With increasing amounts of data being collected in various fields of neuroscience, there is a growing need for robust techniques for the analysis of this information. This thesis focuses on the evaluation and development of quantitative frameworks for the analysis and classification of neuronal data from a variety of contexts. Firstly, I investigate methods for analysing spontaneous neuronal network activity recorded on microelectrode arrays (MEAs). I perform an unbiased evaluation of the existing techniques for detecting ‘bursts’ of neuronal activity in these types of recordings, and provide recommendations for the robust analysis of bursting activity in a range of contexts using both existing and adapted burst detection methods. These techniques are then used to analyse bursting activity in novel recordings of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neuronal networks. Results from this review of burst analysis methods are then used to inform the development of a framework for characterising the activity of neuronal networks recorded on MEAs, using properties of bursting as well as other common features of spontaneous activity. Using this framework, I examine the ontogeny of spontaneous network activity in in vitro neuronal networks from various brain regions, recorded on both single and multi-well MEAs. I also develop a framework for classifying these recordings according to their network type, based on quantitative features of their activity patterns. Next, I take a multi-view approach to classifying neuronal cell types using both the morphological and electrophysiological features of cells. I show that a number of multi-view clustering algorithms can more reliably differentiate between neuronal cell types in two existing data sets, compared to single-view clustering techniques applied to either the morphological or electrophysiological ‘view’ of the data, or a concatenation of the two views. To close, I examine the properties of the cell types identified by these methods.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-25T20:21:08Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Bernadete de Oliveira.pdf: 9001908 bytes, checksum: 5fe5469188e85fd48ffd88d87ee8a3a1 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-04-25 / The present study was prompted by the question Who will look after us in 2030? . It was derived from an anthropological perspective and gradually evolved into sociopolitical questions. Research was developed as a quantitative, qualitative and prospective study carried out at the Regional Health Department 1 (DRS1) in the Greater São Paulo Area (covering all the municipalities in the São Paulo Metropolitan Region) between January 2011 and December 2012. The study relied on the recommendations set forth by the National Elderly Health Care Policy and the Book of Primary Care 19 published by the Brazilian Ministry of Health. Study Objective: To investigate opinions from the São Paulo City Health Department (SMS) representatives and users at the City Health Council (CMS) and from elderly representatives at the Elderly Council (CMI) within the DRS1 about the initiatives undertaken in elderly health care so as to provide a consensual perspective on that question. Methodology and Results: In the first phase of the study, recorded face-to-face interviews and a mixed questionnaire were used with 109 subjects. The following council member categories were identified: users (n=37; 34.0%), managers (n=27; 24.8%), workers (n=12; 11.0%), as well as government (n=18; 16.5%) and civil society (n=15; 13.8%) segments predominantly within the age cohorts of 50 years and older, whereas females (n=57; 52.3%) and married individuals (n=70; 62.2%). The average education level is 13.3 years (±4.5); knowledge on elderly care by the majority of respondents comes from participation in related events. The standard response on the political role of council members was scattered with most subjects indicating a watchdog role. Decision-making to approve policies originating at different power levels was not even mentioned by respondents. In the second phase of the study, the Delphi Method was used and 51 subjects presented a prospective view and reached an opinion by consensus. Responses to the questionnaire were sent by e-mail. Respondents were thus categorized: 13 from the elderly group (72.2%), 14 from the SMS group (70.0%), 22 from the user group (73.3%). Statistical analysis of the findings revealed consensus on the following topics: elderly reception, global assessment, health education, what they like best about healthcare facilities, active aging, promotion of active aging, medium and high complexity health care, pharmaceutical care, elderly accessibility. In all groups, elderly people seek public healthcare services to have their prescription changed and medical treatment . Among the questions disregarded by respondents is the one about elderly services and actions deemed necessary... in which the SMS group unanimously responded that a support hospital for the elderly to recover and return home with independence and autonomy would not be necessary. With regard to skilled professionals trained to deliver elderly healthcare services and actions by 2030 , the SMS group was convinced that all healthcare professionals in public services would have to be trained . All groups agreed that they will need caregiving in old age, while the SMS elderly group wishes that my family and trained healthcare professionals would take care of me in old age... . Final Considerations: In the near future, City Councils are likely to become a powerful social participation tool, an instrument of achievement in the public sphere and of public policies that can satisfactorily meet the demands of the future, especially in old age. Furthermore, both the State and civil society require structural strengthening and organization, so that power can circulate in a decentralized manner and empowerment is established for the exercise of full citizenship of society members within a democratic perspective / Estudo norteado pela pergunta Quem cuidará de nós em 2030 , partiu de uma perspectiva antropológica e mergulhou, paulatinamente, em questionamentos sociopolíticos. Pesquisa definida como quantitativo, qualitativo e prospectivo, desenvolvido no Departamento Regional de Saúde 1 (DRS1): Grande São Paulo (100% dos municípios da Região Metropolitana de São Paulo), no período de janeiro de 2011 a dezembro de 2012. Ancorado nas recomendações da Política Nacional da Saúde do Idoso e do Caderno de Atenção Básica 19 , do Ministério da Saúde. Objetivo: investigar as opiniões de representantes da Secretaria Municipal de Saúde (SMS) e dos usuários, no Conselho Municipal de Saúde (CMS), e de representantes dos idosos, no Conselho Municipal do Idoso (CMI), no DRS1, a respeito de iniciativas na área de atenção à saúde do idoso, a fim de fornecer perspectivas consensuais àquela pergunta. Aporte Metodológico e Resultados: Na primeira etapa, Entrevista presencial gravada, utilizou-se o Questionário misto, participaram 109 sujeitos e foram identificadas as categorias de conselheiros: segmentos usuário (n=37; 34,0%), gestor (n=27; 24,8%) e trabalhador (n=12; 11,0%), do governo (n=18; 16,5%) e da sociedade civil (n=15; 13,8%); com predominância nas faixas etárias de 50 anos e mais de idade, no sexo feminino (n=57, 52,3%) e no estado civil casado (n=70; 62,2%); 13,3 anos de estudo (±4,5) em média; para a maioria que tem conhecimento na área do idoso, este advém da participação em eventos. O padrão de resposta sobre o papel político foi disperso, a maioria indicou a função de fiscalizador. A tomada de decisões para a aprovação de políticas originadas nos diferentes níveis de Poder não foi sequer mencionado por eles. Na segunda etapa, Método Delphi, 51 sujeitos chegarem a visão prospectiva e ao consenso de opiniões ao responderam formulários, via correio eletrônico; estes opinantes foram desta maneira classificados: 13 do grupo dos idosos (ou 72,2%), 14 do grupo da SMS (ou 70,0%), 22 do grupo dos usuários (ou 73,3%). Na análise estatística dos resultados detectou-se o consenso de opiniões em torno dos temas: acolhimento, avaliação global, educação em saúde, o que gostam nas unidades básicas de saúde, envelhecimento ativo, promoção do envelhecimento ativo, atendimento em média e alta complexidades, assistência farmacêutica, acessibilidade. Para todos os grupos, os idosos buscam serviços de saúde para troca de receita e encaminhamentos . Das respostas preteridas ( voto nulo ), destaca-se aquela a respeito dos serviços e ações considerados necessários... , o grupo da SMS, unanimemente, julgou que não deveria vir a ser instituído um hospital de retaguarda para o idoso se recuperar e voltar para casa com independência e autonomia . A respeito dos profissionais capacitados para desenvolver serviços e ações na atenção à saúde do idoso em 2030 , este mesmo grupo estava convicto acerca de que Todos os profissionais da rede pública precisariam ser capacitados . Todos os grupos admitiram que irão necessitar de cuidados na velhice; o grupo dos idosos e da SMS desejam Que minha família e profissionais capacitados cuidassem de mim... . Considerações finais: Os Conselhos Municipais podem vir a tornar-se, num futuro próximo, um poderoso instrumento de participação social, de consecução da esfera pública e daquelas políticas públicas que atenderiam de maneira satisfatória as demandas do devir, especialmente, da velhice. Neste ínterim, tanto Estado como sociedade civil demandam fortalecimento estrutural e organização, para que o poder circule de forma descentralizada e se estabeleça o empoderamento e o exercício da cidadania plena de seus membros, dentro de uma perspectiva democrática

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-25T20:21:27Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Elizabeth Parente Costa.pdf: 1298236 bytes, checksum: e6ac5ca20eabce2d78b189b2c47824ef (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-06-10 / The research proposes a study of the social representations of leprosy, we seek three times to understand the sense of every society and their dynamics in relation to disease. The first in the city of Sobral/CE, where we carry out research in the years 2008 and 2009; the second moment in the city of Mogi das Cruzes/SP, with a man who has gone through several periods of hospitalization and overcame the stigma through work aimed at manufacture of prosthetic patients amputees; and the third time in New Delhi in India, where we find the largest number of leprosy patients. The places chosen for the field work were selected after repeated bibliographical research, readings of scholarly articles, medical texts and physicians about the disease and mainly with the data of the World Health Organization (WHO) and of the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE). We investigate the sociocultural reality of people afflicted by illness and how these could be with the disease / A pesquisa propõe um estudo das representações sociais da hanseníase, buscamos três momentos para entendermos o senso de cada sociedade e as suas dinâmicas em relação à doença. O primeiro na cidade de Sobral/CE, onde já realizamos a pesquisa nos anos de 2008 e 2009; o segundo momento na cidade de Mogi das Cruzes/SP, com um senhor que passou por vários períodos de internação e superou o estigma, por meio do trabalho voltado à fabricação de prótese para pacientes amputados; e o terceiro momento em Nova Délhi na Índia, onde pudemos encontrar o maior número de hansenianos. Os lugares escolhidos para o trabalho de campo foram selecionados depois de reiteradas pesquisas bibliográficas, leituras de artigos acadêmicos, textos médicos e não médicos sobre a doença e principalmente com os dados da Organização Mundial de Saúde (OMS) e do Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE). Buscamos investigar a realidade sociocultural de pessoas atingidas pela enfermidade e como estas percebiam estar com a doença

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-26T18:11:46Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Bernardo de Aguiar Pereira Filho.pdf: 653417 bytes, checksum: ccb585a171772377a0565a27f8ebf5d6 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-05-15 / The present research aims at determining how images of the future were established through means of communication and which processes were involved in building these scenarios. Our goal is to recognize how this production may be committed to interests or ideas of what the progress is, and if they are part of a hegemonic domination of the capitalism and the information produced in the United States and in Europe. Based on faster and faster technological progress and scientific advances, visionaries and specialists have tried, along the Twentieth Century, to anticipate the form and manner in which we would live in the future. The means of communication were responsible for catalyzing and promoting this (essentially American) imagination to the rest of the world through newspapers and magazine articles, science fiction literature and movies. Somehow, this repertoire has permeated our ideas of the future and has influenced the construction of the present, making us seek for the materialization of these predictions. We notice that mainly along the second half of the 20th Century, images of the future start to be substituted in a faster pace due to new discoveries or technological inventions. The question that guides us is: What are the processes involved in building the future and how does the media dissemination influence our vision of the world? Methodologically, as a case study we chose the episode The Body , of the 2057 documentary aired by the pay TV channel Discovery Channel (2007), by examining its content that mixes testimonials of scientists with drama narratives and at the same time uses science fiction movies techniques. In the documentary, the theoretical physicist Michio Kaku tries to predict how our lives the body, the cities, the world will be in fifty years from now, suggesting the possibility of immortality. We will map out different representations of the future introduced by the media since last century up to the present moment based on the studies of theorists of the area such as Thomas Lombardo, Wendell Bell, Richard Slaughter and Lawrence Samuel. We will use the theory of signification according to the interpretative model proposed by Jakob Uexküll and Jorge Vieira, to analyze how these signs are perceived / A presente pesquisa pretende averiguar como as imagens de futuro foram instauradas através dos meios de comunicação e quais os processos implicados na construção desses cenários. Nosso objetivo é reconhecer como essa produção pode estar comprometida com interesses ou ideias de progresso, e se fazem parte de uma dominação hegemônica do capitalismo e da informação produzida nos Estados Unidos e na Europa. Com base no progresso tecnológico e nos avanços científicos cada vez mais rápidos, visionários e especialistas se empenharam, ao longo do século XX, em prever a forma e a maneira como viveríamos no futuro. Os meios de comunicação foram responsáveis por catalisar e divulgar esse imaginário (essencialmente estadunidense) para o resto do mundo através de matérias em jornais e revistas, da literatura de ficção científica e do cinema. De alguma forma, esse repertório permeou nossas ideias sobre o porvir e nos afetou na construção do presente, fazendo-nos perseguir a materialização dessas previsões. Notamos que, sobretudo ao longo da segunda metade do século XX, as imagens de futuro passaram a ser substituídas mais rapidamente em função de novas descobertas ou invenções tecnológicas. A questão que nos acompanha é: quais os processos relacionados com a construção de tendências de futuro e como a disseminação midiática fomenta nossa visão de mundo? Metodologicamente, tomaremos como estudo de caso o episódio O Corpo, do documentário 2057, exibido pelo canal de TV por assinatura Discovery Channel (2007), com exame de seu conteúdo, que associa depoimentos de cientistas a narrativas em forma de drama e, ao mesmo tempo, usa técnicas cinematográficas dos filmes de ficção científica. Nele, o físico teórico Michio Kaku se propõe fundamentar como será nossa vida o corpo, as cidades, o mundo daqui a 50 anos, sugerindo a possibilidade da imortalidade. Mapearemos as diversas representações de futuro apresentadas nas mídias desde o século passado até o momento atual, a partir de estudos feitos por teóricos da área, como Thomas Lombardo, Wendell Bell, Richard Slaughter e Lawrence Samuel. Empregaremos a teoria da significação , a partir do modelo interpretativo de Jakob Uexküll e Jorge Vieira, para analisar como estes signos são percebidos

Esta dissertação investiga soluções para o problema genérico de geração de vistas sintéticas a partir de um conjunto de imagens utilizando a abordagem Depth-Image-Based Rendering. Essa abordagem utiliza um formato compacto para a representação de imagens 3D, composto basicamente por duas imagens, uma colorida para a vista de referência e outra em tons de cinza com a correspondência de disparidade para cada pixel. Soluções para esse problema beneficiam aplicações como Free Viewpoint Television. O maior desafio é o preenchimento de regiões sem informação de projeção considerando o novo ponto de vista, genericamente denominados holes, além de outros artefatos como cracks e ghosts que ocorrem por oclusões e erros no mapa de disparidade. Nesta dissertação apresentamos técnicas para remoção e tratamento de cada uma das classes de potenciais artefatos. O conjunto de métodos propostos apresenta melhores resultados quando comparado com o atual estado da arte em geração de vistas sintéticas com o modelo DIBR para o conjunto de dados Middlebury, considerando-se as métricas SSIM e PSNR. / This dissertation investigates solutions to the general problem of generating synthetic views from a set of images using the Depth-Image-Based Rendering approach. This approach uses a compact format for the 3D image representation, composed basically of two images, one color image for the reference view and other grayscale image with the disparity information available for each pixel. Solutions to this problem benefit applications such as Free Viewpoint Television. The biggest challenge is filling in regions without projection information considering the new viewpoint, usually called holes, and other artifacts such as cracks and ghosts that occur due to occlusions and errors in the disparity map. In this dissertation we present techniques for removal and treatment of each of these classes of potential artifacts. The set of proposed methods shows improved results when compared to the current state of the art generation of synthetic views using the DIBR model applied to the Middlebury dataset, considering the SSIM and PSNR metrics.

Purpose: Finding which resources and capabilities are deployed among Istanbul-based apparel manufacturers, evaluating to what extent they are tangible, intangible as well as capabilities as well as lastly analysing them according to the valuable, rare, inimitable and non-substitutable framework. Design/methodology: The research design consists of a case study held at several firms. Empirical data was collected using semi-structured interviews. Empirical data: Empirical data was primarily collected at nine different apparel manufacturers within the greater Istanbul region. Conclusion: Conclusions show that within the bundles of resources and capabilities, a large variation was noted with high international competitiveness. However there are areas such as design and quality which could be continuously developed among firms. In the end, whatever bundle of resources and capabilities a firm has, it’s the end price that speaks. / Program: Textilekonomutbildningen

Chinese medicine is one of China's key national assets, an indigenous medical knowledge and practices that serves Chinese for thousands of years. As very little research has been focused on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) from systems of innovation perspective, the topic of study was chosen. This qualitative case study research introduces, defines and explores how TCM organisations collaborate to innovate from an evolutionary, interactive system perspective. In particular, the focus is on the development of knowledge and capabilities related to TCM drug research and production. Thirty one TCM organisation cases were analysed and presented in this study, interpreting their behaviour in terms of ideas drawn mainly from the literatures on systems of innovation, collaboration between organisations and resource (knowledge) based theory of the firm. Actors such as government play various roles in facilitating organisational and sectoral innovation processes. 'Various policy instruments', in particular research funding and institutions (e.g., standards and regulations) were used to enhance innovation and production. Various forms of collaborative networks were found among key actors: enterprises, universities, research organisations and end users. They contribute to the active innovation processes of 'Identification, Selection, Integration and Creation' of tangible and intangible outcomes and changes. Based on the research, new insights were derived as to how indigenous resources (defined as original and/or traditional knowledge and capabilities) may lead to indigenous innovation. This thesis contributes to the academic understanding of systems of innovation operating in the context of indigenous product and related process developments with reference to various actors interplaying in complex networks (systems) of collaborations. New understandings made on the processes of indigenous innovation (using TCM as a case) through investigating the actors' roles, inter-relations and their restless attempts to identify opportunities and problems, select and integrate different indigenous, scientific, technological and managerial knowledge, capabilities, resources and institutions, to create value that may 'fit' in evolutionary terms, the demand of the key actors in the sector.

For biomedical research to improve clinical practice, and for funding levels to be sustained, it is increasingly important to understand the pathways from research to clinical practice and to assess the societal impact of research. Approaches to research evaluation through traditional study of journals, journal articles and standard citation analysis, have played comparatively small roles in these developments. In this thesis I critically review how I applied existing methods, and developed a new approach, to study two pathways from research to clinical practice. For Pathway 1, questionnaire surveys of clinicians' views on journals read to inform their clinical practice, and comparisons with impact factors, revealed that a few journals were read widely and considered important by clinicians. Relationships between journal importance and impact factor were complex. For Pathway 2, I applied a novel methodology to identify important citations to four key research papers in an attempt to trace important citations through numerous citing generations. My findings included: few cited papers were important to the citing papers; the number of citation occasions within the citing paper correlated strongly with a cited paper's importance; self-citations were also important; and it was feasible to trace through a series of generations of citations. Evidence of societal impact of the four key research papers examined in my studies included important papers in subsequent generations cited in clinical guidelines, many of which were international. In assessing the impact of my own studies, I found Pathway 1 papers had societal impact on research evaluation methodology; journal editorial policy; and medical library provision policy and practice. Societal impacts of the new methodology, Pathway 2, included informing further methodological development and research evaluation. My portfolio, together with my critical review, adds understanding and provides additional data to current assessment methods of wider impacts of research, and bases for further studies.

The business network that is linked to flexibility, aggressiveness and strategy has become increasingly important in recent years. Several studies suggest that such networks potentially have a profound impact on firm performance, including Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). The role of SMEs in enhancing global and local economic growth is undeniable, particularly in the context of developing countries such as Malaysia. Although numerous researches have been conducted in this field, the majority of them limit their focus to the relationship between firm capabilities (i.e. innovation and dynamic capabilities) and firm performance in specific industries. Research on the synergy impact of business networks, innovation and dynamic capabilities on SME performance remains scarce. This has become a significant gap, which this research seeks to address. This research investigates the roles of dynamic capabilities and innovation capabilities as a moderator and mediator in the relationship between business networks and firm performance, based on the model developed from the concepts of the Resource Base View (RBV) and Dynamic Capability (DC) theories. The model was justified through the Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) technique using AMOS version 23. Taking Malaysia as a research context, the model was tested against a total of 463 SMEs across different industries and categories (i.e. micro, small, and medium SMEs) through face-to-face surveys with 130 owners, 41 CEOs, 79 managers and 213 executives. This study presents five important findings: (1) there exists no direct relationship between business network and firm performance; (2) there exists a direct relationship between innovation, dynamic capabilities and firm performance; (3) the existence of the relationship between business network and firm performance is conditioned by innovation capabilities; (4) dynamic capabilities do not moderate the relationship between business network and firm performance; however (5) dynamic capabilities moderate the relationship between business networks and innovation capabilities. To conclude, the synergy of business networks, innovation capabilities and dynamic capabilities will significantly affect SME performance. This implies that SME performance will not be affected by the business network, as a single variable. The research offers three key contributions. Firstly, it enhances our understanding of the important synergies between business networks, innovation capabilities and dynamic capabilities in elevating SME firm performance. Second, the findings provide a new perspective on how the application of RBV and DC theories can be used as a conceptual lens to analyse the factors affecting SME performance. Lastly, the result signposts practical approaches for SME decision-makers by providing assistance to boost firm performance.

This is an ecocritical analysis of the novel Glupahungern by Andrea Lundgren. I investigate how nature is viewed by looking at two things. First, I look at two functions in the novel. I analyze the function of characters that seem to be in between the human side and the animal side. I call them creatures of the border. I also analyze the function of places that can be seen as borderlands. Places between nature and society. Second, I do a small comparison between Glupahungern and the novel Hjortronlandet by Sara Lidman since they both are written by authors from the north of Sweden and the novels also takes place in the northern parts. Through this comparison I find similarities between the novel and how nature is viewed in them and I come to the conclusion that the place has an impact on the view of nature. Keywords: Nature, Border, Ecocriticism, View on nature, Northern Sweden