There are continuing concerns regarding literacy standards within education with these concerns having resulted in many literacy initiatives being introduced over the past 5 years. Much research has focussed on improving our understanding of literacy, our ability to identify literacy needs and our ability to subsequently address these needs. As a result of an independent review into the early teaching of reading the Government have promoted the use of the ‘Simple View of Reading’ (SVOR) in the Primary Framework for Literacy (DCSF, 2007c). The study reported in this thesis considers whether the Simple View of Reading is perceived by teachers as providing a useful framework for the identification of literacy learning needs. In addition, it also aims to contribute to our understanding of teacher development, identifying for whom, and in what circumstances, the introduction of the SVOR results in a change in practice. Teachers working within five primary schools participated in this study. Data was collected through questionnaires and a small number of follow up interviews. It is important to note that these findings are likely to have been influenced by certain changes in context during the study, for example the delegation of funding to schools, a reduction in central support services and the introduction of the Primary Framework for Literacy. Questionnaire data indicates that, on the whole, teachers perceived the SVOR as easy to use, as providing useful information and as providing an easy visual reference. Results also indicate reported increases in teacher understanding of, and use of, the SVOR, coupled with increased confidence relating to the identification of literacy learning needs. These differences were all statistically significant. Key findings from the interviews suggest that teachers who perceived the SVOR to be useful and helpful to them on a personal level, made links between the SVOR and their existing practice and were more concerned with improving outcomes for children rather than meeting their own personal needs were more likely to incorporate the SVOR into their practice. This study has implications for promoting the SVOR as a framework for identifying literacy needs, future teacher development and the use of realist research approaches within Educational Psychology.

The double angle connection (sometimes referred to as a cleat connection) is one of the most commonly used simple shear connections, and many investigations have been conducted on this type of connection. However, most of these investigations have focused on either the strength or the moment-rotation relationship under shear loading. Several investigations have recently been performed on the behavior of double angle connections subjected to shear plus axial tensile loads. In these investigations, analytical models and design formulas have been proposed to model the complex behavior of these connections when subjected to the combined loading. However, a complete design model has not been developed. To fulfill the need for a design procedure, double angle connections were studied for three different loading cases. The first case was used to establish the load-displacement relationship under axial tensile loads. The second case was to establish the moment-rotation relationship under shear loads. Finally, the third case was to find the effects of combined axial tensile loads and shear loads on the behavior of double angle connections. For these purposes, 3D-nonlinear finite element models were developed to simulate the connection behavior under the three loading cases. The commercial software package, ABAQUS, was used for the study. The complex phenomena of contact problems and the pretension forces in the bolts were simulated. A simplified angle model and an equivalent spring model were developed from the 3D results. / Ph. D.

L’épidermolyse bulleuse simplex (EBS) est une maladie orpheline dermatologique qui a une prévalence mondiale de 1/50 000 à 1/30 000. Elle est caractérisée par des mutations transmises de manière autosomale dominante dans les gènes de la kératine 5 (KRT5) et 14 (KRT14), menant à une agrégation des filaments intermédiaires. Phénotypiquement, il y a présence d’ampoules causées par un décollement de l’épiderme. Jusqu’à présent, aucune thérapie efficace n’est disponible. Dans cette étude, des essais cellulaires évaluant le potentiel thérapeutique de deux chaperonnes chimiques, le triméthylamine N-oxyde (TMAO) et le sodium 4-phénylbutyrate (4-PBA), ont été réalisés. Pour ce faire, trois lignées immortalisées de kératinocytes de patients EBS ayant une mutation dans KRT14 et une lignée contrôle ont été utilisées pour déterminer la capacité des molécules à réduire le nombre de cellules ayant des agrégats. Les résultats ont montré un effet bénéfique significatif du TMAO seulement, et ce dans deux lignées uniquement. Ainsi, le TMAO se qualifie comme une approche thérapeutique potentielle.

Tableau d'honneur de la Faculté des études supérieures et postdorales, 2017-2018 / L’épidermolyse bulleuse dystrophique récessive (EBDR) est une maladie génétique rare causée par des mutations dans le gène COL7A1, codant pour le collagène de type VII, qui est sécrété par les kératinocytes et les fibroblastes cutanés. Le collagène de type VII forme les fibrilles d'ancrage responsables de l'adhésion à la jonction dermo-épidermique et son absence provoque des décollements de l'épiderme. Il n'y a aucun traitement curatif pour l'EBDR. L’objectif de ce projet est de développer un traitement pour l'EBDR par thérapie génique, en utilisant la peau reconstruite par génie tissulaire produite à partir de fibroblastes et de kératinocytes humains modifiés génétiquement pour exprimer le gène COL7A1. Une méthode de transduction de fibroblastes et de kératinocytes a été optimisée. L'efficacité des facilitateurs EF-C et polybrène à augmenter la transduction des vecteurs rétroviraux pseudotypés avec les enveloppes Ampho, BaeV, Galv ou RD114 a été comparée. Les conditions optimisées ont été utilisées pour délivrer le gène COL7A1 portant une étiquette hémaglutinine dans les cellules utilisées pour reconstruire la peau in vitro par la méthode d'auto-assemblage. Les résultats montrent que le peptide EF-C a augmenté la transduction des fibroblastes et des kératinocytes en comparaison au polybrène. De plus, l’évaluation de l’efficacité de formation des colonies a indiqué que les conditions de transduction optimisées ont permis de préserver des kératinocytes formant des clones typiquement associés aux cellules souches. Lorsque les cellules transduites par le vecteur ont été utilisées pour produire des peaux reconstruites, le collagène de type VII synthétisé à partir du gène inséré s'est localisé à la jonction dermo-épidermique comme le collagène natif. Ces résultats indiquent que le transfert de gènes pour produire la peau reconstruite est une technologie prometteuse pour le traitement de l'EBDR. La greffe de ces tissus autologues sur les patients pourrait offrir une méthode efficace et sécuritaire pour traiter cette maladie. / Recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB) is a rare genetic disease caused by mutations in the COL7A1 gene, which encodes type VII collagen. Secreted by keratinocytes and fibroblasts, the type VII collagen forms the anchoring fibrils that ensure dermal-epidermal junction cohesion in the skin. Its absence leads to epidermal detachment. There is no cure for RDEB. The objective of this project is to develop a treatment for RDEB, integrating gene therapy and tissue-engineered skin substitutes produced with human fibroblasts and keratinocytes genetically modified to express the COL7A1 gene. A method to transduce fibroblasts and keratinocytes was optimized. The efficacy of the enhancers EF-C and polybrene to increase the transduction efficiency of pseudotyped retroviral vectors with the Ampho, Baev, Galv or RD114 envelopes was compared. The optimized conditions were used to deliver the COL7A1 gene tagged with hemagglutinin (HA) in the cells used to reconstruct in vitro tissue-engineered skin substitute by the self-assembly method. Results showed that the EF-C-peptide increased transduction of fibroblasts and keratinocytes in comparison to polybrene. In addition, the colony forming efficiency assay indicated that optimized conditions of transduction allowed to preserve keratinocyte clones typically formed by stem cells. When transduced cells were used to produce tissue-engineered skin substitute, type VII collagen synthesized from the newly inserted COL7A1 tagged HA gene was located at the dermal-epidermal junction like in native skin. These results indicate that the combination of gene therapy and tissue engineering is a promising technology for the treatment of RDEB. The transplantation of autologous tissue-engineered skin substitutes genetically corrected with normal COL7A1 gene in RDEB patients could offer a safe and effective method to treat this disease.

Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Understanding the origins of the multiaxial material properties of soft tissues is crucial for quantifying the tissue material properties that govern the material behavior for acurate predictive modeling of the biological systems. Unlike many engineering structural materials, biological materials exhibit complex material behavior due to structural anisotropy and various interactions between each of the microstructrual units of the tissue. Therefore, this study aims to quantify the shear material behavior of rabbit patellar tendon under simple shear loading along the fiber direction and perpendicular to the fiber direction and to understand the role of tissue shearing and its contribution to the overall mechanical behavior of the tendon. It was hypothesized that tendon demonstrates anisotropic material response under simple shear. Results suggests that tendon exhibits direction-dependent viscoelastic shear properties, reflecting structural anisotropy. The data obtained from our present study could be used for development of constituent models using internal state variable theory.

No description available.

Tesis entregada a la Universidad de Chile en cumplimiento parcial de los requisitos para optar al grado de Magíster en Ciencias Biológicas / La arqueología y la historia del Valle de Aconcagua dan cuenta de una gran variabilidad cultural. Recientes prospecciones arqueológicas sugieren que desde el Periodo Alfarero Temprano se visualizan dos áreas diferenciadas culturalmente: valle de Putaendo y valle de Los Andes. Estas áreas muestran diferencias en relación al tipo de cerámica, desarrollo de petroglifos y patrones mortuorios. Junto con ello, las características geográficas del valle de Aconcagua, específicamente la presencia del río Aconcagua se presenta como una posible barrera geográfica que influiría en el flujo de personas. A pesar de las implicancias que puede traer el estudiar poblaciones mestizas, las poblaciones de Aconcagua presentan características demográficas que permitirían acercarnos a dilucidar estas diferencias, por lo que en este estudio se evaluó la existencia de diferencias genéticas entre las poblaciones del Curso Superior del río Aconcagua (valle de Aconcagua) dada las diferencias culturales y la presencia del río Aconcagua en el área. Se genotipificaron 40 individuos del valle de Putaendo, 28 individuos del valle de Santa María y 45 individuos del valle de Los Andes para 148 SNPs informativos de ancestría. Los resultados de ancestría muestran que las tres poblaciones presentan en promedio proporciones de los componentes ancestrales europeo (~54%), africano (~6%), indígena del norte (~13%) e indígena del sur (~27%) muy similares. El análisis de componentes principales muestra que no existe subestructuración genética entre las poblaciones del valle de Aconcagua, formando un único clúster. Los valores de FST entre las poblaciones son muy bajos, lo cual es congruente con una escasa diferenciación genética entre las poblaciones. El análisis Discriminante de Componentes Principales muestra una sutil diferencia entre el valle de Putaendo y el valle de Santa María y el valle de Los Andes. El análisis de asignación es coherente con los demás resultados, mostrando que el ~39% de los individuos es asignado correctamente a la población a la cual pertenece. Los resultados sugieren una baja señal de diferenciación genética entre las poblaciones en estudio, aunque esta puede haber sido influenciada por el proceso de mestizaje durante la colonización europea, la cantidad de marcadores usados y/o la potencia de éstos para distinguir dicha diferenciación o que el río Aconcagua no funcionó necesariamente como una barrera el flujo de personas entre los valles existentes, sino más bien como una barrera cultural y, posteriormente político-administrativa. / The archaeology and history of the Aconcagua Valley account for a great cultural variability. Recent archaeological surveys suggest that from the Early Potter Period two culturally differentiated areas are visualized: Putaendo valley and Los Andes valley. These areas show differences in relation to the type of ceramics, development of petroglyphs and mortuary patterns. Along with this, the geographical characteristics of the Aconcagua Valley, specifically the presence of the Aconcagua River, is presented as a possible geographic barrier that would influence the flow of people. Despite the implications of studying mestizo populations, the populations of Aconcagua have demographic characteristics that would allow us to elucidate these differences, so in this study, the existence of genetic differences between the Upper Aconcagua River courses (Aconcagua Valley) was evaluated, given the cultural differences and the presence of the river in the area. Forty individuals from the Putaendo Valley, 28 individuals from the Santa María Valley and 45 individuals from the Los Andes Valley were genotyped for 148 ancestry information SNPs. The ancestry results show that the three populations present on average proportions of the European (~ 54%), African (~ 6%), northern (~ 13%) and southern indigenous (~ 27%) ancestral components very similar. The analysis of Principal Components shows that there is no genetic substructure among the populations of the Aconcagua Valley, forming a single cluster. The values of FST between the populations are very low, which is consistent with a low genetic differentiation among the populations. The Principal Components Discriminant analysis shows a subtle difference between the Putaendo Valley and the Santa María Valley and the Los Andes Valley. The allocation analysis is consistent with the other results, showing that ~ 39% of the individuals are correctly assigned to the population to which they belong. The results suggest a low signal of genetic differentiation among the populations studied, although this may have been influenced by the process of crossbreeding during European colonization, the amount of markers used and/or the potency of these to distinguish this differentiation or that the Aconcagua river did not necessarily function as a barrier to the flow of people between the existing valleys, but rather as a cultural barrier and, subsequently, politicaladministrative

Dans certaines conditions de température et de débit, l’eau naturellement présente dans le kérosène va givrer l’intérieur des conduites du système carburant avion. Ces dépôts peuvent libérer des particules de glace qui sont entrainées par l’écoulement, et provoquent le colmatage des équipements hydrauliques situés en aval. Ce phénomène fut mis en évidence suite à l’accident d’un Boeing 777 en 2008, aussi sa compréhension est un enjeu important pour les acteurs de l’industrie aéronautique. Un dispositif a été spécialement conçu pour reproduire cette menace de façon quantifiée. De l’eau est atomisée dans un écoulement à basse température, puis cristallise pour former une suspension qui vient colmater différentes cibles perforées. Les températures, débits et pertes de charge sont mesurées, et le phénomène est filmé par une caméra haute fréquence. Un modèle a été réalisé à partir de cesobservations, complétées par des données issues de la littérature et de retoursd’expérience. Pour la phase fluide, les équations de Navier-Stokes incompressibles sont résolues par une approche volumes finis. Le couplage pression-vitesse est obtenu par l’algorithme SIMPLE et l’ordre élevé au moyen de la méthode MLS. La phase solide est simulée par éléments discrets. L’interaction fluide-particules repose sur une approche de type milieu poreux. Un code CFD-DEM parallèle a été développé, et les premières simulations d’écoulement en milieu granulaire sont en bon agrément avec des résultats expérimentaux. / Water, which exists naturally in jet-engine fuel, may freeze within theaircraft fuel pipes under certain temperatures and flow rates. The ice particles released by these deposits are entrained by the flow, and clog the hydraulics downstream. The understanding of this phenomenon, highlighted by the crash of a Boeing 777 in 2008, is an important issue for the aviation industry. Therefore a device has been designed to reproduce this threat in a controlled and quantified way. Water is atomized in low temperature jet-engine fuel and the droplets crystallize. The resulting slurry clogs different kinds of perforated targets. Temperatures, flow rates and pressure drops are monitored, and the phenomenon is filmed by a high frequency camera. A model was constructed based on these observations and data from literature and feedbacks. For the fluid phase, the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations are solved within a finite volume framework. The pressure-velocity coupling is achieved using the SIMPLE algorithm and high order of accuracy thanks to the MLS method. The solid phase is simulated using discrete elements. The fluid-particle interaction is based on a porous medium approach. A CFD-DEM parallel code has been developed to run the model. The first simulations of flow through granular media are in good agreement with experimental results.

As Aventuras de David Simple, primeiro romance de Sarah Fielding publicado em 1744, foi redescoberto pela crítica anglo-saxã nos anos 60 através da adoção de perspectivas que buscavam questionar as abordagens canônicas no que se refere ao romance moderno como gênero. Neste trabalho, procuramos compreender a contribuição, dentro da história do romance, dos principais estudos acerca de David Simple, e propor uma análise crítica que, aproximando-se do material narrativo, visa a expor como se formulam, no nível da fatura, algumas das questões fundamentais da vida socioeconômica e literária da Inglaterra neste período / The Adventures of David Simple, Sarah Fielding\'s first novel published in 1744, was rediscovered by Anglo Saxon critics in the 1960\'s who employed new perspectives that aimed at questioning earlier canonical assumptions regarding the modern novel as a genre. The aim of this research is to understand the contributions, to the history of the novel, of the main studies concerning David Simple, and also to propose a critical analysis that, approaching the narrative material, aims at exposing how the novel formulates, in the managing of its structure and themes, some of the fundamental issues in socioeconomic and literary English life in this period