This study is a qualitative ethnographic investigation of how teenagers in Kampala, Uganda, who read the HIV/AIDS publication aimed at adolescents, Straight Talk, negotiate HIV/AIDS messages. It seeks to establish to what extent these secondary school teenagers accept the key messages (known as ABC; Abstain, Be faithful or use a Condom) and understand the factual aspects of the messages about HIV/AIDS, its process of transmission and prevention. It also seeks to probe how the lived realities of the teenagers affect their particular negotiations of the HIV/AIDS messages. It includes a focus on how proximity to HIV/AIDS, gender and family economic disposition might affect teenagers, negotiation of the HIV/AIDS meanings. To investigate the respondents’ reception of HIV/AIDS messages, the study employed focus groups that consisted of two stages, namely the ‘news game’ and group discussions. In the ‘news game’ stage (Philo, 1990; Kitzinger, 1993) the teenage participants were required to produce a version of a one-page copy of an HIV/AIDS newspaper targeting teenagers. In the second stage of the focus group a structured discussion probed the teenagers’ negotiation of the HIV/AIDS media messages. In the news game, the teenagers on the whole reproduced the key Straight Talk HIV/AIDS messages ‘Abstain, Be faithful or use a Condom’ and also images showing the effects of HIV/AIDS but featured fewer images depicting the factual aspects of HIV/AIDS process of transmission and risky behaviour. In the structured discussion that followed the news game, it was evident that not all the teenagers necessarily believed the messages they produced. In spite of producing the ABC Straight Talk messages, some of them were uncertain and confused about the absolute safety of the condom because of fears that they were either porous, expired or would interfere with sexual pleasure. Secondly, though many of the teenagers in the study reproduced images that showed that they consider marriage as desirable and talked about their desire to abstain from sex till marriage, a considerable number think abstinence is not achievable due to competing values. Thirdly, the participant teenagers could differentiate between HIV and AIDS but many did not realise that with the advent of anti-retroviral drugs even people who have AIDS can look normal. In spite of repeating the Straight Talk message that “no one was safe” and being aware of the risky behaviour that their fellow teenagers get involved in, the teenagers seemed to think that their age cohort is safe from HIV and it is the adults who are likely to infect them. The study findings further indicate that the teenagers’ lived experience at times influence their negotiation of HIV/AIDS media messages. This was probed in terms of economic standing, gender and proximity to HIV/AIDS. In relation to gender one surprising discovery was that certain girls in the study feared getting pregnant more than getting HIV/AIDS. The study finally suggests that these findings are of significance for designing future media initiatives in relation to HIV/AIDS.

Atomization characteristics of liquid fuel sprays control combustion efficiency and emissions in engines. The present work is motivated by the need to study the atomization and spray structure of vegetable oil biofuels for which no data in the literature exists. In this work, various laser-based diagnostic techniques such as laser shadowgraphy, Particle/Droplet Image Analysis (PDIA) and Laser Sheet Dropsizing (LSD) are applied for studying atomization characteristics, tip penetration, droplet size and liquid volume fraction of Pongamia vegetable oil (SVO) and its blends with diesel. A constant volume high pressure spray visualization chamber is designed and fabricated to study SVO sprays at high gas pressure and temperature conditions. This optical chamber can be used for gas pressures up to 60 bar and temperatures up to 600 K. Optical access inside the chamber is provided through four quartz windows to perform various optical spray diagnostic studies. A high pressure spray injection facility based on components of common rail diesel injection system is designed. This facility can provide an injection pressure of up to 1700 bar with independent control over injection duration and timing. A marked difference is observed between diesel and SVO spray structures under atmospheric gas pressure condition. A very interesting observation related to the behavior of 100% SVO fuel when sprayed into atmospheric pressure is the presence of an intact liquid core even at injection pressure as high as 1600 bar. The presence of liquid core at high injection pressures is attributed to the high viscosity of SVOs and the non-Newtonian behavior of these oils under high pressure and shear. The spray characterization of the oil and its blends at high gas pressure shows that although the atomization is dramatically different from that at atmospheric gas pressure, it is still incomplete even at very high injection pressures. For a gas pressure of 30 bar, it is observed that the Sauter Mean Diameter (SMD) for Pongamia oil is more than twice that of diesel. A new method of simultaneously obtaining two-dimensional droplet size and quantitative liquid volume fraction data in sprays has been developed. Measurements with this method reveal a higher liquid volume fraction at the central axis of spray for Pongamia oil compared to that of diesel indicating potentially poor air-fuel mixing. The experimental data obtained and the spray tip penetration correlations developed for the vegetable oils and blends serve as useful inputs for fuel injection and engine system designers.

This project utilizes a case study approach to explore the various ways in which the portrayals of gay people have changed on American television. Three contemporary programs - Will & Grace, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy and The L Word - are examined as examples of how far American television has progressed in terms of treating gay people with respect. Whether those shows move beyond merely presenting gay characters and into a level of actively challenging mainstream views on gay people is also examined. Findings suggest different factors affect the ability of the individual programs to test said views - including the genres to which each belongs, and their presence on network television (Will & Grace), basic cable (Queer Eye for the Straight Guy) or premium cable (The L Word). While all three programs show some tendencies toward queerness, they also take steps toward negotiating with mainstream culture, indicating that complete queerness may be an unattainable goal on American television.

Subject of the solution master´s thesis is new domestic building with polyfunction. It is four floors building with underground floor. Construction system is made by column with monolithic ferron concrete ceilings and monoplane roof. In underground floor is a garage. In First floor on south side is a space designated for commercial activities. Next on the floor is technical facilities and 7 flats. In next floors there is always 11 flats. Building is located in straight terrain in the development area of new houses in Zlin in area Bonecko.

Subject of the solution master´s thesis is new civil building. It is five floors building with underground floor. The structual system is made by combination of RC frame and loadbearing masonry with monoplane roof. In underground floor is a garage. In First floor is designed for commercial and comunal activities. In next floors there is always 8 flats. Building is located in straight terrain in the development area of new houses in Zlin in area Bartosova.

This thesis deals with a path planning using cellular automata algorithms in a rectangular grid environment. Theoretical part starts with an overview of commonly used approaches for path planning and later on focuses on existing cellular automata solutions and capabilities in detail. Implemented cellular automata algorithms and the commonly used path planning algorithms are together with a map generator described in the practical part. Conclusion of this thesis contains results completed in a special application.

Subject of the solution master´s thesis is new domestic building. It is two floors building made out of construction system Porotherm with monolithic ferronconcrete ceilings and shed roof. First floor has two versions.In first version is four studio flats. Second version on the first floor is used for accommodation disabled people and there are three apartments and one unit with facilities for carers. Second floor is used for accommodation two smaller families and there are two apartments with entrance from gallerie. Building is located in straight terrain in the development area of new houses in Žatec in area Kamenný vrch.

The main aim of this master’s thesis is to design the drivetrain of four-cylinder gasoline internal combustion engine with torsional vibration rubber dumper. For the basic parameters of the engine are designed two optional crankshafts. Crankshaft with eight counterweights and crankshaft with four counterweights. The thesis also includes modal analysis of the crankshaft using FEM, and design of the main dimensions of the dumper. The following part describes the calculation of force torsional vibration and safety factor solution of crankshaft fatigue using FEM. The final calculation is of the temperature field in the rubber dumper in selected operating modes.

The aim of the thesis is to determine the amount of indemnity for damage to the family house caused by excessive snow loads, calculation of material value (time value) immovable assets immediately before the insured event cost method using analytical methods wear, determining the cost of putting immovable in working condition, the calculation of substantive value of intangible assets for the repairs. In this thesis, the emphasis on the clarification process when the risk to the family house and a practical example of an insured event the immovable. At the same time the analysis of the results, which display graphs show how the event affected the development of insurance rates immovable.

Aim of the proper track design is build track, which enable smooth run of the vehicle as much as is possible complying with the safety rules and reasonable level of comfort for passengers. However, this track has to be maintainable and the vehicle shouldn’t face unacceptable amount of wear. On the other hand it is clear that it is impossible to build ideal (straight) track because of many environmental and morphological conditions. So the rules for track designing have to be set carefully in order to produce a good track design which meets the conditions mentioned above. The principles for track designing are evaluated with using the results of track test running dynamic behavior of the vehicles in this study. These tests were made for couple vehicles on several track sections. The influence of design parameters on the dynamic behavior are evaluated based on these results. That’s defining one of the basic part interactions between vehicle and track. Evaluation of the quality of track geometry in service has the same or may be higher importance. Limit values as defined in standard ČSN 73 6360-2 was set partially in consideration results of scientific studies, but partially in consideration of as common practice. So that part of this work is verification of the influence of tolerance in each parameter and their combinations in order to allow reasonable establishment of their limit values for track maintenance and for preventing of train derailment.