<p>The choice of an efficient and effective production control mechanism (PCM)along with the appropriate buffer allocation pattern is very important for anyproduction engineer/decision maker when designing a production line in order toattain the required system performance. This project work aims to give an insightwith different PCMs, different buffer allocation patterns and arrangement ofworkers of different capability to help the production engineers/decision makersto select the right mechanism and pattern. This study has been performed withmulti-objective simulation optimisation (MOSO) tool. The result from manyexperiments have shown that the ascending buffer allocation pattern stands outas the prominent choice when the goal was to attain maximum throughput (TP)and simultaneously keeping minimum cycle time (CT) and work in process (WIP).The PCMs and workers imbalance patterns performance is different in differentregions of the Pareto-optimal CT-TP data plots obtained from MOSO so theirselection is depending on the interest of the desired level of throughput togetherwith the limit of cycle time.</p>

It is as easy to imagine that celebrities featured in anti-drug commercials uniformly encourage all viewers to abstain from drugs, as it is to imagine that the more closely viewers watch these commercials, the more effective the messages will be. The current research reconsiders both assumptions. Highly anti-marijuana (state of balance) and highly pro-marijuana (state of imbalance) viewers were selected, and their processing style (central vs. peripheral) was manipulated as they watched commercials (with anti-marijuana messages from celebrities for whom all viewers previously reported high appeal). The dependent measures were SOA (Strength of Association conveys the likelihood that attitudes will automatically activate to guide behavior related to marijuana), change in celebrity appeal (pre- to post-commercial), and level of counter argument after the messages. The findings confirm past research (Wagner and Sundar, 2003) suggesting that a peripheral processing style is more effective than central processing, in terms of SOA. They also suggest the usefulness of balance theory (Heider, 1946; Osgood and Tannenbaum, 1966) in studying media effects. In particular, they help understand how the presence of a celebrity, instead of leading to a decrease in the appeal of drugs for its viewers, may have unintended effects of a decrease in the appeal of the celebrity bearing the anti-drug message, and of greater counter-argument after the message. Ironically, these unintended effects were characteristic mostly of pro marijuana viewers who employed a central message processing style; this suggests that advertisers need to reconsider the effectiveness of this genre of messages, and underscores the relevance of social psychology to mass communication. / text

<p>Spin-imbalanced Fermi gases serve as a testbed for fundamental notions and are efficient table-top emulators of a variety of quantum matter ranging from neutron stars, the quark-gluon plasma, to high critical temperature superconductors. A macroscopic quantum phenomenon which occurs in spin-imbalanced Fermi gases is that of phase separation; in three dimensions, a spin-balanced, fully-paired superfluid core is surrounded by an imbalanced normal-fluid shell, followed by a fully polarized shell. In one-dimension, the behavior is reversed; a balanced phase appears outside a spin-imbalanced core. This thesis details the first density profile measurements and studies on spin-imbalanced quasi-2D Fermi gases, accomplished with high-resolution, rapid sequential spin-imaging. The measured cloud radii and central densities are in disagreement with mean-field Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer theory for a 2D system. Data for normal-fluid mixtures are well fit by a simple 2D polaron model of the free energy. Not predicted by the model is an observed phase transition to a spin-balanced central core above a critical polarization.</p> / Dissertation

Background: Clinical ergonomic advice for sitting posture has been inferred from anthropometry theory and physiology studies. Qualitative observation of posture has been used to argue that postures are too flexed, too extended, too static, too mobile, require insufficient muscle activity or require too much. In other fields of healthcare, evidence is progressed from basic science to clinical trials before an intervention is prescribed, but postural advice has been prescribed from basic science without quantitative studies of postural behaviour. Spinal neuromuscular control can predict development of low back pain, it is affected by spinal pain, and can be trained, but studies examining these variables rarely measure the spinal position of their test subjects. There is a need for more detail of how spinal positions affect regional muscle activity. Study Objectives: The overall aims of this thesis were to quantify sagittal spinal postures in sitting for comparison within and between subjects and tasks, and to detail paraspinal and abdominal muscle activity associated with sitting postures. The studies quantified regional spinal curves in - Study I: typical posture behaviour during a computer task in comparison with standing, - Study II: postures that are achievable in sitting, - Study III: the regional muscle activity associated with sitting postures that have been clinically advocated as ‘ideal’, - Study IV: cohorts with and without a history of low back pain for comparison of regional muscle activity. Results and Conclusions: For clinical trials quantifying postural behaviour, the postural variation within subjects and task conditions in Study I demonstrated the importance of measurement over a prolonged period and subjects performing relevant tasks (as opposed to brief measures such as radiography that have been the standard for posture assessment). The use of surface tracking to quantify regional spinal curves and sagittal balance establish a foundation to investigate the effect of interventions on posture behaviour (eg. chair geometry, posture training, task variables and subject cohorts). Study I also showed that typical sitting posture for a computer task was more flexed at the thoracolumbar spinal region than when subjects deliberately ‘corrected’ their sitting posture, and both sitting postures were flexed at the lumbar region relative to standing. Study II showed that most subjects were unable to sit with spinal curves like those adopted in standing unless facilitation and feedback were provided, although these curves have been clinically advocated as ‘ideal’ posture. If clinical theories about ‘ideal’ sitting posture are correct, then teaching individuals the awareness of spinal position or skill to adopt these postures could be as important for workplace health and safety as other variables such as design and adjustment of office furniture. Study III showed three upright sitting postures that have been clinically advocated as ‘ideal’ were distinguished by incremental changes in activity of the lumbar multifidus muscles. In Study IV, individuals with a history of low back pain showed more incremental activity at the longissimus thoracis muscle to achieve the same sitting postures. If particular postures are shown to be ‘ideal’ in clinical trials, then training for these postures may need to focus on muscular strategies as well as spinal position. The distinct differences in regional muscle activity observed with spinal curves and subject cohorts (Studies III and IV) imply that studies of spinal neuromuscular control should measure or control spinal curves during testing. If spinal posture were controlled, the flat posture (flat surface from ~T5 to sacrum) would have the advantages of being achievable, commonly used in sitting and easily assessed. The flat posture also demonstrated the lowest muscle activity of the upright sitting postures examined, which may improve accuracy of determining muscle activity onset/offset used as an outcome measure for interventions, distinguishing cohorts or as a predictor for low back pain occurrence.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / O desenvolvimento de fibrose pulmonar (FP) induzida por bleomicina tem sido associado com as características genéticas e estresse oxidativo. Nosso objetivo foi investigar a influência do equilíbrio redox sobre a resistência a fibrose pulmonar induzida por bleomicina em diferentes linhagens de camundongos. Uma única dose de bleomicina (0,1 U/camundongo) ou salina (50 mL) foi administrada por via intratraqueal (i.t.) em camundongos C57BL/6, DBA/2 e camundongos BALB/c. Vinte e um dias após a administração de bleomicina, a taxa de mortalidade foi acima de 50% em camundongos C57BL/6 e 20% em DBA/2, enquanto não foi observada em BALB/c. Houve um aumento na elastância (p<0.001), &#916;P2 (p<0.05), &#916;Ptot (p<0.01) e DE,l (p<0.05) em camundongos C57BL/6. O volume dos septos aumentaram em camundongos C57BL/6 (p<0.05) e DBA/2 (p<0.001). Os níveis de INF-&#947; foram reduzidas em camundongos C57BL/6 (p<0.01). Níveis OH-prolina foram aumentados em camundongos C57BL/6 e DBA/2 (p<0.05). Atividade e expressão de SOD foram reduzidas em camundongos C57BL/6 e DBA/2 (p<0.001 e p<0.001, respectivamente), enquanto que a atividade de CAT reduziu em todas as linhagens (C57BL/6: p<0.05; DBA/2: p<0.01, BALB/c: p<0.01). A atividade da GPx e expressão GPx 1/2 diminuiram em camundongos C57BL/6 (p<0.001). Nós concluímos que a resistência da FP pode também estar relacionada com a atividade e expressão de SOD em camundongos BALB/c / The development of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis (PF) has been associated with differences in genetic background and oxidative stress status. Our aim was to investigate the cross-talk between the redox profile, lung architecture and function in PF in different mouse strains. A single dose of either bleomycin (0.1 U/mouse) or saline (50 &#956;L) was by intratracheal (i.t.) administration in C57BL/6, DBA/2 and BALB/c mice. Twenty-one days after bleomycin, the mortality rate was over 50% in C57BL/6 and 20% in DBA/2 mice and PF was not observed in BALB/c. There was an increase in Est (p<0.001), &#916;P2 (p<0.05), &#916;Ptot (p<0.01) and &#916;E (p<0.05) in C57BL/6 mice. Septa volume increase in C57BL/6 (p<0.05) and DBA/2 (p<0.001). The levels of INF-&#947; were reduced by in C57BL/6 mice (p <0.01). OH-proline levels were increased in C57BL/6 and DBA/2 mice (p<0.05). SOD activity and expression was reduced in C57BL/6 and DBA/2 mice (p<0.001 and p<0.001 respectively), whereas CAT was reduced in all strains 21 days following bleomycin when compared to saline groups (C57BL/6: p<0.05; DBA/2: p<0.01, BALB/c: p<0.01). GPx activity and GPx1/2 expression decreased in C57BL/6 (p<0.001). We conclude that the PF resistance may also be related to the activity and expression of SOD in BALB/c

The topic of this diploma thesis is Intraregional differences in fiscal positions of communities. The goal of the thesis was to analyze incomes and expences of communities of the chosen region, to find differences in these incomes and expences, and to specify the cause of their origin. The introductory part cosists of the theory of fiscal federalism, decentralization and position, incomes and expences of communities and horizontal and vertical imbalances. The main part talks about fiscal capacity and fiscal need of individual communities and factors that cause differences in fiscal positions..

Le développement et la protection des aires paysagères ne sont pas faciles à atteindre, surtout dans les aires habitées. C'est le cas de l'Aire Paysagère de Wulingyuan (Hunan, Chine). Après être entrée dans une phase de plein essor, elle reste confrontée à un déséquilibre entre ces deux objectifs primordiaux. Face au problème de l'urbanisation incontrôlée, les autorités locales ont mis en œuvre une politique de protection principalement fondée sur la démolition. Cette politique de protection est-t-elle pertinente? Quels en sont les impacts sociaux, économiques, culturels et environnementaux ? Notre étude de terrain et ses analyses tentent d'apporter des réponses à ces questions et de proposer des solutions. / Developing and protecting landscapes are not easy objectives to achieve, particularly in residential areas. This is the case of Wulingyuan (Hunan, China). After entering a period of significant growth, the area is still confronted with an imbalance, between these two essential objectives. Facing the problem of out-of-control urbanization, the local authorities have adopted policy of protection, principally based on demolition. What will be the social, economic, cultural and environmental impacts? Our field study and analysis will attempt to answer these questions, and propose some solutions.

The task of this thesis was an examination of posture of ice-hockey players which are regolary playing for all categories in the club of HC České Budějovice. Subsequently, there was developed a compensatory program and this program was integrated into their training program. In conclusion of the compensatory program there was necesary to realize the same examination as the entrance examination.

The purpose of this study was to explore working single mothers’ work-life balance in order to better understand how employers can assist them. Role theory, role conflict theory, and spillover theory were utilized to examine how working single mothers experience work-life balance and how they perceive it. In this study, the researcher sought to discover, analyze, and report work-life balance experiences of working single mothers through extended narrative accounts, which answer the following research questions: 1. In what ways do working single mothers strive to attain work-life balance? 2. What challenges do working single mothers encounter that affect their ability to obtain work-life balance? 3. How do working single mothers believe their employers’ policies, practices, and attitudes impact their ability to balance work and family responsibilities? Narrative inquiry was the best research approach for this study because it allowed the individuals to narrate their own stories. The methods of collecting data for this study consisted of a basic demographic questionnaire and in-depth, semi-structured interviews. The data analysis revealed four main themes and several subthemes highlighting the strategies, challenges, and employers’ contributions to the work-life balance of working single mothers.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / O desenvolvimento de fibrose pulmonar (FP) induzida por bleomicina tem sido associado com as características genéticas e estresse oxidativo. Nosso objetivo foi investigar a influência do equilíbrio redox sobre a resistência a fibrose pulmonar induzida por bleomicina em diferentes linhagens de camundongos. Uma única dose de bleomicina (0,1 U/camundongo) ou salina (50 mL) foi administrada por via intratraqueal (i.t.) em camundongos C57BL/6, DBA/2 e camundongos BALB/c. Vinte e um dias após a administração de bleomicina, a taxa de mortalidade foi acima de 50% em camundongos C57BL/6 e 20% em DBA/2, enquanto não foi observada em BALB/c. Houve um aumento na elastância (p<0.001), &#916;P2 (p<0.05), &#916;Ptot (p<0.01) e DE,l (p<0.05) em camundongos C57BL/6. O volume dos septos aumentaram em camundongos C57BL/6 (p<0.05) e DBA/2 (p<0.001). Os níveis de INF-&#947; foram reduzidas em camundongos C57BL/6 (p<0.01). Níveis OH-prolina foram aumentados em camundongos C57BL/6 e DBA/2 (p<0.05). Atividade e expressão de SOD foram reduzidas em camundongos C57BL/6 e DBA/2 (p<0.001 e p<0.001, respectivamente), enquanto que a atividade de CAT reduziu em todas as linhagens (C57BL/6: p<0.05; DBA/2: p<0.01, BALB/c: p<0.01). A atividade da GPx e expressão GPx 1/2 diminuiram em camundongos C57BL/6 (p<0.001). Nós concluímos que a resistência da FP pode também estar relacionada com a atividade e expressão de SOD em camundongos BALB/c / The development of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis (PF) has been associated with differences in genetic background and oxidative stress status. Our aim was to investigate the cross-talk between the redox profile, lung architecture and function in PF in different mouse strains. A single dose of either bleomycin (0.1 U/mouse) or saline (50 &#956;L) was by intratracheal (i.t.) administration in C57BL/6, DBA/2 and BALB/c mice. Twenty-one days after bleomycin, the mortality rate was over 50% in C57BL/6 and 20% in DBA/2 mice and PF was not observed in BALB/c. There was an increase in Est (p<0.001), &#916;P2 (p<0.05), &#916;Ptot (p<0.01) and &#916;E (p<0.05) in C57BL/6 mice. Septa volume increase in C57BL/6 (p<0.05) and DBA/2 (p<0.001). The levels of INF-&#947; were reduced by in C57BL/6 mice (p <0.01). OH-proline levels were increased in C57BL/6 and DBA/2 mice (p<0.05). SOD activity and expression was reduced in C57BL/6 and DBA/2 mice (p<0.001 and p<0.001 respectively), whereas CAT was reduced in all strains 21 days following bleomycin when compared to saline groups (C57BL/6: p<0.05; DBA/2: p<0.01, BALB/c: p<0.01). GPx activity and GPx1/2 expression decreased in C57BL/6 (p<0.001). We conclude that the PF resistance may also be related to the activity and expression of SOD in BALB/c