243 research outputs found
Economic Impact of Rural Development Plan 2007 2013 in Tuscany
No full textIn 2007 in every European Union region, involved in the planning of Rural Development Plan (RDP), an independent evaluator should asses the impact of the plan in term of value added and productivity. Each region has adopted different methodologies but few of them have followed the indications of Common and Monitoring Evaluation Framework (CMEF) to evaluate the net value deriving by direct and indirect effect. IRPET, the Independent evaluator of Tuscany, utilising REMI-IRPET model has assed the impact of RDP on the main economic variables until 2020. Among 30 different measures it has been chosen only 5 of them that cover more than 54% of total amount of public and private investments. The economic impacts are also evaluated at provincial level.evaluation, regional model, rural development, Community/Rural/Urban Development,
Reforming tradition : a conversation with Remi De Roo
No full textOne of Canada’s longest serving Catholic bishops, participant in Vatican II, scholar,
author, advocate on behalf of the poor and critic of capitalism--Remi De Roo has led a
remarkable 94 year life of faith in action. Join him for an intimate encounter that includes
a public interview with former CBC host Ian Alexander, and questions from the audience.John Albert Hall lectures (University of Victoria, B.C.)FacultyUnreviewe
Limiting oxidation in potassium channel kv2.1 using cysteine-alanine mutation
No full textThe Kv2.1 (KCNB1) channel is expressed in the cortex and hippocampus. Interaction between cysteine residues of the kv2.1 channel plays a role in the formation of disulfide bonds. Disulfide bond formation following oxidative stress suggests that cysteine interaction in voltage-gated K+ channel kv2.1 plays a key role in the oxidation of kv2.1. Previous research has shown that oxidation of potassium (K+) channels by reactive oxygen species (ROS) is a major factor in the loss of neuronal function [6]. The purpose of this study was to use cysteine-alanine mutations to prevent oxidation of K+ channel kv2.1. In this thesis, the anti-oxidant properties of the double mutant C73AC29A were investigated. The affects were observed using site-directed mutagenesis and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). PCR was utilized to form a double mutant between C73A and C29A. SDS-Page and Western Blot analysis were used to analyze whether there was more or less oxidation in the double mutant C73AC29A compared to that of the kv2.1 control. The double mutant C73AC29A showed protective properties, showing less oxidation than the kv2.1 control when placed under oxidative stress. Findings suggest that C73AC29A could provide protection from oxidation-induced loss of function in the kv2.1 channel.M.S.Includes bibliographical referencesby Remi Roya
Transnationalisation and Institutional Transformations. Collected Working Papers from the TRANS-NET Project
No full textFaist T, Pitkänen P, Gerdes J, Reisenauer E, eds. Transnationalisation and Institutional Transformations. Collected Working Papers from the TRANS-NET Project. COMCAD Arbeitspapiere - working papers. Vol 87. Bielefeld: COMCAD - Center on Migration, Citizenship and Development; 2010
The amoebal MAP kinase response to Legionella pneumophila is regulated by DupA
No full textThe amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum can support replication of Legionella pneumophila. Here we identify the dupA gene, encoding a putative tyrosine kinase/dual-specificity phosphatase, in a screen for D. discoideum mutants altered in allowing L. pneumophila intracellular replication. Inactivation of dupA resulted in depressed L. pneumophila growth and sustained hyperphosphorylation of the amoebal MAP kinase ERK1, consistent with loss of a phosphatase activity. Bacterial challenge of wild-type amoebae induced dupA expression and resulted in transiently increased ERK1 phosphorylation, suggesting that dupA and ERK1 are part of a response to bacteria. Indeed, over 500 of the genes misregulated in the dupA(-) mutant were regulated in response to L. pneumophila infection, including some thought to have immune-like functions. MAP kinase phosphatases are known to be highly upregulated in macrophages challenged with L. pneumophila. Thus, DupA may regulate a MAP kinase response to bacteria that is conserved from amoebae to mammals
Evaluating style modification in text
No full textThesis: M. Eng., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, 2018.This electronic version was submitted by the student author. The certified thesis is available in the Institute Archives and Special Collections.Cataloged from student-submitted PDF version of thesis.Includes bibliographical references (pages 39-41).In this thesis, we identify best practices for evaluating style modification, or style transfer, for text. Research of style transfer is bottlenecked by a lack of standard evaluation practices. We define three key aspects of interest (style transfer intensity, content preservation, and naturalness) and show how to obtain more reliable measures of them from human evaluation than in previous work. We also demonstrate stronger correlation between human judgment and a new set of automated metrics: the Wasserstein distance, word mover's distance on texts with style masked out, and adversarial classification for the respective aspects. Lastly, we illustrate aspect tradeoff curves for three state-of-the-art style transfer models to highlight the importance of evaluating style transfer models at specific points on the curves. This can enable direct comparison of the models, facilitating future research in style transfer.by Remi Mir.M. Eng
INVESTIGATING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE POLICY IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS AND THE UTILIZATION OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN A CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC: THE CASE OF I-269 NEPA PROCESS
No full textInformation technologies (IT) have provided significant benefits for society. By drawing on the assumptions of the New Public Management (NPM) framework, the author investigates how, in one case, IT alters the policy implementation process. Additionally, the author tests reinforcement theory, sociotechnical theory, and technological determinism to determine which IT model best explains the utilization of IT at the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT). This study examines the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969. By conducting interviews, analyzing documents, and examining a physical artifact, the author explores the administration of an economic impact analysis (EIA) that was conducted on the I-269 corridor. Using a quasi-experimental design, the author compared a control EIA with a test EIA that utilized the Regional Economic Modeling Inc. (REMI) software to determine how IT altered the EIA, which is required through NEPA. The control EIA process was conducted by MDOT, and the test EIA was administered by a research team from Mississippi State University (MSU). In this case, the author found that the utilization of IT altered the test EIA. First, the REMI model provided a broader scope and provided more variables and outputs for analysts to observe. Second, the utilization of REMI reduced the time associated with the data collection and analysis of the I-269 corridor. Finally, the author found that the projected economic impacts changed direction. In other words, instead of the construction of I-269 positively affecting the community, region, or state, the REMI model indicated that the construction of the corridor would negatively impact the surrounding areas. Finally, by tracing the utilization of REMI at MDOT, the author determined that reinforcement theory explained the initial adoption and utilization of IT. However, the author discovered the REMI model was not utilized in all EIAs. This finding highlights that MDOT has the discretionary power to adjust the methods utilized to investigate the economic impacts associated with highway projects. Therefore, while NPM promotes the utilization of IT for agencies to achieve objectives and transform bureaucracies, the research highlights a tentative critique of the NPM framework
"The end of national models? Integration courses and citizenship trajectories in Europe"
No full textSeveral European countries have recently introduced or are planning to introduce citizenship trajectories (voluntary or obligatory inclusion programs for recent immigrants) or citizen integration tests (tests one should pass to be able and acquire permanent residence or state citizenship). Authors like Joppke claim this is an articulation of a more general shift towards the logic of assimilation (and away from a multicultural agenda) in integration policy paradigms of European States. Integration policies would even be converging in such a fashion that it would no longer make sense to think in terms of national models for immigrant integration. One cannot deny the empirical fact of diffusion of civic integration policies throughout Europe. This paper claims there is, however, still sufficient distinctiveness between immigrant integration policies in order to continue and use an analytical framework which distinguishes national models
Queer Characters Impact on Video Games: Comparing Warzone and Apex Legends
No full textThe inclusion of LGBTQ+ characters in video games remains a topic of debate among game developers and their audiences. This study will investigate how a video game with queer characters affects players\u27 experiences, particularly the experiences of LGBTQ+ players. Through survey and content analysis methods, this research study will compare two video games: Call of Duty: Warzone, a game with zero LGBTQ+ characters, and Apex Legends, a game with seven LGBTQ+ characters, to determine if there is a visible difference in players’ experiences.
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Lucille Mazo 
THE ANTIOXIDANT ROLE OF α-TOCOPHEROL IN THE NUTRITION
No full textThe role of the lipid-soluble antioxidant α-tocopherol (vitamin E) in the nutrition of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus Burchell) has been investigated with respect to effects on growth, certain indices of health and prevention of tissue lipid peroxidation. Although juvenile C. gariepinus were not found to show an immediate dependency on vitamin E for growth, even during rapid growth stages, a minimum requirement of α-tocopherol based on the prevention of hepatic lipid peroxidation was established at 30-40 mg α-tocopherol per kg dry diet. This is in line with published values for numerous cultured fish species. Tissue α-tocopherol accretion was found to be dependent on dietary dose of the vitamin (supplied as all-rac-α-tocopheryl acetate) and, with the exception of blood-plasma, increased tissue tocopherol status resulted in increased stability against lipid peroxidation. Assessment of iron-ascorbate induced peroxidation (as TBARS) revealed that feeding catfish with diets containing a-tocopherol at several times the currently supplemented level, improved the stability of catfish muscle and this has fillet quality implications. Similarly, heightened fillet vitamin E content resulted in lower moisture exudation from previously frozen fillets, thus demonstrating the role of a-tocopherol in the maintenance of membrane integrity. Oxidation of dietary oils and elevated ingestion of iron were found to be antagonistic of tissue vitamin E concentration. Consumption of feed containing rancid oil had marked effects on tissue fatty acid composition and these effects were modulated by increased intake of α-tocopheryl acetate. In catfish fed diets containing similar amounts of ascorbate, a higher α-tocopherol supplement marginally improved ascorbate retention indicating a possible sparing of vitamin C by vitamin E. The present work will contribute significantly to the understanding of antioxidant nutrition in this poorly researched cultured species. Furthermore, these investigations have improved and strengthened the database of knowledge accumulated within the field of nutrition of finfish
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