Fifty-seven Trumpeter swans (Cygnus buccinator) were translocated to the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge and the Bear River Club Company in northern Utah. The purpose of this effort was to encourage dispersal of the Rocky Mountain population of Trumpeter swans during the winter, and to reestablish a migratory route to southern wintering grounds. I assessed the success of the translocation by evaluating 13 translocation criteria proposed in the literature. In this study I addressed two of these criteria in detail by evaluating habitat quality at the translocation sites and by analyzing potential competitive interactions with Tundra swans (Cygnus columbianus). Habitat quality was determined by analyzing the spatial distribution of sago pondweed (Potamogeton pectinatus) tubers in wetland sediments before the fall and after the spring migration of Tundra swans. Sixty-four transects were established within the study sites with 10 sediment cores per transect. Geostatistical procedures were employed to account for autocorrelation between samples. Tuber biomass was not randomly distributed within the studied wetlands. In fact, discrete areas of high values appeared to exist before and after swan foraging . It is not likely that sago pondweed tubers are limiting swan abundance in this system. Thus, the habitat quality of the study sites is sufficient for Trumpeter swan translocation. Potential competitive interactions with Tundra swans were evaluated by examining differences in resource utilization patterns of the two species. I measured body size differences, dietary overlap, resource availability, and the efficiency of extracting available resources. Trumpeter swans appear to benefit from a larger body size and a longer neck because they are more efficient in extracting tubers from the sediment, and are able to exploit tubers to a greater sediment depth than Tundra swans. However, Trumpeter swans incur higher traveling costs due to the larger body size. The trade-off between higher foraging efficiency of Trumpeter swans and higher traveling efficiency of Tundra swans may be a potential mechanism for coexistence. Lack of support by governmental and non-governmental agencies did not allow for more than one year of translocation. Even though the Trumpeter swan translocation in 1996 was successful, I concluded that the Utah translocation program failed because the translocation did not meet translocation goals.

Dans le cadre de la transition des sociétés vers le développement durable, le rôle des universités est de plus en plus mis en évidence. A cet égard, l’évaluation, en tant qu’outil d’accompagnement des organisations pour l’amélioration de leurs performances, peut s’avérer d’une aide précieuse.Le potentiel d’application de l’évaluation reste toutefois limité. L’université et la durabilité apparaissent comme des objets normatifs dont la définition du contenu est source de nombreuses oppositions. En outre, leur réalité est évolutive et sujette à d’importants degrés d’incertitude et de complexité paradoxale.Le présent travail vise à déterminer les conditions à travers lesquelles l’évaluation peut apporter un avantage, sinon constituer un frein, à l’amélioration des performances des universités en matière de durabilité. Il se présente en deux grandes parties.La première porte sur la construction théorique de la norme d’évaluation des « performances durables de l’université». Elle repose sur l’examen approfondi des spécificités de l’université et de la durabilité ainsi que sur une analyse empirique de plusieurs cas pratiques relevés à l’international.La deuxième partie confronte et consolide les enseignements de la première en se concentrant sur le développement d’une méthodologie opérationnelle d’évaluation. Pour ce faire, un processus participatif multi-parties prenantes a été mis en œuvre et a conduit à la construction d'un dispositif multidimensionnel regroupant plus de 50 indicateurs. Cet outil se veut être une contribution à l’édification de systèmes d’évaluation mis à disposition des acteurs académiques pour l’identification de pistes d’amélioration de leurs performances au regard du développement durable. / In the context of the transition of societies towards sustainable development, the role of universities is increasingly highlighted. In this respect, assessment, as a support tool for organizations whishing to improve their performance, can be of great assistance. Opportunities for the application of assessment remains however limited. The university and sustainability are normative objects and their definition is subject to considerable opposition. In addition, their reality is progressive and characterized by high levels of uncertainty and paradoxical complexity.This work aims to determine the conditions under which assessment practices can support, or otherwise hinder, the performances of universities toward sustainability. It comes in two parts.The first part focuses on the theoretical construction of an evaluation norm for the "sustainable performances of universities". It is based on a comprehensive review of the specific features of the university and sustainability, as well as on an analysis of several best practices identified internationally. The second part compares and strengthens those findings by focussing on the design of an operational assessment methodology. This research was conducted through a multi- stakeholder participatory process that led to the building of a multidimensional framework comprising more than 50 indicators. This tool aims to be a contribution to the development of assessment methods for academic actors willing to identify ways of improving their performances with respect to sustainability.

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(医学) / 甲第21658号 / 医博第4464号 / 新制||医||1035(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院医学研究科医学専攻 / (主査)教授 伊達 洋至, 教授 福田 和彦, 教授 湊谷 謙司 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Medical Science / Kyoto University / DFAM

Abstract Talent identification and development are critical and ongoing processes in football, shaping future professional athletes and influencing attrition rates among youth players. This study sought to investigate the multifaceted mechanisms of talent identification and development, drawing on the perspectives of coaches and leaders within the sport. Key objectives included understanding the criteria driving talent identification as well as trying to unwind the existing problems regarding the talent identification process. Data was collected via semi-structured interviews with football professionals operating across various levels of the footballing pyramid. The findings revealed a nuanced approach to talent identification, anchored in four core components: physiological characteristics, psychological resilience, technical skills, and game intelligence. Psychological aspects emerged as the cornerstone of talent identification, with a strong consensus among professionals that player mentality ultimately determines progression to professional football. The study further noted several existing problems with the process of talent identification as we know it today but that gives the professionals a possibility for improvance. The study concludes that talent identification and development go beyond prescriptive criteria, often reflecting the personal experiences and preferences of the coaches and scouts. While this subjectivity can yield benefits, it may also contribute to early dropout rates in the sport. The study underscores the need for continuous professional development for coaches and scouts, as well as the establishment of acknowledged methods and models to foster a more inclusive and equitable talent identification and development process.

When developing a material handling system (MHS) it is crucial to master the various aspects for each developing step to increase the efficiency of the MHS. This Master’s thesis is aimed to identify conceptual solutions of a MHS and analyse the advantages and challenges for each of the developed concepts. Automation and implementation into a factory setting has taken into great consideration for this study. Two research questions (RQ) and three goals were formulated: RQ1: Which conceptual solutions of a material handling system for a high-pressure processing machine can be developed? RQ2: What are the challenges and advantages of each designed concept in terms of automation and implementation? Goal1: Develop three conceptual solutions of a material handling system. Goal2: Identify target specifications and determine their margin and ideal values for evaluation of the three conceptual solutions. Goal3: Analyse each developed material handling system and determine which concept is best out of the three in relation to the target specifications Automation has proven to be a key cause for achieving an effective MHS on the market and the two main reasons for this are, one: the elimination of ongoing labour cost and second; an increase of the overall safety factor for the system. The thesis, using the design research methodology (DRM) type two, consisting of an in-depth literature review and case study that contributed to evaluation and comparison of developed concepts. The literature review contributed to identifying the necessary steps of the structure of the MHS and required tools for the development phase. For the case study, the projects developing phase were taken from Ulrich, Eppinger and Yang (2020) ´s developing method. Identified tools and knowledge from the literature was used throughout the entire case study such as multi criteria decision making (MCDM), computer aided design (CAD), material flow patterns, automation and high-pressure processing (HPP). The findings of the case study showed that there are multiple concepts that can be developed. However, fully automated MHS are preferred when analysing the advantages and challenges for each fully developed MHS concept. The study resulted in three MHS concepts. Two fully automated ones and one semi-automated. The two fully automated MHS concepts showed more promising results than the semi-automated one. This was based on the MCDM-matrix which evaluated every MHS concept in relation to multiple criteria and failure mode effect analysis (FMEA) which investigated safety factors such as human safety and risk of MHS failure. Calculations such as capital cost and operational cost was also considered when analysing the differences between the MHS concepts. A fully automated MHS is not necessarily more costly in capital investment compared to semi-automated systems for the same HPP machine. Human labourers are, in semi-automated systems however, more precise in packaging operations, but also raises the operational costs substantially.

Autistic traits are a composition of behavioral constructs that encompasses social functioning, communication, and rigid and repetitive behaviors that might impact an individual’s quality of life. The specificity of these traits is not yet fully understood, nor which traits that might be most debilitating for autistic people. We recruited 366 participants, out of which 78 were diagnosed as autistic, and measured levels of different character traits as well as their quality of life. We ran a Bayesian regression model and found extreme evidence that the behavioral constructs of prosopagnosia, social anhedonia, alexithymia and cognitive empathy contribute to autistic social functioning, while affective empathy did not seem to contribute to the same extent. To estimate the effect of each construct on quality of life we employed Causal Inference methodology and found likely effects of social anhedonia (-0.131 [-0.248, 0.00]) and alexithymia (-0.255 [-0.37, -0.154]). Therefore, both social anhedonia and alexithymia might be effective targets for intervention for autistic people struggling with social functioning.

Mergers and acquisitions are staples of the business landscape. On a global basis, companies engage in tens of thousands of deals each year, collectively valued in the trillions of dollars. At the same time, decades of research, predominantly grounded in the finance literature, predicts most deals will fail. These competing ideas of high transaction volume and high failure rate lead researchers to wonder why managers would continue to engage in these deals knowing most are predicted to fail. While some might argue agency theory issues are the answer, the problem is the commonly used assessment measures (e.g., CAR and ROA) are unreliable when trying to determine the success or failure of individual transactions. M&A are complex transactions that may take years to develop value and require a multi-faceted approach for assessment. Using an inductive, theory-building, case study methodology the overarching focus of this study asks, “How does the use of multiple acquisition success measures help to identify M&A success.” This research develops a random sampling of 50 completed Cisco Systems acquisitions and determines and then compares the CAR, ROA, and managers’ subjective assessment outcomes for each transaction. Primary and secondary objectives and insights concerning cultural fit and talent retention are also found. An additional sample of 600 acquisitions from twelve highly acquisitive firms is developed and CAR results for each transaction, each firm, and the whole sample are determined. I organize this research effort into two studies. The first considers limitations of the commonly used academic measures of acquisition assessment and the second considers how a strategy-focused, multi-faceted or holistic approach to acquisition performance assessment might produce a more reliable measure of acquisition success. During the second study I obtain due diligence checklists and primary data through practitioner interviews. The research produces several important findings. The CAR results are not statistically significant and cannot be used to provide an assessment of the sample acquisitions. CAR, which is often used to predict the effect or influence of a piece of information on stock price, is not an effective measure of the success or failure of an individual acquisition transaction and the oft-cited statistics are not an accurate representation of M&A success rates. ROA has limitations in highly acquisitive firms, especially when the acquiring company is larger than the target firm. These findings support the argument by other researchers that suggest the need for another measure and that overreliance on a single success measure produces unreliable results. Additionally, this research offers new insights regarding practitioner assessment criteria, when assessment criteria are developed, and how practitioners assess these deals. More specifically, practitioners determine acquisition assessment criteria during corporate strategy discussions or when developing the business case for a deal. These new insights reinforce the need for a holistic, ex-post assessment to effectively determine M&A success or failure. / Business Administration/Strategic Management

The median total dissolved phosphorus concentration (0.41 mg/L P) of groundwater from the Mississippi River Valley alluvial aquifer exceeded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s stream nutrient criteria (of 0.1 mg/L P) and the national background for phosphorus in groundwater (0.02 mg/L P). A general association between elevated phosphorus and dissolved iron concentrations suggests that reducing conditions that mobilize iron in the aquifer also may facilitate transport of phosphorus. These elevated concentrations of phosphorus may indicate phosphorus in the study area may be concentrated through irrigation return flow and groundwater discharge, and may contribute to the Gulf of Mexico hypoxic zone. The data do not appear to follow any spatial, geologic, or application pattern. The research indicates that phosphorus concentration in the aquifer was primarily sourced from natural geochemical reactions within the aquifer media.

A study has been conducted to compare conventional pavements and perpetual pavements with a particular emphasis on perpetual pavements. One of the main drawbacks of conventional pavements and motivations for this work is the maintenance required for hot mix asphalt (HMA) pavements with sub-drainage systems. Perpetual pavements, as the name suggests, are designed with a long life. However, this is a relatively new concept and there are still many unknowns concerning their performance. This dissertation was written to answer some of the questions. The study examines structural response and performance of perpetual pavements. Also, deterioration and performance of perpetual pavements will be contrasted to conventional pavements. Empirical data from the National Center of Asphalt Technology (NCAT) Test Track study was obtained, analyzed and used as a basis for evaluating theoretical models. Computational models for both conventional and perpetual pavements were constructed and analyzed using the general purpose finite element analysis software ABAQUS. Geometry, materials and loading are modeled with sufficient accuracy. This research examined several types of responses of perpetual pavements. It extends the traditional criteria of pavement distress by suggesting that longitudinal strain at the surface of a pavement HMA layer as an important criterion. Shear strain was studied and it provides a reasonable explanation of some distresses in pavements. By studying the FEA results from conventional and perpetual pavements and a thorough investigation of the thickness effects, it provides some rationale on why strain at the top of thick pavements is critical. The effects of dynamic wheel loadings are presented. Finally, the effect of environment, specifically temperature and moisture, on perpetual pavements are studied.

[pt] A proteção de receptores do Serviço Fixo Terrestre de interferências produzidas por outros sistemas de comunicações é garantida, em determinadas faixas de freqüência, através de condições que devem ser satisfeitas pela função distribuição de probabilidade da razão interferência-ruído térmico (I=N). A garantia de atendimento a estas condições deve ser obtida impondo-se restrições às potências de transmissão dos satélites interferentes. Estas restrições são estabelecidas através de máscaras que definem limites máximos permissíveis para a densidade de fluxo de potência que cada um dos satélites interferentes produz sobre a superfície da Terra. É, portanto, mportante que ao se definir a máscara de densidade de fluxo de potência que irá restringir as transmissões dos satélites, se tenha a certeza de que a máscara escolhida garanta que os critérios de proteção do Serviço Fixo Terrestre sejam atendidos. O presente trabalho analisa, através da simulação do movimento dos satélites envolvido, a proteção dada aos receptores do Serviço Fixo Terrestre por diferentes máscaras de densidade de fluxo de potência. O resultado obtido é de grande importância na escolha da máscara a ser utilizada. / [en] The protection of Fixed Service receivers from the interference produced by others communications systems is guaranteed, in some frequency band, by some constraints to be satisfied the cumulative probability distribution function of the ratio interference-to-thermal noise, I=N. To make sure that these constraints are satisfied, limits are imposed to the interfering system transmitting power levels. These limits are usually established by power flux density (pfd) masks that define the maximum allowed values of power flux density that the interfering satellites can produce on the Earth surface. It is therefore important that, in defining these pfd masks, the Fixed Service protection criterion is satisfied. This work analyzes, through the the simulation of the satellite motion, the protection given to Fixed Service receiver by different power flux-density masks. The obtained results are important for choosing the mask to be adopted.