<p>There is a growing interplay of competing realities facing the international community in the general areas of innovation, technological advancement and overall economic development. The highly industrialised wealthy nations, largely located on the Northern hemisphere are on the one hand undoubtedly at the forefront in global research, technology and infrastructure development. The developing and least developed countries on the other hand are mostly situated on the Southern hemisphere. They are not as wealthy or technologically advanced as their&nbsp / Northern counterparts, but are naturally endowed with unique variations of plant, animal and micro-organism species occurring in natural ecosystems, as well as the traditional knowledge on&nbsp / how to use these unique species. This knowledge has been adjudged to be responsible for the sustainable maintenance of the earth&rsquo / s biodiversity. Increasing exploitation of biodiversity,&nbsp / spurred on by the competing realities identified above, has left the earth in a present state of alarm with respect to the uncontrolled loss of biodiversity. The traditional knowledge of local&nbsp / peoples has significantly offered leads to research institutes from the North in developing major advancements in drugs, cosmetics and agriculture. Little or no compensation has however been seen to go back to the indigenous&nbsp / communities and countries that provide resources, and indicate various possibilities through their traditional knowledge to the use of such resources. Efforts by some biodiversity rich countries to&nbsp / ddress this trend through legislation developed in accordance with the principles of the Convention on Biological Diversity have been frustrated due to the inability to enforce their domestic laws outside their borders. Theft of genetic resources and its associated traditional knowledge&nbsp / from such countries has therefore remained a major challenge. Against this backdrop, and on the&nbsp / insistence of biodiversity-rich developing countries, an international regime on access and benefit sharing was negotiated and its final text adopted in 2010. This international regime is as&nbsp / contained in the Nagoya Protocol. This research sets out to examine whether the Nagoya Protocol offers a final solution to the protection of traditional knowledge associated with biodiversity in&nbsp / biodiverse countries. It further examines the importance of domestic legislation in achieving the objectives of the Protocol. The research has been tailored to African biodiverse countries, and&nbsp / seeks these answers within the context of Africa.<br /> &nbsp / </p>

This practicum project is an investigation into the design of a second-stage house and the role that interior design can play in creating a healing environment based on a trauma-informed approach. Approaching the design with a knowledge of the trauma of domestic abuse, the effects of this trauma, and the recovery process was central to the project. Through a process of literature review, four key themes in recovery of domestic abuse were found. The key themes of safety, empowerment, social support and psychological healing became the design guidelines for the project. Using these four guidelines as a foundation, concepts in environmental psychology were explored. The concepts of privacy, territory and restorative design were chosen for their relevance to the design guidelines. Through an exploration of these design concepts in conjunction with the four themes of recovery, a trauma-informed second-stage housing design called River Tree is proposed.

In this study, historically informed performance practice (HIP) is investigated as an approach to the performance or vocal ornamentation, with special emphasis on the operas of George Frideric Handel. The study aims to use information about this approach to performance practice in order to show forth its significant role in the performance of Handel arias. Through musicological viewpoints that have arisen out of the historical performance debate since the late 20th century, the study investigates the development and attributes of the HIP movement in order to identify its essential characteristics. Following this process, the author is able to define the HIP approach subjectively. Once a clearer knowledge of HIP is obtained, its influence on the performance of ornamentation is studied. Because Handel's operas were composed in the Italian style, the Italian vocal method is explored. Historical information is gathered through the use of an aria, embellished by Handel, Affanni del pensier, from his opera Ottone. With this information, the author attempts to freely embellish an aria, Da tempeste if legno infranto, from Handel's opera, Giulio Cesare. This example of the performance style is practised with the historical information in mind, without inhibiting the creativity of the author. / Thesis (M.Mus.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010.

Objective: To understand the use of evidence-informed decision-making within an interorganizational network, and identify the facilitators and barriers to achieving network goals. Design: Case study. Setting: Rural health district in Nova Scotia, Canada (2006 to 2011). Participants: Members from 4 organizations representing community and hospital groups participating in a regional Baby Friendly Initiative network. Methods: A descriptive mixed methods study using focus group and questionnaire methodology. Data were analyzed using framework analysis and social network analysis (SNA). Results: The SNA results highlighted the role that relationships have on the sharing of knowledge among network members. The findings highlight the need for leadership at multiple levels (community, network members, primary organizations, and the provincial government). A lack of resources to achieve the network’s goals was a key barrier. Conclusions: The role of multi-level leadership is important for future network development and community consideration. The case study methodology facilitated momentum towards the network’s goals.

This practicum project is an investigation into the design of a second-stage house and the role that interior design can play in creating a healing environment based on a trauma-informed approach. Approaching the design with a knowledge of the trauma of domestic abuse, the effects of this trauma, and the recovery process was central to the project. Through a process of literature review, four key themes in recovery of domestic abuse were found. The key themes of safety, empowerment, social support and psychological healing became the design guidelines for the project. Using these four guidelines as a foundation, concepts in environmental psychology were explored. The concepts of privacy, territory and restorative design were chosen for their relevance to the design guidelines. Through an exploration of these design concepts in conjunction with the four themes of recovery, a trauma-informed second-stage housing design called River Tree is proposed.

In this study, historically informed performance practice (HIP) is investigated as an approach to the performance or vocal ornamentation, with special emphasis on the operas of George Frideric Handel. The study aims to use information about this approach to performance practice in order to show forth its significant role in the performance of Handel arias. Through musicological viewpoints that have arisen out of the historical performance debate since the late 20th century, the study investigates the development and attributes of the HIP movement in order to identify its essential characteristics. Following this process, the author is able to define the HIP approach subjectively. Once a clearer knowledge of HIP is obtained, its influence on the performance of ornamentation is studied. Because Handel's operas were composed in the Italian style, the Italian vocal method is explored. Historical information is gathered through the use of an aria, embellished by Handel, Affanni del pensier, from his opera Ottone. With this information, the author attempts to freely embellish an aria, Da tempeste if legno infranto, from Handel's opera, Giulio Cesare. This example of the performance style is practised with the historical information in mind, without inhibiting the creativity of the author. / Thesis (M.Mus.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010.

本研究在探討家族、非家族控制企業與私有資訊交易之關係，私有資訊交易是以當未預期盈餘為負時，在每季盈餘宣告前之異常融券放空為判斷依據。我們希望了解家族控制企業相對於非家族控制企業是否存在較多之私有資訊交易。實證結果指出當未預期盈餘為負時，在每季盈餘宣告前，家族控制企業相較於非家族控制企業確實存在較多異常融券放空之現象。另外，我們從實證結果亦發現當未預期盈餘為負時，則家族成員涉入經營程度愈高、家族盈餘分配權愈低以及股份盈餘偏離程度愈高之公司，在每季盈餘宣告前，其融券放空之行為相對於其他企業會比較多，由此推論出家族控制特性與所有權結構和隱含資訊之融券放空行為有關。此外，研究結果亦指出巨量融券放空可以用來預測股票未來之異常報酬，但家族控制企業之巨量融券放空相對於非家族控制企業並沒有提供較多有用資訊來預測股票未來之超額報酬。 / We investigate the relation between the information content of short sales and organization structure. We want to know that informed trading occurs more readily in family-controlled firms than in nonfamily firms. Our analysis indicates that family-controlled firms experience substantially greater abnormal short sales prior to negative earnings shocks than nonfamily firms. The analysis also indicates that family-controlled firms sustain marginally less abnormal short sales prior to positive earnings surprises than nonfamily firms. Supplementary testing indicates that characteristics of family control and ownership intensify informed short selling. Further analysis suggests that high short-selling tend to be informative in predicting future returns. However, we find that high short-selling in family-controlled firms do not contains more useful information in forecasting stock returns than nonfamily firms.

Darbo tikslas- įvertinti pacientų teisių užtikrinimą pirminės sveikatos priežiūros lygmenyje, pacientų ir sveikatos priežiūros specialistų požiūriu. Darbo uždaviniai: 1. Įvertinti pacientų teisių užtikrinimą pirminiame sveikatos priežiūros lygmenyje pacientų požiūriu. 2. Įvertinti pacientų teisių užtikrinimą pirminiame sveikatos priežiūros lygmenyje sveikatos priežiūros specialistų požiūriu. 3. Palyginti pacientų teisių užtikrinimą pacientų ir sveikatos priežiūros specialistų požiūriu.Tyrimo metodika: tyrimas atliktas 2014 m. kovo- balandžio mėnesiais anoniminės apklausos būdu Vilniuje, atsitiktiniu atrankos būdu parinktoje pirminės sveikatos priežiūros įstaigoje. Tyrimo metu apklausti 48 bendrosios praktikos gydytojai, 54 slaugytojai ir 223 pacientai. Tyrimo rezultatai: 81,5 proc. pacientų žino savo teises. 49,5 proc. pacientų informaciją apie tyrimo rezultatus, 50,5 proc. ligos prognozę, 58,3 proc. gydymo eigą, suprato tik iš dalies. 62,3 proc. pacientų įvardijo, jog gydytojai, slaugytojai nepakankamai skiria laiko informavimui. Apie 50 proc. sveikatos priežiūros specialistų požiūriu, informacija apie ligos diagnozę, gydymo eigą, komplikacijas turi būti visiškai konfidenciali. 69,9 proc. pacientų manė, jog jų teisės užtikrinamos tik iš dalies. Tyrimo išvados: 1. Didžioji dauguma respondentų žinojo savo teises, tačiau daugiau kaip pusė respondentų teigė, kad nebuvo pakankamai informuoti apie savo ligą, o 34,7 proc. respondentų nebuvo įtraukit į sprendimų priėmimą, susijusį... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Aim of study: to evaluate an assurance of the patients` rights in the primary health care. Objectives: 1. To evaluate an assurance of the patients` rights in the primary health care from a patients` point of view. 2.To evaluate an assurance of the patients` rights in the primary health care from a health care proffessionals` point of view. 3.To compare an assurance of the patients` rights from the patients` and health care proffessionals` point of view. Methods: the cross-sectional study was performed at one Vilnius PHC institution, in 2014 March-April. The anonymous questionnaire was used in survey. There were 48 physicians, 54 nurses and 223 patients. Completed questionnaires were suitable for further investigation and statistical analysis. An anonymous questionnaire was used, which was developed according to literature analysis. Results: 81,5% of the patients knew their rights. 49,5% patients about medical examination results, 50,5% - disease prognosis and 56,5% - treatment process understood just partially. 62,3% of the patients identified, that physicians, nurses for the information share not enough time. About 50% of health care professionals` attitude related to information about diagnosis, treatment course, complications must be kept absolutely confidential. 69.9% patients felt that their rights are guaranteed only in part. Conclusions: 1. The majority of a respondents were aware of their rights, but more than half of them said that they were not sufficiently informed... [to full text]

This arts-informed, phenomenological, and heuristic inquiry focuses on what it means to immerse deeply into experiences within the natural world. Through attention and reflection on emotional and somatic aspects of my own ocean SCUBA diving experiences, and those of beginner and practiced divers, a method and the significance of learning through personal experiences and others’ shared stories is illuminated. Readers are invited to imagine or revisit what it is like to be enveloped by ocean life through an artful narrative account of the ocean diving experience. Crafted in meandering ways, through the aesthetics of photographic images, divers’ evocative descriptions and poetic text, and interspersed with remembrances and imaginations and contemplations of self and world, the narrative reflects the diversity, richness and resonance of divers’ shared stories, and the reverberating and nurturing beauty and mystery of the ocean world. Through five narrative sections that embody a sense of movement deeper into the experience – into relations with the natural world, (‘Immersing’ ‘Opening Pathways of Exploration’, ‘Widening Circles of Compassion’, ‘Nature Reveals Her Open Secret’ and ‘Surfacing’), I encourage readers to wander amongst ocean life to expand ways of experiencing the natural world. It is important to look for new, creative ways that allow space for explorations of self and world, to uncover new ways to reconcile both the mind-body connection as well as the human-nature connection. This inquiry brings the notion of connectedness with nature to the forefront as humans’ alienation from the natural world is recognized as a significant contributor to the present ecological crisis. The exploration of ocean experiences was also a search for ways to encourage and sustain a lifelong inquiry into the relations with the non-human world as a way to continually build and reinforce a strong bond with the natural world for psychological, social and ecological wellbeing. The immersive nature of research methods and representation illuminated how ocean life and artful expressions of remembrances and imaginations build lasting impressions, further adding vitality to what is perceived in both aquatic and terrestrial worlds – enhancing a sense of connectedness with the natural world.

The voices, perspectives and experiences of girls and young women in history, political and civic education remain rare, and those of girls of color are even rarer still. This dissertation reports on the results of a qualitative study exploring girls’ perspectives on and experiences of citizenship in the Toronto area. Through the use of document analysis, semi-structured interviews; and photovoice, this study suggests that the girls easily identify traditional gendered expectations in their families, schools and in the society at large. At the same time, the girls often make deliberate choices to defy these expectations, carve out their own paths, and serve as advocates for gender equality, social justice and engaged citizenship. This study focuses on the voices of girls and the ways in which concepts of gender enhance, shape and inhibit civic action within schooling. Despite an increased emphasis on education for active citizenship in education more broadly, this study provokes serious questions about what girls are learning about their roles in society and how concepts of gender affect the ways young people understand and enact their citizenship roles. There are new fields of research in the areas of youth civic engagement, citizenship education, feminist and girlhood studies, all of which informed my understanding of these ‘citizen-girls’, however they still often remain separated and inadequately consider the intersections of multiple identity factors as well as the relationship between individual agency and the societal structures that construct dominant values. This study has important implications for educators and policymakers, suggesting a need for more spaces and opportunities both within the classroom, and outside the school, for girls and boys to critically engage with the messaging they receive about gender, democratic participation and citizen engagement. Furthermore, these girls’ experiences also suggest that we must broaden our definition of citizenship and civic participation in order to better reflect the myriad new forms of citizen expression being used by girls and young people in modern societies today.