Licentiatavhandling (sammanfattning) Linköping : Linköpings universitet , 2006. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

This study classified and compared the judicial procedures that mirrored the criminal justice system with judicial procedures that were less formal and more student-oriented. The judicial procedures of Mississippi’s Community and Junior Colleges are the focus of the study. Each school’s judicial procedure was classified and placed on a continuum based upon its formality. Formality was determined by analyzing the terminology, characteristics and structure of an institution’s judicial procedure. After each school’s judicial procedure was classified, various outcomes (total number of cases adjudicated, total number of appeals filed, number of sanctions overturned by appeal, the rate of recidivism, and lawsuits filed against the institution that were related to a judicial hearing) were studied to determine which type of judicial procedure was most effective in adjudicating students. The results of the study indicated that there was no significant difference between judicial procedures that were highly legalistic and resembled the criminal justice system and those judicial procedures that were less formal and more student development oriented. Furthermore, it was determined that high formality institutions adjudicated more students than both low and medium formality institutions. Finally, it was discovered that a judicial procedure that had a combination of legalistic principles and student development theory would be the most effective method of adjudicating students.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2001. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 153-169).

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The dynamic properties of Leighton Buzzard sand have been investigated using a resonant column test apparatus. These data are compared with very low frequency cyclic tests on identical specimens. The comparison indicates that the properties of dry sand are independent of frequency, while those of fluid saturated sand are sensitive to the viscosity of the fluid and therefore to the frequency of oscillations. A one-dimensional model of kinematic hardening plasticity is used to predict the dynamic behaviour of the sand. The input parameters for this model are based on the results of static tests. These may be conducted on standard laboratory equipment with only minor modifications. The predictions are in good agreement with the measured data. In particular, the frequency response close to resonance is correctly shown to be asymmetric and the reduction in the resonant frequency with increasing strain amplitude is also correctly represented. The model has been used to generate a series of design curves that allow the dynamic behaviour of foundations to be predicted. Two design examples are given; an offshore gravity structure and a radar installation. The input parameters are based on a hyperbolic shear stress-shear strain equation for the soil. The practical consequences of these findings are assessed with regard to soil testing procedures and dynamic analyses of foundations.

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Current sensors employed in medicine are used to detect chemical and biochemical abnormalities. Their applications range from biopsy (brain), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (spinal fluid), blood (bio-barcode), and sweat and urine bio-diagnostics where the primary focus is the selection of biomarkers that can pinpoint the occurrence of the disease. Emerging sensors for cholesterol detection are based on enzymatic functions, which degrade these molecules, where the signal can be visualized optically by using a transducer. Cholesterol is a steroid metabolite that is employed for the synthesis of steroid hormones, and the establishment of proper membrane permeability and fluidity. Since cholesterol is insoluble in blood, it is transported in the circulatory system within lipoproteins, complex spherical particles which have an exterior comprising of amphiphilic proteins and lipids with outward-facing surfaces that are water-soluble and inward-facing surfaces that are lipid-soluble. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is known as ‘bad’ cholesterol. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is known as ‘good’ cholesterol. LDL is linked to cardiovascular conditions such as atherosclerosis and hypertension, which ultimately lead to coronary heart disease, myocardial and cerebral infarction (stroke). An appropriate therapeutic response to a sensor system for cholesterol, specifically LDL, detection implicates the design of an implantable system for stimuli-responsive drug release. The proposed system was designed to detect specific biochemical changes by employing nanoparticles made of glyceryl behenate, polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene block copolymer, avidin, biotin and anti-beta lipoprotein antibodies as sensors. This was achieved by coating nanoparticles with antibodies specific to the antigen (i.e. LDL) to create an antibody-conjugated antibody conjugated solid lipid nanoparticles (henceforth known as ‘antibody conjugated SLN). Fenofibrate was used as a model drug due to its low water solubility and to its lipophilic properties similar to statins. The antibody conjugated SLNs were of 150nm in size and had a zeta potential of -28mV. Their drug entrapment efficacy was 86%, with a drug release of 16mg/day due to Fickian diffusion and erosion mechanism. The slow release was due semi-crystalline structure determined by XRD and DSC. Antigen responsive hydrogel was designed by incorporation of thiolated antibody conjugated SLN via Traut’s reagents, polyethylene glycol diacrylate, methyl acrylic acid and polyethylene glycol 200. The osmotic pump was designed from polyethylene oxide, ethyl cellulose and mannitol. The drug reservoir was synthesized from ethyl cellulose coated gelatin capsule via coacervation phase separation method. The polymeric tube synthesized from ethyl cellulose, methyl cellulose and castor oil was coated with antigen responsive hydrogel. Ex vivo studies evaluating intravascular stability of the implant in correlation with mechanical analysis indicated the polymeric tube unstable. An 18-gauge catheter was used for forming an infusion tube as a substitute for the polymeric tube. The implant showed a correlation of Korsmeyer-Peppas drug release during in vivo and in vitro studies. A constant drug release of 881μg/day was observed during in vivo. This played a role in reduction of total cholesterol by means of reduction in LDL sub-fractions by 30%; in correlation with LDL particle enhance clearance from the plasma due to SLN-LDL uptake. An increase by 46% in HDL was observed, which correlated to fenofibrate therapeutic effect. Pharmacokinetic analysis indicated improved mean residence time and efficacy. This indicated that the device could be used for delivery of lipophilic drugs and detection of circulating biomarkers.

This dissertation provides evidence that information displays to support procedure following can aid performance and increase situational awareness and safety. The intent of such displays is to assist operators in not only following operational procedures, but also in comprehending the context of the procedures, enabling them to understand why, when, and how to deviate from the procedures if necessary. The results of the dissertation research show that the addition of procedure context increases situation awareness and reduces procedure-following errors, which has been shown to be a significant causative factor for accidents in aviation and other domains. In addition, a pilots ability to comprehend noncompliance appears to be limited, despite their interest in (and ability to) detect noncompliance. Pilots do not appear be able to interpret the consequences of that noncompliance, suggesting that the design of displays and procedures should assist them in doing so. The results also demonstrate that pilots attempted to use procedure information even when clearly outside the scope of the procedure. This means that procedures and procedure-support aids should consider operation outside of its normal bounds in their design, rather than only for nominal operation as is currently the case.