Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Western Australia, 2008. / Also available online.

Thesis (D. Min.)--Reformed Theological Seminary, 2006. / Abstract and vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 149-155).

Voltage-gated Cav2.1 (P/Q-type) and Cav2.2 (N-type) channels are two closely related calcium channels that play indispensable roles in signal transduction pathways by regulating neurotransmitter release. Despite having highly conserved amino acid sequences, they are differentially modulated by calmodulin, which mediate two important feedback mechanisms known as Ca2+-dependent inactivation (CDI) and Ca2+-dependent facilitation (CDF). These dual regulatory mechanisms contribute to synaptic plasticity, but only CDI is observed in Cav2.2 channel, while both CDI and CDF are present in Cav2.1 channel. Previously, it was hypothesized that the lack of CDF in Cav2.2 channel is due to the pre-IQ-IQ domain of the channel’s lower binding affinity for calmodulin compared to that of Cav2.1 channel. Now that the EF-hand domain of calcium channels is identified as one of the two minimally required molecular determinants that are responsible for supporting CDF in Cav2.1 channel and preventing CDF in Cav2.2 channel, it was necessary to determine the role of EF-hand domain in calmodulin binding of Cav2.1 and Cav2.2 channels. Using pull-down binding assays, this study finds that the EF-hand domain enhances calmodulin binding to the proximal C-terminal domain of Cav2.2 channel, which suggests that the lack of CDF in Cav2.2 does not result from the channel’s weak interaction with CaM, but from the EF-pre-IQ-IQ domain of the channel’s inability to allow calmodulin from fully exerting its effects.

Clinical facilitators facilitate the clinical training of students in the hospitals at which students are placed for the practical component of their studies. Clinical facilitators’ success depends on their ability to facilitate students effectively. Students who have been effectively facilitated have the potential to become competent bedside nurses to their patients. This is sure to lead to better patient outcomes and will therefore have a direct impact on the quality of nursing care. The clinical facilitators who are appointed to facilitate students in the clinical learning environment are, however, not necessarily empowered and skilled to teach their students effectively. If their own mentoring needs are addressed, clinical facilitators may be assisted to become more effective in their transition from clinician to clinical facilitator. A qualitative study was conducted with the purpose to explore and describe the mentoring needs of clinical facilitators with a view to proposing a mentoring programme for effective clinical facilitation. Data were collected by means of focus groups with clinical facilitators working in a private hospital group. The findings of this study confirmed the need for mentoring. Mentoring of clinical facilitators contributes to their skills and understanding of clinical facilitation. As an outcome of the study, an outline of a mentoring programme was drawn up which could be used in the orientation and mentoring of novice clinical facilitators. / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)

The broad scope of this research concerns the field of conflict and dispute resolution, also referred to as alternative dispute resolution (ADR). ADR practices have developed in both executive and judicial branches of government since the early 1900’s. The goal of this paper is to evaluate how ADR practitioners working in water-related civil litigation can apply facilitative practices prior, during, and after the proceeding to reduce harm, cost, and time of litigation and increase the overall satisfaction of the parties when the proceeding has been resolved. To achieve this goal, a framework is constructed and applied to a case study in Cascade Locks, Oregon. This framework is not a way to avoid a court proceeding through use of alternative dispute resolution; instead this paper seeks to add facilitative practices to a civil litigation process to make the entire process more efficient to the parties and effective in resolving the dispute.

La biodiversité est de plus en plus modifiée par les activités humaines, ce qui a conduit à des recherches considérables sur l'effet de la biodiversité sur le fonctionnement des écosystèmes. Ces recherches ont cependant rarement inclu le stress anthropogénique qui cause la perte de biodiversité. Cette thèse analyse l'impact du stress (pesticides et métaux lourds) sur la relation entre la biodiversité et le fonctionnement des écosystèmes à la base de la chaîne alimentaire marine, avec des producteurs marins primaires (diatomées) et leurs principaux consommateurs (copépodes). Le premier résultat est que la pollution chimique altère la régularité plutôt que la richesse des espèces, avec un effet disproportionné sur le fonctionnement si un stress sélectif provoque la domination par des espèces tolérantes avec une faible contribution fonctionnelle. L'effet du stress sur le fonctionnement est prévisible sur la base d'une corrélation des traits biologiques prédisant l'abondance des espèces et des traits prédisant leur effet sur le fonctionnement. L'effet de la biodiversité sur le fonctionnement augmente sous l'effet du stress dû à une augmentation d'interactions facilitatrices entre les espèces (effet de complémentarité). L'effet du stress sur la qualité alimentaire des producteurs primaires réduit le transfert d'énergie au niveau des consommateurs, soulignant la pertinence du changement de biodiversité dans un contexte trophique. La thèse se termine par un cadre synthétique présentant les trois principaux effets (stress sélectif, stress physiologique, complémentarité) déterminant l'effet du stress sur la relation entre la biodiversité et le fonctionnement des écosystèmes. / Biodiversity is increasingly altered by human activities, which has led to considerable research on the consequences of biodiversity loss for ecosystem functioning. The anthropogenic stressors driving the ongoing biodiversity loss are however rarely included into biodiversity-ecosystem functioning experiments. The present thesis analyses the impact of anthropogenic stressors (pesticides, heavy metals) on the biodiversity-ecosystem functioning relation in marine primary producers (diatoms) and consumers (copepods). It was shown that chemical stress alters species evenness rather richness, with a disproportionate effect on functioning if stress causes dominance by tolerant species with a low functional contribution. Stress tolerance and the functional contribution were predictable based on the species’ biological traits, and the effects of stress on ecosystem functioning depended on the correlation of traits predicting species abundance and traits predicting the species’ effect on ecosystem functioning. The biodiversity effect on primary producer biomass production increased under stress due to facilitative interactions (complementarity effect). Stressor-induced biodiversity loss reduced the food quality of primary producers and impaired the energy transfer to the consumer level, highlighting the relevance of stressor-induced biodiversity changers in a trophic context. The thesis ends with a synthetic framework which puts forward the three main effects (selective stress, physiological stress, complementarity) through which anthropogenic stress affects biodiversity-ecosystem functioning relations at the basis of marine food webs.

This dissertation investigated the effects of social facilitation theory, specifically mere presence of a peer, on automatic and effortful processing in boys (ages 7 to 12 years) diagnosed with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The sample (N=61) was comprised of ADHD and Normals who were matched by chronological age (+ /- 9 months) and IQ (1 standard deviation). Forty-eight percent of the sample was Hispanic. Each pair was randomly assigned to one of two conditions to test social facilitation effects. The conditions were Alone (subject worked alone in room) and Presence (subject worked in the presence of confederate). All subjects performed seven information processing tasks which varied in attentional demands from automatic, to acquired automatic, to effortfu1. Automatic processing was measured by two tasks, initial vigilance and frequency monitoring of a word list; acquired automatic was measured by a visual discrimination activity presented twice; and effortful processing was measured by three tasks, free recall of words and two listening comprehension activities. Results support the concept that ADHD is a developmental disorder involving the inability to invest, organize and maintain attention and modulate impulsive responding. Diagnostic effects were applicable across both ethnic (Anglo and Hispanic) groups and emphasizes the significance of the disorder across cultures. There were several significant effects for diagnosis with ADHD subjects performing significantly worse on the frequency monitoring task, on the second administration of the visual discrimination task, and on one effortfu1 task, Free Recall of Related Words. No main effect for social facilitation was found, disconfirming Zajonc's mere presence hypothesis, for both ADHD and Normal children, Cottrell's learning theory model which states that more direct involvement of the peer or a threat of evaluation is needed to elicit social facilitation effects is discussed. Additional analysis indicated that the ADHD subjects were significantly more likely to engage in extraneous and non-task related verbal and motor activity on nine out of twelve behavioral indices. Results are discussed in terms of the effects of the experimental context on the performance of ADHD subjects, observed deficits in sustained attention, and other motivational factors. Educational implications, emphasizing group monitoring effects and instructional design are discussed.

abstract: Preschool teachers have the opportunity to facilitate children's play with a variety of classroom activities. Preschool activities can be categorized as masculine, feminine, and gender-neutral based on children's preferences. Understanding how and why teachers facilitate children's play with feminine, masculine, and gender-neutral activities is important because children's engagement in gender typed activities has been linked to cognitive development. The current study extends previous and outdated research on teachers' engagement in gender-typed classroom activities by using a teacher-focal observational coding system and survey data to assess the frequency at which, with whom, and why teachers facilitate feminine, masculine, and gender-neutral activities. Results reveal teachers facilitate gender-neutral and masculine activities more frequently than feminine activities. However, facilitation of these activities is qualified by with whom the teacher interacts and the classroom context. During free play, teachers facilitate gender-typed activities in stereotypic ways, facilitating masculine activities with boys more than with girls and feminine activities with girls more than with boys. Although, during structured settings, teachers do not facilitate masculine and feminine activities at different frequencies. Finally, in both free play and structured settings, teachers' gender attitudes do not seem to be strong predictors of their facilitation of gender-typed and gender-neutral activities with the exception of teachers' facilitation of feminine activities during structured settings. The present findings address important issues in educational and developmental research by investigating teachers' gendered classroom practices. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Family and Human Development 2014

A Facilitação Neuromuscular Proprioceptiva (FNP) é um método de tratamento que combina padrões de movimentos em diagonal e espiral e técnicas de facilitação neuromuscular, com objetivo de melhorar o controle e a função neuromuscular. Este estudo comparou por eletromiografia de superfície (EMGs) e dinamometria a irradiação de força muscular na cintura escapular, após estimulação à distância no hemicorpo contralateral (grupo FNP) e local por Cinesioterapia Clássica (grupo CC). Participaram 113 indivíduos saudáveis. A EMGs dos músculos trapézio superior (TS), trapézio médio (TM), deltoide médio (D) e serrátil anterior (S) foi realizada antes, durante e após os protocolos. A preensão palmar, antes e após os protocolos, foi avaliada por dinamometria. Valores de RMS (Root Mean Square) e dinamometria foram submetidos a ANOVA Two Way e pós-teste de Holm-Sidack, p <0,05. No FNP, as diagonais póstero-depressão (PD) e extensão-abdução-rotação interna (EARI) aumentaram o RMS em relação às demais (F4,1180: 42,53) e os músculos TS, TM e D aumentaram o RMS em relação ao S (F3,1180: 25,73). No CC, remada alta, elevação lateral e elevação frontal do braço aumentaram o RMS em relação à rotação interna e rotação externa (F4,1180: 172,28). Músculos TS, TM e D aumentaram o RMS em relação ao S (F3,1180: 178,32). Contrações máximas iniciais e finais aos protocolos, não modificaram o RMS no CC ou FNP. Porém, TS no CC apresentou aumento inicial e final, em relação ao FNP (F1,888: 8,62). Valores da dinamometria, revelaram maior força inicial e final do membro dominante em relação ao não dominante (F3,444: 4,71), maior força no CC (F3,444: 4,71) e maior força final no CC em relação ao FNP (F3,444: 0,04). Diagonais PD e EARI são mais eficientes para irradiar força nos músculos TS, TM e D. / The Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) is a method of treatment that combines diagonal movement patterns and spiral and neuromuscular facilitation techniques, in order to improve the control and neuromuscular function. This study compared by surface electromyography (sEMG) and grip strength irradiation of muscle strength in the shoulder girdle, after stimulation distance in the contralateral hemisphere (FNP group) and local by Kinesiotherapy Classic (CC group). They participated in 113 healthy subjects. The EMGs of the upper trapezius muscles (TS), middle trapezius (TM), middle deltoid (D) and serratus anterior (S) was carried out before, during and after the protocols. Grips with hands before and after the protocol was evaluated by dynamometry. RMS values (Root Mean Square) and grip strength were subjected to Two Way ANOVA and Holm-Sidack post-test, p <0.05. FNP in the posterolateral diagonal depression (PD) and extension-abduction-internal rotation (EAIR) increased RMS in relation to the other (F4,1180: 42.53) and TS muscles, TM and D increased the RMS relative S (F3,1180: 25.73). In DC, upright row, side elevation and front elevation of the arm increased RMS in relation to internal rotation and external rotation (F4,1180: 172.28). TS muscles, TM and D increased the RMS relative to S (F3,1180: 178.32). Initial maximal contractions and final protocols did not change the RMS in DC or PNF. However, the TS initial and final WC was increased, compared to PMF (F1,888: 8.62). Values of grip strength, showed greater initial force and the end of the dominant member in relation to the non-dominant (F3,444: 4.71), the largest force in the CC (F3,444: 4.71) and a higher ultimate strength in DC in relation to FNP (F3,444: 0.04). PD diagonals and EAIR are more efficient to radiate strength in muscles TS, TM and D.

Submitted by Automa??o e Estat?stica (sst@bczm.ufrn.br) on 2016-05-31T00:33:23Z No. of bitstreams: 1 GuilhermeGerhardtMazzochini_TESE.pdf: 3651293 bytes, checksum: b4d523ac7c4eb9bd986c602bece5e003 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Arlan Eloi Leite Silva (eloihistoriador@yahoo.com.br) on 2016-06-03T00:00:09Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 GuilhermeGerhardtMazzochini_TESE.pdf: 3651293 bytes, checksum: b4d523ac7c4eb9bd986c602bece5e003 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-03T00:00:09Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 GuilhermeGerhardtMazzochini_TESE.pdf: 3651293 bytes, checksum: b4d523ac7c4eb9bd986c602bece5e003 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-12-05 / O estudo dos efeitos que a diversidade de esp?cies pode causar nos processos ecossist?micos tem crescido vertiginosamente nas ?ltimas duas d?cadas. Diversos trabalhos experimentais realizados no mundo todo t?m demonstrado que uma maior diversidade de plantas contribui para o aumento da produtividade de ecossistemas terrestres. Al?m disso, esse efeito pode influenciar processos em diversos n?veis tr?ficos, contribuindo assim para a estabilidade dos processos ecossist?micos a longo prazo. Paralelamente com os estudos do efeito da diversidade, muita aten??o tem sido dada para desvendar o papel das caracter?sticas funcionais das esp?cies no funcionamento dos ecossistemas. Isto porque as caracter?sticas funcionais das esp?cies t?m se mostrado importantes "pe?as" no entendimento dos efeitos que esp?cies individuais podem exercer nos ecossistemas e suas respostas ao ambiente. Nesta tese de doutorado eu explorei algumas lacunas de conhecimento dentro dessa ?rea em crescente desenvolvimento conhecida na literatura ecol?gica como "biodiversidade e funcionamento dos ecossistemas". No primeiro cap?tulo, eu busquei evid?ncias para mecanismos que podem explicar a rela??o positiva entre diversidade e funcionamento com foco em cinco mecanismos relacionados ?s intera??es entre plantas, tendo como par?metro de funcionamento a produtividade prim?ria. No segundo cap?tulo, eu utilizei t?cnicas para a estimativa de padr?es de diversidade em escalas biogeogr?ficas e bases de dados de sat?lites com longa dura??o para desvendar se a biodiversidade em escalas macroecol?gicas promove a estabilidade da produtividade dos ambientes terrestres no semi?rido brasileiro. Por fim, o objetivo do terceiro cap?tulo foi entender como a perda da cobertura vegetal origin?ria do uso da terra por comunidades tradicionais no semi?rido brasileiro influenciaria os processos de intera??es entre plantas e o papel das caracter?sticas funcionais das esp?cies nessas intera??es. Acredito que a contribui??o individual de cada cap?tulo preenche lacunas de conhecimento importantes dessa ?rea da Ecologia que ainda se encontra em expans?o.