Recognition of nucleic acids by metal ion complexes

Metal-ion-mediated base-pairing of nucleic acids has attracted considerable attention during the past decade, since it offers means to expand the genetic code by artificial base-pairs, to create predesigned molecular architecture by metal-ion-mediated inter- or intra-strand cross-links, or to convert double stranded DNA to a nano-scale wire. Such applications largely depend on the presence of a modified nucleobase in both strands engaged in the duplex formation. Hybridization of metal-ion-binding oligonucleotide analogs with natural nucleic acid sequences has received much less attention in spite of obvious applications. While the natural oligonucleotides hybridize with high selectivity, their affinity for complementary sequences is inadequate for a number of applications. In the case of DNA, for example, more than 10 consecutive Watson-Crick base pairs are required for a stable duplex at room temperature, making targeting of sequences shorter than this challenging. For example, many types of cancer exhibit distinctive profiles of oncogenic miRNA, the diagnostics of which is, however, difficult owing to the presence of only short single stranded loop structures. Metallo-oligonucleotides, with their superior affinity towards their natural complements, would offer a way to overcome the low stability of short duplexes. In this study a number of metal-ion-binding surrogate nucleosides were prepared and their interaction with nucleoside 5´-monophosphates (NMPs) has been investigated by 1H NMR spectroscopy. To find metal ion complexes that could discriminate between natural nucleobases upon double helix formation, glycol nucleic acid (GNA) sequences carrying a PdII ion with vacant coordination sites at a predetermined position were synthesized and their affinity to complementary as well as mismatched counterparts quantified by UV-melting measurements.

Performance Degradation Modelling and Techno-Economic Analysis of Lithium-Ion Battery Energy Storage Systems

Transmission system operators and distribution system operators are experiencing new challenges in terms of reliability, power quality, and cost efficiency. Although the potential of energy storages to face those challenges is recognized, the economic implications are still obscure, which introduce the risk into the business models. This thesis aims to investigate the technical and economic value indicators of lithium-ion battery energy storage systems (BESS) in grid-scale applications. In order to do that, a comprehensive performance lithium-ion BESS model with degradation effects estimation is developed. The model development process implies literature review on lifetime modelling, use, and modification of previous study progress, building the additional system parts and integrating it into a complete tool. The constructed model is capable of describing the dynamic behavior of the BESS voltage, state of charge, temperature and capacity loss. Five control strategies for BESS unit providing primary frequency regulation are implemented, in addition to the model. The questions related to BESS dimensioning and the end of life (EoL) criterion are addressed. Simulations are performed with one-month real frequency data acquired from Fingrid. The lifetime and cost-benefit analysis of the simulation results allow to compare and determine the preferable control strategy. Finally, the study performs the sensitivity analysis of economic profitability with variable size, EoL and system price. The research reports that BESS can be profitable in certain cases and presents the recommendations.

Quest/ion of Identities in African American Feminist Postmodern Drama: A Study of Selected Plays by Suzan-Lori Parks

Innovative and unconventional, Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Suzan-Lori Parks belongs to the continuum of African American playwrights who have contributed to the quest/ion – the quest for and question – of identities for African Americans. Her plays are sites in which the quest/ion of identities for African Americans is pursued, raised and enacted. She makes use of both page and stage to emphasize the exigency of reshaping African Americans’ identities through questioning the dominant ideologies and metanarratives, delegitimizing some of the prevailing stereotypes imposed on them, drawing out the complicity of the media in perpetuating racism, evoking slavery, lynching and their aftereffects, rehistoricizing African American history, catalyzing reflections on the various intersections of sex, race, class and gender orientations, and proffering alternative perspectives to help readers think more critically about issues facing African Americans. In my dissertation, I approach three plays by Parks – The Death of the Last Black Man in the Whole Entire World (1990), Venus (1996) and Fucking A (2000) – from the standpoints of postmodern drama and African American feminism with a focus on the terrains that reflect the quest/ion of identities for African Americans, especially African American women. I argue that postmodern drama and African American feminism provide the ground for Parks to promote the development of a political agenda in order to call into question a number of dominant ideologies and metanarratives with regard to African Americans and draw upon the roles of those metanarratives as a powerful apparatus of racial and sexual oppressions. I also explore how Parks engages with postmodern drama and African American feminism to incorporate her own mininarratives in the dominant discourses. I argue that Parks in these plays uses postmodern drama and African American feminism to encourage reflections on intersectionality in order to reveal the concerns of African Americans, particularly African American women. Her plays challenge the dominant order of hierarchy and patriarchy, while in some cases urging unity and solidarity between African American men and women by showing how unity and solidarity can help them confront race, class and gender oppressions. Furthermore, I discuss how the utilization of postmodern techniques and devices helps Parks to transform the conventional features of playwriting, to create incredulity toward the dominant systems of oppression and to incorporate her mininarratives within the context of dominant discourses.

« Li Livre dou Bret », ou Le Roman de Tristan [de LUCE DU GAST].

Commençant par : «... voluntez d'Elinde et landemain quant il fut ajornez... » et finissant par : «... et plairai tant com li mondes durrai, li quex est apelez li Livres dou Bret. Explicit li Livres dou Bret. Amen » . D'après l'épilogue, « HELYE DE BERRON » aurait remanié le travail de LUCE DU GAST, qu'il a divisé en trois livres. Voir l'introduction au livre III, fol. 264. Manque le premier feuillet de chaque livre.

« Li rommans de Godefroy de Buillon et de Salehadin et de tous lez autres roys qui ont esté outre mer jusques a saint Loys qui darrenierement y fu ».

Début : « Si povés vous savoir les sains leus de la terre... — Fin : «... Adonc estoient l'an de l'incarnation Nostre Seigneur mil CCLXI. Explicit les Feiz d'Outremer. Ce livre ci fu complet d'escripture l'an de l'incarnation Nostre Seigneur mil trois cens et trante et VII, le jeudi devant la feste mon seigneur saint Thomas l'apostre devant Noël. » — Nombreuses miniatures. — Au fol. 1, on lit : « Au duc d'Arschot en 1584 ».

Li queste del S. Graal [La quête du Saint-Graal]

Commencement : « A la veille de la Pentecouste quant li compaignon de la Table reonde furent venu a Chamahelot... » — Fin : « ...Et quand Boors ot conté les aventures del S. Graal, teles com il les avoit veu, si furent mises en escript et gardées moult chierement, dont mestres Gautiers Map le traist a faire sen livre del Graal pour l'amour del roy Henri son signour, qui fist l'hystoire translater de latin en franchois. Si s'en taist atant li contes que plus n'en dist des aventures del S. Graal. Amen. — Chius livres fu parescrips le nuit Nostre Dame en mi aoust l'a[n] mil trois cens et LI : si l'escripst Pierars dou Tielt, et enlumina et loia. — Explicit li queste del S. Graal. » Fol. 95 : Annales depuis le commencement du monde jusqu'en 1281. Commencement : « Chi conmencent li an dés le conmencement del monde tres chi qu'en nos temps... » — Fin : « M. CC. LXXIX. Margerite contesse de Flandres et de Hainau moru. Guis ses fieus fu quens. — MCCLXXX. Nicolas pape morut. — MCCLXXXI. Martins fu pape. »

Guiron le Courtois, translaté de latin en françois par Luce du Châtel du Gat. « Cy commence li seconds livres de Guiron le Courtois »

Commencement : « Or dist li contes que li rois Melyadus demoura ou chastel... » — Fin : « ...et encore est communement son nom par toute Engleterre. — Cy fine le tiers et derrenier livre de Guiron le Courtois. »

« Li Abrejance de l'ordre de chevalerie... par... VEGECE FLAIVE », traduction par « JEHAN PRIORAT ».

Commençant par : « Li premiers livres nos ensoingne, Vegeces Flaives le tesmoingne... » et finissant par : « Que Dex le traie à bone fin. Ici mon livre vos defin. Amen. Expliciz li romanz de chevalerie » .

« Li Abregemens de tres noble homme VEGECE des establissemens apartenans à chevalerie », traduction faite en 1284 pour Jean de Brienne Ier, comte d'Eu, par « JEHAN DE MEUN ».

Commençant par : « Li ancien ont esté coustumier de metre en escript les choses qu'ils penssoient qui fussent bonnes à savoir... » et finissant par : «... car li usages et li hanteis de chascun jour trueve plus de l'art en ces choses que l'ancienne doctrine ne nous en a moustré » .

« Li Lusidaires, » en vers, par Gillebert de Cambres.

« Seignour, oiés cheste raison, Que Diex vous fache vrai pardon... »

勵學古言Li xue gu yan.Encouragement à l'étude.

Par le même. Introduction de l'auteur (1632). Publié la même année, avec l'autorisation du P. Emmanuel Diaz, par les soins de Chen Suo xing, de Nan jiang, et de Yang Wen zhang, de Dong yong.

名理探Ming li tan.Traité de logique.

Par le P. Francisco Furtado (1587-1653). Introduction de Li Zhi zao. Publié avec l'autorisation du P. Emmanuel Diaz.

名理探十倫Ming li tan shi lun.Les dix catégories de la logique.

Par le même. Introduction de Li Zhi zao.