We study a discrete time, structured population dynamic model that is motivated by recent field observations concerning certain life history strategies of colonial- nesting gulls, specifically the glaucouswinged gull ( Larus glaucescens). The model focuses on mechanisms hypothesized to play key roles in a population's response to degraded environment resources, namely, increased cannibalism and adjustments in reproductive timing. We explore the dynamic consequences of these mechanics using a juvenile- adult structure model. Mathematically, the model is unusual in that it involves a high co- dimension bifurcation at R0 = 1 which, in turn, leads to a dynamic dichotomy between equilibrium states and synchronized oscillatory states. We give diagnostic criteria that determine which dynamic is stable. We also explore strong Allee effects caused by positive feedback mechanisms in the model and the possible consequence that a cannibalistic population can survive when a non- cannibalistic population cannot.

This paper reviews numerous theoretical results on control structures and demonstrates their practical examples. This study deals with the design of run-time support routines by using top-down structured programming technique. A number of examples are given as illustration of this method. In conclusion, structured programming has proved to be an important methodology for systematic program design and development.

The following thesis draws from a recent production assignment at the Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington, D.C., in which I acted as Associate Fight Director under Broadway Fight Director Rick Sordelet. We worked on three shows in all: William Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew, and Christopher Marlowe's first play, Tamburlaine, and his last, Edward II. By analyzing and assessing the working methods utilized during this production process, I hope to elucidate the most effective elements, and finally synthesize the tenets of my own working method. Structurally, I will recount the experience chronologically, from preproduction to performance, treating the pros and cons in each section of production. As a movement designer, I am interested in choreographic methods that both draw organically from actor's impulses, and integrate acting choices immediately. Too often the acting work is left off until the end; the actors are expected to layer their choices onto a fight that was not choreographed with those choices in mind. Instead, I seek to articulate a working method that allows and guides actors towards physical engagement with specific objectives, and that enables actors to make active choices from the very beginning.

This diploma thesis focuses on the role of the television channel VTV4 in lives of Vietnamese immigrants in the Czech Republic. It tries to clarify what are the functions of VTV4 and what it represents for its audience. The thesis is divided into theoretical, methodological and analytical parts. The theoretical part is compiled from Czech and foreign literature. At the beginning of this section it presents theories explaining functions of mass media in society. Then it describes the characteristics of Vietnamese immigrants in the Czech Republic and their internal differentiation. One of the most important chapters of the thesis is also a chapter describing VTV4, which briefly introduces its objectives, history, and also its program. The core of the thesis is the qualitative research conducted through semi-structured interviews. The methodology of the research is explained in detail in the methodology section. The aim was to find out from informants, which roles VTV4 plays in their lives whereby great attention is paid to differences in perception between the so-called the first generation of Vietnamese immigrants and the second generation. The analytical part composes of responses of informants from both groups. This part also contains the interpretation and the evaluation of the data obtained from...

Title: Book of problems of kinematics of mass point Author: Jana Moltašová Department: Department of Physics Education Supervisor: RNDr. Dana Mandíková, CSc. Supervisor's e-mail address: Dana.Mandikova@mff.cuni.cz Abstract: This thesis is a follow-up to the bachelor thesis titled Book of problems of kinematics of mass point for students of Physics Education. This work is a part of wider project which aim is to create an electronic collection of problems completed with detailed solutions and structured hints. Within the frame of this work was made part of collection with forty problems, which theme is kinematics of mass point. Most of problems were chosen from already existing collections and textbooks. Each problem contains task, system of hints and resulting solutions of hints, detailed solution and answer. At the beginning of the work are given aims of the work and its structure. In the next part of work is mentioned a survey of curriculum which is instructed in lower and upper secondary school and university in brief, which relates to this theme. The next part is a survey and brief characterization of collections of problems with this theme. The fourth part of the work is devoted to the electronic collection of problems, its history, the technical elaboration of problems, there is described the...

Title: Electronic Collections of Solved Problems in Physics - Alternating current Author: Michala Pfefrčková Department: Department of Physics Education Supervisor: RNDr. Zdeňka Koupilová, Ph.D. Supervisor's e-mail address: zdenka.koupilova@mff.cuni.cz The main aim of this diploma thesis was to prepare a set of specialized tasks in Physics. These tasks are supposed to contain comprising structured hints leading to solution of the given examples. The set is implemented in the e-collection posted on http://fyzikalniulohy.cz. This set includes 25 tasks mostly targeted on high schools students. It supplies them with additional tasks for effective study suitable even for university students, starters, as a revision. The other part of the thesis contains a syllabus of alternating current study and the organization of the tasks how to use them to illustrate clearly the particular physical terms. Keywords: alternating current, structured tasks, e-collection, syllabus

On solid surfaces wild strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae form biofilm-like, structured colonies enabling them to survive long-term in hostile environments in the wild. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the spatio-temporal development of colonies and their resistance to hostile conditions are still largely unknown. In this study, we analyzed the effect of the HAC1 gene on the colony morphology of wild strains of S. cerevisiae. The transcription factor Hac1p activates the unfolded protein response (UPR), which leads to activation of the expression of genes encoding components of the protein secretory pathway, and genes involved in stress responses in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). The impact of HAC1 deletion is significant even under non-stress conditions and causes a radical reduction of structured colony architecture in hac1∆ strains derived from two wild S. cerevisiae strains (PORT and BR-F-Flo11p-GFP) and one laboratory ΣSh strain forming semi-fluffy or fluffy colonies. The hac1∆ strains exhibit a decreased vegetative growth rate, reduced cell attachment to the agar and an ineffective cell-cell adhesion resulting in decreased flocculation. The hac1∆ strains derived from BR-F-Flo11p-GFP contain a low level of Flo11p surface adhesin which is considered very important for the proper...

Denna studie hade som syfte att undersöka olika individers föreställningar och uppfattningar om terrorism. För att undersöka detta ämne har semistrukturerade intervjuer genomförts med sex olika individer. Studiens första huvudresultat och även den viktigaste slutsatsen var att olika individer har olika uppfattning om vad terrorism är och hur det ska definieras, men att den gemensamma idén är att målet eller syftet är det som avgör om det rör sig om terrorism. De flesta intervjupersonerna ansåg att både fysiskt och psykiskt skadade människor kan vara offer för terrorism. Huvudresultatet gällande terrorister handlade om föreställningar kring terroristers utseende, till exempel “stort skägg” och “muslimer”. Vad gäller medias framställning av terrorism upplevde de flesta intervjupersoner att media vinklar och utelämnar information, samt har en viss påverkan på deras uppfattning om terrorism. Intervjupersonerna nämnde också en ökad rädsla och oro för terrorism, något som dock inte påverkade deras vardagliga rutiner och handlingar. / This study has exanimated different individuals’ conceptions and perceptions of terrorism. To examine this issue we have done semi-structured interviews with six different individuals. The first main result of the study and the most important conclusion was that different individuals had different perceptions about what terrorism is and how it should be defined. Most of the interviewees counted both physically and psychologically harmed people as victims of terrorism. The main result when it comes to conceptions about terrorists looks was that terrorists have “big beard” and were “Muslims”. When it comes to medias representation of terrorism most of the interviewees believed that media angle and leave out information, and that this had some influence on their perception of terrorism. The interviewees also mentioned an increased fear and concern about terrorism, something that did not affect their daily routines and activities.

Dans cette thèse, les problématiques de la modélisation et du contrôle robuste de l’attitude des grandes structures spatiales flexibles sont considérées. Afin de satisfaire les performances de pointage requises dans les scénarios des futures missions spatiales, nous proposons d’optimiser directement une loi de commande d’ordre réduit sur un modèle de validation d’ordre élevé et des critères qui exploitent directement la structure du modèle. Ainsi, les travaux de cette thèse sont naturellement divisés en deux parties : une partie relative à l’obtention d’un modèle dynamique judicieusement structuré du véhicule spatial qui servira à l’étape de synthèse ; une seconde partie concernant l’obtention de la loi de commande.Ces travaux sont illustrés sur l’exemple académique du système masses-ressort, qui est la représentation la plus simple d’un système flexible à un degré de liberté. En complément, un cas d’étude sur un satellite géostationnaire est traité pour valider les approches sur un exemple plus réaliste d’une problématique industrielle. / In this thesis, modeling and robust attitude control problems of large flexible space structures are considered. To meet the required pointing performance of future space missions scenarios, we propose to directly optimize a reduced order control law on high order model validation and criteria that directly exploit the model structure. Thus, the work of this thesis is naturally divided into two parts : one part on obtaining a wisely structured dynamic model of the spacecraft to be used in the synthesis step, a second part about getting the law control. This work is illustrated on the example of the academic spring-masses system, which is the simplest representation of a one degree of freedom flexible system. In addition, a geostationary satellite study case is processed to validate developed approaches on a more realistic example of an industrial problem.

Credit rating agencies (CRAs) play an integral part in today's financial markets. Through ratings they express considered opinion about future creditworthiness of an obligor and thus lower information asymmetry in the capital markets. Recently, CRAs have been brought in the spotlight as they are often blamed for being the triggers of the recent market turmoil. Critics often argue that ratings of tranches of structured finance instruments, backed by subprime mortgages, were unjustifiably high, downgrades were too late and the overall integrity of the rating process was compromised through numerous conflicts of interests CRAs face. However, in this thesis I argue that CRAs were put in this position rather through external factors than their own actions. Massive regulation usage of ratings, rapid growth of structured securities market, overdependence on the rating and the overall ignorance of the meaning of rating itself are the actual causes to blame.