Virtual Enterprise (VE) is an organizational collaboration concept which provides a competitive edge in the globalized business environment. The life cycle of a VE consists of four stages i.e. opportunity identification (Pre-Creation), partner selection (Creation), operation and dissolution. The success of VEs depends upon the efficient execution of their VE-lifecycles along with knowledge enhancement for the partner enterprises to facilitate the future formation of efficient VEs. This research aims to study the different issues which occur in the VE lifecycle and provides a platform for the formation of high performance enterprises and VEs. In the pre-creation stage, enterprises look for suitable partners to create their VE and to exploit a market opportunity. This phase requires explicit and implicit information extraction from enterprise data bases (ECOS-ontology) for the identification of suitable partners. A description logic (DL) based query system is developed to extract explicit and implicit information and to identify potential partners for the creation of the VE. In the creation phase, the identified partners are analysed using different risks paradigms and a cooperative game theoretic approach is used to develop a revenue sharing mechanism based on enterprises inputs and risk minimization for optimal partner selection. In the operation phases, interoperability remains a key issue for seamless transfer of knowledge information and data. DL-based ontology mapping is applied in this research to provide interoperability in the VE between enterprises with different domains of expertise. In the dissolution stage, knowledge acquired in the VE lifecycle needs to be disseminated among the enterprises to enhance their competitiveness. A DL-based ontology merging approach is provided to accommodate new knowledge with existing data bases with logical consistency. Finally, the proposed methodologies are validated using the case study. The results obtained in the case study illustrate the applicability and effectiveness of proposed methodologies in each stage of the VE life cycle.

Approved for public release, distribution is unlimited / This thesis investigates user interfaces for locomotion in virtual environments (VEs). It looks initially at virtual environments and user interfaces, then concentrates on locomotion interfaces, specifically on the Omni-Directional Treadmill (ODT) (Darken and Cockayne, 1997) and a new virtual walking device, LocoX, which was developed at the MOVES Institute, Naval Postgraduate School. It analyzes and compares the ODT and LocoX in terms of the application of human ability requirements (HARs). Afterwards, it compares the results of the analysis of the ODT and LocoX to real-world locomotion. The analysis indicates that LocoX, a new way of exploring virtual environments (VEs), provides a close match to real locomotion on some subtasks in VEs-- compared to the ODT--and produces relatively closer representation on some subtasks of real world locomotion. This thesis concludes that LocoX has great potential and that the locomotion provided is realistic enough to simulate certain kinds of movements inherent to real-world locomotion. LocoX still requires maturation and development, but is nonetheless a viable locomotion technique for VEs and future game-based simulations. / Lieutenant Junior Grade, Turkish Navy

La croissance tumorale et le processus de métastatisation dépendent de la néoformation de vaisseaux sanguins ou néoangiogenèse. Parmi les molécules intervenant dans ce processus, l'adrenomédul1ine (AM) est un peptide, dont l'expression est corrélée à l'agressivité de certaines tumeurs, et qui représente un maillon «clé» dans les interactions entre les cellules tumorales et les cellules du microenvironnement. Les résultats spectaculaires qu'offre le traitement des xénogreffes de cellules issues de glioblastomes (GBM) humains par les anticorps dirigés contre l'AM ou son récepteur sont très encourageants, puisque la tumeur traitée régresse en quelques semaines, la vascularisation tumorale s'en trouve touchée de manière spécifique. C'est dans ce contexte, que nous avons choisi de poursuivre notre travail sur les mécanismes d'action de l'AM dans la néoangiogenèse. Grâce à des études in vitro et in vivo, nous avons pu montrer que l'AM est impliquée dans plusieurs étapes de la néoangiogenèse tumorale : migration des cellules endothéliales, stabilisation des contacts endothéliaux et endothélio-péricytaires, recrutement des cellules mésenchymateuses. Nos résultats démontrent que nous sommes en présence d'une molécule d'AM qui agit sur diverses cibles moléculaires et cellulaires, régulant la stabilité du complexe d”adhésion intercellulaire VE-cadhérine/-caténine, nécessaire à la protection des interactions homotypiques et hétérotypiques de l°endothélium nouvellement formé. Ainsi, l'étude des mécanismes d'action de l'AM réalisée pennettra d'établir ue stratégie thérapeutique autour de l'AM. / Tumoral growth and process of metastatization depend on the formation of new blood vessels or angiogenesis. Among the molecules implicated in this process, adrenomedullin (AM) is a peptide, which expression is correlated with the aggressiveness of tumors, and which represents a "key" link in the interactions between tumoral cells and the microenvironment cells. The spectacular results offered by the treatment of human glioblastoma (GBM) xenograft by antibodies directed against the AM or its receptor are very encouraging, as the treated tumor declines in some weeks, and the tumoral vascularization is also touched in a specific way. In this context, we chose to pursue our work on the mechanisms of action of AM in angiogenesis. In vitro and in vivo studies showed that AM is involved in several stages of tumoral angiogenesis : migration of endothelial cells, stabilization of endothelial contacts, stabilization of the pericyte coverage, recruitment of multipotent cells. Our results demonstrate that we are in presence of a molecule of AM which acts on diverse molecular and cellular targets, regulating the stability of the VE-cadherin/β-catenin complex, required for the protection of the homotypics and heterotypics interactions of the newly formed endothelium. The study of the mechanisms of action of AM realized will allow us to establish a therapeutic strategy around AM.

Mémoire numérisé par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

The assessment of ventilatory efficiency (VE/VCO2 slope) is increasingly being utilized to complement traditional cardiorespiratory fitness testing during graded exercise. The purpose of this study was to compare cardiorespiratory responses and ventilatory efficiency in obese children during a progressive exercise test to volitional fatigue performed on a treadmill and a cycle ergometer. Fifteen obese male (N=3) and female (N=12) adolescents aged 10 to 18 years were recruited in the study and completed both the treadmill and cycle ergometer trials. Mean age and BMI of the sample was 13.3 years and 38.0 kg/m2, respectively. Maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) and ventilatory efficiency were determined during both exercise trials. Subsequently, overall VE/VCO2 slope and the slope below and above AT for ventilatory efficiency were compared between the two exercise modes. VO2max was significantly (p<0.05) greater during the treadmill trial (26.09±5.11 ml/kg/min) compared to the cycle ergometer trial (20.71± 4.31 ml/kg/min). The VO2 at anaerobic threshold (AT) was significantly (p<0.05) higher during the treadmill trial, however, the percentage of VO2max at AT was not significantly different between the two modes (treadmill-63.41± 6.29% and cycle ergometer (67.25± 6.99%). While there was no significant difference in the overall VE/VCO2 slope or the VE/VCO2 slope above anaerobic threshold obtained from the two modes, the VE/VCO2 slope below anaerobic threshold was significantly (p<0.05) higher in the treadmill trial (25.06±2.10) compared to the cycle ergometer trial (23.34± 2.12). In our small sample of obese adolescents, we observed a greater VE response for a given VCO2 during treadmill exercise below the anaerobic threshold. The differences observed may be related to a greater activation of muscle afferents during weight bearing exercise in obese adolescents.

Title: Competency profile of PR professional in sport Objective: The objective is to identify competencies required to a position of PR professional in sport. The aim of a survey is to verify the level of competencies which follows compiling competency profile and comparison with existing profile of PR specialist. Methods: The objective is achieved using survey, interview and analysis of competency models database. Results: The result of this paper is competency profile of PR professional in sport, which contains competencies divided into several sectors and their required level. Key words: Public relations, PR professional, sport PR, competence

Title: The most common injuries in the professional floorball players in Czech Republic for the season 2011/2012. Objective: The aim of this thesis is evaluation of collected informations from questionnaire. Evaluation most common injuries in the professional floorball male and female players for the season 2011/2012.Evaluation their mechanism, what is the level of compensation and regeneration between league teams in Czech Republic. Methods: For collection and evaluation I have used a form of non-standardized questionnaire, which was distributed among floorball teams and their players. The evaluation covered the extra league competitions for the season 2011/2012. Total of 120 questionnaires were evaluated from men and 116 questionnaires from women. Results: The survey showed that the most common injury in male and female professional floorball players is contusion / distension of the muscle in the lower extremity. This injury reported a total of 19% of all respondents. Injury in the ankle suffered a total of 16.6% of all respondents and followed by injuries in the knee joint in 9.6% of all players. Among men dominated most injuries in the ankle joint - 19.3% among women then contusion / distension of the muscle of the lower limb - 21.6%. Most injuries were reported in the post forward. The most...

Handwriting is an integral part of our culture and civilization. It is an important and indispensable skill that makes us a full-fledged member of society. When acquiring this skill particular problems can develop which need to be captured as soon as possible in order to ensure the fastest and most effective remedy. The presented work deals with a profound description of written expression in the third grade of primary school. It is based on the revised rating scale which was derived from the original scale created by A. Kucharská, and J. Veverková in 2011. Using this revised scale the degree of attachment and coping skills in writing for third grade students was captured and described. It was also investigated the area of reflection of the errors and the ways students dealt with them. Finally, based on last scale area the rate of fixing grammar and typing skills was observed. The analysis scrutinized dictations of 90 students from Prague, central and east region who was taught by the genetics and analyst-synthetic metod. In order to process the data the quantiative methods and multidimensional methods were used. The qualitative analysis was used as well with the purpose of supporting the particular issues. The data allowed us to determine the extent of the handwriting fixation, provided us with...

The present diploma thesis is concerned with English non-prepositional equivalents of the Czech v/ve and z/ze prepositional phrases. This type of equivalent is found in approximately 20% of cases (Klégr et al., 2011). The thesis shows that some of the divergent equivalents are conditioned lexically (different valency of the Czech and English verb), while others, being of systemic nature, are related to typological differences between Czech and English. Among the systemic counterparts are particularly English locative subjects in sentence-initial position correspoding to Czech adverbials, and English premodification by a noun translated into Czech as postmodification by a prepositional phrase. Material for the analytical part was extracted from the "Core" of the parallel corpus InterCorp, consisting of original Czech fiction texts and their English translations. A total of more than 200 divergent counterparts of both Czech prepositional phrases was collected.

Information and communication technologies (further referred to as "ICT") are increasingly influencing whole structure of the society. The integration of ICT into education together with the transition of the traditional teaching into a modern learning environment is therefore understood as one of the key factors of further development. This work examines some of the possibilities of applying electronical support for teaching chemistry at high schools. It focuses mainly on the visualisation of the subject matter, suitable positive motivation and incitement of the students. This paper describes in detail the presentation of subjects in chemistry using software applets of Wolfram Mathematica. One of the goals of this paper is to introduce the software and to present its potential application in teaching chemistry. Furthermore it shall encourage the use of particular demonstrations applets of the software Wolfram Mahematica. To achieve this goals, the author of this paper describes in detail the source codes of seven demonstrations applets called "Formulas and Structures for Some Simple Molecules", "Build Your Own Atoms", "Visualizing Atomic Orbitals", "Alkanes", "Oxidation States of Carbon", "Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion (VSEPR) Theory" and "Ideal Gas Law", which are available for free on...