Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / Os girinos são organismos diversos e abundantes nos pequenos riachos de cabeceira de florestas tropicais e constituem importantes componentes da diversidade biológica, da trófica e funcional dos sistemas aquáticos. Diferentes características estruturais e limnológicas dos ambientes aquáticos influenciam a organização das assembleias de girinos. Embora o estágio larvar dos anuros seja o mais vulnerável de seu ciclo de vida, sujeito a elevadas taxas de mortalidade, as pesquisas sobre girinos na região neotropical ainda são pouco representativas diante da elevada diversidade de anfíbios desta região e ferramentas que permitam a sua identificação ainda são escassas. Nesta tese, dividida em três capítulos, apresento uma compilação das informações relacionadas aos principais fatores que afetam as assembleias de girinos na região tropical (Capítulo 1), a caracterização morfológica dos girinos encontrados nos riachos durante o estudo e uma proposta de chave dicotômica de identificação (Capítulo 2) e avalio a importância relativa da posição geográfica e da variação temporal de fatores ambientais locais sobre as assembleias de girinos, assim como a correlação entre as espécies de girinos e as variáveis ambientais de 10 riachos, ao longo de 15 meses, nas florestas da REGUA (Capítulo 3). Há pelo menos oito tendências relacionadas à distribuição das assembleias de girinos: (1) o tamanho dos riachos e a diversidade de microhabitats são importantes características abióticas influenciando a riqueza e a composição de espécies; (2) em poças, o gradiente de permanência (e.g., hidroperíodo) e a heterogeneidade do habitat são os principais fatores moldando as assembleias de girinos; (3) a composição de espécies parece ser um parâmetro das assembleias mais relevante do que a riqueza de espécies e deve ser primeiramente considerado durante o planejamento de ações conservacionistas de anuros associados a poças e riachos; (4) a predação parece ser a interação biótica mais importante na estruturação das assembleias de girinos, com predadores vertebrados (e.g. peixes) sendo mais vorazes em habitats permanentes e predadores invertebrados (e.g. larvas de odonata) sendo mais vorazes em ambientes temporários; (5) os girinos podem exercer um efeito regulatório, predando ovos e girinos recém eclodidos; (6) o uso do microhabitat varia em função da escolha do habitat reprodutivo pelos adultos, presença de predadores, filogenia, estágio de desenvolvimento e heterogeneidade do habitat; (7) os fatores históricos restringem os habitats reprodutivos que uma espécie utiliza, impondo restrições comportamentais e fisiológicas; (8) a variação temporal nos fatores bióticos (e.g., fatores de risco), abióticos (e.g., distribuição de chuvas), e no padrão de reprodução das espécies pode interferir na estrutura das assembleias de girinos tropicais. A variação temporal na heterogeneidade ambiental dos riachos da REGUA resultou na previsibilidade das assembleias locais de girinos, sendo que os parâmetros ambientais explicaram 23% da variação na sua composição. Os parâmetros espaciais explicaram uma porção menor da variação nas assembleias (16%), enquanto uma porção relativamente elevada da variação temporal da heterogeneidade ambiental foi espacialmente estruturada (18%). As variáveis abióticas que apresentaram as maiores correlação com a composição das assembleias de girinos foram a proporção de folhiço e de rochas no fundo do riacho, e secundariamente a profundidade, a condutividade e a temperatura. O gradiente gerado pela proporção de folhiço e de rochas representou a transição entre riachos permanentes e intermitentes. Este gradiente proporcionou o turnover de espécies, o qual também seguiu um gradiente de condutividade, temperatura, profundidade, e em menor extensão, de hidroperíodo e largura, que estiveram fortemente associado ao grau de permanência dos riachos. Estes resultados corroboram tanto a hipótese do controle ambiental, como do controle biótico de comunidades e indicam que a variação temporal da heterogeneidade ambiental e a variação na posição geográfica são importantes para a estruturação local de assembleias de girinos da REGUA. Os resultados também permitiram distinguir entre assembleias de girinos exclusivas de riachos permanentes, exclusivas de riachos intermitentes e aquelas registradas nos dois tipos de riachos. Os resultados deste capítulo são relevantes para compreender em que extensão os efeitos da variação temporal na heterogeneidade ambiental e de processos espaciais afetam localmente a estruturação de assembleias de girinos. / Tadpoles are diverse and abundant organisms in headwater streams of tropical rainforests and constitute important components of biological, trophic and functional diversity. Furthermore, different structural (e.g. size, depth, microhabitat availability) and limnological (e.g. conductivity, temperature) characteristics affect tadpole organization. Although the larval stage is the most vulnerable in anurans, subject to high mortality rates, researches on tadpoles in the neotropics, as tools for their identification, remain scarce face the high diversity of anurans found in this region. In this thesis, I present a compilation of information on the main factors affecting tadpole assemblages in the tropics (Chapter 1), the morphological characterization of tadpoles found in streams during the study with a propose of dichotomous key of identification (Chapter 2), and evaluated the relative importance of geographical position and the temporal variation o local environmental factors on tadpole assemblages through 15 months in 10 small streams in the Atlantic Forest of Reserva Ecológica do Guapiaçu (REGUA), municipality of Cachoeiras de Macacú, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. I also investigated the correlation between tadpoles and the environmental variables of streams (Chapter 3). We can recognize at least eigth major trends regarding the distribution and structure of tropical tadpole assemblages: (1) stream size and microhabitat diversity are important abiotic features influencing species richness and composition; (2) in ponds, the permanence gradient (e.g., hydroperiod), and the heterogeneity of habitat are the main factors modeling tropical tadpole assemblages; (3) species composition seems to be a more relevant assemblage parameter than species richness and should be first considered when planning conservation of both pond and stream-dwelling anurans; (4) predation seems to be the most important biotic interaction structuring tropical tadpole assemblages, with vertebrate predators (e.g., fishes) being more voracious in permanent habitats, while invertebrates (e.g., odonate naiads) are the most important in temporary ones; (5) tadpoles may play a regulatory effect preying upon anuran eggs and recently hatched tadpoles (6) microhabitat use varies in function of breeding habitat choice by adults, presence of predators, phylogeny, stage of development and heterogeneity of the habitat; (7) historical factors restrict the breeding habitats that species may use, and impose behavioral and physiologic constrains; (8) temporal variation in biotic (e.g., risk factors) and abiotic factors (e.g., rainfall distribution), and the reproductive patterns of the species may interfere in the structure of tropical tadpole assemblages. Future efforts regarding the study of tadpoles should contemplate assemblages associated with streams, and experimental studies. Temporal variation in the environmental heterogeneity resulted in predictability of local tadpole assemblages. The environmental component explained 23% of the variation in tadpole composition, while spatial parameters explained the smaller portion of the variation (16%). A comparatively high portion of temporal variation in the environmental heterogeneity was spatially structured (18%). The proportion of litter and rocks on the stream bottom, depth, conductivity, and temperature were correlated with tadpole composition. The gradient created by the proportion of litter and rocks represented the changes from permanent and intermittent streams. This gradient provided the species turnover, which also followed a gradient of conductivity, temperature, depth, and in a lesser proportion, hydroperiod and width, all being strongly associated with permanence of streams. The results also corroborate with both the environmental and the biotic control model and indicate that temporal variation in environmental heterogeneity and the spatial position are important to the structuring of local tadpole assemblages in the streams of REGUA. The results also allowed to distinguish between tadpoles assemblages exclusive of permanent, intermittent, and those inhabiting both streams. The results of this chapter are relevant to understand in which extension the effects of temporal variation in environmental heterogeneity and spatial processes affect the structure of tadpole assemblages, the most fragile life stage of anurans

This report reviews the 2007 financial crisis and the actions of the Federal Reserve. The Full Employment Act of 1946 and the "Humphrey-Hawkins" Act guides the Fed's actions. These two laws outline the long-term goals of the monetary policy framework the Fed uses; however, the framework lacks principles for achieving the mandated long term goals such as reliable, complete data. This report looks at the use of model-based forecasting and gives recommendations for principles which will strengthen the preexisting monetary framework. / text

High Redundancy Actuation (HRA) is a novel type of fault tolerant actuator. By comprising a relatively large number of actuation elements, faults in the elements can be inherently accommodated without resulting in a failure of the complete actuation system. By removing the possibility of faults detection and reconfiguration, HRA can provide high reliability and availability. The idea is motivated by the composition of human musculature. Our musculature can sustain damage and still function, sometimes with reduced performance, and even complete loss of a muscle group can be accommodated through kinematics redundancy, e.g. the use of just one leg. Electro-mechanical actuation is used as single element inside HRA. This thesis is started with modelling and simulation of individual actuation element and two basic structures to connect elements, in series and in parallel. A relatively simple HRA is then modelled which engages a two-by-two series-in-parallel configuration. Based on this HRA, position feedback controllers are designed using both classical and optimal algorithms under two control structures. All controllers are tested under both healthy and faults injected situations. Finally, a hardware demonstrator is set up based simulation studies. The demonstrator is controlled in real time using an xPC Target system. Experimental results show that the HRA can continuously work when one element fails, although performance degradation can be expected.

Studien syftar att undersöka om New Public Management (NPM), en vinstdrivande styrningsstrategi passar i den offentliga vårdsektorn. Det teoretisk ramvereket utformas av Almqvists tolkning av NPM, som utgörs av tre strategier, Konkurrenskraft, Kontraktstyrningsamt Decentralisering & Intern styrning. Sju stycken sjuksköterskor har därefter intervjuats gällande strategiernas konsekvenser på deras arbetsroll i förhållande till krav och kontroll. För att avgränsa studien har endast de mest framträdande konsekvenserna, Prestation & Kontroll, Försämrad kommunikation & Ökad administration samt Målstyrning &Handlingsfrihet analyserats. Syftet med att undersöka sjuksköterskans arbetssituation i relation till NPM är skapa ökad förståelse för hur denna verksamhetsstyrning påverkar det operativa arbetet i offentlig vårdsektor. Studiens resultat tyder på att tillämpning av NPM härleder bland annat ökad arbetsbelastning, stress och känsla av maktlöshet hos sjuksköterskan. Studien påvisar även att sjuksköterskans arbetsroll kantas av en hög grad av krav och begränsad grad av kontroll över sin arbetssituation. Således bedömdes sjuksköterollen som ett högstressarbete enligt Karaseks krav- och kontrollmodell. På lång sikt bedöms denna arbetstyp kunna bidra till psykisk ohälsa och således vara negativ för både arbetsgivare och arbetstagare. Tillämpningen av NPM bedömdes i helhet påverka sjuksköterskans arbetssituation negativt. Detta talar emot NPM som tillbörlig styrningsmetod för offentliga, icke vinstdrivande, organisationer. Författarna tillstryker dock att denna studie ses som ofullständig i syfte att enhetligt bedöma om vinstdrivande strategier lämpar sig i offentliga sektorn på ett slutligt plan och rekommenderar att vidare forskning görs med större omfattning av rådata och effektiva mått.

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Abstract The purpose with this study was to get knowledge if there are any possible differences in, and correlation between, experienced stress, experienced demands, experienced control and experienced social support in correlation to shiftwork. The study was made at two central hospitals in south of Sweden and had 90 participants (78 women and 12 men) that answered a questionnaire in the current variables. The result in experienced stress showed that there were no differences between shift workers. The results showed a difference between the day- and the nightshift in the correlation between control and stress. The writers speculates that the reason why the nightshift experience high stressvalues with high control can depend on the lack of presence by higher managers, compared with the dayshift. / Syftet med studien var att studera eventuella skillnader i, och samband mellan, upplevd stress, upplevda krav, upplevd kontroll samt upplevt socialt stöd i samband med skiftarbete. Arbetet genomfördes på två centralsjukhus i södra Sverige med 90 deltagare (78 kvinnor, 12 män) som besvarade ett frågeformulär rörande de aktuella variablerna. Resultatet vad det gäller upplevd stress visade att det inte finns någon skillnad mellan de olika skiften. Resultatet visade på en skillnad mellan dagtid och nattarbetare, den gällde vilket samband kontrollen hade med den upplevda stressen. Att nattarbetare upplever ett samband mellan hög stress och hög kontroll spekulerar författarna kan bero på att chefer inte finns tillgängliga i samma utsträckning som för dagtidsarbetarna.

Nowadays, facing the severe pressure of globalization and strong demand of high products quality from customers, enterprises in Taiwan are forced to enhance the quality and yield rate of manufactured products in order to gain their competitive edges. An enterprise usually relies on the statistical process control (SPC) software system to achieve this goal. The SPC approach measures, understands, and controls the variation of the products manufacturing process. This study uses the structure-behavior coalescence architecture description language (SBC-ADL) to construct the architecture-oriented statistical process control model (AOSPCM). A model constructed by the SBC-ADL differs from others software model in its using six golden rules which help integrate the structure and behavior of a software system. AOSPCM constructed in this study improved substantially both training and communication endeavors within an enterprise, reduced costs due to estimation errors, requirement uncertainties, and project delays. Overall, AOSPCM benefits a great deal to both developers and users of a software project. In general, most manufacturing and high-tech industries rely heavily on the SPC software system. Therefore, AOSPCM constructed in this study provides a standard model for other software developers to follow. Following the AOSPCM, any SPC software developer shall improve lots of development efforts and cost savings within an enterprise.

¢Ûanufacturing industry is leaning toward globalization. After year 2000, traditional manufacturing industry has gained some experience toward foreign operations. Consequently, continual investment toward foreign subsidiaries should be studied carefully according to the following three methods: sole ownership, cooperative ownership while retaining control, and investment without majority control of the foreign subsidiary. Careful study of each method is required for multinational corporations in order to avoid wasting time and resource on management. Potential pitfalls include, but are not limited to, losing control of the foreign subsidiary, disagreements between shareholders, inappropriate levels of management. This study is an analysis and discussion of the three different methods. This study for the international netting manufacturer is focussing on ¡§Human Resource Management Utilizing Strategy and Control Model¡¨. This method should be helpful in watching over the operations of the foreign subsidiary. Furthermore, the purpose of this study is to help the business manager, who may be located at the headquarters, to manage the foreign subsidiary in a highly competitive and unpredictable global economy. ¡§Human Resource Management Utilizing Strategy and Control Model¡¨ will also help the manager at foreign subsidiary to evaluate production output, organizational behavior, and local hiring practices. One of the prerequisites for using ¡§Human Resource Management Utilizing Strategy and Control Model¡¨ is the Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP). Using the AHP as a tool to cross compare different key factors, the process will arrive at a conclusion for the most effective way to manage the foreign subsidiary. One of the outcomes from the AHP process is a map for the top manager at headquarters. The manager will need to keep the map in mind at all times and follow through in the office. Whenever AHP is used as part of the practice, the manager can effectively implement ¡§Human Resource Management Utilizing Strategy and Control Model¡¨. The study arrives at the conclusion that global economy is an unstoppable future trend. Formulating a simple management system for multinational corporations can be beneficial for the netting manufacturer. With the simplified management system, distance, cultural, and language barriers can be overcome. With AHP process, a complex problem can be reduced systematically into solvable simple problems. The management system is flexible enough, that the managers using the system can redefine and synthesize new definitions to suit the particular business. Using top-down approach, if both headquarters and foreign subsidiaries use the same ¡§Human Resource Management Utilizing Strategy and Control Model¡¨ thoroughly, the multinational corporation can be come more competitive in all aspects.

The mammalian brain is a complex computing system that contains billions of neurons and trillions of connections. Is there a general principle that governs the processing in such large neural populations? This dissertation attempts to address this question using computational modeling and quantitative analysis of direct physiological measurements of large neural populations in the monkey primary visual cortex (V1). First, the complete spatiotemporal dynamics of V1 responses over the entire region that is activated by small stationary stimuli are characterized quantitatively. The dynamics of the responses are found to be systematic but complex. Importantly, they are inconsistent with many popular computational models of neural processing. Second, a simple population gain control (PGC) model that can account for these complex response properties is proposed for the small stationary stimuli. The PGC model is then used to predict the responses to stimuli composed of two elements and stimuli that move at a constant speed. The predictions of the model are consistent with the measured responses in V1 for both stimuli. PGC is the first model that can account for the complete spatiotemporal dynamics of V1 population responses for different types of stimuli, suggesting that gain control is a general mechanism of neural processing. / text

Recent findings suggest that there is considerable inter-individual variability in how mood affects sexual arousal. The current research proposes that the Dual Control Model may be important to explaining this variation. Thirty-three participants (18 male and 15 female) aged 18 to 45, attended three laboratory sessions where they completed questionnaires assessing pre-existing mood and propensity for sexual excitation and inhibition, then watched a series of neutral and erotic films. Participants continuously indicated their subjective sexual arousal during each film, while genital temperature was measured using thermographic imaging. The results indicated that mood interacted with the elements of the Dual Control Model to significantly predict both genital and subjective sexual arousal. The interactions between mood and sexual excitation and inhibition tended to better predict genital arousal for female participants and subjective sexual arousal for male participants. The results suggest that Dual Control Model is an important factor in understanding how mood affects sexual arousal. / Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Canadian Male Sexual Health Council, Fonds Recherche Santé du Québec, Pfizer and the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities.