Contact processes on the integers

The three state contact process is the modification of the contact process at rate $\mu$ in which first infections occur at rate $\lambda$ instead. Chapters 2 and 3 consider the three state contact process on (graphs that have as set of sites) the integers with nearest neighbours interaction (that is, edges are placed among sites at Euclidean distance one apart). Results in Chapter 2 are meant to illustrate regularity of the growth of the process under the assumption that $\mu \geq \lambda$, that is, reverse immunization. While in Chapter 3 two results regarding the convergence rates of the process are given. Chapter 4 is concerned with the i.i.d.\ behaviour of the right endpoint of contact processes on the integers with symmetric, translation invariant interaction. Finally, Chapter 5 is concerned with two monotonicity properties of the three state contact process.Comment: Transcript of PhD Thesis, accepted November 1st, 201

Primers avánços sobre el conjunt terrisser de Ripoll de Can Brunet (Òdena, Anoia)

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Introducció

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Stress, coping and self-efficacy : designing an intervention to support informal caregivers of people with dementia

Informal caregivers of people with dementia are at an increased risk of negative outcomes, including stress, depression and physical ill-health (Ory et al., 1999). Attention has therefore been focussed on designing interventions to help prevent or reduce negative caregiving outcomes. Reviews have recommended that future research should provide interventions that are effective and cost-effective, theoretically-grounded and responsive to assessed needs (Gallagher-Thompson et al., 2012). The current thesis includes the design and testing of an intervention written to reduce negative caregiving outcomes by focussing on self-efficacy in informal caregivers of people with dementia. The intervention, designed to be brief in comparison with existing interventions, comprises three sessions covering different types of caregiving challenge: coping with behavioural aspects of dementia, coping with difficult feelings, and taking breaks. The intervention was initially pilot tested before being delivered in a quasi-experimental controlled study with informal caregivers (n=56), with intervention participants being able to choose whether to take part individually or in small groups. Intervention participants experienced significantly decreased caregiver burden compared to control participants (U=93.50, p=.016). Additionally, intervention participants reported being significantly less distressed by the symptoms of the person with dementia, compared to control participants (U=86.00, p=.015). However, no significant difference between groups was found on self-efficacy or depression, and possible reasons for this are discussed. A three-month follow-up (n=14) did not show sustained benefits of the intervention. In addition to the intervention study, two qualitative studies were carried out. The first was based on semi-structured interviews with informal caregivers of people with dementia (n=12) and ran concurrently with the intervention study, exploring the range of stressors and coping resources used by caregivers. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was used to analyse the transcripts, which generated four major recurrent themes: Dementia and Change, Caring and the Self, Caring and Others, and The Care System. This study provided insights into the context in which interventions may be received by caregivers; in particular, it highlighted the complexity of caregiving experiences and the centrality of relationships. For example, accounts were given of families, friends and service providers either being a positive source of support or a contributor to stress, depending on the nature of the relationships. The second qualitative study followed the intervention study, and used IPA to analyse interviews with participants from both the group (n=4) and individual (n=2) intervention conditions. This study explored caregivers’ experiences of taking part in the intervention, and generated two recurrent themes: Sharing Experiences with Other Caregivers, and Meeting Needs. The analysis provided further insights into perceived benefits of the intervention for participants, and highlighted differing needs between group and individual participants. The results of these three studies are discussed in relation to current challenges and priorities for caregiver intervention research, and recommendations for practice are made. Further research is suggested to follow the outcomes of these studies, including development of a measure to gauge service-related sources of caregiving stress

Investigating the interaction between oil and macroeconomic indicators in the US, UK, and beyond

This thesis makes contributions towards understanding the relationships between energy, economic growth, and macroeconomics by focussing on the linkages between oil prices and output growth as well as oil sector profits and the real exchange rate. Following an introductory chapter, Chapters 2 and 3 investigate how the oil price–macroeconomy relationship in the United States and the United Kingdom has evolved over time and draw comparisons between the two countries. As a part of this, I estimate time-varying vector autoregression models using a rollingwindow approach. I then used impulse response functions to estimate the size of an oil price shock of a standard magnitude. The findings in these chapters identify differences and similarities between the two countries in question, and suggest that the oil price–macroeconomy relationship is sensitive to variable choice, model specification, and sample period. Chapter 4 studies the existence of resource curse and the Dutch disease on a global scale in oil-exporting countries. Using a unique, large-N, large-T dataset, I find evidence of a long-run relationship between rents in the oil sector and the real exchange rate of oil exporters as well as short-run adjustment towards an equilibrium. Although non-OPEC members exhibit behaviour in line with theory, the impact on OPEC countries’ real exchange rates is the largest

Precise scatterer localization for ultrasound contrast imaging

This thesis is concerned with developing algorithms for the precise localization of ultrasound point scatterers with an eye to super-resolution ultrasound contrast imaging. In medical ultrasound, the conventional resolution is limited by diffraction and, in contrast to other sensing fields, point source imaging has not been extensively investigated. Here, two independent methods were proposed aiming to increase the lateral and the axial resolution respectively, by improving the localization accuracy of a single scatterer. The methods were examined with simulated and experimental data by using standard transmission protocols. Where a technique is applicable to imaging of more complicated structures than point sources, this was also examined. Further, a preliminary study was included with algorithm application to microbubbles that are currently used in contrast enhanced ultrasound. It was demonstrated that it is feasible to translate to ultrasonics, adaptive processes or techniques from optical imaging/astronomy. This way, it was possible to overcome the diffraction limit and achieve sub-wavelength localization. The accuracy gains are subject to many parameters but may reach up to two orders of magnitude, and are based exclusively on array signal processing. The latter is an important advantage since current attempts for super-resolution ultrasound are image-based which is generally undesired

The effect of weather and climate on siphonic rainwater drainage system operation

This thesis establishes important siphonic rainwater outlet loss coefficients which may be incorporated into a mathematical model capable of accurately simulating such networks. The siphonic rainwater drainage system principally operates under sub-atmospheric pressures based upon the potential energy of the disposable head, resulting in depressurization and full-bore flow. These abilities generate many beneficial characteristics, but when in operation the system will be influenced by physical and external conditions, in particular, those introduced when flow pathways are compromised by detritus accumulation at outlets. Appropriate siphonic outlet loss coefficients have been established from changes in pressure in the discharge pipe and gutter depths as a product of partial blockages at the outlet due to either detritus or percentage coverage barriers. These coefficients were derived from analysis of laboratory data informed by photographic and weather station data established from two major site investigations. Utilising these new loss coefficients allows accurate consequences of particular rainfall events to be predicted using a version of ROOFNET- a Method of Characteristics based simulation model. From this, a rainfall intensity simulated with outlet blockage has produced results similar to those recorded from site.Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council(EPSRC) EP/F038143/

The role of HvBWMK1 in barley tolerance to abiotic stress

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is an important crop grown throughout the world. Quality and quantity of barley is compromised by abiotic stresses, salinity in particular which is already widespread in many regions. Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) cascades are signal transduction pathways involved in biotic and abiotic plant defence mechanisms. Here, the function of the barley gene HvBWMK1 has been investigated. Transgenic barley plants that overexpress HvBWMK1, or in which HvBWMK1 has been down-regulated by antisens, were generated, as well as empty vector control plants. The transformation efficiency using Agrobacterium was 10.4% independent transgenic plant per embryo. Northern blot analysis of HvBWMK1 primary overexpression lines showed up-regulation of mRNA level, conversely the antisense lines of HvBWMK1 showed clear down-regulation. Real-time PCR analysis in the T1 generation revealed that two over-expresser lines showed higher expression as compared with wild type (by 79% and 35%) while the HvBWMK1 antisense construct reduced endogenous gene expression partially (by 14%, 23% and 39% compared with wild type). Barley seedlings were subjected to two weeks of salt stress (150 mM NaCl) then biochemical and physiological parameters were measured. The overexpression lines showed an increase in tolerance to salinity stress compared to antisense lines and controls. Tolerance was accompanied with increasing endogenous proline and chlorophyll levels and a reduction in hydrogen peroxide content after salinity exposure. Overall these results suggest that the barley MAPK HvBWMK1 acts as a positive regulator in barley tolerance to salinity stress.Libyan Government Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Researc

Consuming the experience : the effect of experimental stimuli on the contextual self

This thesis develops identity theory in the context of experiential consumption through the creation of a contextual self. This unique feature of identity advances theory more commonly associated with service-dominant logic, under the proposition that experiences are a consumption activity in their own right which are under-valued when treated as a sub-activity of service consumption. Using a music festival as an experiential example, literature is identified based on the interpretive effects of symbolic interactionism. This highlights the importance of objective, inter-subjective, and subjective stimuli, namely the physical environment, the social environment, and the individual environment respectively. This provides a way of understanding contextual identity and subsequent value creation. This is explored using an in-depth study based on interactionist enquiry as a means to understand the lived experience of the festival-goer in their native habitat. Participant observations and in-field interviews with attendees are conducted using a semi-structured process, and analysed along thematic lines as a way to show the influence of existing theory as well as emerging lines of enquiry. Conclusions identify a 'contextual identity' – a unique identity formed by the persuasive effects of objective and inter-subjective stimuli. However, contextual identity only truly exists in comparison to individuals not attending the experience. During the experience itself, the strength of contextual identity diminishes, acting as no more than a primer for more dominant, deep-rooted identity concepts. The result of this experience-primed identity is the ‘contextual self’, which becomes the dominant behavioural guide during the actual experience. Implications are applicable across a number of contexts and provide not only a better theoretical understanding of identity within the experiential consumption process, but also practical suggestions to improve the consumer's experience

Protein recovery from whisky by-products: a study of using ion exchange chromatography for the recovery of proteins from pot ale

Liquid and solid by-products samples from malt whisky (MW), grain whisky (GW) and brewing (B) origin across several Scottish distilleries and breweries were collected and analysed for physical, chemical and nutritional properties. Nutritional properties assessed included protein quantification. Among the by-products analysed, the focus in this work was placed on pot ale, the liquid by-product from MW processing. Approximately, 2-3 million tonnes of pot ale are generated in Scotland annually, with a protein content of ~1% protein (w/v) or 40% (w/w) on dry matter basis. Current technologies for the recovery of the protein from pot ale, i.e. evaporation, are expensive, require large amounts of energy and produce a low value product called pot ale syrup. A less energy intensive method with the potential to create a higher value product from pot ale was developed in this work using an ion exchange chromatography (IEC) technique that exploits protein electric charge. Pot ale proteins were found to be positively charged (due to low pH) and cation exchangers were used to bind pot ale proteins. The method was tested and up-scaled from 50 ml to 1400 ml of pot ale at flow rates from 1 ml/min to 30ml/ min. An economic analysis included in this work showed that using IEC for protein recovery from pot ale can be applied at commercial scale and the protein product used in higher value markets such as aquaculture