In this thesis we research distributed pair programming by making an explorative study of a distributed pair programming method, screen-viewing distributed pair programming. This method has a user share the visual contents of his screen with other users in order to enable collaboration. This study is conducted by distributing a questionnaire to undergraduate students and analyzing the results. The students were required to have previous experience with screen-viewing distributed programming. This is a practice where two pieces of software are utilized, one for sharing the computer display with the programming partner and another for sharing the code written together. Our goal is to contribute to the knowledge of pair programming and how it can be applied in these kinds of environments while giving further insight into benefits and drawbacks about the usage of the screen-viewing distributed pair programming. This thesis is of an explorative nature. Surveys from students constitute the bulk of the data set which was analysed using pie charts and tables. The survey questions were based on a previous article about distributed pair programming utilizing a synchronized development environment, written by Stelios Xinogalos, Maya Satratzemi, Alexander Chatzigeorgiou and Despina Tsom-panoudi. The results of the study indicated that the screen-viewing distributed pair programming approach experienced many benefits but also some drawbacks. These results are similar to what distributed pair programming with a synchronized development environment experiences. The students also experience a high satisfaction in partner choice regardless of being free to select their own partner or if they are allocated one. A majority of the respondents would prefer to work collaboratively in the future with regards to their screen-viewing distributed pair programming experience. Because the perceived benefits incurred from the screen-viewing distributed pair programming is similar to the benefits of a synchronized development environment, we conclude that the perceived benefits are not necessarily bound to the choice of method. Screen-viewing distributed pair programming is split into two main aspects, screen-viewing and code sharing. The screen-viewing part represented a smaller amount of perceived issues while the code sharing part represented a larger part. We conclude that there are difficulties with this approach, however that a substantial part are confined to the code-sharing aspect. / I denna studie granskar vi distribuerad parprogrammering genom att utföra en utforskande studie på en distribuerad parprogrammerings-metod, skärmdelnings-distribuerad parprogrammering. Metoden har en användare som delar sitt visuella innehåll på sin skärm med andra användare för att möjligöra samarbete. Denna studie utförs genom att ett frågeformulär delades ut till studenter på kandidatnivå, vars resultat analyserades. Studenterna som tillfrågades hade tidigare erfarenhet av distribuerad parprogrammering med hjälp av skärmdelning, en metod som består av mjukvara för delning av skärm och en för att dela den kod som skrivits tillsammans. Målet med denna studie är att bidra med ökad insikt i parprogrammering och kunskap om hur ramverket kan appliceras i dessa omgivningar, samtidigt som vi ger vidare kännedom angående fördelar och nackdelar vid användning av skärmdelnings-distribuerad parprogrammering. Studien är utforskande. Svar från framtaget frågeformulär utgör studiens datauppsättning som utvärderas med hjälp av cirkeldiagram och tabeller. Frågeformulärets frågor är baserade på en tidigare artikel om distribuerad parprogrammering där en synkroniserad arbetsmiljö användes, skrivet av Stelios Xinogalos, Maya Satratzemi, Alexander Chatzigeorgiou and Despina Tsom- panoudi. Studiens resultat pekar på att många fördelar upplevdes med skärmdelnings-distribuerad parprogrammering men även ett antal nackdelar. Dessa reultat liknar de som tagits fram i tidigare studier om distribuerad parprogrammering med hjälp av en synkroniserad miljö. Inblandade studenter upplever stor tillfredsställelse med sina samarbetspartners oavsett om studenterna hade möjligheten att välja partner själv eller var tilldelade partner. En majoritet av respondenterna föredrar att arbeta i grupp i framtiden, baserat på deras upplevelser med skärmdelnings-distribuerad parprogrammering. Då de uppfattade fördelarna med skärmdelnings-distribuerad parprogrammering liknar de som resulterat från parprogrammering med hjälp av en synkronierad arbetsmiljö i tidigare studier, så drar vi slutsatsen att fördelarna inte är bundna till något specifikt val av metodik. Skärmdelnings-distribuerad parprogrammering delas upp i två komponenter, skärmdelning och koddelning. Skärmdelningen bidrar med en mindre mängd upplevda nackdelar, och koddelning bidrar med en större del av de upplevda nackdelarna. Vi drar slutsatsen att nackdelar fortfarande är närvarande. Däremot dras slutsatsen att dessa nackdelar är mer begränsade till koddelningens komponent mer än skärmdelningen och att det därför finns utrymme för vidare fokuserad förbättring.

Master of Science / Department of Biology / Brett K. Sandercock / Samantha Wisely / In birds, the offspring of females in socially monogamous species can be sired not only by their social partner (within-pair mating) but also by other males (extra-pair mating), resulting in broods of mixed paternity. Several hypotheses have been proposed which attempt to explain the adaptive significance of this behavior, including the genetic diversity hypothesis, the good genes hypothesis, the genetic compatibility hypothesis and the fertility insurance hypothesis. I report results of a 5 year population study of the Upland Sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda) at Konza Prairie Biological Station in northeast Kansas. My objective was to determine the genetic mating system of this socially monogamous shorebird, and determine which of the genetic hypotheses best explains the patterns of extra-pair paternity (EPP) in the population. As part of the analysis, I optimized laboratory protocols for genetic sexing of our monomorphic study species. Potential errors in molecular sexing have been previously described but usually result in females being misidentified as males. Here, I report evidence that events in PCR reactions can lead to the opposite error, with males misidentified as females. I recommend the use of multiple primer sets and large samples of known-sex birds for validation when designing protocols for molecular sex analysis. I genotyped birds and tested for the existence of EPP in 58 family groups of Upland Sandpipers. I found 15% of chicks and 30% of broods were the result of extra-pair paternity in this population, which is high in comparison to other socially monogamous shorebirds. Only 2% of chicks and 2% of broods were attended by females unrelated to the young. I tested ecological covariates known to influence EPP in other birds including relatedness of mated pairs, morphology of the within-pair male, and nest initiation date, as well as variables which signify genetic benefits, including morphology of the offspring and offspring heterozygosity, but found no significant relationships. None of the prevailing genetic hypotheses can fully explain the high rates of EPP in this population of Upland Sandpipers. However, the discovery of fine-scale genetic structure in female birds, but not in males, suggests female natal philopatry or male-biased dispersal. This sex-specific genetic structure could be a mechanism of inbreeding avoidance, thereby eliminating the need for females to choose mates based on relatedness. This study provides the first estimates of EPP for the socially monogamous Upland Sandpiper, and provides evidence that the inbreeding avoidance mechanism of engaging in extra-pair copulations does not seem to be as important in Upland Sandpipers as in other socially monogamous shorebirds. Future research should include the identification of extra-pair males and the determination of offspring fitness after departure from the nest.

This thesis investigates the design and synthesis of macrocycles and examines their ion-pair recognition, anion recognition and interpenetrative assembly capabilities. Chapter One introduces the field of supramolecular chemistry. Key concepts in host–guest complexation and self-assembly are outlined, with particular emphasis on the design of host systems for anion and ion-pair recognition. Chapter Two details the synthesis and binding properties of a heteroditopic 1,2,3-triazole- containing macrocycle that exhibits cooperative ion-pair recognition. Solution and solid-state evidence shows that the triazole motif simultaneously binds anions and cations. The exten- sion of this work towards the formation of interlocked structures containing an expanded heteroditopic macrocycle and threading components is explored. Chapter Three discusses the design and syntheses of series of electron-deficient macrocycles based on imidazolium, pyridinium and triazole. These are investigated for anion binding ability and assembly of interpenetrative assemblies with electron-rich threading components. Chapter Four describes research into the formation of interpenetrative assemblies using neutral components. Their design is based around aromatic donor–acceptor interactions and halogen bonding. Chapter Five presents some conclusions from the research undertaken. Chapter Six provides titration protocols, Job plot approximations, experimental procedures and characterisation of the compounds described in this thesis. Appendix details additional X-ray crystallographic data.

Mechanisms of reactions of the frustrated Lewis pairs (FLPs) with carbon dioxide (CO2) and hydrogen (H2) are studied by using quantum chemical modelling. FLPs are relatively novel chemical systems in which steric effects prevent a Lewis base (LB) from donating its electron pair to a Lewis acid (LA). From the main group of the periodic table, a variety of the electron pair donors and acceptors can create an FLP and the scope of the FLP chemistry is rapidly expanding at present. Representative intermolecular FLPs are phosphines and boranes with bulky electron-donating groups on phosphorus and bulky electron-withdrawing groups on boron – e.g., the tBu3P/B(C6F5)3 pair. The intramolecular FLPs feature linked LB and LA centers in one molecule. Investigations of the FLP reaction mechanisms were carried out using the transition state (TS) and the potential energy surface (PES) calculations plus the Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics (BOMD) as an efficient and robust implementation of general ab initio molecular dynamics scheme. In BOMD simulations, quantum and classical mechanics are combined. The electronic structure calculations are fully quantum via the density functional theory (DFT). Molecular motion at finite (non-zero) temperature is explicitly accounted for at non-quantized level via Newton’s equations. Due to recent advancements of computers and algorithms, one can treat fairly large macromolecular systems with BOMD and even include significant portion of the first solvation shell surrounding a large reacting complex in the molecular model. Main results are as follows. It is shown that dynamics is significant for understanding of FLP chemistry. The multiscale nature of motion – i.e., light molecules such as CO2 or H2 versus a pair of heavy LB and LA molecules – affects the evolution of interactions in the reacting complex. Motion which is perpendicular to the reaction coordinate was found to play a role in the transit of the activated complex through the TS-region. Regarding the heterolytic cleavage of H2 by tBu3P/B(C6F5)3 FLP simulated in gas phase and with explicit solvent, it was found that (i) the reaction path includes shallow quasi-minima “imbedded” in the TS-region, and (ii) tBu3P/B(C6F5)3 are almost stationary while proton- and hydride-like fragments of H2 move toward phosphorous and boron respectively. For binding of CO2 by tBu3P/B(C6F5)3 FLP, it was found that (i) the reacting complex can “wander” along the “potential energy wall” that temporarily blocks the path to the product, and (ii) the mechanism can combine the concerted and two-step reaction paths in solution. The discovered two-step binding of CO2 by tBu3P/B(C6F5)3 FLP involves solvent-stabilized phosphorus-carbon interactions (dative bonding). These and other presented results are corroborated and explained using TS and PES calculations. With computations of observable characteristics of reactions, it is pointed out how it could be possible to attain experimental proof of the results. / <p>At the time of the doctoral defense, the following paper was unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 6: Accepted.</p><p> </p>

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I modify the quasilocal energy formalism of Brown and York into a purely Hamiltonian form. As part of the reformulation, I remove their restriction that the time evolution of the boundary of the spacetime be orthogonal to the leaves of the time foliation. Thus the new formulation allows an arbitrary evolution of the boundary which physically corresponds to allowing general motions of the set of observers making up that boundary. I calculate the rate of change of the quasilocal energy in such situations, show how it transforms with respect to boosts of the boundaries, and use the Lanczos-Israel thin shell formalism to reformulate it from an operational point of view. These steps are performed both for pure gravity and gravity with attendant matter fields. I then apply the formalism to characterize naked black holes and study their properties, investigate gravitational tidal heating, and combine it with the path integral formulation of quantum gravity to analyze the creation of pairs of charged and rotating black holes. I show that one must use complex instantons to study this process though the probabilities of creation remain real and consistent with the view that the entropy of a black hole is the logarithm of the number of its quantum states.

This diploma thesis is focused on the issues of marriage, married life and mutual relationships between married couple. The other part is focused on the factors of stability that can influence the marriage. The target of this diploma thesis is to cover the most important situations in the marriage that could disturb the stability. The theoretical part is also focused on the concepts as the marriage, the law and the divorce. There is also small part about the fundamental methods of the marital therapy and influence that have children on the marriage. The empirical part is focused on the views of married couples for the stability of marriage and also the influences that work on stability the most and the most distinct.

Reproduction ability is the key factor for survival and dispersal of every species. There is, however, only limited information about reproduction of large-bodied fish. Males of European catfish, our biggest native fish, build nests in vegetation and mate there later with females. After succesful mating male guards the nest and takes care of eggs and fry. According to literature, the act of reproduction should take place at nights with water temperature from 18 to 24 řC. However, available records about reproductive behaviour are outdated, fragmentary or come from aquacultures. Thus, a study was designed to evaluate behaviour of European catfish in their natural environment in the Berounka river using radiotelemetry, the results of which I processed in this thesis. Spatial distribution of catfish was followed during the whole year, with special attention on separating mating season from the rest of the year. The goal was to determine conditions characteristic for the mating period and to verify that catfish in the field indeed reproduce in pairs. For this purpose, 10 adults were tracked for two-year period (2002-2004) in the Berounka river by radiotelemetry. Exact positions of all individuals were followed in fourteen-day cycles. In every tracking episode, the position of an individual fish was...

INTRODUÇÃO: Em consequência da modernização tecnológica e industrial, surgiram novos fatores que originaram estudos específicos e direcionados sobre os possíveis efeitos nocivos desta evolução no trabalhador. Dentre estes, está o ruído, agente físico que pode causar danos ao organismo humano com efeitos de curto e médio prazo. O ruído, ao atuar sobre o trabalhador pode alterar processos internos do organismo, com consequências fisiológicas e emocionais. A diminuição gradual da acuidade auditiva decorrente da exposição continuada a níveis elevados de pressão sonora é denominada perda auditiva induzida pelo ruído (PAIR), segundo o Comitê Nacional de Ruído e Conservação Auditiva. A PAIR é caracterizada por perda neurossensorial, irreversível, quase sempre bilateral e simétrica, não ultrapassando 40dB(NA) nas frequências graves e 75dB(NA) nas frequências agudas; manifesta-se, primeiramente, em 6kHz, 4kHz e/ou 3kHz, progredindo lentamente às frequências de 8kHz, 2kHz, 1kHz, 500Hz e 250Hz. (MTE, Portaria 19, 1998). Entre os fatores que influenciam no desencadeamento da PAIR, destacam-se as características físicas do ruído (tipo, espectro e intensidade da pressão sonora), o tempo de exposição e a suscetibilidade individual. A PAIR está entre as doenças do trabalho de maior prevalência, com agravante de tratar-se de uma doença irreversível. Acomete com mais frequência o setor industrial. Este estudo avalia a incidência de perda auditiva por ruído e a existência de uma associação positiva entre estes diagnósticos e a exposição a diferentes níveis de pressão sonora em trabalhadores de duas unidades de uma mineradora e pelotizadora de minério de ferro. MÉTODOS: Estudo de coorte histórica com 1.069 trabalhadores divididos em dois grupos, tendo como referência os níveis de pressão sonora aos quais estavam expostos (menor ou igual a 88 dB e acima de 88 dB). A avaliação da audição foi realizada por análise dos resultados das audiometrias realizadas nos exames admissionais e periódicos constantes dos prontuários médicos. Foram calculadas as incidências de perda auditiva de acordo com os grupos de exposição e o tempo médio de início das alterações auditivas em cada grupo. Foram realizadas análises descritivas das variáveis, comparação de médias (teste U de Mann-Whitney), teste de associação de qui-quadrado e, para estimar fatores de risco, modelos de regressão logística univariada e múltipla. RESULTADOS: Entre os participantes do estudo foram identificados 128 casos (11,97%) de perda auditiva. No grupo composto pelos trabalhadores que ficaram expostos aos níveis mais altos de pressão sonora encontra-se uma incidência de 11,84% em alterações de exames audiométricos, enquanto no grupo menos exposto obteve-se uma incidência de 12,4%. O tempo médio para o desencadeamento de alterações audiométricas foi de 3,07 anos (desvio padrão = 1,21) no grupo mais exposto e de 2,88 anos (desvio padrão = 1,53) no grupo menos exposto. Estar na faixa etária acima de 28 anos e 8 meses (RC = 3,33; IC 95%: 2,01 - 5,49) e trabalhar na Unidade 1 (RC = 1,64; IC 95%: 1,09 - 2,46) se mostraram fatores de risco robustos para perda auditiva induzida por ruído. CONCLUSÃO: A perda auditiva ocorre de maneira precoce, prioritariamente até o terceiro ano de exposição e faixa etária, e unidade de trabalho se mostraram os fatores de risco mais relevantes para a perda auditiva induzida por ruído. O estudo mostra a necessidade de uma integração maior entre as áreas de saúde ocupacional e segurança do trabalho na busca de ações preventivas e corretivas, que possam minimizar o surgimento de novos casos ou o agravamento dos já identificados. Este é um estudo preliminar que servirá de apoio a pesquisas futuras sobre o assunto / INTRODUCTION: As a result of technological and industrial modernization new factors have arisen which led to specific studies have focused on the possible harmful effects of this evolution on the worker. Among these factors is noise, a physical agent which can harm the human body with short and medium term effects. Noise can alter internal body processes, with physiological and emotional consequences. The gradual reduction of hearing acuity resulting from a continued exposure to high levels of noise pressure is called noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), according to the National Committee of Noise and Hearing Conservation. NIHL is characterized by a permanent sensorioneural impairment, almost always bilateral and symmetrical, not exceeding 40dB (NA) at lower frequencies and 75dB (NA) at higher frequencies. It first manifests at 6kHz, 4kHz and/or 3kHz, slowly progressing to the frequencies of 8kHz, 2kHz, 1kHz, 500Hz and 250Hz. (MTE, Ruling 19, 1998). Among the factors which trigger NIHL are the physical characteristics of the noise (type, spectrum and intensity of sound pressure), duration of exposure, and individual susceptibility. NIHL is among the most common occupational diseases, with the aggravating aspect of being irreversible. It is most often found in the industrial sector. This study will evaluate the incidence of noise-induced hearing loss and the existence of a positive association between these diagnoses and the exposure to different levels of sound pressure in workers at two operational units of a iron ore mining and pelletizing organization. METHODS: historical cohort study with 1069 workers, divided in two groups, using as baseline the sound pressure levels to which they were exposed (less than or equal to 88 dB and above 88 dB). The hearing assessment was carried out by means of an analysis of the results of the audiometry exam upon induction and at regular intervals, as recorded in the medical history of the individual. A calculation was made of the degree of hearing loss according to the groups of exposure, and the average time it took for hearing changes to be observed in each group. RESULTS: Among the participants in the study, 128 (11.97%) cases of hearing loss were identified. In the group formed by workers who had been exposed to the highest levels of sound pressures, we found an incidence of 11.84% of changes in the audiometry exams, while in the group subject to lesser exposure we observed an incidence of 12.4%. The average time for the development of hearing impairment was 3.07 years (standard deviation = 1.21) in the group with greater exposure, and 2.88 years (standard deviation = 1.53) in the group with lesser exposure. Robust risk factors for noise-induced hearing loss included being aged over 28 years and 8 months (RC = 3,33; IC 95%: 2,01 - 5,49) and working at Unit 1 (RC = 1,64 ; IC 95%: 1,09 - 2,46). CONCLUSION: Early hearing impairment occurs mainly before the end of the third year of exposure, and age bracket and work location proved to be the most relevant risk factors for noise-induced hearing loss. The study showed the need for a greater integration among the occupational health and safety areas to seek the design and implementation of preventive and corrective actions to minimize the development of new cases or the aggravation of those already identified. This is a preliminary study which will serve as a basis for a more detailed subsequent data analysis

Objetivo: Investigar a presença de alterações (deleção e/ou duplicação) na região 22q11 em indivíduos até 02 anos de idade com fissura de palato, com o intuito de realizar diagnóstico precoce da síndrome da deleção 22q11 (SD22q11). Local: Laboratório de Genética e Citogenética Humana, HRAC/USP, Bauru-SP. Casuística e metodologia: Foram selecionados 55 indivíduos, de ambos os sexos, com idade até 2 anos e com fissura de palato, cadastrados e em tratamento no Hospital de Reabilitação de Anomalias Craniofaciais/USP. Todos os indivíduos foram analisados utilizando citogenética convencional por bandamento G e pela técnica de MLPA. Resultados e discussão: Foram analisados 55 indivíduos, dos quais 46 apresentaram fissura de palato isolada, 6 apresentaram fissura de palato e cardiopatia, 1 fissura de palato e atraso no desenvolvimento neuropsicomotor, 1 caso apresentou fissura de palato submucosa e 1 caso com fissura de palato submucosa e atraso no desenvolvimento neuropsicomotor. Não foram observadas anomalias cromossômicas numéricas ou estruturais por meio da análise citogenética. Embora não tenhamos encontrado nenhuma alteração, a análise citogenética inicial foi importante para detectar possíveis alterações em outras regiões cromossômicas que pudessem resultar em um fenótipo semelhante ao da SD22q11. Também não foram detectadas deleção ou duplicação na região 22q11 pela técnica de MLPA, a qual se mostrou um método rápido, sensível, eficaz e com um custo relativamente baixo em comparação a outras técnicas, para a investigação de alterações na região 22q11. Nossos resultados, associados aos da literatura, demonstram que a prevalência da deleção 22q11 nos casos de fissura de palato isolada é muito baixa. Mesmo sendo considerada como sugestiva da SD22q11, não detectamos nenhuma alteração na região 22q11 nos 6 indivíduos com cardiopatia. Somente foi possível identificar atraso no desenvolvimento em 2 indivíduos, ambos com dois anos de idade. Isso demonstra a dificuldade de realizar diagnóstico em idade precoce. Conclusão: O teste de rotina para investigação da deleção/duplicação da região 22q11 não se justifica em crianças com idade até dois anos que apresentam fissura de palato como principal achado clínico. Esses indivíduos devem ter um acompanhamento clínico criterioso, porque um comprometimento comportamental ou mental, bem como as características dismórficas da SD22q11 podem evoluir com o tempo. Devido ao tamanho relativamente pequeno desse estudo, e os dados inconsistentes da literatura atual, mais estudos são necessários para estabelecer critérios para indicação da rotina de investigação de deleção/duplicação 22q11 em indivíduos com anomalias palatinas. / Purpose: To investigate alterations (deletions/duplications) in the 22q11 region in individuals with cleft palate aged 0-2 years, in order to perform early diagnosis of 22q11 deletion syndrome (SD22q11). Local: Genetics and Human Cytogenetics Laboratory, HRAC/USP, Bauru-SP. Methods: We selected 55 individuals with cleft palate, both genders, registered and in treatment at Hospital de Reabilitação de Anomalias Craniofaciais/USP. All individuals were investigated by cytogenetics and MLPA techniques. Results and Discussion: 46 out of 55 individuals, presented isolated cleft palate, 6 cleft palate and heart malformations, 1 cleft palate and developmental delay, 1 submucous cleft, and 1 submucous cleft and developmental delay. G karyotype did not show any chromosomal abnormalities. Although we did not detect any alterations, the initial cytogenetics analysis was important to exclude alteration in other chromosomal region that could result in a similar phenotype. Deletion or duplication in 22q11 region by MLPA was not detected, which shown to be a rapid, sensitive, and low cost method in comparison with other methods to investigate 22q11 region. Results, associated with the literature, have shown that the prevalence of the 22q11 alteration is very low in cleft palate. The presence of heart malformation is suggestive of 22q11DS. Besides, there were no alterations in 22q11 region in 6 patients with cleft palate and heart malformations. We were able to identify developmental delay in only 2 individual, both aged 2 years which demonstrates the difficulty of making early diagnosis. Conclusion: There is no justification for routine screening for 22q11 region deletion/duplication in children aged 0-2 years with cleft palate as main feature. These individuals should be carefully followed because behavioral or mentalimpairments as well as dysmorphic features characteristic of 22q11DS may evolve with time.