The Circle of Willis (CoW) is a ring-like arterial structure forming the major anastomotic connection between arterial supply systems in the brain, and is responsible for the distribution of oxygenated blood throughout the cerebral mass. Among the general population, only approximately 50% have a complete CoW, where absent or hypoplastic vessels are common among a multitude of possible anatomical variations, reducing the degree to which blood may be rerouted. While an individual with one of these variations may under normal circumstances suffer no ill effects, there are certain pathological conditions which can present a risk to the person's health and increase the possibility of suffering an ischaemic stroke when compounded with an anatomical variation. This body of work presents techniques for generating 3D models of the cerebral vasculature using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and performing computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations in order to simulate the flow patterns throughout a circle of Willis. Incorporated with the simulations is a mathematical model of the cerebral autoregulation mechanism, simulating the ability of the smaller arteries and arterioles in the brain to either constrict or dilate in response to alterations in cerebral blood flow, thereby altering the cerebrovascular resistance of each major brain territory and regulating the amount of blood flow within a physiological range of cerebral perfusion pressure. The CFD simulations have the ability to predict the amount of collateral flow rerouted via the communicating arteries in response to a stenosis or occlusion, and the major objective of this study has been the investigation of how anatomical variations of the circle of Willis affect the capacity to provide this collateral flow. Initial work began with the development of three idealized models of common anatomical variations, created using computer aided design software (CAD) and based on the results of MRI scans. The research then shifted to developing a technique whereby patient specific models of the circle of Willis could be directly segmented from the MRI data. As a result of this shift, an interactive GUI-based tool was developed for the processing of the MRI datasets, allowing for rapid data enhancement and creation of a surface topology representing the arterial wall of the circle of Willis, suitable for a CFD simulation. The results of both sets of simulations illustrate that there exist a number of variables associated with a patients circle of Willis geometry, such as cerebral blood flow and combinations and degrees of stenosis, implying that the initial goal of drawing generalized conclusions was perhaps flawed. Instead, a crucial outcome of this body of work is that the future research should be directed toward extending the physiological complexity of both the geometry and the autoregulation model, with the intention of a patient specific application rather than producing large datasets with which to make broad generalizations.

Treatment success often depends on the availability of accurate and reliable diagnostic assays to guide clinical practitioners in their treatment choices. An optimal test must excel in specificity and sensitivity, and depending on the application area time, low-cost and simplicity are equally important. For instance, time is essential in infectious diagnostics but this is less important in non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT). In NIPT, specificity and sensitivity are the most important parameters. In this thesis I describe the development of four different methods, all based on padlock probes and rolling circle amplification, intended for molecular diagnostics. Application areas range from infectious disease diagnostics to NIPT and oncology. The methods described have in common that they overcome certain limitations of currently available assays. This thesis includes two new assays targeting infectious agents: one assay specifically detecting a highly variable double stranded RNA virus and the second assay demonstrating a new format of antibiotic susceptibility testing, which is rapid and generally applicable to different pathogens. Furthermore, I describe the development of a method that uses methylation markers to enrich fetal DNA, accurately quantify chromosome ratios and thus, detecting trisomy 21 and 18. The fourth method described in this thesis uses gap-fill ligation of padlock probes to detect diagnostic relevant point mutations with high specificity in situ. The assays presented have the potential, after automation and successful validation and verification studies, to be implemented into clinical practice. Furthermore, these assays demonstrate the wide applicability of padlock probes which, due to their properties in regard to specificity and multiplexity, are useful tools for nucleic acid detection in vitro as well as in situ. / <p>At the time of the doctoral defense, the following papers were unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 3: Manuscript. Paper 4: Manuscript.</p>

In the preschool curriculum there is not much described when it comes to the subject of music. What is written about the aesthetic subjects is related to the overall learning moments, rather than separated into objectives for each subject. The learning includes, among other things, that the children will be offered a variety of cultural experiences. However, there is no explanation to what should be included in the use of music. The purpose of this thesis is to investigate the function of preschool song circles, based on three preschool teachers' stories. One objective is to describe how the song circle is used to develop children's learning and what ideas the interviewed teachers have about how a good song circle should be performed. The study is built on a qualitative method, where the data collection has been done using semi-structured interviews. It focuses on socio-cultural learning and is influenced by Dewey's theories and Vygotsky's theories. The result indicates that the song circle can be seen as a positive experience in which different learning objectives can be integrated during the activity. Functioning as a meeting place for the group members, the song circle also adds social values.

A genus-two Riemann surface admits a canonical decomposition into Dirichlet polygons determined by its six Weierstrass points. All possible associated graphs are determined explicitly from circle packing problems, solved by systems of linear inequalities whose solutions determine a finite 6-dimensional polyhedral complex in 12-dimensional space. The 6-dimensional Moduli Space of genus-two Riemann surfaces inherits a canonical explicit decomposition into Euclidean polyhedra, giving new natural coordinates for the Teichmuller Space of all possible constant curvature geometries on a marked genus-two surface.

[Abstract]: This dissertation documents and evaluates the transformational change process undertaken by a major Australian food manufacturer, Golden Circle Limited. The study focuses on evaluating what impact the change process had on the organization’s capacity to learn and its ability to apply such learning to improve its competitive performance. The primary data used in this evaluation were generated by three sets of semi-structured interviews conducted with respondents drawn from different levels of management within Golden Circle and its key value chain partners over a two year period. From January 2004 to December 2005, the company reported a cost reduction of 21% within the Supply Chain and Operations Area, which had been the focus of the transformational change process. This improvement in performance was based on three success factors: the presence of an effective change champion, the formation of cross-functional project teams that were empowered, responsible and accountable, and the presence of a structured process designed to develop a culture of continuous improvement. Improved relationships with the organization’s supply chain partners directly contributed to the improved operational performance through higher quality inputs, better operational alignment and reduced inventory holdings.The study identified that there were three key factors that were essential for the development of an organizational climate that nurtured learning: leadership that was inclusive, supportive and proactive; a culture of individual responsibility and team accountability; and an organizational structure that promoted open communication and collaboration. Further, this study identified four factors that enabled new knowledge to be applied: the presence of a shared vision, adequate resources (both financial and personnel), a willingness to participate, and the capabilities to participate.A significant component of this research was the construction, testing and refinement of a model of organizational learning in the context of a value chain that would be of value to future research and managerial practice in the area of organizational adaptation.

Thesis (B.A.(Hons.))--University of Adelaide, Dept. of German, 1994? / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 287-304).

Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Canterbury, 2009. / Typescript (photocopy). "September 2009." Includes bibliographical references (p. 115-116) and index. Also available via the World Wide Web.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Florida State University, 2006. / Advisor: Philip Bowers, Florida State University, College of Arts and Sciences, Dept. of Mathematics. Title and description from dissertation home page (viewed Sept. 15, 2006). Document formatted into pages; contains ix, 98 pages. Includes bibliographical references.

Submitted by JOÃO DAMASCENO DE OLIVEIRA MARQUES null (damascenomarques@ifma.edu.br) on 2017-01-05T00:21:04Z No. of bitstreams: 1 dissertacao_TFA.pdf: 664238 bytes, checksum: d5c4c0d2b31fcd154bf225146e1c3eeb (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Juliano Benedito Ferreira (julianoferreira@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2017-01-06T16:46:10Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 marques_jo_me_rcla.pdf: 664238 bytes, checksum: d5c4c0d2b31fcd154bf225146e1c3eeb (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-01-06T16:46:10Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 marques_jo_me_rcla.pdf: 664238 bytes, checksum: d5c4c0d2b31fcd154bf225146e1c3eeb (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-12-20 / O objetivo principal deste trabalho é a demonstração do Teorema Fundamental da Álgebra por meio da Teoria de Homotopia. Esta teoria é uma das mais importantes da Topologia Algébrica. Para um melhor entendimento do tema faz-se uma retomada de algumas definições de Topologia Geral, em seguida estuda-se tópicos de homotopia e também o tema a eles relacionado, denominado Grupo Fundamental. De posse destas ideias demonstra-se o Teorema Fundamental da Álgebra. O texto tem como principal referência o livro [5]. / The main objective of this work is the proof of the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra through the Homotopy Theory. This theory is one of the most important in Algebraic Topology. For a better understanding of the subject one recalls some definitions of General Topology, next it is studied homotopy topics and also a related subject, namely Fundamental Group. Making use of these concepts the proof of Fundamental Theorem of Algebra is shown. The main reference for the text is the book [5].

This work investigates some aspects of the dynamics of non-invertible quasi-periodic circle maps, from the point of view of rotation numbers and their structure in parameter space.Circle maps and quasi-periodically forced circle maps have been widely used asa model for a broad range of physical phenomena. From the mathematical point of view they have also received considerable attention because of the many interesting features they exhibit.The system used is given by the maps: x_n = [ x_n-1 + a + b/(2pi) sin( 2pi x_n-1) + c sin( 2pi theta_n-1) ] mod 1, and, theta_n = theta_n-1 + omega.Where a, b and c are real constants. In addition, b and omega are restricted, respectively, to values larger than one and irrational.A fundamental part of this thesis consists of numerical approximations of rotation intervals using and adapting of the work of Boyland (1986) to the quasi-periodic case.Particular emphasis was given to the case of large coupling strength in quasi-periodicforcing.Examination of the computed rotation numbers for the large coupling case, together with previous claims suggesting that for large coupling strength the b-term could be neglected (see Ding (1989)), led to the formulation of an ergodic argument which is statistically supported. This argument indicates that, for this case, the qualitative behavior of rotation number depends linearly on a. It is also shown that the length of the rotation interval, when the transition from a trivial rotation interval (invertible case) to a non-trivial rotation interval occurs, it develops locally as a universal unfolding.A different map, piecewise monotone, and structurally similar to the maps defined to calculate the edges of rotation intervals in Boyland (1986), is studied to illustrate how the rotation number grows. The edges of rotation intervals are analytically calculated and matched with numerical observations.