This essay will investigate the cause of shifts – changes made when translating – in the Swedish version of Enid Blyton‟s Five on a Treasure Island. It should be seen as a direct sequel to The Little Girl is Missing – a bachelor degree project written at Stockholm University. In said degree project the methods used when making the shifts was described, but now the reasons why the shifts were made and how they have affected the plot will be presented. To do so a number of theories concerning both gender studies and translation studies will be used. The working hypothesis is that the shifts were made to rid the translated text of the original text‟s sexist content – to create "equality between women and men" (Lpo 94: 3) and making the translation fit the target culture i.e. today‟s Sweden. This claimed sexist content will be determined mainly with the help of the Swedish compulsory school system‟s curriculum, Lpo94, and Berit Ås‟s master suppression techniques. The intention is to bring the translation phenomenon of ideologically influenced translations into the limelight and start a debate. Besides that, this essay will also provide a didactic model for teachers wanting to work with translation dilemmas in class.

Poly(beta-amino esters) are photopolymerizable and biodegradable polymers prepared by the combination of amines with diacrylates. This study aims to fundamentally understand the polymer network formed by poly(ethylene)glycol diacrylate (PEGDA) MW 700 and 3-methoxypropylamine (3MOPA) as well as to characterize the degradation response of this material with and without cyclic loading. The networks were formed by a two-step process; (1) the synthesis of amine-co-peg diacrylate macromers through a step growth reaction, followed by (2) UV initiated chain growth network formation of the diacrylated macromers. Macromer reaction chemistry was confirmed by 1H NMR measurements. UV calorimetric analysis revealed that network formation was dependent on molecular weight of the PEGDA monomer and light intensity, but not temperature in the range of 20 °C to 40 °C. The glass transition temperature of all networks was measured to be in the range of -40 °C to -30°C with a rubbery moduli ranging from 4 to 10 MPa, depending on the molecular weight of the PEGDA monomer. Partial crystallization was discovered to occur in the networks containing higher molecular weight PEGDA only in the presence of humidity and high frequency cyclic loading. Degradation studies were performed with and without applied cyclical stress, and in both cases elastic modulus decrease and mass loss occurred steadily over a 24-hour period. Increasing frequency of applied compressive stress during degradation served to slightly lower degradation rates, especially in samples cycled at high frequency, which crystallized. In all materials, applied cyclic load resulted in catastrophic fracture of the material prior to an appreciable decrease in modulus. The experiments reveal that degradation rate and failure mode can be influenced by the addition of cyclic loading and this should be considered when screening biodegradable polymers for applications that include mechanical loading.

The Texas Education Agency’s Social Studies Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills results show an achievement gap between males and females for every criteria on every test given since 2003. The most dramatic achievement difference is in the area of “traditional” U.S. History. The Texas results mimic a gender gap reported by College Board Texas AP U.S. history exams and the 2006 National Assessment of Education Programs United States assessment for 8th and 12th graders. Literature and education research outline a contentious background the current social studies and history education programs a, a history of social studies assessment programs, and different theoretical frameworks regarding male and female learning. A Transformative Sequential Mixed Method/Model Design was used for this study. Social Studies TAKS quantitative data collected by the Texas Education Agency formed the basis for an Interactive Qualitative Analysis (IQA) study. The Researcher gathered data from a statewide sampling of social studies supervisors, administrators, teachers and Austin Independent School District social studies students. Findings show perspectives regarding the social studies are different and crucial to effective instruction. Both female and male student focus groups believe the teacher to be in complete control of student learning whereas social studies supervisors, administrators, and teachers find the teacher to be a recipient of the pressures from the statewide assessment, accountability, external influences. Female students are shaped by the influences of their outside life and find the entire subject matter covered by the social studies irrelevant. Male students are more personally involved in the history and social studies subject matter finding it important and interesting. / text

Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion (MIC) is a process influenced by microbial presence and their metabolic activities. This study examined the microbial effects on metal corrosion under different environmental conditions with nutrient supplements. Experiments were conducted by inserting stainless steel 304 and mild steel coupons (2.5 x 2.5 cm²) into loam soil and a simulated seawater/sediment system with various nutrient conditions (sterilized, without supplement, 5 mM NaNO₃ or NH₄NO₃). Two mild and stainless steel coupons were removed monthly and the corrosion rate was evaluated based on the weight loss. Bacterial populations were enumerated using the most probable number (MPN) technique. The presence and adhesion of microbes on mild steel coupons were examined using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The extent of the corrosion process on the surface of the metal coupons were visualized by using the Stereo Microscope. The elemental composition of the corrosion products formed on the coupon surface were determined by Energy Dispersive X-Ray analyses. Isolation and identification of aerobic microorganisms were conducted and examined for its potential in either accelerating or inhibiting corrosion. The bacterial populations present on the mild steel surface were analyzed by fluorescent in situ hybridization. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analyses of PCR-amplified 16S rDNA fragments were conducted to determine the microbial community complexity of the biofilm. Greater weight losses of mild steel in loam soil and the seawater/sediment system with NaNO₃ (48.86 mg/g and 19.96 mg/g of weight loss, respectively after 20 weeks) were observed with total heterotrophic bacterial population presented (106.695 MPN/ml and 0.11187 MPN/ml respectively) compared to the autoclaved control (7.17845 mg/g and 0.12082 mg/g of weight loss respectively). Supplementation of 5 mM NH₄NO₃ increased the total heterotrophic bacterial population and resulted in a decrease in weight loss measurements on the stainless steel coupons (211.4 MPN/ml with a 0.01 mg/g weight loss) after 20 weeks compared to the non-autoclaved loam soil and loam soil supplemented with NaNO₃ (139.2 MPN/ml and 134.9 MPN/ml respectively with no weight loss). SEM images of the mild steel coupons confirmed the presence and adherence of bacteria on the metal surface. Stereo microscopic images displayed reddish-brown deposits and pitting on the coupon surface. Isolation, identification and sequence analysis revealed that most microorganisms were the Bacillus species. This group of microorganisms are iron-oxidizing bacteria that could also promote the corrosion process. After 20 weeks of incubation, the total SRB cell counts were lower in samples supplemented with NaNO₃ in both loam soil and the seawater/sediment system. This study also indicated that the isolated aerobic microorganisms do play a role in the corrosion process in both stainless and mild steel. DGGE analysis revealed microbial diversity in the corrosion products especially those affiliated to the bacterial phyla Firmicutes and Gamma-Proteobacteria. Fluorescent in situ hybridization analysis allowed for an overall estimation of Eubacteria and sulphate-reducing bacteria present in the biofilm formed on the surface of mild steel. The current study indicates that the addition of nitrates did not significantly reduce the rates of corrosion of both mild and stainless steel. However, it does seem that environmental conditions did pose as an important factor in the corrosion process. Therefore, further studies need to be implemented to analyze the environmental type, microbial composition and optimization of the concentration of nitrates for possible mitigation of metal corrosion. To optimize MIC prevention and control, collaboration between engineers and microbiologists proves advantageous to develop an environmentally sound and potentially cost-effective approach to control corrosion. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2012.

The seaward end of modern rivers is characterized by the interactions of marine and fluvial processes within a tract known as the fluvial to marine transition zone (FMTZ), which varies between systems due to the relative strength of fluvial, tidal and wave processes. River deltas also show a range of different morphologies and architectures linked to the balance between these depositional processes. However sedimentological interpretations of fluvial to shallow-marine deposits from the rock record commonly relate sedimentary structures to single depositional processes and give greater importance to facies-based observations rather than to architectural style. To better understand how fluvial and tidal process interactions are preserved and distributed in the rock record, deltaic deposits of the Middle Jurassic Lajas Formation (Neuquén Basin, Argentina) have been investigated in large-scale outcrops. The degree of tidal influence has been evaluated using both facies-scale observations and architecture analysis, and critically testing the application of the FMTZ concept in ancient deposits. The characteristics of the reconstructed FMTZ together with the architectural elements described from the Lajas Formation are consistent with an interpretation of a fluvial-dominated, tide-influenced delta, rather than a tide-dominated system, as previously proposed. The results presented herein suggest that highstand systems tract progradational deltas of the Lajas Fm. accumulated largely under microtidal conditions. Comparison of facies and architecture between modern tide dominated deltas and published examples from ancient successions shows a fundamental mismatch; modern systems are mud-dominated with laterally accreting tidal bars while ancient examples are sand-rich and dominated by forward accreting deposits. This thesis argues that the majority of ancient sand-rich successions interpreted as tide-dominated deltas might have formed in large parts in a fluvial-dominated, tide-influenced delta system and that tide-dominated deltas may have not been adequately described from the rock record yet. The improved identification of process interactions presented in this study is crucial to refining classifications of shallow-marine successions and to understanding the recorded spatial and temporal evolution of ancient depositional systems. This can have fundamental implications in refining reservoir models and predicting correct geometries in hydrocarbon-bearing successions.

Corrosion in pipelines and reservoir tanks in oil plants is a serious problem in the energy industries around the world because it causes a huge economic loss due to not only frequent replacements of the parts of pipelines and tanks but also potential damage of the entire fields of crude oil. Previous studies have revealed that corrosions are generated mainly by microbial activities and they are now called as Microbial Influenced Corrosion (MIC) or simply bio-corrosion. Bacterial species actually causing bio-corrosion is crucial for the suppression of the corrosion. To diagnose and give proper treatment to pipelines in industrial plants, it is essential to identify the bacterial species responsible for bio-corrosions. For attaining at this aim, I conducted an analysis of the microbial community at the corrosion sites in pipelines of oil plants, using the comparative metagenomic analysis along with bioinformatics and statistics. In this study, I collected and analyzed various bio-corrosion samples from four different oil fields. First, I collected samples from the seawater pipelines that are essential in the oil fields to maintain seawater injection system (field#1), and then I conducted the metagenomic analysis of these samples. The metagenomes obtained revealed that samples in both sites contain a wide range of bacterial taxa. However, the comparative analysis of the microbial community with statistics in the comparison between sites with corrosion and without corrosion revealed the presence of microorganisms whose abundances were significantly higher in sites with corrosion. Some of these microbes can be sulfate reducers and sulfur oxidizers of which are considered to be casual agents in recent bio-corrosion models. In addition to the seawater pipelines, I also collect samples from corrosion sites in oil pipelines at Field #2 and #3. My metagenomic analysis combined with statistics showed that several microorganisms are speculated to be very active at the corrosion sites in the oil pipeline. Although biological mechanisms of forming bio-corrosion in the oil pipelines still remain unclear, these microbial species are suggested to be some of the responsible bacteria for bio-corrosion in the oil pipelines. Besides seawater injection systems, groundwater injection systems are often used, especially in inland oil fields. Therefore, more detailed understanding of biocorrosion in the groundwater injection system is also required in oil industries. In the present studies, I then analyzed the microbial communities in pipelines in the oil field where groundwater is used as injection water (field #4). I collected samples from four different facilities in the field #4. Metagenome analysis revealed that microbial community structures were largely different even among samples from the same facility. Treatments such as biocide and demineralization at each location in the pipeline may affect the microbial communities independently. The results indicated that microbial inspection throughout the pipeline network is important to protect industrial plants from bio-corrosions. Identifying the bacterial species responsible to bio-corrosion, this study provides us with information on bacterial indicators that will be available to classify and diagnose bio-corrosions. Furthermore, these species may be available as biomarkers to detect the events of bio-corrosion at an early stage. Then, any appropriate care such as the appropriate choice of biocides can be taken immediately and appropriately. Thus, my study will provide a platform for obtaining microbial information related to bio-corrosion that enables us to obtain a practical approach to protect them from bio-corrosion.

The impacts of climate variability and change on streamflow are of increasing concern, particularly as human demands on water supplies compete with the needs of natural ecosystems. The consequences on the hydrological cycle are predicted to be most severe for mid- to high-latitude regions. Of particular concern is reduced mountain snow accumulation and related reductions in the snow- and glacier-derived water supply. In northern British Columbia (BC), recent snowpack declines have caused a unique water management challenge. Diminishing water security in a region considered water-abundant has intensified over the last decade. Characterizing the climate controls on hydrologic variability is a priority for developing baseline information required for water supply forecasting. This research focuses on developing multi-century, annually-resolved records of snow water equivalent (SWE) and streamflow to provide a better understanding of long-term hydroclimate variability for the design and implementation of management strategies that balance riverine ecosystem services, such as recreation and fish habitat, with increasing economic and social demands. Climate sensitive tree-ring chronologies provide the opportunity to extend instrumental records of hydroclimate by capitalizing on the influence of climate on both annual radial growth and seasonal runoff. Traditional dendrohydrology relies on moisture-limited tree species from dry, continental settings. This dissertation presents a new method by focusing on mid- to high-elevation conifers sensitive to snowpack variability. Ring-width and maximum latewood density records from mountain hemlock (Tsuga mertensiana (Bong.) Carriere), white spruce (P. glauca (Moench) Voss), and subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa (Hook.) Nutt.) stands were collected at sites in northern BC. Dendrochronological techniques were used to develop a: 1) 223-year record of April 1 SWE for the Stikine River basin; 2) 417-, 716-, and 343-year record of summer streamflow for the Skeena, Nass and Stikine rivers, respectively; and, 3) a 193-year reconstruction of summer-run Skeena River steelhead abundance based on the influence of ocean-atmospheric forcings on both radial tree growth and steelhead escapement. The April 1 SWE record suggests that there has been considerable variability in snowpack levels in the Stikine basin and a distinct in-phase relationship with seasonalized Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) indices, not seen in basins to the south. The summer streamflow records also support a north-south “see-saw” effect, suggesting an association between moisture transport and atmospheric-ocean circulation in the region. In addition to the snow-sensitive tree-ring data, the streamflow models incorporated paleo-hemispheric records to improve predictive skill. Finally, the steelhead model described alternating intervals of persistently above-average and below-average abundance that corresponded to oceanic PDO-like influences and describe links to “warm-warm” ENSO-PDO years associated with in-river low flow periods. The reconstructions suggest that: 1) recent snowpack and streamflow declines are a rare event over a multi-century context; and, 2) existing instrumental records do not adequately represent the historic range of basin-specific hydroclimate variability necessary for new planning horizons. Mid- to high-elevation, snow-sensitive conifers have strong potential as paleohydrological proxies and for expanding the application of dendrohydrology to non-arid settings. Current conditions in northern BC, compounded by land use changes and climate change, are predicted to become more severe in the future. It is important that planning regimes incorporate long-term hydroclimate data to better understand and quantify how water supply and ecosystems will respond to future changes. / Graduate

No other forage crop cultivated in the United States can be used in as many ways as alfalfa. The variety of its uses make it a most useful forage crop. The distribution of alfalfa is world wide and it plays a leading role in the production of livestock and their products. For general feeding of farm animals, alfalfa is unsurpassed. Used for pasture, it has a high capacity, which leads to large gains in grasing animals. If properly rotated and cared for, it adds nitrogen to the soil in a form that is available to plants and thereby increases crop yields. In addition to these assets, alfalfa is a valuable source of essential nutrients and vitamins for livestock.

Microbial-influenced corrosion (MIC) has been widely recognized as a significant economic and environmental problem in the oil and gas industry. MIC can be classified into two types based on the mechanisms: the extracellular electron transfer MIC (EET-MIC) and the metabolite MIC (M-MIC). The first includes electroactive bacteria that facilitate EET, while the latter includes bacteria that secrete corrosive metabolites. Sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) is believed to cause EET-MIC in carbon steel, a widely used metal in the oil and gas industry. In previous electroactive bacteria studies, nanowires have been shown to facilitate EET by acting as electron mediators. This study investigates the use of magnetite nanowires as electron mediators to accelerate EET-MIC of C1020 by Desulfovibrio vulgaris. The addition of 40 ppm (w/w) nanowires to carbon steel incubated with D. vulgaris, corrosive SRB species, for seven days resulted in 45% weight loss and 57% deeper pitting of carbon steel. Furthermore, electrochemical measurements of open circuit potential, linear polarization resistance and potentiodynamic polarization were found to be parallel with weight loss and pitting results. Therefore, these findings highlight the possibility of using magnetic nanowires as an electron mediator with high efficiency and selectivity to EET-MIC for future MIC studies and applications.

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