Diss. phil.-nat. Bern, 1993. / Sep. div.

Diss. Univ. Bern, 1982. / enthält div. Sonderdrucke.

Diss. phil.-nat. Bern, 1993. / Sep. div.

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified >300 loci associated with measures of adiposity including body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio (adjusted for BMI, WHRadjBMI), but few have been identified through screening of the African ancestry genomes. We performed large scale meta-analyses and replications in up to 52,895 individuals for BMI and up to 23,095 individuals for WHRadjBMI from the African Ancestry Anthropometry Genetics Consortium (AAAGC) using 1000 Genomes phase 1 imputed GWAS to improve coverage of both common and low frequency variants in the low linkage disequilibrium African ancestry genomes. In the sex-combined analyses, we identified one novel locus (TCF7L2/HABP2) for WHRadjBMI and eight previously established loci at P < 5x10(-8) : seven for BMI, and one for WHRadjBMI in African ancestry individuals. An additional novel locus (SPRYD7/DLEU2) was identified for WHRadjBMI when combined with European GWAS. In the sex-stratified analyses, we identified three novel loci for BMI (INTS10/LPL and MLC1 in men, IRX4/IRX2 in women) and four for WHRadjBMI (SSX2IP, CASC8, PDE3B and ZDHHC1/HSD11B2 in women) in individuals of African ancestry or both African and European ancestry. For four of the novel variants, the minor allele frequency was low (<5%). In the trans-ethnic fine mapping of 47 BMI loci and 27 WHRadjBMI loci that were locus-wide significant (P < 0.05 adjusted for effective number of variants per locus) from the African ancestry sex-combined and sex-stratified analyses, 26 BMI loci and 17 WHRadjBMI loci contained <= 20 variants in the credible sets that jointly account for 99% posterior probability of driving the associations. The lead variants in 13 of these loci had a high probability of being causal. As compared to our previous HapMap imputed GWAS for BMI and WHRadjBMI including up to 71,412 and 27,350 African ancestry individuals, respectively, our results suggest that 1000 Genomes imputation showed modest improvement in identifying GWAS loci including low frequency variants. Trans-ethnic meta-analyses further improved fine mapping of putative causal variants in loci shared between the African and European ancestry populations.

Examensarbetet syftar till att undersöka gymnasiala yrkesverksamma matematiklärares uppfattningar om matematikångest, dess orsaker och de strategier de använder för att motverka elevers matematikångest. Genom en kvalitativ intervjustudie har data samlats in från åtta matematiklärare. Metoden för datainsamling var semistrukturerade intervjuer. Resultaten har analyserats genom en kvalitativ innehållsanalys och har sammanfattats i svar på de tre forskningsfrågorna. Resultaten visar att majoriteten av lärarna anser att elever med matematikångest saknar självförtroende och undviker matematik på grund av rädsla för att misslyckas. Matematikångesten tros vara en följd av dåliga erfarenheter i tidigare skolår, kunskapsbrister och negativ påverkan från lärare, föräldrar och samhället. Lärarna anser också att matematikångest är vanligare på vissa gymnasieprogram än andra. När det gäller strategier för att motverka matematikångest varierar svaren mellan lärarna, men det framkommer att det är viktigt att eleverna börjar arbeta med matematik i små steg för att stärka deras tro på sin förmåga. Andra strategier inkluderar att skapa en positiv och stödjande lärandemiljö, använda olika undervisningsmetoder, ge feedback och uppmuntran samt erbjuda extra stöd och hjälp till elever med matematikångest. Slutligen konstateras att varje lärare har unika strategier och att det inte finns några generella strategier som anses varade mest effektiva för att motverka matematikångest. / The aim of this thesis is to investigate the perceptions of mathematics anxiety held by working secondary school mathematics teachers, including its causes and the strategies they use to alleviate students' mathematics anxiety. Data has been collected from eight mathematics teachers through a qualitative interview study. The data collection method utilized semi-structured interviews. The results have been analyzed using qualitative content analysis and have been summarized in response to the three research questions. The findings reveal that the majority of teachers believe that students with mathematics anxiety lack self-confidence and avoid mathematics due to fear of failure. Mathematics anxiety is believed to be a result from negative experiences in previous school years, gaps in knowledge, and negative influences from teachers, parents and society. Teachers also perceive mathematics anxiety to be more prevalent in certain programs than others. Regarding strategies to alleviate mathematics anxiety, responses vary among teachers, but it is evident that it is important for students to engage with mathematics in small steps to strengthen their belief in their abilities. Other strategies include creating a positive and supportive learning environment, use different teaching methods, providing feedback and encouragement, and offering additional support and assistance to students with mathematics anxiety. In conclusion, it is noted that each teacher possesses unique strategies, and there are no universally recognized strategies considered to be the most effective in combating mathematics anxiety.

The purpose of the study is to contribute with preschool teachers' perceptions of the work with in-depth conversations in preschool, by in-depth conversation, we mean a conversation that deepens and challenges children to reason, reflect and analyze. The study's questions are about how preschool teachers considers that they have knowledge about in-depth conversations, how they work to promote children's language development through in-depth conversations, and what challenges they face in working with this. The study is based on a qualitative method, where semi-structured interviews were used to collect data. Eight preschool teachers from two different municipalities have participated in the study. The collected empirical evidence has been analyzed based on a content analysis. The theory used to analyze the results is the socio-cultural theory with the concepts of scaffolding, the proximal development zone, mediating tools and appropriation. Finally, the results have been put in relation to theory and previous research. The results show that time and the right conditions, as well as being responsive and present to the children's interests as an educator, create the conditions that makes the teachers able to develop in-depth conversations together with the children. The results also show that all preschool teachers in the study experience some type of challenge in the work with in-depth conversations. Due to limited conditions with large groups of children, this results in a lack of time and an experience of being too few educators. The conclusion is that preschool teachers need support, skill development and the right conditions to be able to conduct in-depth conversations in preschool, which thus benefits the children's language development. / Studiens syfte är att bidra med förskollärares uppfattningar om arbetet medfördjupande samtal i förskolan. Med fördjupande samtal menar vi ett samtalsom fördjupar och utmanar barn att resonera, reflektera och analysera. Studiensfrågeställningar är hur förskollärare upplever att de har kunskap omfördjupande samtal, hur de arbetar för att främja barns språkutveckling genomfördjupande samtal, samt vilka utmaningar de möter i arbetet med detta.Studien utgår från en kvalitativ metod, där semistrukturerade intervjueranvänts för att samla in data. Åtta förskollärare från två olika kommuner hardeltagit i studien. Den insamlade empirin har analyserats utifrån eninnehållsanalys. Den teori som använts för att analysera resultatet är densociokulturella teorin med begreppen stöttning, proximal utvecklingszon,medierande redskap samt appropriering. Slutligen har resultatet satts i relationtill teori samt tidigare forskning.Resultatet visar att tid och rätt förutsättningar samt att pedagogen är lyhörd ochnärvarande för barnens intressen skapar förutsättningar för att kunna utvecklafördjupande samtal tillsammans med barn. Resultatet visar också att allaförskollärare i studien upplever någon typ av utmaning i arbetet medfördjupande samtal. På grund av begränsade förutsättningar med storabarngrupper resulterar detta i tidsbrist och en upplevelse av att vara för fåpedagoger.Slutsatsen är att förskollärarna behöver stöttning, kompetensutveckling ochrätt förutsättningar för att kunna bedriva fördjupande samtal i förskolan, somsåledes gynnar barnens språkutveckling.

La dégénérescence discale (DD) est un problème majeur de santé publique dans les pays industrialisés où elle touche une grande partie de la population. Elle est considérée comme l'une des premières causes de consultation antidouleur et d'arrêt de maladie particulièrement en France. La présente étude s'inscrit dans le cadre du diagnostic de la DD et plus largement de l'évaluation de la fonctionnalité et de la viabilité du disque intervertébral (DIV).Le DIV est un fibrocartilage hétérogène qui assure d'une part la mobilité du rachis et d'autre part la distribution des contraintes mécaniques entre les vertèbres. Ces deux propriétés principales sont liées à la fois au contenu hydrique et à la présence des protéoglycanes (PG) dans le DIV.Plusieurs études ont montré l'importance de la teneur en eau du DIV sur son comportement biomécanique. Le but de notre étude est constitué de deux étapes:1. suivre avec une méthode d'Imagerie de Résonance Magnétique (IRM), les variations de morphologie et d'hydratation sous un chargement mécanique, 2. suivre avec une modélisation numérique, les évolutions des paramètres mécaniques notamment la rigidité, le coefficient de Poisson et la perméabilité intrinsèque du DIV.Les résultats ainsi obtenus sont conformes avec la littérature et le comportement retenu adhère parfaitement avec le cadre expérimental. Ce travail d'exploration de la viabilité discale apporte des informations importantes dans la compréhension du comportement osmotico-mécanique du DIV. / Disc diseases are major public health problem in industrialized countries where they affect a large proportion of the population. Disc degeneration (DD) is considered to be one of the leading causes of pain consultation and sick leave in France. This study is an attempt to diagnose DD and more generally an assessment of the functionality and viability of the InterVertebral Disc (IVD). The IVD is an heterogeneous cartilage, that ensures rachis mobility and optimal stress redistribution between vertebrae. These two main properties are linked to the hydric content and the presence of proteoglycans (PG) which decline in a natural process throughout life. This degenerative process is in some case accelerated, leading to the Degenerative Disc Diseases (DDD) or troubles. Several studies have shown the importance of the water content of the disc on its biomechanical behavior. The aims of our study are:1. to follow with Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), the variation in morphology and hydration under mechanical stress,2. to follow with a numerical model, the changes in mechanical parameters such as stiffness, Poisson's ratio and the intrinsic permeability of the IVD.The post-processing on Magnetic Resonance (MR) data allowed reconstructing the 3D deformation under a known mechanical load and deducing the porosity of the disc. The results obtained are conform with the literature and the adopted behavior adheres perfectly with the experimental data. This study demonstrates also, the ability to calculate the mechanical parameters of an IVD, providing precious information to understand the mechanical behaviour and hence judge the viability of the IVD.

<p>The general trend toward increased use of computer models and simulations during product development has led to a need for accurate and reliable product models. The function of many products relies on contact interfaces between interacting components. To simulate the behavior of such products, accurate models of both components and interfaces are required. Depending on the purpose of the simulation, interface models of different degrees of complexity are needed. In simulation of very large systems with many interfaces, it might be computationally expensive to integrate detailed models of each individual interface. Condensed models, or abstractions, that describe the interface properties with a minimum of degrees of freedom are therefore required.</p><p>This thesis deals with mechanical interfaces with an emphasis on friction. In the four appended papers friction models are discussed in terms of condensed models, as well as in terms of more detailed contact models. The aim is to study how friction can be modeled in behavioral simulation of products and to discuss the convenience and relevance of using different types of friction models as building blocks of a system model in behavioral simulations.</p><p>Paper<b> A </b>presents a review of existing condensed friction models for sliding contacts under different running conditions and discusses the models from both simulation and tribological points of view.</p><p>In papers<b> B </b>and <b>C</b> a simplified contact model, called the elastic foundation model, is used to model friction in a boundary-lubricated rolling and sliding contact. The model is integrated in a dynamic rigid body model of a mechanical system, the system behavior is simulated, and the result is compared with experimental results.</p><p>Paper <b>D</b> discusses the application of the elastic foundation model to rough surface contact problems and investigates how the error in the elastic foundation results depends on surface roughness.</p>

The project Language of the Book Volume I-III explores the conceptual and the bodily experience of reading and making books. The essay presents the development of Volume I: Narracube consisting of three storytelling prototypes. With Narracube a format was developed that can invite stories to be told beyond single voices, linear time and fixed points of views. Narracube highlights the active role of a medium in transmission of a message. A book is never a neutral container for ink but an active space of communication in its mere contruction despite its content. / Projektet Bokens språk Volume I-III utforskar den konceptuella och kroppsliga upplevelsen av att läsa och göra böcker. Uppsatsen presenterar utvecklingen av Volume I: Narrakub som består av tre prototyper för berättande. Narrakub är ett format som utvecklats för att undersöka hur konstruktionen av boken kan bjuda in berättelser bortom enstaka röster, linjär tid och låsta perspektiv. Narrakub belyser den aktiva rollen som ett medium har då det sänder ett meddelande. En bok är aldrig en neutral behållare för bläck utan bär på ett aktivt kommunikationsutrymme i sin konstruktion oavsett innehåll.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:25:23Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2013-04-29Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:32:53Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 assuncao_if_me_arafcl.pdf: 671453 bytes, checksum: aa1616f7b498587feb1e510641162be2 (MD5) / Les contes “L’échappé” et “Villa Aurore” montrent bien la mobilité et la duplicité qui caractérisent l’oeuvre de Le Clézio: en même temps que le titre de cet ouvrage, La ronde et autres faits divers, annonce la représentation de la réalité à partir des faits divers, la présence du mythe donne au récit un fort potentiel poétique, qui peut être constaté soit dans la thématique, soit dans les procédés poétiques que l’auteur utilise dans la création de ses récits. Tel que les autres textes de La ronde et autres faits divers, les contes sélectionnés présentent la force d’un récit réaliste attaché à la banalité quotidienne, à partir duquel est déterminé un mouvement vers le mythe, en configurant une structure circulaire et poétique. Le présent travail a pour but de localiser et analyser, dans les contes “L’échappé” et “Villa Aurore”, le fait divers à partir duquel s’érigent ses structures réalistes et examiner les duplications des catégories narratives, en investigant comment elles collaborent pour la construction des structures mythique et poétique – qui sont attachées à la structure réaliste – dans chaque texte / Os contos “L’échappé” e “Villa Aurore” revelam a mobilidade e a duplicidade que caracterizam a obra de Le Clézio: ao mesmo tempo em que o título do livro, La ronde et autres faits divers, anuncia a representação da realidade a partir do fait divers, a presença do mito confere às narrativas um forte potencial de poeticidade, constatado principalmente na temática e nos recursos poéticos que o autor utiliza na composição de suas narrativas. Assim como os demais textos de La ronde et autres faits divers, os contos selecionados apresentam a força de uma narrativa realista, atrelada ao cotidiano banal, a partir do qual se determina um movimento em direção ao mito, configurando uma estrutura circular e poética. Com base nessas considerações, o presente trabalho tem como objetivo localizar e analisar, nos contos “L’échappé” e “Villa Aurore”, o fait divers a partir do qual se erigem suas estruturas realistas e examinar as duplicações das categorias narrativas, investigando como elas colaboram para a construção das estruturas mítica e poética – que estão atreladas à estrutura realista – em cada texto