4 Abstract The present thesis focused on the differences in the usage of hedging in research articles of native speakers of Czech writing in English and native speakers of English. Hedging is considered to be a fundamental part of any academic text ensuring that the results and outcomes of one's research are successfully communicated to its intended audience. The main aim was to discover, by analysing the most heavily hedged, concluding sections of research articles, how the native Czech speakers employ hedging in comparison to native English speaking authors and if they project features typical for Czech academic discourse into their work written in English. The most important outcome of the results of this study is the observation that one of the most salient features of Czech academic discourse, which is the low degree of authorial presence and interactivity of the text, does significantly influence the way the Czech authors present the outcomes of their research in English. This is evidenced by the significant difference in the frequency of the reader-oriented hedging strategies in the NCS corpus.

This diploma thesis presents a contrastive description of reporting clauses in present-day original Czech and American fiction (published and awarded in 2010-2015). The examined reported clauses are limited to direct speech marked with a conventional means of punctuation. Based on six samples of fiction, three American ones and three Czech ones, this thesis examines reporting verbs, their diversity, the nature of the subject of reporting clauses, modification by adjuncts, the presence of an object expressing the addressee and the position of reporting clauses with respect to their reported clauses. It also scrutinizes the instances of leaving the reporting clause unexpressed and of certain transient forms. The ascertained values are then compared with a translatology paper on the same topic. The findings of this thesis confirm that while Czech reporting clauses strive for diversity by a number of means, English reporting clauses strive for inconspicuousness. This thesis attempts to contribute to a better understanding of reporting clauses. The outlined findings may be helpful especially to translators and fiction writers. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)

Resume in English The thesis Basic rights of the patients compares two systems of law, the Czech and the French one. This work introduces the resources of legal adjustments of the both law systems in the area of medical law. Later on it deals with the relation doctor - patient, the interpretation of which is absolutely different in both countries. France has been proud of its contractual relations since the thirties of the 20th century, while the Czech republic can be characterized with more of a paternalistic relation. The separate basic rights are arranged according to their importance in this thesis. The author introduces the international legal form, then the local variant, the French legal form being given the advantage. In the conclusion of some chapters the reader will find a short resume, evaluation of pluses and minuses and a short lay-out of the new legal modifications or inspiration for the lawmakers. First of all the right to life and the right to protection of human personality are being dealt with. These rights are the top values of the human society, that is why they are protected by the normatives of the top legal force. Within these rights the author renders especially the criminal responsibility of the medical staff, mainly in connection with taking an active part in euthanasia or suicide....

Magister Legum - LLM / The Rome Statute established the International Criminal Court (ICC). It provides that the Court is complementary to national jurisdictions. This entails that the primary jurisdiction over core crimes lies at the domestic level. However, in the absence of express provision for implementation, States have adopted different methods in the incorporating of the substantive and the procedural provisions of the Rome Statute. The German Code of Crimes against International Law and the South African Implementation of the Rome Statute Act considered under this study are indicative of the existing divergence. This paper argues that complementarity necessitates the divergence in approach. It further argues that the diversity is an issue of pluralism rather than fragmentation of international criminal law.

The role of forests in nature-based tourism and recreation is becoming increasingly important. Forests, in South Africa and abroad are no longer seen simply as a source of timber, but provide spiritual and recreational services to millions of people through forest-related tourism. Consequently many countries have had to try and balance the multifunctional roles that forests play in the forestry and tourism sectors. There has been very limited research conducted to date on the role that forests and woodlands play in the tourism sector in South Africa. The study assesses the current and potential role of forests and woodlands in the tourism sector in selected regions of Finland and South Africa by means of a comparative study. The Mpumalanga and Oulu Provinces were chosen as the two case study regions. The dissertation presents a general picture of the similarities and differences between the regions and countries. The comparison of similarities and differences in the management of forest areas serves to identify different solutions to the challenges faced by the tourism sector in forest and woodland areas of Finland and South Africa. The study further measures and compares tourism providers‟ perceptions towards how they value and use forests and woodlands for tourism and recreation. How and why forests and woodlands are valued should play an important part in how they are created and managed. Management methods are then likely to be more effective and socially acceptable. In addition to examining the role of forests in the tourism sector, it is helpful to understand why people choose to visit forests and woodlands and their attitude towards forests and the environment. The study assesses why tourists visit forest and woodland areas and their attitudes towards forests and the environment. Attitudes of individuals are seen as a major factor that explains motivations for different forms of behaviour and such analysis provides useful information for organisations involved in managing forestrelated tourism. The study uses the Forest Importance Scale (FIS) and the General Awareness and Consequence Scale (GAC) as simple measures of attitudes towards forest importance and usage. Lastly the study assesses and compares the perceptions of tourists and tourism providers and the importance they place in sustainable tourism principles. Both forests and tourism are relevant issues from an environmental perspective and it is relevant for planners and managers both inside and outside the tourism industry to evaluate the level of support amongst tourists and tourism providers towards more sustainable practices. The purpose of this thesis is thus to present the findings of research conducted using a comparative approach including a comparison of two case-study regions, multiple-use Likert scales, in-depth interviews and participant observation as means for investigating the role of forests in tourism. This study reveals that forests are seen to have a significant role for tourism and play an important role in attracting tourism in many communities located near them through nature-based tourism and recreation. Forests and woodlands are especially perceived as important by tourism providers in maintaining and creating the tourism activities in the area. The results reveal that there is a need to increase and monitor local community participation in the regions as there was a high degree of uncertainty regarding involvement of the community in decision-making and tourism development in the regions. Community involvement is one of the vital components of ensuring sustainable tourism. Therefore it is important to monitor the level of community involvement in an area to ensure sustainable tourism development. The study adds a supplier and consumer perspective regarding the importance of sustainable tourism principles. The study reveals that both tourists and tourism providers in Finland and South Africa are very supportive of sustainable tourism principles in the destination. The high interest and fairly similar ranking of issues suggest that tourists and tourism providers largely share the definition of sustainability. Positive perceptions towards sustainable tourism principles will encourage tourists and tourism providers to act sustainably regarding tourism development and management. Finally the results suggest that well-managed and organized tourism in forested rural areas can play a significant role in enhancing the economic, environmental and social development in the regions. The challenge of managing sustainable forest tourism is discussed further and the results from the study aim to provide the foundation on which to formulate principles or guidelines and recommend approaches to be applied in the development and management of sustainable forest tourism in South Africa. Copyright / Dissertation (MCom)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Tourism Management / unrestricted

This dissertation studied the determinants and consequences of corporate reputation. It explored how firm-, industry-, and country-level factors influence the general public’s assessment of a firm’s reputation and how this reputation assessment impacted the firm’s strategic actions and organizational outcomes. The three empirical essays are grounded on separate theoretical paradigms in strategy, organizational theory, and corporate governance. The first essay used signaling theory to investigate firm-, industry-, and country-level determinants of individual-level corporate reputation assessments. Using a hierarchical linear model, it tested the theory based on individual evaluations of the largest companies across countries. Results indicated that variables at multiple analysis levels simultaneously impact individual level reputation assessments. Interactions were also found between industry- and country-level factors. Results confirmed the multi-level nature of signaling influences on reputation assessments. Building on a stakeholder-power approach to corporate governance, the second essay studied how differences in the power and preferences of three stakeholder groups – shareholders, creditors, and workers – across countries influence the general public’s reputation assessments of corporations. Examining the largest companies across countries, the study found that while the influence of stock market return is stronger in societies where shareholders have more power, social performance has a more significant role in shaping reputation evaluations in societies with stronger labor rights. Unexpectedly, when creditors have greater power, the influence of financial stability on reputation assessment becomes weaker. Exploring the consequences of reputation, the third essay investigated the specific effects of intangible assets on strategic actions and organizational outcomes. Particularly, it individually studied the impacts of acquirer acquisition experience, corporate reputation, and approach toward social responsibilities as well as their combined effect on market reactions to acquisition announcements. Using an event study of acquisition announcements, it confirmed the significant impacts of both action-specific (acquisition experience) and general (reputation and social performance) intangible assets on market expectations of acquisition outcomes. Moreover, the analysis demonstrated that reputation magnifies the impact of acquisition experience on market response to acquisition announcements. In conclusion, this dissertation tried to advance and extend the application of management and organizational theories by explaining the mechanisms underlying antecedents and consequences of corporate reputation.

A obliteração com cianoacrilato ainda é a técnica recomendada para tratamento das varizes gástricas, apesar do risco de embolia pulmonar. O tratamento ecoguiado com mola e cianoacrilato é uma alternativa recente, idealizado com o principal objetivo de diminuir a incidência de embolia. O presente estudo tem como objetivo comparar prospectivamente as duas técnicas quanto a incidência de complicações e a eficácia. Foram tratados pacientes com varizes gástricas pseudotumorais dos tipos GOV2 ou IGV1, em profilaxia primária ou secundária, sem tratamento endoscópico ou radiológico prévio. Os pacientes foram randomizados em dois grupos: grupo I - terapia ecoguiada com injeção de mola e cianoacrilato; grupo II - injeção não ecoguiada de cianoacrilato apenas. Tomografias computadorizadas para pesquisa de embolia foram realizadas em todos pacientes após o procedimento. Ecoendoscopia controle foi realizada com 1, 4 e 10 meses. O estudo foi realizado entre outubro de 2013 e novembro de 2016. O tempo médio de seguimento foi de 9,9 meses (1-26 meses). Foram avaliados 32 pacientes com idades entre 20 e 75 anos (média de 53,5 anos). Dezenove (59,4%) pacientes eram do sexo feminino. As etiologias da hipertensão portal mais encontradas foram a cirrose criptogênica, 7 (21,9%) e a hepatite C, 7 (21,9%). Vinte e cinco (78,1%) eram Child A e 7 (21,9%) Child B. Dezessete (53,1%) pacientes já tinham sangrado e 19 (59,4%) já haviam sido submetidos a tratamento endoscópico prévio de varizes esofágicas. Não houve diferença significante entre os dois grupos nas características acima citadas. Quanto aos achados endoscópicos e ecoendoscópicos, no grupo I, 13 (81,2%) pacientes apresentavam varizes gástricas do tipo GOV2 e 3 (18,8%) do tipo IGV1, números iguais aos achados no grupo II . O tamanho médio da variz gástrica foi de 3,62 cm ( ± 1,13) no grupo I e de 3,06 cm (± 0,88) no grupo II (p=0,131). A trombose imediata do vaso foi total em 6 (37,5%) pacientes no grupo I e em 8 (50%) pacientes no grupo II (p=0,476). No retorno em 30 dias, 11 (73,3%) pacientes no grupo I apresentavam ausência de fluxo no vaso tratado e 12 (75%) no grupo II (p=1). Quatro (26,7% e 25%) pacientes em cada grupo necessitaram de uma segunda sessão de tratamento em 30 dias (p=1). Após 4 meses, foi observada a trombose total do vaso tratado em 15 (100%) pacientes no grupo I e em 12 (80%) pacientes no grupo II (p=0,224). Dois (6,7%) pacientes foram a óbito no grupo II, sendo um decorrente de hemorragia digestiva alta e outro de sepse de foco indeterminado. No grupo I, 8 (50%) pacientes tiveram complicações precoces, sendo 4 (25%) casos de embolia pulmonar. No grupo II, 10 (62,5%) apresentaram complicações, com 8 (50%) casos de embolia . Não houve diferença significativa entre os dois grupos quanto ao índice de embolia pulmonar (p=0,144). Todos os pacientes que apresentaram embolia foram assintomáticos. Avaliando separadamente os pacientes com embolia pulmonar, não se observou diferença significante quanto ao grau de disfunção hepática, tipo da variz gástrica, número de sessões necessárias para a erradicação e a quantidade de ampolas de cianoacrilato utilizadas. Entretanto, o tamanho das varizes foi significativamente maior nos pacientes que tiveram embolia (3,85 cm ± 1,08) do que nos que não apresentaram essa complicação (3,04 cm ±0,9) (p=0,029). No grupo II, varizes maiores que 2,5 cm cursaram com maior incidência de embolia, com área sob a curva ROC de 0,836. O custo da injeção da mola com cianoacrilato foi significativamente maior que o do cianoacrilato (p < 0,001). Apesar da maior incidência de embolia no grupo I, não se observou significância estatística na comparação entre os dois grupos. A eficácia das duas técnicas se mostrou semelhante / In order to treat gastric varices, endoscopic obliteration using cyanoacrylate remains as the recommended technique, despite pulmonary embolism risk. EUS-guided coil treatment with cyanoacrylate is a recent alternative, designed with the main objective to decrease embolism incidence. This study aims at comparing these techniques regarding complication incidence and efficacy prospectively. Patients diagnosed with GOV2- or IGV1-pseudotumoral gastric varices were treated in primary or secondary prophylaxis, and no previous endoscopic or radiologic treatment. Patients were randomized into two groups: group I - EUS-guided coiling and cyanoacrylate injection treatment and group II - non EUS-guided cyanoacrylate injection alone treatment. Computed tomography was performed to identify embolism in all patients post-procedure. Control EUS examinations were performed at months 1, 4, and 10. This study was conducted from October 2013 to November 2016. Mean follow-up time was 9.9 months (1-26 months). Among the total of 32 patients aged 20 to 75 years old (mean age: 53.5 years) evaluated, 19 (59.4%) were female. Mostly found portal hypertension etiology was cryptogenic cirrhosis, in 7 (21.9%) patients, and hepatitis C virus, in 7 (21.9%). Twenty-five (78.1%) patients were categorized Child A and 7 (21.9%), Child B. Seventeen (53.1%) patients already presented with bleeding and 19 (59.4%) already underwent previous endoscopic esophageal variceal treatment. No significant difference between the two groups across the characteristics previously mentioned was found. Regarding endoscopic and ultrasound findings, in group I, 13 (81.2%) patients presented GOV2 gastric varices and 3 (18.8%), IGV1; whereas in group II, these same results were observed. Gastric variceal mean size was 3.62 cm (±1.13) in group I and 3.06 cm (±0.88) in group II (p=0.131). Immediate vessel thrombosis was found to be total in 6 (37.5%) patients from group I and in 8 (50%) from group II (p=0.476). At 30-day return visit, no flow in the treated vessel was verified in 11 (73.3%) patients from group I and 12 (75%) from group II (p=1). Four (26.7% and 25%) patients from both groups required second treatment session within 30 days (p=1). After 4 months, total thrombosis in the treated vessel was observed in 15 (100%) patients from group I and 12 (80%) from group II (p=0.224). Two (6.7%) group-II patients died: one from upper gastric hemorrhage and other from sepsis of undetermined focus. In group I, 8 (50%) patients presented early complications, 4 (25%) of them were cases of pulmonary embolism. In group II, 10 (62.5%) presented complications with 8 embolism cases. No significant difference between groups regarding pulmonary embolism index (p=0.144) was found. All embolism patients were asymptomatic. In a separate evaluation of pulmonary embolism patients, no significant difference was observed related to liver dysfunction degree, gastric varix type, number of sessions required for obliteration, and quantity of cyanoacrylate vials used. Nonetheless, variceal size was significantly higher in patients with embolism (3.85 cm ± 1.08) than in those with no such complication (3.04 cm ± 0.9) (p=0.029). In group II, varices larger than 2.5 cm evolved with higher incidence of embolism and the area under the ROC curve was found to be 0.836. Cost of coil injection with cyanoacrylate was significantly higher compared to cyanoacrylate alone (p < 0.001). Despite higher incidence of embolism in group I, no statistical significance in the comparison between groups was verified. Efficacy of both techniques was found to be similar

A hipertrofia ventricular esquerda (HVE) é importante fator de risco cardiovascular. O objetivo deste estudo retrospectivo foi verificar a associação de critérios eletrocardiográficos de HVE com as características anatômicas e histológicas do coração, em 51 pacientes submetidos à necropsia. Procedeu-se à medição do diâmetro transverso dos cardiomiócitos e da porcentagem de fibrose do ventrículo esquerdo e direito. Entre os pacientes que apresentavam HVE anatômica, o critério de Romhilt foi positivo em 92,3%, sendo superior aos demais critérios avaliados, com especificidade de 89,5% e sensibilidade de 68,8%, Foi o único que se associou a características anatômicas e histológicas do coração / The left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is an important cardiovascular risk factor. The purpose of the present retrospective paper is to examine the association of LVH electrocardiographic criteria with both anatomical and histological characteristics of the heart on 51 patients submitted to the necropsy. The study carried out the measurement of the transverse diameter of cardiomyocytes, as well as the percentage of fibrosis at both left and right ventriculi. Among those patients who presented anatomic LVH, the Romhilt criterium resulted positive in 92.3% of the cases, thus surpassing the other criteria evaluated, with specificity and sensibility up to 89.5% and 68.8% respectively. This was the only criterium associated to both anatomic and histological characteristics of the heart

OBJETIVOS: Avaliar através da técnica de ressonância magnética cardíaca, os parâmetros de função, perfusão e viabilidade miocárdica em pacientes portadores de cardiomiopatia hipertrófica, comparando os grupos com e sem obstrução na via de saída do ventrículo esquerdo. CASUÍSTICA E MÉTODO: Vinte e um pacientes com diagnóstico de cardiomiopatia hipertrófica foram submetidos a estudo por ressonância magnética em aparelho de 1,5 T. Foram realizados estudos de função cardíaca, de espessura segmentar do ventrículo esquerdo; volumes diastólico e sistólico finais do ventrículo esquerdo; fração de ejeção do ventrículo esquerdo; freqüência cardíaca e massa do ventrículo esquerdo. Foi também realizado estudo de perfusão miocárdica em duas fases, a de estresse e repouso bem como de viabilidade miocárdica utilizando a seqüência inversion recovery. RESULTADOS: Os segmentos ventriculares mais comprometidos pela hipertrofia são os da região septal. O grupo de pacientes obstrutivos apresentou distribuição segmentar de espessura miocárdica semelhante ao não obstrutivo, porém com maiores médias que o primeiro grupo. A média da fração de ejeção dos pacientes do grupo obstrutivo foi maior que o grupo não obstrutivo, enquanto que as médias dos volumes sistólico e diastólico final foram discretamente menores no grupo obstrutivo. Houve correlação positiva entre a espessura segmentar do VE e a massa segmentar do realce tardio. A indução de estresse determinou aumento do número de segmentos comprometidos com alteração de perfusão, sendo esta alteração mais evidente no grupo obstrutivo. CONCLUSÃO: Os segmentos ventriculares mais comprometidos pela hipertrofia são os septais com distribuição semelhante nos grupos estudados. A presença de hipertrofia miocárdica está associada a maior extensão de realce tardio. Houve uma tendência a correlação positiva entre as áreas de hipertrofia miocárdica e as áreas de perfusão miocárdica alterada, sendo estes achados mais evidentes no grupo obstrutivo / OBJECTIVES: Evaluate function, perfusion and myocardial viability parameters using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging techniques in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, comparing groups with or without obstructions in the left ventricular outflow tract. METHODS: Twenty-one patients diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy underwent magnetic resonance imaging analysis using a 1.5 T device. The following studies were carried out: cardiac function and segment thickness of the left ventricle; end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes of the left ventricle; left ventricular ejection fraction; cardiac rate and left ventricular mass. A myocardial perfusion test was carried out in two phases, both during medically induced stress and at rest, as well as a myocardial viability test using the inversion recovery sequence method. RESULTS: The ventricular segments most affected by hypertrophy are those of the septal region. The group of obstructed patients had myocardial thickness segment distribution similar to that of the unobstructed group, yet with higher averages than the first group. The average ejection fraction of the obstructed patient group was higher than the unobstructed group, while the averages of the end-systolic and end-diastolic volumes were slightly lower in the obstructed group. A positive correlation was observed between the segment thickness of the left ventricle and the late enhancement segment mass. Stress induction led to an increase in the number of compromised segments with perfusion alterations. These alterations were more evident in the obstructed group. CONCLUSION: The septal ventricular segments were more subject to hypertrophy and had a similar distribution in the groups studied. The presence of myocardial hypertrophy is associated with a greater degree of late enhancement. A positive correlation trend was observed between the areas of myocardial hypertrophy and the areas of altered myocardial perfusion, with these results being more evident in the obstructed group

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