One of the pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the amyloid plaque deposition in aging brains by aggregation of amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides. In this study, the effect of chloroplast derived myelin basic protein (MBP) fused with cholera toxin subunit B (CTB) was investigated in advanced diseased stage of human and mouse AD brains. The CTB-fusion protein in chloroplasts facilitates transmucosal delivery in the gut by the natural binding ability of CTB pentameric form with GM1 receptors on the intestinal epithelium. Further, bioencapsulation of the MBP within plant cells confers protection from enzymes and acids in the digestive system. Here, 12-14 months old triple transgenic AD mice were fed with CTB-MBP bioencapsulated in the plant cells for 3 months. A reduction of 67.3% and 33.3% amyloid levels in hippocampal and cortical regions, respectively were observed by immunostaining of brain sections with anti- Aβ antibody. Similarly, 70% decrease in plaque number and 40% reduction of plaque intensity was observed through thioflavin S (ThS) staining that specifically stains amyloid in the AD brain. Furthermore, ex vivo 3xTg AD mice brain sections showed up to 45% reduction of ThS stained amyloid levels when incubated with enriched CTB-MBP in a concentration dependent manner. Similarly, incubation of enriched CTB-MBP with ex vivo postmortem human brain tissue sections with advanced stage of AD resulted up to 47% decrease of ThS stained amyloid plaque intensity. Lastly, lyophilization of plant material facilitates dehydration and long term storage of capsules at room temperature, in addition to increasing CTB-MBP concentration by 17 fold. These observations offer a low cost solution for treatment of even advanced stages of the AD by facilitating delivery of therapeutic proteins to central nervous system to address other neurodegenerative disease.

This study explores employee welfare and working conditions in relation to ethical HRM practices from the employees’ perspective in the Bangladeshi Ready-Made Garment (RMG) sector. This research is inspired by the need to understand the challenges that employees face in their practical work settings and the unfair Human Resource Management (HRM) process that they experience in their work. The interpretivist philosophical approach and the qualitative research approach have been adopted in this research study, while the semi-structured interview method has been applied for primary-data collection. A total of 25 semi-structured interviews with General Employees, Informal Representative Leaders, Employees, Middle and Senior Managers have been undertaken in this process. Five focus-group discussions have also been applied to corroborate the data generated from the 25 semi-structured interviews. The case-study strategy has also been implemented as a research strategy and thematic analysis has been applied to the data-analysis process. The findings of this research study show the need for deeper understanding and application of ethical HRM practices in particular national and sectoral contexts, specifically in the Bangladeshi RMG sector. These ethical HRM practices include, but are not limited to, the initiation of rights-based understanding and respect-based perception, the inclusion of welfare facilities, the implementation of a fair payment policy, the equitable recruitment and selection policy, and the initiation and equality of training and development facilities. These new ethical understandings contribute to the field of ethical HRM in the context of the development of employee welfare and decent working conditions in this sector.

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Dispossession has been playing a central role in capitalist accumulation over the last four-hundred-year history of modern capitalism. This dissertation theorizes how dispossession contributes to producing and reproducing the capitalist mode of production in Bangladesh. To do so, the dissertation empirically examines three interrelated aspects of dispossession in its three analytical chapters. First, it explores how the state and the market work in tandem to organize and control dispossession while grabbing land and expelling peasants from their places. Next, it investigates how dispossession contributes to providing 'potential capitals,' such as grabbed land and dispossessed peasants, to the production sites to be converted into 'constant capital' and 'variable capital' and to creating antagonistic class relations. Finally, it explores how market and non-market actors control those dispossessed peasants-turned-workers inside and outside factories to produce surplus values in order to reproduce the capitalist system locally and globally. These three interactive components of dispossession show three successive phases of capitalist accumulation: land-grabbing by divorcing independent producers from their livelihoods (the initial phase), converting land into capital, peasants into wage workers, and non-capitalists into capitalists (the intermediate phase), and controlling and exploiting those wage workers to produce surpluses or a cycle of new capital (the final phase). This dissertation accordingly advances a full-scale theory of dispossession in its concluding chapter by examining how the starting, intermediate, and ending points of dispossession contribute to capitalist accumulation. The dissertation draws on a wide range of empirical evidence collected from Panthapath, Dhaka, Bangladesh. These include 77 life histories, 50 interviews, a land-use survey of 1,007 structures, and a short survey of 147 slums. It also uses various historical records and archival documents. The three major findings of this dissertation are as follows. First, the dissertation shows that the state acts as a class to organize land grabs, often working in tandem with the private sector, but also in direct competition with the market. Not only does the state monopolize extra-economic means to grab land, but the market also often gains access to extra-economic means. Next, the dissertation shows that dispossession works to privatize the commons, proletarianize subsistence labor, create antagonistic class relations, and redistribute wealth upward. Finally, the dissertation identifies a new regime of labor control, called social despotism, that dominates and exploits workers in factories to produce surpluses. I conclude this study with policy recommendations designed to address the various dimensions of structural injustice described in this dissertation. / Doctor of Philosophy / This dissertation theorizes how dispossession contributes to producing and reproducing the capitalist mode of production in Bangladesh. In its three analytical chapters, the dissertation empirically examines three interrelated aspects of dispossession. First, it explores how the state and the market work in tandem to organize and control dispossession while grabbing land and expelling peasants from their places. Next, it investigates how dispossession contributes to providing grabbed land and dispossessed peasants to the production sites and to creating various class hierarchies. Finally, it explores how market and non-market actors control peasants-turned-workers inside and outside factories to produce surplus values in order to reproduce the capitalist system. These three interactive components of dispossession show three successive phases of capitalist accumulation: land-grabbing by evicting peasants from their places (phase 1), converting land into capital, peasants into wage workers, and non-capitalists into capitalists (phase 2), and exploiting wage workers to produce surpluses (phase 3). This dissertation accordingly advances a full-scale theory of dispossession in its concluding chapter by examining how the starting, intermediate, and ending points of dispossession contribute to capitalist accumulation. The dissertation draws on a wide range of empirical evidence collected from Panthapath, Dhaka, Bangladesh. These include 77 life histories, 50 interviews, a land-use survey of 1,007 structures, and a short survey of 147 slums. It also uses various historical records and archival documents. Some of the major findings of this dissertation are as follows. First, the dissertation shows that the state acts as a class to organize land grabs, often working in tandem with the private sector, but also in direct competition with the market. Not only does the state monopolize extra-economic means to grab land, but the market also often gains access to extra-economic means. Next, the dissertation shows that dispossession works to privatize the commons, proletarianize subsistence labor, create exploitative class relations, and redistribute wealth upward. Finally, the dissertation identifies a new regime of labor control, called social despotism, that oppresses and exploits workers in factories to produce surpluses.

This study aims at understanding the decision to buy "Made in Mozambique" products, which is important for developing marketing strategy and promoting national products. To explore the factors influencing consumers' buying decisions, means-end theory and its associated methodology provide a useful framework for understanding why people buy "Made in Mozambique" rice by characterising the relationships between the attributes, consequences associated with those attributes, and the values those consequences help reinforce. Methodology: a total of 20 consumers were interviewed. It is important to mention that only rice was used in this study. The laddering interviewing technique was then used to link these chains of meanings. Analyses and interpretation of the resulting data provide an effective complement for studying consumer purchasing motives and suggest recommendations for managerial practice and future research efforts. Summary of the study findings include: (i) Attributes: Quality, cost, national; (ii) Consequences: healthy, well-being, affordable, trust, contribution, and fulfillment; and (iii) Values: Feeling happy, longevity and self-esteem.The theoretical component of this research covers the definition and discussion of Means-end theory and consumer decision-making. / Industrial Psychology / M.A. (Industrial & Organisational Psychology)

Polarimetric Synthetic Aperture Radar (PolSAR) has been used for various remote sensing applications since more information could be obtained in multiple polarizations. The overall objective of this thesis is to investigate urban area information extraction from PolSAR data with the following specific objectives: (1) to exploit polarimetric scattering model-based decomposition methods for urban areas, (2) to investigate effective methods for man-made target detection, (3) to develop edge detection and superpixel generation methods, and (4) to investigate urban area classification and segmentation. Paper 1 proposes a new scattering coherency matrix to model the cross-polarized scattering component from urban areas, which adaptively considers the polarization orientation angles of buildings. Thus, the HV scattering components from forests and oriented urban areas can be modelled respectively. Paper 2 presents two urban area decompositions using this scattering model. After the decomposition, urban scattering components can be effectively extracted. Paper 3 presents an improved man-made target detection method for PolSAR data based on nonstationarity and asymmetry. Reflection asymmetry was incorporate into the azimuth nonstationarity extraction method to improve the man-made target detection accuracy, i.e., removing the natural areas and detecting the small targets. In Paper 4, the edge detection of PolSAR data was investigated using SIRV model and Gauss-shaped filter. This detector can locate the edge pixels accurately with fewer omissions. This could be useful for speckle noise reduction, superpixel generation and others. Paper 5 investigates an unsupervised classification method for PolSAR data in urban areas. The ortho and oriented buildings can be discriminated very well. Paper 6 proposes an adaptive superpixel generation method for PolSAR images. The algorithm produces compact superpixels that can well adhere to image boundaries in both natural and urban areas. / Polarimetriska Synthetic Aperture Radar (PolSAR) har använts för olika fjärranalystillämpningar för, eftersom mer information kan erhållas från multipolarisad data. Det övergripande syftet med denna avhandling är att undersöka informationshämtning över urbana områden från PolSAR data med följande särskilda mål: (1) att utnyttja polarimetrisk spridningsmodellbaserade nedbrytningsmetoder för stadsområden, (2) att undersöka effektiva metoder för upptäckt av konstgjorda objekt, (3) att utveckla metoder som kantavkänning och superpixel generation, och (4) för att undersöka klassificering och segmentering av stadsområden. Artikel 1 föreslår en ny spridnings-koherens matris för att modellera korspolariserade spridningskomponent från tätorter, som adaptivt utvärderar polariseringsorienteringsvinkel av byggnader. Artikel 2 presenterar nedbrytningstekniken över två urbana områden med hjälp av denna spridningsmodell. Efter nedbrytningen kunde urbana spridningskomponenter effektivt extraheras. Artikel 3 presenterar en förbättrad detekteringsmetod för konstgjorda mål med PolSAR data baserade på icke-stationaritet och asymmetri. integrerades reflektionsasymmetri i icke-stationaritetsmetoden för att förbättra noggrannheten i upptäckten av konstgjorda föremål, dvs. att ta bort naturområden och upptäcka de små föremålen. I artikel 4 undersöktes kantdetektering av PolSAR data med hjälp av SIRV modell och ett Gauss-formad filter. Denna detektor kan hitta kantpixlarna noggrant med mindre utelämnande. Detta skulle den vara användbar för reduktion av brus, superpixel generation och andra. Artikel 5 utforskar en oövervakad klassificeringsmetod av PolSAR data över stadsområden. Orto- och orienterade byggnader kan särskiljas mycket väl. Baserat på artikel 4 föreslår artikel 6 en adaptiv superpixel generationensmetod för PolSAR data. Algoritmen producerar kompakta superpixels som kan kommer att följa bildgränser i både naturliga och stadsområden. / <p>QC 20160607</p>

國內近年興起美感經濟以及手創商品的風潮，根據行政院青輔會在2006年的統計，文化創意產業首次擠身年輕人熱門創業行業的前三名，而這些投入創作的手創者也藉台灣各大小型的創意市集擺攤而有了讓自製作品顯露頭角的機會，並更進一步發展自創品牌並讓自製作品躍上創意市集的龍頭老大。 網路行銷工具部落格同時兼備｢通路｣與｢媒體｣功能，無論是從｢功能面｣、｢使用面｣、｢傳播面｣、｢行銷面｣或是｢需求面｣等不同面向探討部落格的特性，部落格的特性都可以化約為以下八大特性：｢交流/互動性｣、｢知識累積性｣、｢主觀性｣、｢易被搜尋性｣、｢多媒體性｣、｢時間性｣、｢低門檻性｣及｢分眾性｣，這些特性讓行銷資源不足的手創者可以藉由部落格作為整合行銷¬¬進行宣傳商品以及販賣商品的管道和平台，這些都是傳統行銷工具無法達到的行銷特性。 因此本研究從行銷與整合行銷的觀點探討最能代表Web 2.0精神之一的部落格，並以消費者焦點團體訪談與質化個案研究深度訪談方式初探部落格如何協助手創者進行行銷及推廣，並進行手創者運用部落格與社群交流互動、推廣宣傳品牌以及銷售販賣的描述性研究。 / Recently, aesthetics economy and hand-made products have became a trend in Taiwan society, and according to the survey of National Youth Commission, Executive Yuan in 2006, for the first time Creativity Industry became the most popular industry for youth to start their business. Moreover the Creativity Markets have provided creators both the chances and places to show their own talents, works, and established their own brands. Blog played both the place and media roles, from its function, usage, media, marketing or needs aspects to discuss the characteristics of blog, we found blog has the following eight characteristics: interaction and communication, knowledge - accumulation, subjectivity, easy for searching, multi-media, instantaneity, low-threshold and community divides. These characteristics can help hand-made creators who have inadequate marketing resources to promote and sell their products by applying these functions. Therefore, this study is based on marketing and IMC point of view and by FGD and Case study trying to find out and illustrate how blog help hand-made creators to communicate their consumers, to promote their brands and to sell their hand-made products.

A presente pesquisa baseia-se na utilização da cartografia morfológica de detalhe para a identificação de mudanças ambientais de ciclo curto em áreas com intervenção antrópica e foi desenvolvida em uma sub-bacia hidrográfica pertencente ao Sistema Cantareira de abastecimento da Região Metropolitana de São Paulo, localizada próxima à divisa entre São Paulo e Minas Gerais, na borda da Serra da Mantiqueira, entre os municípios de Joanópolis (SP) e Extrema (MG). Com esse objetivo o estudo permitiu a identificação do nível de preservação do meio físico de um dos principais sistemas produtores de água para a Região Metropolitana de São Paulo e, eventualmente, o reconhecimento das conseqüências das intervenções antrópicas na área e o fornecimento de dados para gestão desses recursos hídricos. Para tanto foram elaborados e comparados mapas de uso da terra, morfológico, de declividade e de indicadores de degradação, obtidos através da fotointerpretação de imagens de 1962 e de 2003, na escala de 1:25.000, e em levantamento de campo, onde foram identificadas evidências morfológicas de degradação física (formas erosivas e tipos de erosão). Para relacionar a morfologia original, às intervenções antrópicas e às mudanças morfológicas ocorridas na área, optou-se por apoiar-se em estudos de Geomorfologia Antrópica e de cartografia geomorfológica de detalhe. Para esta última, utilizou-se da técnica de mapeamento morfológico proposta por Savigear (1965), adaptada à complexidade morfológica da área. A correlação entre os mapas morfológico, de declividade e do uso da terra, permitiu uma análise comparativa da área da sub-bacia hidrográfica e o apontamento de evidências de degradação ocorrida na área. Além disso, os mapas podem fornecer embasamento para posterior monitoramento geomorfológico dos processos e materiais interligados às formas mapeadas (originais ou antropogênicas). As mudanças ambientais, sobretudo as formas erosivas, foram notadas principalmente quando associadas às ações de desmatamento e pastagem, o que comprova a necessidade de um manejo adequado quanto ao uso da terra em áreas de mananciais. / The present research is based on detailed morphological mapping that had produced to identify short term environmental changes in man-made surfaces and drainage basin which belong to the most important System of water supply of Sao Paulo Metropolitan area. The study area is seated on Mantiqueira mountain range border, between the municipality of Joanopolis (SP) and Extrema (MG). With this aim, the study has allowed to discuss about the preservation level of physical systems as well the effects of human interventions in drainage basin and in their water supplies. For these, maps of land use, morphology, slope declivity and degradation indicators were produced and compared. They were obtained from interpretation of aerial photographs dated 1962 and 2003, in scale 1:25.000, and from field studies, where morphological evidence of physical degradation was identified mainly by rain erosion forms. One of the most important steps of this study was the correlation of original morphology with man-made or morphological changes. Studies about Anthropogenic Geomorphology and Geomorphological Detailed Mapping were decisive factors to support that correlation. The morphological mapping technique proposed by Savigear (1965) was used, and it was adapted to the morphological complexity of this area. The correlation between the produced maps has permitted to see the degradation evidences occurred in the areas. Besides this, the maps can provide data to later geomorphological watching of process and materials linked to the mapped forms (originals or anthropogenics). Environmental changes, especially erosive forms, were noted associated to deforestation and pasture mainly, proving that management of land use in headwater areas is needed.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-26T20:29:06Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Lilian de Castro Peixoto.pdf: 919724 bytes, checksum: d548e754604298e664e1d4b5b795d239 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-05-15 / Among many forms of devolving public services to the private business, franchising is the most common tool deployed by the government in order to enhance public utilities financing, which is essential to the country´s development. Such public contracting is more complex than other forms of public contracting, due to its usually longer term, to its financial arrangement, and to its necessity to adapt to the ongoing technological development, among other idiosyncrasies. Therefore, franchising is subject to a multiple array of elements that can entail economical problems. Hence, questions like the maintenance of the economical balance between the parties of the contract and the assurance of amortization of the investments that are made at the end of the franchising contract, which are part of a higher theme, such as the rule of protection of the investments made by the private party, are a matter of conflict between the franchisor and the franchisee or between the latter and the Parquet. On the whole, such conflicts are dealt with by the judicial branch. The essay at hand purports to understand the conflicts that are dealt by the judicial branch and which entangle matters about the protection of the investments made by the franchisee. From that perspective, we conclude presenting how and in which terms those investments are actually secured. Moreover, we attempt to verify whether the courts are deploying a progressive conception in its legal reasoning / Dentre as modalidades de delegação da prestação de serviços públicos à iniciativa privada, a concessão é a forma tradicionalmente mais utilizada pelo Poder Público como instrumento para viabilizar a realização de investimentos em setores essenciais para o desenvolvimento do país. Este tipo de contrato, em razão do longo prazo de sua duração, da modelagem financeira que o acompanha, da evolução tecnológica a que precisa se adequar, dentre outras características, apresenta uma complexidade muito maior que os demais contratos administrativos, estando sujeito a uma multiplicidade de fatores que podem provocar problemas econômicofinanceiros. Assim é que temas envolvendo a manutenção do equilíbrio-econômico financeiro dos contratos celebrados, bem como a garantia da amortização dos investimentos realizados ao final da concessão, os quais se inserem num contexto maior, referente à proteção dos investimentos das concessionárias, são objetos de conflitos entre poder concedente e concessionária ou entre esta e o Ministério Público, sendo frequentemente levados ao Judiciário. O presente trabalho objetiva, justamente, compreender os conflitos que chegam ao Poder Judiciário envolvendo questões relativas à proteção dos investimentos das concessionárias e, mais especificamente, como os tribunais superiores têm decidido os conflitos versando sobre este tema. A partir desta análise, concluimos como e em que termos tais investimentos são efetivamente garantidos e se a argumentação dos tribunais está imbuída de alguma concepção desenvolvimentista