“Domestic InFlux” is a thesis that, through study of past typologies and modern technologies, creates a platform to produce new forms of privately owned houses that allows the user to accommodate their changing needs with minimal effort. “Domestic InFlux” overlaps typologies and program so that the occupant can use the house for any function by collapsing certain program and allowing others to expand. Although today’s house is larger than in the past, the average family is smaller. Houses today have also become more segmented, isolating program that has been limited to a predefined area by the architecture. Technology is partially responsible for this change. With improved technology we have become less interested in taking advantage of the site and environment in our life at home, and more interested in using that technology to help us block out the rest of the world and disregard the potentials of the site. As technology develops and the world becomes more efficient, so should the house. As a society we have conflicting desires. We want to live in the city, but we also want to live in a mansion. We want more stuff, but we don’t want to look at it. Special occasions require increased occupancy in a space that is unoccupied for most of the year. With “Domestic InFlux” a mansion can be fit into a row house, turning it in to a Swiss Army house or a house for every need. The “Domestic InFlux” house is no longer passive. It is interactive and dynamic, influencing the way we perceive space at every scale, including the scale of the neighborhood. As these houses aggregate, the residual spaces become outdoor rooms that can be occupied by the community.

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<p>The main aims of this project were to contribute to the knowledge about tropical climate variations, and to investigate the possibilities of obtaining cosmic ray influx data from stalagmites.</p><p>Stalagmites from Tanzania and northern South Africa were palaeoclimatologically analysed.</p><p>U-series dating, combined with previously published 14C-data (Goslar et al. 2000), shows that one of the Tanzanian stalagmites was precipitated during the latter half of the latest glacial, between approximately 39 and 27 ka. Results from stable isotope analysis (δ13C and δ18O) were interpreted as indicating millennial-scale fluctuations in atmospheric CO2-level during that time. These fluctuations show a pattern which is similar to that of the δ18O records from the GRIP and Byrd ice-cores – suggesting that the stalagmite record captures a global climate signal.</p><p>U-series dating shows that the largest of the South African stalagmites covers most of the last 25 ka. The δ13C- and δ18O-data indicate millennial-scale variation in the South African climate throughout the time of the formation of this stalagmite. Because of similarities to Antarctic records (Steig et al. 2000), the driving force for these variations was suggested to be atmospheric circulation changes associated with change in the Southern Hemisphere circumpolar westerly wind vortex. Like the Tanzanian results, these South African data lend further support to the theory about global persistent millennial-scale climate-fluctuations.</p><p>A beryllium isotope study was then performed on the two stalagmites described above. This study assesses, for the first time, the potential of the cosmogenic isotope 10Be as a tool in stalagmite studies. As a control, 9Be-analysis was also made on each 10Be-sample.</p><p>The aim of the study was to test the idea that stalagmites could be a new source of well-dated and directly climate-proxy synchronized information about past variations in cosmic ray influx intensity – i.e., a source that would serve as a new tool for general improvement of the knowledge about past variations in cosmic ray influx, and that could possibly also provide further clues to whether such variations can affect Earth’s climate.</p><p>The main excursions/fluctuations in the 10Be-and 9Be-data from these stalagmites do not coincide. Hence, the excursions in 10Be-content may be interpreted as indicating excursions in cosmic ray influx. The 10Be-data show three pronounced peaks at around 38, 35 and 21 ka respectively; plausibly corresponding to the peaks previously observed at approximately 39, 32 and 23 ka in cosmogenic isotope data from sediments and ice.</p><p>In glacial parts of the stalagmite material, the 9Be-concentration fluctuates on a millennial-scale; inversely synchronized with fluctuations in δ13C-data from the same material. This indicates that 9Be could, apart from being a necessary control for 10Be-results, also function as a palaeoclimatological proxy in stalagmite studies.</p><p>In order to improve dating facilities for stalagmites, a procedure for high-precision measurements of U and Th isotope ratios was also developed, using an IsoProbe® Multi Collector Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (MC-ICPMS). The 230Th/232Th ratio for the thorium concentration-standard Alfa Th was determined to 7.96 (±0.012) × 10-7 (2σ), and the δ234U obtained for the uranium standard SRM950a was 18.4 ±0.6(2σ). The thorium results show, that even extremely biased isotope ratios, in low-concentration samples, can be measured with remarkably good precision. The quality of each sample measurement can also easily be evaluated. However, due to repeated technical problems with the instrument, it has not yet been possible to use the developed procedure for routine analysis and dating of samples.</p>

The main aims of this project were to contribute to the knowledge about tropical climate variations, and to investigate the possibilities of obtaining cosmic ray influx data from stalagmites. Stalagmites from Tanzania and northern South Africa were palaeoclimatologically analysed. U-series dating, combined with previously published 14C-data (Goslar et al. 2000), shows that one of the Tanzanian stalagmites was precipitated during the latter half of the latest glacial, between approximately 39 and 27 ka. Results from stable isotope analysis (δ13C and δ18O) were interpreted as indicating millennial-scale fluctuations in atmospheric CO2-level during that time. These fluctuations show a pattern which is similar to that of the δ18O records from the GRIP and Byrd ice-cores – suggesting that the stalagmite record captures a global climate signal. U-series dating shows that the largest of the South African stalagmites covers most of the last 25 ka. The δ13C- and δ18O-data indicate millennial-scale variation in the South African climate throughout the time of the formation of this stalagmite. Because of similarities to Antarctic records (Steig et al. 2000), the driving force for these variations was suggested to be atmospheric circulation changes associated with change in the Southern Hemisphere circumpolar westerly wind vortex. Like the Tanzanian results, these South African data lend further support to the theory about global persistent millennial-scale climate-fluctuations. A beryllium isotope study was then performed on the two stalagmites described above. This study assesses, for the first time, the potential of the cosmogenic isotope 10Be as a tool in stalagmite studies. As a control, 9Be-analysis was also made on each 10Be-sample. The aim of the study was to test the idea that stalagmites could be a new source of well-dated and directly climate-proxy synchronized information about past variations in cosmic ray influx intensity – i.e., a source that would serve as a new tool for general improvement of the knowledge about past variations in cosmic ray influx, and that could possibly also provide further clues to whether such variations can affect Earth’s climate. The main excursions/fluctuations in the 10Be-and 9Be-data from these stalagmites do not coincide. Hence, the excursions in 10Be-content may be interpreted as indicating excursions in cosmic ray influx. The 10Be-data show three pronounced peaks at around 38, 35 and 21 ka respectively; plausibly corresponding to the peaks previously observed at approximately 39, 32 and 23 ka in cosmogenic isotope data from sediments and ice. In glacial parts of the stalagmite material, the 9Be-concentration fluctuates on a millennial-scale; inversely synchronized with fluctuations in δ13C-data from the same material. This indicates that 9Be could, apart from being a necessary control for 10Be-results, also function as a palaeoclimatological proxy in stalagmite studies. In order to improve dating facilities for stalagmites, a procedure for high-precision measurements of U and Th isotope ratios was also developed, using an IsoProbe® Multi Collector Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (MC-ICPMS). The 230Th/232Th ratio for the thorium concentration-standard Alfa Th was determined to 7.96 (±0.012) × 10-7 (2σ), and the δ234U obtained for the uranium standard SRM950a was 18.4 ±0.6(2σ). The thorium results show, that even extremely biased isotope ratios, in low-concentration samples, can be measured with remarkably good precision. The quality of each sample measurement can also easily be evaluated. However, due to repeated technical problems with the instrument, it has not yet been possible to use the developed procedure for routine analysis and dating of samples.

In a globalised world, influenced by social flux brought about by various factors¹, cities’ perimeters are subject to continuous change. More often than not, a city’s perimeter expands in the form of urban sprawl. Energy drains from the centre, leaving in its wake numerous vacant, degraded and underutilised structures. Radical interventions on an urban scale are often proposed to counter this degradation and transformation of such urban areas. These interventions² entail densification of the urban fabric, the insertion of additional structures and the creation of new precincts; a process which occurs over many years. By comparison, well-considered alterations to existing built fabric can be implemented quickly with smaller financial and ecological implications. Such alterations also include the adaptation of interior space to support a change in programme, and the possible improvement of a buildings interface with the street. The aim is to improve local social environments within the urban fabric and stimulate social influx. INTERFACE is about interventions to existing structures within the CBD of Pretoria. These interventions are limited to low-rise buildings (between two and five stories) designed specifically for mono-function. Over time, the programme and user profile of those buildings has changed, while the built fabric stagnated, with no active response to its context. Currently, such buildings do not participate in the creation of a living city – a city where interior spaces are supplemented by well designed outdoor spaces, thereby creating places that support and encourage social interaction. Buildings which have simply been taken over and used ad hoc, have not truly been adapted to their new programmes and as such, full exploitation of the space is not possible. Interior spaces can therefore play a determining role in the social motion³ of the city, but only if they address the transition between interior and exterior space, and the extension of such transition into the subsequent urban fabric. These interior and exterior spaces should be adaptable to current social needs of city dwellers and users in order to be deemed successful. Living cities require buildings to adapt and change in response to ever shifting social conditions in order to satisfy basic human desires and needs. It can thus be deduced that a building programme will more than likely change regularly. INTERFACE therefore focus on the creation of responsive interior space and works from the premise that structure and interior are implicitly linked. This thesis explores ‘permanent’ changes to existing structures; changes that will assist in creating responsive interior environments. Such environments should also accommodate both semi-permanent and temporary alterations, with minimal impact⁴ resulting from the implementation of each new programme. 1 Factors: Include change in political, social and economical circumstances. 2 Interventions: In Pretoria CBD, large interventions are proposed over long periods of time. They include strategies such as the Tshwane City Strategy (twenty year),Tshwane Inner City Development and Regeneration Strategy 2005 (ten year program) and City of Tshwane Integrated Development Plan 2009/2010 (five year). 3 Social motion: Interaction and attraction of civilians in a space 4 Impact: Refer to alterations to the permanent responsive structure as well as financial and ecological implications. / Dissertation (MInt(Prof))--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Architecture / unrestricted

L-type Ca2+ channels, found in vascular smooth muscle cells, function to control Ca2+ influx, which directly regulates the degree of tension in the vasculature. An influx of Ca2+ causes these cells to contract while inhibition of this channel causes muscle relaxation, a major goal in treating hypertension. Acute hypoxia inhibits, and chronic hypoxia enhances, Ca2+ channel currents. The mechanisms underlying these hypoxic responses were examined in HEK 293 cells by altering cellular levels of proposed mediators of 0 2 sensing which have previously been shown to be involved in the redox model of 02 sensing in various cell types. In these studies I investigated the roles of mitochondrial complexes and NADPH oxidase function, and changes in cellular ROS levels, on the acute and chronically hypoxic regulation of recombinant L-type Ca2+ channels. An increase in H202, a form of ROS, by exogenous application was found to enhance Ca2+ currents. However neither catalase nor H202 affected the acute hypoxic response. In contrast superoxide dismutase (SOD) abolished hypoxic inhibition of recombinant L-type Ca2+ channels, suggestive of a role of 02- production in 02 sensing. Altered production of this ROS during hypoxia may occur within the mitochondria since acute 02 sensing was abolished in mitochondria-depleted p0 cells. Alterations in NADPH oxidase activity via application of NADPH oxidase inhibitors such as DPl and P AO did not mediate the acute hypoxic response. Hypoxic regulation of mitochondrial complex I may also mediate the response to chronic hypoxia since current enhancement by this stimulus was abolished by rotenone. These findings support the involvement of altered mitochondrial function in the 0 2 sensing pathway which mediates the hypoxic responses of recombinant L-type Ca2+ channel a1c subunits. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

Context: During an influx of users during a short period of time there will most likely be more issues reported and discovered. This will lead to more work for the software developer team. Will this affect the development of the software and, if so, how?Objectives: Research how the large amount of new users Zoom received during the start of the covid-19 pandemic affects the development of new features, changes to old features, bug/issue resolving and scheduled updates/maintenance.Realization (Method): We are using case studies as our empirical method. We are looking through and analyzing the incident logs and release notes that are provided by Zoom. With the help of the acquired data we can make observations and compare them to find connections between the increase in user base and issues found/features released. Results: With the data we extracted from Zoom’s incident logs and release notes, we could conclude that the influx of new users increased the number of bugs/issues found.Scheduled updates and maintenance saw a decline as the covid outbreak continued.The total number of features added/changed were not diminished, but instead increased. Conclusions: From the results we conclude that an increased user base leads to more issues and the need to implement new un-scheduled features to improve scalability, which induced a lower focus on scheduled maintenance/updates.

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

La prédiction du transfert de cadmium du sol à la plante passe par l'élaboration d'un modèle décrivant la dynamique du métal dans le végétal. Cette thèse analyse les cinétiques d'accumulation du Cd dans Noccaea caerulescens, à l'échelle de la plante entière, de ses organes et au cours de son cycle de végétation. Elle cherche également à établir un modèle prédictif simple, fondé sur les relations entre concentrations d'exposition et en Cd dans la plante. Lorsque N. caerulescens est exposée à une concentration constante en conditions contrôlées, l'allocation de biomasse et la translocation du Cd aux parties aériennes sont constantes dans le temps. Une relation linéaire étroite existe entre la quantité de Cd prélevé, la biomasse et la concentration d'exposition, représentée par le facteur de bioconcentration (BCF). Le développement de la plante n'a pas d'effet sur l'influx racinaire en Cd, qui reste constant dans le temps et proportionnel à l'exposition. Ces résultats suggèrent que le Cd est alloué aux différents tissus aériens de la plante sans prédilection. A contrario, lors des cultures extérieures en terre, les concentrations en Cd, Ni et Zn diminuent au cours du temps après la vernalisation. Les trois métaux ont des comportements similaires en termes d'accumulation dans les différents tissus. La quantité maximale de Cd dans les organes aériens est observée à 2100°Cj. Lorsque la plante est en fleur, elle ne semble pas présenter d'organe aérien privilégié pour l'hyperaccumulation du Cd, les BCF étant constants dans le temps. L'utilisation du BCF permet une prédiction correcte des concentrations dans les parties aériennes, contrairement au modèle de Barber-Cushman / Prediction of cadmium transfer from soil to plant can be achieved by the development of a model describing metal dynamics in the plant. This thesis analyzes Cd accumulation and distribution kinetics in Noccaea caerulescens, in the whole plant and its organs during a growth cycle. A simple predictive model, based on the relationship between Cd exposure concentration and plant Cd concentration, is also developped. This work is based on long-term experiments in controlled conditions with a constant exposure and on outside soil experiments. When N. caerulescens is exposed to a constant concentration under controlled conditions, biomass allocation and Cd translocation to the shoots are constant over time. A strong linear relationship exists between the amount of Cd taken up, biomass and exposure concentration, represented by the bioconcentration factor (BCF). The plant development has no effect on Cd root influx, which remains constant during time and proportional to Cd exposure concentration. These results suggest that Cd is allocated to the various shoots? tissues without predilection. On the other hand, in the field, Cd, Ni, end Zn concentrations in shoots decrease over time after vernalization. The three metals have similar behaviors in terms of accumulation in the different tissues. The maximum amount of Cd in shoots is observed at 2100°Cdays. When the plant is in flower, no privileged shoots parts appear in Cd hyperaccumulation, the BCF is constant over time. The use of the BCF, measured in controlled conditions, allows a correct prediction of shoots concentrations, unlike the Barber-Cushman model

The purpose of my thesis Position of war refugees in international law is to analyze particular types of protection of war refugees, to construe unclear legal provisions and to evaluate suitability of possible solutions. The thesis focuses on specifics of the position of war refugees and on options of their protection. The research question relates to the determination who a war refugee is and how his situation is solved in international law. The reason for this research is my great interest in refugee law and the current instability of the position of war refugees. The methodology used during writing the thesis was the analysis, comparison and description. The thesis is composed of three chapters, each of them dealing with different aspects of the position and the protection of war refugees. Chapter One defines characteristics of war refugees and addresses the issue of armed conflicts. Chapter Two concerns individual options of protection of war refugees in international law. This part concentrates primarily on issues related to the broader refugee definition, asylum and subsidiary protection. Within this chapter subsidiary protection is examined from a general point of view, as well as in relation to provisions of particular legal instruments. Furthermore, it pays close attention to the law of...