The problem which motivated this research was the lack of chemistry practical work in many Mozambican junior secondary schools. This problem is so critical that quite often learners finish the three years of junior secondary school without performing even one experiment. In an attempt to contribute to the solution to the problem, the microchemistry kits are introduced. For this purpose a study of the influence of kits on the teaching and learning of chemistry in a Mozambican context was conducted. The study involved four out of five public secondary schools in the city of Beira, the second largest city in Mozambique. Two schools were chosen to be the experimental group, in which chemistry was taught using the RADMASTE microchemistry kits. Two other schools, in which chemistry lessons were taught normally, were chosen to be the comparison group. In each school one Grade 9 class was used for the study. Before starting the study, 18 secondary chemistry teachers of the four schools answered a questionnaire and 163 Grade 9 learners answered another questionnaire. These were used to determine teachers’ and learners’ opinions about the importance and aims of practical work. Before the intervention a pretest was administered to 181 Grade 9 learners within the four classes. After eight weeks of intervention, the same post-test was administered to 171 learners from the same classes. A questionnaire was also administered to the two teachers of the experimental group and another questionnaire was administered to 86 learners from the experimental group. Both questionnaires were used to find out teachers’ and learners’ opinions about the microchemistry kits. Practical work is viewed as an important method for teaching and learning chemistry, mainly to link theory and practice or use practical work to support theory. There was a statistically significant difference between the pre-test and the posttest scores in all four schools. But, learners from the experimental group performed better than learners from the comparison group in the questions which required conceptual understanding and in laboratory-based knowledge questions. The practical work also contributed to increase learners’ interest towards chemistry. It is recommended that the microchemistry kits be implemented in chemistry teaching in Mozambique, both in schools with laboratories and schools without laboratories, and that further studies should be carried out to identify effective ways of doing this.

This research project focussed on discarded clothing and textiles, as signifiers for the lowest exchange value in the fashion system, and sought methods to add value by up-cycling1 into one of a kind fashion garments. Opportunities to add value were investigated with three main ideas emerging which include up-cycling the visual appearance of the garment or textiles through restyling, user interaction, and creating a narrative for the garment. The practice focussed on developing methods to incorporate these concepts as a way of extending the life of low value textiles into items that could be re-introduced into the fashion cycle2. Walker (2008) suggests that by conveying the story of a product to the consumer, the perception of value increased, and opportunities to explore this concept were investigated during the project. Experimentation with a variety of materials and techniques resulted in developing a method to re-fabricate3 threadbare and stained garments into a new material. User participation4 was investigated as a way to ‘add value,’ as it was hoped that by enabling the user to interact with the design they would value the item more. Exploring this concept led to the development of a range of garments and garment kits that enabled the user to learn techniques and make garments using discarded textiles and clothing. The garments and kits were developed using methods and techniques that could be easily mastered and used materials that would be readily available to the user. The development of the garment kits reframed the user as a designer/maker, which is sometimes referred to as participatory design,5 and Followed Fletcher’s (2008) directive that for practical reasons, the methods need to be low tech and inexpensive. A group of research participants trialled the garment kits, made their own garment and provided feedback, which informed the final phase of the project and the development of revised kits and garments. The project suggests potential opportunities for the fashion designer may exist by focussing on the use of existing resources and heightened user connectivity in the design of garments.

This research project focussed on discarded clothing and textiles, as signifiers for the lowest exchange value in the fashion system, and sought methods to add value by up-cycling1 into one of a kind fashion garments. Opportunities to add value were investigated with three main ideas emerging which include up-cycling the visual appearance of the garment or textiles through restyling, user interaction, and creating a narrative for the garment. The practice focussed on developing methods to incorporate these concepts as a way of extending the life of low value textiles into items that could be re-introduced into the fashion cycle2. Walker (2008) suggests that by conveying the story of a product to the consumer, the perception of value increased, and opportunities to explore this concept were investigated during the project. Experimentation with a variety of materials and techniques resulted in developing a method to re-fabricate3 threadbare and stained garments into a new material. User participation4 was investigated as a way to ‘add value,’ as it was hoped that by enabling the user to interact with the design they would value the item more. Exploring this concept led to the development of a range of garments and garment kits that enabled the user to learn techniques and make garments using discarded textiles and clothing. The garments and kits were developed using methods and techniques that could be easily mastered and used materials that would be readily available to the user. The development of the garment kits reframed the user as a designer/maker, which is sometimes referred to as participatory design,5 and Followed Fletcher’s (2008) directive that for practical reasons, the methods need to be low tech and inexpensive. A group of research participants trialled the garment kits, made their own garment and provided feedback, which informed the final phase of the project and the development of revised kits and garments. The project suggests potential opportunities for the fashion designer may exist by focussing on the use of existing resources and heightened user connectivity in the design of garments.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-12T15:51:13Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 license.txt: 1748 bytes, checksum: 8a4605be74aa9ea9d79846c1fba20a33 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / O termo vírus de computador pode ser utilizado para definir de maneira geral qualquer programa que possua intenções maliciosas. É de interesse que, desde grandes empresas até usuários domésticos, exista proteção contra tais ameaças virtuais. A informação atualmente é vista como um bem muito valioso e de total importãncia. Existem vários casos de prejuízos causados devido a danos em informação confidenciais de empresas. Os ataques de vírus visam prejudicar de alguma forma esse patrimônio, seja danificando-o, por remoção ou alteração, ou até mesmo roubando-o e em alguns casos seqüestrando-o. Diversas medidas de segurança podem ser adotadas com o objetivo de proteger a informação, como é o caso de realização de cópias de segurança. Umas das medidas mais utilizadas para prevenir os ataques de vírus ainda consiste nos programas de detecção de vírus que funcionam através da análise do código de máquina dos executáveis. Com o intuito de enganar os programas de antivírus os criadores de vírus estão sempre criando novas versões de seus vírus com modificações em seus códigos, fazendo com que a taxa de detecção dos antivírus seja reduzida para vírus desconhecidos. Visando resolver este problema nosso trabalho propõe ASAT, uma ferramenta para detecção de novos vírus que funciona baseada em estatísticas calculadas utilizando o código de máquina de arquivos executáveis. O trabalho inclui também uma comparação dos resultados obtidos por ASAT com o desempenho de ferramentas de antivírus comerciais

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karolinska institutet, 2006. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Alabama at Birmingham, 2008. / Title from first page of PDF file (viewed Sept. 16, 2008). Includes bibliographical references (p. 208-224).

This thesis examines performance practice with the Augmented Drum-Kit, a personal evolution of the acoustic drum-kit with the use of digital technology. The practice is investigated from three perspectives: First, through possible spatial and contextual definitions of the instrument under development, taking into consideration the inherently open-ended nature of its building blocks: percussion and the computer. Second, by exploring the composer/performer/builder’s practice paradigm in terms of musical and performative goals with such an emerging performance environment. Finally, as a diachronic practice between performer and all constituent technological parts of the composite instrument, towards the practice’s ongoing development and evolution. Using these discussions as starting points, this practice-led research proposes three intertwined novel frameworks for diachronic live electronic performance practice and bespoke instrument design. Additionally, the developed instrument itself is detailed in the form of the devised design methods, schematics, diagrams and software, addressing questions such as intuitive control, gestural uniformity, consistent electro-acoustic vocabulary, distinct instrumental character, mobility, sound diffusion and transferability. Finally, music portfolio consisting of five solo and group album recordings with the Augmented Drum-Kit is presented, while audiovisual examples from various scenarios and development stages are used to further illustrate the discussion.

A new class of fluorous materials was developed to create a hybrid solid-solution phase strategy for the expedient preparation of 125I-labelled compounds, without the need of HPLC purification. The system is referred to as a hybrid platform in that it combines solution phase labelling and fluorous solid-phase purification in one step as opposed to two separate individual processes. Initial success was achieved by treating fluorous stannanes, coated on fluorous silica, with [125I]NaI and chloramine-T (CAT) as the oxidant, where the desired nonfluorous radiolabelled products were isolated in minutes in biocompatible solutions in high purity (>98%) free from excess starting material and unreacted radioiodine. This platform was initially developed through a model system based on a fluorous benzoic acid derivative. The platform was then validated with simple aryl and heterocyclic derivatives, known radiopharmaceuticals including meta-iodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) and iododeoxyuridine (IUdR), and a new agent with high affinity for prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA). The limitation of the platform was the presence of non-radioactive UV impurities which came from the oxidants employed. To resolve this issue a new class of fluorous oxidants based on chloramine-T (CAT, F-CAT) were prepared. F-CAT, was prepared in 87% overall synthesis yield from commercially available starting materials and found to be effective in labelling arylstannanes and proteins with [125I]NaI. The utility of the oxidant was further demonstrated in successfully preparing a radioiodinated tetrazine (125I-Tz) through a concomitant oxidation-halodemetallation reaction. 125I-Tz can be used to label biomolecules through bioorthogonal coupling reactions with prosthetic groups containing strained alkenes including norbornene and trans-cyclooctene (TCO). The reported hybrid platform labelling approach is readily accessible and requires minimal radiochemistry expertise and should therefore find widespread use. It is also noteworthy that a second generation of the fluorous oxidant, F-CAT2, was also prepared with the aim of obtaining an oxidant which has a higher solubility in perfluorinated solvents. Application of F-CAT2 for oxidation of hydrogen sulfide to elemental sulphur in a fluorous-aqueous biphasic system was demonstrated. This approach offers a new metal-free approach to scrubbing sour gas wells and demonstrates that the fluorous oxidants developed here have utility beyond radiochemistry. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

A self-instructiona1 kit identifying seventy-three indoor plants, their cultural requirements, and uses was prepared. The kit consisted of seventy-eight slides of the plant material and a forty-fife minute taped narration. The botanical and common names of each plant along with its moisture, temperature, and light requirements were superimposed on each slide. Each plant's unique characteristics and uses were described by the script of the tape which averaged approximately thirty seconds per plant. / Master of Science

In the video game industry, developers utilize game engines to bring their creations from concept to reality. However, the most widely used engine in the industry currently is Unreal Engine 5 or UE5, which has challenged established practices used by game developers since the early creation of 3D interactive media. One of these challenges is eliminating LODs or Level of Detail-based asset integration with the introduction of Nanite, an automatic LOD creation tool introduced in Unreal Engine 5. With this development, it is still being determined whether Nanite should immediately replace LODs due to its ability to cut out work required for LOD-based integration. This uncertainty has led to the purpose of this study, which is to research and understand the background and utilization of LODs and Nanite in 3D game asset creation while showcasing how both processes intertwine inside UE5.The following research questions will guide this study in answering questions and setting up foundation knowledge into LODs and Nanite to understand the importance of each optimization technique and why their usage matters to the future of 3D asset creation. First, what are LODs, and why are they used in 3D asset creation within the video game industry? Second, what is Nanite, and how does this process differentiate itself from the methods utilized in LOD creation? Third, what are the benefits and consequences of using either LODs or Nanite in 3D asset creation? Lastly, can both processes be utilized in tandem inside Unreal Engine 5.2.1 to allow developers to use the best abilities of both methods in their 3D asset creation pipelines?