Previous research has proven that perceived Brand Authenticity functions as a differentiator, which brands can use to stand out in today’s marketplace. However, few studies have investigated whether it is possible for brands to become more profitable by utilizing their authenticity. This thesis therefore investigates the relationship between the two branding concepts Brand Authenticity and Customer-Based Brand Equity (CBBE). An explanatory survey study is made on the Swedish retail clothing industry, which measures the effect of the Brand Authenticity associations Continuity, Originality, Trustworthiness, Genuineness, Heritage, and Symbolism on the CBBE outcomes (1) consumers’ willingness to pay a price premium, (2) recommend a brand, and (3) buy a brand before other brands. The results show that while some Brand Authenticity associations increase the CBBE outcomes, others seem to give no effect and some even to undermine them. If brand managers of authentic brands wish to increase their value sales through price premiums and increase volume sales through increased purchases, they should focus on communicating Symbolism, Originality and Genuineness. If decreased marketing costs through word of mouth is the goal, brand recommendations can be achieved through communicating Trustworthiness as well. However, Continuity and Heritage should be avoided in all brand communication if increased profits is the primarily goal.

The Reproducing Kernel Element Method is a numerical technique that combines finite element and meshless methods to construct shape functions of arbitrary order and continuity, yet retains the Kronecker-d property. Central to constructing these shape functions is the construction of global partition polynomials on an element. This dissertation shows that asymmetric interpolations may arise due to such things as changes in the local to global node numbering and that may adversely affect the interpolation capability of the method. This issue arises due to the use in previous formulations of incomplete polynomials that are subsequently non-affine invariant. This dissertation lays out the new framework for generating general, symmetric, truly minimal and complete affine invariant global partition polynomials for triangular and tetrahedral elements. It is shown that this new class of reproducing kernel element solves the asymmetry issue that affected previous developed elements. The interpolation capabilities of this new class of reproducing kernel elements is studied in problems of surface representations and in solving problems of bending of thin plates using a Galerkin approach. Optimal convergence rates were observed in the solution of Kirchhoff plate problems with rectangular domains. Furthermore, it is shown that the new proposed two-dimensional elements out perform the previous elements with the addition of only a few internal degrees of freedom.

This dissertation is a study of cultural memory, exploring how superhero comic books, and their readers and creators, look back on and make sense of the past, as well as how they use that past in the creation of community and stories today. It is my contention that the superhero comics that exist as part of a long-standing "universe," particularly those published by DC and Marvel, are inextricably linked to a sense of cultural memory which defines both the organization of their fans and the history of their stories, and that cultural memory in comics takes the twinned forms of fandom and continuity. Comic book fandom, from its very inception, has been based around memories of past stories and recollections about favorite moments, creators, characters, etc. Because of this, as many of those fans have gone on to become creators themselves, the stories they have crafted reflect that continual obsession with the histories -- loosely termed "continuity" by creators, fans, and comic book scholars -- of these fictional universes. Often, this obsession translates into an engagement with actual events from the past. In many of these cases, as with much art and ephemera that is immersed in cultural memory, these fans-turned-creators combine their interest in looking at the history of the fictional universe with a working out of actual traumatic events. My case studies focus on superhero comic books that respond to such events, particularly World War II, the Vietnam War, and 9/11. / text

This study sought to determine how five neighbourhood models (the Grid, Loop and Cul-de-Sac, Fused Grid, New Urbanist and Greenway) compare in terms of the characteristics known to affect active transportation rates, and which model is most likely to be able to facilitate active transportation as a result. In order to do so, model principles and design characteristics of case study neighbourhoods were described and used to create a range of design specifications for each model. These specifications were then used to develop a GIS-based representation of an example neighbourhood for each model, which included the transportation network, parcels of different land use types and densities, homes and destinations. GIS, statistical and graph-based techniques were then used to comprehensively assess and compare the models in terms of their potential to facilitate walking and biking through the built environment correlates identified in through a literature review. The models were ranked on each variable, and then an overall comparison was made on the basis diversity (land use mix), density and design - the three dimensions identified by Cervero and Kockelman (1997) as being the key ways through which the built environment can contribute to creating walkable (and potentially bikeable) neighbourhoods. Additional measures related to trip characteristics and issues of importance to developers (such as buildable area) were also included. The results illustrate how each model’s unique approach to facilitating walking and/or biking is reflected in the built environment characteristics assessed. While a model that was strong in one category was often weaker in another (a finding which echoes that of Filion and Hammond, 2003), the three alternative models (Fused Grid, New Urbanist and Greenway) consistently fared better than the more traditional Grid and Loop and Cul-de-Sac designs, with the New Urbanist scoring the highest on the overall evaluation of walkability and bikeability and the Greenway the best on network design for cyclists. In addition to these findings, the study also provided an opportunity to explore several challenges related to model assessment, such as issues arising from frame choice, off-set networks, and the use of roads as proxies for active transportation networks.

Gait disturbances such as slow walking speed and step-to-step variability have been reported among people with mild Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and as risk factors for functional decline, dependency, and falls. Additionally, AD-related emotional reactions and decreased initiative can lead to physical inactivity. The aims of this thesis, therefore, were to explore how the ability to be physically active is affected in the early years of AD, and how people with mild AD and their cohabitants reason about physical activity as part of their everyday life. To meet the aims, an approach inspired by mixed methods research was used, covering measurements, observations and subjective experiences. Data were collected from different sources in parallel. Participants with mild AD were recruited at the Memory Clinic, Uppsala University Hospital. In Study I, a case study with two couples in which one member had AD, in-depth interviews and participating interviews were performed. Physical activity such as walking was viewed as a meaningful routine improving well-being. Participants were positive about making adjustments to enable physical activity. In Study II, the 25 participants with AD showed a significant lower walking capacity (10 m comfortable walk test, 6-minute walk test, Timed-up-and-Go test) at baseline compared to controls. The decline continued during the subsequent two years. The influence of a cognitive task on walking was distinct, despite this, participants maintained a health-promoting level of physical activity during the two-year study-period. In Study III, gait testing in the motor laboratory of 21 participants with AD showed a marked impact on gait parameters (e.g. slowed speed, decreased step length) by a cognitive task. Additionally, specific dual-task gait disturbances were frequent. In Study IV, in-depth interviews with 14 participants with AD indicated that physical activity was viewed as a meaningful activity, used as a means to maintain well-being and selfhood, and contributed to continuity in life. In conclusion, walking capacity deteriorates and declines in the early stages of AD. A simple cognitive task can have a substantially negative impact on walking already in mild AD. In contrast, people with AD can also gain “self-promoting benefits” from physical activity beyond the common health-promoting benefits.

Bakgrunn: Bakgrunn for studien er Barsel hjemme, et prosjekt som har sett på en helhetlig modell for svangerskap, fødsel og barselomsorg. Det har vært et samarbeid mellom Ullevål universitetssykehus og Bydelene Sagene/St.Hanshugen. Kvinnene som har deltatt har gått til jordmødre fra prosjektet som er/har vært ansatt på sykehuset i svangerskapet, født på Ullevål og reist tidlig hjem i barsel med besøk fra samme gruppe jordmødre. Hensikt: Evaluere Barsel hjemme ved å se på pasienterfaringer med prosjektet og undersøke kvinnenes opplevelse og ønsker når det gjelder kontinuitet og helhet i svangerskap, fødsel og barselomsorg. Metode: En triangulering av metoder er brukt: Dette inkluderer en pasienterfaringsundersøkelse, en anonym spørreundersøkelse som er sammenliknet med en liknende undersøkelse fra en barselavdeling, og fokusgruppediskusjon med kvinner fra prosjektet som er analysert med inneholdsanalyse. Funn: Kvinnene som har deltatt i Barsel hjemme er svært fornøyd med prosjektet, gjennomgående mer fornøyd enn kvinner som har hatt vanlig barselopphold ved sykehuset. De hadde deltatt igjen om det hadde vært mulig. De er ikke opptatt av kontinuitet i den forstand at samme person trenger å følge de i hele forløpet. Her spiller forventninger en viktig rolle. Personalets evne til å skape en god relasjon, en følelse av trygghet og se individuelle behov er mer viktig. De ønsker mer kontinuitet i informasjonen de får under svangerskap, fødsel og barseltid. Konklusjoner: Barsel hjemme er et prosjekt som kvinnene anbefaler, og som de skulle ønske fortsatte. Når det gjelder kontinuitet og helhet er dette avhengig av forventinger. Det at personalet kan skape personlige relasjoner og møte kvinnene på deres individuelle behov er det viktigste. / Background: This study is based on a project known as “Barsel hjemme” (“postnatal careat home”), whose main goal has been to develop a model for prenatal, birth, and postnatalcare, focusing particularly on continuity. Participants had prenatal check-ups with projectmidwives, delivered their babies at Ullevål University Hospital, and were discharged fromthe hospital early in the postnatal period. Project midwives visited all participants at home. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate Barsel hjemme by examining patient satisfaction andassessing their experiences and desires through the prism of continuity. Methods: A triangulation of methods was used. This included a patient satisfaction survey;an anonymous survey that was then compared with a similar survey from a standardpostnatal department; and content analysis of focus group discussions. Findings: Women who participated in Barsel hjemme were very satisfied, generally moresatisfied than women from a standard postnatal department. They would participate again ifpossible. They did not define continuity of care as being cared for by the same person.Expectations played an important role in how they experienced the project. Midwives’ability to create a personal connection and treat participants as individuals were paramount.Participants wanted greater continuity in the information given during pregnancy, birth, andthe postnatal period. Conclusions: Women recommend the Barsel hjemme project and want it to continue.Continuity of care hinges on individual expectations. Personal relationships and recognitionof individuality are of primary importance. / <p>ISBN 978-91-85721-94-8</p>

Greater Victoria, a conurbation of about 335,000 people located in southwestern British Columbia, Canada, is subject to significant seismic hazards. The major regional seismic factor is the offshore Juan de Fuca tectonic plate, subducting beneath North America along the 1,100 km-long Cascadia Subduction Zone (CSZ), a megathrust fault. This environment generates three types of potentially damaging earthquakes—shallow, subduction, and deep. This research examines how the Transfusion Medicine (TM) component within transfusing facilities in Greater Victoria and the balance of Vancouver Island might function following these types of earthquakes. A shallow earthquake of magnitude (M)7 or greater that occurs near enough could heavily damage critical infrastructure in Greater Victoria. Decisions regarding the alternatives of (a) rapidly relocating a facility for storing and/or processing blood products within or near Greater Victoria or (b) transporting people injured in an earthquake to transfusing hospitals in or beyond Greater Victoria, or (c) both (a) and (b), may need to be made within the first few hours following a locally destructive earthquake. A subduction event (M8 to 9.2) in the CSZ could reduce or halt production of blood products in nearby Vancouver, diminish the supply of stored blood in southwestern coastal British Columbia, and sharply increase demand for blood products. Post-subduction-event conditions would likely result in a temporary shortage of blood products in at least two regional health authorities, and would test the response of a few key related functions within smaller, more remote health care facilities. A subduction event also would impact ground transportation routes, airports, and wharves, making the transportation of blood products to and around Vancouver Island more difficult. The researcher interviewed several professionals whose work supports the blood contingency emergency response by the Canadian Blood Services, the Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA), and the British Columbia Ministry of Health, to obtain information that could help maintain the TM function in post-quake circumstances. To prepare informants to answer questions regarding the health care implications of these earthquakes, the researcher generated--per earthquake type--order of magnitude estimates of the numbers of hospitalizations that would likely result in Greater Victoria or/and Vancouver Island. The study examines the inventorying and transportation of blood products, some communication, decision-making, and blood product distribution considerations—plus the hazard mitigation and vulnerability reduction aspects—that could be included in an earthquake-specific blood contingency plan for VIHA transfusing facilities. It also considers how VIHA could sustain the function of the TM Laboratory role within transfusing hospitals during post-earthquake circumstances in which some of their facilities for storing, monitoring, analyzing, or transfusing blood products are inoperable. The risks of damaging earthquakes, and accompanying tsunamis affecting populated areas and health system assets in coastal British Columbia, are real. Implementing the recommendations of this study may help various players involved in the regional processing, distribution and allocation of blood products to: (a) define a more efficient response to earthquake impacts upon their operations, (b) reduce injury to people and damage to crucial equipment used in the health system, and ultimately, (c) save lives. / Graduate / 0769 / 0368 / 0766 / sanderson.b1@gmail.com

The Batman media franchise (comics, movies, novels, television, and cartoons) is unique because no other form of written or visual texts has as many artists, audiences, and forms of expression. Understanding the various artists and audiences and what Batman means to them is to understand changing trends and thinking in American culture. The character of Batman has developed into a symbol with relevant characteristics that develop and evolve with each new story and new author. The Batman canon has become so large and contains so many different audiences that it has become a franchise that can morph to fit any group of viewers/readers. Our understanding of Batman and the many readings of him gives us insight into ourselves as a culture in our particular place in history.

ABSTRACT A HISTORIC-CONTEXTUAL APPROACH FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OF BUILT HERITAGE IN HISTORIC URBAN AREAS: CASE OF GALATA DISTRICT IN ISTANBUL Top&ccedil / u, Hicran Ph.D., Department of Architecture, Restoration Supervisor: Prof. Dr. &Ouml / m&uuml / r Bakirer July 2004, 230 pages The recent developments in the urban conservation theory has introduced a contextual perspective that gives further emphasis to the cultural integrity of the historic urban area which is created through the physical and non-physical relationships between the urban context and its components. In this perspective, the conventional identification tools of the urban conservation - the separate designation of the buildings and areas- come to be questioned, and re-formulated according to the demands created by this new holistic-contextual understanding of the heritage conservation. In this thesis, it is aimed to formulate a historic-contextual method for the identification of the built heritage. Re-establishing the links between the historic urban context and its components, and turning the inherent character of the area into an effective tool for the conservation of the area, we claim that such an approach would provide the necessary interface between the conservation and development, responding the requirements of both and providing a common base both for the action and research. The thesis comprises a conceptual part focusing on the historic-contextual aspects of the built heritage and a case study for the experimentation of the defined methodology. The case study is realized in the Galata district in Istanbul, which represents one of the richest examples in Turkey from the aspect of the availability of historic sources.

An efficient simulation technique for calculating the current distribution in a Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (VCSEL) is proposed and implemented. The technique consists of a hybrid 1D/3D approach to the problem. The 3D aspect of simulation is essential for devices like a photonic crystal VCSEL where the existing 2D simulation techniques are inadequate. The modular approach of the technique is advantageous, as it provides exibility in dealing with device simulations of varying complexity. It also provides a relatively short simulation time, beneficial for exploring a large design parameter space. The box integration technique is used for discretizing the equations and sparse matrix methods are used in solving the matrices. Simulation results and comparisons are provided for various aspects and modules of the simulator. The results for a few sample simulations indicate that the analysis has reasonable agreement with experimental results. The simulation error can be reduced using more accurate models for the active region of the laser.