Dreaming is a complex, multimodal and sequentially organized model of the waking world (Metzinger, 2003). Nightmares are a category of dreams involving threatening scenarios, anxiety and other negative emotions (Hartmann, 1998; Nielsen & Levin, 2007). Dreams and nightmares are explored in this present thesis in the light of psychology and modern cognitive neuroscience as to their nature, function and neural correlates. The three main dream theories and their leading investigations are reviewed to evaluate their evidence and overall explanatory power to account for the function of dreams and nightmares. Random Activation Theories (RATs) claim dreams are biological epiphenomena and by-products of sleep underlying mechanisms (Crick & Mitchison, 1983; Flanagan, 1995, 2000a, 2000b, Hobson & McCarley, 1997). Mood regulation theories consider that the psychological function of dreams is to regulate mood and help with the adaptation of individuals to their current environment such as solving daily concerns and recovery after trauma exposure (Hartmann, 1996; Levin, 1998; Stickgold, 2008; Kramer, 1991a, 1991b, 2014). Threat Simulation Theories of dreams present the evolutionary function for dreaming as a simulating off-line model of the world used to rehearse threatening events encountered in the human ancestral environment (Revonsuo, 2000a). With the threat-simulation system, threats were likely to be recognized and avoidance skills developed to guarantee reproductive success. TST consider nightmares to reflect the threat-simulation system fully activated (Revonsuo, 2000a). Supported by a robust body of evidence TST is concluded to be the most plausible theory at the moment to account as a theoretical explanation of dreams and nightmares

Reuse of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) in the full-depth recycling (FDR) process is a cost-effective and environmentally responsible method of asphalt pavement reconstruction. Although FDR has been used for several years in some locations, the effect of RAP on the mechanical properties of recycled base materials has not been well documented. The purpose of this research was to investigate the influence of RAP on the mechanical properties of recycled base materials typical of northern Utah. Two sources of RAP, two sources of base, and RAP contents of 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 percent were utilized in a full-factorial experimental design with three replicates of each unique combination. Testing procedures consisted of material classifications, compaction tests, and evaluations of strength, stiffness, and moisture susceptibility of each material blend. The California bearing ratio (CBR) test was used to measure strength, the free-free resonant column test was used to measure stiffness, and the tube suction test (TST) was used to measure moisture susceptibility. Once all the testing was completed, a fixed effects analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed on each of the test results, or dependent variables. The independent variables were RAP content, RAP type, and base type, together with all their interactions. Results of the ANOVA were used to quantify the effects of RAP on the mechanical properties of the base materials. The data indicate that CBR values decrease as RAP content increases, with the greatest percentage reduction occurring with the addition of 25 percent RAP. For stiffness testing at the optimum moisture content determined for each blend, the general trend was a decrease in stiffness from 0 percent RAP to 25 percent RAP, followed by a steady increase in stiffness as the RAP content was increased from 25 to 100 percent. Following a 72-hr drying period at 140ºF, however, the general trend reversed; an increase in stiffness occurred as the RAP content was increased from 0 to 25 percent, and a steady decrease in stiffness was observed for RAP contents above 25 percent. The TST data suggest that additions of 25 and 50 percent RAP actually increase the moisture susceptibility of the recycled material compared to the neat base, although the blended material tested in this study was classified as non-moisture-susceptible when the RAP content was 75 percent or higher. Because of the marked impact of RAP content on the mechanical properties of recycled base materials, engineers should accurately determine asphalt layer thicknesses prior to pavement reconstruction and carefully determine the optimum blending depth for each project. While asphalt milling or base overlays may be required in some locations to avoid excessively high RAP contents, reduced blending depths may be warranted in other areas to prevent the use of low RAP contents. In summary, while the use of RAP in the FDR process is environmentally responsible and offers potentially significant cost savings, thicker pavement base layers, base stabilization, or both may be required in many instances to ensure adequate long-term pavement performance.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T19:14:24Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 3263.pdf: 1545569 bytes, checksum: 12fb26acd01a0a3a0f9a6f2c881577b3 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-12-17 / Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos / This research aims to analyze the institutional changes in labor law and in the Labor Justice courts after the Constitution of 1988. It focuses on the uniform decisions of the Superior Labor Court (TST), as well as the political dynamic between this court and the other powers and actors invested in the institution. We carried out a study of the jurisprudence of the court in individual conflicts, and conducted interviews with relevant actors to achieve this goal. Those interviewed include ministers of the TST, judges of the Labor Judges National Association, lawyers of the judicial advisory boards of the main national trade union centers, and law firms representing businesses and financial corporations. We concluded that the Labor Judiciary Power has been the leader in reforms of the institution itself, in addition to labor law in Brazil, and that it has conferred asymmetric powers to social actors in this process. Moreover, we indicate the limits of this leadership in our legislative model of labor relations. / Esta pesquisa visa a analisar as mudanças institucionais do direito do trabalho e da Justiça do Trabalho após a Constituição de 1988, focando nas decisões uniformes do Tribunal Superior do Trabalho (TST) e na dinâmica política entre o tribunal e os demais poderes e atores investidos na instituição. Para tanto, realizamos estudo da jurisprudência desta Corte sobre dissídios individuais e conduzimos entrevistas com atores relevantes. Tais entrevistas incluíram ministros do TST, juízes da Associação Nacional dos Magistrados do Trabalho, advogados da assessoria jurídica das principais centrais sindicais e de grandes escritórios de advocacia empresarial trabalhista. Concluímos que o Judiciário Trabalhista tem protagonizado as reformas na própria instituição e no direito do trabalho no Brasil, conferindo assimetrias de poder a atores sociais nesse processo político. Ainda, apontamos os limites desse protagonismo dentro do nosso modelo legislado de relações de trabalho.

M. Tech. (Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Applied and Computer Sciences), Vaal University of Technology. / Background: There are critical unmet needs for improved strategies in the detection and diagnosis of M.tuberculosis infection in children, and for prevention of tuberculosis disease in children. Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination has limited the utility of tuberculin skin testing (TST) in areas with high vaccine coverage. Objectives: The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of M.tuberculosis infection in children with household tuberculosis contacts, using QFT-GIT testing in comparison with TST. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional design to assess the performance of a new T-cell based blood test, namely QuantiFERON-TB Gold In Tube (QFT-GIT), for diagnosis of tuberculosis infection in the children (n=182) of adults (n=124) with pulmonary tuberculosis, additionally to determine the prevalence of M.tuberculosis infection in children with household tuberculosis contacts, using QFT-GIT testing in comparison with TST. The study was carried out at Chris Hani Hospital. For children involved in the study, tuberculosis exposure information was obtained, together with TST, QFT-GIT, and HIV testing. Data obtained from both experiments was statistically analysed using SPSS version 24 to determine whether there was a significant agreement between QFT-GIT and TST on the detection of M.tuberculosis prevalence in children with house hold contacts with confirmed M.tuberculosis infection. Results: This study examined the sensitivity and specificity of the QFT-GIT tests compared with the standard TST for diagnosing latent tuberculosis disease in paediatric contacts. Because of the lack of a latent tuberculosis “gold standard”, the specificity and sensitivity of QFT-GIT was calculated with a two-by-two table method. The specificity of the QFT-GIT was 84% and the sensitivity was 85%. There was a good correlation between QFT-GIT and TST (Cohen’s kappa of 0.705). Seventeen percent (17%) of the 182 children tested by QFT-GIT yielded indeterminate results. Age was associated with indeterminate QFT-GIT results in paediatric tuberculosis contacts. Point prevalence for QFT-GIT was recorded as 31% at baseline and 39.5% after six months indicating variability between QFT-GIT results at baseline and after six months. Conclusion: It was concluded that the prevalence of tuberculosis infection was common among South African children who live with an adult with active tuberculosis. The agreement between QFT-GIT assay and TST for the diagnosis of latent tuberculosis in children was high. Although TST and QFT-GIT assays appeared comparable, QFT-GIT showed higher positivity rate amongst those contacts with reported household tuberculosis exposure compared to TST. The QFTGIT assay was a better indicator of the risk of M.tuberculosis infection than TST in a BCG-vaccinated population.