Gene expression and its regulation is a highly coordinated system, involved in many biological processes such as cell growth, division and differentiation. Transcriptional regions, involved in gene regulation, consist of a heterogeneous collection of smaller regulatory elements. In some cases, co-regulated genes contain a common set of transcription factor binding sites (TFBS). Analysis of promoter regions is the major approach in understanding the transcriptional regulatory mechanisms. It is also useful for interpretation of mammalian gene expression studies, where co-expressed genes may share motifs representing putative TFBS. Motif identification also has the advantage that it can predict control regions in genes that have not been measured experimentally. However, a common problem is incomplete genomic sequence for the experimental species of interest. The approach here is to identify and use orthologous gene promoter sequences from a related and well-characterised species. The primary aim of this study was to identify and predict regulatory TFBS in species where promoter sequence does not exist or is incomplete. The MEME programme was employed for the motif prediction step. The predicted elements were subsequently compared to known TFBS using TRANSFAC and JASPAR databases for identification. A methodology based on relative entropy was used. The validity of the method was confirmed as the predicted motifs in the training set were the expected sites involved in regulation of muscle development. The technique was applied to two data sets, generated from expressed sequence tag (EST) clustering analysis and microarray experiments. All data sets, software and results are available on the accompanying CD. Bovine expression data was analysed for cardiac-specific expression using two separate approaches, combining bovine library EST frequency and human gene expression ratios. For each approach, the orthologous human and bovine promoter sequences were analysed for common motifs. Across all comparisons, 37% of motifs were identified as known TFBS using the TRANSFAC and JASPAR databases. As the human comparison had more promoter sequences available, this was the main limiting factor for the corresponding bovine analysis, rather than cross-species divergence or accuracy of gene expression measurement. Results from this study demonstrate that using promoter sequences from a related species is a viable approach when studying gene expression in species with limited amount of genomic sequence. As the bovine genome becomes more complete, it can in turn serve as the reference genome for other agriculturally important ruminants, such as sheep, goat and deer. The second application concerned in silico analysis of gene regulation patterns in response to stimuli. Recently it has been shown that a mutation in the bone morphogenetic receptor IB leads to an increased ovulation rate in sheep. The objective of this study was to analyse gene expression patterns in cultured cells in response to four members of the BMP family, i.e. BMP2, BMP4, BMP6 and BMP7 and the control TGFβ. Microarray data was provided by J. Young. Twelve highly upregulated genes were stimulated by all BMPs, seven of which are known BMP target genes. Analysis of the predicted motifs identified four elements that may be involved in the regulation process. Cross-species comparison for one of the genes, ID1, showed high conservation of one of the motifs across 11 mammalian genomes. This particular motif had not been identified as a known binding site. In summary, the analysis of the expression data suggest an extension of the list of BMP targets. The proposed method is relatively robust when sufficiently co-expressed (co-regulated) sequences can be identified, whether from the same or another species.

"October, 2004" / Bibliography: leaves 118-154. / xii, 154 leaves : ill. (some col.), plates (col.) ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, School of Molecular and Biomedical Sciences, Discipline of Microbiology and Immunology, 2005

Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 2006. / Title proper from title frame. Also available in printed format.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2007. / Title proper from title frame. Also available in printed format.

<p> </p><p><strong></strong>The aim of this quantitative study was to identify risk factors that could cause or produce criminal behaviour among offenders under the age of 18 in East London, South Africa. This research looks into risk factors such as individual- home environment and neighbourhood factors. A non-probability sample of 80 young people within the age range of 12-18 answered a standardized self-administered questionnaire while attending a compulsory pre-trial assessment with probation officers at the Magistrate’s court in East London. The individual factors behind delinquency were evidently gender based, a majority was males and between 16-18 years. Other risk factors were related to family structure or family functioning and the living standard of the household. The participants own explanations for committing the crime were connected to individual factors such as: influenced by friends, influenced by alcohol, bored and had nothing to do.</p><p> </p>

<p>Specialists in ergonomics believe that what is good ergonomics is also goodeconomics for many industrial settings. This relationship between ergonomicsand economics is supported by research on several industrial settings. Thisstudy turns to investigate this relationship within the maritime domain.Shipping naturally faces the same work environment problems as commonlyseen on work places ashore. Additionally, there is however a social and culturaldimension to the work environment in what might be the most globalisedindustry of all.This study is performed as a pilot study to a larger project within theeconomics of maritime ergonomics. The aim of this thesis is to review themajor issues in the research of maritime ergonomics and how cost-benefit ofergonomics is calculated in other domains. Furthermore, the thesis also aims atinvestigate which ergonomic factors that are considered the most important bythe shipping industry itself and if the economics of ergonomics is calculated inthe Swedish shipping industry.The review of scientific literature on maritime ergonomics is divided into threeareas of interest: organisation and management, occupational health and safetyand psychosocial work environment. No studies were found on cost-benefitcalculations within shipping. There are however several methods for evaluationand calculation from other domains. The result of the nine qualitativeinterviews shows a predominant occupation in the area of organisation.Important factors mentioned in the interviews that are believed to affect safety,productivity and well-being include leadership and social skills,communication between and within the shorebased organisation and the vessel,as well as knowledge on several levels. A survey among ten Swedish shippingowners shows that beyond the costs of sick-leave, the shipowners do not on aregular basis calculate the costs and benefits of ergonomics.Further research includes a stakeholder analysis; defining the operativemeasurements of productivity, quality and effectiveness for a maritime setting;an accident analysis and the compilation of Best Practise within shipping.</p> / <p>Specialister inom arbetsmiljöområdet är övertygade om att en bra arbetsmiljöockså är bra för ett företags ekonomi. Detta förhållande mellan arbetsmiljö ochekonomi har påvisats i flera studier inom olika branscher. Den här studienundersöker sambandet mellan en god arbetsmiljö och god ekonomi inomsjöfarten. Inom sjöfarten återfinns naturligtvis samma arbetsmiljöproblem somhos andra branscher men i det som kanske är den mest globaliserade branschenav alla finns det också en framträdande social och kulturell dimension iarbetsmiljön.Den här uppsatsen är utförd som en pilotstudie till ett större forskningsprojektinom sjöfart och arbetsmiljöekonomi. Målet med uppsatsen är att undersökainom vilka områden det forskas på inom sjöfartens arbetsmiljö samt attundersöka hur kostnadsnytta av arbetsmiljö beräknas. Dessutom ämnaruppsatsen undersöka vilka arbetsmiljöfaktorer som de olika sjöfartsaktörernasjälva anser vara de viktigaste och om branschen själv räknar på arbetsmiljönidag.Granskningen av den vetenskapliga litteraturen om sjöfartens arbetsmiljö äruppdelad i tre områden: organisation och ledarskap, hälsa och säkerhet, samtden psykosociala arbetsmiljön. Inga studier återfanns som berördearbetsmiljöekonomi inom sjöfarten. Det finns däremot ett flertal metoder ochmodeller för ekonomisk utvärdering och beräkning av arbetsmiljöåtgärder frånandra branscher. Resultatet av nio kvalitativa intervjuer visar fokus påorganisatoriska arbetsmiljöfaktorer. Viktiga faktorer som informanterna anserhar inverkan på säkerhet, arbetsmiljö och produktivitet inkluderar ledarskap;kommunikation ombord och mellan fartyg och landorganisation; och kunskappå olika nivåer. En undersökning hos tio svenska rederier visar att utöverkostnader för sjukfrånvaro räknar företagen inte regelbundet på kostnader ochvinster för arbetsmiljön.Förslag till framtida forskning inkluderar en intressentanalys, att definiera ochbeskriva de operativa rationalitetsmåtten produktivitet, kvalitet och effektivitetför sjöfarten, olycksfallsanalys och sammanställandet av exempel av ”BestPractise” inom sjöfarten.</p>

<p>The term of Hidden Champions was first put forward by Simon (1996a) in his book and has already been a well-studied subject all over the world. The purpose of this dissertation is to figure out what are the main factors underlying Chinese Hidden Champions. </p><p>The literature part is composed of earlier research on Hidden Champions and theories on several factors that have been identified by authors, which form an analytical framework for analyzing empirical data.</p><p>Conducting a qualitative approach, the empirical data was collected through semi-structured telephone interviews with the senior personnel of two Chinese companies. Secondary data, such as public reports, also played a complementary role.</p><p>The findings of this study showed the factors of clear goal, excellent entrepreneur, focused strategy, sustained innovation, globalization and customer orientation immensely affect the success of Chinese Hidden Champions. It was also pointed out that there remain some views that are different from concepts of Simon’s.</p>

<p>Syftet var att genom journalgranskning kartlägga i vilken omfattning identifiering och dokumentation görs av förekomsten av avoidable factors hos skallskadade patienter, av sjuksköterskor på en neurointensivvårdsavdelning (NIVA), samt undersöka överensstämmelsen mellan dokumentation och monitorvärden rörande intrakraniellt tryck (ICP), cerebralt perfusionstryck (CPP), systoliskt blodtryck (SBT) och temperatur som registrerats via övervakningsutrustningen. Dokumentationen gjordes med ledning av en befintlig guideline. Urvalet var konsekutivt och studien innefattade 25 patienter. Antalet bedömningar i studien var totalt 2176 stycken. Vid 85 % av bedömningstillfällena dokumenterade sjuksköterskan i bedömningsformuläret. För ICP, CPP och SBT bedömdes det vid 70-80 % av tillfällena som att inga problem hade funnits och vid 55 % av tillfällena bedömdes det att det inte varit några problem med temperaturen. Det fanns signifikanta skillnader mellan då avvikelser och inga avvikelser var dokumenterade för insulttiden för ICP, samt insulttiden och monitormedelvärde för CPP och temperatur. Med hjälp av guidelines och formulär för att dokumentera avoidable factors kan patienter med sekundära insulter identifieras i stor utsträckning. Insulttiden då värdena avviker från det normala väger in starkare i bedömningen än hur avvikande värdet varit.</p><p>Att vårda skallskadade patienter innebär att<strong> </strong>ständigt väga behovet av omvårdnadsåtgärder mot risken för att det kan leda till sekundära insulter.</p><p> </p>

Graduation date: 1970

Cockpit Task Management (CTM) is the initiation, monitoring, prioritization, execution, and termination of multiple, concurrent tasks by night crews. The primary research question posed in the current research is what factors affect task prioritization on the modern day, commercial flight deck. The conventional CTM literature was reviewed as an introduction to CTM validation, its facilitation and its theoretical foundations. A human performance approach to CTM was explored through experimental psychology literature, with the objective of developing a deeper understanding of the prioritization process. Two experimental part-task simulator studies were performed using commercial airline pilots. The objective of the first study was to simply identify possible prioritization factors. The second study then gathered empirical evidence for actual use of these factors. From the results, a model of task prioritization emerged with Status, Procedure and Value as the primary factors that affect task prioritization. / Graduation date: 2000