The study seeks to determine the robustness and power of parametric analysis of covariance and analysis of covariance using rank transformation to violation of the assumption of normality. The study employs a Monte Carlo simulation procedure with varying conditions of population distribution, group size, equality of group size, scale length, regression slope, and Y-intercept. The procedure was performed on raw data and ranked data with untied ranks and tied ranks.

Ph.D. / The main objective of this study was to investigate the presence, variations and the fate of lipophilic extractives during all the stages in the dissolving pulp production process. Lipophilic wood extractives which include fatty acids, sterols, hydrocarbons, steroid hydrocarbons and ketones are organic compounds present in the wood and dissolving pulp which are soluble in organic solvents. Their presence in wood and pulp has negative effects on both the pulping process and the quality of the produced dissolving pulp. Comparison of two Eucalyptus species (E. grandis and E. dunnii) at three different sites (Richmond, Umvoti and Ixopo in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa) revealed that lipophilic extractives were higher in E. dunnii than in E. grandis in all the sampled sites and that the woods at the Ixopo site were found to have the highest amount of lipophilic extractives. The quantitative variation of lipophilic extractives in wood was found to be significantly affected by respective sites and tree species. The principal component analysis (PCA) model, which was used to correlate soil parameters and amount of lipophilic extractives in woods per each site, revealed that high amounts of lipophilic extractives were found in trees grown at sites with a high composition of clay soil and organic matter. Thus if the industry is to avoid the high levels of lipophilic extractives in wood, sandy sites should be the choice to grow the trees. Partial least squares (PLS) modelling revealed that sterols and saturated fatty acids significantly influence the quality parameters (Kappa number, viscosity, copper number, cellulose yield and retained carbohydrates) of dissolving pulp, whereas unsaturated fatty acids and unsaturated sterols in particular were found to positively correlate with the Kappa number, thus affecting its measurement.The main objective of this study was to investigate the presence, variations and the fate of lipophilic extractives during all the stages in the dissolving pulp production process. Lipophilic wood extractives which include fatty acids, sterols, hydrocarbons, steroid hydrocarbons and ketones are organic compounds present in the wood and dissolving pulp which are soluble in organic solvents. Their presence in wood and pulp has negative effects on both the pulping process and the quality of the produced dissolving pulp. Comparison of two Eucalyptus species (E. grandis and E. dunnii) at three different sites (Richmond, Umvoti and Ixopo in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa) revealed that lipophilic extractives were higher in E. dunnii than in E. grandis in all the sampled sites and that the woods at the Ixopo site were found to have the highest amount of lipophilic extractives. The quantitative variation of lipophilic extractives in wood was found to be significantly affected by respective sites and tree species. The principal component analysis (PCA) model, which was used to correlate soil parameters and amount of lipophilic extractives in woods per each site, revealed that high amounts of lipophilic extractives were found in trees grown at sites with a high composition of clay soil and organic matter. Thus if the industry is to avoid the high levels of lipophilic extractives in wood, sandy sites should be the choice to grow the trees. Partial least squares (PLS) modelling revealed that sterols and saturated fatty acids significantly influence the quality parameters (Kappa number, viscosity, copper number, cellulose yield and retained carbohydrates) of dissolving pulp, whereas unsaturated fatty acids and unsaturated sterols in particular were found to positively correlate with the Kappa number, thus affecting its measurement. Viscosity of pulp which is an important quality parameter was also found to be positively influenced by sterol residues, whereas the reducing properties of pulp were found to be affected by sterols and saturated fatty acids with a carbon chain length of less than C20.

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the properties that characterise cotton fibres in the various stages in the CPNF process as well as to determine which fibre characteristics a r e required to entangle the fibres to produce a successful CPNF . The criteria adopted in this work for a successful CPNF include: 1. the tensile strength of the fabrics 2. a well-defined pattern 3. absorbency and wicking The properties selected for investigation were 1. the cotton fibre surface (using SEM and DSC analyses) 2. the degree of degradation of the cotton fibre as a result of the CPNF process (using cellulose fluidity measurements) 3. the non-cellulosic content of the fibre (using IR, DSC, and Chemical analyses) 4. fibre friction 5. absorbency and wicking 6. tensile properties Analysis of the results indicates clearly what the fundamental properties of the cotton fibre must be for a successful cotton CPNF to be manufactured. The conclusions also indicate the necessary properties a man-made fibre must have to produce a successful CPNF.

The title of this Diploma Thesis is Strategy Analysis of the Enterprise. Subject of the Thesis is to analyse the current status of Zlichovec Brewery and to propose suitable strategy for further developing the Brewery in future. Method of the external and internal environment analysis is applied in the Thesis. Theoretical/methodical factors defining individual analyses is included in the first part of the thesis whereas practical application of the indentified findings on the respective Brewery is described in the second part. Based on the results debated in the second part thereof, evaluation of the existing strategy is provided and eventual changes in order to improve development of the Enterprise or to modify its strategy respectively are formulated.

A study into the factors that affect power in an analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) design were examined. Four factors - sample size, significance level, dependent variable-covariate correlations and homogeneity of regression - were varied in a population study. Results indicate that power increased when the dependent variable-covariate correlations increased and when sample size increased. Power also increased when a less stringent alpha level was used. Homogeneity of regression did not effect power. Implications and recommendations for the applied researcher are discussed.

Both of the acute phase reactants, C-reactive protein and fibrinogen, as well as neutrophils have been shown to accumulate at sites of tissue injury or inflammation. The association of C-reactive protein with neutrophils and the concomitant degradation of this ligand by a phorbol 12-myristate 13 acetateactivatable membrane-associated neutral protease has been shown in previous studies. Degradation of C-reactive protein by the neutrophil protease was shown to result in peptides with an ability to modulate various immune functions of the neutrophil. The aim of this study has been to investigate specific characteristics of the protease, with respect to cellular distribution and molecular size. The ability of this neutrophil membrane-associated protease to degrade the acute phase protein, fibrinogen was investigated. The mechanism of degradation of both C-reactive protein and fibrinogen during their association with the neutrophil was also examined. The neutrophil protease, capable of degrading C-reactive protein, was also associated with the cytoskeleton and was proposed to be a submembrane protease localised at sites of attachment of the membrane with the cytoskeleton. The protease was found to have a molecular mass of approximately 600 kDa which, on sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, separated into four bands which migrated to molecular mass values of 209 kDa, 316 kDa, 398 kDa and 501 kDa. This protease also possessed fibrinogenolytic activity. The fibrinogen degradation products generated by this neutrophil membrane-associated protease were distinct from the products generated by the fibrinogenolytic systems of plasmin, human neutrophil elastase and neutrophil lysosomal enzymes and were unclottable through cleavage of the Aα chain from the N-terminus and the Bβ and γ chains from the C-terminus. N-terminal cleavage of the Aα chain by the neutrophil membrane-associated protease generated the Aα1-21 peptide, previously regarded as a unique consequence of elastase activity. Degradation of C-reactive protein and fibrinogen occurred as a result of their interaction with the neutrophil near to the CD11c integrin receptor. This interaction resulted in the egress of proteolytic activity into the extracellular medium. The fibrinogen products generated outside the cell associated with the neutrophil via the β₂ integrin receptors and the IgG Fc receptor. The interaction of the Creactive protein degradation products with the neutrophil could not be determined. Both C-reactive protein and fibrinogen are degraded by non-stimulated neutrophils but activation with phorbol 12- myristate 13 acetate resulted in maximum degradation This upregulation of activity was achieved through activation of H7 and trifluoperazine inhibitable cellular kinases and changes in microfilament assembly. The generation of non-clottable fibrinogen together with possible modulation of neutrophil receptormediated functions by the fibringen degradation products as well as the knowledge that the neutrophil protease generates C-reactive protein peptides with immunomodulatory activity implicates this neutrophil membrane-associated protease in the modulation of various inflammatory processes.

The main objective of this investigation is to examine how various material properties, governed by code specification, affect the seismic response of a twelve- story reinforced concrete building. This study incorporates the pushover and response history analysis to examine how varying steel yield strength (Fy), 28 day nominal compressive concrete strength (f’c), modes, and ground motions may affect the base shear capacity and displacements of a reinforced concrete structure. Different steel and concrete strengths were found to have minimal impact on the initial stiffness of the structure. However, during the post-yielding phase, higher steel and concrete compressive strengths resulted in larger base shear capacities of up to 22%. The base shear capacity geometric median increased as f’c or Fy increased, and the base shear capacity dispersion measure decreased as f’c or Fy increased. Higher mode results were neglected in this study due to non-convergent pushover analyses results. According to the response history analysis, larger yield and concrete compressive strengths result in lower roof displacement. The difference in roof displacement was less than 12% throughout. This displays the robustness of both analysis methods because material properties have insignificant impact on seismic response. Therefore, acceptable yield and compressive strengths governed by seismic code will result in acceptable building performance.

No description available.

Rumination consists of voluntary regurgitation of partially digested food, followed by chewing and re-swallowing or expulsion of regurgitated stomach contents (DM-ID2). Little research has systematically analyzed the differential effects of type or quantity of food on rumination across extended observations. This analysis demonstrated that certain (isolated) foods may differentially affect the rate of rumination. Furthermore, patterns of responding and manipulations of quantity may provide evidence for naturally occurring contingencies of punishment for the rumination of particular foods. These results may provide an avenue for minimally invasive, sustainable treatment for individuals with severe and chronic rumination.

Bayesian Model Averaging (BMA) is a new area in modern applied statistics that provides data analysts with an efficient tool for discovering promising models and obtaining esti-mates of their posterior probabilities via Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC). These probabilities can be further used as weights for model averaged predictions and estimates of the parameters of interest. As a result, variance components due to model selection are estimated and accounted for, contrary to the practice of conventional data analysis (such as, for example, stepwise model selection). In addition, variable activation probabilities can be obtained for each variable of interest. This dissertation is aimed at connecting BMA and various ramifications of the multivari-ate technique called Reduced-Rank Regression (RRR). In particular, we are concerned with Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) in ecological applications where the data are represented by a site by species abundance matrix with site-specific covariates. Our goal is to incorporate the multivariate techniques, such as Redundancy Analysis and Ca-nonical Correspondence Analysis into the general machinery of BMA, taking into account such complicating phenomena as outliers and clustering of observations within a single data-analysis strategy. Traditional implementations of model averaging are concerned with selection of variables. We extend the methodology of BMA to selection of subgroups of observations and im-plement several approaches to cluster and outlier analysis in the context of the multivari-ate regression model. The proposed algorithm of cluster analysis can accommodate re-strictions on the resulting partition of observations when some of them form sub-clusters that have to be preserved when larger clusters are formed. / Ph. D.