Doctor Legum - LLD / Traditional justice systems (TJS), which apply African customary law (ACL), play a significant role in the regulation of various cultural, social, and economic spheres of individual lives in society. It is estimated that 90% of African countries use TJS in dispute resolution. Succession matters form one of the areas in which TJS are applied. In Kenya, it is estimated that the majority of succession matters are addressed through TJS given that only 36% of cases are taken to the formal justice system (FJS) for determination. This indicates the presence of legal pluralism where formal law co-exists with African customary law. However, the application of customary succession laws and their enforcement by the FJS encounter impediments which curtail the integration of ACL within the FJS. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to determine the interface between African customary laws of succession in the TJS and the FJS. In order to achieve this objective the study applies the Historical School of Jurisprudence as its theoretical framework and applies document analysis as the research methodology. The major findings of the study indicated that though progressive recognition, application and enforcement of ACL in Kenya has been realised, there are several impediments to the integration and enforcement of customary succession decisions within the FJS. These include non-complimentary legal provisions, lack of in-depth knowledge on ACL by the FJS, and more importantly, lack of a policy guideline on the integration of ACL within the FJS. Based on these findings, this study finds it necessary to develop a guideline that will enhance the integration and enforcement of customary succession decisions by the FJS.

Environ 50% des patients recevant un traitement contre le cancer bénéficient de la radiothérapie. La radiothérapie conventionnelle consiste à utiliser des rayons X de haute énergie capables de traverser les tissus et de traiter des tumeurs situées en profondeur de façon non-invasive. Malheureusement, les rayons X ne font pas la distinction entre les tumeurs et les tissus sains, qui peuvent donc être endommagés. Cette non-sélectivité est à l’origine de graves effets secondaires, voire du développement de cancers secondaires. Par conséquent, l’amplification des effets radiatifs au sein de la tumeur par rapport aux tissus environnants représente un défi majeur.L’hadronthérapie (traitement par faisceaux de protons ou d’ions carbone) est considérée comme l’une des techniques les plus prometteuses car, contrairement aux rayons X, la quantité d’énergie déposée atteint son maximum en fin de trajectoire. Lorsque le faisceau est réglé de manière à ce que ce maximum atteigne la tumeur, aucun dommage n’est causé aux tissus situés au-delà. Un autre avantage majeur est que les ions lourds sont plus efficaces pour traiter les tumeurs radiorésistantes. L’utilisation de cette technique est cependant restreinte du fait des dommages – plus faibles mais néanmoins significatifs – causés aux tissus normaux situés sur la trajectoire du faisceau d’ions en amont de la tumeur. Afin d’améliorer les performances de l’hadronthérapie, l’équipe a développé à l’ISMO une nouvelle stratégie combinant l’utilisation de nanoparticules (NPs) métalliques avec l’irradiation par faisceaux d’ions. L’utilisation de NPs a pour but non seulement d’amplifier les effets des rayonnements dans la tumeur mais également d’améliorer l'imagerie médicale à l’aide des mêmes agents (théranostic). Les NPs possèdent une chimie de surface permettant leur fonctionnalisation avec des ligands capable d’améliorer la biocompatibilité, la stabilité ainsi que la circulation sanguine et l’accumulation dans la tumeur. L’équipe a déjà démontré que les petites NPs d’or et de platine (≈ 3 nm) avaient la capacité d’amplifier les effets causés par les faisceaux d’ions carbone médicaux en présence d’oxygène. Cependant, les tumeurs radiorésistantes sont susceptibles de contenir des régions hypoxiques. Il est donc urgent de quantifier et de caractériser l’influence de l’oxygène sur l’effet radio-amplificateur. Le but de ma thèse était d’étudier l’influence de l’oxygène lors d’irradiations par des faisceaux d’ions médicaux en présence de NPs d’or et de platine. Pour cela, deux lignes de cellules cancéreuses humaines radiorésistantes ont été testées: HeLa (col de l’utérus) et BxPC-3 (pancréas). Plusieurs techniques d’irradiation ont été utilisées : des faisceaux d’ions carbone et hélium générés par « passive scattering » et des faisceaux d’ions carbone générés par « pencil beam scanning ». Les principaux résultats de cette étude sont les suivants. En condition oxique (concentration d’O₂ = 20%), une amplification des effets radiatifs a été observée pour les deux types de NPs (à concentration de métal égale). Ce phénomène se réduit à mesure que la concentration d’oxygène diminue mais reste significatif jusqu’à 0.5%. Aucune différence significative n’a été observée entre les deux lignes cellulaires. Il est intéressant de noter que la dépendance à l’oxygène varie en fonction de la technique d’irradiation utilisée. Une tentative d’explication de l’influence de l’oxygène par des processus moléculaires est proposée. Des perspectives de développements ultérieurs sont suggérées. / About 50% of the cancer patients who are treated benefit from radiation therapy. Conventional radiotherapy consists of high energy X-rays traveling through the tissues, so that deeply sited tumors are treated in a non-invasive way. Unfortunately, X-rays are not tumor selective and healthy tissues may be damaged. This lack of selectivity is responsible for severe side effects and/or secondary cancers. Hence, improving the differential of radiation effects between the tumor and surrounding tissues remains a major challenge. Particle therapy (treatment by protons or carbon ion beams) is considered as one of the most promising technique because, by opposition to X-rays, the energy deposition of ions is maximum at the end of their tracks. When the beam is tuned so that the maximum reaches the tumor, there is no damage induced in tissues siting after the tumor. Another important added value is that heavy ions are more efficient to treat radioresistant tumors. The use of this modality is however restricted by the low but significant damage that is induced to normal tissues located at the entrance of the track prior to reaching the tumor. To improve the performance of particle therapy, a new strategy based on the combination of high-Z nanoparticles with ion beam radiation has been developed by the group at ISMO. This approach aims at using nano-agents not only to increase radiation effects in the tumor but also to improve medical imaging with the same agent (theranostic). Nanoparticles present a remarkable surface chemistry, which allows functionalization with ligands able to improve biocompatibility, stability as well as blood circulation and accumulation in tumors. The group already demonstrated the efficiency of small (≈ 3 nm) gold and platinum nanoparticles to amplify the effects of medical carbon ions in normoxic conditions (in the presence of oxygen). However, radioresistant tumors may host hypoxic regions. It is thus urgent to quantify and characterize the influence of oxygen on the radio-enhancement effect. The goal of my thesis was to study the influence of oxygen on medical ion radiation effects in the presence of gold and platinum nanoparticles. This was performed using two radioresistant human cancer cell lines: HeLa (uterine cervix) and BxPC-3 (pancreas). Different radiation modalities were used: carbon and helium ion beams delivered by a passive scattering delivery system and carbon ion beams delivered by a pencil beam scanning system. The major results of this work are the following. In oxic conditions (O₂ concentration = 20%), an enhancement of ion radiation effects was observed for the two nanoparticles (at the same concentration in metal). This effect decreased with the oxygen concentration but remained significant for a concentration of 0.5%. No significant difference was found between the cell lines. Interestingly, the oxygen-dependence varied with the type of radiation. An attempt to explain the effect of oxygen by molecular processes is proposed. Perspectives of further developments are suggested.

Leaders and the strategies they employ to enhance employee performance are essential to retaining an organization's competitive advantage. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore the strategies used by supply chain management managers to improve employee performance in the workplace. The conceptual framework for this study combined elements from Vroom's expectancy theory of motivation, Adams's equity theory of motivation and leadership, and transformational leadership theories. Participants were selected via the purposeful sampling of 6 successful supply chain managers in the District of Columbia's metropolitan area. Data were obtained using semistructured face-to-face interviews, interview notes, transcripts, and a thorough review and analysis of organizational documents. Data were analyzed using Yin's 5-step approach to data analysis. Four themes were identified: strategies associated with enhancing employee performance with an emphasis on training, barriers that prevented leadership from achieving performance improvement objectives, tools leaders used to measure employee performance and the leadership style of the manager with an emphasis on the use of the participative leadership style. The findings of this study may contribute to social change by providing supply chain managers with resources required to enhance overall employee performance in the workplace, which in turn may lead to increased overall organizational productivity, helping to ensure the prosperity of the organizational leaders, employees, their families, the surrounding communities, and the local economy.

The purpose of this study was to examine the use of the teacher portfolio as an evaluation of professional development in Utah's new teacher licensing--the Early Year's Enhancement (EYE) program. This study explored teacher perceptions of the value of the portfolio. Results of the study identified the perceived value of teacher portfolios related to: (a) accuracy as an evaluation tool, (b) usefulness with respect to teacher professional growth, (c) feasibility with regard to teacher time, and (d) appropriateness related to the effect of portfolios on teaching practices. It also identified the relationship of the teacher's perceived value and the required district portfolio format, teaching assignment, age of teacher, number of years teaching, district employed by, district training in portfolio development, and district use of the portfolio. Using a mixed method survey design, data were collected from the new teachers who had completed the EYE evaluation in the 40 school districts of Utah during the 4 years since its implementation. Teacher surveys developed by Tucker, Stronge, and Gareis were adapted, delivered electronically, and utilized to provide both quantitative and qualitative data. Telephone interviews with the district EYE contact provided additional information for the study. The results of the study indicated that new teachers perceived the EYE portfolio as minimally effective as an accurate, useful, feasible, and appropriate tool for measuring professional development. A relationship was found in the teacher's assignment, age, district, portfolio training level, and the district's use of the portfolio and their perception of value. Teachers identified self-reflection as an important advantage and the time requirement as a critical disadvantage of the portfolio process.

There are several strategies to enhance athletes’ physical abilities, both long-term and acutely. Two of these strategies are periodization, which often spans from months to years, and tapering, spanning several weeks. However, given the timeframe of efficacy from the aforementioned strategies, they are better suited to a few competitions rather than on a weekly basis. Later research has proposed a “delayed potentiation” strategy, which spans from 6 - 48 hours. However, research in support of its efficacy is limited. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine the effect of delayed potentiation in sub-elite female soccer players.Thirty-one sub-elite female football players were divided into two groups (age: 21.2 ± 2.9 years, bodyweight: 61.7 ± 6.3 kg, height: 168.2 ± 6.8 cm & 1RM trap-bar deadlift: 96.1 ± 10.8). The intervention group performed 6 x 4 sets of loaded trap-bar jumps. Variables examined 24 hours after intervention were countermovement jump performance, 10 and 20-m sprint. An ANCOVA was conducted to determine a statistically significant difference between the two groups, controlling for pre-test scores. The ANCOVA revealed no significant difference between intervention and control group for post-test countermovement-jump, 10 and 20-m sprint controlling for pre-test scores (p = 0.69, d = 0.14, p = 0.58, d = 0.19 and p = 0.61, d = 0.17 respectively.) Thus, delayed potentiation did not significantly affect sub-elite female soccer players' explosive performance in the lower extremities.

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(医学) / 甲第20083号 / 医博第4176号 / 新制||医||1018(附属図書館) / 33199 / 京都大学大学院医学研究科医学専攻 / (主査)教授 増永 慎一郎, 教授 妹尾 浩, 教授 松田 道行 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Medical Science / Kyoto University / DFAM

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(情報学) / 甲第20518号 / 情博第646号 / 新制||情||112(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院情報学研究科システム科学専攻 / (主査)教授 中島 浩, 教授 永持 仁, 教授 田中 利幸 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Informatics / Kyoto University / DFAM

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Gaining knowledge about methods of memory enhancement is important because it allows us to develop effective strategies and interventions to increase memory performance, optimize cognitive function, and potentially alleviate memory-related challenges such as age-related cognitive decline or memory disorders. This thesis aims to examine the influence of age on self-reported mental imagery (MI) experiences and investigate the potential effects of age and MI on memory training performance using the Method of Loci (MoL). The thesis utilizes data collected from a mobile application from a previous research project conducted at Umeå University. The main findings of this thesis indicate that older adults spent more time on encoding and retrieval tasks, suggesting a decline in cognitive processing speed. However, there was no significant decline in MI ability with age, challenging previous research and suggesting that MI ability may remain relatively stable throughout the lifespan. The findings also suggest that there was no significant correlation between higher MI ability and performance in MoL training. Participants rating themselves as having weaker MI were often achieving high levels in the MoL-training, indicating the potential utilization of alternative cognitive strategies than MI. Spending more time on encoding and retrieval tasks was associated with better performance in MoL training. The findings suggest that age-related declines in processing speed may not necessarily hinder individuals' ability to utilize MoL effectively. However, the findings challenge the idea that MI is such a decisive factor in MoL training and raise questions about which other mechanisms work together for a successful result.