Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Lost trail'

This focused ethnography of Appalachian Trail (AT) long-distance hikers explored the situated and informal nature of individual knowledge construction as mediated through a community of practice. Unlike place-based or cyber-bound communities, the ever-changing membership and location dynamics of AT hikers offered a unique and researchable community for study. The complex and understudied sensemaking trajectories of individuals moving through this mobile community were investigated over three years through in-depth interviews and participant observations. Inductive analysis of expert and novice stories illuminated experiential patterns and collective traditions that comprise the AT learning culture. In contrast to traditional approaches to knowledge and skill acquisition, this study found socio-reflective exchanges, nested in hiking pods, to be critical sites for cognitive modeling and informal scaffolding between experts and novices. The situated encounters and developmental support of these nomadic pods were found to facilitate individualsâ construction of community-based knowledge.
Ph. D.

This research investigates the influence of layout and design on the severity of trail degradation. Previous trail studies have been restricted by relatively small study areas which provide a limited range of environmental conditions and therefore produce findings with limited applicability; this research improves on this limitation by analyzing a representative sample of the Appalachian Trail with significant ecological diversity. Most trail science studies have also focused on a singular form of trail degradation, whereas this study investigates trail soil loss, widening and muddiness, providing a more cohesive analysis and revealing interrelationships between trail degradation processes. ANOVA testing of the mean values of three trail impact indicators for trail transects within several trail layout frameworks confirms the broad relevance of core trail design principles, specifically the sustainability advantages of trails with low grades and side-hill alignments. Findings also reveal the importance of landform grade in determining the susceptibility of trails to degradation and the influence of routing decisions; these relationships have received relatively little attention in the literature. The results also reveal several methodological considerations for trail alignment metrics and trail impact indicators.
Master of Science
Natural surfaced trails are an essential infrastructure component in parks and protected natural areas. They provide transportation routes through otherwise undeveloped areas and outdoor recreation opportunities for hikers, mountain bikers, and equestrians. Over time, recreational use and natural processes such as rainfall can lead to negative ecological impacts that damage trail treads in ways that impair their utility for visitors and require costly repairs. Environmental factors like unstable soils or extreme precipitation can make trails more susceptible to degradation. However, sustainable trail layouts and effective maintenance can reduce the rate and severity of degradation. This research investigates the influence of trail layout on three chief forms of trail degradation: trail soil loss, muddiness, and widening. Many trail science studies have occurred in small protected natural areas where the limited range of represented environmental conditions reduces the applicability of their findings in dissimilar settings. This study investigates a dataset from a large and ecologically diverse representative sample of the entire Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine which significantly broadens the relevance of its findings. Furthermore, many previous trail studies have focused on single forms of trail degradation whereas this study which investigates three, which provides a more cohesive analysis and reveals interrelationships between impacts. Findings confirm the broad pertinence of core sustainable trail design principles, specifically the benefits of low trail grades and side-hill alignments, and suggests that landform grade is an important factor which has received little attention in the literature. The study also revealed several methodological improvements and considerations which may be useful to trail scientists and practitioners.

The archaeological work completed by the Montana Yellowstone Archaeological Project (MYAP)at Cinnabar, Montana in part as a requirement for Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). The project was conducted as a project between The University of Montana and Yellowstone National Park prior to the 2008 Boundary Land Re-seeding Project within Yellowstone National Park.

BACKGROUND:Obesity is an urgent public health problem, yet only a few clinical trials have systematically tested the efficacy of long-term weight-loss maintenance interventions. This randomized clinical trial tested the efficacy of a novel mind and body technique for weight-loss maintenance.METHODS:Participants were obese adults who had completed a six-month behavioral weight-loss program prior to randomization. Those who successfully lost weight were randomized into either an experimental weight-loss maintenance intervention, Tapas Acupressure Technique (TAT(R)), or a control intervention comprised of social-support group meetings (SS) led by professional facilitators. TAT combines self-applied light pressure to specific acupressure points accompanied by a prescribed sequence of mental steps. Participants in both maintenance conditions attended eight group sessions over six months of active weight loss maintenance intervention, followed by an additional 6 months of no intervention. The main outcome measure was change in weight from the beginning of the weight loss maintenance intervention to 12 months later. Secondary outcomes were change in depression, stress, insomnia, and quality of life. We used analysis of covariance as the primary analysis method. Missing values were replaced using multiple imputation.RESULTS:Among 285 randomized participants, 79% were female, mean age was 56 (standard deviation (sd) = 11), mean BMI at randomization was 34 (sd = 5), and mean initial weight loss was 9.8 kg (sd = 5). In the primary outcome model, there was no significant difference in weight regain between the two arms (1.72 kg (se 0.85) weight regain for TAT and 2.96 kg (se 0.96) weight regain for SS, p < 0.097) Tests of between- arm differences for secondary outcomes were also not significant. A secondary analysis showed a significant interaction between treatment and initial weight loss (p < .036), with exploratory post hoc tests showing that greater initial weight loss was associated with more weight regain for SS but less weight regain for TAT.CONCLUSIONS:The primary analysis showed no significant difference in weight regain between TAT and SS, while secondary and post hoc analyses indicate direction for future research.TRIAL REGISTRATION:ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00526565

This dissertation is about Milton’s moral vision of the passions in a century that thought passions were the difference between a free body and a materially determined body, justified knowledge and error, paradise and hell – in short, the difference between a virtuous life and an enslaved soul. In what has been called an ‘affective turn’ within literary studies, Passions on Trial adds to the growing body of scholarship characterised by a fascination with early modern agency, passions, senses, humours, and the body, and proposes that the next turn points towards ethics. My dissertation contributes to the field of knowledge by providing the first full-length study of Milton’s thinking on the passions throughout his life. It argues that seventeenth-century passions help develop Milton’s concepts of matter and knowledge, agency, and ethics.

Class of 2010 Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The objective was to compare differences in weight loss data presented in published orlistat studies on orlistat to their corresponding studies submitted to the FDA. METHODS: This meta-­‐analysis compared one-­‐year weight loss data reported in six published orlistat 120 mg studies to data reviewed by the FDA in the New Drug Application (NDA). The primary dependent variables were the percentage of subjects achieving 5% and 10% weight loss. Prior to analysis, weight loss data was stratified into placebo and orlistat groups. Potential for bias was assessed with a funnel plot and by calculating Kendall’s tau. The a priori alpha level was 0.05. RESULTS: Corresponding FDA reviews were located for 6 published orlistat trials. The pooled odds ratio of published vs. FDA 5%weight loss data for the placebo arm was 2.18 (95% CI: 1.83 to 2.60; p < 0.001) and 1.95 (95% CI: 1.70 to 2.24; p < 0.001) for the orlistat arm. The pooled odds ratio of published vs. FDA for 10% weight loss data for the placebo arm was 2.25 (95% CI: 1.74 to 2.91; p < 0.001) and 2.20 (95% CI: 1.88 to 2.57; p < 0.001) for the orlistat arm. The p-­‐values for Kendall’s tau for the 5% and 10% weight loss data were 0.054 and 0.34, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Published orlistat trials presented 5% and 10% weight loss data that were twice of that reported in the FDA-­‐reviewed trials, and there was potential for bias in the 5% weight loss data.

Abnormal cortisol levels may be an important factor in the ability of an individual to lose weight and maintain weight loss. This study examined overweight and obese individuals who participated in a weight loss program. Cortisol, physical activity, and weight loss were measured at regular intervals and examined for possible relationships

Surrendering to what is the nature of compassion, the power of silence, a true commitment to the character, a complete freedom of the imagination, and the will, at any given moment, to let go of who we think we are in order to become who we are meant to be - has been the greatest teacher of all. .-Eckhart Tolle

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Georgia State University, 2005.
Title from title screen. Frank J Floyd, committee chair; Martha A. Foster, Lawrence P. Riso, Gregory J. Jurkovic, committee members. Electronic text (121 p.) : digital, PDF file. Description based on contents viewed June 12, 2007. Includes bibliographical references (p.104-121).

The most common railroad accidents today involve collisions between trains and passenger vehicles at railroad grade crossings [1][2]. Due to the size and speed of a train, these collisions generally result in significant damage and serious injury. Despite recent efforts by projects such as Operation Lifesaver to install safety features at grade crossings, up to 80% of the United States railroad grade crossings are classified as 'unprotected' with no lights, warnings, or crossing gates [2]. Further, from January to September 2012, nearly 10% of all reported vehicle accidents were a result of train-to-vehicle collisions. These collisions also accounted for nearly 95% of all reported fatalities from vehicular accidents [2]. To help provide a more rapidly deployable safety system, advanced dedicated short range communication (DSRC) systems are being developed. DSRC is an emerging technology that is currently being explored by the automotive safety industry for vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communications to provide intelligent transportation services (ITS). DSRC uses WAVE protocols and the IEEE 1609 standards. Among the many features of DSRC systems is the ability to sense and then provide an early warning of a potential collision [6]. One potential adaption for this technology is for use as a train-to-vehicle collision warning system for unprotected grade crossings. These new protocols pose an interesting opportunity for enhancing cybersecurity since terrorists will undoubtedly eventually identify these types of mass disasters as targets of opportunity. To provide a thorough channel model of the train to vehicle communication environment that is proposed above, large-scale path loss and small scale fading will both be analyzed to characterize the propagation environment. Measurements were collected at TTCI in Pueblo Colorado to measure the received signal strength in a train to vehicle communication environment. From the received signal strength, different channel models can be developed to characterize the communication environment. Documented metrics include large scale path loss, Rician small scale fading, Delay spread, and Doppler spread. An analysis of the DSRC performance based on Packet Error Rate is also included.
Master of Science

Objective: To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of round window (RW), oval window (OW), CliP and Bell couplers for use with an active middle ear implant. Methods: This is a multicenter, long-term, prospective trial with consecutive enrollment, involving 6 university hospitals in Germany. Bone conduction, air conduction, implant-aided warbletone thresholds and Freiburger monosyllable word recognition scores were compared with unaided preimplantation results in 28 moderate-to-profound hearing-impaired patients after 12 months of follow-up. All patients had previously undergone failed reconstruction surgeries (up to 5 or more). In a subset of patients, additional speech tests at 12 months postoperatively were used to compare the aided with the unaided condition after implantation with the processor switched off. An established quality-of-life questionnaire for hearing aids was used to determine patient satisfaction. Results: Postoperative bone conduction remained stable. Mean functional gain for all couplers was 37 dB HL (RW = 42 dB, OW = 35 dB, Bell = 38 dB, CliP = 27 dB). The mean postoperative Freiburger monosyllable score was 71% at 65 dB SPL. The postimplantation mean SRT 50 (speech reception in quiet for 50% understanding of words in sentences) improved on average by 23 dB over unaided testing and signal-to-noise ratios also improved in all patients. The International Outcome Inventory for Hearing Aids (IOI-HA) quality-of-life questionnaire was scored very positively by all patients. Conclusion: A significant improvement was seen with all couplers, and patients were satisfied with the device at 12 months postoperatively. These results demonstrate that an active implant is an advantage in achieving good hearing benefit in patients with prior failed reconstruction surgery.

Class of 2008 Abstract
Objectives: 1) To determine if data on weight change in the placebo arm of RCT's for weight loss were available, and 2) to conduct a pilot meta-analysis to estimate the average weight change in the placebo arm. Methods: Four randomized placebo controlled trials of rimonabant for weight loss were retrieved. A draft data extraction form was developed to record weight loss and demographic data. Potential for bias was assessed on design issues related to withdrawals, blinding, allocation procedure, adherence, and manufacturer influence. Based on available data, a forest plot was constructed and heterogeneity was assessed. The a priori alpha level was 0.05. Results: The placebo groups from all studies were similar. The pooled data indicated that individuals in the placebo arm lost an average of 3.3 kg, p < 0.001. One study had a significantly greater completion rate than the other studies. Participants were prescribed a hypocaloric diet and were instructed to increase physical activity but no data were reported on calories consumed or amount of physical activity. Weight loss of 5% ranged from 15-20% of participants. There was potential for bias relating to reported adherence, allocation concealment process, and manufacturer funding. Conclusions: Participants in the placebo arm of rimonabant trials lost an average of 3.3 kg, which was statistically significant. Little can be learned about weight loss in the placebo arm because no data on calories consumed, amount of exercise, or hunger were reported. Information from other RCT's is needed to provide additional data and to confirm the findings.

Thesis (MA (Psychology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009.
Informal settlements exist all over South Africa and are expanding and multiplying as people seek better jobs close to urban areas. The close proximity of the thousands of shacks has enabled the rapid spread of massive fires in informal settlements. The purpose of this study was to identify resilience characteristics in families who have lost their home in a shack fire. Family resilience refers to the family’s ability to achieve normal family functioning despite having experienced a traumatic event. The focus of this study was on 38 families from an informal settlement just outside Stellenbosch in the Western Cape. The study was conducted from a mixed methods approach and made use of a cross-sectional survey research design. Data was collected through the use of a biographical questionnaire, an open-ended question, and self-report questionnaires based on the Resilience Model of Stress, Adjustment and Adaptation. The results from the qualitative data indicate that the families indicated working together as a family as being vital to resilience. Material support from the municipality and extended family, shelter provided by members of the extended family and financial support from the extended family were also indicated as essential in overcoming a crisis. The results from the quantitative data indicate a significant positive correlation between family adaptation and: (i) the quality of communication within the family, (ii) the fortitude and durability of the family unit, (iii) the family’s sense of internal strengths, dependability, and ability to work together, and (iv) the family’s sense of being in control of family life rather than being shaped by outside events and circumstances.

Introduction: Breast cancer is the most frequent cancer among women worldwide. Breast cancer treatments and treatment-related factors (type, dose, duration, and side-effects) have been found to be associated with weight gain in women. Overweight and obesity, in breast cancer survivors, is associated with increased risk of breast cancer-specific and all-cause mortality. Prognosis may be improved by maintaining a healthy weight but research in weight management in women treated for breast cancer is relatively limited. Aim: To design a weight loss trial for women treated for breast cancer and to evaluate its feasibility, and effect on body weight and quality of life (QoL). Methods: The development and evaluation of the trial was guided by the Medical Research Council framework for developing and evaluating complex interventions and involved mixed methods research. The development involved a systematic review of 13 randomised controlled trials (RCTs) targeting weight loss in women treated for breast cancer, and a mixed methods study [focus group meetings (n= 15), survey (n= 139), and interviews (n=20)] with the target population to understand their experiences and future preferences of a weight loss programme. The findings of these preliminary studies informed the design of a feasibility RCT of weight loss intervention. Results: 45 women (age 41-89 y; BMI 25.1–66.2 kg/m2) previously treated for breast cancer were randomly allocated to three groups: Weight Watchers vouchers for 12 weeks plus 5 dietitian-led support groups (WW plus: n=14); Weight Watchers vouchers only (WW: n=16) or waiting-list control (Weight Watchers vouchers after 3 months) (controls: n=15). Weight and QoL were measured at 0 and 12 weeks and data was available for 38 (84%) participants at 12 weeks. The trial was found to be feasible and acceptable for weight loss in this population. The controls, WW plus and WW group showed median (IQR) weight change of 0.07 (-0.4, 0.7) kg (p= 0.666), -2.90 (-6.5, -2.2) kg (p= 0.002) and -5.90 (-6.6, -5.1) kg (p= 0.001) respectively (between groups, p = 0.001). The regression model suggested that compared to participants in WW plus, participants in WW group lost significantly more weight (2.6 kg; 95% CI -0.38, -4.86) and control group participants lost significantly less weight (3.8 kg; 95% CI, 1.47, 6.16) over the 12 weeks. There were a number of significant improvements in different QoL scores in the intervention groups at 12 weeks. However, a significant difference in median (IQR) scores of the breast cancer specific QoL scale was observed between the three groups (p= 0.017) and it was higher in WW group [5.0 (1.5, 7.5)] compared to WW plus group [3.7 (2.0, 4.5)] and control [0.5 (-2.0, 2.2)]. Conclusions: The outcomes of this theoretically informed trial suggest that providing WW vouchers for overweight and obese women treated for breast cancer is feasible and shows promise for weight loss and improved QoL.

How to Factor Loss is a collection of poems and translations prefaced by a critical paper over Robert Hass's “Meditation at Lagunitas.” The preface, “A Sensuous Theory, A Sensuous Poem,” explores how Hass merges the discourses of theory and poetry to create a poem that hangs suspended between a confidence and an anxiety about language. The poems in this thesis are primarily responses to finitude. The first section turns toward an “other” as a strategy of placating desire and of reaching both inward and outward. The second section explores the potential failures of art as a means of touching objects. The final section acknowledges that finitude is the condition of humankind, and it turns toward a more tender language, one that embraces limitations and is filled with something like faith. The collection is followed by an appendix which contains translations of several poems by René Guy Cadou and Georg Trakl.

Severe and progressive weight loss is a feature of pancreatic cancer but it has been unclear whether dietetic intervention can improve patient outcomes. This study is a post hoc analysis of the extensive data available from the multicentre BH80 Cancer Cachexia trial to examine how patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer respond to intensive dietetic intervention. The BH80 study compared an n-3 fatty acid enriched oral supplement with an isonitrogenous, isocaloric supplement given over an eight week period. Additional qualitative data was also collected and examined for the patients recruited by the Australian sites. The aims were to determine whether achieving weight stabilisation is an appropriate goal of nutrition intervention for people with unresectable pancreatic cancer; to identify determinants of weight stabilisation; and to describe nutrition-related features of patients recruited by the Australian sites, prior to and during intensive nutrition intervention. Data from 107 patients for whom weight change data over an eight week nutrition intervention period was available, was divided into weight losing (less than 1kg lost) and weight stable (less than or equal to 1 kg lost) patients. Group survival duration (Kaplan Meier log rank test) and global quality of life (EORTC QLQ-C30 global health status/quality of life) were compared. Variables including energy intake, BMI, presence of pain, nausea and vomiting, and appetite loss, C reactive protein and stage of disease were also compared to determine predictors of weight stability using logistic regression analysis. This study demonstrates that weight stabilisation is not only achievable for some patients in the short term, but it is also associated with improved outcomes. Those patients who were able to stabilise their weight after eight weeks of oral nutrition support lived longer from baseline and reported better quality of life than those who continued to lose weight. Weight stabilisation is therefore a reasonable and worthwhile goal for this patient group.

[EN] The aim of the present Thesis is to develop models for the study of very high-frequency phenomena associated with the coupling dynamics of a railway vehicle with the track. Through these models, this Thesis intends to address squeal noise as a particular case of rolling noise when the train negotiates a small radius curve. Wheel/rail interaction is the predominant source of noise emission in railway operations. Rolling contact couples the wheel and the rail through a very small area, characterised by strongly non-linear and non-steady state dynamics that differentiates rolling noise from any other noise problem. Wheel/rail contact problem is studied based on Kalker's variational theory and the local falling behaviour of the coefficient of friction is introduced by means of a regularisation of Coulomb's law. Its implementation shows that the influence of the falling friction on the creep curves can be assumed negligible, thus rolling contact is finally modelled using a constant coefficient of friction. Flexibility is introduced in railway substructures through the Finite Element (FE) method in order to cover the high-frequency range. This work adopts a rotatory wheelset model that takes computational advantage of its rotational symmetry. It also develops a cyclic flexible rail model that fixes the translational contact force in a spatial point of the mesh through a technique called Moving Element (ME) method. A modal approach is used to reduce significantly the number of degrees of freedom of the global problem and a diagonalisation technique permits to decouple the resulting modal equations of motion in order to increase the computational velocity of the time integrator. Simulations in curving conditions in the time domain are carried out for constant friction conditions in order to study if the proposed interaction model can reproduce squeal characteristics for different curve radii and coefficients of friction.
[ES] El objetivo de la presente Tesis es desarrollar modelos para el estudio de fenómenos de muy alta frecuencia asociados a la dinámica acoplada de un vehículo ferroviario con la vía. A través de estos modelos, esta Tesis pretende abordar el fenómeno de los chirridos como un caso particular de ruido de rodadura en condiciones de curva cerrada. La interacción rueda/carril es la fuente predominante de ruido en las operaciones ferroviarias. El contacto es el responsable del acoplamiento entre la rueda y el carril a través de un área muy pequeña caracterizada por una dinámica fuertemente no lineal y no estacionaria. El problema de contacto rueda/carril se estudia mediante la teoría variacional de Kalker y la caída local del coeficiente de fricción se introduce por medio de una regularización de la ley de Coulomb, que muestra que su influencia sobre las curvas de fluencia se puede despreciar. Como consecuencia, el coeficiente de fricción se considera constante. La flexibilidad se introduce en las subestructuras ferroviarias a través del método de los Elementos Finitos (EF) para cubrir el rango de las altas frecuencias. La Tesis adopta un modelo de eje montado rotatorio que toma ventaja computacional de su simetría rotacional. También desarrolla un modelo de carril flexible y cíclico que fija la fuerza de contacto en un punto espacial de la malla mediante el método de los Elementos Móviles (EM). Se utiliza un enfoque modal para reducir significativamente el número de grados de libertad del problema global; las ecuaciones de movimiento resultantes en coordenadas modales se desacoplan mendiante una técnica de diagonalización para aumentar la velocidad computacional del integrador temporal. Las simulaciones en condiciones de curva en el dominio del tiempo se llevan a cabo en condiciones de fricción constante con el objetivo de estudiar si el modelo de interacción propuesto puede reproducir las características del chirrido en curva para diferentes radios de curva y coeficientes de fricción.
[CAT] L'objectiu de la present Tesi és desenvolupar models per a l'estudi de fenòmens de molt alta freqüència associats amb la dinàmica acoblada d'un vehicle ferroviari amb la via. Aquests models permeten simular el soroll de rodament encara que, en particular, aquest treball es proposa abordar el fenomen del soroll grinyolant produït quan el tren negocia un radi de curvatura estret. La interacció roda/carril és la font predominant de l'emissió de soroll en les operacions ferroviàries. El contacte acobla la roda i el carril a través d'una àrea molt reduïda que es caracteritza per una dinàmica fortament no lineal i no estacionària. El problema de contacte roda/carril s'estudia mitjançant la teoria variacional de Kalker i el descens local del coeficient de fricció s'introdueix per mitjà d'una regularització de la llei de Coulomb, què demostra que la seua influència en les corbes de fluència es pot suposar insignificant. Per tant, s'utilitza un coeficient de fricció constant per a modelar el contacte. La flexibilitat s'introdueix en les subestructures de ferrocarril a través del mètode d'Elements Finits (EF) per tal de cobrir el rang d'alta freqüència. La present tesi adopta un model d'eix muntat rotatori que s'aprofita de la seua la simetria rotacional per a augmentar la eficiència computacional. També desenvolupa un model de carril flexible i cíclic que fixa la força de contacte en un punt espacial de la malla a través del mètode dels Elements Mòbils (EM). S'empra un enfocament modal per reduir significativament el nombre de graus de llibertat del problema global, al temps que s'implementa una tècnica diagonalització que permet desacoblar les equacions modals de moviment per a augmentar la velocitat computacional de l'integrador temporal. Les simulacions en les condicions de corba en el domini del temps es duen a terme per a condicions de fricció constant per tal d'estudiar si el model d'interacció proposat pot reproduir les característiques del soroll grinyolant per a diferents radis de corba i coeficients de fricció.
Giner Navarro, J. (2017). Advances Techniques for Time-Domain Modelling of High-Frequency Train/Track Interaction [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/90637
TESIS

Childhood obesity is associated with serious physiological and psychological consequences including type 2 diabetes, higher rates of depression and low self-esteem. With the population of overweight and obese youth increasing, appropriate interventions are needed that speak to the issue of motivation to maintain adherence to healthy behavior changes. The current investigation was a randomized controlled trial examining the efficacy of Motivational Interviewing (MI) as an intervention for promoting self-efficacy and weight-loss in a sample of overweight and obese youth. Participants (N = 42) ages 10-18, were randomly assigned to a control (social skills training) or treatment (MI) group. Both groups received individual therapy (~30 minutes/month) in addition to usual care of diet/exercise counseling. Pre and post (at 6 months follow-up) variables included measures of self-efficacy and anthropometrics. Results indicated that while significant between-group differences were not found, individuals in the MI group attended more sessions. Overall, participants in both groups showed significant increases in self-efficacy and a trend of decreased BMI z-scores. Though health benefits from participation in individual therapy may have been accrued, specific benefits attributable to MI were limited. Findings from the current study suggest that more than one type of counseling intervention (i.e., MI and social skills training) may be beneficial when providing integrative treatment for obese youth.
Canadian Institutes of Health and Research (CIHR)

The thesis examines the O.J. Simpson murder trial and analyzes the racial narratives that affected its outcome and the way it is perceived by the American public. By examining four books about the trial written by lawyers who served on the case, the analysis focuses on how race functions within each of the reconstructed narratives, as well as within the framework of the U.S. criminal justice system. The author argues that racial narratives affect how and why people can see the same event differently, a prime example of which is the O.J. Simpson murder trial. Representations of Mark Fuhrman, his role in the O.J. Simpson trial, and how these are affected by racial narratives are also discussed. The author concludes that the O.J. Simpson murder trial presented an opportunity in which issues concerning race, race relations, and ideologies about race could be openly discussed.

Thesis (MNutr)--Stellenbosch University, 2012.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: It is estimated that 1.3 billion people worldwide are either overweight or obese, making this a global epidemic. An effective weight-loss method involves the lifestyle changes of increased physical activity and lowered energy intake. These changes are difficult to carry out and to maintain. As a result, there is a soaring demand for weight-loss aids, including dietary supplements, which exploit consumers’ eagerness to find an effortless weight-loss solution. These supplements are easily accessible, require no prescription and are heavily marketed to suggest that weight loss is achievable without exercise and dieting. One such dietary supplement, Bioslim, is tested in this study. The aim of this study was to investigate whether Bioslim results in greater weight loss than a placebo, and whether the marketing of the Bioslim brand has an influence on the placebo response. Overweight adults residing in Cape Town (n = 87) were recruited by advertising in community newspapers and setting up stands at shopping centres. The subjects were randomised into one of four groups: Bioslim in Bioslim packaging (n = 26), Bioslim in unbranded packaging (n = 22), placebo in Bioslim packaging (n = 17) and placebo in unbranded packaging (n = 22). At baseline, the subjects were given one of the four products and anthropometric measurements (weight, height and skinfold thickness) were taken. After four weeks, these measurements were repeated. The subjects also had to complete a questionnaire regarding their experiences. The body mass index (BMI) for the total population was 31.90 kg/m2 (SD = 3.91) at baseline and 31.89 kg/m2 (SD = 3.92) at follow-up. None of the measured anthropometric variables had changed significantly after four weeks. When the total study group sample was analysed, based on the allocated drug treatment groups (active or placebo), neither group showed significant weight loss from baseline to follow-up. Twenty-three subjects from the Bioslim group and 21 from the unbranded group reported exercising during the trial. The total group’s exercise time correlated significantly with fat-mass reduction (r = -0.31, p = 0.004). Furthermore, when data was analysed separately for the active and placebo groups, the active group showed a significant correlation (r = -0.45, p = 0.0012), while the placebo group showed an insignificant correlation (r = -0.05, p = 0.77). The same was not reflected in weight loss (r = -0.007, p = 0.95). It is concluded that Bioslim is an ineffective weight-loss supplement: subjects receiving active pills evidenced no significant beneficial changes in weight, waist circumference or body composition. More than half of the subjects attempted dieting and exercising, but these efforts were insufficient to impact on weight loss. The marketing and packaging of Bioslim did not enhance the placebo effect. One subject from the active group withdrew from the study, complaining of severe headaches and heart palpitations. There was no difference in adverse events reported by the remaining active and placebo group subjects. In conclusion, this study emphasises the need for better regulation of the efficacy and safety of dietary supplements.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Daar word geskat dat 1.3 biljoen mense wêreldwyd oorgewig of vetsugtig is, wat dit ‘n globale problem maak. ‘n Effektiewe gewigsverlies metode inkorporeer leefstyl veranderinge soos verhoogde fisiese aktiwiteit en ‘n laer energie inname. Hierdie veranderinge is moeilik om uit te voer en vol te hou. Die gevolg is ‘n stygende aanvraag vir gewigsverliesprodukte en supplemente, wat verbruikers se gretigheid om ‘n maklike gewigsverlies oplossing te kry, uitbuit. Hierdie supplemente is maklik verkrygbaar sonder ‘n voorskrif en word aggressief bemark met bewering dat gewigsverlies moontlik is sonder oefening en dieetaanpassing. Een van die beskikbare produkte, Bioslim, is getoets in die studie. Die doel van die studie was om te ondersoek of die gewigsverlies produk, Bioslim, lei tot ‘n groter gewigsverlies as ‘n plasebo produk en of die bemarking van die Bioslim handelsmerk ‘n invloed op die plasebo-effek het. Oorgewig volwassenes woonagtig in Kaapstad (n = 87) is gewerf deur advertering in gemeenskapskoerante en deur stalletjies by inkopiesentrums. Die proefpersone is ewekansig in vier groepe ingedeel: Bioslim in Bioslim verpakking (n = 26); Bioslim in verpakking sonder ‘n handelsmerk (n = 22); ‘n plasebo produk in Bioslim verpakking (n = 17) en ‘n plasebo produk in verpakking sonder ‘n handelsmerk (n = 17). Met aanvang van die studie is een van die vier produkte aan die proefpersone gegee en antropometriese metings (gewig, lengte en velvoudikte) is gemeet. Metings is na vier weke herhaal. Die proefpersone moes ook ‘n vraelys oor hul ervarings voltooi. Die liggaamsmassa indeks (LMI) van die totale populasie was 31,90 kg/m2 (SD = 3.91) by basislyn en 31.89 kg/m2 (SD = 3.92) met opvolg. Geen van die antropometriese veranderlikes het betekenisvol verander na vier weke nie. Met ontleding van die totale studie polulasie, gebasseer op die toegekende behandeling (aktiewe of plasebo bestanddele), is gevind dat geen groep ‘n betekenisvolle gewigsverlies getoon het van basislyn tot opvolg nie. Drie-en-twintig proefpersone uit die Bioslim groep en 21 uit die geen-handelsmerk-groep het gerapporteer dat hul geoefen het gedurende die studie. Die totale groep se oefenings tydsduur het betekenisvol gekorreleer met ‘n verlaging in vetmassa (r = -0.31, p = 0.004). Met verdere analiese van die data in die aktiewe en plasebo groepe, is gevind dat die aktiewe groep ‘n betekenisvolle korrelasie getoon het (r = -0.45, p = 0.0012), maar die plasebo groep nie (r = -0.05, p = 0.77). Hierdie bevinding is nie gevind in die gewigsverlies nie (r = -0.007, p = 0.95). Die gevolgtrekking word gemaak dat Bioslim ‘n oneffektiewe gewigsverlies supplement is, aangesien proefpersone wat die aktiewe pille geneem het, geen betekenisvolle voordelige veranderinge in hul gewig, middelomtrek of liggaamsamestelling getoon het nie. Alhoewel ‘n betekenisvolle korrelasie gevind is tussen oefeningsduur en verlies aan vetmassa in meer as die helfte van die proefpersone, was die omvang daarvan onvoldoende om ‘n impak op hul gewigsverlies te hê. Die bemarking en Bioslim handelsmerk het nie die placebo-effek versterk nie. Een persoon uit die aktiewe groep het van die studie onttrek as gevolg van erge hoofpyn en hartkloppings. Daar was geen verskil in die nadelige effekte gerapporteer deur die oorblywende proefpersone in die aktiewe en plasebo groepe nie. Ten slotte beklemtoon die studie die behoefte aan beter regulering van die effektiwiteit en veiligheid van dieetsupplemente.

Kyoto University (京都大学)
0048
新制・課程博士
博士(農学)
甲第8421号
農博第1105号
新制||農||799(附属図書館)
学位論文||H12||N3378(農学部図書室)
UT51-2000-F325
京都大学大学院農学研究科農学専攻
(主査)教授 杉浦 明, 教授 池橋 宏, 教授 矢澤 進
学位規則第4条第1項該当

The legal provision that the Spanish legislator makes about absence at trial is adequate and proportionate to its ultimate goal, which is to fully guarantee the rights of those who are party to a process in all branches of the law. This conclusion can be reached not only by studying existing Spanish procedural legislation on the matter, but also by examining the procedural rules of other European states on the same issue. Apparent in the legal decisions examined in this doctoral thesis, which number more than forty, are the criteria established by the Spanish Constitutional Court and Supreme Court for the requirements that must be met by the service of judicial documents in order to be considered duly performed and thus guarantee the rights of the parties to the process, in particular those of the party in absentia. Another of the key questions explored by this thesis are cases in which foreign nationals are handed over after a request is issued by another State that makes use of international legal cooperation mechanisms, both in cases of extradition and the European Arrest Warrant. I will focus in particular on the latter by examining some of the most notable resolutions of the European Court of Human Rights in this regard. Framework Decision 2009/299 is established as an effective mechanism to overcome the problems the aforementioned hand over can sometimes create and, ultimately, to ensure the mutual recognition of decisions rendered without the person concerned appearing at trial.
La previsión legal que hace el legislador español sobre la ausencia en juicio es adecuada y proporcionada a la finalidad última de la misma que no puede ser otra que asegurar la plena garantía de los derechos de los que son partes en el proceso en todos los órdenes jurisdiccionales. A esta conclusión es posible llegar no solamente después de estudiar la legislación procesal española existente en la materia sino también examinando la regulación procesal que sobre el mismo particular realizan otros estados europeos. En las resoluciones que se examinan en esta tesis doctoral, algo más de cuarenta, es dable apreciar el criterio fijado por el Tribunal Constitucional y también por el Tribunal Supremo en materia de requisitos que deben reunir los actos de comunicación para que se consideren debidamente realizados y garanticen así los derechos de las partes en el proceso y sobre todo del ausente. Otra de las cuestiones capitales de esta tesis es lo relativo a los casos en los que se realizan entregas de nacionales ante el requerimiento efectuado por otro estado en uso de mecanismos de cooperación jurídica internacional, tanto casos de extradición como de Ordenes Europeas de Detención y Entrega, deteniéndome en especial en éste último supuesto y examinando alguna de las resoluciones del Tribunal Europeo de Derechos Humanos que en esta materia destacan. La Decisión Marco 2009/299 se erige como un mecanismo de eficacia fundamental para superar los problemas que produce en ocasiones la referida entrega y en definitiva, el reconocimiento mutuo de resoluciones dictadas sin la comparecencia en juicio de la persona afectada.

Background: Overweight and obesity are significant public health concerns that are prevalent in younger age cohorts. Preventive or therapeutic interventions are difficult to implement and maintain over time. On the other hand, the majority of adolescents in the United States have a smartphone, representing a huge potential for innovative digitized interventions, such as weight loss programs delivered via smartphone applications. Although the number of available smartphone applications is increasing, evidence for their effectiveness in weight loss is insufficient. Therefore, the proposed study aims to assess the efficacy of a gamification-based smartphone application for weight loss in overweight and obese adolescents. The trial is designed to be a phase II, single-centre, two-arm, triple-blinded, randomized controlled trial (RCT) with a duration of 6 months. Method: The intervention consists of a smartphone application that provides both tracking and gamification elements, while the control arm consists of an identically designed application solely with tracking features of health information. The proposed trial will be conducted in an urban primary care clinic of an academic centre in the United States of America, with expertise in the management of overweight and obese adolescents. Eligible adolescents will be followed for 6 months. Changes in body mass index z score from baseline to 6 months will be the primary outcome. Secondary objectives will explore the effects of the gamification-based application on adherence, as well as anthropometric, metabolic and behavioural changes. A required sample size of 108 participants (54 participants per group) was calculated. Discussion: The benefits of the proposed study include mid-term effects in weight reduction for overweight and obese adolescents. The current proposal will contribute to fill a gap in the literature on the mid-term effects of gamification-based interventions to control weight in adolescents. This trial is a well-designed RCT that is in line with the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials statement.

Background: Androgenetic Alopecia (AGA) is a nonscarring alopecia that affects both men and women. It is characterized by a progressive miniaturization of hair follicles with a characteristic pattern distribution in genetically predisposed men and women. The currently available treatments for AGA are sometimes perceived as having limited effectiveness, therefore, Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has been postulated as a new therapy for AGA. Objective: To assess the efficacy of PRP on the evolution of AGA, between 6 months of treatment and baseline. Methods: This was a prospective, randomized, placebo controlled, double-blind, half-head study in male and female patients with AGA. The patient selection was performed in two different phases, according to presence or absence of medication for AGA. Group A included patients without previous medication for AGA and Group B included patients under medication for AGA (minoxidil or finasteride). All patients received a total of 3 treatments of PRP on one half-head and saline solution in the other half-head, with an interval of 1 month from each other. Injected areas comprised 4 circular areas marked with a dot tattoo. The follow-up visit was made at 6 months. Results: In Group A: administration of PRP alone attended a statistically significant improvement of mean hair density, mean terminal hair density, mean anagen hairs and telogen hairs, when compared with baseline, at 6 months. A statistically significantly correlation between demographic data and trichoscan analysis was found with two parameters: mean total hair density and mean anagen hairs. Regarding Group B: administration of PRP associated with ongoing medication is effective on the evolution of AGA. Both minoxidil or finasteride associated with PRP improved hair regrowth, although PRP in combination with minoxidil showed a greater improvement than PRP with finasteride, at six months. Limitations: The two major limitations of this study relate to the sample size and duration of follow-up. Conclusion: Administration of autologous PRP had a positive effect on male and female pattern hair loss without major side-effects.

Current treatments for obesity have been unsuccessful. It is essential that a patient-centred approach for obesity management is developed and for this to be successful other diet and lifestyle approaches need to be considered. A systematic review comparing low carbohydrate vs. low fat diets for the treatment of obesity was carried out. It found that low carbohydrate/high protein diets are as effective as, if not better, for treating obesity and cardiovascular disease risk factors. A randomised controlled trial investigating dietary approaches for the treatment of obesity and its co morbidities was carried out. Variables including weight and body composition, cardiovascular risk factors, adipokines, liver and kidney function, and health and lifestyle factors were measured. Those with metabolic syndrome were also examined. It was hypothesised that there are alternative ways of treating obese subjects depending on their phenotype. Those with a higher BMI tend to have a higher carbohydrate intake rather that a higher fat intake so may be better suited to a low carbohydrate/high protein diet rather than the conventional low fat/energy reduced diet. Subjects were initially treated with the standard dietary approach for obesity (health eating, HE) and if not successful after 3 months were randomised to either a very low calorie diet (Lighterlife, LL) or a protein sparing modified fast (PSMF). All three groups showed a significant weight loss and reduced risk for CVD at 12 months. Significant improvements were seen for plasminogen-activated receptor-1, adiponectin, leptin and IL-6 on HE and LL, but only adiponectin significantly improved on the PSMF. Neither diet showed any detrimental effects for those with a healthy liver and kidney function. Quality of life and levels of depression improved at 12 months. Of the 54 subjects with metabolic syndrome at baseline, 12 remained on HE and 32 were randomised to LL and PSMF. This indicates that most subjects did not suit a low fat dietary approach. They were successful at losing weight on LL and PSMF and showed improvement in MS risk factors, and adipokine levels at 12 months. In conclusion, the study demonstrates that a low fat diet may not necessarily be the first line of approach to treat obese subjects with a BMI over 35 kg/m2, including those with MS. A very low calorie diet such as LL or a PSMF may be better suited to the subject.

The recent increase in the number of children orphaned and rendered vulnerable by HIV and AIDS in South Africa has placed an added burden on schools as sites of care and support. Education policies mandate schools to develop strategies to support such children, but this is no easy task in contexts where teachers are already struggling to fulfill instructional requirements. Literature reveals that teachers in under-resourced schools, where the problem is more severely experienced regard this increased pastoral role as an added responsibility that they do not feel competent to execute. Since there is unlikely to be any significant improvement in the circumstances of these children in the near future, there is a need to discover creative ways to address this problem. I was led to ask how teachers could support children to better cope in the face of adversity in a way that could be easily integrated into the academic curriculum, so as to minimise the perceived burden of providing care and support. Based on my knowledge of the value of bibliotherapy in promoting resilient coping in individuals, I was interested to see if folktales could be used in a similar way with groups of children. Working from an asset-based perspective, and proceeding from a transformative and participatory epistemology, I adopted an action research design to explore the potential of traditional folktales to enhance positive coping responses in children orphaned and rendered vulnerable by HIV and AIDS. My choice of traditional folktales was influenced by the importance that resilience theory attaches to cultural variables in the resilience process. The participants were isiXhosa speaking children who were orphaned and rendered vulnerable by HIV and AIDS (OVC) between the ages of nine and fourteen years (n=30) in Cycle One who lived in a children‟s home or with foster parents. In Cycle Two, the study was conducted in a school setting with thirty (n=30) participants. I conducted two cycles of reflective action research enquiry to ascertain how folktales could be used to enable teachers to meet both pastoral and academic requirements. In the first cycle, I used a pre-post time series design to explore if merely telling the stories would enhance the resilience of the children. Although this use of the stories was teacher-centred, I knew that it would be an easy and time-saving way for teachers to provide support, if it proved to be effective in enhancing resilience. Drawings and accompanying explanations were used to generate data pre-and post-intervention. The thematic analysis of the data revealed that, post-intervention, there appeared to be an increase in two resilience-enhancing indicators: the children appeared to have a more positive sense of self and improved positive relations with peers/friends. Critical reflection on the process also revealed ethical and methodological concerns and problems when working with vulnerable children. The findings from this cycle informed my second cycle, in which I adopted a more participatory approach to engage the children in making meaning of the stories and explore how they related to their own lives. I used participatory arts based methods such as drawings, collages, drama and more usual qualitative strategies, such as focus group discussion and observation, to generate data. The findings from this cycle suggest that using such strategies will equip teachers with tools to enhance the resilience of OVC in a way that also promotes the attainment of instructional outcomes. This study has contributed important theoretical, methodological and pedagogical insights. Theoretically, this study has contributed to the social ecological perspective of resilience by confirming that cultural resources, such as indigenous African stories (folktales) can enhance the resilience of vulnerable children. Lessons learnt from this study had a methodological contribution to the ethics of working with children and the use of culturally appropriate resources in the field, which were folktales. This study has also contributed to the meaning making implications of using folktales, which can aid the pedagogical strategies that teachers use. Although this study was meant to be small- scale research and was not intended to be generalisable, the findings do suggest that teachers could have a resource that is time efficient, effective and could assist them to reach both their pastoral and academic goals.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES
INTRODUCTION: Aging changes occur early in women due to changes in sex hormones that occur during the climacteric, such as reduced strength and muscle mass in addition to increased adiposity. The high protein diet with caloric restriction combined with resistance training has shown positive effects against these changes. However it must be investigated what happens when combined with the multicomponent exercise. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of high protein diet associated with multicomponent training on body mass reduction and biochemical markers in postmenopausal women. METHODOLOGY: The intervention lasted 12 weeks and participated in this study 41 women in postmenopausal (> 12 months of amenorrhea) residents in the municipalities of São Cristóvão and Aracaju. The average age of the sample was 65.6 ± 5.2 years. The participants have integrated a program that combined the low-calorie dietary prescription and multicomponent training. The women were randomly assigned to the High protein diet (HP), which presented protein intake> 20% total energy value (~ 1.2g / kg / day) and Control group (C) with the normal protein diet (~0.9 g / kg / day), both with caloric restriction of ~ 500 kcal / day and 600 kcal / day respectively. Multicomponent training occurred 3 times a week non-consecutive days with duration of 60 minutes each session. The statistical analyses were conducted by the software SPSS version 20 and applied the 2x2 ANOVA with Bonferroni post hoc. It was considered significant p values < 0.05. RESULTS: The study concluded those 29 women, 16 of the HP group and 13 of the C group. Body mass (F (1.27) = 8.24, p <0.05) and hip circumference (F (1.27) = 15.55, p <0.01) decreased in the HP group and calf circumference (F (1.27) = 6.85 p = 0.01) in the C group. High-density lipoprotein increased while low-density lipoprotein, total cholesterol and triglycerides were reduced in the HP group (p <0.05). Fasting glycaemia was reduced and physical fitness increased in both groups (p <0.05). CONCLUSION: HP diet combined with multicomponent training showed weight loss with maintenance of muscle mass and contributed to the improvement of the lipid profile in postmenopausal women. Both HP and C presented positive changes in fasting and physical fitness glycaemia.
INTRODUÇÃO: As alterações do envelhecimento ocorrem precocemente nas mulheres devido às mudanças dos hormônios sexuais que acontecem durante o climatério, tais como a redução da força e massa muscular além do aumento da adiposidade. A alimentação hiperproteica com restrição calórica combinada ao exercício de força tem mostrado efeitos positivos contra essas mudanças. Entretanto precisa ser investigado o que ocorre quando combinado ao exercício multicomponente. OBJETIVO: Avaliar a efetividade da dieta hiperproteica ligada ao treinamento multicomponente sobre a redução da massa corporal e marcadores bioquímicos em mulheres em pós-menopausa. METODOLOGIA: A intervenção teve duração de 12 semanas e participaram do estudo 40 mulheres em pós-menopausa (>12 meses de amenorreia) residentes nos municípios de São Cristóvão e Aracaju. As participantes integraram um programa que aliava a prescrição dietética hipocalórica ao treinamento multicomponente. As mulheres foram alocadas aleatoriamente no grupo dieta Hiperproteica (HP) que apresentaram o consumo proteico > 20% valor energético total (~ 1,2g/kg/dia) e no grupo Controle (C) com a dieta normoproteica (~ 0,9g/kg/dia), ambos com restrição calórica de ~500 kcal/dia e 600 kcal/dia respectivamente. O treinamento multicomponente ocorreu 3 vezes por semana em dias não consecutivos com duração de 60 minutos cada sessão. As análises estatísticas foram realizadas pelo software SPSS versão 20 e aplicou-se o teste ANOVA 2x2 com post-hoc de Bonferroni. Foram considerados significativos os valores de p<0,05. RESULTADOS: Concluíram o estudo, 29 mulheres, sendo 16 do grupo HP e 13 do C. A média de idade da amostra foi de 65,6 ± 5,2 anos. A massa corporal (F (1,27) = 8,24, p<0,05) e a circunferência do quadril (F (1,27) = 15,55, p<0,01) reduziram no grupo HP e a circunferência da panturrilha (F (1,27) = 6,85, p=0,01) no grupo C. A lipoproteína de alta densidade aumentou enquanto a lipoproteína de baixa densidade, colesterol total e triglicérides reduziram no grupo HP (p<0,05). A glicemia de jejum reduziu e a aptidão física aumentou em ambos os grupos (p<0,05). CONCLUSÃO: Dieta HP combinada ao treinamento multicomponente apresentou perda de peso com manutenção da massa muscular e contribuiu para a melhoria do perfil lipídico em mulheres em pós-menopausa. Tanto HP quanto C apresentaram mudanças positivas na glicemia de jejum e aptidão física.
São Cristóvão, SE

Esta tesis aborda el tema de cómo la nueva tecnología y los espacios contemporáneos de la justicia afectan al derecho a un juicio justo. Con este propósito busco las intersecciones entre ley, filosofía, arquitectura y psicoanálisis. Arroja luz sobre muchas expresiones culturales, que son fundamentales para nuestra comprensión del derecho en la sociedad. Aquí la ciencia jurídica debe tener en cuenta cómo las nuevas tecnologías, pero también la arquitectura contemporánea de los lugares de justicia, junto con los símbolos (o su ausencia), y el ceremonial que rodea a la ley (o su ausencia) son en sí mismos capital para una comprensión adecuada de los comportamientos y costumbres jurídicas. Es decir, una teoría para estudiar el simbolismo cultural vinculado al mundo jurídico es importante en muchos sentidos para la filosofía jurídica en la época contemporánea. Da profundidad al mundo donde los abogados se declaran, donde los magistrados escriben los juicios, y donde los criminales obtienen sus sentencias. Los escenarios de representación vinculados a la arquitectura de los juzgados, por ejemplo, nos permiten comprender mejor estos acontecimientos, lo que constituye una importante contribución de esta tesis. También está en juego el impacto de las nuevas tecnologías en los derechos específicos vinculados a los juicios. El Derecho, está comprometido en un esfuerzo de civilización. La humanidad está en permanente conflicto por lo que es necesaria protección de los derechos humanos. En cierto modo, el derecho implica un sacrificio, tanto colectivo como individual. Descarta ciertos comportamientos, a fin de que podamos tener una civilización y una vida social pacífica, asegurada por un orden social y político estable. El marco cultural y temporal , sin embargo, influye en la forma en que se utiliza en los procesos judiciales. Podemos ver cómo la ley se llena de simbolismo en nuestras sociedades contemporáneas. Debido a que ha habido numerosos cambios culturales, por ejemplo, en la arquitectura de los juzgados o en el uso de nuevas tecnologías, el Derecho también ha ido acompañado de muchas ceremonias diferentes. El Derecho, en cierto modo, está cambiando constantemente, adaptándose a nuestra cultura moderna, y quizás, ahora, a una cultura postmoderna. Por lo tanto, aplicar la ley es ejercer un poder que está íntimamente ligado a un determinado contexto cultural y a un determinado orden simbólico. Es común en las teorías psico-jurídicas de hoy entender que el inconsciente está "estructurado como una lengua", a la que podemos acceder en forma de significantes lingüísticos y símbolos culturales. Este punto de vista nos ofrece una manera original de enfocar la ley, con la cual la mayoría de los practicantes no estarán familiarizados. No obstante, es fundamental para lo que podríamos llamar la ejecución de la ley. La creación de nuevas narrativas supera con demasiada frecuencia el escrutinio crítico y la reflexión. Se trata, en efecto, de un abuso del concepto de transparencia, de una nueva opacidad que se estudia más a fondo, junto con el caso concreto de España y las nuevas tecnologías. ¿Qué queremos decir cuando invocamos la idea de transparencia? ¿Y qué puede significar para la ley o para la administración de justicia? En esta tesis encontraremos un análisis de muchas cuestiones interesantes como estas, que darán un nuevo significado a lo que el juez del Tribunal Supremo Felix Frankfurter dijo una vez: "La justicia debe satisfacer la apariencia de justicia".
This thesis addresses how new technology and contemporary space of justice affect the right for a fair trial. With this in mid, I look at the intersections between law and philosophy, architecture and psychoanalysis. It sheds light on many cultural expressions, which are fundamental to our understanding of the law in society. Here legal science must take in consideration how new technologies, but also contemporary architecture of places of justice, together with the symbols (or their absence), and the ceremonial surrounding the law (or their absence) are themselves capital for a proper grasp of legal behaviours and customs. That is, a theory to study the cultural symbolism attached to the legal world is in many ways important for legal philosophy in contemporary times. It gives depth to the world where attorneys plea, where magistrates write judgements, and where criminals get their sentences. The representational settings attached to the architecture of courthouses, for instance, permit us to better understand such events, which is an important contribution of this thesis. The impacts of new technology on specific rights attached to trial is also at stake. The law, conversely, is engaged in an effort of civilization. Humanity struggles with humankind, hence the necessary protection of human rights. In a way, the law is a sacrifice, both collectively and individually. It rules out certain behaviours, such that we may have civilization and a peaceful social life, secured by a stable social and political order. The cultural setting of the law, however, influences how it is then used in a courthouse, according to specific period of time, and the use of new technology as prolongation of these spaces of justice, as explains in this thesis. We may see how the law inserts itself in the legal symbolic of our contemporary societies. Because there have been numerous cultural shifts, for example in the architecture of courthouses or the use of new technology, the law has also been accompanied by many different ceremonials. The law, in a way, is constantly changing, adapting to our modern culture, and perhaps, now, to a postmodern culture. Hence, applying the law is exercising a power, which is intimately tied to a given cultural context and a given symbolic order. It is common in psycho-legal theories today to understand that the unconscious is “structured as a language”, which we may access in the form of linguistic signifiers and cultural symbols. Such a viewpoint offers us an original way to approach the law, one with which most practitioners will not be familiar. It is nonetheless fundamental to what we may call the execution of the law. The creation of new narratives too often overcomes critical scrutiny and reflection. This is indeed an abuse of the concept of transparency, a new opacity which is studied further, together with the specific case of Spain and new technology. What do we mean when we invoke the idea of transparency? And what can it mean for the law or for the administration of justice? One will find in this thesis an analysis of many interesting questions like these, which will give a new meaning to what Supreme Court Justice Felix Frankfurter once said – “Justice must satisfy the appearance of justice.”

Introdução: O fenótipo asma-obeso caracteriza-se por uma asma mais grave, no qual o controle clínico é mais difícil de ser alcançado, mesmo sob terapia medicamentosa otimizada. A cirurgia bariátrica tem sido recomendada para perda de peso e melhora dos sintomas, porém os benefícios de intervenções não-cirúrgicas têm sido pouco estudados. Objetivo: Avaliar o efeito do treinamento físico associado a um programa de perda de peso no controle clínico da asma, qualidade de vida e sintomas psicossociais em asmáticos obesos. Métodos: 55 pacientes com asma moderada a grave e obesidade grau II (IMC >= 35 e < 39.9 kg/m2) foram alocados em 2 grupos: programa de perda de peso + placebo (PP+P) ou programa de perda de peso + exercícios (PP+E), sendo que o programa de perda de peso incluiu terapia nutricional e psicológica (12 sessões semanais de 60 minutos cada). O grupo PP+E associou exercícios aeróbios e resistidos programa de perda de peso, enquanto o grupo PP+P associou exercícios placebo (respiratórios e alongamentos), 2xvezes/semana, 60 minutos/sessão durante 3 meses. Antes e após as intervenções, foram avaliados o controle clínico da asma, os fatores de saúde relacionados a qualidade de vida (FSRQV), a capacidade física, a composição corporal, os sintomas de ansiedade e depressão, a qualidade do sono, a função pulmonar e as inflamações das vias aéreas e sistêmica. A comparação dos dados contínuos entre os grupos foi realizada por ANOVA de dois fatores com medidas repetidas e das variáveis categóricas pelo teste qui-quadrado. A correlação linear e a regressão linear múltipla foram utilizadas para avaliar associações entre as variáveis avaliadas. Resultados: Foram analisados os resultados de 51 pacientes que foram reavaliados. Comparado com o grupo PP+P, os pacientes que realizaram exercício apresentaram melhora no controle clínico da asma (- 0,7 [-1,3 - -0,3] vs. -0,3 [-0,9 - 0,4] escore ACQ; p=0,01) e nos FSRQV (0,8 [0,3 -2,0] vs. 0,4 [-0,3 - 0,9] escore AQLQ; p=0,02), respectivamente. Essa melhora parece ter sido consequência do aumento do condicionamento físico (3,0 [2,4-4,0] vs. 0,9 [-0,3-1,3] mL.O2/Kg/min; p < 0,001) e da perda de peso (6,8±3,5% vs. 3,1±2,6% do peso corpóreo; p < 0,001) nos pacientes do grupo PP+E, que também apresentaram uma melhora dos sintomas de depressão, da qualidade do sono (ronco, latência e eficiência) e dos níveis séricos de vitamina D. Houve também melhora da função pulmonar (capacidade vital forçada e volume de reserva expiratório) e das inflamações das vias aéreas (FeNO) e sistêmica (CCL2, CXCL9, IL-4, IL-6, TNF-alfa, IL-10 e leptina/adiponectina), que parecem ser possíveis mecanismos associados à melhora do controle clinico da asma nos pacientes do grupo PP+E (p < 0,05 para todas variáveis apresentadas). Conclusão: A inclusão do treinamento físico em um programa de perda de peso a curto prazo deve ser considerada como uma intervenção eficiente para associar à terapia medicamentosa da asma na melhora do controle clínico em asmáticos obesos
Rationale: The obese-asthma phenotype is characterized by a severe asthma in which the clinical control is more difficult to achieve, even under optimized pharmacological therapy. Bariatric surgery has been recommended for weight-loss and to improve asthma control; however, the benefits of nonsurgical interventions have been poorly investigated. Objective: To examine the effect of exercise training in a weight loss program on asthma control, quality of life and psychosocial symptoms in obese adults with asthma. Methods: Fifty-five obese grade II (BMI >=35 and <40 kg/m2) adults with moderate to severe asthma were randomly assigned to either a weight loss program + exercise (WL+E) group or a weight loss program + sham (WL+S) group, where the weight loss program included nutrition and psychological therapies (12 weekly sessions of 60 minutes each). The WL+E group incorporated aerobic and resistance muscle training, whereas the WL+S group incorporated sham exercises (breathing and stretching), 2 times per week, 60 minutes/session for 3 months. Before and after interventions, asthma clinical control, health related quality of life (HRQoL), physical capacity, body composition, symptoms of anxiety and depression, sleep, lung function and airway and systemic inflammation were evaluated . The comparison of continuous data between groups was analysed via two-way ANOVA with repeated measures and categorical variables by chi-square test. Linear correlation and multiple regression were used to test associations between variables. Results: Fifty-one patients were analyzed after 3 months. Compared with the WL+S group, patients who exercised demonstrated improved clinical control (-0.7 [-1.3, -0.3] vs. -0.3 [-0.9, 0.4] score ACQ; p=0.01) and HRQoL (0.8 [0.3, 2.0] vs. 0.4 [-0.3, 0.9] score AQLQ; p=0.02), respectively. This improvement seems to be result of the increase in physical capacity (3.0 [2.4, 4.0] vs. 0.9 [-0.3, 1.3] ml.O2/kg/min; p < 0.001) and weight loss (6.8 ± 3.5% vs. 3.1 ± 2.6% of body weight; p < 0.001) in PP+E group, which also demonstrated improvement in depression symptoms, qualiyt of sleep (snoring, latency and efficiency) and vitamin D serum levels. There were also improvement in lung function (forced vital capacity and expiratory reserve volume) and airways (FeNO) /systemic (CCL2, CXCL9, IL-4, IL-6, TNF-alfa, IL-10 and leptin / adiponectin) inflammations, which appear to be the mechanisms underlying improved clinical asthma control in PP+E group. (p < 0.05 for all variables shown). Conclusions: The addition of exercise to a short-term weight loss program in combination with pharmacological therapy should be considered a useful strategy to achieve clinical control in obese adults with asthma

La faible représentation de la biodiversité dans les modèles de végétation a longtemps été un obstacle à la compréhension et à la projection des processus écosystémiques. La forte biodiversité des forêts tropicales, leur rôle clé dans les cycles biogéochimiques globaux, ainsi que leur vulnérabilité aux perturbations anthropiques directes et indirectes, amplifient les difficultés et enjeux de ces questions de recherche. En particulier, l'augmentation prédite de la fréquence et de l'intensité des sécheresses pourrait impacter la structure et composition floristique de ces forêts, comme dors et déjà observé au cours d'expériences naturelles et artificielles. Cette thèse explore ces questions de recherche à travers deux approches complémentaires, de modélisation et de mesures écophysiologiques. Dans le premier chapitre, je décris un simulateur de croissance forestière individu-centré et spatialement-explicite, TROLL, qui intègre les progrès récents en physiologie des plantes. Les processus sont paramétrés à l'aide de traits fonctionnels espèce-spécifiques, pour une forêt tropicale amazonienne. Une régénération forestière est simulée, et validée par des observations faites en Guyane française. La sensibilité du modèle à plusieurs paramètres globaux clés est évaluée. Enfin, l'influence de la variation de la richesse et composition spécifiques sur les propriétés écosystémiques est explorée. La réponse des forêts tropicales à la sécheresse est mal connue, empêchant la représentation pertinente des processus en jeu dans les modèles de végétation. Les chapitres 2 à 5 de cette thèse ont ainsi pour but de documenter la tolérance à la sécheresse et sa diversité dans une forêt amazonienne. Une méthode récente et rapide de détermination d'un trait de tolérance des feuilles à la sécheresse, le potentiel hydrique des feuilles au point de perte de turgescence (ptlp), est validée et utilisée, permettant de quantifier pour la première fois un tel trait de tolérance à la sécheresse dans une forêt amazonienne à l'échelle de la communauté. Ce jeu de données permet l'exploration des déterminants de la tolérance à la sécheresse des feuilles, à travers les espèces d'arbres, les tailles des individus, les stades de succession, les expositions à la lumière, ainsi que les lianes. La variabilité de ptlp observée suggère une large diversité de réponses à la sécheresse au sein des communautés de plantes amazoniennes. Ceci est confirmé par le suivi direct du flux de sève au cours d'une saison sèche sur divers arbres de canopée. Enfin, je discute les implications de ces résultats pour le développement des futurs modèles de végétation
A great part of uncertainties in our current understanding and projections of the carbon cycle lies in the vegetation compartment. The problem of biodiversity representation in vegetation models has long been an impediment to a detailed understanding of ecosystem processes. The high biodiversity of tropical forests, their disproportionate role in global biogeochemical cycles, together with their vulnerability to direct and indirect anthropogenic perturbations, amplify the relevance of this research challenge. In particular, the predicted increase in drought intensity and frequency in the tropics may impact forest structure and composition, as already observed in natural and artificial experiments. This thesis explores how new advances in modelling and ecophysiology should help improve our understanding of these processes in the future. In the first chapter, I describe an individual-based and spatially-explicit forest growth simulator, TROLL, that integrates recent advances in plant physiology. Processes are linked to species-specific functional traits parameterized for an Amazonian tropical rainforest. This model is used to simulate a forest regeneration, which is validated against observations in French Guiana. Model sensitivity is assessed for a number of key global parameters. Finally, we test the influence of varying the species richness and composition on ecosystem properties. Tropical forest response to drought is not well understood, and this hampers attempts to model these processes. In chapters 2 to 5 I aimed at documenting drought-tolerance and its diversity in an Amazonian forest. A rapid method of determination of a leaf drought tolerance trait, the leaf water potential at turgor loss point (ptlp), was validated and applied to a range of plant species. We established the first community-wide assessment of drought tolerance in an Amazonian forest. These results inform on the drivers and determinants of leaf drought tolerance, across tree species and lianas, tree size, successional stages, light exposition, and seasons. Variability in ptlp among species indicates the potential for a range of species responses to drought within Amazonian forest communities. This is further confirmed by direct monitoring of whole-plant water use on diverse canopy trees during a marked dry season. Finally, I discuss the implications of these results to increase the dialogue between the vegetation modeling community and ecology, to enhance model's predictive ability, and to inform policy choices

Els trastorns d'ansietat són amb diferència els trastorns psiquiàtrics més freqüents i el tractament cognitiu-conductual (TCC) s'ha mostrat eficaç per aquests trastorns. Però existeixen molt poques investigacions en les que es compari la seva eficàcia amb tractaments desenvolupats sota altres perspectives teòriques. D'altre banda, s'ha demostrat que la intel·ligència emocional es un factor relacionat amb la presència dels trastorns mentals. L'objectiu d'aquest estudi ha estat dissenyar i avaluar l'eficàcia d'un tractament humanista basat en el desenvolupament de la intel·ligència emocional (TIE). Per això s'ha dut a terme un assaig clínic aleatoritzat en el que s'ha comparat la seva eficàcia amb un grup control de tractament (TCC). Ambdós s'han aplicat durant 24 sessions, d'hora i mitja, amb una freqüència setmanal al llarg de uns 6 mesos aproximadament. La mostra ha estat formada per 132 pacients d'un centre públic de salut mental, diagnosticats de trastorn d'ansietat (agorafòbia o TAG) dels que el 81,8% eren dones. El 86,3% presentaven comorbilitat amb altres trastorns de l'Eix I i el 89,4% amb trastorns de personalitat. Els subjectes es van avaluar al pretractament, després de tres mesos d'haver començat el tractament, en el postractament i 3 mesos després de haver-lo finalitzat, en el seguiment. Els qüestionaris administrats fóren el STAI, el Inventario de Agorafobia, la SCL-90-R, el MCMI-II, QOL-SV, el MSCEIT V2.0 i el TMMS-24. També es va utilitzar el qüestionari WATOCI a fi d'avaluar l'aliança terapèutica. Els resultats de l'estudi demostren que el tractament TIE és més eficaç que el TCC pels símptomes clínics, els trastorns de personalitat, la intel·ligència emocional i la satisfacció vital. S'obté una taxa de milloria del 92,3% en ansietat i del 85,7% en agorafòbia, i el nivell de satisfacció dels pacients amb el tractament és superior quan són tractats amb el TIE. També s'han analitzat els factors que influeixen en el acompliment i l'abandonament del tractament.
Los trastornos de ansiedad son con diferencia los trastornos psiquiátricos más frecuentes y el tratamiento cognitivo-conductual (TCC) se ha mostrado eficaz para estos trastornos. Sin embargo, existen escasas investigaciones que comparen su eficacia con tratamientos desarrollados desde otras prespectivas teóricas. Por otra parte, se ha demostrado que la inteligencia emocional es un factor implicado en la presencia de los trastornos mentales. El objetivo del presente estudio ha sido diseñar y evaluar la eficacia de un tratamiento humanista basado en el desarrollo de la inteligencia emocional (TIE). Para ello se ha llevado a cabo un ensayo clínico aleatorizado en el que se ha comparado su eficacia con un grupo control de tratamiento (TCC). Ambos se han aplicado durante 24 sesiones, de hora y media de duración, con frecuencia semanal a lo largo de aproximadamente 6 meses. La muestra ha estado formada por 132 pacientes procedentes de un centro público de salud mental diagnosticados de trastorno de ansiedad (agorafobia y TAG) de los que el 81,8% fueron mujeres. El 86,3% presentaban comorbilidad con algún trastorno Eje I y el 89,4% con trastorno de personalidad. Los sujetos fueron evaluados en el pre-tratamiento, a los tres meses de inciar el tratamiento, en el post-tratamiento y a los 3 meses de seguimiento. Los cuestionarios administrados fueron el STAI, el Inventario de Agorafobia, la SCL-90-R, el MCMI-II, QOL-SV, el MSCEIT V2.0 y el TMMS-24. También se utilizó el cuestionario WATOCI a fin de evaluar la alianza terapéutica. Los resultados del estudio muestran que el tratamiento TIE es más eficaz que el TCC sobre los síntomas clínicos, los trastornos de personalidad, la inteligencia emocional y la satisfacción vital. Se obtiene una tasa de mejoría del 92,3% en ansiedad y del 85,7% en agorafobia y el nivel de satisfacción de los pacientes con el tratamiento es mayor cuando son tratados con TIE. También se analizaron los factores que influyen tanto en el cumplimiento como en el abandono del tratamiento.
Anxiety disorders are by far the most common psychiatric disorders and cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) has proved to be effective in the treatment of these disorders. However, there is little research comparing its efficacy to treatments developed from other theoretical perspectives. Also, it has been proved that emotional intelligence is a factor involved in mental disorders. The aim of the present study has been to design and then assess the efficacy of a humanistic treatment based on the development of emotional intelligence (EIT). A randomized clinical trial was carried out comparing its efficacy with a CBT. Both methods were applied for 24 one and a half hour weekly sessions (6 months approximately). The sample consisted of 132 patients from a public mental-health centre diagnosed with anxiety disorder (agoraphobia and generalized anxiety disorder) of which 81,8% were women, 86,3% presented comorbidity with one or more Axis I disorders and 89,4% with personality disorder. The participants were assessed pre-treatment, 3 months after starting the treatment, post-treatment and at a 3 month follow-up. The questionnaires administered were the STAI, the Agoraphobia Inventory, the SCL-90-R, the MCMI-II, the QOL-SV, the MSCEIT V2.0 and the TMMS-24. The WATOCI was also used in order to assess the therapeutic alliance. The findings of the study suggest that EIT is more effective for clinical symptoms, personality disorders, emotional intelligence and life satisfaction than CBT. The degree of improvement is of 92,3% for anxiety and 85,7% for agoraphobia and the patient satisfaction level with the treatment is higher when treated with EIT. Also analized were the factors that influenced the following or drop-out from the treatment.

The overall aim of this study is to explore how people who have experienced events in the past re-contextualize these same events in the present. We analyse the discourse of the public trial in 1985 against the members of the first three Argentine military juntas in the most recent dictatorship in Argentina (1976-1983). The study focuses on the discursive construction of civil responsibility. We examine the discourses of the witnesses that were called to testify at the trial by the defence attorneys of the accused Jorge Rafael Videla and Roberto Eduardo Viola, former de facto presidents of Argentina. The analysed testimonies concerned a specific event during the dictatorship, namely the meetings between the military junta and civil actors that were held in 1979 and 1980 with the declared purpose to create political dialogue between the military and selected parts of the civil society. Prior to the trial, these political dialogue meetings had not been considered to be particularly important in the history of the dictatorship, but the testimonies at the trial draw attention to the responsibility of civil actors in the crimes committed during the military dictatorship. In this study we investigate this theme in a novel way, focusing on the discursive tools used by civilians at the trial to explain their involvement in the dictatorship. We adopt the perspective of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) and Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL). To establish relationships between social and linguistic aspects, we include the concepts of intertextuality, discursive strategies, appraisal and legitimation. The main research questions are: 1) How do people represent linguistically a historical event when they find themselves in a new historical context? 1a) What discursive representation of the latest Argentinean dictatorship are made by the participants (witnesses, judge, defence and prosecutor) in the trial against the military junta leaders in 1985?; 1b) What intertextual influences are present in the interactants’ discourses during the interrogations, and in what way do these discourses contribute to legitimise the historical past?; 1c) What language resources do the civilian witnesses use to represent the Armed Forces and the armed rebel groups)? and 2) In what way do the witnesses reconstruct their role in the political dialogue meetings, or more specifically, what linguistic resources do the witnesses use to represent themselves in relation to the responsibility of civilians in the military dictatorship? The results show that the witnesses, in general, interpreted the recent past of Argentina using discourses that on the one hand condemned the violence caused by the armed rebel groups and on the other hand justified the interference of the Armed Forces. These discourses were used in the construction of a positive identity of both the witnesses as individuals and the institutions to which they belonged. Furthermore, their discourses legitimized their own actions, when these supported the Armed Forces in their “war on subversion”. The overwhelming majority of the witnesses tried to evade the questions meant to clarify their responsibility on the events of the dictatorship. Most of the witnesses, during the interrogation tried to find discursive strategies and linguistic resources that could hide their support to the Armed Forces during the regime and they did not reveal clearly their position regarding the military illegal actions during the dictatorship.
Este trabajo tiene como objetivo general estudiar cómo sujetos que han vivido eventos en el pasado recontextualizan estos mismos eventos en el presente. Más específicamente queremos estudiar la construcción discursiva de la responsabilidad civil en la más reciente dictadura argentina, en el contexto del juicio a los excomandantes, realizado en 1985. Analizamos los discursos de los partidos políticos, los sindicatos y el sector empresarial (representado por la Cámara de Comercio Argentina). Estos actores fueron citados a declarar como testigos en el juicio a pedido de las defensas de los acusados Jorge Rafael Videla y Roberto Eduardo Viola. El tema principal en los interrogatorios fueron las reuniones de apertura del diálogo político, convocadas por el expresidente de facto Videla, a fines de 1979. Estas reuniones se proponían iniciar el proceso de redemocratización del país y revisar los hechos de la dictadura. En este trabajo, queremos contribuir a la comprensión de cómo se construyen eventos del pasado en el marco de una práctica discursiva particular; asimismo, queremos hacer un aporte en lo que se relaciona con la construcción discursiva de periodos traumáticos sobre los que no hay consenso. El enfoque adoptado se sustenta en el Análisis Crítico del Discurso (ACD) (Fairclough 1992b, 1997; van Dijk 1993, 1999; Wodak 1997) y en la Lingüística Sistémico-Funcional (LSF) (Halliday 1994), de donde surge la Teoría de la Evaluación (Martin 2001; White 2001; Martin y White 2005). Incluimos, además, la noción de representación de actores sociales (van Leeuwen 1996). Asimismo, con el objetivo de ampliar los alcances del análisis, incluimos la noción de intertextualidad (Kristeva [1966] 1986; Bakhtin 1981 y Fairclough 1992a, 1992b) y estrategias discursivas (Reisigl y Wodak 2001). Las preguntas que guían la investigación son: 1) ¿Cómo hacen actores que han participado en un acontecimiento histórico en el pasado la representación discursiva de esos mismos eventos en otro momento histórico?; 1a) ¿Cómo construyen discursivamente los actores involucrados en el juicio a los excomandantes la representación de la más reciente dictadura argentina?; 1b) ¿Qué influencias intertextuales predominan en los discursos de los interactuantes durante los interrogatorios y de qué modo legitiman esos discursos la última dictadura en Argentina?; 1c) ¿Mediante qué recursos lingüísticos realizan los testigos civiles la representación de los actores sociales protagonistas de esa historia (a saber, las Fuerzas Armadas y los grupos armados)?; 2)¿De qué modo llevan a cabo los testigos la reconstrucción discursiva del papel que desempeñaron en las reuniones de apertura del diálogo político o, más específicamente, mediante qué recursos lingüísticos se representan a sí mismos los testigos en relación con la responsabilidad civil en la dictadura, en el contexto del juicio? Los resultados muestran que el rol institucional de los participantes en el juicio enmarcó el modo de recontextualización de los sucesos del pasado y la representación de los actores sociales involucrados en ellos. De un modo general, los testigos hicieron la interpretación del pasado reciente de la Argentina utilizando discursos que condenaban la violencia practicada por los grupos armados, por un lado, y justificaban la interferencia de las Fuerzas Armadas, por otro. El uso de estos discursos contribuyó a la construcción de una identidad positiva de los interactuantes tanto a nivel individual como institucional, dependiendo de quién narraba los eventos. La evocación de discursos paralelos al juicio legitimaba al gobierno de facto y, al mismo tiempo, las acciones de los testigos, toda vez que estas estuviesen relacionadas con el apoyo dado a las Fuerzas Armadas en lo actuado durante la “guerra antisubversiva”. Una gran mayoría de los testigos intentó evadir las preguntas que querían elucidar cuestiones en torno a la responsabilidad que pudieran haber tenido bajo la dictadura. Concluimos que la mayor parte de los testigos se posicionó de manera poco clara en cuanto a su relación o postura acerca de la actuación militar ya que durante todo el interrogatorio intentaron encontrar recursos y estrategias discursivas que encubriesen el apoyo que habían dado a las Fuerzas Armadas durante la dictadura.

La tesis analiza la adolescencia, en tanto población calificada como vulnerable, en relación con su participación en el espacio sanitario. La Bioética es el marco idóneo para abordar esta temática en toda su complejidad y para la promoción de una verdadera cultura de derechos, a fin que se reconozca el carácter de sujetos de derecho de los adolescentes en dicho espacio.
This Thesis examines the adolescence. This population group usually is classified as vulnerable in relation with their participation in the healthcare space. Bioethics is the ideal framework to address this issue in all its complexity and promove a true culture of rights, so that the character of individuals with rights of adolescents in this space is recognized.

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Ecoturism hás been blunting inside the industry of the tourism as a promissing revenue source for the local population. However, to make one of its main objectives be accomplished, wich is to help keeping the natural resources, that activity should be planned inside a keeping context. Inside this context, the soil conservation is one of the main features because the soil is the physical, chemical and biological support of the vegetation, either natural or exotic. To conservation it, it s necessary to indentify the erosinal areas, wich can be accomplished by the use of empirical models. Among the different existent models, the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) is one of the most remarkable and used in the use of Geografic Information System (GIS), the applying of this model, by the use of this computacionsl tool, has almost been turned to be necessary due to the speed and to the easiness of simulating different sceneries. Therefore, the present work, through the development of a simple methodology, applied the model EUPS through GIS in the area of Santo Antônio do Pinhal-SP, wich has developed ecoturism activities through the use of trails. Information of the physical site (geology, geomorphology, pedology and topography), area of acceptable and non-acceptable soil losses, areas of everlasting keeping and roads, and the topographical profiles of ecoturism trails of the area, were mixed. The results showed the great weakness of the area when it comes to erosive processes, the unfitness of roads and profiles of the trails concerning the control of erosive processes and the importance of the ecoturism as a revenue alternative for the local population, due the restrict agronomy aptitude of the area.
O ecoturismo tem despontado dentro da indústria do turismo como uma promissora fonte de receita para a população do local em que se desenvolve. Porém, para que se faça cumprir um de seus objetivos primordiais, que é contribuir para a conservação dos recursos naturais, essa atividade deve ser planejada dentro de um enfoque preservacionista. Dentro deste contexto, a conservação dos solos é um dos aspectos primordiais, visto que o solo é o suporte físico, químico e biológico da vegetação, seja ela natural ou exótica. Para conservá-lo, faz-se necessária a identificação de áreas mais ou menos erodíveis, que pode ser realizada através da utilização de modelos empíricos. Dentre os diferentes modelos existentes, a Equação Universal de Perdas de Solo (EUPS) é um dos mais consagrados e utilizados na previsão de processos erosivos laminares. Com a crescente popularização do uso de Sistemas de Informação Geográficas (SIG), a aplicação deste modelo, utilizando-se desta ferramenta computacional, tem-se tornado quase obrigatória, graças à rapidez e à facilidade de simular diferentes cenários. Dessa maneira, o presente trabalho do desenvolvimento de uma metodologia simples, aplicou o modelo EUPS via SIG na região de Santo Antônio do Pinhal-SP, em cuja área têm-se desenvolvido atividades ecoturísticas através da utilização de trilhas e estradas. Foram então cruzadas informações do meio físico (geologia, geomorfologia, pedologia e topografia), regiões de perdas de solo toleráveis e não toleráveis e áreas de preservação permanente (APP) com trajetos e perfis topográficos das principais vias ecoturísticas da região. Os resultados mostraram a acentuada fragilidade da área de estudo a processos erosivos, a inadequação de traçados e perfis das vias frente a concentração de processos erosivos e a importância do ecoturismo como uma alternativa de receita para a população local, visto a restrita aptidão agropastoril da área.

Dans le contexte environnemental actuel, l’amélioration des performances énergétiques des transmissions mécaniques par engrenage est un réel challenge. De part, leur compacité et leur arrangement axisymétrique, les transmissions mécaniques de type réducteur à trains épicycloïdaux sont de plus en plus répandues dans divers applications (éolien, aéronautique,…). Il est généralement admis que les principales sources de dissipation de puissance dans de telles transmissions sont dues au frottement aux dentures, au mode de lubrification (barbotage ou injection de lubrifiant), au piégeage d’huile entre les dents lors de l’engrènement et à la ventilation des mobiles. Il est également à noter que les pertes de puissance générées par une transmission ne peuvent être découplées de son comportement thermique. En effet, les échauffements locaux dans la transmission ont un impact sur les propriétés du lubrifiant, qui ont elles-mêmes une influence sur les pertes de puissance. A partir de ce postulat, le travail présenté dans ce manuscrit propose un modèle numérique permettant de quantifier les différents postes de pertes de puissance générées dans un réducteur épicycloïdal, lubrifié par injection d’huile, pour une application aéronautique
In the current environmental context, gearbox efficiency has become a major issue. Because of their compactness and axi-symmetric arrangement, planetary gearboxes are widely used in several applications (such as wind, aerospace…). It is generally accepted that total power losses in such gear transmissions can be decomposed into the contributions of the friction between teeth, the lubrication process (oil splash or jet), the oil trapping during meshing and tooth windage. It is noticed that power losses produced by a mechanical transmission cannot be dissociated from its thermal behavior. Indeed, the local warmings impact lubricant physical properties and these last have influence on power losses in return. Based on this postulate, the purpose of this work is to develop a numerical model in order to estimate the power losses generated into a jet lubricated planetary gear train, for an aeronautical application

Les premières réalisations supra-électrotechniques AC sont très récentes. Dans le domaine des machines tournantes, les recherches antérieures concernent les alternatives. L'objet de ce travail est l'étude d'un moteur entièrement supraconducteur de 150 kW à 400 tr/min. Nous nous sommes intéressés au problème des pertes supraconductrices. Des programmes de calcul utilisables dans le cadre des machines tournantes ont été développés. Nous avons mis au point une méthode de mesure expérimentale, de nature électrique, qui fournit un signal de pertes et permet d'analyser les différentes contributions (hystérésis, champ propre, courants induits. . . ). Compte-tenu des contraintes cryogéniques, une machine supraconductrice se caractérise par sa structure l'aire. Cette configuration permet d'augmenter les performances volumique et massique, mais entraîne des problèmes de stabilité dynamique. Ce point peut être corrigé en autopilotant la machine par un convertisseur de puissance. La conception générale de la machine de 150 kW à 400 tr/min montre les performances atteintes par la solution entièrement supraconductrice. L'influence de certains paramètres de dimensionnement (taux d'utilisation du conducteur, nombre de paires de pôles. . . ) a retenu une attention particulière. Dans la mesure où les propriétés des semi-conducteurs dépendent fortement du champ local, l'étude électromagnétique a été particulièrement détaillée. La réalisation de l'ensemble des enroulements de l'induit montre qu'en soignant les techniques de bobinage, les performances atteintes sont proches des caractéristiques critiques du conducteur, mesurées en échantillon court. Enfin, pour étudier le seuil de compétitivité de la solution supraconductrice et montrer concrètement ce qu'amènerait la supraconductivité dans le domaine des systèmes embarqués, nous avons prédimensionné l'ensemble du matériel électrique concernant le futur T. G. V. 400 km/h

Uvod: Infertilitet pogađa 10-15% parova reproduktivnog doba. Vanetesna oplodnja (VTO) je najefikasniji vid tret-mana infertiliteta, ali uprkos značajnom napretku stopa uspeha VTO u proseku iznosi oko 30% po ciklusu. Glavnim razlogom neuspeha smatra se neadekvatan kvalitet embriona, dok se pretpostavlja da u 10-20% slučajeva razlog neuspeha leži u neadekvatnoj receptivnosti uterusa. Na osnovu inicijalnih istraživanja histeroskopija, koja predstvalja zlatni standard u dijagnostici i tretmanu patologije kavuma uterusa, se često izvodi u svakodnevnoj kliničkoj praksi kako bi se povećala uspešnost VTO. Uprkos širokoj primeni i dalje ne postoji dovoljno kvalitetnih dokaza o realnoj ulozi histeroskopije na ishod VTO kako kod patoloških stanja kavuma tako i rutinski, pre prvog ili rekurentnog pokušaja VTO. Cilj disertacije bio je da se utvrdi uticaj sprovođenja histeroskopije na ishod VTO, ustanovi učestalost prethodno neprepoznate patologije kavuma uterusa, kao i da se ispitaju stavovi pacijenata o primeni rutinske histeroskopije pred VTO. Materijal i metode: Istraživanje je sprovedeno u Kliničkom centru Vojvodine, u formi prospektivne studije u dve sukcesivne etape od 01.01.2015. do 01.04.2017. U prvoj etapi poređen je ishod VTO kod pacijentkinja kojima pred postupak VTO nije sprovedena histeroskopija (Grupa A), pacijentkinja kod kojih je dobijen uredan nalaz histeroskopije pred postupak VTO (Grupa B) i pacijentkinja gde je pred postupak VTO dobijen patološki nalaz kavuma na histeroskopiji koji je u istom aktu tertian (Grupa C). Druga etapa istraživanja predstavljala je randomiziranu kontrolisanu studiju (RCT – randomised controlled trial). Nakon verifikacije urednog ultrazvučnog nalaza pred prvi postupak VTO, pacijentkinje su randomizirane u Grupu A2 kojima pred postupak VTO nije sprovedena histeroskopija i Grupu B2 kojima je pred postupak VTO sprovedena rutinska histeroskopija. Statistička analiza sprovedena je upotrebom odgovarajućeg softvera (JMP Ver. 9). Poređeni su podaci o osnovnim karakteristikama pacijenata, toka i ishoda ciklusa VTO. Primarni parametar ishoda bila je stopa kliničke trudnoće po embriotransferu. Pored analize ishoda primarno konstruisanih grupa, urađena je analiza i naknadno konstruisanih subgrupa, kao i predikcioni model uspeha VTO baziran na logističkoj regresiji. Rezultati: Studija je uključila 253 pacijentkinje (52 pacijentkinja iz Grupe A, 50 iz Grupe B, 50 iz Grupe C, 51 iz Grupe A2 i 50 iz Grupe B2). Nije postojala statistički značajna razlika u karakteristikama pacijentkinja, parametrima ovarijalne rezerve, broju dobijenih jajnih ćelija ni drugim parametrima toka postupka VTO među posmatranim grupama. U prvoj etapi istraživanja dobijena je statistički značajno (p=0,013) veća stopa kliničkih trudnoća kod pacijentkinja kojima je pred postupak VTO sprovedena histeroskopija - 50 % za Grupu B i 42% za grupu C u odnosu na 30,77% kod pacijentkinja bez histeroskopije (Grupa A), bez statistički značajne razlike među histeroskopskim grupama. U drugoj etapi istraživanja stopa kliničkih trudnoća prilikom upotrebe rutinske histeroskopije pred prvu VTO (Grupa B2) iznosila je 46% naspram 31,37% kod pacijentkinja bez histeroskopije pred prvu VTO (Grupa A2), iako uočena razlika nije dostigla statističku značajnost (p =0,089), uz relativan rizik (RR) za ostvarivanje kliničke trudnoće nakon primene histeoskopije uiznosio od 1,47 (95% CI 0,88-2,43) (p=0,13). Analizon subgrupa kod 100 pacijentkinja sa rutinski sprovedenom histeroskopijom pred VTO i 103 pacijentkinje bez histeroskopije pred VTO, dobijena je statistički značajnao veća stopa kliničkih trudnoća (48% naspram 31,07%, istim redom), uz RR od 1,54 (95% CI 1,08-2,20) (p=0,013), kao i stopa tekućih trudnoća od RR 1,49 (CI 1,01-2,19) (p= 0,039). Analiza ukupnog uticaja izvođenja histeroskopije pred VTO dobila je statistički značanjno veću stopu kliničkih trudnoća po ET za grupu histeroskopije uz RR 1,48 (CI 1,06-2,07) (p=0,017). Histeroskopijom je nakon urednog ultrazvučnog nalaza ustanovljeno postojanje patološkog nalaza kod 34,65% pacijenata i to 22,7% major patologije i 11,88% minor patologije kavuma. Nije postojala statistički značajna razlika u uspehu VTO u odnosu na sam nalaz histeroskopije. 98,67% pacijenata podržalo je rutinsku upotrebu histeroskopije pred prvi postupak VTO, dok je 83% pacijenata podržavlo rutinsku upotrebu histeroskopije pred svaki postupak VTO. U finalnom predikcionom modelu se uz AUC od 0,748 jedino postojanje visokokvalitetnog embriona uz odnos šansi (OR) 7,91 (95% CI 1,80-56,06; p=0,0047), transfer blastociste uz OR 3,80 (95% CI 1,90-7,98; p=0,0001) i izvođenje histeroskopije pred VTO uz OR 2,13 (95% CI 1,14-4,08, p=0,0169) pokazalo statistički značajnim prediktorima trudnoće. Diskusija: Studija je dobila pozitivan uticaj histeroskopije na ishod postupka VTO, iskazan pre svega povećanjem stope kliničkih trudnoća nakon sprovođenja histeroskopije (bilo da je na histeroskopiji nađen uredan ili patološki nalaz). Dodatna prednost histeroskopije predstavljala je i i detekcija prethodno nepropoznate patologije kavuma. Umeren efekat na ukupno poboljšanje stope kliničkih trudnoća prilikom rutinskog sprovođenja histeroskopije pred prvu VTO, koji je statističku značajnost dostigao tek analizom subgrupa u skladu je sa nalazima novijih dobro dizajniranih studija koji donekle limitiraju nekritičku upotrebu histeroskopije. Biološko objašnjenje potencijalnog pozitivnog uticaja histeroskopije najverovatnije leži u detekciji i tretmanu prethodno nepropoznate patologije kavuma, olakšavanju procedure embriotransfera, kao i humoralnim i molekularnim promenama koje nastaju u endometrijumu kao posledica odgovarajuće histeroskopske traume a koji su u dosašanjim istraživanjima apostrofirani kao faktori koji mogu povećati receptivnost uterusa. Zaključak: Histeroskopija je efikasna, bezbedna i visoko prihvatljiva procedura koja dovodi do povećanja uspeha VTO u standardnim kliničkim indikacijama (prethodnog neuspelog postupka VTO i sumnje na patološki nalaz kavuma uterusa) bilo da se na samoj histeroskopiji nađe uredan ili patološki nalaz. Rutinska primena histeroskopije pred prvi postupak VTO se na osnovu rezultata studije ne može smatrati apsolutno opravdanom usled statistički nedovoljno značajnog povećanja stope kliničke trudnoće. Uzevši u obzir visoku prihvatljivost od strane pacijenata i najverovatniji pozitivan efekat na stopu trudnoće primena rutinske histeroskopije pred prvu VTO bila bi opravdana ukoliko se implementira koncept ambulantne histeroskopije.
Introduction: Infertility affects 10-15% of all couples. In vitro fertilisation (IVF) is the most effective method of infertility treatment, but despite a significant improvement, success rate of IVF is still around 30% per cycle. The main reason for the IVF failure is inadequate embryo quality, but in 10-20% of cases the cause of IVF failure lies in impaired uterine receptivity. Based on earlier studies hysteroscopy, gold standard in the diagnosis and treatment of uterine cavity pathology, is often performed to increase IVF success. Despite its wide use, there is lack of high quality evidence regarding real contribution of hysteroscopy on IVF outcome in situations of uterine cavity pathology or routinely prior to first IVF or after recurrent implantation failure. The aim of this dissertation was to determine the influence of performing hysteroscopy on IVF outcome, as well as the incidence of previously unrecognized uterine pathology, and to examine patient's attitudes about performing routine hysteroscopy prior to IVF. Material and methods: The research was conducted in a prospective manner in two successive stages at Clinical Center of Vojvodina from 01.01.2015. until 01.04.2017. During first stage of the study IVF outcome was compared between patients who did not have a hysteroscopy prior to IVF (group A), patients with normal hysteroscopic finding prior to the IVF (Group B) and patients with abnormal hysteroscopic findings prior to IVF which was treated at the same time (Group C). The second stage of the study was a randomized controlled trial (RCT). After verification of normal ultrasound findings prior to the first IVF, patients were randomized to group A2 in who me hysteroscopy was not performed and group B2 who had routine hysteroscopy prior to first IVF. Statistical analysis was carried out using the appropriate statistical software (JMP Ver. 9). Patient characteristics, course and outcome of IVF cycle were compared between groups. The primary outcome was clinical pregnancy rate (CPR) per embryotransfer. In addition to analyzing the IVF outcomes in primarily defined groups, subgroup analysis was also performed, as well as IVF success pre-diction model based on logistic regression. Results: The study included 253 patients (52 patients in Group A, 50 in Group B, 50 in Group C, 51 in Group A2 and 50 in Group B2). There was no statistically significant difference in patient characteristics, ovarian reserve parameters, number of retrieved oocytes, or other relevant parameters of IVF course between the observed groups. In the first stage of the study there was statistically significant (p = 0.013) higher clinical pregnancy rate in patients who had a hysteroscopy before IVF - 50% for Group B and 42% for group C versus 30,77 % in patients without hysteroscopy before IVF (Group A), without statistically significant difference between hysteroscopic groups. In the second stage of the study, routine hysteroscopy prior to first IVF (Group B2) led to clinical pregnancy rate 46% versus 31.37% in patients without hysteroscopy prior to first IVF (Group A2), although without statistical significance (p = 0.089. Relative risk (RR) for achieving clinical pregnancy after performing hysteroscopy was 1.47 (95% CI 0.88-2.43) (p = 0.13). Subgroup analysis of 100 patients with routinely performed hysteroscopy before IVF and 103 patients without hysteroscopy prior to the IVF showed statistically significant higher rates of clinical pregnancies (48% versus 31.07%, in the same order), with RR of 1.54 (95% CI 1.08-2.20), (p = 0.013), and for ongoing pregnancies RR was 1.49 (95% CI 1.01-2.19) (p = 0.039). Overall effect of performing hysteroscopy prior to IVF resulted in a statistically significant increase in the clinical pregnancy with RR 1.48 (95% CI 1.06-2.07) (p = 0.017). After normal ultrasound finding hysteroscopy revealed 34.65% of pathological finding, 22.7% of major and 11.88% of minor pathology of the cavity). There was no statistically significant difference in IVF outcome based on hysteroscopy findings. 98.67% of patients supported the routine use of hysteroscopy before the first IVF procedure, while 83% of patients supported the routine use of the hysteroscopy before every IVF procedure. In the final prediction model, with the AUC of 0.748, only the presence of high quality embryos with odds ratio (OR) 7,91 (95% CI 1,80-56,06; p=0,0047), blastocyst transfer with OR 3,80 (95% CI 1,90-7,98; p=0,0001) and performing hysteroscopy prior to IVF with OR 2,13 (95% CI 1,14-4,08, p=0,0169) proved to be statistically significant predictors of pregnancy. Discussion: The study shoved a positive influence of hysteroscopy on the IVF outcome by increasing clinical pregnancy rate after performing hysteroscopy (whether hysteroscopy revealed normal or pathological finding). Additional benefit of hysteroscopy was detection of previously unrecognized uterine pathology. A moderate effect on the overall improvement in clinical pregnancy rate with use of routine hysteroscopy, which reached statistical significance only by subgroup analysis, is in line with findings of recent well designed studies that somewhat limit the noncritical use of hysteroscopy. A biological explanation of the potential positive effect of hysteroscopy is most likely due to detection and treatment of the previously unrecognized uterine pathology, facilitating embryotransfer procedure, as well as the humoral and molecular changes that occur in the endometrium as a consequence of the hysteroscopic trauma. Those changes were hypothesized as factors that can increase uterine receptivity by numerous research. Conclusion: Hysteroscopy is an effective, safe and highly acceptable procedure that increases IVF success when performed for accepted clinical indications (previous IVF failures, pathological findings of uterine cavity), whether hysteroscopy reveals normal or pathological finding. The routine use of hysteroscopy prior to first IVF based on this study can not be considered justified since increase in clinical pregnancy rate did not reach statistical significance. Given the high acceptance of this concept by the patients and moderate but probable positive effect on IVF outcome, implementation of routine hysteroscopy prior to first VTO would be justified only in office hysteroscopy setting.

Mitt masterprojekt är en bok som syftar till att stötta anhöriga till personer med förvärvad hjärnskada, där jag använder mig själv och min egen rehabilitering efter en smitningsolycka som fallstudie.
My master project is a book that aims to support relatives of people with aquired brain injuries, where I use myself and my own rehabilitetion after a hit-and-run accident as a case study.

Dans un objectif permanent de réduction de consommation des turboréacteurs, les constructeurs aéronautiques souhaitent atteindre de meilleurs rendements en augmentant la vitesse de l'ensemble compresseur-turbine. Afin de limiter la vitesse de la soufflante, un étage de réduction épicycloïdal doit être inséré entre la soufflante et le compresseur. Du fait de leur bonne tenue en cas de défaillance du circuit de lubrification, les roulements sont souvent privilégiés aux paliers hydrodynamiques pour les applications aéronautiques. Cependant, dans le cas des trains épicycloïdal, les roulements sont soumis à des forces centrifuges importantes qui sont la cause de pertes de puissances significatives ainsi que de la fatigue prématurée des cages ce qui peut provoquer la destruction du roulement. Ce travail de thèse consiste en le développement d'un modèle numérique permettant de comprendre le comportement dynamique d'un roulement à rouleaux cylindriques fonctionnant en champ centrifuge. Pour cela, la méthode de dynamique multi-corps est utilisée, couplée à des modèles de contact semi-analytiques tenant compte des différents régimes de lubrification rencontrés dans le roulement. De plus, un modèle élément finis est développé pour prendre en compte la flexibilité de la bague extérieure qui peut affecter la dynamique du roulement. Les résultats sont présentés pour une application classique de train épicycloïdal en termes de force, vitesse et perte de puissance. De forts impacts entre les rouleaux et la cage sont observés et les mécanismes responsables des importantes pertes de puissances et de la fatigue de cage sont expliqués. L'influence des hypothèses principales de modélisation est présentée. Enfin, une étude de l'influence des différents paramètres sur l'amplitude des forces et sur la taille et la position de la zone de chargement du roulement est réalisée
With the constant aim of reducing the turbofan consumption, aircraft manufacturers try to reach higher efficiency by increasing the compressor-turbine speed. In order to limit the fan speed, a planetary gearbox is introduced between the fan and the compressor. Because of their good oil-off performance, roller bearings are often preferred over hydrodynamic bearings for aircraft applications. However, in the case of planetary gearboxes, the roller bearings are submitted to severe centrifugal forces which cause significant power losses and premature cage fatigue that may lead to overall bearing failure. The present work consists in the development of a numerical model for the understanding of the dynamic behaviour of a cylindrical roller bearing working in a centrifugal field. Multi-body dynamics is used, coupled with semi-analytical contact models accounting for the different lubrication regimes encountered in the bearing. In addition, a finite element model is developed to account for the outer ring flexibility that may affect the bearing dynamics. Results are presented for a typical planetary gearbox application in terms of force, speed and power losses. Severe roller/cage impacts are observed and the mechanisms that cause the high power losses and the cage fatigue are explained. The influence of the main model hypothesis is presented. Finally, a study of the influence of the different parameters on the force amplitude and the bearing loaded zone shape and position is performed

El projecte de Tesi Doctoral que es presenta en aquest document aborda la temàtica del treball expressiu i artístic com a eina de promoció de la resiliència en l’àmbit de l’acció socioeducativa. La finalitat de la recerca és comprendre què aporta la metodologia artística en l’acció socioeducativa i avaluar-ne els seus beneficis a través de la creació i aplicació d’un recurs educatiu que sigui útil per infants i joves en risc d’exclusió social així com per les i els educadors que treballen en Centres Oberts atenen a aquest col•lectiu. En aquest projecte, l’art, i les metodologies artístiques, actua com a mediador per impulsar la creativitat com a vehicle de promoció de la resiliència. Abans del disseny del mateix, es considera important fer una aproximació diagnòstica que permeti detectar les necessitats i els beneficis d’aquesta metodologia d’acció, alhora que es confirma el valor de l’art i l’expressió com a eina de transformació social i de promoció de la resiliència. A partir de les necessitats expressades s’elaborarà el recurs socioeducatiu que farà ús de les metodologies artístiques i expressives. Des del nostre punt de vista, a través de l’expressió artística s’ofereix un mitjà d’expressió no verbal el qual permet oferir als infants i joves l’oportunitat de dir allò emocional, més íntim o més dolorós de manera simbòlica i indirecte, multiplicant-se les oportunitats de comunicació i de promoció de la resiliència només pel fet de donar veu.
This research presents an investigation whose purpose is to improve the wellbeing of children aged between 8 and 11 years old who live in a vulnerable social condition. Because of that, they regularly attend to Centres Oberts that are social services in primary care. The research is carried out in Barcelona, Catalonia, and consists of three phases: a diagnosis, a design of an educative proposal based on the preview phase results and a pilot experience of the design. The participants target the research are children who live in a social vulnerable condition due to the poverty and sociofamiliar marginalization, characterized by external factors of risk such as neighborhood social isolation, a poor social environment and family, analphabetism, a poor educational level of the progenitors, the proper absenteeism at school or have experienced neglect at home. The research’s aim is to encourage a resilient character in these children through educational work using artistic methodologies such as an educative tool and to unlock personal expression. The methodologies used are musical expression, artwork, drama and the spoken word. In a vulnerable environment, an artistic tool enables an immediate emotional connection, allowing to speak about difficult and painful matters in a more constructive and swift way. At the same time, it enhances the wellbeing of the childrens focus on working through the personal potentialities and capacities and not by deficits. Pain and adversity expression, together with creativity are two resilience pillars (Suárez, 2001; Cyrulnik, 2001; Barudy & Dantagnan, 2011). In this sense, encouraging resilience means promoting this way to personal expression through the medium of art, because it allows for the interpretation of past experiences, presents challenges and future hopes in a creative and imaginative approach. So, it enables the communication of people who can’t do it. In conclusion, this research is about emotional expression in vulnerable children through the medium of artistic expression. It allows to communicate easily with the personal area of the people and to promote resilience with an educative purpose. In this sense, it is important to emphasize that the educative process is more important than the aesthetic final result. Summing up, the experience confirms that an artistic methodologies approach to education working from a resilience perspective to encourage personal development.