Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'National Institute of Health Research and Development'

The present study attempted to investigate the information needs/information seeking behaviour of health researchers at the National Institute of Health Research and Development, Ministry of Health, Indonesia. Its objective was to identify the relationship between information needs/information seeking behaviour and the characteristics of those health professionals. Those characteristics include institution to which health professionals belonged, institution geographic location, level of appointment, level of education, and work experience. Research was carried out through survey by using a questionnaire. This survey obtained a response rate of 92 percent from a sample of 131 health professionals. Their information needs/information seeking behaviour were correlated with their characteristics to determine relationships, and the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to analyse the data. Frequency distribution, chi-square analysis, and descriptive analysis were used to obtain the results. The study found that the health information available did not match the health professionals' needs and that there was strong demand by these personnel for automated information services. It also found that total hours reading per week was significantly related to level of appointment, level of education, and work experience at other institutions. The perceived usefulness of journals as information sources was significantly related to institution, geographic location, level of appointment, level of education and work experience at other institutions. Government publications and statistical data as a source of information were found to be related significantly to institution and geographic location. There was also a relationship between the perceived value of reference books and work experience at the current institution. The usefulness of library catalogues as a guide to information was found to be related significantly to institution and geographic location, as was the usefulness of abstracting and indexing services to level of education. Frequency of visiting libraries was significantly related to institution, geographic location and level of appointment. The membership of professional organizations and obtaining useful information from friends, colleagues or personal contact were found to be significantly related to level of education. The study concludes with recommendations and suggestions for further research.

The following thesis presents an analysis of power and control in the English National Health Service. Notably, it focuses upon power and control over knowledge; over defining what is 'valid' knowledge; over the production of that valid knowledge; and over how, what, when and where that knowledge is used in everyday clinical practice. The issue reaches to the heart of professional conception and definition and hence, control over professions themselves. The thesis attempts to demonstrate the relationship between the different professional groups in the NHS, through the analysis of national, regional and local documents, and interviews with managers, doctors, nurses, dietitians and physiotherapists in three case studies, the thesis shows the complex pattern of relations and behaviour at play. Particular attention is paid to Michael Power's notion of audit and the 'Audit Explosion', which provides a framework for the thesis, and to the work of Michel Foucault, especially his ideas about power, control and panopticism. These are used as a useful metaphor to understand and explain NBS research and audit in relation to the NHS professions. The thesis ends with a cross-case analysis which draws together the rich variety of data and concludes with an analysis of the wider sociological implications ofthe thesis.

Overweight and obesity among children and youth in the United States is a serious public health concern. The longitudinal relationships between maternal depression and childhood overweight and obesity were examined using data from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development (NICHD SECCYD). A national cohort of 1,384 children was followed from birth to adolescence and longitudinal data collected on multiple variables, including child weight and height, maternal depression, maternal influence, and family context. Maternal Depression was assessed by the Center of Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and defined as a score of 16 or greater. Overweight and obesity were defined according to the recommended BMI age- and sex-specific percentiles. Maternal depression was assessed when the child was 1 month old, 36 months, and in grade 1. Overweight and obesity status was assessed at 36 months, grade 1, grade 3, and grade 6. The effect of changes or persistence in the pattern of maternal depression for different childhood age points on the development of childhood overweight and obesity was evaluated. A variety of statistical methods were used including t-test, ANOVA, multiple linear regression, multiple logistic regression, and generalized estimation equation (GEE). Results: After adjustment for confounding, compared with mothers with no depression at child's age of 1 month, 36 months, and in grade 1, mothers with depression at 1 or 2 of those time points had a 45% higher risk for childhood overweight and obesity at grade 3 (OR= 1.45, 95% CI= 1.01-2.07). For mothers with depression at all 3 time points, there was an even greater increase in risk at grade 3 (OR= 2.25, 95% CI= 1.05-4.84) and grade 6 (OR= 3.36, 95% CI= 1.46-7.77). Conclusion: Maternal depression is associated with childhood overweight and obesity. Child overweight and obesity intervention efforts may benefit from identifying strategies to improve maternal mental health status, including depression.

This study examined maternal depression status from month 1 to 36 after birth using data from the NICHD Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development. Maternal depression was assessed with the Center of Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale. The prevalence of maternal depression was highest at 1 month, decreased at 6 months, and then kept fairly stable to 36 months. The prevalence was higher in blacks than other races, in 18-24 than 25-46 years old, and in single mothers than non-single mothers. Mothers with better physical health, social support, or employed had a lower prevalence than their counterparts. Mothers in poverty, receiving public assistance, or who had more parental stress had a higher prevalence. Social support and parental stress had a statistically significant relationship with maternal depression even after adjusting for other variables. In conclusion, this longitudinal study found that several maternal, child, and family factors were associated with maternal depression.

Background. In healthcare, bridging the research-to-practice gap is a top priority. In 2008 the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) funded nine Collaborations for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care (CLAHRC); NHS-university partnerships seeking to accelerate the uptake of research into practice, a process referred to in this thesis as implementation. Evidence suggests that implementation might occur more readily when there is collaboration across various stakeholder and organisational boundaries. Boundary objects are shared things and ideas that are thought to enable communication across boundaries and create an opportunity for stakeholders to work together productively. Despite being studied across a range of settings in which collaboration is key, the role and potential of boundary objects remains understudied in relation to implementation. This thesis fills this gap. Methods. A case study of three CLAHRCs was conducted to explore the role of boundary objects in implementation. Phase 1, a document analysis, identified potential boundary objects (i.e. on paper) across the three cases. In Phase 2, in-depth interviews with people employed in boundary spanning roles in 3 CLAHRCs were conducted to investigate whether and how things and ideas were developed and used as boundary objects during implementation. Findings. Despite high numbers of potential boundary objects identified on paper through the document analysis (defined in this study as boundary objects-in-theory), including care pathways, assessment tools, and disease registers, in practice participants reported that some of these operated to reinforce boundaries. The study showed that there were things and ideas that were shared between stakeholders and enable them to collaborate to varying degrees (defined as boundary objects-in-use), including shared ideas around implementation, clinical topics, and some tools and guidelines. However some of these were perceived as prescriptive and imposed, requiring extensive adaptation to become meaningful to stakeholders. A process of creation and/or adaptation sometimes came about through unanticipated rather than planned processes. The most effective boundary objects-in-use were those which were co-produced in partnership with stakeholders. These were generated through discussions during which boundaries were clarified and solutions were sought to meet stakeholders’ needs, a process of collective endeavour identified as a type of bricolage. Boundary objects-in-use developed through bricolage possessed properties which were found to be lacking from those things that failed to make the transition from boundary objects-in-theory. Successful boundary objects-in-use were symbolically meaningful, resonant, and perceived as authentic by stakeholders. Discussion. An understanding of boundary objects defined by action-based properties rather than structural features is proposed, updating the classic typology. The study showed that for boundary objects-in-theory to make the transition to boundary objects-in-use, all relevant stakeholders must be engaged throughout the development process. Individuals working in implementation, such as boundary spanners, were more likely to deploy boundary objects effectively by using the skills of the bricoleur, initiating the collective creation and use of such objects. Implications. The findings from this study suggest that accepting and encouraging adaptation of those things that could in theory be boundary objects through a process of collective bricolage, instigated by credible boundary spanners, encourages the co-production of useful boundary-objects-in-use. These can represent an effective mechanism to enhance the appeal and relevance of outputs of research by providing a catalyst to align, engage, and accommodate multiple stakeholder perspectives.

Title - Randomised controlled trial (RCT) to identify if cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) with respiratory nurses reduces anxiety in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). (Trial Registration - ISCRCTN55206395). Introduction: Anxiety and depression are common comorbidities in COPD. The aim of this research is to identify if CBT delivered by respiratory nurses reduces anxiety in a large COPD population. Methods: Study Design – Prospective RCT. Sample Size - 112 for each arm were required. Approach – 1,518 patients were approached: 279 were recruited. Randomisation –Electronic randomisation was used. Intervention – CBT with a respiratory nurse plus self-help leaflets. Comparison – Self- help leaflets. Main Outcomes -Primary outcome was symptoms of anxiety. Secondary outcomes were depression and quality of life. Data collection – was undertaken by nurses blinded to treatment allocation. Results The groups were well matched at baseline. The CBT intervention achieved clinical and statistically significant change for all outcomes: HADS-Anxiety group mean change of 3.4 (SD 4.20) p=<0.001 CI 2.62- 4.17; HADS-Depression 2.20 (SD 3.62) p=<001, CI 1.53 – 2.87; CAT 2.7 (SD 6.36) p=< 0.001, CI 1.49 – 3.88 and EQ-5D utility group mean change of 0.08 (SD 0.31) p=0.007, CI - 0.14 - -0.02 at 3 months. The leaflet group achieved a clinical and significant reduction in group mean change of 1.9 (SD 3.80) p= <0.001, CI 1.19 - 2.55 in HADS-Anxiety and CAT 2.06 (SD 5.34) p=<0.001, CI 1.09 – 3.04. The HADS-Depression group mean change was only statistically significant 1.07 (SD 3.55) p=0.001, CI 0.44 – 1.71. The EQ-5D utility scores group mean change of - 0.003 (SD 0.31) p= 0.09 CI -0.06 – 0.05 which did not reach statistical or clinical significance. Conclusion Overall the CBT intervention was superior to the leaflet intervention.

The key question not addressed by the hierarchical model (Shavelson et al., 1976) is whether academic self-concept is reflected in relations with non-academic self-concept components (i.e. a between-network issue). The present study investigated the significance of physical self-concept, as a proposed mediator variable, to assess the relationship between anxiety/depression and school absence in children with chronic illness, which was hypothesized as Model A. Additionally, this research examined proposed mediator of absence in order to assess the relationship between physical self-concept and academic achievement, after controlling for academic self-concept, which was hypothesized as Model B. This study included participants from a comprehensive database of the Study of Early Child Care (SECC), by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). This study will examine the health status, psychosocial factors, attendance, and academic functioning of children in the sixth grade at the time of data collection. Findings, related to Model A, suggest that when children, regardless of whether or not they are chronically ill, experience higher degrees of anxiety/depression, they are more likely to report having higher levels of negative physical self-concept and higher levels of school absence. Findings for Model B suggested that once academic self-concept was controlled, physical self-concept, while statistically significant, accounted for little actual variance in the number of days a student was absent from school. This finding was true among all students as well as those who were not chronically ill . Specifically, this finding did not hold true for chronically ill students.

This thesis is an account of research at two levels of inquiry. At the context-level, it is concerned with advancing theoretical understanding of the challenges to progressing Sustainable Development (SD) in NHS organizations. Previously these had been described as comprising i) lack of organizational support afforded to SD, ii) difficulties in prioritising and evaluating the impacts of SD initiatives, and iii) a dominance of working arrangements inappropriate for dealing with the cross-departmental and inter-organizational nature of SD. At the meta-level, it is concerned with advancing theoretical understanding of an Action Research (AR) approach to addressing such challenges in their context. It seeks to contribute to emerging frameworks which define a co-operative relationship between practitioners as active participants in their own solutions to organizational change for SD, and outside academics as facilitators of appropriate learning processes to support this. I engaged in two phases of research to address both these levels of inquiry. In Phase 1, I developed a theoretical understanding of the challenges of NHS SD through fifteen semi-structured interviews with practitioners and policy makers leading initiatives for SD in the NHS. In Phase 2, I used this contextual theory to inform an AR approach to progressing SD in one NHS organization. In this process, I facilitated cycles of action and reflection with a group of five senior managers over a twelve month period, in order to develop their organization’s SD strategy. Both Phases revealed the constraints practitioners face in developing SD beyond a narrow resource efficiency agenda. AR holds potential for developing broader interpretations through the integration of SD theory into organizational learning process. However, such an endeavour is beyond the scope of a single AR project and must be viewed as an ongoing relationship between academics and practitioners, as well as other actors of influence from across the health system.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of East Tennessee State University's summer science institute training through the effect on mean Normal Curve Equivalent science test scores of students in a Northeast Tennessee school system whose teachers participated in the ETSU summer science institute training. Data analysis were compiled using students' science NCE scores to determine if there were significant differences in scores for those students whose teachers participated in the summer science institutes and those who did not participate. Students' NCE scores were compiled from the middle school setting over a 3-year academic period: 2004-2005, 2005-2006, and 2006-2007. Paired-samples t tests were used to analyze the effectiveness of teacher participation by comparing preparticipation and postparticipation students' science NCE scores for years 3 years. Independent-samples t tests were used to compare students' gender, socioeconomic status (free- and reduced-price meals), and NCE science scores (using 5th grade only) for 2 consecutive years of the study (2005-2006 through 2006-2007). Two analyses were used to determine teachers' participation and the effect on students' NCE science scores among two subgroups: gender and socioeconomic status. For research questions 4 and 5, a mean net gain and NCE raw scores average was performed. The findings from this study indicated significant differences in years 2004-2005 and 2006-2007 favoring students of teachers who participated in the summer science institutes However, the results from year 2005-2006 showed no significant differences in students' science NCE scores of teachers who participated or did not participate in summer science institutes. In the consecutive year (2005-2006 through 2006-2007) using 5th grade only comparisons, data analyses showed significant differences in students' science NCE scores when performing NCE raw scores comparisons for gender and socioeconomic status. The comparisons for gender showed male students' science NCE scores were higher than were females' science scores. The NCE raw scores comparisons for socioeconomic status showed those students on the meals program had higher science NCE scores than did those students not on the program. There was no significance in students' science NCE scores when using mean net gain scores comparison for gender and socioeconomic status.

The goal of this study was to explore the relationship between stress and executive function (EF) in adolescence and to determine the extent to which the adolescent-caregiver attachment moderated the effects of stress on EF. EF are a set of meta-cognitive processes, including planning, that require coordinated neural activation in the prefrontal cortex and a number of other brain regions. Deficits in EF are associated with many mental health disorders. Large-scale, federally funded efforts are ongoing to understand more about EF and the brain.

Current adolescent brain research calls for further investigation of how regions coordinate in task-specific activities (Spear, 2010). The stress, or hypothalamic-pituitary axis (HPA), and attachment systems share underlying neural substrates that overlap with regions activated to perform EF. Adolescence is a sensitive period for changes in EF skills (Blakemore & Choudhury, 2006), the HPA axis (Romeo, 2011), and attachment (Allen, 2008). Therefore, this research was aimed at exploring how stress and attachment predict performance on an EF task in adolescence. Specifically, the researcher examined the extent to which attachment styles moderated the relationship between cortisol, a measure of HPA axis functioning, and performance on the Tower of London (TOL), a test of planning skills. The NICHD Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development (SECCYD) data were used to examine this overarching research question in a social neuroscience model.

While the TOL is one of the most frequently used measures of EF, its scoring methods vary across studies (Etnier & Change, 2009). Study 1 consisted of an exploratory factor analysis with data from 932 youth, and results supported a single factor model that best represented planning skills, which was consistent with the hypothesized structure based on an exploratory study with a small sample of college students (Berg, Byrd, McNamara, & Case, 2010). The factor score was then used as the criterion variable in Study 2, which included three moderated regression models that explored secure, preoccupied, and dismissing attachment styles. Though results suggested that cortisol and attachment were not predictive of planning in this sample, potential explanations for the lack of findings are proposed and recommendations for future research are included.

This study was aimed at analysing structural relations between the State and the non-governmental organizations (NGO) sector. It focused on the relations between two NGOs, namely the Labour Research Service and the Institute for Democracy in South Africa on the one hand and the National Development Agency on the other. The National Development Agency is a State intermediary structure established to facilitate funding and policy dialogue between the State and the NGO sector. The three institutions have been included in order to analyse the way in which a state-designed institution relates with NGOs and in turn the NGOs responded in general.

The present study examined attachment disorganization and executive function as predictors of adolescent risky behavior. Additionally, the present study examined how attachment disorganization and executive function may differentially predict adolescent risky behavior for males and females. Measures of executive function, mother-infant attachment, adolescent risky behavior, family income, and gender were obtained from adolescent participants of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development (NICHD-SECCYD). Data was analyzed through structural equation modeling (SEM). Executive function, attachment, and risky behavior were unrelated in the study sample. Income was a significant predictor of attachment for females, but not males. Income was an equal and significant predictor of executive function for both males and females. Income was also a significant predictor of risky behavior for males and females, though a stronger predictor for females. Limitations and ideas for future research were discussed.

碩士
台南應用科技大學
室內設計系碩士班
106
Abstract The creative base is located at National Taiwan Craft Research and Development Institute and its surrounding area. It is located in Caotun Township where the straw sandals mound was originated. According to Caotun Township Records, Caotun was a staging post for pioneers, porters, merchants and travelers, and they arrived at it at sunset, and in early morning they started off and replaced their old straw sandals with new ones. Days after days, the abandoned straw sandals stacked up into a mound”. Thus, it is called Caotun which means straw in Chinese. Now new meanings are given to straw. In the past, we often considered straw as a static object, but it was used as a life tool in ancient times. Now, it is an element of the place, which can be used to build a space and symbolizes culture. Thus, we should activate straw. We should not see straw as a straw. We should think how to activate the village through straw. This is to pursue genius of regional space. The creation work integrates the base with National Taiwan Craft Research and Development Institute into new spatial order and new place through analysis of landscape, ecology, culture, and application of weaved structure in the traditional construction of central regions so as realize creation objective by using creation approaches at different stages. The creation work is intended to find the memory space and memory fragments in life. The space can be used for leisure, exhibition, sales and service. The hydroponic technology is used for mutualistic symbiosis between fish and water, and rice is grown indoors, and weaved straws structure is integrated into life design. All these are started from our familiar scenes. The place is only memory fragments, which should be integrated into human and time and reshape space and time spirits to break established concept. The interior design is to retain previous building memory and combine it with the new memory fragments to make a dialogue between them and make space life sustainable. Keywords: Memory, place, weaving, reproduction, transformation, order

碩士
國立高雄應用科技大學
文化創意產業系
106
The purpose of this study is to explore the management of bamboo craft in Taiwan and discuss its development by National Taiwan Craft Research and Development Institute (NTCRI). This article based on the traditional bamboo craft, use of literature analysis, participation in observation and in-depth interviews from the NTCRI, craftsmen and the public. According the interviews with each other, through their experience and dialogue to understand what is the artist view for the NTCRI in promoting bamboo craft? And discuss the development of bamboo craft is helpful? Or bamboo craft although revitalized the traditional industries, but also facing a new predicament? The results of this study show that in 1970s after because Taiwan bamboo craft sales were declining so craftsmen suddenly became less. The other side because of the industrial development, the advantages of bamboo craftsmanship no longer existed, and artistry is even more limited in its development. So the NTCRI in the promotion of bamboo craft to personnel training and innovation, and separated the traditional bamboo craft by innovative design. Finally, made some suggestions on the based of the article:（i）making bamboo craft return to life and use of design thinking,（ii）organizing various exchange activities to open new horizons of bamboo arts,（iii）standardization of commodity inspection,（iv）Gradually develop people's habits. Hope in this way, bamboo craft in Taiwan can open a new career and create a new horizons.

碩士
靜宜大學
企業管理研究所
91
Since the leadership styles will cause leading deviation when it respond to the cross-cultural, so attempt to imitate western leadership theory completely may explain how western leadership theory can suit to non-western society, however it may has no help for realizing the Chinese leading cases deeply. In another way, ignoring the cultural character may also cause the regret for cutting the feet to fit the shoes easily, and therefore paternalistic leadership, which combine with traditional culture, and family system is the prescription for solving above symptom. Attempt to use paternalistic leadership which combine with traditional culture and family system to explain the Chinese leading cases, and analyze how paternalistic leadership can suit to national defense R & D Institute, as well as the relationship between paternalistic leadership and department performance, those measures which describe before and clear the cause and effect can prompt the department performance. The following collusions are the results for analyzing the researchful samples： 1.The paternalistic leadership suit to national defense Research & Development Institute. 2.Benevolence leadership and morality leadership have significant relationship to department performance of national defense Research & Development Institute. 3.Morality leadership of the leader, which led technical department, has significantly effective prediction to department performance. 4.The subordinate sex, educational background and job’s age have significant relationship to perception of leader’s paternalistic leadership. 5.Leader’s status has significant relationship to paternalistic leadership; the term of leader just has significant relationship to morality leadership.

碩士
國防管理學院
資源管理研究所
88
By conducting a case study, this research examines the application of the balanced scorecard system (BSC) to a National Defense R&D Institute. The findings are: 1. The BSC can be successfully implemented in a nonprofit governmental R&D agency. 2.Support from all levels of management is vital to BSC success. And, the R&D institute must follow a clear and concise method of using the BSC system. But for a long-term strategy purpose, the BSC must link career development and human resource management. If a link exists between these, it will lead to employee trust and support of BSC system. 3. In order to implement the BSC to governmental agencies successfully, the reward system must extend non-financial rewards. 4. Performance measurement must be adjusted to follow outside influences such as market fluctuations, political climates and consumer demand, etc. And, performance of different departments must be measured separately according to their different functions within the integrated strategy. But each scorecard measurement must exist not only for administrative management control, but must also indicate how future success can be attained. 5. We also found that three improvements were closely related to administrative control and not necessarily for long-term future success. So, we suggest our case and a government agency using the BSC must align with and stay focused on implementing the organization’s long-term strategy, Otherwise BSC will to become just an administrative management fair tool.

碩士
國立臺北藝術大學
藝術行政與管理研究所
99
Craft originates from the production and usage of various tools for daily livelihood, where their basic function is to adequately and efficiently facilitate the comfort of living, so that work becomes convenient and logical. Therefore, once craft becomes the subject of exhibition, it is a declaration of transformation in terms of usage significance and relationship with people. The planning of the Taiwanese craft exhibition is fundamentally based on the structure of the knowledge classification in the museum and is inspired by the theme of conveying rational/scientific knowledge within the realm of craft. It starts by labeling information on the craft exhibits to gradually creating the topic and integrating the exhibits with visual design and spatial ambiance, supplemented by multimedia and interactive devices; hence the stationery craft exhibition is transformed into a dynamic experience. Although a diverse exhibition design and multimedia application may provide the audience with more sensual stimuli and experience, however, the cultural connotation presented for craft may potentially be the output of unilateral communication. The study focuses on the policy development of the NTCRI’s actual craft exhibitions during 2002~2010 as the research content. Through such a national iconic institution, its task migration in researching and promoting craft is used to analyze Taiwanese craft’s lateral connection in three major facets such as livelihood economics, government policy and cultural development, as well its historical connotations. The transition from craft display exhibition method to theme design and then to exhibition thinking is clarified, further analyzing the current implementation technique and condition of craft exhibitions. It is hoped to examine the concept, and the pros and cons of the current exhibition system, so as to propose adjustments in response to the changes in time and compile issues worth reviewing in contemporary craft creation and exhibition interpretation, ultimately provide exhibition organizers and the audience with more diverse clues when contemplating the subject of viewing exhibitions.

碩士
大葉大學
國際企業管理學系碩士在職專班
94
National defense policy in our country is always focused on the development and establishment of our own national defense power. The institute of national defense R&D has been taking an important role of which carries out the mission in developing and researching the-state-of-edged-art weapon systems. Its achievements are not only the satisfied outcome of the weapon systems developed also the helpfulness for the acquisition of the advanced weapon systems from the other countries. Nevertheless, the R&D capability in the institute is gradually decreasing due to the decreasing support in national defense budget. Therefore, how to improve the national defense R&D management becomes a more important issue from now on. This study is trying to figure out the improvement in the foreign procurement management in this institute and hope to give some useful suggestions to the institute. By the actual case study of one R&D project selected, we will learn how the procurement in the project was operated and find out what problems will influence the efficiency in the project. Furthermore, we will give some improvement suggestions that can be used to solve those problems. Key Words : National Defense R&D, Equipment & Material Acquisition, Project Management, Procurement & Supply Management.

碩士
南開科技大學
福祉科技與服務管理所
103
2001 was “International Year of Volunteer”. Meanwhile, our country promulgated “Act of Volunteer Service” on January 20 in the same year, which set up a new milestone for volunteer work in Taiwan. Currently, there have been more than one million volunteer workers throughout the island. Whether in the field of social welfare or in public affairs, volunteer service is getting even more important. In this study, a questionnaire survey was used, and the research subjects were volunteer workers in National Taiwan Craft Research and Development Institute （NTCRDI）. The aim of the study is to inquire their personal qualities, motivation for service participation, and learning satisfaction in relation to their involvement in volunteer service. This practice is to provide references for relevant units when they’re in need of human resources in volunteer service. 255 copies of questionnaires are distributed with 238 valid questionnaires being collected. After the analysis from SPSS 17.0, the results are as follows. (1) 64.3% of NTCRI volunteer workers are mid-high aged people between 45-65 years old; they are the main force that are extremely valuable groups in volunteer service. (2) The injection into volunteer work was positively correlated with variables of personal traits; health condition is the most influential factor. (3) Regarding the participatory intention for volunteer service, the “self- directing tendency” to enrich knowledge of handicraft is the most prevailing. (4) As to learning satisfaction of volunteer service, the volunteers have the strongest recognition with “learning contents”. (5) The keys to promote work injection of volunteer workers are their health conditions, diverse volunteer service experiences, strong self-motivation, well-designed learning courses, and the acquisition of service skills. In order to encourage them to continue contributing to volunteer work, it is recommended that NTCRDI should focus on improving the training courses. This main point may stimulate their learning interests, from which the "learning by doing" skill can be achieved. The service-learning spirit will enable them to work in a happy and virtuous cycle. In this way, sublimation and fulfilment obtained from voluntary life will ultimately be helpful in attaining a successful aging process. Keywords: Volunteer service, Service learning, Successful aging

碩士
國立臺北教育大學
台灣文化研究所
99
The improper origins of the Kuomintang (KMT) party assests have long been controversial in Taiwan democratical history. With the party-state system, the KMT took the possession of the assets originally belonged to the government. The KMT also collected more assets by gaining bestowed land from the government, purchasing the land at a low price, and gaining national assests and people’s property with force. The origins of the party assets have long been criticized since 1958 in the magazine of “Free China”, blaming that the KMT has manipulated the privilege under its ruling power of the country, and competed the benefits with the people. However, under the threat of the White Terror, the criticism about the improper attainment of the assets could hardly be spoken. Not until 1980, when Taiwan was declard martial law to end, politics were gradually democratized, did people get to focus once again on the improperness of the party assets. The transition of the political parties in 2000 opened a window to the examination and prusue of the improper party assets. In April, 2001, the Control Yuan has announced a report investigating the party assets of the KMT, comfirming there is indeed inappropriateness in the party assets in gaining from the national assests. The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government not only investigated KMT’s improper party assets, but also dunned for the state assets. However, the draft “Disposal Ordinance Of Improper Assets Of Political Parties” was not passed during 2000 and 2008. KMT’s dispose of party assets during these eight years has caused criticism. One example is the land of National Development Research Institute disciplined by President Ma Ying-jiou. The land of National Development Research Institute was purchased in from the gorvenment and the people during the 1950s and 1960s. Among it, the part purchased fom Yeh Zhongchuan was accused by the Yeh’s descendants to illegally occupy their land and eventually obtained their land with threat. In 2000, the Yeh’s descendants wished to obtain the estate through legislation by appealing to the government and media, but in vain. In 2005, the KMT sold out the land of National Development Research Institute. In the meanwhile, the Taipei City government took an announcement about a case of land use change around the National Development Research Institute, which astounded the public. Taipei City government was thought to benefit KMT, giving it an excuse to sell its party asset. The Yehs could do nothing but to follow the judicial procedure. In 2006, the Yehs appealed to the court for the civil action, accusing KMT’s illegal occupation of their land, and asking KMT to return it. This study discusses the origin of the KMT’s inappropriate party assets, analyzes the process and property flows, and investigates the inappropriateness KMT’s party assets and its way to deal with inappropriate party assets based on the case study of the land of the National Development Research Institute.

碩士
亞洲大學
國際企業學系碩士在職專班
98
With the expansion of craft market since 2000, the promotion to craft products requires a more organized strategy including exhibition plan, marketing, packaging and distribution channel to survive in the keen competition. Besides the existing National Taiwan Craft Research and Development Institute Shop, National Taiwan Craft Research and Development Institute（NTCRDI）founded Taiwan Living Crafts Center in Park Lane by CMP in July 2008. This Center attracted the attention of craft industry ever since its opening and thus coming out the motive of this research. This research uses mainly the qualitative research methods to probe into the operation of these 2 outlets of NTCRDI by document analysis, participant observation and in-depth interview. And through the observation of their operation conditions and development to know how the government organization (NTCRDI) creating the added-value of craft product by the using its aesthetic and culture identity. After analyzed this case study, the conclusion propose some sales strategies for the craft market.

碩士
國防管理學院
後勤管理研究所
96
Nowadays, the research institute of our Armed Forces not only reaches the target of the fiscal year mission related to defense technology research topic, but also release our capability and license of our technologies to the local industries, then in virtue of the operational fund mechanism dubbed at “Tri-service production and service operational fund-Dual use technology development operation”. The institute is very actively applying for the SBIR(small business innovative research) projects from MoEA, Tri-service project, and possible technological service projects from local industries and our government-run companies. That will be beneficial to infuse the funding for the year-end research budget and the target of surplus in auxiliary-unit budget can be achieved. The employees in the institute are mostly knowledge-worker and work for the weapon systems development under the social expectation of national security. While, when the institute has the duty for technology service besides its regular mission which has the characteristics of utilitarianism for the purpose of budget surplus to achieve the performance of fund may conflict with the employee’s recognition. Such organizational identity is a very important topic, there is no any research topic that focuses on the employee in our military research institutes; besides, the organizational citizenship behavior is still a new research area in the military research institutes, and is deserved to be studied and explored about the relationship among perceived external prestige, organizational identity, and organizational identification.

碩士
國立成功大學
政治經濟研究所碩士在職專班
102
Ever since the Department of Health adopted the global budget system for Public Health Insurance. Hospitals have encountered some troubles. Such as fierce competition, raising cost, and elevating consumer conscious. In order to survive these predicaments, medical care institutes have to enhance the quality of the medical service care and satisfy the needs of the patients. So as to maintain the long term relationship with the patients and make sure that patients could revisit the hospitals. The gradually decreasing of the NHI drug payments and Dual Medical System lead smaller hospitals and clinics to large-scale hospitals. Moreover, due to the price discussion controlled by the medical centers, there has been the drug gap. Asymmetric information resulting from high information cost and professional abilities causes the burden of the National Health Insurance Bureau (NIHB) and the growth of the medical expenditure and the difficulties of reducing the waste of medical resources.

Retention of a sugarcane mulch blanket, following green cane harvesting could increase soil water conservation, soil health (organic matter content and micro-organism activity) and soil nutrient status. However, little is known about the effect of such a mulch layer on sugarcane crop growth and development. To study the latter, an experiment was carried out in Komatipoort at the South African Sugarcane Research Institute’s Experimental Station. Row spacing arrangement was either 1.5 m or 1.2 m x 0.6 m tram rows. N14 was planted as a fast canopy growing cultivar and N26 as a slow canopy growing cultivar. Plots were either covered by a mulch layer or left as bare soil. Stalk population, stalk height and radiation interception were measured every second week. Soil temperature readings were logged hourly at a depth of 0.15 m. Preliminary results indicated that early growth and development of sugarcane was delayed under mulch treatments. Stalk length of N26 was reduced more than that of N14. Stalk population of both cultivars were significantly lower under the mulch treatment. Fractional interception of solar radiation was only 50% at 150 days after planting for the mulch treatment, compared to 70% for bare plots. Slow initial growth and delayed canopy development in mulch treatments were associated with low soil temperatures in the period leading up to full canopy closure. Soil temperature in the mulch treatments remained between 3 to 4oC lower than the bare soil treatments. Early indications are that the presence of a mulch layer may reduce early growth and development of sugarcane. Copyright
Dissertation (MInstAgrar)--University of Pretoria, 2010.
Plant Production and Soil Science
unrestricted

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2009.
Title from title screen (site viewed July 6, 2010). PDF text: vii, 111 p. : ill. ; 3 Mb. UMI publication number: AAT 3369361. Includes bibliographical references. Also available in microfilm and microfiche formats.

During the last decade the pharmaceutical industry (PI) operations became far more complex due to several structural and organizational changes, new legislation and pharmacoeconomic constraints. The role of Medical Affairs (MA) has been increasingly important and the interactions between PI and healthcare professionals (HCP) are currently much more based on science, than in marketing or commercial arguments. This thesis provides an in-depth description of the MA function, maps key areas of activity, challenges processes and opportunities, based on the feedback collected from PI professionals, HCP, regulatory authorities, payers and patient´s associations, while suggesting metrics to evaluate the activity and impact of such actions. To collect insights from these sources two questionnaires were sent to 400 pharmaceutical industry professionals and to 197 customers, addressing the most relevant topics of the MA contribution to strategic and operational activities, while identifying areas where there was greater perceived value of their activity. There were 169 responders to the first survey (colleagues), while 40 answers to the second one (customers). The importance of the MA on the overall results of the company was very high rated and, its contribution to strategic activities was seen as essential for the support of product launch, improvement of therapeutic adherence and partnerships with Patient’s Associations. Higher scores were also given to operational activities such as medical awareness/education and symposia preparation, internal training and advisory board management. A great deal of medical effort was also spent in content creation, preparation and review of materials, in medicine related responses, presentations, reimbursement dossiers, safety risk management, internal cross functional meetings, as well as, in dealing with customers. Digital and multichannel medical labor was still rated low, while the contribution for mobile applications and similar devices gained some interest. The number of medicines considered reasonable for a Medical Affairs professional to be responsible for, was two through three. Customer facing activity was found to be reasonable up to ten customers per medical full time equivalent (FTE). MA efficiency was considered to be better exercised if office based rather than home based, while clinical research was considered to be more efficient if performed by company resources than by clinical research organizations (CRO).For these colleagues, the most important driver for clinical research in our country was said to be interest/perceived value while, long approval timelines, lack of resources and low curriculum vitae impact were identified as major roadblocks. The customer’s experience with clinical trials was greater than with investigator initiated research (IIR) or other non-interventional studies. When recruiting a Medical Affairs person, the characteristics perceived as most relevant were: a problem solving attitude, flexibility, pro-activeness and competency. The most important factors impacting Medical Affairs retention were: opportunities for personal development, recognition and work conditions. The contribution of the Medical Affairs to the reputation and credibility of the pharmaceutical industry was very highly rated. Looking at the future, most colleagues forsee a greater involvement of MA in pharmaceutical opperations. The impact of the implementation of the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA) disclosure code of ethics and transparency governing the relations between pharma industry and HCP was considered to be high, while the pharmaceutical image was assessed as good. In the future, the majority of customers foresee greater Medical Affairs involvement, while patients as well as citizens, will have a greater participation on the decision making process of their own health. At the end, set of MA metrics on volume and impact is also suggested.
Durante a última década, a gestão das operações na indústria farmacêutica (PI) tornou-se mais complexa devido a várias mudanças estruturais e organizacionais das empresas, a nova legislação e às restrições orçamentais a nível nacional e internacional. O papel dos Assuntos Médicos/Medical Affairs (MA) tem vindo a ser cada vez mais importante e as interações entre empresas farmacêuticas e os profissionais de saúde (HCP), muito mais baseadas em ciência, do que em argumentos comerciais ou de marketing. Esta tese fornece uma descrição detalhada da função MA, mapeia as principais áreas de actividade, problemas, desafios e oportunidades, com base na informação recolhida junto de profissionais da indústria farmacêutica, HCP, autoridades regulamentares, pagadores e associações de doentes, ao mesmo tempo sugerindo métricas, para avaliar a actividade e o impacto de tais ações. Para recolha de dados elaborámos dois questionários que, foram enviados por email a 400 profissionais da indústria farmacêutica e a 197 clientes, abordando os tópicos mais relevantes da contribuição de MA para as atividades estratégicas e operacionais, identificando as áreas onde existe um maior valor percebido dessa acção. Foram recebidas 169 respostas ao primeiro inquérito (colegas) enquanto que 40 respostas ao segundo inquérito (clientes). Os resultados obtidos permitem concluir que a contribuição dos MA para os resultados globais da empresa e para as estratégias definidas foi muito alta, sendo essencial para o apoio ao lançamento dos medicamentos, melhoria da adesão terapêutica e colaboração com as associações de doentes. Foram igualmente salientadas as atividades operacionais, como as relacionadas com materiais educacionais e de actualização, preparação de simpósios, treino interno e de consultoria. Um grande esforço médico é igualmente investido na criação de conteúdos, preparação e revisão de materiais, bem como, nas respostas relacionadas com os medicamentos, planos de gestão de risco, contribuição para dossiês de reembolso, em reuniões internas de alinhamento e na interacção com clientes. O contributo médico para as actividades digitais e multicanal foi ainda classificado como pouco relevante, enquanto que, as aplicações móveis registaram interesse. O número de medicamentos considerado razoável para um profissional de MA ter sob sua responsabilidade foi de dois a três, enquanto que o número de clientes a acompanhar deveria rondar os dez. A eficiência destes profissionais foi considerada melhor se exercida a partir do escritório do que do domicílio, enquanto que, a investigação clínica foi considerada mais eficiente se realizada pelos recursos da empresa vs recursos contratados (CRO).Para estes colegas, alguns dos factores determinantes para a investigação clínica no nosso país foram: o interesse na investigação e valor percebido dessa participação, enquanto que, os longos tempos de aprovação, a falta de recursos e o baixo impacto no curriculum vitae, constituíram alguns dos principais obstáculos. A experiência dos clientes com os ensaios clínicos é maior do que com os estudos de iniciativa do investigador (IIR), ou outros estudos não-intervencionais (NIS). Ao recrutar um profissional para Assuntos Médicos/Medical Affairs, as características percebidas como mais relevantes foram: uma atitude visando a solução de problemas, flexibilidade, pró-atividade e competência. Os factores mais relevantes referidos como impactantes na retenção destes profissionais foram: as oportunidades de desenvolvimento pessoal, o reconhecimento e as condições de trabalho. A contribuição dos Assuntos Médicos/Medical Affairs para a reputação e credibilidade da indústria farmacêutica foi altamente reconhecida, prevendo no futuro um ainda maior envolvimento médico nas empresas. O impacto da implementação do Código de Ética e Transparência da Federação Europeia da Indústria Farmacêutica e Associações (EFPIA), que rege as relações entre a indústria farmacêutica com os profissionais de saúde, foi considerado elevado; enquanto que a sua imagem foi avaliada como boa. No futuro, prevê-se um envolvimento maior dos Assuntos Médicos/Medical Affairs nas operações da indústria farmacêutica, dos doentes e dos cidadãos, no processo de decisão sobre a sua saúde. No final sugerem-se um conjunto de métricas sobre a actividade de MA em termos de volume e de impacto.
Programa Doutoral em Ciências e Tecnologias da Saúde

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)
Identifying spatial and temporal patterns of disease occurrence by mapping the residential locations of affected people can provide information that informs response by public health practitioners and improves understanding in epidemiological research. A common method of locating patients at the individual level is geocoding residential addresses stored in electronic medical records (EMRs) using address matching procedures in a geographic information system (GIS). While the process of geocoding is becoming more common in public health studies, few researchers take the time to examine the effects of using different address databases on match rate and positional accuracy of the geocoded results. This research examined and compared accuracy and match rate resulting from four commonly-used geocoding databases applied to sample of 59,341 subjects residing in and around Marion County/ Indianapolis, IN. The results are intended to inform researchers on the benefits and downsides to their selection of a database to geocode patient addresses in EMRs.