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Ce travail est une contribution à l’étude du comportement de certains matériaux composites. Nous formalisons les observations expérimentales du point de vue mathématique, et menons une étude « critique » des différents modèles utilisés pour proposer des techniques génériques d’identification de paramètres dans ce contexte. Le manuscrit se divise en trois chapitres. Le chapitre 1 rappelle les principes élémentaires et le contexte mécanique de cette étude. On y présentera les hypothèses simplificatrices faites par la suite et les modèles de lois de comportement utilisés et testés. Le chapitre 2 est consacré à la modélisation du problème inverse avec utilisation du modèle de Grosberg et à son étude théorique et numérique. Le chapitre 3 reprend la démarche du chapitre précédent avec le modèle de Dahl. Outre la méthode numérique utilisée précédemment, nous utilisons une approche contrôle optimal et présentons des résultats plus rigoureux obtenus avec AMPL. / This work is a contribution to the study of the behavior of some composite materials. We formalize the experimental observations from the mathematical point of view, and are conducting a “critical” study of the various models used to propose generic techniques for parameter identification in this context. The manuscript is divided into three chapters. Chapter 1 recalls the basic principles and mechanics context of this study. It will present the simplifying assumptions made by the following models and behaviour laws that we used and tested. Chapter 2 is devoted to modeling the inverse problem using the model of Grosberg and its theoretical and numerical study. Chapter 3 takes the approach of the previous chapter with the model of Dahl. Besides the numerical method used previously, we use an optimal control approach and present results obtained with more rigorous method and AMPL.

<p>Bortom historien slut – Beyond the end of history</p><p>According to Robert Dahl there are seven criteria that have to be fulfilled in order for a state to be democratic. Dahl also states that there are several factors that effect the development of democracy. In today’s world it is mostly developing countries that have failed to bring about democratic changes. It is the developing country that is in focus in this thesis.</p><p>The purpose is to examine if there are any particularly advantageous factors that can bring about or promote the development of democratic institutions.</p><p>The questions are:</p><p>What factor has effected the development of democratic institutions?</p><p>Which, if any, of Dahl’s seven criteria is found within each state today?; do they correctly reflect the democratic situation?</p><p>Can any connection between the states democratic development be found in a comparison?</p><p>In a comparison between nine countries the different factors have been examined. The result shows that pluralism is a key factor for development of democracy in a developing country. External influence is on the other hand not important.</p><p>Keywords: developing countries, democratization, Robert Dahl</p><p>Nyckerlord: utvecklingsländer, demokratisering</p>

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento CientÃfico e TecnolÃgico / Este trabalho analisa o conceito de poliarquia na obra de Robert Dahl. O autor faz uma distinÃÃo entre âdemocracia idealâ e âdemocracia realâ. Para ele, a palavra âdemocraciaâ evoca o cenÃrio grego original de participaÃÃo direta, nÃo sendo mais adequada para classificar os regimes representativos contemporÃneos. Tais regimes sÃo pobres aproximaÃÃes dos ideais democrÃticos, e que por isso devem ser classificados como âpoliarquiasâ. Por meio de uma pesquisa bibliogrÃfica, o trabalho objetiva evidenciar e analisar, mais especificamente, a investigaÃÃo que o autor realizou no seu clÃssico livro âPoliarquia: ParticipaÃÃo e OposiÃÃoâ, no qual ele abordou o tema da transiÃÃo de regimes, procurando compreender quais as condiÃÃes que favorecem ou impedem a transiÃÃo de um regime nÃo poliÃrquico para um regime poliÃrquico. / This paper analyzes the concept of polyarchy in the work of Robert Dahl. The author makes a distinction between "ideal democracy" and "real democracy". For him, the word "democracy" evokes the original Greek scenario of direct participation, no longer appropriate to classify regimes representative contemporaries. Such schemes are poor approximations of democratic ideals, and therefore should be classified as "polyarchies". Through a literature search, this work aims at identifying and analyzing more specifically, the research that the author conducted in his classic book "Polyarchy: Participation and Opposition," in which he addressed the issue of regime transition, trying to understand what conditions that favor or hinder the transition from a regime not polyarchical to a polyachical regime.

Att demokrati är ett mångfacetterat begrepp är en utgångspunkt för denna studie. Tolkningsfriheten av demo-krati är stor – både i samhället och inom skolväsendet. Ett intresse för studien är att undersöka vad lärare lägger för innebörd i begreppet demokratiska värderingar, men även hur förutsättningar skapas för att demokratiska värden ska genereras, hur demokratiska värden utvärderas samt varför lärarna tycker att demokratiarbetet är viktigt är aspekter som denna studie belyser. Åtta lärare deltog i studien, varav hälften arbetade inom årskurs 6 och resterande hälft i årskurs 9. Det över-gripande syftet är att söka likheter och skillnader mellan lärares syn på demokratiarbetet i dessa årskurser. Den kvalitativa intervjun användes för att samla in studiens material, medan ett fenomenografiskt och idéanalytiskt förhållningssätt har använts för att analysera materialet. Robert A. Dahls demokratiteorier ligger till stor grund för studiens analys. Slutsatsen för studien är att lika värde är centralt för demokratiska värderingar bland lärare, men även rättigheter och skyldigheter har en stark position. Dialogen och lyssnandet är återkommande faktorer för både hur demokratiska värderingar skapas och även hur det utvärderas. Att lägga en grund för det framtida samhället är en bidragande orsak varför demokrati-arbetet är viktigt, samt att den kollektiva gemenskapen är prioriterad framför det individualistiska förhållnings-sättet.

<p>In my paper I have examined the United Nations role in the democratization of Kosovo. In order to complete this purpose I have asked two questions</p><p>• How has the UN contributed to the democratization of Kosovo that has taken place so far?</p><p>• What advantages and/or disadvantages has the UN presence in Kosovo had from a democratic perspective?</p><p>The method I have used in my paper is a qualitative one, and more specified a qualitative text analysis. This means that I have examined a rather small number of sources, but in return I have analyzed these sources very carefully. In addition to the choice of a qualitative method I have used Robert A. Dahl’s theory about polyarcy as a definition of democracy.</p><p>The results from my analysis are that the UN has done some work in favour of the democratization of Kosovo, but the UN has also acted in a way which restrains democratization of Kosovo in many ways. The main reason why the UN hinders the democratization of Kosovo is it’s unwillingness to let go of its power over the region to the local officials.</p>

Adrenomedullin (ADM) is a 52 amino acid vasodilator peptide isolated, in 1993, from human pheochromocytoma. It has been demonstrated in the adrenal medulla of several mammalian species, including humans and rats. There have been conflicting results of the tissue distribution in the adrenal cortex. Hypertension is a complex trait with multiple genetic and environmental influences. Furthermore, salt-sensitive hypertension is characterized by a cluster of renal, hormonal, and metabolic derangements that might favour the development of cardiovascular and renal complications. Therefore the objective of this study was to investigate the adrenal distribution of ADM as well as to semi-quantitatively assess the adrenomedullin secretory capacity of the adrenal gland in the rat model of salt sensitive hypertension. Fourty-four male weanling rats were divided into 4 experimental groups and placed on a dietary regimen for 6 weeks viz. Dahl salt sensitive (DSS) rats on a high sodium diet (8% NaCl), DSS on a normal sodium diet (1% NaCl) matched with normotensive Dahl salt resistant (DSR) rats on the same dietary treatments. Blood pressure was monitored by tail-cuff readings and by the end of the six weeks, the DSS rats developed hypertension with tachycardia irrespective of the diet they were fed. The normal sodium diet was found to delay the development of hypertension, whilst the high sodium diet exacerbated the development of hypertension. Kidney weights and heart weights were greater in DSS rats than DSR rats probably due to their renal pathology or cardiac hypertrophy. Adrenomedullin immunopositivity was found predominantly in the adrenal medulla, and to varying degrees in the zona glomerulosa and zona reticularis of the adrenal cortex. The semi-quantitative analysis indicate that there was a 6.3 fold increase in ADM content of DSS rats compared to the DSR rats, where both consumed the 1% NaCI supplemented diet (DSR : 5.98 ± 0.3 vs. DSS : 37.85 ± 0.5, P / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Durban-Westville, 2003.

Ce travail est une contribution à l'étude du comportement de certains matériaux composites. Nous formalisons les observations expérimentales du point de vue mathématique, et menons une étude " critique " des différents modèles utilisés pour proposer des techniques génériques d'identification de paramètres dans ce contexte. Le manuscrit se divise en trois chapitres. Le chapitre 1 rappelle les principes élémentaires et le contexte mécanique de cette étude. On y présentera les hypothèses simplificatrices faites par la suite et les modèles de lois de comportement utilisés et testés. Le chapitre 2 est consacré à la modélisation du problème inverse avec utilisation du modèle de Grosberg et à son étude théorique et numérique. Le chapitre 3 reprend la démarche du chapitre précédent avec le modèle de Dahl. Outre la méthode numérique utilisée précédemment, nous utilisons une approche contrôle optimal et présentons des résultats plus rigoureux obtenus avec AMPL.

Dissertation (Ph.D.)--University of Toledo, 2006. / "In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Sciences." Title from title page of PDF document. Bibliography: p. 89-95, p. 127-131, p. 184-192, p.198-233.

Thesis (D.M.A.)--University of Texas at Austin, 1998. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 86-87). Available also in a digital version from Dissertation Abstracts.