Exploring the power to change : fair trade, development and handicraft production in Bangladesh

EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Determination of the kinetic and thermodynamic properties for bisulfite addition to: acetophenone, 2-chloroacetophenone and trans-cinnamaldehyde

The equilibrium constants for bisulfite addition to acetophenone, 2-choloroacetophenone and trans-cinnamaldehyde were determined using an ultraviolet spectrophotometric method. The absorbance of the carbonyl compound was monitored as aliquots of a bisulfite solution were added to the reaction cell. By plotting 1/A versus [HSO3-], and dividing the slope by the intercept, it was possible to determine Keq. All determinations were made at pH 4.66 and ionic strength 1.0. By determining Keq at various temperatures it was also possible to determine ΔH° and ΔS°. The equilibrium constants for bisulfite addition to: acetophenone, 2-choloracetophenone and trans-cinnamaldehyde, were determined to be: 5.8 M-1, 53 M-1, and 1030 M-1 respectively. The rate constants for bisulfite addition to trans-cinnamaldehyde were also determined using an ultraviolet spectrophotometric method. The change in absorbance, after the addition of bisulfite, was monitored at one second intervals for fifteen minutes. The forward and reverse rate constants for bisulfite addition to trans-cinnamaldehyde were determined to be, 24.3 M-1 s-1 and 2.4x10-2 s-1 respectively

Assessing conflict and intimacy for understanding and treating couple distress

It has become increasingly apparent that the topic of marital conflict has been given special status within the published literature on issues of marriage (Bradbury, Rogge, & Lawrence, 2001; Fincham, 2003). The question has been raised as to whether or not there are other constructs that deserve comparable attention. The present study argues for a closer look at an additional emerging construct, emotional intimacy, and its role in couples relationships. Much of the literature on overt conflict and emotional intimacy fails to make an adequate distinction between these two constructs. The present study proposed to derive two factor scales from the Marital Satisfaction Inventory-Revised, Disaffection and Disharmony. Basic psychometric properties of these scales were examined using multiple data sets. Implications were examined for understanding underlying components of relationship distress in both community and clinic couples, and results provided support for the use of the revised factor scales in both clinical and research applications

Consumer packaged goods network of the future

Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2011.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.Includes bibliographical references (p. 64-66).Promotional events are a common occurrence in the grocery and drug industries. These events require consumer packaged goods manufacturers to deliver a large volume of product, beyond the typical demand, to the retailer in a short period of time. Two of these manufacturers, Manufacturer A and General Mills, are interested in exploring the benefits of an innovative distribution strategy: collaboratively shipping their promotional products direct to the retailer stores. This thesis describes a modified minimum cost flow optimization model, which was developed to compare the costs of this multi-manufacturer collaborative distribution strategy with two more traditional distribution approaches in which each company would deliver product independently. The first traditional strategy entails independently delivering product to the retailer distribution center, from where the retailer would transport the product to the stores. The second traditional strategy involves each manufacturer independently delivering directly to the retailer stores. Using a retailer that participated in a trial implementation of this collaborative distribution strategy in 2010 as a case study, the model is solved to find the lowest cost distribution strategy for the region served by each retailer distribution center. Results show that collaborative distribution is the most cost effective strategy in two thirds of the regions that were studied, and that this finding is fairly robust with respect to the input parameters. However, cost savings to the supply chain from employing the optimal strategy are relatively small, with savings to the retailer coming at an additional expense to the manufacturers. Therefore, this thesis concludes that the manufacturers' incentive to employ collaborative distribution depends upon a method of sharing savings with the retailer, or upon the expectation of increased revenue due to higher sales from employing this distribution strategy.by Nanette Thi Le and Melanie Ann Sheerr.M.Eng.in Logistic

Rapid Evolution of BRCA1 and BRCA2 in Humans and Other Primates

The maintenance of chromosomal integrity is an essential task of every living organism and cellular repair mechanisms exist to guard against insults to DNA. Given the importance of this process, it is expected that DNA repair proteins would be evolutionarily conserved, exhibiting very minimal sequence change over time. However, BRCA1, an essential gene involved in DNA repair, has been reported to be evolving rapidly despite the fact that many protein-altering mutations within this gene convey a significantly elevated risk for breast and ovarian cancers. Results: To obtain a deeper understanding of the evolutionary trajectory of BRCA1, we analyzed complete BRCA1 gene sequences from 23 primate species. We show that specific amino acid sites have experienced repeated selection for amino acid replacement over primate evolution. This selection has been focused specifically on humans and our closest living relatives, chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) and bonobos (Pan paniscus). After examining BRCA1 polymorphisms in 7 bonobo, 44 chimpanzee, and 44 rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) individuals, we find considerable variation within each of these species and evidence for recent selection in chimpanzee populations. Finally, we also sequenced and analyzed BRCA2 from 24 primate species and find that this gene has also evolved under positive selection. Conclusions: While mutations leading to truncated forms of BRCA1 are clearly linked to cancer phenotypes in humans, there is also an underlying selective pressure in favor of amino acid-altering substitutions in this gene. A hypothesis where viruses are the drivers of this natural selection is discussed.National Institutes of Health R01-GM-093086, 8U42OD011197-13National Science Foundation BCS-07115972Burroughs Wellcome FundMolecular Bioscience

A Racial Reckoning: Anti-Asian racism and exclusion in higher education

The Atlanta massacre on March 16, 2021, spurred a series of solidarity statements with the broader Asian and Asian American1 community from higher education institutions across the nation. While many colleges and universities have expressed their grief and support with the larger Asian and Asian American community, the same institutions have yet to reflect and reckon with their own history of exclusion, which has omitted Asian and Asian American students from larger conversations of diversity, equity, and inclusion. The purposes of this brief are to name the forms of anti-Asian racism that already exist in higher education institutions and to propose a series of recommendations to address the foreseeable forms of overt and covert anti-Asian violence that may occur when students return to campuses in fall 2021 and beyond. We recommend that institutions of higher education: create effectual task forces to think strategically about racism and xenophobia towards Asian and Asian American students; increase funding for ethnic studies, specifically, Asian American Studies Departments, Programs, and Centers; and collect and report disaggregated data on diverse subgroups of Asian and Asian American students

Anti-Asian Bullying and Harassment: Symptoms of racism in K-12 schools during COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has posed many challenges for K-12 students. However, these challenges have not been experienced equally across student groups. There has been a significant increase in mainstream media coverage of anti-Asian racism, but very little attention has been given to Asian American youth, who are not immune from incidents of bullying and harassment in our K-12 schools. This brief discusses how Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI)1 students face unique challenges associated with bullying and harassment because of their racial and ethnic identity. We examine the historical context of bullying and harassment of Asian Americans and how that persists as anti-Asian racism today. Finally, we propose policy solutions to create a more positive learning environment and address racist attitudes towards this specific community. Notably, we propose that K-12 leaders disaggregate data by ethnic subgroup, collect more comprehensive data on school bullying, harassment, and victimization disaggregated by AAPI ethnic subgroups, and invest in culturally sustaining mental health resources and curriculum

Falling through the gaps: exploring the role of integrated commissioning in improving transition from children’s to adults' services for young people with long-term health conditions in England

Objectives: To explore the role of integrated commissioning in improving the transition of young people with longterm conditions from child to adult services. We aimed to identify organizational and policy gaps around transition services and provide recommendations for integrated commissioning practice. Methods: Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with two groups of participants: (1) twenty-four stakeholders involved in the commissioning and provision of transition services for young people with long-term conditions in two regions in England; (2) five professionals with national roles in relation to planning for transition. Transcripts were interrogated using thematic analysis. Results: There is little evidence of integrated commissioning for transitional care for young people with long-term conditions. Commissioners perceive there to be a lack of national and local policy to guide integrated commissioning for transitional care; and limited resources for transition. Furthermore, commissioning organizations responsible for transition have different cultures, funding arrangements and related practices which make inter- and intra-agency co-ordination and cross-boundary continuity of care difficult to achieve. Conclusions: Integrated commissioning may be an effective way to achieve successful transitional care for young people with long-term health conditions. However, this innovative relational approach to commissioning requires a national steer together with recognition of common values and joint ownership between relevant stakeholders