Thesis (master's)--Thammasat University, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 125-128).

Ce travail s'inscrit dans le cadre général de l'étude des mécanismes d'intégration des informations viscérales. Nous avons étudié la dépression synaptique à long terme (DLT) dans le noyau du tractus solitaire et sa modulation par le statut nutritionnel Dans la première étude, nous avons caractérisé une DLT au niveau du NTS. Cette DLT, déclenchée par la stimulation des afférences viscérales à basse fréquence, est exprimée au niveau de l’élément présynaptique. Elle met en jeu une libération d'endocannabinoïdes qui en agissant au niveau de l’élément présynaptique réduisent la probabilité de libération de glutamate. De manière surprenante l’élément postsynaptique ne semble jouer aucun rôle dans cette DLT. Elle nécessite une activation séquentielle des récepteurs NMDA, la libération d'anandamide et l'activation des récepteurs aux cannabinoïdes de type 1 (CB1) et l’activité de l’élément présynaptique. Nos résultats suggèrent que cette DLT pourrait être entièrement organisée dans le compartiment présynaptique des afférences viscérales. Dans une deuxième partie du travail, nous nous sommes intéressés à la modulation de cette DLT dépendante des endocannabinoïdes (DLT-eCBs) par le statut nutritionnel. La privation de nourriture pendant 24 h empêche l'induction de la DLT-eCBs par la stimulation des afférences viscérales. Ces effets sont mimés par l'activation des récepteurs à la ghréline au niveau du NTS. Une re-nutrition pendant 3h restaure la DLT-eCBs via l'action périphérique de la Cholécystokinine (CCK) et l'activation de la voie ERK. Au total ces travaux soulignent la forte plasticité des afférences viscérales en fonction du statut nutritionnel. / This work joins within the framework of studies about the mechanisms of integration of the visceral informations. We studied long term synaptic depression in the nucleus of tractus solitarii (NTS) and it's modulation during changes in the nutritional status. In the first study, we characterized a long-term synaptic depression (LTD) in the NTS. This LTD, triggered by low frequency stimulation of visceral afferents is expressed at the presynaptic level. It involves release of endocannabinoids that would eventually reduce glutamate release probability. Surprisingly the postsynaptic element seems to play no role in this LTD. It requires sequential activation of NMDA receptors, the release of anandamide and activation of the cannabinoids type 1 receptors (CB1) and presynaptic activation. Our results suggest that this LTD could be entirely organized at the presynaptic compartment of visceral afferents. In the second part of this work, we were interested on the modulation of this endocannabinoïds dependent long-term depression (eCBs-LTD) by the nutritional status. Food deprivation during 24 h prevents the induction of eCBs-LTD by the stimulation of visceral afferents. These effects are mimicked by the activation of ghrelin receptors in the NTS. 3 h refeeding restores the eCBs-LTD via peripheral action of cholecystokinin (CCK) and the activation of the ERK pathway. Altogether, this work emphasizes the high plasticity of visceral afferents and its regulation by the nutritional status.

Study project (MBA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: South Africa is a land of contrasts - contrasts in its landscape, cultures and business. Highly successful organisations exist in South Africa. The less fortunate organisations can learn a lot from them and other successful international organisations. Business has become a highly sophisticated science and although a recipe for instant success does not exist, the criteria described in this study can enhance an organisation's chances for success considerably. The first section of the study focuses on a literature study of nine critical factors identified in successful organisations. The study covers: Vision, Map, Customer Focus, Confidence, Standards, Drive, Teamwork, Support and Belonging. The establishment and development of these critical factors within an organisation are fundamental in highly successful organisations. The study will defines and develops these factors into practical and understandable criteria to be used and measured in an organisation. It further uses the criteria to show where an organisation could be failing and highlights some common mistakes that can be avoided. The study also provides business models to develop these criteria. The second section of the study focuses on an internal survey done at Rubico (Pty) Ltd, to measure the criteria explained in the first section. The survey highlights areas where Rubico (Pty) Ltd is functioning well, but also identifies shortcomings. The survey can be used as a measuring tool to provide insight into areas where an organisation is lacking and give the user the ability to manage more effectively. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Suid-Afrika is 'n land van kontraste - kontraste in die landskap, kulture en sakewêreld. Daar bestaan baie suksesvolle organisasies in Suid-Afrika. Minder suksesvolle organisasies kan baie leer by hierdie en ander suksesvolle internasionale organisasies. Besigheid het verander in 'n hoogs gesofistikeerde wetenskap en hoewel daar geen resep bestaan vir oornagsukses nie, kan die kriteria wat beskryf word in hierdie studie 'n organisasie se kanse op sukses verbeter. Die eerste deel van die studie fokus op 'n literatuurstudie oor nege kritiese faktore wat in suksesvolle organisasies geïdentifiseer is. Die studie spreek die volgende aan: visie, strategie, verbruiker fokus, vertroue, standaarde, dryfkrag, spanwerk, ondersteuning en "belonging". Die daarstelling en ontwikkeling van hierdie faktore binne die organisasie is fundamenteel in hoogs suksesvolle organisasies. Die studie definiëer en ontwikkel hierdie faktore in praktiese en verstaanbare kriteria wat gebruik en gemeet kan word binne 'n organisasie. Verder gebruik die studie hierdie kriteria om aan te dui waar 'n organisasie nie slaag nie en om algemene foute wat vermy kan word, uit te wys. Die studie voorsien ook sakemodelle om die kriteria te onwikkel. Die tweede deel van die studie fokus op 'n interne opname wat in Rubico (Pty) Ltd geloods is, om die kriteria wat in die eerste deel verduidelik is, te meet. Die opname beklemtoon areas waar Rubico (Pty) Ltd suksesvol is, maar identifiseer ook leemtes. Die opname kan gebruik word as 'n meetinstrument om insig oor tekortkominge in die organisasie te bekom en die gebruiker daarvan toe te rus vir effektiewe bestuur.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The aim of this dissertation is to attempt to shed some light on the strategic issues and shortfalls that accompanied the OK Bazaars (1929) Ltd on its path from being the oldest and largest retailer in South Africa to becoming a spiralling loss-maker and being sold for a mere R1 at the end of what is probably the longest existing retail-trade history for a company this size in South Africa. Only a limited number of South African case studies exist in the field of Strategic Management and the writer will, in the latter part of the dissertation, condense the broad facts to a case study that will serve South African students in the field of Strategic Management. The study firstly follows a theoretical discussion on some Strategic Management theory, especially the two important concepts of vision and mission. This leads to the discussion of a model for Strategic Management or more specific, strategic analysis. The study then concludes with the application of the model on the OK Bazaars, which entails the essence of the report. The focus is on the company since the early seventies and thereafter up until its sale by The South African Breweries(SAB) in 1997. The period under discussion is fragmented into roughly the three decades, that is the seventies, the eighties and the years 1990 to 1997(the nineties). The writer at this stage wishes to emphasise that, due to a number of factors which will be discussed shortly, a broad analytical approach is followed on the seventies with a somewhat more detailed analysis being done on the eighties and, as far as is possible, a full-on analysis of the nineties. The reasons for this approach are as follows: • The 0K Bazaars in its pre-1997 form does not exist anymore and the people involved with the then-existing company are no longer available for comment. Almost no media-published material is available on the OK Bazaars during the seventies with only limited published material on the eighties. • Due to the SAB and Shoprite Holdings, the new owners of OK Bazaars, currently still being in a dispute as to the exact extent of the losses incurred by the OK just prior to the take-over and the nett asset value of the OK Bazaars at the time of the take-over, the situation surrounding the OK and its financial figures are very sensitive at present. As a result very little information is available from Shoprite with no information from SAB except the annual financial reports. By August 2000 there were still indications that the dispute was not yet resolved (De Vynck,2000). Due to the poor performance of OK Bazaars in the last years of its presence in the SAB stable, the annual financial reports of SAB also reflect the minimum information on the company (OK). It is however the aim of the writer to evaluate, with the somewhat limited information at hand, the company from a strategic management point of view and construct these facts to a practical case study for fellow students in this interesting field of management. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie proefskrif is om te poog om die strategiese probleme en tekortkominge uit te lig wat bygedra het tot die ondergang van OK Bazaars (1929) Bpk, vanaf die stadium dat die OK die grootste kleinhandelaar in Suid-Afrika was totdat dit 'n onomkeerbare verliesmaker geword het en verkoop is vir 'n skamele R1 aan die einde van wat waarskynlik die langsbestaande kleinhandelsgeskiedenis vir 'n maatskappy van hierdie grootte in Suid Afrika is. Daar bestaan slegs 'n beperkte aantal Suid Afrikaanse gevallestudies in die veld van Strategiese Bestuur en die skrywer sal, in die laaste deel van die proefskrif, die breër feite tot 'n gevallestudie reduseer wat gebruik kan word deur Suid Afrikaanse studente in the veld van Strategiese Bestuur. Die studie begin met 'n bespreking van sekere teoretiese aspekte van Strategiese Bestuur, veral die twee belangrike onderwerpe van visie en missie. Dit lei tot die bespreking van 'n model vir Strategiese Bestuur, of meer spesifiek strategiese ontleding of analise. Die studie gaan dan voort met die toepassing van die model op die OK Bazaars, wat die kern van die verslag vorm. Die fokus is op die maatskappy sedert die vroeë sewentigerjare en daarna tot en met die verkoop daarvan deur die SAB in 1997. Die tydperk onder bespreking word rofweg opgedeel in die drie dekades, naamlik die sewentigerjare, die tagtigerjare en die jare 1990 tot 1997 (die negentigerjare). Die skrywer wil reeds op hierdie stadium beklemtoon dat, as gevolg van 'n paar faktore wat hierna bespreek sal word, 'n breë oorsigtelike benadering gevolg word ten opsigte van die sewentigerjare met 'n ietwat meer gedetailleerde ontleding wat ten opsigte van die tagtigerjare gedoen word en, sover as moontlik, 'n volwaardige ontleding van die negentigerjare. Die redes vir hierdie benadering is as volg: • Die OK Bazaars soos dit gelyk het voor 1997 bestaan nie meer nie, en die persone wat betrokke was by die maatskappy soos dit op daardie stadium daar uitgesien het, is nie meer beskikbaar vir kommentaar nie. • Daar is feitlik geen media-gepubliseerde materiaal omtrent OK Bazaars gedurende die sewentigerjare beskikbaar nie, terwyl slegs beperkte gepubliseerde materiaal omtrent die tagtigerjare beskikbaar is. • As gevolg van die feit dat SAB en Shoprite Holdings, die nuwe eienaars van OK Bazaars, tans steeds in a dispuut is insake die presiese omvang van die verliese aangegaan deur die OK net voor die oorname asook die netto batewaarde van OK op die stadium van die oorname, is die situasie rakende die OK en die finansiële resultate daarvan hoogs sensitief op die oomblik. Gevolglik is baie min inligting beskikbaar vanaf Shoprite, terwyl geen inligting vanaf die SAB kant buiten die statutêre jaarverslae beskikbaar is nie. Teen Augustus 2000 was daar steeds aanduidings dat die dispuut nie opgelos is (De Vynck,2000). As gevolg van die swak vertoning van die OK Bazaars in die laaste jare waartydens dit nog binne die SAB stal geval het, reflekteer die jaarlikse finansiële verslae van die SAB slegs die minimum inligting omtrent die maatskappy (OK). Dit is egter die doel van die skrywer om met die beperkte inligting beskikbaar, die maatskappy uit 'n strategiese bestuur-oogpunt te evalueer en hierdie feite dan saam te voeg ten einde 'n praktiese gevallestudie daar te stel vir mede studente in hierdie interessante veld van bestuur.

Depuis plusieurs décennies, les générateurs forts courants sont utilisés dans différents domaines comme l’étude des matériaux, la radiographie ou la fusion par confinement inertiel. Ces générateurs sont capables de délivrer des impulsions de courant de plusieurs millions d’ampères avec des fronts de montée inférieurs à la microseconde. Plusieurs projets à travers le monde ont, aujourd’hui, pour but d’améliorer encore et encore le gradient de courant des impulsions transmises à la charge. De nombreux schémas d’amplificateurs de puissance, dont le rôle est de jouer à la fois sur l’amplitude du courant de charge et sur son temps de montée, ont ainsi été testés. Le multiplicateur de courant dynamique (DLCM pour Dynamic Load Current Multiplier) fait partie de ces concepts novateurs permettant de contourner les limitations des générateurs de puissances pulsées actuels. Il est composé d’un réseau d’électrodes (servant d’autotransformateur), d’un extrudeur de flux dynamique (basé sur l’implosion d’un réseau de fils cylindrique) et d’un commutateur à fermeture sous vide. Dans la thèse, le principe de fonctionnement du DLCM est analysé d’un point de vue théorique par le biais de simulations de type circuits électriques et magnétohydrodynamiques. Une étude spécifique portant sur l’organe principal du DLCM est réalisée. Il s‘agit du commutateur à fermeture sous vide. Ainsi, après une phase de dimensionnement à l’aide d’outils de simulations électrostatiques, deux versions de commutateurs sont validées expérimentalement dans des conditions proches de celles d’un tir très fort courant. Enfin, des tirs sur le générateur SPHINX du CEA Gramat, capable de délivrer une impulsion de courant de 6MA en 800ns (sur charge Z-pinch), sont exposés pour retracer l’évolution du dispositif. Les résultats probants obtenus permettent, au final, de valider le concept DLCM connecté à une charge de type compression isentropique. / For several decades, high power generators are used in various fields such as materials research, radiography or inertial confinement fusion. These generators are capable of delivering current pulses of several millions of amperes with rise times below 1 microsecond. Several projects around the world are, today, trying to improve again and again the current gradient of pulses delivered to the load. Many concepts of power amplifiers, whose role is to optimize both the amplitude of the load current and its rise time, were tested. The Dynamic Load Current Multiplier (DLCM) is one of those innovating concepts used to overcome the existing pulsed power generators limitations. It is made up of concentric electrodes (for autotransformer), a dynamic flux extruder (based on the implosion of cylindrical wire array) and a vacuum closing switch. In this these, the operating principle of the DLCM is theoretically analyzed through electrical and magneto hydrodynamic simulations. A specific study of the DLCM key component is performed. This is the vacuum closing switch. Thus, after a design phase using electrostatic simulation tools, two versions of switches are experimentally validated in conditions similar to those of a very high current shot. Finally, shots on the SPHINX facility located at the CEA Gramat, capable of delivering a current pulse of 6MA in 800ns (on Z-pinch load), are exposed to trace the evolution of this device. The convincing results are used, ultimately, to validate the DLCM concept connected to an isentropic compression experiment load.

Thesis (M.B.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 1983.

Die KE-Familie ist das am ausführlichsten untersuchte Beispiel für eine angeborene spezifische Sprachstörung. Die Sprachstörung in dieser Familie wird durch eine heterozygote Punktmutation im FoxP2-Gen hervorgerufen, die R553H-Mutation. Die betroffenen Mitglieder der Großfamilie haben Defizite beim Erlernen komplexer orofazialer Bewegungsabläufe als Grundlage des fließenden Sprechens und zeigen Störungen beim Sprachverständnis und beim Schreiben. Untersuchungen an der KE-Familie und an Knockout-Tieren hatten Hinweise auf eine Beteiligung des Kleinhirns an der Sprachstörung der KE-Familie geliefert. Entsprechend war zu erwarten, dass genauere Kenntnisse über den Einfluss vom FoxP2-Gen auf Entwicklung und Funktion des Kleinhirns helfen könnten, die Funktion von FoxP2 und seine Rolle bezüglich dieser Sprachstörung, aber auch in Hinblick auf die Sprachfähigkeit des Menschen weiter aufzuschlüsseln. Die Experimente, die der vorliegenden Promotionsarbeit zu Grunde liegen, erforschten erstmals den Einfluss der KE-Mutation im FoxP2-Gen auf synaptischer Ebene durch Untersuchungen am in der Literatur ausführlich beschriebenen erregenden Schaltkreis im Kleinhirnkortex von heterozygoten R552H-Mäusen. Elektrophysiologische Messungen dienten dazu, die Verschaltung der Parallelfasern und Kletterfasern auf die Purkinjezelle auf Veränderungen der Übertragungseigenschaften zu prüfen. Durch Induktion von Langzeitdepression und Paarpulsbahnung an der Parallelfaser-Purkinjezell-Synapse sollte die synaptische Plastizität untersucht werden. Es zeigten sich eine intakte Verschaltung der erregenden Eingänge auf die Purkinjezelle, jedoch Veränderungen der Langzeit- und der Kurzzeitplastizität: Nach Induktion von Langzeitdepression entwickelte sich diese signifikant schneller. Die Paarpulsbahnung war bei kurzen Interstimulusintervallen signifikant verstärkt. Die Befunde sprechen für einen Einfluss des FoxP2-Gens auf die synaptischen Eigenschaften im Kleinhirnkortex. Die Aufschlüsselung dieses Einflusses und seine Bedeutung für die Sprachstörung der KE-Familie und die Sprachentwicklung beim Menschen ist Gegenstand weiterer Forschung.

Thesis (PhD)--Macquarie University, Division of Society, Culture, Media & Philosophy, Dept. of Media, 2007. / Bibliography: leaves 281-305. / Introduction -- Advertising, branding & consumerism: a literature survey -- Methodology: from Barthes to Bushells -- A taste for tea: how tea travelled to and through Australian culture -- Class in a tea cup -- A tale of two brands -- Thrift, sacrifice and the happy housewife -- 'He likes coffee SHE likes tea' -- 'Is it as good?': Bushells beyond Australia -- 'The one thing we all agree on' -- Conclusion. / Since its introduction in 1883, the Bushells brand of tea has become increasingly identified with Australia's national identity. Like Arnott's, QANTAS and Vegemite, Bushells has become a part of the nation's cultural vocabulary, a treasured store of memories and myths. This thesis investigates how Bushells acquired this status, and the transformation by which an otherwise everyday item evolved from the ordinary to the iconic. In short, through Bushells, I will demonstrate the cultural logic of branding. -- Bushells is ideally suited for an historical analysis of branding in Australia. Firstly, tea has been a staple of the Australian diet since the time of the First Fleet. So, it proves a fitting example of consumer processes since the early days of White settlement. From this, I will consider the rise of an environment sensitive to status, and therefore conducive to branding. In the late nineteenth century, Bushells was challenged to appeal to the burgeoning corps of middle class consumers. To this end, the brand integrated those ideals and associations that turned its tea into one that flattered a certain sensibility. Secondly, having established its affinity with a particular market group, the middle class, Bushells was well positioned to track, acknowledge and incorporate some of the most dominant trends of the twentiethcentury; specifically, the rise of a particular suburban ideal in the 1950s, and changing conceptions of gender, labour and technology. Finally, in the last two decades, Bushells has had to concede decisive shifts in fashion and taste; as Australia's population changed, so too did tea's place and prominence in the market. This thesis thus canvasses all these issues, chronologically and thematically. To do this, I will contextualise Bushells' advertisements in terms of the contemporary conditions that both informed their content, and underpinned their appeal. -- Considering the breadth and depth of this analysis, I argue that in the case of Bushells there is a cultural logic to branding. As brands strive for relevance, they become screens off which major societal processes can be identified and examined. As such, I will show that, in its address to consumers, Bushells broached some of the most significant discourses in Australia's cultural history. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / v, 305 leaves ill

Thesis (M.B.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 1996. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 57-[59]).

Thesis (M.B.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 1996. / Includes bibliographical references.