We have carried out a theoretical and an experimental study of thermal effects arising in bulk high-Tc superconductors. The theoretical study has allowed us to predict the self-heating behaviour. We have calculated the temperature evolution. We have shown the existence of a forbidden temperature window, and we have determined the analytical expression of a threshold field (Htr2) separating the « middle» and the «high» dissipation state . From a numerical modelling of a short cylinder, we have determined the time and spatial dependance of dissipated power and temperature within the sample. We have shown that the temperature rise is the highest along the corner location where the dissipated power is maximum. We have designed and constructed a susceptometer for characterizing large bulk superconductors (f →32 mm). The susceptometer allows a small temperature gradient (< 0.1K) to be achieved in the presence of large heating rates. It allows large AC and DC fields to be applied simultaneously, and was upgraded to measure simultaneously local temperatures and magnetic inductions. We have determined the heat transfer occuring in the susceptometer chamber. Magneto-thermal measurements with this system can be carried out with a high sensitivity and are found to be in very good agreement with the theoretical predictions. This work underlines the importance of the cooling conditions that can affect the distribution of the magneto-thermal properties within the superconductor.

Motivated by a period of time in which we face historically high oil prices, this thesis analyzes to what extent oil prices actually influence inflation. By constructing a simple chart, one can see that oil price and inflation seem to have a similar pattern. However, to draw any conclusions from that is impossible. We show with econometric methods the relationship between oil prices and inflation in the case of Sweden. Sweden, as a net importer of oil, spent approximately 43.3 billion SEK on crude oil during 2004. That is 414.200 barrels of crude oil each day. Taking this into account, what would happen if the oil price suddenly increased by 10%? Considering the fact that 43.3 billion SEK is a rather large amount of money, it seems obvious that such an oil price increase should have some impact on the Swedish economy and inflation. This would occur partly through higher prices of gasoline for example, but it would occur also due to the indirect effect that companies face through higher production costs and will most likely pass on some part of that cost to the consumers. We have gathered data for oil prices and inflation for Sweden since 1981 to 2004. Together with other variables that also affect the inflation, such as money supply and interest rates, we did econometric regressions to find evidence for the relationship. We reach the conclusion that if the oil prices increase by 10%, inflation is assumed to increase with about 0.15-0.20%.

Att kunna ge uttryck för emotioner och förstå andra individers emotionella signaler kan vara skillnaden mellan liv och död eller mellan social gemenskap och utanförskap. Det finns inom forskningen spridda resultat om hur emotioner upplevs i män och kvinnors ansikten samt motstridigheter i forskningen om vilka emotioner som har företrädesrätt, även kallad superiority effect. Viss forskning visar att arga ansikten har en dominerande företrädesrätt något som kan kopplas till överlevnadsmekanismen. Andra studier visar motsatsen, att glada ansikten går före arga ansikten. Två syften skapades för studien, det första var att undersöka om det fanns någon skillnad i hur män och kvinnors glada respektive arga ansikten upplevs. Det andra syftet var att undersöka om det fanns en superiority effect bland arga och glada ansikten. I undersökningen deltog 23 universitetsstudenter som fick i uppgift att skatta arga, glada och neutrala ansikten på VAS-skalor i ilska, sorg, vänlighet och glädje. Analyser på insamlad data gjordes med beroende ANOVA-test. Resultaten visade att mäns arga ansikten upplevdes som argare än kvinnors arga ansikten samt att kvinnors ansikten upplevdes som vänligare i jämförelse med männens ansikten. Diskussionen förklarade resultaten i förhållande till forskning om genusskillnader, män och kvinnors ansiktsformer samt hur glädje och ilska relateras till män och kvinnor. En förklaring till resultaten kan vara att män oftare förknippas med negativa egenskaper som ilska och hot samt att kvinnor förknippas med omhändertagande och vänlighet. Forskning behöver göras i ett bredare perspektiv där stereotyper, status och teorier om drifters eventuella samband undersöks närmare.

The consequences of imprisonment are felt not only by prisoners themselves but also their family members. Prisoners may be alone in a cell or on trial but most have families and friends that often feel as though they are imprisoned along with their loved ones. There is a limited body of research conducted on partners of incarcerated men and the far-reaching effects of imprisonment on these secondary victims within the Canadian context. However, the research that is available suggests that families face many difficulties when one of its members is incarcerated. This study explores the experiences of female partners of incarcerated men. Crisis Theory directs qualitative data collected from in-depth interviews with ten women. The results indicate that women whose male partners are incarcerated experience many difficulties including stigmatization, financial barriers and emotional stresses. The findings not only highlight the difficulties female partners of male prisoners face but suggest some effective coping mechanisms that the women use to endure such difficulties. This research serves as an exploratory work for larger works that can provide basic policy recommendations. / UOIT

2-(2-mandelyl)thiamin (MTh), the adduct of benzoylformate and thiamin, is an accurate model of 2-(2-mandelyl)thiamin diphosphate, the initial covalent intermediate in the decarboxylation of benzoylformate by benzoylformate decarboxylase (BFDC). The first order rate constant for spontaneous decarboxylation of MTh is about 106 times smaller than the enzymic rate (kcat) for the BFDC reaction. Based on the similarities of MTh and the corresponding enzymic intermediate, as well as the inherent nature of the intermediate, it is not obvious why the enzyme-catalyzed reaction is so much faster. However, earlier studies showed that the decarboxylation of MTh is catalyzed by protonated pyridines and this was proposed to occur through a preassociation mechanism. If this explanation is correct, then the observed 12C/13C kinetic isotope effect (CKIE) will increase in the presence of the catalyst as a more favorable forward commitment is made possible. This provides a specific model for the enzyme-catalyzed process. We developed a technique using headspace analysis and compound specific isotope analysis (CSIA) to determine the CKIE for the decarboxylation of MTh in the presence and absence of pyridinium. We found that the CKIE increases in the presence of the catalyst, as predicted for the preassociation mechanism. In a related study, we investigated the kinetics of decarboxylation of pyrrole-2-carboxylic acid, which was known to be subject to acid catalysis in highly acidic solutions. In the expected mechanism, protonation of the pyrrole ring at C2 destroys the aromaticity of the ring. C-C bond cleavage in the process of decarboxylation will re-establish the aromatic pyrrole. However, the overall reaction rate would not increase as it is counteracted by a larger concentration of the undissociated carboxyl group compared to carboxylate ion necessary for decarboxylation. Since the reaction occurs readily, there must be an alternative pathway for the acid-catalyzed reaction. This can be achieved in an associative mechanism that is initiated by addition of water to the carboxyl group of the carboxyl-protonated reactant. C-C bond cleavage results in formation of pyrrole and protonated carbonic acid, a species that has been recognized as a viable intermediate in related processes. Protonated carbonic acid is spontaneously converted to H3O+ and carbon dioxide. The associative mechanism is consistent with solvent-deuterium kinetic isotope effects and 12C/13C kinetic isotope effects.

Wetlands are among the most ecologically productive lands in the world, but every year they continue to be lost due to increasing pressures from agriculture, industrial development, urbanization and the lack of effective mitigation to deal with such pressures. Despite environmental assessment processes, policies, and regulations to ensure the mitigation of affected wetlands, wetlands continue to experience a loss in areal extent, but more importantly, a functional net-loss. This is attributed, in large part, to the lack of incorporating cumulative effects principles into project-based wetland impact assessment and mitigation. The majority of activities that affect wetlands are either assessed at the screening level, where cumulative effects are rarely considered, or are deemed insignificant and do not trigger any formal environmental assessment process. As a result, the mitigation of cumulative effects on wetlands is often insufficient or completely lacking in development planning and decision-making. Part of the challenge is that there currently does not exist methodological guidance as to how to identify wetland cumulative effects and corresponding mitigation needs early in the project design process. This research presents a methodological framework and guidance for the integration of cumulative effects in decision-making for project-based, wetland impact mitigation. The framework provides a means for the early indication, assessment, and mitigation of the potential cumulative effects of project developments on the wetland environment, with the objective of ensuring a no-net-loss of wetland functions.

This study examines the short-term shareholder wealth effects to U.S. bank mergers and acquisitions (M&As) that were announced and completed between 1989 and 2004. Using various event windows, the cumulative abnormal returns (CARs) to target firms are positive, bidder firm abnormal returns are negative, and the combined CARs are positive. This result is consistent with the synergy and hubris hypothesis wherein bank M&As are wealth-creating events as synergies exist; however, bidders may overpay to realize these gains. <p>The M&As are examined by the method with which they are financed, namely, cash, or a combination of cash, stock, and/or debt, versus stock only. The target, bidder and combined mean CARs for M&As that are financed by a cash or combination payment are higher than those that are financed by stock for the full sample period and the 1999 2003 sub-sample period. Furthermore, the results indicate a positive and statistically significant relationship between the bidder and combined CARs and cash or combination payments. <p>Further evidence presented suggests a positive and statistically significant relationship between the target CARs and whether the M&A is geographically focusing (intrastate), with no corresponding relationship existing for the bidder and combined firms. Results, however, do indicate that the mean combined CARs are higher for intrastate compared to interstate M&As. In addition, the target, bidder and combined CARs are driven in part by the relative size of the merger parties.

2-(2-mandelyl)thiamin (MTh), the adduct of benzoylformate and thiamin, is an accurate model of 2-(2-mandelyl)thiamin diphosphate, the initial covalent intermediate in the decarboxylation of benzoylformate by benzoylformate decarboxylase (BFDC). The first order rate constant for spontaneous decarboxylation of MTh is about 106 times smaller than the enzymic rate (kcat) for the BFDC reaction. Based on the similarities of MTh and the corresponding enzymic intermediate, as well as the inherent nature of the intermediate, it is not obvious why the enzyme-catalyzed reaction is so much faster. However, earlier studies showed that the decarboxylation of MTh is catalyzed by protonated pyridines and this was proposed to occur through a preassociation mechanism. If this explanation is correct, then the observed 12C/13C kinetic isotope effect (CKIE) will increase in the presence of the catalyst as a more favorable forward commitment is made possible. This provides a specific model for the enzyme-catalyzed process. We developed a technique using headspace analysis and compound specific isotope analysis (CSIA) to determine the CKIE for the decarboxylation of MTh in the presence and absence of pyridinium. We found that the CKIE increases in the presence of the catalyst, as predicted for the preassociation mechanism. In a related study, we investigated the kinetics of decarboxylation of pyrrole-2-carboxylic acid, which was known to be subject to acid catalysis in highly acidic solutions. In the expected mechanism, protonation of the pyrrole ring at C2 destroys the aromaticity of the ring. C-C bond cleavage in the process of decarboxylation will re-establish the aromatic pyrrole. However, the overall reaction rate would not increase as it is counteracted by a larger concentration of the undissociated carboxyl group compared to carboxylate ion necessary for decarboxylation. Since the reaction occurs readily, there must be an alternative pathway for the acid-catalyzed reaction. This can be achieved in an associative mechanism that is initiated by addition of water to the carboxyl group of the carboxyl-protonated reactant. C-C bond cleavage results in formation of pyrrole and protonated carbonic acid, a species that has been recognized as a viable intermediate in related processes. Protonated carbonic acid is spontaneously converted to H3O+ and carbon dioxide. The associative mechanism is consistent with solvent-deuterium kinetic isotope effects and 12C/13C kinetic isotope effects.

Historically, children with disabilities have been perceived as sources of stress, and disability has been portrayed in Western society as a tragedy to be avoided. This study used Appreciative Inquiry methodology and an integrated conceptual framework combining the Dynamic Ecological Systems Model, Cognitive Adaptation Theory, and components of the Affirmative Model of Disability. Qualitative interviews were conducted with ten children and sixteen parents to gain insight into their perceptions of the positive effects that a child with a disability has on the family. Findings suggest that children with disabilities can have some of the same positive effects on, and make some of the same contributions to, their families as any other child. They can also have unique positive effects and make unique contributions potentially unparalleled by their non-disabled peers. These findings may have implications for how disability is perceived by medical professionals, parents raising children with disabilities, and the public. / May 2009

This study examines the short-term shareholder wealth effects to U.S. bank mergers and acquisitions (M&As) that were announced and completed between 1989 and 2004. Using various event windows, the cumulative abnormal returns (CARs) to target firms are positive, bidder firm abnormal returns are negative, and the combined CARs are positive. This result is consistent with the synergy and hubris hypothesis wherein bank M&As are wealth-creating events as synergies exist; however, bidders may overpay to realize these gains. <p>The M&As are examined by the method with which they are financed, namely, cash, or a combination of cash, stock, and/or debt, versus stock only. The target, bidder and combined mean CARs for M&As that are financed by a cash or combination payment are higher than those that are financed by stock for the full sample period and the 1999 2003 sub-sample period. Furthermore, the results indicate a positive and statistically significant relationship between the bidder and combined CARs and cash or combination payments. <p>Further evidence presented suggests a positive and statistically significant relationship between the target CARs and whether the M&A is geographically focusing (intrastate), with no corresponding relationship existing for the bidder and combined firms. Results, however, do indicate that the mean combined CARs are higher for intrastate compared to interstate M&As. In addition, the target, bidder and combined CARs are driven in part by the relative size of the merger parties.