446 research outputs found
The development and evaluation of molecular biological techniques to detect solid tumour cells in peripheral blood / Kenneth Brian Pittman
No full textErratum is pasted onto back endpaper.Bibliography: leaves 189-219.xxiii, 221 leavesCurrent understanding of metastatic processes and the clinical significance of these processes is discussed. The study of circulating solid tumour cells in peripheral blood is reviewed from an historical perspective. Newer molecular and cell biological techniques which may facilitate more reliable tumour evaluation are reviewed with special reference given to polymerase chair reaction (PCR)Thesis (M.D.) -- University of Adelaide, Dept. of Surgery, 1997
The invisible artist: Arrangers in popular music (1950-2000): Their contribution and techniques
No full textThis thesis was submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy and was awarded by Brunel University.This thesis is based on the research conducted by the author for the series,
Richard Niles' History of Pop Arranging, seven thirty-minute documentary
programmes for BBC Radio 2, researched, written and presented by the author and
broadcast in 2003. It also draws on interviews conducted by the author (and other
research) between 2002 and 2007 both for the radio series and for this thesis and on
the author's experience as a professional arranger in popular music working with
many of the genre's significant recording artists including Paul McCartney, Ray
Charles, Cher, Tina Turner, Westlife, Tears For Fears, Dusty Springfield, James
Brown, Pet Shop Boys, Kylie Minogue and producers including Trevor Hom, Steve
Lipson, Steve Mac and Steve Anderson.
It will be argued that the role of the arranger in popular music has often been
undervalued and that during a critical period of popular music history (1950-2000)
arrangers played a significant part in the evolution of musical content. This thesis is,
to the best of the author's knowledge, the first time (apart from the above mentioned
documentary) the subject has ever been examined. The arranger is "invisible" because musical arrangers are often un-credited on
record liner notes or in books or articles concerning popular music. A considerable
amount of research has been necessary to determine who wrote many of the
arrangements considered herein. Motown's Berry Gordy purposely kept the names of
musicians and arrangers off the records because he feared others might 'poach' the
trademark 'Motown Sound'. Other record labels considered the job of the arranger to
be reminiscent of an earlier era, diluting the Rock 'n' Roll image of emotion and
spontanaeity they wished to promote. Some producers and recording artists disliked
sharing credit for their work. Motown arranger David Van dePitte told the author that
arranging was "thankless and anonymous - a very service-oriented profession where
others often take credit for what you've done." Arranging has therefore remained an
intrinsically unseen art created by 'invisible' artists. By analyzing many recordings,
revealing the techniques and concepts they have used in their work to create popular
records, arrangers and their art will be made more 'visible'
Development of spectroscopic smartphone biosensors for point-of-care applications
No full textThis dissertation explores the combination of two emergent areas within contemporary biosensing, smartphone based spectroscopy and photonic crystal enhanced microscopy, and how these technologies can be combined to produce a fundamentally novel point-of-care testing paradigm: a portable device platform capable of non-amplifying, digital-detection for high-sensitivity diagnostics. In this work, I describe the development of this system, moving from usage-specific benchtop and smartphone based devices demonstrating proof-of-concept capabilities, to a multimodal smartphone platform compatible with thousands of existing spectroscopic assays. The resulting smartphone biosensor can perform various clinically-relevant tests with physiologically-relevant sensitivities. Next, photonic crystal enhanced microscopy is described for uses in the micrometer and nanometer scales for use both to study cellular and subcellular behavior and also to perform single-particle attachment quantification. Finally, this work explores how the single-particle attachment quantification capability can be leveraged to measure HIV viral load using a novel biosensor, designed specifically developed for a smartphone based platform for point of care applications.Submission published under a 24 month embargo labeled 'Closed Access', the embargo will last until 2020-05-01The student, Kenneth Long, accepted the attached license on 2018-01-30 at 10:57.The student, Kenneth Long, submitted this Dissertation for approval on 2018-01-30 at 11:26.This Dissertation was approved for publication on 2018-01-31 at 13:32.DSpace SAF Submission Ingestion Package generated from Vireo submission #12025 on 2018-08-31 at 17:24:51Made available in DSpace on 2018-09-04T20:46:46Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 4
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Gaussian process models for preliminary low-thrust trajectory optimization
No full textLow-thrust trajectories can benefit the search for propellant-optimal trajectories, but increases in modeling complexity and computational load remain a challenge for efficient mission design and optimization. In this paper, an approach for developing models utilizing Gaussian Process (GP) regression and classification is proposed to perform computationally efficient optimization while obtaining acceptable accuracies for trajectories based on exponential sinusoid shaping. The goal of this work is to predict a combination of values of input variables which corresponds to a shape-based trajectory with the smallest total velocity increment (ΔV) or propellant mass fraction (J m). A GP classification model is constructed to assess whether a given combination of values of input variables corresponds to a feasible trajectory. GP regression models are developed to predict the total ΔV and J m corresponding to a combination of shape parameters, which can replace the required integration along the shape. In addition, advanced regression models are developed to predict the target values while requiring only three input parameters, thereby replacing the entire shape computation. In order to develop a GP model that fits the problem at hand, the underlying functions and parameters should be selected rationally. In this work, a novel model development approach is proposed to ensure that the mean function, covariance function, likelihood function, inference method, and hyperparameters, which dominate the performance of the models, are chosen rationally in terms of mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) and prediction time. Using this approach, GP models are developed and tested on transfer trajectories from Earth to Mars and Ceres, and from Mars to Earth, and their performance, in terms of MAPE and prediction time, is compared to that of more common optimization techniques in combination with the exponential sinusoid and other shape-based methods. The results demonstrate that the computation time can significantly be reduced while achieving promising MAPE’s, especially when the goal is to locate regions of feasible or near-optimal trajectories. The proposed model development procedure is tested for robustness, which provides confidence in the proposed approach. Furthermore, it is found that the models which map three input variables directly to a ΔV or J m value perform better than the ones trained with shape information, which demonstrates the strength of GP models as applied to low-thrust trajectory optimization. Green Open Access added to TU Delft Institutional Repository ‘You share, we take care!’ – Taverne project https://www.openaccess.nl/en/you-share-we-take-care Otherwise as indicated in the copyright section: the publisher is the copyright holder of this work and the author uses the Dutch legislation to make this work public.Astrodynamics & Space Mission
Black market premia, exchange rate unification, and inflation in sub-Saharan Africa
No full textIn countries where the black market premium on foreign exchange is exceptionally high, often more than 100 percent, lowering the black market rate to a level close to the market determined official rate will improve the balance of payments and increase exports. Floating the currency to depreciate the real exchange rate and make exports more competitive can raise inflation substantially, however, as governments replace the lost revenue from exports. Inflation will occur even if real government spending remains constant unless there are new taxes or spending cuts to compensate for the loss of implicit tax revenues. To avoid costly surges in inflation, exchange rate reform may have to proceed slowly, otherwise the depreciation is likely to meet with considerable political and social opposition as inflation rises. Once the government closes the spread between the official and black market rates, it faces a decision on whether to continue with a float permanently. Evidence from developing countries over the next few years should give some insights into this issue.Economic Stabilization,Environmental Economics&Policies,Markets and Market Access,Access to Markets,Economic Theory&Research
Exploration of Public School Facilities Management Efficacy Impact of Work Order Automation, Block Scheduling, and Priority Matrices
No full textabstract: The objective of this thesis is to explore the applicability and impact of specific tools within the public school facilities management sector. Tools assessed include a work order system, block scheduling, and a priority matrix. These tools assist with the management of staff assignments and workload, focused scheduling methods, and decision enhancement for task-level employees. The author found that application of these systems increase productivity within public sector schools. The use of these tools also increases customer satisfaction and reduces costs. The author also explores the challenges associated with these tools.Dissertation/ThesisMasters Thesis Construction Management 202
Progress and Controversy in Britain
No full textThe author presents a debate in which he and Sir Kenneth Barrill, chairman of a British Think Tank closely linked to government circles, discuss priorities in Adult Education. While Sir Kenneth argues forcefully to direct government priorities towards job retraining programmes, Mr. Groombridge favours a more all-encompassing education policy that can answer human needs other than job qualification.L’auteur présente un débat dans lequel lui et Sir Kenneth Berrill, président d’un conseil privé (Think Tank) étroitement lié au gouvernement discutent des priorités pour l’éducation des adultes. Tandis que Sir Kenneth défend la position selon laquelle les priorités gouvernementales doivent s’orienter vers des programmes de recyclage de main-d’oeuvre, B. Groombridge, quant à lui, défend une politique d’éducation plus vaste qui peut répondre à des besoins sociaux autres que ceux exigés par le marché du travail.El autor presenta un debate en el que él y Sir Kenneth Berrill, presidente de un consejo privado (Think Tank) estrechamente ligado al gobierno, discuten las prioridades para la educación de adultos. Mientras Sir Kenneth defiende la posición según la cual las prioridades deben orientarse hacia programas de reciclaje de la mano de obra, B. Broombridge defiende una política de educación más vasta, que puede responder a otras necesidades sociales que aquéllas exigidas por el mercado de trabajo
Ion transport and viscoelasticity of dynamic polymer network electrolytes
No full textSubmission published under a 24 month embargo labeled 'Closed Access', the embargo will last until 2023-12-01The student, Brian Jing, accepted the attached license on 2021-09-23 at 12:58.The student, Brian Jing, submitted this Dissertation for approval on 2021-09-23 at 13:08.This Dissertation was approved for publication on 2021-10-01 at 10:54.DSpace SAF Submission Ingestion Package generated from Vireo submission #17138 on 2022-04-29 at 16:08:59Made available in DSpace on 2022-04-29T21:58:15Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2
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Reason: Author requested closed access (OA after 2yrs) in Vireo ETD systemAuthor requested closed access (OA after 2yrs) in Vireo ETD systemLimitedDynamic networks have strong potential to be one of the most influential materials in science. They are highly versatile due to having mechanical robustness and integrity, while also being malleable and degradable. Traditionally, these materials have been developed for self-healing and recycling applications. The work of this thesis demonstrates that these materials can be designed for functional applications such as ion transport. PEO-based boronic ester networks were synthesized and characterized as Li-conducting electrolytes. Systematic studies of salt concentration and linker length were investigated. As the linker length is varied, the effects of salt addition also vary. For 2EO and 4EO linker dynamic networks, the addition of salt has a more dramatic effect on the conductive and viscoelastic behavior, due to the formation of Lewis adducts which disrupt the crosslinking density of the networks. This results in the relaxation behavior to shift from an Arrhenius temperature dependence to a VFT dependence. Furthermore, these dynamic network electrolytes disobey the Walden Rule, as their conductivity and viscosity are uncorrelated. Vinylogous urethane dynamic networks doped with salt were also synthesized and investigated. Spectroscopy analysis revealed that the cation could coordinate with the vinylogous urethane moiety to facilitate exchange reactions
Bestia 4
No full textItems included in this issue were read at the Society's Fourth International Congress in Margarita Island and Caracas, Venezuela, in May and June, 1991. Items in this yearbook are: Pack Carnes, The Fable and the Anti-Fable: The Modern Faces of Aesop; Marc Shell, Pasiphäe, or On Vaccination and Vaccimulgence; Beth Barnes, John Oldham's Satiric Poetry and the Beast Fable; Thomas Tierney, Samuel Johnson: Beast Fabulist and Satirist on Mankind; David Spooner, From Apuleius to A.R. Wallace: Evolutionary Theory and Some Literary Animals and Insects; Susan Shell, Eating Crow: Rousseau on the Fable; Rev. Gregory I. Carlson, S.J., Horace's and Today's Town and Country Mice; Dennis Leavens, Sacramental Relationships in Kenneth Rexroth's A Bestiary; and Brian Altano, Moral Imperialism in the Ramayana.Editor Benjamin Bennan
Exploring the Regulation of Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase and the Effects of Nitric Oxide Production in Endotoxin-induced Uveitis
No full textIn this study, we hypothesized that during anterior uveitis NF-kappaB activity and subsequent iNOS gene expression increase as a result of the decrease in TGFbeta2 activity. Increased iNOS expression leads to increased NO activity and production of peroxynitrite. We further proposed that exogenous administration of TGFbeta2, i.e. increasing TGFbeta2 activity or scavenging peroxynitrite may protect against EIU. Scavenging of peroxynitrite was examined by using the peroxynitrite scavenger, ebselen. All studies were undertaken using either the in vivo model of anterior uveitis, endotoxin-induced uveitis (EIU) or the in vitro system of iris ciliary body cells stimulated with IL-1beta. Results demonstrated that TGFbeta2 decreases iNOS expression during EIU, however, the mechanism is NF-kappaB-independent. Exogenous administration of TGFbeta2 did not protect against EIU. These studies identified peroxynitrite as a component of EIU, through the identification of nitrated MnSOD, a peroxynitrite target. Scavenging of peroxynitrite by the compound ebselen did protect against EIU. Ebselen mediated inhibition of EIU by scavenging peroxynitrite, inhibiting the recruitment of polymorphonuclear (PMN) leukocytes and suppressing NF-kappaB activation. This study demonstrated that TGFbeta2 negatively regulates iNOS expression during EIU and that iNOS, NO, and peroxynitrite are key mediators in the pathogenesis of EIU. Attentuation of uveitis occurs when suppression of these mediators is coupled to PMN suppression and inhibition of NF-kappaB activation
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