In this thesis I combine data from 29 volcanic earthquake swarms that follow the pattern predicted by the Generic Volcanic Earthquake Swarm Model (GVESM; Benoit and McNutt, 1996) to investigate whether the relative timing of various parameters of pre-eruptive volcanic earthquake swarms could be used to forecast the time of an impending eruption. Based on the analysis of seismic unrest preceding many eruptions, the GVESM suggests that it is common to see an increase first in high-frequency earthquakes, then low-frequency earthquakes, then the onset of volcanic tremor. While this pattern is useful to volcano-seismologists, the relative timing and durations of these three different types of volcanic seismicity, is explored here for the first time. The parameters investigated are the onset times of (i) low-frequency (LF) events and of (ii) tremor, and the time at which (iii) the peak rate (PR) of volcano-tectonic (VT) events and (iv) the maximum magnitude (MM) earthquake occur in relation to normalized time defined by swarm onset and end (i.e., eruption). The normalized time starts at the swarm onset (0%) and ends with the eruption (100%) allowing a comparison and joint consideration of parameter occurrences across swarms of different actual duration. We identify the normalized onset time of for each parameter (LF, tremor, PR, MM) with respect to the duration of each swarm. Each swarm has onset time uncertainties of the swarm itself and of its parameters. A swarm with large onset uncertainty could bias the normalized onset time of each parameter and we use weighted means to decrease the influence of swarms with large uncertainties on overall results. The weighted means of LF onset, tremor onset, MM and PR occurrence are 79% ± 23%, 96% ± 10%, 78% ± 29% and 75% ± 34%, respectively. Errors are the standard deviation of each parameter. The uncertainties for LF, MM and PR are large because their normalized onset times have the characteristics of a uniform distribution and therefore seem to have no predictive value. In contrast, tremor onset has a narrow distribution towards the end of swarms. A possible tremor mechanism consistent with this observation could be boiling of groundwater as magma nears the surface. LF onset always seems to precede tremor onset. LF and tremor start early (at less than 80% of normalized time) at five volcanoes with high SiO2 content possibly related to lower density and higher gas content of the resulting magma.

Analysis of spontaneous adverse events reports of hypolipidemics Author: Anežka Škabradová Supervisor: PharmDr. Kateřina Malá, Ph.D. Consultant: PharmDr. Josef Malý, Ph.D. Department of Social and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, Charles University Introduction: Hypolipidemic drugs are widely used in today's medicine and their consumption is still rising. Besides all benefits, their usage includes also some risks that needs to be reconsidered regularly. Analysis of spontaneous adverse effects (AEs) reports contributes to a safer therapy by detecting especially serious and unexpected adverse drug reactions. Objective: The aim of this thesis was to analyse spontaneous adverse events reports of hypolipidemic drugs, which were sent to the State Institute for Drug Control (SÚKL) database in the period from June 2004 to October 2017. Methods: The data obtained from SÚKL during the above mentioned period was analysed using descriptive statistics. The frequency of occurrence of certain AEs, which were categorized according to MedDRA and distinguished by hypolipidemics, was analysed, as well as their severity and expectability. Part of the analysis was for example also by whom was the report submitted and which way they used to submit it. Results: Overall 290 reports were obtained,...

Analysis of spontaneous adverse events reports of antiepileptic drugs Author: Ivana Šoborová Supervisor: PharmDr. Eva Zimčíková, Ph.D. Department of Social and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, Charles University Introduction: Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological diseases, which occurs worldwide. Antiepileptic drugs (AED) suppress the onset of an epileptic seizure. Analysis of spontaneous adverse drug reactions (ADRs) analysis is important data source for generating the potential risks signals in pharmacotherapy. Objective: The aim of this work was to analyse spontaneous reports of ADRs from the Czech Central Database of ADRs of the State Institute for Drug Control (SÚKL) in the period from June 2004 to October 2017. The analyses of potential drug interactions of all medicinal products mentioned in the reports and the assessment of the reported ADRs expectability was the secondary goal. Methods: Retrospective analyses of the spontaneous ADR reports of antiepileptic drugs obtained from the SÚKL in the given period. Anonymized data was processed using the descriptive statistics in MS Excel. For example, the patient characteristics or seriousness and expectability of the ADRs were evaluated. The specific adverse drug reactions were divided according to the system...

Background: Root Cause Analysis (RCA) is a method of investigating adverse events (AEs). The purpose of RCA is to improve quality of care and patient safety through a retrospective, structured investigative process of an incident, resulting in recommendations to prevent the recurrence of medical errors. Aim: The aim of the study was to develop and validate a prototype questionnaire to establish whether the RCA model and processes employed at the research setting were perceived by the users to be acceptable, thorough and credible in terms of internationally established criteria. Methods: This is a validation study comprising four phases to meet the study objectives: 1) the development of a prototype questionnaire guided by a literature review; 2) assessing the validity of the content of the questionnaire by and numerical evaluation of the face validity thereof; 3) assessing the qualitative face validity cognitive interviews; and 4) reliability by test-retest. Results: Content validity assessment in Phase 2 resulted in removal of 1/36 (2.77%) question items and amendment of 7/36 (19.44%), resulting in 35 for the revised questionnaire. Analysis of data from the cognitive interviews resulted in amendment of 20/35 (57.14%) question items but no removal. Reliability of the final questionnaire achieved the predetermined ≥0.7 level of agreement. Conclusion: The questionnaire achieved a high content validity index and face validity was enhanced by cognitive interviews by providing qualitative data. The inter-rater coefficient indicated a high level of reliability. The tool was designed for a local private healthcare sector and this may limit its use.

[pt] O concílio de Calcedônia, o quarto Ecumênico da Igreja, ocorrido em 451, professa e define solenemente a plena humanidade e a plena divindade de Jesus Cristo, Verbo eterno encarnado, articuladas em sua única Pessoa. O grande iniciador da controvérsia que levará à convocação do concílio é o sacerdote Êutiques, que objetivando refutar a heresia de Nestório, cai no erro oposto: o monofisismo. É a partir daí que o concílio de Calcedônia produz uma fórmula dogmática ainda hoje atual. Com efeito, a presente tese, através de uma abordagem histórico-teológica, discorre sobre o tema da cristologia do concílio de Calcedônia partindo da cristologia que lhe é precedente, passando por sua fórmula dogmática até tratar da atualidade do tema no estudo da cristologia contemporânea entre teólogos católicos, protestantes e ortodoxos. / [en] Council of Chalcedon, fourth ecumenical council of Catholic Church, taken place in 451, professes and defines solemnly the Jesus Christ s wide humanity and wide divinity, eternal incarnated Logos, combined in just one Person. The responsible for all the controversy that will be the key to the Council is the presbyter Eutyches, whose ideas to refuse Nestorian heresy fell in the opposite mistake: monophysitism. From that moment on, the Council creates a dogmatic formula, still current. The present thesis, throughout a historical and theological approach, developes the Christology theme of Council of Chalcedon, from preceeded Christology, through its dogmatic formula, until the currency of the theme in the analyzation of contemporain Christology between Catholics theologians, Protestants and Orthodox.

Introduction Citalopram is a preferred medication used for the treatment of depression and belongs to a group known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI). When used on a long-term basis, it leads to a significant decrease of serotonin in thrombocytes. Citalopram-treated patients often display haemorrhagia that is explained by its anti-platelet effect, which is also - more or less - the case for other medications from the SSRI group. Aim of the Thesis The aim of the thesis was to find out: a) Whether citalopram treatment (2 weeks) has influence on the plasma concentration of thromboxane B2; b) Whether there is a relation between the expected decrease of thromboxane B2 levels and the plasma concentration of citalopram. Methods and Patient Population We carried out clinical and laboratory tests on a study population consisting of elderly and polymorbid patients who underwent a 14-day citalopram treatment with daily doses of 20mg. Among other tests, we observed the plasma concentration of thromboxane and citalopram. Out of 160 patients examined, 78 patients were assessed. Results Our study has proved that even a short-term citalopram treatment results to a significant increase in the plasma concentration of thromboxane B2 and the suppression rate of thromboxane B2 correlates with the higher...

Understanding how coral reefs respond to natural disturbances is fundamental to assess their resistance and resilience, particularly in a context of climate change. Therefore, and given the escalating frequency and intensity of bleaching events, it is essential to evaluate responses of communities in space and time to disentangle the mechanisms underlying ecological changes. Here, I analyzed a dataset comprising 59 reefs, resulting from 6 years (2014-2016) of a coral reef benthic monitoring program in the Saudi Arabian Red Sea. It encompasses the 2015/2016 mass bleaching event and spans three different geographic regions: north (Duba and Al Wajh), central (Jeddah and Thuwal), and south (Al Lith, Farasan Islands and Farasan Banks). The results indicate significant differences between regions and through time. Coral assemblages from the southern region were the most affected by the 2015 bleaching event, where in some reefs, hard and soft corals cover dropped to <2% in 2017. Important changes in community structure were observed through time in the three regions, with a shift to a macroalgae, turf algae and CCA dominance. Different environmental drivers (salinity, sea surface temperature, fishing index, distance to shore, and photosynthetically active radiation) were analyzed, and highlighted a regionally-based response of the communities to these potential drivers of change. Overall, the examined Red Sea benthic communities presented dynamic patterns in composition. Distance decay plots based on presence/absence showed a general increase in similarity throughout multiple spatial scales in 2019, when compared to previous years. This finding suggests a loss in biodiversity due to thermal anomalies and bleaching events, evidenced by a homogenization (i.e., increase similarity) in the composition of the benthic communities. I document here a patterns of dominance of a few benthic groups with time and a decrease in branching corals. This study provides baseline information about changes in coral reef benthic community structure and identifies environmental factors with a higher impact on a regional scale. This information can be used to guide conservation efforts in these highly biodiverse ecosystems.The resulting datasets can be valuable for anticipating responses of coral communities under future climate scenarios.

Book entries are vehicles used in accounting to accommodate non-cash transactions, timing differences and provisions. The use of book entries is a normal activity in accounting and may have their origin in accrual accounting. The management of a company may apply creative accounting techniques in the form of earnings management, in particular, adopting the practices of income smoothing and taking the so-called ‘big bath’. These practices may result in the financial manager or accountant misusing book entries. This could then lead to information of a different integrity to that which would have resulted had these creative accounting practices not been performed in the company. The question addressed in this dissertation and for which an answer is sought, is whether there is any notable difference in the integrity issues of information supplied through the accounting process and created by real transactions (real events) as opposed to information created by book entries (artificial events). The hypothesis underlying this dissertation is: The integrity of information created by book entries is based on subjective opinions because it is based on future events therefore it is not the same as integrity of information created by real transactions that is based on historical events. The new science is concerned with new guidelines, amongst other things, regarding reality, observation, objectivity, predictions and relationships among events. These new guidelines could be seen as explaining certain aspects which is relevant to the field of accounting. The attributes of a book entry are not based on reality, but are based on subjective predictions of future transactions etc. Another similarity is that a book entry is often not objective but is based on subjective observation. Notable differences were observed in the integrity of the information emerging from a real, historical event and a future event. These differences were established through the application of two research methods, namely, the use of a questionnaire and the analysis of the financial statements of 30 companies listed on The JSE Securities Exchange South Africa (JSE). The influence of book entries on certain ratios was considered, and the ratios influenced by two major book entries, namely, depreciation provision and deferred taxation, differ substantially in interpretation when the two book entries are reclassified. The results of the questionnaire also indicate that a large proportion of the financial managers in practice believe that book entries substantially influence the integrity of information. / Dissertation (MCom Financial Management Sciences)--University of Pretoria, 2003. / Financial Management / unrestricted

The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction calls for collaboration across sectors in society as an effective way to reduce disaster risk in order to safeguard lives, human wellbeing, and development gains from potential disasters. However, the effectiveness of these cross-sector collaboration approaches has most often been studied in the context of rapid onset disasters such as floods, with less focus on slow-onset disasters such as multiple year droughts. There is also limited research on the contributions of cross-sector collaborations towards Disaster Risk Reduction in African cities. For this study, I set out to investigate cross-sector collaboration efforts contributing to drought response in the city of Harare, Zimbabwe; and how these collaborations were contributing towards fulfilling the four priority areas of the Sendai Framework. These include i) understanding disaster risk, ii) strengthening disaster risk governance, iii) investing in disaster risk reduction for resilience, and iv) enhancing disaster preparedness for effective response. In this qualitative study, I made use of purposive and snowball sampling methods to select 14 key informants from national and local government, non-governmental organisations, and civil society organisations who were directly involved in eight drought related cross-sector collaborations. I conducted in depth semi-structured interviews with these key informants between 2018 and 2019. For the analysis, I followed prior developed themes based on Bryson et al. (2006) theoretical framework to understand cross-sector collaborations. I also applied a typology of barriers and enablers developed from the literature in the analysis, and interpreted emergent themes using NVivo software. I then assessed the contributions of the identified cross-sector collaborations to the activities listed under each of the four priority areas in the Sendai Framework. The findings highlighted the socio-political and economic context of the city of Harare had seeped through and influenced the cross-sector collaborations responding to drought. They shed light on how taking advantage of widely accessible social media platforms serve to enhance collaborations. Additionally, the results highlight the importance of existing networks and relationships in enabling cross-sector collaborations to occur effectively. Most of the cross-sector collaborations occurring in response to drought were originally formed for other reasons and included drought response during the peak of the drought disaster. Collaborations were effective at contributing towards engaging communities in risk assessment and reporting at the local level (Priority 1) and ensuring continual provisioning of services (water) during and after disasters (Priority 4). I make suggestions for collaborations to consider issues of power and how these affect the effectiveness of collaborations on the ground with regards to ensuring social justice and reducing inequality. Finally, I conclude that cross-sector collaborations would be more effective in response to slow-onset disasters when they are formed and applied before the disaster is at its peak. I also suggest that the design and implementation of the cross-sector collaborations be tailor made to consider the socio-political and economic aspects of the city in their design for effective response.

Environmental arrangement alters the physical, social, or programmatic aspects of classrooms to increase task engagement, facilitate prosocial behaviors, and reduce or prevent the challenging behaviors of children and youth. Research shows specific arrangements can affect student engagement and deportment, but this literature is not well integrated theoretically or empirically with other effective behavior change tactics. This article proposes that some environmental arrangements may serve as setting events for child behavior change. Setting events and environmental arrangement were defined and critically outlined. A total of 43 physical environmental arrangement articles were reviewed as to the specific type of arrangement and research methodology. Several methodological problems (e.g., lack of measurement or control of antecedents, consequences, or environmental arrangements, manipulation of more than one environmental arrangement) precluded conclusions about the setting event function of environmental arrangements. Suggestions for future research on setting events and environmental arrangements are proposed.