Stress management interventions (SMIs) are increasingly used by organisations across both private and public settings. Such interventions are employed with the expectation that they will be effective in reducing levels of stress in participants and in turn, will provide a return to the organisation by way of increased productivity through performance improvements of those employees whose stress has been reduced. Despite the increasing popularity of SMIs, there exists a lack of evidence on whether they have any effect on the performance of users, and on the relative effectiveness of the components that often make up SMIs. Although the literature addressing SMIs and their effects is increasing, relatively few studies directly compare different techniques, and even fewer employ randomised controlled designs or follow-up measures. The assumed relationship between the reduction of stress and improvement of managerial performance does not appear to have been tested with a randomised controlled trial. The term “stress” as used in this study specifically denotes the concept of “distress” as defined by Selye (1956; 1987). To support this use of the term, the evolution of current terminology in the field of occupational stress is briefly discussed with specific reference to the development and influence in the wider literature of the Yerkes Dodson Law (Yerkes, 1909). The aims of this thesis were to (1) compare the relative effectiveness of two component techniques often used in SMIs (somatic and cognitive techniques) in the reduction of stress, and (2) to examine the effect of the use of these techniques on the performance of managers in their workplace. Study One was a randomised controlled trial assessing the effect of the use of somatic and cognitive stress management interventions on stress and performance in managers. Participants were 112 corporate managers who were randomly assigned to one of two intervention groups (somatic or cognitive technique training) or to a wait list control group. The intervention groups were trained in their respective techniques over a 4 week period in brief (20-30 minute) face-to-face workshop sessions. Participants were provided with recordings of the techniques to assist practice between training sessions. At baseline, stress was assessed using the Occupational Stress Inventory – Revised Edition (OSI-R, Osipow, 1998), and managerial performance was assessed with the Personal Qualities Competency from the Inventory of Management Competencies (IMC, Saville Holdsworth Ltd., 1993). In the case of the IMC, self, colleague, and subordinate assessments were used. On completion of the 4 week intervention, the OSI-R was readministered, and then at week 12 and week 24, follow-up assessments of stress and managerial performance took place. At the week 12 follow-up, MANOVA for the OSI-R showed no significant difference between the somatic and cognitive interventions in their effect on stress, although both interventions did reduce stress relative to the wait list control group, as measured by the OSI-R. A significant intervention effect was also shown (ηp2 = 0.089, p = 0.002) for the combined intervention groups (cognitive and somatic). MANOVA for the Personal Qualities Competency showed a significant intervention effect for the self (ηp2 = 0.077, p = 0.008) and colleague (ηp2 = 0.064, p = 0.013) assessments, and a no significant effect (ηp2 = 0.032, p = 0.063) for the subordinate assessment at the week 12 follow-up point. Unfortunately, withdrawal and attrition reduced the sample size below that required for analysis at the week 24 follow-up point. Study Two was designed as a follow-up qualitative study that aimed to gather information on participants’ perceptions of the effects of the interventions on their stress and performance, and of their reasons for completion or no completion of the SMI. In this study, 14 participants from Study One took part in semi-structured interviews after the final follow-up assessment (week 24) for that study. The interviews were structured to elicit responses concerning participants’ perceptions of the demands of their workplace and their stress, their experience of using the stress management techniques (including perceived benefits or behavioural changes from that use), their reasons for completion or no completion of the intervention, and their own definitions of stress. Several important findings emerged from this study. First, participants described their workplace as characterised by high pressure and demand with rapid change and a perceived lack of personal control. Second, participants who continued to use the techniques they had learned after the formal intervention was completed did so because they perceived personal benefits in terms of their ability to relax and in terms of their perceptions of workload and demand. For those who did not complete the intervention, the predominant reasons reported for no completion were workplace task demands, lack of top management commitment to an intervention of this nature, and lack of personal gain once the techniques had been learned. In relation to defining stress, participants did not have agreement, but rather reported definitions reflecting a multifaceted complex amalgam of physiological, psychological, and emotional aspects. Research such as this is important in terms of its contribution to the general field of occupational stress and its alleviation. It addresses a long-standing need to assess the relative effectiveness of some of the subcomponents commonly employed as part of more complex multifaceted approaches to SMIs, and the effect of the techniques on both stress and performance. This thesis makes several contributions to existing knowledge. First, this thesis clarifies the origin of the Yerkes Dodson Law and its relevance to current stress management thinking. In management texts distress has come to be regarded as too much stress or pressure. This is coupled with the idea that some stress has a positive impact on performance due to an earlier and erroneous interpretation of the Yerkes Dodson Law. Second, Study One provides evidence of the relative effectiveness of two different SMI components in the reduction of individuals’ occupational stress, as well as evidence for the effectiveness of individual focussed SMIs in the reduction of stress in corporate managers. Third, Study One provides evidence for a positive effect on managers’ performance consequent to their use of stress management techniques. This thesis also sheds light on managers’ definitions of stress, and their reasons for completion or no completion of SMIs. In summary, individual focussed (or secondary) SMIs have the potential to reduce stress and to improve performance in corporate managers as perceived by both the individual and others in the workplace.

<p>En typ av beskattningsregler som finns i de flesta av EU:s medlemsstater är Controlled Foreign Corporation(CFC)-lagstiftning. CFC-lagstiftningen reglerar beskattning av delägare i utländska juridiska personer med lågbeskattade inkomster. Den svenska CFC-lagstiftning är bl.a. till för att motverka och hindra internationell skatteflykt. Det kan t.ex. handla om svenska företag som äger företag med säte i s.k. skatteparadis eller lågskatteländer.</p><p>CFC-lagstiftning har länge kritiserats för att strida mot dels etableringsfriheten, dels fri rörlighet för kapital. Redan under arbetet med den nya svenska CFC-lagstiftningen som trädde i kraft 1 januari 2004 ifrågasattes reglernas kompatibilitet med EG-rätten. I september 2006 avgjorde EG-domstolen ett mål, det s.k. Cadbury Schweppes-målet, rörande den brittiska CFC-lagstiftningens kompatibilitet med gemenskaprätten. Detta avgörande kan antas komma att ha stor betydelse i framtiden, inte bara för Storbritannien, utan även för övriga EU-medlemsländer.</p><p>I uppsatsen analyseras hur den svenska CFC-lagstiftningen kan anpassas efter EG-rätten. Vidare utreds och identifieras de problemområden som finns i dagens uppbyggnad av CFC-lagstiftningen samt analyseras betydelsen och konsekvenserna av Cadbury Schweppes-fallet gällande CFC-lagstiftning som EG-domstolen har avgjort.</p>

<p>The use of catanionic drug-surfactant mixtures was proven to be an efficient novel method of obtaining prolonged drug release from gels. It was shown that various commonly used drug compounds are able to form catanionic mixtures together with oppositely charged surfactants. These mixtures exhibited interesting phase behaviour, where, among other structures, vesicles and large worm-like or branched micelles were found. The size of these aggregates makes them a potential means of prolonging the drug release from gels, as only monomer drugs in equilibrium with larger aggregates were readily able to diffuse through the gel. When the diffusion coefficient for drug release from the formulation based upon a catanionic mixture was compared to that obtained for the drug substance and gel alone, the coefficient was some 10 to 100 times smaller.</p><p>The effects of changes in the pH and ionic strength on the catanionic aggregates was also investigated, and this method of prolonging the release was found to be quite resilient to variations in both. Although the phase behaviour was somewhat affected, large micelles and vesicles were still readily found. The drug release was significantly prolonged even under physiological conditions, that is, at a pH of 7.4 and an osmolality corresponding to 0.9% NaCl.</p><p>Surfactants of low irritancy, capric and lauric acid, may successfully be used instead of the more traditional surfactants, such as sodium lauryl sulfate (SDS), and prolonged release can still be obtained with ease.</p><p>Some attempts to deduce the release mechanism from the proposed systems have also been made using transient current measurements, dielectric spectroscopy, and modelling of the release using the regular solution theory. In these studies, the previous assumptions made concerning the mechanism responsible for the release were confirmed to a large extent. Only small amounts of the drug existed in monomer form, and most seemed to form large catanionic aggregates with the oppositely charged surfactant.</p>

This thesis describes in vitro and in vivo evaluation of a gastric retention formulation (GRF) developed at Oregon State University. The formulation was prepared from xanthan gum and locust bean gum as gelling agents and other formulation ingredients were added, then it was originally vacuum oven dried. The effect of freeze drying on GRF was studied in this research. Freeze dried GRF were evaluated for dissolution and drug release properties using hydrochlorothiazide as a model drug. The effect of storage of GRF inside hard gelatin capsules on rate of swelling of the capsule shell and release of GRF was also studied. Storage for up to 12 months had no effect on capsule shell swelling and release of GRF. Gastric residence time, pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of hydrochlorothiazide, a drug that has an absorption window limited to the upper small intestine, from two different sizes of gastric retention formulations (GRF) were evaluated in 12 healthy volunteers in both fed and fasted states, and compared to immediate release tablets. Extent of bioavailability of drug from the larger formulation in this study was comparable to IR tablets in both fed and fasted states. Deconvolved input functions data suggest that the GRF stayed in the stomach providing sustained drug input for 12-28 hours. Initial blood pressure lowering and side effects of hydrochlorothiazide from a gastric retention formulation were evaluated and compared to immediate release tablets in 10 subjects with stage I hypertension. Gastric retention formulations produced an average reduction in systolic blood pressure 3 mm Hg lower than IR tablets regardless of sequence of administration. GRF also produced less blood pressure fluctuation in most subjects than IR tablets. Most subjects reported fewer and less severe side effects with GRF than IR tablets. / Graduation date: 2004

A speech controlled animation system is both a useful application program as well as a laboratory in which to investigate context aware applications as well as controlling errors. The user need not have prior knowledge or experience in animation and is yet able to create interesting and meaningful animation naturally and fluently. The system can be used in a number of applications ranging from PowerPoint presentations to simulations to children’s storytelling tools. / Singapore-MIT Alliance (SMA)

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In this study, the supercritical antisolvent with enhanced mass transfer method (SASEM) is used to fabricate micro and nanoparticles of biocompatible and biodegradable polymer PLGA (poly DL lactide co glycolic acid). This process may be extended to the encapsulation of drugs in these micro and nanoparticles for controlled release purposes. Conventional supercritical antisolvent (SAS) process involves spraying a solution (organic solvent + dissolved polymer) into supercritical fluid (CO[subscript 2]), which acts as an antisolvent. The high rate of mass transfer between organic solvent and supercritical CO[subscript 2] results in supersaturation of the polymer in the spray droplet and precipitation of the polymer as micro or nanoparticles occurs. In the SASEM method, ultrasonic vibration is used to atomize the solution entering the high pressure with supercritical CO[subscript 2]. At the same time, the ultrasonic vibration generated turbulence in the high pressure vessel, leading to better mass transfer between the organic solvent and the supercritical CO₂. In this study, two organic solvents, acetone and dichloromethane (DCM) were used in the SASEM process. Phase Doppler Particle Analyzer (PDPA) was used to study the ultrasonic atomization of liquid using the ultrasonic probe for the SASEM process. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was used to study the size and morphology of the polymer particles collected at the end of the process. / Singapore-MIT Alliance (SMA)