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Zhou, Juannan. "Marks of Design/". Baltimore, MD : University of Baltimore, 2008. http://www.marks-of-design.com.
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Radman, Romeo. "Study of the effects of oligosaccharides in liquid cultures of Penicillium chrysogenum". Thesis, University of Westminster, 2002. https://westminsterresearch.westminster.ac.uk/item/93y1q/study-of-the-effects-of-oligosaccharides-in-liquid-cultures-of-penicillium-chrysogenum.
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Oligosaccharides and polysaccharides have different effects on the morphology and production of secondary metabolites by Penicillium chrysogenum P2 (ATCC 48271). Addition Of oligosaccharides, derived from sodium alginate and locust bean gum, to submerged cultures of P. chrysogenum P2, at milligram per litre concentration (150 mgL-1), increased secondary metabolite levels and spore production, caused changes in morphology and gerRiination of spores, and affected the production of Reactive Oxygen Species. The source of the oligosaccharides controlled their effects on the cultures. Oligosaccharides when added to submerged cultures of P. chrysogenum P2 increased both penicillin G and extracellular levels of 6-aminopenicillanic acid concentrations. The oligosaccharides had no significant effects on biomass levels. Locust bean gum-derived oligosaccharides (mannan oligosaccharides, DP 5-8), showed the highest levels of enhancement in both penicillin G and 6-aminopenicillanic acid concentrations. Sodium alginate-derived oligosaccharides, (oligoguluronate, DP 7 and oligomannuronate, DP 7), also induced elicitation of penicillin G and 6-aminopenicillanic acid. Oligomannuronate was shown to be more effective than oligoguluronate. In P. chrysogenum P2 cultures mannan, oligomannuronate and oligoguluronate oligosaccharides enhanced yields of penicillin G by 101%, 78% and 59%, respectively. Addition of mannan, oligomannuronate and oligoguluronate oligosaccharides enhanced the levels of 6- aminopenicillanic acid by 39%, 26% and 19%, respectively. The addition of oligosaccharides and polysaccharides to spores of P. chrysogenum P2 in liquid medium had varying (inhibitory or stimulatory) effects on germination, germ-tube and clump development. The addition of oligosaccharides to submerged cultures of P. chrysogenum P2 showed effects on clump size and hyphal tip numbers. Mannan oligosaccharides had the greatest effect on morphology followed by oligomannuronate and oligoguluronate oligosaccharides. Oligosaccharides also speeded-up the sporulation and increased the concentration of spores of P. chrysogenum P2 in liquid cultures. Mannan oligosaccharides had the greatest effect followed by oligomannuronate and oligoguluronate oligosaccharides. 8-aminonaphthalene-1,3,6-trisulphonate-tagged oligosaccharide studies showed that the oligosaccharides pass through the cell wall of P. chrysogenum P2 suggesting a possible mechanism through modulation of gene function. The elicitation pattern was shown to be similar to untagged oligosaccharides. Oligosaccharides and polysaccharides were shown to inhibit production of Reactive Oxygen Species in P. chrysogenum P2. The highest level of inhibition was elicited by mannan followed by oligornannuronate and oligoguluronate oligosaccharides, and then locust bean gum and alginate. The results of the study showed the potential of oligosaccharides as elicitors of secondary metabolites in P. chrysogenum P2 as a filamentous fungus model. Understanding the elicitation mechanism could provide routes for ftirther exploitation of the potential of filamentous fungi in production of commercial products.
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Pascoe, Susan. "Significance for trusts of land of some key aspects of the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996". Thesis, King's College London (University of London), 2004. https://kclpure.kcl.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/significance-for-trusts-of-land-of-some-key-aspects-of-the-trusts-of-land-and-appointment-of-trustees-act-1996(df15036a-1fed-4b2e-81aa-899629e9495e).html.
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Andrew, Victoria. "Efficient numerical evaluation of the scattering of acoustic waves by arrays of cylinders and bodies of revolution of arbitrary cross section". Thesis, University of Manchester, 2015. https://www.research.manchester.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/efficient-numerical-evaluation-of-the-scattering-of-acoustic-waves-by-arrays-of-cylinders-and-bodies-of-revolution-of-arbitrary-cross-section(636d62f5-e93f-4ba9-b25f-e4816336b2d0).html.
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Wave scattering from periodic arrays is ubiquitous in applied mathematics, and has received a great deal of attention over the past century, not least due to the physical significance of understanding the reflection and transmission of plane waves from such arrays in the contexts of electromagnetic waves, acoustics, water waves and elasticity. The aim of the thesis is to develop an accurate and efficient numerical method to solve for the reflection and transmission of an acoustic plane wave from arrays of arbitrary shaped obstacles that have an axis of symmetry aligned in a direction perpendicular to the array. We are particularly interested in the difficult case when the characteristic length scale of the scatterers, and the periodic spacing of the array are of the same order of magnitude as the wavelength of the incident wave. It is shown that the boundary value problem for the infinite array can be reduced to an integral equation over a central representative cell containing a single scatterer, which can then be solved using the boundary element method. Particular attention is paid to the convergence of the resulting periodic Green's function. Using established methods to calculate the reflection and transmission coefficients, we develop a new method to increase the rate of convergence of the periodic Green's function in both two and three dimensions.
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Mohtasham, Parya. "Investigation of the effect of static magnetic field on production of industrially viable microbial products". Thesis, University of Westminster, 2017. https://westminsterresearch.westminster.ac.uk/item/q56v9/investigation-of-the-effect-of-static-magnetic-field-on-production-of-industrially-viable-microbial-products.
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Static magnetic field (MF) has a range of applications in pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries from medical devices and tissue engineering to wastewater treatment. The effect of MF on microbial cultures has been investigated by some researchers. However, the findings have been inconsistent. Extensive, systematic and comprehensive investigations are needed before potential application of MF in the industry. The aim of this research was to investigate the effect of MF on Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains for production of industrially viable products. To this end, an MF generator (MFG) was coupled with small-scale 100 mL shaken flasks (SFs) and bench-top 2 L stirred tank bioreactors (STRs). The effect of MF on two Gram-positive (Bacillus licheniformis NCIMB 8874 and Bacillus subtilis NCTC 3610) and one Gram-negative (Pseudomonas putida KT2440) bacterial strains was investigated with focus on production of two industrially viable products (bacitracin A and polyhydroxybutyrate (P(3HB)). P(3HB) was chosen as a valuable product of recent interest, produced by both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, making it a good candidate for this research. Bacitracin A was chosen as a model antibiotic produced by B. licheniformis. Experiments were carried out in SF cultures of B. licheniformis with circulation rate of 10 mL. min-1 through MFG producing 28 mT static MF. While there was no notable difference in the specific growth rate between the test and the control cultures, a decrease in the highest concentration of bacitracin A by 23% was observed. Subsequently, the experiment was extended to 2 L STRs with the same circulation rate (10 mL. min-1), but at two MF intensities of 28 mT and 10 mT. The former, showed no notable effect on bacitracin A production or cell growth. The latter experiment, however, resulted in 27% increase in the highest bacitracin A concentration. As bacitracin A concentration in the culture medium started to decrease due to unfavourable alkaline conditions, the next fermentation was carried out under pH control at 6-7. In this fermentation, bacitracin A concentration continued to increase in both MF exposed and control cultures without a notable difference between the two. However, substrate uptake, growth profile and total carbohydrate concentrations changed considerably. These changes suggest a shift in cellular metabolism leading possibly to biosynthesis of other products including extracellular polymeric substances. The STR system was then coupled with MFG of 18 and 28 mT intensities at a circulation rate of 10 mL. min-1, and used for production of P(3HB) by B. subtilis and P. putida. Neither of the two MF intensities led to any considerable changes in growth profile, cell morphology or P(3HB) production in B. subtilis STR system. On the other hand, a considerable change in morphology was observed in P. putida cultures. Also, P(3HB) concentration in the culture exposed to MF increased by 15% under 18 mT and by 29% under 28 mT. These novel findings suggest a great scope for further investigations of this system for potential industrial applications.
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Toylan, Gamze. "Reading 'The League of Gentlemen' : study of the creation process of a comedy/horror series". Thesis, University of Westminster, 2014. https://westminsterresearch.westminster.ac.uk/item/96x09/reading-the-league-of-gentlemen-study-of-the-creation-process-of-a-comedy-horror-series.
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Television production’s ‘hidden labour’ lies concealed behind what we see on our screens. This thesis investigates the creation of The League of Gentlemen, a show that is considered a ‘special moment in television’, unpacking the end product and mapping the critical elements within the show’s creation process, to make this ‘hidden labour’ visible. It examines the The League’s production ecology to understand how this cultural breakthrough came to be, and contributes to broader discussions about the BBC’s broadcasting environment and comedy production in the 1990s. This thesis is the first study of The League that combines a detailed textual analysis with production studies, media history and media anthropology. Through its multi-method approach this study yields new insights into the creation process of The League. Through a very detailed analysis, this case study illuminates how the initial idea and the key textual devices (location, character and narrative) developed through various media and creation stages, revealing who and what shaped this process. Through original interviews it gives a voice to various contributors, including the costume designer and the producers, who are often overlooked because of the strong authorial signature of the writers/performers. Therefore, the study sheds light onto some of the ‘hidden professions of television’ and updates our understanding of the creation process and the final product in the light of these new insights. The study of The League’s creation process illustrates that each production is unique and faces different challenges. It reveals that despite major structural and cultural changes at the BBC in the 1990s, which some considered a crisis inimical to creativity, innovation and craftsmanship, there was still room for innovation and creative freedom. The 1990s were not simply a period of crisis in BBC programme making, as some commentators suggested at the time, but an exemplar of how the production ecology was changing. As this study shows, while comedy production is clearly constrained by larger organisational structures and strategies, it also depends crucially on the individuals involved in making comedy, and how they work together. This study highlights that culture production is the sum of all the small moments that happen on the ground - in the corridors of media organisations, in TV studios, during phone conversations - and during the many little decisions made by thinking, feeling and interacting individuals. It is the coming together of these small moments that shape what we see on our screens.
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Kabir, Md Shahidul. "Evaluation and adaptation of molecular approaches for detection and characterization of viruses of the respiratory tract". Thesis, University of Westminster, 2011. https://westminsterresearch.westminster.ac.uk/item/8zyvw/evaluation-and-adaptation-of-molecular-approaches-for-detection-and-characterization-of-viruses-of-the-respiratory-tract.
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This study was designed for the development of novel methods for isothermal amplification of nucleic acids using phi29 and Bst DNA polymerases in the detection and characterization of pathogenic viruses of the respiratory tract. High Resolution Melting (HRM) analysis was used in this study for screening similar sequences to avoid unnecessary sequencing from genomic libraries and detection of common pathogenic viruses of the respiratory tract. Four different structures of DNA linear double stranded DNA (dsDNA, 48 kb), linear single stranded DNA (ssDNA, 3.6 kb), small circular dsDNA (2.6 kb) and a large circular dsDNA (8.6 kb) were used as representatives of different types of viral nucleic acids for the evaluation of phi29-amplification at limiting concentrations. Phi29-amplification of linear ds, large and small circular dsDNA could be amplified 10-100-fold but ssDNA could not be amplified at all. Alternative protocols were adapted for ligating ssDNA and dsDNA to construct large concatemers for efficient phi29-amplification. Phi29-amplification of ssDNA was found to increase >10-fold when it was ligated using T4 RNA ligase in the presence of a large excess of background ssDNA compared to that in the absence of background ssDNA. T4 DNA ligase-mediated phi29-amplification of double stranded cDNA (dscDNA) was found to increase >105-fold compared to non-ligated dscDNA. CircLigaseä II ssDNA ligase was used for circularization of ssDNA and aid phi29-amplification. CircLigaseä II ssDNA ligase-mediated phi29-amplification of ssDNA was found to increase >107-fold compared to non-ligated sscDNA. A method named RT-Bst was developed for simultaneous reverse transcription and Bst DNA polymerase amplification of cDNA in the same reaction. In a qualitative PCR assay, RT-Bst was found to be more efficient than the QuantiTectä reverse transcription kit (QIAGEN, Crawley, UK). The RT-Bst method was used for amplification of cDNA in 70 nasopharyngeal samples for detection of a panel of 12 pathogenic viruses of the respiratory tract. The performance of multiplex RT-Bst PCR detection of pathogenic viruses was comparable to that of multiplex one-step RT-PCR (performed in this study) and more efficient than immunofluorescence (performed by a hospital diagnostic laboratory). The RT-Bst protocol was further modified using tailed random primers to develop another protocol for whole genome amplification designated RT-Bst Single Primer Amplification (RT-Bst SPA) as a cheaper alternative to sequence independent single primer amplification. HRM analysis was used in this study to demonstrate its application for low cost screening of similar sequences to avoid unnecessary sequencing task from whole genome libraries prepared from MS2 RNA and tissue culture media positive for influenza B and hRSV. HRM analysis was also used for rapid and low cost detection of common pathogenic viruses of the respiratory tract. It is proposed that RT-Bst and RT-Bst SPA have the potential for sequence independent amplification of RNA sequences for subsequent multiplex PCR detection, and other downstream applications. HRM analysis can be used for rapid and cost effective detection of pathogenic viruses of the respiratory tract. However, a more detailed study will be required for further optimization and validation of the developed protocols for appropriate commercialization as kits.
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Alex, Roji. "The politics of representation in Indian media : implications of the portrayal of Hindus and minority groups". Thesis, University of Westminster, 2015. https://westminsterresearch.westminster.ac.uk/item/97051/the-politics-of-representation-in-indian-media-implications-of-the-portrayal-of-hindus-and-minority-groups.
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This thesis explores the politics of representation in Indian media with special focus on news television’s portrayal of issues concerning Christian community. The portrayal of communities is studied in relation to the dynamics of engagement between India’s rapidly expanding news television and the growing Hindutva (Hinduness) movement which espouses an exclusivist and majoritarian ideology, demanding a Hindu nation for Hindus. In its endeavor to understand this complex issue it focuses on India’s two national news networks – Aaj Tak in Hindi, the country’s most popular news broadcaster, and Headlines Today, a leading English-language network – locating their ways of engagement with the Hindutva movement. The thesis, which looks at the nationalist movement’s involvement with the print media and cinema in India, claims that the socio-political situation in the country helped the Hindutva groups to realign the threads of nationalism with that of Hindu nationalism by re-organizing and redefining their ideology to suggest a particular version of national identity and citizenship. The news television, while passing through various stages of evolution, has been engaging with a number of dominant ideologies. In recent decades, the right-wing Hindu ideology has been a powerful force in Indian politics and its engagement with news television, particularly Hindi language television, has been visible in the media narratives on various socio-political and cultural issues. The thesis claims that news television’s treatment of communal issues has helped the creation of a Hindutva public sphere. In the process, the thesis argues, India’s minority communities have been threatened, having to bear the brunt of this new alignment, undermining the secular tradition of India and contributing to anti-minority rhetoric. Drawing on a range of methods – including focus groups of news consumers, face-to-face, in-depth interviews with media personnel, as well as detailed content analysis of news reports, the thesis argues that Hindi news television, driven by market values, created new avenues and vistas for the Hindu nationalists to engage with the public. News television’s association with the Hindutva groups, it is suggested, helped construct a new national identity and a new Indian-ness, conforming to Hindutva ideology.
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Adegoke, Ebenezer Olalekan. "A study of the role of women in the burial rituals of the Ife of southwestern Nigeria". Thesis, King's College London (University of London), 1995. https://kclpure.kcl.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/a-study-of-the-role-of-women-in-the-burial-rituals-of-the-ife-of-southwestern-nigeria(2fe0ba0a-eda2-4c21-9ee6-5cf5fd416d98).html.
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Choi, Leo. "Analysis of the effects of spatial localisation of transgenes on expression of recombinant proteins in CHO-DG44 cells". Thesis, University of Manchester, 2012. https://www.research.manchester.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/analysis-of-the-effects-of-spatial-localisation-of-transgenes-on-expression-of-recombinant-proteins-in-chodg44-cells(76d0a965-9c12-4745-a6a9-ada226dfe2a0).html.
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Chinese hamster ovary cell lines are commonly used as host for production of recombinant protein both in research and in the biotech industry. Recombinant cell lines are generated through random integration of multi-cistronic plasmid vector containing the genes of interest and selection marker gene into the host genome. The recombinant cell lines require several rounds of limiting clonal dilution to isolate stable high expressing clones. Stable high expression of the genes of interest is a rare and desired trait in recombinant clonal cell lines. Despite being clonal, cell lines eventually become heterogeneous and lose productivity. The Mammalian genome resides as packaged chromatin in the nucleus, which is a highly organized structure with specialized spatial and functional compartments. Increasingly, evidence is pointing to the interaction between plasmid and nuclear architecture as a factor that affects expression and stability. This project is based on the hypothesis that certain locations within the three-dimensional structure of the nucleus are more favourable for stable high-level expression of recombinant genes, integration of transgene into these specific location will produce high expressing stable cell linesTo prove the hypothesis a set of far-red reporter gene expressing recombinant clonal cell lines were generated to use as model cell lines. These cell lines were characterized over 80 days of continuous culture to determine their expression and stability. Flow cytometry results showed that all cell lines showed heterogeneity and gradual loss of expression of the far-red gene. Majority of the cell lines loss 80% of their gene copy number by day 25 of continuous culture. The possibility of using telomeric repeat sequences and nuclear bodies as nuclear landmarks was explored in order to develop tools that can be used to study the localization and interactions of the integrated recombinant genes and the CHO genome in the nuclear environment. Telomeric repeat sequences were far too numerous and scattered to use as nuclear landmark. While PML nuclear bodies and Cajal bodies appeared to be randomly positioned. The possibility of cross-species chromosome painting using FACS sorted Chinese hamster chromosome as paints was investigated, results showed that two copies of chromosome 1 and a copy of chromosome 4 along with segments of other chromosomes 7 and X&Y are conserved in the CHO genome. This finding allowed us to further explore the localization of chromosomes in the interphase nuclei. Results showed that the CHO cell equivalent of hamster chromosome 4 does not have a preferred radial localization in the interphase nuclei. FISH data also showed that the site of reporter gene integration is variable and that the integrated plasmid does not have a preferred radial position within the nuclei. These findings indicated that the CHO nuclei in our cell lines do not have a common nuclear organization.
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Prince, Tessa. "Evaluation of the utility of probiotics for the prevention of infections in a model of the skin". Thesis, University of Manchester, 2012. https://www.research.manchester.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/evaluation-of-the-utility-of-probiotics-for-the-prevention-of-infections-in-a-model-of-the-skin(8eecb539-d661-4ce9-900d-8c75064e29fa).html.
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Probiotics have been defined as “live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host”. The beneficial effects of probiotics in the gut are well described and roles including immunomodulation and colonisation resistance have been documented. Recent reports suggest that topical use of probiotic bacteria may be an effective strategy to promote skin health or inhibit disease. Therefore, in this thesis the potential of probiotics to protect skin from pathogenic bacteria was assessed using primary keratinocytes as a model system, and the skin pathogen, Staphylococcus aureus. The ability of three probiotics, L. reuteri ATCC 55730, L. rhamnosus AC413 and L. salivarius UCC118 to inhibit the growth of S. aureus was tested using well-diffusion assays and spot on the lawn assays. All three probiotics inhibited the growth of S. aureus in well-diffusion assays, though this property was dependent on growth medium. Inhibition of S. aureus growth was principally via the production of organic acids rather than bacteriocin production. Next, to determine whether probiotics could protect keratinocytes, confluent normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEK) were infected with S. aureus (106 CFU/ml) in the presence or absence of the probiotic (108 CFU/ml). NHEK viability was measured using trypan blue exclusion assays. L. reuteri had a significant protective effect on NHEK when applied 1h prior to (P=0.0003), or simultaneously with S. aureus (P=0.002). L. reuteri did not however protect NHEK when applied 1h after S. aureus addition. There was no change in the number of viable S. aureus in cell culture assays. To determine whether the protective effect was due to the inhibition of adhesion, NHEK were either pre-exposed to the probiotic for 1h, simultaneously exposed to the probiotic and S. aureus for 1h, or exposed to the probiotic 30 minutes after S. aureus addition for 1h. Pre-exposure of NHEK to L. reuteri (exclusion) and simultaneous exposure to L. reuteri and S. aureus (competition) resulted in significantly less staphylococci adhering to NHEK (P=0.03 and P=0.008 respectively). However when L. reuteri was added after S. aureus (displacement), the number of adherent staphylococci was not reduced. The necessity of S. aureus adherence for the inactivation of NHEK was demonstrated using a α5β1 integrin blocking antibody. Finally, to compare the innate response of NHEK to probiotics with S. capitis and S. aureus, TLR-2, antimicrobial peptide (AMP) expression and IL-8 production were measured. TLR-2 protein (but not mRNA) expression was reduced in the presence of S. aureus (P=0.018). NHEK pre-exposed to S. capitis prior to S. aureus infection however, exhibited elevated TLR-2 protein and mRNA expression (P<0.0001 and P=0.009 respectively). NHEK pre-exposed to L. reuteri prior to S. aureus had no significant change in TLR-2 expression compared to untreated controls. ELISAs demonstrated that IL-8 production was significantly increased in NHEK pre-exposed to L. reuteri prior to S. aureus infection (P=0.0001). In conclusion, L. reuteri protected NHEK from the toxic effects of S. aureus at least partly through competitive exclusion of binding sites on NHEK. Finally, NHEK innate responses to probiotic bacteria were akin to those to the skin commensal, S. capitis. L. reuteri induced expression of a neutrophil chemoattractant, suggesting it could be of importance in priming the innate immune response against S. aureus infections. Taken together, these results suggest that probiotic bacteria could be used prophylactically within skin creams and soaps to prevent S. aureus colonisation and infection in skin.
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Theodorou, Andria Soteri. "Screening and delineation of molecular mechanisms of action of HbF inducing agents for the treatment of β-thalassaemia". Thesis, King's College London (University of London), 2015. http://kclpure.kcl.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/screening-and-delineation-of-molecular-mechanisms-of-action-of-hbf-inducing-agents-for-the-treatment-of-thalassaemia(fbad43de-f2b2-49a1-980b-b6dfcc1a25c5).html.
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Current agents used for pharmacological reactivation of foetal haemoglobin (HbF) have limited application due to moderate therapeutic properties, variable patient response and potential cytotoxic effects. Therefore, identification of novel HbF inducing agents is still a major research goal to this day. Identification of new potential HbF inducers has been mainly based on screening of drug libraries. However, this approach has not been very successful in generating new promising agents. In the current project, I employed two approaches for identifying potential HbF inducers: 1) screening of agents that are structurally similar to compounds with known HbF inducing activity; 2) investigating molecular pathways of a known HbF inducer with the aim of identifying suitable targets for therapeutic manipulation and target-based drug design. The first approach involved screening of eleven xanthines including caffeine and nine hydroxystilbenic derivatives of resveratrol as potential HbF inducers. However, none of the agents had a potent enough HbF inducing activity in order to be considered as promising therapeutic agents. In the second approach, decitabine was chosen based on its high HbF inducing activity and moderate cytotoxicity in K562 cells and primary human erythroid cultures. Chromatin immunoprecipitation was used to characterise epigenetic changes in the β-globin gene locus, and quantitative real-time PCR for investigation of changes in gene expression levels of ten erythroid-related genes, in the presence of the agent. A quantitative iTRAQ proteomic approach coupled with mass spectrometry was used for identification of changes in the proteome of decitabine-treated and un-treated primary human erythroid cultures. The findings suggest that decitabine induces HbF production through activation of signal transduction pathways rather than through hypomethylation of gene promoters. One such possible pathway is the NF-κB pathway. Among the differentially expressed proteins, twenty-seven proteins were associated with the action of decitabine. Two of those proteins, ARHGAP4 and EGLN2, were previously implicated in hydroxyurea-mediated induction of γ-globin gene expression and hypoxia-mediated erythropoiesis, respectively. In addition, the de-ubiquitinating enzyme USP11 was substantially modulated in the presence of decitabine. The exact role of these proteins in γ-globin expression remains to be established.
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Obi, Juliana. "Synthesis of analogues of dicoumarol and their measurement as inhibitors of NQO1". Thesis, University of Manchester, 2016. https://www.research.manchester.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/synthesis-of-analogues-of-dicoumaroland-their-measurementas-inhibitors-of-nqo1(985aa4d2-437d-46ff-aadd-8f72ab9887c9).html.
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A variety of novel and effective inhibitors of NQO1 was synthesized. The inhibitors were classified as 'asymmetrical' and 'halfway stage' analogues of dicoumarol. The synthesis of these inhibitors was achieved through the application of different techniques such as 'borrowing hydrogen methodology', thermal and microwave irradiation and reductive C-C cleavage using NaBH3CN. One of the most potent analogues was toxic (IC50 = 9.2 ± 0.3 μM) towards the non-small cell lung cancer cell line, A549.A selection of the most potent inhibitors was re-modified as prodrugs in order to improve drug penetration through the barrier of the cell membrane. This was achieved by conjugation with a delivery agent related to the natural product antheminone A. The synthesis involved a multi-step reaction sequence involving the use of natural product (-)-quinic acid as a precursor. A range of prodrugs were synthesized which exhibited toxicity towards the A549 cancer cell line.
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Bellew, Sarah Louise. "Investigation of the response of groups of wave energy devices". Thesis, University of Manchester, 2011. https://www.research.manchester.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/investigation-of-the-response-of-groups-of-wave-energy-devices(3db5db0d-a6af-4715-9f0b-19d53cf6dcf4).html.
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Placing wave energy devices within close proximity to each other can be beneficial as the costs of deployment, maintenance and infrastructure are reduced significantly compared to if the devices are deployed in isolation. A mathematical model is presented in this thesis which combines linear wave theory with a series of linear driven harmonic oscillators to model an array (group) of floating wave energy devices which move predominantly in heave (vertically) in a train of incident regular waves. Whilst similar mathematical models have been used previously to investigate interactions between fluids and groups of structures, much of the published work does not address array configurations or device constraints that are relevant to designers of structure-supported array devices. The suitability of linear theory for application to closely spaced arrays is assessed in this thesis through comparison to small-scale experimental data and by evaluation of the magnitude of second-order hydrodynamic forces. Values of mechanical damping and mass are determined for each element of an array in order to achieve the maximum power from an array of floats without requiring the knowledge of the motion of every float within the array in order to apply the forces to any one float. Further to this, the analysis of floats of varying geometry is performed in order to assess the possibility of array optimisation through the variation of float geometries within a closely spaced array.It is shown in this thesis that linear theory provides a reasonable prediction of the response of floats that are sufficiently close together to interact for most wave frequencies to which the arrays are likely to be subjected. Under the assumption of easily implementable mechanical damping, it is determined that the power output from an array of floats of equal geometry can be increased by specifying different magnitudes of mechanical damping on each float independently of the radiation damping. Variations in submerged float geometries for the purpose of manipulating array characteristics according to the incident wave frequency are best applied through the variation in draft of a single geometry. Variations in submerged float geometry which occur close to the free surface are found to be of the greatest significance. Where the float is uniform in cross-section, the most appropriate method to select float drafts within an array is found to be based on the evaluation of the total damping on each float.
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Mentasti, M. "Implementation of molecular techniques in the diagnosis of Legionnaires' disease and in the investigation of legionella outbreaks". Thesis, University of Westminster, 2016. https://westminsterresearch.westminster.ac.uk/item/9z94y/implementation-of-molecular-techniques-in-the-diagnosis-of-legionnaires-disease-and-in-the-investigation-of-legionella-outbreaks.
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Background. Legionnaires’ Disease (LD) is a mild to severe, potentially lethal, respiratory syndrome caused by members of the Legionella genus, in particular L. pneumophila serogroup (sg) 1 alone causes about 95% of culture confirmed cases. The infection is usually acquired by inhalation of aerosols originating from contaminated fresh water sources, consequently typing of both clinical and environmental isolates is crucial to rapidly identify the possible source and prevent further cases. Legionellae are difficult to isolate by culture, moreover as respiratory samples are not available for up to 65% patients, alternative techniques are needed to diagnose LD and maximise the amount of typing data that can be obtained to aid investigations. Urinary antigen detection and serology provide very limited information regarding the infecting strain, while the advent of PCR and Sanger sequencing has allowed reliable diagnostic and typing methods to be introduced. Objectives. The aim of this study was to improve existing diagnostic and typing molecular assays, and to develop new ones to further standardise diagnostic and typing procedures across members of the European Society for Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) Study Group for Legionella Infections (ESGLI). Utility of the assays was assessed in both routine and outbreak scenarios. Methods. A wide range of both in silico and in vitro experiments were used to design and validate specific oligonucleotides to improve detection and typing of L. pneumophila. Genomic DNA was manually extracted and prepared for Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) using Illumina platforms. A bioinformatic approach was used to design a WGS based typing scheme and decipher the evolution of L. pneumophila sg1 Sequence Type (ST) 47, a major disease-causing strain. Results. A real-time PCR detecting L. pneumophila and sg1 specific targets was validated with international colleagues and made available to ESGLI members. Sequence based typing was improved and expanded, and specific typing guidelines produced. A 50 gene core-genome MLST was identified as the best approach to improve the current typing method. ST47 was shown to be a ‘chimera’ between ST109 and ST62, and a specific real-time PCR was designed to detect this strain. Conclusions. The results of this study allowed researchers to obtain faster and more accurate diagnosis of LD, and L. pneumophila typing data from both isolates and primary samples. A metagenomics approach is presently under evaluation to obtain typing results by WGS directly from clinical and environmental samples.
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Miguel, Andres Israel. "Contribution of the anconeus muscle to the elbow kinematics : range of motion of 90° of flexion-extension and pronation-supination". Thesis, University of Manchester, 2016. https://www.research.manchester.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/contribution-of-the-anconeus-muscle-to-the-elbow-kinematics-range-of-motion-of-90-of-flexionextension-and-pronationsupination(457e1132-6600-4954-ae28-c8c7b9553247).html.
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The anconeus, a small triangular muscle positioned on the posterolateral part of the elbow joint, has been the subject of considerable research without a satisfactory conclusion being reached regarding the role it plays during normal elbow kinematics. The aim of this investigation was to elucidate the function of the anconeus muscle and find the relative contribution that it makes to elbow kinematics by examining relative electrical muscle activity and elbow kinematics both before and after anconeus defunctioning carried out using a local anaesthetic (lidocaine). The study was performed through an examination of the myoelectric activity of the representative elbow flexor and extensor muscles (biceps brachii and triceps brachii) and the elbow kinematics and kinetics. Right-handed, healthy volunteers performed elbow flexion-extension and supination-pronation movements in both horizontal and sagittal planes before and after blocking of the anconeus. The kinematics and kinetics of the elbow were assessed using inertial sensors, and muscle electrical activity was recorded using surface electromyography. In the following stage of the study, the anconeus muscle was blocked through an injection of lidocaine and then the flexion-extension and pronation-supination movements were repeated. The relative electrical activity results from the anconeus before blocking clearly indicate that the activity of the muscle was higher during the extension portion of the flexion-extension cycle, suggesting that it behaves as an extensor muscle. However, from the paired sample t-test analysis, it was found that blocking of the anconeus had no effect on the kinematics and kinetics of the elbow, including the angular velocity, net torque, power and net joint work. Moreover, the angular velocity data for the elbow, before and after the blocking for all movements, showed a linear trend with slopes and Pearson's correlations close to unity, indicating no apparent difference on the elbow kinematics. In addition, the relative electrical activity of the biceps and triceps brachii muscles did not alter significantly following blocking of the anconeus. These findings suggest that the anconeus muscle is a relatively weak elbow extensor as it is likely that the small contribution that the anconeus provides during extension before blocking is compensated by the triceps brachii after the anconeus is deactivated. In order to provide additional weight and support to the findings of the experimental study, a computational model of the elbow joint was created in Abaqus CAE with the aim of investigating the contribution of the anconeus during the flexion-extension motion. In particular, the effect on the range of motion and contact area of the elbow joint was investigated both before and after anconeus blocking. The analysis was done in a range of motion of 90°, starting with the elbow extended 30° and ending flexed 120°. The elbow joint model considered cortical bone, trabecular bone, cartilage, collateral ligaments, the anconeus, biceps brachii and triceps brachii. The results of the investigation indicated that the anconeus muscle does not produce a significant change in the range of motion and contact area in the articulation, an outcome that supports the findings of the experimental investigation.
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Alves, e. Sousa João. "Application of the zone method of radiation analysis to simulation of the non-steady state operation of metal reheating furnaces". Thesis, University of South Wales, 1995. https://pure.southwales.ac.uk/en/studentthesis/application-of-the-zone-method-of-radiation-analysis-to-simulation-of-the-nonsteady-state-operation-of-metal-reheating-furnaces(c544eb24-3d4a-4ce8-9c86-193de548e5d0).html.
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The zone method for analysing radiative heat transfer has been widely applied for furnace modelling, and is extensively reported in the open literature. The main reason for the application of this method lies in the accuracy with which it solves the radiant transfer in hot enclosures. Thus, it is generally the preferred method when it is essential to predict accurately the temperature distribution in the furnace. Its application, however, has been limited in most cases by the need to over-simplify the furnace conditions. These simplifications include the need to modify the furnace shape and zoning arrangement, the load representation, and the simulation of convection. Another significant feature of most applications of the zone method is the restriction of the simulation to steady-state conditions. This Ph.D. project aims to eliminate some of these constraints and, therefore, improve application of the zone method to furnaces. Hence, full transient conditions were simulated for different zone models, which varied in complexity from a single gas zone model to a full 3D multi-zone version. The exchange factors required in the zone method were calculated by a Monte-Carlo method using RADEX, a suitable computer code which enabled the furnace geometry to be accurately represented as well as the load, which could be simulated by a series of individual components instead of a single big slab covering the entire hearth surface area. Two different furnaces were modelled, namely a steel reheating furnace and a heat treatment furnace. Experimental data from production were used to validate the heat treatment system mathematical model. Parametric studies were then performed for both furnaces. The predictions clearly demonstrate the need for multi-zone transient models since the load temperature-history was significantly different from that predicted by a simpler long-furnace model. Another aim of the project was to produce reliable data concerning the convective heat transfer in furnaces. This parameter is often ignored in furnace modelling, or if included has been restricted to a crude single empirical value (usually 5 - 10 W/m2K). This can produce erroneous results in applications where the flame and combustion products temperatures are low, as in heat treatment furnaces. In these cases convection may play a more important role than is currently assumed. A mass transfer technique was employed in order to determine heat transfer coefficients for the heat treatment furnace for a variety of load arrangements and firing conditions. These coefficients which were significantly higher (25 - 45 W/m2K) than the usually assumed crude values were subsequently used in the mathematical models of the furnace performance.
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Tokbaeva, Dinara. "Charismatic leadership of media businesses : a case study of leaders of two media businesses in the post-Soviet states of Russia and Kyrgyzstan (1991-2016)". Thesis, University of Westminster, 2017. https://westminsterresearch.westminster.ac.uk/item/q5266/charismatic-leadership-of-media-businesses-a-case-study-of-leaders-of-two-media-businesses-in-the-post-soviet-states-of-russia-and-kyrgyzstan-1991-2016.
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This is a comparative case study of two media business leaders, one from Russia and one from Kyrgyzstan. Alexei Kharitonov of the Abak-Press and Kylychbek Sultanov of the Computer Press both started media companies after the break-up of the Soviet Union and managed to grow them from small businesses into the present media holdings. In comparing the media holding from Russia, which is the former Soviet Union’s largest economy, and the one from Kyrgyzstan, which is one of the smallest economies of the post-Soviet space, this will allow us to capture the processes of private media maturation in countries with a shared Soviet past, yet with a different present. The observed time frame is 25 years from the fall of the Soviet Union (1991-2016). Only 13 media holdings in both Russia and Kyrgyzstan were found to meet the criteria of financial self-sustainability without any reliance on state/foreign funds. The data came from 54 in-depth semi-structured interviews with company founders/owners, senior and junior staff, media experts, academics, representatives of competing businesses, and failed media entrepreneurs. Data collection took place in Ekaterinburg and Bishkek in 2014-16, and it was supported through a University of Westminster scholarship. Theory-wise, this research is focused on the concepts of charisma, media leadership and media entrepreneurship. The main argument is that Max Weber’s (1947) theory of charismatic authority is applicable to media business leaders in emerging economies. Charisma is a rare and transitory phenomenon (Yukl, 2013). This research argues that the charismatic authority of media leaders in the post-Soviet states is not only the closest to Weber’s original idea, but also morphs into the legal-rational authority of media managers once such companies enjoy financial stability. The reason for this can be explained through the turbulent nature of the media markets being formed (Vartanova, 2013) and the cultural character of the leadership which finds itself able to fit in certain contexts (Walter and Bruch, 2009). Moreover, in the fast-paced transition economy settings, the transformation from charismatic authority to legal-rational authority may take place within a single person. The Weberian theory of charismatic authority is discussed in this research alongside Alan Bryman’s (1992) findings on charisma in organisations and John Kotter’s (1982, 2012) model for the appraisal of general managers. In particular, Kotter’s framework for analysing the personal and background characteristics of company leaders is applied to analyse the maturation of leadership within privately-owned media businesses in Russia and Kyrgyzstan.
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Gould, Matthew. "An economic analysis of the Councils of the United Nations". Thesis, University of Westminster, 2014. https://westminsterresearch.westminster.ac.uk/item/8yqqv/an-economic-analysis-of-the-councils-of-the-united-nations.
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This thesis consists of three pieces of research focussed on the Councils of the United Nations, predominantly the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). We consider three broad questions: which countries typically get on to the UNSC in its current form; which countries ought to get on to the UNSC; and how well might proposed changes to the UNSC steer it towards such ideals. In order to address the latter two questions it is sensible to begin by investigating how the current system works and if there are any particular characteristics which influence the chances of a country being elected to the UNSC. In Chapter 2 we develop a model to test the significance of a country’s characteristics on their probability of election to the UNSC. Chapter 3 then starts by developing a set of theoretical tests which can be applied to council voting systems, such as the selection of UNSC members from the UN General Assembly. The tests score a voting system based on how well the distribution of power in the council meets the power one would expect under a system where country representatives cast their vote in the council based on the outcomes of country or regional-level referendums. We then apply this, using the implied probabilities of election which are a consequence of the results of Chapter 2, to the UNSC election process. We then finish by applying the tests of Chapter 3, which consider how equitable a proposal is, together with a further test of procedural efficiency, to each of the proposed reforms to the UNSC election process.
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Al, Bakr Waleed Rashed Ebrahim. "Towards an eGovernment : the case of the Emirate of Dubai". Thesis, University of Westminster, 2009. https://westminsterresearch.westminster.ac.uk/item/90946/towards-an-egovernment-the-case-of-the-emirate-of-dubai.
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This thesis examines and assesses the transformation and implementation of the Dubai Government’s operation, governance and delivery of public services through its use of ICT. The research design includes a critical examination of the evolution of ICT and its role in changing public services and government operations worldwide as an early move towards E-Government. Three recognised theories are used to examine the E-Government transformation and its effects of on governments, namely: the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), the Diffusion of Innovation Theory (DOI) and the Lens of Max Weber’s Theory of Bureaucracy. Generally, the study seeks to determine what were the important factors for Dubai to achieve its strategic plan. Six questions were addressed by the research, stating the scope of work undertaken. First, to measure the status of eGovernment initiatives in terms of usefulness and ease of use. Second, to assess the extent of eGovernment application in terms of Government-to-Customer, Government-to-Business, Government-to-Government, and Government-to-Employees. Third, to determine the level of acceptance of eGovernment initiatives. Fourth, to explore the factors/challenges in a successful eTransformation of Dubai. Fifth, to assess the impacts/opportunities of eGovernment initiatives in the development of Dubai. Sixth, to formulate the model to achieve a successful implementation of eGovernment. A purposive sampling method was used for selecting citizens/customers, business employees and government employees, totalling 1500 equally distributed respondents. The researcher has prepared, administered and empirically tested three questionnaires, and also prepared and administered structured interviews with some officials of eGovernment. Data obtained are presented and analysed. Also, the study examines the catalytic role of eGovernment in the development of society, commerce and government, and shows fundamental changes from traditional systems or from bureaucratic paradigms to eGovernment paradigms. Comparisons are made with eGovernment applications in other countries as per rankings made by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). The researcher has selected top ranked states to examine best practices in e-Government. Most importantly, this research presents a unique and original contribution to knowledge of the subject treated in its programme for achieving successful eGovernment through the proposed rocket ship model Al Bakr eGovernment Model of implementation, adoption, conclusions and findings of the study.
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Piva, A. "Landscapes of the invisible : sounds, cosmologies and poetics of space". Thesis, University of Westminster, 2015. https://westminsterresearch.westminster.ac.uk/item/9w796/landscapes-of-the-invisible-sounds-cosmologies-and-poetics-of-space.
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In this PhD by Publication I revisit and contextualize art works and essays I have collaboratively created under the name Flow Motion between 2004-13, in order to generate new insights on the contributions they have made to diverse and emerging fields of contemporary arts practice/research, including digital, virtual, sonic and interdisciplinary art. The works discussed comprise the digital multimedia installation and sound art performance Astro Black Morphologies/Astro Dub Morphologies (2004-5), the sound installation and performance Invisible (2006-7), the web art archive and performance presentation project promised lands (2008-10), and two related texts, Astro Black Morphologies: Music and Science Lovers (2004) and Music and Migration (2013). I show how these works map new thematic constellations around questions of space and diaspora, music and cosmology, invisibility and spectrality, the body and perception. I also show how the works generate new connections between and across contemporary avant-garde, experimental and popular music, and visual art and cinema traditions. I describe the methodological design, approaches and processes through which the works were produced, with an emphasis on transversality, deconstruction and contemporary black music forms as key tools in my collaborative artistic and textual practice. I discuss how, through the development of methods of data translation and transformation, and distinctive visual approaches for the re-elaboration of archival material, the works produced multiple readings of scientific narratives, digital X-ray data derived from astronomical research on black holes and dark energy, and musical, photographic and textual material related to historical and contemporary accounts of migration. I also elaborate on the relation between difference and repetition, the concepts of multiplicity and translation, and the processes of collective creation which characterize my/Flow Motion’s work. The art works and essays I engage with in this commentary produce an idea of contemporary art as the result of a fluid, open and mutating assemblage of diverse and hybrid methods and mediums, and as an embodiment of a cross-cultural, transversal and transdisciplinary knowledge shaped by research, process, creative dialogues, collaborative practice and collective signature.
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Okechuku, Adaora. "Determination of the mode of action of the antibacterial peptide ApoEdp". Thesis, University of Manchester, 2011. https://www.research.manchester.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/determination-of-the-mode-of-action-of-the-antibacterial-peptide-apoedp(1937bcc4-f28b-416e-8dd7-8d493082ac2a).html.
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The emergence of multidrug resistant strains of bacteria has resulted in the need for novel therapeutic agents. The ApoEdp peptide, derived from the receptor-binding region of the human apolipoprotein E, had previously been shown to have activity against herpes simplex viruses, human immunodeficiency virus and certain bacterial species. However, its antibacterial mode of action was not elucidated, therefore the present study aimed to determine this mechanism. The susceptibility of several different strains, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Mycobacterium smegmatis, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Escherichia coli, to ApoEdp was investigated. No significant difference was observed between the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of ApoEdp against a range of Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria. The presence of E. coli K5 capsular polysaccharide in the growth medium led to a decrease in ApoEdp susceptibility of the non-capsulated E. coli MS101 DeltakfiC strain. Bacteria with non-functioning multidrug efflux pumps showed no difference in susceptibility. A mutation in the phoP gene of Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium LT2, which regulates cell surface modifications led to an increase in ApoEdp susceptibility. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images showed changes in the membrane and internal structures of strains incubated with a minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) of ApoEdp for 5 min. ApoEdp was able to depolarise the cytoplasmic membrane. The ability of ApoEdp to induce cell lysis was assessed by the release of β-galactosidase into the supernatant. There was no significant difference in the supernatant β-galactosidase levels of ApoEdp treated and unlysed cells. ApoEdp, however was able to form pores in artificial lipid bilayers and decrease intracellular ATP levels. The effect of ApoEdp on transcription and translation was determined using an in vitro transcription/translation system. Results showed that ApoEdp did not affect protein synthesis. ApoEdp also worked in synergy with rifampicin, chloramphenicol, ampicillin and ciprofloxacin against bacteria. Overall, the results showed that ApoEdp acts by targeting the cytoplasmic membrane, although it may also have intracellular targets. Its ability to work in combination with conventional antibiotics and antibacterial activity against a range of different bacteria species demonstrates its therapeutic potential.
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Abdulqader, Ebrahim Abdulrahim Abdullah. "Fisheries and aspects of the biology of penaeid shrimps of Bahrain". Thesis, Bangor University, 1995. https://research.bangor.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/fisheries-and-aspects-of-the-biology-of-penaeid-shrimps-of-bahrain(c58daa5a-9176-4459-bb23-3f8fbbf67d64).html.
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Shrimp are the most valuable fish stock in Bahrain waters, the fishery being based on a single species P. semisulcatus which forms about 95 percent of the total landings. In 1993, shrimp landings formed 23.8 percent of the total Bahrain fish landing, which totalled 2,128 tonnes at a first sale value of 5.4 million Bahraini Dinars (1 DS$.0.380 BD). Beside the increased fishing effort, the marine habitat of Bahrain suffers from several sources of pollution. Most evident is dredging and reclamation which have altered most of the coastal areas. Despite the shrimp fishery importance and the development-related stresses on Bahrain coastal environments, there were limited basic data on this valuable stock. The current study aimed to provide as full an understanding as possible of the shrimp fishery of Bahrain. Several surveys were conducted on the shrimp populations and their environment. A sediment survey was conducted from 9 August to 26 October. From May 1991 to May 1992, a regular sampling programme was initiated to record the physical properties of the sea water at fixed stations in TUbli Bay and off Mina Sulman. Physical properties of sea water were also recorded in the open sea during June 1980, October and December 1991. Plankton collection was conducted mainly through two sampling programmes. The first was conducted in the open sea from September 1991 to January 1992 (excluding November 1991). The second programme was restricted to Tubli Bay; samples were obtained over periods from May 1991 to June 1992 inclusive and from March to May 1993. Two major benthic surveys were completed. The first was conducted from June 1980 to June 1981 using an industrial trawler, covering the whole shrimping ground, except TUbli Bay. A second survey was carried out on the shrimp population in TUbli Bay from May 1991 to June 1993 in three time periods, from May 1991 to June 1992, November 1992 and from April to June 1993. Based on the above surveys, physical properties of sea water and bottom sediment of the shrimping ground were described. Also the bionomics of the seven penaeid species found in Bahrain waters were determined. Benthic and plankton surveys revealed spawning activities of P. semisulcatus restricted to the offshore waters. Also prolonged spawning activity was determined for this species, which most significantly occurred from August to March. P. semisulcatus main recruits appeared in the shrimping grounds from April to July, originating from nurseries found within the areas A and B. Two migration patterns were determined for P. semisulcatus within Bahrain shrimping grounds throughout a season. The updated information on shrimp fishery generated by the current work provides a basis for identification of areas for further improvement of this fishery. Consequently, the work determines of future investigations necessary for Bahrain shrimp fishery.
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Sweetman, Steven C. "Aspects of the microvertebrate fauna of the Early Cretaceous (Barremian) Wessex Formation of the Isle of Wight, southern England". Thesis, University of Portsmouth, 2007. https://researchportal.port.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/aspects-of-the-microvertebrate-fauna-of-the-early-cretaceous-barremian-wessex-formation-of-the-isle-of-wight-southern-england(23bc7cad-33fe-42b8-a95e-7b84d339d38c).html.
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Until this study, the microvertebrate fauna of the Early Cretaceous (Barremian) Wessex Formation of the Isle of Wight, southern England,was virtually unknown. A comprehensive survey of potentially productive horizons was undertaken using bulk screening techniques and this yielded an unexpectedly diverse microvertebrate fauna together with fragmentary but significant remains of hitherto unknown elements of the associated macro-fauna. At least forty one previously unrecorded tetrapod taxa have been recovered. Many taxa are generically distinct from those occurring in other coeval European deposits, but in general aspect the faunas are similar. Palaeoenvironmental differences appear to have affected the balance of taxa present but the faunas are dominated by an essentially relictual assemblage of mammals, small theropod and ornithischian dinosaurs, abundant crocodilians, rare pterosaurs and turtles, scincomorph and anguimorph lizards, frogs of discoglossid grade, salamanders and albanerpetontids. The mammal fauna is comprehensively described and detailed accounts of thelepidosaur and archosaur faunas are provided. Space and time constraints do not permit description of the lissamphibian fauna but a summary of this is provided. For the same reason, the fish fauna is described in outline only but the significant occurrence of a neoselachianshark is reported in detail. The taxon concerned represents the earliest record of a neoselachian from a freshwater environment. In view of the scarcity of freshwater/terrestrial deposits of Barremian age elsewhere in the world, the Wessex Formation micro-fauna is of considerable importance and complements the already known macro-herpetofauna. This is without parallel elsewhere in Europe and provides a valuable insight into dinosaur faunas and their evolution between the Late Jurassic and mid Cretaceous. Many elements of the Wessex Formation micro-fauna are also encountered in the Early Cretaceous of central and eastern Asia, northern Gondwana and North America.Despite evidence for the existence of marine barriers separating these areas, it is becoming increasingly apparent that faunal interchange between them occurred, albeit perhaps sporadically, during the Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous. The Wessex Formation microbiota lends further support to this concept and its palaeobiogeographical significance is discussed.Techniques employed in the recovery of the microvertebrate fauna have also resulted in the recovery of previously unrecorded invertebrates and plants. Some of this material may, in due course, allow better dating of the Wessex Formation succession, permit correlation between the south-west and south east-coastal sections on the Isle of Wight and a better understanding of palaeoenvironmental conditions during Wessex Formation times. A brief outline is provided. In view of their palaeontological significance, the plant debris beds of the Wessex Formation are described and conclusions drawn with regard to their genesis.
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Colman, Michael Alan. "Development of a biophysically detailed model of the human atria for the investigation of the mechanisms of atrial arrhythmias". Thesis, University of Manchester, 2013. https://www.research.manchester.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/development-of-a-biophysically-detailed-model-of-the-human-atria-for-the-investigation-of-the-mechanisms-of-atrial-arrhythmias(29e4f51f-6ead-43e4-8574-eae9e4e1eb26).html.
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Atrial arrhythmias are the most prevalent sustained cardiac arrhythmias. Rates of hospitalisation and costs incurred to healthcare organisations are increasing in epidemic proportions. Despite this, the mechanisms of the transition from sinus rhythm to arrhythmic states are not well understood. The high level of regional electrical heterogeneity observed in the atria is thought to contribute towards the high prevalence of atrial arrhythmias. However, current computer models of the intact human atria only account for a small degree of this regional electrical heterogeneity, and do not include descriptions of the pacemaker regions of the sinoatrial node and the atrioventricular node. In this project, a new computational model of the intact 3D human atria is developed. First, a new single cell model to simulate the electrical action potential of the human atrial myocyte is developed. This model more accurately simulated the experimentally observed properties of human atrial action potentials than previous models. A family of electrically heterogeneous models describing the major regions within the atria is then developed, including those of the sinoatrial- and atrioventricular- nodes. This set of regional cell models represents the most expansive and complete set currently available. It is demonstrated that the large range of different electrical properties results in a large range of action potential morphology and duration within the atria. Models of the effect of sympathetic and parasympathetic regulation on the electrical AP of the models of the atrial working myocardium and the pacemaker regions were also incorporated. This demonstrated that sympathetic regulation can increase the pacing rate of the sinoatrial node and the atrio-ventricular node, and has a complex dose dependent effect on the atrial working myocardium. Four distinct models of the effects of atrial fibrillation induced remodelling on the atrial working myocardium are developed. These characterised the effect of remodelling of IKur on the overall changes in action potential morphology and duration observed. It is shown that the presence or absence of remodelling of this channel accounts for two distinct observed morphologies. A previous 3D anatomical model of the human atria is improved. First, detailed anatomical models for the sinoatrial node and the atrioventricular node are incorporated into the model. Second, it is further segmented to include regions for the pulmonary veins, atrio-ventricular ring, atrial septum and sinoatrial node block zone. This model is used to investigate the effects of sympathetic and parasympathetic regulation in the 3D atria. Finally, a detailed investigation of the underlying mechanisms of atrial fibrillation in the 3D atria, and the effect of electrical remodelling on the behaviour of atrial fibrillation, is performed using the detailed 3D model. This work represents a significant advance in 3D human atrial modelling. The anatomical model incorporates a greater level of complexity than previous models, and for the first time allowed investigation of the pacemaking mechanisms in the 3D intact human atria. The atrial fibrillation protocols are more physiologically relevant than previous models and have elucidated the roles that electrophysiological remodelling, electrical heterogeneity and structural anisotropy play in the development and maintenance of atrial fibrillation.
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Botelho, Jude. "Using the Internet for religion : a study of the possible use of the Internet for religious purposes among the Catholics of the Archdiocese of Mumbai, India". Thesis, University of Westminster, 2005. https://westminsterresearch.westminster.ac.uk/item/92v4z/using-the-internet-for-religion-a-study-of-the-possible-use-of-the-internet-for-religious-purposes-among-the-catholics-of-the-archdiocese-of-mumbai-india.
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It has been claimed that the Internet is influencing not only ways of doing business and modes of communication and recreation, but also the ways human beings practice religion. Most studies undertaken on how people are using the web for their religious needs are done in North America, largely among Christians. This study was aimed at testing whether this was true of Catholic users of the Internet from the Archdiocese of Mumbai, India. In order to verify the religious use of the Internet, focus groups were conducted among various sectors of Catholic users to explore whether differences in age, sex and religious groupings resulted in significant variations in net usage. The data obtained from the focus groups was further tested with a survey questionnaire, administered to a representative sampling of Catholics from the Archdiocese of Mumbai. The data provides not only general trends of net use among the Catholics, but also nuanced perceptions of the net in relationship to its religious use. Research evidence indicated that the Internet was not being used for religion by the Catholics of Mumbai. The fact that there was an inclination towards and ambivalence to using the net shows that there are deeper issues that are influencing net usage. These issues could relate to the free-for-all style of the net and the authority-bound character of the Catholic faith; the interactive character of the net in contrast to the top-down style of communication of the Catholic church; and the global virtual community of the net in comparison with the tangible faith commitment to the local parish community in worship and practice. In conclusion hypotheses proposed to explain the poor usage of the Net are substantiated and new issues suggested, that require further research in the context of net use for religion.
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Turner, Garth. "Cathedrals and change in the twentieth century : aspects of the life of the cathedrals of the Church of England with special reference to the Cathedral Commissions of 1925, 1958, 1992". Thesis, University of Manchester, 2011. https://www.research.manchester.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/cathedrals-and-change-in-the-twentieth-centuryaspects-of-the-life-of-the-cathedrals-of-the-church-of-englandwith-special-reference-to-the-cathedral-commissions-of-1925-1958-1992(673f7471-6b58-4d05-9cda-1b64f8240bd0).html.
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Four commissions considered cathedrals during the nineteenth century. The first two gave them their modern structure: a dean, a small number of stipendiary, residentiary, canons, a larger honorary body. But the principal achievement of these commissions was negative; their emphasis was on the removal of wealth. The second two sought to give new corporate and diocesan life to these ancient bodies. Their aspirations, however, never achieved parliamentary enactment. Thus in the early twentieth century there was will for the reform; the establishment of the Church Assembly presented more auspicious circumstances in which to attempt it. The thesis falls into two related parts. The first traces institutional change across the twentieth-century - change which can be measured by the statutory outcome of the proposals of the three commissions which sat during the century. It will be argued that all three were clearly products of their times, showing the influence of context: of social (and technological) change and of the mind-set of the Church: the first two, reflecting that Church, were conservative and respectful of inheritance and tradition. The last, in an age socially, politically, administratively, ecclesiastically, much changed, was radical. It showed less respect for tradition and a greater susceptibility to external factors: markedly to contemporary management theory. Constitutions regulate a life. The second part explores aspects of that life. All the aspects reviewed helped to form, and were in turn re-formed by, the Commissions and the consequent Measures. First among the subjects examined is the fundamental, defining, relationship, that with the bishop and the diocese. Other chapters discuss the force of external, social, change in shaping and moulding the work and witness of cathedrals, and their methods and standards of pastoral care. The ecumenical movement, though scarcely noticed by the first Commission, was already a factor in the work of a few cathedrals. The 1990s commission assumed, and its Measure provided for, ecumenical involvement. The first commission noted the fact of dissension within cathedrals and between them and their bishops; such troubles were the immediate cause of the last commission; the final chapter examines publicly prominent episodes of dissension. Throughout the century, in their witness the cathedrals responded, sometimes profoundly, to a context of change; their historic constitutions and the independence they conferred enabled the cathedrals to conduct a richly varied public ministry The, frequently decisive, force of personalities, especially of deans and provosts, in producing that ministry, is emphasised. The progress of the parish church cathedrals from, early in the century, scant institutional life to, by its end, parity with their ancient counterparts, is traced. The main text is supported by appendices, including two respectively providing biographical notes on those mentioned in the text, and definitions of specialist terms.
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Taye, Fitalew Agimass. "Valuation of non-market ecosystem services of forests : preferences for recreation, effect of childhood experience, and the role of environmental attitudes". Thesis, Bangor University, 2017. https://research.bangor.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/valuation-of-nonmarket-ecosystem-services-of-forests-preferences-for-recreation-effect-of-childhood-experience-and-the-role-of-environmental-attitudes(b783c1d8-8bca-43ea-979a-975c7401d314).html.
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Forests provide a multitude of ecosystem services to society. However, not all such services are being reflected in market prices and that leads to underestimation of their economic values, and suboptimal management schemes. Therefore, non-market valuation is required to provide complementary information for better forest management that underpin the concept of total economic values. In this PhD thesis, the non-market values of forests are evaluated with a focus to show the impact of forest management on ecosystem services. The thesis consists of four papers that address three main research questions: 1) Which forest structural characteristics and features affect recreational preferences? 2) Does childhood forest experience determine forest visiting habit in adulthood? And 3) How does environmental attitude influence individuals’ willingness to pay for forest management initiatives designed to enhance ecosystem service provision? In the first paper, we evaluate the effects of forest structural characteristics and diversity in forest stands on recreational preferences. The study is undertaken using choice experiment (CE) data about people's preferences for forest characteristics in their future recreational visits. In general, mixed tree species are found to be preferred to monocultures; and stands with varying height are preferred over stands consisting of same height trees. The variation between stands also increases the recreational value of forests; and in some instances, may outweigh the contribution of variation within a stand. In the second paper, we investigate the factors that influence the choice of forest site for recreation. The paper is conducted based on the survey data in which respondents were asked to indicate last visited forest sites using map tools. However, the number of alternative sites accessible to each respondent was too large to include all in the choice set, and hence, we use simple random sampling. Relevant attributes are identified by using spatial data analysis. The factors that significantly influence choice of forest site include: forest area, tree species composition, forest density, availability of historical sites, terrain difference, state ownership, and distance. In addition, we empirically show how large a number of alternatives are sufficient to provide consistent parameter estimates through the random selection. The third paper investigates the impact of past experience, in this case childhood forest experience, on forest visit frequency in adulthood. The study is conducted based on data collected from nine European countries and hence examines cross-country variations in frequency of visit. Childhood experience is found to positively influence forest recreation practices. The frequency of visit is also significantly determined by current residential location and distance (to nearest forest). In the fourth paper, we examine the role of environmental attitude on people’s WTP for forest ecosystem services. We use the new environmental paradigm (NEP) scale to measure environmental attitude as a multidimensional concept. The variation in willingness to pay for ecosystem services is illustrated using different modelling approaches and people with an ecocentric attitude are found to have higher willingness to pay compared to those with anthropocentric attitude. In general, the three main conclusions of the thesis are: o The recreational importance of forests depends on the forest characteristics and other features which in one way or another are influenced by forest management principles. This provides evidence on the necessity to consider the non-market values in forest management so as to maximize social welfare. o Forest recreational behaviour is found to be influenced by individuals’ experiences during childhood, current residential location, and distance. This highlights the importance of improving accessibility of nature areas such as forests for more recreational participation of today’s children – so that they could develop nature recreational habit and pro-environmental behaviour in adulthood. o Individuals’ environmental attitudes on the human-nature relationships influence their WTP for forest ecosystem services. This confirms the importance of understanding the heterogeneity among individuals, before practical policy options are taken from average WTP estimates.
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Tan, Justin Teng-Tiong. "Mystical anthropology in Gregory of Nyssa's Homilies on the Song of Songs". Thesis, King's College London (University of London), 1995. https://kclpure.kcl.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/mystical-anthropology-in-gregory-of-nyssas-homilies-of-the-song-of-songs(98abf7a5-3380-48cd-baf3-20bbfb9ba285).html.
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The Thesis is an attempt to explicate Gregory of Nyssa's mystical anthropology in one of his most mature of mystical writings, the Homilies to the Song of Songs. Gregory's mystical anthropology draws its basis from his philosophical anthropology, and explores the implication of the nature and destiny of man in terms of the concept of divinisation or the transformation of human nature by the indwelling Christ. Gregory utilises the neo-Platonic concept of the ascent of the soul to its original perfection, but transforms this concept by the biblical doctrine of Grace and Incarnation. Holding to the unbridgeable gulf between the Created and the Uncreated, Gregory proposes the abandonment of all senses and entrance into the darkness where God ist and he postulates the divinisation of human nature without end based on that unbridgeable gulf. Gregory's philosophical anthropology would be incomplete without his mystical anthropology. The divinisation of human nature does not imply an idiosyncratic idea of the soul in flight, "from the alone to the Alone". The soul, as Gregory understands it, is firmly attached to its ecclesiastical community, where it has its space-time existence in a life of imitating its Lord in his love for mankind. Its destiny is ultimately linked with the destiny of the body of Christ, the Church. Gregory's concept is then compared with Origen's, whose ideas are said to have the most influence on Gregory's. Analysis shows that there are extrapolations of Origen's theology in Gregory's, but there are obvious discontinuities. The fact of the Incarnation is stressed by both writers, but the soul in Origen seems to pass beyond faith in the Incarnation in its ascent to God into the light of the full knowledge of God; whereas Gregory places his theology on the faith of the Incarnation throughout the soul's ascent, not into increasing light, but into increasing darkness where God is. An illustration of Gregorys mystical anthropology can be detected in his other writing, the Life of Macrina, where he describes his sister using the familiar imageries from the Song of Songs i. e. virgin, bride, Thecla, refining gold and guidance to her ascetic community. Her ascent in perfection is also described in the language of the doctrine of Epektasis. Gregory seems to see in Macrina a real life paradigm for his mystical anthropology.
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Ibuot, Aniefon. "Evaluation of the use of algae for bioremediation of toxic metal pollutants". Thesis, University of Manchester, 2015. https://www.research.manchester.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/evaluation-of-the-use-of-algae-for-bioremediation-of-toxic-metal-pollutants(db60de2c-ff75-4ece-b3a0-b67655bcadbb).html.
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Metal pollution has been a great challenge in most industrialized countries as a result of waste generated from industrial activities being introduced into the environment. Unicellular green algae have been considered a potential biological tool for bioremediation of metal pollutants due to its metal sequestration properties. However, methods for further improving unicellular green algae metal sequestration by manipulating metal uptake and tolerance in unicellular green algae have not been studied in detail. In this study, a family metal transport protein named MTP1 - MTP4 from C. reinhardtii were screened by yeast heterologous expression for metal transport activity. MTP1 was able to strongly rescue the Zn and Co sensitivity of the zrc1cot1 strain, MTP3 could weakly mediate Zn and Co growth, but MTP2 and MTP4 appeared to have no Zn or Co tolerance activity. MTP2, MTP3 and MTP4 but not MTP1 could strongly rescue the Mn sensitivity of the pmr1 strain. When MTP4 was over-expressed in C. reinhardtii the strain showed a significant increase in Cd tolerance compared to the wild type, but no significant difference in Mn tolerance and uptake. AtHMA4 a Zn2+ and Cd2+ transporter from the plant Arabidopsis thaliana, which is a member of the Heavy Metal ATPase family, was also expressed in C. reinhardtii. HMA4 full length and C-terminal tail expression strains were screened for Zn and Cd tolerance and uptake. Both sets of strains showed a significant increase in Cd and Zn tolerance and uptake compared to the wild type. Metal tolerance and uptake was compared between the genetically engineered C. reinhardtii strains and unicellular green algal strains that are naturally adapted to metal tolerance which were P. hussi, P. kessleri, and C. luteoviridis. Results showed significant increase in Zn and Cd tolerance and uptake in the natural strains compared to the engineered strains. Therefore in addition to genetically engineered strains, naturally adapted strains could also be used as tools for effective metal bioremediation and pollutant treatment.
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Harper-Bill, Christopher. "An edition of the Register of John Morton, Archbishop of Canterbury 1486-1500, with critical introduction". Thesis, King's College London (University of London), 1997. https://kclpure.kcl.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/an-edition-of-the-register-of-john-morton-archbishop-of-canterbury-14861500(a842690e-116b-4dcb-8157-646baccbf49b).html.
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Dafni, Nikoleta. "Isaiah 56-66 : prophecy or apocalypse? : the nature of the eschatological beliefs of Isaiah 56-66 and the investigation of the problem of its unity within the rest of the Isaianic corpus". Thesis, King's College London (University of London), 1997. https://kclpure.kcl.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/isaiah-5666--prophecy-or-apocalypse-the-nature-of-the-eschatological-beliefs-of-isaiah-5666-and-the-investigation-of-the-problem-of-its-unity-within-the-rest-of-the-isaianic-corpus(a961582c-797d-4578-bdab-6b1cfc9277fa).html.
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Hughes, Matthew. "The films of Kenneth Anger and the sixties politics of consciousness". Thesis, University of Westminster, 2011. https://westminsterresearch.westminster.ac.uk/item/8zy90/the-films-of-kenneth-anger-and-the-sixties-politics-of-consciousness.
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This thesis is an enquiry into avant-garde filmmaker Kenneth Anger’s stated impetus for aesthetic practice, in that his approach is characterised by a desire to elicit a ‘transformative’ response from the spectator: “I chose cinema as the mode of personal expression for its potential and capacity for disruption: it is the surest means to incite change.” This central animating principle of Anger’s practice has been fundamentally neglected in what little critical writing that already exists on his work. Whilst this intent is framed within an esoteric religious paradigm – the occult – my contention is that it must also be understood as part of a much wider socio-historical political process. I argue that as a personal friend of many within the Beat and psychedelic movements, Anger’s practice should be understood as part of the US countercultural drive to ‘revolutionise consciousness’. This aspiration was prompted by the widespread belief within the Sixties US counterculture that ‘normality’ was a state of implicit alienation, and that the undermining of standardised forms of subjectivity was necessary in order that a more authentic mode of existence be found; either as a prerequisite for wider structural change, or, as in the romantic psychedelic movement in which Anger was associated, as a qualifier for change in itself. This particular ‘politics of consciousness’ of the Sixties as propagated by a spiritually inflected, romantic anarchist strain in post-war US society was based upon the utopian belief that the transformation of individual consciousness was a method of facilitating widespread revolution. I see this aspiration as a utopian expression of the refrain ‘the personal is political’ that came to popular fruition in the Sixties, in which the consideration of one’s own life was a political concern in itself. In this politics of consciousness, the Sixties countercultural paradigm saw the idealised forms of subjectivity produced by post-war US capitalism as serial, standardised, and crucially, ‘inauthentic’; as something to be overcome, with aesthetic production playing a fundamental role in this process. I argue that Anger’s Sixties work must be read in much wider relation to the socio-political discourses of its time than has been previously afforded in what little critical writing on Anger’s work that exists to date.
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Elliott, B. "The role of acute ambient hypoxia in the regulation of myostatin". Thesis, University of Westminster, 2015. https://westminsterresearch.westminster.ac.uk/item/9ww8v/the-role-of-acute-ambient-hypoxia-in-the-regulation-of-myostatin.
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When exposed to chronic hypoxia by pathophysiological or environmental causes humans show muscle atrophy, challenging homeostasis and increasing mortality rate. Chronic hypoxia also presents with elevated myostatin peptide, a negative regulator of muscle size. This work induced acute hypoxia in healthy individuals; hypothesizing hypoxia would increase myostatin expression in both muscle and plasma in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Hypoxia (1 % O2) reduced C2C12 myoblast migration and myotube size in vitro. Myotube atrophy was time-dependent, longer exposures showed greater atrophy. Intracellular myostatin peptide was decreased at every time point measured. Myostatin and downstream signalling pathways in muscle showed a high degree of percentage similarity between mouse and human, when amino acid sequences were directly compared. Healthy males (N = 8) were exposed to 20.9 % O2 or 11.9 % O2 for 2 hours. Following hypoxic exposure myostatin peptide was reduced in muscle but not plasma, relative to control conditions. A second cohort (N = 8) was exposed to 12.5 % O2 for 10 hours. Plasma myostatin was decreased following hypoxia, muscle myostatin trended towards increasing. A third cohort (N = 9; n = 8 lowlander, n = 1 Sherpa) was exposed to 10.7 % or 12.3 % O2 for 2 hours. Plasma myostatin was reduced at both concentrations with no difference between concentrations noted. In response to chronic hypoxia, individuals lose muscle mass. Counter to the hypothesis of an increase in myostatin in both muscle and plasma, here a consistent decrease in plasma myostatin following acute hypoxia is seen. Muscle myostatin shows a variable response, with decreasing intracellular expression seen following a 2 hour hypoxic exposure, and trends towards an increase following 10 hours of hypoxia. Decreases in plasma and muscle myostatin may represent myostatin’s movement towards peripheral compartments in these acute timeframes. Hypoxia alone is capable of altering myostatin in healthy individuals; the effects of hypoxia on myostatin appear to differ between the acute timeframes examined here and chronic exposures in environmental or disease models.
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Rogova, Ermir. "Treatment of imprecision in data repositories with the aid of KNOLAP". Thesis, University of Westminster, 2010. https://westminsterresearch.westminster.ac.uk/item/907q7/treatment-of-imprecision-in-data-repositories-with-the-aid-of-knolap.
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Traditional data repositories introduced for the needs of business processing, typically focus on the storage and querying of crisp domains of data. As a result, current commercial data repositories have no facilities for either storing or querying imprecise/approximate data. No significant attempt has been made for a generic and applicationindependent representation of value imprecision mainly as a property of axes of analysis and also as part of dynamic environment, where potential users may wish to define their “own” axes of analysis for querying either precise or imprecise facts. In such cases, measured values and facts are characterised by descriptive values drawn from a number of dimensions, whereas values of a dimension are organised as hierarchical levels. A solution named H-IFS is presented that allows the representation of flexible hierarchies as part of the dimension structures. An extended multidimensional model named IF-Cube is put forward, which allows the representation of imprecision in facts and dimensions and answering of queries based on imprecise hierarchical preferences. Based on the H-IFS and IF-Cube concepts, a post relational OLAP environment is delivered, the implementation of which is DBMS independent and its performance solely dependent on the underlying DBMS engine.
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Johnston, Glynis. "The impact of transport infrastructure on the development of urban communities". Thesis, University of Westminster, 2013. https://westminsterresearch.westminster.ac.uk/item/8z03q/the-impact-of-transport-infrastructure-on-the-development-of-urban-communities.
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The objective of the research has been to study how the provision of transport infrastructure in an urban environment influences developers’ decisions at a local level. This entailed understanding the factors that might influence the choices that developers, land owners and potential users of the developments make and the influence that transport infrastructure has on those choices. The ultimate objective of the research has been to explore how the providers of the transport infrastructure can deliver maximum benefit to present and future local communities. The author chose to adopt a case study approach to her research as it involves direct contact with the wide range of stakeholders affected by the provision of transport infrastructure. A recent review of civil engineering research (EPSRC, 2009) stressed that human aspects and the relationship between people and infrastructure are important elements of the challenges faced, particularly those in sustainability and resilience. Three case study areas were chosen as examples of on-going regeneration projects. Two of these projects involve new transport infrastructure aimed at improving connectivity and accessibility and they provide illustrations of the impact that enhanced infrastructure has on the local community. Parallels are drawn with the relatively recently completed Jubilee Line Extension and its impacts. The literature review identified that further research was needed to find methods for mitigating negative impacts on the community of regeneration schemes especially in regard to transport infrastructure. The thesis uniquely explores these issues by using the concept of Power of Place, as originally described by Sir Neil Cossons (English Heritage, 2000), to demonstrate the importance of understanding the community value of place, and how it might be manifested in the regeneration process as an integral part of and successful delivery of transport and land use planning. Based on the literature review and the evidence obtained from the three case studies in this research a number of key drivers have been identified that are necessary for minimising the possible negative effects of regeneration projects. Collectively these drivers make up what Sir Neil Cossons termed Power of Place. Application of the concept, with its many facets, requires a multi-disciplinary approach and could aid in the creation of sustainable communities which have a sense of identity, a sense of belonging and sense of ownership
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Sallal, Muntadher Fadhil. "Evaluation of security and performance of clustering in the Bitcoin network, with the aim of improving the consistency of the Blockchain". Thesis, University of Portsmouth, 2018. https://researchportal.port.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/evaluation-of-security-and-performance-of-clustering-in-the-bitcoin-network-with-the-aim-of-improving-the-consistency-of-the-blockchain(ae9ccd30-2660-4ba9-8836-b24479a07530).html.
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Bitcoin is a digital currency based on a peer-to-peer network to propagate and verify transactions. Bitcoin is gaining wider adoption than any previous crypto-currency and many well-known businesses have begun accepting bitcoins as means of financial payments. However, the mechanism of peers randomly choosing logical neighbors without any knowledge about the underlying physical topology can cause a delay overhead in information propagation which makes the system vulnerable to double spend attacks due to inconsistencies in the blockchain. Aiming at alleviating the propagation delay problem, this thesis evaluates the concept of network clustering in tackling the propagation delay problem in the Bitcoin network throughout introducing a proximity-aware extensions to the current Bitcoin protocol, named Locality Based Clustering (LBC), Ping Time Based Clustering (BCBPT), Super Node Based Clustering (BCBSN), and Master Node Based Clustering (MNBC). The ultimate purpose of the proposed protocols, that are based on how clusters are formulated and nodes define their membership, is to improve the information propagation delay in the Bitcoin network. The proximity of connectivity in the Bitcoin network is increased in the LBC and BCBPT protocol by grouping Bitcoin nodes based on different criteria, physical location in LBC protocol and link latencies between nodes in the BCBPT. In the BCBSN protocol, geographical connectivity increases as well as the number of hops between nodes decreases through assigning one node to be a cluster head that is responsible for maintaining the cluster. Whereas, MNBC incorporates master node technology and proximity-awareness into the existing Bitcoin protocol with the aim of creating fully connected clusters based on physical Internet proximity. We show, through simulations, that the proposed approaches define better clustering structures that optimize the transaction propagation delay over the Bitcoin protocol. However, MNBC is more effective at reducing the transaction propagation delay compared to the BCBPT, LBC, and BCBSN. On the other hand, this thesis evaluates the resistance of the Bitcoin network and the proposed approaches against the partitioning attack. Even though the Bitcoin network is more resistant against partition attacks than the proposed approaches, more resources need to be spent to split the network in the proposed approaches especially with a higher number of nodes. Finally, this thesis introduces a novel methodology to measure the transaction propagation delay in the real Bitcoin network with the aim of validating any model of the Bitcoin network. Transaction propagation measurements show that the transaction propagation time is significantly affected by the number of connected nodes and the network topology which is not proximity defined. In addition, large-scale measurements of the real Bitcoin network are performed in thesis with the aim of providing an opportunity to parameterise any model of the Bitcoin network accurately. Furthermore, this thesis presents a simulation model of the Bitcoin peer-to-peer network which is an event based simulation.
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Al-Derham, Hassan Rashid. "The establishment of performance criteria for the evaluation of procurement of senior staff and private housing projects in the State of Qatar". Thesis, University of South Wales, 1999. https://pure.southwales.ac.uk/en/studentthesis/the-establishment-of-performance-criteria-for-the-evaluation-of-procurement-of-senior-staff-and-private-housing-projects-in-the-state-of-qatar(b0bec775-2ed0-43ad-9b33-c5391a45781e).html.
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A study by the Supreme Planning Council called the attention of problems during the procurement of Senior Staff Housing projects leading to less effective project outcomes. The SPC report put the blame on the current regulations of the scheme. This research evaluated SSH projects in comparison with Private Housing (PH) projects, which were not affected by SSH regulations. A model was developed as part of this research study. The model sets out to embrace the relationships between the variables in the building process. The model takes six main groups of independent variables, namely those that affect the client, the land acquisition, the design phase, the construction phase, disputes and SSH regulations. The effectiveness of the housing projects was measured against quantitative and qualitative performance indicators. The performance variables tested were unit cost; percentage of cost overrun; speed of construction; percentage of time overrun; client's satisfaction with cost and time; client's overall satisfaction; client's rating on quality; aesthetic quality and technical quality. As this study is the first of its kind, exploratory interviews with industry participants were conducted to gain a better understanding of construction practice in Qatar as well as to firm up the design of the client's questionnaire, aesthetic and technical quality evaluation techniques. The main field study resulted in 61 SSH projects and 34 PH projects. The research revealed that PH projects are more effective than SSH projects. It was found that SSH regulations are not the main reason for a less effective outcome. The main reasons were the unclear objectives and bad decisions made by the SSH clients. The research also revealed poor quality workmanship, old construction techniques and the use of inadequate construction materials. Also, a lack of, proper contract forms and means of dispute resolution. There are no institutions for consultants or contractors and a lack of training and development. Together, these factors contribute to the client's poor image of the industry. The research provides recommendations for reorganising the industry to improve its output. These include establishing Construction Industry Council, forming institutions for consultants and contractors, and establishing Housing Council.
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McElvogue, Douglas Murdo. "A study of the archaeological remains of vernacular boat finds from North Wales in the care of University of Wales Bangor". Thesis, Bangor University, 2002. https://research.bangor.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/a-study-of-the-archaeological-remains-of-vernacular-boat-finds-from-north-wales-in-the-care-of-university-of-wales-bangor(eb4d3005-9703-4467-b408-244565cea52c).html.
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This thesis is a study of five individual nautical archaeological finds from North Wales. They are the Llyn Peris logboat, Pwll Fanog wreck, Llyn Peris boat, Llyn Padarn boat and the Talsarnau boat. The five vessels are used to assess the inter-reliability of coefficients and ratios of form. The main body of the thesis consists of a record of the five vessels to gain a better understanding of their construction, hull form and a general understanding of the boat building tradition of North Wales. Therefore the production of a descriptive catalogue of hull timbers recovered accompanied by illustrations where applicable forms the core of this thesis. The variations in date and location of the vessels gives a maritime in-site into the various historical periods and geographical areas of North Wales. Each vessels is considered in its historical context. The inter-reliability and usability of coefficients of form generated are accessed against McKee's (1989), descriptive variations of form and the Great Lakes historic ships research project classification of form, termed GHLS (Wilson, 1989: 212). The use of a computer software package, Hull Form 8, to generate the coefficients and ratios of form is also assessed. The body of the thesis is concluded by a discussion on objectives reached and lessons learnt. It is concluded that McKee's ratio of form are inter-reliable whilst the use of coefficients of form are not. The use of a computer software package is deemed viable and of use, however certain cautions must be expressed when using such a package. It should be used as an analytical tool and not a design tool. No further enhancement of the archaeological lines drawing should be carried out.
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Siekawitch, Larry Daniel. "Stephen Charnock's doctrine of the knowledge of God : a case study of the balance of head and heart in Restoration Puritanism". Thesis, Bangor University, 2007. https://research.bangor.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/stephen-charnocks-doctrine-of-the-knowledge-of-god--a-case-study-of-the-balance-of-head-and-heart-in-restoration-puritanism(eda13558-c8d5-4ff8-bdfa-e38d90095607).html.
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Mclachlan, David. "A critical examination of the interaction of disability theology and ideas of atonement". Thesis, University of Manchester, 2018. https://www.research.manchester.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/a-critical-examination-of-the-interaction-of-disability-theology-and-ideas-of-atonement(a3136aab-ce53-45b4-b40d-a2351d452574).html.
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This thesis brings together two fields of theological ideas. On the one hand, at the heart of Christian theology and faith are the person and work of Jesus Christ, centred on God's initiative of Atonement through the cross. Here God addresses the whole condition of creation and humanity, usually expressed in terms of dealing with sin. On the other hand, the growing field of Christian disability theology is seeking a positive theological account of disability, viewing it as an integral part of the variety of humanity, and resisting normate assumptions that cast what is regarded as disability in a wholly negative light. Drawing these fields together, does the way we think about the Atonement, and what God addresses and achieves through the Atonement, need to be disrupted and re-formed in light of the insights of disability theology? Conversely, if disability theology is to be distinctively Christian, should the Atonement play a far more foundational role within it than it has to date? If so, given the often negative juxtaposition of disability and sin within theology and in biblical texts, how is all this to come about? The approach taken is first to examine both of these fields and the extent of their current interaction. In particular, their use of ideas and metaphor are explored, to determine whether these provide the means for making that interaction more fruitful. However, the interaction is found to be partial at best, and the ideas and metaphors shared are not found to provide the means for the task at hand. Based on that work, however, a proposal is developed for reconsidering what sort of event the Atonement is, and the nature of God's presence within it. Building on insights from Frances Young, Jurgen Moltmann, Eberhard Jungel and Paul Fiddes, it is proposed that the Atonement should be understood as God's deepest, once for all participation in the risk (both moral and contingent) of creation, through which all that alienates us from God and each other is addressed. This opens up a theological space to talk of disability, sin and the cross together, one that does not require all aspects of what we identify as disability to fit into a binary sin/not sin analysis. This Atonement-as-participation also provides an account of the Atonement that is inherently inclusive of humanity in all its variety, where disability is not a special case. This enables God's initiative of the Atonement to function as a foundation for the various themes within disability theology as these continue to develop.
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O'Connor, Pat. "The negotiation of professional identity of lecturers in Institutes of Technology in Ireland". Thesis, University of Manchester, 2015. https://www.research.manchester.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/the-negotiation-of-professional-identity-of-lecturers-in-institutes-of-technology-in-ireland(999eb77b-c8d6-4011-bd7c-a51b05adcce2).html.
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Originally conceived as Regional Technical Colleges and located in regions across Ireland, the Institutes of Technology (IoT) have evolved as a major sector of the binary system of higher education in Ireland. The Institutes of Technology are identified as focussed on teaching however recent years have also seen increasing focus on research. Following convergence in the sector, recent policy measures and changes signal a 'future higher education landscape' which opens the possibility of technological university status to Institutes of Technology who merge as part of the process for recognition as technological universities. The traditional orientation to practical, vocationally focussed teaching in Institutes of Technology is now challenged by the potential changes being driven at policy level and it is in the context of this changing higher education system that this study examines IoT lecturers' negotiation of professional identity. The research uses narrative enquiry to access the stories and narratives of lecturers working in a number of the institutes located in the Dublin region. Through an in depth qualitative study of eight lecturers in four IoTs, the study, in line with the research questions, identifies three major themes that underpin the professional identities of the sample - discipline; professional development; and external influences and policy decisions. Associated with these three themes are six constructs - Discipline; Professional Practice; Teaching; Development; Community Orientated Values; and Research - that resonate with this changing and volatile higher education environment and that intersect in different ways for individuals in the study to produce varying 'portraits' of professional identity. An analysis of how these identity portraits emerge is facilitated by a theoretical framework proposed by Paul Gee (2000) that gives appropriate insights into the dialogic process of the negotiation of professional identity. The study, through a synthesis of data generated themes and constructs and a theoretical identity perspective proposed by Gee (2000), contributes to knowledge in the field by creating a proposed framework for facilitating a generative analysis of the location and negotiation of professional identity. Such a framework enables, for example, explanations for both the strong links in the data between academic identity and subject discipline and yet also evidence of the fragmentation of an academic identity and an associated emphasis on practice-based experience. Given the way the framework allows for a multiplicity of factors to be combined in particular ways that reflect both structure and agency in individual lecturer's negotiation of professional identities, an argument is made for its application in the design and implementation of development structures at the level of the individual and the organisation - one that recognises that a Higher Education professional development model based on a "one size fits all" approach will not work. Instead the temporal nature of the impact of policy decisions and external influences is highlighted with a call for more focus on discourses on higher education, the associated importance of lecturer autonomy and the nature of professionalism and professional identity.
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Wong, Christine. "Regulation of inflammation genetic control of the transcription of Spätzle in Drosophila hemocytes". Thesis, King's College London (University of London), 2013. https://kclpure.kcl.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/regulation-of-inflammation-genetic-control-of-the-transcription-of-spatzle-in-drosophila-hemocytes(a29adfcc-f504-4a7a-8a1c-db74fe1a20df).html.
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The Drosophila cytokine Spätzle (Spz) triggers the Toll signalling cascade in flies upon infection with Gram-‐positive bacteria and fungi. It is an analogue to the mammalian IL-‐1 and is produced by the fat body as a precursor protein (Spz-‐ precursor). Active Spz is produced from its precursor by a tightly regulated cascade of serine proteases. However, the transcriptional regulation of Spz in Drosophila in response to bacterial or fungal infection is still poorly deciphered. Therefore, the aim of the project was to interrogate the regulation of Spz transcription, with specific interest in hemocytes, which are equivalent to mammalian monocytes/macrophages. For this purpose, we have generated and characterised a transgenic Spz-‐neGFP reporter that allows the visualisation of Spz transcription in individual cells and tissues during different stages of development. We have identified populations of cells that transcribe the Spz gene in the steady state throughout development. We have infected the transgenic reporter flies with the fungus Candida albicans and examined the transcription of Spz after immune challenge. In future, these strains and results will help develop an in vivo genome wide assay, employing Drosophila RNAi libraries, in order to gain more knowledge about the transcriptional regulation of Spz and to identify novel regulatory genes and pathways for Spz transcription.
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Johannessen, Hazel Anne. "The role of the demonic in the political thought of Eusebius of Caesarea". Thesis, King's College London (University of London), 2014. http://kclpure.kcl.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/the-role-of-the-demonic-in-the-political-thought-of-eusebius-of-caesarea(7e2cb4d6-3c06-42a8-b169-e770caed5d53).html.
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This thesis explores how Eusebius of Caesarea’s ideas about demons interacted with and helped to shape his thought on other topics, particularly political topics. In doing so, it builds on and complements recent work on early Christian demonology by scholars including Gregory Smith, David Brakke and Dayna Kalleres, as well as Stuart Clark’s work on early modern demonology. Eusebius’ political thought has long drawn the attention of scholars who have identified in some of his works the foundations of later Byzantine theories of kingship. However, Eusebius’ political thought has not previously been examined in the light of his views on demons. Moreover, despite frequent references to demons throughout many of Eusebius’ works, there has, until now, been no comprehensive study of Eusebius’ views on demons, as expressed throughout a range of his works. The originality of this thesis therefore lies both in an initial examination of Eusebius’ views on demons and their place in his cosmology, and in the application of the insights derived from this to consideration of his political thought. As a result of this new perspective, this thesis challenges scholars’ traditional characterisation of Eusebius as a triumphal optimist. Instead, it draws attention to his concerns about a continuing demonic threat, capable of disrupting humankind’s salvation, and presents Eusebius as a more cautious figure than the one familiar to late antique scholarship.
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Phookpan, Pantharak. "An analysis of organisational culture of integrated public organisations : the case of Thailand". Thesis, University of Manchester, 2013. https://www.research.manchester.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/an-analysis-of-organisational-culture-of-integrated-public-organisations-the-case-of-thailand(645829e4-8770-4789-b986-9b4165218294).html.
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The theme of the re-aggregation of public organisations has been embraced in the recent public sector reforms of some developed countries such as the UK. The re-aggregation of public organisations may benefit the government in terms of focusing its interests on policy coordination. This is an alternative way of reforming the public sector in order to increase greater outcomes and the performance of public organisations with regard to the achievement of particular policy goals. The reform inevitably affects the targeted public organisations in both tangible and intangible ways. Since organisational culture is an important issue that can affect organisational outcomes and performance, including the achievement of policy goals, the research aims to analyse how organisational cultures have been changed following the integration of Thai public organisations. In this respect, the researchers used an integrated model of Competing Values Framework and human paradox theory to assess cultural changes of integrated public organisations.The research was based on quantitative and qualitative data gathered in field research conducted in Thailand’s four integrated public organisations. It was found that, overall, organisational cultures were altered following the organisational integration. Public employees perceived that the hierarchy culture hardly changed following a reform. However, the clan value has largely reduced, while market and adhocracy values have increased rather significantly within the new organisations. In terms of clan value, the research found that the reduction was a result of power struggles between groups of people who came from different organisational backgrounds. Power-struggling between clans could lead to lower team cooperation, a lack of trust and diminished loyalty to organisations. Public officials also perceived that a significant development of market and adhocracy cultures in organisations could be a result of external forces, as well as the integration reform. With regard to these changes, the development of market values was inimical to human relations within integrated organisations. Together with the existence of a patronage system in the Thai public organisations, leadership also contributed to a paradox of competition and cooperation where members of a dominant clan could be favoured over the others. People who came from minor cultures might feel a disadvantage from being part of the minority and then give minimal cooperation to the integrated organisation. In this respect, teamwork and organisational cohesion could be difficult to build if the tension is unbalanced. It can be concluded that the cultural model of the organisations studied changed and seemed to be more balanced than was previously found. The integration of organisations also has a great influence on cultures and paradoxes in organisations. The dissertation hopes to contribute to the existing literature, with regard to the application of a Competing Values Framework and human paradox theory to the underexplored context of integration reform in the public sector. Findings from the use of this instrument can offer a fresh point of view towards the reality of organisational integration reforms, especially for academics, Thai reformers and public employees themselves.
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Santipitaksakul, Siriwan. "The effect of liberalisation of foreign direct investment on the economic development of Thailand : an empirical and political economy approach". Thesis, University of Westminster, 2010. https://westminsterresearch.westminster.ac.uk/item/907w2/the-effect-of-liberalisation-of-foreign-direct-investment-on-the-economic-development-of-thailand-an-empirical-and-political-economy-approach.
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This study seeks to assess the impact of the liberalisation of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) on the Thai economic development. The case study of Thailand is interesting because the country has embraced market-driven development policies, particularly FDI and export-led growth strategy, for nearly forty years but her economic performance is far from being excellent. The need for assessing these policies is critical because it is observed that Transnational Corporations (TNCs) have increasingly benefited from the government‟s investment incentive scheme more than domestic investment projects. This study offers a multi-disciplinary literature review showing that FDI not only generates an inflow of resources into the host economy but also creates an outflow of other types of resources. While FDI may bring additional capital and advanced technology that contributing to economic growth, the introduction of superior firms into the domestic markets in developing countries may also amplify the magnitude of market imperfections. These imperfections may be found to be more beneficial to TNCs than to domestic entrepreneurs. Thus, without sufficient and appropriate government interventions, domestic entrepreneurs may find difficulties in developing their ownership-specific advantages. This advantage at the aggregate level can be regarded as the productive capability of the nation that helps to increase the country‟s competitive advantages along its development path. Thus, liberalising FDI without strategic planning may cause an unfavourable impact on economic development. Under these circumstances, the dependency remains tenable to explain the phenomenon. The study‟s proposition is approached and validated by the use of political economy and empirical analyses. From political economy analysis, it shows that Thailand has a number of economic features suggesting it to be a capital-dependent state as argued by dependency theory. The empirical analysis is then carried out to assess the impact of inward FDI on the Thai GNI. The framework and methods used in empirical study are borrowed from the Growth Economics. The income regressions, using the quarterly time series data from Q1:1970 - Q4:2009, show that in the case of Thailand, inward FDI has been beneficial to the growth of the economy only in the short run but has a negative impact on the GNI in the long run. Moreover, the study found that the empirical evidence appears to support the claim of Thailand being a capital-dependent state. It found that inward FDI empirically explains an increase in income deficits and totals imports. These impacts render the balance of payments in a vulnerable position. The study then concludes that, given the nature of the Thai political economy, the liberalisation of FDI seems to make Thailand a capital dependent state, and that Thailand has not fully benefited from FDI.
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Habibi, Aminullah. "Islam and democracy : prospects and possibilities : a critical analysis of the theory of the religious democracy of Dr Abdulkarim Soroush". Thesis, University of Westminster, 2011. https://westminsterresearch.westminster.ac.uk/item/96503/islam-and-democracy-prospects-and-possibilities-a-critical-analysis-of-the-theory-of-the-religious-democracy-of-dr-abdulkarim-soroush.
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This research is about Islam and democracy and the political theory of ‘democratic religious government’ of Dr Abdulkarim Soroush, an Iranian scholar and one of the leading figures in the debate on Islam and democracy in the Islamic world. The research endeavours to answer several questions: How far has the debate on Islam and democracy developed? Was the Islamic revolution in Iran an Islamic revolution and has it been a step forward for democracy there and an example of the compatibility of Islam and democracy? What are the specificities of Soroush’s political theory and how far are they sustainable? Is he successful in offering, at least in theory, a political model that can accommodate Islam and democracy? The research puts Soroush’s political theory into context and begins by exploring the background of the debate on Islam and democracy and the debate concerning Shia political thought and the legacy of the Iranian revolution. My research finding in the first chapter is that the political challenges posed by democracy as a political system based on the rule of people, regardless of their faith or gender, have been the most serious challenges Islam and Muslims have faced, especially in the past few decades. It also demonstrates how immature the debate is. The second chapter reveals how the Iranian revolution puts Shia Islam on a new track so that it can neither go back to its isolationist position nor resist the trend of secularisation and democratisation. A religion that, I will argue, was an impediment for democracy and open society, has become a force for reconciliation of the faithful’s spiritual needs and their human rights. In the third chapter I explore Soroush’s religious beliefs and development in his religious thoughts. I will try to establish in this chapter how he has found Islam to be exposed to scholarly debate and an easy target for modern Muslim scholars and intellectuals equipped with modern methodology to rehearse it, adjust it and rationalise it in order for it to become compatible with modern forms of life and human rights. I also demonstrate in this chapter that whatever the contents of Soroush’s political theory, he is a faithful Muslim and his religious beliefs do not support a democratic political system. Soroush’s political theory is the topic of the fourth chapter. In this chapter I have discovered how Soroush removes religious hurdles through his religious theory in order to present his political theory. It appears that Soroush believes what we have in the name of religion is nothing more than our knowledge and interpretations of religion. Since these are human understandings, they are like other human knowledge and, therefore, they are historical products that are timely and open to critical analysis and adjustable to humans’ socially evolving demands. I also explain in the fourth chapter why Soroush feels the existence of religion in public life is under threat and therefore endeavours to reconcile religion with the realities of the modern era to secure a space for religion. In doing this, Soroush loses theoretical consistency because he makes every effort, though unsuccessfully, to become the champion of all across the political spectrum, whether religious or liberal. Soroush’s contribution to the debate on Islam and democracy is significant, but he fails, as it will be argued, to offer a viable political theory on the compatibility of Islam and democracy. The research concludes with an assessment of the prospects and possibilities of the ideas of compatibility of Islam and democracy and highlights the contradictions and challenges of the idea. The conclusion sets the steps and prerequisites for a serious debate on Islam and democracy and illuminates the tenability of the debate by raising serious doubts about the authenticity of the debate on Islam and democracy.
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Bargués-Pedreny, Pol. "Embracing difference and the deferral of self-government : a critical analysis of the framing and practice of contemporary peacebuilding". Thesis, University of Westminster, 2014. https://westminsterresearch.westminster.ac.uk/item/964v4/embracing-difference-and-the-deferral-of-self-government-a-critical-analysis-of-the-framing-and-practice-of-contemporary-peace-building.
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This thesis analyses how dominant policy approaches to peacebuilding have moved away from a single and universalised understanding of peace to be achieved through a top-down strategy of democratisation and economic liberalisation, prevalent at the beginning of 1990s. Instead, throughout the 2000s, peacebuilders have increasingly adopted a commitment to cultivating a bottom-up and hybrid peacebuilding process that is context-sensitive and intended to be more respectful of the needs and values of post-war societies. The projects of statebuilding in Kosovo and, to a lesser extent, in Bosnia are examined to illustrate the shift. By capturing this shift, I seek to argue that contemporary practitioners of peace are sharing the sensibility of the theoretical critics of liberalism. These critics have long contended that post-war societies cannot be governed from ‘above’ and have advocated the adoption of a bottom-up approach to peacebuilding. Now, both peace practitioners and their critics share the tendency to embrace difference in peacebuilding operations, but this shift has failed to address meaningfully the problems and concerns of post-conflict societies. The conclusion of this research is that, drawing on the assumption that these societies are not capable of undertaking sovereign acts because of their problematic inter-subjective frames, the discourses of peacebuilding (in policy-making and academic critique) have increasingly legitimised an open-ended role of interference by external agencies, which now operate from ‘below’. Peacebuilding has turned into a long-term process, in which international and local actors engage relationally in the search for ever-more emancipatory hybrid outcomes, but in which self-government and self-determination are constantly deferred. Processes of emphasising difference have thus denied the political autonomy of post-war societies and have continuously questioned the political and human equality of these populations in a hierarchically divided world.
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Adekoya, Richard A. Ayodele. "The Diocese of Lagos West of the Anglican Communion, Church of Nigeria as agent of social and political change in the society". Thesis, Bangor University, 2013. https://research.bangor.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/the-diocese-of-lagos-west-of-the-anglican-communion-church-of-nigeria-as-agent-of-social-and-political-change-in-the-society(aba5fb1c-75e1-4083-add3-fd69999cfb63).html.
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This dissertation evaluates the activities of the Diocese of Lagos West, Anglican Communion, Church of Nigeria and its contribution to societal development. Over the years, the DLW has been involved with the society and has become a major diocese within the Anglican Communion, Church of Nigelia and in Lagos State, with a substantial numerical strength as well as a meaningful social, political, economic, and religious influence within the society. Since its establishment, the DLW has made great achievements in the areas of education, health care, social and political development. This study aims to show that the DLW in Lagos has been part of society building and it will explore the impacts of their activities in the society. This study demonstrates that the social and political involvement of the DLW in the society has a biblical and philosophical conviction. The research hypothesises that the closer the relationship of the church has with the state is crucial for the benefit of the people. The research employed an empirical qualitative approach to test the proposition by analysing the data from the research area. The findings of the research show that religion and politics can mix as they are both concerned with the same subject matter -the people, who belong to both camps. The findings also show the close relationship between the church and the state and the extent to which the church is involved with the state and politics. However, the ambivalent character of the church like every other faith was validated. State and church do both impact society, but the DLW's effective work in the society was quite distinct from the state or its politics. As such, the church is well positioned for societal transfonnation both politically and socially. This should serve as an example to other churches, allowing them to realise that their social and political actions are means of fulfilling their mission and clear the doubts on the legitimacy of the Church getting involved in the socio-political realm. Recommendations are made to ensure that the church maintains its boundaries despite its involvement -whilst sustaining its positive influence in the society on the one hand, and also challenging the unjust structures and unfavourable government's policies, on the other hand.
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Polleres, Axel, Jürgen Umbrich, Kathrin Figl i Martin Beno. "Perception of Key Barriers in Using and Publishing Open Data". JeDEM, 2017. http://epub.wu.ac.at/6140/1/Polleres_etal_2017_JEDEM_Perception%2Dof%2DKey.pdf.
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There is a growing body of literature recognizing the benefits of Open Data. However, many potential data providers are unwilling to publish their data and at the same time, data users are often faced with difficulties when attempting to use Open Data in practice. Despite various barriers in using and publishing Open Data still being present, studies which systematically collect and assess these barriers are rare. Based on this observation we present a review on prior literature on barriers and the results of an empirical study aimed at assessing both the users' and publishers' views on obstacles regarding Open Data adoption. We collected data with an online survey in Austria and internationally. Using a sample of 183 participants, we draw conclusions about the relative importance of the barriers reported in the literature. In comparison to a previous conference paper presented at the conference for E-Democracy and Open Government, this article includes new additional data from participants outside Austria, reports new analyses, and substantially extends the discussion of results and of possible strategies for the mitigation of Open Data barriers.