Thesis Abstract Current Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) design does not account for Beyond Design Basis Events (BDBEs) and thus lack the provisions to effectively mitigates complete loss of AC power and total loss of heat sink. Furthermore, parametric models used in PRA studies to assess Nuclear Power Plant’s safety risk for BDBE and External Events (EE) have significant limitations and proved ineffective to provide solutions on how to mitigate in BDBE or EEs situations. The Fukushima accident is a good example where PRA assessments did not provide the necessary means to cool or contain the reactors effectively. In this thesis, Emergency Mitigation Preparedness (EMP) model and assessment is proposed. The EMP model is objective and practical in evaluating NPP’s mitigation readiness in BDBE and EEs situations and provide a practical NPP Vulnerability indicator gauge which can potentially be used in risk-informed decisions. This will aid further in the NPP to improve in areas of emergency planning, enhance site and reactor design and improve workers safety and readiness to execute effective mitigation procedures and emergency plans. / Thesis / Master of Engineering (ME)

Made available in DSpace on 2015-04-14T13:48:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 315232.pdf: 21985341 bytes, checksum: a12a994769f26e808ee1126af1d21b70 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-08-01 / O presente trabalho tem como objetivo o estudo dos principais espa?os p?blicos urbanos, representados pelas pra?as centrais da cidade de Pelotas, no per?odo de 1860 ? 1930. Nesta ?poca a crescente ocupa??o urbana, produzida pela prosperidade econ?mica, mudan?as sociais e culturais, conduziram ? organiza??o espacial da cidade, representada pela malha urbana e edifica??es arquitet?nicas. Os usos e as formas compositivas das pra?as em estudo, mant?m uma rela??o estrita, rec?proca para a configura??o de uma identidade urbana pr?pria. Parte deste trabalho dedica-se a apreciar o conceito de paisagem urbana, tentando desvendar as complexas tramas que envolvem as rela??es dos seres humanos com a natureza, bem como a constru??o da paisagem destes lugares

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-04T18:21:52Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Joao Manoel Scudeler de Barros.pdf: 4899378 bytes, checksum: 2dba8dcccec364f01ceb575924f4d6c5 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-02-17 / The present dissertation of masters degree in city planning treated from the factors what influence its expansion and growth of Hortol?ndia and considering two squares in metropolitan context. Relate with Public Free Space, the research has the beginning in an exposition the theoretical base, discussing conceptions of space and diffusion and fragmentation in metropolitan context, and analyze the sphere of intra urban space. / A presente disserta??o de mestrado em urbanismo trata dos fatores que influenciaram a expans?o e o crescimento de Hortol?ndia, al?m de analisar duas pra?as do munic?pio no ?mbito do contexto metropolitano de Campinas. Relacionada ao tema Espa?o Livre P?blico, a pesquisa apresenta base te?rica que discute os elementos presentes no espa?o, as caracter?sticas de dispers?o, difus?o e fragmenta??o verificadas na expans?o da metr?pole, al?m de abordar o conceito de pracialidade em escala intra-urbana.

Submitted by Fernanda Ciolfi (fernanda.ciolfi@puc-campinas.edu.br) on 2016-04-12T18:59:04Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Helena Vilela Santos.pdf: 185088901 bytes, checksum: 96f6ef340d42f763ad6d86313f268247 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-12T18:59:04Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Helena Vilela Santos.pdf: 185088901 bytes, checksum: 96f6ef340d42f763ad6d86313f268247 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-02-17 / Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior - CAPES / This study aims to investigate public spaces located in the downtown of Barra Mansa, Rio de Janeiro, by engaging an analysis of the transformations occurred over the past (include your time cut) years. This dissertation's goal is (1) to discuss preservation policies in use in Brazil and in Cuba, (2) to theorize over public spaces and urban ensembles? protection of heritage values and (3) to study the history and features of use and occupation of theses spaces and their surroundings in order to diagnose the target ensemble and its relation with the city, highlighting how they have been preserved until now. This study uses as data basis analysis of bibliography related to the theme, and fieldworks made in Barra Mansa, RJ and as reference studies about three public spaces, in Santiago de Cuba, that provide information for a comparative analysis of both cities heritage management and preservation. As a result this investigation aspires to build parameters that may contribute to the preservation and rehabilitation of the areas under study and highlight the heritage value of city?s public spaces. / Esta pesquisa busca investigar os espa?os p?blicos localizados no centro de Barra Mansa, Rio de Janeiro, por meio de uma an?lise das transforma??es que ocorreram ao longo dos anos at? o contexto atual. Tem como objetivos: (1) discutir as pol?ticas de preserva??o adotadas no Brasil, (2) discutir a teoria acerca da preserva??o de espa?os p?blicos e conjuntos urbanos de interesse patrimonial(3) estudar a hist?ria e mudan?a do uso e ocupa??o desses espa?os e seus entornos para compreender um conjunto de pra?as , suas rela??es com a cidade,e como tem sido preservado at? o momento. Utiliza como bases de an?lise a bibliografia sobre o tema, pesquisas realizadas em campo na cidade de Barra Mansa e como refer?ncia, estudos realizados sobre tr?s pra?as na Cidade de Santiago de Cuba, estabelecendo um paralelo entre suas a??es de preserva??o e gest?o dos patrim?nios. Como resultado essa pesquisa almeja construir par?metros que possam contribuir com a preserva??o e gest?o das pra?as em estudo e, de forma mais geral, ressaltar o valor patrimonial destes espa?os p?blicos da cidade.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-13T17:10:50Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 JeysonFSL_DISSERT.pdf: 2514420 bytes, checksum: 68fa4f57aa7f379f4a411fe98456a643 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-03-18 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cient?fico e Tecnol?gico / The city, with all its complexity, is marked by the different uses that emerge and give the current composition of its forms, functions, processes and structures (SANTOS, 2008). These uses are responsible for defining the territoriality that engender public squares, especially from the projection of the practices of sociability and pleasure experienced by social groups and urban households, giving rise to the emergence of agreements and conflicts, especially when the public sphere and negotiates a private residence in the same territory. Thus, from analyzes performed in the public squares of the city of Caico / RN in the current context, did a survey of territorialities undertaken by these groups and social aggregates. These squares were seized territories while public use, but marked by the presence of private, becoming as important elements of the urban space caicoense / A cidade, com toda a sua complexidade, ? marcada pelos diferentes usos que se esbo?am e que d?o a composi??o atual de suas formas, fun??es, processos e estruturas (SANTOS, 2008). Estes usos s?o respons?veis por definir as territorialidades que se engendram nas pra?as p?blicas, sobretudo a partir da proje??o das pr?ticas de sociabilidade e de lazer vivenciadas pelos grupos e agregados sociais urbanos, dando margem ao surgimento de acordos e conflitos, especialmente, quando a esfera p?blica e a privada negocia a perman?ncia no mesmo territ?rio. Assim, a partir de an?lises realizadas nas pra?as p?blicas da cidade de Caic?/RN no contexto atual, fizemos um exame das territorialidades empreendidas por estes grupos e agregados sociais. Tais pra?as foram apreendidas enquanto territ?rios de uso p?blico, por?m marcados pela presen?a privada, configurando-se enquanto importantes elementos constituintes do espa?o urbano caicoense

Made available in DSpace on 2014-07-29T15:16:35Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Kelly Pacheco de Castro.pdf: 746240 bytes, checksum: b56c21e04b1a4191824bfab81746d0d2 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-01-31 / The dimorphic fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis is the causative agent of the most frequent systemic mycosis in Latin America. In humans, infection starts by inhalation of fungal propagules, which reach the pulmonary epithelium and differentiate into the yeast parasitic phase. Here we describe the characterization of a proline-rich protein (PRA/Ag2) homologue of P. brasiliensis, a predictable cell wall protein, first identified in Coccidioides immitis. The protein, the cDNA and genomic sequences were analyzed. Southern blot analysis suggested that there is one copy of the gene in P. brasiliensis. The cloned cDNA was expressed in Escherichia coli and the purified rPbPRA/Ag2 was used to obtain polyclonal antibody. The purified recombinant protein was recognized by sera of patients with proven paracoccidioidomycosis and not by sera of healthy individuals. Immunoelectron microscopy and biochemical studies demonstrated the presence of PbPRA/Ag2 in the fungal cell wall, linked through a GPIanchor. The expression of the Pbpra/ag2 gene was analyzed by real time PCR and results demonstrated developmental regulation in phases of P. brasiliensis, with a higher expression in the mycelium saprobic phase. The protein expression analyses corroborate the transcript levels. / O fungo dimórfico Paracoccidioides brasiliensis é o agente causador da micose sistêmica mais prevalente na América Latina. Em humanos, a infecção se dá pela inalação de propágulos do fungo, que ao alcançarem o epitélio pulmonar transformam se na fase leveduriforme, parasitária, do fungo P. brasiliensis. Neste trabalho,descrevemos a caracterização de um homólogo de PRA/Ag2 (Antígeno rico em prolina), uma proteína predita de parede celular, primeiramente identificada em Coccidioides immitis. A proteína, o cDNA e a seqüência genômica foram analisados. Análises através de Southern blot sugerem que há somente uma cópia do gene em P.brasiliensis. O cDNA clonado foi expresso em Escherichia coli e a rPbPRA/Ag2 purificada foi utilizada para obtenção do anticorpo policlonal. A proteína recombinante purificada foi reconhecida pelo soro de pacientes com paracoccidioidomicose comprovada e não foi reconhecida pelo soro de pacientes saudáveis. Microscopia eletrônica e estudos bioquímicos demonstraram a presença do PbPRA/Ag2 na parede celular de P. brasiliensis, ligada através de uma âncora de GPI. A expressão do gene que codifica Pbpra/ag2 foi analisada através de PCR em Tempo Real e os resultados demonstraram regulação da expressão nas fases de P. brasiliensis, com maior nível de expressão na fase miceliana. Análises da expressão protéica corroboram os resultados da RT-PCR em Tempo Real.

No description available.

<p>  </p> <p>With the discovery and treatment of any disease comes the important question of its genetic prevalence. This is especially important for animals under strict breeding control, such as dogs, because this can provide essential information regarding breeding pair decisions. Thus, the focus of this thesis is to investigate the genetic prevalence of three different diseases: 1) Factor VII Deficiency (FVIID), 2) Collie Eye Anomaly (CEA), and 3) Progressive Rod-Cone Degeneration-Progressive Retinal Atrophy (prcd-PRA). Factor VII Deficiency (FVIID) is a clotting disorder observed in both humans and dogs, characterized by impeded function of the Factor VII protein. In dogs, FVIID is caused by a single nucleotide substitution (c.407G>A) in the <em>F7 </em>gene. This mutation, identified in a colony of research Beagles, is also present in dogs with a wide variety of distantly-related breed backgrounds and in mixed-breed dogs, suggesting an ancient, ancestral origin. Given the relatively common presence of this variant, it was hypothesized that this genetic mutation could be contributing to excessive bleeding in canine autopsy cases that could not be attributed to typical causes. DNA from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues (n = 67 cases) were Sanger sequenced for the FVIID c.407G>A mutation, and all were determined to be homozygous wild-type. Therefore, the tested variant is not associated with the unexplained bleeding in these cases, and it is not a logical diagnostic test to apply to similar cases in the future.</p> <p><br></p> <p>CEA and prcd-PRA are ophthalmic genetic diseases of concern often included in commercial genetic testing panels. A large dataset spanning 15+ years provided by a commercial partner company (OptiGen/Wisdom Panel, Kinship) encompassed dogs tested for the CEA-associated <em>NHEJ1</em> deletion (n = 33,834 dogs) and the prcd-PRA causal mutation in <em>PRCD</em> (n = 86,667 dogs). Disease trends were observed graphically and analyzed with Chi-square goodness-of-fit testing and regression modeling for disease status and genotype classification. Both diseases had a statistically significant change in genotype frequencies from the first year of data to the last; both diseases also had a negative association between progression of time and overall probability of a dog being disease-positive or a carrier/heterozygous. This suggests that genetic testing results are being incorporated into breeding decisions, although affected dogs were still being identified by the end of this study. Different breeds, AKC groups, FCI groups, genetic clades, and geography were also investigated to determine impact on overall disease trend. </p>

Many developing countries, rich with natural resources, have turned to tourism as a source of national growth and subsequently an increasing amount of local communities are being "developed". Despite its importance to developing countries, tourism has been covered scarcely in the literature on development studies. Local communities that find themselves in a situation having to deal with tourism related development, face many challenges. Contrary to previous work on development which considered poor local communities a threat to the natural environment, current views emphasise the role of the community in bringing about participation, conservation and consequently Sustainable Development. Therefore, if tourism can be seen as a possible path to Sustainable Development, the role of the local community in its development is of vital importance. This research investigates the role of the local community in integrating conservation in tourism related development by means of a case study on Apo Island. / DEVELOPMENT STUDIES / MA(SS)(DEV. STUD)

There is a noticeable improvement in the quality of the lives of women engaged in economic activities beyond the home. In a democratic South Africa, women – including those in rural areas – are being freed from their fixed gender roles. Today women are regarded as co-participants in any undertaking, whether as organisers, natural environmentalists or economists, in order to achieve sustainable development. It is for this reason that a number of laws and statutory bodies are in place to speed up the empowerment of women. Consequently, women as individuals or groups are doing their best to respond to the call of democracy in order to balance the equation which has for long remained skewed. In the study area of the Makhuduthamaga Local Municipality, women have initiated projects through mobilisation of their capabilities and available resources to sustain their personal needs, and those of their households. Hence, their well-being with regard to health, nutrition, mobility and social connectivity has improved. There is no doubt that these women are primary breadwinners for their families on a daily basis, as the majority have no other source of income or their husbands’ jobs are taken by migrant labour. The research reveals that, unless women stand up and take action to disprove what is known as ‘feminisation of poverty’, nothing good can happen. Through Participatory Rural Appraisal and Community Asset Mapping techniques, an observation of ethical considerations, participants responded willingly and exposed the realities of their lives. One remaining challenge that needs to be constantly monitored is that there should be a balance between policies and practices with men needing to be empowered to understand, accept and assist in the empowerment of women with a view to achieving sustainability in almost every undertaking. / Geography / D.Litt. et Phil. (Geography)