Is the legal protection for the foetus adequate in clinical trials?

In 2009 and 2010, the major drug regulatory bodies, the European Medicines Agency and the Food and Drug Administration in the USA, issued requests for the generation of information relating to the absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, efficacy and safety of investigational drugs in pregnant women prior to approval. In the wake of thalidomide, research involving pregnant women other than for obstetric or gynaecologic purposes became rare, and studies of investigational drugs practically unknown. Consequently, none of the legislation applicable in the UK and few of the guidelines introduced in the last 40 years properly addresses the conduct of clinical trials of investigational drugs in this population. This thesis questions whether the legal protection for the foetus is adequate in clinical trials. The answer appears to be a qualified “no”. Arguments persist regarding the moral standing of the foetus, particularly regarding abortion. That will not be the intent of such trials, and a moral case is made for the conduct of clinical trials in this population by analogy with the neonate, and the pregnant woman’s autonomy. Legally, we already recognise the foetus has ‘interests’ which crystallise upon live birth, and that compensation is recoverable for harm inflicted in utero manifesting as congenital injury. The essence of research is quite different from medical practice, and the extent to which this is understood by trial participants is unclear. The approvals processes contain a number of inadequacies which have the potential to expose the foetus to harm and affect the consent of the pregnant woman. The recovery of compensation in the event of children born injured following clinical trials during pregnancy in many ways may be more complex than other personal injury cases.. The conclusions of this thesis are that the existence of a foetus does merit recognition by the law in this setting and that morally such studies are justifiable. However, the present legislation and approval processes potentially expose the foetus to avoidable risk and may not be appropriate to enable the recovery of compensation, thereby creating potential to deter future trial participants. A proposal is made regarding an approach to simplify the process for recovery of compensation, and thereby strengthen the approval and consent processes.

Contributos dos coordenadores de departamento curricular e dos delegados de grupo na avaliação de desempenho docente : estudo de caso numa escola básica e secundária no norte da Região Autónoma da Madeira

O presente trabalho foi desenvolvido no âmbito da dissertação de Mestrado em Supervisão Pedagógica e insere-se na linha de investigação de políticas educativas e supervisão pedagógica. Pretendeu-se encontrar, através da investigação que aqui se apresenta, os contributos dos coordenadores de departamento curricular e delegados de grupo com funções de avaliadores internos no processo de avaliação de desempenho docente. Procurou-se ainda encontrar o perfil dos avaliadores para se poder exercer o cargo, assim como apresentar o enquadramento teórico dos autores e legislação que o sustentam. Este estudo focalizou-se no Decreto Regulamentar Regional n.º 26/2012/M, de 8 de outubro que regulamenta as novas regras da avaliação de desempenho docente e a unidade de estudo deste trabalho é uma escola pública do ensino básico e secundário, no concelho de São Vicente, Norte da Madeira. Para dar cumprimento aos eixos de análise do trabalho utilizou-se a metodologia qualitativa estudo de caso e através de uma análise documental, de inquéritos por entrevista dirigidos aos 12 avaliadores internos - coordenadores de departamento e delegados de grupo - e aos 14 docentes avaliados, considerados a amostra da dimensão interna, encontrou-se um perfil de avaliador interno de desempenho docente na prática, assim como os contributos destes na avaliação de desempenho docente, de acordo com a legislação regional da Madeira. Tendo por base os resultados obtidos, concluímos que o novo modelo de avaliação de desempenho de docente é um modelo formativo, privilegia o trabalho colaborativo, promove a reflexão, a partilha e a troca de experiências, bem como a melhoria das práticas pedagógicas e o desenvolvimento profissional, apesar da conjuntura atual não promover a progressão na carreira devido ao congelamento como medida de austeridade, o que desmotiva os docentes avaliados e faz ainda com que estes profissionais encarem a avaliação interna como um trabalho menos sério, que não premeia o desempenho e o mérito.

A interseccionalidade de gênero, raça e classe no Programa Ciência sem Fronteiras : um estudo sobre estudantes brasileiros com destino aos EUA

Dissertação (mestrado)—Universidade de Brasília, Faculdade de Educação, Departamento de Pós-Graduação, Mestrado Profissional em Educação, 2015.

A Gestão da Carreira nos Quadros Permanentes de Sargentos da Força Aérea – Que Futuro?

A existência de assimetrias no desenvolvimento da carreira dos militares da categoria de Sargentos dos Quadros Permanentes da Força Aérea, originou o desenvolvimento de um estudo que propõe identificar linhas orientadoras que concorram para mitigar os efeitos dessas mesmas assimetrias bem como contribuam, no âmbito da criação de um novo sistema de gestão de carreiras de Sargentos, para potenciais alterações que permitam alinhar as necessidades organizacionais e individuais. Com base no mapa concetual construído, foi desenvolvido um estudo apoiado na análise de dados relativos à categoria de Sargentos bem como realizadas entrevistas a especialistas, com funções e experiência relevantes na área da gestão de carreiras militares, de forma a, recorrendo a um método hipotético-dedutivo, comprovar hipóteses e responder a perguntas derivadas e por conseguinte à pergunta de partida que norteou esta investigação. Com este estudo concluiu-se que existe a necessidade de a Força Aérea implementar um sistema integrado de gestão estratégica da carreira dos Sargentos, propondo-se o modelo de Edgar Schein de planeamento e desenvolvimento estratégico de Recursos Humanos como possível aproximação a um modelo a implementar na Força Aérea, bem como foi igualmente identificada a utilização menos eficiente de ferramentas essenciais como são a formação e o mérito militar. Abstract: The existence of asymmetries in the development of the military career in the category of Sergeants of the permanent boards of the Air Force, led to the development of a study intended to identify guidelines that contribute to mitigate the effects of those asymmetries and contribute, within the creation of a new Sergeants career management system, for potential amendments for aligning organizational and individual needs. Based on the constructed conceptual map, a study was developed supported in data analysis on the Sergeants category as well as interviews with experts, with relevant functions and experience in the management of military careers, so, using a hypothetical-deductive method, prove hypotheses and answer derived questions and therefore the starting question that guided this research. This study concluded that there is a need for the Air Force to implement an integrated strategic management career system for Sergeants, proposing the Edgar Schein model of strategic planning and development of human resources as a possible approach to a model to be implemented in the Air Force, and it was also identified a less efficient use of essential tools as are training and military merit.

Análise da gestão da cadeia de suprimentos de um supermercado varejista através da utilização do modelo SCOR

In the last decade the complexity of the environment in which organizations are embedded increased dramatically, having on one side the increasingly demanding consumers in regard to the quality and value of the product and the other companies with the need to reduce operating costs in order to achieve greater profitability, without this there is a downturn in growth or market share powers. In this context the necessity of effectively structuring actions relating to the line with the operational work processes so that business objectives are achieved organizational strategic planning, ensuring the competitiveness of the organization. This study aims to analyze how you have made the management of the supply chain in a grocery retailer in the light of guidelines of Supply Chain Management by using the SCOR model. For realization of this study a survey was needed, classified according to their goals, exploratory and descriptive as to its procedure, document, field and case study. Thus, the processing of data will be qualitative merit, using the thematic categorical analysis of Bardin (1977). Thus, to obtain data interviews together the operational and strategic management of a company that was named Supermarket Omega were performed. After analyzing the information obtained is perceived that there is an effort of the organization enhance its management of the supply chain. However, there is a lack of alignment between the various areas that compose it. About their work processes, we stress that the focus of the company is still very directed on sailing than profitability, although it is undergoing a transformation in its organizational culture However, records the existence of many improvement projects in developing. Thus, it can be noticed that there is some consistency between the assumptions of the SCOR model and applied within the supply chain Omega Supermarket, although a greater effort to better align with the model still needs to be studied

The New Bottom Line: Black Women Cultural Entrepreneurs Re-Define Success in The Connected Economy

Black women cultural entrepreneurs are a group of entrepreneurs that merit further inquiry. Using qualitative interview and participant observation data, this dissertation investigates the ways in which black women cultural entrepreneurs define success. My findings reveal that black women cultural entrepreneurs are a particular interpretive community with values, perspectives and experiences, which are not wholly idiosyncratic, but shaped by collective experiences and larger social forces. Black women are not a monolith, but they are neither disconnected individuals completely devoid of group identity. The meaning they give to their businesses, professional experiences and understandings of success are influenced by their shared social position and identity as black women. For black women cultural entrepreneurs, the New Bottom Line goes beyond financial gain. This group, while not uniform in their understandings of success, largely understand the most meaningful accomplishments they can realize as social impact in the form of cultural intervention, black community uplift and professional/creative agency. These particular considerations represent a new paramount concern, and alternative understanding of what is typically understood as the bottom line. The structural, social and personal challenges that black women cultural entrepreneurs encounter have shaped their particular perspectives on success. I also explore the ways research participants articulated an oppositional consciousness to create an alternative means of defining and achieving success. I argue that this consciousness empowers them with resources, connections and meaning not readily conferred in traditional entrepreneurial settings. In this sense, the personal, social and structural challenges have been foundational to the formation of an alternative economy, which I refer to as The Connected Economy. Leading and participating in The Connected Economy, black women cultural entrepreneurs represent a black feminist and womanist critique of dominant understandings of success.

Castração química em casos de pedofilia : considerações bioéticas

A pedofilia é classificada como doença psiquiátrica e sua prática acaba por atingir e ofender diretamente crianças e pré-adolescentes, sendo um fato social de extrema relevância. O presente trabalho tem como objetivo analisar a eticidade da castração química como mecanismo de controle da pedofilia, problematizando sua eventual tríplice natureza: pena, tratamento médico e experimento científico. Trata-se de um estudo de revisão bibliográfica, mediante o levantamento de literatura especializada sobre bioética, castração química, pedofilia, tratamento médico e ética em pesquisa. Conclui-se que as três acepções não se excluem: a castração química como pena, tratamento médico e experimento científico representa arquétipos que se encontram intrinsecamente ligados, apesar de cada um possuir conotações éticas próprias. Este estudo teve o mérito de ampliar a compreensão do tratamento hormonal para pedófilos, diante da escassez de bibliografia no contexto brasileiro. _______________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACT

Mesh Adaption for Tracking Vortex Structures in OVERTURNS Simulation of the S-76 Rotor in Hover

The constant need to improve helicopter performance requires the optimization of existing and future rotor designs. A crucial indicator of rotor capability is hover performance, which depends on the near-body flow as well as the structure and strength of the tip vortices formed at the trailing edge of the blades. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) solvers must balance computational expenses with preservation of the flow, and to limit computational expenses the mesh is often coarsened in the outer regions of the computational domain. This can lead to degradation of the vortex structures which compose the rotor wake. The current work conducts three-dimensional simulations using OVERTURNS, a three-dimensional structured grid solver that models the flow field using the Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes equations. The S-76 rotor in hover was chosen as the test case for evaluating the OVERTURNS solver, focusing on methods to better preserve the rotor wake. Using the hover condition, various computational domains, spatial schemes, and boundary conditions were tested. Furthermore, a mesh adaption routine was implemented, allowing for the increased refinement of the mesh in areas of turbulent flow without the need to add points to the mesh. The adapted mesh was employed to conduct a sweep of collective pitch angles, comparing the resolved wake and integrated forces to existing computational and experimental results. The integrated thrust values saw very close agreement across all tested pitch angles, while the power was slightly over predicted, resulting in under prediction of the Figure of Merit. Meanwhile, the tip vortices have been preserved for multiple blade passages, indicating an improvement in vortex preservation when compared with previous work. Finally, further results from a single collective pitch case were presented to provide a more complete picture of the solver results.

Collaborative Systems of Systems Need Collaborative Design

Part 1: Introduction

MANIPULATION OF IONS, ELECTRONS, AND PHOTONS IN 2D MATERIALS BY ION INTERCALATION

2D materials have attracted tremendous attention due to their unique physical and chemical properties since the discovery of graphene. Despite these intrinsic properties, various modification methods have been applied to 2D materials that yield even more exciting results. Among all modification methods, the intercalation of 2D materials provides the highest possible doping and/or phase change to the pristine 2D materials. This doping effect highly modifies 2D materials, with extraordinary electrical transport as well as optical, thermal, magnetic, and catalytic properties, which are advantageous for optoelectronics, superconductors, thermoelectronics, catalysis and energy storage applications. To study the property changes of 2D materials, we designed and built a planar nanobattery that allows electrochemical ion intercalation in 2D materials. More importantly, this planar nanobattery enables characterization of electrical, optical and structural properties of 2D materials in situ and real time upon ion intercalation. With this device, we successfully intercalated Li-ions into few layer graphene (FLG) and ultrathin graphite, heavily dopes the graphene to 0.6 x 10^15 /cm2, which simultaneously increased its conductivity and transmittance in the visible range. The intercalated LiC6 single crystallite achieved extraordinary optoelectronic properties, in which an eight-layered Li intercalated FLG achieved transmittance of 91.7% (at 550 nm) and sheet resistance of 3 ohm/sq. We extend the research to obtain scalable, printable graphene based transparent conductors with ion intercalation. Surfactant free, printed reduced graphene oxide transparent conductor thin film with Na-ion intercalation is obtained with transmittance of 79% and sheet resistance of 300 ohm/sq (at 550 nm). The figure of merit is calculated as the best pure rGO based transparent conductors. We further improved the tunability of the reduced graphene oxide film by using two layers of CNT films to sandwich it. The tunable range of rGO film is demonstrated from 0.9 um to 10 um in wavelength. Other ions such as K-ion is also studied of its intercalation chemistry and optical properties in graphitic materials. We also used the in situ characterization tools to understand the fundamental properties and improve the performance of battery electrode materials. We investigated the Na-ion interaction with rGO by in situ Transmission electron microscopy (TEM). For the first time, we observed reversible Na metal cluster (with diameter larger than 10 nm) deposition on rGO surface, which we evidenced with atom-resolved HRTEM image of Na metal and electron diffraction pattern. This discovery leads to a porous reduced graphene oxide sodium ion battery anode with record high reversible specific capacity around 450 mAh/g at 25mA/g, a high rate performance of 200 mAh/g at 250 mA/g, and stable cycling performance up to 750 cycles. In addition, direct observation of irreversible formation of Na2O on rGO unveils the origin of commonly observed low 1st Columbic Efficiency of rGO containing electrodes. Another example for in situ characterization for battery electrode is using the planar nanobattery for 2D MoS2 crystallite. Planar nanobattery allows the intrinsic electrical conductivity measurement with single crystalline 2D battery electrode upon ion intercalation and deintercalation process, which is lacking in conventional battery characterization techniques. We discovered that with a “rapid-charging” process at the first cycle, the lithiated MoS2 undergoes a drastic resistance decrease, which in a regular lithiation process, the resistance always increases after lithiation at its final stage. This discovery leads to a 2- fold increase in specific capacity with with rapid first lithiated MoS2 composite electrode material, compare with the regular first lithiated MoS2 composite electrode material, at current density of 250 mA/g.

A Gestão de Recursos Humanos na Guarda Nacional Republicana e o Empenhamento Organizacional

Considerada um dos elementos basilares para uma cabal e completa prossecução dos objetivos das instituições, a avaliação de desempenho permite valorizar o elemento distintivo das organizações, o ser humano. É neste contexto holístico, centrado na necessidade objetiva de incrementar o empenhamento organizacional, que a Guarda Nacional Republicana procura, através da aplicação do seu Regulamento de Avaliação de Mérito, avaliar o desempenho dos seus militares, no sentido de verificar em que medida estes contribuem para os fins últimos definidos para a instituição. Deste modo, torna-se evidente a importância de, concomitantemente, investigar de que forma este sistema de avaliação é aceite, interiorizado e percebido pelos militares da instituição e compreender se esse sistema de avaliação se assume como uma mais-valia objetiva na promoção do empenho operacional, permitindo o desenvolvimento da carreira dos mais capazes e orientados para a tarefa institucional. Assim, considerando a unicidade que se encontra adjudicada à categoria profissional de Oficiais, únicos elementos do sistema avaliativo que são, cumulativamente, avaliados e avaliadores, a presente pesquisa, através da aplicação de um questionário a uma amostra de 294 Oficiais, procura saber qual é a representação social que estes têm do sistema de avaliação em vigor na Guarda Nacional Republicana. Abstract: Seen as an essential element for a complete and exact prosecution of the institution’s aims, the evaluation of the performance allows the recognition of the organization’s distinctive element, the human being. It’s in this holistic context, centralized around the objective need to increment the organizational commitment, that the Guarda Nacional Republicana tries to evaluate the performance of its militaries, through the application of its Merit Assessment Regulations, as a manner of verifying the way these contribute to the defined aims of the institution. Therefore, it is of evident importance the investigation that, concomitantly, analyses how the evaluation system is accepted, interiorized and understood by the militaries of the institution, along with understanding how much that same evaluation system comes as an objective advantage on the promotion of the operational performance, allowing the development of the career of the more capable and guided for the institutional mission. According to this, and considering the unity that is adjudicated to the professional category of Officials, the only elements of the evaluation system that are both evaluated and evaluators, this research, through the use of a set of questions made to a sample of 294 Officials, tries to discover the social representation that they have of the evaluation system that is now applied in the Guarda Nacional Republicana.

Desenvolvimento e validação de metodologias para quantificação de 3,4 metilenodioximetanfetamina (MDMA) em comprimidos de ecstasy por cromatografia gasosa e ressonância magnética nuclear

Dissertação (mestrado)—Universidade de Brasília, Instituto de Química, 2016.

Light polarization sensitive photodetectors with m- and r-plane homoepitaxial ZnO/ZnMgO quantum wells

Homoepitaxial ZnO/(Zn,Mg)O multiple quantum wells (MQWs) grown with m- and r-plane orientations are used to demonstrate Schottky photodiodes sensitive to the polarization state of light. In both orientations, the spectral photoresponse of the MQW photodiodes shows a sharp excitonic absorption edge at 3.48 eV with a very low Urbach tail, allowing the observation of the absorption from the A, B and C excitonic transitions. The absorption edge energy is shifted by ∼30 and ∼15 meV for the m- and r-plane MQW photodiodes, respectively, in full agreement with the calculated polarization of the A, B, and C excitonic transitions. The best figures of merit are obtained for the m-plane photodiodes, which present a quantum efficiency of ∼11%, and a specific detectivity D* of ∼6.4 × 1010 cm Hz1/2/W. In these photodiodes, the absorption polarization sensitivity contrast between the two orthogonal in-plane axes yields a maximum value of (R⊥/R||)max ∼ 9.9 with a narrow bandwidth of ∼33 meV.

Modeling and analysis of thermoelectric energy conversion efficiency in nanostructures.

116 p.

Dynamic Image Precompensation for Improving Visual Performance of Computer Users with Ocular Aberrations

With the progress of computer technology, computers are expected to be more intelligent in the interaction with humans, presenting information according to the user's psychological and physiological characteristics. However, computer users with visual problems may encounter difficulties on the perception of icons, menus, and other graphical information displayed on the screen, limiting the efficiency of their interaction with computers. In this dissertation, a personalized and dynamic image precompensation method was developed to improve the visual performance of the computer users with ocular aberrations. The precompensation was applied on the graphical targets before presenting them on the screen, aiming to counteract the visual blurring caused by the ocular aberration of the user's eye. A complete and systematic modeling approach to describe the retinal image formation of the computer user was presented, taking advantage of modeling tools, such as Zernike polynomials, wavefront aberration, Point Spread Function and Modulation Transfer Function. The ocular aberration of the computer user was originally measured by a wavefront aberrometer, as a reference for the precompensation model. The dynamic precompensation was generated based on the resized aberration, with the real-time pupil diameter monitored. The potential visual benefit of the dynamic precompensation method was explored through software simulation, with the aberration data from a real human subject. An "artificial eye'' experiment was conducted by simulating the human eye with a high-definition camera, providing objective evaluation to the image quality after precompensation. In addition, an empirical evaluation with 20 human participants was also designed and implemented, involving image recognition tests performed under a more realistic viewing environment of computer use. The statistical analysis results of the empirical experiment confirmed the effectiveness of the dynamic precompensation method, by showing significant improvement on the recognition accuracy. The merit and necessity of the dynamic precompensation were also substantiated by comparing it with the static precompensation. The visual benefit of the dynamic precompensation was further confirmed by the subjective assessments collected from the evaluation participants.