The purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which levels of individuation and separation in adulthood would predict adjustment to the empty nest transition. Two-hundred and twenty-seven adults (M age = 48) who had experienced the empty nest within the last year completed a battery of scales assessing individuation from family of origin, spouse, and children as well as measures of adjustment, role strain, coping, and sex role attitudes. MANOVAS and hierarchical regression analyses suggested that levels of individuation from one's family of origin, spouse, and children differentially affect one's adjustment to, and coping with, the experience of launching of the youngest child from the home. Empty nest parents who are less differentiated from their own parents, from their spouses, and from their children reported a more negative impact of the empty nest in terms of more overall stress and role strain, more negative mood, and less life satisfaction than did empty nest parents who were more differentiated with regard to parents, spouse, and children. Results regarding the impact of individuation on empty nest adjustment regarding sex role attitudes were less clear cut, and may reflect cohort differences in work role opportunities for women and a parallel redefinition of the work role/parent role dichotomy for men. The data also suggest that women and men experience the empty nest transition differently, with women experiencing more distress and negative mood, supporting the notion that women, who define themselves in a context of relationship may experience more distress at a time when significant relationships are in flux. However, additional results which indicated significantly more proactive and adaptive coping strategies for women as compared to men suggest that women can meet the demands of the new definitions of themselves and their relationships in a relatively positive and adaptive way. The results suggest that present as well as past experiences of separation and individuation impact how one experiences and copes with the empty nest. The findings lend support to the importance of early, successful individuation experiences as possible precursors of how successfully individuals negotiate other developmental experiences involving separation and loss.

The purpose of this study was to examine the idea that a late adolescent's career exploration activities may be influenced by levels of attachment to and psychological separation from family, family health, and family structure. It was proposed that higher levels of self and environmental exploration would be associated with positive family relationships and adequate levels of psychological separation and attachment. Cognitive and demographic variables were included as control measures. Measures of family health, attachment, separation, family structure, career exploration, career decision making self efficacy, and beliefs in the usefulness of engaging in self and environmental exploration were administered to 304 undergraduates from intact families. Multiple regression analyses were employed to examine the contribution of the independent variables measuring family processes to the variability in the dependent variables of self and environmental exploration, after controlling for the variability associated with the control measures. The demographic variables were age, gender, class standing, and decision status about a major. Results indicated that the best predictors of career exploration in late adolescence were the cognitive variables. Beliefs in the usefulness of self exploration were the best predictor of self exploration, whereas career decision making self efficacy was the best predictor of environmental exploration. Measures of attachment and psychological separation were not substantially related to career exploration. A weak relationship between family structure and self exploration was found, however contrary to theoretical predictions, it suggested that problems in the parent child relationship may facilitate rather than inhibit this career development activity. Findings also suggested a relationship between variables of family processes and career decision making self efficacy. Future research might explore the idea that separation, attachment and family variables influence cognitive beliefs, which in turn effect career development. The demographic variables emerged as minimally important in predicting exploratory behavior. Results were discussed with regard to theory and research in career exploration.

Coagulation is a ubiquitous process in the treatment of raw surface water for eventual potable use. Despite its capabilities, the sheer scale of its use is manifested in the volumes of chemicals it demands and waste sludge it produces. Recovering and reusing the chemical activity of the coagulant sludge in water treatment is a logical solution but this practice has been restricted by the presence of contaminants within the sludge. This thesis has investigated methods that can separate the coagulant metals from these primarily natural organic contaminants, with an aim of producing a sufficiently pure coagulant for effective treatment performance when reused. A process of ultrafiltration of the impure regenerated coagulant followed by a powdered activated carbon polishing stage compared favourably to a number of other separation processes and was found to remove the most dissolved organic compounds. When the purified coagulant was used to treat raw water, it provided better turbidity removal than commercial coagulant and matched its removal of trihalomethane precursors, making the process suitable for consideration at full-scale. Analysis of the whole life cost suggested that such performance could be reproduced at full-scale within a 25 year payback period. The reuse of even purified recovered coagulants in drinking water treatment still carries risks which may deter its implementation. Therefore the efficacy of recovered coagulants in the role of phosphorus removal from wastewater was also investigated. This showed that both acidified and unacidified waterworks sludges, with sufficient contact time, could remove similar levels of phosphorus as fresh coagulants, at approximately half the whole life cost.

Thesis (M.Tech.) / The electrochemical refining of copper was investigated at different temperatures, distances between electrodes, different levels of overvoltage, current density, metal impurities, smootheners, electrode-active area and concentration of electrolyte using the parallel-plate model. The purpose of the investigation was to evaluate the effect of smootheners, impurities and other factors on the recovery of copper from solutions. The results showed that the metal impurities, with more negative oxidation potentials, did not affect the electro-deposition of copper whilst metals with oxidation potentials close and equal to that of copper reduced the current efficiency. The current density increased with the increase in temperature, overvoltage and concentration of electrolyte. The increase in overvoltage and current density above limiting values produced increased rates of deposition resulting in efficiencies greater than 100% to be attained. The increase in the limiting current density at concentration below 10.8g/L produced low values of current efficiency ranging from 100 to 30%. The 2 and 3cm distance between electrodes produced stable efficiencies of between 92-100% and 96-100% respectively. The temperature was found to have indirect effect on the current efficiency but direct effect on the dissociation of electrolyte in solution, current density and overvoltage. An increase of 20cm2 of electrode active area reduced the current efficiency by about 40%. The increase in concentration of electrolyte produced an increase in the current density and efficiency ranging from 75-100%. The use of smootheners; thiourea and EDTA (Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) reduced the current density and current efficiency (100>CE>30%). However increased concentration of Kglue, B-glue and G-Arabic in conjunction with EDTA or thiourea and NaCl improved the current efficiency even at increased levels of overvoltage to levels of 96-100%, 100% and 90-100% respectively. Therefore, the presence of impurities, the use of high current densities, inadequate distance between electrodes, and too low concentration of electrolyte and the absence of glue disadvantaged the recovery process while the presence of K-glue and B-glue reduced the inhibition effects of thiourea and EDTA and thus improved the recovery of copper from solutions.

Cette thèse entend démontrer par le recours à la comparaison que le principe de séparation des pouvoirs civils et militaires constitue un élément fondamental des Etats de tradition libérale. En droit, elle prend la forme d’incompatibilités. Dans un premier temps, suite aux expériences de confusion des pouvoirs civils et militaires cette séparation a pris la forme d’une incompatibilité entre le militaire et l’électeur. Dans un second temps, cette séparation a pris la forme d’une incompatibilité entre le militaire et le représentant. / This comparative study aims to demonstrate that the principle of separation of civil and military powers is a fundamental part of States with liberal tradition. In law it takes the form of incompatibilities. In law, it takes the form of incompatibilities. Initially, following the experiences of confusion of civil and military powers that separation has taken the shape of an incompatibility between the military and the voter. In a second step, this separation has taken the shape of a mismatch between the military and the representative.

Le développement d'une méthode efficace de séparation/purification d'hydrogène représente une nécessité primordiale pour améliorer les rendements de production des systèmes énergétiques futurs. En effet, le procédé de reformage classique de production d'hydrogène conduit à un mélange complexe de gaz à haute température (au-delà de 523 K) qui limite l'utilisation de H2 dans diverses applications. La réalisation de membranes hautement sélectives à l'hydrogène apparaît alors comme un point essentiel pour augmenter la production d'hydrogène. Les membranes à base de silice ont largement été étudiées en vue de répondre à cette problématique. Malgré leurs excellentes performances, elles ne pourraient être compétitives à l'échelle industrielle qu'après amélioration de leur résistance à la vapeur d'eau en température (lixiviation). Des travaux antérieurs menés à l'IEM ont montré les performances de membranes « SiCN » en termes de perméance et de permsélectivité. Sur la base de ces résultats, nous avons développé des membranes non-oxydes autour du quaternaire « SiZrCN ». L'incorporation de Zr avait pour objectif d'améliorer la tenue en température des membranes et de fait leur sélectivité. Ce projet de thèse a été divisé en trois tâches principales : la première a consisté en la synthèse d'un précurseur moléculaire contenant les éléments Si, Zr, C, N ; la seconde a porté sur la préparation par PECVD de membranes denses non oxydes et la dernière partie a permis d'évaluer les performances de ces membranes en séparation de gaz. Un précurseur moléculaire « single source » a été synthétisé avec succès autour du quaternaire « SiZrCN », de tension de vapeur adéquate pour un dépôt par PECVD. Des films minces ont ainsi été déposés sur des supports variés afin d'obtenir des membranes sans défauts de surface conduisant à une perméance à He de 1,7.10-7 mol.m-2.s-1.Pa -1 et à une sélectivité idéale He/N2 (estimée) de 1300 à T = 423 K et Delta p = 1,105 Pa. / The development of an efficient hydrogen separation/purification method represents a tremendous requirement to enhance the production yields of future energy systems. Indeed, the reforming process commonly used for hydrogen production leads to a complex gas mixture at high temperature (beyond 523 K) that limits the H2 use in various applications. The elaboration of highly hydrogen selective membranes appears to be a determining step to expand hydrogen production. Silica-based membranes have been largely studied to respond this problematics. In spite of their excellent performances, they could only be competitive from an industrial point of view after improvement of their low resistance to water vapor at high temperature (lixiviation). Previous works completed at IEM have demonstrated the good performances of “SiZrCN” membranes in terms of permeance and permselectivity. Based on these results, we developed new non-oxide membranes in the quaternary system “SiZCN”. The incorporation of Zr aimed to enhance the temperature resistance of the membranes and then their selectivity. This thesis project was divided into three major tasks : the first one has consisted in the synthesis of a molecular precursor containing the Si, Zr, C, N elements ; the second one was focused on the preparation by PECVD of dense non-oxide membranes and the last one was meant to evaluate the performances of these membranes in gas separation. A single source molecular precursor was successfully obtained in the system “SiZrCN” usable for PECVD. Thin films were thus deposited over various supports to obtain defect free membranes presenting a He permeance of 1,7.10-7 mol.m-2.s-1.Pa-1 and a (estimated) He/N2 ideal selectivity of 1300 at T = 423 K and Delta p = 1.105 Pa.

The method for the study of protein phoshorylation sites was elaborated. This method is based on the IMAC separation of phosphopeptides from protein proteolytic digests using new magnetic sorbents and on their subsequent identification by mass spectrometry (MS). Magnetic non-porous hydrophilic poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-co-glycidyl methacrylate) particles prepared by the dispersion polymerization and modified with iminodiacetic acid (IDA) with immobilized Fe(III) and Ga(III) ions were employed for the enrichment of phosphopeptides from the proteolytic digests of two model proteins, porcine pepsin A and bovine α-casein. The optimum conditions for phosphopeptide adsorption and desorption in both cases were investigated and compared. The phosphopeptides separated from both proteolytic digests were analyzed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight MS. For the immunochemical separation of phosphoproteins, protein fraction containing antibodies was obtained from egg yolk of hens immunized with O-phosphoryl-L-serine conjugated to key limpet hemocyanin. Antibodies were purified using affinity chromatography on immobilized α-casein and their presence was proven by MS. Specificity of the obtained antibodies was examined using ELISA tests. Obtained results showed, that specificity...

In the presented thesis we investigate heteroepitaxial growth of one element (one type of adsorbate A with negative or positive misfit relative to substrate S) and static properties of two-component surface alloy, i.e. ternary system (two types of adsorbate A and B with negative and positive misfit relative to different substrat S). We use Monte Carlo simulations for an off-lattice model in (1+1) dimensions with Lennard-Jones interaction. In case of incoherent heteroepitaxial growth we investigate formation of misfit dislocations, their influence on structure of growing film and impurity-induced formation of dislocations. Two different types of formation of dislocations are found, depending on the sign and magnitude of misfit. Simulations of static properties of two-component surface alloys show that morphology is quite different for phase separation (formation of domains consist of one type of particles in direction along and vertically towards to substrate-adsorbate interface) and intermixing regime. The structures, which emerged, depend on relative misfit, interaction and concentration of individual elements.

An efficient methodology for separation of magnesium from different geomaterials was developed in order to determinate their isotopic composition. This methodology with 100% yield is suitable for high precision analysis of Mg isotopes by multi collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS). Three separate stages of ion-exchange chromatography were carried out in ultra-trace laboratory equipped with laminar flowbox using cation exchange resin, AG50W-X12 and chemicals of ultrapure quality. Variations in samples 26 Mg/24 Mg and 25 Mg/24 Mg ratios are expressed as δ26 Mg and δ25 Mg units, which are deviations in parts per 103 from the same ratio in DSM3 Mg standard. The robustness of the technique was assessed by replicate analyses of magnesium standards Cambridge 1 versus DSM3. The long term repeatability of the Mg isotope ratio measurements of Cambridge 1 against DSM3 using this technique is -2.577 ± 0.10‰ on δ26 Mg and -1.328 ± 0.06‰ on δ25 Mg at 95% of confidence (2σ). Delta 26 Mg in five natural standard samples was measured in order to validate a quality of measurement in two different laboratories: Czech Geological Survey, Prague, Czech Republic and GFS Potsdam, Research centre for geoscientist, Potsdam, Germany. The results measured in this study (laboratory of CGS) are...

Diploma Thesis Abstract - The President of the Russian Federation This diploma thesis was written during my study stay in the Russian Federation. When I started working on the thesis, the outside temperature was well below 20 degrees Celsius and, by the time I was finished, the temperatures reached over 30 degrees Celsius. The thesis is based exclusively on sources in Russian, which I could access in the library of the Faculty of Law of the Saint Petersburg State University. The aim was to address the concept of the head of a state in general and, subsequently, to define the basic status of the president of the Russian Federation (RF) from the viewpoint of constitutional laws. The contents of the thesis can be summarised as follows: The head of the state plays two roles in the Russian constitutional system. Firstly, it is the role of an official entrusted with the task of uniting the RF, co-ordinating the activities of individual public authorities, representing the united voice of Russia both on the international political arena and within the country, and determining the general course of the Russian policy. This part of the president's role is paramount and we can even say that, in the RF, it is rampant. It justifies the calls for the establishment of a separate branch within the separation of powers -...