots had a large variation, with 0 to 61 % w/w. The MDMAs voltammetric detection in ecstasy lots was viable. And, it is also possible to apply this methodology to analyze MDMA traces.

Об'єкт мого дослідження базуэться на економічній оцінці альтернативних стратегій розвитку підприємств групи MTN. Рухомий своїм новаторським підходом, MTN є одним з провідних операторів на ринках мобільного зв'язку, який знаходиться на передових позиціях технологічних змін, що охопили світ. Вони інвестують кошти більш ніж у 189 мільйонів чоловік в 22 країнах Африки і Близького Сходу. За останні п'ять років їх капітальні витрати перевищили 100 млрд. доларів. У гонитві за новим баченням стиль життя та якість обслуговування клієнтів нового покоління людей стаю все більш і більш важливими для працівників компанії MTN. Вони визнають цінність різноманіття в групі з твердою організаційною культурою. Працюючи з цілісністю, вони цінують свої відносини з спільнотами, в яких вони працюють, своїх клієнтів та співробітників, акціонерів і засоби масової інформації, уряд і регулюючі органи, а також постачальників і ділових партнерів. Вони визнають важливість цих зацікавлених сторін, зокрема, в стабільності свого бізнесу. Вони є провідним постачальником на ринках телекомунікаційних послуг, що розвиваються, зі штаб-квартирою в Йоганнесбурзі, Південна Африка. Компанія має лістинг на JSE фондовій біржі, де вона посідає шосте місце. Завдяки своїм великим інвестиціям в країнах з розвиненою комунікаційною інфраструктурою в останні два десятиліття, таланту і досвіду свого народу, а також силі їх бренду, вони швидко розвинулися в 22 країнах Африки і Близького Сходу. Вони забезпечують комплексний підхід до надання інформації та послуг для своїх клієнтів.
Research object looks at Economic evaluation of alternative strategies for en-terprise development MTN group. Driven by its pioneering approach, MTN is a leading emerging markets mobile operator that is at the forefront of the technological changes sweeping the world. They invest in more than 189 million people in 22 countries across Africa and the Middle East. In the past five years, their capital ex¬penditure has exceeded R100 billion. In the pursuit of a new vision of a new generation of people, their lives have be¬come more and more important to them. Quality customer experience. They recognize the value of diversity within a group with a solid organizational culture. Working with integrity, they value their relationships with the communities in which they work, their customers and employees, their shareholders and the media, governments and regulators, as well as suppliers and business partners. They recognize the importance of these stakeholders, among others, in the sus¬tainability of their business. They are a leading emerging markets telecommunications service provider and are headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa. The company has a listing on the JSE Securities Exchange where it ranks sixth. Through their ex¬tensive investment in advanced communication infrastructure in the past two decades, the talent and experience of their people, as well as the strength of their brand, they have grown rapidly to now have operations in 22 countries across Africa and the Middle East. They provide an integrated approach to the delivery of information and services to their customers. Keywords: Staff, HR management, organization, personnel, risk management process, organizational, structure, instements, innovative, head, finance, stategy.
Chapter I. Theoretical framework and studies of MTN group Chapter II. Research and Analysis of the MTN group syst Chapter III. Recommendation Chapter IV. Special part Chapter V. Rationale for recommendation Chapter VI. Occupational health and safety in emergencies Chapter VII. Environnemental issues

Thesis (DBA)--City University of Hong Kong, 2009.
"Submitted to College of Business in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Business Administration." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 138-153)

Dentro del sistema endocannabinoide, los receptores de cannabinoides, hasta ahora clonados y caracterizados, son principalmente dos: el de tipo 1 (CB1R) y el de tipo 2 (CB2R). A pesar de que el CB1R se ha determinado ampliamente en el sistema nervioso central (CNS) y su acción se ha visto mediante de una gran variedad de procesos cognitivos y neurológicos, al receptor CB2 se le había atribuido, desde su clonación, una presencia exclusivamente periférica y un papel fundamental en el sistema inmunológico. Sin embargo, en los últimos años, no han sido desdeñables el número de publicaciones orientadas a demostrar la posible presencia encefálica de este receptor y, más aún, su eventual presencia neuronal. Aún así, este hecho sigue siendo una materia ampliamente discutida dentro del marco neurocientífico, motivo por el cual la descripción del CB2R dentro del sistema nervioso central, así como el discernimiento de su posible papel dentro del mismo, sigue siendo, a día de hoy, bastante exigua. En esta Tesis, se ha puesto de manifiesto que el mRNA del CB2 se encuentra presente en distintas áreas cerebrales de mono como la corteza, hipocampo y el globo pálido. Además, dentro de las dos subdivisiones del globo pálido, el mRNA de CB2 se ha podido localizar en distintos tipos neuronales. Durante la evaluación de su participación en desarrollo, en el modelo embrionario de Xenopus laevis, la sobreexpresión del receptor CB2 humano demostró la implicación del mismo en procesos de desarrollo neural, concretamente, en la formación de los nervios craneales que se forman a partir de la placoda epibranquial y que, al mismo tiempo, correlaciona con un aumento en la fosforilación de la vía de señalización de las Akt y una disminución en la fosforilación de la vía de la MAPK. El patrón de expresión molecular evidenció la implicación de la señal de FGF y WNT y del factor pax2, implicado en el desarrollo de las placodas epibranquiales. En este sentido, se reveló un posible papel del receptor CB2 en la contención del estado proliferativo de células embrionarias, y más especialmente, en su decisión de cambio de estado, actuando a modo de interruptor e impidiendo el paso de éstas hacia un estado diferenciado. Por otro lado, dado que previamente los receptores de CB2 y de CB1 se habían descrito presentes en las mismas áreas encefálicas, en cantidades bastante dispares, siendo el CB1R mucho más abundante que el CB2R, sugiriendo un posible papel modulador del receptor de CB2 para con el CB1, y dado que ambos receptores forman parte de los receptores acoplados a proteína G (GPCRs), se evalúo la posible heteromerización de los mismos y la variación de la señal de los cannabinoides cuando actuaban a partir del heterómero. De esta manera, se determinó, mediante distintas técnicas biofísicas y bioquímicas, la presencia del heterómero CB1R-CB2R in vitro, en células transfectadas y en un modelo celular neuronal y, en vivo, en distintas áreas encefálicas, tales como el estriado, el globo pálido y la glándula pineal. Dicho heterómero presentaba un cross talk negativo en células transfectadas cuando se co-activaba con los agonistas de ambos receptores con respecto a la activación individual, tanto en la señalización de la vía de la Akt/PI3K como en procesos de neuritogénesis. Además, el uso de antagonistas de ambos receptores puso de manifiesto un cross-antagonismo cruzado que atribuía inexcusablemente el cambio en la señalización observado, con respecto a la activación individual, a una interacción molecular del heterómero. Finalmente, y mediante técnicas biofísicas, se han encontrado otros posibles candidatos, pertenecientes a diferentes sistemas de neurotransmisores, con los que previamente se había determinado una posible interacción funcional con el sistema cannabinoide, que, del mismo modo, tienen capacidad para heteromerizar con el CB2R, tales como el receptor de adenosina A2A, y el receptor de serotonina 5HT2c El conjunto de los datos descritos en esta Tesis ha revelado la presencia del receptor de CB2 en el CNS, con un papel característico en el desarrollo neural y un papel modulador del receptor de tipo 1 cuando se encuentra formando parte del mismo heterómero, manifestando así un importante potencial terapéutico.
To date the two main receptors of the endocannabinoid system are cannabinoid receptor type 1 and 2 (CB1R and CB2R). While CB1R are known to be widely expressed all over the brain, the putative presence of CB2R in the central nervous system is still a matter of debate. In the present Thesis, we present evidence for the existence of CB2R transcripts in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus brain regions and even in neurons from internal and external divisions of the globus pallidus from primate’s brain. In an embryonic Xenopus laevis model, we have provided data that suggests involvement of CB2R in neural development. CB2R overexpression impairs maxillomandibullar (VII), glossopharyngeal (IX) and vagal (X) cranial nerves development by two differential pathways: activating Akt pathway whilst inhibiting the ERK 1/2 MAPK pathway. This signaling pattern also induces upregulation of genes involved in placodal and cranial nerve development as wnt8, fgf8 and pax2 and concerns CB2R with a putative role in epibranchial placodal progenitor fate. At the molecular level, we have demonstrated that both cannabinoid receptors, CB1R and CB2R, can form heteromers in transfected neuronal cells as well as in the rat brain pineal gland, nucleus accumbens and globus pallidus where they have been seen previously to colocalize. CB1 and CB2 receptor heteromer agonist co-activation leads to a negative cross-talk. In addition, we found that the CB1R-CB2R heteromers demonstrated a bidirectional crossantagonism, the ability of CB1R antagonist to block the effect of CB2 agonists and, conversely, the ability of CB2 antagonists to block the effect of CB1 agonists. Finally, using biophysical approaches we have shown that CB2 can also form heteromers with other neurotransmitter system receptors as adenosine A2A receptor and serotonin 5HT2c receptor. The data presented here gives evidence for the presence of CB2R in the central nervous system with and suggest it may play an important role in neural development and/or as a modulator of CB1R when expressed as a heteromer. These characteristics make it a good candidate for drug design and therapeutic use.

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This dissertation is focused on the experiences which were lived and shared by a group of residents of Jardim Zaíra, in Maua, a city in ABC Paulista, São Paulo between the years 1958 and 1970. Our gaze turns to the experiences related to the urbanization of that place, the relationship of the residents with the Catholic Church and with the Neighborhood Friends Society , the participation of PCdoB members and later on, in 1968, the engagement of those people in a political movement called Popular Action, which through the process titled "integration in production" formed the cell-base-22 and encouraged the militancy against dictatorial government outrages present in Brazil that time .Through Oral History, we tried to analyze testimonials from 11 people who were related to that movement. We also present an assessment of 6 photos that rescue the daily life of those residents as well as the analysis of texts that bring us the vision of their leaders and the analysis of documents produced by the organs of repression that deal about their arrests and trial. The aim is to contribute towards the understanding about the social movement before and after the arrival of Popular Action members to that neighborhood as well as the reasons that brought them there and the experiences derived from this encounter. Similarly, we present the analysis of the CB-22 dismantling. We understand the importance of this movement and its ability to influence others later which helped ABC Paulista region to be known nationally because of the struggles for democracy. In times of Truth Commission, the research aims to broaden discussions not only of social movements, but also about the abuses caused by the organs of repression
Esta dissertação tem como tema central as experiências vividas e compartilhadas por um grupo de moradores do Jardim Zaíra, município de Mauá, região do ABC Paulista, estado de São Paulo, entre os anos de 1958 e 1970. Nosso olhar se volta para as experiências relacionadas ao processo de urbanização daquele lugar, as relações dos moradores junto à Igreja Católica e à Sociedade Amigos de Bairro, a participação de membros do PCdoB e posteriormente, em 1968, o engajamento daquelas pessoas num movimento político intitulado Ação Popular, o qual por meio do processo intitulado integração na produção formou no bairro a Célula-base-22 e incentivou a militância contra as arbitrariedades do governo ditatorial presente no Brasil naquela época. Por meio da História Oral, procuramos analisar depoimentos de 11 pessoas que estiveram relacionadas àquele movimento. Apresentamos também a apreciação de 6 fotos que resgatam o cotidiano daqueles moradores, bem como, a análise de textos que trazem a visão de suas lideranças e a análise de documentos produzidos pelos órgãos de repressão que tratam sobre suas prisões e julgamento. Pretende-se assim contribuir para compreensão a cerca do movimento social antes e depois da chegada dos membros da Ação Popular àquele bairro, bem como os motivos que os levaram até lá e as experiências oriundas desse encontro. Do mesmo modo apresentamos a análise sobre o desmantelamento da CB-22. Compreendemos a importância desse movimento e sua capacidade de posteriormente influenciar outros, que tornaram a região do ABC Paulista conhecida nacionalmente devido às lutas em prol da democracia. Em tempos de Comissão da Verdade a pesquisa visa ampliar as discussões não só dos movimentos sociais, mas dos abusos causados pelos órgãos de repressão

This thesis takes Assmann’s theory of cultural memory and applies it to an exploration of conceptualisations of dreams and dreaming in the early Roman Empire (31 BC – AD 200). Background information on dreams in different cultures, especially those closest to Rome (the ancient Near East, Egypt and Greece) is provided, and dream reports in Greco-Roman historical and imaginative literature are analysed. The thesis concludes that dreams were considered to offer a possible connection with the divine within the cultural imagination in the early Empire, but that the people of the second century AD, which has sometimes been called an ‘age of anxiety’, were no more interested in dreams or dream revelation than Greeks and Romans of other periods. This thesis outlines, defines and applies the newly developed concept of cultural imagination, developed from cultural memory, to its examination of dreams and dream reports in Greco-Roman literature. Using the concept of cultural imagination in preference to discussing ‘belief’ is shown to have advantages for the study of ancient religion, as it allows the historian to discuss religious ideas that may or may not have been widely ‘believed’ but which were present within the imagination of the members of a particular society.

This thesis investigates evidence for the cultural lives of domestic objects in Late Antiquity. As such, it focuses on objects as meaningful possessions, rather than their practical, utilitarian functions. In particular, this research seeks to reveal the personal meaning for domestic possessions and their sentimental, as opposed to economic, value. This is something that has either been ignored or mentioned only in passing and without further qualification in existing studies of late antique material culture. This research is underpinned by specific theoretical approaches from the disciplines of archaeology, art history and anthropology. Object biography, or the understanding that events in the lives of objects can affect their meaning and value, is key to this investigation and provides the opportunity to approach the material evidence in a novel way. It allows the direct comparison of previously disparate textual and archaeological sources to better understand the relationships between people and their possessions across a broad social spectrum. It also governs the structure of the thesis, which has chapters on heirlooms, gifts, and souvenirs – all of which are defined by an element of their biography, namely the context of their acquisition. The case study chapter also examines a generally ignored artefact type – the basket – bringing this undervalued example of domestic material culture to the fore. This thesis reveals that personal domestic possessions had the capacity to function as material vehicles for intangible thoughts, memories, and relationships. This function was known and exploited by the people of Late Antiquity in order to create and possess meaningful domestic objects of various types. It provides a new interpretation of domestic material culture that is different to more traditional studies of economic and social status. As such, it allows an understanding of how material culture transformed dwellings into homes during this period.

This thesis provides an overview of the cult of Mithras from the late third to early fifth centuries across the entire Roman world. It seeks to illustrate what developments occurred in the cult during this period and how it subsequently came to an end. In doing so, it elucidates alterations in the environment and architecture of mithraea, the patrons and adherents of the cult, and Mithraic ritual practices. It demonstrates that by the fourth century the cult of Mithras had become increasingly localised, with a significant degree of variation evident among different Mithraic communities. Furthermore, it will be shown that, contrary to the traditional narrative, the end of the Mithras cult was not the product of an Empire-wide persecution by Christian iconoclasts, but a more gradual process that occurred over a long period of time. Additionally, it explores whether adopting a sociological approach, as has been suggested by other scholars in the past, can be used to explain how the transformations evident in the cult may have contributed to a decline in the commitment of Mithraic adherents in the fourth century. This study contributes to the wider field of research on the late antique period in three ways. Firstly, it is to my knowledge the only analysis of a non-Christian cult in Late Antiquity to cover the entire Roman Empire and thus hopes to contribute to a greater understanding of the sacred landscape in this period. In particular, it sheds some light on areas which are generally understudied in this regard, such as the Rhine and Danube frontiers. Secondly, it seeks to place the end of a cult in this period in its sociocultural context, rather than focusing only on the evidence from cult sites alone as previous studies have often done, thus providing a more nuanced explanation for why this occurred. Finally, through comparing the Mithras cult to other cults in this period it also shows that there is little to support any notion of a uniform 'decline of paganism' in late antiquity, with various cults experiencing divergent rates of decline which began at different times.

In the past twenty years there has been a sustained theoretical challenge to issues of Roman identity in the western provinces. However, despite this body of work, the towns of Roman Britain are still primarily defined by the extent to which they embraced a set of supposedly Mediterranean urban features. This research uses the medium of water to thoroughly explore the reasons behind this approach and the disparity it has created in respect to studies of prehistory. While water is undoubtedly a thread of continuity in human settlement, scholars of the Roman period have been particularly concerned with outlining its urban utilisation as a sign of familiarity, or shared civilisation, between the Roman period and modernity. Subsequently, Roman era structures related to water (such as aqueducts, wells, bridges and bathhouses) have been portrayed as examples of a cultural advancement that was distinct from previous activity within the immediate landscape. This approach has therefore discounted the rich and powerful associations pertaining to water throughout the temperate European prehistory. Through analysis of twenty one of the most influential Roman towns of Britain, this thesis shows how local beliefs would have been an integral part of how one perceived and experienced urban water features. It will be emphasised that the entanglement between these associations and complex, but receptive, incoming cultural influences would have played a key role in creating hybrid waterscapes within these settlements. Fully acknowledging this complex cultural presence of water underlines how the experience of towns in Roman Britain was a product of a number of different perspectives; meaning these places cannot be fully understood without a careful consideration of local context.

This thesis offers three case studies of religious representations of the natural world in Strasbourg from 1510 to 1541 from the perspective of the interactive model of socioeconomic metabolism. This model proposes that long-term environmental instability will exert a negative effect on human/social biophysical structures and may provoke changes in the manner in which the natural world is represented within that culture. Although direct causation is impossible to prove due to the autonomous nature of the cultural sphere, this thesis suggests that the two case studies of early sixteenth-century religious reforms in Strasbourg indicate the presence of theological innovations that changed the conceptual relationship between faithful Christians and Creation, thereby offering an enhanced capacity for adherents to exploit the metabolic opportunities in their natural environment. Further, it suggests that these cultural developments were supported and strengthened in part by the stresses society experienced from the natural world. The thesis begins with a description of the natural environment in Alsace during the late fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries, with particular attention given to the weather from 1473 to 1541. These decades spanned the coldest years of the Spörer Minimum, itself the second coldest trough of the Little Ice Age. Although weather was the most dynamic and influential element of the natural environment during this period, the model suggests that long term stress from the environment may provoke re-conceptualization of the entire natural sphere of causation. Three religious perspectives are taken as case studies in the thesis to test the model: Roman Catholic, Radical, and Evangelical Christianity. They were created temporally and geographically in proximity, but offer different theological representations of nature. Tentative conclusions arising from their juxtaposition with each other and the climatic conditions suggest that the model is helpful to better understand the complex social and cultural changes during the Reformation. The first case study focuses on Die Emeis, forty-one sermons delivered by Johann Geiler von Kaysersberg in the Liebfrauenmünster zu Strasbourg for Lent 1509. By reading against the grain of these sermons delivered by a well-known and highly respected Doctor of Theology, an orthodox Catholic representation of the natural world and the appropriate human relationship with it is revealed. This chapter also includes information about pre-Reform society in Strasbourg and Alsace, in order to provide a basis of comparison for later developments. The second case study explores three sources known to be popular with Alsatian peasants from 1515 to 1525: astrologist Leonhard Reynmann's Wetter Büchlin, Ein Fast schon büchlin by Clemens Zyegler, a lay theologian from Strasbourg, and Article IV of the Twelve Articles which formed the foundation of peasant demands during the German Peasants' War. The third case study focuses on Hexemeron Dei opus, written by Strasbourg Reformer Wolfgang Capito. An exegesis of Genesis 1-11, Capito writes explicitly of God's creation of the world for human salvation. The aftermath of the Peasants' War in Strasbourg and Alsace are described here, as well as social initiatives in Strasbourg favoured by Reformers such as welfare reform and education. The model of socioeconomic metabolism suggests that following an extended period of material insecurity and social instability caused by environmental uncertainty, cultural agents will modify the representation of nature in order to render human colonization of the natural world more effective. While it is impossible to firmly attribute causality for developments in the religious view of nature to environmental stress, it can be shown that the weather during the decades at the eve of the Protestant Reformation repeatedly limited or removed adequate metabolic intake from those disadvantaged by an increasingly unequal society, contributing to social instability which culminated in the 1525 German Peasants' War. Representations of nature in the examples studied from the new religious movements removed layers of spiritual mediation between humanity and nature which had been and continued to be accepted by the Roman Catholic Church, specifically articulating views which encouraged greater exploitation of the natural environment. Those who rebelled are known to have strongly favoured the new theologies, indicating the possibility that part of the widespread support in Alsace for reformed and radical theology may have been due to the enhanced conceptual opportunities they provided for exploiting the natural environment.

Several previously overlooked questions related to ancient Greek dedicatory practices are investigated in this thesis. The main questions addressed are: how do the contexts of Archaic, Classical and Hellenistic votive miniature vessels inform us about the Greek cults in which they are used, and the transmission of such cults? What role did miniaturisation play in the sanctuaries and the rituals in ancient Greek society, and why miniaturisation? A number of supplementary questions accompany the main questions, for example, what did miniaturisation mean in the context of votive dedications in sanctuaries? This thesis aims to demonstrate that earlier explanations arguing that miniatures are simply and profoundly cheap substitutes for more expensive objects do not work well, since many of these small objects are carefully made and some are elaborately decorated, and would thus not have been cheaper, or less time consuming to produce compared to full sized objects. The chronological time frame of the thesis is limited to the Archaic to the Hellenistic period, and its core is three case studies with different themes and different geographical locations in focus (Kalydon, Olympia, Kombothekra, various sites in South Italy, and other sites for comparison). The thesis addresses also issues relating to, for instance, miniaturisation, imitation and models, the functionality, and non- functionality of small votive objects, agency, trade, and colonization. The study of ancient Greek dedicatory practices within the scholarship of Classical Studies tends to concentrate on votive statues, religious architecture, inscribed metal dedications, and stelai. Little attention has been paid to less extravagant dedications even though these groups of material have been found in abundant amounts in sanctuaries throughout Greece. Moreover, in those cases where this material has been published interpretation and thoroughly analyses are often lacking. As a result, this study makes important contributions to two large questions within Classical studies: how did the Greeks view their gods and how did the Greeks interact with the gods. Miniature pottery contributes to our understanding of ancient Greek ritual practice as well of specific rituals. The work presented in this thesis accentuates that miniature pottery’s material meaning and symbolic importance can no longer be dismissed.

>Magister Scientiae - MSc
With the development of information and network technologies, Electronic Health Records (EHRs) management system has gained wide spread application in managing medical records. One of the major challenges of EHRs is the independent nature of medical institutions. This non-collaborative nature puts a significant barrier between patients, doctors, medical researchers and medical data. Moreover, unlike the unique and strong anti-tampering nature of traditional paper-based records, electronic health records stored in centralization database are vulnerable to risks from network attacks, forgery and tampering. In view of the data sharing difficulties and information security problems commonly found in existing EHRs, this dissertation designs and develops a credible Blockchain-based electronic health records (CB-EHRs) management system.

In the past few years a number of critical studies have been entirely or partly devoted to an analysis of the role played by the Mediterranean in British literature and culture during the nineteenth and the twentieth centuries. These studies include Robert Aldrich's The Seduction of the Mediterranean (1993), James Buzard's The Beaten Track (1993), and John Pemble's The Mediterranean Passion (1987). In Paul Fussell's Abroad: British Literary Traveling Between the Wars (1980), which may be considered a precursor to these, the author observes that "to sketch the history of the British imaginative intercourse with the Mediterranean in modern times is virtually to present a survey of modern British literature"; he goes on to stress that "the Mediterranean is the model for the concept south, and it is a rare Briton whose pulses do not race at the mention of that compass direction". It is the concept "south" in this statement, situated in the area of literary and cultural studies, which constitutes the focus of this thesis.

Since the first General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade in 1947, France has insisted that cultural products are different from other traded goods and should be exempted from ongoing liberalisation of international trade – a principle known as the ‘cultural exception’. This exclusion allows France to implement policies in favour of its cultural industries, particularly a highly complex system of quotas and subsidies for the film industry which it maintains is essential to counter US market dominance and maintain cultural diversity. Over the past decade, the launch of video-on-demand services has revolutionised how films are delivered and consumed. Policy-makers have attempted to keep pace with these developments, expanding the scope of French support schemes accordingly. Adopting a mixed methods approach, this thesis analyses cultural diversity in the French film industry in detail, incorporating for the first time both the cinema and video-on-demand sectors and combining qualitative and quantitative data to understand the impact of French policies on diversity. Quantitative analysis reveals strong evidence of diversity in both sectors but that, while digital channels offer greater variety of choice, cinema is more balanced between films of different geographic origins. Employing a consistent approach to policy development in both channels, policy-makers have failed to take into account these and other differences, or to target measures at the emerging threats to diversity in the digital environment – potentially undermining the French defence of the cultural exception on diversity grounds. There is a surprisingly superficial use of the term cultural diversity in trade circles, leading to the conclusion that a more sophisticated approach is needed. Refining French policy in line with empirical data and actively using that evidence to demonstrate policy success will be a necessary part of this more sophisticated approach if France is to successfully defend the cultural exception in future trade negotiations.

In the majority of cases students are short of money and have problems to finance their low standard subsistence. An additional financial burden for students is purchasing the costly literature for their courses and studies. Universities often support their students by providing a library but a library can never cover all the books that are demanded. Students often do not need or use their purchased books longer than they have to; with the closure of a course or a semester books become useless for the owner. To get back some money after having used a book it is common to resell the book in various ways. Regularly students’ organisations or universities established some sort of platform for example a bill-board in their facilities or on the internet. But the existence of these platforms made trading the used literature not easier because there are no rules and no regulations. The store Campusbokhandeln took this problem and started a business to make it easier for students to sell and buy used books with fair regulations so every participator profits. Campusbokhandeln has a main store at Örebro University and one at Karlstad University. The purpose of the study is to find out whether Campusbokhandeln is able to expand their actions to another university in Sweden and if yes to which university. The results of the research show that the demand for a platform like Campusbokhandeln if very high and that the owners can take the chance to expand. After a SWOT-analysis we were able to point out chances and give suggestions about the future of the business.

Abstract The Dlx genes play an important role in the differentiation and migration of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) interneurons of mice. GABAergic interneurons are born in the proliferative zones of the ventral telencephalon and migrate to the cortex early during mouse development. Single Dlx mutant mice show only subtle phenotypes. However, the migration of immature interneurons is blocked in the ventral telencephalon of Dlx1/Dlx2 double mutant mice leading to reduction of GABAergic interneurons in the cortex. Also, Dlx5/Dlx6 expression is almost entirely absent in the forebrain, most probably due to cross-regulatory mechanisms. In zebrafish, the role of dlx genes in GABAergic interneuron development is unknown. By injecting Morpholino, we double knocked down dlx1 and dlx2 genes in wildtype zebrafish to investigate the function of the two genes in zebrafish GABAergic interneuron development. By comparing different subsets of GABAergic interneuron development in wildtype and dlx1/2 morphant zebrafish forebrain, we found out that at 3dpf, 4dpf and 7dpf, double knockdown of dlx1 and dlx2 genes in zebrafish remarkably reduced the number of Calbindin-, Somatostatin- and Parvalbumin-positive GABAergic neurons, whereas the development of Calretinin-positive neurons is slightly affected. These results suggest that in zebrafish, dlx1a and dlx2a genes are important for the development of certain subtypes of GABAergic interneurons (Calbindin-, Somatostatin- and Parvalbumin-positive neurons) and may have minor influence on Calretinin-positive neuron development. This also suggests that different regulatory mechanisms are involved in the development of the different subtypes of GABAergic interneurons.

This thesis discussed the morphological patterns of Ottomanization performed in the southern Balkans through the comparative study of four mainland cities, Dimetoka, Gümülcine, Siroz, Yenice-i Vardar spread along the multicultural Via Egnatia. Through the cross-disciplinary application of morphological and defterological concepts, we were able to trace existing and reconstructed forms back to their formative processes (as evident in a series of reconstructive maps) and to interpret them within the theoretical framework of structural rationalism. The advanced argument disproves the orientalistic reading of the Ottoman (Islamic) city as an irrational and chaotic morpheme and reconfirms Veinstein’s theory on the existence of a normative type for the Ottoman town that lays in the morphology of the Balkan cities. This thesis’ main contribution lies in defining that the identifier of ‘originality’ or ‘purity’ for this type derives from its particular geographical divisions. Accordingly, the coining of the type that we extended was reflective of these particular geographical divisions, as an obvious functional and formal analogy amongst the towns of this group. We thus concluded that the typological identification of the ‘original’ Ottoman town can be encapsulated in the Balkan-Anatolian type with a Byzantine kernel and an Ottoman fringe belt. This consists of a highly rationalized system of axes, with pivotal being that of the çarşıya, which functioned as the vehicle of infrastructural development.

Le cancer, deuxième cause de mortalité et de morbidité dans les pays développés après les maladies cardio-vasculaires, résulte d'un dérèglement du programme génétique de la cellule conduisant à son immortalité et à une prolifération anarchique. En France en 2004, 40 000 nouveaux cas de cancer de la prostate ont été diagnostiqués. Le cancer de la prostate touche an général le sujet âgé et représente la deuxième cause de décès par cancer chez l'homme, après le cancer du poumon. Du fait du vieillissement de la population des pays développés, le nombre de patients atteints par le cancer de la prostate ne va cesser d'augmenter. Afin de palier les problèmes liés à l'utilisation des anticancéreux classiques (manque de sélectivité, résistance, échappement. . . ), le développement de nouvelles stratégies thérapeutiques pour traiter le cancer de la prostate s'avère indispensable. Depuis 1997, plusieurs états américains ont autorisé l'utilisation du Δ9-THC ( Δ9 – tétrahydrocannabinol, principe actif du cannabis) et de l'un de ses dérivés dans le contrôle des nausées et des vomissements engendrés par la chimiothérapie anticancéreuse. Actuellement plusieurs dérivés du Δ9-THC sont en phase III de tests cliniques pour le traitement des douleurs associées aux cancers. Depuis la caractérisation du Δ9-THC dans les années 60, de nombreux progrès ont été réalisés dans la compréhension de la pharmacologie des cannabinoïdes, notamment par la découverte, au début des années 90, de deux récepteurs couplés à des protéines G: le récepteur CB1, principalement localisé au niveau du système nerveux central (SNC), et le récepteur CB2, présent au niveau périphérique. L'étude de ces récepteurs, rendue possible par le développement de ligands de synthèse, a permis de mettre en évidence des effets anticancéreux (antiprolifératif, proapoptotique. . . ) liés à leur stimulation. Cependant la stimulation du récepteur CB1 pourrait être à l'origine d'effets secondaires du fait de sa localisation dans le SNC. Il serait dès lors intéressant d'étudier le potentiel anticancéreux de ligands sélectifs du récepteur CB2. Dans le cadre de nos recherches visant à élaborer de nouveaux ligands des récepteurs aux cannabinoïdes CB2, nous avons développé une chimiothèque de 98 composés autour d'un motif central hétérocyclique de type quinoléine, naphtyridine ou encore cinnoline substitué en position 3 par une fonction carboxamide. Lors des tests pharmacologiques, ces composés se sont révélés être des agonistes sélectifs du récepteur CB2. Différentes modulations structurales ont été envisagées, comme l'introduction de substituants en position 2, 5, 6, 7 et 8, le remplacement de la fonction carboxamide par son isomère rétroamide ou par une fonction cétone. La réduction en amine secondaire, ou encore le remplacement de la chaïne latérale hydrophobe par d'autres groupements plus hydrophiles ou aromatiques ont également été envisagés. Le potentiel antiprolifératif de ces ligands sélectifs du récepteur CB2 a ensuite été évalué sur différentes lignées cellulaires issues de cancers de la prostate
Cancer, second cause of mortality nad morbidity in the developed countries, just after cardiovascular diseases, results from a deregulation of the genetic cell program leading to its immortality and its uncontroled proliferation. In France in 2004, about 40,000 new cases of prostate cancer were diagnosed. Prostate cancer reaches in general old people and represents the second cause of death per cancer, after lung cancer. Because of the ageing of the population of developed countries, the number of prostate cancer patients will increase. In order to solve problems related to the use of traditional anti-cancer drugs (lack of selectivity, resistance. . . ), the development of new therapeutic strategies to treat prostate cancer proves to be essential. Since 1997, Δ9-THC ( Δ9 – tétrahydrocannabinol, the major psychoactive component of Cannabis sativa L. ) is currently used to treat nausea and emesis in cancer patient undergoing extensive chemotherapy. Moreover some cannabis-based drugs are in phase three clinical trials for treating pain associated with cancer. Since Δ9-THC characterization in the sixties, many improvements have been made in cannabinoid pharmacology knowledge, particularly, in the nineties with the discovery of two G-protein coupled receptors : the CB1 receptor, which is mainly located in the central nervous system (CNS), and the CB2 receptor which is principally present in the immune system. Thanks to the development of a great variety of new synthetic ligands, the study of these receptors has revealed the anticancer potency of the cannabinoid receptors agonists. CB1 receptor stimulation could induce undesirable effects due to its CNS localization, so we proposed to study the anticancer potency of CB2-selective agonists. In order to develop new potent CB2-selective ligands, a 98-compound library was built using a central heterocyclic ring as quinoleine, naphthyridine or cinnoline, substitued in position 3 by various carboxamido substituents, and hydrophobic side chains in the N1-position. Pharmacological results revealed a strong CB2 selectivity, and an agonist profile for all compounds. Thus, some chemical modulations were next realized as : replacement of the carboxamide link, in position 3, by inverse amide analogue or its reduction in secondary amine ; introduction of differentsubstituents on the position 2, 5, 6, 7 and 8 ; modulation of the N1-position side chain. Anticancer potency of these new potent CB2 receptor ligands was investigated using different prostate cancer cell lines

This thesis presents and discusses the conservation history of the archaeological and architectural heritage on Alaeddin Hill in Konya, its close surroundings, and the mentioned area itself as the cultural heritage. The aim of this discussion is, to emphasize the necessity for the preparation of studies like this one before the decision making processes in the urban areas, where the archaeological and architectural heritage are located in a multi-layered structure. This thesis also comprises a methodology proposal for similar studies of the future. The discussed period begins in 1867 dated fire, which resulted in changes in the urban fabric of Konya, and extends to 2009. This period is divided into seven sub periods for this discussion by some significant dates, which are accepted as breaking points, and different types of conservation related events are studied with their components. The thesis ends with the postscript, in which the studied processes and the applied methodology are evaluated.

The purpose of this thesis is to provide a thematic analysis of the historical, political, and economic context of Seleucid portraiture, namely that on coins, but with reference to gemstones, seals, and sculpture where evidence exists. No attention has been given to the aesthetic value of such items, as has been the habit of art historians, as a great deal of the evidence analysed here consists of bronze coins. Nor is this work intended to be a catalogue, as technical information on coins has been well documented in the many catalogues in this field. The first chapter provides a general survey of the issue of autonomy and its relationship to the Seleucids, whether among the Greek poleis of Asia Minor or other autonomous areas of the Seleucid empire. This is followed by an obligatory discussion of the influence of Alexander on the Seleucids, which has been kept deliberately short due to the amount of scholarship already completed in this field. The issue of warfare and its effect on Seleucid iconography follows this. The first three chapters cover issues affecting Seleucid iconography, whether for legitimate kings or otherwise, which leads on to a chapter covering the Seleucid usurpers. The function of this chapter within the thesis is twofold; firstly, it introduces the concept of usurpation and its effect on the iconography of legitimate kings; secondly, it contains extensive discussion of the coinages of the individual usurpers. The next four chapters serve to analyse the variation of the royal image for legitimate kings, assessing the effect of autonomy, warfare, Alexander, and usurpation on the changing royal image. The kings discussed in the respective chapters were chosen on similarities of iconography and factors affecting this. The final chapter is a discussion on Seleucid female iconography, affected by many of the same factors as male portraiture.

This thesis investigates the role of arts practitioners in cultural policy activity, both as a general concern for cultural policy studies and in the specific arena of post-war cultural policy in Britain. In so doing it challenges a common perception that arts practitioners have no such involvement, and seeks to discover the extent and form of their activity. it explores the history of practitioners’ participation in cultural policy formation and implementation; what obstacles they have faced and how their involvement could be better facilitated; and, importantly, why it matters whether they are involved. These issues have remained largely unrecognised among cultural policy researchers. Part II of the thesis examines the subject through a case study of new playwriting policy in England. Drawing on unpublished primary documents, interviews, and observation, it pays particular attention to playwrights’ organisations and their history of self-directed activity. These organisations and other agencies concerned with theatre writing are embedded in networks which cross the boundaries of policy and creative practice. The thesis argues that arts practitioners can enhance their place in the policy process through their own actions, and that participation in these networks increases their opportunity for policy input and influence. Of key importance is the question as to why the involvement of practitioners in cultural policy activity is of any significance. The thesis puts forward the view that arts practitioners and their organisations can be seen as part of the fabric of civil society, and their participation in policy activity as contributing to the maintenance and enlargement of democratic life. It is, then, not a marginal issue, nor of concern to the arts alone, but integral to a wider debate about sustaining democratic engagement and the civic arena in the twenty-first century.

The thesis explores themes of settlement location, settlement form and settlement mobility from the Late Neolithic to the Late Bronze Age in north-east Powys and Shropshire. The study utilises existing finds and monument data, and incorporates new data from targeted field survey and excavation. It incorporates comparative evidence from other regions of Britain and detailed comparative data from studies in neighbouring regions. The study examines the evidence for settlement sites, the distribution of lithics in the landscape and the potential relationship between round barrows and settlement. The relationship between metalwork and settlement is examined as is the evidence for the presence of land division. A potential greater frequency of activity in the vicinity of lowland ring ditches is suggested through lithic distributions within a transitory pattern of occupation. This is supported with new excavation evidence for ephemeral settlement activity. At a broader level a greater intensity of activity is apparent in lowland gravel terraces than in neighbouring wetland areas of Shropshire and that the study area is part of a wider region characterised by low lithic densities in contrast to neighbouring regions to the south. Subtle spatial separations may have existed between settlement activity and monuments and the siting of monuments may have reflected existing axes of movement through the landscape. The distribution of upland monuments suggests that activities may have been relatively focussed and localised, whilst close conceptual links may have been maintained with lowland and distant landscapes. The distribution of metalwork emphasises rivers, floodplains and wetland contexts which may have been at the margins of settlement space. At a broader level the presence of metalwork in lowland landscapes serves to complement limited evidence for Middle Bronze Age occupation and places Late Bronze Age hilltop enclosures into a wider context. Targeted excavation has provided new dating evidence from pit alignment features in the study area which may indicate localised areas of land division closely post-dated ring ditch monuments in the Early Bronze Age. This may have implications for the interpretation of similar land divisions in other regions.