Small standing water bodies that support colonization and help the survival of many species are nowadays often under threat. Since relationships between species and environments are often complex and not fully understood in these systems, this literature review has been written and a mesocosm experiment has been carried out in order to identify main mechanisms driving community assembly in habitats differing in complexity. I investigated the influence of artificial vegetation and clay on the community composition over a period of time. I found that a turbid environment (with clay) was not suitable for predators. This corresponds to our finding that in these environments, prey groups should be better developed, although the environment is different for each species.

No presente trabalho estudamos a renaturação sob alta pressão hidrostática de uma forma mutante da proteína verde fluorescente (enhanced GFP, eGFP), a qual somente emite fluorescência característica quando enovelada na sua forma nativa. A abordagem do presente estudo foi focada no controle da bioatividade da proteína recombinante, a fluorescência, como alternativa à determinação de solubilidade da proteína, fator que não é um indicador ideal de enovelamento proteico adequado. A ação da alta pressão na solubilização dos corpos de inclusão (CI) de eGFP produzidos em bactérias E. coli recombinantes e no enovelamento da proteína foi estudada. A compressão dos CI de eGFP em 2,4 kbar durante 30 minutos promoveu a dissociação dos agregados. No entanto, a incubação nesta condição não favoreceu o enovelamento da eGFP. O processo de renaturação foi avaliado em diversas condições de descompressão após a dissociação em 2,4 kbar. Durante a descompressão gradual, o aumento da fluorescência foi obtido em pressões que variaram entre a pressão atmosférica e 1,38kbar. Os níveis mais elevados de fluorescência de eGFP foram obtidos por incubação durante várias horas a níveis de pressão entre 0,35 e 0,69 kbar. Esta condição de pressão se mostrou favorável à renaturação de eGFP e é possível que também possa ser utilizada para favorecer o enovelamento de outras proteínas monoméricas. Ainda utilizando a eGFP como modelo, verificamos que os CI desta proteína produzidos por bactérias cultivadas em menor temperatura (37ºC) possuem maior quantidade de proteína recombinante apresentando a fluorescência característica em 509 nm, ou seja, na sua forma nativa, do que os CI expressos em temperaturas mais elevadas (42ºC e 47ºC). A análise realizada por espectroscopia de infravermelho (FT-IR) também demonstrou que os CI produzidos em temperaturas mais brandas possuem maior grau de estruturas secundárias semelhantes às da proteína na sua forma nativa. Além disso, os CI produzidos a 37ºC também são mais facilmente solubilizados pela ação da alta pressão do que aqueles produzidos em maior temperatura. Conforme esperado, a renaturação da eGFP a partir de CI produzidos a 37ºC foi 25 vezes mais eficiente do que a obtida utilizando CI produzidos a 47ºC. No presente estudo demonstramos também que a dissociação dos agregados exercida pela ação da alta pressão (2,4 kbar) pode ser amplificada quando em associação com a incubação em baixa temperatura (-9ºC) e que a combinação destas duas propriedades físicas eleva a solubilização dos agregados em CI, com a consequente elevação dos rendimentos de renaturação de eGFP. Mostramos ainda no presente estudo que a cinética de renaturação de eGFP em 0,69 kbar é proporcional à temperatura de incubação (entre 10ºC e 50ºC). O nível mais elevado de fluorescência foi obtido quando a renaturação de eEGP foi realizada a 20ºC. A taxa de maturação do cromóforo da eGFP é mais fortemente afetada pela temperatura do que a taxa de enovelamento da proteína. Em conclusão, a temperatura de produção dos CI, a temperatura de dissociação dos agregados e a temperatura de enovelamento podem afetar muito o rendimento e a cinética da renaturação de eGFP em alta pressão. Os resultados do presente estudo podem abrir novas perspectivas para melhorias no processo de enovelamento de proteínas a partir de CI utilizando alta pressão. Também neste trabalho descrevemos a renaturação das proteínas de Xac, PilB e os produtos dos genes XAC2810 e XAC3272 nunca antes obtidas na forma solúvel. Os rendimentos de solubilização destas três proteínas foram muito altos, entre 75% e 89%. A proteína PilB renaturada em alta pressão apresentou atividade ATPasica elevada, o que nunca antes foi demonstrado para a PilB de Xac. / In the present work we studied the refolding under high hydrostatic pressure of a mutant form of the green fluorescent protein (eGFP), which only emits the green characteristic fluorescence when in the native folded state. The approach of the present study was focused on controlling the bioactivity of the recombinant protein, the fluorescence, as an alternative for the determination of protein solubility, which is not an ideal indicator of proper protein folding. We studied the action of high pressure in the solubilization of the inclusion bodies (IB) of eGFP produced in bacteria E. coli and in the folding of this protein. The compression of a suspension of eGFP IB at 2.4 kbar for 30 minutes promoted dissociation of aggregates. However, the eGFP folding, monitored by the fluorescence at 509 nm, does not occur in this pressure level. The process of eGFP refolding was evaluated under various decompression conditions after dissociation of the IB at 2.4 kbar. During the gradual decompression, the increase in fluorescence was achieved at pressures ranging between atmospheric pressure and 1.38 kbar. The higher levels of eGFP fluorescence were obtained by incubation for several hours at pressure levels between 0.35 and 0.69 kbar. It is possible that the pressure condition that proved favorable for refolding of eGFP can also be used to favor the folding of other monomeric proteins. Using eGFP as a model, we also found that the IB produced by bacteria grown in a relatively low temperature (37ºC) is more fluorescent, presenting a higher amount of recombinant protein with the characteristic fluorescence at 509 nm, i.e., in its native form, than the IB expressed at higher temperatures (42ºC and 47ºC). The analysis by infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) also demonstrated that the IB produced at milder temperatures have a higher degree of secondary structure similar to the protein in its native form. Furthermore, the IB produced at 37ºC are also more readily solubilized by the action of high pressure than those produced at the higher temperatures. As expected, the folding of eGFP from IB produced at 37ºC was 25 times more efficient than that obtained using IB produced at 47ºC. In this study we demonstrated that the dissociation of aggregates exerted by the action of high pressure (2.4 kbar) can be amplified by combination with incubation at low temperature (-9ºC) and the association of these two physical properties can be used to increase the solubilization of the aggregates in IB, with a consequent increase in the yield of eGFP refolding. In the present study we also showed that the kinetics of refolding of eGFP is proportional to temperature (10ºC 50ºC). The higher level of fluorescence was obtained when the refolding of eGFP was performed at 20°C. The rate of maturation of the eGFP chromophore is more strongly affected by temperature than the rate of folding of the protein. In conclusion, the temperature of production of IB, the temperature of dissociation of aggregates and the folding temperature can greatly affect the yield and kinetics of refolding of eGFP at high pressure. The results of this study may open new perspectives for improvements in the process of protein folding from IB using high pressure. In this paper we also describe the refolding of the proteins of Xac, PilB and the gene products XAC2810 and XAC3272, which have never before been achieved in soluble form. The yields of solubilization/refolding of these three proteins were very high, between 75% and 89%. The protein PilB refolded at high pressure presented high ATPase activity, which has never been shown for the PilB of Xac.

Thesis (M. Dev.) --University of Limpopo, 2005 / Refer to document

Thesis (M.Dev.) --University of Limpopo, 2008 / The focus of the research was mainly on leadership problems, with special reference to the rural primary schools of Ximhungwe Circuit in the Bushbuckridge area. Special attention has been given to the leadership background of SGB members and their involvement on governance matters. This is a qualitative research study that involved seventeen rural primary schools of the Ximhungwe Circuit, where the SGB’s of these schools were interviewed to elicit information and to get their view points. The respondents interviewed from each school included the principal, chairperson of the SGB, educator component and parent component. The research findings revealed that the majority of SGB members are not coping with their roles and responsibilities as enshrined in the South African Schools Act, Act 84 of 1996. The results also indicated that there is a general lack of understanding in relation to governance matters, hence the elite principals and educators are seen to be taking a lead in that regard.

Thesis (MPA) --University of Limpopo, 2013 / The study investigated the involvement of parents in school governance in Sibasa Circuit. Among others the study found that parents experience various challenges with their role in this regard. School Governing Bodies struggle to maintain a full complement of the parent’s component. However, there are various ways and means that can be used in order to improve the situation. The study used both qualitative and quantitative approaches in both data collection and analysis. The result from the study indicates that lack of capacity is a challenge to parents in contributing positively towards the involvement of school governance. The findings of this study have shown that there is a major concern that parents need to be given the opportunity to make inputs in the school. The study shows that the level of capacity and lack of ownership by parents is still a challenge; however the interest to change the status is still available by the parents. The recommendations suggest the following: • Parents should first be made familiar with the South African Schools Act of 84 of 1996. If parents could be educated on this Act, they would know the duties of governing bodies and what is expected from them. • The training should be conducted among all chairpersons, secretaries and treasurers in order for them to be taught how to conduct their duties; Effective consultation should be introduced in schools in order to encourage parents to be involved in school governance. Establishment of parental association can improve the involvement of parents in school governance. Parental association must educate parent members about the importance of communication. They must know that they have to communicate with other parents who are not members of the school governing body, because their duty is to represent their interests. This will help to foster parent involvement in school. Lastly, the National Department of Education needs to review Section 27 of South African Schools Act 84 of 1996 to include remuneration of school governing body members. This section is the one that states that no remuneration must be given to people for governing body duties. Remuneration can help to motivate parents to participate fully in governing body duties.

Atualmente, a utilização de suspensão traseira do tipo twist beam é muito difundida em veículos de pequeno porte e alto volume de produção, por apresentar um bom compromisso entre custo e desempenho. No entanto este conceito possui limitações no que diz respeito à absorção de vibrações de ride (conforto) secundário e impactos, e possui um compromisso com as características de handling (estabilidade) do veículo. Este trabalho apresenta um estudo de influência da rigidez das buchas da suspensão twist beam nos eventos de impacto singular para ride e no regime permanente do handling. É utilizado no estudo um modelo de multicorpos com veículo completo construído no software ADAMS. Para o estudo de ride é utilizada uma abordagem semi-analítica, através dos dados de medição em pista utilizando transdutores de força nas rodas (WFT). A partir do uso de tais carregamentos é possível simular os fenômenos de ride sem necessitar de um modelo específico de pneu. Para o estudo de handling é utilizado modelo pneu correlacionado com medição de curva em uma bancada chamada Flat-Trac. Utilizando os modelos construídos para ride e handling, são apresentados os dados de correlação dos modelos com veículo protótipo e um estudo da influência da rigidez de bucha nas métricas de impacto singular para ride e gradiente de esterçamento para handling. / Currently, the use of rear suspension twist beam is widespread in small vehicles and high-volume production, because it presents a good compromise between cost and performance. However, this concept has limitations regards the absorption of secondary ride vibrations and impacts, and has a commitment with handling characteristics of the vehicle. This dissertation presents a study of the stiffness influence of the twist beam suspension bushings in impact singular events to the ride and the steady state handling behavior. A multibody model of vehicle complete built in ADAMS software has been used for the study. For the ride study is using a semi-analytical approach, through the track measurement data using wheel force transducers (WFT). From the use of such road loads is possible to simulate the ride phenomena without needing a specific model of tire. For the handling study a tire model used is correlated with measurement curve on a workbench called Flat-Trac. Using models built for ride and handling are shown the correlation data models with prototype vehicle and a study of the influence of the bushing stiffness for the singular impact event metrics for ride and the steering gradient metric for handling.

This study examined the perceptions of Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP) master's-level school counseling program coordinators and faculty members about the importance and relevance of family systems theory and techniques coursework in their program curriculum. Family-systems theory coursework is lacking in two-thirds of those accredited programs, although mandated by their major accrediting body, CACREP. CACREP issued curriculum standards and guidelines to ensure proper training of school-counseling students and the American School Counselor Association--the foundation that expands the image and influence of professional school counselors through advocacy, leadership, collaboration, and systemic change--has issued guidelines for the training and practice of school counselors in family systems. The ASCA goal is to ensure school-counseling professionals are adequately and appropriately trained to work with children and adolescents in the school setting. Participants were 45 chairs, coordinators, or faculty members of master's-level school counseling programs from across the United States who consented to participate. Five factors influenced perceptions of the relevancy of family-systems theory for school-counseling-program respondents: the status of a family-systems course in the school-counseling program (stand-alone or not stand-alone), respondent's role as a coordinator or faculty member, single or double accreditation, formal training in family-systems theory, and attitude about family-systems theory as an enhancement to professional development. Results from other analyses included internal influences, external influences, past and future influences, demographic distinctions, limitations, suggestions for future research, and implications for the field.

This thesis examines the ways in which a small group of young Pākehā women use underwear to construct a range of complex gendered subjectivities. I explore how these subjectivities are influenced by both material and discursive spaces. Three underwear shops in Hamilton, New Zealand - Bendon Lingerie Outlet, Bras N Things and Farmers, and various visual representations depicting contemporary notions of normative femininity, are under investigation Feminist poststructuralist theories and methodologies provide the framework for this research. One focus group and three semi-structured interviews were conducted with young women who purchase and wear underwear. Participant observations of shoppers in Bendon Lingerie Outlet, Hamilton and autobiographical journal entries of my experiences as a retailer and consumer of underwear continued throughout the research. Advertising and promotional material in underwear shops and a DVD of a Victoria's Secret lingerie show are also examined. Three points frame the analysis. First, I argue that underwear consumption spaces are discursively constructed as feminine. The socio-political structures governing these spaces construct particular types of bodies. These bodies are positioned as either 'in' place or 'out' of place. Second, underwear shops can be understood as feminised, young and thin embodied spaces. Bodies that fit this description are hence positioned as 'in' place. However, female bodies that are 'fat' and/or old and male bodies are marginalised within the space and thus positioned as 'out' of place. Third, I consider particular forms of normative femininity by examining the ways in which underwear disciplines and contains the body. Women's underwear moulds and shapes flesh to fit contemporary feminine norms. Examining the specific relationship between the body, underwear and space provides a means to re-theorise geography and makes new ground for understanding how clothed bodies are constituted in and through space.

University of Technology, Sydney. Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. / My grandfather was in a fix. He wasn’t black, like his father, but he wasn’t quite white either, like his mother. He was marrying a woman who also wasn’t-black-but-wasn’t­quite-white. The problem was that his mother was worried that her future daughter-in-law’s father was a bit too ‘dark, Oriental looking’, whilst her mother was worried because his father was half-black ‘negro’. It really was a case of pot calling kettle black. And she was already three months pregnant, so everyone was worried about whether ‘the throwback thing’ would mean that they would have a black, ‘negro’ baby. My grandparents had managed to modify their ‘brown’ bodies so they could ‘pass’ as ‘white’, but could they also somehow also modify their potentially ‘non-white’ offspring? What might the materially affective mechanisms be, that have the power to ‘fix’ bodies, so as that a brown body can become white? Franken-rat, in a different time and place, was a rat in a laboratory who had a human ear growing on its back. Its body was hideous, a monstrous blend of ratty-human flesh. Franken-rat lived and died in a laboratory, in the service of science and humanity. But how does its body, and the discourses surrounding it, materialise certain understandings about our bodies and their relationships to ‘others’ and to the world? How might our bodies understand that relationship? If my understanding of my relationship to ‘others’ is based upon a liberal humanist construct that separates ‘self’ from ‘other’ and such fleshy intertwinings as monstrous, then can I ‘become posthuman’ and affectively create that relationship as a generous and welcoming of ‘otherness’? Can posthumanism ‘overcome’ the abjection and horror of liberal humanist ideas of monstrosity? This thesis is a fictocritical exploration of bodies and their dynamic discursive and material relations with the world. If the world is a site continually in flux, how might bodies modify or be modified in order to continually belong to it? And how might we sift through the facts, the stories and the affects of family narratives, institutional spaces, historical documents, philosophical ideas, and cultural texts, discourses and practices, in order to find spaces of integrity in connection and becoming, and affective, corporeal knowledges to take into the future?

Harm minimisation approaches to illicit drug use have proven extremely successful in reducing drug-related harm and improving health outcomes for those using drugs, their families and the broader community. Despite these successes, however, many harm minimisation programmes face strong community opposition, and many others are limited in their effectiveness by their reluctance to acknowledge the complex ways in which drug using contexts, social relationships, desire, pleasure and aesthetics are involved in the production and reduction of drug-related harm.[NP] Deleuze and Guattari’s ethico-aesthetic philosophy offers a conceptual framework through which to begin to grapple with the sensory and affective elements of illicit drug use and their implications for an embodied ethics. Following an introduction to their key concepts, this thesis explores the implications of their ontology for understandings of injecting drug use across four inter-related dimensions: the drug using body; urban spaces of injecting; public overdose memorials; and drug referenced, ‘heroin chic’ advertising imagery. It argues that aesthetics and ethics are complexly intertwined, and that ethically positive responses to drug use require an active appreciation of the ways in which aesthetics affect bodies and their capacities to form relations with others