This thesis deals with the economic evaluation of the selected funded organizations (Seniors Home Vidim and Seniors Home Mšeno) in the years 2010 to 2014. The aim is to evaluate the economic of selected funded organizations, each other compare their operations and make recommendations to improve their economic situation. House for seniors Vidim is being set up by Central Bohemia regional office and provides all day care to their clients. The founder of House for seniors Mšeno is town Mšeno and provider of more services (house for seniors, day care and social activation services for seniors and persons with disabilities). Based on the results of this work as efficiently managing organization sems House for seniors Mšeno. To improve economic situation of House for seniors Mšeno is being offer to extend of porfolio offered sevices.

A comparação de taxas de substituição não-sinônimas (dN) e sinônimas (dS) permite inferir quais regimes de seleção operaram sobre regiões codificadoras. Genes com d>N/dS > 1 são candidatos a estarem sob seleção positiva, e scans genômicos em busca dessa assinatura se revelaram uma ferramenta poderosa. Trata-se de um método robusto, uma vez que assume-se que tais sítios estão intercalados nas regiões do genoma sob estudo (e portanto partilham a mesma história demográfica), e que têm como foco a variação em genes específicos, eliminando ambiguidades acerca do alvo da seleção. Por outro lado, o critério de ω > 1 para que genes estejam sob seleção positiva é muito conservador. Isso ocorre porque geralmente apenas alguns códons estão sob seleção positiva, enquanto a maior parte das mutações não-sinônimas são deletérias e, portanto, estão sob seleção purificadora. Por isso, convencionou-se analisar subconjuntos de códons em busca de seleção, seja através de uma base de dados mais restrita ou através de modelos que estimam diferentes valores de ω para subconjuntos de códons, tornando possível inferir quais deles estão sob seleção positiva. Os genes das moléculas MHC têm vários padrões de variação que indicam que algum tipo de seleção balanceadora atuou sobre eles (alta diversidade, grande diferenciação entre alelos e a existência de polimorfismos trans-específicos). Os genes HLA constituem um subconjunto de genes do MHC humano e estão localizados no braço curto do cromossomo 6. Os genes clássicos de classe I (HLA-A, HLA-B e HLA-C) são expressos na maior parte das células somáticas e desempenham papel central no processo de resposta imune adaptativa, capturando e apresentando peptídeos na superfície celular. A região da molécula de MHC à qual antígenos são ligados para serem apresentados a linfócitos T, dessa forma iniciando a resposta imune adaptativa, é conhecida como sítio de reconhecimento do antígeno (ARS). É bem estabelecido que os códons ARS apresentam taxas de substituição não-sinônimas maiores que as taxas sinônimas para esses três locos, consistente com um efeito de seleção balanceadora levando a maior variabilidade funcional na região da molécula que interage com o peptídeo. Os genes HLA clássicos apresentam centenas de alelos, e esses constituem clados que reúnem alelos filogeneticamente relacionados e com similaridades funcionais. Apesar de não haver controvérsia sobre a existência de seleção sobre genes HLA, não existe consenso acerca da importância relativa da seleção sobre linhagens alélicas e sobre alelos individuais na diversificação dos alelos de HLA, e essa foi a questão que decidimos investigar. Nossa hipótese nula foi a de que as linhagens foram os alvos da seleção e a hipótese alternativa foi a de que os alelos individuais foram alvos da seleção ao longo da história evolutiva dos genes HLA. Buscamos, primeiramente, fazer uma validação do método de inferência de dN/dS usando como estudo de caso os códons ARS e sua relação com a capacidade de inferência. Constatamos que, dos códons que encontramos sob seleção positiva, todos (exceto um) estão também na classificação clássica dos códons ARS ou a ±1 códon de distância destes, mostrando que existem evidências de seleção em sítios vizinhos aos ARS. Portanto, uma classificação expandida, que inclua os códons sob seleção que não estão nas classificações ARS comumente utilizadas, deveria aumentar o poder estatístico de testes de modelos de seleção nos genes HLA. Ao comparar os resultados obtidos em análises filogenéticas com bases de dados com e sem recombinantes, verificamos que a remoção de alelos recombinantes altera as estimativas de parâmetros, a identificação de códons com evidência de seleção e a significância dos testes de comparação de modelos. Nossas análises mostraram que ω é significativamente maior para pares de alelos de linhagens diferentes do que para pares de alelos de uma mesma linhagem e que existe uma correlação positiva significativa entre o tempo de divergência dos alelos e as estimativas de ω. Verificamos, ainda, que é possível rejeitar um modelo nulo de uma razão ω estimada para todos os ramos da árvore filogenética e favorecer um modelo em que ω é estimado separadamente para ramos entre e intra-linhagens em HLA-C. Em HLA-A e HLA-C, ω é significativamente > 1 entre linhagens. Mostramos também, para os mesmos locos, ω é significativamente > 1 nos ramos internos. Em HLA-C, o modelo que estima ω separadamente para ramos internos e terminais foi favorecido. Nossos resultados mostram que a intensidade de seleção atuando entre linhagens é maior do que aquela dentro de linhagens. Entretanto, mesmo dentro de linhagens, há fortes evidências de desvios de neutralidade, sugerindo a ação da seleção natural. / The comparison of non-synonymous (dN) and synonymous (dS) substitution rates allows us to infer selection schemes which operated in coding regions. Genes with dN/dS > 1 are candidates to be under positive selection, and genome scans in search for this signature have proved to be a powerful tool. It is a robust method, since it is assumed that such sites are interspersed in regions of the genome under study (and therefore share the same demographic history), and which focuses on the variation in specific genes, eliminating ambiguities about the target of selection. On the other hand, the criterion of ω > 1 for genes to be considered under positive selection is very conservative. This is because usually only a few codons are under positive selection, while most non-synonymous mutations are deleterious and are thus under purifying selection. Therefore, it has been conventioned to analyze subsets of codons in search of selection, either through a narrower data set or through models that calculate different ω values for subsets of codons, making it possible to infer which of them are under positive selection. The MHC molecules genes have different variation patterns that indicate some sort of balancing selection acted upon them (high diversity, large differentiation between alleles and the existence of trans-specific polymorphisms). HLA genes are a subset of human MHC genes and are located on the short arm of chromosome 6. The classical class I genes (HLA-A, HLA-B and HLA-C) are expressed in most somatic cells and play a central role in the process of adaptive immune response, capturing and presenting peptides on the cell surface. The region of the MHC molecule to which antigens are bound to be presented to T lymphocytes, thereby initiating the adaptive immune response, is known as the antigen recognition site (ARS). It is well established that ARS codons have higher non-synonymous than synonymous substitution rates on these three loci, consistent with an effect of balancing selection leading to greater variability in the functional region of the molecule that interacts with the peptide. The classical HLA genes have hundreds of alleles, and these constitute clades which group phylogenetically related and functionally similar alleles. Although there is no controversy about the existence of selection acting on HLA genes, there is no consensus on the relative importance of selection on allelic lineages and on individual alleles on the diversification of HLA alleles, and that was the question we decided to investigate. Our null hypothesis was that lineages were targets of selection and the alternative hypothesis was that the individual alleles were targets of selection during the evolutionary history of HLA genes. We sought, first, to make a validation of the method of inference dN/d>S using as a case study the ARS codons and their relation to the ability of inference. Of all the codons under selection we found, all (except one) are also in the classification of classical ARS codons or ±1 codon away from these, showing that there is evidence of selection at nearby sites to the ARS. Therefore, an expanded classification, which includes the codons under selection that are not commonly used in the ARS classifications, should increase the statistical power of selecion model tests on the HLA genes. By comparing the results obtained in phylogenetic analysis using data sets with or without recombinants, we found that the removal of recombinant alleles alters the parameter estimates, the identification of codons with evidence of selection and the significance of model comparison tests. Our analysis showed that ω is significantly higher for pairs of alleles from different lineages than for pairs of alleles from the same lineage and that there is a significant positive correlation between time of divergence of alleles and estimates of ω. We also verified that it is possible to reject a null model of one ω estimated for all branches of the phylogenetic tree and favor a model where ω is estimated separately for branches within and between lineages of HLA-C. In HLA-A and HLA-C, ω is significantly > 1 between lineages. We also show that, for these same loci, ω fis significantly greater than one or internal branches. In HLA-C, the model that estimates ω separately for terminal and internal branches was favored. Our results show that the intensity of selection between lineages is greater then within them. However, even within lineages, there is a strong evidence of deviation from neutrality, suggesting the action of natural selection.

This thesis aims to elucidate the changing forms of engagement between Europeans and Indians in relation to astronomy in India between 1784 and 1876. It seeks to trace the evolving contexts in which knowledge of astronomy was developed and to provide a nuanced characterisation of the resultant cognitive interface between Europeans and Indians, focusing in particular on Bengal and Bombay. The defining features of this period saw Europeans exploring the history of Indian astronomy, before establishing observatories and colleges to foster modern Western astronomy, while Indians turned to rethink how the history of Indian astronomy (and astrology) fitted with modern science. Yet while recent historiographical interventions have drawn attention to the more philosophical forms of engagement, this thesis contends that such a concentration has elided a much more practical engagement between Europeans and Indians in relation to modern (Western) astronomy in India. This engagement was not about a constant process of Indians rationalising participation in modern science, or looking backwards while moving forwards. In addition, it was premised more on collaborative and experiential constructions of knowledge, without express awareness of fixed "Western" or "Indian" paradigms. There was evidence of such engagement in the observatory and in the field, as well as in certain college settings, and in some parts of India more than others. However, racialised colonial institutions and attenuated educational schemas could at length hinder such possibilities, leaving the spotlight on the more philosophical forms of engagement. This thesis hence aims to address a lacuna in the history of science in colonial India by reappraising the significance of astronomy during these years. Through drawing on a range of written texts and physical objects in relation to astronomy, as well as on inter-disciplinary perspectives, it seeks to reflect the heterogeneous nature of the Indian intellectual climate in the colonial period.

The thesis studies the coins minted by the cities in the Orontes Valley of Syria during the late Hellenistic and Roman periods: Apamea, Larissa, Raphanea, Emesa and Laodicea ad Libanum. All the various aspects of these coinages are presented and comparisons are drawn between the results hereby obtained with those from the surrounding region. The research was conducted by recording as many specimens as possible from public and private collections, in addition to published material and those available online. The thesis starts with an introduction to the geography and history of the region followed by a catalogue, which is presented at the beginning of the thesis to introduce the structure of the coinages. This is followed by discussions on production, circulation, metrology, denominations and iconography in detail. Die studies were also conducted to complement the arguments presented in each of the chapters. Plates illustrating the best preserved specimen of each type and their variants are placed at the end. The discussions of these coinages, based on the compiled data and the proposed structure, have shown that not only were the coinages of each of the cities of the Orontes Valley distinct from those of neighboring regions, they are also different from one another. No compatibility was found between the denominations and currency systems, nor was there any conclusive evidence for the coins of one city circulating in the territory of another. The mints of northern Syria have been previously studied, in addition to several mints of the Phoenician territories to the south; however, regarding the mints of the Orontes Valley, a gap has remained in the study of Roman provincial coins, as none of the mints under discussion have been published and discussed in full. It is hoped that this research will fill that gap and complement the study of Roman provincial coins in general, and that of Roman Syria in particular.

This research investigates the long-run equilibrium relationship between money demand and its determinants in China over the period 1952-2004 for three definitions of money – currency in circulation m0, narrow money m1 and broad money m2. The appropriate dummy variable has been added into the functions to assess and evaluate effects of economic reform in China. The additional influences on money demand in China, such as wages, monetization process and saving effects are explored. The real wage index w, the ratio of urban population to total population ROP, the ratio of total deposit to currency DCR, and the ratio of total deposit to income RDG have been considered as additional variables in the same money demand functions. To test the stable long-run money demand functions, the Engle-Granger two-stage cointegration method (EGTS), Phillips-Hansen cointegration approach, Pesaran et al. (2001) ARDL cointegration procedure along with CUSUM and CUSUMSQ stability tests and Johansen Multivariate Cointegration procedures are employed. Granger Causality Test is applied to indicate either uni-directional or bi-directional causality exists in the variables. Wald tests for homogeneity and parameter constancy tests are employed in this study as well. The estimation results, especially the cointegration analyses show that the real money demand functions perform better than the nominal money demand functions. Narrow money demand m1 presents more satisfactory coefficients than the other two in terms of economic theory and econometric diagnostics. The stabilisation policy should primarily aim at the narrow money m1. This study reveals that the economic reform did bring significant changes to the Chinese economy. Income is shown to be the most important determinant of money demand. The other additional variables also have significant effects on the money demand. The wage index influence on money demand models is important. The raise of monetization process made the money play a more vital role. The impact of ratio of total deposit to income is significant.

This thesis was undertaken to gain greater insights into ethnic collective action (ECA). A review of the literature revealed five gaps; a narrow definition of ECA, a failure to investigate ECA as an interactive process, a tendency to focus on external structures, a limited acknowledgement of the importance of internal heterogeneity and of intra-actions, and a lack of explanation of the role and importance of actors' worldviews. My research challenged the gaps by proposing that ECA is not only an outcome, but also part of an ongoing process. This thesis builds on elements of the theoretical approaches used by some earlier scholars. This study of ECA resulted from ethnographic fieldwork in Jordan for 10 months. My research focused on two case study groups, the Circassian and Dom. In addition, I gathered data about the setting and the interactions between Jordanian society, government and voluntary sector organisations (VSO), and the two case study groups. I argue that ethnography provided a methodological framework which allowed me to gain insights into how different factors interact and impact on ECA. This research makes empirical contributions concerning the situation of Circassians and Dom in Jordan as well as some general theoretical conclusions regarding ECA. The research revealed that ECA is a dynamic and complex process which is affected by numerous factors that do not directly impact on ECA processes, but instead it is the interaction and relationships between these factors that impact on ECA. The main factors involved in understanding the interactions that affect ECA were the level of inclusion extended by external actors to members of the two case study groups, state policies and programmes, the case study groups' levels of cohesion and leadership and the worldviews of external and internal actors.

This study examines the theoretical and practical tensions and contradictions of multiculturalism in Taiwan. It combines cultural theory, cultural studies, and cultural policy to explore how western theories of multiculturalism can been practised in Taiwan's experience, and discuss the development of cultural policy in Taiwan. Based on its unique history, Taiwanese society is struggling with two problems. One is the lack of common national identity. The clash between Chinese identity and Taiwanese identity has led to other conflicts within the whole society. The other problem is related to inequality among the various cultural communities, which has created a crisis in political legitimacy and social justice. In response to these challenges multiculturalism has become an important influence in cultural policy in Taiwan, and 'multicultural Taiwan' is constructed as a new national identity. Because of the contradictory aspirations of homogeneous national identity and recognition of cultural differences three major challenges are posed by the emergence of multiculturalism in Taiwan. The first is related to national identity. Under the name of 'multicultural Taiwan', the government is seeking to construct a more complex, multifaceted and sustainable version of Taiwanese culture capable of mediating between the diversity and conflicts arising from ethnicity. However, multiculturalism, which is based on the recognition of various ethnic identities, also leads to tension between an integrative national identity and separate ethnic identities. The second challenge is related to cultural policy, which shows the tensions between integration and separation, between individual rights and collective rights in cultural policy. The third challenge is related to citizenship in Taiwan. The new concept of multicultural citizenship demands the acknowledgement of more rights, such as collective rights, cultural rights, minority rights and global citizenship, in defiance of the traditional views of citizenship based on civil, political and social rights, and national boundaries. Three case studies have been selected to reflect each issue: the Taiwanese aborigines, the Hakkas and migrant workers. By considering these three challenges, I try to redefine multiculturalism and cultural policy in the Taiwanese experience. Firstly, I seek to redefine multiculturalism as 'multicultural citizenship' in the case of Taiwan. Multicultural citizenship is seen as a new balance between 'integration' and 'diversity' in the development of multiculturalism in Taiwan. On the one hand, multicultural citizenship is related to the construction of a common public sphere and nation; on the other hand, it is also related to respect for cultural diversity and special communities in the private sphere. Secondly, I try to redefine cultural policy in Taiwan in terms of cultural rights and multicultural citizenship, which embody the link between people and the state. Cultural policy should protect cultural rights and strengthen the relationship between people and cultural policy. Similarly, multicultural policy should be based upon cultural rights and multicultural citizenship. When implemented, it should then improve multiculturalism. Thirdly, I conclude that the problems of national identity and cultural differences should be considered on the basis of multicultural citizenship.

This thesis combines an anthropological approach to the study of Altered States of Consciousness (ASCs) with a detailed analysis of previously published evidence for the consumption of psychoactives from Late Bronze Age Cypriote (Late Cypriote) contexts to investigate the possibility that such mental phenomena may have been utilised within religious rituals of this period. This evidence primarily consists of ceramic vessels associated with the consumption of opium and alcohol (often supported by organic residue analysis), but also includes iconography, ethnographic and historical sources and neuro-psychological studies of the effects of the relevant psychoactive substances. This range of evidence is analysed using a ‘contextual analysis’ designed to interpret the meanings (symbolic and socio-political) associated with the ASCs these substances can induce, particularly in relation to ritual practice. Within Late Cypriote mortuary ritual, extreme drunkenness and opium-induced ASCs are interpreted to have been symbolically linked to ritualised interaction with the underworld, suggesting that these mental phenomena possessed significant symbolic meaning. In the context of mortuary feasting, however, alcohol induced ASCs also appears to have possessed significant socio-political meaning relating to their ability to promote the development of group identity and the negotiation of individual rights and status. In non-mortuary contexts opium consumption was identified in a limited number of cases, exclusively linked with religious ritual, suggesting a continued association between the supernatural and opium induced ASCs, most likely within the context of divination ritual. In these cases opium consumption appears to have been restricted, suggesting that this activity had been incorporated into strategies involved with the ritualised legitimisation and maintenance of status and hierarchy. Alcohol induced ASCs, however, are primarily associated with feasting within non-mortuary ritual, suggesting that the socio-political meanings associated with such convivial activity were most prominent in these contexts.

This thesis is an examination of how British television news reported on the Peace Accords signed between Israeli and Palestinian negotiators at the Wye River Plantation, Maryland USA in October 1998. The research involves three elements. Firstly a review of the historiography of the conflict which sketches out the range of views on the history and origins of the dispute. Secondly a content analysis of the peace negotiations themselves. This examines how journalists drew on the range of views present in the historiography in order to contextualise coverage and provide explanations for the conflict. Thirdly the thesis looks at the various factors in production which influence the construction of news in this area, and links this to theoretical debates in the area.

This thesis identifies processes of ‘spiritual transformation’ amongst boys from prison in the Philippines. It is a qualitative study for which data were collected largely by means of interviews and observation in jails and rehabilitation centres in the Philippines. The thesis argues that boys who suffer deprivation at home, on the streets and in jail become alienated from society. When events lead to an experience of spiritual awakening, the subsequent treatment they receive can either lead them to make changes in their lives or it can thwart them from doing so. With encouragement, boys are able to consolidate positive life changes and reach a lasting condition of spiritual transformation. The thesis demonstrates how some programmes of rehabilitation in the Philippines allow deprived children to experience and develop constructive relationships of trust, reliance, attachment and commitment, and how this assists the development of faith that is a significant component of spiritual transformation. The thesis shows how such programmes catalyse and nurture this spiritual transformation. This thesis makes an original contribution to knowledge in the area of rehabilitation of Children in Conflict with the Law and the spiritual aspects of rehabilitation. It builds upon previous research in the field of faith development and adds to this body of scholarship. Findings gained from this research can be applied to policy elsewhere.