In Canada and around the world, there has been an increased focus on the efficiency, cost and access to health care services. One area of particular focus is surgical procedures, often with government funding and policies focused on reducing wait times through pay for performance and volume target initiatives. In Ontario, an expert panel was assembled to evaluate the current state of surgical processes and provide recommendations to improve access, efficiency and quality. This thesis addresses the panel's recommendation for a simulation-based decision tool to help hospitals inform decisions that can lead to improved access and efficiency. A generalised, simulation based perioperative decision tool is presented that can be used to test a variety of tactical decisions. The generic model has been applied to six hospitals of varying sizes, ranging from large academic centres to small rural community hospitals. The model remains in use at some of the hospitals to regularly inform decisions. The model is also being applied to additional hospital sites. During application of the generic model, challenges in design decisions and validation were encountered. As a result, a series of principles are proposed to guide future generic modelling design and achieving user acceptance. These principles add to the generic simulation modelling and healthcare modelling research fields by laying some groundwork for a formalised approach to designing effective generic simulation models and achieving confidence in results. Finally, the research demonstrates two uses of the generic model: as decision tool and as a demonstrative tool. As a decision tool the model is used to compare numerous potential tactical decision options under consideration. As a demonstrative tool, the model is used to quantify the effect of poor practices on hospital performance. The design of the generic model only considers efficient processes and best practices. When model results are compared to historical performance, decision makers are able to quantify the effect of existing poor practices on their performance and decision making. The tool enables users to base their tactical level decisions on the assumption that good practices and procedures are followed.

In Canada and around the world, there has been an increased focus on the efficiency, cost and access to health care services. One area of particular focus is surgical procedures, often with government funding and policies focused on reducing wait times through pay for performance and volume target initiatives. In Ontario, an expert panel was assembled to evaluate the current state of surgical processes and provide recommendations to improve access, efficiency and quality. This thesis addresses the panel's recommendation for a simulation-based decision tool to help hospitals inform decisions that can lead to improved access and efficiency. A generalised, simulation based perioperative decision tool is presented that can be used to test a variety of tactical decisions. The generic model has been applied to six hospitals of varying sizes, ranging from large academic centres to small rural community hospitals. The model remains in use at some of the hospitals to regularly inform decisions. The model is also being applied to additional hospital sites. During application of the generic model, challenges in design decisions and validation were encountered. As a result, a series of principles are proposed to guide future generic modelling design and achieving user acceptance. These principles add to the generic simulation modelling and healthcare modelling research fields by laying some groundwork for a formalised approach to designing effective generic simulation models and achieving confidence in results. Finally, the research demonstrates two uses of the generic model: as decision tool and as a demonstrative tool. As a decision tool the model is used to compare numerous potential tactical decision options under consideration. As a demonstrative tool, the model is used to quantify the effect of poor practices on hospital performance. The design of the generic model only considers efficient processes and best practices. When model results are compared to historical performance, decision makers are able to quantify the effect of existing poor practices on their performance and decision making. The tool enables users to base their tactical level decisions on the assumption that good practices and procedures are followed.

TRIPS strengthened international patent protection, particularly in relation to pharmaceutical patents. A compulsory license mechanism is one of the exceptions from patent protection available under TRIPS. This mechanism applies mainly to domestic market supply. Underdeveloped countries with insufficient pharmaceutical manufacturing capacities are unable to use this exception to import medicines in public health emergencies. To resolve this problem, the WTO General Council’s decision allows the export of generic versions of patented drugs under certain conditions. Canada’s Bill C-9 was the first statute to implement the decision. Bill C-9 bears both humanitarian and TRIPS-like provisions. The role of the Government is unjustifiably limited to participation in administrative and legislative processes, while the main operators in the scheme are the generic manufacturer and partly, the patent holder. This thesis proposes several different models to transform the Bill into a workable system for the export of drugs to underdeveloped countries afflicted with pandemics.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Melbourne, Dept. of Political Science, 1997. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references (leaves 282-313).

Univ., Diss.--Leipzig, 2004. / Literaturverz. S. [229] - 238.

Ο κύριος σκοπός της παρούσας εργασίας είναι να διερευνηθεί η χρήση ενός εναλλακτικού νέου γενετικού αλγορίθμου, που εφαρμόζεται στο ωράριο εργασίας και στον χρονοπρογραμματισμό των αστικών και υπεραστικών λεωφορείων στην Ελλάδα. Φαίνεται ότι η απόδοση επηρεάζεται από διάφορες παραμέτρους, όπως ισχυρούς ή ελαστικούς περιορισμούς, δεδομένου ενός συνόλου των οδηγών λεωφορείων, και ενός συνόλου δρομολογιών προς εκτέλεση. Πιο συγκεκριμένα, η μέθοδος που επιλέχθηκε για τη διεξαγωγή της παρούσας εργασίας είναι μια προσομοίωση των υπεραστικών λεωφορείων της πόλης της Πρέβεζας. Τέλος, τα αποτελέσματα της μελέτης δείχνουν ότι ο συνδυασμός των τεχνικών που παρουσιάστηκαν λειτουργεί αποτελεσματικά και να ξεπερνά όλα τα προηγούμενα μοντέλα σε μια απλή προσομοίωση. / The main target is to expand the usage of an alternative new generic algorithm, that is used in the timetable scheduling of urban and intercity buses in Greece. The performance is influenced by several factors. The method used is a simulation of the intercity buses of the city of Preveza. Finally, the results of the study shows that the combination of the techniques implemented works efficiently and overcomes the previous methods in a simple simulation.

This thesis examines the digital photo composites of Chinese artist Yang Yongliang (b. 1980, Shanghai) from 2007-2012 by selecting three distinct series that focus on three cities. This thesis approaches Yang’s Shanghai-based digital landscape prints (shuma shanshui), his 2012 series A Bowl of Taipei, and his 2010 series Greece, Greece and investigates how they relate to Asian art history, contemporary art discourse, and urban theories, including Rem Koolhaas’s 1995 essay “The Generic City.” This thesis moves beyond the simple binaries with which Yang’s works are often described – past versus present, nature versus city, tradition versus modernity – dichotomies similar to those used to characterize recent urbanization in most major cities, as observed in Koolhaas’s writing. This thesis argues that Yang’s works inhabit multiple positions simultaneously and offer new potentials for expanding beyond the generic city.

O presente trabalho investiga o impacto das representaÃÃes de mÃdicos, farmacÃuticos e consumidores no uso dos medicamentos de marca e genÃricos. Nesta construÃÃo buscou-se evidenciar as contradiÃÃes, crenÃas e valores inseridos na subjetividade das categorias acima referidas. Procuramos analisar o impacto da introduÃÃo dos medicamentos genÃricos no mercado e suas conseqÃÃncias no contexto da relaÃÃo das categorias citadas. Explorou-se tambÃm a lÃgica do mercado farmacÃutico e seu grau de influÃncia sobre a populaÃÃo, principalmente, sobre os prescritores. A metodologia utilizada baseou-se na anÃlise qualitativa com Ãnfase na epistemologia construtiva â interpretativa. Os instrumentos utilizados na obtenÃÃo das informaÃÃes estÃo inseridos no espÃrito da metodologia. A leitura da histÃria da prÃtica mÃdica foi esclarecedora do ponto de vista do questionamento sobre o processo da medicalizaÃÃo e dependÃncia tecnolÃgica da medicina cientÃfica e biolÃgica. As informaÃÃes resultantes da anÃlise do conteÃdo evidenciaram que o medicamento continua sendo o elemento principal na complexa relaÃÃo mÃdico-paciente, com todas as conseqÃÃncias positivas e negativas desse uso. No imaginÃrio popular, ele à o elemento chave, que conceituamos como âligamemâ na complexa rede de relaÃÃes que se instaura, vinculando mÃdicos, farmacÃuticos e consumidores. Està eivado de aspectos mÃgicos, concentrando em si, complexa rede de representaÃÃes sociais que se reportam a mÃltiplas dimensÃes polÃticas, culturais e psicosociais dos sujeitos, visto, sobretudo pelos consumidores como elemento mÃgico se inserindo fortemente sobre suas representaÃÃes sociais do adoecer e assumindo um lugar de destaque numa prÃtica mÃdica que, apesar das contradiÃÃes e tentativas de ultrapassagem que aponta, apresenta-se cada vez mais iatrogÃnica e distante do humanismo pretendido. / The present study looked for the evidences on the contradictions, believes, and values subjectively implied in the use that doctors, pharmacists, and consumers, made of medicinal drugs. We tried to analyze the impact of generic drugs in the market as well as its consequences in the context of the relationship among the classes mentioned above. We also studied the mechanism of the pharmaceutical market, and the level of influence over the population, especially on those who issue the prescriptions. The methodology applied was based upon a qualitative approach, with emphasis on the constructive-interpretative epistemology. The historic review done on the history of the medical practice brought light to our study from the point of view of questioning the process of medicine orientation and the technological dependence of the scientific and biological medicine. The information resulting from the analysis on the meaning content proved that medicinal drugs remain the main element in the complex relationship doctor-patient, with all its positive and negative consequences. People imagine that medicinal drugs consist of the magical element in the healing process implied in the medical practice, more and more iatrogenic and distant from de intended humanism.

Software products can be categorized into three types namely bespoke, market driven and customizable generic products. Each of these products is facing different problems in their development and to address these problems different software process models have been introduced. The use and validation of different software process models for bespoke and market driven products have been discussed in earlier work. On the other hand, less attention was paid to the customizable generic products. Our thesis will fill this gap by conducting a case study on evolutionary prototyping (EP) for customizable generic products. The main aim of the thesis is to make an initial validation of EP for customizable generic products. In order to fulfill the aforementioned aim we performed a literature study on prototyping and EP, together with development of two customizable generic products. During this development process, we used approach of EP. The results from our investigation will provide researchers and practitioners with a deep insight to the EP and also to guide them in making decision regarding the use of EP. The main findings from our investigation are as follows: • EP is not used standalone as a software process model. Rather it is used as a concept that can be augmented with some iterative software process model. • Negative and positive aspects of EP were highlighted by discussing situations where it could be a better choice, with its advantages and disadvantages. • An initial validation was performed on EP for customizable generic products. Reported results from this case study show that the selected approach is a good choice when you want to have innovative product, clear ambiguous and sketchy requirements, discover new requirements, save resources of software testing, involve and satisfy customer. EP shows vulnerabilities in documentation of product and quality of code. / Mobile number : 0046762183249

Enterprise Resource Management (ERP) software is used by organizations to control accounting, manufacturing and customer processes. It is common practice that organizations use more than a singular ERP system and various modules from multiple ERP vendors in their business. Hence, there is a need to integrate systems and find technical solutions that allow the EPRs to communicate. This thesis presents the development of a Generic Integration Layer (GIL) that allows various available ERP systems to exchange data. The goal was to design and develop a module that could integrate different ERP modules, fill the data communication gaps among them, with the goal to minimize the need to use several commercial product for data integration purposes. The developed GIL allows flexible import from different file formats as well as provides verification and updates in a database management server. Moreover, it transforms data into a generic format based on XML that can be read by many modern ERPs. / Master Thesis / Development of a Generic Integration Layer for an ERP system