Although concepts are located within individual minds, while word forms are shared across entire language communities, words and concepts are normally deemed to be tightly bound. But in fact, at least to the extent that concepts vary, the relationship between words and concepts may not be as uniform or stable as is often assumed. Nevertheless, language may itself mediate that relationship, through its entrenchment and use. Psychologists have already investigated language use in referential communication, but they have yet to focus in detail on the role of language in conceptual coordination. One of the obstacles has been the theoretical and methodological challenges that arise from seriously abandoning conceptual universals. To that end, an experimental framework was developed based on sorting tasks in which participants freely partition a set of stimuli into categories and an objective measure for comparing two outputs. Four experiments were then conducted to investigate whether people were conceptually coordinated before, during and after linguistic interaction. Experiment 1 consisted of a cross-linguistic study looking at default coordination between native speakers. Participants both sorted items into groups and named them individually. There was a relatively high degree of categorisation agreement among speakers of the same language, but not nearly as high as for naming agreement. Experiments 2-4 inquired into conceptual coordination during or immediately after linguistic interaction. Experimental manipulations involved the form of language use (full dialogue or only category labels), as well as the type of feedback (category groupings, labels, both, or neither). In particular, Experiment 2 investigated the effects of categorising a set of objects together, with or without dialogue, on subsequent individual categorisation. The results were inconclusive and revealed specific methodological issues, but yielded interesting data and were encouraging for the general framework. Experiment 3 modified the designwhile testing and extending the same general hypotheses. Participants carried out a sequence of categorisation tasks in which they tried to coordinate their categories, followed by individual categorisation and similarity tasks. The availability of dialogue and feedback was manipulated in the interactive tasks. During interaction, they also received both kinds of feedback, except in the control condition. Pairs that could talk coordinated much better than the others, but feedback didn’t help. Experiment 4 looked into the effects of the four possibilities for feedback during a longer sequence of interactive tasks. In general, conceptual coordination was found to depend on grouping feedback only. However, by the end of the task, pairs who received both kinds of feedback did best. All three interactive experiments also measured lexical convergence between pairs. The results generally revealed a dissociation, with lexical alignment showingmore convergence and occurring under a wider variety of conditions. Togetherwith previous research, these findings showthat language can bring about conceptual coordination. However, it appears that the richer the form of language use, the more conceptual convergence occurs, and the closer it gets coupled with lexical convergence. The long-term effects, if any, are much weaker. These studies have implications for the general role of language in cognition and other important issues.

Over the past two decades, transitions metals have been extensively employed towards the construction (using coordination driven assembly) and operation (using reversible metal-ligand switching motifs) of supramolecular architectures. This Thesis details the investigation of an array of dynamic platinum(II)-based metallosupramolecular architectures and includes a series of model studies on switchable platinum(II) coordination modes. Chapter Two describes the synthesis and study of a series of prototype noninterlocked molecular machines. The inherent dynamics of intramolecular metalligand substitution reactions (metallotrophic shifts) are exploited to drive a d8 platinum(II-)-phenanthroline component along different ligating architectures to achieve translational (and in one case rotary) motion of the sub-molecular components. Variable temperature NMR studies of these complexes have established the kinetic parameters for the observed shuttling processes. In Chapter Three, the switchable behaviour of a metal-ligand coordination motif is reported in which a proton input is employed to modify the overall thermodynamic bias and light is orthogonally utilized to selectively lower the energetic barrier for the binding event to re-equilibration. A discussion of the light-promoted ligand exchange reaction is presented, supported by a combination of TD-DFT calculations and kinetic studies. Chapter Four describes the exploitation of this discovered pH-switchable metalligand motif for the stimuli-responsive reversible assembly of two dimensional and three dimensional metallosupramolecular architectures. Whilst Chapter Five details how this reversible motif can be exploited to induce controlled exchange between “3+1” and “2+2” square planar platinum donor sets in response to the application of acid-base stimuli.

The template synthesis of rotaxanes and catenanes has allowed a detailed study of their intrinsically novel and interesting properties. A key strategy has been the deployment of transition metal ions with their well-defined coordination geometries allowing high-yielding and facile preparation of interlocked architectures. Knowledge of how to exploit the coordination sphere of metal ions and the design of ligands for the creation of intermediates that are pre-disposed to undergo ‘stoppering’ or ‘clipping’ has been a crucial requirement for this approach. This Thesis is in three parts describing the use of three dimensional, two dimensional and one dimensional coordination geometries in the synthesis of interlocked architectures. Firstly, the octahedral coordination geometry of cobalt(III) was utilized to organize dianionic pyridine-2,6-dicarboxamido ligands in a mutually orthogonal arrangement such that ring closing metathesis macrocyclizations gave access to interlocked or entwined products. A ‘figure-of-eight’ complex was obtained from a double macrocyclizations, whereas a catenate was accessed through a single macrocyclization. The topology of the isomers was proved by X-ray crystallography. An analogous [2]rotaxane was synthesized and the interlocked nature of the rotaxane demonstrated by 1H NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Secondly, an “active” metal template strategy, in which the metal ion plays a dual role – acting to both organize ligands and catalyze mechanical bond formation – allowed rotaxanes be constructed using the square planar coordination geometry and Lewis acidic nature of a palladium(II) complex. The interlocked nature of the rotaxane was proved by X-ray crystallography, demonstrating that a nitrile group present in the thread acted as a “station” for the Pd(II)-macrocycle. This observation led to the construction of a two “station” degenerate molecular shuttle in which the dynamics of translocation were controlled by reagent addition and observed by 1H NMR techniques. Lastly, the linear coordination geometry of gold(I) was successfully used as a template for construction of rotaxanes and catenanes via a ‘clipping’ strategy. The linear coordination geometry and the interlocked nature of the gold(I)-catenate was proved by X-ray crystallography, the rotaxane architecture was proved by 1H NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Chapters Two, Three and Four are in the form of articles that have been published in peer-reviewed journals, and are reproduced, in their published format, in the Appendix. No attempt has been made to rewrite the published work; as a consequence the numbering of compounds, whilst consistent within each Chapter, is not consistent throughout this Thesis. Another consequence is that the many failed synthetic routes have been left out. I hope the reader will forgive these omissions as well as the slight repetition that occurs in the introduction and bibliography of each chapter. Additionally, preceding each Chapter is a brief synopsis that places the work in context and acknowledges the contributions of my fellow researchers.

Mémoire numérisé par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

Participants executed right-handed reach-to-grasp movements toward horizontally translating targets. Visual feedback of the target when reaching, as well as the presence of additional cues placed close (Experiment 1) or far (Experiment 2) above and below the target’s path was manipulated. Additional cue presence appeared to impair participants’ ability to extrapolate the disappeared target’s motion, and caused grasps for occluded targets to be less accurate. Final gaze and grasp positions were more accurate when reaching for leftward moving targets, suggesting individuals use different grasp strategies when reaching for targets travelling away from the reaching hand. Comparison of average fixations at reach onset and at the time of the grasp suggested that participants accurately extrapolated the occluded target’s motion prior to reach onset, but not after, resulting in inaccurate grasps. New information is provided about the eye-hand strategies used when reaching for moving targets in unpredictable visual conditions. / October 2016

Many experiments have been performed with the Warburg apparatus, or variations of this manometric technique, since Warburg's experiments (52, 53) where the effects of cyanides upon dark reactions and of urethanes upon light reactions of photosynthesis were demonstrated. The same basic techniques were utilized in this research in attempting to determine the effects of some coordination complexes upon the apparent photosynthetic rate of Chlorella pyrenoidosa. A second goal of the present paper was to investigate the potential of the Warburg apparatus as a tool for screening algicidal compounds.

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, in fulfilment for the requirements for a degree in Masters of Science. November 2017, Johannesburg. / Metal complexes have a wide range of applications in fields such as medicinal, industrial, environmental and so on. Determining the formations constants for metal complexes is thus essential to gather information on complexes. Conventional methods used to study complexation include spectroscopic methods and the use of voltammetric techniques such as direct current polarography using a mercury drop electrode. In this work alternative voltammetric methods to study complex formation are investigated. Bismuth complexes have important medicinal applications but not much is known about them because of the difficulties in studying them due to extensive bismuth hydrolysis and precipitation of hydrolysis products from very low pHs. The aim of this work was to investigate whether using low concentrations of bismuth (10-6 M) would prevent precipitation in nitrate solutions as predicted in literature. Differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV) was the technique of choice because of its low detection limit, even though it has not been widely used in complex formation studies before. The study revealed that electrochemical response for Bi3+ was not fully reversible using this technique. Additionally, even at the low concentration precipitation was observed in the acidic region (investigated via pH titration) and was suspected to be the formation of BiONO3 species. The second alternative method investigated was the use of mercury film electrodes to replace the use of the toxic mercury drop electrodes which are being phased out worldwide. This work looked at using in situ and ex situ plated films, where the in situ measurements proved more reproducible. A number of challenges were encountered, such as film degradation, peak splitting and ligand adsorption to the film electrode. Nonetheless, formation constants of lead-glycine complexes were determined under different experimental conditions and these were found to be reasonably compared to the literature values. / LG2018

M.Sc. (Physiotherapy), Faculty of Haelth Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 2008. / Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) are a heterogeneous group who have a marked impairment in the performance of functional motor skills. DCD affects 5-8 % of children in the mainstream educational system, with twice as many boys than girls being affected. DCD often co-occurs with other developmental disorders such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Attention Deficit (ADD), severe learning disabilities and reading disabilities and is often associated with educational, social and emotional problems that often persist beyond adolescence. Current research has shown that children with DCD do not outgrow their motor problems and without intervention they do not improve (Zoia et al, 2006; Barnhart et al, 2003; Peters and Wright, 1999). The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of an eight week group gross motor intervention programme on 26 children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) at Forest Town School, which is a special-needs school for children with learning disabilities. The intervention programme consisted of gross motor activities commonly used by the physiotherapists at the school for their DCD groups. The children attended a thirty-minute physiotherapy session a week, in groups of up to 6, for eight weeks. The children’s motor performance was assessed using the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test for Motor Proficiency (BOTMP) pre- intervention, post- intervention and then eight weeks after the intervention had ceased. The children were used as their own controls. The results of the statistical analysis revealed that the mean group gross motor and fine motor scores significantly improved after the intervention. It was found that the gross motor scores improved by a larger percentage than the fine motor, which may be because the intervention consisted purely of gross motor activities. The fine motor scores also significantly improved, implying that there was a transfer or generalisation of skills to the fine motor tasks. The improvement in the motor performance was found to be maintained eight weeks after the intervention was stopped. It was concluded in the study that the eight week group physiotherapy programme at Forest Town School improved the motor skills of children with DCD and learning difficulties. Physiotherapy in a small group may therefore be a cost effective solution for the treatment of children with DCD in government-funded schools and hospitals that have a limited number of physiotherapists available to treat these children.

Thesis advisor: Robert Murphy / The following three essays address two issues that have gained much recent attention among macroeconomists. The first essay - "International Policy Coordination: Policy Analysis in a Staggered Wage-setting Model" - deals with the incentives for countries to coordinate monetary and fiscal policies in an environment where the countries differ only in the length of the labor contracts which typify their respective economies. The second essay - "Tests for Liquidity Constraints: A Critique" and the third essay - "Liquidity Constraint Volatility: Evidence from Post-war Aggregate Time-series Data" - are tests of the importance and persistence of liquidity constraints in determining consumption behavior in the United States using micro-based data and aggregate timeseries data, respectively. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 1988. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Economics.

De nombreuses catastrophes de diverses envergures frappent régulièrement des populations partout dans le monde. Parmi les exemples marquant on peut citer l'ouragan Katrina en 2005, le tremblement de terre en Haïti en 2010 ou plus récemment le Tsunami au Japon et la catastrophe de Fukujima qui a suivie. Au cours de ces catastrophes, plusieurs centaines d'organisations, comme la police, les pompiers ou les organisations d'aide humanitaire, interviennent pour sauver les gens et aider à revenir à une vie normale. Ces organisations ont besoin de se coordonner pour faire face à une situation dynamique avec des ressources limitées et une vision partielle de la situation. L'évolution de la situation entraîne souvent des changements d'objectif et de plan. Un des problèmes typique est d'obtenir un aperçu sur les relations entre ce qui a été fait, ce qui se passe actuellement et quelles sont les prochaines étapes. Ce problème est particulièrement difficile sur le plan inter-organisationnel : Chaque organisation coordonne la réponse de sa propre perspective et s'appuie sur les informations fournies par d'autres organisations. Notre objectif dans cette thèse est d'étudier comment supporter la coordination des activités par des personnes de différentes organisations dans une situation dynamique par un système d'information. L'idée de base est de tirer profit d'une approche basée sur les processus, où les activités et leurs relations sont rendues explicites. Nous présentons un cadre pour la coordination des activités dans des situations dynamiques. Il permet la modélisation ad hoc des relations entre ce qui a été fait, ce qui se passe actuellement et quelles sont les prochaines étapes. Les écarts par rapport au modèle et comment les activités ont été réalisées sont affichées à l'utilisateur pour mettre en évidence l'impact de l'évolution des objectifs. Nous étendons ce cadre au niveau inter-organisationnel. Certaines activités peuvent être partagées entre différentes organisations. Tout n'est pas partagé entre tout le monde pour tenir compte du respect de la vie privée, de la réglementation, des raisons stratégiques ou autres. Les activités partagées sont reproduites dans les espaces de travail de ces organisations. Nous décrivons comment des vues divergentes sur les activités et leurs relations peuvent etre détectées et traitées afin de revenir éventuellement à une vue convergente. Les concepts sont mis en oeuvre comme une extension d'un service de collaboration distribuée ouvert. Ils ont été évalués par des gestionnaires de catastrophes expérimentés. Par ailleurs, nous avons conçu une expérience visant à évaluer l'utilisation d'outils pour aborder ces question. Nous avons effectué plusieurs expériences pour valider cette expérience. D'autres expériences pourront fournir une validation plus complété du modèle proposé dans cette thèse. / Recently we have seen several large scale disasters affecting humans all over the world. Examples are Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the Haiti earthquake in 2010 or the September 11/2001 terrorist attacks on the world trade center. During these disasters, several hundred organizations, such as police, fire brigade or humanitarian aid organizations, respond with the goal to save people and support them to live a normal life again. They need to coordinate to deal with scarce resources, different skills and capabilities. People in these organizations drive coordination based on their judgment of the situation. The situation can be dynamic: it evolves in sometimes unexpected ways, goals shift and priorities of the organizations change. Typical problems are to get an overview on the relations between what has been done, what is currently going on and what are the next steps. This problem is specially challenging on the inter-organizational level: Each organization coordinates the response from its own perspective and relies on the information provided by other organizations. We aim in this dissertation at supporting coordination of activities by people of different organizations in a dynamic situation by an information system. The disaster response is a critical example for this. The basic idea is to leverage a process-based approach, where activities and their relations are made explicit. We present a framework for coordination of activities in dynamic situations. It allows ad-hoc modeling of the relations between what has been done, what is currently going on and what are the next steps. A model can be verified for correctness in predictable and acceptable time. Deviations from the model and how activities have been performed are displayed to the user to highlight the impact of shifting goals. We extend this framework to the inter-organizational level. Selected activities can be shared by people with selected organizations. This means not everything is shared between everybody to take into account privacy, regulatory, strategic or other reasons. Shared activities are replicated in the workspaces of these organizations. We describe how diverging views on replicated activities and their relations can be detected and handled to ensure eventually a converging view. The concepts are implemented as an extension to an open distributed collaboration service. They are also commented by experienced disaster managers. Furthermore, we design an experiment to evaluate tool support addressing the research questions. We conducted several experiments to validate the design of the experiment. Further experiments can provide validation of the concepts implemented as a prototype in this thesis.