The objective of this research is to detect change in urban areas using two satellite images (from 2001 and 2010) covering the city of Shanghai, China. These satellite images were acquired by Landsat-7 and HJ-1B, two satellites with different sensors. Two change detection algorithms were tested: image differencing and post-classification comparison. For image differencing the difference image was classified using unsupervised k-means classification, the classes were then aggregated into change and no change by visual inspection. For post-classification comparison the images were classified using supervised maximum likelihood classification and then the difference image of the two classifications were classified into change and no change also by visual inspection. Image differencing produced result with poor overall accuracy (band 2: 24.07%, band 3: 25.96%, band 4: 46.93%), while post-classification comparison produced result with better overall accuracy (90.96%). Post-classification comparison works well with images from different sensors, but it relies heavily on the accuracy of the classification. The major downside of the methodology of both algorithms was the large amount of visual inspection.

Over 5000 flavonoids have been identified so far and many of these are known to have antineoplastic properties. The relationships between the targeting activities by these compounds on cancer cells and the specific features that determine their molecular structures are not completely elucidated. Here we report the differential cytotoxic effects of two unsubstituted ring B flavonoids that differ solely in the presence of a C2, C3 double bond in ring C, on human cancer cells of the lung (A549), pancreas (MIA PaCa-2, Panc28), colon (HCT 116, CaCo-2), Liver (HepG2), and breast (SKBr3). These compounds were extracted from Chromolaena leivensis (Hieron) a plant belonging to the genus Chromolaena reputed to have antitumor activities. 3, 5 dihydroxy-7-methoxyflavone induce apoptosis in cancer cells of the lung A549, pancreas MIA PaCa-2 and Panc28, and colon HCT116, but not on Caco-2; whereas 3,5 dihydroxy-7-methoxyflavanone display proliferative effects in A549, Panc 28, MIA PaCa, and HCT116 cells at low concentrations, and slight cytotoxicity only on CaCo-2, a cancer cell line with a higher differentiation status than other cells tested. At the concentrations studied (5-80µM) neither compound demonstrated activity against cancer cells of the liver (HepG2) or breast (SKBr3) as indicated by MTT cell viability assays. When used in combination with 3,5 dihydroxy-7-methoxyflavone in pancreatic cancer cells, the targeting preference of 3, 5 dihydroxy-7-methoxyflavanone is altered, and a significant increase in inhibition of cell viability is observed 48 hours after dosing. The presence or absence of the C2, C3 double bond in ring C, accounts for electrochemical and structural changes that dictate differential specificity towards cancer cells. 3,5 dihydroxy-7-methoxyflavone has a more planar structure, whereas the absence of the double bond in C2, C3 causes ring B to adopt a perpendicular orientation to the plane formed by rings A and C and the OH group at C3.

Previous research has shown that Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is related to stress levels, poor sleep quality, female gender, and younger age. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine if stress level, sleep quality, gender, and age could predict an increased risk of developing GAD. We hypothesized that increased levels of stress, poorer sleep quality, female gender and younger age predicted an increased risk of developing GAD. A quantitative data collection was performed. The questionnaire was presented on Facebook and was sent by email to contacts at “Blekinge Tekniska Högskola” and “Telenor Connexion” who then forwarded the survey to their colleagues. This self-assessment survey was based on three measuring instruments “Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 item Scale” (GAD-7),” Karolinska Exhaustion Disorder Scale” (KEDS) and” Insomnia Severity Index” (ISI). A total of 154 participants (93 women, 61 men), were included in the study. The results from the study showed that stress level and age predicted an increased risk of suffering from GAD, where the variable stress level strongest predicted the risk of developing GAD. It could be concluded that stress level and age could predict an increased risk of developing GAD. / Tidigare forskning har visat att generaliserat ångestsyndrom (GAD) är relaterat till stress, sämre sömnkvalitet, kvinnligt kön och lägre åldrar. Därmed var syftet med föreliggande studie att undersöka om stressnivå, sömnkvalitet, kön och ålder kunde predicera en ökad risk för GAD. Studiens hypotes var att ökade nivåer av stress, sämre sömnkvalitet, kvinnligt kön och yngre ålder predicerade en ökad risk att drabbas av GAD. En kvantitativ datainsamling utfördes genom insamling från sociala medier såsom Facebook samt via email till kontaktpersoner från ”Blekinge Tekniska Högskola” och ”Telenor Connexion” som i sin tur vidarebefordrade enkäten till sina arbetskollegor. Enkäten som skickades ut var ett självskattningsformulär som baserades på de tre mätinstrumenten “Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 item Scale” (GAD-7),” Karolinska Exhaustion Disorder Scale” (KEDS) and ”Insomnia Severity Index” (ISI). Totalt deltog 154 personer (93 kvinnor, 61 män). Resultatet från studien visade att prediktorerna stressnivå och ålder kunde predicera en ökad risk att drabbas av GAD, där stressnivå i störst utsträckning kunde predicera GAD. Sammanfattningsvis kunde man dra slutsatsen att stressnivå och ålder kunde predicera en ökad risk för att utveckla GAD.

The aim of this thesis is to find an explanation of the obstacles to deploying Article 7 TEU measures as we see it today. This explanation will be sought in the events in this field starting from the formation of the provision, all the way up to this writing moment. The explanation will be searched for by using the research question: What in the process offorming and amending Article 7 TEU can explain the hesitancy and hardship to deploy the article today? Four hypotheses for explanations are identified; 1) Article 7 TEU is a political rather than legal provision, and is thus infiltrated with political subjectiveness rather than legal objective- ness, 2) lessons from the Haider affair have caused hesitancy, 3) adding intermediate steps and alternative procedures have weakened the nature of the provision, and 4) the nuclear notion has falsely created hesitancy to take action and oblivion of the softer mechanisms of the provision. This study concludes, that to fully understand the Article 7 TEU struggles as of today, both political implications, intermediate steps, alternative mechanisms and lessons from the Haider affair has to be taken into account. This com- plexity does then confirm the sufficiency of the explanation: Many factors has played a role in forming the hesitancy and hardship to deploy Article 7 TEU, but the intergovernmental and political nature of the provision explains why it still have not been fully implemented. This is although the scope and appli- cation of the provision fully fits the problems of democratic backsliding, that permeates some of the member states of the EU.

Det har gjorts omfångsrika jämförande studier, både nationella och internationella, vilka antyder att elever med utländsk bakgrund presterar sämre i skolan när det gäller kunskapsnivå och resultat i matematik till skillnad från elever med inhemsk bakgrund. Denna studie undersöker på vilket sätt matematiklärare på högstadiet anpassar sin pedagogiska metodik för att överbrygga utmaningar och hinder samt öka motivationen och självförtroendet för dessa elever. Arbetets första frågeställning fokuserar på de konkreta utmaningar och hinder som matematiklärare berättar att elever med utländsk bakgrund stöter på i sin matematikinlärning. Den andra frågeställningen undersöker de strategier och metoder som matematiklärare använder för att skapa en inkluderande och stöttande inlärningsmiljö. Den tredje frågeställningen utforskar samarbetet mellan matematiklärare och andra relevanta aktörer för att skapa en stöttande undervisningsmiljö. Studien analyserades med sociokulturella perspektiv, anpassad undervisning och prestationsmotivation. Studien utgår ifrån kvalitativ metod med fenomenografisk ansats med semistrukturerade intervjuer. Baserad på lärarnas erfarenheter visar resultaten att det är framför allt språkliga problem och föräldrarnas utbildningsnivå som är det största hinder för kunskapsutvecklingen för elever med utländsk bakgrund. Vad gäller elevernas stöttning uppvisar lärarna många anvisningar bland annat: anpassad undervisning baserat på elevernas kunskapsnivå, skolans och vårdnadshavarens samarbete, inkluderande skolmiljö och variationer av undervisning.

Proper assembly and localization of receptors and the associated signal transduction protein complex is important for normal cell function. Scaffolding proteins have been implicated in organizing the assembly of protein complex and localization of receptors. PDZ domain containing proteins are one major type of scaffolding protein. One well characterized system is the C. elegans LIN-2/LIN-7/LIN-10 PDZ protein complex. In C. elegans, this protein complex acts as a scaffold for the proper localization of LET-23, the ortholog of EGFR, to the epithelial basolateral membrane. The Drosophila orthologs, cmg, dveli and dmint/dX11L, have been identified. The sequence homologies and expression patterns suggest that these genes may have similar functions as their mammalian orthologs. The possible functions include cell-cell junction formation, receptor localization, ion channel localization and neurotransmitter vesicle trafficking. The main objectives of this thesis work are the mutagenesis and functional analysis of dveli. Potential mutants were generated by P element insertional mutagenesis, however, further analysis is required to identify the affected genes. A systemic RNAi experiment was performed. The delivery mechanism used was the RNAi soaking technique adapted from Dr. Davis’s laboratory protocol. Primary results from RNAi experiments show that loss of dveli function results in a reduction in larval locomotion speed. This slower locomotion phenotype along with the post-synaptic expression of dVELI at larval neuromuscular junction suggest a synaptic role of dVELI, perhaps aiding in synapse formation or proper localization of neurotransmitter receptors. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

Made available in DSpace on 2016-03-15T19:38:02Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 RAFAEL FELIX ALVES.pdf: 2156088 bytes, checksum: a82e527c69001eb9cee5a989bde3b8dc (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-06-23 / The process of image binarization consists of transforming a color image into a new one with only two colors: black and white. This process is an important step for many modern applica-tions such as Check Clearance, Optical Character Recognition and Handwriting Recognition. Improvements in the automatic process of image binarization represent impacts on applications that rely on this step. The present work proposes a methodology for automatic image binariza-tion. This methodology applies supervised learning algorithms to binarize images and consists of the following steps: images database construction; extraction of the region of interest; pat-terns matrix construction; pattern labelling; database sampling; and classifier training. Experi-mental results are presented using a database of Brazilian bank check images and the competi-tion database DIBCO 2009. In conclusion, the proposal demonstrated to be superior to some of its competitors in terms of accuracy and F-Measure. / O processo de binarização de imagens consiste na transformação de uma imagem colorida em uma nova imagem com apenas duas cores: uma que representa o fundo, outra o objeto de interesse. Este processo é uma importante etapa de diversas aplicações modernas, como a Compensação de Cheque, o Reconhecimento Ótico de Caracteres (do inglês Optical Characterer Recognition) e o Reconhecimento de Texto Manuscrito (do inglês Handwritten Recognition, HWR). Dado que melhorias no processo automático de binarização de imagens representam impactos diretos nas aplicações que dependem desta etapa o presente trabalho propõe uma metodologia para realizar a binarização automática de imagens. A proposta realiza a binarização de forma automática baseado no uso de algoritmos de aprendizagem supervisionada, tais como redes neurais artificiais e árvore de decisão. O processo como um todo consiste das seguintes etapas: construção do banco de imagens; extração da região de interesse; construção da matriz de padrões; rotulação dos padrões; amostragem da base; e treinamento do classificador. Resultados experimentais são apresentados utilizando uma base de imagens de cheques de bancos brasileiros (CMC-7 e montante de cortesia) e a base de imagens da competição DIBCO 2009. Em conclusão, a metodologia proposta apresentou-se competitiva aos métodos da literatura destacando-se em aplicações onde o processamento de imagens está restrito a uma categoria de imagens, como é o caso das imagens de cheques de bancos brasileiros. A presente metodologia apresenta resultados experimentais entre as três primeiras posições e melhores resultados em relação a medida F-Measure quando comparada com as demais.

<p>Истраживана област рада је Пан-Европски Коридор 7 &ndash; интернацонални пловни пут Дунава (Регензбург &ndash; Црно море). Тачније, радом је обухваћено 93,7% Коридора 7, односно 2.227 речних километара Дунава (од Пасауа &ndash; Немачка до делте Дунава &ndash; Црно море), јер је то деоница којом крстаре бродови специјализовани за међународна туристичка крстарења. Током протекле деценије међународна туристичка крстарења су на глобалном нивоу забележила највећи раст од свих других облика туристичких путовања. Ипак, овај вид туризма је још увек у развоју и није довољно истражен. Резултати рада показују да су учесници међународних туристичких крстарења на овим просторима и даље туристи који претежно припадају трећој доби. Утврдили смо да су најприсутније старосне групе 60-84 година, са доминацијом старосних група узраста 70-74 и 65-69 година. Резултати анализе показују да међународна туристичка крстарења Коридором 7 утичу позитивно на Србију, првенствено на приобални, подунавски регион. Иако се бенефиције не односе на коришћење услуга смештаја и исхране у угоститељским објектима, добробит се огледа у следећим сегментима: туристичка промоција (ширење позитивног пласмана Србије као рецептивног простора на иностраном тржишту &ndash; представљање културне баштине и природних вредности); пораст иностраног туристичког промета, а самим тим и потрошње; отварање нових радних места (адекватна инфраструктура и супраструктура - сервисери различитих услуга бродовима, посади и путницима) &ndash; пристаништа, шпедитери, сувенир тржнице итд. Резултати истраживања могу помоћи даљим проучавањима узрочно-последичних веза између оваквог вида путовања и ресурса рецептивних земаља на којима се ова путовања заснивају, а све у циљу адекватног осмишљавања и пласмана туристичке понуде, односно оптимални развој рецептивних земаља кроз одрживи туризам.</p> / <p>Istraživana oblast rada je Pan-Evropski Koridor 7 &ndash; internaconalni plovni put Dunava (Regenzburg &ndash; Crno more). Tačnije, radom je obuhvaćeno 93,7% Koridora 7, odnosno 2.227 rečnih kilometara Dunava (od Pasaua &ndash; Nemačka do delte Dunava &ndash; Crno more), jer je to deonica kojom krstare brodovi specijalizovani za međunarodna turistička krstarenja. Tokom protekle decenije međunarodna turistička krstarenja su na globalnom nivou zabeležila najveći rast od svih drugih oblika turističkih putovanja. Ipak, ovaj vid turizma je još uvek u razvoju i nije dovoljno istražen. Rezultati rada pokazuju da su učesnici međunarodnih turističkih krstarenja na ovim prostorima i dalje turisti koji pretežno pripadaju trećoj dobi. Utvrdili smo da su najprisutnije starosne grupe 60-84 godina, sa dominacijom starosnih grupa uzrasta 70-74 i 65-69 godina. Rezultati analize pokazuju da međunarodna turistička krstarenja Koridorom 7 utiču pozitivno na Srbiju, prvenstveno na priobalni, podunavski region. Iako se beneficije ne odnose na korišćenje usluga smeštaja i ishrane u ugostiteljskim objektima, dobrobit se ogleda u sledećim segmentima: turistička promocija (širenje pozitivnog plasmana Srbije kao receptivnog prostora na inostranom tržištu &ndash; predstavljanje kulturne baštine i prirodnih vrednosti); porast inostranog turističkog prometa, a samim tim i potrošnje; otvaranje novih radnih mesta (adekvatna infrastruktura i suprastruktura - serviseri različitih usluga brodovima, posadi i putnicima) &ndash; pristaništa, špediteri, suvenir tržnice itd. Rezultati istraživanja mogu pomoći daljim proučavanjima uzročno-posledičnih veza između ovakvog vida putovanja i resursa receptivnih zemalja na kojima se ova putovanja zasnivaju, a sve u cilju adekvatnog osmišljavanja i plasmana turističke ponude, odnosno optimalni razvoj receptivnih zemalja kroz održivi turizam.</p> / <p>The researched area is Pan-European Corridor 7 &ndash; international Danube waterway (Regensburg &ndash; The Black Sea). More precisely, 93.7% of the Corridor 7 is included in the paper, i.e. 2,227 river kilometres of the Danube (from Passau &ndash; Germany to the Danube delta &ndash; The Black Sea). During the last decade the cruise industry has been the tourism niche that has experienced the most rapid growth of all. However, this form of tourism is still in its infancy and has not been relatively well researched. The article demonstrates the dominance of &ldquo;silver hair&rdquo; cruisers on the Corridor 7. Furthermore, we found that the age groups 60-84 were the most represented, with the domination of age groups 70-74 and 65-69. The results of the analysis have shown that the Danube cruises have positive impact on Serbia, primarily the riparian area of the Danube. Although the benefits exclude food and accommodation expenditure, they are noticeable within the following segments: tourism promotion (broadening the scopes of Serbia as a receptive area for the foreign market through its cultural heritage and natural values); increase in foreign tourist turnover, other expenditures; new job opportunities (adequate infrastructure and superstructure &ndash; rendering services to ships, crew and passengers) &ndash; harbors, carriers, souvenir shops, etc. The results of the research may initiate further studies on the cause and effect connections between this type of traveling and resources of receptive countries, upon which the travels are based, both aiming at adequate design and launching of the tourist offer, i.e. the optimal development of receptive countries through sustainable tourism.</p>

The purpose of this study is to describe some students' own experiences and involvement of remedial instruction during year seven to nine in compulsory school in Sweden. My hope is that the study may contribute in possible ways of supporting students in reading and writing difficulties. The study is qualitative with a life-world approach. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with four upper secondary school students. The study is retrospective and describes the students´ experiences and perceptions of remedial instruction. The result shows that all four students have their unique perspectives on reading and writing difficulties or dyslexia as a phenomenon. As individuals, they have positive experiences of support and individual teachers´ commitment. These students interviewed have in common an experience of struggling and fight to get their rights respected, and that this has consuming power and energy that otherwise could have been used in the learning process. / Syftet med denna studie är att beskriva några elevers egna upplevelser och deltagande av stödinsatser under svenska grundskolans årskurser sju till nio. Min förhoppning är att studien kan bidra med möjliga vägar att stödja elever i läs- och skrivsvårigheter. Undersökningen är kvalitativ med en livsvärldsansats. Data har samlats in genom halvstrukturerade intervjuer med fyra gymnasieelever. Studien är retroperspektiv och eleverna har sett tillbaka på sin grundskoletid och beskriver sina erfarenheter och upplevelser av det stöd de fick då. Resultatet visar att alla fyra eleverna har sitt unika perspektiv på läs- och skrivsvårigheter eller dyslexi som fenomen. Som individer har de positiva erfarenheter av stödinsatser och enskilda pedagogers engagemang. Gemensamt har eleverna en upplevelse av att ha fått kämpa för att få sina rättigheter tillgodosedda och att detta tagit kraft och energi som annars kunnat komma deras lärprocess till gagn.

Following traumatic brain injury (TBI), the hippocampus is particularly vulnerable to damage, and BDNF, an endogenous neurotrophin that activates the TrkB receptor, has been shown to play a key role in the brain’s neuroprotective response. Activation of the TrkB signaling pathway by BDNF in the CNS promotes cell survival and aids in cell growth. However, due to its inability to cross the blood brain barrier (BBB), the therapeutic advantages of BDNF treatment following TBI are limited. 7,8-Dihydroxyflavone (7,8-DHF) is a flavonoid that mimics the effects of BDNF, is a potent TrkB receptor agonist, and can successfully cross the BBB. Our lab has previously demonstrated that administration of 7,8-DHF post-TBI results in improved cognitive functional recovery, increased neuronal survival, and reduced lesion volume. The current study examined the effects of 7,8-DHF on neurogenesis and neuronal migration in the dentate gyrus following TBI. In this study, adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to moderate controlled cortical impact injury (CCI) or sham surgery. Injured animals received 5 daily single doses of 7,8-DHF treatment (i.p) or vehicle starting either 60 mins after injury or 2 days after injury. BrdU was administered in 3 doses at 2 days post-injury for animals sacrificed at day 15, and single daily doses at days 1-7 post-injury for animals sacrificed at day 28 to label cell proliferation. Animals were sacrificed at 15 days or 28 days post-injury to examine cell proliferation, generation of new neurons, and differentiation of newly generated cells using proliferation marker Ki67, immature neuronal marker DCX, and BrdU double-labeling with markers for mature neurons (NeuN), astrocytes (GFAP) and microglia (Iba1). We found that administration of 5 doses (5mg/kg) of 7,8-DHF beginning two days post-injury had the strongest effect on neurogenesis and migration, but did not have a significant prolonged effect on cell proliferation at 15 days post-injury. We also found that 7,8-DHF treatment given early or 2 days post-TBI did not affect the neuronal differentiation in the granule cell layer. However, a higher percentage of BrdU/GFAP+ and BrdU/IBa1+ cells were found in the hilus regions in 7,8-DHF treated animals, suggesting newly generated cells in this region are mostly glial cell types. Our results suggest that 7,8-DHF has neurotrophic-like therapeutic effects following injury, and due to increased neurogenesis (compared to injured animals treated with vehicle), may effectively contribute to greater cell survival long-term. Additionally, potential long-term survival coupled with increased outward migration from the subgranular zone may result in increased integration of newly formed neurons into existing hippocampal circuitry, further contributing to cognitive recovery.