Prescription drug abuse is a continuing problem in the United States. Educating physicians on issues related to prescription drug abuse is a key factor in preventing and treating this problem. High variability has been found in substance abuse terminology in the literature, textbooks, and FDA-approved product labeling. This dissertation describes a survey study designed to address how the variability in substance abuse terminology, specifically package inserts, affects the prescribing decisions made by physicians.A random sample of 1008 physicians currently licensed and residing in the Commonwealth of Virginia received a letter of explanation, a self-administered questionnaire, and a follow-up reminder and thank you. To increase response rate, a second questionnaire was sent to non-responders. Prescribing decisions made by physicians were measured as three variables: comfort level with a prior physician's choice, likelihood of refilling the prescription, and likelihood of prescribing a drug or drug class as the first physician seeing a particular patient. Physicians were presented with four case scenarios which included package insert information and selected patient characteristics. Other factors affecting physicians' decisions in prescribing controlled substances include ideas about addiction, and characteristics of the physician, patient, disease state, and drug. The patient case scenarios and other items on the questionnaire addressed these covariates. Based on the number of deliverable questionnaires returned and included in analysis, the response rate was 32.3%. More physicians associated abuse, craving, drug-seeking behavior, psychological dependence, and withdrawal with addiction than with drug dependence, while more physicians felt that physical dependence and tolerance were necessary for drug dependence. The most frequently used sources for drug information were the Physicians' Desk Reference (PDR), package inserts, and pharmacists. Four linear regression models were created for physician prescribing decisions. Physician, patient and package insert characteristics were all significant (p

The topic of this diploma thesis is the edge distance labeling problem with specified parametres p, q and λ. We found a dychotomy for p = 2 and q = 1. So the problem is polynomial if λ ≤ 4 and it is NP-complete for λ > 4. The boundary is shifted by one prior to the vertex distance labeling problem, which has already been solved. Polynomial cases are characterized as some special paths and cycles with a few additional vertices. To show NP-completeness we use a well-known NP-complete problem of Monotone not all equal 3-SAT. That section has four parts: One for odd λ, one for even λ and two more reductions for λ = 5 and λ = 6. 1

The main aim of my thesis is to introduce and analyze the legal field of food labeling. The topic is really current, because the fundamental laws governing the matter, ie. The Act no. 110/1997 Coll. and Regulation no. 1169/2011, were recently revised. This thesis is divided into six parts, which are focused on the main principles and rules of this legal area, sources of law, mandatory and voluntary food labels, a remote sale of food and brands of food quality. At the end of my thesis I summarize the pros and cons of the new legislation and I think about possible amendments, which could be beneficial for both consumers and food business operators.

Master of Science / Department of Computing and Information Sciences / William Hsu / This thesis examines automated genre classification in literature. The approach described uses text based comparison of book summaries to examine if word similarity is a feasible method for identifying genre types. Genres help users form impressions of what form a text will take. Knowing the genre of a literary work provides librarians, information scientists, and other users of a text collection with a summative guide to its form, its possible content, and what its members are about without having to peruse individual topic titles. This makes automatically generating genre labels a potentially useful tool in sorting unmarked text collections or searching the web. This thesis provides a brief overview of the problems faced by researchers wishing to automate genre classification as well as the current work in the field. My own methodology will also be discussed. I implemented two basic methods for labeling genre. The results collected using them will be covered, as well as future work and improvements to the project that I wish to implement.

Cell surface proteins play an important role in understanding cell-cell communication, cell signaling pathways, cell division and molecular pathogenesis in various diseases. Commonly used biotinylation regents for cell surface mapping have shown some potential drawbacks such as crossing the cell membrane, difficult recovery of biotinylated proteins from streptavidin/avidin beads, interference from endogenous biotin and nonspecific nature of streptavidin. With aim to solve these problems, we introduced sulfo-N-hydroxysuccinimidyl (NHS) ester functionalized magnetic nanoparticles containing cleavable groups to label solvent exposed primary amine groups of proteins. Silica coated iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles (Fe3O4@SiO2 MNPs) were linked to NHS ester groups via a cleavable disulfide bond. Additionally, the superparamagnetic properties of Fe3O4@SiO2 MNPs facilitate efficient separation of the labeled peptides and removal of the detergent without any extra step of purification. In the last step, the disulfide bond between the labeled peptides and MNPs was cleaved to release the labeled peptides. The disulfide linked NHS ester modified Fe3O4@SiO2 MNPs were tested using a small peptide, and a model protein (bovine serum albumin) followed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis (LC-MS/MS) of labeled peptides. In the next step, disulfide linked, NHS ester modified Fe3O4@SiO2 MNPs (150 nm) successfully labeled the solvent exposed cell surface peptides of Saccharomyces cerevisae. Electron microscopic analysis confirmed the cell surface binding of NHS ester modified Fe3O4@SiO2 MNPs. Mass spectrometric analysis revealed the presence of 30 unique proteins containing 56 peptides. Another MNPs based labeling reagent was developed to target solvent exposed carboxyl acid residues of peptides and proteins. The surface of Fe3O4@SiO2 MNPs was modified with free amine groups via a disulfide bond. Solvent exposed carboxyl groups of ACTH 4-11 and BSA were labeled by using1-Ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide (EDC) chemistry. Upon cleaving the disulfide bond, labeled peptides were analyzed by LC-MS/MS. The MNPs containing labeling reagents offers specific labeling under physiological conditions and rapid magnetic separation of labeled peptides prior to mass spectrometric analysis. The ability of large Fe3O4@SiO2 MNPs to specifically attach to cell surface makes them a potential candidate to study the surface of variety of different cell types and complex proteins surrounded by lipid bilayer.

Syftet med denna uppsats är att försöka få reda på hur ungdomarna, som varit föremål för sociala insatsgrupper i flera stockholmsförorter norr om Stockholm, kan uppleva insatsen. Vi vill även försöka få reda på hur övriga aktörer, så som fältassistenter, samordnare och polis i samma förorter kan uppleva sociala insatsgrupper. Sociala insatsgrupper, även kallat SiG, kan beskrivas som en lokal samverkansgrupp kring ungdomen för att försöka förhindra att denne begår brott. Samverkansgruppens verksamhet innefattar ett ihållande och konsekvent arbete kring en ungdom som kan ha riskbeteenden gällande exempelvis kriminalitet och missbruk, med målsättningen att försöka minimera riskerna för ett brottsligt beteende. Vi har genomfört en kvalitativ undersökning genom olika typer av intervjuer med ungdomar, samordnare, polis och fältassistenter. Upplevelser som existerar är en skepticism gällande polisens roll i nätverksmötena och att det finns samarbetsproblem mellan övriga aktörer. Det är viktigt att arbetet utgår från ungdomarna och deras behov annars kan det finnas risk att ungdomarna känner sig stämplade och att önskad effekt av insatsen uteblir. / The purpose of this study was an attempt to discover what the youth participants in a suburbs north of Stockholm district, may have experienced during their involvement in “SiG”.  In our study we also tried to explore what the other instances, may have experienced during their involvement in “SiG”, north of Stockholm district. “SiG” is a shortening of “social insatsgrupp” in swedish, and can be explained as the persistent local work around a youth who holds a risky behavior such as criminality and addictions to prevent that the negative characteristics escalates. In this study we use a qualitative approach, including qualitative research, such as phoneinterviews, conversations, and computer-assisted interviews. The main result we believe we have found, indicates experiences as skepticism towards the roll of the police. But also that the other instances must be committed to the cooperation. The various instances and the youth, need to understand their roles, their limitations, their goals, but also respect each others missions. Only if that can be achieved, maybe then the experience of labeling can be avoided.

No description available.

Sammanfattning Titel: En studie om hur Front-of-packaging påverkar konsumenters attityder. Nivå: C-uppsats, examensarbete i ämnet företagsekonomi. Författare: Alexandra Ekstrand och Jasmine Wiberg. Handledare: Jonas Kågström och Benny Berggren. Datum: 2019-05-24. Syfte: Vårt syfte är att skapa en djupare förståelse för hur konsumenter värderar sötnings-relaterade hälsopåståenden på livsmedelsförpackningar. Metod: I denna studie har en kvantitativ metod använts där 186 enkätsvar samlades in via en webbaserad undersökning som publicerades på sociala medier. Enkätsvaren analyserades i data- och statistikprogrammet Jamovi där deskriptiva analyser samt faktoranalyser genomfördes. Resultat & diskussion: Ett genomgående drag för i stort sett alla faktoranalyser är att WTP inte påvisar något starkt samband gentemot övriga variabler. Det finns dock ett tydligt samband mellan köpintention och de specifika påståendena i samtliga av faktoranalyser. Det vi funnit är främst att natur- och närvarofokuserade sötningspåståenden på produktförpackningar genererar högst WTP samt att vetenskaps- och närvarofokuserade påståenden ger lägst WTP hos konsumenterna inom denna produktkategori när sötning är i fokus. Uppsatsens bidrag: Undersökningen har främst bidragit genom att utveckla och fördjupa det teoretiska ramverk som André et al. (2018) skapat. Studien har även skapat en djupare inblick i huruvida FOP:ers utformning och karaktär påverkar konsumenters preferenser och WTP samt givit granola-producenter viss vägledning kring vilken karaktär hos påståenden som preferens. Förslag till vidare forskning: Ett exempel på vidare forskning är att ge studien en ny vinkel genom att följa Bonilla (2010, s. 11) tes om att utföra experimentella studier för ett mer verklighetsförankrat resultat. T.ex. genom att utföra ett experiment som innefattar respondenternas interaktion med verkliga produkter och verkliga pengar.

Em vista do sistema de Caso/concordância de Chomsky (2000; 2001) baseado em Agree, bem como na proposta minimalista para a ergatividade de Aldridge (2004; 2008; 2012), apresentamos no capítulo 1 uma análise para as relações de Caso e concordância em Karitiana à luz do seu padrão de concordância ergativo-absolutivo e das ordens de constituinte que a língua exibe. Propomos que T valora Caso absolutivo no objeto e no sujeito intransitivo em orações matriz, ao passo em que o núcleo n valora genitivo nestes argumentos em orações subordinadas. O núcleo v, por sua vez, atribui Caso ergativo inerente ao sujeito transitivo. Propomos, também, que o v transitivo possua um traço EPP responsável por alçar o objeto para uma posição de especificador extra de vP acima do sujeito, o que explicaria a ordenação atestada em sentenças assertivas VOS e subordinadas OSV. A disposição SVO em declarativas, em que o sujeito sobe mesmo estando abaixo do objeto em Spec,vP, é explicada em termos de uma restrição imposta sobre o objeto pela Condição de Atividade (CHOMSKY, 2001). No capítulo 2 discutimos de que maneira as relações predicativas são sintaticamente capturadas nas construções de cópula do Karitiana. Adotamos a teoria da Sintaxe da Predicação de den Dikken (2006), em que sujeito e predicado estabelecem uma relação de predicação no domínio da projeção de um núcleo relator em uma configuração assimétrica e não direcional. Também lançamos mão da proposta em Hale & Keyser (2002) de que a projeção de um especificador depende de um núcleo verbal selecionar um elemento predicador como um complemento. Apresentamos, assim, uma análise para as construções de cópula de predicação verbal e adjetival (i.e. [NP cóp i-Pred-t/ø]). Em nossa proposta o pronome i- prefixado ao adjetivo e verbo corresponde a um pro-predicate (MORO, 1997), um place holder do predicado lexical. Tal pro-predicate é o verdadeiro predicador da construção de cópula em que ele aparece, de modo que o adjetivo e o verbo entram como um adjunto na estrutura. Apresentamos, também, uma derivação para as construções de inversão de predicado, nas quais o i- está ausente. O morfema -t/ø sufixado ao predicado corresponde a um bloqueador de projeção, sendo uma maneira que a língua possui de contornar o problema de rotulação que emerge em certas estruturas de adjunção. Por fim, explicamos o comportamento distinto das construções de predicação nominal (i.e. [ NP cóp NP-t/ø]) argumentando que elas não se submetem às restrições da sintaxe da predicação. Finalmente, no capítulo 3 argumentamos que o apagamento da cópula em Karitiana nas sentenças declarativas de tempo não futuro é um caso de elipse do tipo sluicing (MERCHANT, 2001) que não precisa satisfazer condições de identidade para ser licenciada, propondo que o efeito copula drop decorre de uma restrição baseada em fases (CHOMSKY, 2001; BOKOVI, 2014). / In light of the chomskyan Case/agreement system (2000; 2001), and also Aldridges (2004; 2008; 2012) minimalist approach to ergativity, in chapter 1 we present an account for Case and agreement relations in Karitiana in view of its ergative-absolutive agreement pattern and the constituent order the language exhibits. We propose T values absolutive Case on both the object and the intransitive subject within matrix clauses, and n head values genitive on these arguments within subordinate clauses. We also propose v assigns ergative as an inherent Case to the transitive subject. In addition, transitive v bears an EPP feature responsible for dragging the object to an outer Spec,vP position above the subject, which accounts for the VOS assertives and OSV subordinates word order. SVO declaratives, in which the subject is raised even though the object is arguably higher up in the tree, is derived due to a restriction the Activity Condition (CHOMSKY, 2001) imposes on the object. In chapter 2 we discuss how predication relations are syntactically captured in Karitiana copular constructions. We adopt den Dikkens (2006) Predication theory, in which the subject and the predicate establish a relation in the minimal domain of the projection headed by a relator in a asymmetrical and non directional configuration. We also adopt Hale & Keysers (2002) proposal in which the specifier position is projected only when a verbal head selects for a predicate element as its complement. Then, we present an analysis for verbal and adjectival predication in Karitiana copular constructions (i.e. [NP cop i-A/V-t/ø]). In our approach the pronoun i- prefixed to the adjective and the verb is a pro-predicate (MORO, 1997), a place holder for the lexical predicate. Such element is the real predicate in the copula constructions it appears, and the adjective and the verb are adjoined to the structure. We present, as well, a derivation for predicate inversion constructions, which lack i-. The morpheme -t/ø suffixed to the predicate corresponds to a projection blocker, and it is a way the language alleviates a projection problem caused by certain adjunction structures. To conclude, we explain the distinctive behaviour of nominal predicate constructions (i.e. [ NP cop NP-t/ø]) arguing they are not submitted to restrictions of the Syntax of Predication. Finally, in chapter 3 we propose a phase-based (CHOMSKY, 2001; BOKOVI, 2014) account of the copula drop phenomenon in Karitiana declarative sentences (non future tense), arguing it to be an instance of sluicing (MERCHANT, 2001), a type of ellipsis, and that it does not need to satisfy identity conditions to be licensed.

O enorme desenvolvimento que tem ocorrido na área alimentícia gera a necessidade de legislações que regulamentem o setor nos âmbitos de qualidade, segurança e rotulagem. Entretanto, o cumprimento das legislações muitas vezes não tem sido observado. Este trabalho tem o objetivo de verificar a conformidade da rotulagem de algumas categorias de produtos alimentícios comercializados na cidade de São Paulo frente à legislação brasileira em vigor, analisando dados quantitativos e qualitativos da conformidade e da não-conformidade dos rótulos dos alimentos frente à legislação e apresentando propostas para sua melhoria. Foram analisadas 11 categorias de produtos alimentícios de grande consumo pela população (tais como leites, chocolates e sorvetes) e 2 categorias de produtos para grupos populacionais específicos (alimentos infantis e alimentos para praticantes de atividade física). Dos 52 rótulos analisados, 80,8% apresentaram no mínimo um tipo de não-conformidade frente à legislação vigente, e apenas 19,2% estavam plenamente de acordo com o estabelecido na legislação brasileira. Entre as categorias analisadas, a categoria que apresentou maior número de itens não-conformes foi a categoria de alimentos para praticantes de atividade física. Com relação ao número de rótulos não-confomes, quatro categorias (bombons, leites UHT, biscoitos e alimentos infantis) apresentaram 100% de rótulos não-confomes, ou seja, para estas categorias todos os rótulos analisados não atendiam ao estabelecido na legislação. Já com relação ao tipo de irregularidade, a tabela nutricional foi o item avaliado que apresentou maior número de irregularidades. Desta forma, alguns itens da legislação são discutidos, tais como a previsão em legislação do uso de valores diários de referência considerando as necessidades nutricionais de crianças quando o produto for destinado ao público infantil, a fim de proporcionar uma melhor adequação dos rótulos às necessidades dos consumidores. / The huge development that has occurred in the food sector generates the necessity of laws regulating the industry in the areas of quality, safety and labeling. However, compliance with legislation is not always observed. This work is intended to verify conformity of labeling of some categories of food products sold in São Paulo city with Brazilian legislation in force, analyzing quantitative and qualitative data compliance and non-compliance of food product labels with legislation and to submit proposals for their improvement. Eleven categories of food products of large consumption by the population have been analyzed (such as milk, chocolate and ice cream) and two categories of products for specific population groups (infant food and food products for practitioners of physical activity). From the 52 labels analyzed, 80.8% presented at least one type of non-conformity with legislation and only 19.2% were fully in accordance with the established in the Brazilian legislation. Among categories analyzed, the one presenting the largest amount of non-compliant items was the food category for practitioners of physical activity. With respect to the number of noncompliant labels, four categories (chocolates, UHT milk, biscuits and infant food) presented 100% non-compliant labels, meaning that for these categories all labels analyzed did not meet the legislation standards. With respect to the type of nonconformity, the nutritional table was the item analyzed which presented the largest number of irregularities. This way, some items of the legislation are discussed, such as stipulating by legislation the use of daily values of reference considering children nutritional necessities when the food product is intended for the childrens\' segment, in order to provide a proper adequacy of labels to consumer\'s necessities.