This thesis examines the phonetic, phonological, and social aspects of pre-aspiration in English spoken in Aberystwyth, mid Wales. Pre-aspiration refers to a period of voiceless (primarily) glottal friction occurring in the sequences of sonorants and phonetically voiceless obstruents (e.g. in mat [mahts] or mass [mahs]). Chapter 1 summarises the objectives of this thesis and where the thesis is positioned with respect to our current knowledge of the phenomenon and the relevant theoretical issues. Chapter 2 introduces the data used to address these objectives. Pre-aspiration is usually considered as consisting of a voiced glottal component, or breathiness, and a voiceless glottal component, or voiceless pre-aspiration, and these are treated as a single unit in a number of analyses (Helgason 2003; Helgason & Ringen 2008; Karlsson & Svantesson 2011; Morris 2010; Ringen & van Dommelen 2013; Stevens & Hajek 2004b, 2004c; Stevens 2010, 2011). Chapter 3 shows that this is not adequate because distinguishing the two enables us to discover patterns that would remain obscured otherwise – such as breathiness being a possible precursor to pre-aspiration. This is demonstrated through the segmental and prosodic conditioning of pre-aspiration and breathiness. Chapter 4 shows that although pre-aspiration is not an obligatory feature of Aberystwyth English (in the sense that it would occur in 100% of time where it can), it nevertheless forms two clear categories sensitive to phonological rather than phonetic vowel height. However, phonological vowel height on its own cannot explain these two categories and interacts with a number of other conditioning factors. Whilst Chapter 3 investigates the relationship between pre-aspiration and breathiness, Chapter 5 looks into that of pre-aspiration and glottalisation and demonstrates that the two can occur in the same environment, which enlightens the debates related to the historical connections between pre-aspiration and glottalisation in particular (e.g. Kortland 1988). It furthermore reveals that although it is not known why they are co-occurring for some speakers and mutually exclusive or allophonic for others, their relationship is conditioned prosodically and not segmentally. Chapter 6 illustrates that pre-aspiration is an acoustic correlate of the fortis-lenis contrast in plosives in production at least equally well as breathiness, voicing, release duration, or the duration of the preceding vowel, and better than voiceless closure duration, glottalisation, or f0 before or after the plosive in question in the word-medial (cotter [khɒhtsə] ~ codder [khɒdə]) and the word-final positions (cot ~ cod). It is therefore at least as important as the other four correlates. Chapter 7 finds that pre-aspiration also exhibits social conditioning. Females pre-aspirate more frequently than males, which is often found in pre-aspiration studies, but this difference disappears as the age decreases. Furthermore, the frequency of breathiness, and the duration of pre-aspiration and breathiness are not conditioned by gender. However, all four variables are affected by age. Pre-aspiration thus seems to be undergoing an advancing sound change according to Labov’s Principle II (2001: 292) and breathiness seems to be its precursor. Chapter 8 summarises the results and outlines questions for further research.

Introduction.: The evaluation and improvement of the quality of health care services begins with the knowledge about the trends and causes of diseases. Purpose: To describe the morbidity and mortality patterns for the under-5 year old children who were admitted in 11 district hospitals in Eastern Cape Province from 2000 to 2004. Methods: Descriptive study where a multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 11 district hospitals. There were 25,122 causes of paediatric ward admissions (2000 to 2004) among under-5 children from ward register were reviewed and ICD-10 coded. Findings: Pre-transitional causes were the leading causes of morbidity (68.4%) and mortality (74.2%) especially diarrhoeal lower respiratory tract infections and protein-energy malnutrition. There was particularly among male high infant morbidity and mortality rates observed from 2000 to 2004. Non-communicable diseases (8% morbidity and 4.2% mortality) and injuries (10% morbidity and 4.4% mortality) appeared to be of less public health concern among the under-5 children. Majority of under-5 mortality (43.4%) occurred within 24 hours of admissions (23.7% died on arrival). Influential variables for morbidity and mortality were region (Eastern), age (infants), year admitted and broad classification of the diseases (group I causes). There was a constant increase in morbidity and mortality which was observed during studied period. Conclusion: Pre-transitional causes (especially diarrhoeal, lower respiratory tract infections and protein energy malnutrition) were of public health concern among the under-5 children and their magnitude has increased over the years studied. Copyright / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Clinical Epidemiology / unrestricted

Purpose and methods: Effective parental education about newborn screening (NBS) may help to maximize the benefits and minimize the harms of screening. We investigated experiences, knowledge and opinions regarding NBS education among Ontario mothers. Mothers whose infants recently received NBS were invited to complete a mailed survey (n=1712). Results: Of the 750 participants, 93% recalled their infant receiving NBS, while 69% recalled receiving information about NBS. Of this group, fewer than 50% reported receiving information prenatally, yet a majority of mothers (64%) viewed this as the most important time for education. Those who received information prenatally reported higher satisfaction (OR 2.4). The 40% of mothers who recalled being informed about the meaning of results had higher knowledge about NBS (OR 2.7) and reported higher satisfaction (OR 4.2). Conclusions: Parental education about NBS could place greater emphasis on the prenatal period and on fostering understanding about the meaning of results.

The relevance of motivation has saturated many physical literacy definitions (Mandigo et al., 2006); however, the study of motivation in this context has generated minimal attention. Thus, the purpose of this study was to explore motivation with respect to physical literacy related to self-reported variety of physical activity engagement and predilection towards physical activity. Participants included 218 male and female students in grades 4-6. Deci and Ryan’s (1985) basic needs theory guided a thematic analysis of open-ended questions from the Canadian Assessment of Physical Literacy. Results indicated participants’ engagement in a variety of physical activities, and predilection towards physical activity was influenced by self-reported need satisfaction. Competence related more to engagement in a wide variety of physical activities while relatedness was found to relate more to predilection towards physical activity. Children who engaged in their physical activities for fun, and health benefits on average participated in a greater variety of physical activities.

Gasification is a promising technique for transforming solid biomass into a gas that can be used to produce renewable heat, power, fuels or chemicals. Biomass materials, such as forestry residues, can be high moisture, heterogeneous mixtures with low bulk density - properties that make them difficult to handle and convert. Consequently, this means that feedstock pre-treatment is usually necessary in order to facilitate its conversion by gasification. Pre-treatments methods, which include comminution, drying, pelletization, torrefaction, or carbonization will affect the properties of the biomass which will affect their gasification in a fluidized bed. The objective of this thesis was to determine how biomass pre-treatment can influence gasification in a fluidized bed. A single forestry residue was processed using five pre-treatment process levels: sieving (as a surrogate for comminution), drying (moisture content), pelletization, torrefaction, and carbonization. The fractions derived from these processes were gasified in a small pilot-scale air blown bubbling fluidized bed gasifier (feed rate 8 – 25 kg/h). The particle size and form had an impact on the gas composition, tar content, and cold gas efficiency of the gasification. Over the conditions tested, the finest fraction produced a gas with a H2/CO ratio of 0.36 – 0.47 containing 7 – 59 g/m3 tar (gravimetric) at a cold gas efficiency of 30 - 41%. The pellets on the other hand yielded a gas with a H2/CO ratio of 0.89 - 1.14, containing 3 – 37 g/m3 tar (gravimetric) at a cold gas efficiency of 41 – 60%. Drying, torrefaction and carbonization also had an impact on the gasification performance. Carbonization was able to reduce the yield of tar (as measured by gas chromatography) by more than 95% relative to the parent material. Finally, four different forestry residues were gasified in a large pilot-scale bubbling fluidized bed with air and steam-oxygen mixtures (feed rate 200 – 245 kg/h) in order to assess whether the comminution effect could be observed at the large scale. One feedstock with a significant portion of small particles showed the expected effects compared to the feed materials with large feed particles: lower H2/CO ratio, greater tar yield, lower cold gas efficiency while the other feed material containing a substantial amount of small particles did not show these effects.

The U5 snRNP is a major component of the yeast spliceosome, being part of the U4/U6.U5 tri-snRNP, the precatalytic spliceosome and the catalytically activated spliceosome. The U5 snRNP includes, at its heart, the U5 snRNA which contains the invariant Loop 1 that functions in tethering and aligning exons during splicing. The major protein components of the U5 snRNP are the highly conserved Prp8p, the GTPase Snu114p and the helicase Brr2p. These proteins and the U5 snRNA are integral in forming the active site of the spliceosome and regulating the dynamic changes of the spliceosome. The first part of this study aimed to express and purify specific domains of Snu114p to define the structure and function of Snu114p. The N-terminal region of Snu114p was successfully expressed and purified from bacteria. Addition of the Snu114p N-terminal fragment to in vitro splicing assays resulted in a first step splicing defect, indicating a role for the N-terminus in pre-mRNA splicing. NMR studies revealed that the N-terminus of Snu114p exists as an unstructured protein domain. Mutagenesis indicated that the N-terminus of Snu114p is tolerant to mutation. A novel genetic interaction between amino acids in the N-terminus of Snu114p and the 3’ side of the U5 snRNA IL1 was identified. It is proposed here that the N-terminus of Snu114p functions to stabilise interactions of Snu114p with other proteins or snRNAs, possibly the U5 snRNA. Alternatively, the N-terminus of Snu114p may form intramolecular interactions with other regions of Snu114p to regulate Snu114p function in pre-mRNA splicing.Prp8p, Snu114p and Brr2p are known to form a stable complex but their interactions with the specific domains of the U5 snRNA are not known. The second part of this study aimed to investigate the association of Brr2p, Snu114p and Prp8p with the U5 snRNA. Mutants of the U5 snRNA were constructed in the conserved Loop 1 and the Internal Loop 1 (IL1). The influences of the U5 snRNA mutations on interactions of Prp8p, Snu114p or Brr2p with the snRNA were investigated. It was revealed that Loop 1 and both sides of IL1 of the U5 snRNA are important in association of Brr2p, Snu114p and Prp8p. Mutations in the 3’ side of IL1 drastically reduce association of Brr2p, Snu114p and Prp8p with the U5 snRNA, highlighting this region as a potential ‘protein docking’ site within the U5 snRNP. Differences seen in the associations of Brr2p, Snu114p and Prp8p with U5 snRNA mutations demonstrate that although there are intimate interactions between Brr2p, Snu114p and Prp8p, they do not associate with the U5 snRNA as a tri-protein complex. Genetic screening of BRR2 and U5 snRNA mutants reveals an interaction between the N-terminal half of Brr2p and the 3’ side of U5 snRNA IL1. This supports the proposed ‘protein docking’ site at the 3’ side of the U5 snRNA IL1.Data presented in this study increases our understanding of the regions in the U5 snRNA required for association of the essential U5 snRNP proteins, Brr2p, Snu114p and Prp8p, and goes some way to elucidating the organisation of essential proteins within the U5 snRNP.

Permian to Triassic igneous rocks cropping out in the Coastal and Frontal cordilleras in northern Chile between 28 degrees 00'S and 30 degrees 15'S have long been interpreted to represent products of magmatism related to an extensional tectonic setting, either as the result of crustal anatexis or asthenospheric mantle decompression melting, in a passive continental margin. Eighty-six samples of plutonic (61) and volcanic (25) rocks from this region are characterized petrographically and geochemically. They are Permian to Early Jurassic in age, but the majority of the studied rocks correspond to the Lower to Middle Triassic Chollay Plutonic Complex, the volumetrically most important unit in the area. The rock samples have features typical of magmas derived from flux-induced melting of a depleted mantle such as: broad range of petrographic composition with predominance of intermediate to acid members, highly porphyrytic volcanic rocks, magnetite as the Fe-Ti oxide mineral phase, enrichment in LILE over HFSE, marked depletion in Nb, Ta, Ti, and P and moderate to no negative Eu anomalies. Few of the studied rock samples (<10%) have alkaline signature and trace element contents representative of anorogenic magmatism. In this work, we propose that subduction of an oceanic plate beneath the South American continent is responsible for the evolution of the margin from the Permian to Early Jurassic, at the studied latitudes. A preliminary interpretation of the margin architecture of the Andean margin from the Permian to the Triassic would be that the Chanchoquin and Chollay plutonic complexes represent the roots of a magmatic arc developed from the Permian to the Middle or early Late Triassic, whereas the Guanaco Sonso and Pastos Blancos formations would be the shallower parts of such arc. The La Totora Formation and some volumetrically minor Upper Triassic intrusive units represent magmatic products with alkaline signatures, which developed immediately before the establishment of the magmatic arc in the present-day Coastal Cordillera (during the Rhaetian to Early Jurassic).

Magister Educationis - MEd / This study involves a group of pre-service teachers who are specialising in Science and Mathematics education at a university in the Western Cape province of South Africa. The aim of the study was to investigate perceptions about the earth in space held by the pre-service natural science teachers. A related aim was to create awareness among the prospective teachers about various views that people hold about the earth as against the scientifically valid view (Govender, 2009, Plummer & Zahm, 2010, Schneps & Sadler, 1989). To determine and improve the prospective teachers’ perceptions and awareness about the significance of the earth in space the study adopted the dialogical argumentation model (DAIM) and spatial modelling as a theoretical framework (Ogunniyi, 2013). Further, the study used pre- and post-test data based on the responses of the pre-service teachers to questionnaires, focus group interviews and reflective diaries. The data set was analysed using a mixed methods approach (qualitative and quantitative). Results from the study show that most the pre-service teachers involved in the study hold both scientific and alternative conceptions about the earth in space. However, they seem to suppress the latter because they believe them to be unscientific. In addition they believe that their role is to impart scientific knowledge to learners. As has been revealed in a number of studies, some of the prospective teachers did not have much background in geography.

Orientador: Wagner Wey Moreira / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Educação Fisica / Made available in DSpace on 2018-07-20T18:07:25Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Porto_ElineTerezaRozante_M.pdf: 6147547 bytes, checksum: e9e20ba89183f6e133a182d8ccea40f7 (MD5) Previous issue date: 1994 / Resumo: O foco central deste estudo é desvelar se as mensagens corporais transmitidas pelos alunos da pré-escola, durante as atividades físicas, são percebidas e interpretadas pelo professor. A revisão de literatura está centrada nas discussões sobre o corpo e a sua potencialidade de comunicação nas relações com o mundo; a criança se relacionando com o professor, com as outras crianças e com o ambiente pré-escolar; e também, alguns aspectos sobre a situação da pré-escola, nos dias de hoje, onde a Educação Física faz parte desse contexto. A pesquisa é de ordem qualitativa, sob a abordagem fenomenológica, onde o instrumento utilizado para a coleta dos dados foi a observação descritiva, em quatro escolas da Rede Oficial de Ensino de Campinas, em classes de alunos pré-escolares. Os resultados analisados através das análises ideográfica e nomotética, posssibilitaram a compreensão do fenômeno investigado, revelando maior convergência para os aspectos que envolvem, diretamente, a didática do professor interferindo no processo ensino-aprendizagem. São eles: o corpo e sua fala; as relações intersubjetivas; o processo educativo e a ludicidade, e os aspectos motivacionais nas atividades físicas / Abstract: The main point of this research is to find out if the corporal messages transmitted by the kindergarten children, during their physical activities, are notticed and interpreted by the teacher. The literature revision is centralized in the discussions about the body and its communication potenciality in its relationship with the world: the relationship between the child and the teacher, the child with the other children and, the child and the kindergarten enviromnment. It is also taken in consideration some aspects about the kindergarten situation nowadays where physical Education is a part of this activities. The research is qualificative, under a phenomenological approach, where the instrumental used for the data assessment was the descriptive observation, in four different schools of the Official School Network of Campinas, in kindergarten classes. The analysis of the results throught the ideographical and nomotetical theories allows the comprehension of the phenomenon investigated, showing a higher convergence of the aspects directly involving, the teacher didatic interfering on the teaching ¿ learning process. They are: the body and its speech; the intersubjective relations, the educational process and its ludicrousness; and the motivational aspects in the physical activities / Mestrado / Mestre em Educação Física

Made available in DSpace on 2018-09-21T14:10:59Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 tese_10986_Dissertação final_VANESSA ALESSANDRA PARREIRA.pdf: 2452108 bytes, checksum: 73f04c7c0cadb8c6762242b9db8c4fa6 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-07-27 / Esta dissertação teve como objetivo compreender os sentimentos dos técnico-administrativos em educação do Campus Vitória, do Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia do Espírito Santo (Ifes) em fase de pré-aposentadoria. Sua justificativa reside no fato de que as pessoas, de modo geral, não estão preparadas para a aposentadoria, levantando dúvidas e demonstrando sofrimento quando esse momento decisivo em suas vidas vai se aproximando. Nesse cenário, a aposentadoria tem sido percebida como uma das perdas mais significativas na vida humana, com impactos nos campos social, ocupacional, financeiro e psicológico. A pesquisa foi realizada com 11 servidores técnico-administrativos em educação pertencentes ao Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia do Espírito Santo (Ifes), Campus Vitória, sendo 7 mulheres e 4 homens, com idades compreendidas entre 51 e 68 anos. A abordagem utilizada na pesquisa foi qualitativa, com dados coletados por meio de entrevista semiestruturada, cujas transcrições passaram pela análise de conteúdo de Bardin (2011). Ao final, percebeu-se a necessidade de implantar medidas no Campus, direcionadas aos servidores em fase de pré-aposentadoria. Como produto técnico resultante desta dissertação, é apresentada proposta de implantação de um Programa de Preparação para Aposentadoria (PPA) como Política Institucional no Ifes para preparar o servidor que pretende encerrar suas atividades na instituição, a fim de viabilizar a elaboração de projetos de vida após a ruptura de seu vínculo de trabalho. Esta dissertação foi desenvolvida em consonância à linha de pesquisa Gestão de Operações no Setor Público. Palavras-chave: Pré-aposentadoria. Servidor público. Percepção. Programa de Preparação para Aposentadoria.