Relative Performance Evaluation "RPE" is a performance evaluation and reward scheme which have been receiving a growing attention from academic and professionals (Holmstrom 1982, Frederickson 1992, Conyon and Gregg 1994, and Defond & Park 1999). Under RPE rewards for managers and executives are set upon their performance compared to that of their peers. Holmstrom (1982) introduced the basic model of RPE founded on agent-principal assumptions. In that model, the peers' performance was seen to provide information about the agent's unobservable effort. Fredrickson (1992) suggested that RPE could satisfy economic and psychological needs of employee. In this study, an attempt is made to depart from the universal agency perspective and to adopt a contingent framework. The research arguments were developed from an identification of the discrepancies and gaps in the literature of RPE, overlooked complications and issues in the UK practice, relating the debate about RPE to the wider accounting literature of performance measurements and evaluation (Emmanuel et.al. 1990, Kaplan & Atkinson 1998). The aim of this research was to explore the content and context of RPE therefore, the arguments focused on: whether RPE is motivating, the impacts of difficulty of peer group, non financial measures, market measures and varying the form of the rewards on RPE. Case study approach was adopted to examine the research arguments. Data were collected from three companies in Egypt and one company in England. Access was partially accidental but turned to provide four different cases. Three cases were developed in Egypt including: Trade (a public company), Dairy (private company) and Steel (joint venture) and the English company was United Utilities (private company). Data were collected by questionnaire, interviews and other documentary sources of the companies. The research findings suggest associations between RPE and target's difficulty, using non financial but not varying rewards. Competition and type of ownership and the organisational culture were influential on RPE.

No description available.

The bestrophinopathies are a set of inherited retinal degenerations caused by mutations in BEST1, and include Best vitelliform macular dystrophy (BVMD), autosomal dominant vitreoretinochoroidopathy (ADVIRC) and autosomal recessive bestrophinopathy (ARB). The corresponding protein, bestrophin-1, is localised to the basolateral membrane of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), where it is thought to function as a Ca²⁺-activated Cl- channel. Currently, there are no treatments for these conditions. In recent years, gene therapy has emerged as an exciting treatment option for inherited retinal disorders (IRDs). Gene delivery to retinal cells using a recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) has produced positive results in several IRDs. Given the recessive nature of ARB, this thesis proposes that the rAAV-mediated delivery of bestrophin-1 to the RPE could represent a potential therapy. The aims of this thesis were to produce and compare rAAV vectors in vitro and in vivo for protein expression, localisation following transduction, restoration of chloride conductance in vitro and safety following sub-retinal injection in vivo. Following the production of two rAAV vectors expressing bestrophin-1, western blots confirmed bestrophin-1 protein expression following transduction of HEK293 cells in vitro. Immunocytochemistry (ICC) revealed bestrophin-1 expression that was localised to the cytosol. Whole-cell patch-clamping revealed a significant increase in chloride conductance in HEK293 cells transduced with AAV-BEST1 vectors which was then ablated upon the removal of chloride from the buffers. Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) indicated that the bestrophin-1 protein was successfully transcribed and translated from the BEST1 coding sequence (CDS). Sub-retinal injections of AAV-BEST1 produced bestrophin-1 expression in the RPE of wild-type C57BL/6 mice however significant retinal thinning was seen at higher doses of vector. In conclusion, rAAV-mediated transfer of bestrophin-1 to the RPE has potential to be a future therapy for ARB, however safety issues need to be addressed and an RPE-specific promoter could be more suitable.

Submitted by Fabio Sobreira Campos da Costa (fabio.sobreira@ufpe.br) on 2017-07-14T13:38:53Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 811 bytes, checksum: e39d27027a6cc9cb039ad269a5db8e34 (MD5) Dissertação (versão final) Leoncio.pdf: 3177730 bytes, checksum: 3ae8af6eb5ff1a7f234df372ba6107db (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-14T13:38:53Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 811 bytes, checksum: e39d27027a6cc9cb039ad269a5db8e34 (MD5) Dissertação (versão final) Leoncio.pdf: 3177730 bytes, checksum: 3ae8af6eb5ff1a7f234df372ba6107db (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-06-30 / FACEPE / Nos últimos anos, a crescente dificuldade para aquisição e transporte internacional de irradiadores de raios gama, como o irradiador de Co-60 GammaCell 220 da Nordion, levou ao desenvolvimento de irradiadores de altas taxas de dose com base em feixes de raios-X, que operam na faixa de 150kV. Uma das aplicações deste tipo de irradiador é a irradiação de insetos, de amostras de sangue, etc. Para estes procedimentos, é importante que se tenha dosímetros que possam monitorar os processos de irradiação. O objetivo deste trabalho é o estudo e caracterização da alanina para que possa ser aplicada em dosimetria de irradiadores de raios-X de altas taxas de dose. A alanina é um aminoácido com número atômico efetivo próximo ao do tecido humano e é utilizada para dosimetria por ressonância paramagnética eletrônica (RPE) para aplicações em radioterapia. Neste trabalho, foram produzidas pastilhas de alanina com diferentes aglutinantes, bem como pastilhas puras revestidas com duas camadas de verniz, para serem utilizadas como dosímetros. Foram utilizados como aglutinantes parafina, teflon e estearina em concentrações de 1 %, 2 % e 5 % da massa total das pastilhas. Testes mecânicos, como ultrassom e rot-up, foram realizados para avaliar a resistência mecânica das pastilhas produzidas. Após os testes mecânicos, verificou-se que as pastilhas preparadas com alanina pura apresentavam resistência mecânica suficiente para serem utilizadas como dosímetros. A reprodutibilidade de sua resposta RPE foi avaliada a partir da irradiação de dez dosímetros com dose de 100 Gy com uma fonte de Co-60. Para investigar a estabilidade da resposta da alanina-RPE com o tempo, três dosímetros foram irradiados com uma dose de 200 Gy com uma fonte de Co-60, sendo a leitura realizada após cinco horas da irradiação e releituras após 15, 40, 87, 110 e 137 dias da irradiação. Para obter as curvas de calibração para raios gama e raios – X, amostras foram irradiadas, respectivamente, com doses de 0 a 1 kGy e de 18,7 Gy a 206 Gy. Os resultados mostram que a resposta dos dosímetros de alanina-RPE apresentou reprodutibilidade com um coeficiente de variação de 1,2%. O estudo do desvanecimento da resposta dos dosímetros mostrou uma variação de 0,8% em 137 dias. De acordo com os resultados obtidos, o sistema de dosimetria alanina-RPE pode ser utilizado, de forma confiável, como um sistema padrão de transferência para as aplicações do irradiador de raios-X de baixa energia, o RS 2400. / In recent years, the increasing difficulty in acquisition and international transport of gamma ray radiators, as irradiator Co-60 Gammacell 220 of Nordion led to the development of high dose rate irradiators based on X-ray beams that they are operating in the 150kV range. One application of this type of irradiator and irradiation of insects, blood samples, etc. For these procedures, it is important to have dosimeters that can monitor the irradiation processes. The objective of this work is the study and characterization of alanine that can be applied in dosimetry irradiating X-ray of high dose rates. Alanine is an amino acid in effective atomic number close to that of human tissue and is used for dosimetry for electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) for applications in radiotherapy. In this work, alanine pellets were produced with different binders as well as pure tablets coated with two coats of varnish to be used as dosimeters. They were used as binders paraffin, teflon and stearin in concentrations of 1%, 2% and 5% of the total mass of the pastilles. Mechanical tests, such as ultrasound and rot-up were conducted to evaluate the mechanical strength of the tablets produced. After mechanical testing, it was found that the tablets prepared with pure alanine had sufficient mechanical strength to be used as dosimeters. The reproducibility of EPR response was evaluated from the irradiation ten dosimeters with dose 100 Gy with a source of Co-60. To investigate the stability of alanine EPR response over time of three dosimeters were irradiated with a dose of 200 Gy with a source of Co-60, the reading being performed after five hours of irradiation and readings after 15, 40, 87, 110 and 137 days of irradiation. To obtain the calibration curves for gamma rays and X - ray irradiated samples were, respectively, at doses from 0 to 1 kGy and 18.7 Gy to 206 Gy. The results show that the response of EPR-alanine dosimeters showed reproducibility with a coefficient of variation 1.2%. The study fading dosimeters response showed a variation of 0.8% in 137 days. According to the results, the system alanine EPR dosimetry can be used reliably as a pattern transferring system for irradiating the applications of low-energy X-rays, the RS 2400.

This retrospective cohort study investigated the effects of rapid maxillary expansion on the soft tissues using CBCTs. The sample consisted of 60 subjects: experimental group (n=30, treated with rapid maxillary expansion (RME), age:10.93 ± 2.20) and control group (n=30, age 11.43 ± 2.8). Soft tissue measurements were made using soft tissue landmarks. Paired t-test was used to compare the changes after expansion, and student t-test was used to compare the experimental and the control group. Intraclass correlation coefficient was used to evaluate intra-examiner reliability. Statistically significant differences were noted when comparing the experimental to the control group in transverse and anterior posterior dimensions. Increase was noted at the bialar distance (0.90mm, p=0.0363), nostril medium left to midsagittal plane (0.75mm, p=0.0423), the angle of pronasale to nostril base right and left (1.640, p<.001), columella width (0.56mm, p=0.0272), nostril base left to midsagittal plane, (1.03mm, p=0.0207), chelion right to endocanthus right (1.57mm, p=0.0086), chelion left to endocanthus left (1.96mm, p=0.0015). Anteroposteriorly, the tip of the nose moved forward (pronasale to coronal plane (1.97mm, p=0.0018), nostril medium right to coronal plane (1.07mm, p=0.0486), alare right to coronal plane (1.67mm, p=0.0117), pronasale to nostril base left (2.24mm, p<0.001) and right (2.12mm, p<0.001). Finally comparing genders, all the measurements were significantly greater in males compared to females except for columella width. In conclusion, RME influences soft tissue changes of the face, specifically in the nasal area. The base of the nose, bialar distance and columella widened while the tip of the nose moved forward.

京都大学 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(医学) / 甲第23765号 / 医博第4811号 / 新制||医||1056(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院医学研究科医学専攻 / (主査)教授 辻川 明孝, 教授 寺田 智祐, 教授 濵﨑 洋子 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Medical Science / Kyoto University / DFAM

Bakgrund: Musik påverkar muskelspänning, hjärtfrekvens, blodtryck och känslor. En ökning av positiva känslor kan ge en bättre prestation. Syfte: Att undersöka musikens påverkan på fysisk prestation mätt i tid, subjektivt skattad ansträngningsgrad och upplevd koncentration. Samt om musikens påverkan på prestation skiljer sig mellan kön och hur fysisk prestation samverkar med subjektivt skattad ansträngningsgrad. Metod: Studien var en kvasiexperimentell engruppsstudie med komparativ och korrelerande design. Urvalet bestod av 32 individer med varierande löpvana. Könsfördelningen var 17 kvinnor och 15 män och åldersspannet var 15-30 år. Resultat: En prestation mätt i tid vid ett Coopertest var signifikant bättre med musik än utan (p=0,002). Det gällde hos både kvinnor (p=0,017) och män (p=0,032). Det visades däremot ingen signifikant skillnad inom subjektivt skattad ansträngningsgrad eller upplevd koncentration vid löpning med och utan musik. Ett lågt till måttligt negativt samband fanns mellan subjektivt skattad ansträngningsgrad och uppmätt tidsresultat vid Coopertest med (Spearmans rho = -0,37) och utan musik (Spearmans rho= -0,43). Konklusion: Musik tenderar att prestationshöja individers fysik. Detta gäller individerna i denna studie och är inte direkt överförbart till andra grupper. Inom fysioterapi kan musik vara ett alternativ för patienter som har svårt att motiveras till att träna med önskad intensitet. / Background: Music affect the muscle tension, heart rate, blood pressure and emotions. An increase of positive emotions may result in a better performance. Aim: To explore the impact of music on physical performance measured in time, perceived exertion and perceived concentration and also if the impact differs between the sexes and how physical performance interacts with perceived exertion level. Method: The study was a quasi-experimental single-group study with comparative and correlating design. The sample consisted of 32 individuals with varying experience of running. They were 17 women and 15 men in the age of 15-30 years old. Results: A performance measured in time at the Cooper Test was significantly better with music than without (p = 0.002). It was shown in both women (p = 0.017) and men (p=0.032). There was no significant difference in perceived exertion or perceived concentration in running with and without music. A low to moderate negative correlation was found between perceived exertion and the measured time results at the Cooper Test with (Spearman's rho = -0.37) and without music (Spearman's rho = -0.43). Conclusion: Music tends to increase a performance based on individual physics. This is related to the individuals in this study and can not be directly transferable to other groups. In physiotherapy, music can be an option for patients who find it difficult to train with the desired intensity

Neste trabalho, analisamos a interação de pequenas moléculas, marcadores hidrofóbicos, com hemoglobina, em diferentes estados: monocristal, pó e solução aquosa. Os métodos de análise empregados, são baseados nas teorias de relaxação em líquidos e técnicas não lineares de ressonância ST-RPE (transferência de saturação), fornecendo informações sobre mudanças locais nas vizinhanças desses marcadores. Um dos marcadores hidrofóbicos, o TEMPO, mostrou uma anisotropia considerável nos espectros de RPE do monocristal de hemoglobina que está relacionado com o empacotamento molecular da proteína do cristal. A associação desses métodos de análise conduziu a importantes informações sobre mudanças na camada de hidratação em várias proteínas: hemoglobina, mioglobina e lisozima, monitoradas pelo marcador covalente derivado da maleimida, e induzidas pela temperatura, sob diferentes condições de hidratação. Desta forma o uso da espectroscopia de RPE especialmente com simulação espectral e DT-RPE mostro ser um método potente e ainda não explorado no estado de hidratação de proteínas / In this work, the interactions of small molecules, hydrophobic spin labels, with hemoglobin, under different states was analysed: single crystal, powder and aqueous solution. The methods of analysis employed, are based in relaxation theory in liquids and non-linear techniques, saturation transfer (ST-EPR), giving informations on the local changes in neighbourhood of the labels. One of the hydrophobic labels, TEMPO, showed a considerable anisotropy in the hemoglobin single crystal spectra, a result related to the molecular packing in the protein single crystal. The association of the techniques of analysis all together lead to important informations an temperature induced changes in the hydration layer in several proteins: hemoglobin, myoglobin, NEM*, a maleimide derivated, in different conditions of hydration. In this way the use of EPR spectroscopy and particularly with spectral simulations and ST-EPR, proved to be a powerful and not yet very much explored method to study the problem of protein hydration

Neste trabalho, analisamos a interação de pequenas moléculas, marcadores hidrofóbicos, com hemoglobina, em diferentes estados: monocristal, pó e solução aquosa. Os métodos de análise empregados, são baseados nas teorias de relaxação em líquidos e técnicas não lineares de ressonância ST-RPE (transferência de saturação), fornecendo informações sobre mudanças locais nas vizinhanças desses marcadores. Um dos marcadores hidrofóbicos, o TEMPO, mostrou uma anisotropia considerável nos espectros de RPE do monocristal de hemoglobina que está relacionado com o empacotamento molecular da proteína do cristal. A associação desses métodos de análise conduziu a importantes informações sobre mudanças na camada de hidratação em várias proteínas: hemoglobina, mioglobina e lisozima, monitoradas pelo marcador covalente derivado da maleimida, e induzidas pela temperatura, sob diferentes condições de hidratação. Desta forma o uso da espectroscopia de RPE especialmente com simulação espectral e DT-RPE mostro ser um método potente e ainda não explorado no estado de hidratação de proteínas / In this work, the interactions of small molecules, hydrophobic spin labels, with hemoglobin, under different states was analysed: single crystal, powder and aqueous solution. The methods of analysis employed, are based in relaxation theory in liquids and non-linear techniques, saturation transfer (ST-EPR), giving informations on the local changes in neighbourhood of the labels. One of the hydrophobic labels, TEMPO, showed a considerable anisotropy in the hemoglobin single crystal spectra, a result related to the molecular packing in the protein single crystal. The association of the techniques of analysis all together lead to important informations an temperature induced changes in the hydration layer in several proteins: hemoglobin, myoglobin, NEM*, a maleimide derivated, in different conditions of hydration. In this way the use of EPR spectroscopy and particularly with spectral simulations and ST-EPR, proved to be a powerful and not yet very much explored method to study the problem of protein hydration

Ce travail concerne l'étude de nouveaux complexes homo- et hétéro-bimétalliques du rhodium comportant le motif s-indacène comme groupement pontant dans le but de les utiliser comme catalyseurs dans des réactions de silylation deshydrogénante d'oléfines. Après un bref rappel sur l'importance de la catalyse et de la mise au point de nouveaux catalyseurs, le deuxième chapitre décrit un procédé général de synthèse de ligands de type s-indacène polysubstitués. Une étude physicochimique complète (RMN du 1H, 13C, spectrométrie de masse) de ces nouveaux ligands a été réalisée. Ces motifs donnent également des radicaux anions après oxydation des dérivés dilithiés correspondants. L'étude par RPE a permis de mettre en évidence une bonne délocalisation de l'électron célibataire sur ces systèmes tricycliques. La synthèse de divers complexes monométalliques et homo- et hétéro-bimétalliques est ensuite développée ainsi que leurs caractéristiques physicochimiques. L'étude par RPE des cations radicaux correspondants et des expériences de voltampérométrie cyclique montrent que la délocalisation électronique dépend non seulement du ligand pontant mais aussi de la nature du fragment métallique. De plus, les complexes hététobinucléaires présentent un plus faible degré de délocalisation que leurs analogues homobinucléaires. L'étude des propriétés catalytiques de ces complexes a été également réalisée dans le dernier chapitre dans le cas des réactions de silylation d'oléfines (deshydrogénation couplante). Une comparaison a été établie entre des catalyseurs connus (complexes indényles du rhodium) et les nouveaux complexes mono-, hétéro- and homobinucléaires. Chaque complexe du rhodium hétérobi- et homobinucléaire présente effectivement une plus grande vitesse de réaction que celle des systèmes catalytiques similaires.