Os vertebrados tetrápodes e ectotérmicos possuem a temperatura do corpo variável de acordo com a temperatura do ambiente. Estudos abordando lagartos e serpentes demonstram que diversos comportamentos ou funções dos vertebrados ectotérmicos sofrem direta ou indiretamente influência da temperatura na adequação biológica (fitness) (BARTHOLOMEW, 1982; HUEY, 1982; LILLYWHITE, 1987, MORI; BURGHARDT, 2001). O comportamento antipredatório constitui um caso especial dos comportamentos sabidamente influenciados pela temperatura, pois parece sofrer diversos tipos de alterações em diferentes grupos de tetrápodes ectotérmicos, como salamandras (BRODIE JR.; DUCEY; LEMOS-ESPINAL, 1991), anfíbios anuros (GOMES; BEVIER; NAVAS, 2002), lagartos (RAND, 1964; HERTZ; HUEY; NEVO, 1982; CROWLEY; PIETRUSZKA, 1983) e serpentes (FITCH, 1965; HERCKROTTE,1967; ARNOLD; BENNETT, 1984; SCHIEFFELIN; QUEIROZ, 1991; KEOGH; DESERTO, 1994; MORI; BURGHARDT, 2001). Esses estudos mostram que a temperatura pode afetar as repostas comportamentais tanto em termos de magnitude quanto de qualidade, o que permite supor que as mudanças no tipo de comportamento com a temperatura sejam consistentes com os efeitos da temperatura sobre o desempenho comportamental. O atual estudo testou, mediante uma análise do comportamento, a serpente Tomodon dorsatus (Dipsadidae) em diferentes temperaturas corpóreas, quando exposta a um estímulo externo simulando um ataque predatório. Esta espécie foi escolhida por apresentar um rico repertório defensivo (BIZERRA, 1998). Para as análises, os comportamentos defensivos foram classificados em dois grandes grupos: agressivos e passivos ou de escape, conforme o comportamento apresentado no momento do estímulo. No decorrer do estudo, foi observado que alguns animais eram excessivamente agressivos enquanto que outros eram extremamente propensos à fuga. Por isso, além da classificação inicial, foi feita outra análise que consistiu em classificar os indivíduos em dois grandes grupos: DPA (defesa por agressão) e FCP (defesa via fuga ou comportamento passivo). Neste estudo, observamos que houve uma grande variação individual no que se refere ao comportamento antipredador e essa diferença entre os indivíduos parece ser mais significante quando comparada à variação eventualmente induzida pela temperatura. / Tetrapodes and ecotermicos vertebrates have a variable body temperature according to the temperature of the environment. Studies addressing lizards and snakes show that several behavior and functions of ectotermicos vertebrates suffer directly or indirectly influence of temperature on biological adequacy (fitness) (BARTHOLOMEW, 1982; HUEY, 1982; LILLYWHITE, 1987, MORI; BURGHARDT, 2001). Anti-predatory behavior constitutes a special case among behaviors influenced by temperature, because it seems to suffer from various types of changes in different groups of tetrápodes ectotermicos as salamanders (BRODIE JR.; DUCEY; LEMOS-ESPINAL, 1991), anuros amphibians (GOMES; BEVIER; NAVAS, 2002), lizards (RAND, 1964; HERTZ; HUEY; NEVO, 1982; CROWLEY; PIETRUSZKA, 1983), and snakes (FITCH, 1965; HERCKROTTE,1967; ARNOLD; BENNETT, 1984; SCHIEFFELIN; QUEIROZ, 1991; KEOGH; DESERTO, 1994; MORI; BURGHARDT, 2001).These studies show that the temperature affects behavioral responses both in terms of magnitude and quality, which suggests that the changes on the type of behavior with temperature be consistent with the effects of temperature on the behavioral performance. The current study tested through an analysis of the behavior Tomodon dorsatus snake (Dipsadidae) at different body temperatures when exposed to an external stimulus simulating a predatory attack. This species was chosen because it presents an enriched defensive repertoire (BIZERRA, 1998). For analysis, the defensive behaviors were classified into two main groups: \"aggressive\" and \"passive or escape as the behavior exhibited when the stimulus. During the study, it was observed that some animals were overly aggressive while others were extremely prone to flight. Therefore, besides the initial classification was made a separate analysis was to classify individual in two groups: DPA and FCP. This division that was useful to analyze the influence of temperature in different animals in their degree of aggressiveness. In this study we found that there was great individual variation in relation to antipredator behavior and the difference between individuals appears to be more significant when compared with the variation may be induced by temperature

The purpose of this thesis is to examine the degree to which the Parliament of Canada was able to control the defence policy, administration and expenditures of the Canadian government in the 1945-1962 period. Because of the distribution of power between the two houses of Parliament, the thesis is primarily concerned with the House of Commons. In the second last chapter, however, the role of the Senate is analyzed. The House of Commons has four principal (although not mutually exclusive) techniques through which it attempts to exercise control. These include critical debate, control of finances, select committees and the question period. The use of each of these techniques is analyzed separately. Also, each of the four is analyzed with reference to the party in opposition. Hence for each technique, the 1945-1957 and the 1957-1962 periods were dealt with separately. The analysis of the defence debates and question period indicated striking differences in the pattern of opposition between the two periods. In the 1957-1962 period the Liberal opposition was concerned primarily with destroying the prospects of the government for the ensuing election. Hence the Liberals strove to discredit the defence programme of the government. Policy and politics were the major issues. Both in the debates and the question period the opposition dealt harshly and exhaustively with the defence policy of the government. The Liberal opposition virtually ignored, however, the administration of the defence departments. In contrast, the Progressive Conservative opposition of the 1945-1957 period devoted most of its energies, during question time and the debates, to the implementation of policy and administration of defence. Their efforts were culminated by their success in obstructing the 1955 amendment to the Defence Production Act. On the other hand, the Progressive Conservatives did not debate critically the major steps taken in the development of Canadian defence policy. Indeed, they never questioned the broad defence road that the government chose to follow. House of Commons control of defence expenditures was a myth. No direct control over the estimates was exercised. Nor did the debates in Supply serve, even indirectly, to indicate that the House of Commons still retained control of the purse. Moreover, statutory controls were less effective for defence than the other functions of government. In the 1945 to 1957 period, select committees were appointed with post-audit functions only. In five of these years the Public Accounts Committee dealt with irregularities in defence expenditures as a result of its examination of the annual Report of the Auditor General. Because of its broad duties, circumscribed powers and partisan atmosphere, however, this Committee was not especially effective. In 1951, however, after completing its examination of the Auditor General's Report, the Public Accounts Committee dealt specifically with defence expenditures and served usefully to inform members of current developments in the defence establishment. The work of the 1951 Public Accounts Committee was continued by the Special Committee on Defence Expenditures that met between 1951 and 1953. This Committee, despite the lack of permanent staff, received an enormous amount of evidence on the administration of defence. Its usefulness was cut down, however, by the partisan atmosphere which prevented the Committee from making constructive reports to the House. After dealing with the Currie Report in 1953, the Committee was not re-appointed. Thus, the only effective and continuous post-audit scrutiny was carried out by the Defence Branch of the Office of the Auditor General. Its efficacy was hampered too, however, by the failure of the House to develop a technique for dealing regularly with Report; for the House proper never debated the Auditor General’s Report and the Public Accounts Committee did not meet regularly during these years. Since 1957, the Public Accounts Committee has met annually and reported to the House without partisan interference, examples of ineffective administration and waste. Constructive recommendations have often been included. The Committee thus has not only strengthened its own usefulness as an effective organ of post-audit control. It has also increased the effectiveness of the Auditor General by guaranteeing more publicity for his annual report than it had been receiving in earlier years. These years also marked the initial ventures in pre-audit control through select committee. In 1958 and 1960 the defence estimates were dealt with through these committees. Although the work of these committees, especially the 1958 committee, was an improvement over the performances of Committee of Supply, they appeared to have no inherent advantages over what a better informed Committee of Supply could reasonably be expected to accomplish. Moreover, there was evidence that these select committees might be used as the focal point for interest group pressures. Finally, the defence policy discussions which accompanied the review of the estimates clearly would have been more effective had they been held in the House of Commons. Thus, since the Senate played no significant role, the record of Parliament in controlling defence was very poor. There was no effective pre-audit control of expenditure and post-audit control was at no time comprehensive. Defence debates in the 1945-1957 period seldom probed into the implications of policy decisions. In more recent years, although the debates have been more comprehensive, they have not been at a very high level of sophistication. Both these shortcomings, it might be noted, were closely related to the dearth of information available on defence. It is suggested that a select standing committee of the House might possibly help to strengthen parliamentary control. Such a committee, if left to investigate problems of administration, technology and weaponry, as well as past expenditures (all matters of fact) might serve two purposes. First, it might accumulate sufficient relevant information to permit more sophisticated policy debates and more informative discussion of the estimates. Second, it would permit better control of past expenditure through detailed and comprehensive investigation of defence. / Arts, Faculty of / Political Science, Department of / Graduate

Personality disorders are not granted the same clinical attention accorded Axis I disorders despite their instrumental role in treatment and outcome. Even when standardized assessments are used, their clinical utility may be limited by an overly favorable self-presentation. The current study focused on defensiveness, the intentional denial of symptomatology, by examining individuals’ ability to minimize their presentation on personality disorder diagnostic measures. Using a within-subjects simulation design, dually diagnosed inpatients were assessed under both honest and defensive conditions. The study used self-report (Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV – Axis II – Personality Questionnaire, SCID-II-PQ) and interview-based (Structured Interview for DSM-IV Personality, SIDP-IV) diagnostic measures and a self-report measure of favorable self-presentation (Paulhus Deception Scales, PDS). The inpatients were quite capable of hiding maladaptive personality traits on diagnostic measures, with similarly large effect sizes on both the SCID-II-PQ and SIDP-IV. In addition to the PDS, two new detection strategies for identifying defensiveness showed promise.

This research investigated how individual differences impact ratings of blame for sexual harassers and their victims and whether or not any relationships could be explained by defensive attribution theory. This theory claims that blame is a product of the relevance of the situation and the actors within that situation. Participants completed an online questionnaire in which they read hypothetical cases of sexual harassment. They rated the relevance of the situation and the individuals in the scenarios, attributed blame to hypothetical harassers and victims, as well as other information expected to predict ratings of blame. Results suggested that 1) defensive attribution theory explains the effects of sexual harassment proclivity and gender on blame for sexual harassers; 2) defensive attribution theory may require revision to include the impact of situational relevance on personal relevance, and 3) blame for harassers and victims is explained by two different processes. This research has legal and organizational implications.

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This dissertation deals with issues concerning driver education and driver training courses. It first deals with driver education in Czech schools and its representation in RVP.A comparison of driver education in the Czech Republic with driver education in foreign countries is presented in accordance with the results of research project Q F 44L/058/050. It also deals with the preparation of teachers for driver education in terms of a university study. The text attempts to highlight the importance of driver education throughout the entire lifetime of drivers. It covers driver education in the family, preschool, grammar school and high school education as well as preventive driving campaigns and training courses, and also in driving schools. The work also deals with differences between various ways of driving, and more specifically, those between defensive and cooperative driving. It attempts to find a delineation between these concepts in a non-uniform community of specialists. A significant part of the work deals with investigative research, which is primarily centered in interviews with transportation specialists, observation of participants in defensive driving courses and the analysis of documents. Keywords: traffic education, traffic prevention, defensive driving, cooperative driving, course of...

Because of increased commuter traffic volume on rural roadways collisions between motor vehicles and farm equipment have increased in frequency and severity over the last several years. This study investigated the effects of a multimedia narrative simulation program that taught hazard recognition and promoted defensive driving on rural roadways shared by farm equipment. A companion animated driving game allowed users to practice reaction/stopping time distances with a simulated automobile on a simulated highway when objects appeared suddenly in the path of the automobile. The program and game were delivered by an objective-oriented client/server computer program that also recorded and stored student pre-test, performance, and posttest data. Prior to the main study a user test and pilot study were conducted. Fifteen instructional systems design graduate students completed the user test to evaluate the study procedures and debug the program. Then, a pilot study sample of 17 rural high school students completed the narrative simulation exercise, the reaction/stopping time game, and the study measures that included a demographic survey, pre- and post measures of predicted reaction/stopping time, recognition of collisions hazard cues, numerical performance scores for the simulation exercise, and tracking logs of each student's performance during the animated raction/stopping time game. The main study sample included 123 students age 16 years and older who attended four rural and suburban county high schools. The schools were randome assigned to the four treatment conditions, one control and three treatment groups. The treatment group students completed either (a) the multimedia narrative simulation only, (b) the animated reaction time/stopping time game only, or (c) both the multimedia simulation and the reaction time/stopping time game. As hypothezised, students in the groups that completed the hazard recognition and defensive driving skills performed significantly better on posttests of those skills than students in groups that did not complete the simulation. Compared to students that did not complete the reaction/stopping time game, significantly more students that did complete the game became aware that they could not stop the simulated automobile before hitting an object in its pathway. Yet there was nodifference across the four groups in students' estimates of reaction/stopping time distances. Limitations of the study are noted and discussed. Recommendations for future studies are proposed.

Compared to other structures, such as the amygdala, the lateral septum’s (LS) role in the regulation of anxiety and/or behavioural defense is relatively understudied. Thus, the overarching goal of this thesis was to further investigate its contribution to rats’ anxiety-related behaviours. In Chapter 2, we demonstrate, for the first time, that while the dorsal LS does not mediate rats’ appetitive motivation or anxiety in the novelty induced suppression of feeding (NISF) paradigm, it does modulate their defensive behaviours in the elevated plus maze (EPM) and shock probe burying tests (SPBT). In Chapter 3, we are the first to show that bilateral infusions of histamine, a neurochemical previously linked to anxiety, into the LS reduce rats’ anxiety-related behaviours in the EPM and NISF. In addition, we report a novel double dissociation between lateral septal H1 and H2, and H3 receptors in their regulation of rats’ defensive behaviours in those two paradigms. More specifically, the H1 and H2 receptors contribute to rats’ hyponeophagia in the NISF but not their open arm exploration in the EPM, while the H3 receptors modulate rats’ defensive behaviors in the EPM but not in the NISF. Finally, in Chapter 4, we report for the first time that infusions of histamine into the LS, which produce behavioural anxiolysis, increase rather than decrease the frequency of reticular-elicited hippocampal theta activity, a putative neurophysiological correlate of anxiolytic-drug action. Altogether, the data in this thesis increase our understanding of how the LS contributes to rats’ defensive behaviours and adds to the existing literature regarding the neurobiology of fear/anxiety. More importantly though, the data presented here could ultimately aid in the development of novel drugs to treat anxiety disorders in humans. / Thesis (Ph.D, Neuroscience Studies) -- Queen's University, 2013-12-17 17:27:34.014