An investigation into the requirements for an efficient image transmission system over an ATM network

This thesis looks into the problems arising in an image transmission system when transmitting over an A TM network. Two main areas were investigated: (i) an alternative coding technique to reduce the bit rate required; and (ii) concealment of errors due to cell loss, with emphasis on processing in the transform domain of DCT-based images. [Continues.

Extending functional databases for use in text-intensive applications

This thesis continues research exploring the benefits of using functional databases based around the functional data model for advanced database applications-particularly those supporting investigative systems. This is a growing generic application domain covering areas such as criminal and military intelligence, which are characterised by significant data complexity, large data sets and the need for high performance, interactive use. An experimental functional database language was developed to provide the requisite semantic richness. However, heavy use in a practical context has shown that language extensions and implementation improvements are required-especially in the crucial areas of string matching and graph traversal. In addition, an implementation on multiprocessor, parallel architectures is essential to meet the performance needs arising from existing and projected database sizes in the chosen application area. [Continues.

Sustainable Development of Export-Orientated Farmed Seafood in Thailand

Sustainable development of export-orientated farmed seafood in Thailand is a major issue which can impact local stakeholders as well as global food security. The major species taken into consideration in this research were initially the Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei), Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), giant freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii), and striped catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus). After which more focus was placed on Pacific white shrimp, which is Thailand’s major cultured seafood being traded for export, and tilapia, which has potential for export but also enjoying a good domestic market demand. Actors or stakeholders directly and indirectly involved in aquaculture value chains may have their own perceptions about sustainability affecting their operations, as various factors within and outside their own systems could affect these perceptions. This could lead to different efforts in responding to these factors to make their operations sustainable. Three major areas were covered in this study, namely a) describing the strengths and weaknesses of shrimp and tilapia production in Thailand in relation to their export potential, b) evaluating the status of compliance to global aquaculture standards of shrimp and tilapia farming (covering technical and labour aspects), and c) determining perceptions of sustainability across the shrimp and tilapia value chains in Thailand, with a focus on the production sector. A mixed-methods approach was employed to obtain information in the study sites in Thailand. Basic field interviews were conducted among 206 shrimp producers in 6 provinces in the east and south, and 199 tilapia producers in 4 provinces in the west and east, in terms of farm operations and perceptions of factors which will affect the sustainability of their operations, including generational aspects on future shrimp and tilapia farming. Key informant interviews were also conducted among other value chain actors (>30) such as hatchery/nursery operators, input/service providers, processors/exporters and technical/ institutional members to determine whether there are differences in their sustainability perceptions. In addition, face to face interviews with 18 shrimp farm male and female workers were conducted (Thai and migrant workers), as well as with 14 key informants involved in shrimp farm labour issues in Thailand, specifically for well-being and working conditions. Stakeholders cited environmental (technical), economic, social and institutional (equity) aspects of their operations as factors which will affect the sustainability of their operations. Disease, product price and water quality were the three most important sustainability factors among shrimp farmers, whereas water quality, disease and extreme weather conditions were for tilapia farmers. Product price was the most cited by input service providers, hatchery operators, shrimp and tilapia producers, and processors. Both Thai and migrant shrimp farm workers perceived a better or much better-off quality of life working in shrimp farms in Thailand than in their previous occupations or status. Almost all shrimp farms meet more than what are required under the Thai labour law or the global aquaculture standards for human resources. With the importance of migrant labour in Thailand, much still needs to be done in terms of assessing the impact of their working in Thailand on their families left behind in their own countries, as well as on their communities, including status of social protection to avoid exploitation. Each stakeholder group strives to achieve sustainability so they can remain in operation in the next few years, to survive on the business individually and corporately, and to be the best provider of sustainably and ethically produced seafood for the world. The compliance to aquaculture global standards and certifications may be considered to contribute to the sustainability of operations by improving farm practices thereby reducing detrimental impacts on farm and external environments, as well as strengthening human relations with in the farm and in the community. However there are some aspects of these standards which could eliminate the small players. In this study, the large scale farms were more likely to comply with all the standards, followed by medium scale, and lastly the small scale farms. The differences in perceptions which exist among these stakeholders should be understood by every sector and efforts should be made to address them so that there is cohesiveness in giving support to achieve sustainable seafood production and trade

Doctor of Philosophy

dissertationThe present study investigated the effects of the explicit teaching of formulaic sequences (i.e., academic and topic-induced) on L2 writing. The research examined separately the effects of the treatment on the students' abilities to produce the target formulaic sequences in controlled (i.e., C-tests) and uncontrolled situations (i.e., essays), and to produce better quality essays. The study, through posttreatment interviews, also attempted to glean insights into the approaches L2 writers use for the production of the target formulaic sequences. The study found that the students in the treatment condition performed at a significantly higher level than the students in the control condition on measures of the production of academic formulaic sequences in a controlled situation and the production of topic-induced formulaic sequences in controlled and uncontrolled situations, but there were no significant differences between the groups on the measures of students' abilities to produce academic formulaic sequences in an uncontrolled situation and to produce better quality writing. The results of the study suggest that the explicit instruction facilitated learning of the target formulaic sequences when the learning is measured by a test. Most importantly, the study found that explicit instruction helped students become familiar enough with the formulaic sequences to recognize their usefulness and employ them in their essays. The results indicated that the instructional approach helped low performing writers produce iv essays of better quality and high performing writers increase the awareness of the frequencies and functions of the formulaic sequencers in expert writers' texts. The findings from the interviews indicated that the students' abilities to produce the academic and topic-induced formulaic sequences in their compositions may depend on the students' perceived need to use them in their writing, and that students' abilities to produce the academic formulaic sequences in essays may be influenced by the interaction of students' awareness of the frequency and functions of academic formulaic sequences and their motivation to sound academic in their writing. The study results suggest that the instructional approach may be helpful for the students' learning of formulaic sequences for the purposes of writing and should be the focus of future experimental research

A case study investigation into success and failure in Foundation Year Medical School in a Middle Eastern transnational context.

This study utilises Tinto’s (1993) theoretical framework, known as the Model of Longitudinal Departure, to investigate success and failure in Foundation Year medical school in a Middle Eastern transnational location, through considering student background, cultural influence and academic transition. This case study is framed within a social constructivist epistemology utilising mixed methods, including quantitative pre-entry and academic attainment data, and qualitative student and staff interview data.\ud \ud Lack of contextual research combined with high failure rates, which negatively impact on students, institutions, sponsors and governments in this transnational first-year medical school experience, have led to the need to better understand the first-year medical school experience in this Bahraini context. The research questions investigate the student and staff perspectives of academic success and failure, together with the role of previous learning and the resulting implications for programme design.\ud \ud The research constructs a notion termed the ‘state of realisation’, this is the point at which students recognise and implement learning strategies associated with third level learning success. Additional findings include that English language competency measured by the IELTS and previous educational experience and achievement are pre-indicators of academic success. Within this transnational context culture is found to contextualize, frame and influence the students. Academic integration is found to be multi-faceted and complex, whereas social integration appears to be less challenging, seemingly facilitated by a strong culture of belonging. The research refines Tinto’s 1993 model into an appropriate framework for this transnational setting named the Model of Academic Success and Failure in a Transnational Context. It is within this framework that the constructed notion of the ‘state of realisation’ is situated. Findings on gender and academic success are unexpected, showing that males performed better than females in Foundation Year medical school in this transnational context. Further research is recommended to investigate this aspect in-depth

Application of Different Bioanalytical Workflows for Proteomics of Prostate Cancer

In the current dissertation, we focused on the development and application of multiple mass spectrometry-based bioanalytical platforms for phosphoproteomic characterization in cell culture and clinical specimens of prostate cancer; and on the application of optimized methods to analysis of differential protein expression to reveal molecular mechanism of drug action in animal model of prostate cancer. Characterization of the phosphoproteome in prostate cancer Our study in phosphoprotein signatures on a large scale in prostate cancer focused on the LNCaP human prostate cancer cell line, and on human prostate cancer tissue. For the LNCaP prostate cancer cell line, we applied a combination of analytical platforms: (1) a novel in-gel isoelectric focusing (IEF) LC-MS/MS analytical platform; (2) a 2-DE based platform combined with phospho-specific staining. The in-gel IEF LC-MS/MS analytical methodology used in the study included separation of the LNCaP proteins by in-gel isoelectric focusing; digestion of the proteins with trypsin; enrichment of the digests for phosphopeptides with immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography (IMAC); analysis of the enriched digests by LC-MS/MS; and identification of the phosphorylated peptides/proteins through searches of the Swiss-Prot protein sequence database. With in-gel IEF based analytical platform, we have characterized over 600 different phosphorylation sites in 296 phosphoproteins in the LNCaP prostate cancer cell line. This panel of the LNCaP phosphoproteins was 3-fold larger than the panel obtained in our previous work, and is the largest phosphoprotein panel in prostate cancer reported to date. The phosphoproteins identified in this study belonged to various locations within the cell and were involved in various processes including cell differentiation, transcription regulation, and intercellular signal transduction. We also developed a 2-DE based platform, in combination with multiplexed staining and LC-MS/MS, for the identification of LNCaP phosphoproteins. In this study, we applied 2-DE as separation technique, Pro-QTM Diamond stain as phosphoprotein detection method, LC-MS/MS and database searches for protein identification to investigate the phosphoproteins in the LNCaP prostate cancer cell line. Proteins identified from spots of interest were shown to be highly relevant to prostate cancer. We demonstrated the feasibility of using 2-DE with phospho-specific stain and mass spectrometry to investigate the phosphoproteins in the LNCaP cell line. This methodology complements the in-gel IEF LC-MS/MS platform that we used for phosphoproteomics study; it will be of particular value for future comparative studies of phosphoproteins in various physiological states. For prostate cancer tissue, a gel-free approach was performed to analyze five prostate cancer tissue specimens to obtain phosphoproteomic signature of prostate cancer for biomarker discovery. Proteins were extracted with Trizol reagent, and then in-solution digested with trypsin. Phosphopeptides were enriched with IMAC, and analyzed the phosphorylated peptides/proteins by LC-MS/MS with identification through searches of the Swiss-Prot protein sequence database. The panels obtained for prostate cancer tissue contain 15-24 phosphoproteins. Some of the characterized phosphoproteins were present in all five specimens; in addition, each specimen also produced a unique set of phosphoproteins. The findings provided a direct glimpse into the phosphoprotein machinery operating within the human prostate cancer tissue. This pilot study focused on a small set of specimens. The phosphoprotein panels that were obtained contained a number of proteins that were unique to a particular specimen. Comparative proteomics study of drug effects in prostate cancer We carried out the first comparative proteomics study for the examination of the effects of bicalutamide/embelin combination treatment on prostate tumors by characterizing the alterations in protein expression that was induced upon treatment of mice bearing prostate tumors with anticancer combination therapy. A comparative proteomic strategy based on 2-DE coupled with LC-MS/MS was performed on mouse prostate tumor tissue. Proteins from the mouse prostate tumors were extracted with Trizol, and the protein mixtures were separated by 2-DE. Differences in the protein profiles for the different treatment groups were evaluated by computer-assisted analysis of SYPRO Ruby stained 2-DE gels. LC-MS/MS and database searches were used to identify differentially expressed proteins. Pathway analysis was carried out on the dataset of identified proteins with the Ingenuity bioinformatics tool. Out of the 33 differentially expressed protein spots, 30 protein spots were identified and grouped into various functional classes. The major protein categories were metabolism (52%), stress response (12%), protein biosynthesis (13%) and apoptosis (11%), suggesting that alterations in these processes may be involved in the mechanism of drug action. Proteins associated with oxidative stress were up-regulated, which indicated that treatment with bicalutamide/embelin may affect the redox balance within the prostate tumor, and this effect may contribute to tumor suppression

Post -Displacement Employment in a Rural Community: Why Can\u27t Women and Oil Mix?

This is a study of post-displacement labor market experiences of workers in a rural southern community in which there is a significant presence of the oil and gas industry. Using a guided conversation format, I talked with 99 community members, including displaced workers, representatives of the oil and gas industry, community leaders, and social service agencies. These conversations were used to explore opportunities and constraints found within this community with labor market implications for those displaced. Conversations show that both individual and structural factors explain post-displacement employment of these (predominantly) females. Though an expanding oil and gas industry requires an adequate supply of labor, opportunities for females within the industry are limited. Rather, opportunities in services found in other industries within this community provide employment to most displaced workers, though differences exist in labor market outcomes between Asian and non-Asian workers. Increased labor market opportunities in non-oil and gas industries for displaced female workers are believed to result from community economic expansion directly and indirectly related to oil and gas industry expansion. Conversations with stakeholders are used to highlight the fact that perceptions or misconceptions of displaced workers by other community members contribute to displacement experiences and outcomes, affecting both workers and their families

Special Libraries, January 1967

Volume 58, Issue 1https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/sla_sl_1967/1000/thumbnail.jp