Thesis (M.A.)--Auburn University, 2006. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 259-281). Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1992. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 73-74). Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (M.A. in Security Studies (Europe, Eurasia))--Naval Postgraduate School, September 2008. / Thesis Advisor(s): Yost, David. "September 2008." Description based on title screen as viewed on November 10, 2008. Includes bibliographical references (p. 65-74). Also available in print.

Thesis (M.S. in Joint Campaign Planning and Strategy)--Joint Forces Staff College, Joint Advanced Warfighting School, 2005. / "24 May 05." Electronic version of original print document. Includes bibliographical references (p. 64-69).

Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Auburn University, 2006. / Abstract. Vita. Includes bibliographic references.

Dans cette thèse, nous nous proposons d’étudier la figure de fray Juan Agustín Morfi, franciscain né à Oviedo (Asturies) en 1735 et mort à Mexico en 1783.Au fil de notre étude, nous verrons que Morfi est un personnage incontournable dans le panorama culturel novo-hispanique de l’époque, mais aussi qu’il est introduit dans la sphère politique par Théodore de Croix, récemment nommé Commandant Général des Provinces Internes du nord de la Nouvelle-Espagne, qui lui demande de l’accompagner dans une expédition de reconnaissance de ces territoires. Morfi part donc de México le 4 août 1777 pour n’y revenir qu’en juin 1781. Ce voyage représente un tournant décisif dans sa vie car il lui permet d’asseoir sa notoriété et de développer sa production écrite de façon significative. En effet, le franciscain va pouvoir mettre à profit l’ensemble de ses connaissances sur des sujets très variés en faisant preuve d’une grande prolixité. L’étude des textes nés de sa participation à l’expédition de De Croix va nous permettre de révéler sa personnalité, sa façon de pensée, les réseaux dans lesquels il s’insère (la Confrérie d’Aránzazu de Mexico puis la Real Sociedad Bascongada de Amigos del País), mais également un travail approfondi sur l’écriture, passant ainsi de simple voyageur à auteur à part entière.Par ailleurs, nous verrons ici que le réseau personnel de Morfi ainsi que les idées qu’il exprime dans sa vaste production écrite font de lui un homme dont l’ancrage est à la fois péninsulaire et novo-hispanique et le digne représentant de l’esprit des Lumières. / With this thesis, we will study the figure of fray Juan Agustín Morfi, a Franciscan born in Oviedo (Asturias) in 1735 and who died in Mexico in 1783.Trough this research, we will observe that the friar Morfi is a preponderant man in the cultural panorama of th eighteenth-century New Spain, but also that he is introduced in the political sphere by Theodore de Croix, newly named Commandant General of the Provincias Internas in the northern part of New Spain, who asked him to participate to an expedition in order to explore these territories. Morfi leaves of Mexico in 1777, August 4th and returns in june 1781. This journey represents a turning point in his life, strongly establishing his reputation, and also his written production. Actually, the friar will turn to good account his knowledge with an incredible prolixity. Studying the texts that come about thanks to his participation in De Croix’s expedition, we will be able to see who he really was, how he tought, how he inserted himself in networks (such as the Brotherhood of Aránzazu of Mexico and the Real Sociedad Bascongada de Amigos del País). As well, we will observe Morfi’s work on writing, making himself an author in the fullest manner possible for this status.Furthermore, we will see that Morfi’s personal network, as well as the ideas he expressed in his large written production, reveal that he was a man with references of both Spain and New Spain, and a worthy representative of the Enlightment.

La structuration des communautés biotiques apparaît aujourd’hui comme étant le résultat d’une interaction entre processus déterministes et stochastiques. Le species sorting, c’est-à-dire le couplage de l’influence des filtres environnementaux et des interactions biotiques, ainsi que les processus de dispersion apparaissent comme des facteurs déterminants pour la structuration des communautés, mais leur importance relative est encore mal comprise car conditionnée par les échelles spatiales, et les niveaux d’anthropisation considérés. Si des approches quantitatives multi-échelles sont donc vivement recommandées pour mieux comprendre comment les processus locaux et régionaux affectent les communautés, celles-ci sont encore trop rares dans la littérature. Nous avons ainsi tenté de mettre en place ce type d’étude, en prenant comme organisme modèle les diatomées, producteurs primaires jouant un rôle clef au sein des écosystèmes aquatiques. L’objectif était d’appréhender le rôle des processus déterministes et stochastiques dans la structuration des méta-communautés de diatomées benthiques en cours d’eau soumises à différents niveaux d’eutrophisation, de l’échelle locale à l’échelle intercontinentale. A l’aide de bases de données françaises et américaines comprenant plus de 4 000 stations d’échantillonnage, ce travail a permis de mettre en évidence une forte influence de l’eutrophisation tout au long du gradient spatial d’observation, induisant une baisse de la diversité beta. La structuration des communautés diatomiques est de plus apparue fortement influencée par les processus déterministes locaux (species sorting) aux faibles niveaux d’anthropisation, puis par les processus de dispersion lorsque le niveau trophique augmentait. La dispersion limitée et l’effet de masse sont les deux processus évoqués pour expliquer cette forte influence de la dispersion sur la structuration des communautés. L’effet de masse permet à une espèce de subsister en dehors de son optimum environnemental grâce à l’arrivée constante d’individus via un processus d’immigration, induisant de fait une forte homogénéisation des communautés. Si la dispersion limitée est plutôt bien appréhendée aujourd’hui dans la littérature, l’effet de masse restait jusqu’ici difficile à mettre en évidence, constituant un verrou scientifique important à lever. Nos travaux ont permis de développer une méthode innovante capable de mesurer l’influence de ce processus sur les communautés de disperseurs passifs que sont les diatomées. Une meilleure compréhension de ce mécanisme représente une avancée conséquente, notamment dans le cadre du déclin mondial de la biodiversité. Ce phénomène impacte également significativement les méthodes de bio-indication de la qualité des milieux puisque la présence d’espèces dans des habitats qui leur sont a priori peu favorables peut potentiellement masquer l’effet des conditions locales du milieu sur les communautés, et ainsi induire un biais dans l’évaluation de l’état écologique des cours d’eau. Nos résultats vont dans ce sens, en révélant que la prise en compte de ce processus dans le calcul de l’Indice Biologique Diatomées permet une réponse plus fine de l’indice à l’environnement local, mettant ainsi en évidence l’importance de prendre en compte les processus de dispersion lors de l’élaboration de nouvelles méthodes de bio-indication. / The structuration of biotic communities is generally caused by an interplay between stochastic and deterministic processes. Species sorting, i.e. environmental filtering coupled with biological interactions, and dispersal processes are particularly important divers of communities, however, their relative influence are constrained by the effects of spatial scale and therefore poorly understood. Quantitative multi-scales approaches are thus recommended to better understand how local and regional processes affect communities. However, few studies have actually implemented quantitative scale-explicit frameworks to explore such relationships. This is one of our aims here, to quantify the relative contributions of local community assembly processes vs. stochastic processes in driving benthic diatom communities, and to assess how spatial scale and anthropogenic disturbance interact to dictate which driver dominates. Using French and US databases encompassing more than 4 000 spatially distinct localities, this work provides strong evidences stating that nutrient supply mediated community structuring whatever the scale considered. Nutrient enrichment was associated with an overall decline in diatom beta-diversity and a shift in assembly processes from species sorting to dispersal. Dispersal limitation and mass effect are the two major dispersal processes acting on diatom communities. While dispersal limitation can be detected by experimental or modeling techniques, mass effect is more challenging to detect as it can allow species to persist in unfavorable habitats, i.e. far away from their environmental optimum. Here, we developed an innovative and robust method for the detection of this process for passive dispersers, such as diatoms. Beyond its importance in the taxonomic homogenization, causing extensive impairment of freshwater ecosystems, mass effect is also evoked for its potential impact on bio-assessment methods. Our results largely supported the idea that mass effect may induce a biased evaluation of water quality, since taking into account this process for the calculation of the Biological Diatom Index leads to a more acute assessment of river ecological status. We then advocate for a better integration of spatial mechanisms in any diatom-based indices, and by extension in any biotic index based on passive dispersers.

Next-generation sequencing technology provides high-resolution data for epidemiological surveillance of bacterial pathogens on local and global scales. This approach has been used for many species including Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). In this thesis I demonstrate the utility of these data for understanding the spread of the globally disseminated clone MRSA ST239. I focus both on local and national-level epidemiology through sequence data of 71 isolates recovered from four hospitals representing three cities in Turkey; Istanbul (x2). Ankara and Izmir. I analyse whole genome sequence data from a further 33 ST239 isolates from global sources. These data were combined with previously published data for phylogenetic analysis based only on the core genome. I demonstrate how transmission events can be inferred from this approach on multiple levels; within hospital, between hospitals and between countries. The data pointed to a European origin of ST239, and independent introductions from Europe to Turkey, South America and East Asia. I also demonstrate how whole genome sequence data can be used to develop bespoke PCR assays, based on phage variation, for rapid local epidemiology. Finally, I consider how the sequence data might be used to explain variation in virulence potential, and describe the distribution and transfer of an important phage-borne virulence determinant, sasX, within Europe. Finally, I identified a single isolate with very strong biofilm forming ability likely due to the over-expression of the important adhesion SasG.

Although Walt Disney's early animated feature films were successful, a variety of economic, operational, and external forces required him to continually be on the cutting edge of new ideas and technologies in order for his studio to continue operations. Latin America became the studio's source of inspiration in the early 1940s, sprouting from Walt Disney's involvement with the Office of the Coordinator of Inter-American Affairs. Saludos Amigos and The Three Caballeros were the result. While many critics have decried Disney's involvement in Latin America as being an apparatus of cultural imperialism and economic exploitation, they almost universally give him credit for his pursuit of cultural authenticity within the films. They are, however, sparing in what ways such was done and are reticent in declaring that he fulfilled that quest. As one who was involved politically and economically in the shaping of a nation, with his enterprise benefiting as a result, Walt Disney can in fact be seen as a colonial, imperial power. Within Brazil, José Carioca was the "monument" he erected to that end. Unlike full-fledged colonial figures in earlier centuries, however, his "monument" was overall friendly and was not based on the image of a sovereign leader, but a character that was intended to be seen as native. Where Disney was bound by the interests of the government he represented, and consequentially the Brazilian government, his "monument" was imbued with hues that were inherently skewed toward those entities; however, he worked within those parameters to present a credible image. This thesis seeks to substantiate those ways and how the original monument-like figure Disney erected in the Brazilian public square, the image of José Carioca in Saludos Amigos and The Three Caballeros, led to unity—and not division—as most imperial monuments had done in earlier centuries. A possible explanation as to how Disney's multiple nuanced iterations of the character leads to such critique of the original "monument" will also be provided.

AFRIKAANS: In hierdie proefskrif word wapenbeheer en ontwapening 5005 dit na die Koue Oorlog op globale-, streek-(spesifiek Afrika) en nasionale (spesifiek Suid-Afrika) vlakke toegepas is ondersoek en ontleed. Die doel van die studie is om bestaande kennis op 'n oorsigtelike gekonsolideerde wyse, veral ten opsigte van Afrika en Suid-Afrika uit te brei omdat 'n behoefte in die opsig met die indiening van die navorsingsvoorstel geïdentifiseer is; om aan te toon dat wapenbeheer en ontwapening selfs na die beëindiging van die Koue oorlog steeds wëreldwyd van kardinale belang is; en dat daar na die Koue Oortog ongekende sukses op globale vlak, in Afrika tot 'n mindere mate, en in Suid-Afrika groot sukses met wapenbeheer en ontwapening behaal is. 'n Radikale verandering in binnelandse en buitelandse beleid deur Suid-Afrika het tot gevolg gehad dat Suid-Afrika in die vroeë negentigerjare die eerste staat in die wêreld geword het wat kemontwapening algeheel toegepas het. Suid-Afrika se chemiese en biologiese oorlogvoe¬ringprogramme is ook in die vroeë negentigerjare beëindig. Die demokratisering van die politieke bestel in Suid-Afrika in 1994 het ook grootskaalse betrokkenheid van die Suid¬-Afrikaanse regering by wapenbeheer en ontwapening op globale-, streek- en nasionale vlakke tot gevolg gehad. Die doel van die studie is ook om aan te toon tot watter mate die bëeindiging van die Koue Oortog 'n invloed op wapenbeheer en ontwapening gehad het. Die beëindiging van die Koue Oorlog was 'n resultaat van 'n radikale verandering in binnelandse en buitelandse beleid deur die voormalige Sowjet-Unie. Die studie aangaande wapenbeheer en ontwapening na die Koue Oorlog word voorafgegaan deur 'n ontleding van die teoretiese konsepte van wapenbeheer en ontwapening en die ontwikkeling van die konsepte deur teoretici van die twintigste eeu. Die benaderings met wapenbeheer en ontwapening soos deur hierdie teoretici ontwikkel, word dan ook in die studie toegepas op die verdrae en ooreenkomste wat na die Koue Oorlog onderteken en/of geratifiseer is. Die metode van ondersoek wat vir die bestudering van die onderwerp gevolg is, is histories-beskrywend en analities van aard. Die doeI hiermee was om die verskillende wapenkategorieë en tydperke af te baken en dan vas te stel tot hoe 'n mate wapenbeheer en ontwapening globaal, en meer spesifiek op streek-(Afrika) en nasionale (Suid-Afrika) vlakke na die Koue Oorlog toegepas is. Wapenbeheer en ontwapening soos voor en na die Koue Oorlog toegepas, word ooreenkomstig die teorie, soos in hoofstuk 1 uiteengesit, beoordeel. Die prosedure wat met die navorsing gevolg is, is soos volg: selektering van boeke, dokumente, tydskrifte, nuusblaaie en publikasies van verskillende aard; dataversameling en bestudering van tekse; data-ontleding ten einde vas te stel watter toepaslik is; die proses van vertolking en interpretering van die inligting; toepassing van inligting; evaluasie; en die vorming van gevolgtrekkings. ENGLISH: In this dissertation the processes of arms control and disarmament as implemented at global, regional (Africa) and national (South Africa) levels are investigated and analysed. The purpose of the study is to widen existing knowledge in a consolidated manner, especially with regard to Africa and South Africa. A need in this regard was identified with the submission of the proposal for the study. A further purpose of the study is to indicate that arms control and disarmament, even after the end of the Cold War, is still of utmost importance; and that success of formerly unknown proportions was obtained with arms control and disarmament after the Cold War on the global level, to a lesser extent in Africa, and with great success in South Africa. A radical change in internal as well as foreign policy by the South African government resulted in South Africa being the first state in the world to implement total nuclear disarmament in the early nineties. South Africa's chemical and biological warfare programs were also terminated in the early nineties. The democratisation of the political environment in South Africa in 1994 resulted in South Africa becoming involved in arms control and disarmament at global, regional and national levels. The purpose of the study is also to illustrate to what extent the ending of the Cold War had an influence on arms control and disarmament. The end of the Cold War was a result of a radical change in internal as well as foreign policies of the former Soviet Union. The study of arms control and disarmament after the Cold War is preceded by an analysis of the theoretical concepts of arms control and disarmament by twentieth century theorists. The approaches to arms control and disarmament, as developed by these theorists, are then applied to treaties and agreements, which were signed/ ratified before and after the Cold War. The method of investigation that was followed for the study was historically descriptive and analytical of nature. The purpose was to differentiate between the different categories of weapons and the different periods during which arms control and disarmament were implemented since the earliest times and during and after the Cold War. The approaches to arms control and disarmament, during and after the Cold War, are also assessed according to the theory as explained in chapter 1. The procedure which was followed whilst doing research for the study was as follows: The selection of books, documents, magazines, newspapers, and publications of various nature; compilation and studying of data; analysis of data to establish which would be appropriate to use; the process of interpretation of the information; application; evaluation and forming of conclusions. <p / Thesis (DPhil (International Politics))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Political Sciences / unrestricted