Abstract By critically analysing three pieces of devised performance, Even as I Walk (2008), They Were Silent (2009) and The Wages of Sin (2009), I argue that the concept of performance is not easily defined. Rather, it is an ever-changing phenomenon, which can become a useful platform for dialoguing about deeply personal and necessarily public and political subject matter. I locate myself and the theatre makers I worked with to create the three pieces, in the work by reflecting on and writing about the processes using auto-ethnography as a lens. The context within which I write, and within which my collaborators and I work, is that of our locations in very specific African, moral, cultural, political and creative impulses which we interrogate through the creative processes. Through the writing and reflecting, I arrive at various conclusions, including what I call ‘the methodology of not knowing,’ the importance of the group in facilitating the research and creative process, the necessity of redefining or renegotiation—for the purposes of both the research and the creative goals—our understandings of what performance is.

這篇論文研究了幾種基於聚二甲基硅氧烷（PDMS）的微流控芯片，及其對於酶反應和蛋白質結晶的應用。 / 本論文分為兩部份。首先，論文第一部份介紹了兩種微流控芯片。利用到PDMS透氣的性質，第一種微流控芯片是一種基於脫氣PDMS的納升液體進液系統。在第一種微流控芯片的基礎上，我們引進一種可由普通注射器控制的氣閥控制系統，可對反應液體的分配和混合進行更方便和精確的操作。兩種芯片均成功應用於酶反應動力學的測定。在一次實驗中，只需要3~5微升的反應物就可以得到鹼性磷酸酶（alkaline phosphatase）的Michaelis-Menten動力學。 / 論文第二部份研究了“體積效“應對於蛋白質結晶的影響。首先，基於微孔的微流控芯片的蛋白質結晶篩選實驗揭示了在小體積（納升）下，蛋白質的結晶條件比在大體積（微升）下更多。在液滴里的蛋白質結晶實驗結果說明大體積的蛋白質液滴結晶速度更快。最後，蛋白質結晶實驗成功在雙乳液（double emulsion）的內核中進行。 / This thesis describes the design and development of micro dispensing systems for enzyme assay and for protein crystallization. The micro dispensing systems were fabricated by the soft-lithography method with the widely used material poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS), which is gas and water permeable elastomer. / This thesis contains two major parts. In the first part, enzyme assay was performed in two micro dispensing systems, one based on microwells and the other based on pneumatic valves. The complete Michaelis-Menten kinetics measurement of the alkaline phosphatase (AP) with different fluorescein diphosphate (FDP) was achieved in one chip for each system using the fluorescence detection. These micro dispensing systems’ fabrication and operation were simple, and the total sample consumption was about 3~5 μL. / The second part reports the study of the volume effect on protein crystallization. Three micro dispensing systems, the microwell-based, droplet-based and double emulsion-based systems, were developed to perform the protein crystallization. Lysozyme and thaumatin were chosen as the model proteins. First, the protein crystallization screening experiments showed that protein crystallized in more precipitant conditions in the microchip than in conventional microbatch system. Second, the protein crystallization results carried out in droplets showed that protein crystallized faster in larger droplets. Finally, the protein crystallization in double emulsions was demonstrated. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Zhou, Xiaohu. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2012. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 87-91). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese. / Abstract --- p.i / 摘要 --- p.iii / Acknowledgements --- p.iv / Table of Contents --- p.vi / List of figures --- p.viii / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction to microfluidics --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Fabrication of microfluidic devices --- p.2 / Chapter 1.1.1 --- PDMS-based microfluidic device --- p.2 / Chapter 1.1.2 --- PMMA microfluidic device --- p.6 / Chapter 1.1.3 --- Assembly of the microfluidic device --- p.8 / Chapter 1.2 --- Degassed PDMS pumping method --- p.9 / Chapter 1.3 --- Droplet-based microfluidics --- p.13 / Chapter 1.4 --- Thesis organization --- p.16 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Micro dispensing systems for enzyme assay --- p.17 / Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction to enzyme assay --- p.17 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- Introduction to micro platforms for enzyme assay --- p.17 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Introduction to enzyme kinetics and Michaelis-Menten kinetics --- p.21 / Chapter 2.2 --- Experimental --- p.26 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Design of the micro dispensing systems --- p.26 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Fabrication of the microfluidic devices --- p.30 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Reagents and operation --- p.32 / Chapter 2.3 --- Results and discussion --- p.32 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Microwell-based dispensing system --- p.32 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Micro dispensing system based on pneumatic valves --- p.40 / Chapter 2.4 --- Conclusions --- p.45 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Micro dispensing systems for protein crystallization --- p.47 / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction to protein crystallization --- p.47 / Chapter 3.1.1 --- Principle of protein crystallization --- p.49 / Chapter 3.1.2 --- From macrofluidics to microfluidics --- p.51 / Chapter 3.2 --- Experimental --- p.56 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Design of the micro dispensing systems --- p.56 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Fabrication of the microfluidic devices --- p.58 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Reagents and operation --- p.60 / Chapter 3.2.4 --- Layer-by-layer modification --- p.61 / Chapter 3.3 --- Results and discussion --- p.65 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Demonstration of the micro dispensing systems --- p.65 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Protein crystallization screening results --- p.69 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- Protein crystallization in droplets --- p.73 / Chapter 3.3.4 --- Protein crystallization in w/o/w double emulsions --- p.77 / Chapter 3.4 --- Conclusions --- p.80 / Appendix --- p.82 / References --- p.87

Thesis. 1976. Ph.D.--Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Political Science. / Microfiche copy available in Archives and Dewey. / Bibliography: leaves 602-615. / Ph.D.

Thesis. 1975. M.S.--Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Political Science. / Bibliography: leaves 239-246. / M.S.

This thesis examines the impact of the recent introduction of public opinion polling on the quality of elections in sub-Saharan Africa to understand why it has contributed to greater transparency and representativeness in some context and not in others. It makes a unique contribution to the literature in documenting the emergence of the public opinion polling industry on the continent and in developing a theoretical framework for understanding the influence of polling on elite perceptions and behaviour during electoral periods. The thesis situates the proliferation of polling in sub-Saharan Africa within the historical and contemporary debates on the relative merits and drawbacks of public opinion research in democratic politics and elections, while exploring the theoretical link between public opinion polling and the expansion of transparency and representation by elites. The framework developed here posits opinion polling as a new, modern form of political participation to which elites must adapt, creating opportunities for either expansion or contraction of political space around elections. In this model, elites' perceptions of shifts in political competition play a critical role in shaping both the degree of change within the electoral process and the direction, whether toward greater or reduced transparency and responsiveness, of that change. The thesis employs a mixed method approach, using content analysis of print media and key informant interviews to inform detailed case studies of electoral campaigns in Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, and Uganda. Consistent with the model, the case study chapters present historical narratives that capture significant examples drawn over multiple elections from each of the four countries in which public opinion polling and elite perceptions of political competition have instigated changes in political behaviour, ultimately contributing to improvement or deterioration in the quality of elections.

Over the past two decades, constructivism has become an increasingly influential referent for the learning and teaching of science in schools. In the role of teacher-researcher, I conducted an intensive participant observational study in an innovative Australian middle school, where both the initial planning of the school program and the principal's vision for the school took constructivism as a key referent. The research activity involved team teaching for a total of two days per week for one school year (1996) with a group of five teachers who were attempting to implement constructivist-referenced innovations such as portfolio assessment, integrated curriculum and teacher collaborative planning in their teaching practice. I chose a narrative methodology including impressionist tales to both conduct and represent this research into my own and others' teaching practices and values - a 'novel' woven from those narratives forms Section Two of this thesis. In addition, five conjectures for further investigation emerged from the research: (1) one significant constraint to constructivist-referenced innovation is 'conceptual inertia' on the part of teachers, (2) students' epistemologies and expectations must be explicitly addressed where innovation is attempted, (3) the complexity of educational contexts extends beyond the mechanical details of schooling to the webs of expectations stakeholders bring to schools, (4) it is difficult for teachers with limited backgrounds in science to use constructivism as a referent in their science teaching, and (5) the narrative methodology chosen has value in providing a rich, complex account of schools, teachers and curricular innovations.

Abstract not available

Many large-scale national and international testing programs use the Rasch model to govern the construction of measurement scales that can be used to monitor standards of performance and monitor performance over time. A significant issue that arises in such programs is that once a decision has been made to use the model, it is not possible to reverse the decision if the data do not fit the model. There are two levels of question that result from such a situation. One of them involves the issue of misfit to the model. That is, how robust is the model to violations of fit of the data to the model? A second question emerges from the premise that the issue of fit to the model is a relative matter. That is, ultimately, it becomes the decision of users as to whether data fit the model well enough to suit the purpose of the users. Once this decision has been made, such as in the case of large-scale testing programs like the ones refocused to above, then the question reverts to one in which the focus is on the applications of the Rasch model. More specifically, in the case of this study, the intention is to examine the consequences of variability of fit to the Rasch model on the measures of student performance obtained from two different equating procedures. Two related simulation studies have been conducted to compare the results obtained from using two different equating procedures (namely separate and concurrent equating) with the Rasch Simple Logistic model, as data-model fit gets progressively worse. The results indicate that when data-model fit ranges from good fit to average fit (MNSQ ??? 1.60), there is little or no difference between the results obtained from the different equating procedures. However, when data-model fit ranges from relatively poor fit to poor fit (MNSQ &gt 1.60), the results from using different equating procedures prove less comparable. When the results of these two simulation studies are translated to a situation in Australia, for example, where different states use different equating procedures to generate a single comparable score and then these scores are used to compare performances amongst students and to predetermined standards or benchmarks, it raises significant equity issues. In essence, it means that in the latter situation, some students are deemed to be either above or below the standards purely as a consequence of the equating procedure selected. For example, students could be deemed to be above a benchmark if separate equating was used to produce the scale; yet these same students could be deemed to fall below the benchmark if concurrent equating is used. The actual consequences of this decision will vary from situation to situation. For example, if the same equating procedure was used each year to equate the data to form a single scale, then it could be argued that it does not matter if the results vary from occasion to occasion because it is consistent for the cohort of students from year to year. However, if other states or countries, for example, use a different equating procedure and the results are compared, then there is an equity problem. The extent of the problem is dependent upon the robustness of the model to varying degrees of misfit.

Consumer satisfaction is a central topic in marketing. In the literature, a variety of conceptual models have been developed to capture the satisfaction formation process, with the dominant framework being the disconfirmation paradigm. However, despite its widespread acceptance and support, there is still a lack of clarity, especially regarding the role and relative importance of perceived performance in determining satisfaction. It has been suggested that satisfaction research has advanced into a stage where potential moderator variables need to be examined in order to explain previous mixed findings. The current research proposes a contingency model of the satisfaction formation process, which posits that the nature of the relationships between satisfaction and its two key antecedents (i.e., perceived performance and disconfirmation) is contingent on one situational moderator (ambiguity) and two individual moderators (experience and involvement). Empirical testing of the model is in the form of a cross-sectional survey in China's mobile phone services industry using a convenience student sample obtained from one Chinese university. The results show that both disconfirmation and perceived performance have a direct impact on satisfaction under conditions of low experience or high involvement, whereas satisfaction is solely determined by perceived performance in situations of high experience or low involvement. In addition, the results also support a joint moderator influence of ambiguity and experience on the relationships between satisfaction and its antecedents, which is especially true in the case of high ambiguity and low experience.

Ko te kookoomuka te raakau i tunua ai te moa. (There is a proper use for everything and only by means of correct useage can the optimum result be obtained) This thesis proposes a model for research into traditional Maori kaupapa. Maori Studies is interdisciplinary in that it combines aspects of a considerable number of other disciplines and adds a further perspective of its own. However, despite the cross-overs with, for example, Anthropology, History, Linguistics, Art History, etc., Maori Studies provides its own unique, emic prespective which adds both depth and breadth to the study. Accordingly, research into kaupapa Maori requires a Maori model which draws from associated disciplines, forms interpretations according to the Maori world view and integrates all the various forms of evidence so that gaps in one area may be filled from another. Some steps towards resolution are proposed where the different forms of evidence seem to contradict, rather than complement each other. In particular the etic versus emic approach is examined with a view. Accordingly, the thesis will include an approach to the analysis and incorporation of traditional information available from: interviews; art; waiata; whakataukii; placenames; whakapapa; manuscripts and early census figures as well as the publised sources which are available. All must be compared with the contemporary oral record of past events, especially since much Maori tradition is political in nature, and the political perspective can change over time ("The Maori Camel"-paper presented to Pouhere Korero/NZHA Conference February 1996). (One of the particular strengths of Maori language material such as placenames, waiata, whakapapa, and whakatauki is that they have usually been repeated verbatim, often by people who hadn�t the language ability to change them. Therefore, like manuscripts they are frozen in time; unlike contemporary oral evidence where stories are retold in each generation.) The case studies look at the traditional Maori perspective on each of the topics and compares it with any research which has been done in Non-Maori ways. (For example, in Case Study 1., Maori knowledge which has been gathered by following the model proposed in this thesis is compared with botanical knowledge about cabbage trees.) Maori language material is not translated but handled in the original and discussed in Maori when a more productive discussion is thus facilitated, therefore resulting in a bi-lingual thesis. For Maori Studies to be fully accepted as having the same mana as other academic disciplines requires full acceptance of the bilingual nature of Maori Studies. However, in the iterests [sic] of wider accessibility, the majority of the discussion will be in English.