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As triazinas e sulfoniluréias tem sido muito empregadas, devido ao crescente aumento na produção agrícola e aplicação de herbicidas nas lavouras, podendo causar sérios riscos à saúde humana e ao meio ambiente. Uma problemática é a baixa concentração que estes analitos são encontrados, tornando-se necessário o emprego do preparo da amostra para a sua determinação. Com isso, a busca por técnicas de preparo de amostras miniaturizadas, simples, de baixo custo, com menores riscos de contaminações ambientais e baixo consome de solventes, tem grande predominância. Dentre as microtécnicas de preparo de amostra podemos destacar a microextração em dispositivos preenchidos com sorventes (MEPS, do inglês, Microextraction by Packed Sorbent) e a microextração adsortiva em barra (BAμE, do inglês, Bar Adsorptive Microextraction). Outro aspecto desejado no preparo de amostras é a obtenção de uma maior seletividade quanto ao sorvente empregado, quando comparado àqueles convencionais como, por exemplo, sílica modificada (ex. C18), resinas Amberlite XAD, entre outros. Nesse âmbito, o presente trabalho apresenta a síntese de dois polímeros impressos molecularmente (MIP, do inglês, Molecularly Imprinted Polymers) e suas aplicações na adsorção seletiva de moléculas de triazinas e sulfoniluréias, com separação, identificação e quantificação feitas por LC-TOF-ESI e HPLC-DAD. A primeira metodologia desenvolvida foi a síntese dos polímeros impressos empregando o ácido metacrílico e o etileno glicol dimetacrilato. Após a síntese, os polímeros foram caracterizados através da espectroscopia de infravermelho e microscopia eletrônica de varredura. O coeficiente de seletividade para o MIP foi comparado com o coeficiente de seletividade do polímero não impresso (NIP, do inglês, non imprinted polymers) para misturas binárias de atrazina/picloram, atrazina/propanil, bensulfuron/betazon e bensulfuron/prometon onde os valores dos coeficientes de seletividade relativa (k\') obtidos foram de 17,2, 3,2, 10,6 e 8,5. A seguir, foram desenvolvidos dois métodos empregando MEPS para as triazinas e sulfoniluréias, respectivamente. Os métodos validados baseando-se nas recomendações da Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária (ANVISA) e com diretrizes da Comunidade Europeia, apresentaram linearidade, seletividade, precisão, exatidão e recuperação adequadas para as triazinas e sulfoniuréias. Os limites de quantificação obtidos foram da ordem de 5,0-10,0 μg kg-1 para as triazinas e 2,5 μg kg-1 para as sulfoniluréias. Ainda com propósito de determinar esses herbicidas em milho, dois novos métodos de preparo de amostra foram desenvolvidos, empregando a BAμE. A BAμE, foi desenvolvida recentemente e combinada com os polímeros molecularmente impressos, avaliou-se sua determinação para as triazinas e sulfoniluréias. As variáveis da técnica BAμE foram otimizadas e, em seguida, validadas. Os limites de quantificação obtidos foram da ordem de 0,7 μg kg-1 para as triazinas e 0,4 μg kg-1 para as sulfoniluréias. Os métodos propostos foram aplicados com sucesso para determinação de triazinas em diferentes amostras de milho verde, com valores de recuperação satisfatórios na faixa de 80,0 -120,9%. / Triazines and sulfonylureas have been much used due to the growing in agricultural production and application of herbicides on crops, which may cause serious risks to human health and the environment. One problem is the low concentration found of these analytes, making it necessary the use of the sample preparation. Thus, the search for miniaturized sample preparation such as techniques simple, low cost, with less risk of environmental contamination and low solvent consumes has great predominance. Among the sample preparation microtechnology we can highlight the microextraction by packed sorbent (MEPS) and bar adsorptive microextraction (BA?E). Another desired aspect for sample preparation is to obtain a higher selectivity concerning the sorbent employed as compared to their conventional format; for example, modified silica (ex. 18), Amberlite XAD resins, and others. In this context, this paper presents the synthesis of two molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) and their applications in the selective adsorption of triazines and sulfonylureas molecules being the separation, identification and quantification steps made by LC-TOF-ESI and HPLC-DAD. The first step developed was the synthesis of imprinted polymers using methacrylic acid and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate. After synthesizing, the polymers were characterized by infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The MIP selectivity coefficient was compared with the NIP (non imprinted polymer) selectivity coefficient employing binary mixtures of atrazine / picloram, atrazine / propanil, bensulfuron / betazon and bensulfuron / prometon where the values of relative selectivity coefficients (k \') obtained were 17.2, 3.2, 10.6 and 8.5. Next, we developed two methods for MEPS triazines and sulfonylureas, respectively. The methods were validated based on the recommendations of the National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA) and the European Community directives, and presented linearity, selectivity, precision, accuracy and adequate recovery for the triazines and sulfoniuréias. The quantification limits were obtained in the range of 5.0-10.0 μg kg-1 for triazines and 2.5 μg kg-1 for sulfonylureas. Aiming determining these herbicides in corn samples, two new sample preparation methods were developed, using the BAμE. The recently developed BAμE, was combined with molecularly imprinted polymers to evaluate the determination to triazines and sulfonylureas. The BAμE variables were optimized and validated. The quantification limits were obtained in the range of 0.7 μg kg-1 for triazines and 0.4 μg kg-1 for sulfonylureas. The proposed methods were successfully applied for the determination of triazines in different samples of corn, with satisfactory recovery values in the range of 80.0 -120.9%.

As triazinas e sulfoniluréias tem sido muito empregadas, devido ao crescente aumento na produção agrícola e aplicação de herbicidas nas lavouras, podendo causar sérios riscos à saúde humana e ao meio ambiente. Uma problemática é a baixa concentração que estes analitos são encontrados, tornando-se necessário o emprego do preparo da amostra para a sua determinação. Com isso, a busca por técnicas de preparo de amostras miniaturizadas, simples, de baixo custo, com menores riscos de contaminações ambientais e baixo consome de solventes, tem grande predominância. Dentre as microtécnicas de preparo de amostra podemos destacar a microextração em dispositivos preenchidos com sorventes (MEPS, do inglês, Microextraction by Packed Sorbent) e a microextração adsortiva em barra (BAμE, do inglês, Bar Adsorptive Microextraction). Outro aspecto desejado no preparo de amostras é a obtenção de uma maior seletividade quanto ao sorvente empregado, quando comparado àqueles convencionais como, por exemplo, sílica modificada (ex. C18), resinas Amberlite XAD, entre outros. Nesse âmbito, o presente trabalho apresenta a síntese de dois polímeros impressos molecularmente (MIP, do inglês, Molecularly Imprinted Polymers) e suas aplicações na adsorção seletiva de moléculas de triazinas e sulfoniluréias, com separação, identificação e quantificação feitas por LC-TOF-ESI e HPLC-DAD. A primeira metodologia desenvolvida foi a síntese dos polímeros impressos empregando o ácido metacrílico e o etileno glicol dimetacrilato. Após a síntese, os polímeros foram caracterizados através da espectroscopia de infravermelho e microscopia eletrônica de varredura. O coeficiente de seletividade para o MIP foi comparado com o coeficiente de seletividade do polímero não impresso (NIP, do inglês, non imprinted polymers) para misturas binárias de atrazina/picloram, atrazina/propanil, bensulfuron/betazon e bensulfuron/prometon onde os valores dos coeficientes de seletividade relativa (k\') obtidos foram de 17,2, 3,2, 10,6 e 8,5. A seguir, foram desenvolvidos dois métodos empregando MEPS para as triazinas e sulfoniluréias, respectivamente. Os métodos validados baseando-se nas recomendações da Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária (ANVISA) e com diretrizes da Comunidade Europeia, apresentaram linearidade, seletividade, precisão, exatidão e recuperação adequadas para as triazinas e sulfoniuréias. Os limites de quantificação obtidos foram da ordem de 5,0-10,0 μg kg-1 para as triazinas e 2,5 μg kg-1 para as sulfoniluréias. Ainda com propósito de determinar esses herbicidas em milho, dois novos métodos de preparo de amostra foram desenvolvidos, empregando a BAμE. A BAμE, foi desenvolvida recentemente e combinada com os polímeros molecularmente impressos, avaliou-se sua determinação para as triazinas e sulfoniluréias. As variáveis da técnica BAμE foram otimizadas e, em seguida, validadas. Os limites de quantificação obtidos foram da ordem de 0,7 μg kg-1 para as triazinas e 0,4 μg kg-1 para as sulfoniluréias. Os métodos propostos foram aplicados com sucesso para determinação de triazinas em diferentes amostras de milho verde, com valores de recuperação satisfatórios na faixa de 80,0 -120,9%. / Triazines and sulfonylureas have been much used due to the growing in agricultural production and application of herbicides on crops, which may cause serious risks to human health and the environment. One problem is the low concentration found of these analytes, making it necessary the use of the sample preparation. Thus, the search for miniaturized sample preparation such as techniques simple, low cost, with less risk of environmental contamination and low solvent consumes has great predominance. Among the sample preparation microtechnology we can highlight the microextraction by packed sorbent (MEPS) and bar adsorptive microextraction (BA?E). Another desired aspect for sample preparation is to obtain a higher selectivity concerning the sorbent employed as compared to their conventional format; for example, modified silica (ex. 18), Amberlite XAD resins, and others. In this context, this paper presents the synthesis of two molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) and their applications in the selective adsorption of triazines and sulfonylureas molecules being the separation, identification and quantification steps made by LC-TOF-ESI and HPLC-DAD. The first step developed was the synthesis of imprinted polymers using methacrylic acid and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate. After synthesizing, the polymers were characterized by infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The MIP selectivity coefficient was compared with the NIP (non imprinted polymer) selectivity coefficient employing binary mixtures of atrazine / picloram, atrazine / propanil, bensulfuron / betazon and bensulfuron / prometon where the values of relative selectivity coefficients (k \') obtained were 17.2, 3.2, 10.6 and 8.5. Next, we developed two methods for MEPS triazines and sulfonylureas, respectively. The methods were validated based on the recommendations of the National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA) and the European Community directives, and presented linearity, selectivity, precision, accuracy and adequate recovery for the triazines and sulfoniuréias. The quantification limits were obtained in the range of 5.0-10.0 μg kg-1 for triazines and 2.5 μg kg-1 for sulfonylureas. Aiming determining these herbicides in corn samples, two new sample preparation methods were developed, using the BAμE. The recently developed BAμE, was combined with molecularly imprinted polymers to evaluate the determination to triazines and sulfonylureas. The BAμE variables were optimized and validated. The quantification limits were obtained in the range of 0.7 μg kg-1 for triazines and 0.4 μg kg-1 for sulfonylureas. The proposed methods were successfully applied for the determination of triazines in different samples of corn, with satisfactory recovery values in the range of 80.0 -120.9%.

Denna studie är baserad på en organisationsförändring inom Länsförsäkringsgruppen. Länsförsäkringar består av 23 lokala och självständiga försäkringsbolag som är verksamma under samma varumärke. Genom att införa ett gemensamt arbetssätt på samtliga länsförsäkringsbolagen för reglering av byggskador som är kopplat till stödsystemet Meps 2.0 avsågs att öka kundnöjdheten. Det övergripande syftet med studien är att undersöka vad som kan läras och förstås av användarnas perspektiv, i detta fall skadereglerarna, om möjligheter och hinder för lärande av nya arbetssätt i samband med implementering av nytt IT-system. Att förstå på vilka sätt personalens erfarenheter kan komma till användning för utveckling av ett gemensamt arbetssätt i en organisation är ett ytterligare syfte med undersökningen. I denna undersökning genomförs en enkätundersökning som bildar underlag för fallstudier på två utvalda länsförsäkringsbolag. Fallstudier består av individuella intervjuer med en gruppchef och tre medarbetare på länsförsäkringsbolagen samt observationer av informanterna. Insamlad data bearbetas och analyseras med koppling till litteratur och genom tematisk analys som metod. Resultaten visar att strukturer tillsammans med relationella och sociala aspekter har en väsentlig roll för att genomföra en lyckad förändring inom en organisation. Vikten av människors aktiva delaktighet i förändringsarbeten understryks och det hittas nödvändigt att de involverade människorna är med på vad en viss förändring innebär och varför den behövs. Vidare visar de uppnådda resultaten att Communities of practice med fördel kan tillämpas inom en organisation för att dra nytta av kollektivets styrka i olika områden och för att kunna utveckla nya kulturella resurser som nya sätt arbeta på i en organisation. / This study is based on an organizational change within the Länsförsäkringar group. Länsförsäkringar consists of 23 local and independent insurance companies operating under the same brand. By introducing a joint work method for settlement of building damages which is related to the support system Meps 2.0 to all insurance companies inside the group, it was intended to increase customer satisfaction. The overall aim of the study is to investigate what can be learned and understood from the users' perspectives, in this case the claims adjusters, about opportunities and obstacles for learning new ways of working in connection with the implementation of a new IT system. Understanding the ways in which staff experiences can be used to develop a common way of working in an organization is a further purpose of the study. In this study, a survey is conducted which forms the basis for case studies on two selected companies inside Länsförsäkringar group. Case studies consist of individual interviews with a group manager and three employees at each company as well as observations of the informants. Empirical data is processed and analyzed regarding literature and through thematic analysis as a method. The results show that structures together with relational and social aspects play an important role in implementing successful change in an organization. The importance of people's active involvement in a change is emphasized and it is found necessary that the people involved understand what a certain change means and why it is needed. Furthermore, the results achieved show that Communities of Practice can be used in an organization to benefit from the strengths of the community in different areas and to develop new cultural resources like new ways of working in an organization.

This diploma thesis has several objetcs. The main objective is to answer the research question and seven hypotheses including elections to the European Parliament and MEPs behaviour from individual europarties. Some hypotheses include the participation of the electorate of the member states in elections to the EP, while others relate to participation of MEPs in voting, cohesion and coalitions that are formed in the parliament. Data on voting are obtained thanks to a project created by the London School of Economics. These data are already clearly adjusted, because official data on voting the European Parliament show in a form that could not be analyzed without software support. After the introduction follow two chapters, in which there is described theoretical framework involving the search of relevant sources on the European Parliament, describing his position within key institutions of the EU, its function, history, and empowerment to the election of MEPs to the europarties. The results show some charasteristic patterns in the European Parliament. MEPs in most cases hold the party line rather than national. However, there are some cases, where individual nations across europarties vote uniformly, even though this behavior in some of them oppose to the attitude of a majority of the party. Large...

Background An ongoing public policy concern in the United States is disparities in health care for racial/ethnic minority populations. The National Healthcare Disparities Report (NHDR) addresses these disparities for chronic diseases such as diabetes that impose economic and health burdens on society that need to be partly managed by health care policies. One understudied aspect of diabetes care is racial/ethnic disparities in the pharmacological management of the disease. Objective The objective of this study was to determine whether racial/ethnic disparities exist in the pharmacological treatment of diabetes, and if so, how do individual characteristics such as socioeconomic status (SES) influence the differences. Methods This study used national survey data collected through the 2010 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS). Racial/ethnic disparities in diabetes treatment were examined using a methodology based on the Institute of Medicine (IOM) definition of disparity that adjusts for health status factors while allowing SES factors to mediate differences. The effects of independent variables on receipt of antidiabetic medication prescriptions among individuals who self-reported a diagnosis of diabetes were examined. Regression analyses were performed on unadjusted data and on data transformed by a rank-and-replace method to approximate the IOM definition. Results Among 1,844 survey respondents with self-reported diabetes, significant differences were found for race/ethnicity, education, health insurance, and the co-morbidities of heart disease and eye problems/retinopathy. Race/ethnicity was a significant predictor of the receipt of antidiabetic prescriptions, with Hispanics being more than 2 times as likely as non-Hispanic whites to have received a prescription. This difference was magnified in the IOM model that controlled for health status. In the IOM model, no significant differences were observed between non-Hispanic whites and non-Hispanic blacks or other minorities. Having health insurance, higher education, or eye problems/retinopathy were also significant predictors of receiving antidiabetic prescriptions. Conclusion Using a methodology that adjusts for factors related to health status while allowing factors related to SES to mediate racial/ethnic differences, disparities were observed between non-Hispanic whites and minorities, particularly Hispanics, in the likelihood of receiving a prescription for antidiabetic medication. The agreement of these results with the few studies on the pharmacological management of diabetes is mixed, and suggests the need for additional studies. Application of a rigorous definition of racial/ethnic disparities and the implementation of methodologies that adjust for health status while allowing mediation by SES factors are needed to address important gaps in the treatment of diabetes. / acase@tulane.edu

Uppdragsgivaren, Erik Larssons Byggnads AB, utför skadereglering på uppdrag av flera olika försäkringsbolag i Tranemo, Svenljunga och Ulricehamn kommun. Året 2008 var företaget involverat i sammanlagt 104 försäkringsskador. Den ersättning som tillfaller Erik Larssons Byggnads AB grundar sig i det närmaste uteslutande på de kostnader kalkyleringsprogrammen MEPS och WinBygg 2000 beräknat. Examensarbetet är en studie om användandet av de olika kalkylprogrammen i kombination med respektive avtal haft betydelse för lönsamheten vid skadereglering. Skillnader mellan programmens kalkyler samt hur dessa överensstämmer med verkligt utfall undersöks. Brister i nuvarande arbetssätt kartläggs och förbättringar föreslås. Målet är att resultat och slutsatser skall kunna vara en hjälp vid framtida kalkylering och upphandling av skadeuppdrag - att lönsamheten på så sätt kan förbättras för Erik Larssons Byggnads AB. En fullständig inventering av företagets skadekalkyler genomfördes. Vid denna delades skador från varje försäkringsbolag in i skadetyp, omfattning och kostnad. Som utgångspunkt valdes därefter tre slutkalkyler i MEPS. Dessa kopierades i WinBygg 2000, så identiska förlagan i MEPS som möjligt. Alla kalkyler jämfördes sedan med verkligt utfall. Examensarbetet visar att den ersättning som tillföll Erik Larssons Byggnads AB i stor utsträckning påverkades av åt vilket försäkringsbolag skaderegleringen utfördes. WinBygg 2000 kalkylerade genomgående lägre skadekostnader i jämförelse med MEPS. Störst skillnad var det mellan UE-arvode och transportkostnader. Vid skadeinventeringen upptäcktes även att två för entreprenören gynnsamma möjligheter sällan eller aldrig utnyttjades år 2008.

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<p>Uppdragsgivaren, Erik Larssons Byggnads AB, utför skadereglering på uppdrag av flera olika försäkringsbolag i Tranemo, Svenljunga och Ulricehamn kommun. Året 2008 var företaget involverat i sammanlagt 104 försäkringsskador.</p><p>Den ersättning som tillfaller Erik Larssons Byggnads AB grundar sig i det närmaste uteslutande på de kostnader kalkyleringsprogrammen MEPS och WinBygg 2000 beräknat.</p><p>Examensarbetet är en studie om användandet av de olika kalkylprogrammen i kombination med respektive avtal haft betydelse för lönsamheten vid skadereglering. Skillnader mellan programmens kalkyler samt hur dessa överensstämmer med verkligt utfall undersöks. Brister i nuvarande arbetssätt kartläggs och förbättringar föreslås.</p><p>Målet är att resultat och slutsatser skall kunna vara en hjälp vid framtida kalkylering och upphandling av skadeuppdrag - att lönsamheten på så sätt kan förbättras för Erik Larssons Byggnads AB.</p><p>En fullständig inventering av företagets skadekalkyler genomfördes. Vid denna delades skador från varje försäkringsbolag in i skadetyp, omfattning och kostnad. Som utgångspunkt valdes därefter tre slutkalkyler i MEPS. Dessa kopierades i WinBygg 2000, så identiska förlagan i MEPS som möjligt. Alla kalkyler jämfördes sedan med verkligt utfall.</p><p>Examensarbetet visar att den ersättning som tillföll Erik Larssons Byggnads AB i stor utsträckning påverkades av åt vilket försäkringsbolag skaderegleringen utfördes. WinBygg 2000 kalkylerade genomgående lägre skadekostnader i jämförelse med MEPS. Störst skillnad var det mellan UE-arvode och transportkostnader.</p><p>Vid skadeinventeringen upptäcktes även att två för entreprenören gynnsamma möjligheter sällan eller aldrig utnyttjades år 2008.</p>

Objective: To estimate the national prevalence and direct incremental expenditures of musculoskeletal disorders (MSD's) using the 2007 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data. <br>Methods: A retrospective database analysis was conducted and individuals with MSD's (ICD-9-CM codes 274.00; 710.00-738.00) were identified. Dependent variables were total health care and other service category expenditures. The study utilized descriptive and regression analyses. <br>Results: In 2007, the national prevalence of MSD's was 33 million with incremental costs of $886.49 per person. The inpatient expenditures ($33,461.85) were the highest cost component in MSD's and the predictors of total health care expenditures were age, marital status, and presence of the disease condition. <br>Conclusion: The systematic assessment of MSD's and their associated incremental costs to the society is essential in increasing the awareness of decision makers to implement intervention strategies that are effective in lowering the disease incidence and in reducing the overall cost of disease management. / Mylan School of Pharmacy and the Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences / Pharmacy Administration / MS / Thesis