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Disproportionately high numbers of Black people use mental health services and experience involuntary treatment in the UK. There is no simple explanation, but research and policy suggest that groups run by and for Black people with mental health problems provide valued support. This study asks how community development (CD) practice can help these groups to develop and thrive. The research adopted an action research framework to develop four cycles of research, each informing the next, within a social constructivist paradigm. Methods were mainly qualitative: interviews, group discussions and observation, with a questionnaire survey in cycle one. This asked CD practitioners about their activities and helped to identify two groups for case studies in cycles two and three. During the case studies, groups received development support on their chosen topic while participating in qualitative research; activities were clearly demarcated. Reflective field notes added to the data. In the fourth cycle reflective conversations with eminent ‘critical friends’ refined and affirmed the learning. Thematic analysis was continuous and progressive. Findings suggest that CD practitioners can inspire and help Black people with mental health problems to come together in member-led, mutually supportive groups, justifying Black-only membership. Effective practitioners, especially Black role models, helped groups to generate self-belief and self-efficacy through collective action, enabling members to change their status, services and community. Those practitioners who demonstrated critical humility, commitment and competence broke the pattern of racial and psychiatric dominance. Others inadvertently reinforced societal oppression. A new concept is introduced to encapsulate the learning: the ‘liberation approach’ to CD which synthesises four perspectives: radical CD, mental health recovery, Black self-help and liberation theories. This approach helps groups to challenge oppressive processes, breaking the mould in which they feel constrained. The study contributes new theory, evidence and research methodology about CD and self-organising groups within this context.

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Diseases which affect the central nervous system present a huge burden to sufferers and caregivers. In tandem with longevity, prevalences of age-related neurodegenerative diseases are increasing. However, despite the evident necessity for pharmaceutical interventions, there has been a distinct lack of drug development to combat these disorders. This is largely attributed to high financial costs of using rodent models. Thus the validation of a more cost-effective in vivo system would facilitate pharmaceutical screening. The work presented in this thesis addresses this issue by assessing the utility of zebra fish in two costly areas of translational neurobiology { lead identi cation and safety pharmacology. An aversive classical conditioning assay was developed and automated as a behavioural screening method. This robust assay allows fast assessment of cognition and cognitive decline. The effect of neurotoxin treatment on aversive learning was then assessed using this assay, demonstrating its efficacy as a screening tool for neurodegeneration research. Subsequently, a transgenic zebra fish line - expressing a mutated form of the Alzheimer's-associated human amyloid precursor protein - was assessed, demonstrating an age-related cognitive impairment. Additionally new genetic zebra fish lines were generated, which over-express genes (both endogenous and transgenic) related to Alzheimer's-like pathologies. Whilst these were not assessed within this thesis, they present promising tools for possible future investigations. Regarding safety pharmacology, regulatory bodies require all CNS-penetrant drugs be assessed for abuse potential. Zebra fish display reward responses to several common drugs of abuse (e.g. amphetamine, cocaine, morphine). Thus, the latter sections of this thesis evaluated the utility of zebra fish for assessing human abuse potential. A CPP paradigm was utilised to test a range of drugs, with the sensitivity and specificity of zebra fish compared to previous reports using rodent. Additionally, the development of a zebra fish drug discrimination assay was attempted. However the paradigms utilised failed to develop an efficacious assay.

The aim of this thesis is to make policy recommendations for Turkey in order to facilitate innovative activities resulting in more patent applications in pharmaceutical industry through comparing her with the selected countries / USA, EU, Japan, India, China and Korea. The comparison is performed in terms of the patent, research and development (R&amp / D) expenditures and basic research. This study begins with firstly indicating the relationship between patents and innovation in sector basis. When it is looked at this relationship patents are the most necessary tool for pharmaceutical industry. Therefore, in the main part of the thesis the patents and innovations in pharmaceutical sector are analyzed mostly. However, this analysis is not done in all aspects but it is done in terms of research and development expenditures and basic research. Patent is mainly a result of research and development activities. Besides, basic research is also effective in making innovations and so in patent system. Because of these reasons, the relationship between patents and innovations in pharmaceutical industry are covered in terms of these two aspects-R&amp / D expenditures and basic v research-. These relationships are analyzed in country level. In this thesis, in order to see the right route for Turkey and give some advises to Turkish patent and innovation system especially in pharmaceutical industry Turkey is compared with USA, EU, Japan, China, India and Korea. The reason to take USA, EU and Japan is that, these countries are developed countries, the biggest patent offices in the world are in these countries and the number of patent applications is the highest in the offices of these countries. On the other hand, China, India and Korea are taken as subject to the comparison because these countries are developing countries like Turkey and the development levels of these countries are not too higher than Turkey. In this thesis, through comparing Turkey with the selected countries, some policy recommendations are done for Turkey and this thesis may open door to further studies on the patent and innovation system of Turkey especially in pharmaceutical industry.

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Wyoming, 2008. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on June 22, 2009). Includes bibliographical references (p. 98-103).

M.A. / Development administrators in the Third World, whether attached to Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) or Third World governments, face the same kind of problems. Considering the high failure rate of "development" in Third World countries, the major challenge is to implement development programmes effectively. Development in the Third World is highly complex due to a vast variety of regional variations in terms of historical, economic and political factors, and diverse cultures and traditions, etcetera, crammed together in states that were initiated and demarcated by the previous colonial powers of the Western world. Implementing Western development policies successfully in the Third World without taking the above diversity into consideration has detrimental and stagnating results. This study highlights some causes, elements and the consequences of inertia. The purpose is to make administrators, organizations and governments aware of the negative effect of this phenomenon. A literary review indicates that inertia exists virtually in all development circumstances, and if inertia is ignored, it will inhibit the effective and efficient implementation of development programmmes. This finding is substantiated by the experiences of the Reconstruction and Development Program (RDP), indicated in case studies from the Northern Province of South Africa. These case studies revealed certain elements of inertia that not only delay the execution of RDP projects, but also underline the nature of financial burdens as a result thereof. Furthermore, the different types of pathology in the Third World, such as the patrimonial state and Sultanism, create a situation full of loopholes allowing inertia to take its toll. The impact of these "types" of government is highlighted by the excessive centralization of decision-making, the sheer size of the civil services as well as the obsession of political leaders in the Third World to obtain power and self-enrichment. Inertia is like an octopus that spreads its tentacles to all spheres of civil service operations and has a detrimental impact on the effective implementation of development projects. The operation of civil services in the Third World not only delays the processing of development policies, but has a negative impact on the attitude of civil servants as well. The findings are substantiated by the consequences of the rigid rules and regulations in the civil service as well as the inadequacy of civil servants to operate efficiently. The implementation of the recommendations of this study to eliminate inertia calls for a review of development strategies used by developers in order to successfully address the highlighted practical problems of implementation.

M.A. (Social Science) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

Sildenafil citrate (SC) is a phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor that is used to treat pulmonary hypertension (PH) in paediatric patients. The purpose of these studies was to develop a formulation and manufacture an orodispersible tablet (ODT) that can be easily administered to neonates and children with PH. The advantages of ODT dosage forms include ease of administration, rapid dissolution of the API, SC. Furthermore the dosage form can be taken without water which is beneficial to patients without immediate access to potable fluids. A simple, rapid, accurate, precise and selective reversed-phase HPLC method was developed and validated in accordance with International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) guidelines and was successfully used for the analysis of SC as raw material and in SC containing pharmaceutical dosage forms. Preformulation studies were performed on SC, alone and in combination with potential excipients that could be used to make tablets. Investigations into potential interactions between SC and the excipients were performed using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Infrared Spectroscopy (IR). DSC results revealed that SC was compatible with all potential excipients except mannitol and magnesium stearate. However these interactions were not observed with IR and therefore it was concluded that the interactions were induced by the high temperatures that DSC operates at. Particle size and shape was also established by use of Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and flow properties were monitored by calculating Carr’s Index (CI) and the Hausner Ratio (HR). Direct compression was used as the method of manufacture for SC tablets as this approach is simple and the most economic production approach. The powder blends were assessed for bulk and tapped density and the CI and HR were used to determine the flowability of the blends. The quality attributes of the resultant tablets that were monitored included uniformity of weight, friability, crushing strength, tensile strength, disintegration, wetting and in vitro dispersion times. Design of Experiments is an efficient statistical approach that has become a popular tool used in the pharmaceutical industry to optimize formulation compositions, as it allows for the investigation of several input factors at the same time whilst not using the tedious and traditional “ modification of one variable at a time” approach. A Central composite experimental design was chosen as the most appropriate means to optimize the formulation as it produces more accurate results as opposed to other experimental designs approaches as input factors are investigated at five different levels. Through the use of mathematical modelling, optimum concentrations of disintegrant(s) and an appropriate blending time were established. Analysis of the data from the experimental design and mathematical modelling studies reveal that no changes in disintegrant concentration or blending time altered the disintegration time of the formulation to any significant extent. This result is most likely due to the fact that the critical disintegrant concentration has been reached and increasing the disintegrant concentration further has no effect on disintegration time. It was also established that a change in the concentration of CMS and CRP altered the wetting time of the tablet significantly. Finally it was noted that there was a linear relationship between blending time and the uniformity of content of the tablets produced in these studies. The optimized product was a white tablet with a diameter of 7.31 mm with a thickness of 2.80mm.The dosage form had no visible cracks or evidence of picking or sticking. The tablet exhibits suitable friability and tensile strength while exhibiting a disintegration time of only 8s. Therefore an orodispersible tablet containing SC intended for paediatric use has been successfully developed, manufactured and optimized through the use of preformulation studies, appropriate quality control monitoring and mathematical modelling. These formulations require further optimization in respect of addition of flavours and or additional sweetening agents.

The diploma thesis focuses on the employee education and development in selected Prague libraries. The aim of this diploma thesis is to identify the current state of further education of employees of selected libraries in Prague. Analyse approach of education and development of these workers in library facilities and their offers. Analyse how the offer of educational activities differs from the usual state and in times of crisis. Compare differences in the way employees are educated in selected libraries in Prague. Based on the findings of the survey, analyse the differences in the way employees are educated in selected libraries and suggest possible improvements and recommendations. The work is divided into theoretical and practical part. The theoretical part of the thesis describes the starting points of the topic such as education and training organizations, development and management of employees, employee training, strategic concept of employee education, strategic documents, human resources management, human resource management models, etc. The diploma thesis contains methodology for research. The practical part of the work analyses the objects of the survey, identifies areas of education and development of staff in selected libraries in Prague. It compares the differences in the way of...