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Existing research on phrasal verbs is ample due to their prevalent existence in the English language and the difficulties they bring out as a result of their lack of transparency (Liu, 2011, p. 661). However, more research is necessary to cover new generations of English learners who cross paths with phrasal verbs. This study will provide empirical information on (i) whether Swedish students in 7th -9 th grade understand frequently used phrasal verbs better than nonfrequent ones, (ii) if phrasal verbs are easier to understand in productive- or perceptive tasks, (iii) if the students’ first languages (L1) interfere with this understanding, or (iv) if there is a difference in understanding phrasal verbs which are more common in AmE or BrE. The factors of second language acquisition taken into account in the analysis are explicit and implicit exposure of English, English varieties, crosslinguistic influences and idiomaticity. Chameliec & Weiss (2008, p. 381) define a phrasal verb as “a simple verb combined with an adverb or a preposition, or sometimes both, to make a new verb with a meaning that is different from that of the simple verb, e.g., go in for, win over, blow up”. The data was elicited with a questionnaire in three parts: one part about the participants background information and two parts on phrasal verb understanding, both in contextualized examples and without context. In the analysis, factors such as the construction of the questionnaire and choice of phrasal verbs need to be considered. The results demonstrate that Swedish junior high school students understand about 50% of the tested phrasal verbs in both parts of the questionnaire. More frequent ones are easier to understand, more so the AmE PVs, and the perceptive task generated a slightly higher percentage of correct answers. The textbooks did not have explicit sections on phrasal verbs, or even formulaic expressions in general. However, the books contained vocabulary boxes with a few different phrasal verbs, which also occurred in the texts. Since no explicit teaching method has been applied in these classes, doing so might increase the general frequency of correct answers. Furthermore, no conclusive results can be made regarding crosslinguistic influences, however, hypotheses on positive transfer can be made.

The extensive and sometimes incorrect and noncompliant use of various types of antimicrobial agents has accelerated the development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). In fact, AMR has become one of the greatest global threat to human health in this era. The broad-spectrum antibiotics aminoglycosides (AGs) display excellent potency against most Gram-negative bacteria, mycobacteria, and some Gram-positive bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus. The AG antibiotics amikacin, gentamicin, kanamycin, and tobramycin are still commonly prescribed in the U.S.A. for the treatment of serious infections. Unfortunately, bacteria evolve to acquire resistance to AGs via four different mechanisms: i) changing in membrane permeability to resist drugs from entering, ii) upregulating efflux pumps for active removal of intracellular AGs, iii) modifying the antimicrobial target(s) to prevent drugs binding to their targets, and iv) acquiring resistance enzymes to chemically inactivate the compounds. Amongst all, the acquisition of resistance enzymes, AG-modifying enzymes (AMEs), is the most common resistance mechanism identified. Depending on the chemistry each enzyme catalyzes, AMEs can be further divided into AG N-acetyltransferases (AACs), AG O-phosphotransferases (APHs), and AG O-nucleotidyltransferases. To overcome AME-related resistance, we need to better understand these resistance enzymes and further seek ways to either escape or inhibit their actions. In this dissertation, I summarized my efforts to characterize the AAC(6') domain and its mutant enzymes from a bifunctional AME, AAC(6')-Ie/APH(2")-Ia as well as another common AME, APH(3')-IIa. I also explained my attempt to inhibit the action of various AAC enzymes using metal salts. In an effort to explore the current resistance epidemic, I evaluated the resistance against carbapenem and AG antibiotics and the correlation between the resistance profiles and the AME genes in a collection of 122 Pseudomonas aeruginosa clinical isolates obtained from the University of Kentucky Hospital System. Besides tackling the resistance mechanisms in bacteria, I have also attempted to explore a new antifungal option by repurposing an existing antipsychotic drug, bromperidol, and a panel of its derivatives into a combination therapy with the azole antifungals against a variety of pathogenic yeasts and filamentous fungi.

FundaÃÃo Cearense de Apoio ao Desenvolvimento Cientifico e TecnolÃgico / Para promover o reuso de resÃduos da agroindÃstria e agregar valor à cadeia produtiva do coco verde, a Embrapa agroindÃstria tropical desenvolveu uma tecnologia capaz de aproveitar cascas deste produto. Atualmente, as cascas do coco verde compÃem a maior parte dos resÃduos sÃlidos depositados nas praias. A tecnologia converte as cascas em pà e fibra que possuem grandes aplicaÃÃes comerciais e ambientais. Durante a etapa de prensagem, ocorre a geraÃÃo do LÃquido da Casca de Coco Verde (LCCV), que apresenta elevada concentraÃÃo de matÃria orgÃnica, cuja Demanda QuÃmica de OxigÃnio (DQO) varia de 60 a 80 gO2/L, incluindo compostos fenÃlicos e aÃucares. Neste trabalho, avaliou-se a performance de um reator anaerÃbio de fluxo ascendente e manta de lodo (Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket â UASB) para tratamento do LCCV. O reator UASB em escala de laboratÃrio (16,8 L) foi operado por 222 dias tendo sua carga orgÃnica volumÃtrica (COV) aumentada gradativamente de 2,2 atà 10 Kg DQO/ m3 d. A performance do UASB foi avaliada atravÃs de determinaÃÃes de DQO, compostos fenÃlicos totais (taninos) do afluente e efluente; atividade metanogÃnica especÃfica (AME) e toxicidade anaerÃbia do lodo; composiÃÃo e produÃÃo de biogÃs; pH, alcalinidade e Ãcidos graxos volÃteis (AGV). Os resultados demonstraram que o UASB pode ser usado para prÃ-tratamento do LCCV, mantendo-se estÃvel durante toda a operaÃÃo do sistema com remoÃÃo de DQO superior a 80% e de taninos em torno de 48%. A razÃo AGV/alcalinidade bicarbonato ficou sempre inferior a 0,40. O biogÃs apresentou composiÃÃo de 75% de metano. Os ensaios de toxicidade demonstraram que o LCCV nÃo foi tÃxico à biomassa metanogÃnica presente no UASB. / With the aim of reusing the agroindustry waste and aggregating value to the productive chain of immature coconut, Embrapa AgroindÃstria Tropical (Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation, Tropical Agroindustry National Centre) has developed a system for processing this raw material. During the pressing stage, the Coconut Husk Liquor (CHL) is generated. It contains high concentration of organic matter, with Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) varying from 60 to 80 g/L, including phenolic compounds and sugars. In this work, the performance of an Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket Reactor (UASB) was evaluated for CHL treatment. The lab-scale UASB reactor (16.8 L) was operated during 222 days increasing the organic loading rate (OLR) from 2.2 kgCOD/m3.d to 10 kgCOD/m3.d. The UASB reactor performance was evaluated based on influent and effluent COD and total phenolic compounds (tannin); sludge specific methanogenic activity (SMA) and anaerobic toxicity; biogas production and composition; pH, alkalinity and volatile fatty acids (VFA). Results showed that UASB reactor can be used for pre-treatment of CHL, showing stability during the operation period, with COD removal efficiency higher than 80%, phenolics compounds removal efficiency of around 48%. The ratio AGV/alkalinity was always lower than 0,30. Biogas presented 75% of methane on its composition. Toxicity tests demonstrated that CHL was not toxic to the methanogenic consortia.

Les lecteurs du traité De l’âme d’Aristote pensent souvent que la véritable contribution du Stagirite en ce domaine consiste dans l’application de l’hylémorphisme à la relation de l’âme et du corps. Le rôle que jouent les notions de puissance et de réalisation dans la psychologie aristotélicienne est relativement négligé au profit de celui des notions de matière et de forme.L’objectif de cette étude est de mesurer les contributions respectives des deux couples conceptuels fondamentaux de l’ontologie aristotélicienne à l’étude de l’être animé. Quelles sont la portée et les limites de l’hylémorphisme psychologique ? Quel rôle joue la distinction des niveaux de puissance et de réalisation dans le DA et dans d’autres traités consacrés à l’être animé ? Par quels moyens conceptuels Aristote parvient-il à définir l’âme, à résoudre les problèmes de la relation de l’âme et du corps, à unifier ses recherches psychologiques et zoologiques ? A travers l’examen de ces questions, cette étude cherche à préciser la place qu’occupe le notion de « réalisation première » dans l’étude aristotélicienne de l’âme et de l’être animé. / Readers of Aristotle’s De anima often hold that the tenor of his account consists in the application of hylomorphism to soul-body relations. The part played by potentiality and actuality in Aristotle’s psychology has been somewhat overlooked while hylomorphic analyses prevail in the literature. The objective of our study is to assess the respective contributions of these two basic Aristotelian ontological couples to the study of animate beings. What are the scope and limitations of psychological hylomorphism? What role does the distinction between different levels of potentiality and actuality play in the DA and in the other treaties that deal with animate beings? What are the conceptual means that enable Aristotle to define the soul, to disentangle problems relative to soul-body relations and to bring together his psychological doctrine with his zoological research? Through an examination of these questions, the present study seeks to spell out how the so-called “first realization” fits in with the Aristotelian study of the soul and the animate.

Les Mongols Xalx (Halh) se définissent comme un peuple d'éleveurs nomades et des mangeurs de viande. Sur fond monographique, la thèse présente une anthropologie des pratiques alimentaires des familles d'éleveurs nomades des steppes et des familles urbaines sédentarisées appartenant aux mêmes réseaux de relations et d'entraides socioéconomiques. À partir d'une étude des techniques d'appropriation des aliments, de leur catégorisation, de leurs traitements culinaires de préparation et de cuisson, de distribution (étiquette) et de consommation (manières de boire et de manger), de tri des restes pour leur conservation et du sort réservé aux déchets, sont analysées les pratiques alimentaires ordinaires et celles relevant de l'hospitalité, ainsi que les pratiques alimentaires extra-ordinaires de fête (naissance) et de revers de fête (mort). Le fil rouge de la thèse est le partage alimentaire, qui confère aux aliments d'autres qualités que nutritives. Selon qu'elles sont cuites ou crues, les nourritures sont offertes à des êtres humains vivants, à des âmes de morts récents, aux mânes des ancêtres, aux esprits maîtres de la nature ou aux divinités bouddhiques pour bénéficier en retour de nombreux bienfaits, et aux âmes des morts errantes pour éviter des malheurs. L'analyse anthropologique révèle en filigrane comment trois systèmes idéologiques -- celui légué par le régime communiste athéiste, le bouddhisme déclaré aujourd'hui religion officielle et le chamanisme qui émerge sous une forme réinterprétée -- cohabitent dans l'esprit des familles après plusieurs périodes historiques d'affrontements et de persécutions.

La pile à combustible PEMFC est un convertisseur d'énergie qui présente des avantages indéniables pour faire partie des solutions mises en œuvre pour assurer un mixte énergétique décarbonné. Les nombreux auxiliaires du système de la pile génèrent des perturbations qui sont responsables directement ou indirectement des conditions défavorables sur le cœur de pile. Les performances et durée de vie de la pile peuvent être impactées. Dans l'objectif d'améliorer la co-conception de la pile avec son système, les interactions entre deux groupes du système et la pile sont étudiées dans ce travail : les interactions entre le groupe air et le cœur de pile. En particulier, l'étude s'est focalisée sur l'impact d'un fonctionnement en sous stœchiométrie en oxygène sur la performance et la durabilité de la pile et sur l'évolution des conditions locales du cœur de pile. Le couplage des différents essais expérimentaux (mesures de densité de courant, tests de vieillissement, études post-mortem) avec le modèle dynamique 2D a permis de mettre en évidence différentes zones de fonctionnement dans la pile. En effet, en entrée cathodique, durant un appauvrissement en oxygène, l'augmentation de la densité de courant peut devenir très importante impliquant une modification des conditions locales qui peuvent être très néfastes pour la pile. les interactions entre le convertisseur statique électrique et le cœur de pile. Plus particulièrement, les conséquences des oscillations de courant hautes fréquences générées par le convertisseur DC/DC sur la durabilité de la pile ont été étudiées. Des essais spécifiques de vieillissement longue durée ont permis de mettre en évidence une interaction entre les oscillations de courant et les dégradations réversibles de la pile.

<p>The aim of this essay is to investigate what English teachers’ attitudes are towards British English, American English and Mid-Atlantic English. What variety of English do teachers use in Swedish upper secondary schools today and what are their reasons for using that variety? Do upper secondary school teachers think it is important to expose students to several varieties of English and do they teach differences (e.g. vocabulary and spelling) between varieties? The material is based on a questionnaire, which 20 participating teachers from five different upper secondary schools in Gävleborg answered. The study showed that there is an even distribution between the varieties used and taught. British English was preferred by teachers working the longest time while both AmE and MAE seemed to be growing in popularity among the younger teachers. Of the 20 teachers, 18 considered teaching differences to students since it gives them a chance to communicate effectively with people from other English speaking countries.</p>

There is no abstract available for this dissertation. / School of Music

The aim of this essay is to investigate what English teachers’ attitudes are towards British English, American English and Mid-Atlantic English. What variety of English do teachers use in Swedish upper secondary schools today and what are their reasons for using that variety? Do upper secondary school teachers think it is important to expose students to several varieties of English and do they teach differences (e.g. vocabulary and spelling) between varieties? The material is based on a questionnaire, which 20 participating teachers from five different upper secondary schools in Gävleborg answered. The study showed that there is an even distribution between the varieties used and taught. British English was preferred by teachers working the longest time while both AmE and MAE seemed to be growing in popularity among the younger teachers. Of the 20 teachers, 18 considered teaching differences to students since it gives them a chance to communicate effectively with people from other English speaking countries.