Self-concept is strongly influenced by beliefs about one’s personal psychological attributes, and these beliefs are held with varying degrees of confidence and consequence. Hence, it is investment in self-views of those attributes that helps to regulate and maintain stable self-concept. Self-view investment is relevant to numerous self-related functions, but high self-view investment can also contribute to maladaptive self-views. Theory suggests that mindfulness cultivates a less personal, more objective perception of one’s thoughts, emotions and behaviors, and training in mindfulness has been shown to alter self-referential processing. The current pilot study (N=21) investigates the possible role of dispositional mindfulness in two forms of self-view investment, epistemic certainty and emotive importance, as indicated by self-reported and neural (functional magnetic resonance imaging-based) indicators of investment. Results indicated that dispositional mindfulness was positively associated with self-reported epistemic certainty but not emotive importance. Trait mindfulness was associated with activity in the amygdala and parahippocampal gyrus during judgements of both epistemic certainty and emotive importance. Caudate activity was positively associated with trait mindfulness specifically for judgements of emotive importance.

Falls are nurse-sensitive outcome which reflect the quality of nursing care. Nurses, therefore, have a major role to play in efforts to decrease fall rates. The objective of this project is to increase nurses' knowledge on the proper use of the CVVM as an attempt to effectively decrease fall rates. Pretest, post test, and course evaluation data were collected from 30 nurses. A descriptive analysis of the data was performed. Overall, the pretest evaluation showed that nurses had an average score of 43% in the combined assessment of their knowledge on fall prevention strategies, their use of the CVVM, and their knowledge about the hospital's policy on patient monitoring. The nurses' post test average score in the combined assessment of these measures increased to 89% after the educational training which included presentations, hands-on-training, and provision of reference materials and cheat cards on fall prevention strategies and the use of the CVVM surveillance system. Inadequate training, lack of knowledge on the utilization of CVVM surveillance, inadequate use of system resources, and noncompliance with hospital policies were the primary drivers of fall rates in this hospital. Main recommendations include training and periodic retraining of staff on fall prevention strategies; leadership involvement to ensure nurses' compliance with the use of CVVM technology and hospital policy on patient monitoring; provision of CVVM reference materials; and nursing responsibilities in patient monitoring. Social change implications of this project include that nurses are better equipped through training to prevent falls, therefore, lowering patient morbidity and mortality rates.

The U.S. Government (USG) sets aside $133 billion annually to procure goods and services from small businesses. To increase efficiency and effectiveness, the USG employs e-commerce procedures that continually change, forcing small and microbusiness owners (MBO) to learn new technical skills. This continuum of change is adversely affecting MBO who lack technical skills. The purpose of this correlational study was to determine whether a relationship existed between the independent variables of formal training consisting of third party providers, consultants, and higher education (INTM); previous federal employment (PFE); and government-sponsored training (GST) and the dependent variable of MBO winning a USG contract. The theoretical lens used to frame the study was the resource-based view. Participants included 259 owners of microbusinesses with fewer than 5 employees located in the United States. A Web-based survey provided data for logistic regression analysis, which showed a statistically significant finding that MBO who did not have GST were 2.6 times more likely to win a USG contract than MBO who had GST. INTM and PFE were not significantly associated with winning a USG contract. Implications for social change include encouraging government officials to develop training programs whereby MBO may benefit from increased business opportunities, which may spark business growth, reduce unemployment within communities, and contribute to the economy.

Many small businesses in the United States declare bankruptcy within the first 5 years of starting operations. Small business leaders may avoid bankruptcy if they would take advantage of the financial benefits associated with entering the business process outsourcing (BPO) market as service providers. BPO service providers in the United States have experienced significant revenue increases since entering this growing market. This multicase study was an exploration of the strategies small business leaders use to enter the BPO market as service providers to increase revenue and reduce the likelihood of bankruptcy in the metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia, area. The multicase population consisted of 4 small business leaders from 3 companies who successfully entered the BPO market as service providers and increased revenue. The conceptual framework for this study was the resource-based view theory. The data collection process included semistructured interviews, interview notes, and company records. Data were compiled and organized, disassembled into fragments, reassembled into sequence of groups, and interpreted for meaning. Methodological triangulation and member checking validated the trustworthiness of those interpretations. Three themes emerged from the data collected: using professional resources and personal skills to enter the BPO market; entering into trade contracts with BPO clients; and establishing and building on relationships with BPO clients. The implications for positive social change include the potential to increase the success rate of small businesses, improve and revitalize the economic and social conditions of the local community by providing jobs.

The collapse of construction companies in the Nigerian housing sector continues unabated, even in the face of 17 million housing deficits. Many construction company leaders believe that lack of business opportunities and the recent world economic decline have been responsible for the collapse. This situation has resulted in limited business activities for 80% of the Nigerian construction companies. This multiple case study explored the strategies used by leaders to maximize profitability in the Nigerian housing sector. The RBV and Porter's model of competition provided the conceptual framework for the study. Findings were based on detailed reviews of the policies and procedures of the companies, coupled with semi-structured face-to-face interviews with 5 leaders of construction companies that have successfully completed and currently involved in several housing projects in 2 southwestern states in Nigeria. The research question examined the strategies construction company leaders used to maximize profitability in the Nigerian housing sector. Four themes representing strategy categories emerged from thematic analysis: planning, human capital development, leadership factor, and organizational location. The key outcomes from the findings include the need to plan with the available resources, employ and invest in competent staff, increase leadership influence, and improve knowledge of the business environment. The implication for social change includes a potential reduction in unemployment in Nigeria. Profitable organizations will construct more affordable housing through collaboration with public authority, and more low-income earners will be able to afford to live in a decent environment, thus reducing the populations of slum dwellers in the country.

No description available.

La présente thèse de doctorat consiste en une enquête sur la construction du paysage nocturne par la publicité lumineuse, spécifique aux métropoles occidentales depuis la fin du XIXe siècle. Elle s’est appuyée en particulier sur trois études de cas, New York, Londres et Paris, et a cherché à éclairer les circulations d’idées, de techniques et de design qui ont animé ces espaces. Elle interroge notamment la pertinence de la notion de « modèle américain » et souligne les échanges et les apports réciproques entre l’Europe et les États-Unis. Le propos est organisé en trois grandes parties, subdivisées en trois chapitres chacune et il s’y ajoute une série d’annexes. Le livre premier, intitulé « de l’incandescence en publicité : le temps des pionniers » porte sur le premier grand dispositif technique de la publicité lumineuse, celui de la lampe à incandescence, qui s’imposa de la fin du XIXe siècle à la fin des années 1920. Le second livre a pour titre « l’ère du néon : au cœur de la culture populaire ». Il se concentre sur la mise au point et la diffusion des tubes luminescents. Il montre comment la culture populaire s’appropria le néon, à la fois par la fréquentation des hauts-lieux de la publicité lumineuse et par son intégration dans l’art. Enfin, le troisième livre invite à « repenser la publicité, des années 1970 à nos jours », et met en évidence les changements à l’œuvre avec la montée des préoccupations écologiques et énergétiques et le renouvellement des acteurs de publicité lumineuse. Trois évolutions majeures marquent cette période : l’accélération du phénomène de mondialisation ; l’essor de la politique institutionnelle du logo ; la multiplication des écrans vidéo. / The subject of this doctoral thesis is a study of the construction of the nocturnal landscape using illuminating advertising, specific to large Western cities since the end of the XIXth century. It is supported in particular by three case studies: New York, London and Paris and will examine the circulation of ideas, techniques and design used in these locations. The relevance of the concept of the “American model” will be examined, with particular reference to the exchanges and mutual contributions between Europe and the United States. This thesis will be divided into three main sections, each sub-divided into three chapters and supplemented with appendices. The first section, titled “Incandescence in advertising: the pioneers” will examine the first significant technical device used in illuminating advertising, i.e. the incandescent lightbulb, used principally from the end of the XIXth century to the end of the 1920s. The second section, titled “The neon era – at the heart of popular culture” will concentrate on the development and deployment of fluorescent tubes. It will be demonstrated how popular culture appropriated neon lighting, both in its use in the high spots of lighted advertisements and by its inclusion in arts. Finally, the third section titled “Re-thinking advertising from the 1970s to today” will concentrate on changes brought about by the rise of sensitivity to ecological and energy concerns as well as changes in the people involved in the use of lighted advertising. Three major developments mark this period: acceleration of the global phenomenon, the rise of institutional policies involving logos and lastly, the multiplication of video screens.

[pt] A presente dissertação é um estudo sobre o conceito do ponto de vista interno, elaborado e aplicado ao direito por H. L. A. Hart no livro O Conceito de Direito. Para tanto, é analisado a relação desse conceito com outros tópicos da teoria hartiana, como: a crítica às teorias baseadas em sanções, a existência de regras sociais, a norma de reconhecimento e a ideia de obrigação jurídica. Com isso, o objetivo é analisar o conceito do ponto de vista interno não de forma isolada, mas relacionada com o contexto geral da obra de Hart. / [en] This dissertation is a study on the concept of the internal point of view, which was applied to the law by H. L. A. Hart in his book The Concept of Law. Therefore, it is analyzed the relationship of this concept with other topic in Hart´s theory, such as: a critique of sanction-centered theories of law, the existence of social rules, the rule of recognition and the idea of legal obligation. Thus, the objective is to analyze the concept of the internal point of view not in isolation, but related to the general context of the Hart´s work.

How the artist deals with death, loss and the spiritual has been a major theme of art throughout history. New media tools provide renewed opportunity to explore these themes while testing the tools against a familiar subject. This research attempts to deal with these themes by examining and reinterpreting them through myths while evaluating the tools of creative media. In so doing, this has the potential to uncover any revealing insights that are relevant to the times. The project uses myth to explore the potential of the interaction between 2D digital images and 3D virtual environments. Elements of particular significance in the 3D virtual environment - such as Lighting and Point of View - are examined from the perspective of an artist who has practised only in 2D. Twelve final works have been generated for this project and presented as large-scale digital prints, along with a short video piece. In particular, the research explores 3D lighting techniques of 2D images by applying theatrical protocols within a virtual, computer-generated environment, and using myth as context and driving principle. The idea of theatre 'flats' has been applied as a device within the virtual realm to provide a conceptual housing and rationale for virtual lighting techniques, virtual camera techniques, digital rendering and digital printing.

This thesis explores senior high school student learning in biology in Taiwan. The Confucian-heritage culture and beliefs associated with high stakes examinations influences the learning context in biology. There is a considerable body of international research on teaching and learning in senior high biology. There appears to be limited research on student and teacher views of learning in biology in this context. A social constructivist view of learning underpins this study. Using an interpretive paradigm, this study explores student and teacher perceptions of student learning experiences in senior high school biology. There are three phases in this study. In the first phase, Grade 11 and Grade 12 students and teacher perceptions of the existing teaching and learning situation in biology was explored. In the second phase, an intervention was designed and implemented for Grade 12 students. In the third phase, the intervention was evaluated. The findings of this study indicate that most students take biology to increase their options for entering tertiary education. Noticeably, they were using learning approaches that they most disliked to increase their biology marks. Most of them considered the current biology classes were very effective in coping with the major examination, but the teaching was monotonous and teaching content as seemingly unrelated to real life. The teachers perceived that student learning was passive, which contributed to the teachers feeling of exhaustion. Qualitative and quantitative data indicated that both the students and teachers were dissatisfied with the current teaching and learning situation. A more interactive teaching and learning approach and more student responsibility in investigations were suggested by the respondents. An intervention programme based on a social constructivist view of learning, including interactive teaching and open investigation, was designed and implemented. The intervention (70% lecture classes and 30% experiment classes) problematised the traditional lesson structure (90% lecture classes and 10% experiment classes) of senior biology in Taiwan, seeking a more cohesive and integrated overall structure for learning biology. Evaluation of the intervention programme suggested that through student-teacher and student-student interactions student conceptual and procedural understanding of biology was facilitated and their attitudes towards learning were enhanced. A few of the students could not accept the intervention as it conflicted with their view of learning in an examination culture. The implications of this research are that more teacher-student and peer interactions and open-ended investigations can lead to enhanced learning in biology in Taiwan for most senior high school students. Social constructivist approaches to teaching and learning are viable in a Taiwanese biology classroom context. The study also showed the potential for open investigations in this context.