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Projektet syftar till att analysera och nyttja lokal infrastruktur på landsbygden i koppling med utvecklandet av ett nytt hybridprogram baserat på Folkets Hus-rörelsen. Att kombinera den lokala strävan efter att odla hemma och att leva en mer hållbar livsstil tillsammans med ytor för rekreation och mathandel är ett av programmets största fokus. Genom att använda en strategisk placering i ett växande stadsområde utan tillräckliga ekonomiska tjänster men en nära anslutning till tåglinjer kan projektet utnyttja infrastrukturen för att påverka ett stort område men också svara på behovet av dagligvaruhandel. / The project aims to analyze and utilize local infrastructure on the countryside in connection with the development of a new hybrid programme based on the Folkets Hus-movement. Combining the local desire to cultivate crops and live a more sustainable lifestyle with spaces for recreation and purchasing food is one of the main focuses of the programme. In using a strategic placement in a growing urban area without sufficient economic services but a close connection to train lines the project can utilize the infrastructure to affect a wide area but also answer the need for grocery shopping.

Physical Education Television (P.E.TV) is a curriculum supplement package, consisting of a series of 10-12 minute long videos and a teachers' support manual, for use in physical education and health classes in middle and high school. The program has been distributed to over 13,000 schools across the United States. The creators of P.E.TV have stated that they intend the program to influence adolescents' attitudes toward physical activity, and to encourage wellness. Reports from a national survey of educators have shown that teachers believe that their students' attitudes are being affected by the program. This experimental study examined if that is the case for 7th graders in a rural Southwestern Virginia Junior High School. Four intact 7th grade physical education/health classes were selected for the study. The students were randomly assigned to the classes by school administrators. The classes were randomly assigned to treatment and control groups. The treatment group (two 7th grade classes) viewed 10 P.E.TV shows over a period of 9 weeks. The same teacher taught all four classes. All participating students filled out a questionnaire consisting of the "Weekly Activity Checklist" and a television cultivation exposure questionnaire, at the beginning of the 9 weeks to determine their activity levels and viewing habits before the experiment. Students were categorized into groups based on activity level, amount of television normally viewed, and predominant type of television show viewed to allow for attribute-treatment-interaction analyses. A post-test only design was used to find out if P.E.TV influenced the students' attitudes toward physical activity. The Children's Attitudes Toward Physical Activity scale was used to assess the students' attitudes. Three hypotheses were tested using a one-way Analysis of Variance and two hypotheses concerning attribute-treatment-interactions were tested using a two-way Analysis of Variance for each. Levels of significance were set at .05. The analyses indicated that there were no statistically significant differences in attitudes toward physical activity between treatment and control groups as well as no statistically significant differences within the treatment groups concerning attribute-treatment-interactions. / Ph. D.

This investigation includes a morphological and cultural study of four rather common pathogenic fungi one of which attacks Zinnia elegans, one Lagerstroemia indica, one Ligustrum lodense and one Euonymus japonica. The problem includes, first, a determination of the genera of these four fungi as revealed by their morphology in natural habitat; second, a determination of the growth and cultural characteristics of these on Cornmeal, Potato, Bean, Prune and Carrot agars; third, a comparison of the growth and cultural characteristics of these in natural habitat with the same on the various agars used; and fourth, an evaluation of the five artificial culture media in so far as their usage is concerned in the growth and cultivation of these four species of fungi.

Climate change is a natural cyclical phenomenon and throughout our planet's existence there have been sustained periods of heating and cooling. These periods are often referred to as "ice ages" and "interglacials" respectively. Scientists attributed warms oceans and carbon dioxide released from the oceans as the reason for global warming in the past. However, human activities of the recent past, mainly the burning of fossil fuel has seen an amplification of global temperature at a scale never seen before. This unprecedented change in our environment, as per scientists will have adverse side effects and have a long-term impact in our world. The most likely effects of climate change will be; heatwave, drought, glacier melts, sea level rise, erratic precipitation and erosions depending on a particular geographical location. The socio-economic impact of climate change could be a severe one too. Heat and drought could have major impact on agriculture, food and forests. United Nations data released in 2016 suggests that by the year 2050, more than 50 percent of the world's population will face a dearth of fresh water sources. It is also predicted that water scarcity will most likely result in diseases, unemployment and poverty. Energy use is also likely to increase with the greater need for air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winters. In cases where a region can't cope with these consequences, mass migration in search of better conditions is also likely. Physical and economic infrastructure will be tested by severe weather, flooding, wildfires and other phenomena. Data published by the United Nations in 2014 estimated that more than 50% of the world's total population lives in the urban areas and soon that number is likely to increase to 60%. In conjunction with climate change, this will mean more strain on already stretched resources in urban ecosystems. Also, with data suggesting that many people will migrate due to unemployment and poverty because of climate change, it is highly likely urban regions will have to accommodate that population too. The intertwined nexus of freshwater shortage, food, water and energy security is an issue we are already grappling with today, which is likely to be exacerbated in the future. These issues cannot be reviewed and analyzed as separate phenomena, but rather as a single intertwined phenomenon. The solution of the problem, hence, should be treated as the same. / Master of Architecture / This thesis, initially, investigates the phenomenon of climate change, and the likely challenges that it might pose in the future. Sustained periods of heating and cooling is a natural cyclical process, but human activities of the recent past has amplified global warning. This, according to scientists, will impact earth in the long run, and will have climatological and socio economic consequences. Water scarcity, droughts, sea level rise, mass migration are identified as problems that could intensify in the future. At various regions across the world, we are already facing these issues at different scales. This thesis, hence identifies the most pertinent future challenges and simulates those with existing societal challenges. The aim of the thesis is to provide an integrated and holistic plan to address the issues at hand with a view that the approach would also adapt to and mitigate issues in the future. Natural cycles and resources are used as a model to develop a mechanism to create a built environment for a small, self sustaining community. The proposed design is a prototype for a particular climatic scheme, but could be altered to fit other climatic criteria. The scheme through, research, addresses contemporary societal needs and tries to provide a solution contingencies of climate change.

The biggest threat and cause to loss of biodiversity have been found to be the intensification of agriculture under the 20th century. Messenia is one of the oldest olive cultivation areas in Greece and the landscape is dominated by olive groves characterized by extensive tillage, which causes serious erosion and might be a threat to plant diversity. Organic olive cultivation is an alternative that aims to preserve and support biodiversity. In this study the plant composition in the edge zones of an organic and a conventional olive grove in Messenia were inventoried to be able to investigate if organic cultivation methods enhance plant diversity. Moreover, other factors affecting plant diversity in olive groves and suggestions for precautions in the olive cultivation sector to support biodiversity are discussed. The results show that the organic olive grove hosted 40 % higher species richness, which indicates, as in other similar studies, that the organic olive cultivation methods have a higher capacity to support biodiversity. By restricting tillage and promoting organic olive cultivation, not only biodiversity would be enhanced; this could also prevent further soil erosion and create a more heterogenic agricultural landscape with higher biological and cultural values.

Os Planctomycetes são bactérias que possuem características peculiares, ainda pouco conhecidas. São bactérias de difícil cultivo, sendo descritas em diversos ambientes, mas frequentemente isoladas de ambientes marinhos, principalmente em associações com algas. Aqui apresentamos um amplo estudo deste grupo em solos de manguezais, e reportamos de maneira inovadora o isolamento dessas bactérias. A comparação das comunidades de Planctomycetes em manguezais com diferentes históricos de contaminação permitiu fazer inferências sobre a resposta da comunidade ao ambiente. A análise de sequências pertencentes a este filo, obtidas a partir de amostras dos manguezais - tanto sequências do gene 16S DNAr ou sequências metagenômicas - permitiu inferir sobre a diversidade e as funções destes grupos nos solos dos manguezais estudados. Destacam-se dentre estas o aumento da biodiversidade deste grupo em áreas contaminadas, e as evidências de sua participação na degradação de xenobióticos (demonstrada por predição metagenômica baseada em biblioteca de 16S rDNA, e análise de sequencias metagenômicas). Com estes resultados, foram encontrados em dados metagenômicos, a ocorrência de genes envolvidos na biodegradação de compostos intermediários centrais das vias de degradação. Adicionalmente, mesmo com a dificuldade no cultivo de membros desse grupo, foram obtidos 43 isolados afiliados filogeneticamente principalmente às espécies Blastopirellula marina, Rhodopirellula baltica e Planctomycetes sp. e Pirellula. Foram selecionados dois isolados (Rhodopirellula sp. MGV e Rhodopirellula baltica BR-MGV) para estudos genômicos e metabólicos (via análise de consumo de diferentes fontes de carbono-Biolog). Além disso, foi realizado teste de degradação de hidrocarbonetos com os 43 isolados aferindo as respostas ao contato com contaminantes como hexadecano, naftaleno, fenantreno e fenol. Cinco isolados mostraram a capacidade em degradar três diferentes hidrocarbonetos exceto fenantreno. Estes isolados (Blastopirellula cremea Hex-1 MGV, Blastopirellula marina Nap-Phe MGV, Blastopirellula cremea Hex-2 MGV, Blastopirellula cremea Hex PRIS-MGV e Blastopirellula marina Nap PRIS-MGV) foram enviados a uma análise genômica e suas anotações indicaram a presença de genes envolvidos em vias de degradação de hidrocarbonetos corroborando com o teste realizado em laboratório de degradação dos hidrocarbonetos. Além disso, foi observada através das anotações dos genomas desses microrganismos a ocorrência de síntese de metabólitos secundários, sendo os principais terpenos, bacteriocinas e resorcinol. / Planctomycetes are bacteria with peculiar characteristics and still little known. They are bacteria of difficult cultivation, being described in diverse environments, but often isolated from marine environments, mainly in associations with algae. Here we present an extensive study of this group in mangrove soils and report in an innovative way the isolation of these bacteria. The comparison of the communities of Planctomycetes in mangroves with different contamination histories allowed to make inferences about the response of the community to the environment. The analysis of sequences from this phylum, obtained from samples of the mangroves - both sequences of the 16S DNAr gene or metagenomic sequences - allowed to infer about the diversity and the functions of these groups in the mangrove soils studied. The highlights are the increase of this group\'s biodiversity in contaminated areas, and evidence of its participation in the degradation of xenobiotics (demonstrated by 16S rDNA library-based metagenomic prediction and metagenomic sequence analysis). With these results, the occurrence of genes involved in the biodegradation of central intermediates of the degradation pathways was found in metagenomic data. In addition, even with the difficulty in the cultivation of members of this group, 43 isolates belonging to this phylum were obtained phylogenetically, mainly the species Blastopirellula marina, Rhodopirellula baltica and Planctomycetes sp. and Pirellula. Two isolates (Rhodopirellula sp. MGV and Rhodopirellula baltica BR-MGV) were selected for genomic and metabolic studies (via consumption analysis of different sources of carbon-Biolog). Furthermore, a hydrocarbon degradation test was performed with this library of 43 isolates, assessing the responses to contact with contaminants such as hexadecane, naphthalene, phenanthrene and phenol. Five isolates showed the ability to degrade three different hydrocarbons except phenanthrene. These isolates (Blastopirellula cremea Hex-1 MGV, Blastopirellula marina Nap-Phe MGV, Blastopirellula cremea Hex-2 MGV, Blastopirellula cremea Hex PRIS-MGV and Blastopirellula marina Nap PRISMGV) were sent to a genomic analysis and their notes indicated the presence of genes involved in hydrocarbon degradation pathways, corroborating with the laboratory test for hydrocarbon degradation. In addition, the synthesis of secondary metabolites was evaluated through the annotations of the genomes of these microorganisms, being the main terpenes, bacteriocins and resorcinol.

This philosophical study is set within Paulo Freire’s radical, critical and liberating pedagogical theoretical discourse. If conscientization is defined by Freire as the cultivation of critical consciousness and conscience, it not only provides a stimulus for better understanding of the root causes of human suffering and dehumanization or the loss of humanity but also brings full effect to humanization, an effective approach to address dehumanization problems. While the cultivation of critical consciousness tackles social system and ideological crises, the cultivation of conscience addresses human consciousness problems such as insatiable human desire represented in varying forms of egoism, ambition, lust, greed, and craving for social status. Thereby, as an educational initiative, conscientization can readily and sustainably maintain both self and social empowerment when it is deeply rooted in the praxis of changing the world. The study attempts to achieve three major tasks. The first is to clarify what conscience is and what notion of conscience has internal coherence with the process of conscientization. The second is to determine how to cultivate conscience. The third is to incorporate the cultivation of conscience into conscientization. Like Freire, I draw on a number of different philosophical traditions and perspectives. Where necessary in order to illustrate particular theoretical points, consideration is also given to a number of literary works. The notion of conscience is explored by tracing its historical development. The dialectical relation between consciousness and conscience − in particular, what causes their conflict − is also examined. The investigation of conscience concludes with identifying conscience as a unifying agent in its dialectical relationship with consciousness. The investigation of the dynamism of conscience starts with the confirmation of conscience as the basis of morality. Thereafter, the discussion focuses on why conscience works in a moral sphere, which necessitates a transcendence of blind human biological desire and utilitarian concern for the self. The rationalist tradition of transcendence has undermined, segmented and alienated human life. The transcendent functions of love and dialogue, two ontological ways of human existence, offer an alternative and are justified as the effective mechanisms for cultivating conscience. However, love and dialogue cannot resist armed injustice and inequality. This calls for the integration of the cultivation of conscience into conscientization. In so doing, the interrelatedness and interdependence between the cultivation of critical consciousness and the cultivation of conscience are examined while their distinctive and irreplaceable roles and functions are further specified. In terms of application, the educational and cultural significance of conscientization for the present and the future and possibilities for applying it to concrete educational discourses are explored.

Thesis (M.A.). / Written for the Dept. of Geography. Title from title page of PDF (viewed 2008/08/04). Includes bibliographical references.