Yes / In this study, polyacrylonitrile (PAN_P) nanofibers (NFs) were fabricated by electrospinning. The PAN_P NFs membrane was functionalized with diethylenetriamine to prepare a functionalized polyacrylonitrile (PAN_F) NFs membrane. TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) synthesized in the laboratory were anchored to the surface of the PAN_F NFs membrane by electrospray to prepare a TiO2 NPs coated NFs membrane (PAN_Coa). A second TiO2/PAN_P composite membrane (PAN_Co) was prepared by embedding TiO2 NPs into the PAN_P NFs by electrospinning. The membranes were characterized by microscopic, spectroscopic and X-ray techniques. Scanning electron micrographs (SEM) revealed smooth morphologies for PAN_P and PAN_F NFs membranes and a dense cloud of TiO2 NPs on the surface of PAN_Coa NFs membrane. The attenuated total reflectance in the infrared (ATR-IR) proved the addition of the new amine functionality to the chemical structure of PAN. Transmission electron microscope images (TEM) revealed spherical TiO2 NPs with sizes between 18 and 32 nm. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) patterns and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) confirmed the existence of the anatase phase of TiO2. Surface profilometry da-ta showed increased surface roughness for the PAN_F and PAN_Coa NFs membranes. The adsorption-desorption isotherms and hysteresis loops for all NFs membranes followed the IV -isotherm and the H3 -hysteresis loop, corresponding to mesoporous and slit pores, respectively. The photocatalytic activities of PAN_Coa and PAN_Co NFs membranes against methyl orange dye degradation were evaluated and compared with those of bare TiO2 NPs.The higher photocatalytic activity of PAN_Coa membrane (92%, 20 ppm) compared to (PAN_Co) NFs membrane (41.64%, 20 ppm) and bare TiO2 (49.60%, 20 ppm) was attributed to the synergy between adsorption, lower band gap, high surface roughness and surface area.

No description available.

L’objectif principal de la thèse concerne la mise au point d'une méthode de piégeage et d'analyse quantitative de métaux cancérogènes ou susceptibles de l'être dans les urines, en permettant de s'affranchir du transport de l'échantillon sous forme liquide. Parmi les éléments traces métalliques (ETM), nous nous sommes intéressés plus particulièrement aux espèces du cobalt et du nickel. L'approche présentée repose sur l'extraction solide/liquide des ions métalliques par complexation sur des matériaux mésoporeux hybrides organo-minéraux à grande surface spécifique. Les matériaux adsorbant sélectionnés sont des silices fonctionnalisées par des groupements dithiocarbamate. Après avoir préparé ces supports par greffage au moyen de nouveaux précurseurs siloxydithiocarbamate, les matériaux fonctionnels ont été caractérisés par diverses techniques physico-chimiques et leur comportement en solution a été étudié. Il en ressort que les interactions entre ces fonctions dithiocarbamate et la surface de la silice peuvent conduire à une perte des greffons en milieu aqueux surtout pour des séjours prolongés en solution. Néanmoins, ces solides ont pu être exploités avec succès pour l’immobilisation quantitative des espèces CoII et NiII à partir de solutions diluées (de 1 à 500 µg.L-1), et ce dans la gamme de pH susceptible d’être rencontrée en milieu urinaire. Cette étude a nécessité la mise au point d’une méthode analytique de routine pour la détermination simultanée et quantitative de ces éléments en solution. Il s’agit de la chromatographie haute performance pour laquelle les meilleurs résultats ont été obtenus au moyen la technique dite de commutation de colonne. Les opérations d’adsorption se sont révélées être rapides, ce qui a permis d’opérer efficacement lors de la mise en œuvre de cartouches au travers desquelles les échantillons ont été percolés. Des efforts ont également été consentis de manière à définir les conditions optimales de désorption en vue de l’analyse quantitative des analytes précédemment accumulés. / The main object of the thesis concerns the development of a trapping method for quantitative analysis of carcinogenic - or likely to be - metal ions in urine, allowing to avoid sample transport in a liquid form. Among the metal ions a trace levels, we have been particularly interested in cobalt and nickel species. The approach presented here is based on solid/liquid extraction of metal ions by complexation on mesoporous organic-inorganic hybrid materials with large specific surface areas. The selected adsorbents are silica gels functionalised with dithiocarbamate groups. After their preparation by post-synthesis grafting using new siloxydithiocarbamate precursors, the functionalized silica gels have been characterized by various physico-chemical techniques and their behaviour in solution has been investigated. It shows that interactions between dithiocarbamate moieties and the silica surface can lead to a loss of grafted groups in the external solution, especially for extended periods in aqueous medium. However, these hybrids have been successfully used for quantitative sequestration of CoII and NiII from dilute solutions (1 to 500 µg L-1), within the pH range likely to be encountered in urinary environment. This study has also involved the development of an analytical method for the simultaneous and quantitative determination of these elements in solution. This was based on high performance liquid chromatography for which the best results were obtained using the switching column technique. Adsorption operations have proven to be very fast, which has allowed operating effectively in the implementation of cartridges through which the samples have been percolated. Efforts have also been made to define the optimal conditions for desorption, which was then applied to the quantitative analysis of analytes previously accumulated in the cartridge.

The aim of the study was to describe the reproductive biology of wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthi) and to relate this to aspects of their ecology and social organisation. Within this general framework the specific aims were: (a) To determine the reproductive potential of female chimpanzees and to assess the limits this places on species' reproduction; (b) To examine the adaptive significance of female reproductive physiology in terms of optimal reproductive success; (c) To examine environmental constraints on reproduction; (d) To describe copulatory behaviour and the nature of the three mating patterns shown by wild chimpanzees, and to assess the adaptive significance of the flexible mating system; (e) To relate reproductive behaviour to social organisation in an attempt to assess the role of sexual selection in the evolution of chimpanzee social behaviour and structure.

Ruminants possess a unique digestive system. Using the high metabolic potential of the symbiotic microflora of the rumen, ruminants are capable of digesting plant material and obtaining nutrients and energy from this process. Because of the ruminal fermentation, the most bioactives are not stable in the harsh ruminal environment. Therefore there is a need to improve the bioavailability of a bioactive by protecting it from the ruminal digestion. The formulation of protected bioactive can be delivered in the rumen in a controlled manner and over a long period of time. In this project the degree of rumen protection was estimated using model substrates (sugar pellets and granules). These materials were coated with the pH-sensitive polymer Eudragit E. The model bioactive (phloridizin) was coated using the coating methodology adopted from exploratory studies with model substrates. The bioavailability of protected (coated) phloridizin was assessed by administering directly into the abomasum of fistulated cows. Formulation of protected phloridizin was used to demonstrate the feasibility of bioactive controlled delivery based on ART ( Active Rumen Technology ). This technology uses an elevated gas pressure created by a hydrogen-producing cell to drive a plunger which extrudes bioactive formulation from an intraruminal controlled-release device. Four groups of devices filled with formulation containing different amounts of protected phloridizin were tested. The bioactive was released in a controlled manner over several days. The formulation release profiles were reproducible suggesting that in principle the technology can be further developed to use in a commercial sense or for research purposes. The limitations of the technology, including formulation issues and gas diffusion through barrel walls, were identified.

Thesis (M.A.) -- Central Connecticut State University, 2006. / Thesis advisor: C. Charles Mate-Kole. "... in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in International Studies" Includes bibliographical references (leaves 113-117). Also available via the World Wide Web.

Thesis--Copenhagen. / "Udsendes samtidig som bd. 2 i Skrifter utgivna av Gustav Adolfs akademien för folklivsforskning i Uppsala." "Zusammenfassung": p. [158]-168.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Oregon, 2002. / Typescript. Includes vita and abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 221-234). Also available for download via the World Wide Web; free to University of Oregon users.

Marcus Mosiah Garvey was the leader of the largest and most populous Black Nationalist movement of the early twentieth century. The movement began in Colonial Jamaica in 1914 but became a transnational phenomenon having its greatest success in the United States and a rather variegated existence throughout the rest of the globe. The difference in trajectories of the Garvey movement has created a localized approach to the study of the movement. American historians have been at the forefront of this approach. To that end, this thesis attempts to unite the localized histories of the Garvey movement in order to emphasize the ideological continuities and discontinuities of this movement, a creation of colonial disaffection. / History of Garveyism in Jamaica, North America and West Africa

No description available.