The aim of this thesis is to consider two issues that are of particular significance for macroeconomic modelling. These are the existence of post-so'riet transitional economies and the relevance of either Post-Keynesian or Neo-Classical policy advice in the context of dynamic disorder. In this work, I use a methodology called System Dynamics. This prm'ides an alternative, interactive methodology for analysing macro-dynamics. Traditional macroeconomic tools such as Regression Analysis, Time-Series Analysis, Simultaneous Equation Models and the like require many years of unbroken data which does not exist for transitional economies. It is shmt'n that the different approach of System Dynamics can overcome these difficulties. Some of my models of the Kyrgyz Economy used quantity-rationed systems with pulse elements integrated into potential and actual excess demand levels reveal dynamic equilibria, disequilibria and the potential for chaotic behaviour. The d(tJiculties facing macroeconomic management in these conditions and the polrver of the System Dynamics modelling methodology in assisting policy formulation and evaluation are stressed. The key inSights delivered by the models discussed indicate that policy targe/cd at reducing delay lags could be beneficial in alleviating innate tendencies in this economy towards endemic disequilibria in Aggregate Supply and Demand. Morco)'er, due to the potential for chaos existing in the non-linear dynamic economic relationships inherent in the models the relevance (~lpolicy options based on cither extremc Post-Keyncsian or Nco-Classical thinking are questioned. Indeed our Post-Keynesian (zrnamic models contain non-linear dynamic tendencies, 'which parado,Yical(Y yield policy implications consistent with .Yco-Classical thinking.

This thesis investigates the processes and influences that have driven regional economic development in Romania during the period 1945-95. One of the central aims is to examine whether the change from a planned to a market economy has significantly influenced the spatial distribution of economic activity. The initial part of the thesis exammes the theoretical perspectives of Romanian regional development challenging the neo-classical hypothesis and proposing that Romanian development patterns, under both the socialist andThe thesis presents an investigation of the patterns of national and regional development during 1945-95. One of the central messages that emerges is the importance of national and regional industrial structures to overall economic performance. It is argued that while the transition of the socialist economy to the market model may involve a fundamental change in the national and regional economic framework, both systems prioritised national growth over regional concerns through the focus on economic efficiency at the expense of equity considerations. The empirical results presented in the thesis reveal that economic growth free market, are best placed within the context of cumulative growth and agglomeration economies. within Romania is concentrated on previously developed regional centres. Both the socialist and free market systems failed to generate any fundamental change in the distribution of regional economic activity, although the introduction of the market economy is found to be marginally divergent. This is itself a rejection of the argument that the introduction of market forces will lead to a greater convergence in regional economic activity

This dissertation addresses methodological problems in causal inference in the presence of time-varying confounding, and provides methodological tools to handle the problems within the potential outcomes framework of causal inference. The time-varying confounding is common in longitudinal observational studies, in which the covariates and treatments are interacting and changing over time in response to the intermediate outcomes and changing circumstances. The existing approaches in causal inference are mostly focused on static single-shot decision-making settings, and have limitations in estimating the effects of long-term treatments on the chronic problems. In this dissertation, I attempt to conceptualize the causal inference in this situation as a sequential decision problem, using the conceptual tools developed in decision theory, dynamic treatment regimes, and machine learning. I also provide methodological tools useful for this situation, especially when the treatments are multi-level and changing over time, using inverse probability weights and $g$-estimation. Substantively, this dissertation examines transitional justice's effects on human rights and democracy in emerging democracies. Using transitional justice as an example to illustrate the proposed methods, I conceptualize the adoption of transitional justice by a new government as a sequential decision-making process, and empirically examine the comparative effectiveness of transitional justice measures --- independently or in combination with others --- on human rights and democracy. / text

In the last two decades, many countries going through transitional justice have established truth commissions. Unlike conventional war tribunals, most truth commissions are established by the local government and local human rights groups. Truth commissions are still a nascent political choice, yet a sizable literature has developed around it, evaluating its potential as a new institution for dealing with the past and moving towards restorative justice. This work examines four major questions debated in the transitional justice literature over truth versus justice: 1) whether or not a truth commission is an valid alternative mechanism to seeking out retributive justice, 2) whether or not truth commissions are the product of political compromise which avoiding justice, 3) if truth commissions can be the agent of new national identity and national unity founded on the principles of universal human rights, and 4) if amnesty can be legitimized. This work aims to determine to what extent the idea itself of truth commissions has been actualized up to now and what lot it may expect in the future, despite incidental political restrictions and difficulties in the political transition. Despite the common assertion that the goals of truth commissions are to bring about official acknowledgment of the past, restore the dignity of the victims, and achieve reconciliation in divided society, this paper does not intend to evaluate the truth commissions in the past based on these criteria; nor does this work intend to argue what truth commissions can resolve in the transitional justice societies. Rather, this paper seeks to uncover what social reaction or human emotions truth commissions in the past have evoked in a divided society. To explore the question, this paper focuses on the distinctive activities and merits of truth commissions from the standpoint of retributive justice and looks into the important implication in the interaction between the victims and the perpetrators, as well as between the audience and those two parties. Roger Errera, a member of the French Conseil d’Etat, stated that “Memory is the ultimate form of justice.” Inspired by the statement, this work argues that justice can be found in the act of pursing truth, remembering it, and responding to those voices from the past.

The TC program, designed to decrease preventable readmissions and support patients who have chronic illnesses including HF, at BUMCP has had a low referral rate. This low referral rate results in the program being unable to make an impact to decrease readmission rates in the HF population and increase quality of life among this patient population. The purpose of this project was to identify current barriers to referral and develop interventions directed at the identified barriers. An online survey was sent to a hospitalist group employed at BUMCP. Results revealed perceived barriers include decreased accessibility, limited number of accepted patient diagnoses, and lack of involvement in launch of TC. Recommended interventions include increased accessibility through 24 hours day, seven days week availability, abolishment of current accepted patient diagnoses, and implementation of Lewin's Change Theory to increase buy-in from physicians.

In the last two decades, many countries going through transitional justice have established truth commissions. Unlike conventional war tribunals, most truth commissions are established by the local government and local human rights groups. Truth commissions are still a nascent political choice, yet a sizable literature has developed around it, evaluating its potential as a new institution for dealing with the past and moving towards restorative justice. This work examines four major questions debated in the transitional justice literature over truth versus justice: 1) whether or not a truth commission is an valid alternative mechanism to seeking out retributive justice, 2) whether or not truth commissions are the product of political compromise which avoiding justice, 3) if truth commissions can be the agent of new national identity and national unity founded on the principles of universal human rights, and 4) if amnesty can be legitimized. This work aims to determine to what extent the idea itself of truth commissions has been actualized up to now and what lot it may expect in the future, despite incidental political restrictions and difficulties in the political transition. Despite the common assertion that the goals of truth commissions are to bring about official acknowledgment of the past, restore the dignity of the victims, and achieve reconciliation in divided society, this paper does not intend to evaluate the truth commissions in the past based on these criteria; nor does this work intend to argue what truth commissions can resolve in the transitional justice societies. Rather, this paper seeks to uncover what social reaction or human emotions truth commissions in the past have evoked in a divided society. To explore the question, this paper focuses on the distinctive activities and merits of truth commissions from the standpoint of retributive justice and looks into the important implication in the interaction between the victims and the perpetrators, as well as between the audience and those two parties. Roger Errera, a member of the French Conseil d’Etat, stated that “Memory is the ultimate form of justice.” Inspired by the statement, this work argues that justice can be found in the act of pursing truth, remembering it, and responding to those voices from the past.

No description available.

The purpose of this study was to investigate several biological markers that may predict the response of muscle invasive transitional cell carcinoma TCC of the bladder to radical radiotherapy. The specific markers chosen were tumour angiogenesis (CD31 &CD34), tumour cell proliferation (Ki-67) and apoptosis (bcl-2), intratumour macrophage infiltration (CD68) and p53. Archival formalin fixed paraffin embedded pre treatment bladder biopsies from 101 patients with muscle invasive TCC were obtained. All patients subsequently received radical radiotherapy as their only treatment for the disease. 4µm sections were graded according to the WHO grading system and staged by the TNM classification. Angiogenesis (CD31&CD34) counts were obtained using a 25-point Chalkley eyepiece graticule. Bcl-2 scored as positive and negative, while p53, Ki-67 and CD68 were estimated using an eyepiece graticule. The medical records were examined to assess the response of the tumour at the 3-month post radiotherapy cystoscopy and the long-term outcome. Patients were classified into two groups in two sections: the first section includes (1) those free of disease (no tumour detected in the bladder at the 3-month cystoscopy), (2) those with resistant disease (tumour present at 3 months). The second section includes (1) those with persistent or recurrent cancer in the bladder (tumour recurred after an initial 3 months negative check cystoscopy together with patients with resistant disease at 3 months), (2) those free of disease at all subsequent cystoscopies. Detailed statistical analysis revealed that there were no association between any of the markers examined and the response to radiotherapy. MVD using CD34 was lower in higher stage tumours (p=0.050). Females, whilst representing only a small fraction (16) of the total of patients studied showed an inferior response to radiotherapy when compared to that of male patients (p=0.048). Higher median haemoglobin levels for the response group (p=0.031) was observed as well as a positive significant correlation between p53 (L1) expression and MIB-1 (LI) (r=0.332, p=0.001). The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis shows that the survival time is significantly better for those who were exposed longer to radiotherapy (> 33 days) (Log Rank, p=0.0246). There was a significantly higher survival time for patients who have CD68 higher than 42.4 (log rank, p=D.036). The study concluded that none of the selected markers could be used as prognostic value in determining patients most suitable for radiotherapy as primary treatment with curative intent for their bladder cancer. The finding of a poorer response in females is worthy of further study since, hormonal and anatomical influences may be important.

Dissertation (Ph.D.) -- The Institute for Clinical Social Work, 1994. / A dissertation submitted to the faculty of the Institute of Clinical Social Work in partial fulfillment for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.

In an effort to reduce hospital 30-day readmissions a Transitional Care Coach Program (TCCP) was developed in 2014 at a Southwest Urban Medical Center. The CDC Framework for Program Evaluation (2012) applies insight and experience gained from past program experience to effect change in practice and improve patient outcomes. The evaluation seeks to determine TCCP utilization, to assess its impact on 30-day readmission rates for high-risk patients, to inform stakeholders of a viable follow-up program, and to determine evidence-based interventions for program improvement. This TCCP program evaluation describes characteristics of patients who participated in the program, assesses whether interventions were delivered as intended, and determines if interventions reduced hospital 30-day readmission rates compared to readmission rates prior to program implementation. Descriptive statistics are used to describe the patient population, health status, and program utilization. For the diagnoses of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart failure (HF), and pneumonia (PNA), Chi-square test analyses were performed to compare 30-day readmission rates of the TCCP participants and readmission rates for this medical center for the time period prior to program implementation. The primary finding of this program evaluation is an overall numerical decrease in hospital readmission rate by 3% compared to the baseline data. Although the change (a decrease) was in the desired direction, the degree of change was not statistically significant based on pooled data. A statistically significant decrease was observed only for the AMI diagnosis. However, as any decrease in readmissions decreases the financial burden to both the organization and the patient, the TCCP appears to have had a positive impact. It is recommended that a renewed TCCP be conducted to allow for (1) an increased timespan for data collection, (2) an increased number of medical categories assessed to allow for more non-parametric statistical analysis (e.g. adding categories of Total Joint Replacement and Sepsis diagnoses), (3) tracking of number of days to readmittance to allow for improvement to be measured and analyzed beyond a single dichotomous category. Evidence-based recommendations have been made to continue and improve interventions that further reduce hospital readmissions.