Submitted by Erika Demachki (erikademachki@gmail.com) on 2015-03-23T21:19:32Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Wanessa Carvalho Pires - 2014.pdf: 2557007 bytes, checksum: e5dedf168f3f361061e50ee3f6c2466e (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Erika Demachki (erikademachki@gmail.com) on 2015-03-23T21:20:57Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Wanessa Carvalho Pires - 2014.pdf: 2557007 bytes, checksum: e5dedf168f3f361061e50ee3f6c2466e (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-23T21:20:57Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Wanessa Carvalho Pires - 2014.pdf: 2557007 bytes, checksum: e5dedf168f3f361061e50ee3f6c2466e (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-03-12 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / It is estimated that 27 million new cancer cases will occur in the world until 2030. Due to this high number of cases, researches for new chemotherapeutic agents that are efficient for the malignant neoplastic disease treatment have intensified. Ruthenium complexes have been highlighted from those metal complexes that are being contemplated for the cancer treatment, because they exhibit the characteristics of selectivity for tumor cells and thus be less toxic to normal cells. Consequently, we evaluated the cytotoxic potential of six new complexes of ruthenium (II) and two of those with promising activity were selected to assess the genotoxic potential, the mechanism of death and interference on cell cycle dynamics. The cytotoxicity of these complexes was evaluated by MTT assay showing that for all six ruthenium complexes there was a reduction of viability of the tumor cells K562 and S-180 at low concentrations and cytotoxicity at higher concentrations to normal cells L-929 and lymphocyte. The ruthenium II complexes Ru 05 and Ru 08 got the best resolutions in the MTT assay and were selected for testing genotoxicity and mechanism of death. Data indicate that the Ru 05 and 08 induced changes in cell cycle through test performed by flow cytometry, increasing the number of cells in G0/G1 phase and decreasing into the synthesis phase at 24 and 48 hours of exposure. For the complex Ru 05 there was an increase in the number of cells in sub-G1 phase, which is indicative of apoptosis and cell damage, yet, neither the complex Ru 05 nor the Ru 08 showed significant DNA damage in the Comet assay during 24 and 48 hours. Both complexes increased the number of positive cells for Annexin-V, however the complex Ru 05 had induced changes in mitochondrial membrane potential, increased expression of the gene Bax, Tp53 and Caspase 9 and decreased the amount of active anti-apoptotic Bcl2 protein in the S-180 cells, leading to a reasonable supposes that this complex may cause the triggering of the cell death by apoptosis through intrinsic caspase-dependent manner. On the other hand, the complex Ru 08 did not statistically alter the mitochondrial membrane potential. Ru 08 increased the gene expression of Caspase 3, 8, 9 and Tp53 and the amount of active Caspase-3 protein in the S-180 treated cells, and decreased the amount of anti-apoptotic Bcl2 protein, which allows inferring that this complex may be acting by the extrinsic pathway. Despite the new ruthenium complexes studied have shown a promising future as chemotherapy for cancer treatment, other specific markers are needed to understand the cascade of events which the extrinsic apoptosis pathway is being triggered, elucidating the mechanism of action in S-180 cell line. / Até 2030 estima-se que ocorrerão 27 milhões de novos casos de câncer no mundo. Em decorrência deste alto número de casos, estudos em busca de novos quimioterápicos que sejam eficientes para o tratamento do câncer têm se intensificado. Os complexos de rutênio têm-se destacado dentre os complexos de metais que têm sido estudados para o tratamento do câncer por demonstrarem características de seletividade para as células tumorais e, consequentemente, serem menos tóxicos para as células normais. Diante disso foi avaliado o potencial citotóxico de seis novos complexos de rutênio (II) e dois desses com atividade promissora foram selecionados para avaliar o potencial genotóxico, o mecanismo de morte e a interferência na cinética do ciclo celular. A citotoxicidade foi avaliada pelo teste do MTT que mostrou que todos os complexos testados apresentaram inibição da viabilidade nas células tumorais de S-180 e K562 em concentrações baixas e uma citotoxicidade em concentrações maiores para células normais de L-929 e linfócitos humanos. Os complexos de rutênio denominados Ru 05 e Ru 08 obtiveram os melhores resultados no teste de MTT e foram selecionados para os testes de mecanismo de morte celular e de genotoxicidade. Os dados indicaram que os Ru 05 e Ru 08 induziram mudanças no ciclo celular através do teste realizado por citometria de fluxo, aumentando a quantidade de células na fase G0/G1 e diminuindo na fase de síntese em 24 e 48 horas de tratamento. Para o Ru 05 houve um aumento na quantidade de células na fase Sub-G1, levando ao indicativo de morte celular por apoptose e dano celular, entretanto, nem o Ru 05 quanto o Ru 08 apresentaram dano significativo ao DNA no teste Cometa em 24 e 48 horas. Ambos os complexos induziram o aumento da quantidade de células positivas para Anexina-V pelo teste de citometria de fluxo, sugestivo de morte celular por necrose ou apoptose, no entanto, o Ru 05 induziu alteração no potencial de membrana mitocondrial, aumentou a expressão dos genes Bax, Caspase 9 e Tp53 realizado por PCR em tempo real e diminuiu a quantidade da proteína anti-apoptótica Bcl2 ativa nas células de S-180, levando a inferir que o complexo pode estar desencadeando morte celular por apoptose via intrínseca dependente de caspase. Já o Ru 08 não alterou estatisticamente o potencial de membrana mitocondrial celular, aumentou a expressão dos genes de Caspase 3, 8, 9 e Tp53, reduziu a quantidade de proteína anti-apoptótica Bcl2 ativa e aumentou a quantidade da proteína Caspase 3 ativa nas células de S-180 tratadas, permitindo inferir que esse complexo pode estar atuando pela via extrínseca. Porém, outros marcadores específicos são necessários para compreender qual a cascata de eventos da apoptose via extrínseca que está sendo necessária para efetivar esse processo de morte celular, elucidando o mecanismo de ação nas células de S-180 desses novos complexos de rutênio estudados, que se mostraram promissores quimioterápicos no tratamento do câncer.

In this thesis, the claim that a flourishing family life should be characterised as a social practice, according to Alasdair MacIntyre’s definition of a practice, is defended. Furthermore, it is argued that the social practice of making and sustaining family life pursues certain goods, the achievement of which are constitutive of the family’s flourishing. The argument proceeds through the following stages. In the first part I focus on the Aristotelian premises of the argument and set out MacIntyre’s theoretical framework. I then apply this framework of the relationship between practices and institutions and internal and external goods to the family. In the second part I explore three important contemporary moral theories and how they address what a flourishing family life involves. In doing so, I look at how the Aristotelian approach adopted in this thesis compares to these approaches. The three approaches explored are contemporary liberalism (in particular liberal perfectionism), liberal feminism and feminist care ethics. At the end of this part of the thesis I argue that a synthesis of the Aristotelian framework and the particular insights of care ethics will provide a richer view of what a flourishing family life involves. In the final part of the thesis I provide an outline of some of the goods internal to the practice of life and the different activities and relationships which are constitutive of these goods. I then go on to suggest how families often fail to flourish as a result of the pursuit of external goods as ends in themselves or due to a lack of external goods. The conclusion of this thesis and its original contribution to knowledge is twofold: firstly, that MacIntyre’s contemporary Aristotelianism in combination with the insights of care ethics provides the tools with which we can identify the goods that contribute to and constitute familial flourishing. Secondly, that in order to identify the barriers to flourishing that families encounter, we must first understand what the goods internal and external to the practice are. We must then ensure that the institutions designed to sustain the family subordinate the goods external to family life to the internal goods, which only family members themselves can achieve through co-operative activity with each other.

Voltage-gated Ca2+ (Cav) channels are activated upon depolarization. They specifically allow Ca2+ ions to come into the cell. These Ca2+ ions are bi-functional because they not only control cell excitability but also couple electrical activity to complex downstream signaling events, such as excitation-contraction coupling in muscles and neurotransmitter release in neurons. In the brain, Cav channels are expressed in the pre- or post-synaptic membrane of most excitable cells, neurons. In the past few years, their expression and function have also been characterized in many nonexcitable cells such as astrocytes. This dissertation focuses on the regulation of one subtype of postsynaptic Cav channels, Cav1.2, in neurons. In the first part of chapter I, I provide a literature overview of Cav channels in terms of their subtypes, localizations, physiological functions, and biophysical properties. For years, Cav channels were studied as single entities. But now, based on multiple proteomic studies, we know that these channels actually do not live alone. They interact with numerous proteins depending on the physiological conditions. Such interactions can anchor the channels to optimal sites of action, and tether Cav channels to their modulatory molecules. Therefore, it is crucial to understand how Cav channels are regulated by their macromolecular assembly. Among these protein partners, our lab studied the regulation of Cav channels by a subset of PDZ-domain containing proteins. Because these proteins play an important role in scaffolding and they colocalize with both pre- and post-synaptic Cav channels. Indeed, previous studies from our lab and other groups have revealed that PDZ proteins participate in a multitude of Cav regulation. The second part of chapter I introduces the diverse modulation of neuronal Cav channels by numerous PDZ proteins. In neurons, Cav1.2 channels regulate neuronal excitability and synaptic plasticity. Their functions have been implicated in learning, memory, and mood regulation. A study published in the journal Lancet showed that the gene encoding Cav1.2 is a common risk factor for five major psychiatric disorders. A PDZ protein, densin-180 (densin) is an excitatory synapse protein that promotes Ca2+-dependent facilitation of voltage-gated Cav1.3 Ca2+ channels in transfected cells. Mice lacking densin exhibit similar behavioral phenotypes that closely match those in mice lacking Cav1.2. In chapter II and III, we investigated the functional impact of densin on Cav1.2 channels and their auxiliary subunit β2a. Besides the regulation of Cav channels by their interactome, we have also known for a long time that Ca2+ currents undergo a negative feedback regulation. This regulation is called Ca2+-dependent inactivation (CDI) and it is mediated by Ca2+ that directly traverses the pore. CDI has been described for Cav channels in multiple cell types. In the heart, CDI prevents excessively long cardiac action potentials, which in turn can prevent activity-dependent arrhythmia. In neurons, CDI may be neuroprotective by preventing excitotoxic Ca2+ overloads. In the last 18 years, two essential components have been revealed in the mechanism of CDI. One is the protein calmodulin (CaM). CaM interacts directly with sites on the C-terminus of Cav channels. It binds to the incoming Ca2+ ions and produces a mysterious conformational change that determines the conductance of the channel. The other molecular player is Cavβ protein family. Cavβ comprises four subfamilies β1 through β4, which generally enhance the channel inactivation, except β2a. In chapter IV, Xiaohan Wang from Roger Colbran’s lab in Vanderbilt University, and I identified a new molecular determinant for Cav1.2 CDI. The α2δ subunit is an extracellular component of the Cav channel complex. Similar to Cavβ subunits, α2δ subunits are essential for the biophysical properties, surface level, and trafficking of Cavα1 subunits. There are four isoforms of α2δ subunits (α2δ1 to α2δ4). They display distinct tissue distributions. Although the roles of α2δ subunits in Cav channel regulation were studied extensively, studies have proposed that the function of α2δ subunits may be in part or entirely independent of Cav channel complex, such as synaptogenesis. Considering the important role of α2δ in physiology and pathology, it is imperative to identify the factors that regulate the properties of α2δ. In chapter V, I explored the trafficking dynamics of α2δ1 and revealed a potential regulator of α2δ1 for its protein stability and localization. One beauty of doing research is that it always motivates us to think and ask more questions on our journey of demystifying nature. While looking at the evidence that I find, I realize how much more we could do in the future. In chapter VI, I conclude the findings of each chapter and share my perspectives on the future direction for these research projects.

The purpose of this study was to compare the achievement of students in reading-language arts and math, who participated in the Scholastic READ 180 program within self-contained classroom organizations with the achievement of READ 180 students within departmentalized classrooms and with students not enrolled in READ 180. Classroom organizational structure at the intermediate grade is a highly debated issue. The READ 180 program is a highly structured model of the reading-language arts block. However, past research has provided few recommendations on how to schedule classes for at-risk students. Teachers and administrators of intermediate school students will benefit from a quantitative study that evaluates the relationship between classroom organizational structures and the success of READ 180 students. Eight research questions guided the study. One-way and two-way ANOVAS were used to evaluate the relationships between the variables. Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP Reading-language arts and TCAP Math), Discovery Education (DE Reading-language arts and DE math), and Scholastic Reading Inventory (SRI) test scores were compared with regard to gender. The results of the data analyses indicated no significant difference in DE reading and SRI test scores among the 3 classroom organizations. However, there was a significant difference in DE Math, TCAP reading, and TCAP math scores with regard to classroom organization. Non READ 180 students tended to have higher means than either READ 180 self-contained or READ 180 departmentalized students. When the analyses included only READ 180 students, no significant interaction was found between classroom organization and gender. Also no significant differences were found between male and female students and no significant difference was found between self-contained and departmentalized classrooms.

Increasing the turbine inlet temperature of gas turbine engines significantly increases their power output and efficiency, but it also increases the likelihood of thermal failure. Internal passages with tiny ribs are typically cast into turbine blades to cool them, and the ability to accurately predict the flow and heat transfer within these channels leads to higher design reliability and prevention of blade failure resulting from local thermal loading. Prediction of the flow through these channels is challenging, however, because the flow is highly turbulent and anisotropic, and the presence of rotational body forces further complicates the flow. Large Eddy Simulations are used to study these flows because of their ability to predict the unsteady flow effects and anisotropic turbulence more reliably than traditional RANS closure models. Calculations in a stationary duct are validated with experiments in the developing flow, fully developed, and 180° bend regions to establish the accuracy and prediction capability of the LES calculations and to aid in understanding the major flow structures encountered in a ribbed duct. It is found that most flow and heat transfer calculations come to within 10-15% of the measurements, typically showing excellent agreement in all comparisons. In the developing flow region, Coriolis effects are found to destabilize turbulence and increase heat transfer along the trailing wall (pressure side), while decreasing leading wall heat transfer by stabilizing turbulence. Coriolis forces improve flow turning in the 180° bend by shifting the shape of the separated recirculation zone at the tip of the dividing wall and increasing the mainstream flow area. In addition, turbulence is attenuated near the leading wall throughout the bend, while Coriolis forces have little effect on trailing wall turbulence in the bend. Introducing and increasing centrifugal buoyancy in the developing flow region increases trailing wall heat transfer monotonically. Along the leading wall, buoyancy increases the size of the recirculation zones, shifting the peak heat transfer to a region upstream of the rib, which decreases heat transfer at low buoyancy parameters but increases it as the buoyancy parameter is increased beyond a value of 0.3. Centrifugal buoyancy in the 180° bend initially decreases the size of the recirculation zone at the tip of the dividing wall, increasing flow area and decreasing flow impingement. At high buoyancy, however, the recirculation zone shifts to the middle of the bend, increasing flow resistance and causing strong flow impingement on the back wall. The Boussinesq approximation is used in the buoyancy calculations, but the accuracy of the approximation comes into question in the presence of large temperature differences. A variable property algorithm is developed to calculate unsteady low speed flows with large density variations resulting from large temperature differences. The algorithm is validated against two test cases: Rayleigh-Bénard convection and Poiseuille-Bénard flow. Finally, design issues in rotating ribbed ducts are considered. The fully developed assumption is discussed with regard to the developing flow region, and controlling the recirculation zone in the 180° bend is considered as a way to determine the blade tip heat transfer and pressure drop across the bend. / Ph. D.

Après un rappel du contexte dans lequel ce travail de recherche a été conduit, le 1er chapitre présente les caractéristiques communes aux convertisseurs analogiques numériques (ADC) avec leurs figures de mérites. Un état de l’art exhaustif sur les ADC réalisés et plus particulièrement avec le nœud technologique CMOS 1 180 nm y est présenté. Ce travail préliminaire permet de donner un aperçu du défi relevé. Les architectures multi-étapes à échantillonnage analogique ont été éliminées de l’étude du fait des limitations de la technologie pour les contraintes de performances de l’ADC. Le chapitre 2 présente plus en détail les différentes implémentations possibles d’une famille d’ADC à échantillonnage numérique, les flash. Le portage de l’architecture TIQ est détaillé dans ce chapitre. Le chapitre 3 détaille l’étude et le portage en CMOS 180 nm des ADC à échantillonnage numérique à repliement de signal. Cette première partie conclut par le choix de l’architecture flash. La conception des briques de bases de l’ADC flash est détaillée dans les chapitres constituant la partie II du document. Le chapitre 4 est dédié à l’étude et au portage en CMOS 180 nm des étages de comparateurs latchés responsables de l’échantillonnage à 2 GHz de l’ADC flash. La non linéarité ramenée en entrée de l’architecture retenue ayant défini les contraintes sur l’étage de pré-amplification, celui ci est présenté dans le chapitre 5. Le chapitre 5, présente les différentes charges actives étudiées pour l’étage de pré-amplification. Le passage en différentiel passif avec le comparateur full différentiel et l’architecture retenue y sont détaillés. La technique du QV et son portage sur l’architecture de préamplificateur retenu sont présentés. Le décodeur thermométrique 2 binaire est présenté dans le chapitre 6. Deux implémentations de cette logique de décodage sont étudiées et portées. L’une est réalisée à partir d’un code de description matériel (VHDL) et la synthèse de cellules numériques en logique CMOS pull-up pull-down 3 . L’autre est réalisé à partir de multiplexeurs 1 bit et des flip flop à verrou en logique Pass gates complémentaire. Le chapitre 7 présente les limitations et l’implémentation de l’interpolation avec l’emploi des pré-amplificateurs et du comparateur latché retenus. L’étude de l’insertion de paires de suiveurs en drain commun, nécessaire à la polarisation des étages de pré-amplification y est présentée. Enfin, les analyses de tirage de Monte Carlo en mismatch 4 des résistances comme échelle de références sont comparées pour différents dimensionnements et topologies. Le synoptique global de l’ADC est présenté avec les cellules et techniques retenues. L’approche bottom-up incontournable pour la conception de circuits analogiques ou full custom présentée dans cette deuxième partie conclut sur le choix de concevoir un ASIC de preuve de concept. Ce dernier contient ainsi les briques de bases ayant une valeur ajoutée et potentiellement critiques pour la conversion de signaux. L’approche Top-down pour la conception est ainsi détaillée dans la 3e partie en partant du synoptique global de l’ASIC de preuve de concept envoyé en fonderie de circuit multi projet BuBlC1. contenant les cellules critiques à tester. La conception front-end de l’ASIC BuBlC1 avec notamment l’arbre d’horloge et les pads d’entrées sorties est présentée dans le chapitre 8. La phase de back-end avec les layouts des cellules retenues dans la partie II ainsi que leur intégration dans des ensembles (clusters) est présentée dans le chapitre 9 avec le padring et l’intégration finale des macro-ensembles (Cores analogiques et numériques). / After a a brief recall of the context this research work have been carried, the 1st chapter present the common analog to digital converters (ADC) characteristics with their figures of merit (FoM). A relevant state of the art on realized ADC architectures is presented. A particular emphasis has been done on 180 nm CMOS process node. This preliminary work gives a pertinent overview of the faced challenge. Multi step analog sampling architectures have been avoided from the study because of the transistors limited frequency performances. Chapter 2 presents the different implementations of the Flash digital sampling ADC family architecture. The TIQ architecture embedding in the 180 nm CMOS process are detailed in this chapter. Chapter 3 details the study and the design of an other digital sampling ADC family architecture on 180 nm CMOS process i.e. the signal folding architecture. This 1st part of the document conclude with the choice of the Flash ADC architecture. The building bloc design for this ADC are detailed in the following chapters constituting the part II. Chapter 4 is dedicated to the study and the design on 180 nm CMOS process of the latch comparator responsible of the 2 GHz sampling constraint of the overall ADC. As the retained comparator architecture input refereed non linearity defined the gain constraints of the preamplifier stage, the preamplifier is presented in the next chapter. Chapter 5 present the different characteristics and techniques of the quantifier stage. The comparator preamplifier stage with its different actives loads, its passive full differential transposition and the retained architecture are detailed. The QV technique and its embedding in the retained preamplifier architecture are presented. The thermometric 1 to binary encoder tree is presented in chapter 6. Two implementations of this encoding are studied and design on the Front-End (FE) level. The 1st one is a pipelined Wallace tree realized with a register transfer level (RTL) code on VHDL hardware description language. The synthesis flow on CMOS pull-up pull-down 2 combinatorial logic and rising edge flip flops are used for this architecture. The other architecture is designed using 1 bits multiplexers combinatorial pipelined with pass gated D latches with a full custom schematic implementation. Chapter 7 presents the limitations and the embedding of the interpolation with the retained preamplifier and comparator latch. The study of common drain source follower (CDSF) pairs insertion, mandatory for the biasing of the preamplifier input stage to reach the 8 bits resolution is studied with details. Finally, Monte Carlo sampling mismatch 3 analysis on the resistor references are studied by comparing different topologies and sizing. The overall ADC synoptic is presented with the retained cells and techniques. The bottom-up design approach, mandatory for analog and full-custom design, exposed in this 2nd part conclude on the choice to design a proof of concept ASIC (BuBlC1) including all the critical piece of circuits of the overall ADC with added value and potentially critical for signal conversion. The top-down approach for this ASIC design is detailed in the IIIrd part with the overall ASIC synoptic of the BuBlC1 ASIC sent to multi project wafer (MPW) foundry run integrating all the critical cells.The FE design of this ASIC with its clock tree and its input/output PAD are presented in chapter 8. The Back-End design with the retained cells layout in part II with the cells integration in clusters are presented in chapter 9 with the pad-ring and final integration in digital and analog macro-cells cores.

This thesis is devoted to thermal-hydraulic design and rating of heat exchangers with the specialized commercial software HTRI. These heat exchangers are solved for real high-temperature applications, where the hot fluid is a flue gas with high temperature (above 500 °C). In the thesis is made a brief analysis of the conventional design of heat exchangers usable for high-temperature aplications, description of the basic relations, description and brief user manual of software HTRI. Further, work includes a comparative study of methods for calculation of pressure drop of the fluid at 180° elbows, as support analysis for solution of required applications characterized by low pressure drop of process fluids.

Thèse en cotutelle : Université Laval, Québec et Université de Strasbourg, France. / Ce mémoire de maîtrise porte sur l'Histoire des empereurs romains d'Hérodien. Réflexion en quatre parties, cette étude s'intéresse à la représentation des bons et mauvais empereurs chez l'historien et, plus largement, à sa conception du vice et de la vertu. Le premier chapitre analyse les caractéristiques politiques, militaires et personnelles de Marc Aurèle, son optimus princeps. Le deuxième chapitre montre comment Hérodien évalue les empereurs subséquents d'après le modèle inaugural de Marc. Les portraits choisis, pour illustrer cette consécration par l'imitation, sont ceux de Macrin, Commode, Sévère, Alexandre et Pertinax. Le troisième chapitre étudie de façon thématique les vices principaux des tyrans. Le quatrième chapitre examine en détail trois cas de vices uniques, selon la méthode particulière de composition d'Hérodien : la cruauté pour Caracalla et Maximin et l'impiété pour Héliogabale. La conclusion s'attache aux questions du caractère inné et des mérites propres et aux portraits des derniers bons empereurs du récit, Maxime et Balbin.

This project examines and compares the political philosophies supporting the centralized authority of monarchs elaborated by two major figures of antiquity, Mèngzǐ (Mencius, 372-289 BC) of the Warring States period in China, and Marcus Aurelius Antoninus (Μαρκος Αυρηλιος Αντωνινος, 121-180 AD) of the later Roman Empire. The texts that have transmitted the ideas of these two men--the Mèngzǐ and the Meditations--have shaped the political actions of rulers, as well as the ideas and ideals of political theorists, from their formation down to the present day. Each thinker made substantial claims concerning the role of a philosophically-oriented monarch in actualizing governance that is both benevolent and beneficent under a form of absolute authority. The present study will compare basic principles of Mèngzǐ's and Marcus's political philosophies as they relate to monarchical rule expressed in those two classic works, and draw from these principles to create a new criterion in political philosophy that can be used to critique contemporary political arrangements characterized by strong centralization of power. This project will not be a polemic for monarchy or strongly centralized political governments; it is an exploration into political philosophical principles advocated by Marcus and Mèngzǐ, demonstrating how rulers in strongly centralized political institutions can exercise their power in ways that result in good for the people, and how principles advocated by Marcus and Mèngzǐ can be transformed into a criterion for practical application in contemporary political settings, without having to resort to political philosophical principles popular in most Anglo-European contexts.

Detta arbete har genom experiment och tester undersökt förbättringspotentialen för en halvautomatisk grundtillsyn av Ra180. Eftersom att denna grundtillsyn tar lång tid är det högst relevant att försöka korta ner den. Genom noggranna mätningar som har testats har det tagits fram lämpliga lösningar för en påtaglig förbättring. I linje med detta har även en undersökning gjorts av huruvida en helautomatisk grundtillsyn är möjlig. Genom dessa undersökningar har också en hårdvaruprototyp till denna metod tagits fram och implementerats.