Ce travail porte sur l’étude et le développement d’un système innovant de ventilation et de chauffage au bois dans les habitations à basse consommation d’énergie, qui sont appelées à devenir la référence constructive en France dès 2015. Dans ces habitations fortement isolées et particulièrement étanches à l’air, les besoins de chauffage sont très faibles et peuvent être couverts par une source de chaleur d’origine renouvelable, telle que le bois énergie. En outre, l’utilisation d’une ventilation performante s’impose comme étant un critère essentiel pour assurer la bonne qualité de l’air intérieur et peut même devenir l’unique vecteur de chauffage en apportant l’appoint de chaleur sur l’air insufflé dans les différentes pièces de l’habitation. Le système présenté dans cette étude propose ainsi de combiner les avantages d’un appareil de chauffage au bois de petite puissance, ici un poêle à granulés de bois, et ceux d’une ventilation à récupération de chaleur sur l’air extrait, grâce à un conduit échangeur intégré à la cheminée du poêle et relié au réseau de soufflage de la ventilation. Développé en partenariat avec l’industriel POUJOULAT, spécialisé dans la fabrication de conduits de cheminée métalliques, ce conduit échangeur permet de récupérer sur l’air neuf une partie de la chaleur initialement perdue par les fumées et de la distribuer dans toutes des zones de vie de l’habitation, même les plus éloignées de l’appareil au bois. Après avoir défini la configuration de couplage à adopter pour assurer le bon fonctionnement de l’ensemble et garantir à la fois la sécurité et le confort des occupants, les performances de plusieurs prototypes de conduit échangeur sont caractérisées expérimentalement. Les résultats obtenus lors des essais en laboratoire permettent alors d’orienter l’évolution des prochains prototypes et de souligner la nécessité de travailler avec un poêle à granulés de bois dont le cycle de combustion est étanche. Un modèle mathématique est également développé pour prédire les performances du dernier prototype de conduit échangeur à triple paroi non isolé sur sa surface extérieure et sa validation est obtenue suite au bon accord entre les résultats calculés et ceux mesurés lors des essais. L’ensemble du système combiné est ensuite installé dans deux habitations à basse consommation d’énergie situées près de Poitiers. L’exploitation des températures et des consommations recueillies pendant la première saison de chauffe montre la bonne tenue du système combiné, ses limites, ainsi que ses conditions d’appropriation par les occupants, dont le comportement apparaît jouer un rôle prédominant dans la réduction des consommations énergétiques. / This work is devoted to the study and development of an innovative wood-based air-heating system for energy-efficient dwellings, which are expected to become the building reference in France from 2015 onwards. As these kinds of homes are highly insulated and particularly airtight, heating requirements are very low and may be covered by a renewable energy source, such as wood energy. In addition, efficient ventilation is absolutely required to ensure indoor air quality and may even sometimes be use as the only way to provide heat into the various rooms of the house. In this context, the system presented in this study aims to combine advantages of a low power wood-burning appliance, as a wood-pellet stove, and those of a mechanical ventilation heat-recovery unit, thanks to a heat exchanger integrated into the chimney of the pellet stove and connected to the ventilation air supply network. Developed in partnership with POUJOULAT, a metallic chimneys manufacturer, this new heat exchanger recovers a part of the heat from flue gases and enables to warm up the fresh air distributed in each living zone of the house, even the most remote of the wood heating device. After defining the best coupling configuration to ensure the proper behaviour of the system, as well as both safety and comfort of the occupants, performances of several heat exchanger prototypes are characterized experimentally. The results from tests in laboratory are then used to guide prototypes development and they highlight the need to work with a room-sealed wood-pellet stove. Moreover, a mathematical model is developed to predict the performances of the latest prototype of triple concentric tube heat exchanger with no insulation at the outer surface. Then, the model validation is obtained following the good agreement between calculated results and those measured during the laboratory tests. The combined system is then installed in two energy-efficient dwellings near Poitiers. Operating temperatures and energy consumptions collected during the first heating season show the good reliability of the combined system, its limitations and its conditions of acceptance by the occupants, whose behaviour is pointed out as a major factor in reducing energy consumptions.

Due to the finite speed of light and a vast, expanding universe, telescopes are just now receiving the light emitted by galaxies as they were forming in the very early universe. The light from these galaxies has been redshifted (stretched to longer, redder wavelengths) as a result of its journey through expanding space. Using sophisticated techniques and exceptional multi-wavelength optical and infrared data, we isolate a population of 378 galaxies in the process of formation when the Universe was only two billion years old. By matching the distinctive properties of the light spectra of these galaxies to models, the redshift, age, dust content, star formation rate and total stellar mass of each galaxy are determined. Comparing our results to similar surveys of galaxy populations at other redshifts, a picture emerges of the growth and evolution of massive, star-forming galaxies over the course of billions of years.

Due to the finite speed of light and a vast, expanding universe, telescopes are just now receiving the light emitted by galaxies as they were forming in the very early universe. The light from these galaxies has been redshifted (stretched to longer, redder wavelengths) as a result of its journey through expanding space. Using sophisticated techniques and exceptional multi-wavelength optical and infrared data, we isolate a population of 378 galaxies in the process of formation when the Universe was only two billion years old. By matching the distinctive properties of the light spectra of these galaxies to models, the redshift, age, dust content, star formation rate and total stellar mass of each galaxy are determined. Comparing our results to similar surveys of galaxy populations at other redshifts, a picture emerges of the growth and evolution of massive, star-forming galaxies over the course of billions of years.

Due to the finite speed of light and a vast, expanding universe, telescopes are just now receiving the light emitted by galaxies as they were forming in the very early universe. The light from these galaxies has been redshifted (stretched to longer, redder wavelengths) as a result of its journey through expanding space. Using sophisticated techniques and exceptional multi-wavelength optical and infrared data, we isolate a population of 378 galaxies in the process of formation when the Universe was only two billion years old. By matching the distinctive properties of the light spectra of these galaxies to models, the redshift, age, dust content, star formation rate and total stellar mass of each galaxy are determined. Comparing our results to similar surveys of galaxy populations at other redshifts, a picture emerges of the growth and evolution of massive, star-forming galaxies over the course of billions of years.

L'objectif principal visé par cette thèse est de modéliser les poutres gonflables en textiles techniques orthotropes. Les approches statiques font l'objet de ce rapport. Avant d'aborder ce problème, nous avons été amenés à identifier tous les paramètres qui ont un effet direct sur les propriétés mécaniques effectives de ces composites. Ainsi, nous avons développé un modèle micro mécanique de prédiction de ces propriétés mécaniques. Le modèle proposé est basé sur l’analyse d'un volume élémentaire représentatif (VER) prenant en compte non seulement les propriétés mécaniques et la. fraction de volume de chaque phase dans le VER mais également leur géométrie et leur architecture. Chaque fil dans le VER a été modélisé comme un matériau isotrope transverse (contenant les fibres et la résine). La méthode dite d’assemblage de cylindres a été utilisée pour l’homogénéisation au niveau des fils. Une deuxième homogénéisation est ensuite réalisée. Elle prend en compte la fraction de volume de chaque constituant (fils de chaîne, fils de trame et résine non prise en compte dans les fils). Le modèle a été validé par des résultats expérimentaux existant dans la littérature. Une élude paramétrique a été menée afin d'étudier les effets des divers paramètres géométriques et mécaniques sur ces propriétés mécaniques. Dans l'analyse structurale, un modèle poutre gonflable 3D de Timoshenko en tissu orthotrope a été proposé. Il prend en compte les non-linéarités géométriques et l'effet de la force suiveuse générée par la pression de gonflage. Les équations d'équilibre non-linéaires dérivent du principe des travaux virtuels en configuration lagrangienne totale. Dans une première approche, une linéarisation a été faite autour de la configuration de référence précontrainte pour obtenir les équations adaptées aux problèmes linéaires. A titre d'exemple, le problème de flexion plane a été abordé. Quatre cas de conditions aux limites ont été traités et les résultats obtenus améliorent les modèles existants dans le cas de tissu isotrope. Les charges de plissage ont été également proposées dans chaque cas traité. Dans une deuxième approche, les équations non-linéaires ont été discrétisées par la méthode des éléments finis. Deux types de solutions ont été alors proposées : les solutions aux problèmes éléments finis linéaires obtenues par une linéarisation des équations discrétisées autour de la configuration de référence précontrainte et les solutions aux problèmes éléments finis non-linéaires réalisées en adoptant une méthode Quasi-Newton sous sa forme incrémentale. A titre d’exemple, la flexion d’une poutre encastrée-libre a été étudiée et les résultats améliorent les modèles théoriques. Le modèle éléments finis non-linéaire a été comparé favorablement à un modèle éléments finis coque mince 3D. Une étude paramétrique a été ensuite effectuée. Elle a porté sur l'influence des propriétés mécaniques et sur de la pression de gonflage sur la réponse de la poutre. Les solutions éléments finis linéaires se sont avérées proches des résultats théoriques linéarisés d'une part et les résultats du modèle éléments finis non-linéaire se sont avérés proches des résultats du modèle linéaire dans le cas des propriétés mécaniques élevées alors que le modèle éléments finis non-linéaire est indispensable pour modéliser ces poutres lorsque les propriétés mécaniques du tissu sont faibles / The main objective of this thesis was to model inflatable beams made frorn orthotropic woven fabric composites. The static aspects were investigated in this report. Before planning to develop these models, it was necessary to know all the parameters which have a direct effect on the effective mechanical properties these composites. Thus, a micro­ mechanical model was performed for predicting the effective mechanical properties. The proposed model was based on the analysis of the representative volume element (RVE). The model took into account not only the mechanical properties and volume fraction of each components in the RVE but also their geometry and architecture. Each yarn in the RVE was modelled as a transversely isotropic material (containing fibres and resin) using the concentric cylinders model (CCIVI). A second volumetric averaging which took into account the volume fraction of each constituent (warp yarn, weft yarn and resin), was performed. The model was validated favorably against experimental available data. A parametric study was conducted in order to investigate the effects of various geometrical and mechanical parameters on the elastic properties of these composites. ln the structural analysis, a 3D Timoshenko airbeam with a homogeneous orthotropic woven fabric (OWF) was addressed. The model took into account the geometrical nonlinearities and the inflation pressure follower force effect. The analytical equilibrium equations were performed using the total Lagrangian form of the virtual work principle. As these equations were nonlinear, in a first approach, a linearization was performed at the prestressed reference configuration to obtain the equations devoted to linearized problems. As example, the bending problem was investigated. Four cases of boundary conditions were treated and the deflections and rotations results improved the existing models in the case of isotropic fabric. The wrinkling load in every case was also proposed. In a second approach, the nonlinear equilibrium equations of the 3DTimoshenko airbeam were discretized by the finite element method. Two finite element solutions were then investigated : finite element solutions for linearized problems which were obtained by the means of the linearization around the prestressed reference configuration of the nonlinear equations and nonlinear finite element solutions which were performed by the use of an optimization algorithm based on the Qua.si-Newton method. As an example, the bending problem of a cantilever inflated beam under concentrated load was considered and the deflection results improve the theoretical models. As these beams are made from fabric, the beam models were validated through their comparison with a 3D thin-shell finite element model. The influence of the material effective properties and the inflation pressure on the beam response was also investigated through a parametric study. The finite element solutions for linearized problems were found to be close to the theoretical linearized results. On the other hand, the results for the nonlinear finite element model were shown to be close to the results for the linearized finite element model in the case of high mechanical properties and the non linear finite element model was used to improve the linearized model when the mechanical properties of the fabric are low

Cardiovascular disease varies by ethnicity in the UK. South Asians (SA) have higher coronary heart disease (CHD) and diabetes prevalence, while African-Caribbeans (AfC) have greater stroke, but intriguingly lower CHD rates despite higher blood pressures and diabetes risk than Europeans. Conventional risk factors do not fully explain such differences. This cross-sectional study tested the hypothesis that the hormones, vitamin D measured as 25(OH)D and aldosterone, would be independently associated with intermediate cardiovascular outcome markers in these ethnic groups. Community-dwelling men 40-80 years old (AfC: n=67, 55±10yr; SA: n=68, 55±10yr; European: n=63, 57±8yr) were sampled from Greater Manchester’s multi-ethnic population. The intermediate markers examined were aortic pulse wave velocity (aPWV), left ventricular (LV) mass and function, and carotid intima media thickness (CIMT), measured non-invasively by ultrasound, and hemodynamic profiling methods (the Arteriograph) in the total sample and by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in a subsample of 50. Adjusted for age, systolic blood pressure and diabetes, mean(SE) aPWV by the Arteriograph, was 0.5(0.2) m/s higher in SA than AfC and Europeans (p=0.01), which paralleled known cross-ethnic CHD risk differences in the UK. By MRI, aPWV along the descending aorta in SA was 0.7(0.3) and 0.8(0.3) m/s higher than that in AfC and Europeans, but aPWV along the aortic arch was not significantly different. Unlike aldosterone, 25(OH)D was independently and inversely correlated with aPWV (unstandardised B(SE)=-0.013[0.004] m/s, p<0.001), and partly explained the ethnic variation in aPWV. Similar inverse correlations were found between 25(OH)D and LV concentricity measured by echocardiography and MRI. Compared to Europeans, SA and AfC, had 21(3) and 14(3) nmol/L lower mean(SE) 25(OH)D, respectively (p<0.01). Mean(SE) of relative wall thickness, an index of LV concentricity by echocardiography, was 0.05(0.01) higher in SA and AfC than Europeans. Lower 25(OH)D levels were also associated with higher myocardial deformation rates measured by MRI myocardial tagging (n=50), supporting previous animal experimental evidence. A one standard deviation (SD) decrease in 25(OH)D was associated with a 0.38 SD increase in absolute systolic strain rate (p=0.003) and 0.22 SD rise in diastolic strain rate (p=0.04). Right and left CIMT showed different relations with 25(OH)D and aldosterone. Left-right CIMT differences varied by ethnicity and were related to SA ethnicity and aldosterone levels. Two related technical studies investigated the relatively new method of hemodynamic profiling, the Arteriograph, used here. The results suggested a standardisation method of aortic length estimation for purely central aPWV, which significantly improved aPWV agreement between the Arteriograph and MRI (reference method here), and was used for calibrating the Arteriograph aPWV in the above-mentioned results for the total sample. Future well-designed trials are necessary to investigate any cause-effect relationship between vitamin D deficiency and the unfavourable cardiovascular intermediate outcomes found here in a cross-sectional design and multi-ethnic background.

Due to the finite speed of light and a vast, expanding universe, telescopes are just now receiving the light emitted by galaxies as they were forming in the very early universe. The light from these galaxies has been redshifted (stretched to longer, redder wavelengths) as a result of its journey through expanding space. Using sophisticated techniques and exceptional multi-wavelength optical and infrared data, we isolate a population of 378 galaxies in the process of formation when the Universe was only two billion years old. By matching the distinctive properties of the light spectra of these galaxies to models, the redshift, age, dust content, star formation rate and total stellar mass of each galaxy are determined. Comparing our results to similar surveys of galaxy populations at other redshifts, a picture emerges of the growth and evolution of massive, star-forming galaxies over the course of billions of years.

Les Mebengôkré-Xikrin de la Terre Indigène Trincheira Bacajá (Pará, Brésil) traversent depuis peu des transformations politiques, économiques et écologiques sans précédents. Celles-ci sont liées, entre autres, à la mise en place de l’usine hydroélectrique de Belo Monte et aux projets de compensation qui l’accompagnent. Parmi les impacts une réduction du régime hydrique de leur rivière Bacajá, ayant pour conséquence une érosion de la biodiversité et une atteinte à leurs mobilité et autonomie dans leur rapport aux Autres. Dans ce contexte, ma thèse se donne pour objectif d’analyser la manière dont les Xikrin conçoivent et pratiquent actuellement leur territorialité en même temps qu’ils s’affirment et se reproduisent Mebengôkré, et ce, dans une profondeur historique permise par la littérature et les discours des Anciens. À la croisée entre l’anthropologie sociale et l’anthropologie de l’environnement, cette recherche s’inscrit dans la continuité des travaux récents sur la socio-spatialité qui ont entamé une révision de l’idée de fermeture imputée aux sociétés Jê et aux Mebengôkré en particulier. L’hypothèse est que les conceptions et pratiques de l’espace vécu par les Xikrin sont guidées par le rapport à l’Autre : les Kuben (les Blancs), les Mẽkarõ (les morts) et les animaux et végétaux peuplant les espaces extra et intravillageois. La thèse est structurée en suivant une analyse à trois échelles, de la plus large à la plus étroite : de la région comprise entre le Brésil Central et la Volta Grande do Xingu jusqu’au village, en passant par les lieux explorés de la Terre Indigène Trincheira Bacajá. L’analyse proposée permet de comprendre comment les Xikrin se sont constitués comme un collectif à part des autres Mebengôkré, en s’appropriant l’espace que constitue aujourd’hui la Terre Indigène Trincheira Bacajá, dans leur migration et dispersion à travers les scissions successives depuis leur sédentarisation. Cette thèse met finalement en évidence que les Xikrin, originaires d’un écosystème de savane, ont non seulement développé un rapport singulier avec la ville mais également avec les mondes de la forêt et de la rivière d’une région tropicale. Ainsi, les conclusions remettent en question la représentation dualiste concentrique de la socio-spatialité Xikrin, en permettant d’envisager les espaces extravillageois et leurs habitants non comme simplement asociaux et potentiellement socialisables mais au contraire comme ayant également un rôle dans la (re)production des personnes Mebengôkré et de la socialité Xikrin, notamment par l’apprentissage et l’appropriation d’éléments de ces espaces. / The Mebengôkré-Xikrin of the Trincheira Bacajá Indigenous Land (Pará, Brazil) have recently undergone unprecedented political, economic and ecological transformations. These are caused, among other things, by the establishment of the Belo Monte hydroelectric dam and by the compensation projects that accompany it. Among the impacts, the reduction of the hydric regime of their Bacajá river, resulting in an erosion of thebiodiversity and an infringement of their mobility and autonomy in their relationship to the Others. In this context, this thesis aims to analyse how the Xikrin conceive and practice their territoriality as they assert themselves and reproduce as Mebengôkré, and this, in a historical depth allowed by the literature and the speeches of the Ancients. At the crossroads between social anthropology and anthropology of the environment, this research is a continuation of recent work on socio-spatiality that has begun a revision of the idea of closure attributed to the Jê societies and to the Mebengôkré in particular. The hypothesis is that the conceptions and practices of the space lived by the Xikrin are guided by the relation to the Other: the Kuben (the Whites), the Mẽkarõ (the dead) and the animals and plants populating the extra and intra villagers.The thesis is structured according to a three-scale analysis, from the widest to the narrowest: from the region between Central Brazil and the Volta Grande do Xingu to the village, passing through the explored places of the Trincheira Bacajá Indigenous Land. The proposed analysis permits to understand how the Xikrin emerged as a collective apart from the other Mebengôkré, by appropriating the space that today constitutes their territory, in their migration and dispersion through the successive splits since their settlement. This thesis finally shows that the Xikrin, originated from a savanna ecosystem, have not only developed a singular relationship with the city but also with the forest and the rivers of a tropical region. Thus, the conclusions put into question the concentric dual representation of the Xikrin socio-spatiality, allowing to consider the extra villagers spaces and their inhabitants not as simply asocial and potentially socializable but, on the contrary, as being socializing, that is to say also having a role in the (re)production of Mebengôkré people and Xikrin sociality, in particular by learning and appropriating elements of these spaces. / Os Mebengôkré-Xikrin da Terra Indígena Trincheira Bacajá (Pará, Brasil) atravessam recentemente mudanças políticas, económicas e ecológicas sem precedentes, devido, entre outras razões, ao estabelecimento da usina hidrelétrica de Belo Monte e aos projetos de "compensação" que a acompanham. Entre os impactos, estão a redução do regime hídrico do rio Bacajá, que resultou em uma perda de biodiversidade e que mina a sua mobilidade e autonomia em sua relação com o Outro. Neste contexto, esta tese tem o objetivo de analisar como os Xikrin concebem e praticam atualmente sua territorialidade ao mesmo tempo que se afirmam e se reproduzem enquanto Mebengôkré, e isso a partir de uma profundidade histórica permitida pela literatura e pelos discursos dos Antigos. No cruzamento entre a antropologia social e antropologia do ambiente, esta pesquisa se coloca em continuidade aos recentes trabalhos sobre a sócio-espacialidade que iniciaram uma revisão da ideia de fechamento imputada às sociedades Jê e aos Mebengôkré em particular. O pressuposto é que as concepções e práticas singulares do espaço vivido pelos Xikrin são guiados principalmente pela relação com o Outro: os Kuben (os brancos), os Mẽkarõ (os mortos) e os animais e plantas que habitam os espaços extra e intra aldeões.A tese está estruturada seguindo uma análise em três escalas, da mais ampla à mais restrita : da região entre o Brasil Central e a Volta Grande do Xingu até a aldeia, passando pelos espaços extra aldeões explorados na Terra Indígena Trincheira Bacajá. A análise proposta permite entender como os Xikrin se constituíram em um coletivo distinto, apropriando-se finalmente do espaço que constitui hoje a Terra Indígena Trincheira Bacajá, na sua migração e dispersão através das cisões sucessivas desde a sua sedentarizarão. Esta tese destaca que os Xikrin, originários de um ecossistema de savana, não só desenvolveram uma relação singular com a cidade, mas também com os mundos da floresta e dos rios de uma região tropical. Assim, as conclusões colocam em questão a representação dualista concêntrica da sócio-espacialidade dos Xikrin e permitem considerar os espaços extra aldeões e seus habitantes não simplesmente como associais e potencialmente socializáveis, mas também como elementos socializantes, com um papel a desempenhar na (re)produção das pessoas Mebengôkré e na socialidade Xikrin, em particular pela aprendizagem e pela apropriação de componentes desses espaços.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Alcoholism inheritance rates have been estimated as high as 60% in a human population. Many significant features of alcohol dependence have been replicated in rodent animal models of alcoholism, however not in totality. These animal models include inbred preferring (iP) and nonpreferring (iNP) rat types. Congenic rats have been engineered from the iP and iNP strains whereby a P congenic rat has in its genome a well-chosen chromosomal portion taken from an NP rat (P.NP) and, reciprocally, an NP congenic rat has acquired the analogous DNA from a P rat (NP.P). In this case, a quantitative trait locus (QTL) from chromosome 4 is the donor genetic material for the congenic rats. It is of great interest to further study this chromosome 4 QTL because it has been found to control a significant portion of ethanol consumption behavior in iP and iNP rats. This study aimed to behaviorally profile the iP, iNP and reciprocal congenic rats. As a result of the behavioral profiling of these genetically related groups, some conclusions could be made regarding which behaviors appear to be controlled by the chromosome 4 donor DNA.This study primarily utilized the Multivariate Concentric Square Field apparatus (MCSF) to characterize behavioral profiles for the inbred and congenic rats. The Open field (OF) and Elevated plus maze (EPM) supported this effort. The MCSF is valuable in that it allows for the animals to interact within an environment that has ethological value. The 12 different zones that make up the field are characterized by some functional quality in terms of type and duration of behavior performed, etc. The behavioral data is aggregated and finally represented in terms of five functional categories, the elements of the behavioral profile: general activity, exploratory activity, risk assessment, risk taking, and shelter seeking. The study hypotheses were shaped by prior research suggesting that iPs should display lower general activity and risk taking strategy than iNPs in the MCSF. Inbred Ps should be more active in the OF and spend more time in the center of the EPM. Generally, it is expected that the iP QTL confer behavioral phenotypes to the iNP strain that deviate toward a "P" behavioral phenotype and reciprocally, the iNP QTL confer behavioral phenotypes to the iP strain that deviate toward an "NP" behavioral phenotype. The results showed that iP rats performed more risk assessment and risk taking behavior and less shelter seeking and anxiety-like behavior than iNP rats. It followed that P.NP congenic rats significantly downgraded their risk assessment and risk taking behavior when compared to iP rats. This decrease can be attributed to the chromosome 4 QTL donated from the iNP breed. All together this study concludes that risk assessment and risk taking behavior in the iP rats is controlled by the same DNA region that, in part, determines voluntary intake of ethanol consumption. Further fine mapping of the QTL region should help in discovering if the same DNA sequences that influence ethanol intake also significantly influence risk behavior.

Text in German, summaries in German and English / Das Ziel der vorliegenden Arbeit ist, einen Beitrag aus der alttestamentlichen Wissenschaft zur gegenwärtigen Situation der westlichen Kirche zu leisten. Dabei soll der Text von Exodus 1-15 als Grundlage dienen, um das alternatives Bewusstsein herauszustellen, das dem Volk Gottes zu allen Zeiten helfen kann, sich in herrschenden Machtstrukturen zu verstehen und sich seiner Identität und Aufgabe bewusst zu bleiben. Die Untersuchung folgt einem literaturwissenschaftlichen Interesse, das die „Endgestalt“ zum Ausgangspunkt hat. Die Erzählung weist bewusst verwendete Strukturen und Stilmittel auf, die für die Interpretation von Bedeutung sind. Die Untersuchung soll jene Stilmittel herausstellen, welche für das Thema der Arbeit signifikant sind. Die Arbeit zeigt, dass die Exoduserzählung zum Aufbau eines alternativen Bewusstseins dient, auf dessen Basis Lebenspraxis und Zukunft von Gottes Volk geformt wird. So verstanden helfen die Texte auch der westlichen Kirche, sich in unterschiedlichen dominanten Kontexten als »Kontrastgesellschaft« zu verstehen. / The goal of this dissertation is to make a particular contribution from Old Testament research to the present situation of the Church in the Western world. Exodus 1-15 serves as a foundational text for establishing an alternative consciousness which helps the People of God, throughout all times, to maintain an understanding of themselves in the midst of other prevailing power structures and to remain aware of their identity and mission. The research uses the methodology of literary criticism, where the “final stage” of the text serves as the starting point. The exodus narrative reveals intentional structuring and stylistic devices which are important for interpretation. Each of the literary devices significant to this dissertation topic will be identified. The dissertation shows that the exodus narrative creates an alternative consciousness which in turn influences the life praxis and future of the People of God. Likewise these texts can also help the Church in the Western world to understand itself as a “counterculture” amongst its own dominant environments. / Old Testament and Ancient Near Eastern Studies / M. Th. (Old Testament)