Maintaining the essential features of local democracy, representation and contestation, my theory allows for the representation of the interest of subpopulations in the global community by actors such as nongovernmental organization and intergovernmental organizations. I will begin by outlining what features are necessary for a theory’s consideration as democratic in nature. Then, relying upon democracy in a broad sense, it will be my aim to demonstrate that the right to democracy is universal human right. The following stage will provide the backing, by way of the moral progress of human rights, that the right to democracy is expressible by “importantly affected” subgroups in the global arena. The final stage of my conceptual defense will focus on the validation of representatives who have no institutional connection with the populations they represent. With such established, the paper will proceed into a practical defense, discussing how claims made by actors can be accepted or rejected by represented subpopulations. It will then become necessary to demonstrate that the paternalistic claims made by representatives are incorporable into a democratic theory without forgoing the essence of democracy. To show this is feasible, methods of appealing paternalistic claims by way of international human rights courts will be explained. Finally, possibilities to mediate general feasibility issues will be explored.

It was the goal of this study to examine the ecological validity of a number of measures of mental status for geriatric individuals. Subjects were 40 alert, ambulatory male VA patients. Mental status instruments included the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS) and the Vocabulary subtest of the WAIS-R. Measures of functional behavior included the Woodcock-Johnson Scales of Independent Behavior (SIB) and the Parachek Geriatric Behavior Rating Scale (PGBRS). Significant relationships were found between the MMSE and the SIB, between the WMS and the SIB, and between the WMS and the PGBRS. It was found that estimation of functional behavior can be enhanced significantly through the use of battery of mental status instruments.

Mettre en oeuvre un retour d'effort pour un système robotique dédié à la chirurgie mini-invasive impose d'adresser deux difficultés principales. La première est d'ordre métrologique, puisqu'il est technologiquement très difficile de procéder à une mesure directe de l'interaction distale à l'intérieur du patient, tout en respectant les contraintes de stérilité et d'encombrement. La seconde concerne le contrôle d'interactions dont la géométrie et la dynamique sont fortement variables et mal connues (contacts avec des organes, le chirurgien, ou d'autres instruments) dans un contexte particulier où la contrainte cinématique induite par le passage des instruments par un point fixe ne permet pas l'asservissement de toutes les composantes du torseur d'interaction.<br />La réponse apportée à ces questions prend ici la forme d'un système robotique bâti autour :<br />- d'un bras compact de cinématique sphérique ;<br />- d'un capteur d'efforts placé à l'extérieur du patient permettant une estimation fine des interactions distales ;<br />- d'une commande en effort dont la passivité est garantie pour toutes les interactions ; celle-ci est déclinée selon plusieurs modes (retour explicite, commande en impédance, téléopération à retour d'efforts).<br /><br />L'ensemble des propositions méthodologiques est validé de façon systématique sur un prototype de laboratoire développé dans le cadre de ce travail. Les expériences incluent des validations in vivo sur animal, depuis des tâches élémentaires jusqu'à l'utilisation du prototype comme "main gauche" pour une opération de cholécystectomie.

<p>Non-compulsory schools in Sweden should make use of the knowledge and experience that is available in society according to the aims and objectives of the Curriculum for the Non-Compulsory School System - Lpf 94. There are however only a few studies which have focused on the contacts between non-compulsory schools and society as represented by the business world in Sweden.</p><p>The purpose of this study is to examine in what ways and to what extent non-compulsory schools are following the Curriculum by using the knowledge and experience of the business world. The perspectives have been: Which contacts in the business world and which working practices from the business world are implemented in teaching in non-compulsory schools? In what way do these contacts and working practices affect the teaching and learning of business administration? The purpose of this study is also to examine if the teachers in non-compulsory schools use business information and different kinds of business knowledge and experiences in order to keep themselves up-to-date regarding the business world. The perspectives have been: Are the teachers using up-to-date business information or business experience? Are the teachers applying a multicultural perspective in teaching business studies? In what way does this kind of information or first-hand experience affect the teaching and learning of business administration?</p><p>The method used in this study was to interview seven teachers from two non-compulsory schools in Stockholm. The research showed that both schools use different kinds of business contacts, business experience and up-to-date business information as input in their teaching. Both schools are also using mini enterprise and work experience in teaching the pupils business administration. Only a few of the teachers have applied a multicultural perspective in their teaching. The research also showed that it will take time, resources and coordination to increase contacts with the business world. These contacts are essential for helping the pupils to achieve a degree of practical learning and knowledge which is mentioned in the Curriculum for the Non-Compulsory School System as well as being in demand in working life.</p>

<p>The project aim is to determine if good quality DNA can be extracted from barley, malt and hop, ingredients used in beer brewing. Good quality DNA is important in DNA fingerprinting techniques which can be used for identification of ingredients. The 3 methods tested are the cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) method, QIAGEN DNeasy Plant Mini Kit and Meyer’s method as published in 1996 with QIAGEN DNeasy Plant Mini Kit in combination. To evaluate the DNA quality after extraction we used 3 different techniques:</p><p>(i) spectrophotometry to estimate purity by using the ratio A260/A280; (ii) agarose gel electrophoresis after DNA extraction to determine the success of the extraction and evaluate the amount of high molecular weight DNA and degradation; and (iii) the polymerase chain reaction with 4 different primer pairs, together with agarose gel electrophoresis, to determine if the extracted DNA could be used in downstream applications, see the effect of inhibitors and estimate the fragmentisation of the DNA. The results achieved using the above mentioned methods were then used to evaluate the success of each of the extraction methods in their function of extracting high quality DNA from barley, malt and hop as well as determining whether the treatment of the ingredients has an effect on the DNA quality.</p>

The aim of this work is to better understand the factors and mechanisms leading to the supramolecular organization of collagen layers adsorbed on polymers. Native collagen adsorption on polystyrene (PS) and plasma-oxidized polystyrene (PSox) substrates revealed that the adsorbed layer consists in two parts: a dense and thin sheet (~ 10 nm) in which fibrils are formed, as revealed by atomic force microscopy, and an overlying thick layer (~ 200 nm) which contains protruding molecules, as revealed by quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring. The protruding molecules are in low density but modify noticeably the local viscosity. Faster and enhanced fibril formation takes place on hydrophobic compared to hydrophilic substrate. As a result of drastic thermal denaturation, the ability of collagen to assemble into fibrils is lost and the number of protruding molecules responsible for higher viscosity is reduced. Radiochemical measurements showed that collagen molecules are more easily displaced when adsorbed on a hydrophobic substrate compared to a hydrophilic substrate. This may explain why fibril formation occurs more readily on the more hydrophobic substrate, but is in contrast with higher surface affinity. The possible explanation of this paradox by the quick formation of a dense layer of collagen molecules having a smaller number of contact points with a very hydrophobic surface could not be demonstrated by a comparison of adsorption procedures. Comparing different collagen sources revealed various modes of aggregation with different characteristics regarding size and order (large fibers in solution, smaller fibrils to featureless underneath layer in the adsorbed phase). Moreover, collagen aggregation in the solution is a process competing with adsorption: more aggregated solutions behave like less concentrated solutions regarding the adsorbed amount and fibril formation in the adsorbed phase. It must be emphasized that interpretation of the QCM-D data, which is based on fitting physical quantities according to a model, has to be performed very carefully, and requires the examination of the sensitivity of the fitted data to the fitting parameters.

Non-compulsory schools in Sweden should make use of the knowledge and experience that is available in society according to the aims and objectives of the Curriculum for the Non-Compulsory School System - Lpf 94. There are however only a few studies which have focused on the contacts between non-compulsory schools and society as represented by the business world in Sweden. The purpose of this study is to examine in what ways and to what extent non-compulsory schools are following the Curriculum by using the knowledge and experience of the business world. The perspectives have been: Which contacts in the business world and which working practices from the business world are implemented in teaching in non-compulsory schools? In what way do these contacts and working practices affect the teaching and learning of business administration? The purpose of this study is also to examine if the teachers in non-compulsory schools use business information and different kinds of business knowledge and experiences in order to keep themselves up-to-date regarding the business world. The perspectives have been: Are the teachers using up-to-date business information or business experience? Are the teachers applying a multicultural perspective in teaching business studies? In what way does this kind of information or first-hand experience affect the teaching and learning of business administration? The method used in this study was to interview seven teachers from two non-compulsory schools in Stockholm. The research showed that both schools use different kinds of business contacts, business experience and up-to-date business information as input in their teaching. Both schools are also using mini enterprise and work experience in teaching the pupils business administration. Only a few of the teachers have applied a multicultural perspective in their teaching. The research also showed that it will take time, resources and coordination to increase contacts with the business world. These contacts are essential for helping the pupils to achieve a degree of practical learning and knowledge which is mentioned in the Curriculum for the Non-Compulsory School System as well as being in demand in working life.

The project aim is to determine if good quality DNA can be extracted from barley, malt and hop, ingredients used in beer brewing. Good quality DNA is important in DNA fingerprinting techniques which can be used for identification of ingredients. The 3 methods tested are the cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) method, QIAGEN DNeasy Plant Mini Kit and Meyer’s method as published in 1996 with QIAGEN DNeasy Plant Mini Kit in combination. To evaluate the DNA quality after extraction we used 3 different techniques: (i) spectrophotometry to estimate purity by using the ratio A260/A280; (ii) agarose gel electrophoresis after DNA extraction to determine the success of the extraction and evaluate the amount of high molecular weight DNA and degradation; and (iii) the polymerase chain reaction with 4 different primer pairs, together with agarose gel electrophoresis, to determine if the extracted DNA could be used in downstream applications, see the effect of inhibitors and estimate the fragmentisation of the DNA. The results achieved using the above mentioned methods were then used to evaluate the success of each of the extraction methods in their function of extracting high quality DNA from barley, malt and hop as well as determining whether the treatment of the ingredients has an effect on the DNA quality.

L'objet de cette étude est l'optimisation de la distribution d'un fluide diphasique dans un évaporateur compact à mini-canaux. Une méthode de mesure, basée sur la thermographie infrarouge, a été développée pour caractériser la distribution des échanges thermiques en paroi de l'échangeur, représentatifs de la distribution du fluide. Cette méthode a été validée sur une maquette d'évaporateur à mini-canaux avec un fluide monophasique, puis avec un mélange eau-air. L'influence des débits et des titres en gaz du fluide sur la distribution a été étudiée, ainsi que l'orientation de l'échangeur. Il a été mis en évidence que la distribution dans l'échangeur est fortement dépendante de l'inertie de la phase liquide du fluide. L'introduction d'un corps poreux dans le distributeur permet de limiter cet effet. Un outil de simulation numérique de la distribution du fluide diphasique (eau-air et fluide frigorigène) dans un évaporateur a été développé puis validé par des résultats expérimentaux.% Ces essais ont mis en évidence l'importance majeure de l'inertie de la phase liquide sur la distribution des échanges. Un corps poreux a donc été inséré dans le distributeur, de façon à briser l'élan de la phase liquide. Les résultats montrent l'effet bénéfique obtenu, pour une augmentation des pertes de charge négligeable. Enfin, un outil de simulation numérique a été développé puis validé. Cet outil a pour vocation de prédire la distribution des échanges thermiques et du fluide frigorigène au sein d'un évaporateur.

Cette thèse concerne la conception optimale de systèmes robotisés à haute mobilité pour la chirurgie mini-invasive. Elle este basée sur un processus d'optimisation par algorithmes évolutionnaires mult-objectifs, couplés à une simulation réaliste de la tache chirurgicale qui prend en compte tous les paramètres nécessaires à l'évaluation fidèle des robots. Cette méthodologie de conception a été appliquée au geste de suture lors d'une procédure de pontage coronarien. Elle aboutit à l'obtention d'un instrument chirurgical robotisé adapté, doté de 9 degrés de liberté: DRIMIS. Un prototype en a été réalisé et ses performances cinématiques évaluées.