Throughout history, human populations have continuously been challenged by new and emerging infectious diseases. For the past 26 years, sub-Saharan Africa and other countries around the world have been dealing with a pandemic caused by a relatively new pathogen called the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Although antiretroviral (ARV) therapies effectively reduce morbidity and mortality rates, the long term use in those who have access to treatment inevitably leads to drug-related toxicity and resistance. Even with a strong commitment from governments to expand and finance prevention and treatment programs, transmission rates continue to outpace the benefits of these efforts. Therefore to effectively eradicate the disease, research is focusing on the design of protective and therapeutic vaccines. The first major step in designing these alternative therapies is to define correlates of immune protection. / The research presented in this thesis focuses on characterizing the quantitative and qualitative features of T cell immune responses in individuals who spontaneously control viral replication and exhibit a benign course of disease while remaining off ARV therapy. A comprehensive analysis of HIV-specific IFN-gamma secreting immune responses revealed that neither the breadth nor the magnitude of responses directed against the entire HIV proteome accurately predicts the viral load or rate of CD4 decline. Subsequent analyses showed that the preferential targeting of Gag was associated with reduced rates of CD4 decline and was later confirmed in a cohort of individuals in primary infection whereby the relative breadth and magnitude of Gag p24 was inversely correlated with viral load set point. / The maintenance of polyfunctional immune responses in HIV-infected subjects with a benign course of disease prompted us to develop a method that could comprehensively assess the breadth, magnitude and specificity of three functionally distinct subsets of HIV-specific lymphocytes (single IFN-gamma, single IL-2 and dual IFN-gamma/IL-2 secretors). Survey of immune responses in chronically infected individuals revealed that only the breadth and magnitude of dual IFN-gamma/IL-2 secreting lymphocytes correlated with reduced viral loads and increased CD4 counts suggesting that secretion of IFN-gamma alone was a poor correlate of protection. We also showed that the contribution of polyfunctional lymphocytes to the total response was greater for epitopes restricted by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I alleles associated with slow disease progression compared to those restricted by alleles associated with rapid or neutral rates of HIV disease progression. / Taken together, this work supports the view that immune monitoring of infected and vaccinated individuals should include methodologies capable of detecting both IFN-gamma and IL-2 secretion from responding T lymphocytes. The studies presented here have furthered our understanding of what constitutes protection from disease progression emphasizing that both specificity and polyfunctionality are features of effective control of viral replication.

This thesis provides strong, triangulated evidence to suggest that despite many reforms to legislation, policy and training, in an Australian context, there has been limited improvement in the manner by which police officers respond to complaints of rape and treat women who have experienced rape. My research provides insight into a police organisation that is rarely open to scrutiny, and shows that when a woman reports a rape to police, she is less likely to be believed if, for example, she has been raped by someone familiar to her, or if she has demonstrated non-consent in an acquiescent manner. It is within this climate that I conducted my research to gain the perceptions of women who have experienced rape regarding the criminal justice response to rape, the perceptions of support workers from Centres Against Sexual Assault (CASAs) on the criminal justice response to rape, police officers’ perceptions of the manner in which rape is dealt with by police, and the perceptions of potential jurors regarding rape. This research therefore examines the factors which influenced which rape cases were investigated by police and referred to prosecution by police, and the manner in which police decisions were made, based on non legal factors such as stereotypes, myths, individual and collective factors. This thesis comprises four separate but complementary studies and combines quantitative and qualitative research techniques. Study 1 investigated the perceptions of women (N=6) who have experienced rape regarding the police response to rape in semi-structured in depth interviews. Analysis of this data suggested police officers’ treatment and decisions regarding these women’s experiences were determined by the relationship between the woman and the perpetrator, and by rape myths regarding ‘real rapes’ and ‘genuine victims’. Through focus groups (N=4) with support workers from Centres Against Sexual Assault (CASAs) Study 2 examined the perceptions of these workers regarding the manner by which rape myths and gender stereotypes influenced police officers’ treatment and decisions regarding complaints of rape made by women. In support of the women’s perceptions from Study 1, this data indicated CASA workers believed that police officers’ responses are heavily imbued with stereotypes and myths regarding appropriate behaviours for women, and those associated with mental illness and ethnicity. The data obtained in Study 3 elucidated a more detailed understanding of the influence of rape myths and gender stereotypes on the police response to rape. In semi-structured in depth interviews (N=14) police officers identified factors such as alcohol use, mental illness, the effect of potential jurors’ perceptions regarding a woman, and the relationship between the woman and the perpetrator as influencing their decision making. Police officers also described the manner by which they use these stereotypes to arrive at a ‘hunch’, using intuition to determine the credibility of a woman who reports rape. Through surveys, Study 4 investigated the influence of rape myths and gender stereotypes on potential jurors (N=161) perceptions of what constitutes rape, and provided some insight regarding the attitudes police officers may consider when determining the ‘convictability’ of a rape complaint. The data from Study 4 indicated that potential jurors are less likely to define a scenario as rape when the familiarity between the woman and the perpetrator increased, when the woman had been drinking alcohol and when the woman demonstrated her non-consent in an acquiescent manner. Of critical importance, interviews with police officers indicated they use considerable discretion to act on their hunches and intuition to arrive at decisions regarding the woman’s credibility based on rape myths and gender stereotypes. The triangulation of findings from women’s, CASA support workers’, and from police officers, suggest women who report rape to police are going to be judged by interpretations of the legal definitions of what constitutes rape that are imbued with rape myths and gender stereotypes. My findings illustrate the importance of seeking methods that will improve the substantial under reporting of rape. My findings also demonstrate that if women do have their cases proceed to court, they are likely to be subjected to considerable disbelief as a consequence of prejudicial attitudes within jurors, which are similar to those of police. In response to these findings, suggestions for improvements are recommended, such as specialist rape courts and evaluations of the content of police training. Ultimately, this research illustrates that in 2009 in Australia, women who report rape are subject to considerable uncertainty regarding whether they will receive justice or judgement.

This thesis provides strong, triangulated evidence to suggest that despite many reforms to legislation, policy and training, in an Australian context, there has been limited improvement in the manner by which police officers respond to complaints of rape and treat women who have experienced rape. My research provides insight into a police organisation that is rarely open to scrutiny, and shows that when a woman reports a rape to police, she is less likely to be believed if, for example, she has been raped by someone familiar to her, or if she has demonstrated non-consent in an acquiescent manner. It is within this climate that I conducted my research to gain the perceptions of women who have experienced rape regarding the criminal justice response to rape, the perceptions of support workers from Centres Against Sexual Assault (CASAs) on the criminal justice response to rape, police officers’ perceptions of the manner in which rape is dealt with by police, and the perceptions of potential jurors regarding rape. This research therefore examines the factors which influenced which rape cases were investigated by police and referred to prosecution by police, and the manner in which police decisions were made, based on non legal factors such as stereotypes, myths, individual and collective factors. This thesis comprises four separate but complementary studies and combines quantitative and qualitative research techniques. Study 1 investigated the perceptions of women (N=6) who have experienced rape regarding the police response to rape in semi-structured in depth interviews. Analysis of this data suggested police officers’ treatment and decisions regarding these women’s experiences were determined by the relationship between the woman and the perpetrator, and by rape myths regarding ‘real rapes’ and ‘genuine victims’. Through focus groups (N=4) with support workers from Centres Against Sexual Assault (CASAs) Study 2 examined the perceptions of these workers regarding the manner by which rape myths and gender stereotypes influenced police officers’ treatment and decisions regarding complaints of rape made by women. In support of the women’s perceptions from Study 1, this data indicated CASA workers believed that police officers’ responses are heavily imbued with stereotypes and myths regarding appropriate behaviours for women, and those associated with mental illness and ethnicity. The data obtained in Study 3 elucidated a more detailed understanding of the influence of rape myths and gender stereotypes on the police response to rape. In semi-structured in depth interviews (N=14) police officers identified factors such as alcohol use, mental illness, the effect of potential jurors’ perceptions regarding a woman, and the relationship between the woman and the perpetrator as influencing their decision making. Police officers also described the manner by which they use these stereotypes to arrive at a ‘hunch’, using intuition to determine the credibility of a woman who reports rape. Through surveys, Study 4 investigated the influence of rape myths and gender stereotypes on potential jurors (N=161) perceptions of what constitutes rape, and provided some insight regarding the attitudes police officers may consider when determining the ‘convictability’ of a rape complaint. The data from Study 4 indicated that potential jurors are less likely to define a scenario as rape when the familiarity between the woman and the perpetrator increased, when the woman had been drinking alcohol and when the woman demonstrated her non-consent in an acquiescent manner. Of critical importance, interviews with police officers indicated they use considerable discretion to act on their hunches and intuition to arrive at decisions regarding the woman’s credibility based on rape myths and gender stereotypes. The triangulation of findings from women’s, CASA support workers’, and from police officers, suggest women who report rape to police are going to be judged by interpretations of the legal definitions of what constitutes rape that are imbued with rape myths and gender stereotypes. My findings illustrate the importance of seeking methods that will improve the substantial under reporting of rape. My findings also demonstrate that if women do have their cases proceed to court, they are likely to be subjected to considerable disbelief as a consequence of prejudicial attitudes within jurors, which are similar to those of police. In response to these findings, suggestions for improvements are recommended, such as specialist rape courts and evaluations of the content of police training. Ultimately, this research illustrates that in 2009 in Australia, women who report rape are subject to considerable uncertainty regarding whether they will receive justice or judgement.

Thesis (M.A.)--Miami University, Dept. of French and Italian, 2009. / Title from first page of PDF document. Includes bibliographical references (p. 63-64).

Thesis (M. Ph.)--Australian Catholic University, 2002. / Title from PDF title page (viewed Aug. 15, 2005). Includes bibliographical references (p. [162]-180).

Thesis (D.A.)--Illinois State University, 2000. / Title from title page screen, viewed May 2, 2006. Dissertation Committee: Lawrence McBride (chair), Donald E. Davis, Niles Holt, Alvin Goldfarb. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 291-296) and abstract. Also available in print.

Orientador: Rogério Antonio Oliveira / Resumo: A cirrose é uma doença hepática assintomática que, muitas vezes, é descoberta quando o quadro é irreversível. Por isso, o tratamento consiste em uma série de medidas para controlar o avanço da enfermidade, visto que a principal consequência da cirrose é o aumento da pressão na veia portal, que por sua vez, acarreta no surgimento de varizes e no seu respectivo rompimento, podendo ser fatal. Estudos relacionados à esta doença são muito importantes, pois a análise estatística é uma ferramenta que permite auxiliar na tomada de decisões nos procedimentos médicos e acompanhamento de pacientes. Um método estatístico bastante explorado nas ciências biomédicas é a análise de sobrevivência, que consiste em descrever o tempo de um evento inicial até a ocorrência de um outro de interesse. No entanto, existem situações em que uma proporção da amostra não vivencia o desfecho de interesse, mesmo que acompanhado por um período longo de tempo. Nestes casos, tais observações são dita imunes ao desfecho de interesse e as metodologias tradicionais de análise de sobrevivência não são indicadas. Logo, os modelos de fração de cura ou de longa duração, desenvolvido a partir do modelo de mistura, são os utilizados nestas situações. Neste trabalho diverso modelos foram considerados para analisar os tempos de vida de pacientes submetidos à Ligadura Elástica de Varizes Esofágicas, ao qual foram anotados os tempos até o óbito durante o acompanhamento de 129 pacientes do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Cirrhosis is an asymptomatic liver disease that is often discovered when the patient's condition is irreversible. Therefore, the treatment consists of a series of measures to control the progression of the disease, since the main consequence of the cirrhosis is the increase of the portal venous pressure, which causes the appearance of varices and their respective rupture may be fatal. Studies related to that disease are very important, so the statistical analysis is a tool that helps to make decisions in medical procedures and patient follow-up. The most applied statistical method in the biomedical sciences is survival analysis, which consists of describing the time of occurrence until the event of interest. However, there are situations in which a proportion of the sample does not experience the interest outcome, even if they are accompanied by a long period of time. In such cases, such observations are said to be immune to the outcome of interest and traditional survival analysis methodologies are not appropriated. Therefore, the care fraction or long duration models can be used in these situations because they incorporate mixtures of models to solve the complexity inherent in the actual study. In this work, some statistical models were considered to analyze the survival times of patients, after surgery of Endoscopic Band Ligation of the Esophageal Varices, such as Exponential, Gamma and Weibull models. The data is related to survival times of 129 patients, who were treated... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

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On 15 October 2017 actress Alyssa Milano posted the following on her Twitter account: “If you’ve been sexually harassed or assaulted write ‘me too’ as a reply to this tweet”. After Milano’s tweet, the hashtag #MeToo is said to have gone viral overnight. Suddenly, the stories of survivors and victims of sexual harassment, sexual assault and/or sexual abuse seemed to be everywhere— although, it may be argued, that they have always been the lived reality for many of us. Activists and those who research feminist hashtags like #MeToo tend to view the hashtag as a personalized tool for storytelling that enables survivors and victims to re-claim agency over the production of their own stories. This thesis deals with how survivors/victims of sexual harassment, sexual assault and/or sexual abuse tell their stories and reproduce their experiences in the context of #MeToo movement. Through an analysis within the framework of institutional ethnography, the process of constructing a #MeToo account will be recovered. The analysis focuses on investigating what informs and shapes the way in which survivors/victims tell their story and how their #MeToo accounts interact with the reader. It will be argued that institutional processes of handling cases of sexual violence significantly influence the way survivors and victims share their experiences in the context of the movement. It will be suggested that being critical and mindful of the institutional processes that affect the way survivors and victims share their experiences, means to disrupt the oppression and the violence that criminal justice systems and retributive models of justice perpetrate. As it is then that we can open up to more transformative, sustainable approaches to justice and survivor/victim support. The project contributes to the current body of feminist hashtag activism scholarship with an institutional ethnography perspective.

Text in English / This study examined the effects of childhood sexual abuse on the emotional functioning of adult female survivors and the impact on their relationships with their spouse I partner and child I children. Literature reveals that sexual abuse has negative long-term effects on adult survivors, including psychological impairments. To study this phenomenon, a psycho-educational perspective was utilised. A clinical, judgmental sample of sixteen adult female survivors who attributed their current difficulties and problems to their childhood sexual experience was selected and an in-depth qualitative study was undertaken. The Emotions Profile Index Personality Test, a Questionnaire and an Interview were used to determine the present emotional functioning of the survivors and the impact on their relationships. The conclusions reached were that childhood sexual abuse had a detrimental effect on the emotional functioning of survivors and this impacted negatively on their relationships with their spouse I partner and child I children. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Psychology of Education, with specialisation in Guidance and Counselling)