ABSTRACT This study employed components drawn from Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT), the person agency and environment, to investigate the determinants of career-relevant knowledge/skills learning. Three types of psychological contract (PC) and self-efficacy (SE) were represented the person agency, and the job availability in free labor market (FLM) and commitment-oriented human resource management (HRM) were represented environment components. Based on the data from 990 employees from 62 firms analyzing, the findings revealed that relational and balanced PCs are positively related to firm-specific knowledge learning aspiration (KLA), whereas transactional one has negative relation with firm-specific KLA. FLM is positively correlated with self value-added KLA. SE is positively related to both KLAs. The three way interaction of relational and balanced PC, FLM, and SE has significant impacts on self value-added KLA. HRM has no direct impact on KLAs , but moderates the relationship between relational/balanced PC and firm-specific KLA. This study contributes to the psychological contract and SCCT researches, and the findings enhance the understanding of employees¡¦ concerns about their learning decisions which assist employer to consider their knowledge management strategy and practices.

The aim of the present study was to explore the associations between different types of orientations toward materialism, and to investigate the relationship between materialistic orientations and different self-construal types as suggested by the Balanced Integration and Differentiation (BID) Model (imamoglu, 1998, 2003). The sample was consisted of 335 Middle East Technical University students (168 females, 167 males) with a mean age of 21.34. The questionnaire consisted of eight scales that were used to measure materialism, self-construals, family environment, attachment, and self and family satisfaction. The scales were Material Values Scale (Richins &amp / Dawson, 1992), Aspiration Index (Kasser &amp / Ryan, 1996), the New Materialism Scale which was developed for the current study, Balanced Integration and Differentiation Scale (BIDS, Imamoglu, 1998), Perceived Family Atmosphere Scale (Imamoglu, 2001), Family Satisfaction Index, and Self Satisfaction Index (Imamoglu, 2001) as well as the Relationship Questionnaire (Bartholomew &amp / Horowitz, 1991). Through the analyses on the data from the New Materialism scale, that had acceptable psychometric qualities, four sub-constructs of materialism were found that are extrinsic orientations, acquisitiveness, attachment to possessions, and sharing. Both MANOVA and regression analyses were performed and it was seen that respondents with related-individuated and separated-patterned self-types, proposed by the BID Model to represent the most balanced and unbalanced self-types, respectively, significantly differed from each other in terms of materialism score ratings measured by Material Values Scale and New Materialism scale. The people with the unbalanced type seemed to be more oriented towards materialism compared to the ones with the balanced type. While lower levels of individuation predicted higher levels of materialism for all materialism measures except attachment to possessions, the lower levels of relatedness predicted higher levels of materialism in terms of happiness, the belief that happiness can be gained through possessions, and sharing, the degree of unwillingness to share one&rsquo / s possessions with other people. Considering gender, women are found to be more acquisitive, giving a central importance to possessions and more interested in image as an aspiration. Through the analysis of the relationship patterns using SEM, a model was proposed for the relationships between different types of materialism, self orientations, and gender. Three different types of materialism, i.e. existential materialism, relational materialism, and indulgent materialism, were generated. Low levels of individuation predicted all three types of materialism. Low levels of relatedness predicted only relational materialism, whereas being woman predicted indulgent materialism. Theoretical implications of these findings are discussed in the framework of the BID Model.

In this study, meta-analysis of diagnostic tests, Summary Receiver Operating Characteristic (SROC) curve, bivariate random effects and Hierarchical Summary Receiver Operating Characteristic (HSROC) curve theories have been discussed and accuracy in literature of Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) biopsy that is used in the diagnosis of masses in breast cancer (malignant or benign) has been analyzed. FNA Cytological (FNAC) examination in breast tumor is, easy, effective, effortless, and does not require special training for clinicians. Because of the uncertainty related to FNAC&lsquo / s accurate usage in publications, 25 FNAC studies have been gathered in the meta-analysis. In the plotting of the summary ROC curve, the logit difference and sums of the true positive rates and the false positive rates included in the meta-analysis&lsquo / s codes have been generated by SAS. The formula of the bivariate random effects model and hierarchical summary ROC curve is presented in context with the literature. Then bivariate random effects implementation with the new SAS PROC GLIMMIX is generated. Moreover, HSROC implementation is generated by SAS PROC HSROC NLMIXED. Curves are plotted with RevMan Version 5 (2008). It has been stated that the meta-analytic results of bivariate random effects are nearly identical to the results from the HSROC approach. The results achieved through both random effects meta-analytic methods prove that FNA Cytology is a diagnostic test with a high level of distinguish over breast tumor.

Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) is associated with significant cardiovascular morbidity. While late-stage valve disease is well-described, there remains an unmet scientific need to elucidate early pathobiological processes. In CAVD, pathological differentiation of valvular interstitial cells (VICs) and lesion formation occur focally in the fibrosa layer. This VIC pathological differentiation has been shown to be influenced by matrix stiffness in vitro. However, little is known about the focal layer specific mechanical properties of the aortic valve in health and disease and how these changes in matrix moduli may influence VIC pathological differentiation in vivo. In this thesis, micropipette aspiration (MA) was shown to be capable of measuring the mechanical properties of a single layer in multilayered biomaterial or tissue such as the aortic valve, if the pipette inner diameter was less than the top layer thickness. With MA, the fibrosa of normal porcine aortic valves was significantly stiffer than the ventricularis; stiffer locations found only within the fibrosa were comparable to stiffnesses shown in vitro to be permissive to VIC pathological differentiation. Early CAVD was induced in a porcine model, which developed human-like early CAVD lesion onlays. Extracellular matrix remodeling occurred in the absence of lipid deposition, macrophages, osteoblasts, or myofibroblasts, but with significant proteoglycan-rich onlays and chondrogenic cell presence. These early onlays were softer than the collagen-rich normal fibrosa, and their proteoglycan content was positively correlated with Sox9 chondrogenic expression, suggesting that soft proteoglycan-rich matrix may be permissive to chondrogenic VIC differentiation. The findings from this thesis shed new light on early disease pathogenesis and improve the fundamental understanding of aortic valve mechanics in health and disease.

Dissertation (Ph.D.)--The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 2009. / Directed by Andrea Hunter; submitted to the Dept. of Human Development and Family Studies. Title from PDF t.p. (viewed May 5, 2010). Includes bibliographical references (p. 62-74).

Le premier chapitre, en français, présente les principaux outils mathématiques utilisés dans le manuscrit, les résultats classiques sur la rationalité coalitionnelle pour les jeux coopératifs à utilité transférable et notamment sur le cœur et ses extensions, quelques résultats nouveaux sur le cœur k-additif et l’implémentation en équilibre de Nash fort de solutions de jeux coopératifs. Il y est synthétisé, sans démonstrations, les résultats des trois articles ainsi que quelques résultats nouveaux ou complémentaires. Les trois chapitres suivants, en anglais, correspondent aux trois articles. L’annexe A donnera en anglais les démonstrations des résultats nouveaux et non contenus dans les articles. / The first chapter, in french, presents the main mathematics tools used for this thesis, some classical results about coalitional rationality for cooperative TU-games, and among other things, about the core and its extensions. This chapter presents also some new or less known results about the k-additive core and strong Nash implementation of some cooperative games’ solutions. In addition, we summurize, without proofs, the main results which are contained in the three articles and some extra results that can be read in english in the appendix A. The three next chapters, in english, are the three articles. The Appendix A gives, in english, the proof of some extra results.

The thesis titled Securing airways in pediatric patients on ARD deals with the specifics of nursing care of airways. Care of airways of children hospitalised at the Anaesthetic Resuscitation Department is an integral part of comprehensive nursing care. Each nurse must have a sufficient theoretical and practical knowledge, as well as experience to independently perform nursing care of airways of pediatric patients. Free and patent airway is a prerequisite for ensuring one of the basic life functions. The aim of the theoretical part of the thesis was to summarise the issue of securing airway in children and to focus on nursing care for airways in pediatric patients. The aim of the research was to determine the specifics of nursing care for children hospitalised at the Anaesthetic Resuscitation Department due to impaired breathing. Based on the aim of the thesis, the author set out four research questions: 1. What nursing activities are performed by nurses when securing an airway in a child? 2. How nurses treat airways of intubated children? 3. What nursing care do nurses provide for children before, during and after extubation? 4. What nursing care do nurses provide for children with a tracheostomy? In the empirical part of the thesis the author employed qualitative research. Data collection was performed by the use of individual interviews with nurses. The survey was conducted at a pediatric ICU and a children's Anaesthetic Resuscitation Department. Based on the research questions and information obtained from literature sources the author drew up the basic points for interviews with nurses. The interviews were supplemented by an observation performed on a children's Anaesthetic Resuscitation Department. Interviews and observation were complemented with two case reports of pediatric patients. The reports were processed in accordance with Henderson's model. The thesis's results show specifics and difficulties of nursing care of pediatric patients hospitalised at an Anaesthetic Resuscitation Department. The thesis maps nursing care for pediatric patients when securing airway, it focuses on intubation, tracheostomy tube, extubation, aspiration, and care for oral and nasal cavities. The objective of the thesis is to show not only the specifics of this kind of nursing care and also to demonstrate the importance of communication and emotional support to pediatric patients before, during, and after the medical intervention. The intensive nursing care is continuously improving thanks to new methods and devices. The results will be provided to the nursing management of the pediatric ICU and the children's Anaesthetic Resuscitation Department. They will also be presented at professional seminars and in professional journals.

Nódulos de tireoide são achados clínicos comuns e, atualmente, o método diagnóstico de escolha para diferenciar lesões benignas de lesões malignas é a análise citopatológica dos nódulos através de punção aspirativa por agulha fina (PAAF). Estudos prévios já indicaram que os níveis séricos de TSH podem estar associados ao risco de malignidade nodular. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar se o TSH sérico é um preditor de malignidade em nódulos de tireoide em pacientes submetidos à PAAF. A amostra contemplou 100 indivíduos puncionados consecutivamente no Centro de Pronto Diagnóstico Ambulatorial, CPDA, HCPA e que apresentavam níveis de TSH dentro da normalidade. Todos os pacientes foram submetidos à PAAF da tireoide com controle ultrassonográfico e tiveram, posteriormente, a análise citopatológica da PAAF e a avaliação histopatológica do bloco celular. A análise estatística baseou-se em dados de frequências e testes não-paramétricos foram utilizados para correlacionar as variáveis. A população de estudo foi composta por 100 pacientes, sendo 89 mulheres e 11 homens. A média de idade foi de 54,1 ± 14,2 anos e o tamanho médio dos nódulos foi de 2.53 ± 1.36 centímetros. Vinte e seis % destes pacientes apresentavam algum tipo de doença tireoidiana prévia. A média do nível de TSH sérico entre os 100 indivíduos foi de 1.81 ± 1.08 uUI/mL. De acordo com o diagnóstico citopatológico da PAAF complementado pelos achados do bloco celular foram classificados como malignos 8% dos nódulos, 70% benignos, 11% suspeitos/ indeterminados, 8% insuficientes e 3% lesões foliculares. A média de TSH para os grupos maligno, benigno, suspeito/indeterminado, insuficiente e lesão folicular foi de, respectivamente, 2.48, 1.59, 2.21, 2.35 e 2.20 uUI/ml (p>0.05). Não houve diferença estatística significante entre os grupos diagnósticos avaliados, apesar de haver uma variação entre os níveis de TSH entre os grupos refletindo, provavelmente, o pequeno tamanho da amostra. / Thyroid nodules are common and currently the first choice of investigation in distinguishing benign from malignant disease is the cytological analysis of fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB). Previous studies have indicated that serum TSH levels might be associated with the likelihood of malignancy. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether serum TSH is a predictor of malignancy of thyroid nodules in patients undergoing FNAB. One hundred consecutive patients, who underwent FNAB as part of clinical investigation of thyroid nodule in a multidisciplinary setting tertiary hospital, underwent ultrasonography followed by FNAB, cytology and cell block analysis. Independent-Samples Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare the groups. The study population comprised of 89 female and 11 male patients. The mean age was 54.1 ± 14.2 years. 26% had previous thyroid disease. Mean TSH levels was 1.81 ± 1.08 uUI/mL and the mean nodule size was 2.53 ± 1.36cm. Final cytology/cell block diagnosis classified 8% as malignant, 70% as benign, 11% suspicious/indeterminate, 8% insufficient and 3% follicular lesion. The mean TSH values for malignant, benign, suspect, insufficient and follicular lesion group were as follows: 2.48, 1.59, 2.21, 2.35 and 2.20 uUI/ml, respectively. No statistical significance was detected between TSH levels and final cytology/cell block diagnosis, possibly reflecting the small sample size (P>0.05). We observed a variation between TSH levels among the groups covered in this study, but there was no statistically significant difference among them.

A infecção pelo Vírus da Língua Azul (VLA) ocorre em ruminantes domésticos e selvagens, preferencialmente, ovinos, bovinos e caprinos em regiões tropicais e temperadas onde há o vetor, mosquito do gênero Culicoides. O objetivo do trabalho é descrever os aspectos clínicos e anatomopatológicos de sete surtos de infecção pelo VLA em ovinos no Rio Grande do Sul, confirmados pelo isolamento viral e teste da RT-PCR. De janeiro a outubro de 2014 foram diagnosticados sete surtos de infecção pelo VLA em ovinos no estado do Rio Grande do Sul com histórico de mortalidade de ovinos nos municípios de Taquara (Propriedade A), Fazenda Vilanova (Propriedade B), Viamão (Propriedades C e F), Cachoeira do Sul (Propriedade D e E) e Venâncio Aires (Propriedade G). Os achados clínicos relacionavam-se com o sistema respiratório e locomotor. A taxa de mortalidade variou de 1,7 (4/230 ovinos) a 56% (28/50 ovinos). Realizou-se a necropsia de 10 ovinos e de um feto abortado por um dos ovinos submetidos à necropsia. As principais alterações observadas nos ovinos foram: hiperemia e conteúdo alimentar na cavidade nasal (7/10), pulmões aumentados de tamanho com intenso edema (6/10), consolidação pulmonar antero-ventral (5/10), hemorragias no coração (5/10), hemorragia da artéria pulmonar (4/10) e discreta dilatação e flacidez do esôfago (4/10). Os achados histológicos caracterizaram pneumonia aspirativa (3/10), rinite purulenta (1/10), necrose muscular do esôfago (8/10), hemorragias no coração (3/10), necrose de cardiomiócitos (2/10) e necrose do músculo serrátil cervical ventral (8/10). O feto não apresentou alterações macroscópicas e histológicas. Para confirmar a suspeita foram coletadas 20 amostras de sangue de ovinos doentes e recuperados, e de um bovino. A partir do teste da RT-PCR e isolamento viral confirmou-se o diagnóstico de infecção pelo vírus da língua azul nos sete surtos ocorridos em 2014 no Rio Grande do Sul. E, pela análise filogenética comprovou-se a participação do sorotipo 4 nas Propriedades D e B. / The infection by Bluetongue Virus (BTV) occurs in domestic and wild ruminants, including sheep, cattle and goats in the tropical and temperate regions where the vector is present Culicoides. The objective is describe the clinical and pathological aspects of seven outbreaks of infection by BTV in Rio Grande do Sul, confirmed by viral isolation and RT-PCR test. From January to October 2014 were diagnosed seven outbreaks of infection by BTV in sheep in the state of Rio Grande do Sul with a history of sheep mortality in the cities of Taquara (Propriedade A), FazendaVilanova (Propriedade B), Viamão (Propriedade C and F), Cachoeira do Sul (Propriedade D and E) and Venâncio Aires (Propriedade G). Clinical findings were related to the respiratory and locomotor system. The sheep mortality ranged from 1.7 to 56%. At necropsy the main changes observed in sheep were hyperemia and food content in the nasal cavity (7/10), increased lung size with marked edema (6/10), anterior-ventral pulmonary consolidation (5/10), bleeding heart (5 / 10), bleeding from the pulmonary artery (4/10) and mild swelling and sagging of the esophagus (4/10). Histological findings included aspiration pneumonia (3/10), purulent rhinitis (1/10), muscle necrosis of the esophagus (8/10), bleeding heart (3/10), cardiomyocyte necrosis (2/10) and cervical ventral serratus muscle necrosis (8/10). The fetus showed no macroscopic and histological changes. To confirm the suspicion were collected 20 blood samples from sick and recovered and sheep, and one cow. The RT-PCR test and virus isolation confirmed infection with bluetongue. For phylogenetic analysis of the virus serotype 4 was identified in the Propriedade B and D.

Orientador: Wilter Ricardo Russiano Vicente / Banca: Tânia Vasconcelos Cavalcante / Banca: José Wanderley Cattelan / Banca: Lia de Alencar Coelho / Banca: Cintia Lúcia Maniscalco / Resumo: O uso repetido da laparoscopia para aspiração folicular (LAF) associado ou não à estimulação hormonal foi avaliado. Para tanto foram utilizadas 40 fêmeas caprinas sem-raça-definida, divididas aleatoriamente em 4 grupos com 10 animais cada, sendo: Grupo 1 - adultas estimuladas com 80 mg de FSHp e 300 UI de eCG; Grupo 2 - adultas não estimuladas (controle); Grupo 3 - prépúberes estimuladas com metade das doses preconizadas para o G1 e Grupo 4 - pré-púberes não estimuladas. Cada fêmea foi submetida a seis sessões de colheita com intervalo de uma semana entre as intervenções. A estimulação hormonal foi feita em dose única, 36 horas antes do ato operatório. A técnica consistiu do uso de duas punções para a introdução do endoscópio e da pinça de manipulação atraumática. Após a visualização dos ovários, os folículos visíveis na sua superfície foram puncionados com auxílio de agulha de aspiração acoplada a um sistema de vácuo. Os oócitos encontrados foram classificados de acordo com a qualidade, submetidos à maturação in vitro por 27 horas, e posteriormente fixados e corados para avaliação do estádio de maturação. A técnica utilizada, embora tenha apresentado redução da qualidade dos oócitos, não interferiu na taxa de maturação ao longo das seis intervenções. A resposta ovariana diminuiu com o uso repetido da estimulação com FSH exógeno. Não houve comprometimento da condição corporal e da fertilidade dos animais. A avaliação das funções hepática e renal e da analgesia, indica que o protocolo anestésico utilizado é seguro e eficiente para este tipo de procedimento cirúrgico. Diante dos resultados obtidos pode-se concluir que a técnica de laparoscopia para aspiração folicular é adequada para a obtenção de oócitos de fêmeas caprinas pré-púberes e adultas. / Abstract: The repeated use of the laparoscopy to follicular aspiration (LFA) associated or not the hormonal stimulation was evaluated. Forty crossbred goat females were used, divided randomly in 4 groups with 10 animals each, being: Group 1 - adult stimulated with 80 mg of FSHp and 300 UI of eCG; Group 2 - adult not stimulated (control); Group 3 - pre-pubertal stimulated with half of the dose praised for the G1 and Group 4 - prepubertal not stimulated. Each female was submitted the six sessions of harvest with interval of one week between the interventions. The hormonal stimulation was made in only dose, 36 hours before the surgery. The technique consisted of the use of two punctions for the introduction of the endoscopy and the clamp atraumatic manipulation. After the visualization of the ovaries, the visible follicles in its surface were punched with aid of needle of aspiration connected to a vacuum system. The recovery oocytes were classified in accordance with the quality, submitted to in vitro maturation for 27 hours, and later fixed and stained for evaluation of maturation state. The used technique does not interfered in the maturation rate although oocytes quality has reduced. However the ovulatory response diminished with the repeated use of exogenous FSH stimulation. Damage was not observed in corporal condition nor fertility. The evaluation of the hepatic function, renal and pain analysis, showed that the anaesthetic protocol used is safe and efficient for this type of surgery. In conclusion, the technique of laparoscopy to follicular aspiration is adjusted for the attainment of oocytes in goat females adult and prepubertal. / Doutor