Muscle disorders are chronic, progressive conditions, the majority of which are without disease modifying treatments. Quality of life (QoL) is reduced in these conditions, and alternative methods, such as psychological intervention, may offer ways to improve QoL. Previous work has suggested that aberrant illness perceptions may be influential targets for psychological interventions; however, emerging evidence suggests that psychological flexibility might offer another treatment target. This thesis first presents a longitudinal investigation of the role of these two variables, alongside disability level, in explaining life satisfaction and mood measured four months later. Participants were recruited from charities and online communities, with data collected via online questionnaires. Here, illness perceptions and psychological flexibility, but not disability level, were cross-sectionally associated with all dependent variables. In prospective analyses psychological flexibility accounted for greater variance in life satisfaction and anxiety; while illness perceptions explained more variance in depression. However, after controlling for variance in time one dependent variables, psychological flexibility alone was predictive of life satisfaction and anxiety at time two. Therefore, psychological flexibility represents a possible influential target for psychological intervention in muscle disorders. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a psychological intervention specifically designed to improve psychological flexibility. Subsequently, the results of the empirical study imply that ACT is worthy of trial with muscle disorders. However, there has been no comprehensive review of the use of ACT in chronic disease or long-term conditions. Therefore, Chapter 2 presents a systematic review of ACT as applied to chronic disease/long-term conditions. The aims were to collate all ACT interventions with chronic disease/long-term conditions; evaluate their quality and comment on efficacy. Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE and Psych Info were searched, with a further search of citing articles undertaken using Google Scholar. Studies with mental health or chronic pain populations were excluded. Study quality was then rated, with a proportion re-rated by a second researcher. Seventeen studies were included, of which: eight were randomised controlled trials (RCTs), three used pre-post designs, and seven were case studies. A broad range of applications were observed (e.g. improving quality of life and symptom control, reducing distress) across many diseases/conditions (e.g. HIV, cancer, epilepsy). However, study quality was generally low, and many interventions were of low intensity. The small number of RCTs per application and lower study quality emphasise that ACT is not yet a well-established intervention for chronic disease/long-term conditions. However, there was promising evidence for certain applications: the parenting of children with long-term conditions, seizure-control in epilepsy, psychological flexibility and possibly self-management/lifestyle. The studies comprising this thesis suggest that, whilst psychological flexibility appears influential in muscle disorders, high-quality research into ACT interventions for chronic disease/long-term conditions is generally lacking. Therefore one cannot confidently generalise from existing studies that ACT will improve outcomes in muscle disorders. Thus an evaluation of ACT in the context of muscle disorders is now required. This should adhere to the methodological suggestions provided in the systematic review.

Esta dissertação busca interrogar a relação entre o obsceno e o suicídio, levando em conta a teoria psicanalítica. Inicia-se falando sobre a leitura de Durkheim sobre o suicídio e diferentes abordagens psicanalíticas sobre o tema. Opta-se por seguir a leitura de Jinkis e Pipink, que entendem que o suicídio pode ser lido como ato, ato falho, passagem ao ato ou acting out. Então, uma breve apresentação sobre cada um desses conceitos é feita, seguida pela análise de como um suicídio pode ser lido em cada uma dessas situações. Logo, parte-se para uma reflexão acerca do obsceno, que é entendido como o que não pode ser colocado em cena. Relaciona-se o obsceno com a morte, que é mostrada em sua vertente repugnante, que está relacionada com o impensável de nossa desaparição. Uma vez que o obsceno comporta a dialética mostrar-ocultar, ele coloca em jogo a pulsão escópica e, por conseguinte, a questão do olhar em psicanálise é abordada. O olhar é entendido como uma das vertentes do objeto a e se relaciona com o desejo de ver, desejo de saber. Por fim, aborda-se a relação entre o obsceno e o suicídio, sustentando-se a ideia de que o suicídio pode ter um lugar obsceno. / This dissertation seeks to interrogate the relationship between suicide and the obscene considering the psychoanalytic theory. Starts talking about Durkheim’s reading on suicide and different psychoanalytic approaches to the topic. Is chosen to follow the reading of Jinkis and Pipink who understand that suicide can be read as an act, Freudian slip, passage to the act or acting in out. Then, a brief presentation on each of these concepts is made, followed by how a suicide can be read in each of these situations. So, we go to a reflection about the obscene, which is understood as what can not be put into play. Relates obscene with death that is shown in its disgusting aspect, which is related to the unthinkable of our disappearance. Once obscene involves the dialectical show and hide, it brings into play the scopic drive, therefore the question the gaze in psychoanalysis is discussed. The gaze is understood as one aspect of the object a and it relates to the desire to see, desire to know. Finally, it handles the relationship between the obscene and suicide, where it supports the idea that suicide may have a obscene place.

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This study has addressed three core questions: What is the current state of School Library Services? How is the Education Reform Act affecting these services? Why are specific choices being made by School Library Services from the options available post-ERA? Information was gathered from questionnaires, consultation, seminars etc., and also by contact 1989-91 with 14 authorities in England and Wales. Specific matters investigated over the two-year period were: Structures; Policies; Service range and level; Relationships. The study found evidence that ERA had a significant effect during this period on library support services to schools, but that other influences on change were at work, most notably the community charge and its repercussions. All the School Library Services in the contact authorities changed between 1989 and 1991, although in different degrees, and it was observed that the effect of national legislation was being mediated by local cultures. The hypothesis that 'The Education Reform Act is leading to new perceptions of School Library Service effectiveness' was upheld, and factors making for effectiveness were identified.

Truman's activity prior to the passage of the Taft-Hartly Act, his veto, and his later use and conception of the law will form the main framework for this analysis. Although this will be the main emphasis of the study, an analysis of Harry S. Truman's earlier attitude development, especially toward labor, merits research, in so far as these attitudes affected his actions during the period under consideration.

91 Abstract Thesis title: Assistance to victims of crime This thesis deals with the assistence to victims of crime, mostly in terms of legislation and it's application. It does, however, provide theoretical explanation about victims and it also introduces several subjects, that do actually provide the assistence itself. The thesis works with legislation, that is at the time of thesis writing in effect, but it also deals with an amandement to the Victim of Crime Assistence Act, that was at the time of thesis writing being ratified. The thesis is divided into six chapters, including an introduction and a conclusion. The introduction does only define objectives, which the thesis should aim at. Following chapter defines concepts of both victim and aggrieved person in Czech law and offers comparsion of those concepts and the next chapter contains theoretical treatise about how both criminology and victomology see victims themselves and it also defines the types of harm that the victim can suffer. The core of the thesis, however, lies in the chapter, that deals with legislation. The first part of this chapter pays attention to several parts in the Code of Criminal Procedure and in case of preliminary injunctions it also compares the Code of Criminal Procedure with the rules of civil law. More important part of...

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No Abstract / Dissertation (LLM)--University of Pretoria, 2014. / hb2014 / Mercantile Law / unrestricted

The Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008 is far-reaching, ambitious and the first of its kind in the Republic of South Africa. Before and even after the Act has come into force it still has many jurists scratching heads. The focus of this discussion will be on the effects of the Consumer Protection Act on the common law warranty against latent defects given by the seller as well as the effect of the Consumer Protection Act on the exclusion of the seller’s warranty in terms of a voetstoots clause. The consumer’s right to fair value, goods quality and safety (section 55) as well as the consumer’s implied warrant of quality (section 56) is discussed. The position as it stands in terms of English Law is also discussed with regards to latent defects. / Dissertation (LLM)--University of Pretoria, 2014. / lmchunu2014 / Private Law / unrestricted

The purpose of this mini-dissertation is to determine whether and to what extent contractual freedom are infringed and/or obviated by the Consumer Protection Act and to establish if the limitation created by the CPA is the answer to the problem of inequality of bargaining powers of contracting parties. A fundamental concept of law of contract is freedom of contract: the idea that the parties are free to decide whether or not to contract; with whom to contract; and on what terms to contract. Despite the fact that freedom of contract is deeply engrained in our society it has a rather shaky foundation based on multiple assumptions and when objectively viewed the truth is that when making a contract there is always social and economical pressure that is implied in negotiating each and every contract. Having regard to the above it can be said that realistically speaking the fundamental concept of equality in the bargaining powers of contacting parties is the exception rather than the rule and that this unequal position has without a doubt undermined the true notion of freedom of contract. Our Common law has developed many rules and principles to curb this unfairness in the making of contracts. The CPA has praiseworthy intentions such as the promotion of fair business practice and the protection of the vulnerable from exploitation and unsafe and hazardous goods and/or products. Despite the good intentions of the CPA and every other aspect that might have an influence the problem remains enforcement of these principles. Thus despite the infringement of contractual freedom by the regulations of the CPA it appears not to be the answer to the problem of inequality in the bargaining power of parties negotiating a contract. / Dissertation (LLM)--University of Pretoria, 2014. / lmchunu2014 / Mercantile Law / unrestricted