One means by which inhibitory control in selective attention may be studied is with the negative priming (NP) procedure. It is widely assumed that children are characterised by reduced capacity for inhibition (Diamond, 2002) and that inhibitory dysfunction is a key characteristic of children and adolescents with ADHD (Barkley, 1997). This should translate into reduced NP effects for these populations. In this dissertation, four studies using the NP procedure find no evidence for reduced inhibitory function in typical children or in adolescents with ADHD. Study 1 examined the magnitude of NP in children compared with adults. An important line of support for the idea that children suffer an inhibitory decrement has been based an empirical report suggesting that conceptual (identity or semantic) NP effects, assumed to reflect the by-product of distractor inhibition, while consistently found in adults are lacking in children (Tipper, Bourque, Anderson, & Brehaut, 1989). In Study 1, the opposite result was found. Study 2 compared NP effects between 7-year-old children and adults while replicating the respective methodologies of the only two studies to explore conceptual NP effects in developmental populations to date (Pritchard & Neumann, 2004, vs. Tipper et al., 1989) to determine the nature of the divergent results between these studies. In Study 2, it was found that distractor inhibition effects are comparable between children and adults when a NP task contains trials in which the distractor stimulus is consistently incongruent with the target stimulus, but that children may be more susceptible than adults to divide attention between target and distractor when a NP task contains a number of trials in which target selection difficulty is reduced. These are critical new findings, highlighting that reduced NP may often relate to methodological artifacts, and when considered in the light of current theories of NP, are also problematic for anti-inhibitory accounts of NP. Having distinguished more definitively the role of inhibition in developmental NP effects, Studies 3 and 4 explored whether the inhibitory process underpinning NP was implicated in young persons with ADHD. To date, evidence for NP in ADHD populations is equivocal. Study 3 found no evidence for a reduced NP effect in ADHD devoid of a corresponding diagnosis. Study 4 found that conduct and oppositional defiant disorders had the potential to confound the evaluation of NP in ADHD. Taken together, results in Studies 1 - 4 parallel very recent results in the literature on NP in older adults and adult psychopathology where presumed reductions of NP in these populations may also be accounted for by methodological artifacts (Buchner & Mayr, in press). It is concluded that NP may reflect a primitive and robust form of inhibitory processing, one that develops early and one that is often the last to deteriorate.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2007. / The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file. Title from title screen of research.pdf file (viewed on March 21, 2008) Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of North Carolina Wilmington, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (Leaves: 110-116)

Diss. (sammanfattning) Umeå : Sveriges lantbruksuniv., 2007. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Umeå : Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet, 2006. / Härtill 3 uppsatser.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karol. inst., 2006. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karolinska institutet, 2006. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Zugl.: Duisburg, Essen, Univ., Diss., 2009

Thesis (MEng)--University of Stellenbosch, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Rapid prototyping (RP) technologies have expanded vastly over recent years. With the advent of new materials along with new processes, each technology has been contributing to the diversities in different fields of application for the growing technologies. In the course of improvement, it is however critical to understand exactly what the capability of each individual technology is in order to compare future improvements, or even to compare current processes and technologies. The objective of this research has been to develop capability profiles of prominent RP technologies: 3D-Printing (3DP), Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), and Laminated Object Manufacturing (LOM) - in which different characteristics of each technology are measured and quantified. A capability profile may be regarded as a set of building blocks that give a representation of the RP technology's ability and is defined by quantifying the following characteristics: Accuracy (both dimensional- and geometrical accuracy) Surface finish measures Strength and elongation Build time, and Cost The significance behind developing capability profiles lies in the need to more accurately describe and compare each of the different processes - especially Z Corporation's 3DP, since although this process is regarded as very capable in many areas, little has been published to substantiate this opinion. When users of these technologies are pushing the limits of their machines, it becomes critical to know exactly what these boundaries are in order to know with some measure of certainty that they will be able to fulfil a certain customer demand or expectation. For South Africa in particular, the industry's growing interest in rapid prototyping is triggering inevitable questions as to whether a certain RP technology can produce the desired solutions to their problems. The South African industry's growing awareness about rapid prototyping is opening new doors for better solutions to new and existing problems - but ultimately, before investing money, customers want to know if RP is going to meet the standards needed to solve their solutions. On a more general level, this study can also be seen to bear significance in contributing to research in what has become known as rapid manufacturing (RM). This term is defined as the manufacture of end-use products using additive manufacturing techniques. RM must guarantee long-term consistent component use for the entire product life cycle or for a defined minimal period for wearing parts [1]. However, before it is possible to guarantee long-term consistency of components, one must first ensure consistency of the process. Once a process is consistent, the next question becomes: What is it capable of doing consistently? This study aims to answer this question for the three processes (3DP, SLS and LOM) mentioned earlier. In doing so, this study and its development of capability profiles, seeks to contribute and be of value in both academic circles as well as for industry partners and system manufacturers. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Snelle Prototipering (SP) tegnologieë het die afgelope jare ongelooflike groei ondervind. Met die ontwikkeling van nuwe materiale tesame met nuwe prosesse, het elke tegnologie bygedra tot 'n diversiteit in moontlike toepassings vir 'n verskeidenheid van velde. Met 'n mikpunt van aaneenlopende verbetering, is dit egter krities om te verstaan presies wat elke individuele tegnologie se vermoëns is. Dit maak dit dan moontlik om toekomstige verbeteringe te vergelyk, of om selfs huidige prosesse met mekaar te vergelyk. Die doel van hierdie navorsing was om vermoënsprofiele van prominente SP tegnologieë te ontwikkel: 3D-Printing (3DP), Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) en Laminated Object Manufacturing (LOM) - waarin verskillende karaktereienskappe van elke tegnologie gemeet en gekwantifiseer word. 'n Vermoënsprofiel mag beskou word as 'n stel boustene wat 'n weerspieëling gee van die SP tegnologie se vermoë en word gedefinieer deur die kwantifisering van die volgende karaktereienskappe: Akkuraatheid (beide dimensionele- en geometriese akkuraatheid) Oppervlakgehalte metings Treksterktes en verlengings Bou- of vervaardigingstye, en Kostes Die rede waarom dit belangrik is om vermoënsprofiele te ontwikkel berus by die behoefte om die verskillende prosesse met meer akkuraatheid te beskryf en te vergelyk - veral Z Corporation se 3DP. Alhoewel hierdie proses algemeen beskou word as baie bevoeg in vele areas, is min informasie al gepubliseer om hierdie opinie te ondersteun. Wanneer gebruikers van hierdie tegnologieë hul masjiene tot die limiete druk, begin dit krities raak om presies te weet wat daardie grense is, sodat hulle met 'n sekere mate van sekerheid sal kan sê of hulle sal kan voldoen aan kliënte se behoeftes of verwagtinge. Die Suid-Afrikaanse industrie se belangstelling in SP tegnologieë begin al hoe meer groei, en daarmee saam, begin vrae ontstaan tot watter mate snelle prototipering wel werkbare oplossings kan produseer vir hul probleme. Hierdie groeiende bewustheid van die Suid-Afrikaanse industrie begin dus ook nou nuwe paaie openbaar vir beide nuwe en ou probleme - maar uiteindelik, voordat kliënte egter bereid sal wees om geld te belê, sal hulle wil weet of snelle prototipering die standaarde gaan behaal wat nodig sal wees om juis hierdie oplossings te verwesenlik. Op 'n meer breë vlak, beoog hierdie studie om ook 'n bydrae te maak in die groeiende navorsingsveld van snelle vervaardiging (SV). Hierdie is 'n term wat gedefinieer word as die vervaardiging van endgebruiker produkte, met die benutting van byvoegings-vervaardigings tegnieke. SV moet versekering bied vir komponente se werkverrigting op die lange duur vir die hele produk se lewenssiklus, of ten minste vir 'n gedefinieerde minimale tydperk in die geval van slytasie-parte [1]. Maar voordat dit moontlik sal wees om hierdie versekering te bied, moet mens eers die versekering kan bied van 'n proses se werkverrigting. Wanneer die prosesse betroubaar en deurlopende resultate lewer, word die volgende logiese vraag gestel: Wat presies, is hierdie proses in staat om betroubaar te lewer? Hierdie studie beoog om juis hierdie vraag te beantwoord vir die drie prosesse (3DP, SLS en LOM) wat vroeër genoem is. Dienooreenkomstig, met die ontwikkeling van vermoënsprofiele van hierdie prosesse, behoort hierdie studie van waarde te wees vir beide akademici, sowel as industrie-lede en vervaardigers van SP tegnologieë.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Acute synovitis and capsulitis are common articular problems and can contribute to the development of a degenerative process due to the release of enzymes and inflammatory mediators. The indicated treatment for synovitis and capsulitis is based on anti-inflammatory drugs. An experimental synovitis model was used in ponies to evaluate the effect of parecoxib, a selective ciclo-oxygenase 2 anti-inflammatory drug. Cardiac (FC) and respiratory frequency (FR) and rectal temperature (T) were determined. The ponies also had their stride length (CP), carpal joint angle at rest (AR), angle of maximum flexion (AFM), joint circumference (CA), carpal effusion degree (GE) and lameness degree (GC) evaluated. The analysis of the synovial fluid included cytology, protein, mucin precipitation quality and viscosity. After synovitis induction with Freund s complete adjuvant, three ponies were treated with 0,55mg/kg/day IV parecoxib, and three received sterile 0,9% saline solution (IV) for five days. Clinical and synovial fluid parameters were evaluated before synovitis induction, immediately before treatment and 12, 24, 48, 96 and 120 hours after the first treatment. Induced synovitis findings were similar to natural occurring ones. Repeated artrocentesis increased protein in the synovial fluid, but did not modify the other evaluated parameters of the healthy joints. Synovial fluid parameters were not affected by parecoxib treatment. Protein amount and total leukocyte count increased and remained high up to 120 hours of the beginning of treatment, and the viscosity and mucin precipitation quality decreased in synovitis induced joints. The intra-articular injection of Freund s complete adjuvant induced a moderate to serious synovitis. Significant increases in T, FC, GC and GE and reduction of AFM and CP occurred in the synovitis control group. Treated ponies showed GC reduction, maintenance of the AFM, CP, T and FC and attenuation of GE. Although the used dosage of parecoxib had no effect on evaluated synovial fluid parameters, analgesic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory effects were observed. / Sinovite e capsulite agudas são problemas comuns em algumas articulações e podem resultar em um processo degenerativo pela liberação de enzimas e mediadores inflamatórios. O tratamento recomendado nestes casos são os antiinflamatórios não esteroidais (AINEs). Com o objetivo de avaliar o efeito do parecoxib, um AINE seletivo para cicloxigenase 2 injetável, foi usado um modelo experimental de sinovite em pôneis. No exame clínico geral foi determinada a freqüência cardíaca (FC) e respiratória (FR) e a temperatura retal (T). No exame clínico específico foram avaliados o comprimento do passo (CP), ângulo do membro em repouso (AR), ângulo de flexão máxima (AFM), circunferência articular (CA), grau de efusão carpal (GE) e grau de claudicação (GC). A análise do líquido sinovial foi realizada através da citologia, concentração de proteína, qualidade do precipitado da mucina e viscosidade. Cinco dias após indução da sinovite com adjuvante completo de Freund, três pôneis foram tratados com 0,55mg/kg/dia de parecoxib (IV) e três receberam solução fisiológica estéril 0,9% (IV) por cinco dias. A avaliação dos parâmetros clínicos gerais e específicos, e das características celulares e bioquímicas do fluido sinovial foi realizada antes da indução de sinovite, imediatamente antes do tratamento e 12, 24, 48, 72, 96 e 120 horas após início do tratamento. A sinovite induzida neste experimento foi semelhante a uma sinovite naturalmente ocorrida. A artrocentese repetida, apesar de contribuir para o aumento da proteína no fluido sinovial, não modificou significativamente os outros parâmetros avaliados das articulações sadias. O tratamento com parecoxib não influenciou significativamente os parâmetros do líquido sinvovial, pois a quantidade de proteína e de leucócitos totais aumentou, e a qualidade da viscosidade e da precipitação da mucina diminuiu com a indução da sinovite, permanecendo sem alteração até 120 horas após o início do tratamento. A injeção intra-articular com adjuvante completo de Freund, induziu uma sinovite de intensidade moderada a grave. Ocorreram aumentos significativos na T, FC, GC e GE e diminuição do AFM e CP no grupo controle. Já os pôneis tratados com parecoxib apresentaram diminuição do GC, manutenção do AFM, CP, T e FC e atenuação do GE articular. Portanto, embora o parecoxib, na dose utilizada, não tenha apresentado efeito sobre os parâmetros do líquido sinovial das articulações com sinovite, sua ação antipirética, antiinflamatória e analgésica foi documentada.