The aim of this Master’s thesis is to investigate how contemporary Swedish picture-books describe ethnicity. The analysis is based upon eight books that were published during the period 1996 to 2006. The thesis is based upon a qualitative content analysis and a model of analysis that has been constructed with inspiration from Maria Nikolajeva and Pil Dahlerup and their conceptions of analyzing literature. The study’s theoretical framework is primarily based on the sociology of literature and the perspective of the society in literature. We also introduce the conception ethnicity and its connection with nationalism, race, culture, norm, “us and them” and stereotyping. The results show that contemporary Swedish picture-books describe ethnicity stereotyped on the basis of Swedish norms. The picture-books in the study separate the ethnical Swedish from ethical foreign by emphasizing contrasts between the two. These contrasts cause a negative distance between the Swedish and foreign and emphasises the concept of “us and them”. / Uppsatsnivå: D

Many of the wastes associated with the nuclear fuel cycle are toxic to the biosphere; advancing the use of high resolution spectroscopy applied to these materials will provide the chemical speciation of the interaction between nuclear waste and geological material, improving confidence in a permanent disposal method and informing clean-up operations. Luminescence spectroscopy of uranyl(VI) is a well-established technique for the molecular speciation of uranium-mineral interactions. This work explores the use of both micro- and macroscopic luminescence spectroscopy to expose uranyl(VI) speciative heterogeneity in a range of minerals which have been exposed to uranyl(VI) salt solutions. A comprehensive review of the available literature on the interaction of uranyl(VI) with a range of geological media is assessed and compared. The review finds considerable ambiguity in the speciation of uranyl(VI) at the mineral water interface. A database reporting the multi parametric luminescence properties of uranyl(VI) with silica gel, quartz, bayerite, boehmite, muscovite, kaolinite and montmorillonite (SWy-2 and STx-1b) is presented and discussed. Although some of the results are consistent with previously reported values, many newly identified species are reported and their identification speculated. Parallel factor analysis is used to deconvolute the excitationemission matrix of uranyl(VI) sorbed to silica gel between pH 3 and pH 10. The results are used to identify the spectroscopic properties of complexes >(SiO)2UO2 and >(SiO)2UO2OH and thus new complexation coefficients (log(K)) for their formation with the silica gel surface are determined, log(K1) = 9.22 ± 0.02 and log(K2) = 3.45 ± 0.01, respectively. The investigation also provides insight into the fundamental properties of uranyl(VI) excitation pathways, which are not yet fully understood. Confocal microscopy and phosphorescent lifetime image mapping (PLIM) is used to expose the sub-micron heterogeneity of uranyl(VI) sorption complexation across mineral surfaces of silica gel, bayerite and montmorillonite (STx-1b). The results suggest that changes in the uranyl(VI) lifetime can be used to observe and understand submicron changes in uranyl(VI) complexation at hitherto unknown temporal resolution.

Human embryonic stem cells are pluripotent cells that have indefinite replicative potential and ability to differentiate into derivatives of three germ layers. HESCs are conventionally derived and grown on mitotically inactivated mouse embryonic fibroblasts and there are some alternative feeder types of human origin that have been used to replenish hESCs while trying to prevent cross-species contamination. The trophic factors that are secreted by the feeders are found to be important for long-term pluripotency but there are also supportive culture systems for hESCs lacking feeder cells which might suggest that not only the interactions with the feeders affect the behaviour of hESCs but also the components of the niche may take part in the decision of self-renewal or differentiation. Extracellular matrix components are known to exert their stimulatory or inhibitory effects by localising cells into a specific microenvironment in natural niches but have been relatively little investigated for hESCs. The aim of this study was to investigate ECM components which might have a role in the maintenance of hESCs. I have first investigated human placental stromal fibroblasts and immortalised human placental stromal fibroblasts for the support hESC pluripotency as an anlternative feeder type to conventional mouse embryonic fibroblasts. Secondly, the matrices derived from hPSFs and ihPSFs were assessed for their ability to support hESC pluripotency. Tandem mass spectrometry was used to identify ECM components released by human feeders in order to characterise the range of extracellular matrix proteins that support the growth of self-renewing hESCs. The majority of the molecules was shared between the cell types irrespective of hPSF cell derived matrix was not being supportive for hESC pluripotency, with some ECM components being unique ihPSFs. Collagen VI, tenascin C and versican were tested for hESC attachment and as substrates for feeder-free culture system in order to develop an optimised feeder-free system. Furthermore, integrin receptor profile of different hESC lines was also determined in order to identify the mechanisms of substrate attachment. Integrin attachment was shown to be vital for hESC engagement to fibronectin and vitronectin in feeder-free systems. The components of the integrin signalling machinery were identified in hESCs and the significance of integrin-mediated signalling in hESC self-renewal was demonstrated by blocking integrin β1 on fibronectin and integrin aVβ5 on vitronectin. Moreover, intracellular signalling mediator c-Src was shown to involve in ECMregulated signalling by affecting the phosphorylation of Focal Adhesion Kinase. Inhibition of Src led to a decrease in the expression of pluripotency-associated markers. Finally, the effects of growth factor supplementation on the maintenance of pluripotency in defined feeder-free conditions were studied by withdrawal of growth factors and blocking FGF Receptors. FGF-2 was shown to be essential for long-term self-renewal while the effects on pluripotency deteriorated in the absence of both FGF-2 and Activin A. Taken together this project highlighted the importance of substrate attachment and growth factors on the regulation of hESC self-renewal.

Vad berättar ljud för oss? Olika ljud ger olika konnotationer beroende på vem som lyssnar, vad den har för förkunskaper och erfarenheter. Lyssnandet är i allra högsta grad subjektivt. Vad har en filmmusikkompositör för ansvar? Är det viktigt att vara tydlig i vilka val av ljud kompositören gjort och varför just de ljuden valts ut? Spelar det egentligen någon roll när det subjektiva lyssnandet träder in? Behöver de ljud vi hör vara det vi tror att de är? Det här är några av de frågor som intresserar mig och ligger till grund för det ämne som jag har valt: experimenterande med ljud i filmberättande. I mitt examensarbete har jag både konstnärligt och i denna text reflekterat kring ämnet. / <p>Till uppsatsen följer bilagor i form av ljudfiler och en dokumentär kortfilm, <em>Vi Andra</em>, regi: Sharmarke Binyusuf och Manolo Diaz Rämö, klipp: Jakob Åsell, ljud: Gustaf Forsberg, produktion: Beatrice Pourbagher Garcia.</p><p>Länk till filmen går att få vid meljkontakt.</p>

Submitted by Cleide Dantas (cleidedantas@ufpa.br) on 2014-07-21T16:25:18Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 23898 bytes, checksum: e363e809996cf46ada20da1accfcd9c7 (MD5) Dissertacao_SistemaLiberacaoControlada.pdf: 1661147 bytes, checksum: baf9d5ff827500cf82f2018daaf113c2 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Ana Rosa Silva (arosa@ufpa.br) on 2014-09-08T14:37:56Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 23898 bytes, checksum: e363e809996cf46ada20da1accfcd9c7 (MD5) Dissertacao_SistemaLiberacaoControlada.pdf: 1661147 bytes, checksum: baf9d5ff827500cf82f2018daaf113c2 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2014-09-08T14:37:56Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 23898 bytes, checksum: e363e809996cf46ada20da1accfcd9c7 (MD5) Dissertacao_SistemaLiberacaoControlada.pdf: 1661147 bytes, checksum: baf9d5ff827500cf82f2018daaf113c2 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012 / A utilização do antígeno Vi em vacinas é bastante promissor devido a este proporcionar um alto nível de imunidade em vacinas parenterais. A necessidade pela busca por alternativas para administração de vacinas levou à aplicação da tecnologia da liberação controlada de fármacos no campo da imunização. Nestes sistemas de liberação controlada, as doses administradas são diminuídas, porém o período de imunidade aumenta, já que prolonga a quantidade liberada do antígeno ao longo do tempo. O presente estudo propôs desenvolver e caracterizar um sistema de liberação controlada contendo antígeno Vi, utilizando como polímero veiculador a quitosana. As técnicas de RMN H-1 e espectroscopia de infravermelho mostraram que o método de extração do antígeno Vi empregado foi satisfatório qualitativamente. A caracterização da quitosana e das nanopartículas através de ensaios de análise térmica mostrou maior estabilidade das partículas em relação à quitosana, além do aumento da temperatura de degradação nas nanopartículas à medida que aumenta a concentração da quitosana. Em relação ao potencial zeta todas as nanopartículas tiveram cargas positivas em pH 7,2, enquanto que, no tamanho, as partículas foram menores à medida que aumentou a quantidade de quitosana no sistema. Na microscopia eletrônica de transmissão, as partículas mostraram-se morfologicamente homogêneas e com formato esférico. Na cinética de adsorção o antígeno, contido em solução, sofreu uma adsorção de 55% nas partículas de quitosana. Com isso, observou-se que é possível criar um sistema de liberação controlada envolvendo nanopartículas de quitosana e antígeno Vi de Salmonella enterica sorotipo Typhi. / The use of the Vi antigen in vaccines is very promising because this provides a high level of immunity in parenteral vaccines. The need for the search for alternatives for administration of vaccines has led to the application of technology controlled release of drugs in the field of immunization. In such controlled delivery systems, the doses are decreased, but the period of immunity increases, extending the amount of antigen released over time. This study aimed to develop and characterize a controlled delivery system containing Vi antigen, using as disseminator polymer chitosan. The techniques of H-1 NMR and infrared spectroscopy showed that the method of extracting the Vi antigen used was qualitatively satisfactory. The characterization of chitosan and nanoparticles by tests thermal analysis showed greater stability of the particles in relation to chitosan, besides increasing the degradation temperature of the nanoparticles increases as the concentration of chitosan. Regarding the zeta potential nanoparticles were all positive charges at pH7.2, while the particles were smaller size as they increased the amount of chitosan in the system. In transmission electron microscopy showed the particles are morphologically homogeneous and spherical. In the adsorption kinetics of antigen contained in solution, suffered a 55% adsorption of the particles of chitosan. With this, we observed that it is possible to create a controlled delivery system involving nanoparticles of chitosan and Vi antigen of Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi.

No description available.

This dissertation explores the impact of HOPE VI (Housing Opportunities for People Everywhere), a Housing and Urban Development (HUD) program, on Tampa's Greenwood neighborhood. The program represents a policy shift away from traditional public housing toward a "mixed income" model that has effectively privatized public housing. Through a HOPE VI program implemented in Tampa in 2000, two public housing complexes were demolished and redeveloped in this way. While some former residents of public housing relocated to other public housing complexes, many moved to apartments and houses in the private rental market with Section 8 subsidized housing vouchers-many to Tampa's Greenwood neighborhood. In the dissertation, I examine how these policy changes affect both those relocated to the neighborhood and those already living in the neighborhood. The dissertation also examines the social dynamics of Greenwood in order to understand an actual mixed income neighborhood. In addition, the dissertation is concerned with the intersection of HOPE VI with other neoliberal trends in Greenwood-such as models for social order and particular discourses.

The USEPA Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for Total Chromium in drinking water is 100 μg/L. Total chromium includes both trivalent chromium (Cr(III), a trace nutrient) and hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI), a probable human carcinogen). The State of California set a Cr(VI)-specific MCL of 10 μg/L in 2014, and USEPA is considering a new federal MCL for Cr(VI). This would have a significant impact on drinking water systems across the US, with estimated annual cost of compliance between $0.6 to 5.1 billion per year. While Cr(VI) is the species of concern for health effects, water utilities must also consider Cr(III) since it can be oxidized to Cr(VI) by various chemicals. This oxidation has been documented for commonly used disinfectants. However, past studies were conducted with higher levels of chromium (e.g., 20 to 500 μg/L) and it is unknown if the reactions proceed at the same rate and extent at the lower concentrations relevant to most water treatment plants (< 10 μg/L). This project, funded by the Water Research Foundation, systematically evaluated the extent of oxidation of Cr(III) by drinking water oxidants under conditions relevant to drinking water utilities. Five oxidants (chlorine, monochloramine, chlorine dioxide, potassium permanganate, and ozone) were tested. Two doses were used for each chemical with their respective reaction times reflecting the typical application of the chemical in treatment. Three different water qualities were evaluated, each at pH 5.5, 7, and 9, and at two different temperatures (5 and 16 °C). Chlorine consistently oxidized an average of 80% of the available Cr(III), with the majority of the oxidation happening within the first 7 hours. Monochloramine did not significantly oxidize Cr(III) at any of the conditions tested. Chlorine dioxide was an effective oxidant at pH 7, with complete oxidation occurring in 6 hours, but was less effective at pH 5.5 and 9. Potassium permanganate achieved complete oxidation in 4 hours at each pH, with pH 7 experiencing the fastest oxidation. Ozone oxidized all available Cr(III) within minutes at all pH values. Quantifying the Cr(III) oxidation as a result of using these oxidants provides understanding of potential Cr(VI) addition into drinking water.

CdTe/CdS solar cells have shown great potential for terrestrial solar power applications. To be commercially viable they need to operate efficiently for about 30 years. CdS/CdTe solar cells fabricated at USF have shown record efficiencies upto 16.5% [46]. This research involves the study of thermal stress (TS) and light soaking (LS) on the stability of high efficiency (>10%) solar cells. The change in key electrical parameters Voc, FF, Jsc, A and Jo are quantified for more than 2000 hours of stressing. The device degradation was found to increase with stress temperature for TS. Below 100oC, the changes were due to collection and recombination losses. Above 100oC, "shunting" mechanisms were found to start affecting the device performance. A fast drop in performance within the first 500 hours was observed. It is believed to be due to an increase in deep-level Cu-related defects that increase with stress temperature. Diffusion of Cui+ ions from the back contact along CdTe grain boundaries had been previously reported [16]. An increase in light/dark J-V crossover and bulk Rs with stress time and temperature was observed. A slow degradation component attributed to Cu-related substitutional defect [23] formation/diffusion to the junction and CdS is proposed. This should compensate the CdS over time and increase its photoconductivity/resistivity. An improvement in the current collection and FF within 100 hours of LS was observed. This is possibly due to the enhancement of Cui+ diffusion into the junction and CdS during LS as previously reported [16]. A reduction in light/dark J-V crossover was observed, possibly due to an increase in CdS doping and reduction in the CdS/SnO2 front contact barrier. However, a fast decrease in Voc and increase in recombination current was also observed in the first 1000 hours of LS. This is possibly due to the existence of higher concentration of Cu-related deep level defects at the junction. A larger decrease in Voc was found for LS than TS at the same operating temperature. A continuous drop in performance over time is observed for both TS and LS. The existence of a slow degradation component involving the formation/diffusion of Cu- related substitutional defects at the junction and CdS is proposed. The concentration of this defect is probably not high enough in CdS for LS samples to affect their photoconductivity and cause light/dark J-V crossover in 2000 hours.

With CdTe based photovoltaics developed by close spaced sublimation reaching efficiencies of over 16%, commercialization of this technology draws serious attention. Today large area industrial modules have not been able to produce the same performance of their laboratory counterparts. This work provides a means for understanding the various technical challenges in developing an effective deposition technology for large area processing. The submodule process investigated provides a model for continuous and sequential processing of subsequent films. The system has a unique design and constructed with the provision for a moving transport module for the substrate transport. The process was developed to deposit large area CdTe (3 x 3 sq. inch) and provides valuable insights for the development of a large area deposition system. Upon optimizing the system for reproducibility, proper deposition conditions were established. Films deposited under various conditions were studied to improve our understanding of the influence of processing conditions on device performance. The key advantage of this technique over others is its high deposition rate, simplicity of operation and high conversion efficiency. Typical deposition times were two minutes and could be reduced to as low as 45 sec with little variation in performance. The four major parameters that influence the films prepared by close spaced sublimation, namely substrate temperature, source temperature, ambient pressure, and spacing were optimized for best device performance. The influence of each parameter on deposition rate and cell efficiency was also studied. The best cells produced by this technology had an efficiency of 13% with Voc=830 mV, FF= 74% and Jsc=21.1 mA/cm2.