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Cespedes, Garcia Zully Masiel del Socorro, and Macalopu Lucy Sanchez. "Estudio social y espiritual de los agentes pastorales de los caseríos Marayhuaca y Moyán desde una perspectiva docente." Bachelor's thesis, Universidad Católica Santo Toribio de Mogrovejo, 2018. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.5/pe/.
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La investigación es de tipo cualitativa, y buscó describir las características sociales y espirituales de las vivencias que tienen los agentes pastorales de los caseríos bajo estudio. En las Instituciones Educativas donde laboramos como docentes de Educación Religiosa, nos percatamos de la vivencia cotidiana de fe de los escolares, lo que motivó a investigar de dónde provenía su formación espiritual, descubriendo que se debe a la esmerada labor de los agentes pastorales. Por ello se diseñó una entrevista semiestructurada para conocer sus vivencias espirituales y sociales, así como las fichas de observación participante. Se concluyó que los agentes pastorales consideran que con su función contribuyen al desarrollo integral de las comunidades desde una perspectiva social; y desde la perspectiva espiritual tienen una fuerte experiencia de fe siendo conscientes que con su labor contribuyen a la formación espiritual de los demás.Tesis
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Elias, Lopez De Suyon Janina Paola. "Vivencia de virtudes cardinales en familias de los estudiantes de segundo de secundaria de una institución educativa Olmos, 2018." Bachelor's thesis, Universidad Católica Santo Toribio de Mogrovejo, 2020. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12423/2665.
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La investigación denominada, “Vivencia de las virtudes cardinales en las familias de los estudiantes del segundo grado de secundaria de una Institución Educativa, del distrito de Olmos, 2018”, parte de la problemática existente en torno a la vivencia de las virtudes de la fortaleza, justicia, prudencia y templanza en las familias de los estudiantes. Lo que permite entender en ciertas circunstancias, la práctica de éstas virtudes, en los estudiantes. Ante esto, se tuvo como objetivo general, identificar las características de la vivencia de las virtudes cardinales en las familias de los estudiantes en estudio. Además, la investigación presenta el tipo de investigación cuantitativo y diseño descriptivo, con una población muestral de 100 personas, entre padres de familia, hermanos y estudiantes. Se aplicó una encuesta a los familiares y a los estudiantes, con el fin de identificar la vivencia de las virtudes cardinales en las familias. Al finalizar la investigación, se concluyó que los estudiantes realmente no sólo valoran la práctica de estas virtudes, además, fomentan en sus familias la vivencia correcta de estas virtudes en mención, acotando que la mayoría de los mismos buscan fomentar la vivencia de la justicia, la prudencia, la templanza y la fortaleza en el ambiente familiar, aspecto esencial para el logro de una vida buena.
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Winter, Tanja. "Die gewerbs- oder bandenmäßige Steuerhinterziehung gem. 370a AO /." Hamburg : Kovač, 2005. http://www.verlagdrkovac.de/3-8300-2045-7-htm.
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Hunsmann, Daniel. "Das steuerstrafrechtliche Selbstanzeigeprivileg im Lichte des 370a S. 3 AO /." Baden-Baden : Nomos, 2006. http://www.gbv.de/dms/spk/sbb/recht/toc/513905685.pdf.
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Schneider, Susanne. "Die gewerbs- oder bandenmäßige Steuerhinterziehung ( 370a AO) - ein Schreckensinstrument des Gesetzgebers? /." Berlin : Duncker & Humblot, 2006. http://www.gbv.de/dms/spk/sbb/recht/toc/52172516X.pdf.
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Smith, Thomas Aneurin. "At the crux of development? : local knowledge, participation, empowerment and environmental education in Tanzania." Thesis, University of Glasgow, 2012. http://theses.gla.ac.uk/3700/.
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Development appears to have gone through a paradigm shift, from top-down, state-led projects to bottom-up, participatory schemes which seek to take account of local knowledges. Tanzania is a country which, like many others in the ‘Global South’, faces a myriad of interlinked environmental and development problems, particularly as much of the population’s livelihood needs are deeply entwined with local environmental resources. Current environmental policies and conservation practise in Tanzania appear to reflect this new shift in development, and increasingly the Tanzanian state and a number of NGOs have aimed to increase the participation of local people in environmentally sustainable practices. Education about the environment, for both adults and young people, has become key to this approach in Tanzania since the 1990s. This thesis aims to explore the many practical and theoretical questions which remain about the suitability of participatory projects that utilise local knowledges, considering questions which are fundamentally at the heart of how development is and how it should be done, questions which are ultimately at the crux of development itself. Specifically, I aim to answer questions about how participants and communities can become ‘empowered’ through participatory initiatives, and to this end I investigate the important yet presently neglected role of young people. I further explore the nature of ‘local knowledge’, questioning its current use in development projects whilst seeking to re-conceptualise and re-orientate how ‘local knowledge’ is understood and employed. I utilise a qualitative and participatory methodology through three communities in Tanzania, each of which offers a contrasting picture of environmental issues throughout the country. I begin by exploring the current understandings of participation and local knowledges in development, and follow with an explanation of the methodological approach. The empirical chapters are then organised around three main themes: local knowledges, environmental education in Tanzania, and the role of participation in Tanzanian communities. The first of these chapters appraises the concept of ‘local knowledge’ critically by first comparing local and official discourses of the ‘environment’, assessing how far an attention to local knowledges has percolated into official environmental discourses in Tanzania. In light of local understandings of the environment encountered in these three communities, I consider how the current conceptual framework of local knowledge may be limiting our understanding of how these knowledges are constructed and communicated. The second empirical chapter examines environmental education projects in Tanzania, and from this I critically reflect on the role of NGOs and the state in local development. Through an analysis of environmental education, I consider how both local knowledge and participation agendas can be spatialised, in particular by understanding how formal and informal spaces of learning are constructed discursively in communities, and the implications this has for the outcomes of education projects. I go on to examine the notions of participation and community, exploring how participation and inclusion operate at different scales, including those beyond the local. I consider how the current conceptualisation of participation and community, derived from ‘Western’ ideals, can conflict with local understandings of responsibility, volunteerism, participation and community development. Through this, I question the ‘community’ as the necessary site of empowerment, and in particular here I draw attention to the role of young people and how their identities are reproduced at the community scale and beyond. Finally, I conclude by discussing the conceptual and practical application of local knowledge and participation in development in light of this critical appraisal. I consider the role of formal education more broadly in empowering young people, and I question the role of NGOs in the future of locally and nationally orientated development. I end with an examination of the ethics of the current development paradigm in light of the understandings of development uncovered by this study, many of which fundamentally challenge the way that participatory forms of development should be done.
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Pollock, Kevin. "An examination of Scotland’s strategic coordinating groups to determine whether they are capable of delivering resilience and enhanced crisis management capabilities." Thesis, University of Glasgow, 2012. http://theses.gla.ac.uk/3702/.
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This thesis examines whether the introduction of the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 and the establishment of Strategic Coordinating Groups (SCGs) within an integrated emergency management framework provides Scotland with an effective crisis response structure and resilience. A key aspect of resilience is the ability of the SCGs to learn from previous experiences. This research will consider the organisational learning of the SCGs to determine whether it is as effective as it could be. It first focuses on the organisational structure of the SCG and analyses it in terms of network management to determine its crisis management effectiveness. It then considers whether the SCGs are suitably adaptive to crises and learn from the experience of managing them and thereby enhance their preventative capability, as envisaged by the resilience policy. The principal argument is that the current structure does not ensure effective organisational learning and therefore Scotland’s resilience is diminished. Design/Methodology/Approach A qualitative approach is used. Data is gathered through interviews and non-participant observations, and interpreted by a combination of inductive and deductive approaches. The use of triangulation of data enhances its validity. Systems theory provides analytical frameworks to examine the SCG structure and processes, and to determine whether SCGs successfully achieve the desired outcome of resilience and effective crisis management. Findings/Practical Implications Using the systems approach identifies that real world SCGs have a number of variances from the ideal state. The current SCG structure is complex which makes communication and coordination challenging, which undermines the SCG crisis response. The absence of a dynamic monitoring mechanism within the SCG makes it difficult to learn lessons from previous crises and adapt to environmental changes. The thesis concludes by making a number of recommendations for improving SCG crisis management effectiveness and resilience.
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Murdoch, Christina. "'A large and passionate humanity plays about her' : women and moral agency in the late Victorian social problem novel." Thesis, University of Glasgow, 2012. http://theses.gla.ac.uk/3703/.
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This thesis examines responses to the idea of a specific female moral agency in depictions of women’s philanthropic work by late nineteenthcentury female novelists. Focusing on depictions of romantic and sexual female experience in the late nineteenth-century campaign against poverty, I explore the role of gender and sexuality in the making of the female moral self in novels by Mrs. Humphry Ward, Iota, Margaret Harkness, Jane Hume Clapperton, Gertrude Dix. I demonstrate the manner in which altruism was linked to romantic love and sexual desire, and show how this idea surfaced in the love-plot in novels by late nineteenth-century women. I argue that the novel was regarded as a valuable instrument to further the process of social reform, owing to its perceived unique ability to arouse the reader’s sympathies; therefore, these novelists used the novel as a tool for constructing the altruistic self. Reading the novels alongside contemporary non-fiction discourse, I undertake an analysis of different romance plots and show how they relate to the debates of the social reform movement of the late nineteenth century. Finally, I suggest that by using the novel, and especially the romance plot, which was regarded as a feminine form of expression, these novelists are defending the idea of a feminine ethic, and a feminine conception of morality that was defined by emotion, feeling, and sympathy, as opposed to the more masculine scientific and sociological ideas behind the late nineteenth century social reform movement.
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Runciman, Carin Ferris. "Mobilisation and insurgent citizenship of the Anti-Privatisation Forum, South Africa : an ethnographic study." Thesis, University of Glasgow, 2012. http://theses.gla.ac.uk/3706/.
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This thesis examines the mobilisation practices of one of the largest social movement organisations to have emerged in post-apartheid South Africa, the Anti-Privatisation Forum (APF). Making a contribution to the growing field of scholarship on the global justice movement, this thesis presents an analysis of the micro-levels of mobilisation in order to provide a deeper understanding of the everyday forms of resistance articulated and enacted by the APF and its affiliated community-based organisations. Locating itself within the political process paradigm as developed by Doug McAdam (1982, 1996), Sidney Tarrow (1988, 1994, 1998) and Charles Tilly (1978, 2008), the study of micro-processes of mobilisation is advanced through an analysis of the interaction between mobilising structures, political opportunities and framing, in order to tease out the internal political, strategic and organisational differences within the APF. I propose that the APF and its affiliates should be conceptualised as a ‘social movement community’, arguing that such a conceptualisation places a critical focus on the significance of political scale, the importance of space and place as well as a consideration of the political, social and cultural aspects of collective action. By combining perspectives from social movement theory with a Gramscian perspective on resistance and counter-hegemony, this thesis presents an empirically and theoretically grounded analysis of the conditions which both facilitate and constrain the emergence and practice of transformative collective action. With a close focus upon the internal practices of mobilisation, the analysis presented contributes to a flourishing field of scholarship which analyses social movements as alternative public spaces in which individuals contest dominant practices of citizenship and democracy and forge potentially counter-hegemonic relations. Utilising James Holston’s (1998, 2008, 2009) concept of ‘insurgent citizenship’ this thesis examines the paradoxes of the post-apartheid democratic settlement, where the constitutional rights which have been extended to all sections of the polity have been undermined by neoliberal policies which have resulted in the privatisation of basic services and reshaped relations between the citizen and the state. Furthermore, as I will demonstrate, the quality and experience of democracy post-apartheid has also been undermined by increasing violence and inefficiencies within the justice system. This thesis argues that social movements provide important spaces for the alternative practice of citizenship and democracy in which socio-economically marginalised groups seek not only to be accommodated within the polity but also challenge the economic, political and social foundations upon which the polity is built. However, while social movements may offer progressive challenges to hegemonic relations through the course of collective action it is also possible that some forms of inequalities will become further entrenched. Thus, the analysis which follows offers a critical account of the insurgent citizenship practices of the APF which considers how some forms of inequalities, particularly in relation to gender, may become entrenched through the processes of mobilisation.
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Lewis, Harold. "The International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) 1945-1965 : an organizational and political anatomy." Thesis, University of Warwick, 2003. http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/3700/.
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The thesis is an analytical study of the structure and activities of the International Transport Workers' Federation(ITF) from 1945 to 1965.It gives particular attention to the nature of the ITF's memberships, especially its expansion to the United States and to the Third World; to the ITF's political stance in a period of enormous international tension and to the interrelationship of both those factors. The ITF was founded in 1896 and there are few substantial transport workers' unions which are not yet affiliated. It has long been recognized as the most effective of all the international trade union organizations. The ITF made a significant contribution to the Allied war effort in the Second World War and its membership in every branch of the international transport industry took on great strategic importance during the Cold War. The thesis is based on original research, making special use of the ITF's extensive archives at the Modern Records Centre of the University of Warwick. There is a close and critical focus on the ITFs political engagement, exemplified by its controversial part in countering communist influence in European ports in the early 1950s at the time of the introduction of the European Recovery Programme (the Marshall Plan). This discussion is, however, set in the context of the ITF's structures and its broader social and industrial concerns, such as the defence of trade union and civil rights and assistance to transport workers' unions in the newly de-colonized developing countries. The conclusions draw out the main findings of the research and discuss the dearth of academic literature on the international trade union movement, and especially the almost total neglect of 'International Trade Secretariats', organizations such as the ITF which group together national trade unions in specific industries and services. On this basis, it surveys a poorly served theoretical field and outlines implications for future theoretical analysis.
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King, Graham. "Systems modelling and simulation in the product development process for automotive powertrains : executive summary." Thesis, University of Warwick, 2002. http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/3706/.
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This submission is a summary of the ten submissions that form the Engineering Doctorate Portfolio. The aim of the portfolio is to demonstrate the benefit of applying systems modelling and simulation in a modified powertrain product development process. A description is given of the competitive pressures that are faced by motor manufacturers in the global automotive business environment. Competitive pressures include a requirement for reduced time to market, exacting product quality standards, manufacturing over-capacity that increases fixed costs and compromises profit margins, and legislation that is increasingly difficult to meet. High-level strategic responses that are being made by manufacturers to these pressures are presented. Each strategic response requires organisational changes and improved approaches to the way in which day-to-day business is conducted. Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) is presented as an approach that can help to improve the competitiveness of motor manufacturers by reducing product development time and the level of hardware prototyping that is required. An investigation in five engineering companies yielded a number of observations about the use of CAE and its integration into product development. Best practice in the implementation of CAE in the product development process is defined. The use of CAE by a leading motor manufacturer in powertrain development is compared with the best practice model, and it is identified that there is a lack of coherence in the application of CAE. It is used to tackle specific problems but the use of CAE is not integrated into the product development process. More importantly, it was found that there is limited application of systems modelling and simulation, which is a critical technique for the effective integration of vehicle systems and the development of on-board vehicle control systems. Before systems modelling and simulation can be applied III powertrain development, an appropriate set of tools and associated modelling architecture must be determined. An appraisal of a range of different tools is undertaken, each tool being appraised against a set of criteria. A combination of DymolaIModelica and MATLAB/Simulink tools is recommended as the optimum solution. DymolaIModelica models of the vehicle plant should be embedded into Simulink models that also contain controller and driver models. MATLAB should be used as the numerical engine and for the creation of user environments. Transmission calibration is selected as a suitable pilot example for applying systems modelling and simulation in powertrain development. Best practice in CAE implementation and the systems modelling and simulation architecture are validated using this example. Simulation models of vehicles equipped with CVT and discrete ratio automatic transmissions are presented. A full description of the operation of the transmission system, of the simulation model itself, and of the validation of the model is presented in each case. The potential benefit of the CVT model in transmission calibration is demonstrated. A Transmission Calibration Simulation Tool (TCST) is described within which the discrete ratio simulation model is encapsulated. The TCST includes a user environment in which the simulation model can be parameterised, a variety of simulation runs can be specified, and simulation results are processed. Development of the TCST requires an objective measure of driveability effects that are influenced by the transmission shift schedule. A method for objective assessment of driveability is developed, correlated, and implemented as an integral part of the TCST. This element of the TCST allows trade-off exercises to be conducted between fuel economy and driveability. The development of a transmission calibration based on experimental testing is compared with a similar exercise based on simulation testing. This study shows that, if the TCST is properly integrated into the transmission calibration process, the vehicle test time taken to optimise the calibration for fuel economy could be reduced by six weeks, and a week of calibrator time could be saved. Thus, the aim of the submission is fulfilled, since the benefit of applying systems modelling and simulation in the powertrain development process has been demonstrated. It is concluded that a consistent approach is required for effectively integrating systems modelling and simulation into the product development process. A model is proposed that clarifies how this can be achieved at a local level. It is proposed that in the future, the model is applied whenever systems modelling and simulation is introduced into a powertrain department.
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Paterson, Michael A. J. "A spectroelectrochemical investigation of arylamine based hole transporting materials." Thesis, Durham University, 2003. http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/3704/.
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This thesis describes exploratory synthetic, structural and electrochemical studies into the molecular and electronic structures of arylamine based hole transporting materials. The principle objectives in these studies were to increase understanding of the electronic structures of the materials involved and to investigate the effect of various substitution patterns on the chemical stability and electronic structure of these materials.
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Abdul, Aziz Sa'ardin. "Characterising the effective material softening in ultrasonic forming of metals." Thesis, University of Glasgow, 2012. http://theses.gla.ac.uk/3704/.
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This thesis has presented experimental and finite element (FE) analyses of the static and ultrasonic forming of two metals; aluminium 1050 and magnesium AM50. Aluminium and magnesium are considered to be soft metals and can be easily shaped by any of the main industrial metalworking processes. Frequently aluminium and magnesium have been the subject of research studies. These two metals most commonly chosen in manufacturing industry because of their cost, mechanical properties and flexibility in processing. In this research, simple compression and forming tests were designed and the effects of superimposed ultrasonic excitation on workpiece and die, which is tuned to a longitudinal mode at 20.8 kHz, were studied via stress-strain measurements. Research through experiments and finite element simulations studies in the application of ultrasonic excitation has been carried out to gain quantitative understanding of the mechanisms of improvement in ultrasonic forming characteristics, such as a reduction in material flow stress and oscillatory stress. This research study has shown these mechanisms by applying ultrasonic vibration to the tool and die in the forming test and, similarly, effects were measured and predicted in the experimental and numerical analysis. The development and application of high power ultrasonic techniques in forming processes required the use of specifically designed ultrasonic components to correctly transmit the energy from the transducer to the workpiece and die interface. The application along with the ultrasonic vibration amplitude required for the process, were considered in order to design the most suitable horn profile. In this study, a 20 kHz transducer was used to provide up to 10 µm of peak-to-peak vibration amplitude, depending on the generator setting. Therefore, the booster and horn were designed to provide a range of ultrasonic vibration amplitudes between 5 to 20 µm and also used as a tool and die in the study of ultrasonic metal forming. The horn was designed using finite element modelling (FEM), and modal frequencies and associated mode shapes were subsequently confirmed using experimental modal analysis (EMA). The ultrasonic system has been measured and calculated as having a longitudinal mode of vibration at 20.8 kHz and to provide an amplitude gain of four. In this study, a generator uses mains electricity to generate a high frequency ultrasonic signal to drive the transducer, which is tuned to a specific frequency of 20 kHz. The booster and horn were designed to meet the criteria of transducer, which is to provide a longitudinal vibration at tuned frequency of 20 kHz. However, the profile of booster and horn have been measured and calculated as having a longitudinal mode of vibration at 20.8 kHz, which is considered close to the transducer tuned frequency. The review of previous studies of superimposed ultrasonic excitation on upsetting showed that the most experimental characterisations of the volume effects mainly depended on an interpretation of measurements of the mean flow stress, and have neglected the oscillatory stress. In this study, the characteristics of oscillatory stress and the material behaviour in plastic deformation when superimposed ultrasonic excitation is applied on a static compression test under dry friction were considered. The effects were explained in terms of flow stress reduction, oscillatory stress, mean flow stress, maximum and minimum path of oscillatory stress in the stress-strain diagram. The results showed that the static flow stress of compressive deformation was lowered by the ultrasonic vibration superimposed on the static load and this phenomenon has been referred to as the material softening mechanism which is influenced by volume and surface effects. The volume effect is defined as a reduction in flow stress of the material being formed and the surface effect is defined as a reduction in frictional conditions at the interface between the vibrating device and the workpiece. Finite element models were used to investigate numerically the volume and surface effects during ultrasonically assisted compression. The finite element models were developed using material model parameters which were identified from the experimental analysis. The influence of volume and surface effects were investigated separately in the FE model and it was shown that the volume effect dominated the effective material softening results during ultrasonic excitation. The application of ultrasonic excitation on metals under plastic deformation conditions has been investigated previously. Most researchers have reported that superimposing ultrasonic excitation on metal working processes reduced the material flow stress. A further study of superimposed ultrasonic excitation on a static load during elastic deformation in metal working was not investigated, so it is not possible to determine the effect of ultrasonic excitation on the material. In this study, the investigation of oscillatory stress behaviour in the ultrasonic compression test of cylinder metal specimens during elastic deformation was carried out. In the stress-strain diagram, the ultrasonic vibration was shown to have lowered the static flow stress during elastic deformation under dry contact conditions and it was found that the reduction in static flow stress linearly increased with ultrasonic vibration amplitude. The stress reduction was influenced by volume and surface effects which occurred during the superimposed ultrasonic excitation. The results also showed that the maximum path of oscillatory stress exceeded the static flow stress, however, the mean flow stress is lower than the static flow stress at the onset of ultrasonic excitation. To investigate the influence that volume and surface effects have on material softening during experimental compression tests, a series of FE models were developed. As mentioned previously, the FE models were developed using material model parameters which were identified from the experimental analysis in Figure A1, however, the mechanism of flow stress reduction which is related to acoustic softening and friction reduction which is labelled as (i) cannot be predicted in FE models. The FE models adopted the material softening effects in order to simulate realistic stress reduction compared with experimental results. The significant stress reduction in the FE analysis was obtained by adjusting the yield stress and contact conditions parameter. It was concluded that the surface effect dominated the stress reduction during metal upsetting test in elastic deformation. The study continued to a simple forming test where samples of flat sheet metal were forced into a shaped die by a shaped plunger on a test machine. The results of this study illustrated how ultrasonically assisted metal forming resulted in a lowering of the static forming force during ultrasonic excitation of the die. As a result, the static forming force was seen to be reduced by ultrasonic excitation of the die and the path of the maximum oscillatory force was observed to be parallel to or below the path of the static forming force. Force reduction was measured in these experiments using a high power ultrasonic transducer and also by tuning the die and then the punch during the metal forming test. It was found that a good coupling between punch, specimen and die allowed ultrasonic energy to be effectively transferred into the materials during superimposed ultrasonic excitation in the static forming test. This thesis has concluded that evaluation of the benefits of ultrasonic excitation not only relied on measurements of the mean flow stress alone but also on measurement of the oscillatory stress during superimposed ultrasonic excitation on forming tests.
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Perera, R. Wimal H. "Evaluation and application of stationary phase selectivity for drug analysis." Thesis, University of Sunderland, 2012. http://sure.sunderland.ac.uk/3700/.
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Despite the wide range of HPLC stationary phases available for reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) and the in-depth studies using probes to highlight differences between them, there is very little in the way of stationary phases which offer selectivity that is substantially different from that offered by the very commonly used alkyl-silicas. Therefore, the primary aim of the research programme was to explore and try to exploit LC stationary phases which offered genuinely different selectivity to alkyl-silicas for typical drug applications. Chiral stationary phases (CSP) potentially had different selectivity and in this context a secondary aim was to explore aspects of the enantioselectivity of CSP as well as their chemical selectivity. Claims of orthogonal selectivity had been made for pentafluorophenyl (PFP) phases and phases exhibiting the hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) mode. However, the Ultra PFP phase was found to be very similar in selectivity to ACE 5 C18 for both amitriptyline and acemetacin related compounds. The ZIC-HILIC phase was shown to behave as a reversed-phase material at high aqueous content in the mobile phase. There was some indication of selectivity orthogonal to that of ACE 5 C18 with low aqueous content in the mobile phase but this occurred at low retention and with mobile phases unsuitable for use with C18 phases in coupled (column or phase) systems. Nonetheless the work carried out shed more light on the mechanisms taking place in the HILIC mode which is currently attracting so much interest. Also it was possible to put ZIC-HILIC to good use for polar plant metabolites and other applications. Chiral stationary phases (CSP) also offered the prospect of selectivity orthogonal to that of C18 phases. Given the proliferation of such phases though and the fact that it would be useful to use CSP that gave chiral separations for a broad spectrum of compound classes as well as giving orthogonal separations between different compounds, it was decided to carry out comparative studies of CSP classes in order to identify any redundancies and to seek out CSP that were complementary to one another. The Regis Whelk-O1 CSP was shown to be much superior to other higher-generation Pirkle-concept CSP such as DACH-DNB and ULMO. Also it was shown to be complementary to the Chiralcel OD derivatised ii polysaccharide CSP and that both had something to offer alongside the widely used Chiralpak AD derivatised polysaccharide CSP. It was also found that a series of Chiralcel OD clones were virtually identical to Chiralcel OD and similarly for Chiralpak AD clones. Chiralpak IA, an immobilised version of Chiralpak AD, was not markedly less enantioselective than Chiralpak AD. Chiralcel OJ was less enantioselective than Chiralpak AD but the gap in performance was not as wide as between Whelk-O1 and the other Pirkle-concept CSP. The information gathered during these studies should prove to be of enormous value for further work in chiral LC method development screening. Before embarking on applications work utilising the stationary phase selectivity that had been found, a study was carried out on the effectiveness of the high efficiencies obtainable with short run times through ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC). It was found that, for a range of pharmaceutical applications, that it was still necessary in each case to adjust selectivity before increasing speed through working at higher temperatures with faster flow rates. In the course of this work some exceptionally high speed separations for example for paroxetine and related substances, benzodiazepines and flurbiprofen and related substances, were developed. With respect to the evaluation of CSP as orthogonal phases to alkyl silicas under reversed-phase conditions, the Whelk-O1 CSP showed promise. However on closer inspection it was found that the Whelk-O1 CSP had very similar selectivity to the alkyl silica phase, ACE 5 C18, and deviation from this only occurred in instances when there was interaction with the chiral recognition site to give a separation of enantiomers. This prompted the notion that, rather than using Whelk- O1 in a coupled column system with ACE 5 C18, it could be used on its own for the separation of both trace enantiomer and all other related substances. This was shown to be possible using (S)-naproxen, laevokalim and (S)-flurbiprofen as illustrative examples. The evaluation of the enantioselectivity of CSP led to an optimised resolution (suitable for scaling up for preparative work) of the enantiomers of the former ‘legal-high’ drug, mephedrone, on Whelk-O1 under normal phase conditions. It was also shown that the infrequently used Chiralcel OJ derivatised polysaccharide iii CSP was ideal for developing an assay to determine trace amounts of (R)-nicotine in (S)-nicotine. Overall, the information obtained on stationary phase selectivity and retentivity through evaluation and application will be of great value in HPLC and UHPLC column selection and also selection of orthogonal phases for coupled column systems but, ultimately, moving forward, most value may be in aiding the design of two-dimensional LC systems for complex mixture analysis. This would particularly apply to the use of CSP with reversed-phase eluents in achiral-chiral systems.
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Oloff, Kerstin Dagmar. "Modernity and the novel in the expanded Caribbean : Wilson Harris, Patrick Chamoiseau and Carlos Fuentes." Thesis, University of Warwick, 2007. http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/3707/.
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My thesis examines how the form of the novel is transformed in the postcolonial/neo-imperial context of the 20th century Expanded Caribbean. I focus on works written in Spanish, English and French and thus privilege a regional approach over a linguistic one. While the fragmentation of the region has been furthered historically through the educational system, neo-imperialism, economics and global politics, the region is united by the common experience of colonialism, of plantation slavery and/or the encomienda system, and of anti-imperial resistance. By focusing on the form of the novel that has originated in Europe, I set out to examine the impact of geo-politics and economics on aesthetics. Furthermore, Carlos Fuentes, Wilson Harris and Patrick Chamoiseau can arguably be seen as representative for the academic fields of Latin Americanism, Postcolonial Studies and Francophone Literature respectively, given their canonical status within them. One of the aims of this thesis is to examine how the novels from the Expanded Caribbean speak back to certain developments within the 'central' academies over the last few decades and what the canonization of certain writers to the exclusion of others, and the promotion of certain ways of reading texts, tell us about the latter. For this reason, most of the novels examined in this thesis have been published during the last quarter of the century that, on the political, economic and social level, has witnessed dramatic global changes that have had a devastating impact on the achievements of the 'boom' period of the sixties.
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Ritchie, Beth. "An evaluation of the programme acceptability of FRIENDS, an emotional well-being programme." Thesis, University of East London, 2010. http://roar.uel.ac.uk/3700/.
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The aim of this study was to explore whether a ten week Cognitive Behavioural programme (FRIENDS) was acceptable to children, parents and teachers. FRIENDS is designed for use in schools with whole classes of children, aged seven to eleven years old. The study took place in a primary school in the South East of England. The programme was delivered by the researcher to a year three class and year five class of children. Following each session, children were asked to complete a questionnaire exploring their experiences. Two weeks after the end of the programme, six children from year three and five children from year five were interviewed in separate focus groups, to find out what they thought about FRIENDS. Similarly, four parents were interviewed in a focus group, and three teachers were interviewed individually to explore their experiences of FRIENDS. Thus, key stakeholders' views about FRIENDS were gathered. Analysis of the findings suggested that participants thought FRIENDS was a positive experience for them. However, year five children mentioned less positive experiences than the other participants, and teachers and parents highlighted the positive experience for the children, rather than for themselves. All participants identified negative experiences, including; the homework and the difficulty in accessing the programme because of the ability needed and reliance on reading and writing activities. Participants often identified areas of improvement linked to their negative experiences, e.g. to use differentiation, to cater for different learning styles. Children and parents felt that FRIENDS had made an impact through its teaching of skills, such that children applied some of the skills taught, which bought about positive behavioural changes in the children. The theoretical underpinnings, relevant literature and findings from this research are discussed in relation to implications for professional practice and future recommendations for research.
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Stavrou, Carla. "An investigation into how drama is used to develop young people's empathy and social skills in secondary schools." Thesis, University of East London, 2010. http://roar.uel.ac.uk/3702/.
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Since the 1920s psychologists and educationalists have increasingly recognised the importance of promoting social and emotional aspects of learning alongside academic attainment in order to educate the whole child and increase their chances of enjoying and achieving in school and in life. The value of drama as a medium for supporting children's social and emotional development has been recognised and researched since the 1930s, and through approaches such as Theatre in Education and Process Drama schools have used drama to support pupils' personal development. This research uses a sequential mixed methods approach to gather accounts of how drama is being used in secondary schools in the UK to promote the empathy and social skills of pupils. An initial postal survey of all Heads of Drama in a large Local Authority was followed by qualitative interviews with ten of the respondents. Analysis of the data indicated that dramatic content and techniques were used in lessons to promote empathy, whilst processes and rules about collaborative working and self-evaluation were reported to promote social skills. Furthermore, Drama's non-statutory status allowed many teachers the autonomy and flexibility to tailor schemes of work to target pupils with identified needs. These findings offer an evidence-based understanding of the ways drama techniques and processes can be used to promote social skills and empathy for all learners, and how it can be used as an intervention for young people with identified additional needs in this area.
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Dunn, Tanya Elizabeth. "Parents' explanatory beliefs concerning their child's Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) : a grounded theory approach." Thesis, University of East London, 2011. http://roar.uel.ac.uk/3707/.
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Objectives: Currently there is no known single cause of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and diagnosis is based on observable behavioural characteristics. Research regarding theories about the aetiology of ASD have been dominated by an academic perspective. However, parents with children who have ASD will also have their own explanatory beliefs of their child's difficulties. Research examining parents' beliefs surrounding their child's ASD have shown both similarities and discrepancies between parental and academic understandings. These discrepancies may impact on parental help seeking behaviours and engagement with therapeutic services. The aim of this study is to explore the different explanatory beliefs parents have when talking about their child who has been diagnosed with ASD. Method: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten parents of children with ASD. Data collection and analysis was guided by the Grounded Theory method (Glaser & Strauss, 1967) which led to the production of a process model grounded in the parents experiences. Results: The core category of the process model was termed 'Accommodating Autism', which reflected the parents' beliefs regarding ASD and had implications for how they lived and coped with accommodating ASD within their families. Accommodation involves a process of adaptation, specifically how the parents have made adjustments to raising a child with ASD. The core category was formed of four main categories 'Making Sense of ASD', 'Process of Acceptance', 'Negotiating Difference'and 'Searching for an Explanation'. Discussion: The study's findings from the analysis are located within the current literature. The clinical implications of the findings include recommendations that services need to become more explicit with families in acknowledging their perspectives regarding the aetiology of ASD and there being other perspectives available. Grief was also a key issue and emotional support for parents needs to be addressed more openly.
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Grant, Suzanne Helen. "Young adult men's constructions of help-seeking and masculinity : a discourse analysis." Thesis, University of East London, 2011. http://roar.uel.ac.uk/3709/.
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Despite the prevalence of mental health problems in the United Kingdom, there is a disparity between the number of individuals suffering with such difficulties and those that seek professional psychological help. Specifically, young adult men account for the least frequent users of psychological services. A wide body of literature has found that men's reluctance to seek help is associated with traditional masculine ideologies. The present research aimed to investigate this further by asking how a sample of young adult men from London and the surrounding boroughs constructed psychological helpseeking and masculinity, and the implications these had for their subject positioning and help-seeking practices. The research adopted a qualitative methodology, incorporating a social constructionist paradigm. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten men aged 18-25 years old. The participants were predominantly white British, and had no mental health problems or previous experience of psychological service use. An integrative form of discourse analysis was carried out, which drew on discursive and Foucauldian features to explore the different interpretative repertoires, ideologies and subject positions that were available for the participants to work up in their talk. It was found that the men in the sample drew on a number of interpretative repertoires in order to construct help-seeking, and also constructed particular masculine identities within which to position themselves and others. Specifically, psychological helpseeking presented some ideological dilemmas to the men in the sample, where they risked being positioned as abnormal within society or weak, feminine men. The participants discursively managed this by drawing on several discursive strategies and discourses of 'macho' men who are brave to seek help, and 'new' men who are comfortable with expressing their emotions. It was concluded that this enabled psychological help-seeking to become a legitimate practice. However, it was also discussed how the dominance of traditional hegemonic masculinity constrained the way in which these men were able to construct psychological help-seeking. The findings of the present study contribute to therapists' awareness of masculinity-related issues with their male clients, and also inform the way psychological services could be marketed to men. The findings also provide support to the literature that has criticised and extended Connel's (1995) theory of hegemonic masculinity.
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Cooper, Kathryn Isabel. "Exploring discourses of femininity with female patients in a medium secure unit." Thesis, University of East London, 2011. http://roar.uel.ac.uk/3705/.
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Background: It is thought that women are responsible for a small minority of recorded crime, especially violent offences. Popular explanations of female crime reify social constructions of gender, and draw on discourses of femininity. These powerful discourses dictate female behaviour, and imply that 'proper' women cannot be violent as it is not in accordance with their gender role. Little is known about the effect of these discourses on how women who have committed a violent offence see themselves. Aim: To explore how women in a medium secure unit talk about femininity. Particular attention was paid to the consequences of their talk, such as how they position themselves and other women, and the possibilities for action and resistance from these positions. Methods: Seven one-to-one semi-structured interviews were conducted with women detained under the Mental Health Act (1983) in a medium secure unit. Foucauldian Discourse Analysis was utilised to analyse the data. Results: Four discourses were generated from the data; difficulties in existing as women in a "man's world", motherhood as a natural role for women, the importance of appearance in defining femininity, and crime as a challenge to female identity. Participants talked about difficulties in achieving the feminine ideal due to both being in the unit, and others' attitudes to their violent actions, which included explanations of illness or masculinity. Consequently, they were positioned as different to other women, and their actions pathologised. They discussed possible implications of this such as hostility from others and uncertainty about future opportunities in society after discharge from the unit. Implications: Clinical psychologists are in a position to offer less pathologising understandings of violent women's actions that do not rely on dominant discourses of femininity, and to challenge these discourses which maintain social inequalities.
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Duffy, James. "Clarity through the smoke : an investigation into London service users' experiences and understanding of the interaction of 'psychosis' and cocaine." Thesis, University of East London, 2011. http://roar.uel.ac.uk/3706/.
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This study followed a grounded theory methodology in investigating the relationship between psychosis and cocaine dependency; which is a specific dual-diagnosis population that has been under-researched. To the researcher's knowledge, this is the first study to use qualitative methodology to explore the link between psychosis and cocaine. Eight participants were recruited from an inner-London substance misuse service. All participants were primary cocaine users (or recently abstinent ex-users), the majority of whom normally smoked crack-cocaine, and all additionally experienced psychosis. Semi-structured interviews were completed, focusing on what participants believed caused their mental health difficulties; what participants' views were on why they began using cocaine; and how participants believed their drug use has affected their mental health. From analysis of participants' interviews a model was created that provides an explanation for cocaine use in this group. This replicates psycho-social aspects of previous models of dependency, but also offers new contributions to understanding this specific group. One of the key findings from this study was that cocaine is not reported to be a causal factor in developing psychosis, while for some, cannabis was. Another finding was that people self-medicate with cocaine, both to improve mood and to help manage voices. Another specific factor in the maintenance of dependency was exploitation by drug dealers. Participants' relationships with family members and professionals were explored. It seems that misunderstanding of participants' substance misuse difficulties was a significant reason for break downs in such relationships. The study therefore recommends more training for mental health professionals in collaborative approaches (such as motivational interviewing) and more involvement and support for families; so as to better engage this complex group.
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Smith, Samantha L. H. "The impact of the FRIENDS emotional health programme on anxiety, self-statements and coping strategies in children." Thesis, University of East London, 2010. http://roar.uel.ac.uk/3701/.
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The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the FRIENDS programme - a ten week cognitive behavioural intervention for anxiety in children - on anxiety, negative selfstatements and coping strategies. The study took place in a large county within the south of England. Five schools agreed to participate in the study and parental and child consent was obtained for 83 participants. The children included in the study were aged between 9 and 10 years of age. The study utilised a quasi-experimental design incorporating an experimental and wait-list control group and pre- and post-test measures. The measures consisted of self-report questionnaires which were used to record changes in anxiety, use of negative selfstatements and coping strategies. The findings showed the intervention was effective in increasing the use of approach coping strategies in children, although there was no significant reduction in avoidant coping strategies, as hypothesised. However, the expected reduction in anxiety was not evidenced. Furthermore, the intervention was found to significantly increase the self-reported use of negative self-statements. These findings are then discussed in relation to previous literature in the field and the implications for professional practice and recommendations for future research are then noted. It is concluded that, until the long term effects of this programme on negative selfstatements and coping are known, the results from this study can not be used to support the recommended use of the FRIENDS programme in schools. Further research is therefore needed to ascertain the long term impact of the programme on negative self-statements and coping. Further research can also usefully investigate the relationships between negative self-statements and anxiety and also coping and anxiety.
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Gardner-Elahi, Catherine. "Developing a model of consultees' understanding of mental health consultation in a school setting." Thesis, University of East London, 2011. http://roar.uel.ac.uk/3708/.
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Recent development of comprehensive Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) has seen the growth of Tier 2 mental health consultation in school settings. Little of the literature considers consultees' perspectives on this, nor presents systematic studies of interpersonal process in consultation. Using interviews with consultees and a constructivist grounded theory methodology, I explored parent and school staff consultees' understanding of their experience of mental health consultation in a school setting. Consultees talked about the school, service, consultee and consultant conditions that created the context for consultation. They described the process they experienced through the consultative relationship overtime, and within consultation meetings; this included their experience of being supported, learning new strategies and changing their thinking through sharing perspectives and becoming more reflective. Finally, they talked about the outcomes of consultation for consultants, consultees, the school and the referral process to Tier 3 CAMHS. Consultees' descriptions of support and change connected to psychodynamic understandings of containment and systemic theories of conceptual change. Consultation service models should be designed in a way that supports these processes. Consultees' description of a disparity in consultees' and consultants' expectations of use of the expert stance in consultation suggests that more research is needed to explore the value of this stance. Consultees' understanding of the changes in the referral process suggested that consultation may bring referrers and CAMHS workers closer together in their construction of the referral process, thereby streamlining the referral process. This raised questions about how consultation affects referral rates, and whether it holds potential for improving access for hard-toreach clients. Finally, the extension from consultation about cases to consultation about organisational level processes suggests that training about consultancy and psychological processes at the organisational level may be useful.
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White, James David. "A controlled comparative investigation of large group therapy for generalised anxiety disorder - "stress control"." Thesis, University of Glasgow, 1989. http://theses.gla.ac.uk/3708/.
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One hundred and nine generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) patients, referred by their General Practitioners to a clinical psychology primary care service, were assigned to either Cognitive, Behavioural, Cognitive-behavioural, Placebo or Waiting List conditions. `Stress Control' large group therapy combined didactic therapy with a workshop model and emphasised the aim of turning patients into their own `therapists' in order to enable them to deal with present and future problems. Patients were thus encouraged to view Stress Control as an `evening class' rather than `group therapy'. Measures of treatment process and outcome were obtained mainly from self-report instruments. Follow-up data were collected at six months post-treatment. At post-therapy, all active therapy conditions and, against expectation, the Placebo condition had shown significant time within treatment group change. The active therapy conditions, and to a lesser extent, the Placebo condition, were significantly different to the Waiting List condition, which, overall showed no evidence of improvement. At follow-up the active therapy condition generally enhanced therapy gains while the placebo condition maintained therapy gains. Process measures did not, with the exception of self-statement change, differentiate between the groups. Noted variable response in the main analyses was somewhat explained by various sub-group analyses. There appeared to be little benefit in dividing patients into those who experienced panic and those who did not. There was some evidence that `matching' patients to therapy, i.e. cognitive responders to cognitive therapy was of value at post-therapy although differences generally disappeared at follow-up. Synchronous change was associated with enhanced performance. Finally, attempts to predict response to Stress Control by a comparison of responders and non-responders were attempted and the results assessed in terms of clinical as opposed to statistical significance. The results of the present study are discussed with reference to other treatment outcome studies and an attempt to produce a model to account for the similar effects found across treatment conditions. The implications of these findings and some suggestions for future research for GAD and other diagnostic categories are discussed.
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Pitts, Marianne V. "The development of modern accounting and the changing position of shareholders 1864 - 2000." Thesis, University of Warwick, 2002. http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/3709/.
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This dissertation consists of a set of four sole-authored, reviewed and published papers which develop the theme that company accounting policies, particularly those relating to asset valuation, depreciation and dividend policy, developed in response to a change in the general perception of the nature of the property rights of the original owners. The original owners of commercial and industrial concerns in the early nineteenth century were the partners. After incorporation they and others became the shareholders of the company. The origin of commercial and industrial companies as partnerships influenced the British government and legal thinking for nearly a century from 1856 to 1945, the date of the Cohen Committee. It was the age of laissez-faire and has been much discussed: Parliament was less keen to intervene in connection with the generality of companies, where the view expressed in 1856 by Robert Lowe, then President of the Board of Trade, that `having given [companies] a pattern the State leaves then to manage their own affairs ... (quoted in Hein, 1978, p. 149) provided a rationalization of the widespread belief that it was no business of the state to interfere in what were seen as private contracts between shareholders (Sugarman and-Rubin, 1984, p. 12). Moreover, a laissez-faire approach on the part of the courts, where `formalist' views were at their height (Atiyah, 1979, pp. 388-97), seems also to have affected the attitude to accounts on the part of the courts. This may be observed in the series of `dividend' cases in the nineteenth century (French, 1977) where judges on the whole were loath to go beyond the companies' Articles of Association and the latter of the Companies' Acts (unless they could adduce fraudulent or improper behaviour on the part of directors) in assessing matters of valuation, income measurement and profit determination. (Napier and Noke, 1992, p. 38, emphasis added). These issues `matters of valuation, income measurement and profit determination' form the basis for much of this dissertation. There is one further paper extending the work of Jefferys (1938) and Cottrell (1980) on the format of share issues from 1914 (Pitts 2000).
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Dunham, Lesley Ann. "Cognitive development in relation to science education." Thesis, University of Warwick, 1994. http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/3701/.
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Various skills have been considered quintessential to the scientific method. The need for these skills was highlighted by Armstrong at the beginning of the century and continues to be re-iterated to the present day within the criteria of the National Curriculum. Pupils as scientists are expected to make accurate and meaningful observations; record results from experiments formulated to test hypotheses, controlling all the relevant variables except the one under investigation; identify patterns within the results and recognise anomalies; draw valid conclusions from the data collected and extrapolate from the data to predict further results. These criteria were included in the list of thirty-two teacher assessed skills in domains five and six of the Northern Examination Association, NEA, GCSE Biology Syllabus. This research project endeavoured to test the acquisition of these skills in a large sample of students drawn from a variety of schools in an effort to establish the relative difficulty of the individual skills. The corollation of performance of the skills with a range of factors, including IQ, the influence of gender, school type, and associated subjects they studied was explored. In particular the effect of an exposure to the Warwick Process Science Scheme was investigated to establish whether a transferable long term enhancement resulted. The main body of the research was undertaken on Year ten (4th Year) pupils, the sample being drawn from ten schools of varying types. The work was extended to include both younger and older age groups, to identify the progress made with age in skill acquisition and to investigate whether success in the skills is of predictive value for the final GCSE grades of future 'A'Level achievement. The results indicated a wide variability in degrees of difficulty of the individual skills and a wide range of performance by individual candidates. Success in the skills corollated very closely with IQ, so to eliminate this effect samples cross-matched for IQ were investigated to establish the effect of other variables. Only the study of the three separate sciences and tuition within a selective school proved to have a significant effect on the outcome. Only skill 30 devising three separate hypotheses to explain a complex set of results, had predictive value for GCSE and none were of value for predicting capital 'A'Level success.
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Maggioni, Mario A. "Clustering dynamics and the location of high-tech firms." Thesis, University of Warwick, 1999. http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/3704/.
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The location of productive activities and the emergence of clustering dynamics has been an important research topic since the early works of Weber (1929) and Marshall (1920 and 1921). This thesis aims at relating the processes of firms' location decision and the development of high-tech clusters within an encompassing theoretical and empirical framework. The thesis shows the empirical relevance of the clustering of high-tech sectors and highlights the importance of the issue through the construction and use of an original database on the location of high-tech establishments and employment (at two different geographical levels) in four major industrialised countries. It also contains a critical review of a number of different streams of theoretical and empirical literature which are directly connected, or which have been explicitly put in connection by the author, with the topic of study. In the thesis we develop a composite modelling framework for analysing firms' location decisions and the growth of high-tech clusters, and we empirically test a number of crucial hypotheses in order to draw some guidelines for economic policy. The models presented in the theoretical chapter derive from two different streams of literature. The first derives from the analysis of population ecology, the second from the theory of innovation diffusion. These modelling frameworks have stressed the existence of a critical mass and a maximum dimension of the cluster and their effects on the early and late phases of development within the "life cycle" of a cluster. They also highlighted the role of rank, stock, order and epidemics effects in the location decision of an individual firm which has to decide whether to locate into a developing cluster. The empirical evidence presented in the thesis has focused on the crucial elements of the location process by verifying the empirical relevance of different locational factors, has stressed the relative importance of agglomeration versus scale economies in determining the industrial specialisation of an area, and has measured the competitive effects which arise between the development of different clusters and the synergistic effects which are generated within the cluster. Finally the thesis presents empirical evidence which shows that local competition and industrial specialisation are the key elements for the success of an industrial cluster. A final chapter extracts some crucial policy conclusions on the role of entry versus growth policies, on the different development path that an industrial cluster may follow depending on the excludability condition, presents an original taxonomy of specific policies, applies some of these findings to a brief survey of the phenomenon of science parks and finally produces a series of guidelines for policy makers. The conclusion summarises the results obtained in the thesis and present a brief agenda for future research.
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Delaney, Michael Paul. "Immunosuppressive drug interactions and resistance in mononuclear cells from renal transplant patients." Thesis, University of Warwick, 2001. http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/3703/.
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Existing anti-rejection drug regimes are inadequate since patients receive drugs despite serious side effects and poor response. New drugs are being developed which ultimately may allow for prescribing of rational, patient-specific immunosuppressive drug protocols. During this thesis the investigation of lymphocyte responses from renal transplant recipients to the immunosuppressant drugs Cyclosporin A (Cy A), FK506 and SDZ RAD were explored to understand the variation in sensitivity of lymphocytes to Cy A and FK506, the development of drug resistance, including resistance mechanisms, and the interactions between FK506 and SDZ RAD. Cy A and FK506 are substrates for P-glycoprotein (P-gp), the product of the multidrug-resistance (MDR1) gene in man. A hypothesis established during this thesis was that P-gp dependent mechanisms explain variations in lymphocyte sensitivities to Cy A and FK50. Lymphocytes from renal transplant recipients were assessed for their sensitivity to Cy A and FK506 and subsequently for P-gp expression and functional activity by flow cytometry. In further lymphocyte cultures the effect of the specific P-gp inhibitor, PSC 833 on sensitivity was investigated. Finally, the effects of the combination of FK506 and SDZ RAD in lymphocyte cultures were analysed. Results demonstrate a wide range in lymphocyte sensitivity to both Cy A and FK506, with the development of selective resistance to the drug used for treatment. All patients demonstrated P-gp functional activity but P-gp expression was not demonstrable. P-gp function did not account for the variation in lymphocyte sensitivity. There was no evidence of antagonism of effect of SDZ RAD in combination with FK506. In conclusion, these results suggest that non-P-gp mechanisms account for variations in lymphocyte sensitivity to Cy A and FK506. Combination therapy with SDZ RAD and FK506 is unlikely to be antagonistic in future treatment protocols.
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Perkins, James M. "Microstructure and properties of (rare earth) doped oxide ceramics." Thesis, University of Warwick, 2006. http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/3705/.
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A study of alumina (AI203 ) and magnesium aluminate spinel (MgAb04) was undertaken with the aim of investigating the changes in properties and microstructural characteristics upon doping with specific rare earth elements. Microscopic imaging and analysis of RE doped polycrystalline oxide ceramics has shown convincing evidence for monolayer segregation of RE cations to grain boundaries. State of the art aberration corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy (SuperSTEM I Daresbury Laboratories) has shown monolayer segregation to grain boundaries, and atomic resolution parallel electron energy loss spectroscopy has confirmed the presence of the RE cation at the grain boundary position. The region affected by segregation has been shown to extend no further than one monolayer from the centre of the grain boundary with RE cations occupying matrix cation boundary sites. The effect of RE dopants on the powder processing and sintering of high purity commercial grade precursor powders was investigated. Differences were found between doped alumina and spinel in the sintering whereby the alumina grain growth was restricted by grain boundary mobility such that the grain size was reduced for a given sintering temperature. The grain size of spinel was unaffected by sintering temperature. Differences in the fracture behaviour between doped alumina and spinel was found. The alumina samples manifested a change from trans-granular fracture to inter-granular fracture due to the addition of RE dopants. Spinel did not show such an effect. Alumina was shown to posess an approximate Hall-Petch relationship between hardness and grain size for both doped and undoped samples, such that sub-micron grain size samples posessed high hardness. Optical characterisation has shown the potential for the use of fine grained RE doped alumina and spinel samples for hard window applications. A reduction in the grain size of alumina to below 1 μm leads to a change in the scattering mechanism, thus reducing low angle scatter and birefringence due to the refractive index mismatch. The benefits to optical properties are in addition to the benefits in mechanical properties of a submicron grain structure.
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Brown, Nigel David. "Aspects of sway frame design and ductility of composite end plate connections." Thesis, University of Warwick, 1995. http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/3708/.
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This thesis reports work on two aspects of framed structures: part I is concerned with sway frames and part II with the ductility of composite flush end plate connections. Part I has investigated the effect of adopting standardised end plate connections as the method of providing the load path between the structural members of a steelwork sway frame. Practical low to medium rise multi-storey frame geometries have been designed in accordance with limit state principles in conjunction with the Wind-Moment Method. Each frame was analysed by undertaking a second-order elastic-plastic computer analysis to ascertain their structural performance, with particular emphasis directed towards problems associated with stability and sway deflections. The computer simulation necessitated the formulation of a prediction equation that modeled the initial stiffness characteristics of the standard connections. This model has been verified by comparison with full scale experimental test results, mainly taken from the literature. The investigation confirms that standardised end plate connections provide levels of stiffness and resistance which enable unbraced steel frames to be safely designed by the Wind-Moment method. There are however certain frame geometries where serviceability considerations dictate that stiffening to the frame would be necessary, if the standardised end plate connections were used. Part II has investigated the ductility of five major axis composite flush end plate connections that incorporate nominally identical amounts of reinforcement in conjunction with either 457 or 533 serial size Universal Beams. Other variable parameters include end plate thickness and horizontal spacing of the rebars. The work was undertaken experimentally and the results analysed in the context of connection performance. The results have shown that it will not prove difficult to ensure virtually rigid behaviour of the overall composite connection, despite the use of relatively thin end plates. Moreover, the experiments also show that the rotation capacity of composite connections in which 1% reinforcement is provided, would be sufficient to allow plastic methods of design to be used for composite beams with 457 serial size designations; however, ductility remains a problem when the depth of beam is further increased. To this end, an empirical model for assessment of ductility has been proposed, based on the observed deformation characteristics of the joint as a whole. This enables the total rotation capacity of one type of a composite connection to be determined when the failure occurs by fracture of the reinforcing bars.
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O'Connor, Anne. "The making of the British early Palaeolithic, 1880-1960." Thesis, Durham University, 2003. http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/3709/.
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This historical study explores the character of interpretations of the British Palaeolithic record between c. 1880 and c. 1960, focusing on attempts to classify and order the Early Palaeolithic industries. Interpretations were developed through complex interactions between individuals and groups, who were influenced by a range of aims, expectations and research opportunities. The impact of their contributions was partly dependent upon academic standing and the style of approach taken within the competitive arena of day-to-day research. General expectations of industrial patterning were founded upon the Early Palaeolithic industrial sequence from Western Europe, particularly the chronological succession from the Somme Valley, France, where the hand-axe was the most notable artefact. The assumption of progression and the use of prominent type-fossils such as the hand-axe in classifying and ordering industries coloured interpretations of the British Early Palaeolithic sequence. This is evident even in the approaches to the naturally-fractured stones known as 'eoliths’. The idea of a single, progressive line of industries also fuelled argument over the position and affinities of the flake-rich Clactonian industry in the 1910s and 1920s. In the wake of rising uncertainties, the parallel culture scheme proposed by Henri Breuil achieved great popularity in the 1930s. The value of the Palaeolithic industrial sequence as a relative Quaternary chronology encouraged a complex interdependence between interpretations of the Palaeolithic and of the Quaternary sequence which helped to promote and to reinforce the new range of expectations that had been generated by Breui’s scheme. However, by the mid.l940s, the rigid chronological order of industries proposed by Breuil had been weakened. By the late 1940s, researchers doubtful of the accuracy, scale and value of his scheme, expressed a desire to move away from the constraints of chronology and typology and towards more ecological and anthropological interpretations.
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Placks, Simon James. "Interpersonal deceit and lie-detection using computer-mediated communication." Thesis, Durham University, 2003. http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/3707/.
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This thesis examines the use of computer-mediated communication for lie-detection and interpersonal deceit. The literature within the fields of lie-detection and mediated communication are reviewed and it is proposed that there is a lack of knowledge surrounding how people use CMC to deceive one another. Qualitative research was carried out in order to address this shortcoming, exploring the self-reported experiences of chat room users who have been exposed to online deceit. Reports were provided that describe the misrepresentation of age, gender, vocation, affection, and appearance. The importance of stereotypes in driving suspicions is also emphasised within the reports. It is suggested that this key characteristic has more dominance in CMC than it would do face-to-face because of the occlusion of the traditional nonstrategic clues to deceit. Evidence for an alternative set of nonstrategic leakage clues was examined further by conducting a variant of the Guilty-Knowledge test within the context of a CMC based crime. It was found that participants exhibited a response time inhibition effect when presented with 'guilty knowledge' and that this effect was detectable through a standard two-button mouse. The use of such nonstrategic cues to deceit was explored further in a study that examined how CMC might be used to add additional control to a Statement Validity Assessment truth-validation test. It was found that the content analysis technique used by SVA was unable in its present form to correctly distinguish between truthful and fabricated statements of participants interviewed using a CMC chat program. In addition, it was found that the deletion-behaviours of participants fabricating a story within CMC provided no quantitative or qualitative evidence that they were lying.
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Philip, Finny. "'Apostle to the gentiles' : the origins of Pauline pneumatology." Thesis, Durham University, 2003. http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/3706/.
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The research sets out to inquire into Paul's initial thoughts on the Holy Spirit. Paul’s convictions, that he was called to be an apostle to the Gentiles and that God has given the Spirit upon the Gentiles apart from Torah obedience, are foundational for any enquiry on the subject. The key questions are: Did Paul expect a bestowal of the Spirit upon the Gentiles apart from Torah obedience when he went into Gentile mission? And, how can we account for Paul's conviction that God has poured out the Spirit upon the Gentiles? Central to our argument is Paul's conviction that God has graciously endowed the gift of the Spirit upon his Gentile converts, an understanding that is rooted primarily in his own conversion/call experience and secondarily in his experience with and as a missionary of the Hellenistic community in Antioch. By investigating the range of expectations of the Spirit that were present in Hebrew scripture and in the wider Jewish literature, the study found that such a concept is rare, and that it is usually the covenant community to which the promise of the Spirit is given. Further, Paul's own pre-Christian convictions about the Spirit, which particularly evolved from his own self-perception as a Pharisee and persecutor of the church, display a continuity between his own thought patterns and those of Second Temple Judaism. Paul’s Damascus experience was an experience of the Spirit. His experience of the 'glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ' (2 Cor.3.1-4.6) provided him with the belief that there is now a new relationship with God, which is possible through the sphere of the Spirit. In addition, Paul was influenced by the Hellenists, whose theological beliefs included a perception of the church as the eschatological Temple where the Spirit of God is the manifest presence of God. It is in these notions that one may trace the origins of Paul's thoughts on the Holy Spirit.
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Oakley, Nigel William. "Educating Christians for political involvement : an examination of Augustinian, liberation and confessing church approaches." Thesis, Durham University, 2003. http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/3701/.
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This thesis examines the role of the churches in educating their congregations for political involvement. It does this by examining three aspects of the political thought of three theologians, Augustine, Gustavo Gutierrez and Dietrich Bonhoeffer. The first aspect is eschatology, on the grounds that thought on the eschaton influences thought on how to react to the present. The second is ecclesiology, with particular reference to how the theologian expects the church to relate to the civil society in which the church is located. The third is the 'prepolitical' education, or the education of the ordinary Christian for political involvement, in that civil society. The thesis concludes by stating that there is no formula, or curriculum, for prepolitical education, but there is a 'summary grammar' expressed in the form of three inter-related tensions on which all prepolitical education must rest if it is to be a properly Christian prepolitical education. The first tension concerns the 'now' and the 'not yet’ nature of the coming of God's kingdom; the second relates to the idea that that the church should be in the world but not of it; and the third is based on how the church relates to the world in a prophetic and an embodied manner.
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Porter, Alexander. "Narrating identity : securing adequacy to tradition and experience." Thesis, Durham University, 2003. http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/3703/.
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This thesis, an exercise in practical theology directed to the pastoral needs of the ecclesial community, develops critical practices intended to facilitate the renewal of Christian self-constitutive discourse. The thesis affirms the value of attention to the category of 'narrative' in systematic theology - 'narrative theology' - but seeks to demonstrate the decisiveness of attention to story in the sphere of applied theology. It is argued that there is a need for a thoroughgoing demonstration of the difference attention to story might make in the concrete existential situations confronting Christians. Thus, the thesis is concerned to develop a methodology that will facilitate the appropriation of a securely, authentically Christian self-understanding in the midst of the ordinary social world. This naturally involves definition of key terms in narratological theory. Having established how the narrative form functions in a self- constitutive manner in both self-directed and other-directed discourse, claims that narrative is either a necessary or inherently virtuous mode of discourse are rejected. The practice of story-telling - 'narration' - that grounds the narrative is identified as the truly significant thing. Specifically Christian self-constitutive narration which can ground authentically Christian narrative discourse is identified as maximally adequate to the intra- and extra-ecclesial experience of the subject or the community and to the inner intention and 'imaginative vocabulary' of the Christian tradition. However, it is argued that these basic criteria are overshadowed by the requirement that Christian narration be carried on in awareness of the approaching 'eschatological horizon'. That is, the decisively Christian belief that life is lived toward a specific eschatological fulfilment incompletely grasped in the present, yet with radical implications for existence 'here and now'. The particular implications of this for Christian narration are drawn out. Solutions to the problems apparently set up by these principles are offered such that a detailed 'discipline of narration' is developed, which is then tested in hypothetical 'real life' situations and examined in relation to wider questions of Christian belief and practice.
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Leung, Kwan Kiu. "Uncompromising aesthetic subjectivity in the work of Tracey Emin and He Chengyao." Thesis, Royal College of Art, 2018. http://researchonline.rca.ac.uk/3707/.
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This thesis is a comparison between the work of Tracey Karima Emin and He Chengyao in global contemporary art of East and West. My original contribution to knowledge is, firstly, this comparative research of Emin and Chengyao, secondly, to demonstrate how and why their work constitutes an ontological identification relationship between subjectivity and art practice that exhibits three aspects of Emin and Chengyao’s subjectivity: performativity, visibility, and univocity, and thirdly, to claim and to offer an exposition of how and why their naked self-portraiture is a new nude. I argue that an ‘ontological identification relationship’ occurs when their subjectivity merges with art practice, where an intimate relationship between artist and work is established in which the being of the artist is deeply imbued with the being of the artwork: there is an ontological relationship between them when they identify themselves with art practice and work. After explicating the thesis in the introduction, the ontological identification relationship between artist and work is addressed in chapter one, which unfolds the reasons why their ontology of being embodies the three aspects of Emin and Chengyao’s subjectivity. Chapter two is devoted to the first aspect of subjectivity, performativity, which will draw from Butler’s idea of performativity. Juxtaposing their artwork will exhibit how their naked self-portraits draw our attention to their female subjectivity, the lack of female subjectivity in global art practice, and to question a patriarchal society in the twentieth-twenty first century. Emin and Chengyao’s work not only refracts as a new kind of nude to resist the male dominated aesthetic realm but to attempt to address a female lack in the artistic realm. The third chapter explicates the second aspect of subjectivity: visibility, analysing particular works of Emin and Chengyao that exhibit how visibility discloses invisibility. Their subjectivity in artwork exhibits a personal history in the public sphere, which invites interpretation not only from a local audience but also a global one. The invisible to the visible is a journey of becoming through an actualisation of subjectivity within art practice. Actualising subjectivity as female artists is reflecting on the self ontologically; it is a way of being with one’s body and art as one, and a way of making sense of things. Chapter four addresses the third aspect of subjectivity, ‘Univocity of Faceless Bodies,’ which parallels Deleuze and Guattari’s idea of bodies without organs (BWO) for univocity, and explicates why ‘faceless bodies’ is a crucial feminist depiction of the female body. They draw our attention to a lack of subjectivity in univocity, but a univocity that is not universality.
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Power, Christopher Brian James. "The inner structure of ΛCDM halos." Thesis, Durham University, 2003. http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/3702/.
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We have used high resolution N-body simulations to investigate the internal properties of Cold Dark Matter (CDM) halos with virial masses of M(_200) ~ 10(^10) M(_o) at z = 0, comparable to those of dwarf galaxy halos, forming in the ACDM cosmology. In particular, we have focused on providing accurate constraints on the mass distribution in these objects at ~ 1% of the virial radius, r(_200)-. After a brief introduction (chapter 1), the first part of this thesis is concerned with establishing the conditions under which the distribution of mass in simulated CDM halos is unaffected by finite numerical resolution. In chapter 2, we present results from a comprehensive set of simulations of a single galaxy mass halo in which numerical parameters have been varied systematically in order to determine their impact on the spherically averaged mass profile. Based on these results, we have defined a set of convergence criteria that allow us to identify the radial extent over which the spherically averaged circular velocity profile can be considered reliably resolved to better than 10%. In chapter 3, we have examined the abundance of substructure found in three sets of "converged" simulations, and quantified the effect of increasing mass resolution on the number of resolved subhalos of a given mass. The second part of this thesis is concerned with the detailed analysis of the internal structure and kinematics of the simulated dwarf galaxy halos in our sample. In chapter 4, we analyse the structure and kinematics of the dwarfs for possible redshift dependence, and investigate whether these halos could sustain a gaseous disk. In chapter 5, we concentrate on mass dependent trends by performing a detailed comparison with galaxy and cluster mass halos. Finally, chapter 6 provides a summary of the main findings of this work and highlights aspects that may prove rewarding for further study.
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Parry, Paul Richard. "New pyridylboronic acids and their cross-coupling reactions." Thesis, Durham University, 2003. http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/3705/.
Full textAbstract:
The novel substituted pyridylboronic acids 2-bromo-5-pyridylboronic acid 92, 3-hromo-5- pyridylboronic acid 97, 2-chloro-5-pyridylboronic acid 103, 2-fluoro-5- pyridylboronic acid 108, 2-methoxy-5-pyridylboronic acid 123, 2-ethoxy-5- pyridylboronic acid 125, 2-medioxy-3-pyridylboronic acid 131, 3-bromo-6-methoxy-4- pyridylboronic acid 134, 3-chloro-6-methoxy-4-pyridylboronic acid 137 and 3-hromo-6- ethoxy-4-pyridylboronic acid 138 have been synthesised and shown to undergo palladium-catalysed Suzuki cross-coupling reactions with a vast variety of heteroaryl bromides to yield novel heteroarylpyridine derivatives.5-Formylfnran-2-boronic acid 170 has been synthesised and isolated and has been shown to undergo palladium-catalysed Suzuki cross-coupling reactions with a variety of heteroaryl bromides to yield novel heteroaryl substituted furyl derivatives. These derivatives have been shown to undergo efficient functionalisation by Wittig chemistry.
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Parkinson, Neil Gavin. "Structural studies of doped ruthenium oxides." Thesis, Durham University, 2003. http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/3708/.
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The mixed ruthenium-copper oxide Sr(_2)YRu(_1)(_-x)Cu(_x)O(_6), is superconducting for low copper doping levels (x = 0.05 to 0.15), without the presence of cuprate planes, which are present in most high-temperature superconductors. Intriguingly the superconducting transition temperature and the Néel temperature are both ~ 30 K in this double perovskite, and thus below this temperature superconductivity and long-range magnetic order coexist, hi order to better understand the materials, both the crystal and magnetic structures need to be determined and this thesis concerns itself with this task through the utilisation of neutron and X-ray diffraction. This thesis begins with an introduction to the ruthenate double perovskites and examines particularly the necessary requirements for long-range magnetic order to establish itself in the material. An ordered crystal structure and an absence of competing magnetic interactions are prerequisites for magnetic ordering. This leads on to the copper doped ruthenates and the characterisation of the materials as superconductors. Initially the A(_2)YRu(_1-x)Cu(_x)O(_6) family, where A = Sr or Ba, is examined by neutron powder diffraction as yttrium is non-magnetic. This allowed the influence of the crystal structure on the magnetic structure of the ruthenium sublattice to be determined and its interactions revealed. The replacement of yttrium by a rare-earth element (e.g. Ho, Tb, Pr) has a profound effect on the magnetic interactions present in the material. Variable temperature neutron diffraction was vital, both for determining the magnetic structure and the interplay of these interactions in the material. The position of copper within this framework was examined, particularly by anomalous X-ray diffraction, and its important influence on the materials is discussed.
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Checcoli, Ippolita <1979>. "Biografie esemplari. La vita del beato Bernardino da Feltre e di altri osservanti francescani nella società del XV secolo." Doctoral thesis, Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, 2011. http://amsdottorato.unibo.it/3700/.
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Lusiani, Maria <1981>. "Formal planning rationality in public sector professional work: between discourse and practice." Doctoral thesis, Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, 2011. http://amsdottorato.unibo.it/3701/.
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Although rational models of formal planning have been seriously criticized by strategy literature, they not only remain a widely used organizational practice in private firms, but they have increasingly been entering public, professional organizations too, as part of public sector managerial reforms. This research addresses this apparent paradox, exploring the meaning of formal planning in public sector professional work.
Curiously, this is an issue that remains under-investigated in the literature: the long debate on formal planning in strategy research devoted scant attention to its diffusion in the public sector, and public sector studies have scrutinized the introduction of other management tools in professional work, but very limitedly formal planning itself. In fact, little is known on the actual meaning of formal planning in public, professional services.
This research is based upon a case of adoption of formal planning tools in a public hospital. Embracing a discourse analytical lens, it examines which formal planning discourse entered professional work, to what extent, and how professionals interpret it and engage with it in their practice.
The analysis uncovers dynamics of social construction of meaning where, eventually, a formal planning discourse both shapes and is shaped by professional practice. In particular, it is found that formal planning rationality largely penetrated professional work, but not to the detriment of professional values. Morevover, formal planning ‘fails’ as a tool for rational decision making, but it takes up a knowledge work and a social value in professional work, as a tool for explicitation of action courses and for dialogue between otherwise more disconnected parts of the organization.
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De, Novi Gianluca <1975>. "Soft tissue modeling for virtual reality surgery simulator with haptic feedback." Doctoral thesis, Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, 2011. http://amsdottorato.unibo.it/3702/.
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D’Alonzo, Massimiliano <1982>. "Reverse genetic studies of Benyvirus - Polymyxa betae molecular interaction: Role of the RNA4-encoded protein in virus transmission." Doctoral thesis, Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, 2011. http://amsdottorato.unibo.it/3703/.
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Beet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYVV), the leading infectious agent that affects sugar beet, is included within viruses transmitted through the soil from plasmodiophorid as Polymyxa betae. BNYVV is the causal agent of Rhizomania, which induces abnormal rootlet proliferation and is widespread in the sugar beet growing areas in Europe, Asia and America; for review see (Peltier et al., 2008). In this latter continent, Beet soil-borne mosaic virus (BSBMV) has been identified (Lee et al., 2001) and belongs to the benyvirus genus together with BNYVV, both vectored by P. betae. BSBMV is widely distributed only in the United States and it has not been reported yet in others countries. It was first identified in Texas as a sugar beet virus morphologically similar but serologically distinct to BNYVV. Subsequent sequence analysis of BSBMV RNAs evidenced similar genomic organization to that of BNYVV but sufficient molecular differences to distinct BSBMV and BNYVV in two different species (Rush et al., 2003). Benyviruses field isolates usually consist of four RNA species but some BNYVV isolates contain a fifth RNA. RNAs -1 contains a single long ORF encoding polypeptide that shares amino acid homology with known viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerases (RdRp) and helicases. RNAs -2 contains six ORFs: capsid protein (CP), one readthrough protein, triple gene block proteins (TGB) that are required for cell-to-cell virus movement and the sixth 14 kDa ORF is a post-translation gene silencing suppressor. RNAs -3 is involved on disease symptoms and is essential for virus systemic movement. BSBMV RNA-3 can be trans-replicated, trans-encapsidated by the BNYVV helper strain (RNA-1 and -2) (Ratti et al., 2009). BNYVV RNA-4 encoded one 31 kDa protein and is essential for vector interactions and virus transmission by P. betae (Rahim et al., 2007). BNYVV RNA-5 encoded 26 kDa protein that improve virus infections and accumulation in the hosts.
We are interest on BSBMV effect on Rhizomania studies using powerful tools as full-length infectious cDNA clones. B-type full-length infectious cDNA clones are available (Quillet et al., 1989) as well as A/P-type RNA-3, -4 and -5 from BNYVV (unpublished). A-type BNYVV full-length clones are also available, but RNA-1 cDNA clone still need to be modified. During the PhD program, we start production of BSBMV full-length cDNA clones and we investigate molecular interactions between plant and Benyviruses exploiting biological, epidemiological and molecular similarities/divergences between BSBMV and BNYVV.
During my PhD researchrs we obtained full length infectious cDNA clones of BSBMV RNA-1 and -2 and we demonstrate that they transcripts are replicated and packaged in planta and able to substitute BNYVV RNA-1 or RNA-2 in a chimeric viral progeny (BSBMV RNA-1 + BNYVV RNA-2 or BNYVV RNA-1 + BSBMV RNA-2). During BSBMV full-length cDNA clones production, unexpected 1,730 nts long form of BSBMV RNA-4 has been detected from sugar beet roots grown on BSBMV infected soil. Sequence analysis of the new BSBMV RNA-4 form revealed high identity (~100%) with published version of BSBMV RNA-4 sequence (NC_003508) between nucleotides 1-608 and 1,138-1,730, however the new form shows 528 additionally nucleotides between positions 608-1,138 (FJ424610). Two putative ORFs has been identified, the first one (nucleotides 383 to 1,234), encode a protein with predicted mass of 32 kDa (p32) and the second one (nucleotides 885 to 1,244) express an expected product of 13 kDa (p13). As for BSBMV RNA-3 (Ratti et al., 2009), full-length BSBMV RNA-4 cDNA clone permitted to obtain infectious transcripts that BNYVV viral machinery (Stras12) is able to replicate and to encapsidate in planta. Moreover, we demonstrated that BSBMV RNA-4 can substitute BNYVV RNA-4 for an efficient transmission through the vector P. betae in Beta vulgaris plants, demonstrating a very high correlation between BNYVV and BSBMV. At the same time, using BNYVV helper strain, we studied BSBMV RNA-4’s protein expression in planta. We associated a local necrotic lesions phenotype to the p32 protein expression onto mechanically inoculated C. quinoa. Flag or GFP-tagged sequences of p32 and p13 have been expressed in viral context, using Rep3 replicons, based on BNYVV RNA-3. Western blot analyses of local lesions contents, using FLAG-specific antibody, revealed a high molecular weight protein, which suggest either a strong interaction of BSBMV RNA4’s protein with host protein(s) or post translational modifications. GFP-fusion sequences permitted the subcellular localization of BSBMV RNA4’s proteins. Moreover we demonstrated the absence of self-activation domains on p32 by yeast two hybrid system approaches. We also confirmed that p32 protein is essential for virus transmission by P. betae using BNYVV helper strain and BNYVV RNA-3 and we investigated its role by the use of different deleted forms of p32 protein. Serial mechanical inoculation of wild-type BSBMV on C. quinoa plants were performed every 7 days. Deleted form of BSBMV RNA-4 (1298 bp) appeared after 14 passages and its sequence analysis shows deletion of 433 nucleotides between positions 611 and 1044 of RNA-4 new form. We demonstrated that this deleted form can’t support transmission by P. betae using BNYVV helper strain and BNYVV RNA-3, moreover we confirmed our hypothesis that BSBMV RNA-4 described by Lee et al. (2001) is a deleted form. Interesting after 21 passages we identifed one chimeric form of BSBMV RNA-4 and BSBMV RNA-3 (1146 bp). Two putative ORFs has been identified on its sequence, the first one (nucleotides 383 to 562), encode a protein with predicted mass of 7 kDa (p7), corresponding to the N-terminal of p32 protein encoded by BSBMV RNA-4; the second one (nucleotides 562 to 789) express an expected product of 9 kDa (p9) corresponding to the C-terminal of p29 encoded by BSBMV RNA-3.
Results obtained by our research in this topic opened new research lines that our laboratories will develop in a closely future. In particular BSBMV p32 and its mutated forms will be used to identify factors, as host or vector protein(s), involved in the virus transmission through P. betae. The new results could allow selection or production of sugar beet plants able to prevent virus transmission then able to reduce viral inoculum in the soil.
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Chinigò, Davide <1982>. "Governance of the land and decentralisation in Ethiopia: case studies from Siraro and Deguna Fanigo." Doctoral thesis, Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, 2011. http://amsdottorato.unibo.it/3705/.
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Marinoni, Silvia <1975>. "Procedures of quality control and data analysis of multi-site ground-based observations for the absolute flux calibration of Gaia." Doctoral thesis, Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, 2011. http://amsdottorato.unibo.it/3707/.
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The Gaia space mission is a major project for the European astronomical community. As challenging as it is, the processing and analysis of the huge data-flow incoming from Gaia is the subject of thorough study and preparatory work by the DPAC (Data Processing and Analysis Consortium), in charge of all aspects of the Gaia data reduction. This PhD Thesis was carried out in the framework of the DPAC, within the team based in Bologna. The task of the Bologna team is to define the calibration model and to build a grid of spectro-photometric standard stars (SPSS) suitable for the absolute flux calibration of the Gaia G-band photometry and the BP/RP spectrophotometry. Such a flux calibration can be performed by repeatedly observing each SPSS during the life-time of the Gaia mission and by comparing the observed Gaia spectra to the spectra obtained by our ground-based observations. Due to both the different observing sites involved and the huge amount of frames expected (≃100000), it is essential to maintain the maximum homogeneity in data quality, acquisition and treatment, and a particular care has to be used to test the capabilities of each telescope/instrument combination (through the “instrument familiarization plan”), to devise methods to keep under control, and eventually to correct for, the typical instrumental effects that can affect the high precision required for the Gaia SPSS grid (a few % with respect to Vega). I contributed to the ground-based survey of Gaia SPSS in many respects: with the observations, the instrument familiarization plan, the data reduction and analysis activities (both photometry and spectroscopy), and to the maintenance of the data archives. However, the field I was personally responsible for was photometry and in particular relative photometry for the production of short-term light curves. In this context I defined and tested a semi-automated pipeline which allows for the pre-reduction of imaging SPSS data and the production of aperture photometry catalogues ready to be used for further analysis. A series of semi-automated quality control criteria are included in the pipeline at various levels, from pre-reduction, to aperture photometry, to light curves production and analysis.
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Parisini, Fabio <1981>. "Hybrid constraint programming and metaheuristic methods for large scale optimization problems." Doctoral thesis, Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, 2011. http://amsdottorato.unibo.it/3709/.
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This work presents hybrid Constraint Programming (CP) and metaheuristic methods for the solution of Large Scale Optimization Problems; it aims at integrating concepts and mechanisms from the metaheuristic methods to a CP-based tree search environment in order to exploit the advantages of both approaches.
The modeling and solution of large scale combinatorial optimization problem is a topic which has arisen the interest of many researcherers in the Operations
Research field; combinatorial optimization problems are widely spread in everyday life and the need of solving difficult problems is more and more urgent.
Metaheuristic techniques have been developed in the last decades to effectively handle the approximate solution of combinatorial optimization problems; we will examine metaheuristics in detail, focusing on the common aspects of different techniques.
Each metaheuristic approach possesses its own peculiarities in designing and guiding the solution process; our work aims at recognizing components which can be extracted from metaheuristic methods and re-used in different contexts.
In particular we focus on the possibility of porting metaheuristic elements to constraint programming based environments, as constraint programming is able to deal with feasibility issues of optimization problems in a very effective manner.
Moreover, CP offers a general paradigm which allows to easily model any type of problem and solve it with a problem-independent framework, differently from
local search and metaheuristic methods which are highly problem specific.
In this work we describe the implementation of the Local Branching framework, originally developed for Mixed Integer Programming, in a CP-based environment. Constraint programming specific features are used to ease the search
process, still mantaining an absolute generality of the approach. We also propose a search strategy called Sliced Neighborhood Search, SNS, that iteratively explores slices of large neighborhoods of an incumbent solution by performing CP-based tree search and encloses concepts from metaheuristic techniques. SNS
can be used as a stand alone search strategy, but it can alternatively be embedded in existing strategies as intensification and diversification mechanism. In particular we show its integration within the CP-based local branching.
We provide an extensive experimental evaluation of the proposed approaches on instances of the Asymmetric Traveling Salesman Problem and of the Asymmetric Traveling Salesman Problem with Time Windows. The proposed approaches achieve good results on practical size problem, thus demonstrating the benefit of integrating metaheuristic concepts in CP-based frameworks.
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Fabbri, Barbara <1983>. "Campionamento e determinazione di sostanze rilevanti per la valutazione della capacità ossidante dell’atmosfera e studio del loro effetto sui materiali ceramici." Doctoral thesis, Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, 2011. http://amsdottorato.unibo.it/3704/.
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Carbonyl compounds are very important volatil organic compounds receiving increasing attention due to their critical role in tropospheric organic chemistry and to their effects on human health. They are first photo-oxidation stage of almost all organic compounds and originators of free radicals (OH, O3...). Therfore, continuous determination of their atmospheric concentrations is essential. Currently, field measurements are very limited mainly because of the analytical challenges posed by trace concentrations and interferences arising from atmospheric co-pollutants. Additionally, hydroxyl radical (OH) plays a central role in atmospheric chemistry processes. The measurement of atmospheric OH concentrations is essential for the comprehension of atmospheric chemical and photochemical processes.
In this context, objectives of this work were:
To perform a continuous survey of atmospheric concentrations of carbonyl compounds on different sites around the area of Bologna. For this purpose, an automatic instrument for the continuous measurement (one hour of time resolution) was developed and used. Additionally, the development of a complete and original analytical method was realised.
To develop an original OH generation system in order to evaluate the effect of OH and the reactivity of solid and/or liquid materials of interest. This included the validation of an analytical method for the quantification of OH concentrations generated. Effect of OH on ceramic materials and reactivity of snow surface samples, involved as sink of OH in atmospheric chemistry, were evaluated.
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Lombini, Matteo <1977>. "Laser guide stars wavefront sensors for the EELT." Doctoral thesis, Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, 2011. http://amsdottorato.unibo.it/3706/.
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The Adaptive Optics is the measurement and correction in real time of the wavefront aberration of the star light caused by the atmospheric turbulence, that limits the angular resolution of ground based telescopes and thus their capabilities to deep explore faint and crowded astronomical objects. The lack of natural stars enough bright to be used as reference sources for the Adaptive Optics, over a relevant fraction of the sky, led to the introduction of artificial reference stars. The so-called Laser Guide Stars are produced by exciting the Sodium atoms in a layer laying at 90km of altitude, by a powerful laser beam projected toward the sky. The possibility to turn on a reference star close to the scientific targets of interest has the drawback in an increased difficulty in the wavefront measuring, mainly due to the time instability of the Sodium layer density. These issues are increased with the telescope diameter. In view of the construction of the 42m diameter European Extremely Large Telescope a detailed investigation of the achievable performances of Adaptive Optics becomes mandatory to exploit its unique angular resolution .
The goal of this Thesis was to present a complete description of a laboratory Prototype development simulating a Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor using Laser Guide Stars as references, in the expected conditions for a 42m telescope. From the conceptual design, through the opto-mechanical design, to the Assembly, Integration and Test, all the phases of the Prototype construction are explained. The tests carried out shown the reliability of the images produced by the Prototype that agreed with the numerical simulations. For this reason some possible upgrades regarding the opto-mechanical design are presented, to extend the system functionalities and let the Prototype become a more complete test bench to simulate the performances and drive the future Adaptive Optics modules design.
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Lohmann, Julia. "The Department of Seaweed : co-speculative design in a museum residency." Thesis, Royal College of Art, 2018. http://researchonline.rca.ac.uk/3704/.
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This practice-led PhD explores ‘how highly specialised and innovative new design practice is made accessible to new audiences in the context of the museum’ (AHRC CDA Award call, RCA, 2010). Innovative new design was further specified as ‘highly academic, speculative, critical and experimental, often dealing with new technologies or ways of working, developing design as an agent of social or cultural change.’The call challenged designers to ‘articulate their processes and practices in ways that can be understood by, and influence, the general public.’ This PhD consists of a case study in the form of a six-month residency at the Victoria & Albert Museum (V&A) in 2013, entitled ‘The Department of Seaweed’ (DoS), as well as a design theoretical contextualisation of its framework, methods and outcomes. Among these are insights into how to co-develop design outcomes and knowledge by working with natural resources. This led me to propose a new method for cospeculative design that integrates open ended material exploration and systems level speculation through participatory critical practice in a museum residency. The outlook of design thus shifts from critical speculation towards design for transition, set against the challenges of the 21st century and beyond. The setting for this thesis is the interrelation of the following three subjects: Methods of Making, Transition Design and Museum Residencies. I established the DoS as a community of practice (CoP) around the development of seaweed as a material for making. Our approach connected making, practice-based research and generative material development with participatory methods and speculation — exploring perspectives from critical, speculative and transition design — and enabling multiple, interlinked forms of participation through dialogue, speculation, making and reflection, both on design practice and the museum. The museum, in the context of this PhD, is understood as a public place of sensemaking and knowledge sharing. As a cultural node, both analogue and digitally networked, it enables the community it is embedded within to access its own past. This thesis proposes that by means of resident and mobile CoP, museums also present ideal places for shared knowing, speculation about and actively shaping preferable futures. I propose using museum residencies as public research and development labs for nonnormative practices, enabling participants to develop a field of visions, identify the inherent potentials of a project and link multiple projects up into an infrastructure by growing a community of practice. Museum residencies can be ideal settings for practice-led research projects that are informed by — and inform— the museum and its community and can link up individual ideas and concepts into communities of practice intent on collaborating to pursue the next steps. The thesis also outlines how ethical, value-based frameworks may govern co-operation — particularly important relating to the use of natural resources such as seaweed. Suggest a system of departments in flux for integrated practices, that can dock on and off existing institutions. This PhD is aimed at practitioners who want to engage with a community in a participatory design process or wish to work with natural materials such as seaweed. It is also aimed at theorists engaged or interested in practice-led design research, participation, generative material innovation, museum residencies, reflexive practice in immersive environments and critical- and transition design.
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Kudrna, Laura. "Please award this degree, even though it is likely to make others miserable – and me too : an investigation of the relationships of absolute and relative socio-economic status with subjective wellbeing in the United States and England." Thesis, London School of Economics and Political Science (University of London), 2017. http://etheses.lse.ac.uk/3701/.
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This thesis argues that we can better understand the relationship between socio-economic status and subjective wellbeing (SWB) by considering more carefully to whom and how people make comparisons and what is meant by SWB. It questions existing knowledge with new empirical evidence and frameworks for both ‘reference groups’ – the people to whom we (may) make comparisons – and SWB. These contributions are situated within existing social comparison, norm and identity theories from economics and psychology. Using two large datasets from the United States and England, over 300 reference group measures are created. Nearly 4K models are analysed, adjusting for multiple comparisons. Although the results should be interpreted cautiously due to issues of endogeneity, they suggest that upward comparisons to others’ socio-economic attainment do matter for SWB and are almost always negative after accounting for individual attainment and multicollinearity. Comparisons to others of a similar age and to perceptions of those in ‘society’ matter most consistently. Socio-economic attainment in and of itself, however, is not sufficient to improve how people feel even if it improves their thoughts about how well their lives are going, and it is difficult to escape the negative effects of relative socio-economic status. Negative effects are evident across the distributions of SWB and absolute socio-economic status, for both women and men, and across age groups. It is not possible to dismiss the idea that comparisons to others’ socio-economic attainment do not matter – and yet, achieving socio-economically in absolute terms does not guarantee a life free of misery and full of happy and meaningful moments, either, even if this should be the ultimate aim of people and social policies. These results can inform normative debates about optimal resource distributions in societies and underscore the importance of considering how well people are doing socio-economically in relative and not only absolute terms.