This thesis consisted of experiments designed to explore the construct of attention and investigate the disruptive effects of psychotomimetics, with a specific focus on NMDA antagonists. Phencyclidine (PCP) was administered through a variety of treatment regimens in order to to determine the ability of inducing cognitive-specific disruptions in attentional functioning. The hypothesis that sub-chronic exposure to PCP would result in persistent attentional impairment was tested, using the 5-choice serial reaction time task (5-CSRTT). The 5-CSRTT assesses not only visuospatial attention, but also components of impulsivity, compulsivity, speed of processing and motivation. It was determined that an additional task-related intervention that increased the attentional load was required to elucidate attentional impairment following sub-chronic PCP treatment. The ability of rats to perform the modified version of the 5-CSRTT, known as the 5-choice continuous performance test (5C-CPT), was investigated. The 5C-CPT was implemented to provide a task that may have greater analogy to the human CPT, than the original 5-CSRTT. The consequence of dopaminergic D1 system activation was investigated. It was revealed that D1 partial agonism improved attentional performance in a baseline-dependent manner. Following successful acquisition of the task, it was shown that repeated PCP treatment induced cognitive disruption that was cognitive-specific, and not confounded by generalised response disruption. Furthermore, a partial attenuation of the PCP-induced performance disruption was achieved following administration of the D1 partial agonist, SKF 38393. Moreover, sub-chronic PCP treatment was shown to impair 5C-CPT performance in the drug-free state. However, an additional challenge that further increased the attentional load was needed to elucidate a performance deficit. This highlighted that sustained attention/vigilance is sensitive to persistent impairment following sub-chronic PCP administration in a manner consistent with deficits observed in schizophrenia patients. This prompted the investigation that tested the hypothesis that sub-chronic PCP treatment could induce enduring structural deficits in regions associated with attentional performance. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was conducted, in conjunction with 5-CSRTT and pre-pulse inhibition (PPI). It was revealed that sub-chronic PCP treatment resulted in morphological brain abnormalities in brain regions associated with 5-CSRTT performance. This was coupled with deficits in sustained attentional performance following an increase in attentional load, yet PPI was unaffected. Taken together, these findings suggested sub-chronic PCP treatment impairs attentional functionality, an effect that dissociates between effortful and passive attentional processes.

No description available.

Inserted in a highly competitive market scenario, the micro and small enterprises are facing difficulties in competing with large and medium-sized organizations, offering a higher level of resources and supply information about your business. The controls on monthly revenues, production costs, overhead, taxes, payroll, interest paid among others, support the decision-making process, making this essential information in the management of an organization. But in the reality of small businesses, these data are not always clear and available in real time. In this sense, information systems help companies in the information management and can represent a competitive advantage for organizations that adopt them. The research is classified as action research with qualitative approach exploratory, with the procedure a case study. The objective is to implement a free ERP system in a small business with a focus on improving production performance indicators. We sought to determine whether the implanted system helped in improving the performance indicators, checking them before and after implementation. A free ERP was chosen, seeking to reduce the cost of buying and maintaining software, and does not use paid consultants for implementation, since the process was carried out by company employees. It was concluded that the implementation of ERP has brought progress to the company because there have been improvements in the performance indicators of production after accession to the software. The implementation of a free ERP system promoted a bolder management in a small enterprise, opening the potential for improving the results of this company. / Inseridas em um cenário mercadológico altamente competitivo, as micro e pequenas empresas defrontam-se com dificuldades em concorrer com organizações de médio e grande porte, que dispõe de um maior nível de recursos e suprimento de informações sobre o seu negócio. Os controles sobre faturamento mensal, custos de produção, despesas gerais, impostos, folha de pagamento, juros pagos entre outros, dão suporte ao processo decisório, tornando estas informações essenciais na administração de uma organização. Porém, na realidade das empresas de pequeno porte, nem sempre estes dados estão claros e disponíveis em tempo real. Neste sentido, sistemas de informação auxiliam as empresas na gestão de informações e podem representar um diferencial competitivo para as organizações que os adotam. A pesquisa classifica-se como pesquisa-ação, com abordagem qualitativa de caráter exploratório, tendo como procedimento um estudo de caso. O objetivo do estudo é implantar um sistema de ERP gratuito em uma empresa de pequeno porte com foco na melhoria de indicadores de desempenho da produção. Buscou-se averiguar se o sistema implantado auxiliou na melhoria dos indicadores de desempenho, verificando-os antes e depois da implementação. Foi escolhido um ERP gratuito, procurando-se reduzir dos custos com a aquisição e manutenção de software, além de não utilizar consultorias pagas para a implantação, pois o processo foi realizado pelos colaboradores da empresa. Concluiu-se que a implantação do ERP trouxe progressos à empresa, pois houve melhorias nos indicadores de desempenho da produção após à adesão ao software. A implantação de um sistema ERP gratuito promoveu uma gestão mais arrojada em um pequeno empreendimento, abrindo a possibilidade de melhoria dos resultados desta empresa.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-05-08T14:53:30Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 1228003 bytes, checksum: ecee90ab4abb959d946fe2e48d182219 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-08-17 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / This thesis evaluates the use of production planning and control (PCP) in a sample of five small business apparel clothing based in Fortaleza. This is a descriptive and exploratory character. The research was done in small businesses, in accordance with the criteria of similarity of the productive process and organizational structure as well as the willingness to respond with any information necessary for the preparation of the work. Collecting information and data provided through structured interviews, questionnaires, covering topics related to the object of study. The results showed that: a) the companies structure their production system formally, using a "mix" of techniques involving those related to JIT and MRP system, strategically tailored to their realities; b) as regards the commercial area, the studied organizations are required to produce various collections during the year, each absorbs a portfolio of products with differentiated participation in the composition of production, considering color, size, accessories, and other, resulting from fluctuations in demand generated by natural aspects such as seasons, fashion trends and competitive actions that work directly or indirectly in setting up a business strategy that has the CFP a technique of rare importance in competitive reality, interfering so in production scheduling; c) companies use the faction and outsourcing in some stages of the production process, in order to meet the demand, in fact, there are large interference in production scheduling. Finally, the garment segment has specific features that require a robust PCP that can adjust to the characteristics of the sector, the lack of this technique generates consequences in bulk or in the diversification of products. The companies studied, although using the CFP system, some already computerized, not yet freed from manual control planning and production scheduling. / Esta dissertação avalia a utilização do Planejamento e Controle de Produção (PCP) em uma amostra de cinco pequenas empresas de confecções de vestuário sediadas em Fortaleza. Trata-se de uma pesquisa de caráter descritivo e exploratório. A pesquisa foi feita em empresas de pequeno porte, segundo os critérios de similaridade do processo produtivo e estrutura organizacional, bem como a disponibilidade em responder as informações necessárias para a confecção do trabalho. A coleta de informações e dados deu-se através de entrevistas estruturadas, mediante a aplicação de questionário, abordando temas relacionados ao objeto de estudo. Os resultados demonstraram que: a) as empresas estruturam o seu sistema de produção formalmente, utilizando um mix de técnicas envolvendo aquelas relacionadas ao sistema JIT e MRP, estrategicamente adaptadas às suas realidades internas; b) no que se refere ao atendimento à área comercial, as organizações estudadas são obrigadas a produzir várias coleções durante o ano, cada uma absorve um portfólio de produtos com diferenciada participação na composição dos lotes de fabricação, considerando cor, tamanho, acessórios, e outros, resultante das oscilações da demanda gerada por aspectos naturais, como estações do ano, tendências da moda e ações da concorrência que atuam direta e indiretamente na configuração de uma estratégia comercial que tem no PCP uma técnica de rara importância na realidade competitiva, interferindo assim na programação da produção; c) as empresas utilizam a facção e a terceirização em algumas etapas do processo de produção, para atender à demanda, com efeito, há grande interferência na programação da produção. Por fim, o segmento do vestuário possui especificidades que exigem um PCP robusto que possa se ajustar às características do setor, a inexistência desta técnica gera consequências no volume ou na diversificação dos produtos. Nas empresas estudadas, embora utilizem o sistema de PCP, algumas já informatizadas, ainda não se libertaram do controle manual do planejamento e da programação da produção.

Dans la classe de complexité QMA – la généralisation quantique de la classe NP – un état quantique est fourni comme preuve à un algorithme de vérification pour l’aider à résoudre un problème. Cette classe de complexité a un problème complet naturel, le problème des Hamiltoniens locaux. Inspiré par la Physique de la matière condensée, ce problème concerne l’énergie de l’état fondamental d’un système quantique. Dans le cadre de cette thèse, nous étudions quelques problèmes liés à la classe QMA et au problème des Hamiltoniens locaux. Premièrement, nous étudions la différence de puissance si au lieu d’une preuve quantique, l’algorithme de vérification quantique reçoit une preuve classique. Nous proposons un cadre intermédiaire à ces deux cas, où la preuve consiste en un état quantique “plus simple” et nous arrivons à démontrer que ces états plus simples sont suffisants pour résoudre tous les problèmes dans QMA. À partir de ce résultat, nous obtenons un nouveau problème QMA-complet et nous étudions aussi la version de notre nouvelle classe de complexité avec erreur unilatérale. Ensuite, nous proposons le premier schéma de délégation vérifiable relativiste de calcul quantique. Dans ce cadre, un client classique délègue son calcul quantique à deux serveurs quantiques intriqués. Ces serveurs peuvent communiquer entre eux en respectant l’hypothèse que l’information ne peut pas être propagé plus vite que la vitesse de la lumière. Ce protocole a été conçu à partir d’un jeu non-local pour le problème des Hamiltoniens locaux avec deux prouveurs et un tour de communication. Dans ce jeu, les prouveurs exécutent des calculs quantiques de temps polynomiaux sur des copies de l’état fondamental du Hamiltonien. Finalement, nous étudions la conjecture PCP quantique, où l’on demande si tous les problèmes dans la classe QMA acceptent un système de preuves où l’algorithme de vérification a accès à un nombre constant de qubits de la preuve quantique. Notre première contribution consiste à étendre le modèle QPCP avec une preuve auxiliaire classique. Pour attaquer le problème, nous avons proposé une version plus faible de la conjecture QPCP pour ce nouveau système de preuves. Nous avons alors montré que cette nouvelle conjecture peut également être exprimée dans le contexte des problèmes des Hamiltoniens locaux et ainsi que dans lecadre de la maximisation de la probabilité de acceptation des jeux quantiques. Notre résultat montre la première équivalence entre un jeu multi-prouveur et une conjecture QPCP. / In QMA, the quantum generalization of the complexity class NP, a quantum state is provided as a proof of a mathematical statement, and this quantum proof can be verified by a quantum algorithm. This complexity class has a very natural complete problem, the Local Hamiltonian problem. Inspired by Condensed Matters Physics, this problem concerns the groundstate energy of quantum systems. In this thesis, we study some problems related to QMA and to the Local Hamiltonian problem. First, we study the difference of power when classical or quantum proofs are provided to quantum verification algorithms. We propose an intermediate setting where the proof is a “simpler” quantum state, and we manage to prove that these simpler states are enough to solve all problems in QMA. From this result, we are able to present a new QMA-complete problem and we also study the one-sided error version of our new complexity class. Secondly, we propose the first relativistic verifiable delegation scheme for quantum computation. In this setting, a classical client delegates her quantumcomputation to two entangled servers who are allowed to communicate, but respecting the assumption that information cannot be propagated faster than speed of light. This protocol is achieved through a one-round two-prover game for the Local Hamiltonian problem where provers only need polynomial time quantum computation and access to copies of the groundstate of the Hamiltonian. Finally, we study the quantumPCP conjecture, which asks if all problems in QMA accept aproof systemwhere only a fewqubits of the proof are checked. Our result consists in proposing an extension of QPCP proof systems where the verifier is also provided an auxiliary classical proof. Based on this proof system, we propose a weaker version of QPCP conjecture. We then show that this new conjecture can be formulated as a Local Hamiltonian problem and also as a problem involving the maximum acceptance probability of multi-prover games. This is the first equivalence of a multi-prover game and some QPCP statement.

This thesis consisted of experiments designed to explore the construct of attention and investigate the disruptive effects of psychotomimetics, with a specific focus on NMDA antagonists. Phencyclidine (PCP) was administered through a variety of treatment regimens in order to to determine the ability of inducing cognitive-specific disruptions in attentional functioning. The hypothesis that sub-chronic exposure to PCP would result in persistent attentional impairment was tested, using the 5-choice serial reaction time task (5-CSRTT). The 5-CSRTT assesses not only visuospatial attention, but also components of impulsivity, compulsivity, speed of processing and motivation. It was determined that an additional task-related intervention that increased the attentional load was required to elucidate attentional impairment following sub-chronic PCP treatment. The ability of rats to perform the modified version of the 5-CSRTT, known as the 5-choice continuous performance test (5C-CPT), was investigated. The 5C-CPT was implemented to provide a task that may have greater analogy to the human CPT, than the original 5-CSRTT. The consequence of dopaminergic D1 system activation was investigated. It was revealed that D1 partial agonism improved attentional performance in a baseline-dependent manner. Following successful acquisition of the task, it was shown that repeated PCP treatment induced cognitive disruption that was cognitive-specific, and not confounded by generalised response disruption. Furthermore, a partial attenuation of the PCP-induced performance disruption was achieved following administration of the D1 partial agonist, SKF 38393. Moreover, sub-chronic PCP treatment was shown to impair 5C-CPT performance in the drug-free state. However, an additional challenge that further increased the attentional load was needed to elucidate a performance deficit. This highlighted that sustained attention/vigilance is sensitive to persistent impairment following sub-chronic PCP administration in a manner consistent with deficits observed in schizophrenia patients. This prompted the investigation that tested the hypothesis that sub-chronic PCP treatment could induce enduring structural deficits in regions associated with attentional performance. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was conducted, in conjunction with 5-CSRTT and pre-pulse inhibition (PPI). It was revealed that sub-chronic PCP treatment resulted in morphological brain abnormalities in brain regions associated with 5-CSRTT performance. This was coupled with deficits in sustained attentional performance following an increase in attentional load, yet PPI was unaffected. Taken together, these findings suggested sub-chronic PCP treatment impairs attentional functionality, an effect that dissociates between effortful and passive attentional processes.

Research regarding the potential value of using a personal construct psychology (PCP) framework to explore recovery in psychosis has been minimal. Mental health policy guidelines (Shepherd et al., 2008) recommend that recovery in mental health is an important area that needs further research. This study aims to further understanding of recovery in service users with psychosis, by examining personal constructs elicited from participants, in contrast to the researcher supplying constructs (Bell and McGorry, 1992). Further, it attempts to define the degree of recovery using the Recovery Assessment Scale (RAS, Corrigan et al., 1999). Thirty two adults from the NHS and voluntary sector participated in the study; each completed a repertory grid (Kelly, 1955). The RAS enabled recovery to be defined by splitting the sample, and comparisons made between low to moderate and high recovery groups. The main findings of the study show that participants in the high recovery group showed less differentiation between their different selves; greater self-esteem; an experienced sense of control over their environment; a higher degree of quality and quantity of support; and a higher degree of hope and goal setting than participants in the low to moderate recovery group. In addition, content analysis (Landfield, 1971) of current self constructs showed that participants in high recovery construed themselves as being more self-sufficient, more active socially, and displayed higher tenderness compared to those in low to moderate recovery. Findings show how repertory grid methods can be applied clinically in order to help with case assessment and formulation, and help facilitate individually tailored therapeutic interventions to enhance recovery. For example, self differentiation findings suggest that to help an individual move towards a higher degree of recovery involves firstly loosening, and then tightening up their construing system. Secondly, self-esteem measures enabled identification of personal goals to strive towards in terms of an individual’s conception of their current and ideal self, and thus steps to take to progress toward recovery. Thirdly, the Pawn and Origin Scale (Westbrook and Viney, 1980) highlighted the degree of control over one’s external and internal world, thus highlighting areas that could be worked on to progress toward higher recovery. Clinical interventions addressing implicative dilemmas were also identified as enabling a change in behaviour, and therefore movement toward recovery. Limitations of the study are discussed, including using HICLAS (De Boeck, 1992) to measure self elaboration in recovery; and future research outlined, including exploring recovery in psychosis through a longitudinal study, and sampling across different mental health populations.

Over 200 railway suicides occur on the British Rail Network (BRN) every year. Research into the physical and psychological effects of this traumatic event on train drivers has been limited, and has focused very little on the mediating influence of personal factors. Kelly’s Personal Construct Psychology (PCP, 1955) was used in the current study to explore the relationship between train drivers’ views of themselves and others, and the psychological impact of witnessing a railway suicide. This was achieved through the use of repertory grid technique. Repertory grid measures of tightness of the overall construct system, level of elaboration of the self and others, construed distances between the self and others, conflict, extremity of ratings, and superordinacy were compared with participants’ scores on a measure of the psychological impact of the event (Impact of Event Scale Revised, IES-R, Weiss & Marmar, 1997). The fifteen participants in the study also completed a background information questionnaire. A content analysis of the constructs used in the repertory grids, and a thematic analysis of a follow up interview with two of the participants was also conducted. The findings indicated that most drivers experienced symptoms suggestive of a significant posttraumatic stress (PTS) reaction following the incident. For many this appeared to be short-lived, but for some the incident had longer lasting effects, and a third of the sample had been given an official diagnosis of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Possibly due to the small sample size, many of the correlations did not achieve statistical significance. However, discrepancy between the self and ideal self, and the number of moral constructs employed by participants, were both positively associated with reported levels of psychological distress. The superordinacy of the traumatised construct, and the number of emotional constructs employed by participants, were both negatively associated with reported levels of psychological distress. These findings therefore gave some support to Sewell and Cromwell’s (1990) PCP model of trauma, and to the importance of emotional processing of traumatic events. The thematic analyses added information about the nature of the changes experienced by train drivers following these events, and the impact of contextual factors. The repertory grid technique proved useful in measuring the influence of personal meaning making on the impact of traumatic events. The findings suggest that drivers can best be supported clinically by reducing the discrepancy between their self after the event and their ideal self, increasing their ability to emotionally process their experience, and by giving consideration to issues such as anger and blame. Limitations of the research are presented, as well as suggestions for further research.

This study explores the experiences of gender nonconforming (GNC), transgender, and transsexual (trans) people in the search for a primary care provider in the United States. The current body of literature on transgender health often discusses HIV rates, substance use, mental health/suicide, and few studies have studies primary care seeking behaviors; this study seeks to provide new insight into the primary care (pcp) seeking behaviors of GNC and trans people. The primary theoretical perspectives utilized in this study were West and Zimmerman’s (1987) “Doing Gender” and the Health Beliefs Mode (Ayers et al., 2007; Connor and Norman, 2005; Green and Murphy, 2014). In order to explore the pcp seeking behaviors among GNC and trans individuals, I designed a 45 item survey. The survey was posted on-line on three separate “sub-reddits” between March and April of 2016 and was open to all individuals who self-identified as gender nonconforming, transgender, and/or transsexual. Of 96 responses, 68 were included. Although the sample is small, the results showed that structural barriers were significantly associated with having a PCP. Those with health insurance (p=.031) and those with at least one chronic illness (p=.037) were more likely to have a regular primary care provider. Descriptive findings support the role of socio-economic factors, geographic location, and past experiences of discrimination as predictors of primary care status.

As empresas fornecedoras para o segmento automotivo estão inseridas em um mercado de constante variação e sujeitas às oscilações da economia. As montadoras, principais influenciadoras do restante da cadeia de suprimentos, aderiram às práticas do just in time, que objetiva a alta eficiência e estoques reduzidos. Este trabalho procura identificar como os fornecedores ao longo da cadeia automotiva se adequaram às novas práticas das montadoras no que se refere ao planejamento e controle da produção e estoques. É realizado um survey, em que se verifica que os profissionais de PCP dos fornecedores respondem satisfatoriamente à demanda, porém de maneira não uniforme, com baixa coordenação com o elo mais próximo, baixa acuracidade de estoque e nível de estoque de produto acabado e matéria-prima elevado. É realizada uma comparação entre o desempenho dos fornecedores mais próximos da montadora com os mais longes, verificando-se que não há diferenças significativas entre ambos / Automotive segment suppliers are part of a constant changing that is subject to oscillations in the economy. Automobile assemblers, the major influence over the rest of the supply chain, have adopted Japanese just in time practices,in order to achieve high levels of efficiency and low inventory. This paper seeks to identify how suppliers along the chain have adjusted to these new practices relating to production and inventory planning and control activities. A survey is conducted, showing that suppliers PPCs fulfill demand requests satisfactorily, although in a non-uniform way, with poor coordination between adjacent links in the chain, low inventory accuracy and high stock level of raw materials and finnished goods. It is concluded that there are no significant performance differences between the suppliers close to the assemblers and those further from them.