The influence of the Federal Republic of Germany in development of the European Union environmental policy is dealing with promoting of German environmental policy within the European Union in a broad context with the focus on EU institutions and national political system. The German approach to environmental policy is shaped by strategy of European countries that are influencing EU environmental policy. That chosen strategies were developed by Liefferink and Andersen. The stress is put on the analysis of embedding of environmental policy within political system, institutions and within various actors. Part of the research is climatic policy denominated as a main topic of environmental policy of the last days. Key words environmental policy, environmental politics, the European Union and Germany, climate policy, strategy of environmental pioneers, Liefferink Duncan, Andersen Mikael Skou

Uppsatsen analyserar och komparerar H.C. Andersens verk Den lilla flickan med svavelstickorna och dess animerade adaption av Walt Disney Animation Studios The Little Matchgirl. Syftet med analysen är att undersöka hur tematik från Den lilla flickan med svavelstickorna förmedlas i en animerad adaption och utifrån vilka medel. Uppsatsen utgår från Linda Hutcheons adaptionsteori samt semiotik baserat på Gunter Kress och Theo Van Leeuwens visuella grammatik. Analysen visar på att adaptionens tematik överlag överensstämmer med originalets och de förändringar som gjorts har varit för sentimentala skäl eller på grund av de begränsningar eller möjligheter som det visuella mediet har som framställningsform. Analysen visar på att adaptionen använder både ljus- och färgmodalitetstecken för att effektivt kunna representera Andersens originella sentimentalitet i en ny medial framställning.

Today, orally inhaled drugs found on the market suffer from variable and discontinuous pulmonary drug release which lowers efficacy and patience compliance. This is usually a consequence of the poor understanding of the interaction and dissolution behavior of drug particles in the lung environment. Thus, the aim of this project was to investigate the effect of the dissolution medium on dissolution profiles for the well-known orally inhaled drug budesonide (BD) and fluticasone propionate (FP), in order to assess the importance of a proper selection of dissolution media for in vitro dissolution methods. In order to achieve this a modified Andersen Cascade Impactor was used to simulate deposition of particles onto filters. The dissolution was measured using a Transwell set up with polycarbonate membranes that can hold the filters with the deposited drug on it. Different media were prepared, from simple to more biorelevant. The samples taken during the dissolution experiments were analyzed quantitatively using UPLC-UV and the experimental data was processed by fitting to the Weibull function. The aim of this project was successfully achieved and the dissolution media that worked best for both BD and FP was PBS with the addition of 0.5% SDS. On the other hand, the dissolution media that performed the least for both BD and FP was the simulated lung fluid (SLF) with presence of 0.02% (w/v) DPPC. This may be due to the fact that DPPC forms liposomal aggregates which probably results in the media becoming more viscous and hence the dissolution time becomes slower.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the longitudinal impact of depressive symptoms on utilization of healthcare in terms of GP visits as well as specialist visits and hospital admission in late life among community-dwelling individuals. Methods: Longitudinal data (baseline and follow-up) were derived from the German multicentre, prospective cohort study “Late-life depression in primary care: needs, health care utilization and costs” study (AgeMooDe). At baseline, n = 1,230 patients aged 75 years and older were recruited from primary care practices. Main outcomes of interest were use of health care services: the number of GP visits, the number ofmedical specialist visits, and hospital admission. We used the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) to measure depression. Outcomes were analyzed with multilevel random intercept negative binominal regression and logistic random-effects models. Results: At baseline (n = 1,191), mean age was 80.7 (SD 4.6) years, 62.9% were female, and 196 individuals (16.5%) had depression (GDS-15 6). Our longitudinal analyses indicated that older individuals with more depressive symptoms visited their GP more often (IRR=1.03; CI [1.01-1.04], p < 0.001), were visiting medical specialists more frequently (IRR=1.03; CI [1.01-1.04], p < 0.01), and had higher odds of being hospitalized (OR=1.08; CI [1.02-1.13], p < 0.01). Conclusions: Based on this large longitudinal study we showed that, after adjustment for important covariates, older individuals with more depressive symptoms had higher health care utilization over time. They visited their GP and specialists more frequently and they had higher odds of being hospitalized. This may suggest that higher utilization of specialist care and increased likelihood of being hospitalized may be also attributable to unspecific symptoms or symptoms that are elevated through depressive symptoms

The introduction of the European union’s pillar of social rights has marked a new chapter in EU social policy. The social policy of the union has been seen to affect the national welfare state of its members causing convergence between member states. Given that welfare politics is a salient issue of the electorate, this thesis aims at finding out what type of welfare regime is most prevalent in EU social pillar policy in order to identify the direction the EU is pushing its member states. By using a content analysis to examine policy initiatives within the scope of the social pillar through the lens of the theoretical framework of Esping-Andersen’s three worlds of welfare regimes, this thesis identifies a considerable prevalence of a social democratic welfare regime. Especially given the sizeable occurrence of universalism and defamiliarization in the analysed material. This shows that policy convergence between the member states will entail a considerable role of the state, universal welfare services and promoting female participation in the labour market.

Il est connu que le vieillissement de la population canadienne va augmenter la demande d’aide à domicile et qu’un soutien insuffisant du secteur public accroît l’implication des réseaux informels et privés. En s’appuyant sur les données de l’Enquête nationale sur la santé de la population (ENSP) et de l’Enquête sur la santé dans les collectivités canadiennes (ESCC), cette recherche analyse les tendances et déterminants de l’utilisation de l’aide à domicile subventionnée par le gouvernement au Canada et en Ontario entre 1996-1997 et 2009-2010. Il en ressort que la proportion de bénéficiaires âgés de 65 ans et plus est en diminution, passant de 9,9% à 9,2% au Canada (1996-1997 à 2005) et de 10,2% à 8,8% puis 9,6% en Ontario (1996-1997, 2005, 2009-2010). Les compressions sont particulièrement ressenties dans les services de maintien à domicile, dont l’aide pour les travaux ménagers (de 51% à 34% en Ontario). Les personnes âgées, les femmes, les gens vivant seuls ou qui ont besoin d’assistance pour accomplir certaines activités de la vie quotidienne (AVQ) ou activités instrumentales de la vie quotidienne (AIVQ) reçoivent de moins en moins d’aide publique à domicile. En conclusion, le présent système de santé, qui semble se concentrer sur les soins de santé plutôt que sur les services de maintien, ne répond pas aux besoins des personnes âgées. Par ailleurs, le cas ontarien évoque l’impact que peuvent avoir les décisions politiques sur l’utilisation de l’aide à domicile. Les résultats suggèrent qu’entre 1996-1997 et 2005, ce sont surtout les personnes âgées de 18 à 64 ans et ceux nécessitant des soins qui bénéficièrent des programmes publics. Durant la période suivante (2005 à 2009-2010), il semble y avoir un intérêt plus marqué pour les 65 ans et plus dont la proportion d’utilisateurs s’accroît plus rapidement. / It is known that the aging of the Canadian population will increase the demand for home care and that insufficient support from the public sector increases the implication of the informal and private networks. Using cross-sectional data from the National Population Health Survey (NPHS) and the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS), this research analyzes the trends and predictors of subsidized home care in Canada and Ontario between 1996/97 and 2009/10. It shows that the proportion of care receivers aged 65 and older is decreasing, going down from 9.9% to 9.2% in Canada (1996/97 to 2005) and from 10.2% to 8.8% then 9.6% in Ontario (1996/97, 2005, 2009/10). Government cuts are particularly felt in terms of home support services, like support for housework (from 51% to 34% in Ontario). Older persons, women, people living alone or those who need assistance to perform some activities of daily living (ADLs) or instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) are receiving less and less subsidized home care. In conclusion, the actual health system, that appear to focus on health care instead of home support services, do not meet the needs of older persons. Furthermore, the Ontario case evokes the effect that policies can have on home care utilization. Results suggest that between 1996/97 and 2005, it is mostly persons aged from 18 to 64 years old or needing health care that benefited from the public program. During the next period (2005 to 2009/10), there seems to be a greater interest for the 65 and older, whose proportion of users increases more rapidly.

Particulate matter in the ambient air of down-town New Orleans, LA, is not currently recorded by any government, state, or private organization. This research quantified particulate matter (PM) and its metal concentration in ambient air of the New Orleans Historic District. Both, PM10 (PM less than 10 micron in size) and PM2.5 (PM less than 2.5 micron in size) were quantified by gravimetric analysis using an Andersen Dichotomous Sampler (Series 240). Posterior to gravimetric analysis, the filters were analyzed with a fluorescent test method using an Innov-X Portable XRF Analyzer (Model A-6500). This study demonstrated that the ambient air of the New Orleans Historic District is in compliance with the National Ambient Ai Quality Standards regarding contamination of particulate matter and Lead.

As ruin theory evolves in recent years, there has been a variety of quantities pertaining to an insurer's bankruptcy at the centre of focus in the literature. Despite the fact that these quantities are distinct from each other, it was brought to our attention that many solution methods apply to nearly all ruin-related quantities. Such a peculiar similarity among their solution methods inspired us to search for a general form that reconciles those seemingly different ruin-related quantities. The stochastic approach proposed in the thesis addresses such issues and contributes to the current literature in three major directions. (1) It provides a new function that unifies many existing ruin-related quantities and that produces more new quantities of potential use in both practice and academia. (2) It applies generally to a vast majority of risk processes and permits the consideration of combined effects of investment strategies, policy modifications, etc, which were either impossible or difficult tasks using traditional approaches. (3) It gives a shortcut to the derivation of intermediate solution equations. In addition to the efficiency, the new approach also leads to a standardized procedure to cope with various situations. The thesis covers a wide range of ruin-related and financial topics while developing the unifying stochastic approach. Not only does it attempt to provide insights into the unification of quantities in ruin theory, the thesis also seeks to extend its applications in other related areas.

As ruin theory evolves in recent years, there has been a variety of quantities pertaining to an insurer's bankruptcy at the centre of focus in the literature. Despite the fact that these quantities are distinct from each other, it was brought to our attention that many solution methods apply to nearly all ruin-related quantities. Such a peculiar similarity among their solution methods inspired us to search for a general form that reconciles those seemingly different ruin-related quantities. The stochastic approach proposed in the thesis addresses such issues and contributes to the current literature in three major directions. (1) It provides a new function that unifies many existing ruin-related quantities and that produces more new quantities of potential use in both practice and academia. (2) It applies generally to a vast majority of risk processes and permits the consideration of combined effects of investment strategies, policy modifications, etc, which were either impossible or difficult tasks using traditional approaches. (3) It gives a shortcut to the derivation of intermediate solution equations. In addition to the efficiency, the new approach also leads to a standardized procedure to cope with various situations. The thesis covers a wide range of ruin-related and financial topics while developing the unifying stochastic approach. Not only does it attempt to provide insights into the unification of quantities in ruin theory, the thesis also seeks to extend its applications in other related areas.

Il est connu que le vieillissement de la population canadienne va augmenter la demande d’aide à domicile et qu’un soutien insuffisant du secteur public accroît l’implication des réseaux informels et privés. En s’appuyant sur les données de l’Enquête nationale sur la santé de la population (ENSP) et de l’Enquête sur la santé dans les collectivités canadiennes (ESCC), cette recherche analyse les tendances et déterminants de l’utilisation de l’aide à domicile subventionnée par le gouvernement au Canada et en Ontario entre 1996-1997 et 2009-2010. Il en ressort que la proportion de bénéficiaires âgés de 65 ans et plus est en diminution, passant de 9,9% à 9,2% au Canada (1996-1997 à 2005) et de 10,2% à 8,8% puis 9,6% en Ontario (1996-1997, 2005, 2009-2010). Les compressions sont particulièrement ressenties dans les services de maintien à domicile, dont l’aide pour les travaux ménagers (de 51% à 34% en Ontario). Les personnes âgées, les femmes, les gens vivant seuls ou qui ont besoin d’assistance pour accomplir certaines activités de la vie quotidienne (AVQ) ou activités instrumentales de la vie quotidienne (AIVQ) reçoivent de moins en moins d’aide publique à domicile. En conclusion, le présent système de santé, qui semble se concentrer sur les soins de santé plutôt que sur les services de maintien, ne répond pas aux besoins des personnes âgées. Par ailleurs, le cas ontarien évoque l’impact que peuvent avoir les décisions politiques sur l’utilisation de l’aide à domicile. Les résultats suggèrent qu’entre 1996-1997 et 2005, ce sont surtout les personnes âgées de 18 à 64 ans et ceux nécessitant des soins qui bénéficièrent des programmes publics. Durant la période suivante (2005 à 2009-2010), il semble y avoir un intérêt plus marqué pour les 65 ans et plus dont la proportion d’utilisateurs s’accroît plus rapidement. / It is known that the aging of the Canadian population will increase the demand for home care and that insufficient support from the public sector increases the implication of the informal and private networks. Using cross-sectional data from the National Population Health Survey (NPHS) and the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS), this research analyzes the trends and predictors of subsidized home care in Canada and Ontario between 1996/97 and 2009/10. It shows that the proportion of care receivers aged 65 and older is decreasing, going down from 9.9% to 9.2% in Canada (1996/97 to 2005) and from 10.2% to 8.8% then 9.6% in Ontario (1996/97, 2005, 2009/10). Government cuts are particularly felt in terms of home support services, like support for housework (from 51% to 34% in Ontario). Older persons, women, people living alone or those who need assistance to perform some activities of daily living (ADLs) or instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) are receiving less and less subsidized home care. In conclusion, the actual health system, that appear to focus on health care instead of home support services, do not meet the needs of older persons. Furthermore, the Ontario case evokes the effect that policies can have on home care utilization. Results suggest that between 1996/97 and 2005, it is mostly persons aged from 18 to 64 years old or needing health care that benefited from the public program. During the next period (2005 to 2009/10), there seems to be a greater interest for the 65 and older, whose proportion of users increases more rapidly.