Invertebrates show enhanced immunity and even specific primed immunity in response to repeat infections, analogous to vertebrate adaptive immunity. Little is known of the mechanism for this phenomenon, or which molecules are involved. A candidate gene for the underlying mechanism for a pathogen-specific response in invertebrate immunity is Down syndrome cell adhesion molecule (Dscam). Dscam can produce thousands of different protein isoforms through the mutually exclusive splicing of many exon variants contained within variable regions of the gene. It is an important receptor of the invertebrate nervous system but has been implicated in having a role in immunity. Dscam has been shown to be involved in phagocytosis across members of the Pancrustacea, and it has been reported to respond in a pathogen-specific manner in mosquitoes and crayfish. In this thesis, I have investigated the splicing of Dscam in response to diverse pathogens in different host species. In the Anopheles mosquito, I cloned and sequenced a fragment of Dscam spanning across two of its variable exon regions to enable me to detect mutually exclusively splice variants and their associations in different treatments (Chapter 2). I discovered that the expression diversity of the hypervariable Dscam is higher in parasite-exposed mosquitoes. In Chapter 3, I extended the study to the more experimentally amenable Drosophila fruit fly. A new Illumina-based sequencing assay was developed and implemented to examine more closely Dscam expression in response to diverse pathogens. The new method successfully quantified non-random expression of Dscam variable exons 4 and 6. I also describe a small but detectable effect of pathogen-exposure on the expression of Dscam exon 4 variants. In Chapter 4, I expanded the work of Chapter 3 to study tissue-specific Dscam expression in response to well-characterised immune elicitors of Drosophila. I describe how exon 4 variants were expressed in a tissue-specific manner, but not exon 6 variants. I also found a small exon 4-by-tissue-by-pathogen effect, which although detectable, did not dominate over the tissue effects. Finally, in Chapter 5, I turned to the crustacean, Daphnia, to study Dscam expression in a natural host-parasite interaction and in a clonal organism. I describe the non-random expression of exons 4 and 6, and another small effect of pathogen-exposure on the expression of Dscam exon 4. My work aimed to further investigate the putative pathogen-specific alternative splicing of the hypervariable Dscam receptor. The data presented quantified the constitutive expression of Dscam exons 4 and 6 in different pancrustacean species. The data also suggest that infection-responsive splicing of Dscam may occur but that effects are small, and may be diluted within the background of the highly important Dscam expression of the nervous system if they exist at all. The study supports the high-throughput sequencing method for future studies of alternative splicing and Dscam expression.

<p> Stress is a ubiquitous phenomenon in modern society, as a risk factor for several chronic diseases. This study investigated the feasibility of utilizing a four-week online e-health yoga video series to provide adults with a potential mechanism for stress management. While 128 subjects provided informed consent, 92 provided baseline data, 63 joined the study by following instructions to receive the videos, 27 provided end of week # 1 data; and, 14 of 27 provided a discernable personal code for matching files (51.85% adherence rate to personal code instructions). Thus, the final sample was N=14 (of 63 with video access) for a 22.22% study completion rate/63.5% attrition rate. Study completers (N=14) were 85.7% )n=12) White female (n=12) with mean age of 43.86 years (min=21, max=61, SD=10.52), mean education (M=5.07, min=2, max=6, SD=1.072) closest to a Master&rsquo;s Degree, and mean household income (M=5.31,min=1, max=7, SD=1.494) closest to $50,000-$99,000. </p><p> Post-video, the mean dose of exposure to the yoga videos was closest to watching all of the videos, as a measure of very good adherence; barriers to adherence included not enough time due to other responsibilities. The yoga video series was rated between good and very good, while 64.3% (n=9) reported intention to continue to practice this form of yoga, and recommend the series to others. As the main study variable of interest, the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) pre-video Cronbach&rsquo;s Alpha was .916, suggesting excellent internal consistency. Using paired t-tests, the pre-video PSS-10 mean (Mean= 15.0, min 3 max 31, SD= 8.421) was higher than the post-video mean PSS-10 (Mean= 9.21, min 2 max 16, SD= 4.457), achieving significance (t= 3.377, df=13, p =.0055) at the Bonferroni Significance level (p=.005)&mdash;suggesting the intervention was an effective brief intervention for reducing past month stress. Qualitative data showed positive emergent themes supporting feasibility and acceptability of planning to continue the practice due to personal benefits, easily accessible, relaxing, and effective; and, negative themes of yoga sequencing/format issues, general preference for in-person instruction, and general dislike. Overall, the pilot study&rsquo;s findings support the feasibility of providing online four-week yoga e-health intervention. Implications and recommendations are discussed.</p>

Throughout the history, U.S. alternative press has published against the grain of mainstream media and politics and on tight budgets. In fact, it remains the political economic dilemma for any critical media project that the financial resources it needs are in the same capitalism society it criticizes. Using a political economy approach, this thesis examined how political economic factors including ownership models, means of support and the government role influence the balance between the editorial goals and business performance of the two alternative or independent publications: The Nation, a privately-owned newsmagazine providing critical opinions and investigative journalism on nationwide issues, and The Texas Observer, a 501(c) (3) nonprofit biweekly covering stories ignored by the mainstream press in the state of Texas. Through in-depth interviews with staffers of the two publications and primary and second sources analysis, this thesis demonstrates the tension between editorial ideals and financial needs that are affected by several political economic factors. It also shows that both alternative papers are committed to democratic altruism and watchdog journalism whenever they deal with political economic pressures. / text

<p> In this thesis, the author describes various evaluation criteria, in particular the C-rate (charge/discharge-rate), of energy storage (ES) systems to explain the efficiency and technical benefits of battery-ultracapacitor hybrid energy storage (HES), and the technical characteristics of subsequently derived short-duration and long-duration type ES. In addition, for effective use of energy storage, a straightforward state of charge (SOC) correction method for energy neutral operation is proposed, and through a simple comparative example of ES operation, the effectiveness of HES in relation to simple ES is explained. A case is considered in which a hybrid ES controls the wind power ramp rate to comply with the regional system operator&rsquo;s smoothing requirement, and an operation method is suggested through simulation. The simulation is carried out using a frequency spectrum analysis of wind power output profile and the C-rate of the hybrid storage system, and an energy neutral operation method for ES is proposed based on the simulated charging/discharging power sharing profile and SOC variations of the Li-battery and the ultracapacitor. </p>

No description available.

No description available.

This thesis examines the growth and significance of private security in the United Kingdom. It details the broad commercial functions and lack of public accountability of the private security sector and draws out the implications for civil liberties and public policy. This is a subject which has been seriously neglected in criminology, sociology and related disciplines in Britain. This thesis is the first (publicly available) criminological study of private security in Britain to bring together such a range of material and concerns. It draws upon original 'case-study' observational field-work and on interviews with a wide range of respondents, in private security, the police, Parliament, journalism, trade unions, civil liberties groups and academia. Extensive literature review and collaborative work with various involved parties also support the research. An introductory chapter provides background to the research and outlines the structure of the thesis. The second chapter presents two 'case studies' based upon the observational field-work, discusses aspects of methodology and draws out those points which broadened the nature of the research project and those which have particular relevance for subsequent chapters. The next chapter discusses the range and activities of the private security sector. The chapter on the issue of licensing examines 'causes for concern', present arrangements for self-regulation, the role of the professional associations and of the Home Office, considers the experience of other jurisdictions and generally presents the case for public regulation and accountability. A theoretical chapter charts the conditions conducive to the post-war growth of private security, takes issue with previous theoretical accounts and develops an analysis in which political relations with and within the state are forefronted. A concluding chapter offers cautionary comments on the limits and desirability of some possible future developments and adds thoughts on one possible avenue for policy development.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.