Thèse numérisée par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

Many potential benefits of new product introductions (NPI) have been identified in existing literature, yet there are empirical and theoretical evidence that suggests that such benefits are not assured. Building on the concepts of time compression diseconomies, absorptive capacity, and time diversification, we argue that benefits that a firm derives from introducing new products depend on the process of NPI, which we conceptualize as how and what products are introduced by the firm. We propose that pace, rhythm, and the scope are three important characteristics of the process of NPI that affect firm value. Further, we argue that this effect is moderated by organizational marketing and technological intensities. We use an unbalanced panel dataset of the products introduced by public firms between 1991 and 2015 to investigate the proposed framework in the bio-pharmaceutical industry. We estimate the proposed model using a multilevel modeling framework, accounting for endogeneity, unobserved heterogeneity, and heteroscedasticity. The proposed framework and modeling approach provide empirical support for the role of pace, rhythm and scope of NPI on firm performance, and guide managers on choosing the right growth strategy to improve new product performance.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Plant Pathology / James Stack / The trade of food, plant, and animal products has increased the worldwide movement and establishment of exotic pathogens with dramatic negative impacts on plant systems. Fusarium proliferatum is a broad host-range pathogen and among the most common maize pathogens globally. It is often seed-borne and symptomless in maize, making it a high risk for introduction in maize and other grains. Considering the global distribution of maize and the wide host range and production of mycotoxins by F. proliferatum, a better understanding of its life history is needed. To provide markers for tracking F. proliferatum in laboratory experiments, strains of F. proliferatum were transformed to express a green fluorescent protein (GFP). Active dispersal (at least 1.5cm at 25°C and -50mb soil matric potential) and colonization of organic matter in nonsterile field soil was demonstrated in soil microcosms. Fusarium verticillioides is commonly isolated from maize seed also colonized by F. proliferatum. A red fluorescent (mRFP) F. verticillioides transformant was developed to study competition with F. proliferatum. For quantification in host tissues, a TaqMan multiplex qPCR protocol was developed using primer and probe sets targeting fragments of the green and red fluorescence genes to detect F. proliferatum and F. verticillioides, respectively. Prior colonization of maize tissues by F. verticillioides (p=0.6749) and other seed-borne microorganisms (p=0.1910) did not affect subsequent colonization by F. proliferatum. Genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) was used to identify genetic markers in F. proliferatum. Primer sets based GBS markers were designed to allow detection of specific isolates in field experiments. F. proliferatum populations were characterized from maize seed prior to planting and again after harvest. End-point PCR identified F. proliferatum isolates containing the GBS marker. AFLP-fingerprinting indicated that 23 of the 817 F. proliferatum isolates contained the molecular marker and were genetically related to the original isolate. Based on the subclade and percentage similarity in UPGMA phylogenetic trees, and the population grouping observed in STRUCTURE and Principal Coordinate Analysis, these isolates could have a single origin and be clonal. Understanding the life cycle of F. proliferatum is critical for learning more about the risk of introducing seed-borne exotic isolates into new environments.

MSc., Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, 2011 / This research investigated the susceptibility of South African indigenous aquatic plants to competition from invasive species, using the competitive interactions of two sets of aquatic plants as a potential indicator. These interactions were studied in two separate experiments: the submersed weeds, Hydrilla verticillata (L.F.) Royle (Hydrocharitaceae) and an indigenous species, Lagarosiphon major (Ridley) Moss (Hydrocharitaceae) and; the floating weeds, Azolla filiculoides Lamarck (Azollaceae) and the indigenous Spirodela polyrhiza (L.) Schleid (Lemnaceae). Plants were grown under differing nutrient levels, and in an addition series of eight different densities, using the reciprocal yield model to estimate competitive ability. The invasive Hydrilla outcompeted Lagarosiphon in terms of mean length, dry mass, and survival. Major algal infestation in the high nutrient level of the Hydrilla/Lagarosiphon experiment altered light and nutrient conditions, which may have played a significant role in the lack of establishment of Lagarosiphon and the poor growth performance of Hydrilla. The invasive Azolla and indigenous Spirodela both performed well in terms of plant mass and increase in number. While Azolla was affected by intraspecific competition, it showed a steady increase in growth and multiplication with an increase in nutrients. The individual mass of Spirodela plants was highest in the low nutrient level, and multiplication rates were greatest in the high nutrient level. Results indicate that the susceptibility of indigenous plants may be increased in highnutrient systems, and that a continuous monitoring programme of aquatic alien species is vital in protecting our indigenous plants from extinction. This research recommends that the method of investigating competitive interactions between alien and indigenous plants be repeated with a variety of aquatic plants, as a means of anticipating susceptibility to invasions.

This degree project focuses on the English classroom in the Swedish language introduction program, more specifically on the use of translanguaging as a teaching tool for newly arrived students. This thesis is an attempt to better understand the classroom dynamics in the program during English lessons by answering the following questions: What are the challenges of teaching English in the language introduction program in Sweden? What do teachers think about translanguaging as a teaching tool in the language introduction classes? Is using it taking advantage of pre-existing knowledge? The research was conducted with three teachers from one school in central Stockholm, all coming from different socio-cultural backgrounds and having varying degrees of experience as teachers. The data was gathered through classroom observations and interviews, which allowed for triangulation, thus offering a better understanding and a deeper view of their teaching practices. Three lessons were observed, one with each teacher. These observations were conducted prior to the interviews, to facilitate the comparison between the teaching styles of each teacher. Doing so allowed for more exhaustive and informative interviews. Although the qualitative nature of the data does not allow for the results to be generalizable, triangulation does give the results legitimacy and transferability. The results of this research will be beneficial in understanding how to tackle a multilingual environment, given that that is the direction in which Sweden is heading.

Charybdis hellerii (A. Milne-Edwards, 1867), espécie de siri nativa do Indo-Oeste Pacífico, dispersou-se para o mar Mediterrâneo com a abertura do canal de Suez. Em 1987, foi registrada pela primeira vez no Atlântico Ocidental, onde populações estabelecidas são reconhecidas dos EUA ao sul do Brasil. Acredita-se que sua introdução no continente americano teria ocorrido por meio de água de lastro de navios provenientes do mar Mediterrâneo. Por meio de análises moleculares utilizando-se três marcadores genéticos (um nuclear, H3, e dois mitocondriais, COI e 16S rDNA), de forma integrada à morfologia comparativa, realizou-se uma investigação do status taxonômico de C. hellerii e dos aspectos relacionados ao seu histórico de introdução. Para este último fim, objetivou-se: (1) o reconhecimento de regiões de origem e rotas de introdução; (2) a detecção ou não de gargalo genético e (3) de introduções múltiplas. A validade de C. hellerii como uma única entidade foi corroborada por alguns resultados: 100% de similaridade no marcador nuclear; monofilia de C. hellerii nos filogramas construídos com diversas espécies de Thalamitinae; divergência genética intraespecífica (COI - 0 a 4,2% e 16S rDNA - 0 a 0,9%) inferior à interespecífica esperada (COI - 6,2 a 21,5% e 16S rDNA - 3,9 a 15,2%) e total similaridade genética entre indivíduos com características morfológicas distintas. Estruturação genética e morfométrica foi detectada nas localidades nativas (+ mar Mediterrâneo), evidenciando dois grupos: Índico oeste + mar Mediterrâneo e Índico leste + Pacífico. A AMOVA para COI mostrou que 38,739% da diversidade encontrada está entre esses dois grupos (ct = 0,38, p = 0,00). A diferenciação genética entre o Índico e o Pacifico é recorrentemente associada a baixas do nível no mar na conexão entre estes oceanos no Pleistoceno. Essa estruturação nas áreas de origem foi fundamental para a detecção de introduções múltiplas na costa americana. A maior parte dos indivíduos da América se agrupou com o Índico oeste + mar Mediterrâneo, suportando o mar Mediterrâneo como a principal origem das populações americanas. No entanto, o agrupamento de espécimes do sul do Brasil com o grupo Índico leste + Pacífico também revelou introduções provenientes dessa região. Um grupo geneticamente distinto detectado na costa americana e geneticamente mais próximo do Índico leste + Pacífico sugere introdução proveniente de uma localidade não amostrada nas áreas de origem. Para ambos os marcadores mitocondriais, os valores de diversidade haplotípica nas áreas exóticas foram comparáveis aos das de origem e a diversidade nucleotídica foi predominantemente superior nas primeiras em relação às segundas. Estes resultados estão possivelmente relacionados à ocorrência de introduções múltiplas de áreas geneticamente distintas. Dos haplótipos de COI detectados no agrupamento Índico oeste + mar Mediterrâneo, apenas dois não foram encontrados nas populações americanas, sugerindo a não ocorrência de um gargalo genético expressivo. Para a introdução proveniente do Índico oeste + Pacífico, gargalo genético significativo possivelmente ocorreu, uma vez que dos 22 haplótipos encontrados nos 40 espécimes do agrupamento Índico leste + Pacífico, apenas três foram encontrados em quatro dos 87 indivíduos amostrados na América. Por fim, análises moleculares e morfológicas demonstraram que Charybdis variegata, espécies congênere recentemente registrada como uma nova espécie exótica na América, consiste na realidade em mais um exemplar de C. hellerii. / Charybdis hellerii (A. Milne-Edwards, 1867), an invasive swimming crab species native to the Indo-West Pacific, dispersed to the Mediterranean Sea via Suez Canal. In 1987, it was first reported to the western Atlantic, where self-maintaining populations are currently found from the USA to southern Brazil. It is suggested that animals were transported to America in their larval stages through ballast water from ships probably loaded at Mediterranean ports. An integrative approach of morphological and molecular analyses using three molecular markers (one nuclear, H3 and two mitochondrial, COI and 16S rDNA) was performed in order to check the taxonomic status of C. hellerii and investigate its introduction history. For the latter purpose, this study aimed: (1) to track potential sources, routes of introduction, (2) assess the occurrence or not of multiple introductions and (3) of genetic bottlenecks. C. hellerii was confirmed as a single entity according to the following results: 100% of similarity for the nuclear marker; monophyly of C. hellerii clade in the phylograms including several species of the subfamily Thalamitinae; intraspecific genetic diversity (COI - 0 to 4.2% and 16S rDNA - 0 to 0.9%) inferior to interspecific value expected for the studied loci (COI - 6.2 to 21.5% and 16S rDNA - 3.9 a 15.2%) and total genetic similarity of individuals with different morphological traits. Genetic and morphometric structure was detected in C. hellerii native range (and the Mediterranean Sea), showing two groups: Western Indian Ocean + Mediterranean Sea and Eastern Indian + Pacific Oceans. The AMOVA results for COI revealed that 38.739% of variation was between both groups (ct = 0.38, p = 0.00). This genetic break between the Pacific and Indian Oceans is constantly associated with sea level fluctuations in the connection between both Oceans during the Pleistocene glaciation events. This genetic structure allowed the detection of independent introduction events along the American coast. As most animals from this exotic range were clustered with the Western Indian Ocean + Mediterranean Sea group, the Mediterranean populations were supported as the main source of the American ones. However, the cluster of animals from the southern Brazil with the Eastern Indian + Pacific Oceans group indicated that introductions from these native regions might also have occurred. A third group found solely in the American range and genetically related to Eastern Indian + Pacific also suggested introductions from an unsampled locality of native range. The haplotype diversities of American localities were comparable to those of source ones, whereas the nucleotide diversities were predominantly higher in the non-native localities. These diversity indexes results might be related to the occurrence of multiple introductions from genetic distinct areas. Among all haplotypes of the Indian Ocean + Mediterranean Sea cluster, only two were not found in America, what suggests no expressive bottleneck in the introduction from this source. However, a genetic bottleneck might explain the low number of equal haplotypes between the Eastern Indian + Pacific Ocean cluster and the Atlantic range. Only three haplotypes were detected in four specimens out of 87 collected in American localities in comparison to 22 found in the native group. In addition, the molecular and morphological analyses confirmed that a congeneric species, Charybdis variegata, recently recorded on the American coast, is actually another C. hellerii specimen.

Esta pesquisa tem como objetivo principal analisar as condições de ensino de Contabilidade Introdutória, no curso de Graduação em Ciências Contábeis nas 90(noventa) universidades públicas brasileiras, por meio de levantamento de dados visando: 1. Conhecer os métodos e meios de ensino utilizados na disciplina, bem como avaliar o interesse de seus professores pela utilização de tecnologias educacionais (uso de computadores na educação, softwares educativos, videoconferência etc.); 2. Conhecer a estrutura dos departamentos, para a utilização das tecnologias supra mencionadas. Para a execução deste propósito os professores foram consultados por meio de questionários enviados por correio eletrônico. Nos questionários procurou-se investigar sobre a distribuição do conteúdo programático, sobre a qualificação do corpo docente, a bibliografia adotada, a metodologia de ensino aplicada, a estrutura dos departamentos, a utilização de softwares aplicativos nas atividades didáticas e o interesse por software educativo. No período de março a agosto de 2001, atenderam à pesquisa 22 universidades que representam 24% da população alvo. Dos resultados obtidos constatou-se que 100% dos professores, utilizam o estilo de aula expositiva, muito embora a mesma proporção deseja utilizar software educativo para o ensino de Contabilidade, bem como acredita no aprimoramento do processo de ensino e aprendizagem com a utilização de tal ferramenta. Foi possível ainda identificar que mais da metade obedece ao regime de tempo integral de serviço; 30% já possui o título de Mestre em Contabilidade, além de 73% possuir experiência profissional em departamentos de contabilidade. / The main purpose of this research is to analyse the conditions of accounting teaching in Accountancy in Brazilian public universities from the survey. The work aims at: 1. Know the teaching methods and teaching means used on the discipline Financial Accounting or Introduction to Accounting courses, as well as to evaluate the interest of your professors in using educational technologies (use of computers with educational purposes, software, videoconference etc.); 2. Verify the infrastructure of the departments of public universities that have the course of Accountancy, in order to check which ones have conditions for the development of educational technologies mentioned. In order to analyse the current situation, professors of ninety Brazilian public universities (all of them have Accountancy as a under faculty members) were asked. These professors teach introduction courses. Considering the period between March and August of 2001, 22 universities attended to the research, which means 24% of the target population. The results show that 100% of professors of the introduction courses still deliver lectures (without interaction), despite all of them want to use educational software to teach Accounting. They believe the teaching/learning process would improve with such a tool. It was still possible to identify that more of the half obeys the regime of integral time of service; 30% already possess Master's title in Accounting, besides 73% to possess professional experience in accounting departments.

Är den upplevda introduktionen för nyanställda en ny faktor som bör tas med i förståelsen kring tidig frivillig avgång? Hög personalomsättning har både en ekonomisk och social negativ påverkan på företag. Att det många gånger är den högpresterande personalen som lämnar företaget är ett fenomen företag i allra högsta grad vill undvika. Ämnet är högaktuellt i dagens samhälle. Tidigare forskning inom området har fokuserat på att finna gemensamma faktorer som påverkar beslutet till tidig frivillig avgång, där en av de vanligaste studerade faktorerna är arbetstillfredsställelse. Den här studiens syfte var att se om en upplevd introduktion var en faktor som bör räknas med bland dessa tidigare faktorer. Målgruppen av deltagare var tidigare anställda som redan hade slutat på ett företag. En enkätundersökning gjordes på 38 tidigare anställda med hjälp av en webenkät. Resultatet visade att det fanns en signifikant skillnad på den upplevda introduktionen mellan grupper baserat på anställningstid. Den grupp som skattade sin upplevda introduktion som lägst var gruppen med kortast anställningstid. Vilket tyder på att den upplevda introduktionen bör tas med som en påverkande faktor vid tidig frivillig avgång. Studiens fynd tillsammans med tidigare forskning ger en bra indikator på vad företag behöver jobba med i framtiden för att förhindra tidig frivillig avgång. Därmed lyckas behålla sin högpresterande personal och då minska kostnader för oönskad personalomsättning. / Is the introduction for new employees a new factor that should be included in the understanding of voluntary turnover? High staff turnover has both an economic and social negative impact on companies. The fact that it is often the high-performing staff who leave the company is a phenomenon companies want to avoid. The subject is highly topical in today's society. Previous research in the field has focused on finding common factors that affect the decision on voluntary turnover, where one of the most commonly studied factors is job satisfaction. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the introduction was a factor that should be counted among these earlier factors. The participants were former employees who had already left a company. A survey was conducted on 38 former employees using a web survey. The result showed that there was a significant difference in the perceived introduction between groups based on employment time. The group with the lowest score in perceived introduction was the group with the shortest employment time, suggesting that the perceived introduction should be included as an influencing factor in voluntary turnover. The study's findings together with previous research provide a good indicator of what companies need to work with in the future to prevent early voluntary turnover. Thus, it manages to maintain its high-performing staff and reduce costs for unwanted staff turnover.

abstract: This mixed methods study examined instructor introduction videos for use in online learning. This study intended to identify the influence of video production value on student perceptions of student-instructor intent, specifically in the areas of perceived student-instructor communication and student-instructor connection. This study also examined which production style most accurately aligns student perceptions with instructor intent as well as which video production style is preferred by students. Using a set of production guidelines, an instructor produced two introduction videos; one of low production value, one of high production value. Student participants were surveyed on their perceptions of the instructor as featured in both videos. The instructor was interviewed using similar questions in order to identify instructor intent and compare instructor intent to student perceptions. Analysis of data showed that there was no statistical difference between video production value in students’ perceived student-instructor connection or student-instructor communication when compared to the instructor’s intent in the same areas. Data analysis also showed that a high production value was more accurate in portraying instructor intent, however a low production value was preferred by students and portrayed the instructor more positively. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Educational Leadership and Policy Studies 2019

This paper uses regression analysis on a national data set from the United States from 2001-2016 to analyze racial or ethnic group disparities in home ownership between whites and blacks, Asian and Pacific Islanders, Puerto Ricans, Cubans, Mexicans, other Hispanics and American Indians. I employ Integrated Public Use Microdata combined with Bureau of Labor Statistics data and Federal Reserve Economic Data from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Controlling for demographic, educational, income and wealth, employment and housing characteristics, I find no significant differences between whites and Asian and Pacific Islanders, Mexicans and American Indians. However, blacks, Puerto Ricans, Cubans and other Hispanics face racial disadvantages in regard to home ownership. All minority racial or ethnic groups, except American Indians, lost home ownership parity to whites from 2007-2011, the years primarily affected by the economic crisis.