The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a supplantation technique (zoom) on field dependent and field independent learners in the teaching of a picture detail recognition task through television. Specific research questions included: will field dependent or independent cognitive style affect the student's ability to recognize picture details presented in a television format; will the zoom television technique affect the learning of a picture detail recognition task for students classified as field dependent or field independent; is there an interaction effect between cognitive style and television presentation mode; will recall increase across four learning trials, can the zoom technique be modeled successfully in other picture detail recognition tasks by field independent and field dependent subjects; and is there an interaction effect between the learning trials and the television presentation mode? Students were shown two videotape treatments: one under the zoom condition which acted as a supplantation device and one under a no-zoom treatment which withheld supplantation. A posttest only 2x2x4 repeated measures design was utilized. The independent variables were cognitive style, treatment condition, and learning trials. The dependent measures were four posttests measuring picture detail recognition. Results indicate that the zoom treatment did not produce significantly higher picture detail recognition scores for either field independent or field dependent learners. Cognitive style had no significant effect on students' picture detail recognition ability in a learning task presented by television. Also, there was no significant interaction between the treatment and cognitive style. There was a significant difference in mean student performance across the four picture detail recognition tasks, as well as a significant interaction between the treatment condition and the learning trials. / Ed. D. / incomplete_metadata

Yes / Occupancy is commonly used to measure bed management in hospices, however increasing complexity of children and young people, and technology dependence mean this is no longer effective. to develop a dependency tool that enables the hospice to safely and effectively manage the use of beds for planned short breaks (respite), preserving capacity for children requiring symptom management and end of life care. Methods: a comprehensive literature review and existing tools were used to inform the development of the Martin House Dependency Tool Framework. Training was provided to staff and the tool piloted before applying it across the hospice caseload. Findings: The Tool has been used on 431 children (=93.1% of caseload). The Tool enabled consistency of assessment and more effective management of resources, owing to a contemporaneous understanding of the clinical needs of those on the caseload. Conclusion: The tool has enabled consistent and transparent assessment of children, improving safety, effectiveness and responsiveness, and the management of the workforce and resources.

The opioid receptors and their endogenous ligands have long been implicated in a variety of traits including addiction, impulsive behaviors and substance dependence. Using phenotypic measurements collected from the IASPSAD, data from a latent class analysis and data from a SNP array and additional genotyping assays, association and regression tests were performed to determine the effects of common SNPs encoded in the genes of the opioid receptors and ligands on various traits relating to alcohol dependence. Although only one SNP can be reported as significant for substance dependence within alcoholics, there were a few results approaching significance that may offer some insight into variation within alcoholism.

O núcleo desta dissertação é desenvolver um conceito de path dependence mais parcimonioso, coerente e útil, seja teoricamente ou em estudos empíricos. Neste sentido, o insight fundamental é que se partimos de uma conceitualização mais dinâmica, baseada mais em externalidades negativas do que em rendimentos crescentes, o conceito de path dependence pode ser inerentemente mais operacionalizável, robusto e ressoar melhor com a literatura e os estudos Institucionalistas Históricos. O conceito de path dependence pode também ser mais compatível com várias elaborações realizadas dentro do próprio Institucionalismo Histórico sobre questões como mudança institucional, mecanismos explicativos, complementaridade, idéias e agência, e, portanto, enriquecer-se graças aos mesmos. / The objective of this dissertation is to develop a more parsimonious, coherent and useful concept of path dependence, both theoretically and empirically. Its fundamental insight is that with a more dynamic conceptualization, based more in negative externalities than in increasing returns, the concept of path dependence can be inherently more robust and resonate better with the literature and Historical Institutionalist studies. The concept of path dependence can also be more compatible with several theoretical developments which have arisen within Historical Institutionalism regarding questions such as institutional change, social mechanisms, complementarities, ideas, agency and, therefore, to be enriched by them.

A matriz brasileira de energia elétrica foi construída historicamente como resultado da confrontação de interesses econômicos, políticos e sociais. Graças a avanços tecnológicos, o setor elétrico brasileiro passa por uma fase de possível inserção de novos modelos, como a geração distribuída de fontes energéticas alternativas, como eólica, biomassa e solar fotovoltaica. Este trabalho oferece uma análise institucional para a compreensão das possibilidades de inserção da geração distribuída fotovoltaica na rede elétrica. Essa análise institucional foi feita através de uma triangulação de técnicas, partindo de revisão bibliográfica de literatura científica, que gerou um modelo analítico para identificar e classificar os principais marcos históricos que direcionaram a estruturação da matriz energética brasileira. Os dados foram confrontados com as entrevistas em profundidade com especialistas do setor elétrico. Os resultados fundamentaram modelos que descrevem a formação histórica de instituições sob os aspectos econômicos, técnicos e normativos. Além disso, os resultados indicam um cenário favorável para investimentos em geração distribuída fotovoltaica até o final da década de 2020, mas também sugerem um possível conflito de equacionamento de custos entre os geradores distribuídos e as concessionárias de distribuição de energia elétrica / The Brazilian electric matrix was built historically as a result of the confrontation among economic, political and social interests. Given the technological advance, the Brazilians electric sector can introduce new models of electric generation, as the distributed generation from alternative energy sources as wind, biomass and photovoltaics. This study offers an institutional analysis to comprehend the perspectives of introducing distributed generation from photovoltaics on Brazilian electric network. This institutional analysis undertook a triangulation of techniques, starting from a literature review, which supported an analysis model. This model was used to identify and classify the main historic marks that constrained the choices concerning the Brazilians electric matrix composition. Historical data was confronted to in-depth interviews with specialists of the Brazilians electric sector. Results supported models which describe the historic formation of institutions under economic, technical and normative aspects. Furthermore the results indicate a favorable scenario to invest in distributed generation from photovoltaic systems in Brazil, at least until 2020, but they also forecast a possible conflict concerning the balance of some costs between the local energys distributor and the owners of distributed generation systems

In this dissertation, I propose a reductive account of causation. This account may be stated as follows: Causation: c is a cause of e within a possibility horizon ℓ if a) c is process-connected to e, and b) e security-depends on c within ℓ. More precisely, my suggestion is that there are two kinds of causal relata: instantaneous events (defined in Chapter 4) and possibility horizons (defined in Chapter 5). Causation is a ternary relation between two actual instantaneous events - the cause c and the effect e - and a possibility horizon ℓ. I argue that causation has a dual nature: on the one hand, a cause must be connected to its effect via a genuine process; on the other hand, a cause must make a difference to its effect. The first condition - namely, the condition of process-connection (defined in Chapter 6) - captures the sense in which a cause must be connected to its effect via a genuine process. This condition allows my account to separate causation from mere correlation, distinguish genuine causes from preempted backups, and capture how a cause must be at the right level of detail relative to its effect (Chapter 7). The second condition - namely, the condition of security-dependence (defined in Chapter 8) - captures the sense in which a cause must make a difference to its effect. This condition allows my account to yield intuitively correct verdicts on the counterexamples to the transitivity and intrinsicness of causation, resolve the problem of profligate omissions, accommodate structurally isomorphic but causally different cases, and handle contrastive causal claims (Chapter 9 and 10). Finally, my proposed account of causation logically entails restricted versions of three important principles of causal reasoning concerning the sufficiency of counterfactual dependence for causation, and the transitivity and intrinsicness of causation (Chapter 11).

A matriz brasileira de energia elétrica foi construída historicamente como resultado da confrontação de interesses econômicos, políticos e sociais. Graças a avanços tecnológicos, o setor elétrico brasileiro passa por uma fase de possível inserção de novos modelos, como a geração distribuída de fontes energéticas alternativas, como eólica, biomassa e solar fotovoltaica. Este trabalho oferece uma análise institucional para a compreensão das possibilidades de inserção da geração distribuída fotovoltaica na rede elétrica. Essa análise institucional foi feita através de uma triangulação de técnicas, partindo de revisão bibliográfica de literatura científica, que gerou um modelo analítico para identificar e classificar os principais marcos históricos que direcionaram a estruturação da matriz energética brasileira. Os dados foram confrontados com as entrevistas em profundidade com especialistas do setor elétrico. Os resultados fundamentaram modelos que descrevem a formação histórica de instituições sob os aspectos econômicos, técnicos e normativos. Além disso, os resultados indicam um cenário favorável para investimentos em geração distribuída fotovoltaica até o final da década de 2020, mas também sugerem um possível conflito de equacionamento de custos entre os geradores distribuídos e as concessionárias de distribuição de energia elétrica / The Brazilian electric matrix was built historically as a result of the confrontation among economic, political and social interests. Given the technological advance, the Brazilians electric sector can introduce new models of electric generation, as the distributed generation from alternative energy sources as wind, biomass and photovoltaics. This study offers an institutional analysis to comprehend the perspectives of introducing distributed generation from photovoltaics on Brazilian electric network. This institutional analysis undertook a triangulation of techniques, starting from a literature review, which supported an analysis model. This model was used to identify and classify the main historic marks that constrained the choices concerning the Brazilians electric matrix composition. Historical data was confronted to in-depth interviews with specialists of the Brazilians electric sector. Results supported models which describe the historic formation of institutions under economic, technical and normative aspects. Furthermore the results indicate a favorable scenario to invest in distributed generation from photovoltaic systems in Brazil, at least until 2020, but they also forecast a possible conflict concerning the balance of some costs between the local energys distributor and the owners of distributed generation systems

Essa dissertação pretende mostrar que, na fase de formulação da política nacional de concessão de benefícios tributários, não existem obstáculos impeditivos à imposição da agenda do governo. Essa fase é antes marcada pela discricionariedade do Executivo na apresentação frequente de Medidas Provisórias que criam benefícios tributários. Além disso, o processo não é fechado à participação, pois, durante a tramitação destas proposições no Congresso Nacional, está sujeito à atuação de grupos de interesse privilegiados buscando sua parcela de benefícios distributivos. Por outro lado, existem entraves significativos colocados à fase da implementação das proposições que concedem benefícios tributários. Por ser uma política de difícil acompanhamento, sua execução está sujeita a impasses, negociações e busca de consensos entre setores da burocracia pública e destes com os órgãos de controle externo, o que impõe uma trajetória incremental à fase da implementação, e dificulta a avaliação da eficiência, eficácia e efetividade dos benefícios tributários. Além disso, a política nacional de concessão de benefícios tributários tem características de dependência de trajetória, pois, ao resolver problemas pontuais no varejo, tem se tornado a opção de ação governamental mais viável na ausência de uma reforma tributária abrangente. / This dissertation purpose to show that, at the formulation stage of national tax breaks concession policy, there are no obstacles impending the governments agenda imposition. Rather, this stage is marked by Executives discretion in the frequent presentation of Provisional Measures that create tax breaks. Also, the process is not closed to participation, because during the course of these proposals in Congress, this is liable of privileged interest groups action seeking their portion of distributive benefits. On the other hand, there are significant barriers imposed at the implementation stage of the tax breaks proposals. Because there is a policy of difficult monitoring, its execution is liable to impasses, negotiations and attempts to build consensus among sectors of the public bureaucracy and the latter with external control agencies, compelling an incremental path to the implementation stage, and hampers the evaluation of efficiency, efficacy and effectiveness of tax breaks. Furthermore, the national tax breaks concession policy has path dependence characteristics, because, to solving specific problems at retail, has become the most practicable option of governmental action in the absence of a comprehensive tax reform.

<p>Dyskinesias or abnormal involuntary movements are a debilitating complication of long-term levodopa treatment of Parkinson’s disease (PD) that is widely experienced and may compromise the efficacy of the drug therapy. Tardive dyskinesia is another important adverse effect seen with antipsychotic drug treatment. The neural mechanisms underlying levodopa- and neuroleptic-induced dyskinesia are not clear and involvement of the endogenous opioid neuropeptide system has been implicated. In this thesis, the role of the opioid system is investigated in models of dyskinesia and PD using behavioral, neurochemical and advanced analytical chemistry techniques. In addition, the motor effects of a new partial dopamine agonist with normalizing properties on both reduced and elevated dopamine transmission are studied and a new model for tardive dyskinesia is presented.</p><p>Using microdialysis in combination with micro-electrospray mass spectrometry, the <i>in vivo</i> processing of the opioid neuropeptide dynorphin A(1-17) was studied and 32 metabolites were detected in the striatum. Altered <i>in vivo</i> metabolism of the peptide was found in a model of PD with more metabolites formed in the dopamine-depleted striatum. Moreover, dynorphin A(1-17) was differently processed in levodopa-, bromocriptine and saline-treated animals. </p><p>Levodopa treatment caused an increase in the mRNA expression of the precursor of dynorphin, preproenkephalin-B as well as the precursor of enkephalin, preproenkephalin-A, in all sub-regions of the dopamine-depleted striatum. A non-selective opioid receptor antagonist, naloxone, was found to reduce levodopa-induced dyskinesia with maintained antiparkinsonian response and a normalization of hyperkinesia. Moreover, the new drug GMC1111 showed dopamine stabilizing properties in models of levodopa-induced dyskinesia and PD. This might prove useful in the treatment of PD.</p><p>Altogether, these results suggest that the endogenous opioid system is involved in the pathophysiology of levodopa-induced dyskinesia.</p>

Dyskinesias or abnormal involuntary movements are a debilitating complication of long-term levodopa treatment of Parkinson’s disease (PD) that is widely experienced and may compromise the efficacy of the drug therapy. Tardive dyskinesia is another important adverse effect seen with antipsychotic drug treatment. The neural mechanisms underlying levodopa- and neuroleptic-induced dyskinesia are not clear and involvement of the endogenous opioid neuropeptide system has been implicated. In this thesis, the role of the opioid system is investigated in models of dyskinesia and PD using behavioral, neurochemical and advanced analytical chemistry techniques. In addition, the motor effects of a new partial dopamine agonist with normalizing properties on both reduced and elevated dopamine transmission are studied and a new model for tardive dyskinesia is presented. Using microdialysis in combination with micro-electrospray mass spectrometry, the in vivo processing of the opioid neuropeptide dynorphin A(1-17) was studied and 32 metabolites were detected in the striatum. Altered in vivo metabolism of the peptide was found in a model of PD with more metabolites formed in the dopamine-depleted striatum. Moreover, dynorphin A(1-17) was differently processed in levodopa-, bromocriptine and saline-treated animals. Levodopa treatment caused an increase in the mRNA expression of the precursor of dynorphin, preproenkephalin-B as well as the precursor of enkephalin, preproenkephalin-A, in all sub-regions of the dopamine-depleted striatum. A non-selective opioid receptor antagonist, naloxone, was found to reduce levodopa-induced dyskinesia with maintained antiparkinsonian response and a normalization of hyperkinesia. Moreover, the new drug GMC1111 showed dopamine stabilizing properties in models of levodopa-induced dyskinesia and PD. This might prove useful in the treatment of PD. Altogether, these results suggest that the endogenous opioid system is involved in the pathophysiology of levodopa-induced dyskinesia.