Thesis PlanB (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Stout, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Pennsylvania, 1930.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

Just as the Internet did before, mobile information technology (IT) is radically changing the way we interact with the world. Already there have been many innovative applications of this technology based on the unique attributes of mobiles. IT companies and IT service providers rely on meaningful and provable information about the influence of technical possibilities and the views of IT experts on consumer needs. The purpose and objectives of this research are to investigate the influence of mobile IT solution design and architecture on consumer behaviour related to a specific business area – the German financial market and services industry. The main research question was: “What shapes the development of mobile IT applications?” In thisresearch, the focus was on the technical context; that means the key drivers of the technological development, as they are named (in alphabetical order): efficiency, engagement, flexibility, security, simplicity, and visibility. The literature review identifiedthe factors influencing technology development and related these to the consumer behaviour theory. The research methodology is based on the phenomenological approach in which the ‘lived' experiences were described from the perspectives of interviewees'. Qualitative data were gathered related to the key drivers to understand what kind of influence factors are taking effect. Based on the assumption that IT experts will provideessential and significant inputs regarding the technical aspects, 18 semi-structured interviews were conducted. From the in-depth expert interviews, the key elements (variables) were determined and a conceptual framework was evolved with respect to literature and with the aim of answering the research question. Based on the findings from field data, the framework forms a foundation for a retrospective analysis to study the influence factors and to emerge remarkably consistent patterns that influence the development of mobile solutions. Furthermore,the proposed framework provides the basis to describe the effect of technological development on an existing information system theory. The thesis closes the gap left by the lack of a technical point of view in recent literature. This research identified consumer opinions and behaviours from the perspective of IT experts with regard to the perceived values and usability of mobile IT. The contribution to practice is that this study will bring together the technical viewpointand the viewpoints of consumers. In addition, this study will provide a set of recommendations to clarify interactions between the architecture and design of mobile IT and the consumer behaviour.

Management of volunteer horseradish is a major challenge in fields when horseradish is included in the crop rotation. Three field studies were conducted: 1) to evaluate the growth habit and density of volunteer horseradish, 2) to evaluate the efficacy of fall herbicide applications for control of volunteer horseradish, 3) to evaluate the tolerance of subsequent horseradish crops to persisting soil residues of halosulfuron. One year following horseradish production, field infestations of volunteer horseradish ranged from 0.08 to 6.60 plants/m2 with the majority of plants emerging from established roots left below the depth of horseradish harvest and tillage. Fall herbicide applications provided effective control of volunteer horseradish compared to the nontreated control. Combinations of 2,4–D tank–mixed with glyphosate, iodosulfuron, halosulfuron, or rimsulfuron:thifensulfuron achieved the greatest control of volunteer horseradish and reduced volunteer horseradish densities to less than 1 plant /m2, while glyphosate alone provided the least control and density reduction. In addition to volunteer horseradish control, combinations of 2,4–D with glyphosate, iodosulfuron, halosulfuron, or rimsulfuron:thifensulfuron also provided 97% or greater control of winter annual weeds (henbit, common chickweed, and Carolina foxtail). Although the herbicide halosulfuron is very effective at controlling volunteer horseradish, it has the potential to injure future horseradish crops due to soil persistence. Field studies showed that after 4 months following a June halosulfuron application, horseradish can be replanted with no visual injury or reduction in root biomass. Tillage may provide temporary removal of volunteer horseradish plants, however, herbicide applications (e.g., 2,4–D with halosulfuron, iodosulfuron or rimsulfuron:thifensulfuron) provide the most consistent, complete control of volunteer horseradish.

La transplantation d’îlots permet la restauration d’une insulino-sécrétion endogène chez les patients diabétiques de type 1 par greffe allogénique et limite les conséquences métaboliques d’une pancréatectomie en cas d’autogreffe. Le site de référence intrahépatique présente néanmoins de nombreuses limites. Dans le cadre d’autogreffe, le risque hémorragique accru chez les patients récemment opérés liée à l’injection nécessairement conjointe des îlots et d’héparine en intraportal doit faire privilégier une technique de greffe mini invasive. De nombreux sites d’implantation ont été décrits. L’hypothèse de ce travail de thèse était que la voie intramusculaire offrirait par rapport à la voie portale, l’avantage de simplifier l’acte de transplantation, de réduire le traumatisme pour le patient et d’améliorer la viabilité des îlots en limitant les processus inflammatoires immédiats et en optimisant les processus de néo-vascularisation.Dans une première partie, nous avons pu démontrer, dans un model préclinique, que le site intramusculaire permet la survie, la revascularisation et la sécrétion des îlots autogreffés. Nous avons décrit une technique de greffe permettant d’ameliorer le contrôle glycémique d’animaux autogreffés après pancréatectomie totale. Bien qu’inférieure à la voie intraportale, les tests fonctionnels nous ont permis de valider le site intramusculaire pour la greffe d’îlots autologues. Dans une deuxième partie, nous décrivons un cas clinique original confirmant la possible transposition en clinique de l’autogreffe d’ilots en intramusculaire après pancréatectomie partielle. Ce cas clinique, confirme la faisabilité et suggère son innocuité. Il était cependant difficile dans ce contexte de pancréatectomie partielle d’établir un rapport entre l’absence de développement de diabète et la greffe. Pour ce faire, nous décrivons dans une troisième partie, une étude pilote sur l’évaluation de la fonction des îlots autogreffés dans le muscle chez 8 patients ayant subi une pancréatectomie partielle. Dans ce but nous avons comparé la sécrétion d’insuline après stimulation par l’arginine mesurée simultanément dans le bras greffé et le bras non greffé après l’autogreffe par des tests de stimulation à l’arginine. Malgré une faible quantité d’ilots greffés, nous avons documenté une fonction primaire du greffon chez plus de la moitié des patients, ainsi que sa persistance à plus d’un an. Enfin, nous avons également montré que le gradient d’insulinémie entre le bras greffé et le bras systémique était corrélé avec la masse d’ilots greffés.Le muscle est donc un site phare pour le développement d’un site alternatif lors de greffe d’ilots intramusculaire. Le site intramusculaire permet un formidable site d’évaluation des îlots. Cette procédure, résolument mini-invasive, est particulièrement attractive par son extrême accessibilité aux biopsies, à l’imagerie et aux explantations. Cette accessibilité permet d’élargir les indications de greffe telles que l’autogreffe d’îlots provenant de pancréas tumoraux. / The liver may not be an optimal site for islet transplantation due to obstacles by an instant blood-mediated inflammatory response (IBMIR), and low revascularization of transplanted islets. Therefore, intramuscular islet transplantation (IMIT) offers an attractive alternative, based on its simplicity, enabling easier access for noninvasive graft imaging and cell explantation. In this study, we explored the outcome of autologous IMIT in the minipig (n = 30). Using the intramuscular injection technique, we demonstrated by direct histological evidence the rapid revascularization of islets autotransplanted into the gracilius muscle. Islet survival assessment was performed using immunohistochemistry staining for insulin and glucagon up to a period of 6 months. Furthermore, we showed the crucial role of minimizing mechanical trauma to the myofibers and limiting exocrine contamination. Intramuscular islet graft function after transplantation was confirmed by documenting the acute insulin response to intravenous glucose in 5/11 pancreatectomized animals. Graft function after IMIT remained however significantly lower than the function measured in 12 out of 18 minipigs who received a similar islet volume in the liver through intraportal infusion. Collectively, these results demonstrated in a clinically relevant preclinical model, suggest IMIT as a promising alternative to intraportal infusion for the transplantation of β cells in certain medical situations.

Magnesium hydroxide, a stable flame retardant, can be obtained by mining or by the hydration of magnesium oxide. In this study, the effect of different hydrating agents on the pH of the hydrating solution, rate of hydration of MgO to Mg(OH)2 and product surface area were studied as a function of the temperature of hydration. Ammonium chloride, magnesium acetate, magnesium nitrate, nitric acid, acetic acid, water, magnesium chloride, sodium acetate and hydrochloric acid were used as hydrating agents. The hydration experiments were carried out in a water bath between 30 - 80 oC for 30 minutes. Dried MgO samples were introduced to the hydrating solution and the slurry was stirred at a constant speed. At the end of each experiment, the slurry was vacuum filtered, washed with water, dried at 200 oC and hand ground. The products were then characterized by TGA, XRF, XRD and BET surface area analyses. There was not a significant difference in the hydration behaviour of the hydrating agents up to 50 oC, where less than 10 % of magnesium hydroxide was formed. When compared to the hydration in water, all the hydrating agents with the exception of sodium acetate showed a significant increase in the degree of hydration. Sodium acetate formed the lowest amount of magnesium hydroxide, ranging between 1.2 and 12.2 % magnesium hydroxide. Hydrations performed in hydrochloric acid and magnesium nitrate formed the largest percentage (11.8 %) of magnesium hydroxide at 60 oC. Magnesium acetate, magnesium nitrate, magnesium chloride and hydrochloric acid seemed to be the most effective hydrating agents at 70 oC with the percentage magnesium hydroxide being formed ranging between 20.0 and 23.9 %. The amount of hydroxide formed doubled at 80 oC, with the largest percentage (56.7 %) formed from the hydration in magnesium acetate. The hydration reaction seemed to be dependent upon the presence of Mg2+ and acetate ions. It seemed that magnesium oxide hydration is a dissolution-precipitation process controlled by the dissolution of magnesium oxide. The results have also indicated that the pH and temperature of the hydrating solution strongly influence the degree of hydration. / Chemistry / M.Sc. (Chemistry)

No description available.