Transportation is a discussion of the utmost concern in Los Angeles. The automobile poses great detriment to the environment, people’s economic stability, and the health and safety of the community. A conversation that has, however, been absent from the discussion on transportation is the particular cultural and historical significance and value of the automobile to Los Angeles; it has been seldom discussed that the automobile has been extremely influential to the physical character of the city deems it an object worth preserving. Unlike the literature that exists, this thesis specifies and details ways in which the automobile has influenced and continues to influence the urban context and architecture of Los Angeles. Simultaneously, this thesis discusses the means by which the automobile can be preserved and repurposed into an object contributory to the city’s plans for a sustainable future. By the reevaluation and reinterpretation of the car and car culture, the city would be in effect capable of reclaiming its title as the model future city, a title it achieved and also eventually lost during the 20th century in large part because of the automobile. This thesis further contributes to the greater comprehension of the context of Los Angeles and revives a conversation about the city’s potential to be a precedent for other cities.

The focus of this thesis was on the economic feasibility of three food processing projects. They involved freezing of pork loin and fish using cryogenic freezing and stored at $-$18, $-$12 and $-$7$ sp circ$C, and modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) of pork loin using a combination of nitrogen and carbon dioxide gases, chitosan dip and stored at 5, 10, and 15$ sp circ$C. A production plan with similar layout and capacity was adopted for the Montreal area. The benefit-cost analysis (BCA) of each project was carried out assuming that each plant operated approximately 2000 hours per annum at full capacity. Net present value (NPV) and benefit cost ratio (B/C ratio) at 8% discount rate, and internal rate of return (IRR) were determined for each project. The calculations show the NPV of $2.4 million, $1.8 million, and $3.4 million; B/C ratio of 1.09, 1.09, and 1.10; IRR of 15 %, 13 %, and 18 % for frozen pork loin, frozen fish and MAP pork respectively. All IRRs were higher compared to the 1995 return rates of TSE of 9.7 % and the average return of capital of 8.8 % for some food and beverage industries. These economic values are sensitive to changes in working hours, price of raw materials and finished products. It is also found that MAP products could be stored at temperatures up to 15$ sp circ$C. Frozen products could be stored at temperatures of $-$12$ sp circ$C and below only if the length of distribution chain can be reduced. This would decrease electricity costs up to 36% at each level of distribution. It can be concluded that the three projects are economically profitable.

With encouraging advancements in cell therapies, there is a requirement for an effective short-term cell preservation method, enabling time for quality assurance testing and transport to their clinical destination. This project aims to pause cells at ambient temperatures, whilst maintaining viability and function post-preservation. Ambient cell preservation bypasses ice crystal exposure and toxic solute concentrations experienced with cryogenic storage. Storage in ambient conditions also avoids use of toxic cryoprotectants and aims to greatly reduce costs and reliability on specialist machinery. Early work used HOS TE85 cells (derived from an osteosarcoma) as a model. When atmospheric factors were controlled, HOS TE85 cells demonstrated effective recovery in terms of morphology, membrane integrity (viability >90%) and fold growth expansion when paused at ambient temperature for up to 144 hours. Without atmospheric control, addition of the buffering agent HEPES (25mM) to cell medium was required to keep viability above 70%, as well as to maintain yield and continual passage following 144 hours pausing. The pausing potential of therapeutically relevant human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) from three individual donors (M2, M3 and M4) was tested by keeping cells in suspension for up to 72 hours. Using standard medium with the addition of 25mM HEPES, average membrane integrity was maintained above 70%. Following pausing for between 24 72 hours, hMSC attachment efficiency, immunophenotype and tri-lineage differentiation capacity (osteogenesis, adipogenesis and chondrogenesis) remained similar to non-paused cells. Apart from a short lag phase on the first passage, hMSC fold growth expansion level was consistent with the control for all three donors over 3 x 6 day passages. The colony forming unit (CFU) efficiency of paused cells was significantly reduced when compared with non-paused M2 and M4 lines, whilst M3 retained a similar CFU efficiency to its non-paused counterpart. On return to normal culture conditions, hMSCs had comparable metabolic activity rates with non-paused cells for up to 9 hours. Stable pH is vital during pausing and additional antioxidants or apoptotic inhibiters may be required to keep average viability well-above the 70% threshold, set by the US Food and Drug Administration. Collectively, results have been encouraging and show potential for the movement towards using ambient temperature preservation as an option for the short-term storage and transport of cells for therapy.

The aim of this thesis is to conduct a survey of the preservation of architectural cultural heritage at the end of the 1980s and beginning of the 1990s. This will be demonstrated using as an example the historical centre of Prague. The thesis is divided into two similar parts. The first one focuses on the system, workings and legislation of heritage preservation in the 1980s. Partially it describes broader social and political aspects of the 1980s as well. The second part addresses the same topics, but during the beginning of the 1990s. In each case, three heritage preservation examples have been selected and these provide a closer examination of the system of cultural heritage preservation described earlier. The research work conducted demonstrates that whilst during the 1970s and 1980s a preservation system of the centre of Prague was gradually established, the 1990s saw the system being slowly disrupted and weakened, whether intentionally or unintentionally. However, heritage preservation never achieved a fully satisfactory standard in either studied period. Keywords: heritage preservation - historic preservation - architecture - urbanism - Prague - 20th century

La préservation des informations numériques et des connaissances est l'un des objectifs principaux de la création et la gestion d'un système d'information dans une entreprise. Cette préservation est qualifiée de cruciale en termes de traçabilité, sécurité et durabilité.Ce travail de recherche s’inscrit dans le contexte de l’archivage numérique des connaissances. Notre recherche s’intéresse aux problématiques de la couverture et de l’adaptabilité des solutions logicielles pour la préservation des connaissances à long terme (Long Term Knowledge Retention, LTKR). On se propose donc de développer les concepts d’une architecture à bases de modèles, intégrée et évolutive pour l’archivage des informations numériques. Pour positionner nos travaux, nous avons synthétisé les besoins d’archivage à long termes, les travaux publiés, les plateformes et outils existants et ainsi ciblé les besoins manquants que nous allons développer dans ce travail de thèse.Dans une étape de spécification, l’analyse des concepts de gestion des connaissances pour l’archivage permet d’aboutir à une meilleure spécification des artefacts de connaissances (package d’information) à fournir à une plateforme d’archivage. Dans cette perspective, nous avons proposé une extension de la méthode CommonKADS. Le système d’archivage proposé étend le modèle de référence OAIS (Open Archival Information System) et ses divers implémentations (i.e. DSpace, Fedora repository, EPrints, etc). Nous avons développé des fonctionnalités supplémentaires pour étendre les concepts d’archivages statiques vers une architecture dynamique et évolutive à base de modèles. La finalité de ce travail est de définir les briques fonctionnelles d’un système d’archivage des informations numériques qui s’adapte aux besoins des entreprises et l’évolution de la complexité des données qu’elles gèrent. Nous avons finalement proposé une méthode de conservation dynamique et une architecture appelée MadPK (Multi-layer Architecture for Dynamic Preservation of Knowledge) pour préservation à long terme.L’ensemble des concepts proposés dans cette thèse sont développés et testés sur les environnements BPM/SOA suites. / Preserving digital information is one of the objectives of the creation and management of information systems in a company. The long term preservation of information and knowledge becomes crucial in terms of safety and availability. Therefore, our research targets the Long Term Knowledge Retention (LTKR) and preservation in terms of traceability, reusability and security of digital information; and aims at proposing a methodology and an architecture for this purpose.Through analysis of existing works and projects, whose objective is long-term digital preservation, we have synthesized long term preservation common requirements and found out the gaps between existing requirements and the new requirements we have identified. Existing methodologies and tools for Knowledge Management (KM) are identified. We have extended the CommonKADS methodology in order to build connections between KM and digital preservation. The knowledge objects we have produced in a KM approach are thus better suited as inputs for the digital preservation platform.We have also studied the functional features of the existing digital preservation systems, and some main features to support a long term preservation approach. We have extended the Open Archival Information System (OAIS) reference model to establish a preservation platform, by adding specific features in order to fulfill the remaining requirements in the long term preservation area.We have finally proposed a dynamic preservation method and an architecture called MadPK (Multi-layer Architecture for Dynamic Preservation of Knowledge) for long term preservation, adapting Service Oriented Application (SOA) and Business Process Management (BPM) concepts. The proposed architecture provides dynamic features and enables us to have better interoperability between the KM approach and digital preservation approach/platform.The proposed design models of this thesis are implemented and tested within the environment of BPM/SOA suite.

Introdução: Após a exodontia, a cicatrização natural do alvéolo provoca alterações dimensionais no rebordo alveolar, com diminuição dos tecidos moles e duros. Diferentes técnicas podem ser utilizadas para tentar diminuir essas alterações, com a intenção de facilitar a reabilitação estética e funcional com implantes, principalmente em áreas de dentes anteriores. Objetivos: Os objetivos deste estudo foram verificar a eficácia da utilização do material de origem xenógena Orthogen® na preservação do rebordo alveolar pós-exodontia e avaliar as características histológicas após 4 meses de reparo. Materiais e Métodos: 20 pacientes foram divididos aleatoriamente em 2 grupos, de acordo com a abordagem que iriam receber após a exodontia de uma raiz residual. No grupo teste, os alvéolos foram preenchidos com Orthogen® e selados com EGL (Enxerto Gengival Livre). No grupo controle, um coágulo foi preservado no alvéolo e o mesmo também foi selado com EGL, sem a utilização do Orthogen®. Em ambos os grupos as exodontias foram realizadas de maneira minimamente traumática, com o Kit de Extração Atraumática Neodent®. Modelos de gesso obtidos antes das exodontias (tempo 1) e após 4 meses (tempo 2), momentos antes da instalação dos implantes, foram utilizadas para as medidas dimensionais, através do escanemento dos modelos e medidas no programa Orthoanalyzer®. Amostras ósseas obtidas após 4 meses de reparo foram utilizadas para a análise histológica descritiva. Resultados: Os resultados demonstraram que, após 4 meses de reparo alveolar, os dois grupos apresentaram remodelação do rebordo alveolar e diminuição nas medidas realizadas. Porém, a remodelação do rebordo foi mais evidente no grupo controle (coágulo). Histologicamente foi possível observar formação de novo osso ao redor das partículas do Orthogen®. Conclusões: A utilização do Orthogen® para preenchimento dos alvéolos e preservação do rebordo alveolar foi eficaz na diminuição das alterações dimensionais nos tecidos duro e mole do rebordo alveolar pós-exodontia. / Introduction: After tooth extraction, the natural healing of the socket is followed by dimensional changes of ridge contour, with marked reduce of hard and soft tissues. Socket reservation techniques can be used to improve functional and esthetics of the dental implants in this areas, especially in anterior teeth areas. Objectives: The aims of this study are to verify the efficacy of use Orthogen® to ridge preservation and analysis the histological characteristics after 4 months repair of the sockets. Material and Methods: 20 patients were randomly distributed in 2 groups, according with the treatments. In test group, the sockets were filled with Orthogen® and closed with a gingival free graft. In control group, the clots were preserved into the socket and free gingival graft was sutured in the deepithelialized marginal tissue of the socket. Stone casts were used to analyze the ridge dimensional changes with the Orthoanalyzer® software. After 4 months, bone samples were obtained during the dental implant procedure and were used to describe the histological characteristics. Results: The results showed that, after 4 months of wound healing, both groups showed a decrease in the measurements. However, the remodeling of the ridge was most evident in the control group (clot). Histological images showed the formation of new bone around the Orthogen® particles. Conclusion: The use of Orthogen® to socket preservation can collaborate to reduce the dimensional changes of the hard and soft tissue in post-extraction alveolar ridge sites.

Over recent decades, the global focus on climate change and on conservation of resources has brought about a paradigm shift in the adaptive reuse of old and historic buildings. Adaptive reuse is now seen as a key factor in the conservation of land and environment, preservation of cultural identity, and reduction of urban sprawl. Increasingly, engineers, architects, and urban planners are making concerted efforts to realize the reuse potential of existing and outdated structures. Therefore, those involved in building design have studied the viability of adaptive reuse and generally favor the repurposing of old/historic buildings to suit new patterns of occupancy and use without disturbing the environment or increasing carbon footprints. Redesign and reconstruction through refurbishment, remodeling, renewal, repair and retrofitting is carried out to meet new requirements and provide performance that was not in the original design. Buildings are one of the largest energy users in the United States.[1] In total, buildings used around 40 percent of energy in 2015, which accounts for the largest share among forms of energy consumption. Many of the buildings are not energy efficient but do have historic value; while giving them a new purpose, their historic legacy can also be preserved. There are many challenges like program modification feasibility, structural issues and energy efficiency which need to be addressed during pre-construction and can be addressed by careful planning and innovative techniques. To understand the various challenges involving adaptive reuse, this study employs the Clark Hall at the University of Massachusetts to test the efficacy of design and performance interventions. Clark Hall was originally used for science classes and botany research and later was converted into painting studios. Presently the building structure is still intact, provides enough room for program modification, and has significant reuse potential. Therefore, Clark Hall is a suitable candidate for adaptive reuse as an academic office building that satisfies contemporary building standards and meets the growing demand for office space. Through this project, an attempt has been made to explore and understand the complexities and challenges as well as the various possible ways to change the function of Clark Hall from a defunct structure to a modern energy efficient and environmentally sustainable academic office building with measures for energy conservation through contemporary innovative design approaches. The research work begins with a background study of the building’s history and its different purposes, along with three precedent studies of contemporary and innovative design examples. It also identifies relevant local, federal, and state building and zoning regulations and incorporates existing energy-saving technologies and materials appropriate to Clark Hall. Keeping in mind the financial viability of project, an attempt has been made to control and bring down the operating and the maintenance costs by carrying out extensive energy modelling and simulations to support these recommendations. In conclusion, the final outcome of my project is a design plan for the adaptive reuse of Clark Hall as a new energy efficient and environmentally sustainable office building for the benefit and the use of University of Massachusetts Amherst that mitigates costs and improves design utility and aesthetics, while preserving its historic value. [1] According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, “in 2017, about 39% of total U.S. energy consumption was consumed by the residential and commercial sectors.” https://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.php?id=86&t=1. October 2018.

No description available.

Situated within the interpretive and critical traditions, this study aims to contribute to one of the continuing primary themes in urban preservation: how to interpret and preserve the intangible values of built environments. A comprehensive analysis of dominant theories of urban preservation forms the conceptual framework within which this dissertation takes place. It starts by locating the intellectual context of preservation in North America, and examines its basic premises and core issues. It identifies three limits to the traditional approach to preservation planning. The complexity and fragility of history, its narrative quality and its particularities, its emotional content and economic values, all connect urban preservation with public history. Therefore, in the spirit of communicative democracy and "a shared authority", the study incorporates collective memory as an essential construct in urban landscapes, and suggests a culturally sensitive narrative approach (CSNA). The study employs an in-depth case study. The setting is Kensington Market in Toronto, Canada. It examines retrospectively the urban renewal planning of Kensington Market in the 1960s, identifies the pivotal events that prompted the change of urban renewal policies, and demonstrates, through the interpretive policy analysis, that sometimes urban renewal plans that fail to be implemented can become success stories in how to preserve urban neighborhoods as a kind of public history. To probe deeper into the sources of conflict between the professionals and the public, the study further explores the mutual relationship between collective memory and urban landscapes. It takes a selective look at some significant sites of memory, and connects them into a narrative path. Through oral history interviewing, field observation, and material cultural analysis, this part of the analysis constitutes an empirical study of CSNA. A proposition is derived from this critical case study. The study concludes with seven steps of CSNA, a guide for urban landscape preservation and planning.

Digital preservation is a significant challenge for cultural heritage institutions and other repositories of digital information resources. Recognizing the critical role of metadata in any successful digital preservation strategy, the Preservation Metadata Implementation Strategies (PREMIS) has been extremely influential on providing a "core" set of preservation metadata elements that support the digital preservation process. However, there is no evidence, in the form of previous research, as to what factors explain and predict the level of adoption of PREMIS. This research focused on identifying factors that affect the adoption of PREMIS in cultural heritage institutions. This study employed a web-based survey to collect data from 123 participants in 20 country as well as a semi-structured, follow-up telephone interview with a smaller sample of the survey respondents. Roger's diffusion of innovation theory was used as a theoretical framework. The main constructs considered for the study were relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, trialability, observability, and institution readiness. The study yielded both qualitative and quantitative data, and analysis showed that all six factors influence the adoption of PREMIS in varying degrees. Results of a regression analysis of adoption level on the six factors showed a statistically significant relationship. The R2 value for the model was .528, which means that 52.8% of the variance in PREMIS adoption was explained by a combination of the six factors. Considering the complexity of issue, this study has important implications for future research on preservation metadata and provides recommendations for researchers and stakeholders engaged in metadata standards development efforts.