Das Pflanzenwachstum fördernde Bakterien (PGPB) kommen ubiquitär sowohl an der Wurzel als auch am Spross der Pflanzen vor und sie können über direkte oder indirekte Mechanismen einen bedeutenden Beitrag zur Stickstoffernährung der Pflanzen leisten. Die vorliegende Arbeit umfasst a) die Isolierung von PGPB, welche das Wachstum verschiedener Pflanzenarten fördern und durch Fusarien verursachte Pflanzenkrankheiten bekämpfen, b) die Analyse der Möglichkeiten Probleme der Pflanzenernährung durch den Einsatz von PGPB zu lösen, c) die Entwicklung neuer molekularbiologischer Methoden zur Messung der Diversität und Aktivität der PGPB. Im Rahmen dieser Arbeit wurden Methoden zur Beschreibung der Diversität von rhizosphären PGPB entwickelt und verbessert um Verbindungen zwischen applizierten PGPB und deren Aktivitäten zu prüfen. Die sensitive quantitative real-time-PCR Methode wurde zur Quantifizierung bzw. zum Nachweis der inokulierten PGPB und zum Nachweis des nitrogenase-reduktase-Gens (nifH), des Markergens für potentiell diazotrophe Bakterien. Bakterienartspezifische Primer wurden aus dem Sequenzvergleich der 16S-23S ISR ausgewählter Bakterienstämme selektiert und Protokolle zur Quantifizierung dieser Bakterienarten erarbeitet. Die nifH Gen Quantifizierung an Pflanzen eröffnet die Möglichkeit Schlüsselorganismen in der assoziativen biologischen Luftstickstoffbindung zu identifizieren und kurzfristige Reaktionen der Bakteriengesellschaften auf Umweltveränderungen und Regulationsmechanismen in situ zu analysieren. / Plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB) are ubiquitous in both plant root and shoot, and are important contributors to the nitrogen-input of plants exerting their positive effects on plant growth directly or indirectly through different mechanisms. The present work focuses on a) the isolation of PGPB, which promotes the growth of different plant cultures and controls plant diseases caused by Fusarium species, b) the prospects of PGPB to solve plant nutritional problems, c) developing new molecular methods for the assessment of their diversity and activity. In the frame of this thesis, the methods for the description of the diversity of root colonizing PGPB have been developed and improved to provide links between introduced PGPB abundance and activities. The approach used was based on the sensitive real – time PCR detection/quantification of introduced PGBP and the nitrogenase reductase gene (nifH), which served as a marker gene for potential diazotrophs. The amplified 16S-23S ISR sequences of studied bacteria were subjected to strain – specific primer design and a highly specific bacteria quantification protocol were developed. The bacteria quantification protocol was based on real – time PCR using strain specific primers in order to evaluate the colonization ability of studied bacteria, which were inoculated to plant roots. The results presented in this thesis have shown that monitoring of nifH amount in plant root is a suitable and promising approach to link inoculated diazotrophic bacteria abundance and its potential activity. The study of nifH gene abundance in plant offers the opportunity to identify key players in asymbiotic nitrogen fixation, to study short-term community responses in changing environments, or to analyze the effect of regulation in situ.

La récupération in situ (ISR) est une méthode d'exploitation minière qui consiste à extraire le minerai in situ par le biais de solutions d'attaque acides ou alcalines. Comme l'ISR a lieu en sous-sol, la gestion de l'ISR reste globalement empirique. La modélisation numérique de cette technique minière permettrait d'optimiser la conduite de ce type d'exploitation. Trois types de phénomènes doivent être pris en compte pour la modélisation de la lixiviation de l'uranium par ISR: (1) les réactions géochimiques; (2) les cinétiques de ces réactions et (3) l'influence du transport hydrodynamique sur ces réactions. Des tests de lessivage ont été menés sur des échantillons du site minier de Tortkuduk (Kazakhstan), où l'ISR de l'uranium est réalisée par voie acide. Deux types de tests de lessivage ont été menés en laboratoire : (1) des essais en batchs; (2) des essais sur colonnes. Les hypothèses concernant les mécanismes de lessivage ont été testées et validées en modélisant ces tests avec les codes de calcul CHESS et HYTEC, développés à Mines ParisTech. Un modèle 1D couplant géochimie et transport du procédé ISR à l'échelle du laboratoire a été proposé. Il permet de traduire la séquence des mises en solutions en une séquence de réactions géochimiques. Les facteurs contrôlant la dissolution de l'uranium et les précipitations secondaires ont été mis en évidence ainsi que leur importance relative.

L’investissement éthique est un investissement fondé sur des critères extra-financiers : l’investisseur cherche un enrichissement tout en poursuivant une fin non matérielle tirée du respect de certaines valeurs La coloration éthique a vocation à rejaillir sur le régime de cet investissement. Elle dicte le contenu de la politique d’investissement, oblige les intermédiaires financiers à informer les investisseurs de manière adéquate, et les contraint à veiller à la conformité éthique de l’investissement jusqu’à son dénouement.L’investissement éthique ne saurait toutefois se limiter à cela. Adoptant une démarche conséquentialiste, les investisseurs peuvent s’engager auprès des émetteurs pour y défendre leurs valeurs. D’un point de vue théorique, cet activisme actionnarial met en lumière l’échec des thèses traditionnelles à définir la finalité des sociétés. Plutôt que de raisonner en termes d’intérêt social, il conviendrait à présent de recourir à la Stakeholder Theory. / Ethical investment is based on non-financial criteria: the investor expects a return on the investment while pursuing a non-material objective, based on the respect of certain values. Ethics bring a nuance, which impacts the set of rules for this type of investment. It establishes the content of the investment policy and requires financial intermediaries to inform investors adequately. It also forces them to ensure ethical compliance of the investment to its ending. Ethical investment, however, is not limited to this. By adopting a consequentialist approach, investors can engage with issuers to defend their values. From a theoretical point of view, this shareholder activism highlights the failure of traditional theories to define the purpose of companies. Because the concept of “intérêt social”, which the French doctrine struggles to define, leads to a deadlock, a cross-disciplinary approach, the Stakeholder Theory, should be preferred.

Dans la théorie financière classique, les marchés sont supposés efficients et lesinvestisseurs sont réputés rationnels. Ils sélectionnent leurs portefeuilles sur la base deparamètres financiers définis, en fonction de leur propre aversion au risque. Avec ledéveloppement de l’Investissement Socialement Responsable (ISR) dans le milieu des années90, un vaste champ de recherche s’ouvre en sélection de portefeuilles. En effet, lesinvestisseurs intègrent des éléments extra-financiers dans leur stratégie de gestion de portefeuille, en rupture avec la théorie financière classique.Ainsi, le développement de ce nouveau type d’investissement a enthousiasmé lacommunauté scientifique et les publications académiques se sont multipliées. Cependant ces recherches se sont concentrées sur les performances des ISR des grandes places financières occidentales, avec des résultats divergents. L'objectif de cette thèse est d’approfondir l'analyse du comportement financier des fonds et indices SR issus de trois marchés émergents – Afrique du Sud, Brésil et Inde – compte tenu des risques spécifiques de ces places financières et de ces fonds, et d’apprécier leur intérêt en termes de diversification internationale des portefeuilles.Notre thèse se compose de quatre chapitres indépendants, qui suivent une certainelogique d’écriture et de composition afin de répondre au mieux à nos questions de recherche. Les deux premiers chapitres introduisent l’objet et le champ de cette étude. Ils présentent un intérêt essentiellement théorique pour conceptualiser l’objet de la recherche et contextualiser son champ d’application.Les deux derniers chapitres sont consacrés aux analyses empiriques. Les ISR y sontanalysés comme objets de performances financières pures, mais aussi comme vecteurs de diversification de portefeuille ce qui, à notre connaissance, est encore relativement absent des publications académiques. D’autre part, deux échelles de temps et d’espace ont été croisées en scindant la recherche selon les différentes phases de la crise financière de 2008, et en analysant les performances en dimensions locales et internationales. Sur le champ théorique, cette étude apporte de nouveaux éléments concernant la compréhension des ISR dans une logique interculturelle, en questionnant la perception del’éthique, les stratégies financières qui en résultent, et leurs impacts économiques. Lesrésultats empiriques ont démontré l’intérêt financier des ISR dans ces trois marchés en termesde performances et de diversification de portefeuilles, d’un point de vue domestique etinternational. / According to traditional financial theory, markets are deemed efficient and investors rational. They base the choice of their portfolios on well-defined financial parameters, following their own risk aversion. With the development of socially responsible investments (SRIs) in the middle of the 90s, a vast domain of research became available when selectingone’s portfolio. Indeed, investors integrate new elements which are out of the financial scope to their strategy of portfolio management, thus diverging from the traditional financial theory. The birth and development of this new type of investments has triggered the scientific community’s enthusiasm with more and more academic publications being written on the matter. Research has mostly tackled SRIs related to the main western marketplaces withdiverging results. The objective of this thesis is to deepen the analysis of the financial behavior of these funds and socially responsible indicators from three emerging markets – South-Africa, Brazil and India – while taking into consideration the risks specific to thesemarketplaces and funds, and to appreciate their interest in terms of internationaldiversification of portfolios.This thesis is divided into four independent sections which follow a certain logic in writing and composition in order to answer our questions in the best way possible. The two first sections will introduce the subject and domain of this research. They will mostly deal with the theoretical aspect in order to conceptualize the research’s subject and put it into context. The two following sections will focus on empirical analysis. SRIs will be analyzed as pure financial performances, but also as vectors of diversification for portfolios which is, to our knowledge, relatively absent from academic publications. Moreover, two scales were used for space and time, dividing the research according to the different phases of the 2008financial crisis and by analyzing performances following local and international dimensions. On the theoretical aspect, this study brings new elements concerning the comprehension of SRIs in a cross-cultural context, by questioning ethical perception, resulting financial strategies, and their economic impact. The empirical results have shown the financial interest for SRIs in these three markets in terms of performance and diversification of portfolios, from both a domestic and an international point of view. / Na teoria financeira clássica, os mercados são supostamente eficientes e osinvestidores supostamente racionais. Esses últimos selecionam suas carteiras de açõesbaseando-se em parâmetros financeiros definidos em função do seu sentimento de aversão aorisco. Com o desenvolvimento do Investimento Socialmente Responsável (ISR), meados dosanos 90, abriu-se um vasto campo de pesquisa em seleção de carteiras de ações. De fato, osinvestidores integram dados extra-financeiros na elaboração de suas estratégias de gestão dascarteiras de ações, rompendo, assim, com a teoria financeira clássica. O desenvolvimento desse novo tipo de investimento entusiasmou a comunidadecientífica e multiplicaram-se as publicações acadêmicas. As pesquisas concentraram-se nasperformances dos ISR nos grandes mercados financeiros ocidentais, obtendo-se entretantoresultados divergentes. O objetivo dessa tese é aprofundar a análise do comportamentofinanceiro dos fundos e índices SR nos mercados emergentes – África do Sul, Brasil e Índia –levando em conta seus riscos específicos e apreciar o seu interesse no que concerne adiversificação internacional das carteiras de ações.Nossa tese compõe-se de quatro capítulos independentes seguindo uma lógica deredação e composição afim de responder da melhor forma possível as questões da pesquisa.Os dois primeiros capítulos introduzem o objeto do campo de pesquisa. Eles apresentam uminteresse essencialmente teórico para conceituar o objeto da pesquisa e contextualizar o seucampo de aplicação. Os dois últimos capítulos são consagrados as análises empíricas. Os ISR sãoanalisados como objetos de performances financeiras puras e também como vetores dediversificação das carteiras de ações, o que, a nosso conhecimento, ainda é relativamenteausente das publicações acadêmicas. Por outro lado, duas escalas de tempo e espaço foramcruzadas dividindo a pesquisa segundo as diferentes fases da crise financeira de 2008 eanalisando as performances a nível local e internacional.No campo teórico esse estudo traz novos elementos para a compreensão dos ISRdentro de uma visão intercultural, questionando a percepção da ética, as estratégiasfinanceiras resultantes e seus impactos econômicos. Os resultados das análises empíricasdemonstraram o interesse financeiro dos ISR nos três mercados em termos de performances ede diversificação tanto no nível nacional que internacional.

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Approved for public release, distribution is unlimited / India has made a concerted effort to upgrade its ISR, precision strike, and missile defense capabilities as it competes with China and Pakistan for regional power. The Phalcon Airborne Warning and Control System, Su-30MKI fighter-bomber aircraft, and S-300PMU surface-to-air missile system are some examples of the new capabilities India is acquiring. I argue that if India continues its military modernization, Pakistan will become more insecure. The increase in the conventional military capabilities gap will likely upset the existing balance of power in South Asia, leading to a regional arms race, lowering the nuclear threshold, and increasing instability in the region. The strategic stability/tactical instability paradox that exists between two nuclear countries may lead them to engage in "small" wars. India's increasing military capabilities may encourage it to conduct a preventive strike against Pakistan. In such a climate, a regional arms race eventually may lead Pakistan to establish a "hair-trigger" nuclear posture. India's effort to achieve a significantly superior conventional military force over Pakistan paradoxically may reduce Indian security by causing greater instability, and possibly lead to nuclear war. Regional stability is enhanced to the extent that there is a rough conventional military balance between India and Pakistan. / Lieutenant, United States Navy

LBIC is a technique for scanning the local quantum efficiency of solar cells. This kind of measurements needs a highly specialized, and time critical controlling software. In 1996 the client, professor Markus Rinio, constructed an LBIC system, and wrote the controlling software as a Turbo-Pascal 7.0 application, running under the MS-DOS 6.22 operating system. By now (2018) both the software and several hardware components are in dire need to be modernized. This thesis thoroughly describes several important aspects of this work, and the considerations needed for a successful result. This includes both very foundational choices about the software architecture, the choice of suitable operating system, the threading model, and the adaptation to new hardware with vastly different behavior. The project also included a new hardware module for position reports and instrument triggering, as well as several adaptations to transform the DOS-based LBIC software into a pleasant modern GUI application.

Measures of workload have been developed on the basis of the various definitions, some are designed to capture the multi-dimensional aspects of a unitary resource pool (Kahneman, 1973) while others are developed on the basis of multiple resource theory (Wickens, 2002). Although many theory based workload measures exist, others have often been constructed to serve the purpose of specific experimental tasks. As a result, it is likely that not every workload measure is reliable and valid for all tasks, much less each domain. To date, no single measure, systematically tested across experimental tasks, domains, and other measures is considered a universal measure of workload. Most researchers would argue that multiple measures from various categories should be applied to a given task to comprehensively assess workload. The goal for Study 1 to establish task load manipulations for two theoretically different tasks that induce distinct levels of workload assessed by both subjective and performance measures was successful. The results of the subjective responses support standardization and validation of the tasks and demands of that task for investigating workload. After investigating the use of subjective and objective measures of workload to identify a universal and comprehensive measure or set of measures, based on Study 2, it can only be concluded that not one or a set of measures exists. Arguably, it is not to say that one will never be conceived and developed, but at this time, one does not reside in the psychometric catalog. Instead, it appears that a more suitable approach is to customize a set of workload measures based on the task. The novel approach of assessing the sensitivity and comprehensive ability of conjointly utilizing subjective, performance, and physiological workload measures for theoretically different tasks within the same domain contributes to the theory by laying the foundation for improving methodology for researching workload. The applicable contribution of this project is a stepping-stone towards developing complex profiles of workload for use in closed-loop systems, such as human-robot team iv interaction. Identifying the best combination of workload measures enables human factors practitioners, trainers, and task designers to improve methodology and evaluation of system designs, training requirements, and personnel selection