Recently, it was reported that humans treat animals that they perceive as aesthetically attractive unequally to the "ugly" ones, turning more attention to them and setting more conservation programs for their protection. The aim of this thesis was to investigate the issue focusing around animal beauty in more detail by examining human preferences towards one of the most popular animal taxon, the birds. In three subsequent studies, we assessed human preferences towards selected bird species: all members of the order of parrots, randomly selected representatives of all non- passerine bird families, and all members of the vividly colored passerine family Pittidae. The first study revealed that the preferred parrots were kept in zoos in higher numbers, regardless of their conservation priority (IUCN status). We discussed possible consequences of this finding and the benefits that may arise in the light of animal conservation if this bias in species preferences was to be considered by conservation specialists. We also found that people preferred long-tailed parrots possessing blue and yellow colors over green ones, which were probably perceived as dull and uninteresting as the majority of the parrots are fully or partially green. In the next two studies, we found that shape, pattern, and overall...

Foram realizados dois experimentos com os objetivos de testar a palatabilidade (avaliada pela aceitação ou refuta dos concentrados experimentais, a primeira ação e primeira escolha, a razão de ingestão e a aplicabilidade deste protocolo de teste em experimentos para equinos) e a digestibilidade aparente dos nutrientes e das frações de carboidratos das dietas, com diferentes níveis de inclusão de polpa cítrica no concentrado (0, 7, 14, 21 e 28%) para equinos. Para o experimento de palatabilidade, foram utilizados 10 equinos, em delineamento inteiramente casualisado, enquanto que para o experimento digestibilidade, foram utilizadas cinco diferentes equinos, dispostas em Quadrado Latino 5x5. Foi observado efeito (p<0,01) da primeira ação, sendo que 80% dos animais consumiram o concentrado assim que tiveram acesso. Para a variável primeira escolha, não foi observada diferença (p>0,01) no consumo dos concentrados, porém o concentrado com 7% de inclusão apresentou maior preferência numérica (36,67%), refletida também na maior razão de ingestão (0,4425), o qual apresentou diferença (p<0,01) quando comparado com os demais e evidenciado por apresentar RI >0,30. Não foi observado efeito (p>0,05) dos níveis de inclusão sobre os coeficientes de digestibilidade dos nutrientes bem como das diferentes frações dos carboidratos das dietas, a exceção do carboidrato solúvel que apresentou diferença (p<0,05). Observou-se alta correlação entre os coeficientes de digestibilidade de matéria seca (CDaMS) e fibra em detergente neutro (CDaFDN), entre fibra em detergente ácido (CDaFDA) e fibra em detergente neutro (CDaFDN), e fibra em detergente ácido (CDaFDA) e proteína bruta (CDaDPB). A polpa cítrica pode ser incluída em concentrados para equinos, em níveis de até 28% de inclusão, sem causar efeito deletério sobre a digestibilidade dos nutrientes da dieta, bem como da fração carboidrato da mesma. Níveis inferiores de inclusão, próximos a 7%, favorecem a palatabilidade de dietas com polpa cítrica e sem adição de palatabilizantes (melaço). São necessários maiores estudos para a padronização dos testes de palatabilidade e digestibilidade aparente das frações dos carboidratos das dietas, bem como o efeito metabólico da inclusão de polpa cítrica a dieta de equinos. / Two experiments were conducted out with the objective to test the palatability (measured by the acceptance or refute of the experimental concentrates, the first action and first choice, the highest level of preference, the ratio of intake and the applicability of this protocol in experiments to test horses), apparent digestibility of nutrients and carbohydrate fractions of diets with different levels of citrus pulp inclusion in the concentrate (0, 7, 14, 21 and 28%) for horses. In the palatability experiment there were 10 mares used in a completely randomized design while for the digestibility experiments there were five different mares used arranged in 5x5 Latin Square design. The effect of inclusion on first action was observed (p<0.01) because 80% of the animals promptly were fed the concentrate. There was no difference (p>0.05) for the first choice variable. However, the concentrate with 7% was the most preferred (36.67%). The concentrate with 7% of citrus pulp inclusion presented the highest intake ratio (0.4425; p<0.01) when compared to the others evidenced by IR>0.30. No effect (p>0.05) was observed for the different levels of citrus pulp on the digestibility of nutrients as well as on the different carbohydrates fractions of the diets, except that the soluble carbohydrate presented difference (p<0.05). There was a high correlation between the digestibility of dry matter (CDDM) and neutral detergent fiber (CDNDF), between CDADF and CDNDF, and CDADF and CDDPB. The citrus pulp can be included in concentrates to horses at levels up to 28% inclusion without deleterious effect on the digestibility of nutrients and the carbohydrate fraction thereof. Lower levels of inclusion (7%) may advantage the palatability of diets with citrus pulp and no added flavors (molasses). Nonetheless, more studies are required to standardize the palatability tests and carbohydrate fractions digestibility and the metabolic effect of the citrus pulp inclusion in the horses diet.

Background: Tooth loss has a negative impact on patients’ general health and wellbeing. Dental prostheses can restore oral function, aesthetics and improve oral health related quality of life. Preferences for dental prostheses cannot be fully captured using existing clinical studies and questionnaires. Discrete choice experiment (DCE) is a novel method in health economics to elicit people’s preference for treatments and it allows the researcher to integrate all aspects relevant to treatment into evaluation and measurement of interrelationship between factors. The aim of this PhD thesis is to use a mixed method of DCE and qualitative interviews to analyse dentists and patient’s preferences for dental prosthesis choices in replacing missing teeth. Methods: Discrete choice experiment questionnaires were developed, describing dental prosthdontic treatments in multi-dimensions, including outcome, process and economic factors. Survey and analysis using the questionnaires were conducted with dentists and patients in Edinburgh. Qualitative interviews with Edinburgh dentists and patients were carried out to derive factors to aid the DCE questionnaire design and provide in-depth understanding of DCE results. Systematic reviews were performed to summarise existing evidence on prosthesis evaluation in traditional quantitative studies and perception of prostheses in qualitative interviews. The current application of DCEs in dentistry was also systematically reviewed. Results: Treatment longevity was identified as the most important factor for dentists and patients’ treatment decisions of anterior missing tooth replacements, followed by appearance and chewing function. Dentists put more value on fixation/comfort and treatment procedure than patients. Patients cared about cost of treatment whereas dentists were relatively insensitive. Gender, age and treatment experience significantly influenced patients’ preference for treatment characteristics. Dental implant supported crown was preferred by dentists, whereas patients gave higher utility to traditional prosthodontic treatments. The monetary benefit of fixed dental prostheses ranged from £1856 -£3848 for patients, far exceeding their willingness-to-pay (WTP), which was £120 - £240. Dentists were willing to pay £600-£3000, more than the perceived benefit £503 to £1649. Qualitative study identified the above factors and provided interpretation of DCE results. Problems in the dental care system related to referral and training for dental implant treatments were raised. Discussion: This thesis is the first DCE application in dentistry evaluating and comparing dentists and patients preferences for missing tooth replacements. Dentists and patients’ preferences were elicited qualitatively and qualitatively integrating multidimensional factors. Patients’ preference for treatments, monetary benefit and WTP were demonstrated to be different from dentists’. Treatment benefits exceeded patients WTP for fixed dental prostheses.

In October 2015, John Magufuli became President of Tanzania and his party (Chama cha Mapinduzi, CCM) won a large majority in parliament. This thesis explains why Tanzanians choose to vote the way they do in general and in these elections in particular. It draws on qualitative interviews with approximately one-thousand voters in four field sites: one urban and one rural area in Dodoma Region where CCM are dominant, and a second pair of urban and rural areas from Mwanza Region in which the opposition are more competitive. By using theories of social remembering to understand vote preference, this thesis investigates a number of key issues that are crucial to determining political outcomes in Tanzania: 1) CCM's track record in government; 2) The sources of information available to voters; 3) The role of money in politics; 4) CCM's attempts to discredit the opposition; 5) The progress of the opposition since political liberalisation, and; 6) Local factors, including the behaviour of candidates. Having addressed these dynamics, attention is turned to how they played out during the 2015 election. The thesis concludes that, although Magufuli had significant appeal to many voters, his victory was aided by undemocratic manipulation. This shows that the process of political transition was far from complete, even before post-election developments that have threatened basic democratic principles in Tanzania.

Práca zhŕňa teoretické poznatky o motivovaní zamestnancov v personálnych činnostiach, zameriava sa na špecifiká personálnej práce v malých podnikoch.Na základe výsledkov dotazníkového šetrenia práca porovnáva preferencie zamestnancov malých podnikov s podnikovou praxou v oblasti personálnej práce.

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior / Apesar dos avanÃos da ciÃncia, o medo e ansiedade, por razÃes odontolÃgicas, ainda acometem uma grande quantidade de pessoas, comprometendo a procura por tratamento e resultando, ocasionalmente, em baixos nÃveis de saÃde oral. A aparÃncia fÃsica dos instrumentos parece ser um dos principais causadores de medo e ansiedade no meio odontolÃgico, e a seringa anestÃsica à o instrumental que mais desencadeia estes sentimentos. Assim, diminuir a ansiedade e o medo do tratamento odontolÃgico deveria ser uma das prioridades do cirurgiÃo-dentista. Para tanto, a presente dissertaÃÃo teve por objetivo comparar as reaÃÃes apresentadas por crianÃas que foram anestesiadas com um dispositivo em formato lÃdico e com uma seringa tradicional, com a finalidade de analisar se uma mudanÃa no desenho externo da seringa anestÃsica seria capaz de influenciar os nÃveis de ansiedade, medo e dor dos pacientes. Sessenta e quatro crianÃas, com idade ente 4-10 anos, foram distribuÃdas aleatoriamente em dois grupos, de acordo com o dispositivo a ser utilizado na primeira sessÃo anestÃsica. G1 (Convencional) e G2 (Design modificado). Os participantes submeteram-se a duas sessÃes anestÃsicas, e cada paciente foi anestesiado com ambos dispositivos. Um Ãnico pesquisador, odontopediatra, realizou os procedimentos anestÃsicos que foram filmados e consistiram de anestesias terminais infiltrativas, na regiÃo posterior da maxila. Devido ao carÃter multidimensional do medo, ansiedade e dor, uma combinaÃÃo de testes foi utilizada para avaliÃ-los, como: O teste de medo da crianÃa (Child Fear Survey Schedule â Dental Subscale - CFSS-DS), escala de ansiedade facial (Facial Anxiety Scale- FAS), frequÃncia cardÃaca, escala som, olhos e movimento (Sound, Eyes and Motor-SEM), escala visual analÃga â Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) e escala Frankl. As escalas foram aplicadas em momentos predeterminados, como: sala de espera (SE), cadeira odontolÃgica (CO), inÃcio da anestesia (IA) e final da anestesia (FA). ApÃs a segunda sessÃo anestÃsica, as crianÃas escolheram o dispositivo que mais as agradou. Os resultados mostraram que 78% da amostra foi classificada como pouco ansiosa (CFSS-DS). Nenhuma diferenÃa estatisticamente significante pÃde ser observada nas diferentes escalas, ao comparar o dispositivo tradicional com o modificado. A seringa com mudanÃa no design foi a preferida por 57,8% das crianÃas. As crianÃas ansiosas relataram mais dor que as nÃo ansiosas (p=0,001) e o estado emocional variou nas diferentes situaÃÃes: SE, CO, IA e FA. (p<0,05). Assim, concluiu-se que a aparÃncia da seringa à importante, mas nÃo à fundamental no controle da ansiedade, medo e dor de crianÃas submetidas à anestesia odontolÃgica. / Despite advances in Odontology, fear and anxiety regarding dentistry still affect a large number of people who, because of their fears, fail to seek treatment; this can result in low levels of oral health. The physical appearance of the instruments used by dentists seems to be a major cause of such fear and anxiety with regard to dentistry. The anesthetic syringe is the instrument that causes the strongest feelings of fear. So, the prevention of dental anxiety and patients fear should be one of the dentistâs highest priorities, this study aims to compare the reactions shown when children were anesthetized with a modified device and when they were anesthetized with a traditional syringe, and examine the results to see if a change in the external design of the anesthetic syringe can influence the levels of anxiety, fear and pain of patients. Sixty-four children aged 4-10 years were randomly assigned into two groups according to the device to be used in the first session of anesthesia. G1 (Traditional Syringe) and G2 (Modified syringe). Participants underwent two sessions and each patient was anesthetized with both devices. A single researcher performed anesthetic procedures, which were videotaped and the procedure consisted of infiltrative anesthesia in the posterior area of the maxilla. Due to the multidimensional nature of fear, anxiety and pain, a combination of tests was used to access them: Child Fear Survey Schedule - Dental Subscale - CFSS-DS, Facial Anxiety Scale-FAS, heart rate, the SEM scale Sound, Eyes and Motor, the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and the Frankl scale. These tests were applied in predefined situations as the waiting room (WR), the dental chair (DC), during the onset of anesthesia (OA) and end of anesthesia (EA). After the second session of anesthesia, children chose the device that they preferred. The results showed that most 78% children were classified as having a low level of anxiety (CFSS-DS). No significant difference was observed when comparing the traditional and modified devices. The syringe with a change in design was preferred by (57.8%) of the children. The anxious children reported more pain than non-anxious (p = 0.001) and their emotional state varied in different situations: WR, DC, OA and EA. (P <0.05). Thus, it was concluded that the appearance of the syringe is important, but not essential in order to control the anxiety, fear and pain which children suffer when undergoing dental anesthesia.

Master of Agribusiness / Department of Agricultural Economics / Aleksan Shanoyan / Competition in the retail animal feed business can be challenging. Millennials are emerging as an increasingly important consumer group. Companies want to attract Millennials as new customers while at the same time retaining current customers of Baby Boomers and Gen X generations. Consequently, an important question is how do Millennial retail shopping habits for animal feed differ from that of other generations. To help answer this question the thesis research utilizes customer survey data obtained, from the Kent Nutrition Group. The data was collected through an online survey which was conducted with customers from Company W’s customer list. The total sample consists of 1068 customers. The data is analyzed using exploratory data analysis to gain insights on key differences and important attributes related to marketing and selling to customers from different generation groups. The results indicate that word of mouth serves as the largest initial source of awareness for all customers. Not surprisingly, the results show higher tendency to shop online and a preference for social media as a source of information by Millennials compared to Baby Boomers and Gen X customers. Knowledgeable staff and a positive in-store shopping experience continue to be a high priority for all customers. In general, e-mail or a mailed newsletter were identified as important communication methods by respondents of all generations. The results also show high preference by customers of all generations for receiving sales circulars and tips for animal and pet care. Sales circulars, direct mailers and newspaper ads are the core communication channels that customers view advertising from Company W. Three quarters of Company W’s customers expressed some level of interest in shopping online through Company W if the option were available. This implies that offering online shopping options will not only enhance the current customers’ experience but also attract new customers. The gained insights will be used by Company W to adapt and enhance their marketing and sales strategies to a) effectively engage and attract more Millennial customers and b) improve retention and service for customers of Baby Boomers and Gen X generations. The researcher will use the insights gained from this study to improve marketing efforts for the Kent Nutrition Group.

In the energy field, the decisions need to take into consideration several factors such as the needs of the population, the environment, suitability, capital cost, sustainability, political goals and the actors involved, with their interests and preferences. The lack of homogeneity in all the factors that must be consider makes it necessary to design a process that guides the analysis process of any type of decision-maker. Decision analysis methods have been developed to aid decision-makers identify a problem, determine the criteria to be consider and their importance, recognize the stakeholders that need to be involved and pose the different alternatives to resolve or to best address the problem. These techniques range from simple to more mathematically oriented ones, from single criterion evaluation to multiple criteria, and from purely qualitative or quantitative to mixed techniques. Within the field of decision analysis, multi-criteria techniques are better suited to aid in decision situations in the energy field as these decisions require several considerations beside economic ones. This thesis uses theories and notions of decision analysis to construct a framework to be used in any energy related decision situations by non-experts. The framework tackles common challenges faced by multi-criteria decision analysis methods, including the identification of stakeholders and decision-makers, the aggregation of various decision-makers, preferences and heterogeneous inputs, and the selection of suitable criteria, alternatives and methods.

One of the most common childhood disorders, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) places individuals at a higher risk for nicotine (NIC) dependence. Approximately 37.2% of individuals with ADHD currently smoke compared to the 18.3% of individuals with no record of mental illness. Methylphenidate (MPH; Trade name Ritalin) is the most commonly prescribed treatment for ADHD. Research regarding the synergistic effects of MPH and NIC, however, is divided. Some research indicates that MPH may enhance susceptibility to NIC effects, whereas other studies report that MPH may inhibit sensitization to NIC. The present study examines the effects of pre-exposure to MPH (1.0 mg/kg) on the behavioral effects of NIC (0.5 mg/kg) in adolescent male and female Sprague-Dawley rats. We used behavioral sensitization and conditioned place preference (CPP) on animals postnatal day (P)28-50; this is defined as adolescence in rats. For behavioral sensitization, results revealed a significant interaction between day of testing, drug pre-exposure, and adolescent drug treatment (p = .004). On the other hand, CPP results revealed a significant interaction between adolescent drug treatment and drug pre-exposure (p = .031). Findings suggest that pre-exposure to MPH reduces behavioral sensitization to NIC during adolescence. In addition, results indicate that MPH enhances NIC CPP in adolescent male and female rats, suggesting that MPH may enhance the rewarding effect of NIC.

Research has revealed that schizophrenics are significantly more likely to smoke cigarettes than the general population, and consume nicotine products at a much more prevalent rate. Further exacerbating this issue, it has been previously demonstrated in clinical populations that the type of antipsychotic treatment administered (typical versus atypical) may result in either an increase or a decrease of already heightened smoking behavior within the schizophrenic population. With these clinical issues in mind, the present study sought to examine the effects of antipsychotic treatment upon the associative reward of nicotine within the neonatal quinpirole model of schizophrenia. We found that treatment with the typical antipsychotic haloperidol blocked the associative reward of nicotine. Clozapine, an atypical antipsychotic, merely reduced the rewarding effects. These findings illustrate the centrality of the dopamine system, specifically the D2 receptor subtype, as an underlying mechanism of the rewarding effects of nicotine among rodents neonatally treated with quinpirole.