<p dir="ltr">Student attitudes towards chemistry are a contributing factor to their success in chemistry courses and retention in STEMM in higher education. In the last decade, STEMM attrition rates have been an area of concern in the United States. Research in K12 classrooms has demonstrated that culturally relevant pedagogies (CRP) can improve student learning and attitudes toward STEMM. CRP consists of instructional practices and lessons that connect with students’ cultural backgrounds, experiences, and interests. However, few studies on these practices address long term improvements or treatments in a higher education setting. Integration of ethnoscience in course material is a CRP strategy that utilizes cultural systems of knowledge in relation to coursework. This strategy is now an area of interest in the field of chemistry education. This study uses an action research methodology to integrate ethnochemistry into a large, multicultural, first-year general chemistry course and evaluate the impact on student attitudes towards chemistry.</p>

Das primäre Ziel dieser Dissertation ist es, Belege für die zentrale Hypothese der Humankapi-taltheorie zu finden, dass Investitionen in Bildung, Forschung und Entwicklung einen erhöh-ten Output für die Gesellschaft und für das Individuum generieren. Die dafür notwendige Untersuchung wird anhand langer Zeitreihen für Deutschland mit Hilfe cliometrischer und ökonometrischer Methoden durchgeführt und das Ergebnis einer kritischen Würdigung unterzogen. Zur Einstimmung und zum besseren Verständnis des Untersuchungshintergrundes werden die Initiativen der in Deutschland bildungspolitisch Verantwortlichen beschrieben und an der Bildungssituation der früheren Bundesrepublik und des wiedervereinigten Deutschlands ab 1990 gespiegelt. Ein wesentlicher Bestandteil dieser Arbeit ist es, die Genese der Bildungsökonomie, ihre wichtigsten Aussagen und mathematischen Modelle zu skizzieren. Außerdem werden die in der Literatur schon veröffentlichten wichtigsten statistischen Ergebnisse, z. B. über Kosten und Renditen von Bildungs- und Forschungs-investitionen, wiedergegeben. Im Ergebnisteil dieser Dissertation werden die Interdependenzen der Bildungs-, Forschungs- und Entwicklungsausgaben u. a. mit den Schul- und Studienabschlüssen und dem Bruttoinlandsprodukt mit Hilfe der Zeitreihenanalyse untersucht. Bei kointegrierten Variablen werden die Schätzungen einer Fehlerkorrekturrechnung unterzogen, um eine Scheinregression zu vermeiden. Die Interdependenz der Variablen im Sinne der Humankapitaltheorie wird bestätigt; allerdings zeigen die Schätzgleichungen unterschiedlich große Ergebnisse bzgl. der Bestimmtheitsmaße. / The primary objective of this thesis is to provide proof for the central hypothesis of Human Capital Theory, that investment in education, research and development generates an increase in output for society and for the individual. Analysis will be made on the basis of long time series for Germany by making use of cliometric and econometric methods. The findings will then be thoroughly discussed and critically compared. To begin with, and to give a better understanding of the issue the initiatives of the educational-policy-makers will be described and put into relation to the educational situation in former West Germany and reunited Germany since 1990. The main aspect of this piece of research is to outline the genesis of economics of education, its core statements and underlying mathematical models. Furthermore, important statistical data which has already been published regarding (for example) the costs and return of investments in education, research and development will be presented. In the conclusion of this thesis, the interdependences of spending in education, research and development with inter alia graduation and gross domestic product (GDP) will be analysed by the means of time series analysis. When variables are cointegrated, estimates will be subjected to an estimate correction in order to avoid a spurious regression. The interdependency of the variables in the Human Capital Theory is affirmed, although the estimating equations give different results for the coefficients of determination.

This narrative inquiry study sought the voices of bilingual teachers through their lived experiences in relation to the success of Hispanic emergent bilinguals in schools. Two research questions guided the study: (1) What practices do bilingual educators consider important in helping Hispanic emergent bilingual students succeed in schools? and (2) How do bilingual teachers negotiate the curriculum and school structures to support Hispanic bilingual students' success in their classrooms? Two theoretical frameworks were used. Constructivism provided the structure for honoring the lived experiences of these teachers and culturally relevant pedagogy provided the lenses of culture, funds of knowledge, and deep sociolinguistic awareness. The use of narrative inquiry as a methodology affirmed the bilingual teachers' voices as important and authoritative sources of knowledge. Semi-structured interviews and classroom observations allowed the participants to engage as storytellers about their history and experiences that contributed to answering the questions. Three resonant reverberations emerged from the analysis: (a) the emerging rhythms of the classroom; (b) the realms of instructional and learning design; and (c) the orientation towards a culturally relevant pedagogy. These major findings revealed that teachers were student-oriented while also being content-oriented. They designed a positive learning environment by tapping into their students' funds of knowledge and being culturally responsive, which supported their students in becoming self-directed learners. The teachers had a deep sociolinguistic knowledge that determined the instructional strategies used in their classrooms and propelled them to collaborate with others and advocate for strong bilingual programs.

In dieser Arbeit, wurden Endozytose und intrazellulären Transportwegen für zwei verschiedene biologisch relevante Nanopartikel (dendritisch Polyglycerolsulfat (dPGS-np) und Polyethylenimin beschichtete Goldnanopartikel (PEI-np)) mit Kryo-Röntgentomographie untersucht. Diese Untersuchungen zeigten, beide Nanopartikeln über Makropinozytose endozytiert werden und dass die meisten Nanopartikel in Endosomen, multivesikulären Körpern und Lysosomen lokalisiert sind. Trotz dieser Ähnlichkeiten im Verhalten beider Partikel gab es auch Unterschiede die zeigten. Im Gegensatz zu PEI-np, wurden einige dPGS-np in Lipidtröpfchen gefunden. Weiterhin verursachen die PEI-np bei einer Konzentration von 0,13 nM ein Zerplatzen von Lysosomen in erheblichem Ausmaß wodurch die Nanopartikel in das Zytoplasma entweichen und teilweise in den Zellkern eindringen. Im Unterschied dazu konnte kein Nachweis für ein Zerplatzen von Lysosomen durch dPGS-np erbracht werde. Interessanterweise wurde ein Wechsel des Endocytose-Weges von der Makropinozytose zu einer mutmaßlichen Caveolae-vermittelten Endozytose beobachtet, wenn die PEI-np-Konzentration um das Zehnfache reduziert wurde. Unter diesen Bedingungen induzierten PEI-np kein Zerplatzen von Lysosomen mehr. Das Ausbleiben von zerplatzten Lysosomen bei dieser niedrigeren Konzentration korreliert mit einer verringerten Zellschädigung und hat somit wichtige Auswirkungen auf die Verwendung von PEI beim Gentransfer. Überraschenderweise stellte sich heraus, dass beide Nanopartikelarten eine bisher nicht beobachtete umfassende zytoplasmatische Veränderungen in den Zellen induzierten. Insbesondere wurden nach der Inkubation mit beiden Diese zytoplasmatischen Veränderungen könnten wichtige physiologische Veränderungen widerspiegeln, jedoch ist hierzu zusätzliche Forschung erforderlich. Diese Beobachtungen deuten darauf hin, dass das Verhalten biologisch relevanter Nanopartikel in Zukunft vorhersehbarer werden kann durch weitere systematische Studien. / In this thesis, the endocytosis and trafficking pathways of two different biologically relevant nanoparticles, namely dendritic polyglycerol sulfate coated gold nanoparticles (dPGS-np) and polyethyleneimine coated gold nanoparticles (PEI-np) were investigated via cryo soft X-ray tomography. Both nanoparticles were found to be endocytosed predominantly via macropinocytosis, and most nanoparticles became localized to endosomes, multivesicular bodies and lysosomes. Despite these similarities in trafficking, there were also key differences. Some dPGS-np were found in lipid droplets but no PEI nanoparticles were found in this compartment. At a concentration of 0.13 nM, PEI-np were observed to induce extensive rupture of lysosomes, leading to significant levels of cytoplasmic escape and nuclear entry. In contrast, no evidence for lysosomal rupture with dPGS-np was detected, and concomitantly very low levels of cytoplasmic escape and no nuclear entry were found. Interestingly, when the PEI-np concentration was reduced by ten-fold, a switch in the endocytosis pathway from macropinocytosis to a putative caveolae-mediated endocytosis was observed. Importantly, under these conditions, PEI nanoparticles no longer induced lysosomal rupture. This lack of lysosomal rupture at the lower concentration was correlated with reduced cellular damage, and so has important implications for use of PEI in gene delivery. Most surprisingly, both nanoparticle types were found to induce similar global cytoplasmic alterations in the cells. These cytoplasmic alterations could reflect important physiological changes, but further work is required to determine this. Our observations suggest that the behavior of biologically relevant nanoparticles might become more predictable in the future by further application of systematic studies.

German text / Die Forschungsarbeit evaluiert den Projektstatus des sozial-missionarischen Familienzent-rums FACE in Berlin, Märkisches Viertel. Dafür wurde in der Dissertation zunächst der theo-logische und sozialwissenschaftliche Rahmen, in dem die Forschung geschieht, umrissen. Dabei nehmen das Konzept der Gemeinwesendiakonie, sowie die Korrelation zwischen Dia-konie und Mission einen besonderen Raum ein. Die Projektentwicklung basiert auf Idee des gesellschaftsrelevanten Gemeindebaus (Zyklus gesellschaftsrelevanter Gemeindearbeit; ZGG), dessen Anwendung in einem nächsten Schritt dokumentiert und daraufhin anhand des empirisch-theologischen Praxiszyklus (ETP) analy-siert wird. Das Ziel der qualitativen Untersuchung ist es herauszufinden, ob FACE eine ge-sellschaftliche Relevanz hat. Wie haben Nachbarn des FACE, das Familienzentrum persön-lich wahrgenommen und hat der Kontakt mit FACE zu Veränderungen in ihrem Leben ge-führt? Die abschließende missiologische Interpretation der Forschungsarbeit erfolgt mit Hilfe des Entwurfs der „trialogischen Interaktion des missionalen Gesprächs“ zwischen Evangelium, Kirche und Kultur. / This research study evaluates the project status of the family centre for social and missionary work FACE in Berlin, Märkisches Viertel. The dissertation starts out with an outline of the theological and social-scientific framework which determines the research work. Within this framework, the concept of community diaconia as well as the correlation between diaconia and mission are dominant. The project is based on the idea of socially-relevant church devel-opment (Zyklus gesellschaftsrelevanter Gemeindearbeit; ZGG), which in a following step is documented in its application and then analysed using the empirical-theological practice cy-cle. It is the objective of this qualitative study to determine whether FACE has social rele-vance. How did neighbours perceive FACE? Did contact with FACE lead to changes in their lives? The concluding missiological interpretation of the research study is conducted follow-ing the structure of the „trialogical interaction of missional conversation“ between the gospel, church and culture. / Christian Spirituality, Church History & Missiology / M. Th. (Missiology)

The proven ability to ferment Saccharomyces cerevisiae on a large scale presents an attractive target for producing chemicals and fuels from sustainable sources. Efficient and predominant carbon flux through to ethanol is a significant engineering issue in the development of this yeast as a multi-product cell chassis used in biorefineries. In order to evaluate diversion of carbon flux away from ethanol, combinatorial deletions were investigated in genes encoding the six isozymes of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), which catalyse the terminal step in ethanol production. The scarless, dominant and counter- selectable amdSYM gene deletion method was optimised for generation of a combinatorial ADH knockout library in an industrially relevant strain of S. cerevisiae. Current understanding of the individual ADH genes fails to fully evaluate genotype-by-genotype and genotype-by-environment interactions: rather, further research of such a complex biological process requires a multivariate mathematical modelling approach. Application of such an approach using the Design of Experiments (DoE) methodology is appraised here as essential for detailed empirical evaluation of complex systems. DoE provided empirical evidence that in S. cerevisiae: i) the ADH2 gene is not associated with producing ethanol under anaerobic culture conditions in combination with 25 g l-1 glucose substrate concentrations; ii) ADH4 is associated with increased ethanol production when the cell is confronted with a zinc-limited [1 μM] environment; and iii) ADH5 is linked with the production of ethanol, predominantly at pH 4.5. A successful metabolic engineering strategy is detailed which increases the product portfolio of S. cerevisiae, currently used for large-scale production of bioethanol. Heterologous expression of the cytochrome P450 fatty acid peroxygenase from Jeotgalicoccus sp., OleTJE, fused to the RhFRED reductase from Rhodococcus sp. NCIMB 978 converted free fatty acid precursors to C13, C15 and C17 alkenes (3.81 ng μl-1 total alkene concentration).

The topic of this master thesis is to compare and analyze five database of companies in terms of suitability for the process of valuation . The main reason why these databases (Albertina, Amadeus , Magnus , Market Line and Capital IQ) are used is their accessibility within the field of study Finance and Business Valuation in University of Economics in Prague. The thesis is structured with respect to the valuation process recommended by professor Mařík (2011) . The first part contains data collection and focuses primarily on general data options for each database. The second part is a detailed financial analysis describing and comparing the ratios followed by databases options in the field of strategic analysis. The possibility of calculation of NOPAT and operationally necessary capital employed is presented after strategic analysis. The last two chapters deal with the database containing capital markets data and can provide the basics for calculation of interests rate and the actual valuation based on market analysis. The conclusion summarizes the main advantages of databases as appropriate for valuation.

This dissertation reflects critically on the calls for the decolonisation of South Africa’s higher education sector by studying the historical development of legal pedagogy in South African law faculties. It focuses in particular on the intellectual property law curriculum broadly, and more specifically on the copyright law module. Africa’s colonisation by Western powers ravaged it in various ways. This is starkly illustrated in the areas of knowledge production and research. Against this background the dissertation teases out the prevailing extent, depth, and reach of colonialism in the copyright law curriculum with the aim of identifying possible ways to give practical effect to the calls for the curriculum to be decolonised. To achieve this, the dissertation examines leading South African intellectual property law textbooks through an African lens in an express attempt to assert the pluriversal, epistemicological traditions of the global South. In each chapter and with each theme the dissertation proposes how an envisaged decolonised copyright curriculum could look. The dissertation grapples with the various theories underpinning the decolonial discourse, laying groundwork for an academically sound basis on which to decolonise the copyright law curriculum. It provides an African critique of the Eurocentric intellectual property law ‘justifications debate’ and posits communal modes of property ownership in Africa to counter Western individualistic notions of property ownership which lend credence to the current justification debate. The dissertation analyses the nature of copyright in a work using the philosophy of Ubuntu as an alternative in teaching this theme within the curriculum. A decolonial analysis of the requirements for copyright is offered, and it is argued that the current sta-ndards and threshold used for the subsistence of copyright is colonial and furthers the onslaught on the Black Body, both in its practical application and in how it is taught. The dissertation concludes by studying copyright exceptions, critically urging the academy to apply a differentiated model of exceptions to different jurisdictions in light of their colonial history (and present). / Lomtlolo utjheja ihlangothi lokufuna bona kutjhugululwe iimfundo zemkhakheni wezefundo ephakamileko yangeSewula Afrika ngokufunda ngetuthuko yokufunda kanye nokufundisa ngemNyangweni wabajameli. Utjheja khulu umthetho wepahla wezefundo khudlwana kanye nomthetho welungelo lokukhuphela. Ukuthunjwa kweAfrika ngabamhlophe kone ngeendlela ezinengi. Lokhu kutjengiswa kumbi mikhakha ekhiqiza ilwazi kanye nerhubhululako. Ngalesi isendlalelo lomtlolo utjheja ngokudephileko ukobana ukuthunjwa kweAfrika ngabamhlophe kulethe muphi umuthelela ngehlangothini lomthetho welungelo lokukhuphela lezefundo ngomqopho wokufumana iindlela nofana iinzathu zokobana kutjhugululwe ifundo yangeemfundweni eziphakamileko. Ukuphumelelisa lokhu, lomtlolo uhlahluba iincwadi zobuhlakaniphi bomthetho wepahla ngokutjheja indlela yokwenza izinto ngeSewula. Isahluko esinye nesinye kanye nommongo omunye nomunye utjheja bona ifundo etjhugululweko ingaba njani. Lomtlolo utjheja amathiyori atlolweko kanye nekukhulunywa ngawo lawo akhe umkhanyo wokutjhugulula zefundo. Utjheja isiphoqo seAfrika ngobuhlakaniphi babamhlophe ngomthetho wepahla ‘ikulumopikiswano yesizathu sokwenza okuthileko’ begodu ibeka ngaphambili indlela yokwabelana ipahlo eAfrika ukulwisana nendlela yabamhlophe yokungabelani ipahlo ekubange ikulumopikiswano yesizathu sokwenza okuthileko. Lomtlolo uhlaziya isisusa sokukhuphela ngokutjheja ikolelo yegama elithi ‘Ubuntu’ njengegama elisetjenziswa lokha nakufundiswa lommongo eemfundweni. Indlela etjhugululweko yokuhlaziya iimfuneko sokukhuphela yindlela yabamhlophe begodu igandelela indlu enzima, ngendlela yokwenza kanye nangendlela efundiswa ngayo. Lomtlolo uphetha ngokufunda isiphambuki sokukhuphela, ngokubawa isikolo ukobana sisebenzise indlela ehlukileko kunaleyo ebegade isetjenziswa ngabamhlophe ekadeni kanye nesikhathini sanje. / Private Law / LL.M. (Intellectual Property Law)

German text / Die Forschungsarbeit evaluiert den Projektstatus des sozial-missionarischen Familienzent-rums FACE in Berlin, Märkisches Viertel. Dafür wurde in der Dissertation zunächst der theo-logische und sozialwissenschaftliche Rahmen, in dem die Forschung geschieht, umrissen. Dabei nehmen das Konzept der Gemeinwesendiakonie, sowie die Korrelation zwischen Dia-konie und Mission einen besonderen Raum ein. Die Projektentwicklung basiert auf Idee des gesellschaftsrelevanten Gemeindebaus (Zyklus gesellschaftsrelevanter Gemeindearbeit; ZGG), dessen Anwendung in einem nächsten Schritt dokumentiert und daraufhin anhand des empirisch-theologischen Praxiszyklus (ETP) analy-siert wird. Das Ziel der qualitativen Untersuchung ist es herauszufinden, ob FACE eine ge-sellschaftliche Relevanz hat. Wie haben Nachbarn des FACE, das Familienzentrum persön-lich wahrgenommen und hat der Kontakt mit FACE zu Veränderungen in ihrem Leben ge-führt? Die abschließende missiologische Interpretation der Forschungsarbeit erfolgt mit Hilfe des Entwurfs der „trialogischen Interaktion des missionalen Gesprächs“ zwischen Evangelium, Kirche und Kultur. / This research study evaluates the project status of the family centre for social and missionary work FACE in Berlin, Märkisches Viertel. The dissertation starts out with an outline of the theological and social-scientific framework which determines the research work. Within this framework, the concept of community diaconia as well as the correlation between diaconia and mission are dominant. The project is based on the idea of socially-relevant church devel-opment (Zyklus gesellschaftsrelevanter Gemeindearbeit; ZGG), which in a following step is documented in its application and then analysed using the empirical-theological practice cy-cle. It is the objective of this qualitative study to determine whether FACE has social rele-vance. How did neighbours perceive FACE? Did contact with FACE lead to changes in their lives? The concluding missiological interpretation of the research study is conducted follow-ing the structure of the „trialogical interaction of missional conversation“ between the gospel, church and culture. / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / M. Th. (Missiology)

A comercialização de produtos florestais não madeireiros (PFNMs) popularizou-se como atividade promotora do desenvolvimento socioeconômico de comunidades florestais com baixo impacto ambiental. Há evidências, contudo, de que a exploração possa produzir efeitos ecológicos e socioeconômicos negativos, sugerindo que é necessário monitorar tais iniciativas. A comercialização frequentemente ocorre em áreas remotas e em contextos de pobreza, como é o caso de muitas daquelas da Amazônia brasileira. Desta forma, é necessário que o monitoramento restrinja-se a avaliar os efeitos evidenciados como mais comuns em estudos anteriores. Este estudo revisa e sintetiza as evidências científicas dos efeitos da exploração de PFNMs sobre parâmetros ecológicos e socioeconômicos e, a partir daí, indica aqueles mais relevantes ao monitoramento. O estudo também levanta até que ponto o monitoramento é implementado no contexto da Amazônia brasileira e avalia quais os parâmetros importantes e viáveis de monitoramento neste caso específico. Para isso, foram realizadas revisões sistemáticas da literatura e a consulta a profissionais da área através do método Delphi. Os resultados indicam que efeitos ecológicos negativos são frequentes, principalmente quando se coletam folhas ou cascas. Alterações em órgãos ou processos fisiológicos e a taxa de sobrevivência dos espécimes explorados são parâmetros que devem ser monitorados, em particular quando se coletam frutos e partes vegetativas. Para todos os tipos de PFNMs, o tamanho e a estrutura populacional são parâmetros prioritários ao monitoramento. A riqueza de espécies da comunidade explorada merece atenção, principalmente quando se coletam frutos. Para os aspectos socioeconômicos, efeitos positivos foram mais frequentes que negativos. A contribuição da renda monetária obtida com o comércio na renda total, a regularidade de ingresso desta renda e o papel dos PFNMs como recursos de salvaguarda são parâmetros do capital financeiro prioritários ao monitoramento. Para o capital social, o empoderamento feminino, a coesão de grupo e o acesso aos benefícios gerados pela comercialização devem ser monitorados. Na Amazônia brasileira são poucas as iniciativas de implementação do monitoramento da comercialização de PFNMs. Embora este seja considerado importante, existem dificuldades que derivam principalmente da falta de apoio institucional, políticas de incentivo e de recursos financeiros. Os profissionais participantes do Delphi consideram que os parâmetros ecológicos mais importantes a monitorar neste contexto são o tamanho e a estrutura populacional do recurso explorado, o aumento da taxa de mortalidade, a quantidade total de recurso extraída e a técnica de coleta utilizada. Para os parâmetros econômicos, aspectos do mercado, como o preço pago ao coletor, a demanda e a qualidade do produto, bem como a renda monetária obtida pelos indivíduos são os parâmetros considerados mais importantes. Por fim, para os aspectos sociais, os efeitos na cultura, na qualidade de vida e na organização interna da comunidade foram priorizados. Os profissionais indicam que é viável estabelecer o monitoramento dos parâmetros levantados. / Amazon, non-timber forest products, ecological effects, socioeconomic effects, monitoring.