This thesis deals with method development in asymmetric catalysis and specifically syntheses of enantioenriched O-functionalized cyanohydrins. The first part describes the development of a method for the synthesis of O‑alkoxycarbonylated and O-acylated cyanohydrins. Ethyl cyanoformate and acyl cyanides were added to aldehydes in a reaction catalyzed by a chiral dimeric Ti-salen complex together with a tertiary amine. High yields and enantioselectivities were in most cases obtained. Mechanistic studies were performed and a reaction mechanism was proposed. ­ The second part describes a method in which the undesired minor enantiomer in a Lewis acid–Lewis base-catalyzed acylcyanation is continuously recycled into prochiral starting material. Close to enantiopure O‑acylated cyanohydrins were obtained in high yields. The third part deals with asymmetric acylcyanations of ketones. Acetyl cyanide was found to add to α‑ketoesters in a reaction catalyzed by a chiral Lewis base. Yields up to 77% and 82% ee were obtained. The final part describes an enzymatic method for high-throughput analysis of O‑acylated cyanohydrins. The enantiomeric excess and conversion were determined for products obtained from a number of aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes. / QC 20100818

Obiettivo del lavoro è lo studio sistematico di tre complessi monumentali della città di Hierapolis di Frigia (Pamukkale, Denizli, Turchia) caratterizzati dall'adozione dell'ordine dorico, ossia il portico del terrazzo inferiore del Santuario di Apollo, la Stoà di Marmo e le facciate della Via di Frontino. La ricerca, fondata sull'osservazione analitica dei blocchi architettonici, ha mirato a restituire, in prima istanza, l'immagine complessiva dei singoli edifici, con ricostruzioni grafiche delle planimetrie e dei prospetti, ma anche a comprendere la “vita” del monumento, ossia la sua destinazione d'uso ed il suo significato pratico ed ideologico all'interno dell'ambito cittadino. Ampio spazio è riservato inoltre allo studio degli aspetti tecnici e formali, che permettono di fare luce sull'attività delle botteghe locali coinvolte nella lavorazione del marmo e del travertino, con attenzione alle loro relazioni con gli altri centri dell'alta valle del Meandro. L'esame degli edifici ierapolitani si accompagna all'analisi dei modelli architettonici sviluppati nel corso dell'età ellenistica in Asia Minore, al fine di valutare correttamente il ruolo del contesto locale nell'elaborazione di nuovi tipi architettonici. L'inquadramento cronologico dei vari complessi, condotto tramite l'esame dei caratteri formali, dei dati epigrafici e stratigrafici, consente di ampliare la conoscenza della storia urbanistica della città di Hierapolis nel corso del I sec. d.C. / Purpose of the present work is the systematic analysis of three monuments of the ancient city of Hierapolis in Phrygia (Pamukkale, Denizli, Turkey), which are distinguished by the Doric order: the porticus of the lower terrace of the Apollo Sanctuary, the Marble Stoà and the façades of the Frontinus Street. The research is based on the analytic examination of the architectonical blocks and, in the first place, aims at gaining the ancient image of the buildings developing graphic reconstructions of their plans and fronts, but also wants to define the “life” of the monuments, their practical and ideological meaning in the urban context. Special attention is given to the study of the technical and morphological aspects, to understand the relationships of the local workshops with those of the other cities of the Meander valley. The analysis of the Doric buildings of Hierapolis goes together with the study of the architectural patterns developed during the Hellenistic age in Asia Minor, to achieve the correct view of the local context in the creation of new architectonical types. The chronological definition of the buildings, by means of the analysis of stylistic features, epigraphical and stratigraphical data, allows us to define with more details the urbanistic history of Hierapolis during the Ist century A.D.

This monograph on the œuvre of contemporary American author and multimedia artist Shelley Jackson addresses the question of how literary works employ language to evoke sense impressions. Gilles Deleuze’s notion of aesthetic percepts is drawn on to develop a theory of literary phantom sensations which is then tested on the work of Jackson and related authors.  Although imperceptible as such, it is argued that percepts are made perceptible in art in sense-specific forms as phantom sensations. “Phantom” is not meant to indicate a pale shadow of real sensations but the intensely perceived realness of phantom limb phenomena, in accordance with Deleuze’s understanding of the virtual as real but not actual. For the sake of clarity, literary phantom sensations are divided into phantom smells, tastes, touches, sights and sounds, with a chapter devoted to each in turn. It is found that different phantom sensations serve different functions in Jackson’s work, correlated to the cultural history of the senses as outlined by recent sensory scholarship.  Phantom smells are associated with Deleuze’s concept of becoming due to their liminality. Phantom tastes contribute to an aesthetics of distaste in which shades of disgust are cultivated and drawn upon for literary effect. Phantom touch creates conceptual intimacy and invites the reader to handle words like toys in a game. Phantom sight is turned back upon itself in an anatomy of the eye. Phantom hearing is associated with forms of ventriloquism in which it is unclear who is speaking through whom and in which language itself throws its voice. However, it is also found that all phantom sensations similarly serve to create a material and affective connection between the body of the reader and the body of the text. Throughout the dissertation, Jackson’s work is read against and alongside that of other writers such as Djuna Barnes, Neil Bartlett, Brigid Brophy and Leonora Carrington. Together these form a trajectory termed minor writing for queers to come, which is meant to indicate that aesthetic and sexual-political  radicalism go hand in hand.  Furthermore, Jackson’s work is described as a form of body writing informed by feminist body art and écriture féminine. Specifically, Jackson takes her cue from early modern anatomical blazons and describes living bodies in pieces.  Her work is also described as object writing: a literary equivalent to surrealist object art.  A central method for making words more like things is to arrange her texts spatially rather than temporally, as exemplified by her electronic hypertexts.

Umeå University, Sweden, 2013 Title: Mindre avvikelse från detaljplan - Kartläggning och undersökning av tillåtna mindre avvikelser från detaljplan i Umeå kommun år 2012 English title: Minor deviation from local plan – Survey and analysis of allowed minor deviations from local plan in the municipality of Umeå, Sweden year 2012 Author: Elise Ljung Language: Swedish, with an English abstract Department: Department of Geography and Economic History   The aim with this essay is to analyse the frequency of minor deviations from the local plans in the municipality of Umeå year 2012. The analysis includes what kind of building arrangements that are deviating from the local plan, in what way these buildings are deviating, what kind of buildings that are concerned of deviations and what kind of applicants that apply for building permits that are deviating from the local plan. The provisions that are concerning minor deviations are presented in the results. The analyse is also investigating why deviations are made from the social plans and how the spatial distribution of minor deviations are in the municipality of Umeå and the urban areas of Umeå.   The survey is made from datasets provided by the office of building permits in the municipality of Umeå. The data has been encoded and categorised into four main categories; Type of applicant, type of building, type of building arrangement and type of deviation from local plan. The mapping of data has been made using the property map provided by the Ordnance Survey of the municipality of Umeå.   According to the survey extensions of buildings applied for by private housing owners are the most common minor deviations that are allowed and the deviation from the plan are placement of the extension part. The minor deviations are not a spatial phenomenon in the municipality of Umeå. The occurrence of minor deviations is evenly distributed in the municipality and in the urban areas as well. Provisions of the Planning -and Building act says that a minor deviation from the local plan can be made under conditions that the deviation is small and do not contradicts against the aim of the local plan.

Den här uppsatsen är skriven inom ramen för ämnet Krigsvetenskap under författarens studier på Yrkesofficersprogrammet 2006-2009 till arméteknisk officer. I Ammunitions- och minröjning i modern konflikt ges läsaren genom deskriptiv metod en exposé över ammunitions- och minröjningens grunder, historia och nutid. Uppsatsens generella syften är att avhandla problematik som svenska ammunitions- och minröjare i sitt yrkesutövande idag kan ställas inför. Och hur delar av den tekniska organisationen och teknisk utrustning för detektion, lokalisering och klassificering av minor, Explosive remnants of war (ERW), Improvised explosive device (IED) och försåt kan bidra till att lösa denna problematik. Författaren genomför utifrån sina intervjuer och litteraturstudier prediktioner av den kommande utvecklingen på området. Prediktionerna innefattar bland annat tydligare teknisk stödorganisation och multisensorplattformar för detektion, lokalisering och klassificering av minor, ERW och IED. I texten redovisas viss forskning från Totalförsvarets forskningsinstitut (FOI) och visst arbete vid Försvarets materielverk (FMV), Totalförsvarets ammunitions- och minröjningscentrum (SWEDEC). / This essay is written in the course of War science during the author’s studies to become an Officer in the technical corps, in the Swedish armed forces. Due to the descriptive method in Explosive Ordnance Disposal and demining in modern conflict the reader gets an exposé of the basics, history, and present time features for the Swedish EOD- and Demining personnel. The main purpose with this essay is to discuss the problems that Swedish Explosive ordnance clearance (EOC) personnel might encounter in their current daily service. The opportunities for parts of the supporting technical corps and the technical equipment for detecting, locating and classifying mines, Explosive remnants of war (ERW), Improvised explosive device (IED) and booby-traps to be at hand in the process of solving these problems are also discussed. From interviews and literature studies the author conducts predictions of the development in the subject area. The predictions contains amongst others a more understandable supporting technical corps and multi-sensing-platforms for detecting, locating and classifying mines, ERW, IED and booby-traps. Some of the research that the Swedish defence research agency (FOI), the Swedish Defence Material Administration (FMV) and the Swedish EOD- and Demining Centre (SWEDEC) have produced is presented in the essay.

Denna studie handlar om pelletering som möjlig lönsam marginalaffär vid mindre sågverk/hyvlerier. Studien, vilken skett genom djupintervjuer på plats, omfattar fem olika mindre sågverk/hyvlerier i Småland. Verksamheterna är sinsemellan på många sätt olika men har samtliga satsat på pelletering av ekonomiska skäl och av miljöskäl. Studien visar att pelletering är lönsam men också att det krävs vissa förutsättningar för att långsiktigt nå denna lönsamhet. Den viktigaste är långsiktig tillgång till råvara i form av torrt spån men det krävs även ett genuint intresse och en stor kunskap inom såväl teknik som trä för den som skall pelletera Detta beror på att produktionsprocessen är mycket komplicerad och även beroende av en del yttre omständigheter som t.ex. fukt, kyla och torka. Eftersom komplexiteten, och därmed den initiala personella insatsen är stor, bör man också uppnå vissa minimikvantiteter i produktionen. Studien visar också att det även krävs ett antal övriga element för att pelleteringen skall uppvisa den lönsamhet som en hastig förkalkyl ger vid handen. Klarar man att leva upp till de flesta av dessa finns det goda förutsättningar att pelletering över en konjunkturcykel kan medverka till att förbättra lönsamheten för den typ av mindre anläggningar som studerats. / This study is about pelleting as a possible profitable marginal business for minor saw-mills and planing mills. It has been carried out through in depth interviews of five different minor saw-mills and planing mills in Småland. These businesses are different themselves but all of them have invested in pelleting for financial and environmental reasons. The study shows that pelleting is profitable but also that a number of conditions must be fulfilled to reach profitability in the long run. The most important success factor is long-term access to raw material (dry chip) but the production process also demands a high interest and knowledge in wood and processing technology. This is due to the fact that the process is very complex and also depending on external circumstances like humidity, coldness and dryness. Due to this complexity and that the demand of manpower is rather high one should aim for producing at least a certain minimum quantity. The study also shows that there are a couple of other factors that are needed to be fulfilled to reach the profitability that the pre-calculation indicates. If most of these conditions are fulfilled there are very good possibilities that pelleting over a business cycle can contribute to an improved profitability for the type of businesses that have been studied.

Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (1714-1788) published his Versuch über die wahre Art das Clavier zu spielen in 1753 and 1762. It was the most important essay on keyboard performance practice of the mid-eighteenth century. The publication of this book also made C. P. E. Bach the most influential keyboard pedagogue of the eighteenth century. The last chapter of the Versüch, titled ¡§Improvisation¡¨, explains his concepts of ¡§Freie Fantasia¡¨ and provides suggestions for performing the fantasia. C. P. E. Bach points out that Freie Fantasia is a kind of composition in which the performer has much freedom for improvising and for expressing his emotion. This thesis is divided into three sections, excluding the introduction and the conclusion. The first section discusses the development of the fantasia before the eighteenth century. It explores the change of styles and compositional technique of the fantasia from the sixteenth to the eighteenth century. The second part includes an introduction of the life of C. P. E. Bach, his style of composition, technique of improvisation and how he applies his improvisational techniques in his fantasia. The third part provides the definition of ¡§Freie Fantasia¡¨, discusses the influences of J. S. Bach¡¦s Chromatic Fantasia and Fugue in D Minor on him, and elaborates on the characteristics of the Freie Fantasia, including the recitative style, meter-free and formal structure, virtuosic passages, bold modulations, and the use of contrasting materials. Examples are also provided in this part.

This thesis investigates the formal aspects of the bath-gymnasium complex plan type which was developed in Asia Minor during the Roman era in relation to the development of the the imperial thermae in Rome, the capital city of the Roman Empire. Close resemblances in the architectural configuration of bath-gymnasium complexes and imperial thermae are analyzed in order to provide complementary insight concernin the evolution of Roman bath architecture and bathing tradition. The comparative investigation of the formal aspects of the plan types reveals the contribution of Asia Minor and its role in influencing the architectural developments in the capital. The thesis concentrates on the development of the bath-gymnasium complex plan type in Asia Minor and the imperial thermae in Rome in order to elucidate the outcomes of mutual influence in criss-crossing Greek and Italic features. Crucial to this investigation ,s the understanding of the multiple effects of historical processes such as Hellenization, Romanization and urbanization that were synthesized in the bath architecture of the capital and the provinces. Also, the symbolic, cosmological, and political aspects of Roman bath architecture are highlighted ,n this thesis.

The thesis entitled “Design and Synthesis of Benzimidazole Based Templates in Duplex and Quadruplex DNA Recognition and in Topoisomerase Inhibition” deals with the design and synthesis of several benzimidazole based molecules and their interaction with duplex and quadruplex DNA structures. It also elucidates the inhibition effect of the compounds on the activity of topoisomerase I enzyme of parasitic pathogen Leishmania donovani. The work has been divided into five chapters. Chapter 1: An Introduction to DNA and its Interaction with Small molecules. The first chapter provides an introduction to the double helical structure of DNA and the central dogma that suggests the flow of genetic information from DNA to RNA to protein. This chapter also presents an overview on the various types of small molecules that interact with duplex and quadruplex structures of DNA or interfere with the activity of DNA targeted enzymes like topoisomerase. This chapter describes the importance of such molecules as chemotherapeutic agents. Chapter 2 deals with three isomeric, symmetrical bisbenzimidazole derivatives bearing pyridine on the two termini. The syntheses, duplex DNA binding and computational structure analyses of the molecules have been divided into two sections. Chapter 2A: Novel Symmetrical Pyridine Derivatized Bisbenzimidazoles: Synthesis and Unique Metal Ion Mediated Tunable DNA Minor Groove Binding. The first chapter deals with the synthesis and double stranded (ds) DNA binding characteristics of the three bisbenzimidazole derivatives. Despite being positional isomers, their relative binding affinities towards ds-DNA varied considerably. Fluorescence, circular dichroism and temperature dependent UV-absorption spectroscopy have been employed to characterize ligand-DNA binding interaction. All spectroscopic studies revealed the strong A-T selective DNA binding affinities of the p- and m-pyridine derivatized molecules (p-pyben and m-pyben respectively) and indicated dramatically weak binding interaction of the ortho derivative (o-pyben) to ds-DNA. Additionally, unique transition metal ion mediated tunable DNA binding shown by o-pyben has been described in this chapter. While the ds-DNA binding characteristics of p- and m-pyben remained unaffected in presence of metal ions, that of o-pyben could be reversibly ‘switched off’ in the presence of divalent transition metal ions like Co2+, Ni2+, and Cu2+. Addition of EDTA reversed the effects and DNA binding was again observed. This interesting observation provides valuable insight into the DNA recognition property of these isomeric bisbenzimidazole derivatives. Figure 1. Molecular structures of pyridine derivatized symmetrical bisbenzimidazoles. Chapter 2B: Differential Binding of Positional Isomers of Symmetric Bisbenzimidazoles on DNA Minor-Groove: A Computational study. To explain the weak DNA binding affinity of o-pyben, compared to p- or m-pyben, detailed ab initio/DFT computational analyses of the inherent structural features of the three isomers were performed both in the gas-phase and in water. The study revealed the presence of intramolecular hydrogen bond existing in the opyben, between the benzimidazole proton (H3) and the pyridine nitrogen (N1). Additionally, potential energy scans for rotation about the bonds connecting the pyridine-benzimidazole and benzimidazole-benzimidazole fragments were performed. This revealed surprising conformational rigidity existing in the o- isomer that resisted any out-of-plane twisting of the pyridine-benzimidazole fragment. The presence of intramolecular H-bonding was further confirmed by experimental determination of pKa of the three isomers. The molecules being bisbenzimidazole derivatives bound to the minor groove of ds-DNA, the benzimidazole protons forming hydrogen bonded interactions with the DNA bases. However in the o- derivative, the intramolecular hydrogen bonding made the crucial benzimidazole protons unavailable for DNA binding thereby leading to its poor interaction with DNA. Chapter 3. Novel Series of Anthra[1,2-d]imidazole-6,11-dione Derivatives: Synthesis, DNA Binding and Inhibition of Topoisomerase I of Leishmania donovani This chapter describes the synthesis of nine imidazole fused anthraquinone derivatives and their interaction with double-stranded DNA, investigated by UV-visible absorption spectroscopy and viscometric titrations. Figure 2. Molecular structures of the imidazole fused anthraquinone derivatives. All the molecules showed intercalative mode of binding to double stranded DNA, though their relative binding affinities were different. Next their inhibitory effects on the catalytic activity of topoisomerase I enzyme of Leismania donovani were investigated. L. donovani is the causative agent for human visceral leishmaniasis; a fatal disease affecting liver and spleen. Five out of the nine derivatives tested, proved to be extremely efficient inhibitors of the enzyme. Of them, three showed greater inhibition potency than camptothecin, a well-established topoisomerase I inhibitor and the precursor for several clinically useful anti-tumor drugs. The molecules were shown to inhibit by the stabilization of enzyme-DNA cleavable complex, and the inhibition efficiency was found to be highly dependent on the pKa of the side-chain nitrogen. These results provide useful insights towards developing more potent inhibitors of the parasitic enzyme. As the compounds are synthetically facile, chemically stable and possess long shelf life, they should be attractive candidates for design of novel family of topoisomerase I inhibitor. Indeed the nature of amine based side chain and its pKa would hold the key in such design. Chapter 4 deals with a series of symmetrical bisbenzimidazole derivatives in which the benzimidazole units have been connected via different aromatic linkers. The syntheses, duplex DNA interaction, topoisomerase inhibition and quadruplex DNA stabilization shown by these four molecules have been divided into two sections. Chapter 4A. Synthesis, Duplex DNA Binding and Topoisomerase I Inhibition by Symmetrical Bisbenzimidazole Derivatives with Aromatic Linkers. This chapter describes the synthesis of four symmetrical bisbenzimidazole derivatives bearing aromatic linkers, phenyl, naphthyl or anthryl between the benzimidazole rings. Next their interaction with duplex DNA was investigated using fluorescence and temperature dependent UV absorption spectroscopy and viscometric titration techniques. Addition of DNA caused fluorescence enhancement of the molecules implying their interaction with duplex DNA. All the four molecules on binding to double helical DNA induced thermal stabilization of the latter. Viscometric titration of calf thymus DNA with the four compounds revealed a partial-intercalative mode of binding for the anthracene derivatized molecule 4. Next, their inhibitory effects on the catalytic activity of topoisomerase I enzyme were studied. The anthracene derivatized compound (4) showed high inhibition of the enzyme catalyzed relaxation of supercoiled plasmid DNA. Naphthalene derivatized compound (3) exhibited weak inhibition whereas the derivatives bearing 1,4- and 1,3-disubstitued benzene (1 and 2 respectively) units showed no inhibition. Figure 3. Molecular structures of the symmetrical bisbenzimidazole derivatives. Chapter 4B. Quadruplex DNA Stabilization by Symmetrical Bisbenzimidazole Derivatives with Aromatic Linkers. The ability of the aforementioned molecules to stabilize G-quadruplex structures was investigated next. DNA quadruplex secondary structures are potential molecular targets for new generation chemotherapeutic drugs; hence there is an impetus in developing quadruplex targeting molecules. The Tetrahymena thermophilia telomeric sequence 5´-(T2G4)4-3´ was selected for the studies as it exhibits interesting structural polymorphism depending on whether quadruplex formation occurs in presence of Na+ or K+. Circular dichroism and fluorescence anisotropy techniques were used to study the interaction of these newly synthesized molecules with quadruplex DNA. Also thermal stabilization of quadruplex structure induced by the molecules was determined by temperature dependent UV absorption studies. The compounds 1, 3 and 4 stabilized Na+ induced quadruplex without causing any structural alterations of the latter. However, the m-phenyl linker bearing molecule 2, above a certain [ligand]/[DNA] concentration ratio, caused uniquestructural alteration of the Na+ induced quadruplex such that the CD-signature of the latter resembled that of a K+ induced quadruplex structure. This result was corroborated by quadruplex thermal melting data and fluorescence anisotropy. Interestingly this ligand was also able to induce secondary structure formation in randomly oriented ss-DNA, akin to K+ induced quadruplex structure, even in the absence of Na+ or K+. Chapter 5. Synthesis and DNA Binding of Novel Biscationic Dimers of Bisbenzimidazole Systems. This chapter describes the design, synthesis and ds-DNA binding properties of four dicationic dimers of bisbenzimidazoles. Targeting long base pair sequences in double helical DNA is a key issue in chemical biology and connecting different DNA binding modules by appropriate linkers is an attractive strategy for achieving the same. The precursor monomer unit was a bisbenzimidazole derivative and an analogue of Hoechst 33258. Two such moieties were connected via bisoxyethylenic or 6- or 3-methylenic or piperazinyl units to achieve linker of varying length, rigidity and hydrophilicity. To study the interaction of the dimers with duplex DNA, fluorescence and circular dichroism spectroscopy were used. Two of the dimers, (bbim-2ox-bbim and bbim-6met-bbim) bearing long flexible spacers, were able to target 13-AT base pairs long oligonucleotide sequences in a 1:1 binding mode with an affinity 8-10 times better than the precursor monomer or Hoechst 33258. Also thermal denaturation experiments showed high duplex stabilization induced by the same two dimers. All studies indicated a bidentate mode of binding where both the arms of the dimers participated in DNA binding. The molecules bearing the short and rigid linkers (bbim-3met-bbim and bbimpiper- bbim) on the other hand showed low binding affinity towards duplex DNA, as indicated by fluorescence, circular dichroism and thermal melting studies. The short linkers probably did not favor simultaneous binding of both the monomeric arms of the dimers to DNA minor groove. The work reported in this chapter indicates the strong influence of the length and nature of linker in determining drug/DNA binding affinity. Figure 4. Molecular structures of dicationic dimeric bisbenzimidazole derivatives.(Refer PDF File)

<p>Knowledge is the Key</p><p>- Internet access, utilization and opinions in Grenada, West Indies</p><p>Information and knowledge contributes to growth and development through empowering individuals and communities, creating opportunities to improve their living conditions. Technology is advancing rapidly and the Information and Communication Technology, ICT, provides new ways to attain information. Especially the Internet is regarded to be a source of information and knowledge. However, there are still many places in the world where Internet access is not yet available to everyone. The consequences are that people in developing countries do not get the opportunity to benefit from the new technology and the possibilities it brings.</p><p>The research for this thesis was carried out in Grenada during November and December 2006. Grenada is a small independent island in the English speaking Caribbean, where only a small percentage of the population has Internet access. The purpose of the study is to examine if a selection of young individuals in Grenada can obtain enhanced knowledge through using the Internet. Furthermore, the study intends to depict what attitudes and opinions can be found among the youths, focusing on the possibilities as well as the negative effects of the Internet.</p><p>This study was conducted trough a qualitative orientated methodological perspective with strategically selected respondents between 11 and 35 years old. Qualitative interviews were being made with nine individuals who were using the Internet regularly.</p><p>The conclusion of this thesis is that organized strategies and projects are required, with the aim to create motives for the young generation of Grenada to obtain enhanced knowledge through Internet usage. The access and availability in itself is not enough, because seeking information and knowledge is not the main purpose when the youths are using the Internet. Nevertheless, the respondents stated that the Internet is considered to be a source of information and knowledge and that they know where and how to find information when using the Internet, if they wanted to. The result also reveals an overall positive attitude towards the Internet and the future among the youths, yet still well aware of the negative consequences. The respondents expressed a desire to be able to keep up with the technology and wished for increased and improved accessibility and connectivity in Grenada.</p><p>Another interesting conclusion this research generated is the confirmation of the digital divide as a matter of global stratification, rather than differences between countries. Regardless of the country of origin, people with Internet access will have advantages in life and benefit from the technology, unlike those who have no access and hence, will fall even further behind.</p>