Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'OFF-period'

This thesis presents an archaeological survey of 12 islands off the north coast of Ireland in the· post~medieval period (1700-1847). The islands included are located from Rathlin off County Antrim, west to Tory and south to Inishfree Upper off County Donegal.·It seeks to achieve an understanding of the process of social and landscape change in the ei~hteenth and early nineteenth centuries as well as the motivating factors behind these transformations. During the course of fieldwork 338 archaeological sites were recorded (volume II). In addition, a limited programme of geophysical survey and diver inspection was undertaken. The sites represent a wide range of activities reflective of island life in the Age of Improvement. There is a pronounced maritime focus in the survey, including kelp processing sites, boat landing places and shelters, and fishing practises. Wider landscape issues include changes to field systems, evolving settlement patterns and the architectural features of vernacular and estate houses.

The physical demands (high-intensity running and sprinting) of football match-play place footballers at increased risk of hamstring injuries. Some of the negative effects of a hamstring injury such as neuromuscular deficits and a decrease in performance are already known. While previous injury and age are known risk factors for future hamstring injuries, their relationship with the changes in eccentric hamstring strength and performance during the offseason in semi-professional footballers have not been studied. Moreover, a variety of resistance training interventions aiming at improving physical performance and strength are available in the literature, with inertial flywheel resistance training arising lately and providing promising results. The thesis aimed to firstly compare the use of inertial flywheel with gravity-dependent resistance training for improving physical performance and thigh muscle strength and, secondly, to test how previous injury, age and the off-season period affects physical performance and eccentric hamstring strength in semi-professional and amateur footballers
Les demandes condicionals (carreres a alta-intensitat i esprints) dels futbolistes en un partit es relacionen amb un increment del risc de lesions de la musculatura isquiosural. Alguns dels efectes negatius relacionats aquestes lesions són els dèficits neuromusculars i la reducció del rendiment. La història de lesió i l’edat són factors de risc per futures lesions, tot i que la relació amb la força excèntrica i el rendiment durant el període transitori en futbolistes semiprofessionals no s’ha estudiat detalladament. Existeixen diferents mètodes d’entrenament per poder millorar el rendiment i la força, on l’entrenament amb màquines inercials està donant resultats interessants. Els objectius de la tesi són, comparar l’ús de l’entrenament amb màquines inercials amb l’entrenament amb mètodes gravitacionals per la millora del rendiment físic i la força; i avaluar si la lesió prèvia, l’edat i el període transitori afecten el rendiment i la força excèntrica isquiosural en futbolistes semiprofessionals i amateurs
Programa de Doctorat en Biologia Molecular, Biomedicina i Salut

High-pass filtering that is one of the most efficient methods in removing long-period noise of accelerograms is investigated for its effect on nonlinear oscillator deformation response. Within this context, uncertainty in filter cut-off periods that would significantly modify the low-frequency content of accelerograms come into prominence for obtaining reliable long-period displacement response. Analog and digital ground-motion records from recently compiled Turkish strong-motion database are used and these records are high-pass filtered with a consistent methodology by randomly generated filter cut-offs that represent different filter cut-off decisions of the analysts. The uncertainty in inelastic spectral and residual displacements (SDIE and SDR, respectively) due to variations in filter cut-offs is examined to derive the usable period ranges where the effect of high-pass filtering is tolerable. Non-degrading, stiffness degrading and stiffness and strength degrading oscillator behavior are considered in these analyses. The level of nonlinear behavior in single degree of freedom (SDOF) response is described by varying the yield strength (R, normalized yield strength) and displacement ductility (µ
) levels. The usable period ranges that depend on magnitude, recording quality, level of inelasticity and level of degradation are determined for SDIE through robust probabilistic methodologies.

investment evaluation of solar electric power station, two main parts, first focus on evaluation before positive decision about making investment, second part reflects the present situation, use economic criterion: net present value, internal rate of return, pay-off period and additional indices

Personer som utför skiftarbete ingår i en riskgrupp för hälsorelaterade påfrestningar som resultat av en svårighet att utveckla personliga rutiner för kost, vila och friskvård. Nautiker som arbetar på fartyg där tvåvaktssystem om sex timmar tillämpas ingår således i denna riskgrupp där arbetet i regel förläggs koncentrerat över en längre tidsperiod. I denna studie presenteras en undersökning om hur personer med erfarenhet av tvåvaktssystem upplever förutsättningarna för att skapa sunda rutiner för vila, kost och friskvård. Resultatet är en berättelse om upplevda förutsättningar och i det har följande två intressanta slutsatser framkommit: Respondenterna upplever att frivaktens teoretiska tidsrymd för återhämtning inte överensstämmer med verkligheten varpå sömn och kost prioriteras medan behovet av friskvård blir lidande. Personliga rutiner är avgörande men förutsättningarna för att skapa sunda rutiner för vila, kost och friskvård står i direkt relation till möjligheten att få sin frivakt ostörd från beordrade driftrelaterade arbetsmoment.
Persons that perform shift work are part of a risk group for health related stress as result of difficulties with developing personal routines for eating, sleeping and physical wellness. Sailors that work in ships where a two watch system with 6 hour watches is applied are therefore included in this risk group where work is generally concentrated over an extended period of time. This study presents an investigation on how people with experience in the two watch system with six hour watches, experience the conditions for creating healthy routines for sleep, diet and physical wellness. The result is a story about the perceived opportunities in which the following two interesting conclusions emerged: respondents feel that the off duty period's theoretical timeframe for regeneration doesn't correspond to reality in which the time does not suffice. Hence, sleep and nutrition is prioritized while the need for physical wellness suffers. Personal routines are essential, but prerequisites for developing healthy routines for sleep, diet and wellness are directly related to the possibility of having the off duty period undisturbed from ordered operational tasks.

Effects of a short 40-d dry period with only a close-up diet (SHORT) and a conventional 60-d dry period with a 39-d far-off and a 21-d close-up diet (CONV) on milk production, feed intake, blood and rumen parameters, liver gene expression and rumen microbiota profile were compared in 11 second-parity and 15 third and later parity cows. Milk production was recorded daily during the first 16 wks of lactation. Differential liver gene expression was assessed by affymetrix microarray analysis and DNA extracted from rumen samples was subjected to Illumina sequencing for exploring the microbiome profile. The SHORT treatment reduced milk yield and DMI after calving in third and later parity cows, but not in second-parity cows when compared to the CONV treatment. Cows on the SHORT treatment had higher concentrations of NEFA in blood plasma and tended to have higher liver TAG immediately after calving. These effects tended to be greater in third- and later parity cows compared to second-parity cows. Expression patterns of genes involved in β-oxidation at the first week of lactation compared to those at three weeks before calving showed lower hepatic β-oxidation capacity in cows on the SHORT treatment compared to those on the CONV treatment. During this period, the expression of DGAT, a key gene in the triglyceride synthesis, increased in SHORT-treatment cows while it remained unchanged in CONV-treatment cows. The expression patterns of genes involved in gluconeogenesis showed a higher capacity at first week after calving in cows on the SHORT compared to those on the CONV treatment. Our study also showed that the SHORT treatment increased the relative abundance of Firmicutes and reduced the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes compared to the CONV treatment and reduced the shifting of rumen microbiota from before to after calving. Results also demonstrated that the rumen microbiota was more stable in the SHORT treatment during the transition period. Based on these results, a 40-d dry period management with only a close-up diet might be beneficial for second parity cows. However, this treatment may be detrimental for older cows as excessive energy intake and fat deposition during the dry period in these animals result in lower milk production and higher mobilization of NEFA and accumulation of fat in the liver.
February 2016

The aim of this Master thesis is the elaboration of a bussines project for a hotel construction and management that will offer to visitors a comfortable background with many quality servises including catering and multiple sports activities as a peaceful resort in one of the natural and turistic most atractive locations in our country.

Il sistema immunitario è costituito da una varietà di cellule, molecole e processi biologici che interagiscono per prevenire le invasioni microbiche, riconoscere le molecole estranee ed eliminare le fonti esistenti di lesioni cellulari, ripristinando le normali funzioni tissutali una volta risolto il problema. L'immunità innata è la prima linea di difesa contro le invasioni di agenti patogeni. Nelle vacche da latte, il suo funzionamento subisce gravi alterazioni durante il periodo di transizione (TP). In questa fase è stata segnalata una compromissione delle funzioni delle cellule polimorfonucleate (PMN) correlate alla produzione di metaboliti reattivi dell'ossigeno (ROM), all’attività della mieloperossidasi (MPO), alla chemiotassi e alla fagocitosi. I PMN bovini hanno un alterata espressione dei geni codificanti per tali funzioni tra -1 e 2 settimane dal parto, rispetto al livello rilevato 4 settimane dopo il parto per gli stessi geni. La causa esatta delle disfunzioni immunitarie che si verificano nel periparto non è mai stata chiaramente identificata. In esse possono contribuire diversi fattori, principalmente imputati alle alterazioni metaboliche tipiche del periparto (cambiamenti nell’assetto ormonale, limitazione della risposta immunitaria materna al fine di mantenere la gravidanza, alterazioni nel bilancio energetico e stato di stress ossidativo). Tuttavia, la durata e l’entità delle disfunzioni immunitarie può aumentare qualora subentri uno stato di squilibrio fisiologico (PI). In tali condizioni, le alterazioni metaboliche del periparto sfuggono al controllo dei meccanismi omeostatici e omeoretici, ed una infiammazione sistemica è la conseguenza frequente di questo squilibrio. Lo stato infiammatorio sistemico è scatenato da un aumento dei livelli di citochine proinfiammatorie (PIC), che è collegato ad un aumento della temperatura corporea al parto, e che tipicamente inficia le funzionalità epatiche, modificando le priorità anaboliche dell'organo in fase di inizio lattazione. A seguito di tale slittamento, il fegato produce più α-globuline, note come proteine positive di fase acuta (+APP), cioè aptoglobina, ceruloplasmina e siero amiloide alfa (SAA). Al contrario, riduce la sintesi di albumina, retinol binding protein (RBP), paraoxonasi (PON) e lipoproteine, note come proteine negative di fase acuta (-APP), e sequestra minerali, quali zinco e ferro, dal flusso ematico. L'infiammazione porta all'attivazione dei PMN, mentre la ridotta competenza immunitaria comunemente riportata in TP è stata associata ad un effetto opposto sui leucociti. Pertanto, questi dovrebbero essere considerati come due fenomeni distinti, ma lo stato di PI potrebbe essere considerato un denominatore comune, direttamente correlato al rischio di patologie in avvio di lattazione. Le strategie nutrizionali per ottimizzare l'immunità delle vacche da latte durante il TP dovrebbero quindi essere focalizzate sulla riduzione del grado di PI correlato al parto. Tra tali strategie nutrizionali, dovrebbe essere presa in considerazione la corretta gestione delle fonti energetiche per adattarle alle variazioni dei fabbisogni. Inoltre, il profilo degli acidi grassi delle fonti lipidiche può contribuire nel modificare le funzioni immunitarie. Infine, la somministrazione di prodotti supplementari con attività antiossidanti o antinfiammatorie, così come di specie donatrici di gruppi metilici, potrebbero essere strategie utili a favorire la funzionalità immunitaria delle bovine durante il TP. In una prospettiva più ampia, sebbene strategie nutrizionali e supplementi possano talora mitigare le alterazioni immunitarie, possiamo concludere che l'adozione di pratiche volte a minimizzare il PI durante il periodo di transizione sia la strategia più efficace per prevenire le disfunzioni. Al fine di chiarire il legame tra le alterazioni che si verificano nel periparto e le disfunzioni immunitarie delle bovine da latte sono stati condotti tre esperimenti. Bovine di razza frisona sono state alloggiate in poste individuali a stabulazione fissa e monitorate regolarmente per le condizioni corporee (BCS), il peso (BW), l'assunzione di alimenti (DMI), la produzione di latte (MY) e il tempo di ruminazione. Campioni di sangue sono stati raccolti regolarmente per valutare un ampio profilo ematochimico e per testare le funzioni dei globuli bianchi mediante stimolazioni ex-vivo. Inoltre, la diapedesi dei PMN è stata testata in vivo mediante test della carragenina e sono stati raccolti campioni di rumine a 30 giorni dal parto (DFC). Il primo esperimento era volto a chiarire le cause dei cambiamenti metabolici che si verificano al momento della messa in asciutta, ed il contributo del livello produttivo in tali alterazioni. Infatti, i profondi cambiamenti nell’alimentazione, gli adattamenti gastrointestinali, del metabolismo e dei parametri immunitari che si verificano nelle bovine alla messa in asciutta sono note scatenare il rilascio di cortisolo, indurre segnali di infiammazione sistemica ed alterare il bilancio redox. Produzioni di latte elevate al momento della messa in asciutta hanno un ruolo nell'aggravare tali condizioni. Nel nostro studio, un gruppo di 13 bovine è stato asciugato a 55 giorni dalla data prevista per il parto. Gli animali sono stati divisi in due gruppi in base alla produzione media dell'ultima settimana di lattazione, assumendo un cut-off di 15 kg * d-1: bassa (LM; 6 animali) e alta produzione (HM; 7 animali). I dati sono stati sottoposti ad ANOVA utilizzando un modello per misure ripetute, assumendo il livello produttivo al termine della lattazione, il tempo e la loro interazione come effetti fissi. L'aumento delle quantità di fibra nella razione di asciutta ha ridotto la DMI e aumentato il tempo di ruminazione. La migrazione dei leucociti nella ghiandola mammaria per contribuire alla fase di involuzione ha ridotto la loro abbondanza nel sangue e aumentato la loro attività. Tale attivazione dei leucociti nella mammella ha aumentato l'abbondanza di specie reattive dell’azoto nel plasma e innescato un'infiammazione sistemica in tutti gli animali (aumento delle +APP e riduzione delle -APP). Tale infiammazione ha compromesso le funzioni epatiche (aumento delle concentrazioni di gamma-glutamil transferasi -GGT- bilirubina e fosfatasi alcalina -ALP-). Sia la produzione di specie dell’azoto che lo stato infiammatorio sistemico hanno contribuito all'esaurimento degli antiossidanti circolanti (gruppi tiolici -SHp-, tocoferolo, β-carotene, potere antiossidante ferrico riducente -FRAP- e capacità antiossidante contro specie reattive dell'ossigeno -ORAC-). Gli animali con una produzione più elevata alla messa in asciutta hanno mostrato la peggiore condizione, probabilmente per i più profondi cambiamenti metabolici che hanno affrontato dopo l'interruzione delle mungiture, e per la fase involutiva verosimilmente più dispendiosa. Questo studio evidenzia la messa in asciutta come una fase critica per gestire la salute delle vacche da latte, e suggerisce un potenziale legame della messa in asciutta con le alterazioni delle funzioni immunitarie che si verificano nel periparto. Nel secondo esperimento si sono cercati di identificare i cambiamenti del sistema immunitario che precedono l'insorgenza della chetosi, al fine di chiarire il loro ruolo nella comparsa della malattia. Pertanto, 13 bovine sono state monitorate tra -48 e 35 DFC e suddivise in due gruppi sulla base dei loro livelli plasmatici di beta idrossibutirrato (BHB): inferiore (CTR, 7 animali) o superiore a 1,4 mMol / L (KET; 6 animali). I dati sono stati sottoposti ad ANOVA utilizzando un modello per misure ripetute, assumendo lo stato di salute, il tempo e la loro interazione come effetti fissi. Le vacche KET hanno avuto una maggiore attivazione del sistema immunitario prima del parto (maggiori concentrazioni plasmatiche di PIC, MPO e specie ossidanti e maggiori produzione di interferone gamma in risposta alla stimolazione con Mycobacterium avium) alterazioni della funzionalità epatica (più alta concentrazione sanguigna di GGT) e minori minerali plasmatici. Elevati livelli plasmatici di NEFA, BHB e glucosio nelle vacche KET suggeriscono uno stato di insulinoresistenza e una marcata mobilizzazione del grasso corporeo durante il periodo di asciutta. Tali andamenti dei parametri relativi al metabolismo energetico durante l’asciutta sono stati associati alla riduzione della DMI al momento del parto e al peggioramento del bilancio energetico negativo ad avvio lattazione. Ciò ha causato a sua volta una riduzione di MY e accresciuto ulteriormente la mobilizzazione dei grassi in avvio di lattazione. Compromissione della funzionalità epatica e attivazione dei leucociti durante il periodo di asciutta hanno determinato una marcata risposta infiammatoria di fase acuta nelle vacche KET dopo il parto (maggiori concentrazioni di +APP minori concentrazioni di RBP), ed ulteriormente compromesso la funzionalità epatica (maggiori concentrazioni di glutammato-ossalacetato transaminasi -AST-GOT- e bilirubina). I leucociti delle vacche KET hanno mostrato ridotte funzioni infiammatorie dopo stimolazione ex-vivo con lipopolisaccaridi batterici (minore produzione di PIC e maggiore produzione di lattato). Queste alterazioni potrebbero essere guidate dall'azione combinata dei metaboliti legati alla mobilizzazione dei lipidi e delle azioni antinfiammatorie volte a prevenire un'infiammazione eccessiva. Ciò suggerisce che le alterazioni dei parametri immunitari osservate prima del parto siano altamente correlate con la probabilità di sviluppare chetosi in avvio di lattazione. Nel terzo esperimento è stato somministrato un prodotto immunostimolante dalla comprovata efficacia nel migliorare le funzioni leucocitarie degli animali immunodepressi e nel ridurre l'incidenza delle malattie infettive delle bovine ad inizio lattazione. La sua modalità di azione non è mai stata chiarita, e un’indagine approfondita sul suo effetto metabolico potrebbe evidenziarne l’efficacia anche nei confronti dei disordini metabolici del periodo di transizione. Pertanto, un gruppo di10 bovine è stato monitorato da -62 a 42 DFC. Il gruppo trattato (TRT, 5 animali) ha ricevuto 32,5 g di Omnigen-AF® (Phibro Animal Health Corporation) due volte al giorno (65 g d-1), mentre il gruppo di controllo (CTR, 5 animali) non ha ricevuto alcun supplemento. I dati sono stati sottoposti ad ANOVA utilizzando un modello per misure ripetute, assumendo il trattamento, il tempo e la loro interazione come effetti fissi. La somministrazione dell’immunostimolante alla messa in asciutta non ha influenzato BW, BCS, MY, composizione del latte e del fluido ruminale e nemmeno modificato la concentrazione di neutrofili del sangue. Tuttavia, ha aumentato il tempo di ruminazione e migliorato il metabolismo energetico dopo il parto (concentrazioni di NEFA e BHB inferiori). Le bovine TRT avevano maggiori concentrazioni ematiche di linfociti e i loro leucociti avevano una maggiore efficienza nel rispondere alla stimolazione con lipopolisaccaridi batterici (produzione di lattato inferiore e minore consumo di glucosio). Nonostante questi effetti positivi sulle cellule immunitarie, l'immunostimolante non ha influenzato le concentrazioni di +APP dopo il parto. Inoltre, l’immunostimolante ha ridotto le concentrazioni di albumina, PON e antiossidanti dopo il parto, suggerendo la compromissione di alcune funzioni epatiche negli animali trattati. Tuttavia, la mancanza di qualsiasi effetto sui biomarcatori di funzionalità (bilirubina) e danno epatico (GGT, AST-GOT, ALP) smentisce una reale compromissione delle attività epatiche a seguito del trattamento. Gli effetti positivi nel favorire il recupero delle funzioni del rumine, riducendo la mobilizzazione dei grassi corporei dopo il parto, suggeriscono che l'immunostimolante sia una strategia efficace nella prevenzione dei disturbi metabolici del periodo di transizione.
Immune system is made of a variety of cells, molecules and biological processes that interacts to prevent microbial invasions, recognize foreign molecules and eliminate existing sources of cellular injuries to restore tissues to their normal functions once problem has been solved. Innate immunity is the primary defense line against pathogens invasions. Its functioning typically undergoes severe alterations during transition period (TP) of dairy cows. An impairment of polymorphonuclear cells (PMN) functions related to reactive oxygen metabolites (ROM) production, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, chemotaxis and phagocytosis has been reported in this phase. Bovine PMN have an altered abundance in mRNA transcripts encoding for such functions between -1 and 2 weeks from calving, in comparison to the level found at 4 weeks after calving for the same genes. The exact cause of immune dysfunctions occurring in peripartum has never been clearly identified. Reduced immune competence could arise from the interaction of different factors affected from the typical peripartum trends (i.e. changes in endocrine asset, limitations of maternal immune responses against the allogeneic conceptus, alterations in energy balance and oxidative stress status). Nevertheless, its duration could be modified when peripartal changes exceed the control of homeorhetic and homeostatic mechanisms, leading to the physiological imbalance (PI) condition. Such a condition could also trigger the inflammatory-like status. It consists in a prepartal raise of pro-inflammatory cytokines (PICs) levels, that is linked to a raise in body temperature at calving, and that typically affects liver metabolism, implying severe losses in hepatic functions and a shift of anabolic priority of the organ in early lactation. The liver produces more α-globulins, known as positive acute phase proteins (APP), i.e. haptoglobin, ceruloplasmin and serum amyloid alpha (SAA). Conversely, it reduces the synthesis of albumin, retinol binding protein, paraoxonase (PON) and lipoproteins, known as negative APP and sequesters minerals, as zinc and iron, from blood flow. Inflammation lead to the activation of PMN, while the reduced immune competence commonly reported in TP has been associated to an opposite effect on leukocytes. Thus, these should be considered as two distinct phenomena, but they could arise from a common cause with a different magnitude and duration. Nutritional strategies to optimize dairy cow’s immunity during TP should be focused on reducing the PI degree related to calving, as this condition could be referred as a common denominator between immune dysfunction and diseases causes. Among such nutritional strategies, the correct management of energy sources to fit with altered requirements should be considered. Furthermore, fatty acids profile of lipid sources administered could also modify immune functions. Finally, the administration of supplementary products exerting antioxidant or anti-inflammatory activities, as well as methyl donors species, could be beneficial for dairy cows immunity in TP. In a wider perspective, although feed additives and nutritional strategy could be effective in mitigate immune alterations, we can conclude that adoption of proper management practices aimed to avoid PI condition in peripartal period of dairy cows could be the most effective strategy to prevent dysfunctions. Three experiments have been designed to elucidate the linkage between sudden changes occurring in peripartum and immune alterations in dairy cows. Throughout such experiments Holstein dairy cows were housed in tied stalls and monitored regularly for body condition score (BCS), body weight (BW), dry matter intake (DMI), milk yield (MY) and rumination time. Blood samples were collected regularly to assess a wide hematochemical profile and to test white blood cell functions through ex-vivo challenges. Furthermore, PMN diapedesis has been tested in-vivo through a carrageenan-skin test and rumen samples were collected at 30 days from calving (DFC). The first experiment was aimed in investigate the main causes of metabolic changes occurring at dry-off and the contribution of MY in such alterations. In fact, dry-off is related to deep changes in feeding behavior, gastro intestinal adaptations, metabolism and immune parameters in high-yielding cow’s career. Indeed, the release of cortisol, signals of systemic inflammation and altered redox balance have been reported immediately after milking interruption, and high MY have a role in aggravating such conditions. In our study, a group of 13 Holstein dairy cows were dried off at 55 days from expected calving day, and regularly monitored from -7 to 34 days from dry-off (DFD). Animals were retrospectively divided in two groups according to their average MY in the last week of lactation, assuming a cut-off of 15 kg*d-1: low MY (6 cows) and high MY (7 cows). Data were submitted to ANOVA using a mixed model for repeated measures including MY at dry-off, time and their interaction as fixed effects. Increased fiber amounts of dry ration reduced DMI and increased rumination time. Leukocytes migration into mammary gland to contribute in the involution phase decreased their abundance in blood at dry-off, and their activity. Such activation of leukocytes at mammary site increased the abundance of nitrogen species in plasma and triggered a systemic inflammation in all the animals, as reflected from increased concentrations of positive and reduced concentrations of negative APPs. Such inflammation impaired liver functions, as suggested from the increased gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) concentrations. Both the production of nitrogen species and the systemic inflammatory status contributed in the depletion of antioxidant system in blood (thiol groups -SHp-, tocopherol, β-carotene, ferric reducing antioxidant power -FRAP- and oxygen reactive antioxidant capacity -ORAC-). Animals with higher MY at dry-off showed the worst condition, likely for the deeper metabolic changes they faced at milking interruption, and to the greater amount of mammary parenchyma to be reabsorbed. This study highlights the dry-off as a thorny point to manage dairy cows’ health and depose for a relationship between dry-off and immune alteration that typically occurs at calving. The second experiment was aimed in investigate changes occurring in the immune system prior to ketosis onset to elucidate their role in disease occurrence. Thus, a group of 13 Holstein dairy cows were monitored from -48 to 35 DFC and retrospectively divided into 2 groups basing on their plasma BHB levels: lower (CTR; 7 cows) or higher than 1.4 mMol/L (KET; 6 cows). Data were submitted to ANOVA using a mixed model for repeated measures including health status, time and their interaction as fixed effects. KET cows had a greater activation of the immune system prior to calving (higher plasma concentrations of PICs, myeloperoxidase and oxidant species, and greater interferon gamma responses to Mycobacterium avium) impaired liver functions (higher blood concentration of GGT) and lower plasma minerals. High plasma NEFA, BHB and glucose levels in KET cows suggest an insulin resistance status and a marked mobilization of body fat occurring during dry period. They were also associated to reduced DMI around calving and worse negative energy balance in early lactation. This caused in turn reduced MY and increased fat mobilization in early lactation. Impairment of liver function and activation of leukocytes during the dry period accentuated the acute phase response in KET cows after calving (greater concentrations of positive APPs and lower concentration of retinol binding protein), further impairing liver function (higher blood concentrations of glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase -AST-GOT- and bilirubin). Leukocytes of KET cows had reduced inflammatory functions after an ex vivo stimulation assay (lower production of PICs and greater production of lactate). These alterations on WBC could be driven by the combined action of metabolites related to the mobilization of lipids and of anti-inflammatory actions aimed to prevent over exuberant inflammation. This suggests that prepartal trends of immune parameters be highly related with the likelihood of developing diseases in early lactation. The third experiment consisted in the administration of Omnigen-AF (OAF), an immune stimulant that is effective in increasing leukocytes functions in immunosuppressed animals and in reducing incidence of infectious diseases in early lactating dairy cows. Its mode of action has never been elucidated, and a wider perspective of its metabolic effect could highlight its effectiveness in facing metabolic disorders of transition period also. Thus, a group of 10 Holstein dairy cows were divided into 2 groups: treated group (TRT; 5 cows) received 32.5 g of Omnigen-AF® (Phibro Animal Health Corporation) twice a day (65 g d-1) as top-dress on the morning and afternoon feeds, while control group (CTR; 5 cows) did not receive any supplementation. From -62 to 42 DFC animals were monitored regularly. Data were submitted to ANOVA using a mixed model for repeated measures including treatment, time and their interaction as fixed effects. Administration of OAF at dry-off did not affect BW, BCS, milk yield, milk and rumen fluid composition, and neither affected blood neutrophils concentrations. Nevertheless, it increased rumination time and improved the energy metabolism after calving (lower NEFA and BHB concentrations). TRT cows had an increased lymphocytes abundance at blood level, and their leukocytes had greater efficiency in facing biological stressors during the peripartum (lower lactate production and lower glucose consumption after a challenge with bacterial lipopolysaccharides). Despite these positive effects on immune cells, OAF did not affect the positive APPs concentrations after calving. A reduced abundance of albumin, PON and antioxidants also occurred with OAF after calving, suggesting some impairment of hepatic functions to occur. Nevertheless, the lack of any effect on main biomarkers related to liver function (bilirubin) and liver damage (GGT, AST-GOT, ALP) dismisses a real impairment of liver activities to occur with OAF. Positive effects in favoring the recovery of rumen functions, reducing mobilization of body fats after calving suggest OAF to be an effective strategy in preventing metabolic disorders of transition period.

This master’s thesis deals with processing business project building boarding-house in Tisnov area. Theoretical part includes investment decision, business project, methods of economic evaluation investment and defines tourist trade. Practical part analyses present situation, description of boarding-house and environment, influence the crisis on accommodation. Design part costs accounting project, predicting incomes, net use of beds and average price in accommodation. Master’s thesis also rates investment efficiency by means of net present value and pay-off period.

Drilling during ODP Leg 133 offshore Cairns, northeast Queensland, provided a unique opportunity to document carbonate production and facies development on a mixed carbonate-siliciclastic margin. Recent studies have shown that variations in the sedimentology of Late Quaternary and Pliocene periplatform sediments (Schlager and James, 1978), deposited on continental slopes and in deep basins surrounding shallow carbonate platforms, are linked to changes in sea-level (Droxler et al., 1993; Schlager et al., 1994). However, considerable debate has arisen to the timing of the production and export of shallow water carbonate material, with respect to sea level change. Two main hypotheses have been proposed to explain the response of shallow water carbonate platforms to variation in Late Quaternary sea level: I) 'highstand shedding' and 2) 'lowstand shedding'. Proponents of highstand shedding argue that depositional systems shed most of its carbonate sediments onto the platform slopes during highstands of sea level. Conversely, during lowstands of sea level bank top production and export of carbonate material is restricted, and platform slopes are largely starved of bank derived carbonate (Schlager, 1992; Schlager et al., 1994 ). Supporters of lowstand shedding maintain that significant carbonate production and export of shallow water carbonate material occurs during lowstands (and highstands) of sea level (Bosellini, 1989; Goldhammer and Harris. 1989; Grammer and Ginsburg. 1992). In order to investigate the response of mixed carbonate-siliciclastic systems to variations in Late Quaternary sea level and climate change, core material was collected from Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Leg 133, Sites 819 and 823 (northeast Australian margin). These two sites form part of an eastward extending transect of drill localities, offshore Cairns, Queensland, from the outershelf/upper-slope of the Great Barrier Reef (Sites 821 /820/819), into the Queensland Trough (Site 823) and ultimately onto the flanks of the Queensland Plateau (Sites 824 and 811 /825). Pelagic to hemipelagic sediments collected from these two sites were examined for the downcore distribution of grain size, magnetic susceptibility, carbonate content, variations in carbonate mineralogy (XRD), and major and minor element (XRF) geochemistry. Using high resolution foraminiferal stable oxygen isotopes, coupled with biostratigraphic and magnetostratigraphic datums, well defined age models for Hole 819A and Hole 823A have been constructed, although it was not an easy task as hiatuses occur in these records. Age models for the sequences recovered from Hole 819A and Hole 823A have been further refined using correlation with existing isotopic stratigraphies in the Pacific Ocean (ODP Hole 677, Raymo et al., 1989), and comparison with high resolution sedimentologic records from other ODP Leg 133 marine sequences. Analysis of the mineralogical, sedimentological and geochemical records from Holes 819A and 823A indicate that, over the last 1.1 million years, highstands of sea level (and during the early regression) are characterized by increased shallow water carbonate production, and deposition on the upper slope. This pattern of carbonate deposition is consistent with the highstand carbonate shedding scenario outlined by Schlager et al. (1992), and Schlager et al. ( 1994 ). Lowstands of sea level (and particularly the early transgression) are characterized by increased deposition of non-carbonate (mainly terrigenous) material and/or were not diluted by shallow water carbonate platform material. During the lowstands of sea level the shallow water carbonate factories were switched off. Therefore, the sediments deposited during lowstands of sea level tend to record the greater influence of pelagic driven carbonate. Although the above mentioned scenario of highstand shedding applies to the entire record of 1.1 million years. mineralogical and geochemical data indicate that shallow burial diagenesis, and dissolution of solution sensitive carbonate, occurred in the lower part of the records. The diagenesis and dissolution, however, have played only a minor role in determining the composition of the Queensland margin sediments. Variations in the terrigenous input (Cr/Al and Ti/AI ratios) in Queensland margin sediments indicate that interglacial periods were generally wetter than corresponding glacials or lowstands of sea level, during the Late Quaternary.

The master's thesis is focused on evaluation of development project for the purpose of recommendation, how the company should continue with the project in the future. The analysis of the commercial real estate market and evaluation of up-to-date financial results are included. In the practical part, alternatives of selling the project and the prediction of future progress in case of lease-continuation are compared.

Il sonno e la veglia vengono comunemente considerati come due stati distinti. L’alternanza tra essi, la cui presenza è stata dimostrata in ogni specie animale studiata fino ad oggi, sembra essere una delle caratteristiche che definisce la nostra vita. Allo stesso tempo, però, le scoperte portate alla luce negli ultimi decenni hanno offuscato i confini tra questi due stati. I meccanismi del sonno hanno sempre affascinato i neurofisiologi, che infatti, nell’ultimo secolo, li hanno caratterizzati in dettaglio: ora sappiamo che all’attività del sonno sottostà una specifica attività neuronale chiamata slow oscillation. La slow oscillation, che è costituita da (ancora una volta) un’alternanza tra periodi di attività e periodi di iperpolarizzazione e silenzio neuronale (OFF-periods), è la modalità base di attivazione del cervello dormiente. Questa alternanza è dovuta alla tendenza dei neuroni surante lo stato di sonno, di passare ad un periodo silente dopo un’attivazione iniziale, una tendenza a cui viene dato il nome di bistabilità neuronale. Molti studi hanno dimostrato come la bistabilità neuronale tipica del sonno ed i relativi OFF-periods, possano accadere anche durante la veglia in particolari condizioni patologiche, nelle transizioni del sonno e durante le deprivazioni di sonno. Per questo motivo, se accettassimo che la bistabilità neuronale e gli OFF-periods rappresentino una caratteristica fondamentale del sonno, allora dovremmo ammettere che stiamo assistendo ad un cambio di paradigma: da una prospettiva neurofisiologica il sonno può intrudere nella veglia. In questa tesi ho analizzato i nuovi -fluidi- confini tra sonno e veglia e le possibili implicazioni di questi nel problema della persistenza personale attraverso il tempo. Inoltre, ho studiato le implicazioni cliniche dell’intrusione di sonno nella veglia in pazienti con lesioni cerebrali focali di natura ischemica. In particolare, i miei obiettivi sono stati: 1) Dimostrare come la bistabilità neuronale possa essere responsabile della perdita di funzione nei pazienti affetti da ischemia cerebrale e come questo potrebbe avere implicazioni nello studio della patofisiologia dell’ischemia cerebrale e nella sua terapia; 2) Stabilire le basi per un modello di sonno locale presente nella vita di tutti i giorni: la sensazione di sonnolenza. Infatti, essa potrebbe riflettere la presenza di porzioni di corteccia in stato di sonno, ma durante lo stato di veglia; 3) Difendere il criterio biologico di identità, che troverebbe nell’attività cerebrale la continuità necessaria al mantenimento della nostra identità nel tempo.
Sleep and wakefulness are considered two mutually exclusive states. The alternation between those two states seems to be a defining characteristic of our life, a ubiquitous phenomenon demonstrated in every animal species investigated so far. However, during the last decade, advances in neurophysiology have blurred the boundaries between those states. The mechanisms of sleep have always intrigued neurophysiologists and great advances have been made over the last century in understanding them: we now know that the defining characteristic underlying sleep activity is a specific pattern of neuronal activity, namely the slow oscillation. The slow oscillation, which is characterized by the periodic alternation between periods of activity (ON-periods) and periods of hyperpolarization and neuronal silence (OFF-periods) is the default mode of activity of the sleeping cortex. This alternation is due to the tendency of neurons to fall into a silent period after an initial activation; such tendency is known as “bistability”. There is accumulating evidence that sleep-like bistability, and the ensuing OFF-periods, may occur locally in the awake human brain in some pathological conditions, in sleep transition, as well as after sleep deprivation. Therefore, to the extent that bistability and OFF periods represents the basic neuronal features of sleep, a paradigm shift is in place: from a neurophysiological perspective sleep can intrude into wakefulness. In this thesis, I explore the fluid boundaries between sleep and wakefulness and investigate their possible implications on the problem of personal persistence over time. Moreover, I study the clinical implications of the intrusion of sleep into wakefulness in patients with focal brain injury due to stroke. Specifically, I aim to: 1) show how the sleep-like bistability can be responsible for the loss of function in stroke patients. This may have implications for understanding the pathophysiology of stroke and helping to foster recovery; 2) establish the basis for a model of local sleep that might be present in the everyday life, id est the sensation of sleepiness. Indeed, sleepiness could reflect islands of sleep during wakefulness; 3) advocate the biological criterion of identity, in which the continuity necessary for maintaining ourselves over time could be represented by never resting activity in the brain.

This Master’s thesis analyses current financial strategy of MAGNETON a.s. and investigates the influence of the investment plan on MAGNETON´S growth in the world market. The outcome of this thesis is the appraisal of effects and risks of the intended investment and proposal of the optimal way for future financing.

This diplomwork occupies with appraisal of financial position in concrete company and its sequence for capital decision making. At the beginning is this work aimed at introduction of the company and its work. After that includes analyses of the company from the point of profitability, liquidity, activity and debt. The goal of this work is with utilization of financial and decision analyses evaluate the intent of the company to extension of its activity and propose, whether the investment is practicable

The Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua L.) fishery is of great economic importance to the Faroese economy. There are two separately managed cod stocks around the Faroe Islands, the Faroe Plateau and the Faroe Bank cod. Both have experienced dramatic decreases in size and informed management decisions are vital for both stock viability and exploitation. The stocks are geographically isolated by an 800 m deep channel and water temperatures are on average 1 – 2 ºC higher on the Faroe Bank than on the Faroe Plateau. There are clear phenotypic differences between the stocks; in particular, the markedly higher growth rate for the Faroe Bank cod has caught public and scientific attention. There is continuing debate regarding the relative importance of genetics and environmental contributions to the contrasting phenotypes. Analyses of reproductive parameters (field data and experimental captive spawnings) as well as analyses of microsatellite and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers were undertaken to better resolve the issue. Field data as well as data from experimental captive spawnings provided evidence of reproductive differences between Faroe Plateau and Faroe Bank cod. Peak spawning occurred earlier on the Faroe Plateau than on the Faroe Bank and this difference in timing of spawning was maintained in captivity. In particular, differences in sizes of eggs (average diameters of 1.40 and 1.30 mm for Faroe Plateau and Faroe Bank cod eggs, respectively) and indirect evidence of greater volumes spawned by the Faroe Bank females suggested stock differences with respect to egg size – egg number trade-off. It was hypothesised that the strategy adopted by cod on the Faroe Bank, with a higher number of smaller eggs, evolved in response to a more hostile environment (bare seabed and higher exposure to predators) experienced by early life stages in this area. Experimental captive spawnings with Faroe Bank cod showed a large interfamily skew in survival rates of cod eggs and fry. Egg size was identified as a useful indicator of survival rates in the egg stage, but egg survival rates could not be used to predict viability in later developmental stages, thus highlighting the importance of employing some sort of genetic monitoring of cod fry to ensure sufficient family representation in the progeny. While no tank effect was evident concerning fry survival, a significant tank effect was identified concerning body sizes of fry. Microsatellite data were analysed using large sample sizes of Faroe Plateau and Faroe Bank cod with the Faroe Plateau divided into two locations, Faroe Plateau North-East and Faroe Plateau West (cod from each of the two were known to belong to separate spawning grounds). Two Norwegian coastal cod samples were included as outlier populations. While no genetic differentiation was detected between the two Faroe Plateau locations, these analyses revealed a detectable, albeit relatively modest, degree of genetic differentiation between cod from the Faroe Plateau and the Faroe Bank (FST = 0.0014 and 0.0018; DJost_EST = 0.0027 and 0.0048; P < 0.0001 and P < 0.001 for the Faroe Plateau North-East – Faroe Bank and the Faroe Plateau West – Faroe Bank comparisons). These values were several times smaller than those between Faroese and Norwegian coastal cod (pairwise FST and DJost_EST values in the range of 0.0061 – 0.0137 and 0.0158 – 0.0386, respectively). Despite recent reductions in census population sizes for Faroe Plateau and, particularly, Faroe Bank cod, genetic diversity estimates were comparable to the ones observed for Norwegian coastal cod and there was no evidence of significant genetic bottlenecks. Lastly, data for one of the markers (Gmo132) indicated genotype-dependent vertical distribution of cod (as investigated for Faroe Plateau North-East cod). Contrary to some previously published studies, analysis of SNPs of two candidate genes for adaptive divergence, the hemoglobin gene Hb-ß1 and the transferrin gene Tf1, failed to detect differentiation between samples of Faroe Plateau and Faroe Bank cod analysed in this thesis. Of 3533 novel SNPs simultaneously discovered and genotyped by restriction-site associated DNA (RAD) sequencing, 58 showed evidence of genetic differentiation between Faroe Plateau North-East and Faroe Bank cod (P < 0.05). No single locus was fixed for different alleles between Faroe Plateau and Faroe Bank cod. A set of eight informative SNPs (FST values between Faroe Plateau and Faroe Bank samples > 0.25; P < 0.0005) were selected for validation in larger samples, that included cod from both Faroe Plateau areas and the Faroe Bank as well as Norwegian coastal and White Sea cod. Six out of the eight loci amplified successfully with a PCR-based method and there was 100 % concordance between genotypes of individuals screened by both techniques. Due to ascertainment bias, the SNPs should only be applied with caution in a broader geographical context. Nonetheless, these SNPs did confirm the genetic substructure suggested for Faroese cod by microsatellite analyses. While no genetic differentiation was evident between the two Faroe Plateau locations, significant genetic differentiation was evident between Faroe Plateau and Faroe Bank cod at five of the SNPs (FST values in the range of 0.0383 – 0.1914). This panel of five SNPs could confidently be used to trace groups of Faroe Plateau and Faroe Bank cod to their population of origin. In conclusion, multiple lines of evidence demonstrate that Faroe Plateau and Faroe Bank cod are truly two genetically distinct populations. While the findings contribute to a broader understanding of the biology and the genetics of Faroe Plateau and Faroe Bank cod, the novel SNPs developed may provide a valuable resource for potential future demands of i.e. genetic stock identification methods.

Aiming to make an intervention in both emerging Slow Cinema and classical Trauma Cinema scholarship, this thesis demonstrates the ways in which the post-trauma cinema of Filipino filmmaker Lav Diaz merges aesthetics of cinematic slowness with narratives of post-trauma in his films Melancholia (2008), Death in the Land of Encantos (2007) and Florentina Hubaldo, CTE (2012). Diaz has been repeatedly considered as representative of what Jonathan Romney termed in 2004 “Slow Cinema”. The director uses cinematic slowness for an alternative approach to an on-screen representation of post-trauma. Contrary to popular trauma cinema, Diaz’s portrait of individual and collective trauma focuses not on the instantenaeity but on the duration of trauma. In considering trauma as a condition and not as an event, Diaz challenges the standard aesthetical techniques used in contemporary Trauma Cinema, as highlighted by Janet Walker (2001, 2005), Susannah Radstone (2001), Roger Luckhurst (2008) and others. Diaz’s films focus instead on trauma’s latency period, the depletion of a survivor’s resources, and a character’s slow psychological breakdown. Slow Cinema scholarship has so far focused largely on the films’ aesthetics and their alleged opposition to mainstream cinema. Little work has been done in connecting the films’ form to their content. Furthermore, Trauma Cinema scholarship, as trauma films themselves, has been based on the immediate and most radical signs of post-trauma, which are characterised by instantaneity; flashbacks, sudden fears of death and sensorial overstimulation. Following Lutz Koepnick’s argument that slowness offers “intriguing perspectives” (Koepnick, 2014: 191) on how trauma can be represented in art, this thesis seeks to consider the equally important aspects of trauma duration, trauma’s latency period and the slow development of characteristic symptoms. With the present work, I expand on current notions of Trauma Cinema, which places emphasis on speed and the unpredictability of intrusive memories. Furthermore, I aim to broaden the area of Slow Cinema studies, which has so far been largely focused on the films’ respective aesthetics, by bridging form and content of the films under investigation. Rather than seeing Diaz’s slow films in isolation as a phenomenon of Slow Cinema, I seek to connect them to the existing scholarship of Trauma Cinema studies, thereby opening up a reading of his films.

碩士
國立交通大學
管理學院科技法律學程
99
The evolution of the internet has been widespread around the world, and the electronic commerce brings a whole new consumption vision to all mankind. At this age, we have to open our mind to accept any kind of novel business models, and review or amend, if necessary, our existing rules and regulations at the same time. The cooling-off period is a period of time during which the purchaser shall have the right to return the goods for a refund, and cancel the agreement without penalty. People who ever have the on-line shopping experience will be acquainted with it very well. However, the cooling-off period provided in the Consumer Protection Act(“Act”) is initially for the traditional mail-or-telephone order sales, and here comes a question with the rapid development of electronic commerce: is the existing regulation related to the cooling-off period enough or proper for all kinds of transactions via internet, especially for the digital goods and the on-line service? Comparing to physical goods or service in the traditional transactions, digital goods and on-line service are only transmitted and provided via internet. Furthermore, the digital goods can be reproduced efficiently and completely at very low cost, so the purchaser can claim a refund during the cooling-off period and easily keep a back-up copy as well. It also happens to the on-line service that the purchaser can ask a refund according to the cooling-off period regulation even though he/she has accepted the service non-returnable before the cancellation of the agreement. In such event, the purchaser will obtain both of the refund and the digital goods or the interest of the service at the same time, and this unfair situation obviously is not why we set up the cooling-off period in the Act. Maybe it is the time when we need to re-consider if the existing regulation related to the cooling-off period has its limitation, or it is applicable for all kinds of on-lime shopping transactions. The on-line game industry grows very fast in the recent years and has built up many different kinds of business models, including the software licensing, the on-line service and the virtual property purchasing either via internet or through the physical stores such as the convenient store. In addition, its administrative authority, Industrial Development Bureau of Ministry of Electronic Affairs, has announced the official standard form contract for the on-line game industry to protect the consumer rights and prevent disputes arising out of the game. According to such official standard form contract, no matter in which business models, the consumer has the rights to return the goods to or cancel the agreement with on-line game company for a refund without any cause within 7 days after the purchase or the start of the game. Nevertheless, after the cancellation, the consumer will get the refund and the entertainment interest of such agreement accepted before then. In order to prevent the non-fairness interferes with the development of the on-line game industry and all electronic commerce, this thesis, by reviewing the existing regulations and conducting a qualitative research to the on-line game industry, is trying to induct a new rule to balance the protection of consumer rights and the development of electronic commerce.

碩士
大同大學
電機工程學系(所)
95
The liberalization is the major trend of power industry reform in the modern countries. Many countries have a reform that carried on different form and extent. However, Taiwan has not finished the relevant legislative procedure so far, the power market is still engaged in without competition by Taiwan Power Company, so rate is stipulated and still needed to be checked and ratified by the government. In design of rate, in order to implement the load management strategy, the Taipower adopts the time-of-use rate to reduce the growth of peak load. For lack of base-load generation units, a certain portion of the system demand is supplied by LNG-fired and oil-fired units. Following the governments policy, Taipower adopts the time-of-use rate which charges a pretty low price in the off-peak load period. Because of time-of-use rate is implemented, Taipower cause a large amount deficit in the off-peak load period. This paper applies the strategy of the demand response either to reduce load in the peak load period or to reduce the consumption of the expensive fuel in the off-peak load period. This paper proposes the competitive model based on the demand response in order to restrain or reduce the usage of the expensive fuel in the off-peak load period. By providing a compensation tariff, the deficit can be reduced and Taipower can run profitably.

碩士
國立中正大學
勞工研究所
94
A Study on the Settlement Mechanisms for the Emergent Labor-Management Disputes ---- “cooling-off period” as the Core Subject Abstract This thesis aims at exploring the importance of the settlement mechanisms for the emergent labor-management disputes, particularly on the subject of the “cooling-off period”. The settlement mechanisms for the emergent labor-management disputes in general and the provisions relating to the “cooling-off period” in particular, incorporated in the 2002 amended version of the “Labor-management Dispute Resolution Act“, proposed by the Executive Yuan of this government, were examined. By analyzing the relevant literature and information, including the case of “lockout at US west coast ports-2002” as supportive argument, this research has found that both the labor laws of United States and Japan have well-defined essential elements and resolving mechanisms for the emergent labor-management disputes, with special integration of the “cooling-off period” by which the government can invoke power on the emergent settlement of the disputes. Thus, the “cooling-off period” becomes a major mechanism in these two countries in dealing with emergent labor-management disputes. Additionally, the procedure of the “advance notice of dispute actions”, which offers a period for cooling both sides involved in the dispute and hence avoiding major negative impact, can also be considered as a supplementary mechanism. For the purposes of preserving national security and public interest, the amending “Labor-management Dispute Resolution Act” of this government has incorporated provisions to prevent and resolve the emergent labor-management disputes, including particularly the partial compulsory arbitration, the divesting special professional groups of the rights of dispute actions, and to the specific groups of businesses, the obligation of the “advance notice of strike” and the restrain from dispute actions in the “cooling-off period”. However, among them, the provisions of “advance notice of strike” and the “cooling-off period” are less comprehensively considered and less well-defined, as comparing to those in the labor laws of United States and Japan. Therefore, this thesis recommends that, this government must take into consideration the employer’s dispute actions, such as lockout, in the advance-notice regulation. For effective execution of the law, the content and procedure of the advance notice, as well as the penalty for violation must clearly be defined. Amendment of a least three-day period prior to the dispute actions, which is subjected to the consensus of both parties, is also recommended. More importantly, a clear-cut defining of the essential elements for the emergent labor-management disputes and the “cooling-off period” is necessary. The procedures by which the government can invoke power and apply “cooling-off period” to deal with the emergent settlement of the disputes must be explicitly formulated. In accord with the current administrative system of this nation, the Council of Labor Affairs should be assigned the duty of training staffs with expertise to deal with the emergent disputes, and the Director of the Executive Yuan should be granted the highest authority and responsibility to cope with the emergent labor-management disputes. Keywords: emergent labor-management dispute, cooling-off period.

碩士
國立臺灣海洋大學
海洋環境化學與生態研究所
101
Marine primary production is not only the base of the food chain, it also has the functions of absorbing carbon dioxide and regulating climate. The key in this study, climate changing on marine system operation, is to understand the effects of atmospheric forcing on the primary production. Although there are many researches that indicate the effects of atmospheric duststorm can increase the primary productivity in the high nutrient low chlorophyll sea area, there are only few studies for low nutrient low chlorophyll sea area. Five spring cruises between year 2005 (03/20-22, 04/14) and 2006 (03/16-18, 03/21-23, 03/29-30) were investigated. Hydrography, nutrients, chlorophyll and primary productivity data observed from the cruises were used to study the effect of atmospheric forcing on primary production in the Kuroshio water northeast off Taiwan. The result of surface photosynthetic active radiation, mean wind speed and mean PM10 was 15.6~74.7 Einstein m-2 d-1, 3~13 m s-1, 31~137 µg m-3. Further studies have shown that the surface photosynthetic active radiation above 60 or below 20 Einstein m-2 d-1 restrain the primary production. Exclude of the light limit, the dramatic changes in productivity based on the strength of the wind speed showed a significant positive correlation, but PM10 did not correlated. Dust settlement for primary production contributed only about 2.7 %. Inference of the spring dust storm on the oligotrophic Kuroshio Sea affecting the level of productivity was mainly caused by wind-driven water disturbance that control the mechanism of upward transport of nutrients.

This dissertation aims to analyze the right of withdrawal and its implications on distance and off-premises contracts, due to the importance of these contracts in our society. Our main goal is, first of all, to explain the meaning and characteristics of both distance and off-premises contracts and the reason why a right of withdrawal is granted. Secondly, we intend to explain all of the relevant aspects related to this right, such as its legal concept and main characteristics, the origin and evolution of the right of withdrawal on both European and Portuguese legislation, its implications in the contracting parties and, finally, a brief analysis of the applicable law. In a nutshell, the right of withdrawal allows the consumer to withdraw from a distance or off-premises contract, unilaterally, without having to indicate any motive to justify the decision, after a cooling-off period of 14 calendar days. In these two types of contracts such right exists due to the reasons or circumstances that lead to the conclusion of the contract.
O objetivo deste trabalho consiste em tentar compreender o direito de arrependimento e as suas implicações tanto nos contratos celebrados à distância como nos contratos celebrados fora do estabelecimento comercial, devido à manifesta importância de ambos na atual sociedade de consumo. Analisa-se o que são e quais as especificidades dos contratos celebrados à distância e dos contratos celebrados fora do estabelecimento bem como a justificação para a atribuição de um direito de arrependimento em cada uma destas modalidades. Tentamos também compreender o direito de arrependimento nestes contratos de consumo, nomeadamente, o seu conceito e demais aspetos que o caracterizam, as suas origens, a sua evolução no direito europeu e no direito português e as suas implicações nas posições contratuais do profissional e do consumidor, procedendo-se a uma análise do regime jurídico vigente em Portugal. O direito de arrependimento permite que o consumidor se desvincule de forma unilateral e imotivada de qualquer um destes contratos, durante um período de reflexão de 14 dias. A existência desta figura prende-se, nos casos em apreço, ou com os motivos que levaram à celebração do contrato ou com as circunstâncias em que este foi celebrado.

Relatório de Estágio da Licenciatura em Biologia Marinha.
Rajiformes are a group within the cartilaginous fish that have become increasingly studied over the last decades. However, these animals still remain poorly studied in the archipelago of the Azores. Little is known about their assemblages, biology, social structure etc. This study has given us a glimpse of the more common species that exist off the Coast of São Miguel Island and their possible seasonal variation considering the fact that they appeared scarce during the winter months (February to May 2008) and more abundant during the summer. D. pastinaca and Myliobatis aquila were the only species registered during the dives carried out for this work, from February to September 2008, while Mobula mobular was registered during whale-watching trips. Information on the potential touristic interest was also gathered from questionnaires handed out to the stakeholders, where a high (almost 50%) interest was shown in this activity. 85% of the people that were questioned showed they would be willing to participate in dives with rays, skates and manta-rays and pay the same or more compared to normal dives. This information is important, however, more studies on these animals‟ behaviour need to be undertaken.

Dissertação de mestrado em Direito dos Contratos e das Empresas
A presente dissertação visa compreender e analisar o direito de arrependimento e suas consequências no âmbito dos contratos celebrados à distância e dos contratos celebrados fora do estabelecimento comercial. Optamos por tal temática devido à sua relevância e frequência na atual sociedade. Propomo-nos a analisar os conceitos e especificidades dos contratos celebrados à distância e dos contratos celebrados fora do estabelecimento comercial, bem como a justificar o motivo de necessidade de existência de um direito de arrependimento no âmbito de tal tipo de contratação. Tentamos também explanar todos os aspectos relevantes acerca da figura do direito de arrependimento. O direito de arrependimento permite ao consumidor desvincular-se de forma unilateral e imotivada de qualquer dos contratos explanados, após um período de reflexão de 14 dias.
This dissertation aims to understand and analyze the right of withdrawal and its consequences within distance and off-premises contracts. We chose this theme due to its relevance and frequency in the current society. We propose to analyze the concepts and characteristics of both distance and offpremises contracts, as well as the reason why a right of withdrawal is required. We also try to understand all the relevant aspects related to the right of withdrawal. The Right of withdrawal allows the consumer to withdraw from a distance or off-premises contract, unilaterally, without having to indicate any motive to justify the decision, after a cooling-off period of 14 calendar days.

Pistorius (1996) was the first individual to introduce research on serial murder in the South African context with her psychodynamic approach to the phenomenon. Since then, others have followed, namely Labuschagne (1998, 2001) with his search for interactional and communication connections; Du Plessis (1998) from a grounded theory approach; and Hodgskiss (2001) with his assessment of South African offender characteristics and behaviours. Four more studies have been conducted, namely Hook’s post-structural deconstruction of narratives of a person who committed serial murder (2003); De Wet’s psychosocial perspective (2005); Barkhuizen’s intrapsychic object relations approach (2006); and Del Fabbro’s exploration of the phenomenon from a family systems paradigm (2006). To date, no attempt has been made to review these research endeavors. In this article, these studies are reviewed and their strengths and weaknesses with regard to theory, methodology and research findings debated. The author concludes with several recommendations for future research on the phenomenon of serial murder: greater communication between various disciplines (e.g. psychology, criminology, law) investigating serial murder; expansion of Hodgskiss’ research (2001) on offence characteristics for profiling purposes; and the relationship between psychopathology and serial murder.
Dissertation (MA (Clinical Psychology))--University of Pretoria, 2007.
Psychology
MA
unrestricted

abstract: Magicians are informal cognitive scientists who regularly test their hypotheses in the real world. As such, they can provide scientists with novel hypotheses for formal psychological research as well as a real-world context in which to study them. One domain where magic can directly inform science is the deployment of attention in time and across modalities. Both magicians and scientists have an incomplete understanding of how attention operates in time, rather than in space. However, magicians have highlighted a set of variables that can create moments of visual attentional suppression, which they call "off-beats," and these variables can speak to modern models of temporal attention. The current research examines two of these variables under conditions ranging from artificial laboratory tasks to the (almost) natural viewing of magic tricks. Across three experiments, I show that the detection of subtle dot probes in a noisy visual display and pieces of sleight of hand in magic tricks can be influenced by the seemingly irrelevant rhythmic qualities of auditory stimuli (cross-modal attentional entrainment) and processes of working memory updating (akin to the attentional blink).
Dissertation/Thesis
Ph.D. Psychology 2013

This diploma work is dealing with problems related to production of electrical energy in compliance with environmental protection and assessment of its production from non-renewable sources in reference to sources being renewable. The work puts emphasis on the importance and utilization of solar electrical energy. The sun is a source that will not get dried or mined out and will not stop shining. The goal of diploma work was to appraise the investment effectiveness with regard to a photovoltaic power station and assess the power plant influence in relation to classic sources for energy production and environmental protection. Within the diploma work, there were appraised three variants of the investment project which assumed life time longer than 20 years comprising conventional financial flows, surface size of 30 000 m2 and roughly required output of 1.5 MW. Single options were assessed upon economical evaluation regarding different ways of financing, in terms of price, output and guarantees provided by suppliers including the assessment of grant influence on the project effectiveness. Based on these data, the most suitable version for the investment project of building up the photovoltaic power plant was chosen. At the conclusion, it is possible to state that the photovoltaic power plant is very considerate towards the living environment in contrast to classical sources for electrical energy production, for example coal-fired power plants which heavily contaminate the environment, and nuclear power plants with risks of radiation escapes.

The main objective of this study was to test if the applicability of known capital structure theories holds water in abnormal economic environments, in particular, in Zimbabwe. Using secondary data collected for listed manufacturing firms from 2009-2018, results from a fixed effects regression model concluded that profitability, company size, non-debt tax shields, firm liquidity, inflation and GDP were significant in explaining capital structure decisions in Zimbabwe. In the context of South Africa, company size, asset tangibility, firm liquidity and inflation were found to be significant. The pecking order and trade-off theories were the only two theories that were found to be applicable in the Zimbabwean context, and the application of both theories indicated the use of internally generated funds as opposed to external finance sources, such as debt and equity. These results attribute to the abnormality and instability of the Zimbabwean economy, especially with regards to limited access to capital.
Business Management
M. Com. (Business Management)

Research Doctorate - Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA)
Government mandated institutions in Australia and Canada have continuously progressed banking regulation throughout time by making gradual alterations to prudential frameworks and supervisory practices. This has included the prompt domestic adaptation of the three Basel accords. A main objective is to ensure banking organisations become more resilient to stresses that impact their capital and liquidity adequacy. Banking organisations are faced with the task of transforming their balance sheets and funding profiles to not only strengthen their balance sheets but to curb heighted liquidity costs that have been brought on by regulatory reform. A review of existing literature on the components of bank funding, liquidity and procyclicality recognises their significance in ensuring individual bank stability and the prevarication of broader systemic implications in the wider economy. This dissertation has examined the historical evolution of the regulatory environments in both Australia and Canada and compared the components of bank balance sheets that offer insights into their funding preference and liquidity holdings, and provide early indicators for procyclicality within the banking sector. It has also had the goal of developing existing research and knowledge of liquidity stresses within bank balance sheets. This research has endeavoured to further balance sheet innovation, through action research that has been carried out over a five year period, to provide banking organisations with options to alter their balance sheets in order to meet the Basel III package of reforms and better deal with liquidity pressures, such as those that were evident in many countries throughout the most recent financial crisis. A new methodology for balance sheet transformation under Basel III, “evergreen” is articulated, with a suite of evergreen asset and liability products and balance sheet exposures being assessed for impact and acceptance within the banking industry. Verification of the evergreen method is demonstrated by the banking industry including it within their strategy for future balance sheet innovation; banks designing and constructing evergreen capability; the regulator encompassing it within prudential standards; and widespread acceptance of evergreen by investors and other financial market participants. Whilst components of evergreen are increasingly becoming a greater part of the banking industry within Australia, it is recognised that the concepts and models of evergreen, are at a primary juncture in their development and require substantial additional focus and research. The usefulness of this dissertation will be established through the particulars of future research settings and must be appraised to the degree that it appears correct, original and apt. Regarding deposits, this dissertation finds that: the existence of voluntary deposit insurance schemes would allow the competitive landscape for retail deposits to become about more than just price; operational deposits are not immune from procyclical competition; Australian banks have a much greater appetite and tolerance for at-call deposit raising; liquidity regulation has permanently shifted the ‘market rate’ for deposit funding above its ‘natural rate’; and foreign currency deposit raising may lead to banks running unhedged positions or developing a larger reliance towards United States Dollars. For wholesale funding, it is observed that: liquidity regulation has increased the reliance of banks on domestic financial markets to fulfil their financing needs; the volume of short-dated prime bank paper being issued in Australia has declined where there are consequences for the Bank Bill Swap Rates; and large differentials in the semi/quarterly spread can substantially impact the profitability of banking book products. The domestic implementation of the Basel III package of reforms on liquidity in both Australia and Canada has, in many ways, imitated the historical approach taken towards bank capital regulation. This dissertation deducts that, as there is for capital, the concept of ‘regulatory’ and ’economic’ liquidity now exists. Furthermore, regulation has introduced a predisposition to government bonds, which may have unintended consequences for both government sponsored issuers and bank investors. Finally, procyclicality must be monitored and managed by the government sponsored institution tasked with the role of implementing monetary policy, rather than institutions that implement and enforce prudential regulation.