Since the turn of the century, manufacturing industry has witnessed significant structural changes. Agility, which aims to provide companies with competitive capabilities so that they can prosper from dynamic and continuous changes in the business environment, has become a prevailing manufacturing strategy. However, how to develop a manufacturing strategy based on agility, and how to design and manage global supply chain networks effectively to implement these strategy, are not fully understood. This thesis presents survey based research that was carried out on a number of U.K. manufacturing companies. The research revisited the taxonomy of agility strategies for manufacturing industry developed by Zhang and Sharifi (2007) and investigated the methods of supply chain management employed by different strategic groups. The findings show that whilst the three broad types of agility strategies discovered in previous work (Zhang and Sharifi, 2007) have remained two sub types of agility strategies have been identified. They are named Responsive players, Quick operators, Quick innovators, Proactive players 1 and Proactive players 2. Responsive players placed a high emphasis on supplier selection related practices; Quick operators placed a high emphasis on sourcing management related practices; Quick innovators placed a high emphasis on relationship management related practices; and Proactive players 1 and 2 placed high emphases on almost all practices. This research has made contributions to the theory development of agility strategy and has provides a managerial guide with companies to improve the implementation of agility strategies in supply chains.

In this study diatom distribution within the lower Save River, Mozambique, has been identified from surface sediments, surface water, mangrove cortex and buried sediments. Sandy units, bracketing a geographically extensive clay layer, have been dated with optical stimulated luminescence (OSL). Diatom analysis has been used to interpret the spatial salinity gradient and to discuss taphonomic processes within the delta. Previously, one study has been performed in the investigated area and it is of great importance to continue to identify diatom distributions since siliceous microfossils are widely used for paleoenvironmental research. Two diatom taxa, which were not possible to classify to species level have been identified; Cyclotella sp. and Diploneis sp. It is suggested that these represent species not earlier described; however they are assigned a brackish water affinity. Diatom analysis from surface water, surface sediments and mangrove cortex indicate a transition from ocean water to a dominance of freshwater taxa c. 10 km upstream the delta front. Further, ratios between marine/brackish taxa for samples from surface water and surface sediments do not correspond. It is therefore suggested that diatoms in surface sediments underestimate prevailing salinity conditions in water. In the investigated area extensive taphonomic processes seem to have large impact on diatom frustules in sediments and may bias interpretations. Therefore it is recommended to carefully investigate geology, geomorphology and vegetation before diatom analysis is applied in studies of delta paleoenvironments.

Schefflera is the largest genus in the angiosperm family Araliaceae, with about 900 species, of which c. 300 belong to five subgeneric groups in the Neotropical region. Previous phylogenetic studies of Schefflera have been limited to a small number of species from this region, and very little is know about phylogenetic relationships in the Brazilian-centered Didymopanax group of this genus. Therefore, to gain a better understanding of the diversity and evolution of the Didymopanax group of Schefflera, I investigated the systematics of these plants in the broader context of the entire Neotropical clade. The main goals were (1) to investigate pollen diversity in Neotropical species of Schefflera; (2) to test the monophyly of these species; (3) to provide a taxonomic revision for species of the Didymopanax group of Schefflera; and (4) to investigate evolutionary relationships within the Didymopanax group. Pollen morphology exhibits an uneven variability across Neotropical Schefflera. For example, pollen characters support the distinctiveness of the Didymopanax group from all remaining groups. Moreover, S. tremula has a distinctive pollen morphology compared to remaining species of the Sciodaphyllum group. However, among the remaining groups of Neotropical Schefflera, pollen characters are less distinctive. Molecular phylogenetic analyses have confirmed the monophyly of the Neotropical species of Schefflera, and helped to identify four major clades. One of these clades includes subclades representing the Didymopanax and Crepinella groups, while another clade includes all species from groups Cotylanthes and Sciodaphyllum, excluding Schefflera tremula, a finding that corroborates pollen data. In the formal taxonomic revision of Didymopanax, 37 species are recognized, together with three insufficiently known species. The revision also includes updated species circumscriptions and nomenclatural adjustments for 26 names. Phylogenetic analyses among Didymopanax species recovered four morphologically and geographically coherent clades (Atlantic Forest, Imeri, Five-carpellate and Savannic clades), but their phylogenetic inter-relationships were generally weakly supported. Poorly resolved relationships in the Savannic clade suggests a rapid diversification in the campos rupestres vegetation, which accounts for the greatest species richness in the group. The presence of multiple Didymopanax lineages in the Amazonian and Atlantic forests corroborates that these regions may be composite biogeographic areas.

Les virus à ARN - à l'exception des rétrovirus - représentent plus de 200 pathogènes humains et/ou vétérinaires majeurs. Ils sont pour la plupart considérés comme émergents, durant les dernières années ils ont été retrouvés au-delà de leur territoire d'origine, dans de nouvelles régions du monde. Les plus connus de ces virus sont le virus du West Nile, le virus chikungunya, la grippe, le coronavirus SRAS, l'entérovirus 71 (agent responsable de la fièvre aphteuse), les virus de la dengue, l'hépatite C virus, le virus de la fièvre hémorragique de Crimée Congo, le virus de la vallée du Rift, l'encéphalite japonaise et plusieurs entérovirus humains. En terme de mortalité et morbidité ils sont à l'origine de plus 100 millions de cas par an et la menace a tendance à augmenter. Ces statistiques sont démoralisantes quand on considère les immenses progrès de la médecine et de la science durant ces dernières dizaines d'années. Les recherches présentées dans ma thèse portent sur le genre Flavivirus, au sein duquel on retrouve le virus de la fièvre jaune, un pathogène humain responsable d'épidémies majeures en Afrique et en Amérique latine durant les 300 à 400 dernières années. Ce virus est toujours responsable d'épidémies majeures en Afrique malgré un vaccin très bien toléré et des plus efficaces. On assiste au même scénario avec le virus de l'encéphalite japonaise en Inde. / Without including the retroviruses, there are in excess of 200 RNA viruses that are recognised human and/or animal pathogens, many of which are considered to be emerging viruses because during recent years they have dispersed beyond their original territories causing epidemics in new regions of the World. The more well known of these emerging viruses include, West Nile virus, chikungunya virus, influenza virus, SARS coronavirus, EV71 virus (the aetiological agent of hand foot and mouth disease), dengue virus, hepatitis C virus, Crimean Congo haemorrhagic fever virus, Rift Valley fever virus, Japanese encephalitis virus and many human enteroviruses from a variety of genera. The combined global morbidity and mortality figures for these viruses add up to 100s of millions per year and the current trend appears to be upwards. This is a depressing statistic when one considers the amazing medical and scientific achievements that we have witnessed during the past decades. The studies described in my thesis were focused on the genus Flavivirus the type species of which is yellow fever virus, another terrifyingly virulent human pathogen that has caused so much suffering in Africa and Latin America during the past 300 to 400 years. This virus continues to cause major epidemics in Africa despite the availability of one of the safest and most effective vaccines with which to control infections due to yellow fever virus. Indeed similar comments can be made in the context of the flavivirus Japanese encephalitis virus in India.

Doctor of Philosophy / Division of Biology / Carolyn J. Ferguson / The genus Lappula Moench is a diverse group of herbaceous plants in the large, cosmopolitan family Boraginaceae. Over sixty species are recognized in Eurasia; many are found in cold deserts, steppes, and semi-deserts of Central Asia. Fewer species were described from western North America, and compared with the Asian species they are poorly known. Various North American taxa have been placed into synonomy under Eurasian species, and complex patterns of variation have made species circumscription challenging. The goal of this dissertation was to explore phylogenetic relationships between North American and Eurasian species and to revise the taxonomy of the North American species. A molecular phylogenetic study was initiated in order to infer patterns of relationships among the North American species relative to Eurasian diversity. Samples were collected from throughout the western United States and from Siberia. Additional samples of Eurasian species were taken from herbarium specimens. Sequences were generated for three DNA regions (the ITS region of the nuclear ribosomal DNA, and chloroplast intergenic spacers trnS-trnG and rpl32-trnL) and phylogenies were generated using parsimony and Bayesian analyses. Results were in general agreement among all analyses. The genus Lappula was recovered as a monophyletic group, with the exception of the morphologically anomalous L. sessiliflora (Boiss.) Gürke, which was sister to the genus Rochelia Rchb. The native North American species of Lappula and L. redowskii (Hornem.) Greene formed a clade. Samples of L. squarrosa (Retz.) Dumort., a Eurasian steppe plant with a wide introduced range in North America, grouped with samples from Eurasia. Sampled species of Hackelia Opiz, a genus sometimes treated as part of Lappula, formed a clade separate from the Lappula species sampled here. Herbarium and field studies resulted in a revised taxonomy for the North American Lappula. Nomenclatural problems were resolved; nine native species and four varieties were recognized along with the introduced Eurasian species L. squarrosa.

Medical educators, clinical trainers, and professional organizations that have responded to the need to humanize medicine have not explored prospects for affective development in distance education. In this dissertation, the author explored narrative as an affective learning technique. Medical fiction, lay exposition, autobiography and other written forms of patient narratives, as well as multimedia presentations, movies, music, song, and visual arts were explored and analyzed for use in teaching medical professionalism to online health science students. A collection of narratives and learning activities for teaching medical professionalism in an online class were presented. Finally, a comparison study evaluated the use of narrative medicine to foster professional development in an online class. The use of narrative to introduce professionalism and help online students internalize the humanistic values of empathy and compassion was grounded in affective theories of moral development. Quantitative evaluation of medical professionalism was performed using the Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy (JSPE), a psychometrically sound instrument designed to measure empathy in the context of patient care. Comparisons of mean changes in empathy suggest that the treatment group experienced significant changes in total empathy, reflected by increased scores in all elements of the JSPE. These results were validated by a qualitative review of student discussion posts, course evaluations, and instructor feedback. The goal was to explore affective development and the educational value that narrative brings to teaching medical professionalism in the online class. The study helped to clarify the role of narrative in transformative learning. The implication is that online students can benefit from exposure to narrative. The relationship between narrative and medical professionalism may have applications for educational theory, medical and allied health practice, public policy, and future research.

Apesar do crescente aporte de informações na sistemática das serpentes Neotropicais, impulsionado pelo desenvolvimento de técnicas moleculares, as relações evolutivas intra e intertribais da subfamília Xenodontinae ainda são incipientes, e o posicionamento de gêneros e espécies de várias de suas tribos é desconhecido. A tribo Tachymenini (Dipsadidae, Xenodontinae) abriga sete gêneros e 33 espécies válidas, amplamente distribuídas na América do Sul, e representadas por um complexo histórico taxonômico e uma diversidade subamostrada. O presente projeto visou estudar as relações evolutivas de Tachymenini, de modo a testar as hipóteses de relacionamento entre seus gêneros e espécies em um contexto integrativo, e assim validar mudanças taxonômicas. Todos os táxons válidos de Tachymenini foram examinados, sendo este o trabalho mais abrangente para a tribo. Foram realizadas análises filogenéticas de Máxima Parcimônia, Máxima Verossimilhança e Bayeasiana, a partir da codificação de 70 caracteres morfológicos e do sequenciamento de três genes mitocondriais e três nucleares. As análises filogenéticas recuperaram Tachymenini como monofilética e seus gêneros mais especiosos, Tachymenis, Thamnodynastes e Tomodon, polifiléticos. Dois novos gêneros e quatro novas espécies são propostas, três espécies são sinonimizadas e dois outros gêneros são revalidados, resultando em uma nova classificação com 10 gêneros e 35 espécies para a tribo. Ainda, três complexos de espécies crípticas foram recuperados, o que aumentaria a diversidade de Tachymenini em pelo menos quatro novas espécies. O uso de dados morfológicos e moleculares combinados foi fundamental para o melhor entendimento das relações entre os gêneros da tribo, e para o estabelecimento de seus caracteres diagnósticos. Outros tipos de abordagens, além de complementação de lacunas amostrais, tanto morfológicas quanto moleculares, são necessárias em estudos sistemáticos futuros de Tachymenini e outros grupos de xenodontíneos / In spite of the incoming flow of information regarding the systematics of Neotropical snakes, largely driven by the innovation of new techniques for molecular data, the evolutionary relations among members of the subfamily Xenodontinae are incipient, and the phylogenetic status of several genera and species are still unknown. The tribe Tachymenini (Dipsadidade, Xenodontinae) is composed by seven genera and 33 species widely distributed throughout South America, and characterized by a complex taxonomic history and a hidden diversity. This project aimed to study the phylogenetic relations of Tachymenini, testing the evolutionary hypotheses of relationships among its genera and species in an integrative approach, and to further validate taxonomic changes. All Tachymenini taxa were analyzed in the most comprehensive study of the tribe. Maximum Parsimony, Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian analysis were performed using 70 morphological characters, three mitochondrial and three nuclear genes. Phylogenetic analysis recovered Tachymenini as monophyletic, and its most specious genera, Tachymenis, Thamnodynastes and Tomodon, as polyphyletic. Two new genera and four new species are proposed, three species are synonymized, and two other genera are resurrected, resulting in a new composition of 10 genera and 35 species for the tribe. Nevertheless, three cryptic species complexes were recovered, which would increase the diversity for Tachymenini in at least four other species. The combined use of morphological and molecular data was fundamental for a better understanding of the genera relationships, and for the establishment of diagnostic characters for the taxa. Other approaches, along with the improvement of morphological and molecular data deficiencies, are necessary in future studies of Tachymenini and other Xenodontinae systematics

O Estado da Bahia corresponde 35% da área total do nordeste brasileiro, abrangendo 417 municípios. Vários espécimes de moluscos terrestres e dulciaquícolas na coleção de Malacologia do Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo (MZSP, São Paulo, Brasil) foram coletados em municípios pertencentes a mesorregião Centro-Sul Baiano, a maior do estado. Contudo, cidades como Condeúba, Cordeiros, Mortugaba e Piripá permanecem sem registros, não só na coleção do MZSP, mas inclusive na literatura. A importância da diversidade de moluscos terrestres no Centro-Sul Baiano pode estar ligada ao fato da região incluir a fronteira entre três biomas brasileiros, Caatinga, Cerrado e Floresta Estacional Decídua. Trabalhos recentes realizados em áreas próximas aos municípios em questão, evidenciaram um número surpreendente de novos registros e novos táxons, o que justificaria um maior esforço pelo levantamento faunístico e conservação dos ambientes de Cerrado e Caatinga, que sofrem constante degradação. Assim, o presente estudo teve como objetivo central realizar o levantamento da malacofauna terrestre e dulcícola da mesorregião do Centro-Sul Baiano, usando dados da literatura, material histórico da coleção do MZSP, novas coletas, e a realização da sinopse taxonômica do material obtido. O levantamento resultou em 23 espécies de gastrópodes para os quatro municípios supracitados, das quais 95% evidenciaram novos registros. Exemplares das espécies Megalobulimus conicus e M. oblongus coletados, também foram estudados anatomicamente, revelando diferenças significativas entre as espécies. / Bahia state accounts for 35% of the total area of northeastern Brazil, including 417 municipalities. Several specimens of terrestrial and freshwater molluscs in the malacology collection of the Museum of Zoology of the University of São Paulo (MZSP, São Paulo, Brazil) were collected in municipalities belonging to the Central-South region of Bahia, the largest in the state. However, cities such as Condeúba, Cordeiros, Mortugaba and Piripá lack specific records, not only in the MZSP collection, but also in the literature. The importance of the diversity of terrestrial molluscs in the Center-South of Bahia may be related to the fact that the region includes the border between three Brazilian biomes, Caatinga, Cerrado and Atlantic Forest. Recent works carried out in areas close to the municipalities in question have revealed a surprising number of new records and new taxa, which would justify a greater effort for faunal surveys and the conservation of Cerrado and Caatinga environments, which suffer constant degradation. Thus, the present study aimed at surveying the terrestrial and freshwater malacofauna of the Center-South of Bahia, using data from the literature, historical material from the MZSP collection, new sampling, and the taxonomic study of the material obtained. The survey resulted in 23 species of gastropods for the four municipalities mentioned above, of which 95% are new records for the region. Specimens of Megalobulimus conicus and M. oblongus collected were also studied anatomically, revealing significant differences between species.

Orientador: Carlos Eduardo de Mattos Bicudo / Resumo: O estudo objetivou o inventário taxonômico dos gêneros, espécies e variedades taxonômicas da família Bacillariaceae presentes no Estado de São Paulo. A família Bacillariaceae compreende as diatomáceas com fíbulas na região interna da valva e frústula longilínea dos tipos fusiforme ou mais ou menos alongado, linear, lanceolado assimétrico, sigmoide, panduriforme ou elíptico. As estrias são lineares, uni ou bisseriadas e paralelas entre si na maioria das espécies. Os polos podem ser rostrados, capitados, obtusos, apiculados ou arredondados. A família é constituída por 18 gêneros que podem ocorrer em ambientes marinhos, estuarinos ou de água doce, sendo Nitzschia Hassal o mais especioso de todos. No Estado de São Paulo foram realizados estudos de cunho ecológico para os quais foram identificados 17 táxons em nível infragenérico e outros 13 em nível gênero. Entretanto, nenhum estudo sobre a taxonomia das Bacillariaceae foi realizado no Estado. O presente estudo contribui para o levantamento florístico das diatomáceas do Estado de São Paulo e serve de molde para realização de estudos congêneres em outros estados brasileiros. As análises foram realizadas utilizando amostras depositadas no Herbário Científico do Estado “Maria Eneyda P. Kauffmann Fidalgo” (SP) do Instituto de Botânica. Estas amostras vêm sendo coletadas desde 1960 e representam a essência da pesquisa. O plâncton foi coletado pelo arrasto subsuperficial de rede cônica confeccionada com tecido de náilon com malha de ab... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Study aimed at surveying the Bacillariaceae, including genera, species and varieties, occurring in the state São Paulo. The Bacillariaceae family comprises diatoms with fibulae in the internal region of the valve. The frustule may show various shapes as follows: short or long, straight, asymmetric lanceolate, panduriform and elliptic. Striae are uni or biseriate and parallel in most species. Valve ends may be rostrate, capitate, cuneate, obtuse, apiculate, and rounded. The family comprises 18 genera that may occur in marine, estuarine and freshwater environments. Nitzschia Hassal is the most specious genus. São Paulo state Bacillariaceae studies were mostly conducted with an ecological approach, identifying 17 taxa at infrageneric and 13 at generic level. Regrettably, no surveys were carried out aiming at the Bacillariceae floristics for that territory. Present study will improve the diatoms survey for the state São Paulo, and will provide a template for other Brazilian states. Analyses were made using samples deposited at the “Maria Eneida P. Kauffmann Fidalgo” Herbarium that belongs to the Botanical Institute of São Paulo. These samples have been collected since 1960 and represent the core of this research. Plankton samples were collected using subsurface towings with a conic 20 μm mesh nylon net. Periphyton was sampled by squeezing submerged plants and/or collecting whole submerged plants for later scraping at the laboratory. Rocks were also scraped using knives or razor b... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

Faculty of Humanities School of Education 0215438v lkotta@chemistry.uct.ac.za / The focus of this study was a case-based approach used in the first year course Introduction to Process and Materials Engineering, PRME1002, at the University of the Witwatersrand in 2005. This approach attempted to promote epistemic access to Process and Materials Engineering by moving away from the more traditional decontextualised and contrived engineering problems and introducing context-rich cases entailing more authentic engineering problems. The study investigated the extent to which the context rich problem-solving environment afforded the students epistemic access to Process and Materials Engineering. This was done through an analysis of the form and content of students’ knowledge and problem-solving skills as evidenced in their written responses to case-based problems. A modified form of the Structure of Learning Outcomes (SOLO) taxonomy was used as the instrument of analysis. The research showed that students tended to work in fragmented ways despite the context. They tended not to fully explore the context and as such could not successfully identify the salient aspects. They frequently ignored evidence in the context and invented their own in order to be able to use strategies that they were most familiar with. These findings suggest that that while the case-based approach introduced in the course, theoretically has the hallmarks of an ideal approach with which to create a favourable environment for learning, if students treat knowledge as fragmented and aren’t persuaded by the context to change their ways of working, the case-based approach does not afford students optimal epistemological access.