A national survey was conducted to assess student perceptions of the helpfulness of specific instructional development factors in a distance education print-based program. Participants were all students who had successfully completed at least one distance education correspondence course with Global University or were currently enrolled in their first course. Instructional development factors studied included lesson openers, lesson outlines, lesson artwork, written objectives, amount of information presented before a study question is asked, typographical features, graphic art, study questions, answers to study questions, self tests, and unit progress evaluations. Basic demographic information was collected and survey respondents located their perceptions of instructional development factor helpfulness both on a Likert scale and on a rank-order scale. Respondents also were asked for comments on the instructional development factors studied. Differences among respondent groups were examined. Major findings include a tiered ranking by all groups showing formative evaluation factors to be the most helpful, content organization and presentation factors next most helpful, and visual enhancement features (graphic art, typographical design) the least helpful. Overall, perceptions of the facilitative nature of the instructional development factors were similar among most groups. Older students seem to focus more on organization while younger students exhibit a balance between their perceptions of the facilitative nature of content and testing. Students enrolled in their first course perceive several of the formative evaluation factors to be less helpful than do more experienced students while at the same time perceiving content pacing to be more helpful than do more experienced students.

The discovery of integrability in planar N=4 super Yang-Mills and ABJM has enabled a precise study of AdS/CFT. In the past decade integrability has been successfully applied to the spectrum of anomalous dimensions, which can now be obtained at any value of the coupling. However, in order to solve conformal field theories one also needs to understand their structure constants. Recently, there has been great progress in this direction with the all-loop proposal of Basso, Komatsu and Vieira. But there is still much to understand, as it is not yet possible to use that formalism to find structure constants of short operators at strong coupling. It is important to study wrapping corrections and resum them as the TBA did for the spectrum. It is also crucial to obtain perturbative data that can be used to check if the all-loop proposal is correct or if there are new structures that need to be unveiled. In this thesis we compute several structure constants of short operators at strong coupling, including the structure constant of Konishi with half-BPS operators. Still at strong coupling, we find a relation between the building blocks of superstring amplitudes and the tensor structures allowed by conformal symmetry. We also consider the case of extremal correlation functions and the relation of their poles to mixing with double-trace operators. We also study three-point functions at weak coupling. We take the OPE limit in a four-point function of half-BPS operators in order to shed some light on the structure of five-loop wrapping corrections of the Hexagon form factors. Finally, we take the first steps in the generalization of the Hexagon programme to other theories. We find the non-extremal setup in ABJM and the residual symmetry that it preserves, which we use to fix the two-particle form factor and constrain the four-particle hexagon. Finally, we find that the Watson equations hint at a dressing phase that needs to be further investigated.

The most general AdS$_5 imes Y$ solutions of type IIB string theory that are AdS/CFT dual to superconformal field theories in four dimensions can be fruitfully described in the language of generalized geometry, a powerful hybrid of complex and symplectic geometry. We show that the cone over the compact five-manifold $Y$ is generalized Calabi-Yau and carries a generalized holomorphic Killing vector field $xi$, dual to the R-symmetry. Remarkably, this cone always admits a symplectic structure, which descends to a contact structure on $Y$, with $xi$ as Reeb vector field. Moreover, the contact volumes of $Y$, which can be computed by localization, encode essential properties of the dual CFT, such as the central charge and the conformal dimensions of BPS operators corresponding to wrapped D3-branes. We then define a notion of ``generalized Sasakian geometry'', which can be characterized by a simple differential system of three symplectic forms on a four-dimensional transverse space. The correct Reeb vector field for an AdS$_5$ solution within a given family of generalized Sasakian manifolds can be determined---without the need of the explicit metric---by a variational procedure. The relevant functional to minimize is the type IIB supergravity action restricted to the space of generalized Sasakian manifolds, which turns out to be just the contact volume. We conjecture that this contact volume is equal to the inverse of the trial central charge whose maximization determines the R-symmetry of the dual superconformal field theory. The power of this volume minimization is illustrated by the calculation of the contact volumes for a new infinite family of solutions, in perfect agreement with the results of $a$-maximization in the dual mass-deformed generalized conifold theories.

Tidal freshwater forest restoration after dam removal has been unexplored to date. This study elucidated pre-dam forest composition, as well as post-dam edaphic and microtopographical attributes and woody species recruiting along a narrow ecotone of a 29.3-ha tidal freshwater wetland. The ≈65-year-old historical forest (15 species, 200 stems ha-1) and ≈7-year-old contemporary forest (40 species and 11,009 stems ha-) community dominants were dissimilar (Fraxinus spp. vs. Liquidambar styraciflua, respectively). Pre-dam environmental conditions were unknown. Post-dam edaphic water content, organic matter, redox potential and microtopography differed significantly across tidal sites but were less variable in non-tidal sites. Shifts in the contemporary woody community composition and the concomitant increase in stem density and seedling:sapling ratios with elevation likely owed to significant changes in microtopography and edaphic attributes. Developing ecotones that contain variable microtopography may be extremely important for successful natural woody recruitment after dam removal from a tidal freshwater system.

Correspondence physics competition of MFF UK - FYKOS - is extracurricular physical educational activity organized by university students for upper secondary school students. FYKOS is organized by Faculty of Mathematics and Physics of Charles University in Prague (MFF UK). FYKOS' main goals are: dissemination of physics, education of upper secondary school students, establishing conditions for creation of social bindings between participants (and organizers) and propagation of possibility of studies at MFF UK. This work is the first complete text about running of FYKOS and it is also the first systematical feedback from FYKOS' participants and FYKOS' organizers. The first part is a description of all FYKOS' activities (correspondence part, camps, FYKOSí Fyziklání and others). The second chapter includes an analysis of statistical survey of FYKOS' participants. Other chapters are dedicated to the description of gathering feedback and its interpretation. The feedback was made in several ways - interviews, web questionnaire and email questionnaire. Special attention was turned to study and professional development of former participants. Acquired knowledge lead up to formulation of possible improvements of FYKOS which are introduced in the last part of this theses. It was discovered that among respondents of...

This master's thesis elaborates correspondence between F. X. Šalda and Růžena Svobodová. Based on extensive research of their entire correspondence, it tries to give general characteristic of letters (their extent, dating, the question of their publication, the intention for its literary utilization ect.) and compare all of the correspondence with publication Tížívá samota. Despite of the scope of the publication it includes only fragment of their conversations. The thesis analyses letters and their content of self- stylisation of the authors themselves, alternatively stylisation of the addressee, and out of the extraordinary nature of letters it polemizes to what extent is their correspondence reflection of lived out reality or a literary fiction. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)

This work was an attempt, foremost, to introduce the until now unpublished correspondence of two men of letters: Josef Knap and Jan Čarek, between the years 1925 and 1949. Their correspondence is preceded by vignettes of both authors, as a presentation of their main biographical details. In this regard there are mentioned the contributions of Josef Knap, particularly through his Sever a východ review, which a whole generation experienced growing in parallel to the mainstream.

Orientador: Maria Rita Marques de Oliveira / Banca: Juliana Álvares Duarte Bonini Campos / Banca: Maria Márcia Pereira Sartori / Resumo: A avaliação do padrão alimentar vem emergindo como uma alternativa nos estudos de epidemiologia nutricional, substituindo as pesquisas baseadas em análise de nutrientes isolados. No entanto, a subnotificação da ingestão, que é fortemente evidenciada entre indivíduos com excesso de peso, influencia a avaliação do consumo energético e pode, consequentemente, induzir a um padrão de consumo alimentar diferente quando comparado ao padrão de consumo de pessoas notificadoras plausíveis. Uma vez que estudos sobre o padrão alimentar ainda não foram avaliados sob a ótica da subnotificação, este trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar a influência da subnotificação do consumo no padrão alimentar, discriminado por grupos alimentares e por nutrientes específicos, entre mulheres obesas da fila de espera da cirurgia bariátrica. Os resultados obtidos foram discutidos em dois artigos científicos, sendo que o primeiro evidenciou a diferença nos padrões alimentares discriminados por contribuição energética diária dos subgrupos alimentares entre as mulheres notificadoras e subnotificadoras do consumo alimentar, e o segundo evidenciou as diferenças entre os grupos de mulheres para os padrões de consumo e itens dos subgrupos alimentares, ambos discriminados pelos nutrientes. Participaram do estudo 412 candidatas à cirurgia bariátrica da Clínica Bariátrica de Piracicaba-SP, Brasil. Dados referentes às informações gerais, e medidas antropométricas foram coletados e utilizados para os cálculos preditivos de Índice de Massa Corporal (IMC), Gasto Energético de Repouso (GER) e Necessidade Energética Total (NET). As informações de consumo alimentar e Nível de Atividade Física (NAF) preditivos foram utilizadas na classificação das mulheres quanto a plausibilidade da notificação do consumo alimentar, confrontando... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Assessment of food patterns has emerged as an alternative in nutritional epidemiology studies, replacing studies based on analysis of individual nutrients. However, food intake underreporting, very common among individuals with excess weight, affects the assessment of energy intake and may, consequently, induce a food intake pattern different from that of plausible energy reporters. Since food pattern studies have not yet been done from the underreporting viewpoint, the objective of this study was to assess the influence of underreporting on the specific food groups and nutrients consumed by obese women waiting for bariatric surgery. The results were discussed in two scientific articles. The first article evidenced the difference between the food patterns of reporters and underreporters according to the daily energy contribution of different food subgroups. The second article evidenced the differences in intake patterns and items in food subgroups, both according to nutrients, between the two groups of women. A total of 412 bariatric surgery candidates of the Bariatric Clinic of Piracicaba, SP, Brazil, participated in the study. General information and anthropometric measurements were collected and used for calculating body mass index (BMI) and predicting resting energy expenditure (REE) and total energy requirement (TER). Food intake and physical activity level (PAL) were used for classifying women regarding the plausibility of the reported food intake, confronting the ratio of reported energy intake EIrep to REE with PAL (EIrep:REE=PAL), considering the variances of this equation's components. Food subgroups were determined by the Brazilian Food Guide. The food patterns of both groups of women were discriminated according to the food subgroups predefined by exploratory... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Le but de ce projet de doctorat c’est celui de donner une contribution aux études littéraires concertantes la fin du XVIIIe siècle et le début du XIXe, au moyen de l’édition critique de la correspondance de l’autrice Diodata Saluzzo Roero. La thèse se compose de trois chapitres et de l’édition des lettres. Le premier chapitre donne une contextualisation historique du Piémont du 1700, avec une attention particulière à l’expérience intellectuelle de Carlo Denina et Prospero Balbo, lesquels ont eu une influence importante sur Diodata et sa génération. Dans ce chapitre on a analysé, aussi, la première activité de l’Académie des Sciences de Turin, fondée par Giuseppe Angelo Saluzzo, le père de Diodata. Dans le deuxième chapitre, on donne la biographie complète de l’autrice, revue et augmentée de nouvelles informations, obtenues en analysant les lettres. Le troisième chapitre examine les correspondances principales de Diodata Saluzzo, et quelques-unes de ses lettres les plus intéressantes. En particulier, on a analysé les correspondances avec Cesare Lucchesini, Alessandro Manzoni, Coriolano Malingri, Prospero Balbo e toutes les auteurs femmes. Dans ce chapitre sont présentes aussi quelques voies thématiques, pour faciliter l’orientation du lecteur.La seconde partie contient l’édition commentée de l’entier corpus des lettres de Diodata Saluzzo, rangé selon un principe rigidement chronologique. Enfin, dans un appendice final, on a joint toutes les lettres que les autres autrices de cette période ont envoyées à Diodata ; ces lettres ont été analysées dans le dernier paragraphe du troisième chapitre. / This thesis is focused on the commented edition of the epistolary of Diodata Saluzzo, a female poet who had a central role in Italian literature between 18th and 19th centuries.The thesis, in addition to the letter’s edition, is composed of three chapters. First chapter gives an historical contextualization focused on Piemonte during the 18th century. It pays particular attention on Carlo Denina and Prospero Balbo’s intellectual experience, which had an important influence on Diodata Saluzzo and her generation. In this chapter is also analysed the early activity of the Accademy of Sciences, which was founded by Diodata’s father, Giuseppe Angelo Saluzzo. The second chapter includes a complete biography of Diodata Saluzzo, updated with the new information obtained by the epistolary. In the third chapter the most important letters and main correspondences pertained to Cesare Lucchesini, Alessandro Manzoni, Prospero Balbo and the female writers are examined as well. In this chapter, the main topics are also introduced, to simplify the reader’s approach to the epistolary. The second part is composed of the commented edition of the entire corpus of Diodata Saluzzo’s letters, ordered chronologically. Lastly, in the final appendix, are included the letters of other female writers sent to Diodata Saluzzo, which were exanimated in the last paragraph of the third chapter.

Nesta dissertação estudamos alguns aspectos da correspondência fluido/gravitação aplicada ao espaço plano em coordenadas de Rindler ingoing. Nosso principal objetivo é estudar o efeito de transformações de Ehlers e simetrias das equações de Einstein no contexto da correspondência fluido/gravitação. Para isso, fazemos uma revisão dos aspectos principais da Relatividade Geral e da Hidrodinâmica, os quais serão empregados ao longo do texto. Damos bastante atenção ao desenvolvimento de um método que permite encontrar soluções da equações de Einstein por meio de uma expansão em derivadas, o qual sera utilizado posteriormente para gerar uma solução-base sobre a qual aplicaremos transformações de Ehlers. Nós mostramos que a métrica de um espaçotempo plano em coordenadas de Rindler ingoing está relacionada a um espaçotempo de Taub por meio de uma transformação de Ehlers e nós utilizamos um método em que nós resolvemos a equação de Killing perturbativamente na expansão no parâmetro $\\epsilon$. Os resultados obtidos com este método não são inteiramente conclusivos, de modo que faz-se necessária uma futura investigação. / In this dissertation we study some aspects of the fluid/gravity correspondence applied to flat space in ingoing Rindler coordinates. Our main goal is to study the effect of Ehlers transformations and symmetries of the Einstein equations in the context of fluid/gravity correspondence. To do so, we review the main aspects of General Relativity and Hydrodynamics which will be employed throughout the text. We devote significant attention to a method that allows us to find solutions to the Einstein equations that by performing a derivative expansion, which will be utilized afterwards to generate our seed solution, upon which we later apply the Ehlers transformations. We show that the metric of flat spacetime in ingoing Rindler coordinates is related to a Taub spacetime by an Ehlers transformation and we utilize an approach in which we solve the Killing equation perturbatively in a parameter expansion. The results obtained by using this approach are not entirely conclusive, and further investigation is still required.