Haemagglutination is the recognised serologic technique for common (ABO & Rh) blood group antigen phenotyping with limitations; typing multi-transfused patients and non-invasive foetal blood group determination. Molecular technological advances in characterising the 30 blood group systems have also generated PCR based direct genotyping techniques. Their utility in routine blood banking practice is a rapidly evolving field. The study aims were (1) to establish PCR-SSP assays for KEL, FY and JK blood group genotyping, (2) to evaluate HEA BeadChipTM technology for SNPs detection of RHCc, RHEe, CO, DI, DO, FY, JK, KEL, LU, LW, MNS and SC and haemoglobinopathy S, against serology considering reproducibility, reliability, sensitivity and labour saving potential (3) to evaluate the specificity and sensitivity of TaqMan Real-Time PCR for NIPD of foetal RHD7, RHC, RHc, RHE and SRY status and (4) to establish Real-Time PCR assays and MGB TaqMan probes for 8 sets of gender-independent “Bi-allelic” Short Insertion/Deletion Polymorphisms (SIDPs) as internal assay controls confirming the presence of cell-free foetal DNA (cffDNA). The PCR-SSP results for KEL, FY and JK typing results showed complete concordance with serology for all samples except 1×JKa and 7×Fyb; discrepancies resolved by subsequent DNA sequencing. The HEA BeadChipTM microarray validation on gDNA (n=224) and 22 saliva samples, giving overall allele detection (ADR) and concordance rates (CoR) of >99.8% for the 24 alleles. The Fyx allele (Fyb/Fyx: 265C>T) frequency in Scottish donors (5.4%) was much higher than expected. Saliva-derived gDNA was less sensitive than buffy coat-derived gDNA; ADR 89.9% and 100% respectively. NIPD foetal blood group genotyping by Real-Time PCR of 51 alloimmunised pregnancies (n=104 samples, 12 to ≥40 weeks) with was 100% accurate for RHD7, RHC and RHE assays; 95.7% for RHc and 99% for SRY. The utility of Real-Time TaqMan assays for 8 selected SIDPs as paternal (foetal) markers, were assessed using gDNA, cell-free DNA (cfDNA) from 61 donors and 6 extended families and finally with cffDNA from 13 pregnancies. Based on these research findings, many of the molecular assays are now established in Aberdeen.

Let G be a connected reductive algebraic group defined over an algebraic closure of the finite field of prime order p > 0, which we assume to be good for G. We denote by F : G → G a Frobenius endomorphism of G and by G the corresponding Fq-rational structure. If Irr(G) denotes the set of ordinary irreducible characters of G then by work of Lusztig and Geck we have a well defined map ΦG : Irr(G) → {F-stable unipotent conjugacy classes of G} where ΦG(χ) is the unipotent support of χ. Lusztig has given a classification of the irreducible characters of G and obtained their degrees. In particular he has shown that for each χ ∈ Irr(G) there exists an integer nχ such that nχ · χ(1) is a monic polynomial in q. Given a unipotent class O of G with representative u ∈ G we may define AG(u) to be the finite quotient group CG(u)/CG(u)◦. If the centre Z(G) is connected and G/Z(G) is simple then Lusztig and H´ezard have independently shown that for each F-stable unipotent class O of G there exists χ ∈ Irr(G) such that ΦG(χ) = O and nχ = |AG(u)|, (in particular the map ΦG is surjective). The main result of this thesis extends this result to the case where G is any simple algebraic group, (hence removing the assumption that Z(G) is connected). In particular if G is simple we show that for each F-stable unipotent class O of G there exists χ ∈ Irr(G) such that ΦG(χ) = O and nχ = |AG(u)F| where u ∈ OF is a well-chosen representative. We then apply this result to prove, (for most simple groups), a conjecture of Kawanaka’s on generalised Gelfand–Graev representations (GGGRs). Namely that the GGGRs of G form a Z-basis for the Z-module of all unipotently supported class functions of G. Finally we obtain an expression for a certain fourth root of unity associated to GGGRs in the case where G is a symplectic or special orthogonal group.

The purpose of this thesis is to study those non-flat space-times in General Relativity admitting high dimensional Lie groups of motions, homotheties, conformals and affines, and to prove a theorem on the relationship between the first three of these. The basic theories and notations of differential geometry are set up first, and a useful theorem on first-order partial differential equations is proved. The concepts of General Relativity are introduced, space-times are defined and a brief account of the well-known Petrov and Segre classifications is given. The interplay between these classifications and the isotropy structure of the various Lie groups is discussed as is the so-called 'Schmidt method'. Generalised p.p. waves are studied, with a special study of the subclass of generalised plane waves undertaken, many different characterisations of these latter are found and their admitted symmetries are completely described. Motions, homotheties and affines are considered. A survey of symmetries in Minkowski space, and a summary of known results on space-times with high dimensional groups of motions is given. The problem of r-dimensional groups of homotheties is studied. The r 6 cases are completely resolved, and examples in the r = 5 cases are given. All examples of non-flat space-times admitting the maximal group of affines are displayed, correcting an error in the literature. The thesis ends with a proof of the Bilyalov-Defrise-Carter theorem, which states that for any non conformally flat space-time there is a conformally related metric for which the original group of conformals is a group of homotheties (motions if not conformal to generalised plane waves). The proof given does not use Bilyalov's analyticity assumption, and is more geometric than Defrise-Carter. The maximum size of the conformal group for a given Petrov type is found. An appendix gives a brief account of some REDUCE routines used to check some algebraic manipulations.

This research examines ethnic conflicts in Indonesia from 1998 to 2004 in an attempt to identify their underlying causes by using two case studies of ethnic conflict, one on Maluku Island and one in Poso, Central Sulawesi. The lessons learned that I drew from those two case studies address the questions, of why have ethnic conflicts in Indonesia taken place more frequently since 1998 and what the best strategies for the Indonesian government to use to prevent the eruption of ethnic conflicts in Indonesia in the future? With regard to the lessons learned from Maluku and Poso, this research generally concludes that underlying factors such as political disputes, economic and social disparities, religious and cultural differences, and tribal disputes have contributed to the current ethnic conflicts in Indonesia. Among the underlying factors, political disputes and economic and social disparities outweighed the other factors and played a more significant role in triggering the initial conflicts. This research contributes valuable information to the Indonesian government and nongovernmental organizations in dealing with future ethnic conflicts in Indonesia.

The purpose of this thesis is to answer the question of what determines the success of Civil Military Operations (CMO). With the United States military involved in the largest CMO mission since World War II in Iraq, answering this question becomes even more important. In this thesis, success will not be confined to tactical, operational or strategic CMO success. To determine what causes success or failure in CMO, this thesis will conduct three different case study analyses of Iraq based on the three predominant ethno-religious regions of the country: Kurdish North, Sunni Center, and Shi'a South. In order to analyze, compare, and contrast these three separate cases, this thesis will use three independent variables: integration of CMO in all phases of the operations; balance of CMO between the combat or civilian operations; and attitude of the Host Nation (HN) or occupied area. These variables set the conditions necessary for CMO success. In conclusion, this thesis provides essential principles for CMO planning and identifies requirements in doctrine, training, organization, and structure of CMO forces for future operations.

Afghanistan is facing the daunting challenge of creating a stable, all inclusive and democratically based government that will be viewed as legitimate among all ethnic, social and religious groups. This will be a great trial for Afghans, who for decades have faced the realities of ethnic fragmentation and its impact on politics, culture and society of Afghanistan. The focus of this thesis will be on ethnic fragmentation, nationalism, and social structure, as they relate to state formation and democratic development. This thesis assumes these concepts are critical for democratic development in societies with multiple ethnic enclaves and multiple ethnic identities. Four former Afghan regimes are examined and used as case studies in this effort. Specifically, these regimes are analyzed in order to determine how each attempted to overcome cleavages within society during the process of state formation. The case study findings are then used prognostically to assess the current attempt to build a democratic Afghanistan. The thesis concludes with an assessment for success of the current Afghan government and presents recommendations for increasing the overall probability for Afghan democratic development and national cohesion.

This paper will be concerned mainly with automorphisms of groups. The concept of a group endomorphism will be used at various points in this paper.

This thesis discusses groups, modules, the module of homomorphisms, and extension of modules.

In the study of groups and topological spaces, the properties of both are often encountered in one system. The following are common examples: groups with discrete topologies, the complex numbers with the usual topology, and matrix groups with metric topologies. The need for a study of how algebraic properties and topological properties affect one another when united and interrelated in one system soon becomes evident. Thus the purpose of this thesis is to study the interrelated group and topological space, the topological group.

Thesis (M.A.)--Boston University / PLEASE NOTE: Boston University Libraries did not receive an Authorization To Manage form for this thesis or dissertation. It is therefore not openly accessible, though it may be available by request. If you are the author or principal advisor of this work and would like to request open access for it, please contact us at open-help@bu.edu. Thank you. / In this paper we have determined the structure of divisible groups, certain primary groups, and countable torsion groups. Chapter 1 introduces two important infinite abelian groups, R and Z(p^∞). The structure of these groups is completely known and we have given most of the important properties of these groups in Chapter 1. Of special importance is the fact that a divisible group can be decomposed into a direct sum of groups each isomorphic to R or Z(p^∞). This is Theorem 2.12 and it classifies all divisible groups in terms of these two well-known groups. Theorem 1.6 is of great importance since it reduces the study of torsion groups to that of primary groups. We now have that Theorems 3.3 and 5.5 apply to countable torsion groups as well as primary groups. Theorem 3.3 gives a necessary and sufficient condition for an infinite torsion group to be a direct sum of cyclic groups. These conditions are more complicated than the finite case. From Theorem 3.3, we derived Corollary 3.5. This result is used later on to get that the Ulm factors of a group are direct sums of cyclic groups. In essence, Ulm's theorem says that a countable reduced primary group can be determined by knowing its Ulm type and its Ulm sequence. Now by Corollary 3.5, we have only to look at the number of cyclic direct summands of order p^n (for all integers n) for each Ulm factor. This gives us a system of invariants which we can assign to the group. Once again, these invariants are much harder to arrive at than in the finite case. / 2031-01-01