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Youth’s perceptions of international development and its related themes are being shaped through the messages relayed in the marketing of volunteer sending organizations. This research explores how one voluntourism sending organization, ME to WE, packages and portrays themes of international development and contributes to Heron’s “helping imperative” (2007), which is a desire to go abroad and make change by asserting one’s own values of development. It uses qualitative content analysis from ME to WE’s online youth trip pages and explores how the organization uses a discourse that focuses on the notion of “doing” development, selling adventure, the allure of the proximity to poverty, and leadership and social justice training. The research situates the findings in the scholarly debates on international volunteering and voluntourism and draws heavily on postcolonial analysis. It examines how ME to WE uses a rhetoric that promotes sustainable development, partnerships, building leaders, and global citizenship, however upon deeper analysis this promotion is superficial in that the themes in the discourse point to a lack of critical reflexivity in meaningful, thick conceptions of global citizenship education, an overwhelming support for egoistic motivations over altruism in youth going abroad, a consumer-first, consumption-based mentality, and a reinforcing of unequal power structures between the Global North and Global South, reverting back towards charity as opposed to solidarity.

This master thesis deals with the creation concept of the Bluetooth module and applications for mobile phone and PDA. After the connection of the concept with remote control, enable extend of control the Bang&Olufsen products with using mobile phone or PDA. Applications in mobile phone or PDA will communicate to the concept of using Bluetooth technology. The result of this thesis is the creation of printed circuit boards and applications for mobile phone and PDA.

Title A comparison between top European teams performances Objectives − to focus on women's world football trends − to compare between Czech club or national team and top European teams − to analyze football systems, basic formations, set pieces solving − to evaluate qualitative and quantitative data and situation which was researched − to evaluate the research − to suggest a groundwork to training process Methods I used both direct and indirect observation methods in particular football matches. I had both videos available, even in one of the matches I attend as a player. I was researching particular game elements quantitatively and qualitatively as well. Base to the evaluation of the matches, I tried to suggest appropriate practice to eliminate deficiencies, which could be further used in training process. Results Results show the position of Czech women's football in Europe, the comparison between top European teams and if any of Czech teams could success in strong competition. Further, results show model situation of teams in offensive system and how the goals are scored. Also, results led to point out the deficiencies in Czech women's football with offering of solutions. Key words Women's football, quantitative and qualitative research, AC Sparta Prague, Olympique Lyon, national team, Czech...

A fatoração PMF - Positive Matrix Factorization - é um método de resolução de problemas em que variáveis observadas conjuntamente são modeladas como a combinação linear de fatores potenciais, representada pela multiplicação de duas matrizes. Este método tem sido utilizado principalmente em áreas de estudo em que as variáveis observadas são sempre não negativas, e quando é aplicada uma modelagem fatorial ao problema. Assume-se a premissa de que são resultantes da multiplicação de duas matrizes com entradas não negativas, ou seja, os fatores potenciais, e os poderadores da combinação linear são desconhecidos, e têm valores não negativos. Neste método além da possibilidade de restringir a busca dos valores das matrizes da fatoração a valores não negativos, também é possível incluir a medida de incerteza relacionada a cada observação no processo de obtenção da fatoração como um modo de reduzir o efeito indesejado que valores outliers podem causar no resultado. Neste trabalho é feito um estudo de sensibilidade da fatoração PMF em relação a algumas medidas de incertezas presentes na literatura, utilizando o software EPA PMF 5.0 com ME-2. Para realizar este estudo foi desenvolvida uma metodologia de simulação de base de dados a partir de perfis de fontes emissoras conhecidas incluindo valores outliers, e aplicação sequencial da fatoração PMF com o software ME-2 nas bases de dados simuladas. / The PMF factorization - Positive Matrix Factorization - is a problem solving method in which jointly observed variables are modeled as a linear combination of potential factors, represented by the multiplication of two matrices. This method has been used primarily in study areas in which the observed variables are always non negative, and when it is applied a factor modeling in the problem. It is made the assumption that the variables in study come from the two matrices multiplication both having non negative components, i.e., the potential factors, and the linear combination values are unknown, and all of them have non negative values. In this method, besides the possibility of constraining the search of the matrix factorization values on non negative values, it is also possible to include the uncertainty measure related to each observation on factorization process as a way to reduce the undesired effect which outliers can cause to the outcome. This paper presents a study of the sensitivity of the factorization PMF over some uncertainties measures present in literature, using EMP PMF 5.0 with ME-2 software. To carry out this study was developed a methodology of database simulation from known emitting sources profiles including outliers values, and a sequential application of PMF factorization with ME-2 software in simulated databases.

A fatoração PMF - Positive Matrix Factorization - é um método de resolução de problemas em que variáveis observadas conjuntamente são modeladas como a combinação linear de fatores potenciais, representada pela multiplicação de duas matrizes. Este método tem sido utilizado principalmente em áreas de estudo em que as variáveis observadas são sempre não negativas, e quando é aplicada uma modelagem fatorial ao problema. Assume-se a premissa de que são resultantes da multiplicação de duas matrizes com entradas não negativas, ou seja, os fatores potenciais, e os poderadores da combinação linear são desconhecidos, e têm valores não negativos. Neste método além da possibilidade de restringir a busca dos valores das matrizes da fatoração a valores não negativos, também é possível incluir a medida de incerteza relacionada a cada observação no processo de obtenção da fatoração como um modo de reduzir o efeito indesejado que valores outliers podem causar no resultado. Neste trabalho é feito um estudo de sensibilidade da fatoração PMF em relação a algumas medidas de incertezas presentes na literatura, utilizando o software EPA PMF 5.0 com ME-2. Para realizar este estudo foi desenvolvida uma metodologia de simulação de base de dados a partir de perfis de fontes emissoras conhecidas incluindo valores outliers, e aplicação sequencial da fatoração PMF com o software ME-2 nas bases de dados simuladas. / The PMF factorization - Positive Matrix Factorization - is a problem solving method in which jointly observed variables are modeled as a linear combination of potential factors, represented by the multiplication of two matrices. This method has been used primarily in study areas in which the observed variables are always non negative, and when it is applied a factor modeling in the problem. It is made the assumption that the variables in study come from the two matrices multiplication both having non negative components, i.e., the potential factors, and the linear combination values are unknown, and all of them have non negative values. In this method, besides the possibility of constraining the search of the matrix factorization values on non negative values, it is also possible to include the uncertainty measure related to each observation on factorization process as a way to reduce the undesired effect which outliers can cause to the outcome. This paper presents a study of the sensitivity of the factorization PMF over some uncertainties measures present in literature, using EMP PMF 5.0 with ME-2 software. To carry out this study was developed a methodology of database simulation from known emitting sources profiles including outliers values, and a sequential application of PMF factorization with ME-2 software in simulated databases.

Methyl 2-cyano-3,11-dioxo-18b-olean-1,12-dien-30-oate (CDODA-Me) is a synthetic triterpenoid that inhibits growth of Panc1 and Panc28 pancreatic cancer cell lines and activates peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor B (PPARB)-dependent transactivation in these cells. CDODA-Me has also induced p21 and p27 protein expression and downregulated cyclin D1; however, these responses were receptor-independent. CDODA-Me induced apoptosis, which was accompanied by receptor-independent induction of the proapoptotic proteins early growth response-1 (Egr-1), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-activated gene-1 (NAG-1), and activating transcription factor-3 (ATF3). Induction of NAG-1 in Panc28 cells was p38-mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3-K)-dependent, but Egr-1-independent, whereas induction in Panc1 cells was associated with activation of p38-MAPK, PI3-K and p42-MAPK and was only partially Egr-1-dependent. Specificity protein (Sp) transcription factors Sp1, Sp3 & Sp4 are overexpressed in multiple tumor types and negative prognostic factors for survival. Since Sp proteins regulate genes associated with survival (survivin), angiogenesis [vascular endothelial growth factor and its receptors] and growth [cyclin D1, epidermal growth factor receptor], research in this laboratory has focused on development of anticancer drugs that decrease Sp protein expression. Arsenic trioxide, curcumin, 2-cyano-3,12-dioxoleana-1,9-dien-28-oic acid (CDDO), CDDO-Me, and celastrol exhibit antiproliferative, antiangiogenic and proapoptotic activity in many cancer cells and tumors. Treatment of cancer cells derived from urologic and gastrointestinal tumors with arsenic trioxide decreased Sp1, Sp3 and Sp4 transcription factors and cotreatment with the proteosome inhibitor MG132 did not inhibit downregulation of Sp proteins in these cancer cells. Mechanistic studies suggested that compound-dependent downregulation of Sp and Sp-dependent genes was due to decreased mitochondrial membrane potential and induction of reactive oxygen species, and the role of peroxides in mediating these responses was confirmed using hydrogen peroxide, demonstrating that the mitochondriotoxic effects of these compounds are important for their anticancer activities. Moreover, repression of Sp and Sp-dependent genes by CDDO-Me and celastrol was due to downregulation of microRNA-27a and induction of ZBTB10, an Sp repressor, and these responses were also reversed by antioxidants. Thus, the anticancer activity of CDDO-Me and celastrol is due, in part, to activation of ROS which in turn targets the microRNA-27a:ZBTB10?Sp transcription factor axis to decrease growth inhibitory, pro-apoptotic and antiangiogenic genes and responses.

Microglia, the brain's resident immune cells and phagocytes, are emerging as critical regulators of developing synaptic circuits in the healthy brain after having long been thought to function primarily during central nervous system (CNS) injury or disease. Recent work indicates that microglia engulf synapses in the developing brain; however, how microglia know which synapses to target for removal remains a major open question. For my dissertation research, I studied microglia-mediated pruning in the retinogeniculate system and sought to identify the molecules regulating microglial engulfment of synaptic inputs. I discovered that "eat me" and "don't eat me" signals, immune molecules known for either promoting or inhibiting macrophage phagocytosis of cells or debris, localize to the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus of the thalamus (dLGN) and direct retinogeniculate refinement. We found that "eat me" signal C3 and its microglial receptor, CR3, are required for normal engulfment, and that loss of either of these molecules leads to a reduction in phagocytosis and sustained deficits in refinement. These data suggest that microglia-mediated pruning may be analogous to the removal of non-self material by phagocytes in the immune system. To test this hypothesis, I examined whether protective signals are required to prevent excess microglial engulfment, as they prevent phagocytosis of self cells in the immune system. I found that protective "don't eat me" signal CD47 is required to prevent excess microglial engulfment and retinogeniculate pruning during development. Moreover, another "don't eat me signal", CD200, also prevents overpruning. Together, these findings indicate that immune molecules instruct microglia as to which synapses to engulf and present a model in which a balance of stimulatory and inhibitory cues is necessary to guide remodeling of immature synaptic circuits. These data shed new light on mechanisms regulating synaptic refinement and microglial function in the healthy, developing CNS, and may have implications for disorders characterized by immune dysregulation and circuit disconnectivity, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and schizophrenia.

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