La compréhension du processus d’adaptation des populations de parasites à leur plante-hôte est une question fondamentale en écologie évolutive. C’est également un enjeu majeur de recherche finalisée qui a des retombées pour la protection des cultures. L’oomycète Plasmopara viticola, agent causal du mildiou de la vigne, attaque les espèces du genre Vitis. Dans un contexte où l’enjeu principal des programmes d’amélioration est la durabilité des résistances, des connaissances nouvelles sur l’écologie et l’évolution de l'interaction entre le parasite et son hôte sont nécessaires afin d’évaluer le potentiel du mildiou à surmonter ces résistances. Dans ma thèse, je me suis intéressée au rôle de la plante-hôte comme facteur d’évolution des populations de mildiou, en posant cette question à différentes échelles évolutives : (i) dans le bassin d’origine du pathogène (Amérique du Nord), j’ai cherché à évaluer le degré de spécialisation du parasite sur sa gamme d’hôtes sauvages et cultivés; (ii) en Europe, où le mildiou de la vigne a été introduit récemment, j’ai étudié l’évolution des populations de mildiou soumis à la pression de sélection des résistances des nouvelles variétés de vigne. Pour comprendre la spécialisation plante-hôte dans ce pathosystème où plusieurs espèces cryptiques ont été identifiées, nous avons réalisé des tests d’inoculations croisées entre espèces hôtes (Vitis spp.) et agent pathogène (P. viticola). Les données phénotypiques et morphologiques apportent les preuves d’une spécialisation plante-hôte au sein des populations de P. viticola : les espèces A et D de mildiou sont spécialisées sur leur plante-hôte, tandis que le processus de spécialisation est en cours pour les espèces B et C. Même si aucune différenciation génétique n’a été montrée au sein de l’espèce C, il existe deux groupes distincts au sein de l’espèce B. Les isolats du compartiment cultivé sont en moyenne plus agressifs que les isolats issus des vignes sauvages, indiquant une adaptation des isolats cultivés sur leur plante hôte. A partir d’un large échantillonnage, nous avons étudié la distribution des espèces de mildiou sur leurs plantes-hôtes sauvages et cultivées. Ce travail a permis d’identifier une nouvelle espèce cryptique et a confirmé la spécialisation plante-hôte. En Europe, nos résultats montrent que le déploiement limité de variétés à résistantes partielles a conduit à des modifications des populations de mildiou: apparition d’isolats virulents (i.e. contournant un QTL majeur de résistance), et augmentation de l’agressivité sur Vitis vinifera. Dans le but de comprendre les mécanismes à l’origine de la spécialisation et du contournement des résistances, nous nous sommes intéressés au répertoire d’effecteurs du parasite. Une centaine d’effecteurs candidats ont été identifiés en utilisant les données disponibles sur le génome de P. viticola. L’analyse du polymorphisme de 32 candidats sur une sélection d’isolats montre que trois d’entre eux évoluent sous sélection positive. Ces résultats soulignent l’importance de la plante-hôte comme facteur de diversification des populations de l’agent pathogène et révèlent que le mildiou s’adapte rapidement aux résistances de la vigne. Il est désormais nécessaire de mieux appréhender le déploiement des résistances de la vigne afin qu’elles puissent être durables. / Understanding the process of adaptation of parasite populations to their host-plant is a key issue in evolutionary ecology. It is also a major subject in applied research that has implications for crop protection. The oomycete Plasmopara viticola, the causal agent of downy mildew, attacks the species of the Vitis genus. In a context where the main concern of the breeding programs is the durability of resistance, new knowledge about the ecology and evolution of the interaction between parasite and host is needed in order to evaluate the potential of downy mildew to overcome the resistance. In my thesis, I addressed the role of the host-plant as an evolutionary factor for downy mildew populations, by asking this question at two different evolutionary scales: (i) in the pathogen region of origin (North America) I assessed the degree of specialization of the parasite on its wild and cultivated host range (ii) in Europe, where downy mildew has been introduced recently, I studied the evolution of downy mildew populations subject to the selection pressure imposed by resistant grapevine varieties. To understand the host-plant specialization in this pathosystem, where several cryptic species have been identified, we performed cross inoculations between different host (Vitis spp.) and pathogen (P. viticola) species. Morphological and phenotypic data provide evidence of host-plant specialization in P. viticola populations: downy mildew species A and D are specialized on their host-plant, while the specialization process is ongoing for species B and C. Although no genetic differentiation has been shown inside species C, there are two distinct groups within species B. Isolates from the cultivated compartment are on average more aggressive than isolates from wild vines, indicating an adaptation of isolates growing on cultivated host-plants. Finally, a large-scale study of the distribution of downy mildew species on both their wild and cultivated host-plants resulted in the identification of a new cryptic species and confirmed the host-plant specialization. In Europe, our results show that the limited deployment of resistant varieties has led to changes in downy mildew populations: emergence of virulent isolates (i.e. breakdown of a major QTL for resistance), and increased aggressiveness on Vitis vinifera. In order to understand the mechanisms at the origin of specialization and resistance breakdown, we examined the parasite’s effector repertoire. Over one hundred effector candidates were identified using available data on the P. viticola genome. The polymorphism of 32 candidate genes revealed that three of them evolve under positive selection. Our results reveal the strong ability of downy mildew to adapt to its host plant and to plant resistance. They should be taken into account when devising strategies for the deployment of grapevine resistances in order to guarantee their durability.

Alors que le transport fluvial et les ports fluviaux ont contribué au développement des métropoles, ils ont respectivement connu depuis 1945 une chute des trafics et une déconnexion progressive du tissu urbain. Les modes de production et de distribution des marchandises suivent aujourd'hui une logique routière, mais les politiques de transport, européennes, nationales et métropolitaines, encouragent de plus en plus le recours à des échanges plus durables. L'Ile-de-France, qui se distingue des pays de l'Europe du Nord en termes d'infrastructures et comme en termes de débouchés portuaires, connait néanmoins une croissance des trafics fluviaux. Cette croissance est à mettre en lien avec la présence d'une grande métropole fluviale et d'un ensemble de sites portuaires. Cette thèse met en évidence l'organisation portuaire et des échanges fluviaux à l'échelle de l'Ile-de-France et de l'axe Seine. Elle montre l'originalité de cette organisation en Europe et le fait qu'elle ne se retrouve pas dans d'autres grandes villes européennes. Pour établir ce fait, il s'avère utile de recourir à la fois à l'analyse statistique des trafics portuaires et à des entretiens auprès des acteurs portuaires et métropolitains pour cerner les contradictions entre leurs attentes et leurs démarches respectives. Les résultats soulignent une adaptation des sites portuaires aux besoins de la métropole, par l'autorité portuaire qui a encouragé la spécialisation des trafics et leur mise en réseau, afin de justifier leur présence dans les territoires urbains. L'autorité portuaire Ports de Paris a ainsi dû développer une politique d'aménagement et d'insertion urbaine de ses sites à l'échelle régionale. Cependant, le manque de coordination et de compréhension entre les acteurs portuaires et urbains est le principal frein, pour l'acceptabilité des sites portuaires dans les territoires métropolitains / While waterways and inland ports have contributed to the development of cities, since 1945 they have respectively known a traffic decrease and a progressive disconnection from the urban area. Actual freight production and distribution use road-only mode, but European, national and metropolitan transport policies encourage more sustainable mode of transport. Although the Ile-de-France region is disadvantaged in terms of infrastructure and maritime ports opportunities facing the countries of Northern Europe, Seine river traffic is growing. A large river metropolis and a set of inland ports may explain this feature. This doctoral thesis aims to identify how river ports have followed a different organization from other European territories, due to the presence of Paris. It is therefore useful to use both statistical analysis of port traffic and interviews with Port Authority and metropolitan actors, to identify contradictions in their expectations and their respective approaches. The results highlight an adaptation of inland port to the needs of the metropolis, through traffic specialization and networking, in order to justify their presence in urban areas. Hence, the Port Authority Ports de Paris has developed a policy planning to ensure urban integration of its inland ports. However, lack of coordination and understanding between Port Authority and urban actors are the main obstacles to the acceptability of inland ports in metropolitan areas

Notre recherche étudie les modifications dans la structure de l’entreprise occasionnées par la mise en œuvre de l’innovation ouverte. Plus précisément, nous nous intéressons aux modifications qui ont lieu dans la structure organisationnelle profonde et formelle de l’entreprise. Nous étudions ces modifications en mobilisant des données primaires (entretiens semi-directifs) et secondaires (rapports annuels et articles de presse) issues de neuf entreprises. Les résultats consistent en une nouvelle définition de l’innovation ouverte entrante, en un modèle contingent de l’innovation ouverte au niveau de l’entreprise et en une compréhension approfondie des modifications observées dans la structure organisationnelle profonde et formelle. La définition de l’innovation ouverte que nous proposons insiste sur trois aspects importants : l’intégration de l’ouverture dans la stratégie de l’entreprise en matière d’innovation, le caractère fréquent des collaborations et le caractère systématique de celles-ci. / This thesis studies the changes in the organizational structure determined by the implementation of open innovation. Specifically, we consider the changes in the deep and formal structure of a firm. We study these changes in nine firms by using primary data collected through semi-structured interviews and secondary data consisting of firms’ annual reports and journal articles. Our results consist of a new definition of inbound open innovation, a proposition of a contingency model of open innovation at firm level and a deep understanding of the way open innovation impacts the firm. The definition of inbound open innovation we propose emphasizes three main aspects : the integration the openness of innovation into the firm’s formal innovation strategy and the systematic and frequent use of collaborations with various actors in the innovation process.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-26T20:48:38Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Roger Yamashita.pdf: 826109 bytes, checksum: c5af2c8f520e0c44c7e689673551382b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-05-29 / This work analyze the brazilian commercial specialization pattern, between 1990 to 2012. The international trade theory and the comparative advantage indicators are introduced, contemplating the theoretical and empiric purpose of the analysis. Is evaluated the brazilian commercial policy, in the last decades, and it´s unfolding. The analyses uses the comparative advantage indicators, the exportation and penetration coefficients and the price and quantum index, from data bases of Funcex, Secex/MDIC, CNI and WITS. Is verified the existence of a possible reprimarization process of brazilian exportation, due to the reduction of high value added goods proportion and the growth of primaries products in brazilian exportation list. Finally, are considered inconclusives the evidences that brazilian economy is passing by the dutch disease process / O trabalho analisa o padrão de especialização comercial brasileiro, entre 1990 a 2012. São apresentadas as teorias de comércio internacional e os indicadores de vantagens comparativas, contemplando o escopo teórico e empírico da análise. É avaliada a política comercial brasileira, das últimas décadas, e seus desdobramentos. A análise utilizou os indicadores de vantagens comparativas, os coeficientes de exportação e penetração e os índices de preços e quantidades, a partir de dados da Funcex, Secex/MDIC, CNI e WITS. Verificouse a existência de um possível processo de reprimarização das exportações brasileiras, que decorre da redução na proporção de bens de alto valor adicionado e o aumento de produtos primários na pauta de exportações brasileira. Por fim, consideram-se inconclusivos os indícios de que a economia brasileira tem passado por um processo de doença holandesa

Submitted by Ricardo Cedraz Duque Moliterno (ricardo.moliterno@uefs.br) on 2018-01-29T22:57:17Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Disserta??o Monise da Silva Pereira.pdf: 3743767 bytes, checksum: 4d2068c2083642fa8f904e5754b23885 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-01-29T22:57:17Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Disserta??o Monise da Silva Pereira.pdf: 3743767 bytes, checksum: 4d2068c2083642fa8f904e5754b23885 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-04-27 / This study aimed to quantify and spatialise the chemical elements copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), chromium (Cr), tin (Sn), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), aluminium (Al), beryllium (Be), barium (Ba), lithium (Li), cobalt (Co) and vanadium (V) in surface sediments of the Serinah?m river estuary. For quantification Inductively Coupled Plasma- Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP/OES) was used. It was observed that, in general, the chemicals do not exceed the limitrophe Brazilian reference values, indicating the quality of the estuary waters. Moreover, anthropogenic activities along the drainage basin did not seem to affect the environmental dynamics of the Serinah?m river estuary, not demonstrating risks to human health or the environment. It is noteworthy that most of the quantified elements showed, with spatialization, a decrease in concentration toward the mouth of the estuary, concentrating upstream, after the river discharge point. When compared to other estuarine environments the Serinah?m river estuary showed low concentrations, highlighting the higher concentrations for the chemical elements Al, Fe and Mn, that are elements found in high concentrations in the lithology of the estuary basin. With respect to the particle size concentration, the first segment showed the highest concentration of chemical elements (Fe, Al, Co, Cr, Ni, V, Zn, Mn e Cu), since, due to the presence of mangrove areas, river islands become sediment retention barriers and the presence of small tributaries help in the transport of sediments that accumulate in this region. / Este estudo objetivou quantificar e espacializar os elementos qu?micos Cobre (Cu), Zinco (Zn), N?quel (Ni), Chumbo (Pb), C?dmio (Cd), Ars?nio (As), Cromo (Cr), Estanho (Sn), Ferro (Fe), Mangan?s (Mn), Alum?nio (Al), Ber?lio (Be), B?rio ( Ba), L?tio (Li), Cobalto (Co) e Van?dio (V), em sedimentos superficiais do estu?rio do rio Serinha?m. Para a quantifica??o foi utilizado a Espectrometria de Emiss?o ?ptica por Plasma Acoplado Indutivamente ? ICP/OES. Observou-se que, de forma geral, nenhum dos elementos qu?micos ultrapassa os valores lim?trofes referenciais brasileiros, indicando a qualidade das ?guas do estu?rio. Al?m disso, as atividades antr?picas desenvolvidas ao longo da bacia de drenagem parecem n?o afetar a din?mica ambiental do estu?rio do rio Serinha?m, n?o demonstrando riscos ? sa?de humana ou ao ambiente de forma ampla. Ressalta-se que a maioria dos elementos quantificados demonstrou, com a espacializa??o, um decr?scimo da concentra??o em dire??o ? foz do estu?rio, ou seja, concentrando-se a montante, logo ap?s o ponto de descarga fluvial. Quando comparado a outros ambientes estuarinos o estu?rio do rio Serinha?m apresentou concentra??es baixas, destacando as maiores concentra??es para os elementos qu?micos Al, Fe e Mn que s?o elementos encontrados em altas concentra??es na litologia da bacia do estu?rio do rio Serinha?m. Com rela??o ? concentra??o granulom?trica, o 1? segmento apresentou a maior concentra??o de elementos qu?micos (Fe, Al, Co, Cr, Ni, V, Zn, Mn e Cu), visto que devido ? presen?a de ?reas de manguezais, ilhas fluviais se tornam uma barreira de reten??o de sedimentos, e a presen?a de pequenos tribut?rios ajuda no transporte de sedimentos que se acumulam nessa regi?o.

Buscou-se discutir sobre a educação em saúde no trabalho a partir de um estudo de caso (caso único) referente à especialização em serviço de parceria da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul e o Ministério da Saúde. A especialização é um programa educacional voltado para o desenvolvimento da formação-intervenção, da supervisão crítico-colaborativa em redes de ação e de práticas de trabalho em saúde coletiva e educação e ensino da saúde. Ela permite que recém-formados em saúde coletiva e egressos de programas de residência experimentem um novo espaço de aprendizagem que é a gestão do âmbito federal. O objetivo deste estudo foi o de investigar-narrar-compreender a relação formação trabalho e efeito, tendo como caso condutor da análise a experiência da especialização. Além de descrever o Programa de especialização os efeitos foram discutidos a partir dos seguintes questionamentos: Quais as implicações da relação formação e trabalho no cotidiano dos atores e das instituições envolvidas? Qual a produção e o efeito das formações no trabalho? Quais as expectativas criadas/sentidas e reconstruídas para os especializandos? O que muda na atuação profissional (o que a especialização fez do especializando um profissional/sujeito diferente)? A educação permanente é um dos efeitos desse programa? Tratou-se de uma pesquisa qualitativa, do tipo exploratório, descritivo, no qual foi realizado um estudo de caso (caso único) do Programa de Especialização na modalidade em serviço de parceria da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) e o Ministério da Saúde (MS). Para chegar perto do objeto de pesquisa, Programa de Especialização, foram utilizadas como fontes de evidências e produção de dados as seguintes triangulações de técnicas: fontes documentais, observação participante, relato de experiência e casos vividos (narrativas). Mais do que um caso para conhecer foi um caso para refletir sobre educação em saúde no trabalho. Além de sistematizar a experiência desta formação, que apresenta características especificas e peculiares que merecem registro, esse estudo buscou refletir sobre educação em saúde no trabalho. / We attempted to discuss health education at work based in a case study (single case) regarding the specialization in collaboration between the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul and the Brazil´s Ministry of Health. This specialization is an educational program directed to the development of the training-intervention, critical-collaborative supervision in the health`s network collective practices, education and teaching at work. It allows that recently graduated students in Public Health and resident students, experience, at the Federal health Coordination Level, a new learning space. The aim of this study was to investigate, describe and understand the connection between training-work-effect, having the specialization program experience guiding the case analysis. In addition, in order to describe the Specialization Program, its effects were discussed from the following questions: What are the implications of the connection between training and work in day-by-day life of the subjects and institutions involved? Which are the results and the effects on the job formation? What are the expectations created/experienced and reconstructed for the students? What changes in the professional performance (did the specialization program make a new professional/person?) Is the permanent education one of the effects of this program? This was a qualitative, exploratory and descriptive research, through a case study (single case) of the Specialization Program regarding the collaboration between the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) and the Ministry of Health. To approach the Specialization Program´s object of research, some data production`s evidence sources and triangulation techniques were used: documentary sources, observation and reported experience cases (narratives). Further than being a case of knowing, it was a case to reflect on health education at work. Beyond of organizing this training experience, which presents specific characteristics and peculiarities that are important to be mentioned, this study sought to contemplate the effects of health education at work.

O propósito deste estudo é investigar os potenciais determinantes da qualidade das auditorias no Brasil. Seus determinantes foram definidos a partir da abordagem teórica oferecida pelo modelo de Arruñada (1997), expandido na dimensão de competência profissional dos auditores. Adicionalmente, no sentido de se testar, empiricamente, os determinantes da qualidade das auditorias realizadas nas empresas listadas na Bovespa no período de 1998 a 2008, um construto inédito (o Índice de Qualidade das Auditorias IQUA) foi desenvolvido. Os resultados alcançados sugeriram que a qualidade das auditorias é inferior quanto maior o conflito de agência entre controladores e não controladores e quanto maior o tempo de relacionamento contínuo entre o auditor e a entidade auditada. Adicionalmente, as evidências empíricas coletadas indicaram que as firmas de auditoria chamadas de Big-N, bem como os auditores especialistas nos segmentos de indústria de seus clientes, oferecem serviços de maior qualidade. / The aim of this research is to investigate the potential determinants of audit quality in Brazil. Such determinants were defined by using the theoretical perspective of Arruñadas (1997) model, expanded in the dimension of auditors professional competence. Furthermore, in order to empirically test the determinants of audit quality for Brazilian listed companies between 1998 and 2008, an original construct (Audit Quality Index IQUA) has been developed. Results from such tests suggest that audit quality is lower when agency conflicts between controlling and non-controlling shareholders are higher and when auditors tenure is higher. Moreover, evidence obtained from empirical testing indicated that the so-called Big-N audit firms, as well as specialized auditors, offer higher quality audit services to their clients.

Dans le contexte de l’intégration internationale, les indicateurs économiques montrentd’importants changements de structure et de spécialisation du Maroc qui tend vers desproduits de manufactures intensifs en recherche et développement (r&d) et des secteursde moyenne haute intensité technologique. De plus, la croissance du commerce intraindustriedans les produits manufacturés témoigne du développement de l’industrieet d’un processus de rattrapage du Maroc. Pour ces raisons, l’objectif de cette thèse estd’examiner l’impact des accords de libre-échange (ale) sur la qualité de la spécialisationet l’intégration internationale du Maroc.L’impact des ale est analysé à partir du modèle de gravité dans deux études distinctes.Le premier modèle de gravité mesure l’évolution du potentiel des exportations du Marocentre 1998 et 2013 à partir d’un échantillon de 172 pays. Cette étude conclut à un impactpositif des accords sur les exportations marocaines. Parmi les partenaires commerciaux,l’Union européenne reste le principal partenaire avec un taux d’exportation de 98,83%par rapport aux exportations estimées. Les exportations dans le cadre des accordsbilatéraux avec les États-Unis, les Émirats arabes unis, la Turquie, l’Égypte et la Jordaniesont aux alentours de 91%. Cependant, il existe un potentiel d’échange inexploité avecles pays de l’Union du Maghreb arabe (uma).Dans la deuxième étude, le modèle de gravité est appliqué pour examiner le rôle del’ouverture commerciale sur les produits technologiques en utilisant des données depanel des exportations du Maroc vers 82 pays de 1967 à 2014. Les résultats confirmentun impact positif des ale sur les produits de moyenne haute technologie et de faibletechnologie et même pour les produits non manufacturés.Enfin, l’analyse de l’impact des ale au niveau des entreprises hétérogènes marocainesest réalisée dans la dernière étude. Les résultats du modèle de sélection de Heckman(1979) montrent que les entreprises créées après l’année 2000 et celles qui utilisent lesintrants importés, augmentent la probabilité d’exportation. Cependant, les contraintesnotamment douanières et fiscales réduisent l’intensité d’exportation des entreprises.Pour sa part, le modèle Tobit donne un résultat positif de l’effet de la technologie surl’intensité des exportations en utilisant la même base de données. / In the context of international integration, the trade indicators show the significantchanges in Morocco’s trade structure and specialization, which tend to intensive manufacturedproducts in r&d and medium high technological intensity. Moreover, thegrowth of intra-industry trade in manufactured products reflects the development ofthe industry and Morocco’s convergence. For this reasons, the aim of this thesis is toexamine the impact of free trade agreements (fta) on the quality of specialization andinternational integration of Morocco.The influence of the fta is analyzed by employing the gravity model in two separatestudies. In the first one, the model measures the potential of Morocco’s exports between1998 and 2013 from 172 countries. This study finds a positive impact of agreements onMoroccan exports. Among the trading partners, the European Union (eu) has remainedto be the Morocco’s main destination market with an export rate around 99% comparedto estimated exports. Meanwhile, the exports in framework of bilateral agreements withUnited States (us), United Arab Emirates (uae), Turkey, Egypt and Jordan are around91%. However, there is an untapped trade potential with Arab Maghreb Union (amu)countries.In the second study, the gravity model is applied to examine the role of trade openness ontechnological products by using a panel data of Morocco’s exports towards 82 countriesfrom 1967 to 2014. The results show a positive impact of fta on medium high technology,low technology and non-manufactured products.Finally, the analysis of fta’s impacts to Moroccan heterogeneous firms is conductedin the last research. The results of Heckman selection model (1979) show that thecompanies created after year 2000, which use the imported inputs, increase exportingprobability. However, customs and tax constraints reduce export intensity. Moreover,the Tobit model gives a positive effect of technology on export intensity by using thesame panel data.

Compliant mechanisms offer several design advantages which may be exploited in prosthetic joint research and development: they are light-weight, have low cost, are easy to manufacture, have high-reliability, and have the ability to be designed for displacement loads. Designing a mechanism to perform optimally under displacement rather than force loading allows underlying characteristics of the swing phase of gait, such as the maximum heel rise and terminal swing to be developed into a prosthetic knee joint. The objective of this thesis was to develop a mechanical add-on compliant link to an existing prosthetic knee which would perform to optimal standards of prosthetic gait, specifically during the swing phase, and to introduce a feasible method for increasing proprioceptive feedback to the amputee via transferred moments and varying surface tractions on the inner part of a prosthetic socket. A finite elements model was created with ANSYS to design the prosthetic knee compliant add-on and used to select the geometry to meet prosthetic-swing criteria. Data collected from the knee FEA model was used to apply correct loading at the knee in a SolidWorks model of an above-knee prosthesis and residual limb. Another finite element model was creating using COSMOSWorks to determine the induced stresses within a prosthetic socket brought on by the compliant link, and then used to determine stress patterns over 60 degrees of knee flexion (standard swing). The compliant knee add-on performed to the optimal resistance during swing allowing for a moment maxima of 20.2 Newton-meters (N-m) at a knee flexion of 62 degrees. The moments applied to the prosthetic socket via the compliant link during knee flexion and extension ranged from 5.2 N-m (0 degrees) in flexion, to 20.2 N-m (62 degrees) in extension and induced a varying surface tractions on the inner surface of the socket over the duration, thus posing a possible method of providing proprioceptive feedback via surface tractions. Developing a method for determining the level of proprioceptive feedback would allow for less expensive and more efficient methods of bringing greater control of a prosthesis to its user.

Provider specialization is an area of interest in health care as patients, payers and policy makers are now demanding better performance and demonstrated proof of the benefits of specialization. While previously ignored in the specialization debate, now even the hospitals focusing on pediatric care (i.e. children's hospitals) are experiencing pressure to demonstrate their value. The current study attempts to answer the questions: do hospitals specializing in pediatric care provide better quality pediatric inpatient care; and do they do so for differing types of patient outcomes and across different levels of care complexity? Contingency Theory is used to develop and assess a theoretical framework to see if pediatric hospital specialization is associated with improved outcomes for pediatric inpatient care. The theory suggests that not all ways of organizing are equally effective, and that organizational performance is maximized when there is alignment between organizational structure (specialization) and external contingencies (care complexity). A sample of 1,317 U.S. hospitals was included in the study. Data from two sources - the 2003 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Kids' Inpatient Database (KID) and the American Hospital Association's (AHA) Annual Survey Database for fiscal year 2003 - was used in a factor analysis to generate a measure of hospital pediatric specialization. The results of the factor analysis were then used in regression models to examine the effect hospital pediatric specialization had on patient safety and effectiveness of care at multiple levels of care complexity. Results suggest that there are two dimensions of hospital pediatric specialization - a pediatric focused element and a complex pediatric care element - and that these dimensions appear to have opposing influences on measures of inpatient care quality. Focusing primarily on the treatment of pediatric patients seems to improve the level of care provided, but specializing in the care of complex pediatric conditions has a small but significant association with higher patient safety event rates and longer than expected lengths of stay.