54,462 research outputs found
Ethnic identity, political identity and ethnic conflict: simulating the effect of congruence between the two identities on ethnic violence and conflict
No full textThis thesis outlines and presents an alternative hypothetical process to the emergence of ethnic conflict. Ethnic conflicts, rather than being dependent upon pre-existing 'ancient hatreds', are instead the result of a congruence between ethnic and political identity which grants individuals the ability to use ethnicity to identify and eliminate political threats. This hypothesis is formed by the examination of three case studies of ethnic conflict: Lebanon, Northern Ireland and Croatia. This hypothesis is then formalised and tested using an agent based simulation in which agent interactions are dependent upon ethnic and political identity and the congruence between the two. As predicted there was a strong positive correlation between how accurately ethnic identity reflected political identity and the level of ethnically motivated violence in the simulation, although the relationship was not linear. Furthermore the effect of a shift in congruence was found to be roughly comparable to the effect of initialising agents with a moderate level of pre-existing ethnic antagonism
Comparative molecular genetics of the German Shepherd dog
No full textIncludes bibliographical references (leaves 105-111).Microsatellite markers were used to measure genetic diversity and population differentiation within and between domestic dog breeds. The German Shepherd Dog was compared with typical outbred mongrel dogs, Dachshunds, Staffordshire Bull Terriers and a cohort of other pedigreed dogs representing 30 recognised breeds. Although archaeological records report that grey wolves (Canis lupus) were domesticated approximately 14 000 years ago, mtDNA analysis suggests that domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) and grey wolves diverged in multiple events over 100 000 years ago. Subsequently, the movement of humans and their dogs resulted in extensive gene flow between dog populations for thousands of years. Breeding practices to obtain distinctive pnenotypic uniformity were recently introduced, resulting in pure-bred dogs becoming essentially closed gene pools. However, further mtDNA analyses have reported unexpectedly high levels of variability, supported by microsatellite loci with heterogeneities of between 36% and 55% being reported for some dog breeds. Microsatellite analyses of 15 polymorphic canine loci are reported. German Shepherd Dogs and outbred mongrel dogs expressed diversity values of 4.0 alleles per locus in the former and 6.4 in the later (corrected for population size by jack-knifing with 1 000 pseudoreplications), with expected heterozygosities of 62% and 83%, respectively. German Shepherd Dogs showed a moderate loss of genetic diversity relative to outbred dogs, but not sufficient to describe the breed as highly inbred. However, in comparison with other pure-bred dogs examined, they expressed the least genetic diversity, with Dachshunds having 5.2, Staffordshire Bull Terriers 4.8 and the composite group of pedigreed dogs 6.0 alleles per locus, with expected heterozygosities of 72%, 67% and 80%, respectively. Significant population differentiation (GST = 0.103; RST = 0.058) between German Shepherd Dogs and the outbred dogs illustrates the effect of genetic drift since the breed was established just over 100 years ago. This study would benefit future breeding programs, as management should be facilitated by knowledge of relative measures of inbreeding and differentiation, especially between various separate breeding stocks within the breed
Double-clad structures and proximity coupling for diode-bar-pumped planar waveguide lasers
No full textWe report, for the first time, fabrication of double-clad planar waveguide structures and their use for multiwatt, diode-bar-pumped, planar waveguide lasers based on Nd3+ and Yb3+-doped YAG. The direct-bonded, five-layer structures of sapphire, YAG, and rare-earth-doped YAG have sufficient numerical aperture to capture the fast-axis divergence of a diode bar by proximity coupling with no intervening optics, leading to very simple and compact devices. The restriction of the doped region to the central core leads to diffraction-limited laser output in the guided direction. We also show that the direct-bonding fabrication process can lead to a linearly polarized output
The impact of a child's death; An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis undertaken with five head teachers
No full textAbstract
This research explores with five head teachers their views and experiences of a period when a child was terminally ill and subsequently died when in their school community.
The participants were selected purposively from Derbyshire head teachers who had experienced the death of a pupil in their school community. After interviewing the participants using a semi-structured interview schedule the transcribed interviews provided the data for the research.
The interviews were analysed, using the methodology of Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, to explore the experiences of each of the participants. Three superordinate themes were identified which were;
Emotions and their management
Interactions with the bereaved family
Interaction with the school community
Additionally, an overarching theme of Elevation was identified.
Each theme is presented and illustrated with abstracts taken from the original data. This is accompanied by interpretation which is also discussed and compared with knowledge from the existing literature.
The research has illustrated the complications that exist for head teachers in managing their emotions and the possibility of these emotions intruding on their personal and family life. It has illustrated the way in which the relationship between the head teacher and the bereaved family changes and how it changes their interactions within the school community.
This research led to the consideration of the influence of the cultural expectation enshrined in the saying, 'De mortuis nil nisi bonum dicendum est' (Of the dead, nothing unless good). Also considered is the behavioural derivative of this saying and how it shapes the responses that head teachers make when managing a school community when a child has died. It also led to the consideration of the implications of the research findings for any support professionals who help schools
Investigations on spermatological characteristics and viability of fresh and diluted semen of German shepherd dogs and kangal dogs
No full textBu çalışma, Bursa Uludağ Üniversitesi Vateriner Fakültesinde M. Kemal Soylu'in danışmanlığında M. Mürsel Büyükçoban tarafından yazılan "Kurt ve kangal ırkı kopeklerin taze ve sulandırılmış spermalarının spermatolo]ik ozellikleri ve viabilitesi uzerinde araştırmalar" adlı yüksek doktora tezine dayanılarak hazırlanmıştır.In the present study, it is aimed to investigate the spermatological characteristics and the viability of fresh and diluted semen of German Shepherd Dogs and Kangal Dogs comparatively. For this aim, eight German Shepherd Dogs and eight Kangal Dogs, bred in Gemlik Military Research Training Center Commandary, were used. Semen was collected by digital manipulation. Collected semen samples were examined for volume, motility, spermatozoid concentration, percentages of abnormal, dead, acrosome defected spermatozoids and pH. The averages of the mentioned characteristics of German Shepherd Dogs and Kangal Dogs were found 3.32 ml, % 80.80, 393. 70x1rl!ml, % 1 3.08, % 2.98, % 2.29 and 6.34; 3.65 m/, % 72.01, 335.20x1rl!ml, %10.00, %2.93, %1.78and6.05, respectively. Semen samples were diluted with Tris + Glucose + Citric acid + Egg Yolk {T-YS) and Sodiumdihydrogenphosphate + Glycin + Glucose + Egg Yolk (SDHP-YS) diluents and cooled to +4°C for viability examination, and examined at 12 hours interval until the motility ended. Motility was ended on 108th and 36th hours for semen diluted with T-YS ahd SDHP-YS diluents, respectively.Bu çalışmada, Kurt Alman çoban köpegi; German Shepherd Dog) ve Kangal ırkı kopeklerin spermatolojik ozelliklerinin ve sulandırılmış spermalanım viabilitelerinin araştırılması amaçlandı. Bu amaçla, Gemlik Askeri Araştırma Egitim Merkez Komutanlıgı Kopek Egitim Merkezinde bulunan sekiz Kurt ve sekiz Kangal kopegikullanıldı. Kopeklerden penis masajı yontemiyle sperma alındı. Alınan spermalar hacim, motilite, spermatozoit yogunlugu, olü, anormal, akrozom defektli spermatozoit oranlarz ve pH, yoniinden muayene edildiler. Anılan degerlerin ortalamaları Kurt ve Kangal ırkı kopekler için sırasıyla 3.32 ml, , % 80.80, 393. 70x1 rP/ml, % 2.98, % 13.08, %2.29 ve 6.34; 3.65 ml, % 72.01, 335.20xlrP/ml,% 2.93, % 10.00, % 1. 78 ve 6.05 olarak saptandz. Viabilite muayenesi için spermalar Tris + Glikoz + Sitrik asit + Yumurta Sarzsz (T-YS) ve Sodyumdihidrojenfosfat + Glisin + Glikoz + Yumurta Sarısı(SDHP-YS) sulandmcılarıyla sulandırılıp zsıarı +4°C'ye düşürülerek motiliteleri sona erinceye kadar 12 saat arayla muayene edildiler. T-YS sulandırıcısı ile sulandznlan ornekte 108., SDHP-YS sulandırıctsı ile sulandznlan örnekte 36. saatte motilite sona erdi
Spectroscopy of M+? Rg and transport coefficients of M+ in Rg (M = Rb-Fr; Rg = He-Rn)
No full textHigh-level, CCSD(T), ab initio calculations are employed to determine accurate potential energy curves for the Rb+ . Rg, Cs+ . Rg and Fr+ . Rg species (where Rg = He-Rn). Large flexible valence basis sets are combined with effective core potentials (ECPs). The potential energy curves are used to obtain spectroscopic constants and, in addition, to calculate transport coefficients for Rb+, Cs+ and Fr+ moving in the respective rare gas. These transport coefficients are then statistically compared to previous data. It is concluded that the potentials are reliable. Some disagreement is found with some of the Cs+ transport data, which is attributed to non-equilibration in the experiments performed for heavy-M+/light Rg combinations. A distinct advantage of the present potentials is that they are totally ab initio, and consequently do not require experimental data to which to be fitted, as do many of the various forms of model potential available
Settling of finite-size particles in isotropically forced, homogeneous turbulence: interface-resolved simulations
No full textWe have simulated the gravity-induced settling of finite-size particles in a turbulent background flow which is forced in a statistically-stationary fashion. The simulations are accurately resolving the solid-fluid interface with the aid of an immersed boundary technique [1]. The parameters of the simulation are (apart from background turbulence) identical to those of reference [2], where particle clustering was observed at a Galileo number of 178 and a solid volume fraction of 0.005. In the present case, it is found that a relative turbulence intensity of 0.24 leads to the disappearance of the clusters; as a consequence, the increase in average particle settling velocity found in [2] also vanishes. [1] M. Uhlmann. An immersed boundary method with direct forcing for the simulation of particulate flows. J. Comput. Phys., 209(2):448–476, 2005. [2] M. Uhlmann and T. Doychev. Sedimentation of a dilute suspension of rigid spheres at intermediate Galileo numbers: the effect of clustering upon the particle motion. J. Fluid Mech., 752:310–348, 2014
Volvolus of the colon in threee German Shepherd Dogs
No full textThree adult male German Shepherd Dogs were referred for vomiting; two presented abdominal pain and tenesmus: one was presented with a history of diarrhea. Radiographic examination revealed abnormal gaseous distension of the ascending and transverse colons, with right sided dislocation and small bowel dislocation. The descending colon was not visible in a case, collapsed in the second case and gas distended in the third case. Differential diagnosis included colonic twist/torsion coli, small bowel obstruction, ilaeus. A volvulus around the mesenteric root involving the cranial mesenteric artery was found in all three dogs. The colon was congested and oedematous but neither necrotic patches, nor vascular thrombosis were encountered. After the colon was repositioned, a colopexy was performed: at follow up, full recovery and full intestinal activity were reporte
Intrafamilial genotyping of Helicobacter pylori from faecal DNA
No full textHelicobacter pylori infection, often acquired in early childhood, is a global cause of undernutrition, gastritis, peptic ulcer disease and gastric carcinoma. This study tested the feasibility of using H. pylori shed in the faeces as a source of DNA for non-invasive epidemiological studies. H. pylori DNA was chemically recovered and isolated using a specific biotinylated oligonucleotide probe with magnetic capture from 28 H. pylori positive faecal samples obtained from children attending hospital for the investigation of suspected H. pylori infection, together with close family members. Random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) was subsequently used to discriminate each isolate. 93% of stool samples selected were typeable. Parent, child and sibling samples were compared and similarities determined. Phylogenetic analysis showed that H. pylori DNA obtained from the faeces can be used to genotype individual strains, offering a means of studying intrafamilial transfer of this microorganism
- …
