The research done in preparation for this study illustrated that – although a lot of research has been done in terms of the impact of intimacy on marriage, Biblical models for marriage, and the implications of intimacy prior to marriage – few studies have been done regarding researched Scriptural perspectives and pastoral guidelines related to sexual intimacy aimed at religious newlywed couples. The above situation resulted in the main research question: What pastoral guidelines can be given to a newlywed religious couple regarding sexual intimacy in the initial stage of their marriage? Further research questions arose from this research question. This study was aimed at compiling pastoral guidelines regarding the establishment of sexual intimacy in the initial stage of the Christian marriage. The method designed by Zerfass for Practical Theology was used during this study. During basic theoretical research, as designed in chapter 2, it became clear that relevant pastoral guidelines regarding the establishment of sexual intimacy in the Christian marriage can be identified from Scripture. Four guidelines, relevant to this study, were subsequently formulated. The practical theoretical research of the neighbouring sciences Psychology and Sociology in chapter 3 showed that humans are by nature sexual beings and that this is a need that attention should be given to. Sex inside the marriage is necessary, good and an important factor in marital happiness. Seeing as marriage is an intimate and loving relationship, the husband and wife should have each other’s interests and happiness as priority and not deny each other sex and sexual satisfaction. An empirical study to determine religious newlywed couples’ perceptions and attitudes regarding sexual intimacy in the initial stage of the Christian marriage was done in chapter 4. During this qualitative study, seven religious newlywed couples completed questionnaires, after which semi-structured interviews were conducted with each individual. In order to formulate specific practical theoretical pastoral guidelines, the researcher, in chapter 5, addressed the hermeneutical interaction within the context of religious newlywed couples. The basic theoretical perspectives arising from Scripture, practical theoretical perspectives as concluded from neighbouring Sciences, and the results from the empirical study were processed in order to compile possible guidelines for pastoral guidance. The aim of this pastoral guidance is the spiritual growth of both the husband and the wife, and to bring them to a better understanding of God’s will for sexual intimacy. The researcher’s final conclusion – as indicated by the central theoretical argument of this study – is that the compilation of pastoral guidelines regarding the establishment of sexual intimacy in the initial stage of the Christian marriage can indeed contribute to a deeper and more intimate marital relationship. / Thesis (M.A. (Pastoral))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011

Within this thesis, we present an extended multiwavelength analysis of the rich massive Galactic star-forming complex G305. We have focused our attention on studying the both the embedded massive star-forming population within G305, while also identifying the intermediate-, to lowmass content of the region also. Though massive stars play an important role in the shaping and evolution of their host galaxies, the physics of their formation still remains unclear. We have therefore set out to studying the nature of star formation within this complex, and also identify the impact that such a population has on the evolution of G305. We firstly present a Herschel far-infrared study towards G305, utilising PACS 70, 160 μm and SPIRE 250, 350, and 500 μm observations from the Hi-GAL survey of the Galactic plane. The focus of this study is to identify the embedded massive star-forming population within G305, by combining far-infrared data with radio continuum, H2O maser, methanolmaser,MIPS, and Red MSX Source survey data available from previous studies. From this sample we identify some 16 candidate associations are identified as embedded massive star-forming regions, and derive a two-selection colour criterion from this sample of log(F70/F500)! 1 and log(F160/F350)! 1.6 to identify an additional 31 embedded massive star candidates with no associated starformation tracers. Using this result, we are able to derive a star formation rate (SFR) of 0.01 - 0.02 M! yr−1. Comparing this resolved star formation rate, to extragalactic star formation rate tracers (based on the Kennicutt-Schmidt relation), we find the star formation activity is underestimated by a factor of !2 in comparison to the SFR derived from the YSO population. By next combining data available from 2MASS and VVV, Spitzer GLIMPSE and MIPSGAL, MSX, and Herschel Hi-GAL, we are able to identify the low-, to intermediate-mass YSOs present within the complex. Employing a series of stringent colour selection criteria and fitting reddened stellar atmosphere models, we are able remove a significant amount of contaminating sources from our sample, leaving us with a highly reliable sample of some 599 candidate YSOs. From this sample, we derive a present-day SFR of 0.005±0.001M! yr−1, and find the YSOmass function (YMF) of G305 to be significantly steeper than the standard Salpeter-Kroupa IMF. We find evidence of mass segregation towards G305, with a significant variation of the YMF both with the active star-forming region, and the outer region. The spatial distribution, and age gradient, of our 601 candidate YSOs also seem to rule out the scenario of propagating star formation within G305, with a more likely scenario of punctuated star formation over the lifetime of the complex.

This study used Activity Theory (AT) as a lens to explore how administrative and academic activity systems worked in a university, in schools and in the university-school partnership to support Initial Teacher Education (ITE) in Saudi Arabia. It examined the perspectives of partnership coordinators, university tutors, head teachers, cooperating teachers and student teachers involved in the ITE partnership programme at Umm Alqura University. The study was conducted under the umbrella of the interpretive paradigm. Case study was used as the methodology of the study. The study employed multiple methods of data collection: questionnaire, interviews and documentary evidence. Maximum variation sampling was used to select the participants to take part in the current study. The total number of the whole sample with all sub-groups was 187. Ten in-depth interviews were conducted with volunteer interviewees. The study yielded various findings. Participants’ expectations were influenced by their history and background. In addition, student teachers were supported in learning about teaching in the university, school and through the partnership between school and university. However, different kinds of challenges were identified. These included: extreme centralisation in running the partnership activity system, lack of awareness of the importance of the partnership and of the need to address contradictory points of view about teaching and learning to teach in a constructive way. These challenges were symptoms of unresolved contradictions inherent in the partnership activity system. Despite these contradictions, many opportunities for professional development were highlighted by all partners. Using AT as an analytical tool, several implications for all partners were identified. The study concluded with the idea that for effective teacher education, not only is it important to understand the interaction between university and school but also how, within each, administrative and academic activity sub-systems operate and interact. This is because clear understanding of all aspects of the academic and administrative elements of the partnership, and of their relationship, is essential for a successful teacher education.

This thesis examines what it is that enables postgraduate student teachers to promote the recently introduced curriculum innovation, dialogic talk, in primary classrooms. Drawing on literature relating to the way talk has been enacted in English classrooms for the last thirty five years, it suggests that patterns of verbal interaction have continued to prove resistant to change, despite policy imperatives and university courses. Adopting a collaborative action research approach, data were collected in three cycles over three years to investigate the perceptions of three successive cohorts of postgraduate students of the role of talk in learning, and the place of the teacher in developing it. Using a sociocultural lens, students’ conceptual and pedagogic understanding of dialogic talk, and their ability to promote it, is examined in depth through nine case studies, as are the factors which the participants themselves identify as enabling or inhibiting engagement with innovation. It is suggested that the lack of a commonly agreed definition, and of readily available theoretical guidance, has reduced dialogic talk to just another label. As such, it can play no significant part in developing practice beyond rapid question-and-answer routines of ‘interactive teaching’ and the potentially reductive IRF (Initiation, Response, Feedback) script recorded by researchers (Mroz et al, 2000; Myhill, 2006) before, and after the inception of the National Literacy Strategy (1998a). Turning to the role of the university, it questions the place of the ‘demonstration lesson’ and whole cohort lectures, urging that significant changes need to be made to the role of the teaching practice tutor, and the nature of ‘partnership’ between schools and university departments. Finally, it speculates that without a significant change in the way university departments examine, and address, the values, attitudes and memories of talk that student teachers bring with them from their own primary classrooms, there will continue to be replication of practice.

Today, thin film based devices are found in a wide field of applications. The main reasons are that thin film technology enables access to unique physical properties and possibilities to miniaturize devices. Thin film devices are generally described in terms such as electrical, optical and magnetical properties. However, the lifetime of these devices is often limited by mechanical stresses causing plastic deformation. An effect of the plastic deformation is hillocking where isolated features are created on the film surface. The continual need to improve performance, reduce size as well as cost is pushing thin film structures close to or beyond present fundamental understanding. Further progress requires better understanding of basic phenomena where analytical methods for characterization of thin film deformation play a crucial role. To follow the initial hillock formation during thermal treatments it is essential to have a suitable tool for achieving real-time measurements with high sensitivity over a relatively large area that does not considerably affect the film surface. Methods based on light scattering are generally very sensitive to changes in the surface topography and allow contact free measurements at high speed. In this thesis light scattering methods are investigated as tools for stress analysis of thin metal films. Detection and characterization of isolated surface features using angular resolved scattering has been investigated by simulations. Results were used in development of an optical instrument for simultaneous measurements of initial hillocking and changes in overall film stress. The instrument combines light scattering and laser beam deflection techniques. It is shown how the onset of initial hillocking in aluminum films is accompanied by stress relaxation. Real-time dark field microscopy was demonstrated as a technique for analysis of the lateral hillock distribution. Analysis of the distribution show clustering of hillocks which is supposed to be related to the microstructure of the film. It is demonstrated that copper inclusion can be used to strengthen aluminum films to withstand higher stress before hillocking occurs. The copper content also reduces the grain size and thereby the surface roughness, which results in good or even better optical performance than for pure aluminum films. / <p>NR 20140805</p>

This research paper makes an attempt at closing the gap in literature by testing agency considerations as an influencing factor for dividend policy of IPO firms. Dividend data of 642 firms from seven countries are used to make statistical interferences about the time it takes an IPO to issue dividend, influenced by different institutional factors of countries. An OLS is used to make these interferences. The results presented here indicate that there is a robust effect of legal enforcement on the time it takes before an IPO firm in a certain country pays its first dividend.

No description available.

Family, twin and adoption studies consistently suggest that genetic factors strongly influence the risk for alcohol dependence (AD). Although the literature supports the role of genetics in AD, identification of specific genes contributing to the etiology of AD has proven difficult. These difficulties are due in part to the complex set of risk factors contributing to the development of AD. These risk factors include comorbidities with other clinical diagnoses and behavioral phenotypes (e.g., major depression), physiological differences that contribute to the differences between people in their level of response to ethanol (e.g., initial sensitivity) and finally the large number of biological pathways targeted by and involved in the processing of ethanol. These complexities have probably contributed to the limited success of linkage and candidate gene association studies in finding genes underlying AD. The powerful and unbiased genome-wide association study (GWAS) offers promise in the study of complex diseases. However, due to the complexities of known risk factors, GWAS data has yet to provide consistent, replicable results. In light of these difficulties, this dissertation has five specific aims which attempt to investigate genetic risk loci for AD and related phenotypes through improved methods for candidate gene selection, analysis of a pooled genome-wide association study, genome-wide analyses of initial sensitivity and maximum alcohol consumption in a twenty-four hour period and finally, creation of a multivariate AD/internalizing phenotype.

An epidemiological shift towards the elderly population has occurred in traumatic brain injury (TBI). Age is believed to be one of the strongest prognostic indicators following TBI. Diffuse axonal injury (DAI), a prevalent feature of TBI, is believed to be the primary cause for much of the morbidity and mortality associated with TBI. The pathobiology associated with DAI is believed to occur in response to the primary injury in a progressive, secondary fashion. Though the injury mechanisms behind DAI have been shown to occur at numerous sites along the axon, recent work suggests that the axon initial segment (AIS) may show specific vulnerability to DAI and be the primary site of axonal pathobiogenesis. Despite its established predilection for injury, the mechanisms responsible for the pathobiology remain largely unclear – particularly with regard to the age. The current study aims to shed light on the mechanisms responsible for injury by investigating structural alterations to the AIS following DAI in young and old mice. To address this question we have used a central fluid percussion injury (cFPI) model to induce mild DAI on 22-month old aged mice and 3-month old young mice at 3-hours and 24-hours survival time. Double-labeling fluorescent immunohistochemistry was used to demonstrate colocalization of ankG, an AIS domain marker, and APP, a marker used to establish traumatic axonal injury (TAI). Qualitative-quantitative observations based on confocal microscopy demonstrated an increase in APP accumulation associated with AIS over time, post-injury. Initial segments displaying APP association consistently showed a significant overall shortening in young and aged groups at both survival times. No significant difference in AIS length was detected between AIS populations of young and aged mice. Qualitative findings, however, suggest that AIS degradation could be more profound with age, which could have implications on neuronal outcome.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system characterized by inflammation and demyelination. In addition to these hallmark features, MS also presents with axonal pathology, which is likely responsible for the signs and symptoms of the disease. Although prominent in MS, axonal pathology is frequently considered a consequence of demyelination and not a primary event. This conclusion is consistent with demyelination inducing the loss of specific axonal domains, known as the nodes of Ranvier that are responsible for the propagation of action potentials along the axon. In contrast, we propose that axonal pathology associated with MS is a primary pathological event, independent of demyelination, and not a product of it. In support of our hypothesis, we have analyzed a different axonal domain known as the axon initial segment. Whereas a single axon has numerous nodes of Ranvier uniformly distributed along the axon, each axon contains only a single axon initial segment that is positioned immediately distal to the neuronal cell body. The axon initial segment is responsible for action potential generation and modulation, and hence is essential for normal neuronal function. Background studies conducted by our lab, employing a murine model of demyelination/remyelination, revealed no correlation between axon initial segment stability and myelin integrity. Here we investigate the fate of the axon initial segment in human multiple sclerosis. While not statistically significant, we provide data demonstrating an apparent 40% reduction in AIS numbers in MS. We further provide qualitative evidence that AIS integrity in MS is not dependent on myelination suggestive that axonal pathology may be a primary event in MS, independent of demyelination. Our current findings are intriguing, but unfortunately this study is underpowered, and more samples will be required to determine whether this apparent reduction is statistically significant.