M-type barium hexaferrite powders doped with titanium and/or cobalt have been synthesized according to the stochiometric formulations BaFe(12 &amp / #8211 / (4/3)x)TixO19, BaFe12-xCoxO19 , BaFe12-2xTixCoxO19 (x varying from 0 to 1.5 with an increment of 0.5) by the mixed oxide approach. The powders were used to manufacture small ceramic tiles by sintering each composition at 1250 &deg / C with soaking times ranging from 1 to 16 hours. XRD work revealed formation of the magnetoplumbite crystal structure in all ceramics. The variations in processing parameters led to differences in microstructure and various dielectric and magnetic properties of the ceramic tiles. The interaction of the ceramics with electromagnetic waves was characterized by using a vector network analyzer in the X and Ku bands. The results revealed that, undoped barium hexaferrite ceramics and those doped with low titanium exhibited good microwave absorption properties.

This study investigates the petrographical and chemical characteristics of a group of Zeuxippus Ware Related Ceramics dating to the late 12th-13th centuries from Kusadasi Kadikalesi/Anaia. Kadikalesi was a Byzantine fortress at the coast of Aegean Sea. It was also a significant commercial port and an episcopacy center during the 13th century. In this study, visual classifications of the ceramics were carried out based on their stylistic properties. Then, ceramic samples were investigated by several methods including mineralogical, micromorphological, chemical (SEM-EDX, ICP-OES, ICP-MS) and Raman Spectrometry techniques and further evaluated by statistical analyses. Bodies are found to be rich in SiO2 and Al2O3 while relatively high amounts of Fe2O3 measured, agree well with their reddish bodies. These bodies mostly display micaceous matrix with a relatively low degree of vitrification. Cluster analysis performed among thirty selected samples, points out the presence of two main groups. Observed slip layers are also found to be rich in SiO2 and Al2O3 contents and exhibit various types of crystalline and/or vitreous matrix. Glazes are found to be high lead glazes processed at or below. The glazes are found to be high lead glazes processed at or below 700&deg / C as confirmed by SEM-EDX and Raman spectrometry investigations. Iron compounds are the major coloring agents for most of the glazes analyzed regardless of their observed colors. Presence of Raman peaks in some yellow glazes which may be assigned to a solid solution of Naples yellow type of pigment is significant since its use in the Byzantine period as a glaze pigment has been scarcely reported before.

La microscopie à force atomique (AFM) ouvre de nouvelles perspectives dans l'étude des interactions ADN-protéines. Mon travail a consisté à développer de nouvelles méthodologies pour contrôler l'adsorption de l'ADN sur les surfaces et permettre l'étude en liquide de la dynamique des complexes. <br />Nous avons caractérisé les interactions entre l'ADN et la surface de mica. Nous proposons un modèle simple pour décrire les interactions électrostatiques en solution entre l'ADN et le mica, en considérant le rôle des cations monovalents et divalents. La bonne corrélation avec les données expérimentales permet de valider un référentiel de conditions et une méthode d'adsorption réversible de l'ADN sur mica prétraité nickel. Nous avons parallèlement développé un système de plots pour ancrer l'ADN par ses extrémités. <br />Le contrôle de ces méthodologies permet de caractériser l'accessibilité en fonction des états d'adsorption. Nous abordons cette problématique en caractérisant l'activité de la bléomycine sur l'ADN. Cette approche sur un système modèle permet de caractériser l'influence de la surface en termes d'accessibilité et d'activité. <br />La dernière partie de ce travail considère la caractérisation des interactions de la protéine Ku avec l'ADN dans le cadre de l'étude de la réparation des cassures double brin. Notre approche qui combine les apports de la microscopie électronique à transmission et de l'AFM met en évidence une polymérisation coopérative de Ku sur l'ADN double brin et un mode de fixation très différent sur l'ADN simple brin. Ce travail montre l'intérêt de l'imagerie moléculaire pour caractériser les mécanismes de recherche des sites cibles par les protéines.

Veterinært speciale, 27 ECTS point. / Haves kun i elektronisk udg.

This thesis describes and compares the practices of social impact assessments in Finland, Norway and Sweden. How are social impacts, as caused by any planned intervention, assessed in the countries? How do the countries' practices relate to the international theory and practice? What are the differences, and/or similarities, between the countries? SIA is a procedure of assessing and estimating potential social impacts as caused by some kind ofplanned intervention. The origin of SIA is commonly traced back to the introduction of environmental impact assessment (EIA). However, it has not won the same recognition as its cousin EIA. Since social aspects often are complex and thus difficult to measure and estimate, SIA can be used as a procedure to not only cope with quantitative aspects but also qualitative. Since EIA was introduced into legislation in Europe through the European Council, the Nordic countries have gradually introduced EIA, and impact assessment (IA), in their national legislation. There has not been any introduction of SIA per se in the legislation, however, assessment of social impacts are more or less included in the legislation covering EIA and IA. This thesis shows that SIA, in practice, is used to a differing extent in the countries and that there are some differences in what social impacts comprises and how they are assessed. In Norway the more overall and general IA is used including both biophysical impacts and social impacts, where the social impacts are de$ned and assessed in a rather quantitative way compared to the other two countries. In Finland and Sweden, SIA, as defined in the international theory and practice, is used to some extent. However, the practice in Sweden is not as widespread as in Finland and Norway, where social aspects and impacts seems to be more integrated in impact assessments. / Den här uppsatsen beskriver och jämför användningen i praxis av social impact assessments, sociala konsekvensbeskrivningar (SKB), i Finland, Norge och Sverige. Hur utreds sociala konsekvenser, som uppkommit till följd av en planerad aktivitet, i de olika länderna? Hur relaterar ländernas praxis med den internationella teorin och praxisen? Vilka är skillnaderna och/eller likheterna mellan länderna? SKB är ett tillvägagångssätt för att utreda och uppskatta potentiella sociala konsekvenser som uppkommit till följd av en planerad aktivitet. SKB brukar vanligtvis sägas ha sitt ursprung i och med introduktionen av environmental impact assessment, miljökonsekvensbeskrivningen (MKB), men har inte fått samma genomslag som sin kusin MKB:n. Eftersom sociala aspekter ofta är komplexa och invecklade, och därför svåra att mäta och uppskatta, kan SKB användas som en metod att hantera, inte bara kvantifierbara aspekter, utan även kvalitativa. Sedan MKB introducerades i europeisk lagstiftning genom Europeiska rådet har de nordiska länderna gradvis infört MKB, och konsekvensbeskrivningar, i deras nationella lagstiftning. SKB per se har inte introducerats i den nationella lagstiftningen, men utredningar av sociala konsekvenser är mer eller mindre en del av lagstiftningen för MKB och konsekvensbeskrivningar. Denna uppsats visar att SKB används i skiftande utsträckning i praxis i länderna och att det finns skillnader i vad sociala konsekvenser tycks omfatta och hur de utreds. I Norge används den mer övergripande och generella termen konsekvensbeskrivning vilken inkluderar både miljömässiga och sociala konsekvenser där de sociala konsekvenserna utreds och definieras i relativt kvantitativa termer jämfört med de andra länderna. I Finland och Sverige används SKB, som det definieras i den internationella teorin och praxisen, till viss del. Men den svenska praxisen är inte lika omfattande som i Finland och Norge där sociala aspekter och konsekvenser verkar vara mer integrerade i konsekvensbeskrivningar.

The Imaging Wind and RAin Profiler (IWRAP) is an airborne scatterometer system built and operated by University of Massachusetts Amherst's Microwave Remote Sensing Laboratory (MIRSL). The radar is seasonally deployed aboard one of the two National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) WP-3D Orion ``Hurricane Hunter'' aircraft based out of MacDill AFB in Tampa, Florida. IWRAP is a dual-frequency, Ku- and C-band, scatterometer that uses two conically scanning antennas to estimate the ocean surface wind vectors as well as intervening rain profiles. Data that is gathered with IWRAP is used to improve current Geophysical Model Functions (GMF) or to help derive new GMFs for other undocumented incidence angles. This thesis outlines the improvements and changes made to the IWRAP system from 2009-2011. Chapter Two describes the IWRAP instrument including a description of the instrument status as of Fall 2009, and a summary of instrument operations in 2010 and 2011. Chapter Three describes hardware and software modifications to support dual-polarization. It also describes hardware-based and flight-based attempts to observe at large incidence angles. Chapter Four is an analysis of the stability of the internal calibration both during flights and over a season. System documentation is consolidated into a single technical manual in Appendix A.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / DNA double strand breaks (DSB) are among the most lethal forms of DNA damage and can occur as a result of ionizing radiation (IR), radiomimetic agents, endogenous DNA-damaging agents, etc. If left unrepaired DSB’s can cause cell death, chromosome translocation and carcinogenesis. In humans, DSB are repaired predominantly by the non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) pathway. Ku, a heterodimer consisting of Ku70 and Ku80, functions in the recognition step of this pathway through binding DNA termini. Ku recruits the DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs) to create the full DNA-PK heterotrimer. Formation of DNA-PK results in autophosphorylation as well as phosphorylation of downstream proteins of the NHEJ pathway. Previous work shows that the extreme C-terminus of Ku80 stimulates the kinase activity of DNA-PKcs, and Ku DNA binding is regulated as a function of redox via stimulation of a conformational change when oxidized resulting in a decrease in DNA binding activity. To further understand these methods of regulation of Ku and DNA-PK, a pair of mutants has been constructed; one consisting of full length Ku70 and truncated Ku80 (Ku70/80ΔC) lacking 182 C-terminal amino acids. The removal of these amino acids was shown to have little to no effect on the proteins expression, stability or DNA binding, as determined by SDS-PAGE, western blot analysis and electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). When oxidized Ku70/80ΔC showed a decrease in DNA binding similar to that seen in wild type, however when re-reduced the mutant did not recover to the same extent as wild type. A second mutant was constructed, containing amino acids 590-732 of Ku80 (Ku80CTR), to further understand the mechanism by which Ku80 C-terminus interacts with the rest of the Ku heterodimer. Possible protein-protein interactions were evaluated by Ni-NTA affinity, gel filtration chromatography, fluorescence polarization and two forms of protein-protein cross-linking. Ni-NTA agarose affinity, and gel filtration chromatography failed to reveal an interaction in the presence or absence of DNA. However, photo-induced cross-linking of unmodified proteins (PICUP) as well as EDC cross-linking demonstrated an interaction which was not affected by DNA. The work presented here demonstrates that the interaction between Ku80CTR and Ku is rather weak, but it does exist and plays a relatively large role in the NHEJ pathway.

Phased arrays are electromagnetic antenna systems comprised of many radiating elements and processing electronics. Radiating elements are typically positioned in an orderly grid within the antenna aperture. In the receive mode of operation, radiating elements capture some of the signal energy from incoming radiation and guide these signals to processing electronics. Signals are filtered and amplified to maintain the desired sensitivity and complexly weighted using circuits with reconfigurable amplification gain and phase delay. Finally, all signals are combined. The summation of these complexly weighted spatial samples forms a spatial filter in the same way complexly weighted temporal samples establish a temporal filter in a finite impulse response discrete-time filter. Therefore, a phased array behaves like a spatial filter that strongly favors signals arriving from a specific direction. This favored direction represents the look angle of its beam, and the shape of the beam directly relates to the complex weights applied to the signals in the array. Analogous to the flexibility offered by digital filters, phased arrays enable agile beam steering, sidelobe control, and multiple independent beams. These capabilities have revolutionized radar, radioastronomy, and communication systems. Phased arrays have increasingly employed printed circuit board (PCB) fabrication techniques and processes to maximize array channel density, achieve lower profile, and minimize component integration cost. A few applications which leverage these qualities include low-cost radar, mobile satellite communication (SATCOM), and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR). Further, PCB-based arrays readily accommodate advancements in highly integrated beamforming radio frequency integrated circuits (RFICs), multi-chip modules, and RF micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) device technologies. On a prior effort, an integrated unit cell design was developed for a PCB-based SATCOM array application. However, the design failed to meet the requirements. The primary objective of this work is to demonstrate an improved design using systematic microwave design techniques and modern analysis tools to meet the requirements for the same application. The proposed design must improve gain, bandwidth, size, and manufacturability over the prior design. Additionally, the design must be generally extensible to phased array implementations across the SHF band (3-30 GHz). This work discusses the advantages of phased arrays over continuous apertures (e.g. reflectors), reviews phased array theory, and proposes an improved unit cell design. The proposed design is 35% smaller than a dime and consists of an orthogonally-fed, slot-coupled stacked patch antenna and dual-stage branchline coupler implemented in a multilayer PCB. Within the operating band from 10.7 to 14.5 GHz, the design achieves an average return loss of 15 dB, a uniform radiation pattern with peak realized gain of 4.8 to 7.0 dBic, cross-polarization level below -17 dB, and stable performance in a closely-spaced array. When configured in an array, the design supports X/Ku-band SATCOM in full-duplex operation, electronically rotatable polarization, and a 47.5˚ grating lobe free conical scan range. Further, a Monte Carlo analysis proves the design accommodates tolerances of material properties and manufacturing processes, overcoming a major challenge in PCB-based high frequency antenna design.

No description available.

Summaries in English, Xitsonga and Afrikaans / Reading literacy for many black South African learners is a problem. In order to understand what happens in the South African foundation phase classrooms that affect learners’ reading performance, this study uses the adapted early grade reading assessment (EGRA) tool to assess Grade 1 learners’ reading abilities in the home language (four schools) and in the first additional language (one school). The EGRA is important for measuring foundational literacy skills. Its outcomes help teachers plan instruction that accommodates diverse learning capabilities. Data were collected through observing literacy practices and activities in the Grade 1 classrooms, evaluate classroom settings and interview Grade 1 teachers and curriculum advisors of the general education and training band to understand their perception of Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS). The main findings revealed that the Grade 1 learners are acquiring foundational reading skills in Xitsonga very slowly during the first year of schooling and on all measures, performance was either low or very low. The teachers’ lack of deep understanding of how early reading develops and how each of the reading activities contributes to different aspects of this development may have contributed to the learners’ reading outcomes. Findings further revealed that the ability to read fluently and with comprehension is determined by hierarchical relationships between various reading skills. Thus, knowledge of letter-sounds facilitates word reading which impacts reading fluency and then reading comprehension – all these skills are important for reading development during early learning only if they are taught well in the classroom. / Ku hlaya ni ku tsala swi tikela vadyondzi vo tala laha Afrika Dzonga. Eka ndzavisiso lowu, ku va hi ta kota ku twisisa leswi swi humelelaka mayelana na matirhelo yo hlaya ya vadyondzi va ntangha R-3, hi kambela vuswikoti lebyi vadyondzi va ntlawa wo sungula (Giredi 1) va nga na byona byo hlaya hi ririmi ra manana (mune wa swikolo) na hi ririmi leri ri nga le eka xiyimo xa masungulo (xikolo xin’we) hi ku tirhisa xikambelwana lexi xi vuriwaka early grade reading assessment (EGRA). Xikambelwana lexi (EGRA) xi ni nkoka lowu kulu mayelana ni ku kambela vuswikoti bya n’wana byo hlaya. Mbuyelo wa xikambelo lexi wu pfuna ngopfu mayelana na leswaku vadyondzisi va kota ku kunguhata madyindziselo lama ya angarhelaka vadyondzi hinkwavo. Ndzavisiso lowu wu humelerisiwile hi ku kambela madyondziselo yo hlaya ni ku tsala eka ntlawa wo sungula (Giredi 1), ku kambela xivumbeko xa kamara ro dyondzela eka rona, ni ku kambela vutivi bya kharikhulamu bya vadyondzisi va ntlawa wo sungula na vaseketeri va vona (curriculum advisors). Mbuyelonkulu wu humesele erivaleni leswaku vadyondzi va kuma ntokoto wo hlaya hi Xitsonga hi ku nonoka va ha ri eka lembe ra vona ro sungula xikolo. Leswi swi thlela swi nyanyisa na hi leswaku mbuyelo wa vona wo hlaya eka swiyenge hinkwaswo swa xikambelo lexi xi nga tirhisiwa ku va kambela a wu ri ehansi ngopfu. Eka ndzavisiso lowu, ku pfumala ka vadyondzisi vutivi hi vuenti bya ku dyondzisa vana eku hlaya swi nga va swi vile na xiave eka mbuyelo wa vadyondzi wo hlaya. Vulavisisi lebyi byi thlela byi humesela erivaleni leswaku vuswikoti byo hlaya hi ku twisisa swi koteka ntsena loko mudyonzi a ri ni ntokoto eka swiyenge hinkwaswo swa ku hlaya hikuva swi na vuxaka. Hikokwalaho, vuswikoti byo hlaya mimpfumawulo ya maletere swi pfuneta ku hlaya marito lawa ya thlelaka ya pfuneta ku hlaya hi nkhuluko ni ku twisisa leswi swi hlayiwaka. Vuswikoti lebyi hinkwabyo byi ni nkoka mayelana ni ku dyondza ku hlaya ntsena loko madyondziselo yo hlaya ya landzelerisa leswi kunguhatiweke eka kharikhulamu. / Leesgeletterdheid vir baie swart Suid-Afrikaanse leerders is ‘n probleem. Om te verstaan wat in die Suid-Afrikaanse grondslagfase-klaskamers gebeur wat die leesprestasie van leerders beïnvloed, word in die studie die aangepaste instrument vir vroeë graad leesassessering (EGRA) gebruik om die leesvermoëns van Graad 1-leerders in die huistaal (vier skole) en in die eerste addisionele taal (een skool). Die EGRA is belangrik vir die meting van fundamentele geletterdheidsvaardighede. Die uitkomste daarvan help onderwysers om onderrig te beplan wat voldoen aan verskillende leervermoëns. Data is versamel deur die waarneming van geletterdheidspraktyke en aktiwiteite in die Graad 1-klaskamers, die klaskamerinstellings te evalueer en onderhoude met Graad 1-onderwysers en kurrikulumadviseurs van die algemene onderwys- en opleidingsband te onderneem om hul persepsie van Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS) te verstaan. Die belangrikste bevindings het getoon dat die graad 1-leerders in die eerste jaar van skool baie stadig basiese leesvaardighede in Xitsonga verwerf, en dat prestasies op alle maatstawwe laag of baie laag was. Die onderwysers se gebrek aan diep begrip van hoe vroeë lees ontwikkel en hoe elkeen van die leesaktiwiteite bydra tot verskillende aspekte van hierdie ontwikkeling, het moontlik tot die leerders se leesuitkomste bygedra. Bevindinge het verder aan die lig gebring dat die vermoë om vlot en met begrip te lees, bepaal word deur hiërargiese verwantskappe tussen verskillende leesvaardighede. Kennis van letterklanke vergemaklik dus die lees van woorde wat die vloeiendheid van lees en dan leesbegrip beïnvloed - al hierdie vaardighede is slegs belangrik vir leesontwikkeling tydens vroeë leer as dit goed in die klaskamer geleer word. / Linguistics and Modern Languages / Ph. D. (Languages, Linguistics and Literature)