The European Citizens’ Initiative : promoting democratic participation?

This master’s thesis examines the European Union’s (EU) relatively new tool for citizen participation, namely the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI). The ECI was introduced in 2012 and has now been used for just over five years. The ECI’s purpose is to enable European citizens to make an initiative proposal for the European Commission. This thesis examines what kind of participation the ECI has produced in practise. The ECI has been examined through the analytical framework of Graham Smith, which he has developed for analysing the democratic innovations. The analytical framework emphasizes six democratic goods, from which four, namely inclusiveness, popular control, efficiency and transparency, have been assessed in this thesis. This study uses quantitative data on all 66 ECI initiatives that have been launched during past five years. A classification of the data has been produced, including categorization of stakeholders that have launched initiatives and the policy areas that the initiatives have touched upon. The study concludes, firstly that majority of the initiatives have been launched by already established groups such as European or national organizations, but also considerable number of informal groups and new or-ganizations have been active in launching initiatives. The ECI has not been greatly used by political parties or anti-EU movements. Secondly, the citizens have launched initiatives in variety of policy areas, e.g. consti-tutional, justice, and environmental issues. However, most of the launched initiatives have addressed policy areas that the EU does not have strong legal regulation on, and has limited policy involvement in these policy areas. Hence, there seems to be a mismatch between the issues that the citizens regard as salient and the policies that are the core of the EU. Thirdly, this study confirms the notion of previous studies that the ECI places notable cost for citizens to impact the decision-making of the EU through the ECI as only three initiatives have been successful to gather the needed 1 million statements of support. This study also confirms the findings of previous studies that in moments of crises the citizens launch more initiatives, thus, the ECI might contribute in creating at least a temporary EU-wide public sphere. As the analyses of the ECI in this thesis has been able to consider the most recent crises of the EU, namely Brexit, the results of the study suggest that the ECI might enable citizens to participate when they feel that the matter is salient enough. Thus, the benefit of implementing the ECI is higher than for not implementing this democratic innovation as, at least in moments of crises, the citizens have a tool through which they can make their concerns heard. This thesis concludes that it cannot be said that the ECI has had a significant role in improving the legitima-cy of the EU or function as a cure democratic deficit, but, it suggests that at least the ECI has not worsened the situation of the EU in terms of these two dimensions

Book Review : Gartmann, Thomas und Schäuble, Michaela (Hrsg.): Studies in the Arts: Neue Perspektiven auf Forschung über, in und durch Kunst und Design (2021), Bielefeld: transcript.

Book Review – Studies in the Arts: Neue Perspektiven auf Forschung über, in und durch Kunst und Design, Thomas Gartmann und Michaela Schäuble (Hrsg.), 2021.Book Review – Studies in the Arts: Neue Perspektiven auf Forschung über, in und durch Kunst und Design, Thomas Gartmann und Michaela Schäuble (Hrsg.), 2021.Book Review – Studies in the Arts: Neue Perspektiven auf Forschung über, in und durch Kunst und Design, Thomas Gartmann und Michaela Schäuble (Hrsg.), 2021.Book Review – Studies in the Arts: Neue Perspektiven auf Forschung über, in und durch Kunst und Design, Thomas Gartmann und Michaela Schäuble (Hrsg.), 2021

The profession and practice of screenwriting in British cinema : the 1920s and 1930s

EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

A influência da televisão sobre a criança e sua consequente influência no consumo familiar

Orientadora: Ana Paula da RosaMonografia (graduação) - Universidade Federal do Paraná, Setor de Ciências Humanas, Letras e Artes, Curso de Graduação em Publicidade e Propagand

Comportamento de risco à saúde em atletas adolescentes : associação com componentes da prática esportiva

Orientador: Professor Doutor Wagner de CamposDissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal do Paraná, Setor de Ciências Biológicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Educação Física. Defesa : Curitiba, 26/02/2019Inclui referências: p. 80-94Resumo: A prática esportiva estruturada é essencial para a saúde dos adolescentes, visto que a adolescência é um período que ocorrem diversas mudanças físicas, psicológicas, cognitivas e sociais, onde a sensação de autonomia nas tomadas de decisões, podem levá-los a aderir determinados comportamentos de risco à saúde. OBJETIVO: Verificar a associação de componentes da prática esportiva com os comportamentos de risco à saúde em atletas adolescentes de ambos os sexos. MÉTODO: Estudo transversal realizado com 367 atletas (15,68 ± 0,78 anos) de Curitiba/PR e região metropolitana. As variáveis sociodemográficas e esportivas avaliadas foram: sexo, idade, nível socioeconômico, tipo de esporte, anos de treino e volume de treino semanal. Os comportamentos de risco à saúde avaliados foram: níveis insuficientes de atividade física, comportamento sedentário (elevado tempo de TV e videogame), hábitos alimentares inadequados (baixo consumo de frutas e vegetais), consumo de bebidas alcoólicas (leve e excessivo), consumo de tabaco e drogas ilícitas, comportamento sexual de risco e violento, além do tempo de sono durante a semana e final de semanal, avaliados através de questionários autorreportados. Foram utilizados distribuição de frequência absoluta e relativa para descrever as variáveis sociodemográficas, e foram utilizados medianas e intervalos interquartílicos para descrever as variáveis esportivas, distribuição de frequência absoluta e relativa para a identificação das prevalências, e a regressão de Poisson com variância robusta para analisar a associação de componentes sociodemográficos e da prática esportiva com os comportamentos de risco a saúde, adotando p<0,05. RESULTADOS: Foram classificados como insuficientemente ativos 9,5% da amostra; 10,4 % e 13,1% com elevado tempo de TV e videogame, respectivamente; 66,5% e 68,4% com baixo consumo de frutas e vegetais, respectivamente; 26,7% consumiram pelo menos uma dose de bebida alcoólica, e 15,3% consumiram 5 ou mais doses de bebida alcoólica; 1,6%, e 1,4% consumiram tabaco e drogas ilícitas, respectivamente; 6,3% não usaram preservativo na última relação sexual, e 12,5% apresentaram comportamento violento. O esporte coletivo (RP: 3,11; IC95%: 1,13-8,58) e os anos de prática (RP: 1,14; IC95%: 1,01-1,29) se associaram positivamente ao elevado tempo de TV. Para o elevado tempo de videogame, associações negativas foram vistas para a idade (RP: 0,59; IC95%: 0,39-0,89) e para o volume de treino semanal (RP: 0,92; IC95%: 0,86-0,99), mas não para os anos de prática (RP: 1,12; IC95%: 1,01-1,25). Para o consumo de vegetais, associações negativas foram vistas para o volume de treino semanal (RP: 0,98; IC95%: 0,96-0,99). A idade se associou positivamente com o consumo leve (RP: 1,64; IC95%: 1,32-2,03) e excessivo (RP: 1,82; IC95%: 1,34-2,48) de bebidas alcoólicas, porém associações negativas foram identificadas para o volume de treino semanal, no consumo leve (RP: 0,95; IC95%: 0,92-0,99) e excessivo (RP: 0,94; IC95%: 0,89-0,99). Associações positivas foram vistas para a idade (RP: 9,59; IC95%: 3,36-27,38) e volume de treino semanal (RP: 1,20; IC95%: 1,01-1,45) para o consumo de tabaco, e na idade para o consumo de drogas ilícitas (RP: 18,08; IC95%: 3,38-56,65). O sexo feminino associou-se negativamente ao comportamento sexual de risco (RP: 0,28; IC95%: 0,08-0,94) e violento (RP: 0,23; IC95%: 0,08-0,62). E o maior nível socioeconômico se associou negativamente ao tempo de sono durante a semana (RP: 0,60; IC95%: 0,42-0,86). CONCLUSÃO: Foi possível observar que os componentes sociodemográficos e esportivos podem interagir de diferentes formas com os comportamentos de risco à saúde avaliados, no entanto, características da prática esportiva como o volume de 9 treino semanal, favorece a um menor tempo de videogame, menor consumo de bebida alcoólica e ao aumento do consumo de vegetais em atletas adolescentes. Palavras-chave: Esporte, Comportamentos de risco à saúde, atletas, adolescentes.Abstract: Structured sports practice is essential for the health of adolescents, since adolescence is a period of several physical, psychological, cognitive and social changes, where the sense of autonomy in decision making may lead them to adhere to certain behaviors of risk to health. OBJECTIVE: To verify the association of components of sports practice with health risk behaviors in adolescent athletes of both sexes. METHOD: Cross-sectional study with 367 athletes (15.68 ± .78 years) from Curitiba / PR and metropolitan region. The socio-demographic and sports variables evaluated were: gender, age, socioeconomic level, type of sport, years of training and volume of weekly training. The following health risk behaviors were assessed: insufficient physical activity, sedentary behavior (TV and videogame excess time), inadequate eating habits (low fruit and vegetable consumption), consumption of alcoholic beverages (light and excessive), tobacco and illicit drugs, risky and violent sexual behavior, and sleep time during the week and weekend, evaluated through selfreport questionnaires. We used absolute and relative frequency distribution to describe sociodemographic variables, and we used medians and interquartile ranges to describe the sports variables, absolute and relative frequency distribution for the identification of prevalence's, and Poisson regression with robust variance to analyze the association of socio-demographic components and sports practice with health risk behaviors, adopting p <0.05. RESULTS: 9.5% of the sample were classified as insufficiently active; 10.4% and 13.1% with a TV and videogame excess time, respectively; 66.5% and 68.4% with low consumption of fruits and vegetables, respectively; 26.7% consumed at least one dose of alcoholic beverage, and 15.3% consumed 5 or more doses of alcoholic beverage; 1.6%, and 1.4% consumed tobacco and illicit drugs, respectively; 6.3% didn't use a condom at the last sexual intercourse, and 12.5% had violent behavior. The collective sports (PR: 3.11, 95%CI: 1.13-8.58) and years of practice (PR: 1.14, 95% CI: 1.01-1.29) were positively associated with the high time of TV. For the high videogame time, negative associations were seen for age (PR: .59, 95%CI: .39-.89) and for the weekly training volume (PR: .92, 95%CI: .86-.99), but not for years of practice (PR: 1.12, 95%CI: 1.01-1.25). For vegetable consumption, negative associations were seen for the weekly training volume (PR: .98, 95%CI: .96- .99). Age was positively associated with light consumption (PR: 1.64, 95%CI: 1.32- 2.03) and excessive (PR: 1.82, 95%CI: 1.34-2.48), but negative associations were identified for the weekly training volume, in the light consumption (PR: .95, 95% CI: .92-.99) and excessive (PR: .94, 95%CI: .89-.99). Positive associations were seen for age (PR: 9.59; 95%CI: 3.36-27.38) and weekly training volume (PR: 1.20; 95%CI: 1.01- 1.45) for the tobacco consumption, and age for illicit drug use (PR: 18.08; 95% CI: 3.38-56.65). The female sex was negatively associated with sexual risk (PR: .28, 95%CI: .08-.94) and violent (PR: .23, 95%CI: .08-.62). And the highest socioeconomic level was negatively associated with sleep time during the week (PR: .60; 95%CI: .42- .86). CONCLUSION: It was possible to observe that the sociodemographic and sportive components can interact in different ways with the health risk behaviors evaluated, however, characteristics of the sports practice such as the weekly training volume, favors a shorter videogame time, shorter drink consumption alcohol consumption and increased vegetable consumption in adolescent athletes. Keywords: Sports, health risk behaviors, athletes, adolescents

Argilominerais neutros na estabilização de emulsões de pickering

Orientador: Prof. Dr. Rilton Alves de FreitasTese (doutorado) - Universidade Federal do Paraná, Setor de Ciências da Saúde, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas. Defesa : Curitiba, 14/02/2023Inclui referênciasResumo: Emulsões são formulações aplicadas em diversos setores como cosmético e farmacêutico, onde duas fases imiscíveis são usualmente estabilizadas por adição de agentes surfactantes; substâncias relacionadas à incidência de irritação e sensibilização cutânea e possível impacto ambiental. Emulsões de Pickering são sistemas estabilizados por partículas sólidas; as quais por meio de adsorção interfacial impedem ou minimizam aspectos de instabilidade coloidal. Partículas naturais e biodegradáveis como minerais vêm sendo alvo de pesquisa para formação de emulsões de Pickering, tais como os argilominerais neutros caulinita e talco. O objetivo desta tese foi, no primeiro capítulo, avaliar a caulinita isolada e em sinergismo com o ácido oleico (modelo de ácido graxo presente em óleos vegetais) na formação e estabilização de emulsões de Pickering óleo-água. No segundo capítulo, o objetivo foi avaliar isoladamente a caulinita e talco na formação e estabilização de emulsões de Pickering anidras e óleo-óleo. Foram utilizadas como técnicas de caracterização dos materiais a difração de raio X, espectrofotometria de infravermelho com transformada de Fourier, microscopia eletrônica de varredura e transmissão, termogravimetria, análise de ângulo de contato, medidas de tensão interfacial e determinação do Potencial zeta. Foram preparadas emulsões óleo-água, anidras e óleo-óleo em diferentes razões emulsivas e concentrações de partículas. As emulsões foram avaliadas em diferentes tempos por meio de registro macroscópico, análises de microscopia óptica, microscopia confocal de varredura a laser e ensaios reológicos. Observou-se sinergismo entre a caulinita e ácido oleico nos sistemas óleo-água produzidos por adição in situ ou por adsorção prévia de ácido oleico na superfície da partícula. Estas emulsões foram mais estáveis que as emulsões preparadas somente com caulinita, apresentando maiores razões de óleo emulsionado e volumes emulsionados. A interação do ácido oleico com a caulinita in situ na interface óleo-água ocorreu durante a formação das gotículas por ligações de hidrogênio e interações eletrostáticas, alterando a molhabilidade das partículas e otimizando o volume emulsionado e a estabilidade das emulsões. Nos sistemas anidros e óleo-óleo ocorreu formação de emulsões em todas as amostras contendo partículas, porém no sistema óleo-óleo a caulinita se destacou frente ao talco. As emulsões formadas sem a adição de partículas apresentaram estabilidade inferior às amostras preparadas com caulinita ou talco. As emulsões anidras e óleo-óleo obtidas na razão emulsiva 0,5 apresentaram-se estáveis por mais de um ano. O comportamento de fluido Newtoniano das emulsões óleo-óleo formadas sem partículas mudou para sólido viscoelástico com a adição de caulinita, melhorando a estabilidade a longo prazo. Em todas as emulsões avaliadas: óleo-água, anidras e óleo-óleo, o aumento na concentração de partículas aumenta o volume emulsionado e promove diminuição no diâmetro de gotículas, melhorando a estabilidade das emulsões. Sugere-se que o mecanismo de estabilização das emulsões óleo-água (em sinergismo ao ácido oleico), anidras e óleo-óleo está relacionado com a formação de emulsão, efeito Pickering, depleção e efeito de gelificação. Os resultados apresentados tornam as partículas de caulinita e talco candidatas à aplicação como partículas de Pickering em diferentes tipos de emulsões cosméticas e farmacêuticas.Abstract: Emulsions are formulations widely used in various sectors such in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, where two immiscible phases are usually stabilized by the addition of surfactants; substances related to the incidence of skin irritation/sensitization and possible environmental impact. Pickering emulsions are colloidal systems stabilized by solid particles; and due to interfacial adsorption, avoids or minimize instability aspects of the emulsions. Natural and biodegradable particles, such as minerals, have been the target of research for the formation of Pickering emulsions, such as the neutral clay minerals kaolinite and talc. The objective of this thesis was, in the first chapter, to evaluate kaolinite isolated and in synergism with oleic acid (as a model of fatty acid present in vegetables oils) in the formation and stabilization of oil-water Pickering emulsions. In the second chapter the objective was to evaluate kaolinite and talc isolated in the formation and stabilization of anhydrous and oil-oil Pickering emulsions. X-ray diffraction, infrared spectrophotometry with Fourier transformed, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, thermogravimetry, contact angle analysis, interfacial measurements and determination of zeta potential were used as materials characterization techniques. Oil-water, anhydrous and oil-oil emulsions were prepared in different emulsifier ratios and particle concentrations. Emulsions were evaluated at different times by means of macroscopic recording, optical microscopy analysis, confocal laser scanning and rheological assays. Was observed synergism between kaolinite and oleic acid in the oil-water systems produced by in situ addition or by previous adsorption of oleic acid on the kaolinite surface. These emulsions were more stable than emulsions prepare with raw kaolinite, having a higher emulsified oil ratio and emulsified volume. Interaction of oleic acid with kaolinite in situ at the oil-water interface occurred during the formation of the droplets by hydrogen bonds and electrostatic interactions, changing the particle wettability and improving the emulsified volume and stability of the emulsions. In the anhydrous and oil-oil system, occurred formation of emulsions in all samples containing particles, but in the o/o system, kaolinite stood out compared to talc. Emulsions formed without the addition of particles showed lower stability than the samples prepared with kaolinite or talc. The anhydrous and o/o emulsions obtained at emulsifier ratio of 0.5 were stable for more than one year. Rheology Newtonian fluid behavior of oil-oil emulsions changing to solid viscoelastic with kaolinite addition, improving long-term stability. In all emulsions evaluated: oil-water, anhydrous and oil-oil, the increase in particle concentration enhancing the emulsified volume and promotes a decrease in the droplet diameter, improving the emulsions stability. We suggest that the stabilization mechanism of oilwater (in synergism with oleic acid), anhydrous and oil-oil emulsions is related to the formation, Pickering effect, depletion and gelation effect. The presented results make kaolinite and talc particles candidates for use as Pickering particles in different types of cosmetic and pharmaceutical emulsions

Campañas medioambientales contra empresas forestales: ¿Cuál es el objetivo de estas campañas?

Campaigns by environmental non-governmental organisations (ENGOs) can have far reaching consequences in determining the policies of governments and corporations. This paper examines campaigns targeting forestry companies to determine what makes a successful campaign. Over forty ENGOs completed a questionnaire defining what they perceive to constitute a successful campaign. The responses were analysed using Analytical Hierarchy Process. The results showed that campaigns by ENGOs have two main targets: changes in laws and the target group implementing the campaign’s recommendation(s). Achieving these targets, for most, constitute a successful campaign. Subsequently, representatives of seven ENGOs were questioned to attain their perspectives of the results in comparison to campaigns they are conducting against forest enterprises. They supported the results of the questionnaire, but also felt that there are various other factors that need to be considered (e.g. the campaign’s timeframe and the possibility of having hidden targets) that increase the issue’s complexity.Campañas llevadas a cabo por organizaciones no gubernamentales ambientalistas (ONGsA) pueden tener importantes consecuencias a la hora de influenciar las políticas tanto de gobiernos como de corporaciones industriales. Este artículo se centra en el estudio de campañas cuyo blanco son las empresas madereras, analizando que condiciones deben cumplir dichas campañas para poder ser consideradas como exitosas. Para ello, más de cuarenta ONGsA rellenaron un cuestionario en el que se les pedía que indicaran su opinión sobre que define una campaña exitosa. Las respuestas fueron analizadas utilizando un Proceso Analítico Jerárquico (AHP). Los resultados mostraron que las campañas de las ONGsA tienen dos objetivos principales, obtener cambios en las leyes y que la compañía o gobierno objetivo de la campaña cumpla las recomendaciones propuestas. A posteriori, los representantes de siete ONGsA, con campañas ambientales en curso contra empresas madereras, fueron preguntados sobre si los resultados obtenidos a través del análisis AHP estaban en concordancia con las perspectivas para sus campañas ambientales. Como resultado, se obtuvo que si bien sus perspectivas coincidían con los resultados del análisis, existen otros factores a tener en cuenta (por ejemplo el marco temporal de la campaña y la posibilidad de afectar objetivos no explícitamente señalados) que aumentan la complejidad del problema