The purpose of the research was to investigate the way in which employees in two departments of a Greek industrial company resolved conflict situations encountered in the context of their department. The premises are that (a) the positive effects of conflict for the organization are related to the way in which it is resolved; (b) the investigation of the phenomenon of conflict resolution necessitates the examination of employees' conflict handling behaviour during a conflict episode, as well as of their representation of the particular episode; (c) the bureaucratic culture of the organization and the wider social culture determine the conditions within which employees represent and deal with conflict situations. The research used a single case design to develop new ways to model the conflict resolution process. The use of open-ended interviews constituted the methods of data collection. Employees from two departments (Research/Design and Supplies) of the organization were selected. The analysis of data in the first part of the thesis led to the development of a net model, indicating patterns of conflict handling behaviour during any conflict episode; the generic structure of the net model, which was found to be common to both departments, was discussed in the light of Greek culture, as well as of the bureaucratic practices of that particular organization. On the basis of this analysis, a further analysis was made of the data relating to those nodes of the net model where employees were found to be involved in a decision making process. The methodology selected enabled the representation of the process of the conflict management problem by organizational members. The basic assumption incorporated within this methodology is that the conflict management problem can be represented in more than one way. The identification, via employees' discourse, of the way in which conflict situations are conceptualized in the context of the two departments, indicated how this representation relates to the wider social and organizational nexus within which it is embedded. The contribution of this study lies in identifying the conflict resolution structures and processes within two departments of the organization studied and, to a certain extent, the wider organization, while offering an insight into how this organization shapes the way in which conflict situations are processed by organizational members, using their own discourse.

With increasing computational power, simulations of regional climate are now becoming possible on convective-resolving grids, thus eliminating the need for a convective parameterization. In the present study, a series of seasonal calculations using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model are computed at 4-km grid spacing, which reasonably resolves most convective systems. Simulations are computed for both the DJF and MAM seasons as averaged over 2005-2008, with a model domain covering the majority of the Amazon Basin and the adjacent South American coastline. Precipitation statistics are computed and compared to satellite rainfall retrieval data from the 13-year Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) record. For comparison, a set of companion simulations with 12-km grid spacing are also computed, using the Kain-Fritsch convective parameterization. As compared to the 12-km runs, the 4-km simulations show significant improvement in the overall mean rain rate, the rain rate probability distributions, and the diurnal evolution and timing of precipitation. Both the 4-km and 12-km cases capture the coastal propagating signal and the interior basin-wide diurnal oscillation; however, the 4-km case shows better timing and evolution statistics. Compared to TRMM, the 4-km case rains too infrequently, but is more likely to produce rain events at high rain rates, thus resulting in a similar overall average rain rate. Overall, the present calculations show significant promise for computing regional rainfall patterns on convective-resolving grids.

Monocytes are dynamic innate immune cells that respond differently based upon the dose and duration of an infection. While super low dose endotoxin is found in chronic inflammatory diseases such as atherosclerosis, exposure to high dose endotoxin leads to sepsis. However, clear characterization of monocytes and the underlying mechanisms in these disease conditions is lacking. To elucidate the missing information, we conducted two different projects. In the first project, we investigated the role of super low dose endotoxin in polarizing monocytes to a prolonged low-grade inflammatory state with no resolution, disrupting homeostasis. This low grade inflammatory phenotype was confirmed by sustained induction of inflammatory mediators CD40 and CD11a. In addition, low grade inflammatory monocytes influence neighboring T cells by suppressing T cell regulatory functions. Mechanistically, we showed that the non-resolving inflammatory phenotypes in monocytes is dependent on non-traditional TLR4 adaptor called TRAM. In the second project, we focused on the effects of high dose endotoxin on monocyte phenotypes. We reported that high dose endotoxin give rise to a mix of both immunosuppressive and pathogenic inflammatory monocytes, leading to monocyte exhaustion. While thorough research is conducted to study the immunosuppressive monocytes and underlying long term effects, role of pathogenic inflammatory monocytes is not well addressed. Monocyte exhaustion leads to elevated levels of CD38, an inflammatory mediator, elevated ROS levels, depleted NAD+ and mitochondrial respiration. STAT1 and KLF4 are critical transcription factors in sustaining exhausted phenotypes. Indeed, TRAM adaptor molecule also mediates this exhaustion as TRAM deletion restores monocyte health. Taken together, our work defines novel monocyte phenotypes and mechanism in super-low dose or high dose endotoxin environments. / Doctor of Philosophy / Healthy inflammatory response is represented by initial induction of inflammatory cells in the site of infection and pathogen clearance, followed by resolution of inflammation and damage repair. This balance between inflammation and resolution maintains immune homeostasis. Imbalances in this homeostasis can be a cause or effect of various disease conditions such as atherosclerosis and sepsis, for example. Despite rigorous research, these diseases are still prevalent and treatments are still lacking. It is essential to investigate inflammatory responses at a cellular level and understand how an immune cell responds to a given pathogen. Depending upon the intensity, dose and duration of a pathogen can dictate immune cell functions. Recent discoveries, including the research in our lab have reported that super low dose bacterial endotoxin exacerbates atherosclerosis. Mouse monocytes (innate immune cells) treated with super low dose endotoxin continuously induce mild but sustained inflammatory molecules but are unable to exhibit resolving mediators to dampen the inflammation and hence, monocyte homeostasis is disrupted. Homeostatic imbalance is also in seen in sepsis, when monocytes exposed to high dose bacterial endotoxin. Due to a repetitive exposure to high dose endotoxin, monocytes are unable to respond accurately, where they simultaneously exhibit inflammatory and anti-inflammatory mediators but in a dysregulated manner.

R, a software package for statistical computing and graphics, has evolved into the lingua franca of (computational) statistics. One of the cornerstones of R's success is the decentralized and modularized way of creating software using a multi-tiered development model: The R Development Core Team provides the "base system", which delivers basic statistical functionality, and many other developers contribute code in the form of extensions in a standardized format via so-called packages. In order to be accessible by a broader audience, packages are made available via standardized source code repositories. To support such a loosely coupled development model, repositories should be able to verify that the provided packages meet certain formal quality criteria and "work": both relative to the development of the base R system as well as with other packages (interoperability). However, established quality assurance systems and collaborative infrastructures typically face several challenges, some of which we will discuss in this paper. / Series: Research Report Series / Department of Statistics and Mathematics

La présente thèse traite de l'implication des femmes dans la résolution des conflits au Congo Brazzaville. Elle révèle les divers mécanismes à travers lesquels, l'élite féminine congolaise a contribué à résoudre les conflits sociopolitiques dans le pays. Ainsi elle souligne le rôle social des femmes Congolaises dans les luttes d'émancipation nationale. En étudiant successivement la socio-genèse du conflit et les réseaux des différents protagonistes, puis l'implication de cette élite en contournant les acteurs politiques à travers les associations, appuyées par les ONG et enfin l'occupation de l'espace public; cette thèse rend compte des logiques sociales, de la transformation sociétale et de la domination masculine dans ses états: institutionnalisé, objectivé et incorporé. Par conséquent, elle appréhende simultanément la dimension étatique et l'influence religieuse généralement séparées par la spécialisation des objets d'étude et des méthodes d'investigation; histoire sociopolitique et sociographique du pays, approche statistique et anthropologie sociale et politique. / This thesis deals with the involvement of women in conflict resolution in Congo brazzaville. It revaeals the various mechanisms through which the Congolese elite Women helped solne socio-politcal conflicts in the country. And it emphasizes the social role of Congolese Women in the struggle for national emancipation. Successively studing sociogenesis conflict and networks of different political actors through associations supported by Ong and finaly the occupation of public space. This theis reports on the social logic of societal transformation and male domination in its forms institutionalized and objectified and incorporated. Therefore it simultaneously captures the state dimension and religious influence generally separated by specialization objects of study and investigation methods socio-political and socio-graphic history statistical approach and social and political anthropology.

INTRODUCTION: Specialized pro-resolving lipid mediators (SPM) such as resolvin-D1 (RvD1) act to resolve vascular inflammation and may guard against the progression of restenosis following cardiovascular interventions. Stimulating synthesis of these mediators directly in vascular cells may increase their local availability, and thus, protect against restenotic injury. However, the ability of endothelial (EC) and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) to produce SPMs from their polyunsaturated fatty acid precursor decosahexaenoic acid (DHA) via lipoxygenase (LO) enzymatic transformation remains unknown. We sought to determine whether vascular cells produce SPMs from DHA and, if they do, how inflammation and mechanical injury of the vasculature alter biosynthesis. METHODS: Primary cultures of human saphenous vein endothelial and smooth muscle cells were treated with DHA in cell culture media (+ 10% serum) for 4h-24h. Freshly dissected rabbit aorta was incubated intact or following gentle endothelial denudation in cell culture media (+10% serum) with or without DHA for 48h. SPM levels in media were quantified by LC-MS/MS and ELISA and lipoxygenase expression and localization were assessed by western blotting and immunofluorescence staining, respectively. RESULTS: EC and SMC receiving media without DHA did not synthesize SPMs within the detection limits of the assay, whereas DHA treatment produced 17-HDHA, 14-HDHA, Mar1, RvD5, RvD2, and a dose and time-dependent increase in RvD1 production in EC (10.1 ±1.0 pg for 1000nM at 24h) and SMC (7.4 ± 0.2 pg for 1000nM at 24h). Intact rabbit aorta incubated in DHA+ media produced 0.24 ± 0.05 pg RvD1/mg tissue whereas aorta incubated in DHA− media produced 0.13 ± 0.007 pg RvD1/mg tissue. Moreover, EC-denuded aortas produced less RvD1/mg tissue than intact aortas. 5-LO was expressed in both cell types, however DHA induced 5-LO expression in EC (1.3 fold -DHA) but not in SMC. DHA promoted a nuclear to cytoplasmic shift of 5-LO in both EC and SMC. Finally, TNF-α stimulated an increase in RvD1 production in EC. CONCLUSIONS: Human vascular cells and rabbit vascular tissue can biosynthesize SPMs de novo from their precursor DHA, signifying a new source of SPMs in the vasculature.

Visuomenės sveikatos vadyba KONFLIKTŲ PREIŽASTYS IR PREVENCIJOS GALIMYBĖS REABILITACIJOS LIGONINĖJE Rita Darbutienė Mokslinė vadovė doc. dr. J. Almonaitienė Kauno medicinos universitetas, Visuomenės sveikatos fakultetas, Visuomenės vadybos katedra. Kaunas; 2010. 79 psl. Darbo tikslas: - nustatyti darbuotojų požiūrį į reabilitacijos ligoninėje vykstančių konfliktų priežastis ir sudaryti konfliktų prevencijos planą. Uždaviniai: 1. Nustatyti reabilitacijos ligoninėje dažniausias konfliktų priežastis. 2. Nustatyti dažniausiai naudojamus konfliktų sprendimo būdus. 3. Pasiūlyti efektyvių prevencijos priemonių. Tyrimo metodika: Tyrimas 2010 sausio mėn. buvo atliktas VšĮ Palangos reabilitacijos ligoninėje (vienmomentinė apklausa). Klausimyną sudarė konfliktų priežasčių anketa ir du psichologiniai testai (Rotter ir Thomas – Kilmann testai). Norint gauti statistiškai patikimus rezultatus, buvo nuspręsta apklausti visus medicinos personalo darbuotojus ir išdalytos 128 anketos (100%), grįžo 110 anketų (85,9%). Tyrimo objektas – reabilitacijos ligoninės medicinos personalas. Duomenų statistinė analizė atlikta, naudojant SPSS 15 paketą. Tyrimo rezultatai: 78,2% respondentų turi vidinį, o 23,8% - išorinės kontrolės lokusą. Vadovaujantis personalas, turintis vidinį kontrolės lokusą, dėl konfliktų kilimo dažniau atsakomybę priskiria vadovaujamam personalui, nei sau ( balų vidurkiai 3,1 ir 2,2 atitinkamai, p<0,05). Vadovaujamas personalas dėl konfliktų atsakomybę prisiskiria sau ir... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Management of public health CAUSES OF CONFLICT AND THEIR POTENTIAL PREVENTION IN A REHABILITATION HOSPITAL Rita Darbutiene Supervisor – doc. dr. Junona Almonaitene Kaunas University of Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, Department of Health Management. Kaunas 2010. 79 p. Aim of study: to determine the attidute of the staff to conflicts occurring in the hospital, to work out a conflict prevention scheme. Goals of study: 1. To establish the most common causes of conflict occurring in the hospital. 2. To determine the most frequently applied conflict – solving methods. 3. To suggest effective prevention measure. Methodology of the survey: in January 2010 a survey was conducted in the Public Enterprise Palanga rehabilitation hospital. The questionnaire consisted of list of questions about the causes of conflict and of two psychological test (Rotter and Thomas - Kilmann). Members of medical staff were handed 128 questionnaires (100%), 110 of which were returned (85,9%). The subject of the survey was medical staff of the rehabilitation hospital. Statistic data analysis was carried out using SPSS 15.0 for Windows statistics package. Results: 72,8% of the respondents are with internal locus of control while 23,8% are with external locus of control. Senior personnel with internal locus of control ascribe the responsibility for conflict to the staff below rather than themselves (average 3,1 and 2,2 points, respectively, p<0,05). Lower ranking staff attribute the responsibility for... [to full text]

Identifying the dynamical processes that are active in tropical cirrus clouds is important for understanding the role of cirrus in the tropical atmosphere. This study focuses on analyzing turbulent motions inside tropical anvil cirrus with the use of a Cloud Resolving Model. Convection in the transition from shallow to deep convection has been simulated with Colorado State University Large Eddy Simulator/Cloud Resolving Model System for Atmospheric Model (SAM 6.3) in a high resolution three-dimensional simulation and anvil cirrus formed in the end of this simulation has been analyzed. For model set up, data gathered during the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission Large-Scale Biosphere-Atmosphere (TRMM LBA) field experiment in Amazonas, Brazil have been used as large scale forcing. 31 anvil clouds have been localized from a single time step of the simulation, “a snapshot”, of the entire simulated cloud field consisting of convective clouds of different scales and subsequently divided into three categories that represent different stages of the anvil lifetime; growing, mature and dissipating anvil stages. The classification is based on in-cloud properties such as cloud condensate content and vertical velocities. The simulated anvils have been analyzed both individually and as groups to examine the transition from isotropic three-dimensional turbulence in the convective core of the thunderstorm to stratified two-dimensional turbulence in the anvil outflow. A dimensionless number F is derived and used as a measure of the “isotropic” behavior of the turbulence inside the cloud. F is expressed as the ratio between the horizontal part of TKE and the total (horizontal + vertical) Experiments show that SAM 6.3 clearly can resolve turbulent structures and that the transition from isotropic three-dimensional turbulence to stratified two-dimensional turbulence occurs in the middle layers of the mature and dissipating anvil stages. / Sammanfattning av ”Studier av turbulenta rörelser i städmoln med hjälp av numeriska simuleringar av tropisk konvektion”  Städmoln i tropikerna har stor inverkan på strålningsballansen på grund av de är så vanligt förekommande och att de ligger på hög höjd i atmosfären. Att förstå de drivande krafterna som är aktiva i skapandet och underhållandet av städmoln är viktiga för att få en bra bild av rollen städmoln spelar i den tropiska atmosfären. Den här uppsatsen fokuserar på att studera turbulenta rörelser inuti tropiska städmoln med hjälp av en molnmodell. Tropisk konvektion har simulerats med Colorado State University’s molnmodell SAM 6.3 i en högupplöst tredimensionell simulering. Data från en ”ögonblicksbild” av det simulerade molnfältet har analyserats och 31 städmoln har valts ut och studerats vidare. De simulerade städmolnen indelades i tre olika kategorier baserat på utvecklingsstadier; växande städmoln, moget städmoln och skingrade städmoln. Stadieklassificeringen bestämdes beroende på isvatteninnehåll och vertikalhastigheter i molnet. Städmolnen har därefter analyserats både individuellt och som grupper för att lokalisera och analysera övergången från tredimensionell isotropisk turbulens i kärnan av Cb-molnet till tvådimensionell stratifierad turbulens i städmolnet. För att initiera simuleringen användes mätdata insamlade under fältexperimentet TRMM LBA (Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission Large-Scale Biosphere-Atmosphere) i Amazonas, Brasilien. För att beskriva turbulenta rörelser i molnen togs det dimensionslösa talet 𝐹 fram som ett mått på isotropin. 𝐹 uttrycks som kvoten mellan den horisontella delen av TKE och den totala (horisontell och vertikal). Den här studien visar att den undersökta molnmodellen SAM 6.3 klart kan simulera turbulenta i rörelser i övergången mellan isotropisk till horisontell turbulens i olika stadier av städmolnens livscykel. Mina analyser visar att övergången sker främst i de mellersta skikten av de mogna och skingrade stadierna av städmolnets utveckling.

This thesis describes the problematic of the individual ways of dealing with bankruptcy. The first part is concretely dealing with all method of resolving insolvency with emphasis on reorganization. The concept of reorganization was introduced by the new Insolvency Act. I focus also on comparison of the reorganization and the bankruptcy. The second part of my work includes analysis of reorganization in practice. I chose the company Kordárna, a.s. for describing reorganization process. I found the reorganization more advantageous to the creditors. Nevertheless the reorganization is less used than the bankruptcy. The reasons are the high costs, the shortcomings of insolvency law, necessity of consensus and some non-confidences to reorganization.

With rapid technology scaling, flip-flops are becoming more susceptible to metastability due to tighter timing budgets and the more prominent effects of process, temperature, and voltage variation that can result in frequent setup and hold time violations. This thesis presents a detailed methodology and analysis on the design of metastable-hardened, high-performance, and low-power flip-flops. The design of metastable-hardened flip-flops is focused on optimizing the value of τ mainly due to its exponential relationship with the metastability window δ and the mean-time-between-failure (MTBF). Through small-signal modeling, τ is determined to be a function of the load capacitance and the transconductance in the cross-coupled inverter pair for a given flip-flop architecture. In most cases, the reduction of τ comes at the expense of increased delay and power. Hence, two new design metrics, the metastability-delay-product (MDP) and the metastability-power-delay-product (MPDP), are proposed to analyze the tradeoffs between delay, power and τ. Post-layout simulation results have shown that the proposed optimum MPDP design can reduce the metastability window δ by at least an order of magnitude depending on the value of the settling time and the flip-flop architecture. In this work, we have proposed two new flip-flop designs: the pre-discharge flip-flop (PDFF) and the sense-amplifier-transmission-gate (SATG) based flip-flop. Both flip-flop architectures facilitate the usage in both single and dual-supply systems as reduced clock-swing flip-flop and level-converting flip-flop. With a cross-coupled inverter in the master-stage that increases the overall transconductance and a small load transistor associated with the critical node, the architecture of both the PDFF and the SATG is very attractive for the design of metastable-hardened, high-performance, and low-power flip-flops. The amount of overhead in delay, power, and area is all less than 10% under the optimum MPDP design scheme when compared to the traditional optimum PDP design. In designing for metastable-hardened and soft-error tolerant flip-flops, the main methodology is to improve the metastability performance in the master-stage while applying the soft-error tolerant cell in the slave-stage for protection against soft-error. The proposed flip-flops, PDFF-SE and SATG-SE, both utilize a cross-coupled inverter on the critical path in the master-stage and generate the required differential signals to facilitate the usage of the Quatro soft-error tolerant cell in the slave-stage.