Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Group linkage'

Malaria parasites of the species infecting humans and animal hosts exhibit genetic and phenotypic diversity. Some of this diversity, including the responses to anti-malarial drugs, growth rate and virulence and antigenic variability, is medically significant. This is because these phenotypes may determine the existence and survival of the parasites in the host and, in turn, contribute to the clinical outcome of infection. Understanding of the biological characteristics and the genetic basis underlying these complex phenotypes can thus lead to the development of effective control strategies against the disease, such as anti-malarial drugs and vaccines. Genetic studies in rodent malaria parasites have proved useful in providing insights into the genetic determinants of these complex traits and thus can be used to complement the study of human malaria. The present studies aim to investigate genetic determinants underlying two major medically important phenotypes, Strain Specific Protective Immunity (SSPI) and Growth rate, using the newly devised genetic method of Linkage Group Selection (LGS). The results presented here relate to the accomplishment of these aims. LGS analysis of SSPI using a genetic cross between clones AJ and CB-pyr10 of Plasmodium chabaudi chabaudi has identified a single region on chromosome 8 containing the gene for the Merozoite Surface Protein-1 as encoding a major target of SSPI. A similar finding was also obtained in a previous LGS study using a different genetic cross between clones AS-pyr1 and CB of P. c. chabaudi (Martinelli et al., 2005). Hence, the results of two independent studies strongly indicate that a single locus within the parasite genome contains a major target antigen, or antigens, of SSPI against P. c. chabaudi malaria. These results have particular relevance for research on SSPI in human malaria and the choice of candidate antigens for malaria vaccine development. LGS analysis of growth rate conducted upon a genetic cross between a fast-growing line, 17XYM, and a slow-growing line, 33XC, of Plasmodium yoelii yoelii has identified a ~ 1 megabase pair region on P. y. yoelii chromosome 13 as containing a major genetic determinant(s) of growth rate in these malaria parasites. This is consistent with the finding of the classical linkage analysis by Walliker et al., (1976), that growth rate in P. y. yoelii is mainly determined at a single genetic locus. Because the fast-growing line 17XYM arose spontaneously during infection with a mild strain of P. y. yoelii 17X, identification of parasites with a slow growth rate phenotype derived from the same genetic stock as 17XYM can be useful in determining genes underlying growth rate in these malaria parasites. It has been shown here that parasites of the P. y. yoelii lines 17X consist of two completely distinct genotypes. One is represented by the fast-growing line, 17XYM, and a slow-growing line of P. y. yoelii, 17XNIMR. The other is represented by another slow-growing line 17XA. Comparing the region of P. y. yoelii chromosome 13 under strong growth selection between the two congenic lines, 17XYM and 17XNIMR, could lead to the identification of the gene(s) controlling growth rate differences in these two parasite lines. Such findings could be relevant to the location of genetic determinants of growth rate in human malaria.

Most record linkage techniques assume that information of the underlying entities do not change and is provided in different representations and sometimes with errors. For example, mailing lists may contain multiple entries representing the same physical address, but each record may be slightly different, e.g., containing different spellings or missing some information. As a second example, consider a company that has different customer databases (e.g., one for each subsidiary). A given customer may appear in different ways in each database, and there is a fair amount of guesswork in determining which customers match. However, in real-world, we often observe value diversity in real-world data sets for linkage. For example, many data sets contains temporal records over a long period of time; each record is associated with a time stamp and describes some aspects of a real-world entity at that particular time (e.g., author information in DBLP). In such cases, we often wish to identify records that describe the same entity over time and so be able to enable interesting longitudinal data analysis. Value diversity also exists group linkage: linking records that refer to entities in the same group. Applications for group linkage includes finding businesses in the same chain, finding conference attendants from the same affiliation, finding players from the same team, etc. In such cases, although different members in the same group can share some similar global values, they represent different entities so can also have distinct local values, requiring a high tolerance for value diversity. However, most existing record linkage techniques assume that records describing the same real-world entities are fairly consistent and often focus on different representations of the same value, such as ”IBM” and ”International Business Machines”. Thus, they can fall short when values may vary for the same entity. This dissertation studies how to improve linkage quality of integrated data with tolerance to fairly high diversity, including temporal linkage, and group linkage. We solve the problem of temporal record linkage in two ways. First, we apply time decay to capture the effect of elapsed time on entity value evolution. Second, instead of comparing each pair of records locally, we propose clustering methods that consider time order of the records and make global decisions. Experimental results show that our algorithms significantly outperform traditional linkage methods on various temporal data sets. For group linkage, we present a two-stage algorithm: the first stage identifies cores containing records that are very likely to belong to the same group; the second stage collects strong evidence from the cores and leverages it for merging more records in the same group, while being tolerant to differences in other values. Our algorithm is designed to ensure efficiency and scalability. An experiment shows that it finished in 2.4 hours on a real-world data set containing 6.8 million records, and obtained both a precision and a recall of above .95. Finally, we build the CHRONOS system which offers users the useful tool for finding real-world entities over time and understanding history of entities in the bibliography domain. The core of CHRONOS is a temporal record-linkage algorithm, which is tolerant to value evolution over time. Our algorithm can obtain an F-measure of over 0.9 in linking author records and fix errors made by DBLP. We show how CHRONOS allows users to explore the history of authors, and how it helps users understand our linkage results by comparing our results with those of existing systems, highlighting differences in the results, explaining our decisions to users, and answering “what-if” questions.

The Medicago truncatula NIP gene is located on M. truncatula Linkage Group 1. Informative recombinants showed crossovers that localize the NIP gene between markers 146O17 and 23C16D. Marker 164N9 co-segregates with the NIP gene, and the location of marker 164N9 is between markers 146O17 and 23C16D. Based upon data from the Medicago genome sequencing project, a subset of the model legume Medicago truncatula bacterial artificial chromosomes (BACs) were used to create a physical map on the DNA in this genetic internal. BACs near the potential NIP gene location near marker 164N9 were identified, and used in experiments to predict the physical map by a BAC-by-BAC strategy. Using marker 164N9 as a center point, and chromosome walking outward, the physical map toward markers 146O17 and 23C16D was built. The chromosome walk consisted of a virtual walk, made with existing sequence of BACs from the Medicago genome project, hybridizations to filters containing BAC DNA, and PCR reactions to confirm that predicted overlapping BACs contained DNA that yielded similar PCR products. In addition, the primers which are made for physical mapping via PCR could be good genetic markers helpful in discovering the location of the NIP gene. As a result of efforts repotted here, gap in physical map between marker 164N9 and 146O17 was closed.

Les tilapias (espèces Oreochromis) sont le second groupe le plus important de poissons dans l'aquaculture mondiale ainsi qu'une des premières sources de protéines animales pour des millions de personnes dans les pays en cours de développement. En effet, Les tilapias ont la plupart des qualités requises dans le monde aquacole comme un taux de croissance important et une résistance aux maladies. Cependant leurs reproductions précoces et continues provoquent une surpopulation des bassins et un nanisme des individus. Pour surmonter ces difficultés, il s'agit de créer de nouvelles méthodes de contrôle du sexe (génétique et température) pour une meilleure compréhension de la détermination du sexe chez le tilapia. La détermination sexuelle chez les tilapias est complexe. En effet, le sexe est influencé par des facteurs génétiques majeurs (XX/XY), des facteurs génétiques mineur (sur les autosomes : LG3, LG23) et la température. Au cours des dernières années, de nombreuses ressources génomiques ont été progressivement développées (Bac End Sequences, Expressed sequence Tag, physical map, RH map…). Dans ce travail de thèse nous avons cherché à identifier, par des approches in silico, des gènes liés au sexe, en nous intéressant, en particulier, à ceux localisés sur LG3. Nous avons divisé notre travail en deux étapes. La première recouvre des travaux préliminaires de collecte et de comparaison d'informations existantes. Elle s'est concrétisée par la création d'une carte physique comparée entre le génome complet de l'épinoche et des BES du tilapia ainsi que d'une carte RH du tilapia. La deuxième étape porte sur l'analyse du chromosome correspondant au LG3 (Chr3). Nous avons pu grâce aux méthodes, outils et données développés lors de la première étape, reconstituer le Chr3, l'annoter et faire une liste de gènes impliqués dans la cascade du sexe chez le tilapia du Nil
Tilapias (Oreochromis spp.) are the second most important fish group in aquaculture and a primary source of animal protein for millions of people in developing countries. Indeed, Tilapias have most of the qualities required in aquaculture such as a good growth-rate and resistance to diseases. Nevertheless, their early and constant reproduction leads to tank overpopulation and dwarfism of individuals. To overcome this, new sex controlling methods (genetics and temperature) are being studied to better understand the sex determination in tilapia. Sex determination in tilapia is complex since sex is influenced by major genetic factors (XX/XY), minor genetic factors (on an autosome: LG3, LG23) and temperature factors. Over the past years a great effort has been done to increase the genomic tools in tilapia by obtaining data on Bac End Sequences (BES), Expressed Sequence tags (EST), physical map, RH map.... The objective of our work is to identify, by in silico approaches, genes associated to sex, especially the ones located on the linkage group LG3. We divided our work in two steps. The first work is to collect heterogeneous and available information existing on tilapia using comparative genomic analyses. This step led to the creation of a comparative physical map between the complete genome of stickleback and the BES of tilapia along with a tilapia RH map. The second step is to analyse the chromosome corresponding to the LG3 (Chr3). Using methods, tools and data developed during the first step, we recreated the Chr3, annotated it and listed the genes involved in the sex cascade in Nile tilapia

The commercialization of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells depends largely upon the development of PEMs whose properties are enhanced over current perfluorinated sulfonic acid PEMs. Understanding how a PEMâ s molecular weight and morphology affect its relevant performance properties is essential to this effort. Changes in molecular weight were found to have little effect on the phase separated morphologies, water uptake, and proton conductivities of random copolymers. Changes in block length, however, have a pronounced effect on multiblock copolymers, affecting surface and bulk morphologies, water uptake, proton conductivity, and hydrolytic stability, suggesting that multiblock copolymer PEM properties may be optimized by changes in morphology. A major goal of current proton exchange membrane fuel cell research involves developing high temperature membranes that can operate at ~120 °C and low humidites. Multiblock copolymers synthesized from 100% disulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone) (BPSH100) and naphthalene polyimide (PI) oligomers may be an alternative. At block lengths of ~15 kg/mol they displayed no morphological changes up to 120 °C or even higher. Water desorption was observed to decrease with increasing block length. The copolymers exhibited little to no water loss during a 200 °C isotherm in contrast to random BPSH copolymers and Nafion. A BPSH100-PI multiblock copolymer with large block length appears to have morphological stability and retain water at temperatures exceeding 120 °C, suggesting its candidacy as a high temperature PEM. A growing number of alternative PEM research efforts involve multiblock copolymer chemistries, but little emphasis is placed on the methods used to couple the oligomers. Fluorinated linkage groups can help increase block efficiency during coupling, but their effect on a PEM is not well-known. The choice of linkage type, hexafluorobenzene (HFB) vs. decafluorobiphenyl (DFBP), appears to have small but observable influences on multiblock copolymers with disulfonated and unsulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone) oligomers. DFBP linkages promote greater phase separation than HFB linkages, resulting in increased stiffness, decreased ductility, and increased proton conductivity at low humidities. DFBP linkages also promote more surface enrichment of fluorine, causing changes in surface morphology and slightly increased water desorption, but determining the impact on actual fuel cell performance requires further research.
Ph. D.

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Starting from Berenstein s (2001) definition about linkage as an "unconscious structure that connects one or more subjects (...) based on a relationship on presence", the objective of this research was to understand the configuration of linkages in therapeutic group process. It leaded us to reflect about how the linkage can be relevant for phonoaudiological work. We filmed two therapeutic groups formed by 4 and 3 adolescents respectively, once per month, during 5 months, bringing up 10 shots. The films were analyzed from its regular spelling transcript, added to the registration of scene information. The results showed that linkages were formed through: elements acting as group connectors, in our case: games and topics of common knowledge; roles assumed by the participants of the group; sharing common experiences about groups external to the therapy context; the bringing up of a shared vital project. We concluded that the linkage process within therapy is also a development process both of sociocultural attitudes as language
Partindo da definição de Berenstein (2001) que entende vínculo como uma estrutura inconsciente que une um ou mais sujeitos (...) em base a uma relação de presença , o objetivo da presente pesquisa foi o de compreender a configuração de vínculos no processo terapêutico grupal, para, a partir daí, refletir sobre como o vínculo pode ser relevante no trabalho fonoaudiológico. Foram filmados dois grupos terapêuticos formados por 4 e 3 adolescentes respectivamente, uma vez por mês, durante um período de 5 meses, perfazendo um total de 10 filmagens. Os filmes foram analisados a partir da sua transcrição em ortografia regular somada ao registro de informações sobre a cena. Os resultados mostraram que os vínculos se configuraram a partir: de elementos que funcionam como conectores do grupo, no nosso caso jogos e temas de conhecimento comum; de papéis assumidos pelos participantes do grupo; do compartilhamento de vivências comuns experimentadas nos grupos externos ao da terapia; da ascensão de um projeto vital compartilhado. Concluiu-se que o processo de configuração de vínculo no âmbito terapêutico é também um processo de desenvolvimento tanto de atitudes socioculturais como de linguagem

Kyoto University (京都大学)
0048
新制・課程博士
博士(農学)
甲第18324号
農博第2049号
新制||農||1021(附属図書館)
学位論文||H26||N4831(農学部図書室)
31182
京都大学大学院農学研究科森林科学専攻
(主査)教授 髙野 俊幸, 教授 西尾 嘉之, 教授 梅澤 俊明
学位規則第4条第1項該当

Cette thèse est divisée en trois parties. Dans la première, on étudie des systèmes articulés (mécanismes formés de tiges rigides) dont l'espace ambiant n'est pas le plan, mais diverses variétés riemanniennes. On étudie la question de l'universalité des mécanismes : cette notion correspond à l'idée que toute courbe serait tracée par un sommet d'un mécanisme, et que toute variété différentiable serait l'espace de configuration d'un mécanisme. On étend les théorèmes d'universalité au plan de Minkowski, au plan hyperbolique et enfin à la sphère.Toute surface dans R^3 peut être aplatie selon l'axe des z, et la surface aplatie s'approche d'une table de billard dans R^2. Dans la seconde partie, on montre que, sous certaines hypothèses, le flot géodésique de la surface converge localement uniformément vers le flot de billard. De plus, si le billard est dispersif, les propriétés chaotiques du billard remontent au flot géodésique : on montre qu'il est alors Anosov. En appliquant ce résultat à la théorie des systèmes articulés, on obtient un nouvel exemple de systèmes articulé Anosov, comportant cinq tiges.Dans la troisième partie, on s'intéresse aux variétés munies de connexions localement métriques, c'est-à-dire de connexions qui sont localement des connexions de Levi-Civita de métriques riemanniennes ; on donne dans ce cadre un analogue du théorème de décomposition de De Rham, qui s'applique habituellement aux variétés riemanniennes. Dans le cas où une telle connexion préserve une structure conforme, on montre que cette décomposition comporte au plus deux facteurs ; de plus, lorsqu'il y a exactement deux facteurs, l'un des deux est l'espace euclidien R^q. La démonstration des résultats de cette partie passe par l'étude des feuilletages munis d'une structure de similitude transverse. Sur ces feuilletages, on montre un résultat de rigidité qui peut être vu indépendamment des autres: ils sont soit transversalement plats, soit transversalement riemanniens
This thesis is divided into three parts. In the first part, we study linkages (mechanisms made of rigid rods) whose ambiant space is no longer the plane, but various Riemannian manifolds. We study the question of the universality of linkages: this notion corresponds to the idea that every curve would be traced out by a vertex of some linkage, and that any differentiable manifold would be the configuration space of some linkage. We extend universality theorems to the Minkowski plane, the hyperbolic plane, and finally the sphere.Any surface in R^3 can be flattened with respect to the z-axis, and the flattened surface gets close to a billiard table in R^2. In the second part, we show that, under some hypotheses, the geodesic flow of the surface converges locally uniformly to the billiard flow. Moreover, if the billiard is dispersing, the chaotic properties of the billiard also apply to the geodesic flow: we show that it is Anosov in this case. By applying this result to the theory of linkages, we obtain a new example of Anosov linkage, made of five rods.In the third part, we first consider manifolds with locally metric connections, that is, connections which are locally Levi-Civita connections of Riemannian metrics; we give in this framework an analog of De Rham's decomposition theorem, which usually applies to Riemannian manifolds. In the case such a connection also preserves a conformal structure, we show that this decomposition has at most two factors; moreover, when there are exactly two factors, one of them is the Euclidean space R^q. The proofs of the results of this part use foliations with transverse similarity structures. On these foliations, we give a rigidity theorem of independant interest: they are either transversally flat, or transversally Riemannian

 

The domesticated apple (Malus x domestica Borkh.), belonging to the Malus genus of the Rosaceae family, is one of the edible pomaceous fruits. Since it is one of the important commercial fruit crops worldwide, the quality of the fruit is crucial to breeders and farmers as it ultimately determines acceptance of a cultivar for consumption. Fruit quality is also a critical determinant factor that is used to estimate the potential of apples to have a long shelf life. The introduction of marker-assisted selection (MAS) has allowed hastening of traditional breeding and selection of high-quality apple cultivars. The availability of genetic linkage maps, constructed by positioning molecular markers throughout the apple genome, enables the detection and analysis of major genes and quantitative trait loci (QTLs) contributing to the quality traits of a given genotype. 
herefore, the primary aim of this study was to construct a genetic linkage map of the &lsquo
Golden Delicious&rsquo
x &lsquo
Dietrich&rsquo
population for the identification of QTLs associated with fruit quality traits and then to examine the apple fruit pulp proteome with a specific focus on fruit firmness. In this regard, genomic DNA was extracted from leaves of the &lsquo
Golden Delicious&rsquo
x Dietrich&rsquo
population and used in megaplex PCR reactions. The PCR products were analysed prior to scoring of alleles. Polymorphic markers were then used to construct genetic linkage maps. The genetic linkage maps constructed in this study comprise of 167 simple sequence repeats (SSR) markers, 33 of these were newly developed markers. The 17 linkage groups of apple were constructed and aligned to existing apple genetic maps. The maps span 1,437.8 cM and 1,491.5 cM for &lsquo
Golden Delicious&rsquo
and &lsquo
Dietrich&rsquo
, respectively.

Doutoramento em Bioquímica
Os polissacarídeos são os componentes maioritários dos grãos de café verde e torrado e da bebida de café. Os mais abundantes são as galactomananas, seguindo-se as arabinogalactanas. Durante o processo de torra, as galactomananas e arabinogalactanas sofrem modificações estruturais, as quais estão longe de estar completamente elucidadas devido à sua diversidade e à complexidade estrutural dos compostos formados. Durante o processo de torra, as galactomananas e arabinogalactanas reagem com proteínas, ácidos clorogénicos e sacarose, originando compostos castanhos de alto peso molecular contendo nitrogénio, designados de melanoidinas. As melanoidinas do café apresentam diversas atividades biológicas e efeitos benéficos para a saúde. No entanto, a sua estrutura exata e os mecanismos envolvidos na sua formação permanecem desconhecidos, bem como a relação estrutura-atividade biológica. A utilização de sistemas modelo e a análise por espectrometria de massa permitem obter uma visão global e, simultaneamente, detalhada das modificações estruturais nos polissacarídeos do café promovidas pela torra, contribuindo para a elucidação das estruturas e mecanismos de formação das melanoidinas. Com base nesta tese, oligossacarídeos estruturalmente relacionados com a cadeia principal das galactomananas, (β1→4)-Dmanotriose (Man3), e as cadeias laterais das arabinogalactanas, (α1→5)-Larabinotriose (Ara3), isoladamente ou em misturas com ácido 5-Ocafeoilquínico (5-CQA), o ácido clorogénico mais abundante nos grãos de café verde, e péptidos compostos por tirosina e leucina, usados como modelos das proteínas, foram sujeitos a tratamento térmico a seco, mimetizando o processo de torra. A oxidação induzida por radicais hidroxilo (HO•) foi também estudada, uma vez que estes radicais parecem estar envolvidos na modificação dos polissacarídeos durante a torra. A identificação das modificações estruturais induzidas por tratamento térmico e oxidativo dos compostos modelo foi feita por estratégias analíticas baseadas principalmente em espectrometria de massa, mas também em cromatografia líquida. A cromatografia de gás foi usada na análise de açúcares neutros e ligações glicosídicas. Para validar as conclusões obtidas com os compostos modelo, foram também analisadas amostras de polissacarídeos do café obtidas a partir de resíduo de café e café instantâneo. Os resultados obtidos a partir dos oligossacarídeos modelo quando submetidos a tratamento térmico (seco), assim como à oxidação induzida por HO• (em solução), indicam a ocorrência de despolimerização, o que está de acordo com estudos anteriores que reportam a despolimerização das galactomananas e arabinogalactanas do café durante a torra. Foram ainda identificados outros compostos resultantes da quebra do anel de açúcares formados durante o tratamento térmico e oxidativo da Ara3. Por outro lado, o tratamento térmico a seco dos oligossacarídeos modelo (individualmente ou quando misturados) promoveu a formação de oligossacarídeos com um maior grau de polimerização, e também polissacarídeos com novos tipos de ligações glicosídicas, evidenciando a ocorrência de polimerização através reações de transglicosilação não enzimática induzidas por tratamento térmico a seco. As reações de transglicosilação induzidas por tratamento térmico a seco podem ocorrer entre resíduos de açúcares provenientes da mesma origem, mas também de origens diferentes com formação de estruturas híbridas, contendo arabinose e manose como observado nos casos dos compostos modelo usados. Os resultados obtidos a partir de amostras do resíduo de café e de café instantâneo sugerem a presença de polissacarídeos híbridos nestas amostras de café processado, corroborando a ocorrência de transglicosilação durante o processo de torra. Além disso, o estudo de misturas contendo diferentes proporções de cada oligossacarídeo modelo, mimetizando regiões do grão de café com composição distinta em polissacarídeos, sujeitos a diferentes períodos de tratamento térmico, permitiu inferir que diferentes estruturas híbridas e não híbridas podem ser formadas a partir das arabinogalactanas e galactomananas, dependendo da sua distribuição nas paredes celulares do grão e das condições de torra. Estes resultados podem explicar a heterogeneidade de estruturas de melanoidinas formadas durante a torra do café. Os resultados obtidos a partir de misturas modelo contendo um oligossacarídeo (Ara3 ou Man3) e 5-CQA sujeitas a tratamento térmico a seco, assim como de amostras provenientes do resíduo de café, mostraram a formação de compostos híbridos compostos por moléculas de CQA ligadas covalentemente a um número variável de resíduos de açúcar. Além disso, os resultados obtidos a partir da mistura contendo Man3 e 5-CQA mostraram que o CQA atua como catalisador das reações de transglicosilação. Por outro lado, nas misturas modelo contendo um péptido, mesmo contendo também 5-CQA e sujeitas ao mesmo tratamento, observou-se uma diminuição na extensão das reações transglicosilação. Este resultado pode explicar a baixa extensão das reações de transglicosilação não enzimáticas durante a torra nas regiões do grão de café mais ricas em proteínas, apesar dos polissacarídeos serem os componentes maioritários dos grãos de café. A diminuição das reações de transglicosilação na presença de péptidos/proteínas pode dever-se ao facto de os resíduos de açúcares redutores reagirem preferencialmente com os grupos amina de péptidos/proteínas por reação de Maillard, diminuindo o número de resíduos de açúcares redutores disponíveis para as reações de transglicosilação. Além dos compostos já descritos, uma diversidade de outros compostos foram formados a partir dos sistemas modelo, nomeadamente derivados de desidratação formados durante o tratamento térmico a seco. Em conclusão, a tipificação das modificações estruturais promovidas pela torra nos polissacarídeos do café abre o caminho para a compreensão dos mecanismos de formação das melanoidinas e da relação estrutura-atividade destes compostos.
Polysaccharides are the major components of green and roasted coffee beans, and coffee brew. The most abundant ones are galactomannans, followed by arabinogalactans. During the roasting process, galactomannans and arabinogalactans undergo structural modifications that are far to be completely elucidated due to their diversity and complexity of the compounds formed. During the roasting process, galactomannans and arabinogalactans react with proteins, chlorogenic acids, and sucrose, originating high molecular weight brown compounds containing nitrogen, known as melanoidins. Several biological activities and beneficial health effects have been attributed to coffee melanoidins. However, their exact structures and the mechanisms involved in their formation remain unknown, as well as the structure-biological activity relationship. The use of model systems and mass spectrometry analysis allow to obtain an overall view and, simultaneously, detailed, of the structural modifications in coffee polysaccharides promoted by roasting, contributing to the elucidation of the structures and formation mechanisms of melanoidins. Based on this thesis, oligosaccharides structurally related to the backbone of galactomannans, (β1→4)-D-mannotriose, and the side chains of arabinogalactans, (α1→5)-Larabinotriose, alone or in mixtures with 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid, the most abundant chlorogenic acid in green coffee beans, and dipeptides composed by tyrosine and leucine, used as models of proteins, were submitted to dry thermal treatments, mimicking the coffee roasting process. The oxidation induced by hydroxyl radicals (HO•) was also studied, since these radicals seem to be involved in the modification of the polysaccharides during roasting. The identification of the structural modifications induced by thermal and oxidative treatment of the model compounds was performed mostly by mass spectrometry-based analytical strategies, but also using liquid chromatography. Gas chromatography was used in the analysis of neutral sugars and glycosidic linkages. To validate the conclusions achieved with the model compounds, coffee polysaccharide samples obtained from spent coffee grounds and instant coffee were also analysed. The results obtained from the model oligosaccharides when submitted to thermal treatment (dry) or oxidation induced by HO• (in solution) indicate the occurrence of depolymerization, which is in line with previous studies reporting the depolymerization of coffee galactomannans and arabinogalactans during roasting. Compounds resulting from sugar ring cleavage were also formed during thermal treatment and oxidative treatment of Ara3. On the other hand, the dry thermal treatment of the model oligosaccharides (alone or when mixed) promoted the formation of oligosaccharides with a higher degree of polymerization, and also polysaccharides with new type of glycosidic linkages, evidencing the occurrence of polymerization via non-enzymatic transglycosylation reactions induced by dry thermal treatment. The transglycosylation reactions induced by dry thermal treatment can occur between sugar residues from the same origin, but also of different origins, with formation of hybrid structures, containing arabinose and mannose in the case of the model compounds used. The results obtained from spent coffee grounds and instant coffee samples suggest the presence of hybrid polysaccharides in these processed coffee samples, corroborating the occurrence of transglycosylation during the roasting process. Furthermore, the study of mixtures containing different proportions of each model oligosaccharide, mimicking coffee bean regions with distinct polysaccharide composition, subjected to different periods of thermal treatment, allowed to infer that different hybrid and non-hybrid structures may be formed from arabinogalactans and galactomannans, depending on their distribution in the bean cell walls and on roasting conditions. These results may explain the heterogeneity of melanoidins structures formed during coffee roasting. The results obtained from model mixtures containing an oligosaccharide (Ara3 or Man3) and 5-CQA and subjected to dry thermal treatment, as well as samples derived from spent coffee grounds, showed the formation of hybrid compounds composed by CQA molecules covalently linked to a variable number of sugar residues. Moreover, the results obtained from the mixture containing Man3 and 5-CQA showed that CQA acts as catalyst of transglycosylation reactions. On the other hand, in the model mixtures containing a peptide, even if containing 5-CQA and subjected to the same treatment, it was observed a decrease in the extent of transglycosylation reactions. This outcome can explain the low extent of non-enzymatic transglycosylation reactions during roasting in coffee bean regions enriched in proteins, although polysaccharides are the major components of the coffee beans. The decrease of transglycosylation reactions in the presence of peptides/proteins can be related with the preferential reactivity of reducing residues with the amino groups of peptides/proteins by Maillard reaction, decreasing the number of reducing residues available to be directly involved in the transglycosylation reactions. In addition to the compounds already described, a diversity of other compounds were formed from model systems, namely dehydrated derivatives formed during dry thermal treatment. In conclusion, the identification of the structural modifications in coffee polysaccharides promoted by roasting pave the way to the understanding of the mechanisms of formation of melanoidins and structure-activity relationship of these compounds.

碩士
逢甲大學
資訊工程所
95
A group signature scheme allows a group member to sign a document anonymously on behalf of the official group. In case of disputes, the group manager can trace the signer. In order to win the confidence of the masses, the group manager can offer extra information to everyone in order to trace the signer. But in doing so, the group manager who published the extra information discloses the signer from other document that was signed anonymously, which is called the "linkage problem". Currently relevant schemes are seldom discussed. In this paper, we propose a new ID-based group signature scheme. In case of a dispute, everyone can trace the signer by the extra information which the group manager published and can solve the linkage problem.

碩士
大同大學
化學工程學系(所)
92
The purpose of this research work was an attempt to the structure-property correlation in the chiral liquid crystal materials. Four series chiral liquid crystal materials which have an amide linkage were designed and synthesized in order to investigate the effect of the nonchiral peripheral chain length, n, the effect of different linkage group (RCOO- and RO-) and the effect of the different tailed structure on the mesomorphic properties. The mesophase and their corresponding transition temperatures of the liquid crystal materials were identified by the polarizing microscopic texture, DSC carlorimetry and the electro-optical measurements. The antiferroelectric phase was further characterized by the polarizing microscopic texture, the switching current behavior and the electro-optical response. The compounds of DEnPBNPA (n=7~11, Z=COO) exhibit a phase sequence of Iso-SmA*-SmCA*-Cr in cooling process. All compounds of DEnPBNPA(n=7~11, Z=COO) exhibit the enantiotropic SmA* phase, compounds of DEnPBNPA(n=7, 9, Z=COO) exhibit the enantiotropic SmCA* phase and the compounds of DEnPBNPA(n=8,10,11, Z=COO) exhibit the monotropic SmCA* phase. The compounds of DPnPBNPA (n=7~11, Z=COO) exhibit a phase sequence of Iso-SmA*-Cr in cooling process. All compounds of DPnPBNPA (n=7~11, Z=COO) exhibit the enantiotropic SmA* phase. Expect for the compound, DPnPBNPA (n=11, Z=COO), the transition temperature of Iso-SmA* and SmA*-Cr decrease with increasing the aliphatic chain length. And the transition temperature of Iso-SmA* of compounds, DPnPBNPA (n=7~11, Z=COO) appear an odd-even effect. The compounds of MPnPBNPA (n=7~11, Z=COO) exhibit a phase sequence of Iso-SmA*-Cr in cooling process. All compounds of MPnPBNPA (n=7~11, Z=COO) exhibit the enantiotropic SmA* phase. The transition temperature of Iso-SmA* of compounds, MPnPBNPA (n=7~11, Z=COO) appear an odd-even effect. The compounds of MPnPBNPA (n=10~14, Z=O) exhibit a phase sequence of Iso-SmA*-SmCA*-Cr in cooling process. The compounds of MPnPBNPA (n=10~14, Z=O) exhibit the monotropic SmCA* phase. The temperature range of SmA* decreases with increasing the aliphatic chain length. The temperature range of SmCA* phase increases form n=10 to n=11 and then decreases from n=12 to n=14. The maximum Ps values of compounds, DEnPBNPA (n=7~11, Z=COO) are in a range of 178~240nC/cm2 and the maximum tilt angles are in a range of 16° ~19°. The maximum Ps value of compounds, MPnPBNPA (n=11~13, Z=O) are in a range of 160 ~ 222nC/cm2 and the maximum tilt angles are in a range of 26° ~30°. These two series compounds display an ideal double hysteresis loop in SmCA* phase.

碩士
嘉南藥理大學
藥學系
105
Camptothecin has good anti-cancer activity, and current clinical use of two derivatives are Topotecan and Irinotecan which improve poor water solubility of Camptothecin by chemical modification. However, the lack of drugs specificity of tumor will cause severe side effects. Therefore, our laboratory designed and synthesized two glucuronide prodrugs of Camptothecin (9-ACG and 10-HCG) which will mainly be activated at tumor site expressing large number of β-glucuronidase. According to previous studies, 9-ACG and 10-HCG was 1800 and 20 times soluble than 10-HCG, respectively; 9-ACG and 10-HCG was 30-fold and 10-fold less toxic than the parent drug to cells, respectively; Enzyme kinetic studies showed that β-glucuronidase exhibited 520 times higher catalytic efficiency for 10-HCG than for 9-ACG, and molecular modeling studies predicted that 10-HCG would have a higher binding affinity to enzyme than 9-ACG. In this study, we design and synthesize the target compound 10-HCPG by creating N-methyl piperazine on the benzyl group of 10-HCG, expect for good water solubility, stable in blood, low cytotoxicity, good affinity with β-glucuronidase and specific to tumor cells.

碩士
國立臺灣大學
化學研究所
102
We study chemical reactions of [Ru]Cl ([Ru] = Cp(PPh3)2Ru) with three 1,8-enyne compounds containing cyclopropyl group (1, 7 and 11) in which the triple bond is associated with propargylic alcohol and the ole&;#64257;nic group has various substituted methyl groups. The reaction of [Ru]Cl and 1, containing one methyl group added to the internal carbon of the allyl group, affords the vinylidene complex 2 with a newly formed seven-membered ring. Furthermore, tandem cyclization reaction of 1 in MeOH/CHCl3 catalyzed by [Ru]NCCH3+PF6－ at 60 oC leads to the product 6 with spiro-cyclopropyl ring, formed possibly via sequential allenylidene vinylidene cyclization followed by a nucleophilic addition of alkoxide. In CHCl3, the catalytic reaction by [Ru]NCCH3+ PF6－ gives the isolable organic cyclization intermediate enyne 5. Treatment of the propargylic alcohol 7 containing two terminal methyl groups at the O-allylic group, with [Ru]Cl yields a mixture of two diastereomers of the vinylidene complex 8 containing a newly formed six-membered ring in a ratio of ca. 10:1. Among diastereoisomers only the anti-isomer is isolated for complex 8. The cyclization reaction is proposed to proceed via the formation of a six-membered ring boat-like transition state with bulkiest group in the pseudo-equatorial position to reduce the 1,3-diaxial interactions. The catalytic reaction by [Ru]NCCH3+PF6－ in CHCl3 at 60 oC affords anti-9 and syn-9 in a ratio of 3:1. The thermal energy increases amount of product syn-9. The subsequent cyclization carried out in a cosolvent of ROH/CHCl3 at 60 oC affords bicyclic product 10. In the reaction of [Ru]Cl with 11, containing no methyl group, no C&;#8722;C bond formation is observed. The reaction of 11with [Ru]Cl in the presence of NH4PF6 in CH2Cl2 affords a mixture of the allenylidene complex 12 and phosphonium acetylide 13. Interestingly, thermal treatment of 11 leads to a ring expansion of the cyclopropyl group, giving the vinylidene complex 16 with a five-membered ring. This ring expansion proceeds by C-C bond formation between Cβ of the cumulative double bond and a methylene group of the cyclopropyl ring. Reaction of 1,3-diol 18 with [Ru]Cl in CH2Cl2 yields a mixture of the alkoxy carbene 17 and 19 in a ratio of 1:2. The spontaneous dehydration of 19 to 17 by elevating temperature is failed. Fortunately, complex 17 could be the only product when the reaction is carried out in MeOH. Overall, tandem cyclizations of two 1,8-enynes with methyl-substituents have been achieved. Ring-expansion of a cyclopropyl group in a 1,8-enyne with no methyl-substituent is also accomplished.

碩士
淡江大學
化學學系碩士班
96
Total energy calculations based on density functional theory (DFT) in connection with ultrasoft pseudopotential (USP) and generalized gradient spin-polarized approximation (GGSA) are used to simulate the coupling reaction of two absorbed CF2(ads) and CH2(ads) on the Cu(111) surface and the different photocurrent effect by linkage group treatment on adsorbed InN on the TiO2 anatase(101) surface. For the coupling reaction, we used partial structural constraint path minimization (PSCPM) method to study the reaction mechanism on the surface and their activation barrier. Our calculated energy barriers for CH2=CH2, CH2=CF2 and CF2=CF2 are 0.198eV, 0.204eV and 0.712eV, respectively. These calculated results are qualitatively in good agreement with the experimental observations. According to the reaction pathway we proposed, the two carbenes will diffuse to the top site of Cu surface and the coupling reaction occurs immediately. To study the electronic structure, we applied the partial density of states (PDOS) method and charge slice diagram to investigate the energetic profile for different carbenes, and we successfully explain the lower activation barrier due to the fact that there is a stronger interaction between carbon atom and the d-orbital of the top-site Cu atom at transition state. Finally, we also found that the hybrid orbital for CH2 self-coupling is like the sp3 character and CF2 is like sp2 and that is the reason why the CH2 self-coupling is easier than CF2. In the part 2 section, we used boric acid and phosphorous acid on adsorbed InN on the TiO2 anatase(101)1x2 surface. According our calculation results, we found that there is a significant different structural geometry on anchoring group, that is pyramid for PO3 vs. planer for BO3. Our calculated band gaps for InN/PO3/Anatase(101) and InN/BO3/Anatase(101) are red-shift to 596nm and 794nm. Moreover, we noticed that there is a suitable energy matching within visible range (1.5eV~3.1eV) between InN、BO3 and surface on their conduction band by using BO3 anchoring group. Finally, according to our collected orbital density at conduction band, there is a favourable electron injection pathway from InN thought BO3 to TiO2 surface by using π delocalized orbital.

The amount of knowledge increases rapidly due to the increasing number of available data sources. However, the autonomy of data sources and the resulting heterogeneity prevent comprehensive data analysis and applications. Data integration aims to overcome heterogeneity by unifying different data sources and enriching unstructured data. The enrichment of data consists of different subtasks, amongst other the annotation process. The annotation process links document phrases to terms of a standardized vocabulary. Annotated documents enable effective retrieval methods, comparability of different documents, and comprehensive data analysis, such as finding adversarial drug effects based on patient data. A vocabulary allows the comparability using standardized terms. An ontology can also represent a vocabulary, whereas concepts, relationships, and logical constraints additionally define an ontology. The annotation process is applicable in different domains. Nevertheless, there is a difference between generic and specialized domains according to the annotation process. This thesis emphasizes the differences between the domains and addresses the identified challenges. The majority of annotation approaches focuses on the evaluation of general domains, such as Wikipedia. This thesis evaluates the developed annotation approaches with case report forms that are medical documents for examining clinical trials. The natural language provides different challenges, such as similar meanings using different phrases. The proposed annotation method, AnnoMap, considers the fuzziness of natural language. A further challenge is the reuse of verified annotations. Existing annotations represent knowledge that can be reused for further annotation processes. AnnoMap consists of a reuse strategy that utilizes verified annotations to link new documents to appropriate concepts. Due to the broad spectrum of areas in the biomedical domain, different tools exist. The tools perform differently regarding a particular domain. This thesis proposes a combination approach to unify results from different tools. The method utilizes existing tool results to build a classification model that can classify new annotations as correct or incorrect. The results show that the reuse and the machine learning-based combination improve the annotation quality compared to existing approaches focussing on the biomedical domain. A further part of data integration is entity resolution to build unified knowledge bases from different data sources. A data source consists of a set of records characterized by attributes. The goal of entity resolution is to identify records representing the same real-world entity. Many methods focus on linking data sources consisting of records being characterized by attributes. Nevertheless, only a few methods can handle graph-structured knowledge bases or consider temporal aspects. The temporal aspects are essential to identify the same entities over different time intervals since these aspects underlie certain conditions. Moreover, records can be related to other records so that a small graph structure exists for each record. These small graphs can be linked to each other if they represent the same. This thesis proposes an entity resolution approach for census data consisting of person records for different time intervals. The approach also considers the graph structure of persons given by family relationships. For achieving qualitative results, current methods apply machine-learning techniques to classify record pairs as the same entity. The classification task used a model that is generated by training data. In this case, the training data is a set of record pairs that are labeled as a duplicate or not. Nevertheless, the generation of training data is a time-consuming task so that active learning techniques are relevant for reducing the number of training examples. The entity resolution method for temporal graph-structured data shows an improvement compared to previous collective entity resolution approaches. The developed active learning approach achieves comparable results to supervised learning methods and outperforms other limited budget active learning methods. Besides the entity resolution approach, the thesis introduces the concept of evolution operators for communities. These operators can express the dynamics of communities and individuals. For instance, we can formulate that two communities merged or split over time. Moreover, the operators allow observing the history of individuals. Overall, the presented annotation approaches generate qualitative annotations for medical forms. The annotations enable comprehensive analysis across different data sources as well as accurate queries. The proposed entity resolution approaches improve existing ones so that they contribute to the generation of qualitative knowledge graphs and data analysis tasks.

碩士
亞洲大學
國際企業學系碩士班
97
Research on internationalization has been addressed for years. In Asia, business group can form a network which can provides an international experience, but also be able to make use of group resources, more rapid access to overseas investment. This study uses Taiwan companies as the sample. We use data from Taiwan Economic Journal to test our hypotheses. The empirical results show that the group elements and Taiwan enterprises to invest overseas is indeed a significant relationship between the group and when the higher age groups, group members will decline in the proportion of overseas investment enterprises, as the relationship become negative.

碩士
國立成功大學
生命科學系
107
With more than 28000 species, Orchidaceae is the biggest family in angiosperms. Phalaenopsis becomes one of the most popular groups of orchids because of their various morphology and colors. In Taiwan, there are two native Phalaenopsis species, P. aphrodite and P. equestris. Both of them are served as important parents in orchid breeding programs. Therefore, understanding and revealing the genetic information of the two species by cytogenetic analysis will be beneficial to orchid breeding. Here, we selected four linkage groups of P. aphrodite and systematically identify their positions on pachytene chromosomes of P. equestris by comparative fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) mapping. Our results showed that the four linkage groups are conserved and there is collinearity between some chromosomes of P. aphrodite and their corresponding chromosomes in P. equestris. We also identified chromosomal rearrangements between the two species. Overall, our results revealed the precise positions of the four linkage groups on a single chromosome in P. equestris which will facilitate the identification of each chromosome. The results gained in this study will contribute to systematic orchid breeding and enhance the understanding of orchid evolution.

博士
國立成功大學
化學工程學系
87
Abstract High performance resins are very useful in highly demanding environments to provide special properties, such as thermal stability, good chemical resistance, high dimensional stability, low water absorption and high mechanical strength. Unfortunately, most high performance polymers suffer from their poor solubility in organic solvent, extremely high melting points, and high melt viscosity for fabrication. The processability of high performance polymers can be improved by the reduction of their molecular weight. However, this approach results in a significant decrease of their final thermal and physical properties. Therefore, one successful approach to increase solubility and processability of polymers without sacrificing their thermal and physical properties is by the modification of polymer structure. In this thesis, we plan to combine the special features of naphthalene structure (rigid, low moisture absorption and low coefficient of thermal expansion) with bismaleimides and polyimides (high crosslink density, good thermal and electrical properties) in order to produce a new high performance material. The goal of this study is to synthesize a new epoxy, bismaleimide and diamine monomers. A series of novel high performance polymers containing naphthalene pendant group and flexible ether linkages have been prepared which include epoxy resins, polyaspartimides, polyaminobismaleimides and polyimides. The primary aim of this work was to illustrate the effect of function groups on the properties of polymers, such as solubility, bulk density, thermal properties, moisture absorption, dynamic mechanical properties, dielectric constant, coefficient of thermal expansion and mechanical properties. Novel bismaleimide (BMI) and epoxy resin with naphthalene side group were synthesized from the intermediates, bis(4-amino-3,5-dimethylphenyl)naphthylmethane (BADN) and bis(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethylphenyl)naphthylmethane (BHDN), which were obtained from the reactions between 1-naphthaldehyde and 2,6-dimethylaniline or 2,6-dimethylphenol, respectively. The monomers were characterized by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, elemental analysis, mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry and potentiometery. Their corresponding bismaleimide bis(4-maleimido-3,5-dimethylphenyl)naphthylmethane (BMDN) and the diglycidyl ether of BHDN (DGEBN) were cured with 4,4''-diaminodiphenyl methane (DDM) at various mole ratio and their curing behaviors investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and FTIR. Thermogravimetric analyses (TGA) indicated that the cured systems of bismaleimide and epoxy resins were stable up to 416-424℃ and 377-395℃, respectively, in nitrogen atmosphere, and the former afforded a relatively higher char yield than the latter. In addition, the cured bismaleimide possessed better Tg, moisture resistance, lower coefficient of thermal expansion and dielectric constant than that of the epoxy system. A bismaleimide, bis(4-maleimidophenoxy-3,5-dimethylphenyl)naphth- ylmethane (BMPDN), containing a pendant naphthalene and aryl ether linkage was synthesized from bis(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethylphenyl)-naphthylmethane (BHDN) through a diamine, [bis(4-aminophenoxy-3,5-dimethylphenyl)naphthylmethane (BAPDN)], and maleic anhydride by the usual two step procedure that included ring opening addition to give bismaleamic acid, followed by cyclodehydration to bismaleimide. A series of polyaspartimides, polyaminobismaleimides were prepared by the polyaddition of this bismaleimide with diamine (DDM) at various mole ratio via a Michael-type addition in the melt. The new BMI was found to possess the processability and solubility. In addition, it also exhibited increasing thermal stability and better physical properties with decreasing DDM concentration. A series of novel polyimides containing pendant naphthalene and flexible ether moieties were prepared from various diamines [including bis(4-amino-3,5-dimethylphenyl)naphthylmethane, bis(4-aminophenoxy-3,5-dimethylphenyl)naphthylmethane and bis(4-aminophenoxy-3,5-dimethylphenyl)methane] with various aromatic tetracarboxylic dianhydrides via a two-step and one-step methods. All polyimides, except those without naphthalene pendant group, were readily soluble in common organic solvent, such as chloroform. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) revealed that the naphthalene bearing diamine monomers had a low entropy, and formed amorphous polyimides. They retained high moduli even at high temperatures by dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), and had their coefficients of thermal expansion (CTEs) in the range of 46.86-67.14ppm by thermomechanical analysis (TMA). The glass transition temperature of polyimides were found to be 268-294℃, 298-326℃ and 270-315℃ respectively by DSC, DMA, and TMA. Thermogravimetric analyses indicated that they were fairly stable up to 489-571℃ (10wt% loss in N2). In addition, they had a tensile strength in the range of 56-97Mpa, and an elongation to break of around 3%. These polyimide films have dielectric constants ranging from 2.71 to 3.28 with moisture absorptions of less than 0.98%.

Chromosomal rearrangements have been hypothesized to be the cause of reproductive isolation leading to speciation in diverse taxa. One model for chromosomal speciation, speciation by monobrachial centric fusions, is thought to apply to various groups of mammals, including members of the bat genus Rhogeessa (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae). Specifically, this model has been proposed to account for diversification within the R. tumida species complex. This species group exhibits a high degree of karyotypic variation, with little to no morphological differentiation between species. By examining phylogenetic data derived from DNA sequences of maternal, paternal and bi-parentally inherited markers, I investigate phylogenetic relationships of species within Rhogeessa and test expectations of the model of speciation by monobrachial centric fusions on members of the R. tumida complex. If chromosomal fusions caused speciation in Rhogeessa, I expect to see patterns of reproductive isolation between species differing by monobrachial fusions, and therefore each chromosomal form should be a monophyletic group. My data generally follow this pattern, with the exception of potential evidence for historical hybridization between R. tumida (2n = 34) and R. aeneus (2n = 32), where none is expected under the model. There is no evidence, however, of ongoing or recent hybridization between any taxa differing karyotypically. Moreover, the speciation model predicts that all populations which contain the same set of chromosomal fusions should freely interbreed, if chromosomal rearrangements are the sole cause for reproductive isolation. My data also show an exception to this prediction based on the observation of multiple genetic lineages of karyotypically identical R. tumida (2n = 34). This observation indicates that chromosomal differences cannot account for genetic diversification between the different lineages of R. tumida. Phylogeographic analyses indicate that lineages within this species could have diverged due to differences in habitat preferences. Overall, these data are generally consistent with speciation having occurred via reproductive isolation caused by chromosomal fusions. However, it does not appear that these rearrangements have caused complete reproductive isolation due to the evidence consistent with historical hybridization between Rhogeessa tumida and R. aeneus. The chromosomal mechanism is also not likely to be the only means by which diversification has taken place in Rhogeessa. Geographic factors have apparently influenced genetic divergence as well.

碩士
國立交通大學
財務金融研究所
102
Groups of firms under common ownership are prevalent around the world. These so-called business groups accounts for a large fraction of the economic activity of many countries. It is common for controlling shareholders of the group to enhance control by pyramidal structure and cross-shareholdings. However, these control-enhancing mechanisms lead to a wedge between cash flow and control right, which can encourage expropriation of minority shareholders by ultimate controller through various tunneling. While some recent studies have explored that the motivation to create pyramidal structure is for the significant financing advantage by leverage a group’s internal capital market. According to different viewpoints above, the main purpose of this study is to examine the determinants and effects of ownership structure by using the sample of Taiwan’s listed group firms. The study takes into consideration the three different ownerships in the group firm: ultimate controller’s direct shareholdings, pyramids, and cross-shareholdings. Then, we investigate the relation between ownership structures and performances as well as related party transactions in the past and future of group firms. The results show that firms with high ownerships retained by other affiliated firms within the group will outperform in the future. While the central firms which control more affiliated firms will have lower performance. And through the related party transactions, we find the top firms or central firms lend more money to affiliated firms and guarantee for them. It indicates that the working of internal capital market in the group benefits bottom firms and provide them more growth opportunities. Also, we find the industrial linkage within the pyramidal structure. Bottom firms tends to sell product to their parent(s) and top firms tends to purchase from bottom, which imply groups may form pyramidal structure for reaching the advantage of reducing the cost by internal supply chain vertical integration. For these reason and results, pyramids may not be created for tunneling, while for advantages of internal capital market and industrial integration. Besides, in this study, there has no negative effect been found on cross-shareholding.

碩士
國立高雄第一科技大學
風險管理與保險研究所
99
This research investigates the effect of geographic diversification on the performance of the groups. The research object is primarily aimed at 89 Taiwan large information technology groups according to report published by “China Credit” from 2005 to 2008. First, using the ordinary least squares method to test the influences of group characteristics, parent company characteristics and geographic diversification on the performance of the groups. Second, the full sample is separated into three sub-samples according to the Multivariate Adaptive Regression Spline (MARS) in order to find out the high, middle and low degrees of diversification. Finally step is to research whether the causality from diversification to performance can be estimated by the three-stage least square. The empirical results show that there is an inverted – S shaped relationship between the degree of geographic diversification and performance of business group companies. The relationship between geographic diversification and the performance of the groups should be a specifically bidirectional with positive relationship at lower and higher degrees of diversification, and a negative relationship for a middle range in the degree of diversification.

碩士
國立中山大學
企業管理學系研究所
100
The study aims to analyze the impact of political linkage on diversification strategy and firm performance. Previous studies indicate that firm’s political linkages will generate performance impact in emerging economies. However, whether firm’s political linkages will generate performance implications are underestimated. By utilizing longitudinal data in financial family business groups in Taiwan, this study tries to examine the relationships among political linkages, diversification strategy, and family business group’s performance from the social capital viewpoint. The results indicate that in the current database, the higher level of formal political linkages, the higher degree of diversification in family business groups. Moreover, diversification strategy will generate mediated impact on the relationship between formal political linkages and performance in family business groups. In that, the consideration of diversification will lower the performance implications by formal political linkage in family business groups. The family business group’s formal political linkageswill generate distinctive impact on diversification strategy and performance in emerging economies. The results provide referable value in addressing political linkages issues in family business groups in Asia.

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) was recently introduced to the Canadian prairies, a region which has a short growing season in which crop maturation often occurs under cool and wet conditions. To improve the yield of chickpea, crop duration must closely match the available growing season. The objectives of this study were to: i) examine the days to flowering of diverse chickpea accessions grown in either long or short-days; ii) examine the days to flowering of selected chickpea accessions grown in a range of thermal regimes combined with either long or short days and to examine the interaction between photoperiod and day and night temperatures on crop duration; iii) determine the timing and duration of the photoperiod-sensitive phase in selected chickpea accessions, and vi) determine the genetic basis of the association between flowering time and reaction to ascochyta blight in chickpea. A wide variation was observed in chickpea accessions for their response to flowering under long (16/8 hours day /night) and short days (10/14 hours day/night). Earlier flowering was observed under long photoperiod regimes compared with the short photoperiod regimes. Variability was detected among chickpea accessions for their flowering responses when different temperatures were combined with different photoperiods. Earlier flowering was observed under long days (16/8 hours day/night) coupled with high to moderate temperature regimes (24/16 ºC and 20/12 ºC, day and night respectively) compared to short-days (10/14 hours day and night) and moderate to low temperature regimes (20/12 ºC and 16/8 ºC day and night, respectively). Those chickpea accessions such as ICC 6821 and ICCV 96029 which originated from the lower latitudes of Ethiopia and India, respectively, flowered earlier compared to accessions such as CDC Corinne and CDC Frontier which originated from the higher latitudes and cooler temperate environments of western Canada. Photoperiod sensitivity phases were detected in chickpea accessions adapted to the cold environments of western Canada, whereas no photoperiod sensitivity phase was identified in the extra-early flowering cultivar ICCV 96029. The duration of the photoperiod sensitive phase in the chickpea accessions was longer under short days compared to long days. Field and growth chamber evaluation of a chickpea RIL population (CP-RIL-1) revealed the presence of variability among the lines and the two parents for their days to flowering and level of resistance to ascochyta blight. Broad sense heritability across different site-years for days to flower 0.45 to 0.78, plant height 0.48 to 0.78, ascochyta blight resistance 0.14 to 0.68, days to maturity 0.26, photoperiod sensitivity 0.83 and nodes number of first flowering 0.37 to 0.75 were estimated. Days to flower and photoperiod sensitivity were significantly r = -0.21 to -0.58 (P ≤ 0.05 to 0.001) and -0.28 to -0.41 (P ≤ 0.01 to 0.001), respectively and negatively correlated with ascochyta blight resistance in the CP-RIL-1 population. A genetic linkage map consisting of eight linkage groups was developed using 349 SNP markers. Seven QTLs were identified for days to flowering under growth chamber and field conditions on chromosomes 3, 5, 6 and 8 each and 3 QTLs on chromosome 4. The total phenotypic variation explained by QTLs for days to flowering ranged from 7 to 44%. Two QTLs for days to maturity were identified on chromosomes 3 and 8. Three QTLs, one each on chromosomes 3, 4 and 5 were identified for photoperiod sensitivity. The total phenotypic variation explained by each QTL for photoperiod sensitivity ranged from 7 to 41%. A total of three QTL for node of first flowering, one on chromosomes 3 and 8 each, and two on chromosome 4 were identified. The two QTL on chromosome 4 explained total phenotypic variations of 11 and 32%, respectively. Ten QTLs distributed across all chromosomes, except chromosomes 2 and 5, were identified for ascochyta blight resistance. The phenotypic variability explained by each QTL for ascochyta blight resistance ranged from 7 to 17%. The molecular markers associated with these QTLs have potential for use in chickpea breeding.

碩士
國立成功大學
生命科學系
106
There are two native Phalaenopsis species in Taiwan, Phalaenopsis aphrodite subsp. formosana and P. equestris, and both are important breeding parents Phalaenopsis genome research can contribute to systematic breeding. Cytogenetic studies such as genetic linkage maps and karyotype analysis play an important role in breeding, but the cytogenetic related research of Phalaenopsis is still quite little. In this study, we integrated two genetic linkage groups 7, 13, EFS, and 5S rDNA genes of P. aphrodite to high-resolution pachytene chromosomes of P. equestris by using comparative fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) technique. Our results show that the genetic linkage group 13 (LG13) and EFS are located on the chromosome 13 of P. aphrodite and on the chromosome 16 of P. equestris. The genetic linkage group 7 (LG07) is located on the chromosome 7 of P. aphrodite and on the chromosome 3 of P. equestris. The 5S ribosomal DNA (5S rDNA) has two loci in P. aphrodite located on chromosomes 6 and 12, and only one locus in P. equestris located on chromosome 12. These results indicate that the locations of our selected two genetic linkage groups are conserved on chromosomes between P. aphrodite and P. equestris. The 5S ribosomal DNA located in the short-arm heterochromatin and euchromatin junction region in both species. In both species EFS is located at the end of the long arm and has a relative positional exchange with scaffold_46 between the two species. Our current results provide cytogenetic evolutionary and breeding studies in Phalaenopsis orchids.

碩士
國立中山大學
企業管理學系研究所
98
By utilizing longitudinal data over 10 years, this research tries to examine the relationships between distinctive political linkages by family members and the diversification implications in family business group in Taiwan. The past researches have highlighted that the political linkages established by family members have significant influence on the family business group’s diversification. However, there is little researches examine who’s political linkage is critical in determining the diversification decision in family business group. From social capital viewpoint, this research tries to investigate the diversification implications of political linkages established by three family roles, i.e., the founder, the sons, and the marriage roles, in family business groups. The results reveal that the founder’s informal political linkages have significantly positive influence on the diversification. Furthermore, the political linkages established by marriage roles do not reveal significant influence on the group’s diversification. However, the son’s political linkages have distinctive influences on the diversification decision. In that, the son’s formal political linkages have significantly negative influence on diversification, but the son’s informal political linkages have significantly positive influence on diversification. The results indicate that the differential roles in family business groups have distinctive influence on the strategy decisions. The results provide insightful theoretical and practical implications in diversification issue and political linkages issues in largely family business groups.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1995.
Typescript. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 77-82).

碩士
國立東華大學
化學系
105
In the dissertation, the reaction of C(3p) + SiH4 is investigated by combining electronic structure and statistical calculations. The reaction was found to from an initial a van der Waals complex in the entrance channel, intersystem crossing (ISC) from the triplet to the singlet potential surface. The study provides insight on the molecular level and shed light on the non-adiabatic reaction dynamics of silicon, which is distinct from isovalent carbon systems. On both triplet and singlet surface, we use CCSD/cc-pVTZ to optimize complexes, intermediates, transition states and products. Energies are further calculated by CCSD/CBS with CCSD/cc-pVTZ zero-point energy correction. The statistical RRKM theory is employed in calculating rate constant and evolution of concentration with time. The major product at triplet pathways is predicted to be Si-CH3 and at singlet pathways, HSi-CH2. The formation of organic amide polymers via carbonyl–amino group linkages in carbon monoxide and ammonia bearing energetically processed ices of astrophysical relevance is investigated with one carboxyl group and an increasing number of amine moieties starting with formamide (45 u), urea (60 u), and hydrazine carboxamide (75 u). The second group consists of species with two carboxyl (58 u) and up to three amine groups (73 u, 88 u, and 103 u). The formation and polymerization of these linkages from simple inorganic molecules via formamide und urea toward amide polymers is discussed in an astrophysical and astrobiological context. Our results show that long chain molecules, which are closely related to polypeptides, easily form by energetically processing simple, inorganic ices at very low temperatures and can be released into the gas phase by sublimation of the ices in star-forming regions. Our experimental results were obtained by employing reflectron time-of-flight mass spectroscopy, coupled with soft, single photon vacuum ultraviolet photoionization; they are complemented by theoretical calculations. We use b3lyp/cc-pVTZ to optimize neutral and ionic 2-oxo-2-triazylacetaldehyde and N-formylhydrazinecarboxamide. Energies are calculated by CCSD/CBS with b3lyp/cc-pVTZ zero-point energy correction. The ionization energies are obtained by taking the energy difference between corresponding neutral and ionic species. The result is compared with experiments.

M.Tech. (Fine Art)
In this research, I map emergent female Afrikaner identities in relation to Willem Boshoff‟s artwork Bread and Pebble Roadmap, which acts as the central focus to this study and informs my own body of practical work. In order to constitute a key to unlock questions regarding emergent female Afrikaner identities in a South African context from colonial to post-apartheid, the relationship between image and text in Bread and Pebble Roadmap is investigated. The investigation of this relationship is interwoven with a discourse of an early form of the literary tradition that has come to be known as Arabic-Afrikaans script, a term used to describe the "literary work which is written in Afrikaans with Arabic letters" (Van Selms 1951). This study adopts a qualitative methodological approach. The research incorporates textual analysis and visual analysis. The study presents a visual semiotic analysis of Bread and Pebble Roadmap, in order to map possible links between this artwork and a literature review of an early form of Arabic-Afrikaans script, as a contextual framework in which to situate the study. Arabic- Afrikaans, in turn, acts as a link which forges a relationship between two kinds of identities: an Islamic influence on South African culture, and an Islamic influence on my life experience as an Afrikaans-speaking woman who lived in Egypt for four years. These two identities, represented by artist Lalla Essaydi in relation to an Islamic identity and artist Lizelle Kruger in relation to an Afrikaner identity, are investigated through a comparative visual analysis. The study intends to show how Essaydi and Kruger form a link with Boshoff, where each of these three artists subverts, questions, and breaks down prevailing cultural and linguistic stereotypes, and in so doing operationalises the notion of an emergent identity. Identity construction, in the context of this study, is characterised by Stuart Hall‟s (in Rutherford 1990:222) concept of identity being in a continual state of flux, identity as “a production, which is never complete; always in process and always constructed within, not outside representation”. I therefore map my Afrikaner identity, previously seen as fixed, unproblematic and in line with the national discourse under apartheid (Van Heerden 2006), but now seen as „becoming‟ and „transitioning‟, situated „betwixt and between‟ (Turner 1969). This notion informs my own practical work, which becomes visual metaphors of maps, in order to navigate a sense of self. My practical work therefore attempts to embody a temporary space of an emergent identity. I understand this in-between space (Bhabha 2004) as a liminal space, as a continuum of spaces in which my emergent female Afrikaner identity resides. An important conclusion that I make from my research is that Boshoff‟s conflation of image and text, which is consistent with Derrida‟s (1981) deconstructive strategy, unhinges the conditions of the stereotype, which conventionally privileges a dichotomy in which different polar relations reside. Drawing a connection between Bread and Pebble Roadmap and Arabic-Afrikaans, and applying the conditions found in Bread and Pebble Roadmap to Arabic-Afrikaans, I view Arabic- Afrikaans as able to unhinge its own seeming dichotomies: between Arabic and Afrikaans, and thus between Islam and Christianity. In this way, I am able to argue that Arabic-Afrikaans is able to reverse stereotyping and point a way forward towards the construction of emergent non-racial stereotyping.

Background Linkage and exchange refers to processes by which researchers and decisionmakers are engaged in ongoing interaction, collaboration, and the transfer of ideas and are a critical aspect of collaborative research partnerships (CHSRF, 2008). As healthcare groups continue to communicate and collaborate at a distance through linkage and exchange, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has come to play an increasingly important role in supporting such interactions. However, to date, the literature on linkage and exchange appears disconnected from that of ICT. Research on the effects of ICT on linkage and exchange processes is needed for healthcare in general, but, more specifically, within the drug policy domain. This study examines the consequences of ICT on linkage and exchange processes within the drug policy domain. Methodology This study seeks to understand the effects of ICT on linkage and exchange processes. An initial conceptual framework emerged from the research literature of both ICT and linkage and exchange. The framework focused on describing inputs, processes, and outputs involved in linkage and exchange. The inputs were communication media, tasks, group characteristics, context, and culture. The processes included social iv interactions, facilitation, and information exchange. The outputs consisted of participant ratings of the technology-enabled linkage and exchange processes. Three different groups working within the drug policy domain were observed for over two years. Five different types of data were collected in the study: baseline interviews, observations, meeting transcripts, post-interviews, and surveys. Analysis of the study results in the context of the initial conceptual framework led to a more refined conceptual framework. Findings Three linkage and exchange processes were studied: social interaction norms, facilitation, and information exchange. The findings regarding social interaction norms suggest that: 1) groups developed different discussion and participation norms when using different communication media; 2) a rigid web-conferencing communication structure forced group members to introduce other tools for communication; 3) group discussions were perceived as best in face-to-face environments and worst in teleconferencing; 4) teleconferencing provided the most convenient method of participation; 5) web-conferencing was the most effective way to facilitate linkage and exchange for groups that had limited budgets, that were greatly dispersed, and that were highly collaborative; 6) web-conferencing forced group interaction within text. Findings regarding facilitation suggest that: 1) process facilitation skills were essential to the success of the group irrespective of technology; 2) more technological features required more effort from facilitators; 3) facilitator control of a meeting was highest during web-conferencing meetings; 4) disseminating research required little or no process facilitation expertise. v Findings regarding information exchange suggest that: 1) technology and presentation structure had a strong influence on information sharing, but little on evidence sharing; and 2) the research task had the strongest effect on the level of evidence used within the group. Conclusion ICT has a significant effect on linkage and exchange processes. This study discusses the implications of the thesis for both underlying theory and the practical development of technology to support linkage and exchange.

The study investigated the application of the crime threat analysis process at station level within the Nelson Mandela Metro City area with the objective of determining inhibiting factors (constraints) and best practices. Qualitative research methodology was applied and interviews were conducted with crime analysts and specialised investigators/intelligence analysts. The research design can be best described as descriptive and explorative in nature. The crime threat analysis process embroils the application of various crime analysis techniques and the outcomes thereof intends to have a dual purpose of generating operational crime management information in assisting crime prevention initiatives and crime detection efforts, mainly focussing on the criminal activities of group offenders (organised crime related), repeat offenders and serial offenders. During the study it became evident that crime analysts understand and thus apply the crime threat analysis process indifferently, which impeded on the relevancy and the utilisation thereof as an effective crime management tool.
Criminology
M.Tech. (Policing)

Students in Technical and Vocational Education and Training Colleges (TVET) in South Africa face a number of challenges including psychological problems. These challenges have a strong bearing on the academic success of the students. The aim of the study was to examine the effectiveness of psychological support services rendered to students at Majuba TVET College. Interviews were recorded verbatim and transcribed. Thematic data analysis was used to analyse the data. The themes used were derived from the research objectives and these were further divided into categories and sub-categories. The study found that the institution does provide psychological support services to the learner. The forms of psychological support include career counselling, pre-counselling, referral system, on-going counselling and peer counselling and mentoring. Improved academic performance, improved student attendance student retention and improved college certification rate are some of the benefits that can be realised from the effective utilisation of psychological support by the students. Various challenges hinder the effective utilisation of these psychological support services including, lack of qualified personnel, being understaffed, poor referral system, conflicting roles of staff, inadequate on-site counselling, low-prioritisation of psychological support by college management and limited access time. The participants highlighted the need for the institution to establish linkages with key stakeholders such as other TVET Colleges so as to have a platform for sharing vital information on psychological support. The participants were of the view that more qualified and registered staff should be hired to bolster the provision of psychological support to students. The referral system should be improved and the participants advocated for the services to be accessible around the clock. College management should show commitment to students’ welfare by prioritising and recognising student psychological support as pivotal to students’ academic success.
Educational Studies
M. Ed. (Adult Education)