In many occupations, exposure to hand-transmitted vibration (HTV) over a prolonged period causes various disorders involving the vascular, neural and musculoskeletal systems, collectively known as the hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS). It is a complex and potentially disabling chronic disorder of the upper extremities, especially of the hands. Numbness, tingling, reduced tactile discrimination, and impaired manipulative dexterity are often reported by workers exposed to HTV. The precise pathophysiological mechanism responsible for vascular injuries in HAVS has not yet been fully clarified; it seems to be multifactorial and highly complex. Interaction of neural signals, hormones, mediators and changes in the blood vessel itself appear to contribute to the development of such vascular injuries. This study aims to assess the risk of the hand-transmitted vibration exposure during pneumatic impact wrench operation in a rock drill repair and maintenance workshop at a South African platinum mine. A total of 8 workers working on a day to day basis with impact wrenches were available for this study. For each of the workers a control (not exposed to vibration) was selected on the basis of gender, ethnic group, smoking habits, age and body mass index (BMI). Grip force, dexterity and hand-eye co-ordination were tested on the workers and control group before and after work. Finger systolic blood pressure (FSBP) was also measured after cold provocation of the worker and control groups. Results have shown astatistically significant difference between the two groups with respect coordination, dexterity and FSBP after cold provocation. Vibration measurements shows three workers had values above the suggested ELV of 5 m/s² for an eight hour A (8) workday. With regards to dexterity, workers were capable to manipulate small objects better with their dominant right (vibration exposed) hand after work than before work. In contrast, it seems that the number of pegs correctly inserted by the controls is not uniformly affected by their 8 hour workday. The worker group showed a greater grip force than that of the control group, both before and after work.There was a statistically significant difference between the control and worker group with respect to the number of mistakes during the mirror trace and the time to complete this test only for the right hand. The difference in FSBP after cold provocation between the control and worker group observed is of medium importance when compared with effect sizes, however, there was no statistical significant difference. In this study, it was very difficult to make valid conclusions due to the limitations of a small sample size. A longitudinal study should be conducted preferably using newly appointed workers with no prior exposure to vibration and a sufficient control group to eliminate the effect other confounding variables such as general working conditions. / Thesis (MSc (Occupational Hygiene))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

In an era when sustainability is of great importance it is necessary to seek ways to make peopleact more sustainably when it comes to consumption. From this the concept of proenvironmental behavior has arisen as movements that benefit the planet but also refraining frombehavior that cause harm to it. To be able to change consumption behavior and adopt proenvironmental behavior, one possible solution is to influence consumers to act more sustainablyduring the decision-making process through nudging techniques. We focus on the personal careindustry that has not gotten the same attention as the fashion industry when it comes tosustainability despite being large and influential in Sweden. For that reason, this study aims to investigate how different personality traits affect thereceptiveness of Swedish consumers to green digital nudges when making an online purchase,more particular when purchasing a facial cream and lip balm. To bridge the identified researchgaps, the following research question has been formulated: What are the effects of personality traits on the receptiveness to sustainability–focused nudgingtechniques within the personal care sector in Sweden? Following a literature review, we applied quantitative quasi-experimental research design andcollected data through an online survey that specifically focused on the relationship betweenpersonality traits, nudging and the feelings towards nudging. The survey was distributedthrough a non-probability sampling method, namely, a convenience sample via social media. It resulted in 160 answers which also represents the study´s sample size. The main findings of the study revealed that people who possess higher level of GreenValuesare significantly more receptive to digital sustainability-focused nudging techniques, whereasthose who are Skeptical are less receptive to nudges. Respondents who possess an openpersonality trait were receptive to the nudged lip balm but not the facial cream. The feelingstowards nudging showed that, in general, the respondents felt contemplative, attentive, andskeptical, which can be said that people do not know that nudging exists and by participatingin this study we opened up more knowledge about that. When it comes to the specific traits,GreenValues are associated with being attentive, excited, and annoyed. Skeptical withhappiness and Openness with being skeptical, attentive, happy, critical, and offended. Additionally, the personality traits GreenValues and Openness, but not Skepticism, have astatistically significant effect on finding the eco-labels and nudged product description helpfulin making the product choice.

Thesis (M.Sc. (Statistics)) -- University of Limpopo, 2019 / This research study has demonstrated the complexity involved in complex survey sample design (CSSD). Furthermore the study has proposed methods to account for each step taken in sampling and at the estimation stage using the theory of survey sampling, CSSD-based case studies and practical implementation based on census attributes. CSSD methods are designed to improve statistical efficiency, reduce costs and improve precision for sub-group analyses relative to simple random sample(SRS).They are commonly used by statistical agencies as well as development and aid organisations. CSSDs provide one of the most challenging fields for applying a statistical methodology. Researchers encounter a vast diversity of unique practical problems in the course of studying populations. These include, interalia: non-sampling errors,specific population structures,contaminated distributions of study variables,non-satisfactory sample sizes, incorporation of the auxiliary information available on many levels, simultaneous estimation of characteristics in various sub-populations, integration of data from many waves or phases of the survey and incompletely specified sampling procedures accompanying published data. While the study has not exhausted all the available real-life scenarios, it has outlined potential problems illustrated using examples and suggested appropriate approaches at each stage. Dealing with the attributes of CSSDs mentioned above brings about the need for formulating sophisticated statistical procedures dedicated to specific conditions of a sample survey. CSSD methodologies give birth to a wide variety of approaches, methodologies and procedures of borrowing the strength from virtually all branches of statistics. The application of various statistical methods from sample design to weighting and estimation ensures that the optimal estimates of a population and various domains are obtained from the sample data.CSSDs are probability sampling methodologies from which inferences are drawn about the population. The methods used in the process of producing estimates include adjustment for unequal probability of selection (resulting from stratification, clustering and probability proportional to size (PPS), non-response adjustments and benchmarking to auxiliary totals. When estimates of survey totals, means and proportions are computed using various methods, results do not differ. The latter applies when estimates are calculated for planned domains that are taken into account in sample design and benchmarking. In contrast, when the measures of precision such as standard errors and coefficient of variation are produced, they yield different results depending on the extent to which the design information is incorporated during estimation. The literature has revealed that most statistical computer packages assume SRS design in estimating variances. The replication method was used to calculate measures of precision which take into account all the sampling parameters and weighting adjustments computed in the CSSD process. The creation of replicate weights and estimation of variances were done using WesVar, astatistical computer package capable of producing statistical inference from data collected through CSSD methods. Keywords: Complex sampling, Survey design, Probability sampling, Probability proportional to size, Stratification, Area sampling, Cluster sampling.

Denna uppsats syfte till att undersöka hur informationsutgivning om valberedningen inom svensk bolagsstyrning påverkas av att bolaget är internationellt verksamt, bolagets storlek, spridd aktieägarstruktur samt styrelsens storlek. Trots att valberedningen spelar en central roll inom svensk bolagsstyrning är det ett ämne som är outforskat. Därav är det av intresse att undersöka vilken frivillig information om valberedningen finns tillgänglig i årsredovisningen, samt vilka centrala faktorer styr informationsutgivningen i årsredovisningen. Studiens teoretiska ramverk behandlar agentteorin, signalteorin och legitimitetsteorin. Studien genomfördes med en kvantitativ metod med ett urval på 279 bolag. Studiens resultat visade inga signifikanta samband mellan frivillig informationsutgivning om valberedningen och bolaget är internationellt verksamt, bolagets omsättning, spridd aktieägarstruktur samt styrelsens storlek. Gällande resultatet av kriterierna i kod 4.1 omnämndes kriteriet erfarenhet flest gånger, följt av kompetens, jämn könsfördelning och bakgrund. En slutsats av resultatet, är att erfarenhet är det kriteriet som omnämns mest eftersom det är en viktig faktor för att bolaget ska kunna styras i en gynnsam riktning och det är det kriteriet som bolaget vill främst förmedla till aktieägarna att de tar hänsyn till. En övergripande slutsatsen som kan dras är att information om valberedningen i årsredovisningen inte efterfrågas av aktieägarna eftersom de kan få tillgång till informationen på andra kommunikationskanaler. / This study aims to examine how the release of information about the nomination committee within Swedish corporate governance is affected by the fact that the company is international, the company's size, dispersed shareholder structure and the board size. Even though the nomination committee has a great importance in Swedish corporate governance, the topic is unreached. Because of this, it is of interest to examine what voluntary information about the nomination committee is available in the annual report, as well as what central factors govern the release of information in the annual report. This study is based on agency theory, signaling theory and legitimacy theory. The study is conducted with astatistical analysis on a sample of 279 companies. The results of this study showed no significant relationships between voluntary disclosure of information about the nomination committee and the companies that are international, the company's size, dispersed shareholder structure and the board size. Regarding the result of the criteria in code 4.1, the criterion experience was mentioned the most times, followed by competence, equal gender distribution and background. As a conclusion of the result, experience is the criterion that is mentioned the most because it is an important factor for the company to be steered in a favorable direction. It is also the criterion that the company primarily wants to communicate to the shareholders that they consider. An overall conclusion is that information about the nomination committee in the annual report is not requested by the shareholders because they can get access to that information on other communication channels.

Uppsatsens syfte är att är att undersöka olika förutsättningar och omständigheter som kan ha betydelse för utfallet av den kvinnligarekryteringen till internationella förband.Uppsatsen inleds med en beskrivning och bakgrund av Resolution 1325. Denna resolution blev antagen, i syfte att belysa den utsattasituation som kvinnor och barn konfronteras med, i spåret av olika konflikter i världen. Kvinnor som deltagare i fredsbefrämjande insatser,har ofta visat sig vara en viktig förutsättning för att möjliggöra kommunikation med andra kvinnor och barn. Detta är inte bara en fråga ominformation och underrättelser. Det är också en fråga om att skapa en medvetenhet kring krigets konsekvenser, vilket kan ha en avhållandeeffekt men också leda till andra typer av åtgärder vidtages i det fredsbefrämjande arbetet. Olika studier visar också på ett statistiskt sambandmellan graden av jämställdhet i ett land och benägenheten att använda våld för att lösa konflikter, när kvinnors status påverkas negativt ökarrisken för konflikt.De metoder som används i uppsatsen är en kombination av kvalitativ och kvantitativ analys. Studien inkluderar tre olikaundersökningsområden. Den största delen utgörs av en enkätundersökning riktad mot samtliga kvinnliga yrkesofficerare i Försvarsmakten.Syftet med denna är att belysa respondenternas attityd i olika frågor som rör internationell tjänstgöring. Rekryteringsstatistik över dentotala rekryteringen till olika missioner och beredskapsförband mellan år 1999 och 2004 har studerats för att beskriva det faktiskaresultatet av den kvinnliga rekryteringen i jämförelse med män. För att undersöka tillvägagångssättet vid rekryteringen till Utlandsstyrkan(US) och vad som kan påverkar detta, har olika aktörer som direkt och indirekt har varit involverade i arbetet intervjuats.De sammanfattande slutsatserna och resultaten är att huvuddelen av respondenterna är positiva till internationell tjänstgöring.Familjehänsyn och avtalsmässiga frågor är de mest framträdande överväganden som görs, oavsett om det föranleds av en negativ ellerpositiv grundsyn till ett utlandsengagemang. Den statistiska undersökningen visar att kvinnor generellt sett är underrepresenterade i US,i synnerhet kvinnliga officerare. Detta visar på en diskrepans mellan den övervägande positiva viljan och det faktiska resultatet. Detfinns en tendens till en strukturell begräsning för kvinnliga officerare. Deras normala befattningsprofil har en till övervägande del enunderstödjande karaktär. US representeras till största delen av förband vilka är organiserade i huvudsak för stridande roller, i linje medfredsframtvingande uppgifter, samt att huvuddelen av dessa förband har en arméstruktur som återspeglar denna bild. M h t de ovanbeskrivna strukturella begräsningarna så försvåras möjligheterna för kvinnor generellt sett att bli antagna, i synnerhet för flygvapen- ochmarinofficerare. Bilden kompliceras av att många av de manliga officerarna visar på en attityd, vilket riskerar att segregera kvinnor tillunderstödjande roller, därför att dessa anser inte att kvinnor är tillräckligt kvalificerade för stridande uppgifter. Sannolikt kan dennaattityd ha en effekt på rekryteringen, då män till den övervägande delen ansvarar för detta. Ett konkret exempel på omdömesfulltledarskap har visat sig ha en positiv effekt på kvinnor, dels under tjänstgöringen och sannolikt även på utfallet av antalet rekryterade tillförbandet. Betydelsen av att sätta handling bakom ord och officiella riktlinjer är en av de omständigheterna som högst sannolikt har lettfram till detta positiva resultat. En större representation av kvinnligt ledarskap i US, skulle sannolikt inte bara tydliggöra möjligheten förandra kvinnor att utlandstjänstgöring är möjligt, utan också skapa en trygghet för dessa och en mindre känsla av utsatthet, genom attbilden av deras minoritetsställning i förbanden förändras. Den förändrade bilden kan också bidraga till att risken för sexuellatrakasserier minskar. / The purpose of this essay is to examine different conditions and circumstances, which could influencethe results of female recruitment to the Swedish Armed Forces overseas units.The essay begins with a background describing the UN Resolution 1325. The resolution was declaredin an effort to illuminate the exposed situation that women and children are confronting, in the path ofdifferent armed conflicts around the world. Women, as participants in a Peace Support Operation,have often proved to be a key element in enabling communication with other women and alsochildren, and thereby be a possible source of information. This effect is not only a question aboutinformation or intelligence. It is also an issue of creating a mental awareness of the consequences ofwar, which could possibly have a preventive effect on the conflict itself, and in the hearts and mindsof those who are involved in the conflict. This could lead into other ways to handle crises. If women’sstatus is proved to be bad, this reflects also on the overall situation in a conflict area. There is astatistic proved connection between the degree of equality in a country and the tendency to use ofviolence. When the status for women tends to be negative, there is a greater risk for conflict.The methods used in the essay are a combination of a qualitative and quantitative analysis. The essayincludes three different studies. The main part is an opinion poll addressed to all female officers in theSwedish Armed Forces. The purpose of this research is to describe the attitude among the respondentsto overseas duties. Statistical data is used in order to show the actual results of the division of maleand female personnel, which have been recruited to different overseas missions and Rapid ReactionUnits between the years 1999 and 2004. In order to examine whether there are circumstances thatinflicts on the possibility for female recruitment to the Swedish Overseas Force (SOF), a number ofdifferent interviews have been performed of actors, who are indirect or direct involved in therecruiting procedures.The overall conclusions and results are that the greater parts of these respondents have a positiveattitude for international duties. Social and contractual agreements are the most apparent attitudes ofconsideration, whether an international engagement is an option or not. The statistical data reveals thefact that women are, generally speaking, underrepresented in overseas units, especially femaleofficers. This shows an obvious unbalance between their will and the actual results. There is a certaindegree of tendency of structural restraints for female officers. Their ordinary duties at units, centresand staffs shows that the majority have a supporting profile of their normal duties. Since the SOFconsists of units, which are mainly dressed for combat tasks in order to conduct operations inaccordance with Peace Enforcement, and that most of these units has also an army structure, reducesthe possibilities for many of the female officers to be recruited, especially for the air force and navalofficers. These circumstances becomes more complicated by the fact that many of the male officersshow an attitude to segregate women into subordinate roles, because they are not considered to bequalified enough for “combat” roles. It is probable that this has a negative effect on the recruiting ofwomen to the SOF, since men mainly execute this. Good leadership characterised by good judgementhas had a provable positive effect on the female participants in one of the Swedish battalionsoverseas. The results points out the importance of putting concrete effort behind words and officialguidelines, which has the primary task to recruit not least women to overseas units. A greater numberof female officers in leading roles in the SOF, would probably visualise the possibility for otherwomen that an international engagement is possible and natural. This could also create a sense ofstability for them and perhaps reduces the feeling of being a minority, and as an extension of thisstructural change, the risk for sex harassment could possibly decrease. / Avdelning: ALB - Slutet Mag 3 C-upps.Hylla: Upps. ChP 03-05