<p>Normal hearing and balance relies on the detection of sound, orientation and acceleration by sensory hair cells (HCs) located in the inner ear. Once sound is detected, that information must be transmitted to the brain by sensory neurons. Damage to the HCs and/or neurons in the auditory or vestibular organs of the inner ear can result in hearing loss or balance disorders. In mammals, these disorders can be permanent, as HCs do not regenerate after damage. While hearing aids and cochlear implants can restore some ability to hear, there are currently no molecular therapies for hearing loss. By examining genes involved in HC development and innervation, basic science can identify candidate genes for potential molecular therapies. This dissertation focuses on molecular regulators involved in establishing and/or maintaining innervation in the chicken inner ear during embryonic development.</p><p>The basilar papilla (BP) is the auditory sensory organ in the chicken and is homologous to the mammalian organ of Corti (oC). The BP houses two types of sensory HCs – tall HCs and short HCs. On the neural side of the BP, tall HC receive primarily afferent innervation (neural-side identity). On the abneural side, short HC receive primarily efferent innervation (abneural-side identity). The patterning of these two identities along the radial axis is dependent upon the precise spatiotemporal expression of certain genes during embryonic development. One such gene is <i>Wingless/integrated (Wnt)9a</i>.</p><p>Previous work has shown that <i>Wnt9a</i>is expressed on the neural edge of the BP and is likely secreted in a gradient across the prosensory domain during crucial time points when proliferation, differentiation, and innervation are occurring. When <i>Wnt9a </i>was overexpressed, we observed an increase in the width of the BP as well as an expansion of the neural-side identity, likely at the expense of the abneural-side identity. RNA sequencing of <i>Wnt9a</i>-overexpressing and control BPs identified genes involved in the Wnt signaling pathway, cytoskeletal remodeling, and axon guidance signaling that were differentially expressed. This dissertation focuses on axon guidance genes, specifically those involved in Slit/Robo (Roundabout), Contactin (Cntn), and Semaphorin (Sema) signaling, that were differentially expressed in this RNA sequencing data set.</p><p>Slits typically act as repulsive cues for neurites expressing Robo receptors. RNA sequencing data indicates that <i>Slit2</i>transcripts increased by 1.2 fold when <i>Wnt9a </i>was overexpressed. When examining Slit2 spatial expression pattern in <i>Wnt9a-</i>overexpressing BPs, we did not observe an upregulation of <i>Slit2 </i>but rather an expansion of the <i>Slit2</i>-expression domain that is likely due to increased proliferation in response to <i>Wnt9a</i>. To better understand the role of Slit/Robo signaling in the developing BP, we examined the radial expression patterns of <i>Slit2</i>, <i>Robo1</i>, and <i>Robo2</i>. <i>Slit2 </i>is expressed on the anterior and posterior walls of the cochlear duct (CD). <i>Robo1</i>and <i>Robo2 </i>had graded expression in the prosensory domain of the BP, highest on the abneural side. <i>Robo1</i>is also present in the auditory ganglion. While only a small population of cochleovestibular ganglion neurites have been previously shown to respond to Slits, Slit-Robo has also been shown to activate TCF transcription factor by non-canonically activating β-catenin through Abl kinase. We examined Abl kinase-activated b-catenin in <i>Slit2-</i>and <i>Wnt9a-</i>overexpressing BPs but did not observe a change in phosphorylated b-catenin. We also overexpressed a dominant-negative Robo1. In some dominant-negative Robo1 overexpressing ears, we observed a reduction in ganglion size; however, this affect did not reliably replicate. These data suggests that Slit-Robo signaling could be involved in neuroblast delamination and/or migration.</p><p>RNA sequencing results indicate that <i>Contactin 6</i><i>Cntn6 </i>transcripts increased by 1.5 fold when <i>Wnt9a </i>was overexpressed. Contactins are cell adhesion molecules that have been previously shown to impact neurite outgrowth and innervation. In the auditory field, clinical studies have also shown that patients diagnosed with autism who also have mutations in <i>Cntn5 </i>and <i>Cntn6 </i>are more likely to exhibit increased sensitivity to sound. Based on RNA sequencing in the embryonic day (E)6 chicken ear, <i>Cntn6 </i>has low levels of expression in controls. We attempted to examine the spatial expression of <i>Cntn6 </i>but found that <i>in situ </i>hybridization is not sensitive enough to detect low levels of <i>Cntn6 </i>in control or <i>Wnt9a-</i>overexpressing BPs.</p><p>Class III Semaphorinsecreted ligands are known to repel neurites expressing Neuropilin (Nrp) and/or Plexin (Plxn) receptors. <i>Sema3D </i>and <i>Nrp2 </i>were downregulated in the presence of exogenous <i>Wnt9a</i>; however, the spatial expression of these transcripts did<i></i>not support their role in establishing or maintaining radial innervation patterns. There is, however, a growing body of literature supporting that Sema signaling also has alternative roles in development such as synaptogenesis, boundary formation, and vasculogenesis. To evaluate these options during inner ear development, we used <i>in situ </i>hybridization or immunohistochemistry to map the expression of <i>Sema3D</i>, <i>Sema3F</i>, Nrp1<i>, Nrp2</i>, and <i>PlxnA1 </i>in the chicken inner ear from E5 to E10. The resulting expression patterns in either the otic epithelium or its surrounding mesenchyme suggest that Sema signaling could be involved in each of the varied functions reported for other tissues. <i>Sema3D</i>expression flanking the sensory tissue in vestibular organs suggests that it may repel <i>Nrp2</i>- and <i>PlxnA1</i>-expressing neurites of the vestibular ganglion away from nonsensory epithelia, thus channeling them into the sensory domains at E5-E8. Expression of Sema signaling genes in the sensory hair cells of both the auditory and vestibular organs on E8–E10 may implicate Sema signaling in synaptogenesis. In the nonsensory regions of the cochlea, <i>Sema3D</i>in the future tegmentum vasculosum opposes Nrp1 and <i>PlxnA1 </i>in the future cuboidal cells; the abutment of ligand and receptors in adjacent domains may enforce or maintain the boundary between them. In the mesenchyme, Nrp1 colocalized with capillary-rich tissue. <i>Sema3D </i>immediately flanks this Nrp1-expressing tissue, suggesting a role in endothelial cell migration towards the inner ear. In summary, Sema signaling may play multiple roles in the developing inner ear.</p><p>To better understand innervation patterns in the avian BP, we also examined the developing efferent innervation patterns from E11 to E17 using NeuroVue lipophilic tracer dye. Our data suggest that efferents have already begun to penetrate the sensory epithelium at E11 and that efferents arrive to the ipsilateral BP earlier than the contralateral BP. By E12, many efferents appear to send back branches out to short HCs. At E15, many efferents appear to have reached the abneural edge of the BP, are innervating the hyaline cells, and are projecting apically.</p><p>In summary, this work suggests that Slit and Sema signaling are not involved in establishing radial innervation patterns but may have alternative roles in inner ear development. Additionally, while efferents appear to arrive to the ipsilateral BP sooner than the contralateral BP, both ears send projections across the radial axis and back branch around the same time.</p>

This diploma thesis focuses on accessibility and serviceability second homes in the inner periphery, respectively, in the model region "Hranice krajů-Středozápad" as well as analysis and assessment of the second homes with the possibility of a future transformation to permanent housing. The theoretical part of the thesis deals with the characteristics of the second homes, transport accessibility and public transport not only in the Czech Republic. Analyzes commuting to recreation in various fields and further acquainted with the problems of peripheral areas. The empirical part is based on the data obtained from the analysis of public transport, statistical yearbooks and survey, which took place in the model region "Hranice krajů- Středozápad". The area is monitored to determine what kinds of vehicles are used by second homes owners for leisure travel and the transport infrastructure facilities. Also is detecting the demand for public transport and its offer for owners of second homes. In this paper, public transport is studied in the long-term viewpoint since the mid-70th the 20th century and the observation are directed to the needs of second homes users on Friday, Sunday and "recreational" link. Next part of this work is to analyze second homes objects and their owners in the model area using the...

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-26T14:54:18Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Lindines Gomes de Barros.pdf: 1639739 bytes, checksum: abb8e1a179cc0baeb81d0e0a8e966ae8 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-06-03 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / This thesis provides a reading through the fields of social sciences, of the philosophical concepts that compose the subject erotic and orgiastic in the thought and the narrative work - out with the paradigm of civilization of Georges Bataille: eroticism, ecstasy, inner experience, excess, transgression, and solar anus. This thinker, whose works deal with an erotic intention stigmatized as both pornographic and disconcerting because it subverts the concepts of reality and normality, constituted our main theoretical and literary "corpus". Bataille proposes a decomposition of the paradigm of civilizing rationality thanks to the idiosyncratic and obscure rhythms that form his erotic subject, with impure and imperfect subjectivities. In this discussion, we address his vision that consists in eroticism recognized as an inner experience, not subdued to regulation or discipline. This type of experience causes a kind of not-knowing, which reproduces the configuration of wild singularities proposed by Foucault and related to what cannot be assimilated by institutions and cultures. The characters in his literary narrative allow us to observe and define the erotic subject at the intersection between ecstasy and inner experience. They are convulsive bodies emerging from vertigo. Impregnated with this problem, they bring Eros sovereignty with elements of tragic eroticism and of horror that plunge the subject into the unknowable and the rationalizing inapprehensible. What we question in his mind is the challenge of thinking the abject and the excremental, that escape deterministic reasoning and release the vision of contemplative ecstasy by dispelling the significant determinants and the pedagogization that intertwine the social fabric.. The thesis will present his position deliberately at the fringe, which aimed to upset the established order in theology and science. It will reveal the orgiastic itinerary created by Bataille and characterized by economy of outlay, excess, anguish, ecstasy, eroticism, inner experience and concerns. Such a philosophical intent proposes a thought of waste, consumption and reasoning that release from the human condition / Esta tese estabelece uma leitura, no campo das ciências sociais, dos conceitos filosóficos: erotismo, êxtase, experiência interior, excesso, transgressão e ânus solar, que compõem o orgiástico sujeito erótico no pensamento e na narrativa romanescas do pensador Georges Bataille, que rompe com o paradigma civilizatório. O autor constitui nosso principal corpus teórico e literário, cujas obras, estão envolvidas numa concepção erótica estigmatizada como pornográfica e desconcertante, por subverter os conceitos de normalidade e realidade. Ele propõe uma decomposição do paradigma da racionalidade civilizatória, aos ritmos idiossincráticos e obscuros que compõem o sujeito erótico batailliano, com subjetividades impuras e imperfeitas . Nessa discussão conferimos o seu olhar constituinte de uma eroticidade, reconhecida enquanto experiência interior, não submetida à normatização e ao disciplinamento. Tal natureza de experiência, provoca uma espécie de não-saber, refletindo a configuração das singularidades selvagens, propostas em Foucault, relacionadas com aquilo ainda inassimilável pelas instituições e pelas culturas. Em sua narrativa literária, os personagens nos permitem observar e margear o sujeito erótico constituído no cruzamento entre o êxtase com a experiência interior. São corpos convulsivos que emergem da vertigem. Impregnados nessa problematicidade, trazem a soberania de Eros com elementos de um erotismo trágico e de horror, que mergulham o sujeito batailliano no incognoscível e no desentendimento racionalizante. O que interrogamos em seu pensamento é o desafio de pensar o que é abjeto e excremental, que escapa da razão determinista e liberta a visão da estaticidade contemplativa, dissipando significados determinantes e a pedagogização dos sentidos que entretece os tecidos sociais. A tese apresentará a sua posição nas margens, de modo a provocar desacomodações teológicas e cientifizantes. Revelará o itinerário orgiástico concebido por Bataille, tomado pela economia do dispêndio, excesso, angústias, êxtases, erotismos, experiência interior e inquietações. Tal concepção filosófica propõe um pensar do desperdício, da consumação e do raciocínio obsessivo que instaura uma libertação da condição humana

This study uses Processwork as a lens to evaluate the facilitation of social change and related design projects at all levels of scale. Social change processes are deconstructed and explored in terms of awareness of signals, roles, dimensions of rank and power, belief systems, and phenomenological experience within the analytical structure of deep democracy and eldership. Data is collected for the case studies from workshops, interviews with practitioners and participants, relevant texts and field experiences. The Bolivian case studies involved 24 rural indigenous farmers (men of varying ages) and 16 women (aged 16 - 54), all from situations of extreme urban poverty and shows the application of Processwork in empowering participants to facilitate social change. The Zaragoza case study was a part-time multi-module two-year course involving 38 male and female lawyers. They gained the confidence to design, and in some cases implement, a parallel mediation training, based on a whole systems design. The Thai case study consisted of 3 week-long workshops with Buddhist monks and nuns, university professors, community leader, consultants and trainers. The results suggest the emphasis on eldership, group process structure, rank, power, and double signals was extremely useful, even for those already experienced in awareness-based practices. The Ecovillage case study focuses on one female facilitator working in an extremely diverse cultural setting and demonstrates the importance of working with inner diversity and the value of both inner and outer awareness Processwork exercises. In choosing this broad spectrum of applications, the similarities and differences of Processwork in diverse cultural and social contexts is illustrated. The case studies and my experience suggest that Processwork can contribute to a shift in perspective required to build a more sustainable civilization with its capacity to broaden perspective and increase awareness at the worldview level. Processwork facilitates a process of meta-design, that encourages participants to see the larger, complex context of their projects as well as the details and momentary interactions and can be very helpful to all those working with complex systems, including facilitators and designers.

While the knowledge of disrepair in inner-city schools is fairly common, the impact that school facilities are having on students and faculty is not as widely known. More recently, the closing of inner city schools has greatly increased across the United States; Reduction in public school enrollment from 2006-2013: Detroit -63%, Cleveland -32%, Indianapolis -27%, D.C. -23%, L.A. -23%,etc. (Journey For Justice Alliance,2014). Due to budget cuts, threat of school closings from poor facility conditions, large class size, and pressure to raise test scores, inner city schools struggle to keep teachers (Journey For Justice Alliance,2014). Poor teacher retention along with a lack in care for educational facilities has created a toxic environment for inner-city students. Although there are many reasons that inner-city schools suffer, negativity within school culture seems to be a common denominator within many of these problems. With larger population percentages of minority, economically disadvantaged and disabled students, difficulties arise in communicating student-to-student and teacher-to-student (Bellwether Education Partner, 2016). The question becomes, how does one design a space to provide comfort, safety and communication in order to foster healthy relationships? This research will inform the design of a middle school that focuses on community and communication. The goal will be to design a school where flexibility and team work is made easier through furniture and layout solutions in order to foster growth and respect for students and teachers.

No description available.

The Inner Piedmont (IP) is the Neoacadian migmatitic orogenic core of the southern Appalachians, exhibiting the widest area of high-grade metamorphism; regional upper amphibolite facies with isolated pods of granulite grade metamorphism. Peak P-T conditions in central GA reached 4.0-7.6 kbars and 630-715 ̊ C. The Brindle Creek fault (BCf) separates high-grade metasedimentary rocks of the eastern Tugaloo terrane (Tt) and Cat Square terrane (CSt). The Tt consists of the Neoproterozoic to early Paleozoic(?) Tallulah Falls Formation, Chauga River Formation, and the Mid-Ordovician Poor Mountain Formation, intruded by Early to Middle Ordovician granitoids. The CSt consists of Siluro-Devonian metasedimentary rocks, such as sillimanite-schist, biotite gneiss, amphibolite, and minor calc-silicate, intruded by Acadian-Neoacadian plutons. Original termination of the CSt was mapped by the USGS just south of Athens, GA, against the central Piedmont suture; however, new evidence from aeromagnetic anomalies and detailed geologic mapping revealed that the CSt and BCf extend into central GA. The BCf truncates a suite of curved magnetic anomalies on the aeromagnetic map. The curved anomalies that truncate against the linear feature may represent the Neoacadian deflection of the IP southwestward along the crustally weak Brevard fault zone. Another prominent lineament was identified southeast of the BCf; detailed geologic mapping revealed an additional thrust sheet in the CSt. Mesozoic brittle reactivation of the late Paleozoic dextral Towaliga fault was also identified striking NE-SW through the field area. Multiple episodes of movement were observed in outcrop and at the micro-scale, defined by crosscutting fracture sets. Low temperature quartz mylonite (350-450 ̊ C) may signify continued shearing of the IP into the late Alleghanian orogeny. A felsic plutonic suite extends the length of the field area, consisting of three distinct granitoids: (1) an older biotite-rich megacrystic granite with megacrysts of K-feldspar; (2) a weakly foliated medium to coarse grained inequigranular granodiorite; and (3) a younger non-foliated fine-grained granodiorite. Analysis revealed that granitoids from central GA are similar texturally and petrographically with granitoids from NC’s CSt. Further whole-rock geochemical analysis revealed that these rocks share similar REE, trace element, and tectonic discriminate patterns. The most important point garnered from the trace element and REE patterns in spider diagrams, such as similarities in peaks and troughs, is that they must share either a common parent, process, or contaminant.

<p>Uppsatsen gör en första ansats att utifrån befintliga organisationsteorier definiera de faktorer vilka påverkar Försvarsmakten och R3-organisationen. Oganisations-teorierna pekar på yttre krafter så som politik, ekonomi och teknologi samt inre logik-faktorer, vilka består av sociala processer som utvecklas och påverkar det klimat som präglar en organisation.</p><p>Förutom yttre krafter och inre logik, påverkar även organisationsformen en organisation. Inom Försvarsmakten och dess underorganisationer, däribland R3, är organisationsformen till övervägande del hierarkisk. Ett välanpassat och dubbelriktat informationsutbyte mellan de olika nivåerna inom hierarkin gör den välfungerande och effektiv. Inom R3-organisationen finns detta informationsutbyte bland annat mellan funktionsutvecklaren och utbildningsförbanden. Klimatet samt funktionen inom detta utbyte påverkar organisationens effektivitet och optimering. Framtiden är till del oviss och utveckling, omvärld och resurser förändras ständigt. Genom att sträva efter att vara en lärande organisation kan Försvarsmakten tillgodogöra organisationen de kunskaper som individerna innehar och förvärvar. En lärande organisation investerar i människor och deras fortlöpande lärande. Viktigt är att öka det subjektiva och objektiva handlingsutrymmet för individerna i syfte att gynna lärprocessen, vilket utvecklar hela organisationen. Det ökade internationella samarbetet Försvarsmakten strävar mot, främjar rimligtvis effektivitet och optimering på så vis att kunskapsprocesserna utvecklar och vidgar de referensramar individ och organisation har.</p><p>Fortsatt forskning kan bland annat ge svar på hur det internationella samarbetet skall utvecklas för att ge ytterligare positiva aspekter avseende den lärande organisationen och dess utveckling.</p> / <p>The author of this essay is Elisabet Hökerberg, a Cadet at the Swedish Armed Forces Technical School, Halmstad. The essay is written as a part of the Officer Education.</p><p>The objective of this study is to research and examine the main factors which affect the potential for an organization to function as effectively as possible. The essay also aims at describing the most preferable climate characterizing an optimal and effective organization. Factors such as politics, technical boundaries and economies are external factors which affect an organization and are often difficult for the organization to influence. These external factors also have a direct effect on the inner logic that characterizes the relations and climate between the members of the organization. Inner logics are social processes which develop without the members’ direct awareness of them. Opportunism is a typical inner logic factor.</p><p>In order to increase efficiency and realize the objectives of the organization it is important for those in command to handle these inner logics with care and to be aware of their importance. To realize the objective of an organization the executive staff must have the ability, will and means to lead and guide their employees towards the Managing Directors’ intended objective.</p><p>The Swedish Armed Forces is no exception and the external powers and inner logics influence the military organization just as it does a regular company. The hierarchic organization which the military organization constitutes also affects its efficiency and optimising. In order to make a hierarchic organization function with effectiveness it is of importance that the vertical and horizontal boundaries are flexible and variable.</p><p>The result of the study shows that the conception of <em>learning organisations</em> can be an important part of the way towards an organization with minimized negative affection from the inner logic factors. The learning organisation has the ability to assimilate not only the available knowledge of the employees, but also encourages them to incorporate new. By investing in knowledge in this way the personnel readily understand their own importance in the way towards the objective, which leads to a more efficient organization.</p>

Uppsatsen gör en första ansats att utifrån befintliga organisationsteorier definiera de faktorer vilka påverkar Försvarsmakten och R3-organisationen. Oganisations-teorierna pekar på yttre krafter så som politik, ekonomi och teknologi samt inre logik-faktorer, vilka består av sociala processer som utvecklas och påverkar det klimat som präglar en organisation. Förutom yttre krafter och inre logik, påverkar även organisationsformen en organisation. Inom Försvarsmakten och dess underorganisationer, däribland R3, är organisationsformen till övervägande del hierarkisk. Ett välanpassat och dubbelriktat informationsutbyte mellan de olika nivåerna inom hierarkin gör den välfungerande och effektiv. Inom R3-organisationen finns detta informationsutbyte bland annat mellan funktionsutvecklaren och utbildningsförbanden. Klimatet samt funktionen inom detta utbyte påverkar organisationens effektivitet och optimering. Framtiden är till del oviss och utveckling, omvärld och resurser förändras ständigt. Genom att sträva efter att vara en lärande organisation kan Försvarsmakten tillgodogöra organisationen de kunskaper som individerna innehar och förvärvar. En lärande organisation investerar i människor och deras fortlöpande lärande. Viktigt är att öka det subjektiva och objektiva handlingsutrymmet för individerna i syfte att gynna lärprocessen, vilket utvecklar hela organisationen. Det ökade internationella samarbetet Försvarsmakten strävar mot, främjar rimligtvis effektivitet och optimering på så vis att kunskapsprocesserna utvecklar och vidgar de referensramar individ och organisation har. Fortsatt forskning kan bland annat ge svar på hur det internationella samarbetet skall utvecklas för att ge ytterligare positiva aspekter avseende den lärande organisationen och dess utveckling. / The author of this essay is Elisabet Hökerberg, a Cadet at the Swedish Armed Forces Technical School, Halmstad. The essay is written as a part of the Officer Education. The objective of this study is to research and examine the main factors which affect the potential for an organization to function as effectively as possible. The essay also aims at describing the most preferable climate characterizing an optimal and effective organization. Factors such as politics, technical boundaries and economies are external factors which affect an organization and are often difficult for the organization to influence. These external factors also have a direct effect on the inner logic that characterizes the relations and climate between the members of the organization. Inner logics are social processes which develop without the members’ direct awareness of them. Opportunism is a typical inner logic factor. In order to increase efficiency and realize the objectives of the organization it is important for those in command to handle these inner logics with care and to be aware of their importance. To realize the objective of an organization the executive staff must have the ability, will and means to lead and guide their employees towards the Managing Directors’ intended objective. The Swedish Armed Forces is no exception and the external powers and inner logics influence the military organization just as it does a regular company. The hierarchic organization which the military organization constitutes also affects its efficiency and optimising. In order to make a hierarchic organization function with effectiveness it is of importance that the vertical and horizontal boundaries are flexible and variable. The result of the study shows that the conception of learning organisations can be an important part of the way towards an organization with minimized negative affection from the inner logic factors. The learning organisation has the ability to assimilate not only the available knowledge of the employees, but also encourages them to incorporate new. By investing in knowledge in this way the personnel readily understand their own importance in the way towards the objective, which leads to a more efficient organization.

Conductive hearing loss (otitis media) in young children can effect speech and language development. However, little is known about the effects of conductive loss on neural activity in the auditory system. Hypothesis: Conductive hearing loss will change resting activity levels at the inner hair cell synapse, and lead to auditory deprivation of central auditory pathways. A conductive loss was produced by blocking the ear canals in mice. Resting neural activity patterns were quantified in brainstem and midbrain using c-fos immuno-labelling. Experimental subjects were compared to normal hearing controls and subjects with cochlear ablation. Conductive loss subjects showed a trend in reduction in c-fos labelled cells in cochlear nucleus and the central nucleus of inferior colliculus compared to normal controls. Results seen in this study may indicate the influence of conductive hearing loss on the developing auditory brain during early postnatal years when the system is highly plastic.