Given the unprecedented medical progress combined with longer life expectancies, the right to die has become one of the main contemporary social issues. The objective of the thesis titled "The Right to Die in Light of European System of Protection of Human Rights" is to present conclusions in following matters: inclusion of the right to die in European human rights system and addressing the right to die before the European Court on Human Rights. Though the right to die can take on many forms, two basic categories of such are euthanasia and assisted suicide on one hand and withdrawal of treatment on the other. First of all, the thesis is concerned with characteristics of individual forms of the right to die. It focuses primarily on the difference between those two categories i.e. the intention of the action, for such distinction forms the basis of the European system of protection of the right to die as well as ECHR case-law. The right to die is provided for by the European human rights system to some extent. The thesis therefore focuses on the most important European acts pertinent to this area. Neither European Convention on Human Rights nor Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine establishes the right to die explicitly, yet several forms can be derived by interpreting them. Conversely, the...

Notre thèse de doctorat décrit et analyse le retrait social au Japon (hikikomori et futōkō). Hikikomori désigne à la fois un phénomène de retrait social concernant plusieurs centaines de milliers de personnes, et la personne elle-même, qui reste enfermée dans sa chambre, généralement au domicile familial, pour une durée de plusieurs mois voire plusieurs années, sans relations sociales. Le retrait social des élèves est plutôt désigné par le terme futōkō (absentéisme scolaire).D’abord, nous envisageons le hikikomori comme problème de société, nous synthétisons les travaux en anthropologie, psychiatrie et psychologie, et nous décrivons notre enquête dans les associations à but non lucratif (NPO), ainsi que les témoignages recueillis. Nous inscrivons nos perspectives à la charnière de la psychopathologie clinique et de l’anthropologie. Ensuite, et dans la mesure où la plupart des hikikomori ont vécu une période d’absentéisme scolaire, nous menons une enquête sur l’assistance au futōkō, via des entretiens menés avec des cliniciens du département de Kyōto. Enfin, nous confrontons le retrait social aux discours sur l’identité japonaise, à travers une étude originale des textes de Doi Takeo, Kawai Hayao, et Jacques Lacan.Nos résultats soulignent que les hikikomori reçoivent surtout l’assistance des NPO au sein desquelles les psychiatres et les psychologues sont absents. En revanche, les psychologues cliniciens sont présents auprès des collégiens en difficulté, mais l’assistance des lycéens en difficulté demeure faible. L’ensemble de notre enquête démontre qu’au début du XXIème siècle, nous assistons à la naissance de la clinique infanto-juvénile nippone. / The purpose of this PhD Dissertation is to provide a review of social withdrawal in Japan (hikikomori and futōkō). Hikikomori is the phenomenon of social withdrawal that effects hundreds of thousands individuals, in which the individual shuts his/herself in their room generally at their family’s home for several months and even years without social relationships. During the period of compulsory education, students’ social withdrawal is rather coined by the term futōkō (school non-attendance).First, I consider hikikomori as a social issue and sum up previous research in Anthropology, Psychiatry and Psychology. Then, I describe my investigation in NPOs, hikikomori individuals’ accounts I collected, and draw my perspective on the intersection of Clinical Psychology and Mental Health Anthropology. Second, I investigate the support available to futōkō since many hikikomori experienced school non-attendance, using research interviews with clinical practitioners in Kyōto prefecture. Finally, I examine social withdrawal phenomenon in relation to Japanese identity discourse, towards a new approach of Doi Takeo’s, Kawai Hayao’s, and Jacques Lacan’s writings.My results reveal that hikikomori mostly receive support from caregivers working in NPOs, among which psychiatrists and psychologists are absent. However, while clinical psychologists actually support junior high school students who are classified as futōkō, the support available to high school dropouts remains low. As a whole, this dissertation shows that at the beginning of the 21st century, we are just witnessing the birth of psychological clinics in Japan, especially in the field of child and adolescent mental care.

In addition to the ever-changing demands of the workforce and student demands, the community college must address how performance and withdrawal are affected by traditional classroom instructional delivery and the inclusion of alternate instructional delivery settings such as internet-based approaches in courses. This quantitative study was conducted to provide evidence-based research to a community college in Northeast Tennessee. Specifically, this research study focused on an important aspect of instructional course delivery methods: What are the relationships between traditional classroom and internet-based course instructional delivery methods in relation to withdrawal and grade-distribution patterns for specified courses (English 1010, Math 1710, Biology 2010, and Business CSCI 1100) at a community college in Northeast Tennessee? Course instructional delivery practice is expensive, regardless of the course delivery method. The community college officials wish to best use their resources and instructional delivery practices. Student withdrawals have a significant effect on the fiscal stability of an institution of higher education. Reducing the number of students who withdraw from a course is instrumental to positive financial health and educational program practices. In this quantitative study, data were gathered through a method of secondary analysis by a community college in Northeast Tennessee and distributed to the researcher for compilation and statistical analysis. Independent samples t tests were used to evaluate whether the mean grade point average and percentage of students withdrawing in English 1010, Math 1710, Biology 2010, and Business CSCI 1100 differed between traditional classroom course sections and internet-based course sections taught in the same academic period. Findings from this study indicated that instructional delivery method does not significantly influence mean grade point averages, and students tend to perform consistently regardless of the instructional delivery setting; however, percentage of student withdrawals vary between instructional delivery methods with the analysis of Biology 2010 finding that traditional classroom course sections had higher withdrawals than did the internet-based course sections.

The purpose of this study was to examine relationships among individual values, trait boredom, job boredom, job characteristics, and CWB. Job boredom and trait boredom were expected to be positively related to CWB. Individual values and job characteristics were expected to moderate the relationship between boredom and different types of CWB. Completed online questionnaires were received from 211 participants, and 112 co-worker matches also submitted online surveys. The Schwartz Value Survey, Job Descriptive Index, Job Boredom Scale, and Boredom Proneness Scale were used to assess independent variables. The Counterproductive Work Behavior Checklist measured the dependent variable. Results were analyzed using correlation and moderated regression. Both trait boredom and job boredom showed large significant correlations with all forms of CWB. Additionally, co-worker reported job boredom showed significant correlations with some forms of CWB. Values showed small and mostly non-significant relationships with CWB and no moderating effects on the boredom/CWB relationship. Job characteristics showed relationships with some forms of CWB but did not interact with boredom in its effects on CWB. In general, moderating effects were not found in the relationships among boredom, values, job characteristics, and CWB. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

This study looks at factors relating to the noncompletion of units of study by students in a secondary college. It is aimed at providing information for decision-makers at Erindale College specifically in the area of course counselling. Administrators and counsellors at other colleges should also find the information of value. The study compared a sample of students who completed all their chosen units of study in one semester with all students who did not complete all of their chosen units in that semester. The latter group consisted of those who withdrew from one or more units during the semester, those who left the college and those who were deemed "unassessable" as a result of poor attendance or nonsubmission of assessment items. All 362 students in the college were asked to complete a Baseline Questionnaire during Week 3 of Semester 1, 1985. This sought background information about reasons for enrolling at college, influences on their choice of units, future intentions, preferred ways of learning and other details. Students who withdrew from, or changed units during the semester were asked to complete a Change of Unit Survey and any leavers were asked to complete a Leaver's Survey. In Week 16 (May, 1985) all students still enrolled were asked to complete an End of Semester Questionnaire designed to enable comparisons of attitudes between those who completed all units and those who did not. The study looks at a number of characteristics of students and their attitudes to various aspects of learning, college life and choice of units of study. It attempts to look at factors that might affect the student's decision to complete or not complete a chosen unit of study. The factors considered were largely based upon studies of early school leavers. FINDINGS. 1. Students who do not complete units tend to have one or more of the following characteristics (significant at the 0.05 level): (a) do not enrol to gain tertiary entrance qualifications (b) enrol to improve their chances of getting a job (c) are not definitely seeking a tertiary entrance score (d) have no definite intention of completing Year 12 (e) have no firm intention of studying subjects in order to complete major or minor courses in them (f) are less likely to have a part-time job (g) by the end of the semester, are not happy with their marks in most units (h) finish the semester studying less than 3 T-units (i) continue into Semester 2 with 3 or more A-units and less than 3 T-units (j) do not consider their parents' wishes an important influence on the choice of units for Semester 2. In addition to these, one other finding of interest, with a significance of 0.055 (approx.), showed that noncompleters tend to come from a socio-economic background of parents who are either managers/employers/self-employed or manual-skilled workers (i.e. not professional or nonmanual/clerical). 2. No significant differences at the 0.05 level were found between males and females nor between Year 11 and Year 12 students in their tendency to complete units. 3. Students who change or withdraw from units give the following reasons (in rank order of frequency): - they are getting poor marks - they are unable to understand the work - they find the class activities uninteresting - they state that the content is not very relevant to their needs - the unit is not suited to their career plans. IMPLICATIONS. The implications for administrators at Erindale College are: 1. Students should be encouraged to formulate specific goals and develop a commitment to their education. 2. Students who are "at risk" need to be identified early and given tutorial assistance in units where they are having difficulty with understanding. 3. The curriculum must be kept under review in order to provide for the needs of all students.

Thesis (M.Com. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2004.

Con la finalidad de explorar con profundidad las bases neurobiológicas de la adicción a cannabinoides hemos llevado a cabo diferentes estudios farmacológicos y moleculares. El sustrato neuroanatómico de la dependencia física de cannabinoides ha sido investigado en ratones que recibieron un tratamiento crónico con el agonista WIN55,212-2. En este estudio, se observó que el cerebelo y en menor grado el hipocampo y la amígdala, participan en la manifestación comportamental del síndrome de abstinencia de cannabinoides. Estas tres áreas se caracterizan por presentar una alta densidad de receptores cannabinoides CB1. Además, hemos evaluado la participación de diversos sistemas de neurotransmisión como son los sistemas opioide y purinérgico endógenos, en las respuestas comportamentales inducidas tras la administración de cannabinoides. Especialmente, nos hemos interesado por aquellas respuestas que están estrechamente relacionadas con las propiedades adictivas de dichos compuestos, como son los efectos reforzantes y aversivos y el desarrollo de dependencia física. Para ello hemos utilizado ratones modificados genéticamente. El sistema opioide endógeno ha sido relacionado con la manifestación de las propiedades adictivas de los cannabinoides. En este trabajo, mediante la utilización de ratones dobles mutantes MOR/DOR, hemos demostrado que se requiere una acción cooperativa entre ambos tipos de receptores opioides para que el síndrome de abstinencia cannabinoide se exprese enteramente. Por otro lado, los ratones con una supresión del gen que codifica para el receptor de adenosina A2A no mostraron ni preferencia de plaza ni aversión de plaza condicionadas a la administración de THC. Además, estos ratones presentaron un síndrome de abstinencia de THC de menor severidad, lo que sugiere una participación específica de los receptores A2A en efectos de los cannabinoides relacionados con sus propiedades adictivas. Finalmente, teniendo en cuenta que el sistema cannabinoide parece estar implicado en la modulación de las propiedades adictivas de otras drogas de abuso como opiáceos, etanol, cocaína y MDMA, hemos investigado la posible implicación del sistema cannabinoide en las propiedades adictivas de la nicotina. Para ello, hemos evaluado las respuestas comportamentales inducidas tras la administración aguda y crónica de nicotina en ratones deficientes del receptor cannabinoide CB1. En este sentido, nuestro principal hallazgo ha sido que las propiedades gratificantes de la nicotina no se manifiestan en los ratones mutantes sin el receptor cannabinoide CB1. Este hecho resulta de especial interés para la búsqueda de nuevas alternativas terapéuticas que faciliten el abandono del hábito tabáquico. / Cannabinoid addiction includes complex neurobiological and behavioural processes. Recently, several animal models allowing the exploration of the neurobiological basis of cannabinoid addiction have been developed. Acute cannabinoid reinforcing effects play a major role in the initiation of cannabinoid addiction, whereas the negative consequences of drug abstinence have a crucial motivational significance for relapse and maintenance of the addictive process. To further explore the neurobiological basis of cannabinoid addiction, we have conducted several pharmacological and molecular studies. The neuroanatomical substrate of cannabinoid physical dependence has been investigated in mice chronically receiving the cannabinoid agonist WIN 55,212-2. Interestingly, the cerebellum and in a lesser extent the hippocampus and the amygdala are shown to participate in the behavioural expression of cannabinoid withdrawal. All these brain areas have a high density of CB1 cannabinoid receptors. Moreover, we have evaluated the involvement of various neurotransmitter systems, such as the purinergic and opioid systems, in the behavioural responses of cannabinoids related to their addictive properties, including rewarding effects and the development of physical dependence. For this purpose, we have used genetically modified mice. Mice lacking A2A adenosine receptors reveal lower motivational responses to cannabinoids and a decreased cannabinoid withdrawal syndrome, suggesting a specific involvement of these receptors in the addictive-related properties of cannabinoids. On the other hand, the opioid system has also been implicated in the addictive properties of cannabinoids. Here, by using double mutants for mu- and delta-opioid receptors, we show that a cooperative action of both receptors is required for the entire expression of cannabinoid dependence. Finally, taking into account that the cannabinoid system has been reported to participate in the addictive properties of other drugs of abuse, such as ethanol, cocaine and MDMA, we have investigated the possible role of the cannabinoid system in the addictive properties of nicotine. We have evaluated nicotine behavioural responses in mice lacking CB1 cannabinoid receptors. In this regard, our main findings are that some acute effects and motivational responses of nicotine can be modulated by the endogenous cannabinoid system which could be of interest in order to find new therapies to facilitate tobacco smoking cessation.

No description available.

What does the prevalence of stress and burnout in community-based work reveal about the impacts of welfare state withdrawal? Drawing on the experiences of frontline community organizers in Toronto, this research argues that welfare state withdrawal is subsidized by a ‘Currency of Caring’ whereby frontline community organizers are expected to fill gaps in the social safety net, working to a point of burnout if necessary, because they care. This research investigates how funders operating within this context can promote health and wellness in community-based work. Broadly, research findings provide insights into how neoliberalism and welfare state withdrawal shape frontline community work in ways that exacerbate stress and burnout, and impede systemic change efforts. In addition, research findings describe the limitations and possibilities for funders to be allies in collective change efforts by being invested in the health and wellness of frontline community organizers.

No description available.