Yes / The Community Ageing Research 75+ (CARE75+) study is a longitudinal cohort study collecting extensive health and social data, with a focus on frailty, independence and quality of life in older age. CARE75+ was the first international experimental frailty research cohort designed using trial within cohorts (TwiCs) methodology, aligning epidemiological research with clinical trial evaluation of interventions to improve the health and well-being of older people. CARE75+ REMOTE is an extension of CARE75+ using a remote model that does not require face-to-face interactions for data collection in the current circumstances of a global pandemic and will provide an efficient, sustainable data collection model. Methods and analysis Prospective cohort study using TwiCs. One thousand community-dwelling older people (≥75 years) will be recruited from UK general practices by telephone. Exclusions include: nursing home/care home residents; those with an estimated life expectancy of 3 months or less; and people receiving palliative care. Data collection Assessments will be conducted by telephone, web-submission or postal questionnaire: baseline, 6 months, 12 months, 18 months, 24 months, 30 months and 36 months. Measures include activities of daily living, mood, health-related quality of life, comorbidities, medications, frailty, informal care, healthcare and social care service use. Consent will be sought for data linkage and invitations to additional studies (sub-studies). Ethics and dissemination CARE75+ was approved by the National Research Ethics Service (NRES) Committee Yorkshire and the Humber—Bradford Leeds 10 October 2014 (14/YH/1120). CARE75+ REMOTE (amendment 13) was approved on the 18th November 2020. Consent is sought if an individual is willing to participate and has capacity to provide informed consent. Consultee assent is sought if an individual lacks capacity. Results will be disseminated in peer-reviewed scientific journals and conferences. Results will be summarised and disseminated to study participants via newsletters, local engagement events and on a bespoke website. / NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) Yorkshire and Humber-https://www.arc-yh.nihr.ac.uk/ (study funding number NIHR200166), also supported by NIHR ARC South West Peninsula, ARC West Midlands and ARC North East and North Cumbria

OF MASTER THESIS Author: Bc. Anna Stiborová Supervisor: Mgr. Kateřina Svěcená, Ph.D. Title of master thesis: Utilization of Functional Independence Measure and Functional Assessment Measure on acute inpatient rehabilitation unit with brain damage patients Abstract: This master thesis focuses on the utilization of Functional Independence Measure and Functional Assessment Measure (FIM+FAMUK ). The subject of interest is the use of FIM+FAMUK in an acute phase of rehabilitation in brain damaged patients. The aim of the thesis is to demonstrate the usefulness of FIM+FAMUK as an assessment of functional status on an acute inpatient rehabilitation unit. Theoretical part provides basic information on the system of cerebrovascular care in Czech republic, on the importance of assessing functional status in neurorehabilitation and on some other assessments of disability in neurorehabilitation besides FIM+FAMUK . It also brings insight into FIM+FAMUK , its items, evaluation process and its utilization. Practical part presents the results of a clinical application of FIM+FAMUK on a stroke unit. Fifteen people were assessed with FIM+FAMUK as input and output assessment. Statistical data analysis has confirmed the utilization of FIM+FAMUK as an assessment of functional status on acute inpatient rehabilitation...

Introdução: As diversas armadilhas apresentam rendimento diferenciado na captura, havendo a necessidade de buscar instrumentos que amostrem porções representativas das populações de mosquitos. Levanta-se a hipótese de que as armadilhas Mosquito Magnet Independence e CDC com CO2+Lurex3 sejam mais eficazes na captura de culicídeos do que a armadilha CDC luminosa. Objetivos: Avaliar a eficácia das armadilhas Mosquito Magnet Independence e CDC+CO2+Lurex3, em relação à CDC-luminosa, para a captura de culicídeos adultos em área agrícola na Fazenda Experimental em Pariquera-Açu, Vale do Ribeira, São Paulo, Brasil. Material e Métodos: Capturas mensais, das 15h00 às 21h00, por meio do delineamento em quadrado latino 3X3, no período de dezembro/2010 a novembro/2011. Perfis de diversidade de Rényi e índices de riqueza, dominância, diversidade, equabilidade e similaridade foram estimados para cada armadilha para compará-las. Resultados: Capturou-se 6.055 de 70 espécies e 12 gêneros. A CDC-luminosa amostrou 990 indivíduos de 42 espécies e 10 gêneros,a CDC+CO2+lurex31.419 indivíduos em 41 espécies e 10 gêneros e a Mosquito Magnet 3151 indivíduos de 46 espécies e 11 gêneros. A riqueza, pelo índice de Margalef e Perfil de Rényi, não apresentou diferença estatística para nenhuma armadilha no período dez/mai. A Mosquito Magnet obteve maior rendimento na mensuração da diversidade, segundos os índices de Shannon e Simpson, observados no perfil de Rényi. A dominância, pelo índice de Berger-Parker isolado,foi maior na Mosquito Magnet do que nas demais, nos dois períodos de capturas. O perfil de Rényi não apontou diferença significante para dominância. Índice de Pielou não mostrou significância em relação à CDC-luminosa para nenhuma das armadilhas nos dois períodos avaliados. Índices de Jaccard e Sorensen apontaram maior similaridade na composição de espécies entre a Mosquito Magnet e CDC+CO2+lurex3. Conclusões: A Mosquito Magnet Independence e CDC+CO2+Lurex3 apresentaram rendimento semelhante, nos meses mais frios e secos do ano. A utilização dessas armadilhas para a captura de determinados táxons pode ser importante ponto na estratégia de vigilância de espécies vetoras. Estudos com maior esforço amostral devem ser realizados para avaliar o rendimento das armadilhas Mosquito Magnet Independence e CDC+CO2 +lurex3 em áreas de ambiente alterado de Floresta Atlântica. / Introduction: The several traps have different performance in sampling mosquitoes,with the need to seek that capture representative portions of mosquito population. Formulate the hypothesis that the Mosquito Magnet trap and CDC+CO2+lurex3 are more effective in catching mosquitoes than the CDC light trap. Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness the Mosquito Magnet Independence and CDC+CO2+lurex3 in relation to CDC light trap, to catching adult mosquitoes in the agricultural area at the Experimental Station in Pariquera-Açu, Vale do Ribeira, São Paulo, Brazil. Methods: Monthly captures, from 03:00pm-09:00pm, through the 3X3 Latin square from the December 2010 to November 2011. Rényi diversity profiles and indexes of the richness, dominance, diversity, evenness and similarity were estimated for each trap to compare them. Results: Were captured 6055 mosquitoes of the 70 species and 12 genera. CDC light traps sampled 990 specimens of 42 species and 10 genera, the CDC+CO2+lurex3 sampled 1419 specimens in 41 species and 10 genera and 3151 specimens were captured in the Mosquito Magnet belonging to 46 species and 11 genera. The richness, by the Margalef index on profile Rényi, showed no statistical difference for any trap in the period Dez/Mai. The Mosquito Magnet trap obtained higher yield in the measurement of diversity, according indexes of Shannon and Simpson, seen in profile Rényi. The dominance, by Berger-Parker index isolated, was higher in the Mosquito Magnet than in the other traps in both periods of captures. The profile Rényi showed no significant difference for dominance. Pielou index was not significant in relation to CDC light trap for any of the periods. Jaccard and Sorensen indexes showed greater similarity in composition of species between the CDC+CO2+lurex3 and Mosquito Magnet. Conclusions: The Mosquito Magnet Independence and CDC+CO2+ Lurex3 showed similar performance in colder and drier months of the year. The use of these traps to capture certain taxa can be important point in the surveillance approach vector species. Studies with greater sampling effort should be made to evaluate the performance of the Mosquito Magnet Independence and CDC+CO +lurex3 traps changed environment in areas of Atlantic Forest.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-26T20:21:58Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Saul Tourinho Leal.pdf: 2352193 bytes, checksum: 5136f8761d9b73c5492870b79beec183 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-08-05 / This thesis has the purpose to investigate whether there are connections between the contemporary constitutionalism and happiness. It addresses the Independence of the United States of America, the French Revolution and the independence of Brazil. After such historical perspective, it describes the utilitarian school, represented initially by Jeremy Bentham and, subsequently, by Stuart Mill. It asserts that utilitarianism, allied to the principle of human dignity, is the theoretical basis of the thesis that allows happiness to be a constitutionally protected right and, moreover, providing the basis for it to appear in legal reasoning developed by the judges as grounds for judicial decisions. Subsequently, this thesis examines a dogmatic part in which it attempts to identify the existence of a right to happiness within the wording of the Constitution of 1988. In this part, it describes a right to happiness dismembered into five biases: (i) broad right to happiness, (ii) the right to the pursuit of happiness, (iii) the right to be provided with happiness (iv) sealing the perverse pleasures, (v) happiness as telos. Addressing the constitutional jurisdiction, it examines the American and European-continental models then shows how the theory of happiness has been used in trials of major national issues in Brazil, like the same-sex unions, policy of quotas, the Marijuana March and crimes trifle. It also discusses the abuses committed by invoking the theory of happiness, illustrating with the example of the Kingdom of Bhutan. Finally, it presents the proposal of hedonic damages. The thesis concludes there is a legally guaranteed right to happiness , but alerts that the theory of happiness is not able to solve all the cases, indicating that, in situations in which there are informational deficits, it is recommended judicial restraint and deference to the Legislature / RESUMO: A tese apresenta a proposta de investigar se há conexões entre o constitucionalismo contemporâneo e a felicidade. Aborda a Independência dos Estados Unidos da América, a Revolução Francesa e a Independência do Brasil. Após essa perspectiva histórica, passa a apresentar a escola utilitarista, inicialmente representada por Jeremy Bentham e, na sequência, por Stuart Mill. Afirma que o utilitarismo, aliado ao princípio da dignidade da pessoa humana, é a base teórica da tese, permitindo que a felicidade seja um bem protegido constitucionalmente e, além disso, propiciando que ela apareça nos raciocínios jurídicos desenvolvidos pelos julgadores como fundamento de decisões judiciais. O trabalho passa, então, a uma parte dogmática na qual tenta identificar a existência de um direito à felicidade por meio da leitura da Constituição Federal de 1988. Nessa parte, afirma haver um direito à felicidade desmembrado em cinco vieses: (i) direito amplo à felicidade; (ii) direito à busca da felicidade; (iii) direito prestacional à felicidade; (iv) vedação a prazeres perversos; (v) felicidade como telos da decisão judicial. Tratando da jurisdição constitucional, apresenta os modelos norteamericano e europeu-continental para, em seguida, mostrar como a teoria da felicidade tem sido utilizada nos julgamentos dos grandes temas nacionais no Brasil, a exemplo das uniões homoafetivas, das políticas das cotas, da Marcha da Maconha e dos crimes de bagatela. Trata ainda dos abusos cometidos por meio da invocação à teoria da felicidade, ilustrando com o exemplo do Reino do Butão. Por fim, apresenta a proposta dos danos hedônicos. A tese conclui haver um direito à felicidade a ser garantido judicialmente, mas adverte que a teoria da felicidade não é capaz de resolver todos os casos, indicando que, em hipóteses nas quais há déficts informacionais, é recomendado moderação judicial e deferência ao Poder Legislativo, por meio da utilização da técnica chamada apelo ao Legislador

本篇論文主要是分析俄羅斯中央銀行的獨立性。本文先由西方經濟理論與中央銀行獨立性文獻說明中央銀行為何必須要擁有一個高度的獨立性。對於俄羅斯的高通貨膨脹現象與中央銀行地位轉變之間的關係，本文也有詳細的說明。 另外，本文就法制面俄羅斯中央銀行獨立地位的評析，接著並對實務面的央行獨立地位加以說明。 法制面的俄羅斯中央銀行獨立性相當高。實務面的俄羅斯央行作業，在政治上總統、政府與國會的角力中，形成了一個特殊的政治力真空，使中央銀行能夠取得政策獨立的地位。在俄羅斯面臨高通貨膨脹風險經濟的情況下，中央銀行對於貨幣政策以及政府財政政策的協調取得一個主動的地位。 / This article’s main idea is the analysis of Russia central bank’s independence. From the aspects of the western economic theories and central bank independence literatures, the author interprets why central bank needs to have a high independent status. This article also provides a relationship description between the Russian hyperinflation phenomenon and the transformation of Russia central bank stance. Moreover, this article uses legislative aspect and real facts to analyze the independence of Russian central bank. The article concludes Russia central bank has a high level of independent status. In the political turbulence of president, government, and Duma, it formed a political vacuum to make central bank a high independence to decide his own policy. When facing the high risk of inflation, Russia central bank also has its own initiative to coordinate the monetary policy with the government’s fiscal policy.

Syftet med denna uppsats var att besvara följande frågeställning: 1) Hur gestaltas den polska självständighetsmarschen och dess deltagare? Går det genom öppen kodning att hitta återkommande frames? Går det att se nationella skillnader? 2) Hur förhåller sig gestaltningen till tidigare journalistisk forskning om hur demonstrationer gestaltas? Kännetecknas gestaltningar av de frames som i hög utsträckning används? Går det att se nationella skillnader? 3) Hur återspeglar framställningar av självständighetsmarschen hur journalister i de olika undersökta länderna förhåller sig till objektivitetsideal enligt en liberal modell? Frågeställningen besvarades genom en tvådelad kvantitativ objektivitetsanalys samt en tvådelad kvalitativ gestaltningsanalys. Resultatet av den första delen av den kvantitativa undersökningen visade att objektivitetsideal förknippade med hur informationskällor används var relativt lika; objektivitetsideal återspeglas inom detta område på ett relativt likartat sätt länder emellan. Resultatet av den andra delen av den kvantitativa undersökningen visade relativt stora skillnader mellan hur inrikes (polska) medier samt utrikesmedier beskriver marschen. Tydligast i detta sammanhang var att 46% av de utländska nyhetstexterna kallade marschen helt högerextrem, medan endast 7% av de polska nyhetstexterna kallade den i helhet som högerextrem. Liknande siffror kunde ses om man bytte ut begreppet ”högerextrem” mot ”nationalistisk”. I gestaltningsanalysens första del, kunde fem olika mindre ramar som beskrev marschens deltagare (”stöttade av regeringen”, ”representanter av allmän opinion”, ”vandaler/huliganer”, ”extremister” och ”harmlösa”) identifieras, och dessa bildade tillsammans en övergripande gestaltningsram. Den övergripande ramen gick att tillämpa på de flesta texter som analyserades. Resultatet av den andra delen visade att Dardis (2006) kartlagda marginaliseringsfigurer (som forskning visat frekvent använts i tidigare journalistisk forskning om demonstrationer) användes i liten utsträckning. Gestaltningsanalysen visade, tillskillnad från objektivitetsanalysen, relativt lika beskrivningar i samtliga länders medier, även om det gick att se nationella skillnader.När det gäller objektivitetsideal så indikerar resultatet generellt att journalister i Polen inom detta sammanhang förhåller sig annorlunda till västerländska objektivitetsideal, alternativt att journalister förhåller sig annorlunda till objektivitetsideal när det gäller utrikes- jämfört med inrikesrapportering.

The study was designed to determine the influence of politics in policing in Ethiopia generally pre-1991 and post-1991 as this is the period that characterise the Ethiopian political system, which underwent tremendous changes taking along various initiatives in its move towards democratisation. It is important to note how policing was figured and reconfigured during this period in view of its critical role in the social and political system of the country. In fact, during turbulent and peaceful political changes in the country it was often used as an arm to safeguard or brutalise people. The study also indicates the extent to which the Ethiopian police as an institution has been mandated to maintain law and order while at the same time has undergone various structural and organisational changes in an attempt to move it away from undue political influence. Furthermore, the study indicates the extent to which policing is embedded into politics which by itself is a challenge because the police are expected to be professionally independent in order to uphold the rule of law while at the same time guaranteeing the safety and security of all the inhabitants of the country. This indicates the interconnectedness of policing and politics as the police are required to enforce the laws that are enacted by the government and influenced by the ruling party. Government policies are politically driven and formulated by the party in power, thus making politics to create and direct police institutions in the fulfilment of peace and security in the country. Despite the fact that the police should operate within certain degree of independence, they still have to take orders and direction from the politically established government. That is why the determination of the degree of influence is essential as it indicates whether there is undue influence or not. In view of the above inter-related issues, this thesis aims to analyse the influence of politics in policing in Ethiopia indicating how this has influenced policing in various eras. / Police Practice / D. Litt. et Phil. (Police Science)

Introdução: As diversas armadilhas apresentam rendimento diferenciado na captura, havendo a necessidade de buscar instrumentos que amostrem porções representativas das populações de mosquitos. Levanta-se a hipótese de que as armadilhas Mosquito Magnet Independence e CDC com CO2+Lurex3 sejam mais eficazes na captura de culicídeos do que a armadilha CDC luminosa. Objetivos: Avaliar a eficácia das armadilhas Mosquito Magnet Independence e CDC+CO2+Lurex3, em relação à CDC-luminosa, para a captura de culicídeos adultos em área agrícola na Fazenda Experimental em Pariquera-Açu, Vale do Ribeira, São Paulo, Brasil. Material e Métodos: Capturas mensais, das 15h00 às 21h00, por meio do delineamento em quadrado latino 3X3, no período de dezembro/2010 a novembro/2011. Perfis de diversidade de Rényi e índices de riqueza, dominância, diversidade, equabilidade e similaridade foram estimados para cada armadilha para compará-las. Resultados: Capturou-se 6.055 de 70 espécies e 12 gêneros. A CDC-luminosa amostrou 990 indivíduos de 42 espécies e 10 gêneros,a CDC+CO2+lurex31.419 indivíduos em 41 espécies e 10 gêneros e a Mosquito Magnet 3151 indivíduos de 46 espécies e 11 gêneros. A riqueza, pelo índice de Margalef e Perfil de Rényi, não apresentou diferença estatística para nenhuma armadilha no período dez/mai. A Mosquito Magnet obteve maior rendimento na mensuração da diversidade, segundos os índices de Shannon e Simpson, observados no perfil de Rényi. A dominância, pelo índice de Berger-Parker isolado,foi maior na Mosquito Magnet do que nas demais, nos dois períodos de capturas. O perfil de Rényi não apontou diferença significante para dominância. Índice de Pielou não mostrou significância em relação à CDC-luminosa para nenhuma das armadilhas nos dois períodos avaliados. Índices de Jaccard e Sorensen apontaram maior similaridade na composição de espécies entre a Mosquito Magnet e CDC+CO2+lurex3. Conclusões: A Mosquito Magnet Independence e CDC+CO2+Lurex3 apresentaram rendimento semelhante, nos meses mais frios e secos do ano. A utilização dessas armadilhas para a captura de determinados táxons pode ser importante ponto na estratégia de vigilância de espécies vetoras. Estudos com maior esforço amostral devem ser realizados para avaliar o rendimento das armadilhas Mosquito Magnet Independence e CDC+CO2 +lurex3 em áreas de ambiente alterado de Floresta Atlântica. / Introduction: The several traps have different performance in sampling mosquitoes,with the need to seek that capture representative portions of mosquito population. Formulate the hypothesis that the Mosquito Magnet trap and CDC+CO2+lurex3 are more effective in catching mosquitoes than the CDC light trap. Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness the Mosquito Magnet Independence and CDC+CO2+lurex3 in relation to CDC light trap, to catching adult mosquitoes in the agricultural area at the Experimental Station in Pariquera-Açu, Vale do Ribeira, São Paulo, Brazil. Methods: Monthly captures, from 03:00pm-09:00pm, through the 3X3 Latin square from the December 2010 to November 2011. Rényi diversity profiles and indexes of the richness, dominance, diversity, evenness and similarity were estimated for each trap to compare them. Results: Were captured 6055 mosquitoes of the 70 species and 12 genera. CDC light traps sampled 990 specimens of 42 species and 10 genera, the CDC+CO2+lurex3 sampled 1419 specimens in 41 species and 10 genera and 3151 specimens were captured in the Mosquito Magnet belonging to 46 species and 11 genera. The richness, by the Margalef index on profile Rényi, showed no statistical difference for any trap in the period Dez/Mai. The Mosquito Magnet trap obtained higher yield in the measurement of diversity, according indexes of Shannon and Simpson, seen in profile Rényi. The dominance, by Berger-Parker index isolated, was higher in the Mosquito Magnet than in the other traps in both periods of captures. The profile Rényi showed no significant difference for dominance. Pielou index was not significant in relation to CDC light trap for any of the periods. Jaccard and Sorensen indexes showed greater similarity in composition of species between the CDC+CO2+lurex3 and Mosquito Magnet. Conclusions: The Mosquito Magnet Independence and CDC+CO2+ Lurex3 showed similar performance in colder and drier months of the year. The use of these traps to capture certain taxa can be important point in the surveillance approach vector species. Studies with greater sampling effort should be made to evaluate the performance of the Mosquito Magnet Independence and CDC+CO +lurex3 traps changed environment in areas of Atlantic Forest.

Dans cette thèse nous étudions les sémantiques ludothéoriques, conçues comme les altérnatives à la sémantique traditionelle de Tarski, qui metent en marche le princip Meaning is in use et l’idée des jeux de language de second Wittgenstein: le sens des constantes logiques est donné par les règles qui en fixent l’usage et qui apparaissent dans les interactions social que sont les jeux de langage. Deux traditions ludotheorique sont présentées: Game Theoretical Semantics (GTS), proposé par Hintikka et Sandu en 1968 et Dialogical logic, proposé initialement par Paul Lorenzen et Kuno Lorenz en 1955 et developé à partir de 1993 par Shahid Rahman et ses collègues. En 1989 Hintikka et Sandu ont arrivé à l’idée des jeux avec des informations imparfaits qui les a emmené à Independence Friendly Logique (IF logic), logique du premiere ordre qui dépasse en expressivité la logique classique. Deux chapitres de cette thèse sont consacrés à l’axiom de choix et au traitement de l’anaphore, deux sujets choisis par Hintikka pour démontrer la fécondité de la logique IF et de GTS. Le but de cette thèse et de montrer que’il est possible de rendre compte aussi bien et à moindre frais dans le cadre dialogique. Plus précisément, la logique IF est comparée avec la théorie constructive des types dans la forme dialogique pour conclure à la supériorité de cette dernière qui a le même pouvoir explicatif qu’IF sans sacrifier pour autant la dimension inférentielle de la logique. / This thesis studies game-theoretically oriented semantics which provide an alternative to traditional Tarski-style semantics, implementing Wittgenstein’s idea of the meaning as use. Two different game theoretical traditions are presented: Game Theoretical Semantics (GTS), developed by Jaako Hintikka and Gabriel Sandu, and Dialogical logic, first introduced by Paul Lorenzen and Kuno Lorenz and further developed by Shahid Rahman and his associates. In 1989 Hintikka and Sandu came up with games with imperfect information. Those games yielded Independence friendly first-order logic (IF logic), exceeding the expressive power of classical first-order logic. It is expressive enough to enable formulating linearly, and at the first-order level, sentences containing branching quantification. Because of this characteristic, Hintikka claims that IF logic is most suitable for at least two main purposes: to be the logic of the first-order fragment of natural language; and to be the medium for the foundation of mathematics. This thesis aims to explore the above uses of IF logic. The properties of IF logic are discussed, as well as the advantages of this approach such as the possibility of taking account of (in)dependency relations among variables; GTS-account of two different notions of scope of quantifiers; the “outside–in” direction in approaching the meaning, which turns out to be advantageous over the traditional “inside-out” approach; the usefulness of game-theoretic reasoning in mathematics; the expressiveness of IF language, which allows formulating branching quantifiers on the first-order level, as well as defining the truth predicate in the language itself. We defend Hintikka’s stance on the first-order character of IF logic against some criticisms of this point. The weak points are also discussed: first and foremost, the lack of a full axiomatization for IF logic and second, the problem of signalling, a problematic phenomenon related to the possibility of imperfect information in a game. We turn to another game-theoretically oriented semantics, that of Dialogical Logic linked with Constructive Type Theory, in which dependency relations can be accounted for, but without using more means than constructive logic and the dialogical approach to meaning have to offer. This framework is used first to analyse and confront Hintikka’s take on the axiom of choice, and second to analyse the GTS account of anaphora.

This thesis comprises three research essays. The study documents empirical evidence around the research themes by analysing a sample of the UK’s listed non-financial firms from 2005 to 2018. It applied panel data analysis (fixed or random effects) techniques and the potential endogeneity issue is controlled by using the two-step system, GMM. Earnings-management research holds that manipulating a firm's real activities is more damaging to its long-term growth and value than accruals manipulation. Therefore, by building on agency theory and emphasising board monitoring, first essay investigates the role of independent directors’ tenure and connection to several boards in controlling real earnings management (REM). This study finds that independent directors elected to board before appointment of current CEO are negatively associated with the level of REM. Furthermore, this research provides evidence that REM is higher in those firms whose INDs are connected to several boards at a time. Though economically insignificant in most of the models, this research also shows that the association between INDs’ tenure and REM varies with the phases of their tenure. Directors in the early stage of their tenure are observed as being less effective in controlling REM. However, as INDs’ tenure grows, they employ better oversight over management's conduct, thereby reducing REM. Contrary to this, the extended tenure of INDs is associated with higher REM. These results collectively suggest that the board monitoring role protects the stakes of shareholders/stakeholders by constraining REM; when INDs are free from the influence of CEO, they are not over-committed due to their presence on several boards, and they have moderate board tenure which is neither too short nor too long. Furthermore, drawing on collective contributions and group performance perspectives, second essay explores the role of board diversity in the firm’s R&D investment decisions. Additionally, building on a fault-line argument about a team's demographic attributes, the current research decomposes the impact of demographic and cognitive diversity on R&D spending. The research observes a positive relationship between board diversity and the level of R&D spending. Moreover, this research documents that cognitive diversity is positively associated with R&D investment. However, demographic diversity has an insignificant relationship with firms’ spending on R&D projects. Further, this study confirms that demographic diversity negatively moderates the relationship between cognitive diversity and R&D investment. These results suggest that the board's attributes as a group carry the significance to influence the decisions having strategic importance. The findings on the sub-dimensions of board diversity imply that board functional/cognitive diversity is more relevant to corporate decisions and outcomes than is demographic diversity. Based on the monitoring perspective (agency theory) and resource provision view (resource dependency theory), third essay investigates the role of independent directors’ specific attributes in the corporate propensity to R&D investment. The study documents a positive association between INDs’ moderate (median) tenure and the firm’s spending on R&D projects, but early and extended tenure is observed as being insignificant. INDs with a presence on three or fewer boards are observed to promote R&D investment. However, INDs sitting on more than three boards negatively affect the firm’s propensity to invest in R&D initiatives. Financially expert INDs are negatively associated with corporate R&D investments, suggesting that such directors may resist funding these projects beyond optimal risk level because of their expertise. These results suggest that INDs’ monitoring and advising competence improves as they spend time on the firm’s board, but that extended tenure is counterproductive as it impairs INDs’ impartiality. Furthermore, INDs’ capital (resources) accruing from connection to multiple boards is only beneficial for the firm’s strategic decisions if their monitoring role is not compromised because of their over-commitment (busyness). / Mirpur University of Science and Technology (MUST)