Thesis (M.A.)--City University of Hong Kong, 2006. / "Dissertation submitted as part requirement for the degree of Master of Arts in arbitration and dispute resolution of the School of Law of the City University of Hong Kong" Title from PDF t.p. (viewed on May 22, 2007) Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.A.)--City University of Hong Kong, 2006. / "MA in arbitration and dispute resolution final year dissertation." Title from PDF t.p. (viewed on May 23, 2007) Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.A.)--City University of Hong Kong, 2006. / "Master of Arts in arbitration and disputes resolution [MAArbDR]" Title from PDF t.p. (viewed on May 23, 2007) Includes bibliographical references.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T12:46:31Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T13:56:22Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 07977.pdf: 2200288 bytes, checksum: 75fcd64975e2719bf0f41d38ec387c77 (MD5) / Dissertacao (Mestrado) / IPEN/D / Instituto de Pesquisas Energeticas e Nucleares - IPEN-CNEN/SP

<p> Zero tolerance policies in K-12 public schools are employed to address a wide range of misbehaviors that vary broadly and impact the educational setting in many negative ways. Administrators and teachers have shown an increased dependence on the use of outside law enforcement, suspensions and expulsions as interventions for disciplinary issues in the classroom. Since the early 1990s, the national discourse on school discipline has been dominated by the philosophy of zero tolerance, originally developed as an approach to the war on drugs and judicial enforcement (Skiba &amp; Rausch, 2006). Zero tolerance mandates the application of predetermined consequences, severe and punitive in nature, applied regardless of the gravity of behavior, mitigating circumstances or situational context. Such policies are widespread in schools across North America. The removal of students from the classroom setting for both major and minor disciplinary infractions creates significant emotional and academic risks to these students. </p><p> The purpose of this comparative case study analysis was to compare and contrast three related studies to examine the impact of restorative discipline practices as an alternative to punitive discipline approaches for administrators, staff and students who have participated in restorative practices. The research examines three K-12 public school settings in North America showcasing the implementation of restorative practices to determine if restorative measures are a viable alternative to punitive discipline. </p><p> The primary research question asked what did these studies show was the effectiveness of restorative practices as an approach to discipline? Also, what aspects of the school climate changed as a result of the adoption of the restorative practices model? Finally, how did leadership implement the restorative practices and create the necessary conditions for ownership of the new restorative practices plan? </p><p> The research reveals that restorative practices encourage relationship building as well as a cohesive sense of community. The studies showed that that the school communities utilized restorative practices as an additional disciplinary approach and a way to address harm done to individuals and the community as well as a way to reintegrate and reconnect individuals into the school community. Data also confirmed that restorative practices are an effective method of disseminating positive behavioral learning and assisting each individual&rsquo;s recognition of their role in a situation and the responsibility of an individual&rsquo;s actions. The studies further validated that the district and school leadership performed a pivotal function as restorative change was initiated and sustained.</p><p>

No description available.

Human Natural Killer (NK) cells are regulated by a variety of germ-line encoded activating and inhibitory receptors. Broadly, activating receptors detect ligands that are expressed or up-regulated on cancerous or infected cells, while inhibitory receptors bind self-molecules to induce tolerance against healthy cells. Highly homologous pairs of activating and inhibitory receptors are also expressed on NK cells, including Killer Ig-like Receptors KIR2DL1 and KIR2DS1, which bind the same ligands, class I MHC proteins from the C2 group. Here, two super-resolution microscopy techniques, stimulated emission depletion (STED) and ground state depletion microscopy followed by individual molecule return (GSDIM) were used to examine the nanometre-scale organization of KIR2DL1 and KIR2DS1, as well as molecules engaged in their signalling. Both receptors were observed to constitutively assemble in nanometre-scale clusters at the surface of NK cells but displayed differential patterns of clustering - the activating receptor KIR2DS1 formed nanoclusters 2.3-fold larger than its inhibitory counterpart KIR2DL1. Site-directed mutagenesis established that the size of nanoclusters was controlled by transmembrane amino-acid 233, a lysine in KIR2DS1. Mutated variant of KIR2DS1 in which lysine 233 was substituted with alanine formed significantly smaller clusters than the wild-type KIR2DS1. Reciprocally, substitution of isoleucine found at position 233 in KIR2DL1 sequence with lysine resulted in the receptor assembling into larger clusters. Super-resolution microscopy also revealed two ways in which KIR nanoclusters impact signalling. First, KIR2DS1 and DAP12 nanoclusters were juxtaposed in the resting-cell state but coalesced upon receptor ligation. Second, quantitative super-resolution microscopy revealed that membrane-proximal clusters of the kinase ZAP-70 or phosphatase SHP-1, as well as their phosphorylated active forms, were more often found in contact with larger KIR nanoclusters. Together, this work has established that size of KIR nanoclusters depends on the transmembrane sequence and impacts downstream signalling.

The efficiency of low voltage scanning electron microscopy, which presents near-surface information, has been well known for a long time. However, it is not widely known that the high resolution capability can only be achieved when the surface reveals the original characteristics of the materials without any deterioration due contamination. Therefore, initial attention in this study is directed at clarifying the efficient use of the ultra high resolution, low voltage SEM (UHRLV SEM), (Ultra55, Zeiss). The SEM images and the selected electrons for detection, and damage that occurs through UHRVL SEM observation are also researched. Subsequently, the most efficient specimen preparation technique, which is appropriate for the characteristics of the individual materials, is investigated for galvanized steel, ultrasonically welded alloys of Al6111 and AZ31 alloy, Ti6Al4V alloy honeycomb structure and a ceramic sensor. The outcomes of appropriate specimen preparation technique and use of the extremely Low-Voltage below 2.0 kV, are presented in the results section. The study also presented the challenge of improving the low compositional contrast for the dissimilar materials of aluminium and magnesium, and to reduce charging effects in an insulating material comprising a ceramic sensor. As an application of the surface prepared by the process in this study, 3D tomography is also introduced.

No description available.

This study explores the nature and significance of consumer dispute processes in China. It examines access to consumer justice issues, with particular reference to both consumer experience and the roles that the state, legal professionals and other social actors play in the consumer dispute processes. It focuses on one local area (Shenzhen, China) and uses an in-depth ethnographic approach to offer a realistic picture of consumer dispute resolution in China's socialist market economy. The principal question addressed is: how are consumer disputes resolved in this part of China today? The study analyses consumer dispute resolution practices in terms of various channels, including the handling of cases in the Consumer Council, the regulator's reporting system, the courts, the media, and online platforms. It determines that mediation or tiaojie in Chinese (by whatever provider) continues to be the dominant type of consumer dispute process. However, the style of mediation used - often differs from the approach to mediation in the common law world - is conducted by staff in public bodies and is a didactic process used largely to contain the impact of the dispute. The study also explores 'professional' consumers, who may well see themselves as ordinary consumers or mere citizens, but who develop expertise through repeat asserting of consumer rights in various consumer dispute processes. These professionals are regarded in this study as a modest form of 'consumer citizen' in China, and their activities do encourage reforms, despite sometimes hostile official attitudes. The present work contributes to our understanding of consumer protection and legal developments in China, and through its analysis of the China case offers contributions to the more general literature on dispute resolution, consumers' access to justice, and consumer protection.