Abstract In this thesis I studied responses of three biennial, monocarpic plants Erysimum strictum, Gentianella amarella, and G. campestris, to various aspects in resource availability (i.e. competition, mineral nutrition, neighbor removal) and environmental stress (early frost) at adult or rosette stages and how these effects are related to grazing tolerance. I also studied how manipulations in resource availability affected arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization of the roots. All three species were relatively tolerant to simulated grazing and in most cases plants were able to compensate quite well for minor biomass losses. According to the compensatory continuum hypothesis, tolerance is most pronounced in resource-rich conditions, but this was not always the case in the present experiments. Erysimum strictum compensated for defoliation at the rosette stage but the reproductive output of adult plants was reduced markedly in the next year. This reduction was strongest among fertilized plants. Moreover, apex removal at the adult stage resulted in overcompensation (i.e. clipped plants were more productive) but only in the absence of fertilization and in the presence of competition, which is against the compensatory continuum hypothesis. In E. strictum a potential cost of compensation appeared as delayed flowering and fruit maturation among clipped plants. However, in spite of early frost treatment clipped plants were still able to overcompensate. In Gentianella amarella and G. campestris, apex removal reduced growth and reproductive performance in most cases. Effects on root fungal parameters were positive or neutral. This pattern suggests that simulated above-ground herbivory tends to increase carbon limitation, and therefore regrowing shoots and the fungal symbionts may appear as alternative, competing sinks for the limited carbon reserves of the host plant. Both shoot architecture and resource availability modify the responses of the study plants to apical damage at both rosette and adult stages. In addition, different environmental stress factors affect success in compensatory growth.

This doctoral thesis deals with the description of the mechanical behavior of arterial walls under supra-physiological loading conditions. After a brief description of the continuum mechanical basis, the focus is first set to continuum damage mechanics (CDM) formulations for soft biological tissues. Thereby, different phenomenological damage equations are introduced yielding smooth and non-smooth material tangent moduli at the induction of initial damage, respectively. The performance of the latter formulations is investigated in numerical calculations of inhomogeneous boundary value problems. Afterwards, a micromechanically motivated damage approach for arterial tissues is derived in the CDM framework, taking into account statistically distributed microscopical parameters. The model response is adjusted to experimental data of human arteries and used in a numerical simulation of a simplified atherosclerotic artery model showing the applicability of the proposed formulation in a finite element framework. Moreover, a relaxed incremental variational formulation from the literature, which in contrast to the CDM formulations avoids a potential loss of convexity, is extended in this work to account for arterial tissues by the inclusion of fiber dispersion and hysteresis behavior. A framework denoted as ’Optimal Uncertainty Quantification’ is utilized to compute bounds on the probability of failure in a simplified diseased artery model after several overexpansions. Therefore, a virtual experimental data set and two different rupture criteria are considered, which are based on fiber stretch and fiber damage, respectively. / Diese Dissertation behandelt die Beschreibung des mechanischen Verhaltens von Arterienwänden unter supraphysiologischen Belastungszuständen. Nach einer kurzen Beschreibung der kontinuumsmechanischen Grundlagen, wird der Schwerpunkt zunächst auf Formulierungen im Rahmen der Kontinuumsschädigungsmechanik (KSM) für biologische Weichgewebe gelegt. Dabei werden unterschiedliche phänomenologische Schädigungsfunktionen eingeführt, die zu stetigen bzw. unstetigen Tangentenmoduln bei Schädigungsiniziierung führen. Das Verhalten dieser Formulierungen wird in numerischen Berechnungen inhomogener Randwertprobleme untersucht. Danach wird ein mikromechanisch motivierter Schädigungsansatz im Rahmen der KSM unter Berücksichtigung statistisch verteilter mikroskopischer Parameter hergeleitet. Die Modellantwort wird an experimentelle Daten menschlicher Arterien angepasst und in einer numerischen Simulation eines vereinfachten atherosklerotischen Arterienmodells verwendet, wobei die Anwendbarkeit der vorgeschlagenen Formulierung im Rahmen der Finite-Elemente-Methode gezeigt wird. Zusätzlich wird eine inkrementelle Variationsformulierung für Schädigung aus der Literatur, die im Vergleich zu den KSM-Formulierungen einen möglichen Konvexitätsverlust vermeidet, durch Einbindung von Faserstreuung und Hystere-Verhalten für die Beschreibung arteriellen Gewebes erweitert. Im Rahmen einer Methode, die als ’Optimale Unsicherheitsquantifizierung’ bezeichnet wird, werden Grenzwerte für die Versagenswahrscheinlichkeit an einem vereinfachten Modell einer erkrankten Arterie nach mehreren Überdehnungen berechnet. Dafür werden ein virtueller experimenteller Datensatz und zwei unterschiedliche Versagenskriterien berücksichtigt, die auf der Faserdehnung bzw. auf der Faserschädigung basieren.

Developing tissues are out-of-equilibrium systems that grow and reshape to form organs in adult animals. They are typically composed of a large number of cells. The constitutive cells of a tissue perform different roles in tissue development and contribute to the overall tissue shape changes. In this thesis, we construct a hydrodynamic theory of developing epithelial tissues. We use it to investigate the developing wing of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. This theory relates the coarse-grained cell scale properties to the large-scale tissue flows. We explicitly account for the active cellular processes in the tissue that drive tissue flows. In our description of the tissue, we also include the memory effects that are necessary to account for the experimental observations. These memory effects have a significant influence on the tissue rheology. Using this hydrodynamic theory we analyze shear flow in a developing fruit fly wing tissue. We find that the active cellular processes contribute to overall tissue flows and that memory effects are present in the wing tissue. We investigate consequences of these findings on the rheology of tissue shear flow. We find that the memory effects give rise to an inertial response that leads to oscillations in the tissue but it does not stem from the wing mass. Finally, we describe how the tissue rheology is affected by different boundary conditions. We then investigate the area changes during the pupal wing development and we construct a mechanosensitive model for the cell extrusion rate in the pupal wing. Analysis of cell extrusions in the context of this model also allows us to extract information about the cell division properties. Boundary connections between the wing tissue and surrounding cuticle are crucial for the proper development of the pupal wing. A dumpy mutant wing is strongly misshaped during the pupal wing morphogenesis. We use a simple model for the wing to show that the dumpy mutant wing can be described as a wild type wing with compromised boundary conditions. Finally, we analyze cell properties and tissue flows in a developing wing disc epithelium. Motivated by the observation of radially oriented active T1 transitions in the wing disc epithelium, we use the hydrodynamic theory to investigate the influence of such T1 transitions on stresses in the tissue. We show that sufficiently strong radially oriented active T1 transitions can contribute to the control of the tissue size. Results obtained in this thesis extend our understanding of the fly wing tissue rheology and the role of internal and external forces in the proper shaping of the wing epithelium. The hydrodynamic theory we use to describe the fly wing development provides a set of phenomenological parameters that characterize the tissue mechanics and can be experimentally measured. Therefore, we expect that future research will include and extend the hydrodynamic theory presented in this thesis.

Master of Public Health - MPH / Introduction: Despite the progress that Zambia has made in reducing its maternal mortality ratio from 649 to 398 per 100,000 live births between 1996 and 2013/14, the country did not meet the Millennium Development Goal 5a target, of reducing the maternal mortality ratio by 75% (i.e. to a ratio of 162 per 100,000 live births) by the end of 2015. Thus, as is the case with many other countries, considerable challenges still remain in relation to reducing maternal mortality in Zambia. According to Zambia's Roadmap for Accelerating Reduction of Maternal, Newborn and Child Mortality (2013-2016), the continuum of care for reproductive and maternal, newborn, and child health includes integrated service delivery for mothers and children across these various time periods, and also across place: within the home, the community, and in health facilities. In this regard, a referral system plays a key role in linking the various levels at which care is provided, and the different types of services offered at these levels. In the urban district of Lusaka, Zambia, all complicated pregnancy-related cases received by health centres or clinics are referred to either Levy Mwanawasa General Hospital, or the University Teaching Hospital. However, it appears that at present those working at the primary level of care, who make such referrals up to these higher levels of care, receive no feedback on the outcome of their referrals; there are also few counter-referrals to the respective clinics in the district. With limited communication to the primary level of care, and with no formal handover of patients back to the clinics by the tertiary level institutions, it is difficult to ensure that the required continuum of care for the referred mothers and their children, post-delivery, has been established within the district. This explorative study aimed therefore to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the maternity-related referral system currently operating between primary and tertiary levels of health care in the district, and to consider how the system might be strengthened so as to support a stronger continuum of care with respect to maternal and neonatal health. Methods: Using a descriptive qualitative research approach, stakeholders involved in the planning, delivery and/or oversight of maternal and neonatal health services in the district were purposively sampled and asked to voluntarily participate in the study. Prior to all the interviews, after being informed about the study, and receiving information sheets to read through, participants were required to give informed consent. Their experiences and opinions regarding referrals and counter-referrals were collected through a series of 23 individual, semi-structured interviews. A Thematic Analysis approach was used to analyse data in this study. Ethics approval was first obtained from the Senate Research Committee, University of the Western Cape and thereafter from the Excellence in Research Ethics and Science Converge Ethical Review Board in Zambia, before proceeding with the study. Clearance was also obtained from the Ministry of Health, the Lusaka District Health Management Team and the University Teaching Hospital to facilitate entry into the health facilities. Findings: The study found that, in practice, the referral system for maternity and neonatal health does exist and is generally – but not optimally - functional in the Lusaka District. However, challenges were noted that included the fact that the district’s maternity referral system has not been revised since it was first developed in the 1980s and is not available in a comprehensive set of guidelines or standard operational procedures which explicitly outline the reasons for referral and the related referral steps and mechanisms. In addition, the referral forms currently in use in the district have not been standardised and appear to be inconsistently used by the different facilities. Interviewees reported that there were limitations in terms of the number of, and availability of ambulances, and that there was also an inadequate number of trained midwives. Limitations on the health service's infrastructure, namely, the physical space that is available, the number of delivery beds, and the limited supply of equipment place an additional burden on the staff working at both the primary and tertiary level. Conclusion: Overall, the study recommends that further research – possibly in the form of a baseline audit – be conducted so as to develop a more detailed and/or operational assessment of the actual rather than the reported level of functionality of the district's maternity referral system. Specific recommendations are also proposed for the various stakeholders who are critical role players in the referral system, namely, the clinics, the University Teaching Hospital, the Lusaka District Health Management Team, the Provincial Health Office, the Ministry of Health and Cooperating Partners.

Our sensitive (sigma(n) approximate to 572 nJy beam(-1)), high-resolution (FWHM theta(1/2) = 0"22 approximate to 2 kpc at z greater than or similar to 1), 10 GHz image covering a single Karl G.. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) primary beam (FWHM circle minus(1/2) approximate to 4.'25) in the GOODS-N field contains 32 sources with S-p greater than or similar to 2 mu Jy beam(-1) and optical and/or near-infrared (OIR) counterparts. Most are about as large as the star-forming regions that power them. Their median FWHM major axis is <theta(M)>= 167 +/- 32 mas approximate to 1.2 +/- 0.28 kpc, with rms scatter approximate to 91 mas approximate to 0.79 kpc. In units of the effective radius re that encloses half their flux, these radio sizes are re approximate to 69 +/- 13 mas approximate to 509 +/- 114 pc, with rms scatter approximate to 38 mas approximate to 324 pc. These sizes are smaller than those measured at lower radio frequencies, but agree with dust emission sizes measured at mm/sub-mm wavelengths and extinction-corrected H alpha sizes. We made a lowresolution (theta(1/2) = 1."0) image with approximate to 10x better brightness sensitivity, in order to detect extended sources and measure matched-resolution spectral indices alpha(10 GHz)(1.4 GHz) 10 GHz. It contains six new sources with Sp. 3.9 mJy beam-1 and OIR counterparts. The median redshift of all 38 sources is similar to z similar to = 1.24 +/- 0.15. The 19 sources with 1.4 GHz counterparts have a median spectral index of <alpha(1.4 GHz) (10 GHz)> = -0.74 +/- 0.10 10 GHz, with rms scatter approximate to 0.35. Including upper limits on a for sources not detected at 1.4 GHz flattens the median to <alpha(1.4 GHz) (10 GHz)> greater than or similar to -0.61 10 GHz, suggesting that the mu Jy radio sources at higher redshifts-and hence those selected at higher rest-frame frequencies-may have flatter spectra. If the non-thermal spectral index is alpha(NT) approximate to -0.85, the median thermal fraction of sources selected at median rest-frame frequency approximate to 20 GHz is greater than or similar to 48%.

The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of the factors that constitute a positive and negative supervisor-supervisee relationship as perceived by speech-language pathology graduate students. Clinical practicum experiences were analyzed using qualitative methods via recorded in-depth participant interviews. After the data were collected and transcribed, the narratives were analyzed to draw useful inferences and discover underlying themes using a phenomenological methodology approach. Two overlaying themes, ASHA’s Task 1 of Supervision and Anderson’s Continuum Model of Supervision, were identified from the participants’ interviews and were used to categorize the data. Results indicate the most likely factors attributed to a positive clinical experience included constructive feedback, respect, positive praise, clear expectations and structured clinical guidance while the factors that were most likely attributed to a negative experience were lack of constructive feedback, lack of perceived respect, negative criticism, unclear expectations, and minimal clinical guidance.

To eliminate uncertainties introduced by extinction by dust in the optical, we examine to what extent the radio continuum (RC) can probe star formation in dwarf galaxies. Star formation (SF) drives galaxy formation and evolution; acquiring accurate measurements of SF thus becomes crucial in order to understand galaxies. As radio technology improves further, RC surveys will probe the fainter, more quiescent regime of the radio sky. Having a robust manner by which to convert RC luminosities to star formation rate (SFR) has the potential to provide millions of independent SFR measurements out to intermediate redshifts. In order to calibrate the RC to infer SFR, the 40 dwarf galaxies that make up the LITTLE THINGS sample were chosen as the bedrock of the thesis due to the large range of galactic parameters that they cover. RC observations of these galaxies were taken with the VLA between L- and Ka-band (1-33GHz) using the B-, C-, and Darrays, yielding images with 3-10" resolution and rms noise levels between 3 and 15 μJy beam⁻¹. On a global scale, 27 out of the 40 dwarf galaxies exhibited RC emission above the detection threshold, 17 of which were new RC detections. The general picture is an interstellar medium (ISM) largely void of RC emission, interspersed by isolated pockets of RC associated with SF regions; this general picture agreed with what was expected given current models of dwarf galaxies - weaker magnetic fields in the ISM leading to a higher escape of CRe (and resulting reduction in RCNTh emission). This was also backed-up by the relatively low RCNTh fraction - 61 ± 7% at C-band. The observed RC-SFR relation was calibrated to allow the observed RC luminosity of a gas rich dwarf galaxy to be used to infer the SFR; the calibration takes the form SFR [M⊙ yr⁻¹] = 5 x 10⁻¹⁸(RC [WHz⁻¹])0.85. On a resolved basis, only the RCNTh was examined - this is because whether scales of 1 pc, or 1 kpc are investigated, the relationship between the Hα (current SF) and RCTh was not expected to change. Calibrating the resolved RCNTh-SFR relation was best done when using discrete SF regions which varied from 10s up to 100s of pc in size. On these scales, the calibration allows the SFR to be inferred from an observed RCNTh luminosity, and takes the form SFR [M⊙ yr⁻¹] = 1.36 x 10⁻²³(LNTh [WHz⁻¹])1.15. This calibration, however, is only valid for resolved regions forming stars at a rate ≳ 2 x 10⁻⁴M⊙ yr⁻¹. Despite the low flux densities of RCNTh measured from these discrete SF regions, the RCNTh still works well as a SFR tracer whereas Hα, which is largely dependent on stars with mass ≳ 18M⊙, and is thus dependent on the high mass tail of the stellar IMF, will suffer from stochasticity. In a few dwarfs, the equipartition magnetic field strength reaches as high as 30 μG in multiple 100 pc regions, and in one case, 70 μG. However, generally, the weaker magnetic fields in the ISM give the CRe longer lifetimes, and thus more time to be advected out of the galaxy with the magnetic fields frozen into the gas in outflows, or diffuse. This explains in part the lack of RCNTh emission observed in the ISM of dwarf galaxies. Through implementing a simple galactic CRemodel, itwas found that the RCNTh emission associated with the CRe can be used as a SF tracer from approximately 5 up to 70Myr following a burst of SF, while RCTh can be used in its absence prior to 5Myr. The RCNTh luminosity reaches its peak approximately 55Myr after the SF episode, but actually remains nearly constant over the 60Myr following the SF episode, highlighting its potential to be used to infer SFR. The CRemodel also tracked the evolution of the RCNTh spectral index with time. Between values of about -0.4 and -0.7, the RCNTh spectral index can be calibrated to infer the time elapsed since a burst of SF through t[Myr] = -25αNTh. RCNTh spectral indices of -0.8 are consistent with ages between 20 and 55Myr, suggesting that the oft observed spectral index of -0.8 in galaxies may come from the fact that C-band RCNTh emission is dominated by the steep spectral indices of -0.8 from these older SF regions (20-55Myr). For the galaxies that displayed RCNTh emission that was bright enough and sufficiently well resolved, a spectral decomposition of the RC spectrum was performed to infer Hα-independent RCTh, RCNTh, and RCNTh spectral index maps. The spectral decomposition showed DDO50 and NGC1569 to have a low thermal fraction of 23% and 10%, respectively, at C-band, while NGC2366 and NGC4214 were shown to have higher thermal fractions of 48% and 66%, respectively. In summary, dwarf galaxies are not only faint in the RC due to their lower SF activity, but they are also fainter than expected due to CRe escape. Nonetheless, the RC can be used to probe SF in dwarf galaxies not only on a global scale, but also within discrete SF complexes 10s to 100s of pc in size. Theoretically, the RC can be used right from the onset of a burst of SF, where RCTh will dominate, up to ~ 70Myr, at which point RCNTh will dominate. Calibrated by the RC observations in this thesis, both resolved and global SFRs of gas rich, low mass galaxies can be inferred with an uncertainty of ±0.2 dex; the relations allow SFRs of between approximately 2x10⁻⁴ and 0.1M⊙ yr⁻¹ to be inferred.

Cette étude sur les propositions (clauses) introduites par "quand" s’ancre dans une démarche descriptive qui se veut à l’interface entre syntaxe, sémantique et discours. Il s’agit donc dans un premier temps de définir des critères permettant de rendre compte de la syntaxe particulièrement variable de cette structure introduite par quand. Nous nous sommes inspirée des travaux de Smessaert et al. (2005) pour la distinction entre micro- et macro-syntaxe et Berrendonner & Reichler-Béguelin (1989), Berrendonner (1990) et Béguelin (2004) pour la description macro-syntaxique. L’utilisation des ces outils de descriptions nous a permis de sortir de la dichotomie traditionnelle (hypotaxe vs parataxe) par l’intégration d’un niveau intermédiaire (exotaxe, épitaxe et endotaxe) afin d’élaborer un continuum scalaire d’intégration de la clause introduite par "quand", sur l’exemple de ce que propose Lehmann (1988). Ce continuum d’intégration présente une double orientation de l’intégration : de la coalescence au dégroupage et inversement. Ce continuum d’intégration syntaxique de la clause introduite par quand est corroboré par l’interprétation plus ou moins subjective de cette même clause. Nous souhaitons que ce travail soit à l’origine d’une étude plus vaste sur les intégrateurs temporels en français (cependant, alors, en même temps, à ce moment-là etc.) afin de vérifier la constance prévisible de certains phénomènes. / Our study about the "Quand-p" (When-clause) in modern French settles in a descriptive approach in the interlacing of syntax, semantic and discourse. Therefore we first needed to define a criteria that could debrief the variability of the Quand-p syntax. We found inspiration in the interlaced work of Smessaert et al. (2005), for the difference between micro- and macro-syntax, and of Berrendonner & Reichler-Béguelin (1989), Berrendonner (1990) and Béguelin (2004) for the macro-syntax analysis. Using these analysis tools allowed us to leave the traditional dichotomy (hypotaxis vs parataxis) by means of integration of an intermediate level (exotaxis, epitaxis and endotaxis) to elaborate a continuing integration scale of the "Quand-p", based on the example given by Lehmann (1988). This integration scale presents two directions: from coalescence to unbundling and vice versa.This syntactic integration scale introduced by the Quand-p is corroborated by its more or less subjective interpretation. We hope for this work to be at the origin of a larger study of the temporal integrator in French (cependant, alors, en même temps, à ce moment-là etc.) in order to verify the predictable constancy of certain phenomena.

The aim of this study is to determine the effect of two approaches of social work intervention, a continuity approach, and a team approach, upon the three dependent variables of subject satisfaction, control, and mood. In order to determine differences in outcome, subjects were administered psychological tests to determine changes in their reported sense of control and mood (hopelessness) in relation to their response to the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. At follow-up, subjects also completed a questionnaire designed to determine their satisfaction with social work services received. The amount of time spent in contact with social workers was also assessed at this time. The analysis of the relationship between these variables revealed that there were no statistically significant differences between the study groups; subjects were equally satisfied with the two approaches in social work intervention, and there were no major differences between the reported changes in mood and control by the subjects in the study groups. / Medicine, Faculty of / Population and Public Health (SPPH), School of / Graduate

[pt] A Mecânica do Dano Contínuo é uma ferramenta promissora para a análise de vida residual em componentes de máquinas e de estruturas. Todavia, não é uma tarefa simples a de se obter uma descrição fisica realística, associada a uma descrição matemática correta, do acoplamento entre a deformação e o amolecimento causado pela degradação da microestrutura. No caso de barras metálicas, a deformação plástica cíclica causa um endurecimento junto com uma degradação na estrutura (dano de fadiga). Por outro lado, a degradação da estrutura induz o amolecimento observado na curva tensão de engenharia vs. deformação. Logo, torna-se importante a modelagem do acoplamento entre plasticidade e dano para que se possa prever de maneira adequada o tempo de vida (ciclos), de um componente estrutural. Muitas tentativas feitas para descrever este tipo de comportamento mostraram-se insatisfatórias. O problema matemático é, em geral, mal posto e uma aproximação numérica da solução é incorreta do ponto de vista fisico. Nestes casos, o fenômeno de localização da deformação é malha-dependente. No presente trabalho, propõe-se uma nova teoria de dano para materiais elasto-plásticos que supera este problema. A teoria tem uma forte base termodinâmica e leva em conta o fenômeno de amolecimento. Uma diferença básica em relação a outros modelos consiste no fato de que a variável escalar D, associada ao dano, é considerada não apenas uma variável de estado mas também uma variável cinemática independente, com abordagem semelhante à apresentada nas teorias de contínuo com microestrutura. As possibilidades de utilização da teoria apresentada são verificadas através da comparação de simulações numéricas com resultados experimentais, para solicitações cíclicas uniaxiais, em barras de almnínioestrutural e em barras de aço austenitico AISI 316 L. / [en] Continuum Damage Mechanics is a promising tool for the failure prediction of structural components. Nevertheless, it is not a simple task to do a mathematically correct and physically realistic description of the strain-softcning behavior due to the degradation of the microstructure. In the case of metallic bars, the cyclic plastic deformation induces a strain-hardening and also a degradation of the structure (fatigue damage). In the other hand, the degradation of the structure induces a softening behavior in the engineering stress-strain curve. Hence, it is very important to model the coupling between plasticity and damage in order to perform an adequate lifetime prevision. Many attempts to describe this type of behavior have been unsatisfatory. The mathematical problem is, in general, ill posed and a numerical approximation of the solution is incorrect from the physical point of view. In this cases the phenomenon of strain localization due to strain-soflzening is mesh dependent. In the present work a new Damage theory for elasto-plastic materials that overcome this problem is proposed. The theory has a strong thermodynarnic basis and take into account the softening behavior. One basic difference from the others models is that the scalar variable D related with damage is taken as an independent kinematic variable, similarly as in the theories of continua with microstructure. The effectiveness and usefulness of the theory is checked by comparing numerical simulations of cyclic uniaxial tests in Aluminiun bars and 316L stainless steel bars with experimental results.