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Karelas, Georgios-Nikolaos. "Interventions for Identifying Context-Specific Causal Structures." Thesis, KTH, Matematik (Avd.), 2021. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-299521.
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The problem of causal discovery is to learn the true causal relations among a system of random variables based on the available data. Learning the true causal structure of p variables can sometimes be difficult, but it is crucial in many fields of science, such as biology, sociology and artificial intelligence. Classically, it is assumed that the true causal relations are completely encoded via a directed acyclic graph (DAG), and there are numerous algorithms for estimating a DAG representative of a causal system from data. Assuming it is feasible, the most effective way of learning the true causal structure is through interventional experiments. Eberhardt et al. identified the sufficient and in the worst case necessary number of interventions needed to learn a DAG, and then studied this problem from a game theory perspective, providing an upper bound on the expected number of experiments needed to identify the causal DAG. Here, we consider more general causal models, the CStrees, which allow for the true causal relations to be context-specific. We extend the results of Eberhardt to the family of CStrees by finding the sufficient and in the worst case necessary number of experiments the Scientist must perform in order to discover the true CStree among p variables. We generalize the game theoretic approach presented in Eberhardt's paper, to the CStrees with a specified causal ordering. We also give a geometric description of context-specific hard interventions in CStrees, through a bijection between the stages of the CStree and the faces of a polytope.Problemet med kausal upptäckt är att lära sig de verkliga orsakssambandet mellan ett system av slumpmässiga variabler baserat på tillgängliga data. Att lära sig den sanna kausala strukturen hos p variabler kan ibland vara svårt, men det är avgörande inom många vetenskapsområden, såsom biologi, sociologi och artificiell intelligens. Klassiskt antas det att de sanna orsakssambandet är helt kodade via en riktad acyklisk graf (DAG), och det finns många algoritmer för att uppskatta en DAG-representant för ett orsakssystem från data. Förutsatt att det är genomförbart är det mest effektiva sättet att lära sig den sanna kausala strukturen genom interventionella experiment. Eberhardt et al. identifierade det tillräckliga och i värsta fall nödvändiga antalet insatser som behövdes för att lära sig en DAG, och studerade sedan detta problem ur ett spelteoriperspektiv, vilket gav en övre gräns för det förväntade antalet experiment som behövs för att identifiera orsakssambandet DAG. Här anser vi att mer allmänna orsakssambandet, CStrees, gör det möjligt att vara kontextspecifik för de verkliga orsakssambandet. Vi utvidgar resultaten av Eberhardt till familjen CStrees genom att hitta det tillräckliga och i värsta fall nödvändiga antalet experiment som forskaren måste utföra för att upptäcka den sanna CStree bland p variabler. Vi generaliserar spelets teoretiska tillvägagångssätt som presenteras i Eberhardts papper, till CStrees med en specificerad kausal ordning. Vi ger också en geometrisk beskrivning av kontextspecifika hårda ingripanden i CStrees, genom ett bijection mellan stadierna i CStree och ansikten på en polytop.
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Andersson, Bodil T. "Radiographers’ Professional Competence : Development of a context-specific instrument." Doctoral thesis, Hälsohögskolan, Högskolan i Jönköping, HHJ, Avd. för omvårdnad, 2012. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hj:diva-19717.
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Aims: The overall aim of this thesis was to explore and describe radiographers‟ professional competence based on patients‟ and radiographers‟ experiences and to develop a context-specific instrument to assess the level and frequency of use of radiographers‟ professional competence. Methods: The design was inductive and deductive. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used. The data collection methods comprised interviews (Studies I-II) and questionnaires (Studies III-IV). The subjects were patients in study I and radiographers in studies II-IV. In study I, 17 patients were interviewed about their experiences of the encounter during radiographic examinations and treatment. The interviews were analysed using qualitative content analysis. In study II, 14 radiographers were interviewed to identify radiographers‟ areas of competence. The critical incident technique was chosen to analyse the interviews. Studies III and IV were based on a national cross-sectional survey of 406 randomly selected radiographers. Study III consisted of two phases; designing the Radiographer Competence Scale (RCS) and evaluation of its psychometric properties. A 42-item questionnaire was developed and validated by a pilot test (n=16) resulting in the addition of 12 items. Thus the final RCS comprised a 54-item questionnaire, which after psychometric tests was reduced to 28 items. In study IV, the 28-item questionnaire served as data. The level of competencies was rated on a 10-point scale, while their use was rated on a six-point scale. Results: In study I, the female patients‟ comprehensive understanding was expressed as feelings of vulnerability. The encounters were described as empowering, empathetic, mechanical and neglectful, depending on the radiographers‟ skills and attitudes. Study II revealed two main areas of professional competence, direct patient-related and indirect patient-related. The first focused on competencies in the care provided in close proximity to the patient and the second on competencies used in the activities of the surrounding environment. Each of the two main areas was divided into four categories and 31 sub-categories that either facilitated or hindered good nursing care. In study III the analysis condensed the 54-item questionnaire in two steps, firstly by removing 12 items and secondly a further 14 items, resulting in the final 28-item RCS questionnaire. Several factor analyses were performed and a two factor-solution emerged, labelled; “Nurse initiated care” and “Technical and radiographic processes”. The psychometric tests had good construct validity and homogeneity. The result of study IV demonstrated that most competencies in the RCS received high ratings both in terms of level and frequency of use. Competencies e.g. „Adequately informing the patient‟, „Adapting the examination to the patient‟s prerequisites and needs‟ and „Producing accurate and correct images‟ were rated the highest while „Identifying and encountering the patient in a state of shock‟ and „Participating in quality improvement regarding patient safety and care‟ received the lowest ratings. The total score of each of the two dimensions had a low but significant correlation with age and years in present position. The competence level correlated with age and years in present position in both dimensions but not with the use of competencies in the “Nurse initiated care” dimension. Conclusion: This thesis has shown that professional competence is important in the encounter between patient and radiographer. It has also demonstrated that radiographers‟ self-rated professional competence is based on nursing, technological and radiographic knowledge. From a radiographer‟s perspective, „Nurse initiated care‟ and „Technical and Radiographic processes‟ are two core dimensions of Radiographer Competence Scale. The 28-item questionnaire regarding level and frequency of use of competence is feasible to use to measure radiographers‟ professional competence.
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Foster, Kristina 1981. "Context based specific user interfaces for the personal router." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2004. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28387.
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Thesis (M. Eng.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, 2004.Includes bibliographical references (p. 59-60).
For this thesis, I am concerned with the User Interface (UI) design of the Personal Router (PR), a device that dynamically selects wireless services in an open market on behalf of a mobile user [3]. The Personal Router chooses from a set of locally available services based on their Quality of Service (QoS) attributes as well as the user's preferences for these attributes, which the PR learns by interacting with the user [10]. To ensure accurate learning it is necessary that the PR/user interaction is both intuitive and non-obtrusive to the user and informative to the PR, often two conflict goals. Meeting both goals simultaneously requires a Context Based Specific User Interface that adjusts how it interacts with the user based on his context, where context is loosely defined as interaction constraints imposed by the user's environment, activity or situation. The context specific UI allows the PR to acquire the most informative user information for accurate learning while being as intuitive and non-obtrusive as possible. In this thesis, I present the design of the Context Based Specific UI as well as three different implemented UIs that vary in the amount of detail they allow the user to express. Although the less detailed UIs require less interaction from the user, the resulting learned information is not as accurate of the user's feelings and is based on assumptions of the user's behavior. The more detailed UIs have the opposite advantage and disadvantage. Finally, I present a method of combining the three Uls such that the user can select the one that best matches his current context.
by Kristina Foster.
M.Eng.
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SVENSSON, JONATAN. "Context-Specific Interoperability for Banks : A Co-opetition Analysis." Thesis, KTH, Industriell Management, 2014. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-160639.
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Infrastructure in the form of payment systems is a necessity to allow for payments to reach from payer to payee, but it is also subject to product differentiation between banks. In the euro countries, a domestic-integration zone termed SEPA that consolidates payment systems into a singular system has been regulated, providing market efficiencies for customers and companies. However, in Sweden, banks use unstandardized file communication that is costly for stakeholders to interface against, and is becoming increasingly difficult to oversee. With the introduction of novel payment solutions (e.g. mobile payments), there is also an increase in competitors that access the infrastructure. A rising customer demand for faster, global and integrated payments has been identified. This increased fragmentation of the market requires large investments for banks and reduces customer mobility, which motivates the need for consolidation of payment flows. The purpose of this thesis is to identify the roles of stakeholders in the clearing and settlement mechanism, and to identify the drivers and inhibitors that affect business decisions to change the systems in place. These results are categorized according to co-opetition theory. Furthermore, the thesis brings forward the global industry standard for financial messaging ISO 20022 to the business context, and discusses its implications in the Swedish market from an interoperability point of view. The study has been conducted using mixed methods with a qualitative approach. It includes: Analysis of documents and materials, non-participative observation, interviews with 9 industry experts and an in-depth case study of real-time payments in Sweden (Betalningar i Realtid). Results show that actors’ perceptions of one another are ambiguous, but cooperation is well-established and reaps many positive effects for firms. Co-opetition activities in banks are inclined to drive change, while competitive moves are likely to leave the system unchanged. Co-opetition is only possible under certain pre-agreed rules such as differentiation by implementing flexible payment solutions. The main implication for migration to an improved, standardized payment flow is connected to the governance of infrastructure. It is suggested that if agreements between stakeholders are not reached in due time then SEPA-like regulation put forward by higher instances is a likely outcome.
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Biegert, Andreas. "Context-specific methods for sequence homology searching and alignment." Diss., Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 2010. http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:19-166916.
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Hossain, Md Shakhawat. "Context Specific Module Mining from Multiple Co-Expression Graph." Thesis, North Dakota State University, 2017. https://hdl.handle.net/10365/28664.
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Gene co-expression networks can be used to associate genes of unknown function with biological processes or to find genes in a specific context, environment responsible for a disease. We provide an overview of methods and tools used to identify such recurrent patterns across multiple networks, can be used to discover biological modules in co-expression networks constructed from gene expression data and we explain how this can be used to identify genes with a regulatory role in disease. However, existing algorithms are very much costly in terms of time and space. As network size or number increases, mining such modules get much more complex. We have developed an efficient approach to mine such recurrent context specific modules from 35 gene networks. This computationally very difficult problem due to the exponential number of patterns was solved non-exponentially.
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Rusnak, Christina S. "161 Glass: Site Specific Music in an Artistic Context." Thesis, University of North Texas, 2010. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc28472/.
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The composition 161 Glass is a 17-minute musical work with percussion, wind and brass instruments in which the intersection of mid-century architecture, and the art and culture of a dynamic city are inextricably linked. Through this paper, I explore the process of composing a musical work in relationship to the significance of site specific context. The paper begins by defining the concept of site specific art works; then reviews the discourse of the intersection of art, music and architecture. I then delve into the cultural and geographic context surrounding this project from the modern era through the present, and how those perspectives apply to the building and my piece. I reveal how the composition relates the musical ideas to the site. Finally, I describe the collaborative process between myself, the musicians and the Dallas Contemporary staff.
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Middleton, Vireen. "Defining scaffolding in the context of specific learning difficulties." Thesis, Open University, 2004. http://oro.open.ac.uk/49320/.
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Wang, Lichao. "Reinforcement learning for context-specific image analysis and understanding." Thesis, Imperial College London, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10044/1/39381.
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With increasing throughput of medical imaging modalities, automatic image analysis and segmentation play an important role in both clinical diagnosis and therapy. Within the medical image computing community, this has been pursued for many years since the early days of digital imaging yet it is still far from being perfect. This is due to not only the diversity of different imaging modalities but also the complexity of anatomy and difficulty in maintaining consistent image quality. Although in certain imaging modalities such as Computed Tomography (CT) with fully calibrated pixel values, automatic image analysis techniques have enjoyed a greater degree of success, their general development remains limited. Nevertheless, there is a myriad of segmentation algorithms being developed for speci c image analysis tasks. One of the major reasons for the lack of robust analysis platforms that are generalisable is, in fact, related to knowledge acquisition and representation. Early techniques tended to use ad hoc rules to incorporate prior knowledge combined with application specific parameter tuning, whereas recent algorithms rely on statistical models of large population datasets for both model building and training. For almost all the platforms developed so far, once the system is built, it remains rigid although human adjustment or correction is often carried out to rectify the errors involved. This is important to satisfy the legal and quality assurance requirements of clinical applications. For most systems, the rigidity of the algorithm design means that the same processing error remains persistent, involving repeated user interaction until the next software release. Practically, satisfying a diverse range of clinical requirements is difficult and incorporating specific knowledge of unseen pathological cases during software development is impractical. To overcome these problems, there is increasing interest recently in developing systems that can incrementally learn domain-specific knowledge from human observers such that the algorithm can adapt to different segmentation requirements. The purpose of this thesis is to propose a general context-specific segmentation framework using reinforcement learning to capture domain experts' knowledge during image segmentation. Specific issues related to ensemble-learning-based visual-saliency extraction, reinforcement learning, the use of incremental mixture models for on-line model update, and the use of eye tracking for implicit knowledge acquisition are addressed. Detailed validation and performance comparison to the current state-of-the-art are carried out on synthetic, natural-scene and medical images. Different from most existing techniques, the algorithms proposed in this thesis build models based on both the underlying image features and interactive user behaviour. As a result, they are able to implicitly extract additional information related to the image-analysis tasks. The quality of the tasks, at the same time, remains under the control of the user. The potential clinical value of the methods is demonstrated through detailed validation with both synthetic and in situ data.
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Richter, Kai-Florian. "Context-specific route directions generation of cognitively motivated wayfinding instructions." Berlin Aka, 2007. http://d-nb.info/987640062/04.
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Wang, Jun. "Probabilistic retrieval models : relationships, context-specific application, selection and implementation." Thesis, Queen Mary, University of London, 2011. http://qmro.qmul.ac.uk/xmlui/handle/123456789/655.
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Retrieval models are the core components of information retrieval systems, which guide the document and query representations, as well as the document ranking schemes. TF-IDF, binary independence retrieval (BIR) model and language modelling (LM) are three of the most influential contemporary models due to their stability and performance. The BIR model and LM have probabilistic theory as their basis, whereas TF-IDF is viewed as a heuristic model, whose theoretical justification always fascinates researchers. This thesis firstly investigates the parallel derivation of BIR model, LM and Poisson model, wrt event spaces, relevance assumptions and ranking rationales. It establishes a bridge between the BIR model and LM, and derives TF-IDF from the probabilistic framework. Then, the thesis presents the probabilistic logical modelling of the retrieval models. Various ways of how to estimate and aggregate probability, and alternative implementation to nonprobabilistic operator are demonstrated. Typical models have been implemented. The next contribution concerns the usage of of context-specific frequencies, i.e., the frequencies counted based on assorted element types or within different text scopes. The hypothesis is that they can help to rank the elements in structured document retrieval. The thesis applies context-specific frequencies on term weighting schemes in these models, and the outcome is a generalised retrieval model with regard to both element and document ranking. The retrieval models behave differently on the same query set: for some queries, one model performs better, for other queries, another model is superior. Therefore, one idea to improve the overall performance of a retrieval system is to choose for each query the model that is likely to perform the best. This thesis proposes and empirically explores the model selection method according to the correlation of query feature and query performance, which contributes to the methodology of dynamically choosing a model. In summary, this thesis contributes a study of probabilistic models and their relationships, the probabilistic logical modelling of retrieval models, the usage and effect of context-specific frequencies in models, and the selection of retrieval models.
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Thomas, Wesley Paul. "The Development of Context-specific Operant Sensitization to d-Amphetamine." DigitalCommons@USU, 2009. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/476.
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Animal models have previously been used to study tolerance and sensitization using two different procedures that are difficult to compare. Tolerance has been studied by administering a drug to a subject that is engaged in an operant behavior, and sensitization by administering a drug to a subject that is not engaged in an operant behavior. Previous research has shown that sensitization can occur when d-amphetamine is administered to rats emitting an operant behavior for a food presentation. The first goal of the experiment was to show operant sensitization using dose response curves. The second goal of the present experiment was to determine if operant sensitization is context specific. These goals were addressed by administering d-amphetamine to rats engaged in an operant behavior in two stimulus contexts and creating dose-response curves. Sensitization occurred but was not found to be context-specific, with the dose-response curves not being significantly different between the two contexts. It is not clear whether this result was due to the drug administration procedure or the counterbalancing assignments used. Further research is needed to determine whether operant sensitization is context specific.
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Emuwa, A. "Barriers to SME lending in Nigeria : finding context-specific solutions." Thesis, Nottingham Trent University, 2015. http://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/29134/.
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This research seeks to deepen the understanding of the causes of obstacles to bank lending to the smaller businesses in Nigeria, and to contribute to the literature aimed at finding solutions to this persistent problem. Smaller firms report access to finance as a major obstacle to their growth. With bank credit contributing up to 50% of their external financing, the research focuses on banking institutions. Perceived as a credit market failure, the economics literature ascribes these credit shortages to problems of informational asymmetry and institutional failure, and in turn, these two issues have dominated the applied research on the subject. This thesis contends that small business credit shortage is a complex phenomenon which needs to be understood within the context of the specific operating environment. This research is a qualitative case study of a commercial bank in Nigeria that newly entered into the SME credit market using semi-structured interviews and documentary data to explore the obstacles to SME lending and possible solutions. Based on a thematic analysis of the data, the research found that a well-regulated finance industry within the growing economy stimulated opportunities for lending to SMEs. Attracted by these perceived lucrative opportunities, the commercial bank established a successful lending programme developing proprietary credit scoring techniques and innovative devices to overcome institutional barriers and informational obstacles. To encourage more banks to increase lending to the sector, the research concluded with proposals towards removing impediments to SME business lending. These included improving banks' knowledge of specialised techniques to lend to SMEs, business friendly policies to improve the business environment for smaller businesses to reduce their risk of failure, lower interest rates on loans and capacity building to improve management skills of business owners.
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Horbelt, Daniel Walter [Verfasser]. "Context specific signaling of TGF-beta receptor II / Daniel Walter Horbelt." Berlin : Freie Universität Berlin, 2012. http://d-nb.info/1026694299/34.
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Cohen, Oreen. "Between Myself and the Context: Navigating a Site-Specific Art Practice." Research Showcase @ CMU, 2018. http://repository.cmu.edu/theses/139.
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The culminating work of my thesis, “Between a Stone and a Shrine,” presented in April 2014 at the Miller Gallery at Carnegie Mellon University, is contextualized with two of my prior works, “Between You Me and the Wall,” and “Between Icarus and a Phoenix.” These works are further contextualized with relevant autobiographical information. Inspiration is drawn from Walter De Maria’s ideas of meaningless work, and its contrast with Francis Alÿs and his meaningful gestures in public space. My works are then analyzed and compared to Janine Antoni’s bodily relationship to media through physical labor in site-specific practice. By using storyboarding and editing techniques developed by the film directors Federico Fellini and Yael Bartana, immersive installations are refined to create awareness, acceptance and adaptation to entropy in the built environment.
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Gittins, Phill. "Developing context-specific peace education programmes with and for host populations." Thesis, University of Kent, 2017. https://kar.kent.ac.uk/66448/.
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Grounded in in-depth empirical example from Bolivia, this qualitative study develops the theory, analysis, and practice needed to contextualise peace education programmes with and for host populations, from beginning to end. On a broader level, this research helps to advance understandings of the complexity surrounding if, how, and to what extent peace and education programmes designed to be universal can be adapted to specific contexts. This study addresses the gap between the broadly accepted precept in scholarship that peace programmes need to be context-specific and the ways in which they are carried out in practice. The research was carried out in three main phases: the design phase, the delivery phase, and the evaluation phase. The approach used throughout was participatory action research and narrative inquiry, a research process which included trying out ideas, and finding out if, how, and in which ways they worked, as well as learning from the story and experiences of those involved in informing the process throughout. Conceptualising the work as research collaboration, the study demonstrates how thirty-four research collaborators and I used a combination of methods (semi-structured interviews, focus groups, participant observation, ongoing dialogue, and learning journals) to examine the process and outcomes. The major contributions from this research include the development of an original conceptual framework and methodology for how to work with and for host populations' throughout the process of developing peace education programmes specific to their context. In doing so, the study explores key aspects relevant to this task, including ethics, fieldwork, power, agency, praxis, dialogue, voice, reflexivity, friction, hybridity, and the relationship between the researcher and the researched. This study is subjected to critical scrutiny throughout by research collaborators. The overall research develops the argument that context-specific peace education programmes can be best achieved through research and practice done with and for host populations. The findings not only have far-reaching implications for the field of peace education and led to a number of theoretically-informed and empirically-grounded recommendations for further work. They have also laid some foundations for what is possible in terms developing peace and education-related programmes in ways that pay just as much attention to interrogating the processes that produce these types of context-specific practices ("the how") as the products ("the what").
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Gourlay, Lesley J. "Classroom discourse and participation in an 'English for specific purposes' context." Thesis, University of Edinburgh, 2003. http://hdl.handle.net/1842/23025.
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Elsnes-Paryzer, Amanda A. "Teachers' Spanish instructional discourse within a specific social, cultural, and historical context." Connect to online resource, 2007. http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation&res_dat=xri:pqdiss&rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:3284452.
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Dzida, Tomasz. "Predicting context specific enhancer-promoter interactions from ChIP-Seq time course data." Thesis, University of Manchester, 2017. https://www.research.manchester.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/predicting-context-specific-enhancerpromoter-interactions-from-chipseq-time-course-data(281a8cee-87f9-49e7-8106-a9d76603a806).html.
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We develop machine learning approaches to predict context specific enhancer-promoter interactions using evidence from changes in genomic protein occupancy over time. Occupancy of estrogen receptor alpha (ER-alpha), RNA polymerase (Pol II) and histone marks H2AZ and H3K4me3 were measured over time using ChIP-Seq experiments in MCF7 cells stimulated with estrogen. Two Bayesian classifiers were developed, unsupervised and supervised. The supervised approach uses the correlation of temporal binding patterns at enhancers and promoters and genomic proximity as features and predicts interactions. The method was trained using experimentally determined interactions from the same system and achieves much higher precision than predictions based on the genomic proximity of nearest ER-alpha binding. We use the method to identify a confident set of ER-alpha target genes and their regulatory enhancers genome-wide. Validation with publicly available GRO-Seq data shows our predicted targets are much more likely to show early nascent transcription than predictions based on genomic ER-alpha binding proximity alone. Accuracy of the predictions from the supervised model was compared against the second more complex unsupervised generative approach which uses proximity-based prior and temporal binding patterns at enhancers and promoters to infer protein-mediated regulatory complexes involving individual genes and their networks of multiple distant regulatory enhancers.
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Fernandez, de Cueto Julio. "The incremental validity of context-specific versus broad characteristics in international assignments." FIU Digital Commons, 2003. http://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/3309.
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This study extends the approach of using personality characteristics in the selection of individuals for international assignments. Previous research has focused on using broad-based personality factors to test empirically the value of personality variables as predictors of performance during international assignments. In contrast, this study focused on developing and testing the incremental validity of predictors specific to the context of international assignments. Drawing from the literature on expatriate management, a measure named Global Characteristics Self-Assessment was created containing characteristics deemed important to the success of international assignments. Findings suggested that these context-specific predictors were better predictors than the broad-based Five Factors of personality.
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Georgi, Benjamin [Verfasser]. "Context-specific independence mixture models for cluster analysis of biological data / Benjamin Georgi." Berlin : Freie Universität Berlin, 2009. http://d-nb.info/102366402X/34.
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Crump, Matthew John Charles Milliken Bruce. "Context-specific learning and control: An instance based view of flexible online control." *McMaster only, 2007.
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Maunakea, Alika Keolaokalani. "A conserved role for intragenic DNA methylation in cell context-specific gene regulation." Diss., Search in ProQuest Dissertations & Theses. UC Only, 2008. http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation&res_dat=xri:pqdiss&rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:3339198.
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SILVA, WILLIAM EDUARDO DA. "TEACHING AND LEARNING READING IN ENGLISH FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES IN THE DIGITAL CONTEXT." PONTIFÍCIA UNIVERSIDADE CATÓLICA DO RIO DE JANEIRO, 2011. http://www.maxwell.vrac.puc-rio.br/Busca_etds.php?strSecao=resultado&nrSeq=20596@1.
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PONTIFÍCIA UNIVERSIDADE CATÓLICA DO RIO DE JANEIROO foco principal desta pesquisa é a aprendizagem de leitura em inglês para fins específicos em uma disciplina on-line para graduandos de Química. A pesquisa foi desenvolvida seguindo os princípios da abordagem de inglês para fins específicos (SCOTT, 1986; HUTCHINSON E WATERS, 1987; DUDLEY-EVANS E ST-JOHN; 1998), a visão de estratégias de leitura (LEFFA, 1996; SOLÉ, 1998), as teorias de gêneros textuais (BAKHTIN, 2003; SWALES, 1990; BHATIA, 1993; entre outros) e o uso das tecnologias de informação e comunicação no ensino-aprendizagem de línguas (KERN E WARSCHAUER, 2001; WARSCHAUER, 2004; LAMY E HAMPEL, 2007). Baseado nessas teorias, foram colocadas as seguintes perguntas de pesquisa: (a) Como os aprendizes constroem o conhecimento de leitura em inglês para fins específicos em uma disciplina on-line? (b) De que forma os recursos e as atividades contribuíram para o aprendizado de leitura? A pesquisa compreendeu um estudo de caso de cunho etnográfico virtual dos dados gerados (postagens em fóruns, anotações em diários de pesquisa e respostas de questionários de auto-avaliação). Além disso, as ferramentas utilizadas na plataforma de ensino-aprendizagem (Moodle) foram passíveis de análise, no intuito de averiguar quais os recursos que mais facilitaram e colaboraram para o desenvolvimento da habilidade leitora dos aprendizes. Por fim, os resultados apontam para uma maior conscientização no que diz respeito ao processo de leitura em inglês. Além disso, os recursos e as atividades proporcionaram maior flexibilidade de tempo e espaço, autonomia, satisfação, interação e colaboração entre os participantes.
The main focus of this research is the learning of reading in English for specific purposes in an online course for undergraduate students of Chemistry. The research was carried out following the principles of English for Specific Purposes (SCOTT, 1986; HUTCHINSON AND WATERS, 1987; DUDLEY-EVANS AND ST-JOHN, 1998), the view of reading strategies (Leff, 1996; SOLE, 1998 ), the theories of textual genres (BAKHTIN, 2003, SWALES, 1990; BHATIA, 1993, among others) and the use of information and communication technologies in language teaching and learning (KERN AND WARSCHAUER, 2001, WARSCHAUER, 2004; LAMY AND HAMPEL, 2007). Based on these theories, we asked the following research questions: (a) How do learners construct knowledge of reading in English for academic purposes in na online course? (b) How did the resources and activities contribute to the learning of reading? The research included a qualitative analysis based on virtual ethnography generated data (forum postings, learning diary notes and responses to self-assessment questionnaires). In addition, the tools used in the teaching-learning platform (Moodle) were subject to analysis in order to determine what resources facilitated and contributed to the development of learners‟ reading skills. Finally, the results point to an increased awareness regarding the process of reading in English. In addition, resources and activities provided greater flexibility in time and space, autonomy, satisfaction, interaction and collaboration among participants.
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Sanchez, Maria Mercedes. "The Importance of Country/Context Specific Conditions in the Occupational Mobility of Immigrants." The Ohio State University, 2011. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1322578140.
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Biegert, Andreas [Verfasser], and Patrick [Akademischer Betreuer] Cramer. "Context-specific methods for sequence homology searching and alignment / Andreas Biegert. Betreuer: Patrick Cramer." München : Universitätsbibliothek der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, 2010. http://d-nb.info/1048014622/34.
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Robaina, Estevez Semidan [Verfasser], and Zoran [Akademischer Betreuer] Nikoloski. "Context-specific metabolic predictions : computational methods and applications / Semidan Robaina Estevez ; Betreuer: Zoran Nikoloski." Potsdam : Universität Potsdam, 2017. http://d-nb.info/1218402687/34.
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Anthony, Elizabeth M. "Problem-based learning in undergraduate English for specific purposes context : language use & development." Thesis, University of Bristol, 2010. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.520179.
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Problem-Based Learning (PBL) is an alternative pedagogical model that differs considerably from the traditional chalk and talk didactic approach. However, to date there are still very few studies into its operation and effectiveness especially in the field of language learning. This study focuses on PBL in English for Specific Purposes (ESP) course at a higher learning institution and thus extends our understanding of PBL in general and in the context of second language learning in particular. This ethnographic approach case study research investigated an ESP classroom over a semester in University Technology Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) to determine (i) students' and learners' perceptions and experiences of PBL, (ii) what students learn and how they learn; the learning process and (iii) the impact of PBL on the students' English language use and development. Data were collected through classroom observations, field notes, lecturer and student interviews, reflective journals and course documents. The data were transcribed using Transana, a qualitative video analysis software, then coded and analysed for emerging themes. The findings reveal that the PBL approach is well received by the ESP lecturers in the study context; it is seen to offer advantages in terms of student motivation, attitude, confidence, engagement; (MACE) and their independent self-directed learning and team-working (IT) skills; increased the English usage among the students under study which in turn have a positive impact on their language development. Furthermore, the findings suggest that the MACE-IT model conceptualises the potential of PBL as an educational initiative for change in the classroom culture which also assists language learning.
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Zhu, Lu [Verfasser]. "Context-specific subcellular localization prediction: Leveraging protein interaction networks and scientific texts / Lu Zhu." Bielefeld : Universitätsbibliothek Bielefeld, 2018. http://d-nb.info/1169314589/34.
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Hurt, Carl M. "Escaping from the ER : cell context and subtype-specific trafficking of a₂-adrenergic receptors /." May be available electronically:, 2007. http://proquest.umi.com/login?COPT=REJTPTU1MTUmSU5UPTAmVkVSPTI=&clientId=12498.
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Ehrhardt, Elizabeth J. "The social context of female criminal victimization: a domain-specific routine activity/lifestyle analysis /." The Ohio State University, 1994. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1487856906258258.
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Yarrison, Fritz William. "A Theoretical and Methodological Advancement of Identity Theory: The Emergence of Context Specific Salience." Kent State University / OhioLINK, 2017. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1510401466933009.
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Mountrakis, Georgios. "Context-Specific Preference Learning of One Dimensional Quantitative Geospatial Attributes Using a Neuro-Fuzzy Approach." Fogler Library, University of Maine, 2004. http://www.library.umaine.edu/theses/pdf/MountrakisGX2004.pdf.
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Williams, Lynne Elizabeth. "Individual distinctiveness, short- and long-term comparisons, and context specific rates of Florida manatee vocalizations /." Electronic version (PDF), 2005. http://dl.uncw.edu/etd/2005/williamsl/lynnewilliams.pdf.
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Newby, Nathaniel J. (Nathaniel James) 1972. "Artificial gravity : the role of graviceptive information during cross-coupled rotation in context-specific adaptation." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2002. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/82242.
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Kotb, Amira Mohamed, and Amira Mohamed Kotb. "Assessing the effectiveness of Street Girls NGOs in Egypt : with whom? In what specific context?" Doctoral thesis, Université Laval, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11794/25921.
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Depuis les années 80’s, plusieurs ONG locales et internationales opèrent en Egypte afin d’éradiquer le phénomène des enfants de la rue. Cependant, le phénomène persiste et donne lieu à une seconde génération d’enfants de rue, notamment avec la présence de jeunes filles dans la rue. Par ailleurs, un large pourcentage de ces mères refuse d’abandonner la rue ou de rejoindre les programmes de réhabilitation des ONG. Non seulement une génération de petits-enfants de rue voit le jour mais en 2011, ces enfants commencent à prendre part dans des affrontements violents contre l’armée et les forces de sécurité égyptiennes. La dégénération du problème pousse l’Etat Egyptien –jusque-là quasi réticent d’aborder en profondeur les causes du problème- à engager un bras de fer avec les filles et les garçons de la rue. Selon l’Etat, l’approche « de sauvetage » appliquée par les ONG se serait avérée ineffective et par conséquent, devrait céder la place à une approche « punitive » à l’égard des enfants de la rue. Ainsi, l’Etat décide de construire un « village » isolé sous l’égide de l’armée égyptienne où les enfants de la rue seront groupés et placés contre leur gré. Entre les limites de l’approche de sauvetage et la violence de l’approche punitive, cette thèse cherche à trouver une troisième voie où les efforts des ONG et de l’Etat pourraient aboutir à des solutions plus adaptées aux besoins des enfants de la rue. A travers un échantillon de 30 filles de rue, cette thèse tente de repérer les facteurs causant la faible réceptivité des filles de rues aux programmes des ONG et limitant l’effectivité de l’approche de sauvetage. Pour ce faire, la thèse utilise l’approche de l’écologie sociale de Bronfenbrenner pour étudier les cinq couches formant l’environnement de chaque fille et interagissant pour affecter son processus de prise de décisions. L’effet de chacune de ces couches sur la réceptivité des filles de rues aux ONG est ensuite analysé statistiquement afin d’aider les ONG à concevoir des programmes sur mesure qui répondent aux besoins spécifiques de chaque fille de la rue.Depuis les années 80’s, plusieurs ONG locales et internationales opèrent en Egypte afin d’éradiquer le phénomène des enfants de la rue. Cependant, le phénomène persiste et donne lieu à une seconde génération d’enfants de rue, notamment avec la présence de jeunes filles dans la rue. Par ailleurs, un large pourcentage de ces mères refuse d’abandonner la rue ou de rejoindre les programmes de réhabilitation des ONG. Non seulement une génération de petits-enfants de rue voit le jour mais en 2011, ces enfants commencent à prendre part dans des affrontements violents contre l’armée et les forces de sécurité égyptiennes. La dégénération du problème pousse l’Etat Egyptien –jusque-là quasi réticent d’aborder en profondeur les causes du problème- à engager un bras de fer avec les filles et les garçons de la rue. Selon l’Etat, l’approche « de sauvetage » appliquée par les ONG se serait avérée ineffective et par conséquent, devrait céder la place à une approche « punitive » à l’égard des enfants de la rue. Ainsi, l’Etat décide de construire un « village » isolé sous l’égide de l’armée égyptienne où les enfants de la rue seront groupés et placés contre leur gré. Entre les limites de l’approche de sauvetage et la violence de l’approche punitive, cette thèse cherche à trouver une troisième voie où les efforts des ONG et de l’Etat pourraient aboutir à des solutions plus adaptées aux besoins des enfants de la rue. A travers un échantillon de 30 filles de rue, cette thèse tente de repérer les facteurs causant la faible réceptivité des filles de rues aux programmes des ONG et limitant l’effectivité de l’approche de sauvetage. Pour ce faire, la thèse utilise l’approche de l’écologie sociale de Bronfenbrenner pour étudier les cinq couches formant l’environnement de chaque fille et interagissant pour affecter son processus de prise de décisions. L’effet de chacune de ces couches sur la réceptivité des filles de rues aux ONG est ensuite analysé statistiquement afin d’aider les ONG à concevoir des programmes sur mesure qui répondent aux besoins spécifiques de chaque fille de la rue.
Since the 1980s, many local and international NGOs have been operating in Egypt to solve the problem of street children. However, the phenomenon persisted and produced a second generation of street children, largely due to a high number of young girls living on the street. A large percentage of these street mothers refuse to abandon the street or to join rehabilitation programs provided by NGOs. Not only a new generation of street grand-children was born but in 2011, these children began participating in violent clashes against the Egyptian Army and Security Forces. The degeneration of the problem pushed the Egyptian State, thus far unwilling to address the roots of the problem to launch an iron fist policy against street girls and boys. According to the State, the “rescuing” approach adopted by NGOs has proven ineffective and consequently must be replaced by a “punitive” approach to deal with street children. Therefore, the State decided to build, under the supervision of the Egyptian Army, an isolated “village” where street children will be gathered and placed against their will. Between the limits of the rescuing approach and the violence of the punitive one, this dissertation seeks a third path, where the efforts of NGOs and the State can lead to solutions more tailored to the needs of street children. Through a sample of 30 street girls, this dissertation tries to locate the factors causing the low responsiveness of street girls to NGOs and limiting the effectiveness of the rescuing approach. For this purpose, the dissertation uses Bronfenbrenner’s social ecology approach to study the five layers forming each girl’s environment and interacting to affect her decision making process. The effect of each layer on girls’ responsiveness to NGOs is then analyzed statistically to help NGOs design programs that better address the individual needs of each street girl.
Since the 1980s, many local and international NGOs have been operating in Egypt to solve the problem of street children. However, the phenomenon persisted and produced a second generation of street children, largely due to a high number of young girls living on the street. A large percentage of these street mothers refuse to abandon the street or to join rehabilitation programs provided by NGOs. Not only a new generation of street grand-children was born but in 2011, these children began participating in violent clashes against the Egyptian Army and Security Forces. The degeneration of the problem pushed the Egyptian State, thus far unwilling to address the roots of the problem to launch an iron fist policy against street girls and boys. According to the State, the “rescuing” approach adopted by NGOs has proven ineffective and consequently must be replaced by a “punitive” approach to deal with street children. Therefore, the State decided to build, under the supervision of the Egyptian Army, an isolated “village” where street children will be gathered and placed against their will. Between the limits of the rescuing approach and the violence of the punitive one, this dissertation seeks a third path, where the efforts of NGOs and the State can lead to solutions more tailored to the needs of street children. Through a sample of 30 street girls, this dissertation tries to locate the factors causing the low responsiveness of street girls to NGOs and limiting the effectiveness of the rescuing approach. For this purpose, the dissertation uses Bronfenbrenner’s social ecology approach to study the five layers forming each girl’s environment and interacting to affect her decision making process. The effect of each layer on girls’ responsiveness to NGOs is then analyzed statistically to help NGOs design programs that better address the individual needs of each street girl.
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Yaghi, Derar. "A customised scale for measuring retail service quality in a college shop : a context specific approach." Thesis, Northumbria University, 2010. http://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/2406/.
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The purpose of this research was to modify an existing scale to measure retail service quality in a college shop. This scale was modified based on the retail service quality scale (RSQS) to make it more contexts specific and culturally sensitive for the retail college shop (Al Waha) at Dubai Women‘s College. It also explores the relationship between the new retail service quality dimensions and overall service quality, satisfaction, loyalty and frequency of visits. A total of 424 completed questionnaires obtained from Al Waha customers was used in the analysis for the main study. Principal component analysis was used for scale reduction and multiple regression analysis was used to find associations. The new modified scale (Al Waha scale) resulted in 22 items across four dimensions: interaction quality, physical aspects, policy and understanding and caring which is a new dimension. The results confirm the association between the four new service quality dimensions and overall service quality, satisfaction, loyalty and frequency of visits. The results disclose the importance of age when evaluating physical aspects and caring and commitment dimensions. The study was performed among a very specific demographic sample; generalizations could only be made to similar college shops. Therefore, testing the modified model in other shops outside of the colleges is an area for future research. By modifying the RSQS scale to be context specific to retail shops in Dubai, this study provides an incremental step towards other scales in the region. This reveals that there are associations between Al Waha scale dimensions and overall service quality, satisfaction, loyalty and frequency of visits. Also, it indicated the importance of age when customers‘ evaluate physical aspects and caring and commitment dimensions. This scale gives managers a tool to improve service quality at their shops in order to become more competitive.
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Tudor, Jenna. "An exploratory investigation into the context specific perceptions and practices of second year mechanical engineering undergraduates." Thesis, Northumbria University, 2013. http://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/16051/.
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This thesis explores students’perceptions and practices within the context of a Mechanical Engineering undergraduate degree at a UK Higher Education institution. This engineering education research is situated in the pragmatic paradigm and is informed by a relational view of learning. The study explores the perceptions of students throughout the second year of their programme and also investigates their practices during the same time period. The research employs a mixed-methods exploratory methodology with data collection led by a dominant qualitative phase and followed by a quantitative phase. Data is integrated to present a holistic understanding of students’ perceptions and practices. The results demonstrate the importance for academia to consider students’ expectations and perceptions and to understand students’ actual practices. Analysis of the data has enabled the context to be defined from a student perspective; showing four key areas of context as being the staff-student relationships, students and student cultures, the teaching and assessment context, and the course contexts. The connection between students’perceptions and their practices is clearly established in the data. The integrated findings highlight the complexities involved for students in carrying out the practice of learning in a complex environment alongside their own perceptions of the discipline, the programme, their peers and staff. Combining the two data types has enabled the significance of perceptions to be highlighted, the vast elements of context to be demonstrated and finally recommendations to be produced to inform the design and execution of engineering education. Specific attention is drawn to findings which suggest further explanatory work is required to explore aspects such as; students’perceptions of importance, their participation in informal peer working, the distinction between procedural and conceptual learning for the discipline and the expectation of professionalism that students hold.
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Chan, Anthony Moung Yin. "Accounting standard setting in its cultural context : a structuration study with specific reference to Hong Kong." Thesis, University of Sheffield, 1990. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.295356.
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Bhasin, Jeffrey M. "Methylome Sequencing Reveals the Context-Specific Functions of DNA Methylation in Indolent Versus Aggressive Prostate Cancer." Case Western Reserve University School of Graduate Studies / OhioLINK, 2016. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case148120498969955.
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Atton, Eleanor Rachael. "Mechanisms underlying consumption-related pleasantness reduction in a snack context : sensory-specific satiety and alliesthesia revisited." Thesis, University of Sussex, 2005. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.421727.
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Two explanations exist in the literature for consumption-related pleasantness reduction: sensory-specific satiety and alliesthesia. Sensory-specific satiety describes the phenomenon that the sensory characteristics of an eaten food decline in pleasantness, whilst alliesthesia predicts that pleasantness depends on internal need. Experiment 1 investigated the contribution of both phenomena to consumption-related pleasantness reduction in a snack context. This was important since the presence of negative alliesthesia was questionable and recovery from sensory-specific satiety remained to be explored. There was no evidence for alliesthesia and although the results suggested the presence of a low threshold for a rapid, uniform and small effect of energy on pleasantness, no such threshold was evident in Experiment 2. Subsequent experiments explored sensory-specific satiety in greater depth. Experiment 4 investigated the effect of current energy needs on sensory-specific satiety and Experiment 5 the effect of food presence in the gastro-intestinal tract. Experiment 3 was a methodological study designed to determine the most appropriate portion size for these experiments. Both these post-ingestive variables had no effect, and in Experiments 1, 2 and 4, sensoryspecific satiety was unaffected by nutrient intake. Experiment 6 investigated an effect of flavour intensity but pleasantness reduction was minimal in each condition. This may partly have been due to the absence of an uneaten sensory contrast, as such a contrast enhanced sensory-specific satiety in Experiment 7. Experiment 8 reinvestigated the effect of flavour intensity and the effect of an uneaten sensory contrast. In this instance, an uneaten sensory contrast had no effect, possibly because the methodology interfered with pleasantness reduction. There was a trend for an effect of flavour intensity but this was complicated by differential initial liking. In conclusion, the results suggest that sensory-specific satiety contributes to consumption-related pleasantness reduction in a snack context but not alliesthesia. Sensory-specific satiety may generally be more transient in a snack context, and sensory and cognitive variables may influence this phenomenon but not post-ingestive feedback.
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Madigan, Susan Louise. "Policy-to-practice context for inclusive education in England, with specific reference to moderate learning difficulties (MLD)." Thesis, University of Warwick, 2011. http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/38307/.
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The research aim was to investigate the current policy-to-practice context for inclusive education in England for children with Moderate Learning Difficulties (MLD). A case study of one London Borough focused on mainstream and special education provision. Research questions required an examination of the policy-to-practice context of MLD and Bowe, Ball and Gold (1992) policy trajectory model was utilised to structure the research design and frame the data gathering. This facilitated an examination of contexts of policy influence, policy text production and practice, where text is reinterpreted. Successive stages of data gathering informed those that followed, from scrutiny of Hansard to access policy influences, through analysis of changing SEN legislation, to interviews with stakeholders and observations of target children with MLD. Hansard texts revealed lack of clarity in SEN definitions, the statementing process, parental choice and funding that led to inconsistencies in interpretation of policy and inequalities in inclusive practice at local level. Analysis suggested that efforts to create clarity and direction in local policy were thwarted by continuing difficulties to define MLD and inclusive education. Interviews indicated that educational provision for MLD children was adversely affected as this inhibited identification, consistent and effective interventions and thereby created possible inequities in funding allocation. Whilst robust funding formulae were in place, lack of clear group definition introduced a level of interpretation into the process, rendering equity in funding less likely. Interviews and observation indicated tensions and dilemmas were evident for practitioners in balancing the needs of all pupils, allocating resources and meeting individual needs. The experience of individual pupils were affected by deployment of staff, individualisation of the curriculum and social inclusion with peers, in both mainstream and special settings. Challenges facing all those involved in taking national policy, interpreting it and enacting it locally are identified and implications considered.
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Bapierre, Halgurt [Verfasser], Johann [Akademischer Betreuer] Schlichter, Georg [Akademischer Betreuer] Groh, and Gudrun J. [Akademischer Betreuer] Klinker. "Context Specific Next Location Prediction / Halgurt Bapierre. Gutachter: Johann Schlichter ; Georg Groh ; Gudrun J. Klinker. Betreuer: Johann Schlichter." München : Universitätsbibliothek der TU München, 2014. http://d-nb.info/1054752893/34.
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Ilia, Nikos. "The development of European identity in Cyprus : investigating content and processes in a specific representational and historical context." Thesis, Queen's University Belfast, 2012. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.579726.
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The present research informs the social psychological literature on the construction of social identities by supporting and extending the literature that argues for the importance of considering content, processes and context in the development of European identities. It involved conducting three empirical studies. It involved conducting three empirical studies. The first study comprised a media analysis of the Cypriot press. The data for the second and third studies were collected from different cities. Study 1 used content and thematic analyses to analyse three different Cypriot newspaper . The findings showed that the EU/Europe category was portrayed in different dimensions and both across and within each representational dimension there were both positive and negative images projected.
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Xu, Xin Ph D. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. "Towards a robust life cycle assessment tool for sustainable pavement designs : quantifying context-specific impacts of pavement albedo." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/119329.
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Thesis: Ph. D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2018.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 99-107).
While guidance have been developed for pavement life cycle assessment (LCA) in recent decades, it has not been widely implemented for supporting environmentally conscious pavement designs, partially due to the limitations in sub-models for quantifying the use phase impacts, such as albedo. High-albedo surfaces reflect more shortwave radiation, exerting "radiative forcing" (RF) on the earth. It also affects the ambient temperature and results in changes in building energy demand (BED). In the past, the impacts of pavement albedo were often ignored or quantified using very simple models. The net effect of RF and BED impacts in the context of pavement LCA remains unknown. This thesis presents a comprehensive approach to assess the effectiveness of pavement albedo modification strategies in urban neighborhoods. To estimate RF impact, we adapt an empirical analytical model from the literature and further incorporate the effects of cloudiness and shadings in the urban area. For BED, we develop a hybrid framework coupling multiple numerical models to account for the interactions between buildings and surrounding environment. Statistical meta-models are employed to facilitate more efficient computations with fewer input variables. The impact of several context-specific factors are taken into account in these models. Case studies are carried out to demonstrate the approach and results for urban neighborhoods in Boston and Phoenix, making use of data extracted from climate simulations and GIS datasets. Comparative analysis shows that the impact of changing pavement albedo can vary from one neighborhood to another, depending on contextual factors such as urban morphology and microclimate. In the case of Boston, densely-built urban neighborhoods in downtown area exhibit net life-cycle burdens of nearly 120 kg CO₂-eq/m² due to a 0.2 increase in road albedo, while net GWP savings can be observed in most low-density residential neighborhoods. This work provides insights into pavement albedo impacts at an urban scale and will help urban planners or decision makers to make informed decisions on whether pavement albedo enhancement is an option worth pursuing in a given urban area/neighborhood. Site-specific evaluation of pavement albedo impacts should ultimately be integrated into pavement LCA and guide decisions towards more sustainable pavement designs.
by Xin Xu.
Ph. D.
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Özgür, Turhan. "Comparison of Microsoft DSL Tools and Eclipse Modeling Frameworks for Domain-Specific Modeling in the context of Model-Driven Development." Thesis, Blekinge Tekniska Högskola, Avdelningen för programvarusystem, 2007. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:bth-2009.
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Today it is realized by industry that automation of software development leads to increased productivity, maintainability and higher quality. Model-Driven Development (MDD) aims to replace manual software development methods by automated methods using Domain-Specific Languages (DSLs) to express domain concepts effectively. Main actors in software industry, Microsoft and IBM have recognized the need to provide technologies and tools to allow building DSLs to support MDD. On the one hand, Microsoft is building DSL Tools integrated in Visual Studio 2005; on the other hand IBM is contributing to the development of Eclipse Modeling Frameworks (EMF/GEF/GMF), both tools aim to make development and deployment of DSLs easier. Software practitioners seek for guidelines regarding how to adopt these tools. In this thesis, the author presents the current state-of-the-art in MDD standards and Domain-Specific Modeling (DSM). Furthermore, the author presents current state-of-the-tools for DSM and performs a comparison of Microsoft DSL Tools and Eclipse EMF/GEF/GMF Frameworks based on a set of evaluation criteria. For the purpose of comparison the author developed two DSL designers (one by using each DSM tool). Based on the experiences gained in development of these DSL designers, the author prepared guidelines regarding how to adopt these tools to existing development environments as well as their advantages and drawbacks.
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Varde, Abhijit. "Local looking, developing a context-specific model for a visual ethnography a representational study of child labor in India /." Columbus, Ohio : Ohio State University, 2005. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc%5Fnum=osu1132682652.
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Rajakumar, Selvaraj Samuel John. "A study of pastoral care to the terminally ill in a multi-cultural context with specific reference to India." Doctoral thesis, University of Cape Town, 1997. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/17355.
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Includes bibliographies.In the circumstances prevailing in contemporary India, and certainly since AIDS, it is hardly possible for Christian Pastors to limit their hospital ministry, especially their ministry to the terminally ill, to members of their own denomination or religion. India is notoriously rich in its variety of religious traditions and, as we will see, there is a universal Indianness which seems to stamp itself upon even the representatives of the Abrahamic faiths present on that Continent. It is therefore vital that the Pastor should be able to enter gently and swiftly into a patient's religious world-view. To do this we need to see if the teeming chaos cannot be reduced to some conceptual categories and ways found to describe those categories and locate individuals within them. For this purpose we employed Cumpsty's General Theory of Religion. The theory establishes three coherent ideal types and sub-types of religious tradition in relation to which all actual traditions can be located. Central to the distinctions between them is that immediate experience can be real and ultimate, not real, or real but not ultimate, that is, reality can be monistic (in corporate or individual style) or dualistic. There are consequences of these, for example, the powers-that-be can be essentially personal or neither clearly personal nor impersonal; time is conceived as circular, rhythmical or linear. Sometimes life events are partially predictable and/or partially controllable or they are not. It is the mixing and matching of these, and similar, possibilities together with the affirmation that experience is chaos (the only overtly non-religious position) which provides a number of theoretical but recognizable profiles within the Indian situation. The crucial stage of the project was that in which these theoretical possibilities had to be operationalized in a set of questions meaningful within the context being investigated. The questionnaire which resulted was used to structure interviews in a pilot study in the Hindu, Muslim and Christian communities of Tamilnadu State, in response to which the questionnaire was accepted, but slightly extended for use in the main survey. The data obtained from both surveys allowed a number of actually existing profiles of different kinds to be identified and described, and also identified those questions which were the most discriminating in the location of respondents within these profiles. The instrument was then used in interviews with a, necessarily smaller, sample of terminally ill patients. The data from this study showed that in general the terminally ill fitted into the profiles identified for the "healthy". It also provided interesting information on the similarities and differences between the "healthy" sample and the terminally ill and (unexpected in its level of distinctiveness) differences between AIDS and cancer patients. The data also enabled the questions to be prioritized for use with terminally ill patients who had been located in a particular profile. Finally, a suggestion for an approach to pastoral care in each profile, based on an understanding of the "logic of belonging" operative in that profile, is offered.
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Buglione-Corbett, Rachel. "Adjuvant-Specific Serum Cytokine Profiles in the Context of a DNA Prime-Protein Boost HIV-1 Vaccine: A Dissertation." eScholarship@UMMS, 2004. http://escholarship.umassmed.edu/gsbs_diss/666.
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In recent years, heterologous prime-boost vaccination constructs have emerged as a promising strategy to generate broad and protective immunity against a variety of pathogens. The utility of DNA vaccination in priming the immune system, in particular, has improved the immunogenicity of vaccines against difficult pathogens such as HIV-1. In addition, many vaccine formulations include an adjuvant to augment immune responses. However, the mechanisms and profiles of many adjuvants remain largely unknown, particularly in the context of such combination immunization approaches.
My thesis research studied the effects of several adjuvants, QS-21, aluminum hydroxide, MPL, and ISCOMATRIX™ adjuvant in the context of a previously described pentavalent HIV-1 Env DNA prime-protein boost vaccine, DP6-001. In a murine model, we quantified HIV antigen-specific humoral and T cell responses, as well as pro-inflammatory serum cytokine and chemokines, both shortly after immunization and at the termination of studies. Our data indicates that each candidate adjuvant generates a unique pattern of biomarkers as well as improved immunogenicity in the context of the DP6-001 DNA prime-protein boost vaccine.
Additionally, we examined the impact of several innate signaling pathways on the adaptive immunity raised by DP6-001 and adjuvants, as well as on the unique serum cytokine profiles. These studies provide valuable information in selection of an adjuvant for inclusion in future prime-boost strategies, with the goal of enhancing immunogenicity while minimizing reactogenicity. Furthermore, these studies provided insight about the utility of different current adjuvants in a prime-boost formulation, and the unique immune environment induced by DNA priming.
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Buglione-Corbett, Rachel. "Adjuvant-Specific Serum Cytokine Profiles in the Context of a DNA Prime-Protein Boost HIV-1 Vaccine: A Dissertation." eScholarship@UMMS, 2013. https://escholarship.umassmed.edu/gsbs_diss/666.
Full textAbstract:
In recent years, heterologous prime-boost vaccination constructs have emerged as a promising strategy to generate broad and protective immunity against a variety of pathogens. The utility of DNA vaccination in priming the immune system, in particular, has improved the immunogenicity of vaccines against difficult pathogens such as HIV-1. In addition, many vaccine formulations include an adjuvant to augment immune responses. However, the mechanisms and profiles of many adjuvants remain largely unknown, particularly in the context of such combination immunization approaches.
My thesis research studied the effects of several adjuvants, QS-21, aluminum hydroxide, MPL, and ISCOMATRIX™ adjuvant in the context of a previously described pentavalent HIV-1 Env DNA prime-protein boost vaccine, DP6-001. In a murine model, we quantified HIV antigen-specific humoral and T cell responses, as well as pro-inflammatory serum cytokine and chemokines, both shortly after immunization and at the termination of studies. Our data indicates that each candidate adjuvant generates a unique pattern of biomarkers as well as improved immunogenicity in the context of the DP6-001 DNA prime-protein boost vaccine.
Additionally, we examined the impact of several innate signaling pathways on the adaptive immunity raised by DP6-001 and adjuvants, as well as on the unique serum cytokine profiles. These studies provide valuable information in selection of an adjuvant for inclusion in future prime-boost strategies, with the goal of enhancing immunogenicity while minimizing reactogenicity. Furthermore, these studies provided insight about the utility of different current adjuvants in a prime-boost formulation, and the unique immune environment induced by DNA priming.