Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Through-the-cycle'

Background: Violence has probably always been part of the human experience. Its impact can be seen, in various forms, in all parts of the world. In 1996, WHO:s Forty-Ninth World Health Assembly adopted a resolution , declaring violence a major and growing public health problem around the world. Public health work centers around health promotion and disease prevention activities in the population and public health is an expression of the health status of the population taking into account both the level and the distribution of health. Exposure to violence can have many aspects, differing throughout the life course — deprivation of autonomy, financial exploitation, psychological and physical neglect or abuse — but all types share common characteristics: the use of destructive force to control others by depriving them of safety, freedom, health and, in too many instances, life; the epidemic proportions of the problem, particularly among vulnerable groups; a devastating impact on individuals, families, neighborhoods, communities, and society. Methods: Three different data sources were used in the four articles, three cross-sectional studies (“Life and Health in Norrland” and “Health on Equal Terms 2004 and 2006”) and one longitudinal (“Level-of-Living Survey”). Results: We present an important picture of the strong association between exposure to violence and ill health through the life cycle. A population-based study showed an increased risk of poorer physical and psychological health among boys and girls aged 0-18, as reported by their mothers exposed to violence. Further, a strong association between those exposed to violence and physical and mental ill health was demonstrated in young adults aged 18-25, also after adjusting for possible confounders, specifically for women. Even in an elder group aged 65-84, representative results showed an extensive negative health outcome panorama caused by fear of crime and exposure to abuse both in elderly men and women. Lastly, in trying to provide additional empirical support for the association between exposure to violence and ill health the prospective study demonstrated that violence exposure in adolescence and young adulthood presented a negative association to severe illness burden in adulthood for women but not men. Conclusion: Exposure to violence among both men and women is an important risk factor for ill health and should receive greater attention in public health work. A strong association between violence and various health outcomes was demonstrated in different time periods through the life cycle.

Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited
This thesis addresses the importance of foreign assistance to U.S. national security. The history of U.S. foreign assistance suggests that a lack of consistent objectives is one of the primary challenges facing effective U.S. aid operations. Strategic aid planners can increase operational effectiveness by focusing on the following four planning considerations: (1) maintaining focus on recipient objectives, (2) stable funding, (3) making programs self-sustaining, and (4) minimizing dependency on U.S. appropriations or NGO donations. This thesis evaluates these factors in the context of three higher education foreign assistance programs. The Ford Foundation's International Fellowship Program offers an example of an international nonreligious NGO. The USAID-Higher Education for Development Training, Internships, Exchanges and Scholarships partnership in Mexico provides an example of a bilateral foreign assistance program. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Perpetual Education Fund offers an illustration of the humanitarian operations of an international religious organization.

Doutoramento em Ciências e Engenharia do Ambiente
A relevância do setor corticeiro do ponto de vista ambiental tem vindo a aumentar graças à transição, quer da indústria quer dos consumidores, para um mercado mais sustentável. A avaliação do impacte ambiental dos produtos de cortiça pode ser feita através da avaliação do ciclo de vida (ACV) para identificar as etapas e os processos mais influentes ao longo do seu ciclo de vida. Atualmente, existem poucos estudos de ACV disponíveis e a maioria deriva de dois países, Portugal e Espanha (os líderes do setor da cortiça). No entanto, os estudos existentes muitas vezes excluem a etapa de fim-de-vida ou quando ela é incluída consideram apenas um destino final, nomeadamente o aterro sanitário. Além disso, a maioria dos estudos existentes não considera a emissão e remoção de carbono biogénico no cálculo da pegada de carbono porque estas emissões são consideradas neutras (todo o carbono sequestrado na floresta vai ser emitido durante as etapas de fabrico, uso e fim-de-vida). Adicionalmente os estudos atuais consideram que todas as emissões ocorrem num tempo específico que pode não ser muito realista uma vez que as emissões podem ocorrem ao longo do tempo considerado no ciclo de vida do sistema. A presente tese tem o objetivo de enriquecer e ampliar o conhecimento do setor corticeiro. Vários estudos de caso de produtos de cortiça representativos (rolhas de cortiça natural, pavimento flutuante de cortiça, placas e regranulado de cortiça expandida) estão incluídos nesta tese a fim de identificar as etapas e os processos mais influentes em cada caso do ponto de vista ambiental. A contribuição dos produtos de cortiça para várias categorias de impacte ambiental é feita através do uso de ACV. Adicionalmente, a etapa de fim-de-vida das rolhas de cortiça natural é avaliada separadamente considerando várias alternativas e cenários para identificar a melhor opção em termos ambientais. Além disso, é desenvolvido e apresentado um modelo de simulação para o cálculo da pegada de carbono do setor corticeiro na sua totalidade. O objetivo deste modelo é facilitar a avaliação de todo o setor da cortiça, não só por etapa e processo, mas também por produto e na sua totalidade. Assim, este vem apoiar a tomada de decisões do setor, a fim de melhorar a sua pegada de carbono total. Adicionalmente uma abordagem de ACV mais recente é aplicada, a avaliação dinâmica do ciclo de vida. Ao contrário da abordagem tradicional (estática), que considera que todas as emissões e alterações climáticas ocorrem num tempo específico (geralmente 20, 100 ou 500 anos), a abordagem dinâmica considera as emissões e alterações climáticas que ocorrem em cada ano do horizonte temporal escolhido para o estudo. A consideração da abordagem dinâmica é aplicada pela primeira vez neste setor e fornece mais uma alternativa na avaliação da pegada de carbono do setor corticeiro. A presente tese destaca a importância da inclusão do carbono biogénico sequestrado e emitido no cálculo da pegada de carbono. Quando é incluído o setor é um sumidouro de carbono (pegada de carbono igual a -956,042 t CO2 eq. por ano) e quando é excluído é uma fonte de carbono (pegada de carbono igual a 172,844 t CO2 eq. por ano).
The relevance of the cork sector from an environmental point of view is currently increasing thanks to the transition, both of industry and the consumers to a more sustainable market. The evaluation of the environmental impact of the cork products can be done through life cycle assessment (LCA). This is a tool used for the evaluation of the entire life cycle of a product (from the extraction of the raw materials to the final disposal of the product) in order to identify the most influential stages and processes along the life cycle. Currently, there is a limited number of LCA studies ON cork found in literature and the majority derives from two countries, Portugal and Spain (the leaders of the cork sector). Those studies, usually exclude the end-of-life stage and when it is included they only consider one destination, namely landfilling. The majority of the existing studies doesn’t consider the emission and removal of biogenic carbon in the calculation of the carbon footprint since they are considered neutral (all biogenic carbon sequestered at the forest will be completely emitted during the stages of manufacturing, use and end-of-life). Additionally, the current studies consider that all the emissions occur in a specific time (reference year) and this might not be very realistic since the emissions may occur along the time considered in the life cycle of the system under study and this may influence the final conclusions reached. The present Ph.D. thesis aims to enrich and extend the knowledge of the cork sector. Different case studies of the most representative cork products (natural cork stoppers, cork floating floor, expanded cork slab and regranulates) are included in this thesis in order to identify the most influential stages and processes in each case from an environmental point of view. The contribution of the cork products for various environmental impact categories is done through the use of LCA. Additionally, the end-of-life stage for used natural cork stoppers is evaluated separately considering various alternatives and scenarios in order to identify the most efficient option from an environmental point of view. Moreover, a simulation model for the calculation of the carbon footprint of the entire cork sector is developed and presented. The goal of this model is to facilitate the evaluation of the entire cork sector not only per stage and process but also per product and as a total. Thus, it can be very useful for the decisionmaking of the sector in order to decrease its total carbon footprint. Additionally, a more recent approach is applied as well, the dynamic life cycle assessment. On the contrary of the traditional (static) approach that considers that all the emissions and climate change impacts occur on a specific time (usually 20, 100 or 500 years), the dynamic approach considers the emissions and impacts occurring in each year for the temporal horizon chosen for the study. The dynamic life cycle approach is applied for the first time on the cork sector and provides another alternative for the carbon footprint evaluation of the cork sector. The present thesis highlights the importance of including the sequestered and emitted biogenic carbon in the carbon footprint calculation of the cork sector. When biogenic carbon is included in the calculations, the cork sector is a carbon sink (carbon footprint equal to -956,042 t CO2 eq. per year) and when it is excluded the cork sector is a carbon source (carbon footprint equal to 172,844 t CO2 eq. per year).

In an effort to increase the cost-effectiveness of military equipment, a method has been developed to perform conceptual studies on combat aircraft, resulting in designs of specified capability optimised for minimum Life Cycle Cost (LCC). Consequently, the cost design loop can be considered as being closed, allowing the automated production of a consistent set of cost and performance data for different aircraft solutions. The design engineer can thus make informed, unbiased, design decisions, leading to a more efficient use of shrinking Defence budgets. Because of the vast scale to which the cost model could be developed, 'deep overheads' are not included, restricting the use of the tool to the comparison of similar weapons systems (combat aircraft), with a common set of design objectives and performance constraints. The aircraft conceptual design tool is based on classical design methods, recently adapted and updated, and validated with existing aircraft data. The engine performance and sizing modules have been developed from detailed thermodynamic models, whilst the LCC model is an amalgamation and update of several different methods, each written for a different phase in the system life cycle. The aircraft synthesis models, opfimisation tool and LCC algorithms are described, and validation results are presented where possible. The software cost model was used to generate a series of results, mimicking the early stages of an aircraft design selection procedure, and allowing a demonstration of the various trade-off studies that can be performed. Results from the selection process are presented and discussed, overall study conclusions arc drawn, and areas for further work suggested. Published data for real aircraft and engines are included in the Appendices, together with detailed aircraft parameter and cost output data generated by the model.

Membrane pyrophosphatases (M-PPases) couple pyrophosphate hydrolysis to the translocation of sodium ions/protons, using the resulting ion gradients to drive abiotic stress resistance and in the infectivity of protozoan parasites. I have solved two M-PPase structures in different catalytic states, combining these with previous structures to update the model of the catalytic cycle of M-PPases. These new structures confirm previous findings that substrate binding breaks interactions between K12.50 and D6.43 due to motion of helix 12, leading to a rearrangement of helix 6 and priming the enzyme for hydrolysis. Previously this information was only visible between the structures of two-distinct M-PPases, a H+-PPase and Na+-PPase. The current structures allow for comparisons to be made between structures of the same type of M-PPase. Electrometric data was acquired using the Nanion SURFE2R technique, which showed a proton-pumping signal was generated by the non-hydrolysable inhibitor, imidodiphosphate. This provided sufficient information to update the model of the complete catalytic cycle, favouring the hypothesised Binding change mechanism, in which substrate binding induces a series of conformational changes during which ion pumping occurs first, followed by substrate hydrolysis. Additionally, crystal optimisation techniques improved the resolution of the Pyrobaculum aerophilum M-PPase structure to 3.8, providing an overview of the K+-independent M-PPase. The hydrolytic centre and ion gate regions showed similar coordination to previous structures, with differences seen in the conformation of several outer ring helices, potentially linked to K+-independence. I also carried out mutational studies investigating K12.46 and T12.49, both involved in K+-independence and found that both mutations were required to generate a K+-dependent variant of PaPPase. Overall, this information has improved our understanding of the structure and function of the membrane pyrophosphatases, providing a basis for drug-design programmes targeting protozoan parasites, to which the membrane pyrophosphatases are a vital part of growth and infectivity.

The establishment and maintenance of highly specialised cell lineages is fundamental to the development of multicellular organisms. Cell identity is determined by specific transcriptional profiles, which are mediated by sequence-specific, chromatin-based and post-transcriptional mechanisms of gene regulation. Changes in cell morphology and chromatin structure which occur during the cell cycle present a challenge to the maintenance of lineage-specific gene expression profiles. This study investigates the role of post-transcriptional regulation by microRNAs in stabilising cell-specific gene expression through the process of cell growth and division. Data presented here show that microRNAs are inherited through mitosis in mammalian cells, and are capable of regulating target gene expression in recipient daughter cells. Genome-wide expression analysis indicates that key developmentally regulated genes marked by a bivalent chromatin signature are globally upregulated in microRNA-deficient ES cells. Binding sites for ES cell-specific microRNAs are significantly enriched in the 3'UTR of these transcripts compared to the rest of the transcriptome, strongly suggesting that microRNAs contribute to maintenance of ES cell identity by co-ordinately regulating multiple lineage inappropriate genes. Finally, analysis of the expression of validated microRNA targets and bivalent genes throughout the cell cycle shows that transcripts from these genes accumulate in G2/M to a greater extent in microRNA-deficient ES cells than in wildtype cells. Taken together, data presented in this study support a role for microRNAs in regulation of lineage-specific gene expression through the cell cycle.

Thesis: Ph. D., Joint Program in Physical Oceanography (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences; and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution), 2014.
Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 155-162).
This work concerns the nitrogen fixation and abundance of Trichodesmium colonies in the western subtropical-tropical North Atlantic and their connections with physical processes. Data were collected in fall 2010 and spring 2011, primarily using the Video Plankton Recorder (VPR). A data processing procedure for estimating the abundance of rare taxa was devised to take advantage of the accuracy of manual classification and the effort savings of automatic classification. The procedure entails selecting a subset of the original dataset, classifying it with automated software, and then manually correcting each classification. The method was validated through comparisons with fully classified VPR data and with abundance data based on microscopic enumeration on preserved samples. Correlations of Trichodesmium colony abundance with the eddy field emerged in two subsets of the VPR observations. In fall 2010, local maxima in abundance were observed in a series of cyclones. We hypothesized Ekman transport convergence/ divergence in cyclones/anticyclones as a driving mechanism. We investigated the process using idealized three-dimensional models of buoyant colonies in eddies. Elevated abundances in anticyclones in spring 2011 were correlated with anomalously fresh water, suggesting riverine input as a driver of the relationship. Finally, we evaluated the hypothesis of Davis and McGillicuddy (2006) that Trichodesmium nitrogen fixation in the North Atlantic may be underestimated by conventional sampling methods, based on their VPR observations of higher than expected colony abundances at depth in the subtropical North Atlantic. A bio-optical model was developed based on carbon-normalized nitrogen fixation rates measured in fall 2010 and spring 2011 and used to estimate nitrogen fixation over the VPR transects. Estimates of abundance and nitrogen fixation were similar in magnitude and vertical and geographical distribution to estimates compiled in a database by Luo et al. (2012). In the mean, VPR-based estimates of volume-specific nitrogen fixation rates at depth in the tropical North Atlantic were not inconsistent with estimates derived from conventional sampling methods. Based on this analysis, if Trichodesmium nitrogen fixation is underestimated, it is unlikely that it is attributable to underestimation of deep colony abundances due to mechanical disturbance during net-based sampling.
by Elise Marie Black Olson.
Ph. D.

Over the last decade, the use of BIM methodology, both in terms of technology and process, has experienced a rapid growth in the construction industry, there is a worldwide increase trend on the use and investment in this new technologies. Although, the benefits associated with the use of BIM in the construction industry, the literature has been demonstrated that BIM as a digital collaborative environment between construction stakeholders is here to stay. However, some aspects of the technology are still unfamiliar within the industry, several problems associated with BIM application and adaptation has been surfaced. Unsurprisingly when new technologies are used, such of these problems will appear, this is because BIM approaches represent new concepts and untested in construction industry. Therefore the challenge to overcome problems facing a using BIM, and identify the key risk factors becomes tangible more than any time before. From this perspective, the aim of this study is to identify the emerging risk that influence BIM use in the projects, investigate these risks based on the perception of academics and professionals from the Western world. In this research was to identify 128 of the risk factors based on a review of previous literature, these factors have been categorized into five key clusters (contractual, legal, technical, managerial, application and security). The study employs an online survey, which was sent to 426 respondents. The respondents were drawn from websites and professional networks. The statistical techniques of descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, ANOVA analysis, and analysis of variance were used for data analysis. The analysis findings show that four contractual risks were assessed to be important: LC2 "Trades on site may not be working from the model", LC1"Unclear how to deal with BIM documents’ precedence", and LC5 “Misplaced assumptions that the design team, with a “push of a button” is able to produce a perfectly coordinated series of documents through BIM”. In the legal risk cluster, the respondents agreed on the importance of L.IPR1 "Lack of clarity of the ownership of the BIM objects"; LD4 "Lack of knowledge of the missing data" and likewise, LP1 “Modelling participant does not meet the standard of care required” risk factors. The research findings also indicate that four technical risks will have an influence on BIM usage: TC1 “Complexity of transferring modelling data between programs from one program to another", TI2 "Lack of understanding of BIM for the different software platforms", TI3 "Interoperability shortcomings", TQ9 "Failure to discover errors in the model", and TI1 "Risks of different software platforms”. The results appear to show that the respondents thought ten managerial risk factors are of relevance: MX5 "Lack of understanding of the expectations from BIM modelling"; MX4 "Lack of experience and skilled personnel”; MC4 "Lack of clarity on integration BIM with the current business practice"; MS1 "Conflict due to dissimilar expectations from BIM"; MS4 "Lack of collaborative work processes and standards"; MX7 "Lack of understanding of BIM processes"; MX6 "Lack of understanding of modelling behaviors"; MX8 "Lack of expertise within the project team"; MX9 "Lack of expertise within the organizations"; and MS3 "Lack of criteria for BIM project implementation". Only three application risks were deemed important: PS6 "Implications of amendments are unclear or not defined"; PT10 "Lack of updating the designed model to incorporate the BIM changes made during construction"; and PT11 "Model not updated along with progress reviews" risk factors. The results showed that the respondents strongly agreed that eight out of ten BIM security risks are relevant in BIM application and are very likely to emerge: S9 "Disclosure of confidential information that need to integrate with BIM programs"; S6 "Lack of understanding or ignoring security policies"; S3 "Disclosure of BIM data"; S10 "Unauthorised access and remote access"; S5 "Weakness in technical controls"; S4 "Weakness in security procedures"; S8 "Corporate surveillance"; and S7 "Opening non-trusted e-mail" risk factors. The ANOVA analysis results revealed a variety of interrelationships between the identified risks based on respondents’ profiles, affect in adapting with application and the use of BIM, this requires to be considered by BIM stakeholders, and developing an international standard for BIM risk management, finding optimal solutions for such these identified factors, in addition to further studies and researches in this field. This thesis investigates the emerging risks from BIM application and delivers an original contribution to knowledge in the form of identifying and classifying BIM application risks, which will enhance the level of stakeholder awareness and avoid any risks associated with usage of BIM in the future projects and assist in the maturity of BIM usage.

The Southern Ocean forms a vital component of the earth system as a sink of CO2 and heat, taking over 40% of the annual oceanic CO2 uptake (75% of global heat uptake), slowing down the accumulation of CO2 in the atmosphere and thus the rate of climate change. However, recent studies based on the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project version 5 (CMIP5) Earth System Models (ESMs) show that CMIP5 ESMs disagree on the phasing of the seasonal cycle of the CO2 flux (FCO2) and compare poorly with available observation estimates in the Southern Ocean. Notwithstanding these differences, the seasonal cycle is a dominant mode of CO2 variability in the Southern Ocean, and hence this is an important bias. Previous studies suggest that these biases of FCO2 in ESMs might be a significant limitation to the long-term simulation of CO2 characteristics in the Southern Ocean. Consequently, this study has three primary objectives: first, to develop a process-based diagnostic method to analyze and isolate key biases and their underlaying mechanisms in the model-observations seasonal cycle of FCO2 differences for forced ocean models and ESMs. Second, to use this framework to examine sources of biases responsible for the limited skill of CMIP5 models in simulating the seasonal cycle of FCO2 with respect to observed estimates. Thirdly, to investigate how these present-day biases in the seasonality and drivers of CO2 in CMIP5 ESMs affect modelled longterm changes in the mechanisms of CO2 uptake in the Southern Ocean. In the first part of the dissertation, an objective diagnostic framework was established to analyze model-observation biases in the seasonal scale of FCO2 using the NEMO PISCES ORCA2LP model output, and Takahashi et al. (2009) observed estimates. The diagnostic framework focuses on examining the relative contributions of the competing drivers (SST and DIC) and related processes (solubility, biological and mixing) to instantaneous monthly changes in surface pCO2 (and FCO2) at the seasonal scale. In the second part of the dissertation, this approach is applied to 10 CMIP5 models in the Southern Ocean, to investigate the mechanistic basis for the seasonal cycle of FCO2 biases. It was found that FCO2 biases in CMIP5 models can be grouped into two main categories, i.e. group-SST and group-DIC. Group-SST models are characterized by an exaggeration of the seasonal rates of change of Sea Surface Temperature (SST) in autumn and spring during the cooling and warming peaks, respectively. These faster-than-observed rates of change of SST tip the control of the seasonal cycle of pCO2 and FCO2 towards SST and result in divergence between the observed and modelled seasonal cycles, particularly in the Sub-Antarctic Zone. While almost all analyzed models show these SST-driven biases, 3 out of 10 (namely NorESM1-ME, HadGEM2-ES and MPI-ESM, collectively the group-DIC models) compensate the solubility bias because of their exaggerated primary production, such that biologically-driven DIC changes become the regulators of the seasonal cycle of FCO2. It was also found that despite significant differences in the spatial characteristics of the mean annual fluxes, CMIP5 models show a zonal homogeneity in the seasonal cycle of FCO2 at the basin-scale in contrast to observed estimates. In the final third of the dissertation, using five CMIP5 ESMs from the RCP8.5 scenario, it was found that CMIP5 models present climate biases in the seasonality and drivers of FCO2 are fundamental to how models simulate long-term changes in the mechanisms of CO2 uptake in the Southern Ocean. Although all five analyzed models show an increased annual mean CO2 uptake by the end of the century, they show significant differences in the mechanisms. The present-day temperature biased models (group-SST) generally maintain the dominance of the temperature driver in the seasonal variability of FCO2 to end of the century. But show enhanced CO2 uptake due to increased anthropogenic atmospheric CO2 and decreased surface CO2 buffering capacity but they display a weak to null role of biological activity in the increased CO2 sink. On the other hand, the increased CO2 uptake at the end of the century in group-DIC models is explained increased biological driven CO2 uptake in spring, linked to increased Revelle factor and solubility driven CO2 uptake in winter. Increased Revelle factor at the end of the century enhance pCO2 changes for even smaller DIC changes.

Staphylococcus aureus (SA) is a major cause of infection in humans, including the Methicillin resistant strain, MRSA. However, very little is known about the mechanical properties of these cells. The investigations presented in this thesis use Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) to examine live SA cells to quantify their mechanical properties. These were explored using force spectroscopy with different trigger forces, allowing the properties to be extracted at different indentation depths. A value obtained with sharp silicon tips of (0.0134 +/-� 0.0068) Nm^�1 for the cell wall stiffness has been extracted, along with a second, higher value of (0.2062 �+/- 0.0039) Nm^�1 which is found upon indenting at higher forces. This higher value drops by a factor of more than 4 when the cells are exposed to high salt, sugar and detergent concentrations, implying that this measurement contains a contribution from the internal turgor pressure of the cell. These properties were monitored as the cells progressed through the cell cycle. Force maps were taken over the cells at different stages of the growth process to identify changes in the mechanics throughout the progression of growth and division. These experiments revealed no measurable change in the turgor pressure of the cell, as measured in this way, but it was found that newly formed areas of cell wall exposed for the first time during the separation of daughter cells gave a higher measured stiffness. This can be related to the structure of the cell wall, which changes as the newly formed cell wall matures during the development of the daughter cells. The effect of a b-lactam antibiotic, Oxacillin, has also been studied, in an attempt to better understand its mechanism of action. This class of drug is understood to work during division, preventing successful reproduction by inhibiting cell wall production leading to cell lysis. Images were taken throughout the process of b-lactam induced cell death for the �first time. Finally mutant strains of SA and a second species, Bacillus subtilis (BS), have been used to link the mechanical properties of the cell walls to structural alterations. Both of these groups of cells contain varied cell wall glycan chain lengths, allowing the study of the effect of chain length on the measured mechanical properties.

Ingeniero Civil Químico
This work reports the application of the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) technique to the analysis of the main copper production processes in the Chilean context. The goal of the study was to estimate the environmental benefit, in terms of Global Warming Potential (GWP), that can be achieved with more intensive use of solar technologies to produce energy for the Chilean mining industry. Specifically, the copper industry and its GWP are the focus of the work. A baseline for current GWP of pyro and hydrometallurgical copper processes was built, using 2014 average data for the Chilean industry. Pyro-processes are estimated at 4.901 [kgCO2eq(ton Cu)-1] and hydro-processes at 3.960 [kgCO2eq(ton Cu)-1]. Most of the overall Green House Gases (GHG) emissions for each type of process are electricity-related (87% in pyro-process and 76% in hydro-process). Photovoltaic (PV), Concentrated Solar Power CSP, and solar thermal technologies were assessed. For pyro-process GWP decreases 10% when integrating PV and 35% when integrating CSP. And for hydro-process GWP decreases 14% with PV, 48% with CSP and 4% when employing solar thermal technology. The highest GWP reduction is achieved when both CSP and solar thermal technologies are integrated in hydro-process. 2.090 [kgCO2eq(ton Cu)-1] are saved and GWP of this process decreases 53%. Suggestions for future steps of this research are: perform technical feasibility and economic evaluations of proposed alternatives, evaluation of other mixed technologies scenarios, improving process step-resolution in the models, and adopting a process-comprehensive approach (understanding the purpose of every energetic resource in the process). This will allow to achieve a better comprehension of the processes under study and propose new alternatives for solar technology integration in mining industry. El presente trabajo da cuenta de la implementación del método de Análisis de Ciclo de Vida (LCA, por su sigla en inglés) a los principales procesos productivos del cobre en el contexto chileno. El objetivo de este trabajo es estimar el beneficio ambiental que se podría alcanzar con un uso más intensivo de tecnologías solares en la industria minera nacional. Específicamente, el trabajo se enfoca en el potencial de calentamiento global (GWP por su sigla en inglés) de la industria de cobre. Se construyó una línea base para el GWP de los procesos piro e hidrometalúrgicos, considerando las condiciones actuales y empleando datos promedios para la industria chilena para 2014. Las emisiones del proceso pirometalúrgico se estiman en 4.901 [kgCO2eq(ton Cu)-1] mientras las del hidrometalúrgico en 3.960 [kgCO2eq(ton Cu)-1]. La mayoría de las emisiones totales de Gases de Efecto Invernadero para cada tipo de proceso provienen de la generación eléctrica (87% en pirometalurgia y 76% en hidro). Se evaluaron las tecnologías fotovoltaica (PV), solar de concentración (CSP) y solar térmica. La mayor reducción del GWP se logra al integrar CSP y solar térmica en el proceso hidrometalúrgico. Se dejan de emitir 2.090 [kgCO2eq(ton Cu)-1] y el GWP disminuye en un 53%. En pirometalurgia GWP disminuye 10% cuando se integra PV y 35% con CSP. Y en hidrometalurgia GWP disminuye 14% con PV, 48% con CSP y 4% con solar termal. Para los próximos pasos en la investigación se sugiere: realizar análisis económicos y de factibilidad técnica para las alternativas propuestas, evaluar la utilización de otras combinaciones de tecnologías solares, aumentar la resolución en etapas con la que se representa las líneas productivas y adoptar un enfoque de comprensión del uso de los recursos energéticos en el proceso (process-comprehensive approach). Esto permitirá lograr una mejor comprensión de los procesos en estudio y proponer nuevas alternativas para la integración de tecnologías solares en minería.

The snowshoe hare cycle has been fundamental to the development of ecological theory for more than half a century. Though these cycles have been intensively studied for over 70 years it is still unknown what mechanism causes young born in the decline to have much lower fitness than those born in the increase and peak phase and why the hare population remains low for 2-5 years after the decline phase even though the predator populations have collapsed and there is ample vegetation. My doctoral studies investigated how the risk of predation affected maternal stress and whether this would result directly in a decline in reproduction and indirectly, through maternal effects, in a decline in offspring physiology and fitness. To study the impact of predator-induced maternal stress I used a natural monitoring study and an experimental manipulation. In the former, I examined hares throughout the cycle and found that their stress levels were directly related to predator pressure, being greatest during the decline. During the low phase stress levels remained elevated at levels similar to those found at the peak when reproduction starts to decline. Lastly, I found that the variation in the length of the low phase (2-5 years) was related to the rate of loss of hares during the decline phase. In the experimental manipulation, pregnant hares were exposed to a simulated predator for 1 min. every other day for the last third of gestation. I found that an increase in predator-induced maternal stress resulted in a decline in litter size, birth weight, and birth size. Furthermore, these offspring had a compromised stress-axis resulting in higher baseline stress levels and an enhanced stress response. This occurred both at weaning and when the offspring were adult size. My results show that hares are highly sensitive to predation risk and that maternal stress results in a decrease in reproduction and also compromises their offspring’s stress physiology. These results support the hypothesis that the low phase of the population cycle is the result of the impact of inter-generationally inherited maternal stress caused by the high risk of predation during the decline.

This thesis focuses on the link between condition, defined as the magnitude of fat reserves, and maturation in two sub-populations of Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus L.). Histological, fatty acid (FA), univariate and multivariate analyses were used in a multi-scale approach to elucidate the relationship between body fat and maturity. Furthermore, the accuracy of commonly used proxies of condition and maturity was tested. No evidence was found to support the hypothesis that a threshold of fat must be exceeded for first maturation to occur; however, a size threshold was observed. During maturation, herring may be capable of both selectively incorporating certain FA into the ovary and also of synthesising FA within the ovary itself. Mesenteric fat was highly dynamic during maturation and likely plays a role in gonad development. Commonly used morphometric condition indices were not related to mesenteric fat and the relationship between morphometric indices and other more direct indices was dependent on maturity stage. Macroscopic maturity staging was unreliable and errors led to an under-estimation of the herring spawning stock biomass of up to 26%. A gonadosomatic index was validated which was able to discern between immature, mature and recovering fish more accurately than macroscopic staging. Few differences were found between North Sea autumn-spawning (NSAS) and Norwegian spring-spawning (NSS) herring in this study. The FA profiles of both sub-populations were similar over the maturity cycle and the effects of length and maturity stage on mesenteric fat were analogous for both populations. A photoperiod cue of first maturation was found for Atlantic herring. However, this cue differed between the subpopulations, with NSAS herring maturation being triggered by the spring equinox and NSS herring maturation being triggered later. A multi-scale approach was successfully employed to demonstrate that there is an intrinsic link between fat reserves and maturity in herring.

Thesis (M.B.A.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management; and, (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division; in conjunction with the Leaders for Global Operations Program at MIT, 2012.
Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 62).
Many companies have implemented lean and six sigma programs over the past twenty years. Lean has been a proven system that has eliminated waste and created value at many companies throughout the world. Raytheon IDS's lean program, "Raytheon Six Sigma" became a top priority in the past ten years at the Integrated Air Defense Center (IADC) in Andover, MA. However, as Raytheon's corporate goals state, they want to take this further and bring "Raytheon Six Sigma" to the next level, fully engaging customers and partners. A focus of this continuous improvement effort was the Electronics Assembly Rack manufacturing cell, which was experiencing high levels of cycle time variability. To help reduce cycle times within the cell, a continuous improvement project was undertaken to improve the material flow process. A current state analysis of the process showed an opportunity to improve process standardization and prioritization while lowering inventory levels. In addition to working with managers from EA to evaluate the material flow process, a kitting cart was developed with a cross functional project team to serve as a tool to help improve the process. Although the improvements were not rolled out to the entire cell during the project, a successful pilot was conducted that helped improve engagement with operators and create a path for future success.
by Paul Millerd.
S.M.
M.B.A.

A major problem with breast cancer treatment is the prevalence of antiestrogen resistance, be it de novo or acquired after continued use. Many of the underlying mechanisms of antiestrogen resistance are not clear, although estrogen receptor-mediated actions have been identified as a pathway that is blocked by antiestrogens. Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), such as tamoxifen, are capable of producing reactive oxygen species (ROS) through metabolic activation, and these ROS, at high levels, can induce irreversible growth arrest that is similar to the growth arrest incurred by SERMs. This suggests that SERM-mediated growth arrest may also be through ROS accumulation. Breast cancer receiving long-term antiestrogen treatment appears to adapt to this increased, persistent level of ROS. This, in turn, leads to the disruption of reversible redox signaling that involves redox-sensitive phosphatases and protein kinases and transcription factors. This has downstream consequences for apoptosis, cell cycle progression, and cell metabolism. For this dissertation, we explored if altering the ROS formed by tamoxifen also alters sensitivity of the drug in resistant cells. We explored an association with a thioredoxin/Jab1/p27 pathway, and a possible role of dysregulation of thioredoxin-mediated redox regulation contributing to the development of antiestrogen resistance in breast cancer. We used standard laboratory techniques to perform proteomic assays that showed cell proliferation, protein concentrations, redox states, and protein-protein interactions. We found that increasing thioredoxin reductase levels, and thus increasing the amount of reduced thioredoxin, increased tamoxifen sensitivity in previously resistant cells, as well as altered estrogen and tamoxifen-induced ROS. We also found that decreasing levels of Jab1 protein also increased tamoxifen sensitivity, and that the downstream effects showed a decrease p27 phosphorylation in both cases. We conclude that the chronic use of tamoxifen can lead to an increase in ROS that alters cell signaling and causing cell growth in the presence of tamoxifen, and that this resistant cell growth can be reversed with an alteration to the thioredoxin/Jab1 pathway.

Le ribosome est un complexe macromoléculaire impliqué dans la synthèse protéique de toutes les cellules vivantes. L’étape d’élongation de cette synthèse est un processus itératif débutant par la sélection au sein du ribosome d’un ARNt aminoacylé suivie par le transfert du peptide du site P- vers le site A- et de la translocation de l’ARNm et de l’ARNt. Le facteur d’élongation 2 (eEF2), qui catalyse la translocation, est l’un des acteurs majeur de cette étape d’élongation chez les eucaryotes. Cependant le mécanisme par lequel eEF2 induit ce processus est encore aujourd’hui inconnu. Dans cette étude structurale, nous présentons la première structure à haute résolution (3.1 Å) du complexe de pré-translocation résolu par cristallographie aux rayons X. La structure obtenue nous a permis d’identifier les différents composants du complexe de translocation et de proposer le rôle de l’His699 et celui de la diphtamide, modification post-traductionnelle d’eEF2, lors du stade de pré-translocation
Elongation is the longest stage of protein synthesis that takes place on the ribosome and represents a cycle that begins with an aminoacyl-tRNA selection followed by the catalysis of peptide transfer from the P- to the A-site and mRNA-tRNA translocation. Elongation factor 2 (eEF2) is one of the key player of elongation cycle in eukaryotes that catalyzes translocation of mRNA and tRNA on the ribosome. However the mechanism how eEF2 induces translocation on the ribosome is unknown. Current work investigates the structural aspect of protein synthesis machinery in eukaryotes. In particular we present first high resolution structure of functional pretranslocation complex solved at 3.1 A by X-ray crystallography. The obtained structure allowed us to see several features of translocation complex and to propose the role of His699 and post translational modification of eEF2 diphthamide during at pretranslocation stage

This study examined the relationship between love attitude and marital adjustment across five stages of the marital life-cycle in Nigerian society. The subjects for this study were 202 volunteers from six protestant churches representing six cities in the southern part of Nigeria. An average of 20 couples were representatives of each of the five marital life-cycles. Each of the subjects completed the Love Attitude Inventory (LAI), and the Marital Adjustment Test (short form) (MAT). Wilk's multivariate analysis revealed no significant differences between husbands' and wives' love attitude and marital adjustment across the five stages of the marital life cycle. Multivariate analysis split-plot 5.2 with repeated measures revealed no significant difference for the total sample among the groups, but indicated a significant difference between love attitude and marital adjustment for the total sample using sex as a factor. A univariate test of the MAT and LAI indicated that the MAT accounted for the difference. A canonical correlation indicated a significant positive relationship between husbands1 and wives' marital adjustment and love attitude within each of the five groups. The findings suggest that husbands and wives included in this study have a good understanding of their roles in the marriage relationship and that the partners have general agreement regarding those roles. The marriage partners apparently have strong influences on each other's perceptions of love attitude and marital adjustment.

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Aeronautics and Astronautics, February 2006.
"February 2006."
Includes bibliographical references (p. 87-88).
Astronauts are exposed to hazards unique to space travel. These hazards include radiation exposure and adaptation of the human body to the microgravity environment. For lunar and low earth orbital missions, the exposure period is typically less than six months and return to Earth is less than two weeks away. For travel beyond the Earth's moon, the microgravity exposure time will increase from months to years and return time will increase from weeks to months. Current countermeasures employ impact and high force loading to maintain bone health. An astronaut runs on a treadmill to impact load the weight bearing components of the musculoskeletal system. Elastic bands provide the "down" force for the astronaut while running. For high force loading, the astronaut performs a specified regimen of weight lifting exercises using resistive devices. The resistive devices provide a load in microgravity similar to that of free weights on Earth. These countermeasures have been beneficial in slowing bone adaptation, but have not stopped it. The imperceptible muscle contractions required for posture maintenance may be the absent load that the skeletal system requires to maintain bone health. Unlike the muscles that are required for impact and high force loading, the postural muscles work continuously to keep humans balanced and upright in a gravity environment.
(cont.) Jumping, running and even sitting require posture maintenance. Studies have shown that low magnitude loads applied at a high frequency to the weight bearing bones have not only maintained the bone mineral density, but also more importantly, maintained the structure of the bones. This thesis demonstrates the design of a vibrating pedal that delivers a perceptible, low magnitude load at a high frequency ([approx.]30 Hz) to the foot. This design required no external power and was implemented on a Human Powered Artificial Gravity (HPAG) cycle. A device similar to the vibrating pedal device created for this research could benefit society by providing an effective therapy against the disease of osteoporosis. A vibrating pedal could easily be mounted on a stationary cycle, possibly even standard bicycle, and provide a beneficial therapy to the user.
by Bruce Naakaii Ts'oh Webster.
S.M.

Utilizing in-depth interviews and constant comparative analysis through a qualitative approach, this research study examined the development of second language acquisition of US immigrants via the mass media as a part of the acculturation process. Nine international students (or international spouses of students) of a major midwestern university participated in 25-60 minute interviews. Based on participant responses, the author formulated the mediated language acquisition process, or the process by which the participants acquired English as an additional language with the help of the mass media. Additionally, motivation was found to be the primary indicator of the rate of language acquisition. The motivation cycle of mediated language acquisition attempts to describe the elements and factors involved in the increase or decrease of motivation during mediated language acquisition. Finally, the author presents some key findings of the study, regarding types of media and message which were most beneficial to participants as they acquired English as a new language.

Pocket proteins (pRb, p107 and p130) are well studied in the role of regulating cell proliferation by controlling progression through the G1/S phase of the cell cycle. Increasing genetic and anatomical evidence suggests that these proteins also control early differentiation and even later stages of cell maturation including neural migration. However, the multifaceted functions of pocket proteins in the regulation of cell proliferation and cell death has complicated our interpretation of their role during development. As a result, the mechanisms through which pocket proteins regulate neuronal migration and neural maturation remain unknown. Using a pRb and p107 double knock out model, we show that a population of upper layer cortical neurons fails to pass through the intermediate zone into the cortical plate. Importantly, these neurons are born at the appropriate time and have exited the cell cycle. In addition, the role of pocket proteins in radial migration is independent cell death, since this migration defect cannot be rescued by eliminating ectopic cell death through Bax deletion. We also show a novel role of pRb and p107 in development of the dorsal midline and guidance of callosal axons. In the absence of pRb and p107, the structures of the commissural plate are highly disorganized and the callosal axons fail to cross the midline. We identify primary defects in axon extension and expression of multiple guidance cues, which can be observed prior to the disorganization of the midline axon guidance structures. Through the use of in vitro cortical explants and in utero electroporation, we identify defects in the rate of axon extension and directional guidance independent from the midline. In addition, protein levels of Netrin and Neuropilin-1 are decreased in the absence of pRb and p107, which could mediate the function of pocket proteins in guiding callosal axons. Indeed, we identify a previously undescribed population of Netrin expressing cells in the cingulate cortex of control embryos which is lost in the pRb/p107 deficient littermates. We propose that these cells play a significant role in callosal axon guidance during normal development. The results presented in this dissertation define multiple novel roles of pRb and p107 in the regulation of radial migration and axon guidance, independent from the role of these pocket proteins in cell death and proliferation.

Thesis (M.S. in Information Technology Management)--Naval Postgraduate School, December 2005.
Thesis Advisor(s): Thomas Housel. Includes bibliographical references (p. 65-66). Also available online.

El reg és el principal consum antropogènic d'aigua dolça. Es preveu que l'explotació dels recursos hídrics per a millorar la producció d'aliments mitjançant pràctiques de reg seguirà augmentant en els propers decennis. De fet, es preveu que el creixement demogràfic i els canvis climàtics exerceixin una pressió encara més gran sobre els recursos hídrics disponibles. Tot i que el reg té conseqüències directes en la gestió racional dels recursos hídrics, així com en la producció d'aliments, cal un coneixement detallat dels llocs en què realment es rega a tot el món i de quanta aigua s'utilitza realment per les pràctiques de reg. En aquesta investigació s'han elaborat mètodes per detectar i cartografiar les zones on realment es rega, així com mètodes per estimar les quantitats d'aigua que s'apliquen per al reg; les metodologies proposades utilitzen dades d'humitat del sòl provinents de la teledetecció espacial. En aquesta investigació s'han adoptat dos casos d'estudi: el primer es troba a la conca de l'Ebre, al nord-est d'Espanya, mentre que l'altre és la conca de l'Alt Tíber, a Itàlia central. S'han assajat diversos productes d'humitat del sòl obtinguts per teledetecció amb diferents resolucions espacials per avaluar els que millor funcionen en la detecció de reg i, per tant, en la cartografia de les zones de regadiu. A més, s'han realitzat estimacions quantitatives de les quantitats d'aigua aplicades per al reg. L'activitat de detecció i cartografia del reg s'ha dut a terme en els dos casos d'estudi. En l'espanyol s'ha avaluat inicialment la capacitat de detecció de reg de diversos productes de teledetecció. S'han avaluat els següents jocs de dades d'humitat del sòl: SMAP (Soil Moisture Active Passive) a 1 km i 9 km, SMOS (Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity) a 1 km, Sentinel-1 a 1 km, i ASCAT (Advanced SCATterometer) a 12,5 km. Les versions d'1 km de SMAP i SMOS s'obtenen mitjançant la desagregació amb el mètode DISPATCH (DISaggregation based on Physical And Theoretical scale CHange). La detectabilitat del reg pels productes considerats s'ha avaluat mitjançant índexs derivats de la teoria d’estabilitat temporal aquí utilitzada sota aquesta nova perspectiva. A més, s'han elaborat mapes de les zones irrigades produïts a través de l'algoritme d'agrupament K-mitjanes. A les zones agrícoles de la conca de l'Alt Tíber, a Itàlia, s'ha realitzat una anàlisi a doble escala. En l'anàlisi a 1 km de resolució espacial s'ha aplicat el mateix procediment adoptat en el cas d'estudi de la conca de l'Ebre per avaluar la detectabilitat del regadiu mitjançant la humitat del sòl provinent de la teledetecció. S'han utilitzat els següents productes: SMAP a 1 km, la versió Sentinel-1 a 1 km publicada pel Copernicus Global Land Service, i una versió Sentinel-1 a escala de la parcel·la (produïda per THEIA) agregada a 1 km. Cal observar que els dos primers productes són els mateixos que també s’han utilitzat en el cas d'estudi espanyol. En aquesta anàlisi, així com en la realitzada sobre l'àrea d'estudi a la conca de l'Ebre, s'ha utilitzat com a suport el model de superfície continental SURFEX-ISBA (Surface EXternalisée - Interaction Sol Biosphère Atmosphère). En l'anàlisi a escala de parcel·la, les dades de THEIA Sentinel-1 agregades a 100 m s'han utilitzat per produir mapes d'alta resolució de les zones de regadiu mitjançant l'algoritme d'agrupament K-mitjanes. L'activitat de quantificació del reg s'ha dut a terme a la zona d'estudi a la conca de l'Ebre únicament; s'han realitzat dos experiments: un utilitzant SMAP amb dades a 1 km de resolució i un altre utilitzant SMOS amb dades a 1 km. Tots dos conjunts de dades s'han utilitzat per forçar l'algoritme SM2RAIN adaptat a l'estimació del reg. En l'algoritme s'ha aplicat una modelització més realista del terme d’evapotranspiració per reproduir adequadament l'evapotranspiració dels cultius segons el model de la FAO (Organització de les Nacions Unides per a l'Agricultura i l'Alimentació). Les anàlisis realitzades tenen per objecte satisfer les llacunes existents en el camp de la recerca relacionada amb el reg; els resultats obtinguts són útils per avaluar l'impacte de les pràctiques de reg en el cicle hidrològic.
El riego es el principal consumo antropogénico de agua dulce. Se prevé que la explotación de los recursos hídricos para mejorar la producción de alimentos mediante prácticas de riego seguirá aumentando en los próximos decenios. De hecho, se prevé que el crecimiento demográfico y los cambios climáticos ejerzan una presión aún mayor sobre los recursos hídricos disponibles. A pesar de que el riego tiene consecuencias directas en la gestión racional de los recursos hídricos, así como en la producción de alimentos, falta un conocimiento detallado de los lugares en los que realmente se riega en todo el mundo y de cuánta agua se utiliza realmente para las prácticas de riego. En esta investigación se han elaborado métodos para detectar y cartografiar las zonas donde realmente se riega, así como métodos para estimar las cantidades de agua que se aplican para el riego; las metodologías propuestas utilizan datos de humedad del suelo provenientes de la teledetección espacial. En esta investigación se han adoptado dos casos de estudio: el primero se sitúa en la cuenca del Ebro, en el noreste de España, mientras que el otro es la cuenca del Alto Tíber, en Italia central. Se han ensayado varios productos de humedad del suelo obtenidos por teledetección con diferentes resoluciones espaciales para evaluar los que mejor funcionan en la detección del riego y, por lo tanto, en la cartografía de las zonas de regadío. Además, se han realizado estimaciones cuantitativas de las cantidades de agua aplicadas para el riego. La actividad de detección y cartografía del riego se ha llevado a cabo en ambos casos de estudio. En el español se ha evaluado inicialmente la capacidad de detección de riego de varios productos de teledetección. Se han evaluado los siguientes conjuntos de datos de humedad del suelo: SMAP (Soil Moisture Active Passive) a 1 km y 9 km, SMOS (Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity) a 1 km, Sentinel-1 a 1 km, y ASCAT (Advanced SCATterometer) a 12,5 km. Las versiones de 1 km de SMAP y SMOS se obtienen mediante la desagregación con el método DISPATCH (DISaggregation based on Physical And Theoretical scale Change). La detectabilidad del riego por los productos considerados se ha evaluado mediante índices derivados de la teoría de la estabilidad temporal aquí utilizada bajo esta nueva perspectiva. Además, se han elaborado mapas de las zonas irrigadas producidos a través del algoritmo de agrupamiento K-medias. En las zonas agrícolas de la cuenca del Alto Tíber, en Italia, se ha realizado un análisis a doble escala. En el análisis a 1 km de resolución espacial, se ha aplicado el mismo procedimiento adoptado en el caso de estudio de la cuenca del Ebro para evaluar la detectabilidad de la irrigación mediante la humedad del suelo por teledetección. Se han utilizado los siguientes productos: SMAP a 1 km, la versión Sentinel-1 a 1 km entregada por el Copernicus Global Land Service, y una versión Sentinel-1 a escala de parcela (producida por THEIA) agregada a 1 km. Obsérvese que los dos primeros productos son los mismos que también se utilizaron en el caso de estudio español. En este análisis, así como en el realizado sobre el área de estudio en la cuenca del Ebro, se ha utilizado como soporte el modelo de superficie terrestre SURFEX-ISBA (SURface EXternalisée - Interaction Sol Biosphère Atmosphère). En el análisis a escala de parcela, los datos del THEIA Sentinel-1 agregados a 100 m se han utilizado para producir mapas de alta resolución de las zonas de regadío mediante el algoritmo de agrupamiento K-medias. La actividad de cuantificación del riego se ha llevado a cabo en la zona de estudio de la cuenca del Ebro únicamente; se han realizado dos experimentos: uno explotando SMAP con datos a 1 km de resolución y otro explotando SMOS con datos a 1 km. Ambos conjuntos de datos se han utilizado para forzar el algoritmo SM2RAIN adaptado a la estimación del riego. En el algoritmo se ha aplicado una modelización más realista del término de evapotranspiración para reproducir adecuadamente la evapotranspiración de los cultivos según el modelo de la FAO (Organización de las Naciones Unidas para la Agricultura y la Alimentación). Los análisis realizados tienen por objeto colmar las lagunas existentes en el campo de la investigación relacionada con el riego; los resultados obtenidos son útiles para evaluar el impacto de las prácticas de riego en el ciclo hidrológico.
Irrigation is the primary source of anthropogenic freshwater consumptions. The exploitation of water resources to improve the food production through irrigation practices is expected to further increase in the upcoming decades. In fact, the population growth and climate changes are expected to put even more pressure on the available water resources. Despite irrigation having direct implications on the rational management of water resources, as well as on food production, a detailed knowledge of where irrigation actually occurs worldwide and of how much water is actually used for irrigation practices is missing. In this research, approaches to detect and map areas where irrigation actually occurs, as well as methods to estimate the amounts of water applied for irrigation, have been developed; the proposed methodologies exploit remote sensing soil moisture. Two case studies have been considered in this research: the first one is located within the Ebro basin, in North-eastern Spain, while the other one is the Upper Tiber basin, in central Italy. Several remotely sensed soil moisture products at different spatial resolutions have been tested to evaluate the best performing ones in detecting irrigation signals and thus mapping irrigated areas. In addition, quantitative estimates of the water amounts applied for irrigation have been performed. The irrigation detection and mapping activity has been carried out over both case studies. In the Spanish one, the capability to detect irrigation of several remote sensing products has been initially assessed. The following soil moisture data sets have been evaluated: SMAP (Soil Moisture Active Passive) at 1 km and 9 km, SMOS (Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity) at 1 km, Sentinel-1 at 1 km, and ASCAT (Advanced SCATterometer) at 12.5 km. The 1 km versions of SMAP and SMOS are obtained through downscaling with the DISPATCH (DISaggregation based on Physical And Theoretical scale CHange) method. The detectability of irrigation by the considered products has been assessed through indices derived from the temporal stability theory here used under this new perspective. Furthermore, maps of irrigated areas have been produced through the K-means clustering algorithm. Over the agricultural areas in the Upper Tiber basin, in Italy, a double-scale analysis has been carried out. In the analysis at 1 km spatial resolution, the same procedure adopted over the case study in the Ebro basin to evaluate the detectability of irrigation through remotely sensed soil moisture has been applied. The following products have been used: SMAP at 1 km, the Sentinel-1 at 1 km version delivered by the Copernicus Global Land Service, and a plot-scale-born Sentinel-1 version (produced by THEIA) aggregated at 1 km. Note that the first two products are the same used over the Spanish case study also. In this analysis, as well as in the one carried out over the study area in the Ebro basin, surface soil moisture simulated by the SURFEX-ISBA (SURface EXternalisée - Interaction Sol Biosphère Atmosphère) land surface model has been used as support. In the plot-scale analysis, THEIA Sentinel-1 data aggregated at 100 m have been used to produce high-resolution maps of irrigated areas through the K-means clustering algorithm. The irrigation quantification activity has been carried out over the study area in the Ebro basin only; two experiments have been performed: one exploiting SMAP at 1 km data and another one exploiting SMOS at 1 km data. Both data sets have been used to force the SM2RAIN algorithm adapted to estimate irrigation. A more realistic modeling of the evapotranspiration term has been implemented into the algorithm to properly reproduce the crop evapotranspiration according to the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) model. The analyses carried out are aimed at filling the existing gaps in the irrigation-related research field; the obtained results are useful to assess the impact of irrigation practices on the hydrological cycle.
L’irrigazione è la principale fonte di consumo di acqua dolce. Nei prossimi decenni è atteso un ulteriore sfruttamento della risorsa idrica per incrementare la produzione di cibo attraverso le pratiche irrigue. Si stima infatti che la crescita della popolazione e i cambiamenti climatici possano esercitare una pressione ancora maggiore sulle risorse idriche disponibili. Nonostante le importanti implicazioni che ha l’irrigazione sulla gestione razionale dell’acqua e sulla produzione di cibo, non si ha una conoscenza dettagliata di dove l’irrigazione effettivamente avvenga nel mondo e di quanta acqua venga effettivamente utilizzata per le pratiche irrigue. In questa ricerca sono stati sviluppati approcci per rilevare e mappare le aree dove effettivamente si verifica l’irrigazione e per stimare i volumi irrigui; le metodologie proposte sfruttano l’umidità del suolo rilevata da satellite. In questa ricerca sono stati considerati due casi di studio: il primo si trova nel bacino del fiume Ebro, nel Nord-Est della Spagna, mentre l’altro è il bacino superiore del Tevere, nell’Italia centrale. Diversi prodotti di umidità del suolo da satellite, caratterizzati da diverse risoluzioni spaziali, sono stati valutati al fine di determinare i più performanti nel rilevare segnali di irrigazione e quindi mappare le aree irrigate. Inoltre, sono state eseguite stime quantitative dei volumi di acqua utilizzati per pratiche irrigue. L’attività di rilievo e mappatura dell’irrigazione è stata condotta su entrambe le aree pilota. In quella spagnola, è stata valutata la capacità di rilevare l’irrigazione di diversi prodotti di umidità del suolo. Sono stati considerati i seguenti set di dati: SMAP (Soil Moisture Active Passive) a 1 km e 9 km, SMOS (Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity) a 1 km, Sentinel-1 a 1 km e ASCAT (Advanced SCATterometer) a 12.5 km. Le versioni a 1 km di SMAP e SMOS sono ottenute tramite disaggregazione eseguita con il metodo DISPATCH (DISaggregation based on Physical And Theoretical scale CHange). La capacità di rilevare l’irrigazione da parte dei prodotti considerati è stata valutata tramite indici derivanti dalla teoria della stabilità temporale e usati in questo studio sotto una nuova prospettiva. Inoltre, sono state prodotte delle mappe delle aree irrigate attraverso l’algoritmo di classificazione K-means. Un’analisi a doppia scala spaziale è stata condotta sulle aree agricole all’interno del bacino superiore del Tevere, in Italia. Nell’ambito dell’analisi alla risoluzione spaziale di 1 km, è stata applicata la stessa procedura già adottata per il caso di studio nel bacino dell’Ebro per valutare la possibilità di rilevare l’irrigazione tramite umidità del suolo da satellite. Sono stati utilizzati i seguenti prodotti: SMAP a 1 km, la versione a 1 km di Sentinel-1 fornita da Copernicus Global Land Service e una versione di Sentinel-1 originariamente prodotta de THEIA alla scala di parcella e aggregata a 1 km. Va sottolineato che i primi due prodotti menzionati sono stati utilizzati anche sull’area pilota in Spagna. Sia in questa analisi che in quella condotta nel bacino dell’Ebro, dati di umidità del suolo superficiale modellati tramite il modello di superficie terrestre SURFEX-ISBA (SURface EXternalisée - Interaction Sol Biosphère Atmosphère) sono stati utilizzati come supporto. Nell’analisi alla scala di parcella, sono stati impiegati i dati di Sentinel-1 prodotti da THEIA e aggregati a 100 m al fine di produrre mappe di aree irrigate ad alta risoluzione tramite l’algoritmo di classificazione K-means. L’attività di quantificazione dell’irrigazione è stata finalizzata solamente per l’area pilota nel bacino dell’Ebro; sono stati condotti due esperimenti: uno utilizzando i dati da SMAP a 1 km e un altro sfruttando i dati da SMOS a 1 km. Entrambi i set di dati sono stati utilizzati per forzare la versione dell’algoritmo SM2RAIN adattata per la stima dell’irrigazione. Una modellazione più realistica dell’evapotraspirazione è stata implementata nell’algoritmo al fine di riprodurre adeguatamente l’evapotraspirazione delle colture secondo il modello FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization). Le analisi condotte sono finalizzate a colmare le lacune esistenti nel campo di ricerca relativo all’irrigazione; i risultati ottenuti sono utili per valutare l’impatto delle pratiche irrigue sul ciclo idrologico.

Mitosis is a process that ensure the correct distribution of the chromosomes between the two newly generated cells, is tightly regulated by two main processes, protein degradation controlled by the APC and protein phosphorylation by different mitotic kinases. CDK1 is the master regulator of mitosis but in the last decades proteins from the Aurora or Polo or the NIMA family have been shown to play key roles in mitosis. The objective of this thesis is to identify new roles during the cell cycle and more specifically the late phases of mitosis of Nek9, a NIMA-related kinase. We aim to characterize new substrates and functions of the kinase by using different cell lines and genetically modified mice and interfering with Nek9 expression. The centrosome acts as the major microtubule-organizing center (MTOC) of the cell to maintain cytoskeleton in interphase and to organize the bipolar spindle in mitosis, and its duplication cycle is coupled with the cell cycle. When the cell enters mitosis, the duplicated centrosomes separate to the spindle poles and assemble the bipolar mitotic spindle for accurate chromosome separation and to maintain genomic stability. However, centrosome aberrations occur frequently and often lead to abnormal mitotic spindle formation, which can result in abnormal chromosome segregation and as a consequence tumorigenesis, microcephaly or ciliopathies. Nek9 is inactive during interphase and activated at centrosomes and spindle poles during mitosis by a two-step mechanism mediated by Plk1 and CDK1. Once active, Nek9 is able to bind Nek6 and Nek7 and directly phosphorylate these kinases inducing in turn their activation. Our group has shown that Nek6/7 phosphorylates the kinesin Eg5 at Ser1033 in the C-terminal domain, modulating the accumulation of Eg5 at or around centrosomes and their separation during prophase. Nek9 also phosphorylates the adapter NEDD1/GCP-WD, independently of Nek6/7, contributing to its recruitment to the centrosome and in consequence, to the recruitment of the microtubule nucleating complex formed by y-tubulin to the same organelle. Thus, Nek9, Nek7 and Nek6 regulate different aspects of the centrosome machinery during the entry in mitosis and have a role in spindle organization and correct mitotic progression. Here we show that animals with a single Nek9 KO allele are healthy and fertile but intercrosses between them have not resulted in any homozygous null animals among born offspring indicating that the deletion of Nek9 is embryonic lethal. Also embryos obtained from these intercrosses had a higher frequency of mitotic abnormalities that result in death during the first days of development. As Nek9 is important for the proper development of mitosis we checked whether the expression in heterozygosity of Nek9 results in tumors affecting the viability of the animals. Some differences in tumor-free lifespan between heterozygous and wild type animals have been observed, with the appearance of tumors and aneuploidy. In addition, elimination of Nek9 expression lead to the apparition of abnormal mitosis, aneuploidy and multiple centrosomes both in genetically engineered MEFs and human cells, resulting in accumulation of centrobin, a protein mostly associated with the daughter centrioles, in the amplified centrioles. In the present thesis we describe possible new functions and substrates of Nek9 in the centrosome cycle, closely linked to the cell division cycle, after interfering with its expression using different strategies.
La mitosis es un proceso que asegura la distribución correcta de los cromosomas entre dos células recién generadas, está regulada por dos procesos principales, la degradación y la fosforilación de proteínas por diferentes quinasas mitóticas. CDK1 es el principal regulador de la mitosis, pero en las últimas décadas se ha demostrado que las proteínas de la familia Aurora o Polo o NIMA desempeñan un papel clave en la mitosis. El objetivo de esta tesis es identificar nuevas funciones de Nek9, una quinasa de la familia NIMA, durante el ciclo celular y más específicamente durante las fases tardías de la mitosis. Nuestro objetivo es caracterizar nuevos sustratos y funciones de la quinasa mediante el uso de diferentes líneas celulares y ratones genéticamente modificados que nos permiten interferir con la expresión de Nek9. El centrosoma actúa como el principal centro organizador de microtúbulos de la célula para mantener el citoesqueleto en interfase y para organizar el huso bipolar en la mitosis, su ciclo de duplicación va en sintonía con el ciclo celular. Cuando la célula entra en mitosis, los centrosomas duplicados se separan ensamblando el huso mitótico para segregar los cromosomas y para mantener la estabilidad genómica. Sin embargo, diferentes aberraciones ocurren con frecuencia en el centrosoma y a menudo conducen a la formación anormal del huso mitótico, que puede dar como resultado una segregación cromosómica anormal y, como consecuencia, tumorogénesis, microcefalia o ciliopatias. Nek9 está inactiva en interfase y se activa en los centrosomas durante la mitosis mediante un mecanismo de dos pasos mediado por Plk1 y CDK1. Una vez activo, Nek9 se puede unir a Nek6 y Nek7 y fosforilarlas induciendo a su vez su activación. Nuestro grupo ha demostrado que Nek6/7 fosforilan la quinesina Eg5, modulando la acumulación de Eg5 en los centrosomas y su separación durante la profase. Nek9 también fosforila el adaptador NEDD1 / GCP-WD, independientemente de Nek6/7, lo que contribuye a su reclutamiento en el centrosoma y, en consecuencia, al reclutamiento del complejo de nucleación de microtúbulos formado por y-tubulina. Aquí mostramos que los animales con un único alelo Nek9 KO están sanos y son fértiles. Sin embargo, los cruces entre ellos no dan lugar a ningún animal KO homocigoto, lo que indica que la eliminación de Nek9 es letal durante el desarrollo embrionario. Además, los embriones procedentes de estos cruces tienen una mayor frecuencia de defectos mitóticos que provocan la muerte durante los primeros días de desarrollo. Como Nek9 es importante para el correcto desarrollo de la mitosis, queríamos ver si la expresión en heterocigosis daba como resultado tumores que afectan la viabilidad de los animales. Se han observado algunas diferencias en la esperanza de vida libre de tumores entre los heterocigotos con cierta incidencia de cáncer y aneuploidía. Por otro lado, la eliminación de la expresión de Nek9 en células conduce a la aparición de mitosis anormales, aneuploidía y múltiples centrosomas, tanto en fibroblastos embrionarios de ratón genéticamente modificados como en células humanas teniendo como consecuencia la acumulación de centrobina, una proteína presente en los procentriolos. En la presente tesis describimos posibles nuevas funciones y sustratos de Nek9 en el ciclo del centrosoma, íntimamente ligado al ciclo de división celular, tras interferir con su expresión de diferentes formas.

The global economy is controlled by an 'international economic–legal regime' (hereinafter "IELR"), in which international economic institutions (hereinafter "IEIs") are the major nonstate actors. They provide the rules of the game for the interaction of the States in an international economic scenario. These IEIs, through their institutional capacity, enhance certainty and predictability within the IELR, thereby passively supporting stable and a balanced growth of global economy. This thesis argues that opportunities to achieve stable and balanced growth, in which both the financial and the real side of the economy grow, can be improved if the IEIs increase their focus on the relationship between the Economic Cycle and the IEIs' institutional role. This argument is developed by analysing the relationship between the IEIs' institutional role and the Economic Cycle, first describing the Economic Cycle, and then clarifying the functioning of the IEIs in their institutional role. To narrow the scope of this research, this thesis takes two IEIs as case studies; namely, the IMF and the WTO.

Pancreatic cancer is an aggressive disease with poor prognosis and a high fatality rate. Gemcitabine, the standard first-line chemotherapy for advanced disease, has negligible effects, necessitating the development of new therapies. We previously demonstrated that deletion of the anti-apoptotic gene E1B19K (AdΔ19K) in a replication-selective adenoviral mutant, caused synergistically-enhanced cell-killing when combined with low-dose DNA-damaging drugs in pancreatic cancer xenograft models. To delineate the cellular pathways targeted by the combination treatment we employed AdΔ19K and gemcitabine or irinotecan, with the goal of identifying cellular factors that are essential for the synergistic cell-killing. We hypothesised that AdΔ19K and DNA-damaging drugs act synergistically to deregulate cell-cycle mechanisms. Pancreatic cancer cell death induced by AdΔ19K and DNA-damaging drugs is apoptotic and time-dependent. AdΔ19K could not block DNA-damage responses (DDR) elicited by the drugs, despite virus-mediated degradation of the DDR factor Mre11. Mre11 siRNA-mediated knockdown augmented the synergistic cell death. Mitotic-index analysis in synchronised cells and immunofluorescence microscopy suggested that AdΔ19K promotes mitotic entry of gemcitabine-treated DNA-damaged cells. Moreover, AdΔ19K inhibited drug-induced accumulation of Claspin, a DDR protein whose degradation is required for checkpoint recovery. Treatment with AdΔ19K and gemcitabine accelerated Claspin degradation, and siRNA-mediated Claspin knockdown enhanced the synergistic cell death. Time-lapse microscopy in histoneH2B mCherry-expressing cells showed that AdΔ19K enhanced gemcitabine-induced mitotic catastrophe, characterised by prolonged mitosis, chromosome missegregation errors, cytokinesis failure and formation of multinucleated cells. Moreover, live-cell imaging revealed that the majority of cells treated with AdΔ19K and gemcitabine die before mitotic entry. 5 These findings suggest that E1B19K-deleted adenoviruses cannot prevent cell-cycle checkpoint responses elicited by DNA-damaging drugs, but enhance drug-induced cell death by downregulating DDR factors, such as Mre11 and Claspin. Additionally, the virus enhances mitotic catastrophe of DNA-damaged cells escaping cell-cycle checkpoints, eventually leading to increased apoptosis. Through these studies cellular pathways and factors involved in the synergistic cell killing were identified, that could be explored in the future to develop improved targeted therapies for pancreatic cancer.

The purpose of this investigation was to ascertain if the implementation of the 5E learning cycle model in lesson planning and lesson presentation could improve student academics, interest and confidence in science. The 5E learning cycle model consists of five phases of teaching: engage, explore, explain, elaborate, and evaluate. The phases are not linear and can be taught in a dynamic approach to address demonstrated student comprehension of the content. During this investigation, students completed an interest survey every six weeks and completed pre- and post-tests throughout the treatment period. The treatment consisted of an Illinois State Achievement Test (ISAT) preparation unit and three mini-units: atoms, force and motion introduction, and speed and motion graphing. There were slight gains noted in student self-expressed interest and confidence in science throughout the treatment period and school year, and student self-expressed interest and confidence fluctuated. Interest in a science career demonstrated the greatest gain. Students also demonstrated small gains within the mini-units. However, greater gains were achieved and noted within the ISAT preparation unit, especially when compared to a traditionally taught classroom. Within this research project, it was determined that the 5E model has the potential to improve student academics, interest and confidence in science, when implemented properly and with dedication and fidelity.

Thesis (M.S. in Program Management) Naval Postgraduate School, Dec. 2001.
Thesis advisors: David F. Matthews, Nelson T. Martin. "December 2001." Includes bibliographical references (p. 47-49). Also available in print.

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In order to keep its ships and aircraft in an operational status, the U.S. Navy must have access to the parts necessary for repair. Current supply warehouses do not always carry the required repair parts; therefore, when parts are unavailable, the Navy must either look to traditional acquisition sources or utilize manufacturing capabilities available at depot and intermediate maintenance activities. This thesis examines the potential cost benefits of incorporating additive manufacturing (AM), commonly known as 3D printing, and collaborative product life cycle management (CPLM) software into these maintenance activities. The research uses the knowledge value added (KVA) methodology to analyze modeled data and capture and quantify the benefits of introducing AM and CPLM technologies into Navy maintenance activities. This proof of concept was developed to apply AM and CPLM to as-is and several to-be maintenance process models in order to measure the potential benefits. By introducing AM and CPLM technologies into the current manufacturing process, the notional scenario showed positive results and suggests a significant reduction to cycle time and a potential cost savings of $1.49 billion annually.

The blue crab, Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, 1896, was studied because of its high dollar value to Florida's commercial and recreational fisheries. The purpose of this study was to describe the structure of the ovary and oogenesis in the blue crab and the morphological changes in the female reproductive developmental stages over time. Histological techniques for high-resolution light microscopy were used to determine sexual maturity of female blue crabs. The ovarian morphology, oogenesis, and changes through the annual reproductive cycle of blue crabs in Tampa Bay were investigated for a period of two years, from January 2005 to January 2007. Ovarian structure was assessed by analyzing histological sections embedded in plastic epoxy resin, which provided a higher resolution than any other embedding material previously used in research on blue crab reproduction. Qualitative analyses of female gonads were made by describing the structure of the oocytes and determining the developmental stage of the oocytes from oogonia to full-grown oocytes. This study developed and introduced a new reproductive staging criteria for the species. Morphological characteristics of ovarian tissues and oocytes were determined to develop a classification for oocyte maturation stages. Morphological changes in the oocytes are well defined, and these were used to develop the staging schema. In this study, it was found that carapace width is not a good indicator of maturity or developmental stage. Examination of the annual reproductive cycle indicates that late secondary growth occurs from July to March, and gravid crabs were found during November and December. Histological examination of ovarian tissue is essential for determining maturity in female blue crabs. By observing ovarian characteristics and by establishing the length of secondary growth during oogenesis in blue crabs of Tampa Bay, a more thorough understanding of the cyclic reproductive aspects of this species was obtained and specifically that animals at a carapace width between 100 mm and 125 mm may have mature oocytes, yet external features may not indicate that they are mature.

A new concept for the low speed propulsion mode in rocket based combined cycle (RBCC) engines has been developed as part of the NASA GTX program. This concept, called the independent ramjet stream (IRS) cycle, is a variation of the traditional ejector ramjet (ER) design and involves the injection of hydrogen fuel directly into the air stream, where it is ignited by the rocket plume. Experiments and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) are currently being used to evaluate the feasibility of the new design. In this work, a Navier-Stokes code valid for general reactive flows is applied to the model engine under cold flow, ejector ramjet, and IRS cycle operation. Pressure distributions corresponding to cold-flow and ejector ramjet operation are compared with experimental data. The engine response under independent ramjet stream cycle operation is examined for different reaction models and grid sizes. The engine response to variations in fuel injection is also examined. Mode transition simulations are also analyzed both with and without a nitrogen purge of the rocket. The solutions exhibit a high sensitivity to both grid resolution and reaction mechanism, but they do indicate that thermal throat ramjet operation is possible through the injection and burning of additional fuel into the air stream. The solutions also indicate that variations in fuel injection location can affect the position of the thermal throat. The numerical simulations predicted successful mode transition both with and without a nitrogen purge of the rocket; however, the reliability of the mode transition results cannot be established without experimental data to validate the reaction mechanism.