The spatio-temporal regulation of translation is critical to the proper development of all organisms. The presence of Translational Control Elements (TCEs) in Un-Translated Regions (UTRs) is one feature common to all regulated eukaryotic mRNAs examined to date. These TCEs serve as binding sites for sequence specific proteins or small regulatory RNAs that recruit other accessory proteins that inhibit translation. Xnos1, a localized RNA in the germ plasm of Xenopus, is negatively regulated by an unknown mechanism. We used in vivo and in vitro translation assays, competition assays, and ribosome binding assays in order to determine the location of the Xnos1 TCE and its mechanism of repression. The Xnos1 TCE is located in the open reading frame, a departure from the canonical translational regulation mechanisms. This TCE is predicted to form conserved secondary structures in the first 75 nucleotides of the open reading frame (ORF). In vitro translation assays demonstrated that the repression can be partially relieved by either denaturing the transcripts or by introducing point mutations that weaken the secondary structure. This TCE cannot be relieved by competition and therefore is likely not to require the presence of a repressor protein. The structural regulation of translation by a TCE in the open reading frame is a novel mechanism of repression for a eukaryotic mRNA.

For centuries, researchers have been trying to achieve precise control and tailor materials properties. Several approaches, i.e., thermo-activation, electro-activation, and photo-activation, have been widely utilized. As an alternate and fundamentally different approach, mechano-activation is still relatively less-known. In particular, understanding the roles of mechano-activated electronic and molecular structures is yet to be achieved. This research contributes the fundamental understanding in mechanisms of mechano-activation and its effects on materials properties. Experimental investigation and theoretical analysis were involved in the present research. A methodology was developed to introduce the mechnao-activation and to study its subsequent effects. There are three major areas of investigation involved. First, the means to introduce mechanoactivation, such as energetic particle collision or a bending deformation (tensile force); Second, in-situ and ex-situ characterization using AFM, FTIR, UV-Vis, and XPS etc. techniques; Third, theoretical analysis through modified Lennard-Jones potentials in order to explain the behavior of materials under mechano-activation. In the present research, experiments on a Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC) film, a Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF) film, and the Silver-Crown Ether nanochains (Ag-NCs) were carried out. For DLC, the collision-induced transformation between hybridization states of carbon was confirmed, which also dominated the friction behavior of the film. For PVDF, results show that the applied tensile force induced the transformation of [alpha], [beta], and [upsilon] crystalline phase. In addition, the transformation observed was time and direction dependent. For Ag-NCs, a new approach based on the mechanism of mechano-activation was developed for nanochain structure synthesis. Molecular dynamics simulation and experimental results revealed that the formation of Ag-NCs is a synergetic physicalchemical procedure. Experimental results from DLC and PVDF were further used to validate the proposed potential, which brought new insight into the activation process. The current research achieves a precise control on engineering materials properties. The force-activated materials have wide applications in many areas, such as functional coating, sensing, and catalysis. In this study selected experiments have demonstrated the effects of mechanoactivation in different material systems (ceramic, polymer, metallic nano structure) and at different length scales. For the first time, a modified potential was proposed to explain the observed mechano-activation phenomena from the energy point of view. It was validated by experimental results of DLC and PVDF. The current research brings new understanding in mechano-activation and opens potential for its applications in tailoring materials properties.

We investigate the differences --- conceptually and algorithmically --- between affine and projective frameworks for the tasks of visual recognition and reconstruction from perspective views. It is shown that an affine invariant exists between any view and a fixed view chosen as a reference view. This implies that for tasks for which a reference view can be chosen, such as in alignment schemes for visual recognition, projective invariants are not really necessary. We then use the affine invariant to derive new algebraic connections between perspective views. It is shown that three perspective views of an object are connected by certain algebraic functions of image coordinates alone (no structure or camera geometry needs to be involved).

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(工学) / 甲第21461号 / 工博第4536号 / 新制||工||1707(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院工学研究科建築学専攻 / (主査)教授 松島 信一, 教授 竹脇 出, 教授 池田 芳樹 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Philosophy (Engineering) / Kyoto University / DFAM

Nanocrystalline materials have been under extensive study in the past two decades. The reduction in grain size induces many abnormal behaviors in the properties of nanocrystalline materials, that have been investigated systematically and quantitatively. As one of the most fundamental relations in materials science, the structure-property relation should still apply on materials of nano-scale grain sizes. The characterization of grain boundaries (GBs) and related entities remains a big obstacle to understanding the structure-property relation in nanocrystalline materials. It is challenging experimentally to determine the topological properties of polycrystalline materials due to the complex and disordered grain boundary network presented in the nanocrystalline materials. The constantly improving computing power enables us to study the structure-property relation in nanocrystalline materials via Monte Carlo and molecular dynamic simulations. In this study, we will first propose a geometrical construction method based on inverse Monte Carlo simulation to generate digital microstructures with desired topological properties such as grain size, interface area, triple junction length as well as their statistical distributions. The influences on the grain shapes by different topological properties are studied. Two empirical geometrical laws are examined including the Lewis rule and Aboav-Weaire law. Secondly, defect free nanocrystalline Copper (nc-Cu) samples are generated by filling atoms into the Voronoi structure and then relaxed by molecular dynamics simulations. Atoms in the relaxed nc-Cu samples are then characterized into grain atoms, GB interface atoms, GB triple junction atoms and vertex atoms using a newly proposed method. Atoms in each GB entity can also be identified. Next, the topological properties of nc-Cu samples before and after relaxation are calculated and compared, indicating that there exists a physical limit in the number of atoms to form a stable grain boundary interface and triple junction in nanocrystalline materials. In addition, we are able to obtain the statistical averages of geometrical and thermal properties of atoms across each GB interfaces, the so-called GB profiles, and study the grain size, misorientation and temperature effects on the microstructures in nanocrystalline materials. Finally, nc-Cu samples with different topological properties are deformed under simple shear using MD simulation in an attempt to study the structure-property relation in nanocrystalline materials.

Master Thesis in Business Administration, School of Business and Economics, Linnaeus University, 4FE17E, 2017 Authors: Anders Maase and Niklas Möllmark Supervisor: Anna Stafsudd Second supervisor: Håkan Locking Examiner: Karin Jonnergård Title: How does the ownership structure affect the firm’s performance in a Swedish context? Background: Ownership structure has been a hot topic ever since the first firms were founded and has since been affected by law, globalization and internationalization. Sweden has previously been characterized by a high ownership concentration as a result from ‘The Swedish Model’ but today there are international pressures that instead propagate a spread type of ownership. The views differ if Sweden is to continue advocating the concentrated ownership structure or shifting towards the Anglo-American corporate governance model. Purpose: To explain if and how ownership structure affects the performance of Swedish listed firms. Method: The study has a deductive research approach and the underlying theory is based on agency theory. The quantitative research method relies on ownership, board and financial data from 2011, 2012 and 2013. Conclusion: There is no significant relationship between ownership concentration and the firm’s performance, but between ownership structure there is significant evidence that foreign and institutional ownership affects the company's performance. Thus, it is possible that Sweden moves towards an Anglo-American type of corporate governance. / Examensarbete, Civilekonomprogrammet, Ekonomihögskolan vid Linnéuniverstietet, Företagsekonomi, 4FE17E, VT-2017 Författare: Anders Maase och Niklas Möllmark Handledare: Anna Stafsudd Medbedömare: Håkan Locking Examinator: Karin Jonnergård Titel: Hur påverkar ägarstrukturen bolagets prestation i en svensk kontext? Bakgrund: Temat ägarstruktur har debatterats sedan bolagens uppkomst och har sedan dess påverkats av lagstiftning, globalisering och en ökad internationalisering. Sverige har tidigare kännetecknats av en hög ägarkoncentration till följd av den svenska modellen men idag finns det internationella påtryckningar som istället förespråkar ett spritt ägande. Åsikterna går isär om Sverige ska fortsätta förespråka den koncentrerade ägarstrukturen eller övergå mot den angloamerikanska bolagsstyrningsmodellen. Syfte: Att förklara om och i så fall hur ägarstrukturen påverkar svenska börsnoterade bolags prestation.   Metod: Studien har en deduktiv forskningsansats där den teoretiska grunden utgörs av agentteori. Den kvantitativa forskningsmetoden bygger på ägar-, styrelse- och finansiell data från åren 2011, 2012 och 2013. Slutsats: Det råder inget signifikant samband mellan ägarkoncentration och bolagets prestation men mellan ägarstruktur finns det signifikanta belägg för att utländskt och institutionellt ägande har en negativ påverkan på bolagets prestation. Därmed är det möjligt att Sverige rör sig mot en angloamerikansk typ av bolagsstyrning.

京都大学 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(工学) / 甲第24616号 / 工博第5122号 / 新制||工||1979(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院工学研究科材料工学専攻 / (主査)教授 田中 功, 教授 奥田 浩司, 教授 中村 裕之 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Philosophy (Engineering) / Kyoto University / DGAM

This essay studies the semantic structure of the noun dog with the help of qualia structure and adjectives that collocate with the noun. It also evaluates the idea of qualia structure and how well it works in studying the semantic structure of nouns. More specifically, the aim of this paper is to see how the information contained by the noun dog could be structured in terms of qualia structure. On a more general level the aim is also to evaluate, and add to, the idea of qualia structure as such. In order to accomplish this aim the top 100 adjectives that collocate with the noun dog were searched for in the COCA corpus (Corpus of Contemporary American English). The results were that with the help of qualia structure and some adjectives that collocate with the noun, it was possible to posit some substructures for the noun dog and create a tree that gave an overview of the semantic structure of the noun. However, some problems arose during the process making it clear where qualia structure needs improvement. This led to the discussion of the evolution of qualia structure and where the idea could be, and perhaps should be headed in the near future.

Submitted by Rafael Dallacqua (dallacquas@hotmail.com) on 2016-12-26T11:16:55Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação_Rafael Dallacqua_Final.pdf: 531478 bytes, checksum: 3c94fb1b18f7cc58da4f26618bbabb8d (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Renata de Souza Nascimento (renata.souza@fgv.br) on 2016-12-27T14:05:24Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação_Rafael Dallacqua_Final.pdf: 531478 bytes, checksum: 3c94fb1b18f7cc58da4f26618bbabb8d (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-12-28T11:01:19Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação_Rafael Dallacqua_Final.pdf: 531478 bytes, checksum: 3c94fb1b18f7cc58da4f26618bbabb8d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-12-14 / The Brazilian corporate governance model is characterized by a high concentration of ownership structure and control in the majority of the publicly traded companies, which makes the conflict between minorities and controlling shareholders the main agency problem in Brazilian companies. Several national and international papers have studied the theme and the impact of concentration of ownership on financial performance, market value and risk of the companies, using different econometric approaches having reached divergent results, despite the lack of consensus regarding the influence of concentration of ownership on the value and performance of companies. This paper aims to analyze the relation between concentration of ownership and financial performance and the market value of Brazilian companies, using a sample with balanced panel data composed by 83 non-financial publicly traded Brazilian companies in the period from 2009 to 2014. The results show that there is a statistically significant relationship between concentration of ownership and the market value of firms, given by Tobin's q and the firm value of the company. However, no statistically significant relationship was found between concentration of ownership and financial performance. / O modelo de governança corporativa brasileiro é caracterizado por uma elevada concentração de propriedade e controle na maioria das empresas de capital aberto, o que torna o conflito entre acionistas minoritários e controladores o principal problema de agência nas empresas brasileiras. Diversos trabalhos nacionais e internacionais estudaram o tema e o impacto que a concentração de propriedade tem sobre o desempenho financeiro, valor de mercado e risco das empresas, com diferentes abordagens econométricas e chegaram a resultados divergentes, de forma que não há ainda um consenso sobre a influência da concentração de propriedade sobre o valor e desempenho das empresas. O objetivo deste trabalho é analisar a relação entre concentração de propriedade e o desempenho financeiro e valor de mercado das empresas brasileiras, utilizando uma amostra com dados em painel balanceado composta por 83 empresas brasileiras não financeiras de capital aberto no período de 2009 a 2014. Os resultados mostram que existe uma relação estatisticamente significante entre concentração de propriedade e o valor de mercado das empresas, dado pelo q de Tobin e o valor da empresa. Porém, não foi encontrada relação estatisticamente significante entre concentração de propriedade e desempenho financeiro.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / This thesis study aims to verify what conditions the adoption of governance structures in the formation and management of supplies chains in the networks of fruit and vegetables retail in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. For this, the main question for this research is: What are the motivations that take to the structures of governance adopted in the supply chains of retail organizations for FLV? The theorical framework used to help in the comprehension of the complex relationships established in the competitive modern environment is based, above, in the New Institucional Economy, in the Theory of Transaction Costs in the approach of Management in Chain of Supplies and in the Competitive Strategies of network organizations. As a level of analysis the chain of supplies of the retail companies is adopted, from the perspective of internal chain until the interorganizational arrangements. The methodological option performed for this investigation is the Case Study, considering that three regional networks of retail and six suppliers were analysed, covering the area of 5 mesoregions of the state. The choice of the cut on what refers to the section of fruits and vegetables is related to the specificities specially challenging on the distribution of the department of perishable foods and the growing search for health through the ingestion of more healthy , functional and with good nutritional aspects foods. This conjuncture has reflected on the raising of demand of these products and in the reorganization of all productive chain, reaching, specially, the initial link considered in this study: the farmers. As results it is verified that the retail networks when performing the management of their supplying chains use hibrid structures of governance with differente levels of coordination, considering the attributes of the transactions. But, also, conditioned by the characteristics imposed by the generic strategy adopted in each network as a way to answer their consumers. From the sight ocf impact on structuring the chains of supplies for the farmers it is seen that as the demand of the consumers gets higher, proportionally the need of coordinating the chain is increased, forcing the development of specific investments, increasing the mutual dependence. This takes the retail to adopt a more collaborative behavior in the chain. / Este trabalho procura verificar o que condiciona a adoção das estruturas de governança na formação e gestão das cadeias de suprimentos das redes de varejo de frutas, legumes e verduras no estado do Rio Grande do Sul. Para tanto, a principal questão que norteia a pesquisa é: Quais as motivações que levam às estruturas de governança adotadas nas cadeias de suprimentos de organizações varejistas para FLV? O arcabouço teórico utilizado para auxiliar na compreensão dos complexos relacionamentos estabelecidos no ambiente competitivo moderno está baseado, sobretudo, na Nova Economia Institucional, na Teoria dos Custos de Transação, na abordagem da Gestão da Cadeia de Suprimentos e nas Estratégias Competitivas das empresas organizadas em redes. Como nível de análise adota-se a cadeia de suprimentos das empresas varejistas, desde a perspectiva da cadeia interna até os arranjos interorganizacionais. A opção metodológica feita para esta investigação é o Estudo de Caso, sendo que foram analisadas três redes regionais de varejo e seis fornecedores, abrangendo cinco mesorregiões do Estado. A escolha do recorte no que diz respeito à seção de frutas, legumes e verduras está relacionada com as particularidades especialmente desafiadoras na distribuição do departamento de perecíveis e à crescente busca por saúde através da ingestão de alimentos mais sadios, funcionais e com bons aspectos nutricionais. Essa conjuntura tem refletido no aumento da demanda desses produtos e na reorganização de toda cadeia produtiva, atingindo, especialmente, o elo inicial considerado nesse estudo: os agricultores. Como resultados verifica-se que as redes de varejo ao realizarem a gestão das suas cadeias de suprimentos utilizam estruturas de governança híbridas com diferentes níveis de coordenação, considerando os atributos das transações. Mas, também, condicionadas pelas características impostas pela estratégia genérica adotada em cada rede como forma de atender seus consumidores. Do ponto de vista do impacto da estruturação das cadeias de suprimentos para os agricultores percebe-se que conforme aumenta a exigência dos consumidores proporcionalmente aumenta a necessidade de coordenação da cadeia, forçando o desenvolvimento de investimentos específicos, aumentando a dependência mútua. Isso leva o varejo a adotar uma postura mais colaborativa ao longo da cadeia.