Cognitive radio is an important technology which aims to improve the spectrum resource utilization and allows a cognitive radio transceiver to detect and sense spectrum holes without causing interference to the primary users (PUs). As a result of the development of cognitive radio technology, the concept of cognitive radio ad hoc networks (CRAHNs) has recently been proposed in the literature, which aims to apply the cognitive radio to traditional ad hoc networks. However, this new network paradigm creates more research challenges than those in classical cognitive radio networks (CRNs). These research challenges in CRAHNs are due to the variable radio environments caused by spectrum-dependent communication links, hop-by-hop transmission, and changing topology. This study will focus on important research topics in spectrum management in scalable CRAHNs driven by local control, such as spectrum sharing, allocation, and mobility. To conduct this study, a local control approach is proposed to enable system-level analysis and protocol-level design with distributed protocols for spectrum sharing. In the local control approach, we can evaluate the system dynamics caused by either protocol-specific parameters or application-specific parameters in CRAHNs, which is hard to explore using existing methods. Moreover, combining the previous evaluations and scaling law analysis based on local control concept, we can design new distributed protocols based on the features of the medium access control (MAC) layer and the physical layer. In this study, the proposed research themes and related research issues surrounding spectrum sharing are discussed. Moreover, justification of the research has been made by experimental and analytical results. / Thesis (Ph.D, Electrical & Computer Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2013-02-04 14:37:45.883

O sarcoma de Ewing é uma neoplasia maligna agressiva que acomete ossos e tecidos moles com maior frequência em crianças e adolescentes. O tratamento consta de quimioterapia de indução, seguida pelo controle local da doença (cirurgia, cirurgia associada à radioterapia, ou apenas radioterapia), e quimioterapia de consolidação. A introdução da quimioterapia possibilitou aumento significativo na sobrevida dos pacientes nas últimas décadas. Por outro lado, o impacto da modalidade de controle local ainda não está bem estabelecido. Estudos observacionais têm demonstrado superioridade do tratamento cirúrgico em relação à radioterapia isolada, no entanto, são limitados os estudos prospectivos que confirmam esta diferença. O objetivo deste estudo é avaliar o impacto da modalidade de tratamento local nos desfechos oncológicos, bem como descrever o perfil clínico-epidemiológico de portadores de sarcoma de Ewing ósseo não-metastático. Os dados foram coletados em 15 instituições no período entre 2003 e 2010 e fazem parte do primeiro estudo do Grupo Colaborativo Brasileiro para Tratamento dos Tumores da Família Ewing (EWING I). Dos 73 pacientes incluídos, 47 foram tratados com cirurgia isolada, 13 receberam cirurgia associada à radioterapia, e 13 apenas radioterapia. O seguimento médio foi de 4,5 anos (2,3 até 6,7 anos) e a sobrevida geral e livre de eventos foi de 63,3 e 62,1 por cento em 5 anos, respectivamente. A falha do tratamento local foi de 0 (zero) por cento para a modalidade de cirurgia associada à radioterapia, 6,5 por cento para cirurgia isolada, e 10 por cento para radioterapia (p=0,5). A sobrevida dos pacientes submetidos à radioterapia isolada foi significativamente inferior à sobrevida dos tratados com cirurgia e com cirurgia associada a radioterapia (30,8 versus 71,7 versus 64,1 por cento, respectivamente). Concluiu-se que não houve diferença em termos de falha local de acordo com a modalidade de tratamento empregada, no entanto houve diferença significativa em termos de sobrevida. Apesar dos resultados cirúrgicos superiores, a radioterapia isolada ainda apresenta papel fundamental no tratamento de casos selecionados. / Ewing sarcoma is a small round cell malignancy of bone and soft tissue that usually occurs in children and adolescents. Current treatment includes induction chemotherapy, local control of the primary tumor (surgery, surgery plus radiotherapy, or radiotherapy) and consolidation chemotherapy. The introduction of chemotherapy has improved significantly the oncologic outcomes in Ewing sarcoma. On the other hand, the impact of the local control modality has not been established. Surgery alone or in combination with radiation has traditionally been considered a good choice for resectable ES, while unresectable tumors have been treated with definitive radiotherapy. Despite the results from a few trials and observational studies, there is no consistent knowledge about the local control modality in ES outcomes. The present study aims to evaluate the impact of the local control modality in the oncologic outcomes, as well as to describe the clinical features of the patients with localized Ewing sarcoma of the bone. The data were collected between 2003 and 2010 in 15 hospitals and were part of the first Brazilian Collaborative Group for the Treatment of the Ewing Sarcoma Family Tumors (EWING 1). From 73 patients (median age 12.8 years old), 47 were treated with surgery, 13 with surgery plus radiotherapy, and 13 with definitive radiotherapy. Median follow up was 4.5 years (2.3 to 6.7 years) and the overall and event-free survival 63.3 and 62.1 percent in 5 years, respectively. The local control failure was 0 percent for surgery plus radiotherapy, 6.5 percent for surgery, and 10 percent for radiotherapy (p=.5). The survival of the patients treated with radiotherapy was significantly worse than those treated with surgery and surgery plus radiotherapy (30.8 versus 71.7 versus 64.1 percent, respectively). In conclusion, there was no significant difference in local failure according to the modality of treatment, but there was significant difference in survival rates. Despite the better outcomes in individuals treated with surgery, the radiotherapy modality has still an important role in selected patients.

No description available.

O sarcoma de Ewing é uma neoplasia maligna agressiva que acomete ossos e tecidos moles com maior frequência em crianças e adolescentes. O tratamento consta de quimioterapia de indução, seguida pelo controle local da doença (cirurgia, cirurgia associada à radioterapia, ou apenas radioterapia), e quimioterapia de consolidação. A introdução da quimioterapia possibilitou aumento significativo na sobrevida dos pacientes nas últimas décadas. Por outro lado, o impacto da modalidade de controle local ainda não está bem estabelecido. Estudos observacionais têm demonstrado superioridade do tratamento cirúrgico em relação à radioterapia isolada, no entanto, são limitados os estudos prospectivos que confirmam esta diferença. O objetivo deste estudo é avaliar o impacto da modalidade de tratamento local nos desfechos oncológicos, bem como descrever o perfil clínico-epidemiológico de portadores de sarcoma de Ewing ósseo não-metastático. Os dados foram coletados em 15 instituições no período entre 2003 e 2010 e fazem parte do primeiro estudo do Grupo Colaborativo Brasileiro para Tratamento dos Tumores da Família Ewing (EWING I). Dos 73 pacientes incluídos, 47 foram tratados com cirurgia isolada, 13 receberam cirurgia associada à radioterapia, e 13 apenas radioterapia. O seguimento médio foi de 4,5 anos (2,3 até 6,7 anos) e a sobrevida geral e livre de eventos foi de 63,3 e 62,1 por cento em 5 anos, respectivamente. A falha do tratamento local foi de 0 (zero) por cento para a modalidade de cirurgia associada à radioterapia, 6,5 por cento para cirurgia isolada, e 10 por cento para radioterapia (p=0,5). A sobrevida dos pacientes submetidos à radioterapia isolada foi significativamente inferior à sobrevida dos tratados com cirurgia e com cirurgia associada a radioterapia (30,8 versus 71,7 versus 64,1 por cento, respectivamente). Concluiu-se que não houve diferença em termos de falha local de acordo com a modalidade de tratamento empregada, no entanto houve diferença significativa em termos de sobrevida. Apesar dos resultados cirúrgicos superiores, a radioterapia isolada ainda apresenta papel fundamental no tratamento de casos selecionados. / Ewing sarcoma is a small round cell malignancy of bone and soft tissue that usually occurs in children and adolescents. Current treatment includes induction chemotherapy, local control of the primary tumor (surgery, surgery plus radiotherapy, or radiotherapy) and consolidation chemotherapy. The introduction of chemotherapy has improved significantly the oncologic outcomes in Ewing sarcoma. On the other hand, the impact of the local control modality has not been established. Surgery alone or in combination with radiation has traditionally been considered a good choice for resectable ES, while unresectable tumors have been treated with definitive radiotherapy. Despite the results from a few trials and observational studies, there is no consistent knowledge about the local control modality in ES outcomes. The present study aims to evaluate the impact of the local control modality in the oncologic outcomes, as well as to describe the clinical features of the patients with localized Ewing sarcoma of the bone. The data were collected between 2003 and 2010 in 15 hospitals and were part of the first Brazilian Collaborative Group for the Treatment of the Ewing Sarcoma Family Tumors (EWING 1). From 73 patients (median age 12.8 years old), 47 were treated with surgery, 13 with surgery plus radiotherapy, and 13 with definitive radiotherapy. Median follow up was 4.5 years (2.3 to 6.7 years) and the overall and event-free survival 63.3 and 62.1 percent in 5 years, respectively. The local control failure was 0 percent for surgery plus radiotherapy, 6.5 percent for surgery, and 10 percent for radiotherapy (p=.5). The survival of the patients treated with radiotherapy was significantly worse than those treated with surgery and surgery plus radiotherapy (30.8 versus 71.7 versus 64.1 percent, respectively). In conclusion, there was no significant difference in local failure according to the modality of treatment, but there was significant difference in survival rates. Despite the better outcomes in individuals treated with surgery, the radiotherapy modality has still an important role in selected patients.

O sarcoma de Ewing é uma neoplasia maligna agressiva que acomete ossos e tecidos moles com maior frequência em crianças e adolescentes. O tratamento consta de quimioterapia de indução, seguida pelo controle local da doença (cirurgia, cirurgia associada à radioterapia, ou apenas radioterapia), e quimioterapia de consolidação. A introdução da quimioterapia possibilitou aumento significativo na sobrevida dos pacientes nas últimas décadas. Por outro lado, o impacto da modalidade de controle local ainda não está bem estabelecido. Estudos observacionais têm demonstrado superioridade do tratamento cirúrgico em relação à radioterapia isolada, no entanto, são limitados os estudos prospectivos que confirmam esta diferença. O objetivo deste estudo é avaliar o impacto da modalidade de tratamento local nos desfechos oncológicos, bem como descrever o perfil clínico-epidemiológico de portadores de sarcoma de Ewing ósseo não-metastático. Os dados foram coletados em 15 instituições no período entre 2003 e 2010 e fazem parte do primeiro estudo do Grupo Colaborativo Brasileiro para Tratamento dos Tumores da Família Ewing (EWING I). Dos 73 pacientes incluídos, 47 foram tratados com cirurgia isolada, 13 receberam cirurgia associada à radioterapia, e 13 apenas radioterapia. O seguimento médio foi de 4,5 anos (2,3 até 6,7 anos) e a sobrevida geral e livre de eventos foi de 63,3 e 62,1 por cento em 5 anos, respectivamente. A falha do tratamento local foi de 0 (zero) por cento para a modalidade de cirurgia associada à radioterapia, 6,5 por cento para cirurgia isolada, e 10 por cento para radioterapia (p=0,5). A sobrevida dos pacientes submetidos à radioterapia isolada foi significativamente inferior à sobrevida dos tratados com cirurgia e com cirurgia associada a radioterapia (30,8 versus 71,7 versus 64,1 por cento, respectivamente). Concluiu-se que não houve diferença em termos de falha local de acordo com a modalidade de tratamento empregada, no entanto houve diferença significativa em termos de sobrevida. Apesar dos resultados cirúrgicos superiores, a radioterapia isolada ainda apresenta papel fundamental no tratamento de casos selecionados. / Ewing sarcoma is a small round cell malignancy of bone and soft tissue that usually occurs in children and adolescents. Current treatment includes induction chemotherapy, local control of the primary tumor (surgery, surgery plus radiotherapy, or radiotherapy) and consolidation chemotherapy. The introduction of chemotherapy has improved significantly the oncologic outcomes in Ewing sarcoma. On the other hand, the impact of the local control modality has not been established. Surgery alone or in combination with radiation has traditionally been considered a good choice for resectable ES, while unresectable tumors have been treated with definitive radiotherapy. Despite the results from a few trials and observational studies, there is no consistent knowledge about the local control modality in ES outcomes. The present study aims to evaluate the impact of the local control modality in the oncologic outcomes, as well as to describe the clinical features of the patients with localized Ewing sarcoma of the bone. The data were collected between 2003 and 2010 in 15 hospitals and were part of the first Brazilian Collaborative Group for the Treatment of the Ewing Sarcoma Family Tumors (EWING 1). From 73 patients (median age 12.8 years old), 47 were treated with surgery, 13 with surgery plus radiotherapy, and 13 with definitive radiotherapy. Median follow up was 4.5 years (2.3 to 6.7 years) and the overall and event-free survival 63.3 and 62.1 percent in 5 years, respectively. The local control failure was 0 percent for surgery plus radiotherapy, 6.5 percent for surgery, and 10 percent for radiotherapy (p=.5). The survival of the patients treated with radiotherapy was significantly worse than those treated with surgery and surgery plus radiotherapy (30.8 versus 71.7 versus 64.1 percent, respectively). In conclusion, there was no significant difference in local failure according to the modality of treatment, but there was significant difference in survival rates. Despite the better outcomes in individuals treated with surgery, the radiotherapy modality has still an important role in selected patients.

The California State Legislature passed Assembly Bill 97 in June 2013 and Governor Brown signed it into law on July 1, 2013. The legislation created the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) and the Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP). The LCFF changed the way that school districts in California receive education funding from the state, shifting from a complex categorical program towards a per-pupil based formula. Furthermore, school districts receive “supplemental” and “concentration” funds based on the number of English learners, low-income students and foster youth in the district. The LCAP is a key component of this new funding system and requires that school districts create an accountability document showing how they intend to allocate funds and how they propose to track student outcomes. The 2014-15 academic year was the first full-year of policy implementation, and this thesis investigates how districts around the state created their LCAP. Drawing from research reports, press coverage, and a case study of Claremont Unified School District, this investigation finds that the LCAP has the potential to make the California public education system more equitable and adequate.

ABSTRACT When it comes to school governance, the concept of "local control" endures as a powerful social construct in some regions of the United States. In New England states, where traditional town meetings and small school districts still exist as important local institutions, the idea of local control is still an important element of policy considerations, despite increasing state and federal regulation of education in recent years. With its small school districts and myriad governance structures, Vermont represents an extreme case example of the intersection between participatory democracy and the local control of schools. With nearly 285 school boards composed of over 1,400 school board members for a statewide k-12 population of just over 88,000 students, Vermont has the most board members per pupil in the nation. In addition, the state's patchwork of local districts, supervisory unions, unified districts, and other governance entities make up the most complex school governance system in the country. Following the passage of Act 46 in 2015, Vermont school districts began new voluntary merger negotiations and restructuring through the process known as "unification". This qualitative case study of Vermont school governance examined the question of local control as a social construct across four school districts which, taken together, represent a range of attributes as defined by geography, demographics, and governance structures. Extended structured interviews comprised of image-based prompts and open-ended questions with 19 school board members provided the principal source of data. A review of state and local documents and interviews with 11 superintendents and policymakers allowed for triangulation of the data. Results suggested these principal findings: 1) multiple meanings of local control coexist, 2) statutory requirements and limited local resources curtail the exercise of local control in practice, and 3) school boards are starting to take a broader view of governance by emphasizing stewardship over micromanagement and redefining local communities beyond town boundaries.

Climate change will result in variable – but undeniably severe – changes to our natural world. These changes will lead to extreme human and ecosystem consequences if climate change is not mitigated effectively, efficiently, and rapidly. Increasing the use of renewable energies around the world is seen as one of the most effective and promising mitigation strategies. Several communities around the United States have recently denounced publicly their electrical utilities for their failure to offer the choice to increase the percentage of energy that comes from renewable sources. A growing number are taking action to work with – or sometimes against – their energy providers to increase the percentage of renewable energies available. Boulder, Colorado is one of these communities. Since 2005, Boulder has been exploring the possibility of municipalizing its investor-owned electric utility, thereby bringing the utility under city control. In doing so, it would control the sources of electricity that would be used by its residents, and potentially provide these customers with 100 percent renewable energy. Boulder is in the final phases of studying the possibility of full municipalization and aims to begin this process in the near future. While it remains to be seen if the city will successfully create a municipally owned utility (MOU), an examination of Boulder’s thought processes, studies, and decision making to date provides an opportunity for a discussion of the benefits and possible downsides of municipalization and allows a glimpse into the future of MOUs in the United States.

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(医学) / 甲第18163号 / 医博第3883号 / 新制||医||1003(附属図書館) / 31021 / 京都大学大学院医学研究科医学専攻 / (主査)教授 福山 秀直, 教授 富樫 かおり, 教授 増永 慎一郎 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Medical Science / Kyoto University / DFAM

As of June 2013, all California public school districts are required to incorporate stakeholder input into their operational goals and expenditures to increase stakeholder trust. Trust is a belief by one party in a transaction that the other party in the transaction will act in a way that is fair and in the interest of both parties. The problem is that no guidance or direction relative to the methods or extent to which stakeholder input should be gathered and incorporated was provided within the new regulations. Lawmakers and stakeholders had no insight into the effectiveness or level of school district compliance relative to the new regulations. The research questions of this qualitative, holistic explanatory case study examined how financial managers in the California public school system are engaging stakeholders and gathering and integrating stakeholder priorities into financial planning and budgets in light of limited guidance. The conceptual framework for this study was that stakeholder trust is required for operational efficiency and is increased through transparency and stakeholder engagement. In this study, data was triangulated through 17 semistructured interviews and multiple sources of historical documents. Through data coding it was found that all school districts in the study were using similar engagement methods to gather input and all districts were engaging all required stakeholder groups. It was also found that these engagement processes increased transparency with the districts' stakeholders. This study contributes to positive social change by providing additional insight into how California public school districts are complying with law established to increase transparency and trust relative to the use of public funds where limited guidance for implementations is provided.