Social class as a factor for the construction of a musician���s identity : The Musician���s social background and identity questionnaire (MSBIQ) ��� a cross-sectional comparative quantitative online survey research study of music students at two higher education institutions in Finland

There is currently little empirical knowledge regarding the construction of a musician���s identity and social class. With a theoretical framework based on Bourdieu���s (1984) distinction theory, Bronfenbrenner���s (1979) theory of ecological systems, and the identity theories of Erikson (1950; 1968) and Marcia (1966), a survey called the Musician���s Social Background and Identity Questionnaire (MSBIQ) is developed to test three research hypotheses related to the construction of a musician���s identity, social class and ecological systems of development. The MSBIQ is administered to the music students at Sibelius Academy of the University of Arts Helsinki and Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, representing the ���highbrow��� and the ���middlebrow��� samples in the field of music education in Finland. Acquired responses (N = 253) are analyzed and compared with quantitative methods including Pearson���s chi-square test, factor analysis and an adjusted analysis of variance (ANOVA). The study revealed that (1) the music students at Sibelius Academy and Metropolia construct their subjective musician���s identity differently, but (2) social class does not affect this identity construction process significantly. In turn, (3) the ecological systems of development, especially the individual���s residential location, do significantly affect the construction of a musician���s identity, as well as the age at which one starts to play one���s first musical instrument. Furthermore, a novel finding related to the structure of a musician���s identity was the tripartite model of musical identity consisting of the three dimensions of a musician���s identity: (I) ���the subjective dimension of a musician���s identity���, (II) ���the occupational dimension of a musician���s identity��� and, (III) ���the conservative-liberal dimension of a musician���s identity���. According to this finding, a musician���s identity is not a uniform, coherent entity, but a structure consisting of different elements continuously working in parallel within different dimensions. The results and limitations related to the study are discussed, as well as the objectives related to future studies using the MSBIQ to research the identity construction and social backgrounds of a musician or other performing artists.

Comparison of the effectiveness of initial combined antiretroviral therapy with nelfinavir or efavirenz at a university-based outpatient service in Brazil

Since there are some concerns about the effectiveness of highly active antiretroviral therapy in developing countries, we compared the initial combination antiretroviral therapy with zidovudine and lamivudine plus either nelfinavir or efavirenz at a university-based outpatient service in Brazil. This was a retrospective comparative cohort study carried out in a tertiary level hospital. A total of 194 patients receiving either nelfinavir or efavirenz were identified through our electronic database search, but only 126 patients met the inclusion criteria. Patients were included if they were older than 18 years old, naive for antiretroviral therapy, and had at least 1 follow-up visit after starting the antiretroviral regimen. Fifty-one of the included patients were receiving a nelfinavir-based regimen and 75 an efavirenz-based regimen as outpatients. Antiretroviral therapy was prescribed to all patients according to current guidelines. By intention-to-treat (missing/switch = failure), after a 12-month period, 65% of the patients in the efavirenz group reached a viral load <400 copies/mL compared to 41% of the patients in the nelfinavir group (P = 0.01). The mean CD4 cell count increase after a 12-month period was also greater in the efavirenz group (195 x 10(6) cells/L) than in the nelfinavir group (119 x 10(6) cells/L; P = 0.002). The efavirenz-based regimen was superior compared to the nelfinavir-based regimen. The low response rate in the nelfinavir group might be partially explained by the difficulty of using a regimen requiring a higher patient compliance (12 vs 3 pills a day) in a developing country.

Utilitarianism and Buddist ethics: a comparative approach to the ethics of animal research

This thesis explores the comparison utilitarianism and Buddhist ethics as they can be applied to animal research. It begins by examining some of the general discussions surrounding the use of animals in research. The historical views on the moral status of animals, the debate surrounding their use in animals, as well as the current 3R paradigm and its application in Canadian research are explored. The thesis then moves on to expound the moral system of utilitarianism as put forth by Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill, as well as contemporary additions to the system. It also looks at the basics of Buddhist ethics well distinguishing the Mahayana from the Therevada. Three case studies in animal research are used to explore how both systems can be applied to animal research. It then offers a comparison as to how both ethical systems function within the field of animal research and explores the implications in their application on its practice.

The Effectiveness of Learning Portfolios: A Study of Quality Assurance Programs of Selected Health Regulatory Colleges in Ontario

Health regulatory colleges promote quality practice and continued competence through Quality Assurance (QA) programs. For many colleges, a QA program includes the use of portfolios that incorporate self-directed learning. The purpose of this study was to determine some of the issues surrounding the effectiveness of QA portfolio programs. The literature review revealed that portfolios are valuable tools, but gaps in knowledge include a comparative analysis of QA programs and the perspective of regulatory college administrators. Data were collected through interviews with 6 administrators and a review of 14 portfolio models described on college websites. The results from the two data sources were applied to Robert Stake's responsive evaluation framework to identify issues related to the portfolio's effectiveness (Stake, 1967). The learning components of portfolios were analyzed through the humanist and constructivist lenses. All 14 portfolio models were found to have 3 main components: self-diagnosis, learning plan and activities, and self-evaluation. However, differences were uncovered in learners' autonomy in selecting learning activities, methods of portfolio evaluation, and the relationship between the portfolio and other QA components. The results revealed a dual philosophy of learning in portfolio models and an apparent contradiction between the needs of the individual learner and the organization. Paths for future research include the tenuous relationship between competence and learning, and the impact of technical approaches on selfdirected learning initiatives. A key recommendation is to acknowledge the unique identity of each profession so that health regulatory colleges can address legislative demands and learner needs.

L'effritement du consentement au profit d'une meilleure justice distributive de la recherche biom��dicale avec des sujets humains : une ��tude comparative en situation d'urgence

"M��moire pr��sent�� �� la Facult�� des ��tudes sup��rieures en vue de l'obtention du grade de ma��trise en droit option Droit et Biotechnologies". Ce m��moire a ��t�� accept�� �� l'unanimit�� et class�� parmi les 15% des m��moires de la discipline.

��valuation comparative de strat��gies visant �� augmenter les interventions de courte dur��e en cessation tabagique aupr��s du personnel infirmier de milieux hospitaliers

Introduction : Les r��sultats de recherches ont d��montr�� que la cessation tabagique augmente l�� o�� des interventions professionnelles pr��ventives sont appliqu��es avec constance. On rapporte qu���au Qu��bec, 62 % des infirmi��res (toutes pratiques confondues) ��valuent le statut tabagique de leurs clients et 38 % sugg��rent la cessation tabagique. En milieu hospitalier, l�����valuation du statut tabagique diminue �� 30 %. Or, le personnel infirmier hospitalier est pr��sent dans les unit��s de soins 24 heures sur 24, ce qui laisse pr��voir une influence potentielle non n��gligeable dans la d��cision des patients de cesser de fumer. Objectif : La pr��sente recherche a pour objectif de comparer, avec un groupe contr��le, l���efficacit�� de strat��gies (formation interactive, rappel, multiple) pour augmenter les interventions r��alis��es en cessation tabagique dans des unit��s de m��decine et de chirurgie. Le choix de ces strat��gies repose sur leur efficacit�� et leur potentiel d���implantation dans d���autres centres. M��thodologie : Un devis exp��rimental avec randomisation par groupe a ��t�� choisi. Le mod��le factoriel permet d�����valuer l���effet de chacun des groupes exp��rimentaux en regard du groupe contr��le. Des mesures pr��strat��gies et poststrat��gies (�� 1 mois et �� 3 mois) sont privil��gi��es. Plusieurs outils permettent de mesurer les effets des strat��gies et ce, avec des sources diversifi��es (personnel infirmier, patients, dossiers des patients, gestionnaires et responsables des centres d���abandon du tabac). R��sultats : Au total, 156 infirmi��res et infirmi��res-auxiliaires ont r��pondu �� des questionnaires au temps 1, 78 au temps 2 et 69 au temps 3. Parall��lement au personnel infirmier, 156 patients ont ��t�� rejoints au temps 1, 89 au temps 2 et 98 au temps 3. Les r��sultats d��montrent que le personnel infirmier ��value le statut tabagique chez 35,7 % de la client��le seulement et la motivation �� cesser de fumer chez 17,6 % des patients. Au cours de notre recherche, peu d���interventions en cessation tabagique ont ��t�� r��alis��es dans les unit��s de m��decine et de chirurgie; la pr��sence de plusieurs obstacles de m��me qu���une perception d���inefficacit�� des interventions de la part du personnel infirmier semblent en ��tre les causes. Les r��sultats de notre recherche ne nous a pas permis d���appuyer nos hypoth��ses. Cependant, des analyses compl��mentaires ont d��montr�� que la strat��gie de formation interactive a permis d���augmenter certaines pratiques cliniques �� court terme et de diminuer la perception d���obstacles �� l���intervention. Le rappel n���a pas fonctionn�� correctement et n���a pu ��tre ��valu��. Conclusion : En consid��rant les r��sultats modestes des strat��gies implant��es, la formation interactive a eu un impact �� tr��s court terme sur les interventions courtes en cessation tabagique r��alis��es par le personnel infirmier d���unit��s de soins en m��decine et en chirurgie. Les difficult��s rencontr��es lors de l���implantation des strat��gies ont ��t�� expliqu��es, ce qui permettra une planification plus ��clair��e de futures recherches dans le domaine.

Stress Of Women Entrepreneurs a Comparative With Women In Selected Groups In The District Of Ernakulam

The focus of this study is the stress of women entrepreneurs.As stress is associated with constraints and demands, and as a set of emerging conditions seem to affect the quality of life of women, it is more than just an occasional need to enquire in to the possibilities of promoting entrepreneurship by empowering women.As women entrepreneurs are increasingly involved in inherently complicated activities of improving their enterprise functioning ,it would be appropriate for women entrepreneurs to focus on transformational coping interventions.The study is limited to women entrepreneurs in the tiny sector.Women entrepreneurs registered in the Distric Industries ( DIC) and in the Kerala State Women���s Industries Association (KSWIA) are only selected for the study.It gaves a detailed description about empowerment of women.The social , economic ,political,ecological,and psychological importance of the study are detailed.It explains the family related stress, and the contextual system.This study is suggested on beliefs and values of women about their self-perception influencing gender bias, which contribute to stress and coping.This study is also needed about women���s believes and expectations about the probable effectiveness of various course of action and their ability to perform those actions.It is also neede for appraising coping potential of women and enhancing their stress base.It is important to research on stress and self-concept

Verbal proficiency as fitness indicator: Experimental and comparative research on the evolutionary psychology of language and verbal displays

Summary: Recent research on the evolution of language and verbal displays (e.g., Miller, 1999, 2000a, 2000b, 2002) indicated that language is not only the result of natural selection but serves as a sexually-selected fitness indicator that is an adaptation showing an individual���s suitability as a reproductive mate. Thus, language could be placed within the framework of concepts such as the handicap principle (Zahavi, 1975). There are several reasons for this position: Many linguistic traits are highly heritable (Stromswold, 2001, 2005), while naturally-selected traits are only marginally heritable (Miller, 2000a); men are more prone to verbal displays than women, who in turn judge the displays (Dunbar, 1996; Locke & Bogin, 2006; Lange, in press; Miller, 2000a; Rosenberg & Tunney, 2008); verbal proficiency universally raises especially male status (Brown, 1991); many linguistic features are handicaps (Miller, 2000a) in the Zahavian sense; most literature is produced by men at reproduction-relevant age (Miller, 1999). However, neither an experimental study investigating the causal relation between verbal proficiency and attractiveness, nor a study showing a correlation between markers of literary and mating success existed. In the current studies, it was aimed to fill these gaps. In the first one, I conducted a laboratory experiment. Videos in which an actor and an actress performed verbal self-presentations were the stimuli for counter-sex participants. Content was always alike, but the videos differed on three levels of verbal proficiency. Predictions were, among others, that (1) verbal proficiency increases mate value, but that (2) this applies more to male than to female mate value due to assumed past sex-different selection pressures causing women to be very demanding in mate choice (Trivers, 1972). After running a two-factorial analysis of variance with the variables sex and verbal proficiency as factors, the first hypothesis was supported with high effect size. For the second hypothesis, there was only a trend going in the predicted direction. Furthermore, it became evident that verbal proficiency affects long-term more than short-term mate value. In the second study, verbal proficiency as a menstrual cycle-dependent mate choice criterion was investigated. Basically the same materials as in the former study were used with only marginal changes in the used questionnaire. The hypothesis was that fertile women rate high verbal proficiency in men higher than non-fertile women because of verbal proficiency being a potential indicator of ���good genes���. However, no significant result could be obtained in support of the hypothesis in the current study. In the third study, the hypotheses were: (1) most literature is produced by men at reproduction-relevant age. (2) The more works of high literary quality a male writer produces, the more mates and children he has. (3) Lyricists have higher mating success than non-lyric writers because of poetic language being a larger handicap than other forms of language. (4) Writing literature increases a man���s status insofar that his offspring shows a significantly higher male-to-female sex ratio than in the general population, as the Trivers-Willard hypothesis (Trivers & Willard, 1973) applied to literature predicts. In order to test these hypotheses, two famous literary canons were chosen. Extensive biographical research was conducted on the writers��� mating successes. The first hypothesis was confirmed; the second one, controlling for life age, only for number of mates but not entirely regarding number of children. The latter finding was discussed with respect to, among others, the availability of effective contraception especially in the 20th century. The third hypothesis was not satisfactorily supported. The fourth hypothesis was partially supported. For the 20th century part of the German list, the secondary sex ratio differed with high statistical significance from the ratio assumed to be valid for a general population.

Research Method Overview: Experimental and Comparative Methods

Experimental and comparative methods in the social sciences

Role of the cultural values as a key part in the implementing of healthy practices : exploratory research

El concepto de organizaci��n saludable cada vez toma m��s fuerza en el ��mbito empresarial y acad��mico, a raz��n de su enfoque integral y al impacto generado en distintos grupos de inter��s. Debido a su reciente consolidaci��n como concepto, existe un limitado cuerpo de investigaci��n en torno al tema. Para contribuir a la generaci��n de conocimiento en este sentido, se desarroll�� un estudio exploratorio el cual ten��a como objetivo identificar la relaci��n existente entre la implementaci��n de pr��cticas saludables en las organizaciones y los valores culturales. En el estudio participaron 66 sujetos a quienes se les administr�� un cuestionario compuesto por nueve variables, cinco provenientes del modelo de Hofstede (1980) y cuatro m��s que evaluaban la implementaci��n de pr��cticas organizacionales saludables. Los resultados obtenidos muestran que los valores culturales predicen la implementaci��n de pr��cticas saludables.

Comparative study of the performance of the M-cycle counter-flow and cross-flow heat exchangers for indirect evaporative cooling - paving the path towards sustainable cooling of buildings

This paper provides a comparative study of the performance of cross-flow and counter-flow M-cycle heat exchangers for dew point cooling. It is recognised that evaporative cooling systems offer a low energy alternative to conventional air conditioning units. Recently emerged dew point cooling, as the renovated evaporative cooling configuration, is claimed to have much higher cooling output over the conventional evaporative modes owing to use of the M-cycle heat exchangers. Cross-flow and counter-flow heat exchangers, as the available structures for M-cycle dew point cooling processing, were theoretically and experimentally investigated to identify the difference in cooling effectiveness of both under the parallel structural/operational conditions, optimise the geometrical sizes of the exchangers and suggest their favourite operational conditions. Through development of a dedicated computer model and case-by-case experimental testing and validation, a parametric study of the cooling performance of the counter-flow and cross-flow heat exchangers was carried out. The results showed the counter-flow exchanger offered greater (around 20% higher) cooling capacity, as well as greater (15%���23% higher) dew-point and wet-bulb effectiveness when equal in physical size and under the same operating conditions. The cross-flow system, however, had a greater (10% higher) Energy Efficiency (COP). As the increased cooling effectiveness will lead to reduced air volume flow rate, smaller system size and lower cost, whilst the size and cost are the inherent barriers for use of dew point cooling as the alternation of the conventional cooling systems, the counter-flow system is considered to offer practical advantages over the cross-flow system that would aid the uptake of this low energy cooling alternative. In line with increased global demand for energy in cooling of building, largely by economic booming of emerging developing nations and recognised global warming, the research results will be of significant importance in terms of promoting deployment of the low energy dew point cooling system, helping reduction of energy use in cooling of buildings and cut of the associated carbon emission.