Facteurs psychosociaux liés aux risques d'infections virales (VIH/sida et hépatites) chez les cocaïnomanes

Thèse numérisée par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

On the Regulation of Small Actors: Three Experimental Essays about Policies based on Voluntary Compliance and Decentralized Monitoring

Monitoring and enforcement are perhaps the biggest challenges in the design and implementation of environmental policies in developing countries where the actions of many small informal actors cause significant impacts on the ecosystem services and where the transaction costs for the state to regulate them could be enormous. This dissertation studies the potential of innovative institutions based on decentralized coordination and enforcement to induce better environmental outcomes. Such policies have in common that the state plays the role of providing the incentives for organization but the process of compliance happens through decentralized agreements, trust building, signaling and monitoring. I draw from the literatures in collective action, common-pool resources, game-theory and non-point source pollution to develop the instruments proposed here. To test the different conditions in which such policies could be implemented I designed two field-experiments that I conducted with small-scale gold miners in the Colombian Pacific and with users and providers of ecosystem services in the states of Veracruz, Quintana Roo and Yucatan in Mexico. This dissertation is organized in three essays.

The first essay, “Collective Incentives for Cleaner Small-Scale Gold Mining on the Frontier: Experimental Tests of Compliance with Group Incentives given Limited State Monitoring”, examines whether collective incentives, i.e. incentives provided to a group conditional on collective compliance, could “outsource” the required local monitoring, i.e. induce group interactions that extend the reach of the state that can observe only aggregate consequences in the context of small-scale gold mining. I employed a framed field-lab experiment in which the miners make decisions regarding mining intensity. The state sets a collective target for an environmental outcome, verifies compliance and provides a group reward for compliance which is split equally among members. Since the target set by the state transforms the situation into a coordination game, outcomes depend on expectations of what others will do. I conducted this experiment with 640 participants in a mining region of the Colombian Pacific and I examine different levels of policy severity and their ordering. The findings of the experiment suggest that such instruments can induce compliance but this regulation involves tradeoffs. For most severe targets – with rewards just above costs – raise gains if successful but can collapse rapidly and completely. In terms of group interactions, better outcomes are found when severity initially is lower suggesting learning.

The second essay, “Collective Compliance can be Efficient and Inequitable: Impacts of Leaders among Small-Scale Gold Miners in Colombia”, explores the channels through which communication help groups to coordinate in presence of collective incentives and whether the reached solutions are equitable or not. Also in the context of small-scale gold mining in the Colombian Pacific, I test the effect of communication in compliance with a collective environmental target. The results suggest that communication, as expected, helps to solve coordination challenges but still some groups reach agreements involving unequal outcomes. By examining the agreements that took place in each group, I observe that the main coordination mechanism was the presence of leaders that help other group members to clarify the situation. Interestingly, leaders not only helped groups to reach efficiency but also played a key role in equity by defining how the costs of compliance would be distributed among group members.

The third essay, “Creating Local PES Institutions and Increasing Impacts of PES in Mexico: A real-Time Watershed-Level Framed Field Experiment on Coordination and Conditionality”, considers the creation of a local payments for ecosystem services (PES) mechanism as an assurance game that requires the coordination between two groups of participants: upstream and downstream. Based on this assurance interaction, I explore the effect of allowing peer-sanctions on upstream behavior in the functioning of the mechanism. This field-lab experiment was implemented in three real cases of the Mexican Fondos Concurrentes (matching funds) program in the states of Veracruz, Quintana Roo and Yucatan, where 240 real users and 240 real providers of hydrological services were recruited and interacted with each other in real time. The experimental results suggest that initial trust-game behaviors align with participants’ perceptions and predicts baseline giving in assurance game. For upstream providers, i.e. those who get sanctioned, the threat and the use of sanctions increase contributions. Downstream users contribute less when offered the option to sanction – as if that option signal an uncooperative upstream – then the contributions rise in line with the complementarity in payments of the assurance game.

Application of a new method in the study of pelvic floor muscle passive properties in continent women

The aim of this study was to present a new methodology for evaluating the pelvic floor muscle (PFM) passive properties. The properties were assessed in 13 continent women using an intra-vaginal dynamometric speculum and EMG (to ensure the subjects were relaxed) in four different conditions: (1) forces recorded at minimal aperture (initial passive resistance); (2) passive resistance at maximal aperture; (3) forces and passive elastic stiffness (PES) evaluated during five lengthening and shortening cycles; and (4) percentage loss of resistance after 1 min of sustained stretch. The PFMs and surrounding tissues were stretched, at constant speed, by increasing the vaginal antero-posterior diameter; different apertures were considered. Hysteresis was also calculated. The procedure was deemed acceptable by all participants. The median passive forces recorded ranged from 0.54 N (interquartile range 1.52) for minimal aperture to 8.45 N (interquartile range 7.10) for maximal aperture while the corresponding median PES values were 0.17 N/mm (interquartile range 0.28) and 0.67 N/mm (interquartile range 0.60). Median hysteresis was 17.24 N∗mm (interquartile range 35.60) and the median percentage of force losses was 11.17% (interquartile range 13.33). This original approach to evaluating the PFM passive properties is very promising for providing better insight into the patho-physiology of stress urinary incontinence and pinpointing conservative treatment mechanisms.

Facteurs psychosociaux liés aux risques d'infections virales (VIH/sida et hépatites) chez les cocaïnomanes

Thèse numérisée par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

Age model and pollen analysis from site GIK16867 in the northern Angola Basin

Sporomorphs and dinoflagellate cysts from site GIK16867 in the northern Angola Basin record the vegetation history of the West African forest during the last 700 ka in relation to changes in salinity and productivity of the eastern Gulf of Guinea. During most cool and cold periods, the Afromontane forest, rather than the open grass-rich dry forest, expanded to lower altitudes partly replacing the lowland rain forest of the borderlands east of the Gulf of Guinea. Except in Stage 3, when oceanic productivity was high during a period of decreased atmospheric circulation, high oceanic productivity is correlated to strong winds. The response of marine productivity in the course of a climatic cycle, however, is earlier than that of wind vigour and makes wind-stress-induced oceanic upwelling in the area less likely. Monsoon variation is well illustrated by the pollen record of increased lowland rain forest that is paired to the dinoflagellate cyst record of decreased salinity forced by increased precipitation and run-off.

Bullying Victimization and Perpetration Among Adolescent Sport Teammates

Purpose: Bullying is a specific pattern of repeated victimization explored with great frequency in school-based literature, but receiving little attention within sport. The current study explored the prevalence of bullying in sport, and examined whether bullying experiences were associated with perceptions about relationships with peers and coaches. Method: Adolescent sport team members (n = 359, 64% female) with an average age of 14.47 years (SD = 1.34) completed a pen-and-paper or online questionnaire assessing how frequently they perpetrated or were victimized by bullying during school and sport generally, as well as recent experiences with 16 bullying behaviors on their sport team. Participants also reported on relationships with their coach and teammates. Results: Bullying was less prevalent in sport compared with school, and occurred at a relatively low frequency overall. However, by identifying participants who reported experiencing one or more act of bullying on their team recently, results revealed that those victimized through bullying reported weaker connections with peers, whereas those perpetrating bullying only reported weaker coach relationships. Conclusion: With the underlying message that bullying may occur in adolescent sport through negative teammate interactions, sport researchers should build upon these findings to develop approaches to mitigate peer victimization in sport.

"Lancea", Lusitanian Word, and the "Lancienses" Ethnogenesis

Analysis of the word lancea, of Hispanic origin after Varro, and of place names, people´s names and personal names derived from it. It confirms that the spear was the most important weapon in the Bronze Age, belonging to the iuventus and used as heroic and divine symbol. This analysis confirms also the personality of the Lusitanians, a people related to the Celts but with more archaic archaeological, linguistic and cultural characteristics originated in the tradition of the Atlantic Bronze in the II millennium BC. It is also relevant to better know the organisation of Broze and Iron Age societies and the origin of Indo-Europeans peoples in Western Europe and of pre-Roman peoples of Iberia.

Characterisation of polyethylene powders for rotational moulding and effect of powder size and shape on densification behaviour

The particle size, shape and distribution of a range of rotational moulding polyethylenes (PEs) ground to powder was investigated using a novel visual data acquisition and analysis system (TP Picture®), developed by Total Petrochemicals. Differences in the individual particle shape factors of the powder samples were observed and correlations with the grinding conditions were determined. When heated, the bubble dissolution behaviour of the same powders was investigated and the shape factor correlated with densification rate, bubble size and bubble distribution.

Study into the densification behaviour of polyethylenes for rotational moulding

The melting and densification behaviour of a range of Polyethylenes (PEs) produced from 2 different catalysts, Ziegler-Natta and Metallocene types, were investigated using a novel visual data acquisition and analysis system (TP Picture®), developed by Total Petrochemicals Research Feluy [1]. Differences in the dissolution behaviour of the bubbles were observed and correlations with the material density, densification rate, bubble size / distribution and MFI were determined.

A utilização do jogo didático como recurso para promover o questionamento

Atualmente é necessário preparar os alunos para que sejam cidadãos críticos, reflexivos e capazes de resolverem problemas. Para tal é necessário modificar algumas práticas que decorrem nas nossas salas de aulas. Nomeadamente o incentivo do questionamento por parte do aluno. Esta capacidade é imprescindível para a vida futura de cada estudante/cidadão que se forma. A presente investigação tem como principal objetivo averiguar a influência do jogo didático na promoção e desenvolvimento do questionamento nos alunos. Desenvolveu-se uma atividade didática para um dos conteúdos da Geologia do 11ºano, designadamente as rochas. Recorreu-se ao estudo de caso como método de investigação. Os participantes do estudo foram os alunos das turmas de uma escola do distrito de Aveiro, nas quais a professora-investigadora realizou a PES. Para a recolha de dados recorreu-se a inquéritos por questionário, observação e análise de documentos. A maioria dos estudantes considerou que o jogo melhorou a sua capacidade de questionar, apesar do jogo didático ter aspetos que podem ser melhorados.

Enfermeiros da Viatura Médica de Emergência e Reanimação: Que competências?

Em Portugal, embora já exista a recomendação de que parte dos enfermeiros perten-centes à equipa de enfermagem no meio pré-hospitalar deva ser especializada na pes-soa em situação crítica, e de já existir um Regulamento das Competências Específicas do Enfermeiro Especialista em Enfermagem em Pessoa em Situação Crítica, este abrange competências que não lhes são específicas e ignora algumas habilidades e conhecimentos subjacentes à sua atividade. Assim, e apesar da Ordem dos Enfermeiros reconhecer o enquadramento dos Enfermeiros na Emergência Pré-hospitalar como van-tajosa, as competências que lhes são reconhecidas, bem como os critérios de seleção dos enfermeiros integrados na Viatura Médica de Emergência e Reanimação são pouco claros e variáveis. Procurou-se desta forma delinear um estudo que fosse de encontro à necessidade de conhecer a especificidade das competências dos enfermeiros que exercem no meio pré-hospitalar, nomeadamente na Viatura Médica de Emergência e Reanimação. Para a realização deste estudo optou-se por uma abordagem à técnica de Delphi, tendo assim criado numa primeira fase uma lista de competências baseada na literatura cien-tífica existente sobre o tema; e numa segunda fase, foi submetida ao painel de peritos previamente selecionado. O painel foi constituído por 28 enfermeiros com experiência na VMER e com um papel de relevância profissional na Formação na área da emergên-cia e/ou na área da gestão/coordenação de equipas. Seguindo todos os passos reco-mendados para a realização do painel, no final da primeira ronda obteve-se um con-senso de 100% das competências. No entanto, face à necessidade de reformular duas competências, por sugestão dos peritos, houve necessidade de realizar uma segunda ronda. No final deste processo, obteve-se uma lista constituída por 77 competências específi-cas dos enfermeiros ao exercício da VMER, divididas em 6 Domínios: Responsabilidade Profissional, Ética e Legal, Melhoria da Qualidade, Gestão dos Cuidados, Desenvolvi-mento das Aprendizagens Profissionais, Domínio Técnico da Prestação de Cuidados à Pessoa em Situação Crítica e Domínio Técnico da Condução em Marcha de Emergên-cia.

Soil organic carbon stocks in estuarine and marine mangrove ecosystems are driven by nutrient colimitation of P and N

Mangroves play an important role in carbon sequestration, but soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks differ between marine and estuarine mangroves, suggesting differing processes and drivers of SOC accumulation. Here, we compared undegraded and degraded marine and estuarine mangroves in a regional approach across the Indonesian archipelago for their SOC stocks and evaluated possible drivers imposed by nutrient limitations along the land-to-sea gradients. SOC stocks in natural marine mangroves (271–572 Mg ha-1 m-1 were much higher than under estuarine mangroves (100–315 Mg ha-1 m-1 with a further decrease caused by degradation to 80–132 Mg ha-1 m-1. Soils differed in C/N ratio (marine: 29–64; estuarine: 9–28), δ15N (marine: 0.6 to 0.7‰; estuarine: 2.5 to 7.2‰), and plant-available P (marine: 2.3–6.3 mg kg-1; estuarine: 0.16–1.8 mg kg-1). We found N and P supply of sea-oriented mangroves primarily met by dominating symbiotic N2 fixation from air and P import from sea, while mangroves on the landward gradient increasingly covered their demand in N and P from allochthonous sources and SOM recycling. Pioneer plants favored by degradation further increased nutrient recycling from soil resulting in smaller SOC stocks in the topsoil. These processes explained the differences in SOC stocks along the land-to-sea gradient in each mangrove type as well as the SOC stock differences observed between estuarine and marine mangrove ecosystems. This first large-scale evaluation of drivers of SOC stocks under mangroves thus suggests a continuum in mangrove functioning across scales and ecotypes and additionally provides viable proxies for carbon stock estimations in PES or REDD schemes.

Conceções sobre avaliação formativa de professores do 2.ºCEB: um estudo comparativo

Relatório de estágio apresentado à Escola Superior de Educação de Lisboa para obtenção de grau de mestre em Ensino do 1.º e do 2.º Ciclo do Ensino Básico

Análise de estratégias de compreensão leitora no 4.º ano do ensino básico

Dissertação apresentada à Escola Superior de Educação de Lisboa para obtenção de grau de mestre em Ensino do 1.º e 2.º Ciclos do Ensino Básico

O mapa como recurso pedagógico para o desenvolvimento de competências histórico-geográficas (1.º e 2.º CEB)

Relatório de Estágio apresentado à Escola Superior de Educação de Lisboa para a obtenção de grau de mestre em Ensino do 1.º e 2.º Ciclo do Ensino Básico