Anotace: Diplomová práce je rozdělena do tří kapitol. První část je věnována úvodu do problematiky a snahy o uchopení tématu, které je velmi obšírné. Svoji pozornost jsem zaměřila především na názory odborníků z různých oblastí na problematiku globalizace. Dále pak na historický vývoj globalizace a její etapizaci a hlavní faktory ovlivňující globalizační procesy. Taktéž jsem se zmínila o vztahu globalizace, regionalismu a světové ekonomiky. V druhé části jsem přiblížila tři oblasti dopadů globalizačních procesů - oblast ekonomickou, ekologickou a sociální. V závěrečné části se již blíže věnuji vybraným důsledkům. Mým cílem bylo prokázat, nakolik globalizace ovlivňuje vybrané problémy a postihnout jak pozitivní, tak i negativní dopady. Abstract: The diploma thesis is divided into three chapters. The first part is devoted to an introduction to the problem and attempts to grasp a subject that is very wide. I focused my attention primarily on the views of experts from various scientific fields on the issue of globalization. Furthermore, the historical development of globalization and its phasing and the main factors influencing the processes of globalization. I also mentioned the relationship between globalization, regionalism and the global economy. In the second part, I approached the three areas of the...

To prevent oil and light liquids from causing damage at wastewater treatment facilities and the environment, a functional oil separator is important. The purpose of this study is to examine which vehicle operations have an oil separator installed and how they supervise its functionality in Arvidsjaur municipality. A questionnaire was used at the interview with all the owners with an oil separator. For those not able to participate in the interview, the same questionnaire was sent by email. The study showed that 14 of the total 15 owners had oil separator at their property and the majority of those where older ones of gravimetric type. Only 31 % had a regular self-inspection of the oil separator, which include control frequency of alarms, oil- and sludge level. The majority of the oil separators had been emptied at least once a year. Further the interviews indicated deficiencies in the owners existing knowledge, record-keeping and documentation. None of the oil separators had been inspected in the last 5 years. 46 % said that the oil separator lacked oil- and sludge level alarms. Results from a survey of operators self-inspection of oil separators in other municipalities in north of Sweden showed similar results as this study. Finally, examples of actions in accordance with standards and established guidelines are presented, which the regulatory authority may require from the owners with insufficient oil separators.

Master of Arts / Department of Economics / William F. Blankenau / The aim of this paper is to provide an analysis of the consumption, investing, and savings data across racial minority categories within the United States. This paper examines the three biggest minority racial categories within the United States. These three racial categories include Blacks, Asians, and Hispanics. Consumption patterns across minority groups are examined in Chapter 2. These patterns give insights into the annual purchasing decisions of Blacks, Asians, and Hispanics. Many of the choices in budget allocation to specific categories have consequences and implications that are explained at the end of this chapter. Chapter 3 focuses on savings characteristics of minority populations in the United States. 401k plans, IRAs, and other retirement plans are examined for different savings behaviors and rates across minority groups. This paper examines the savings attitudes and survey responses of participants to get a feel of the overall savings climate across racial groups. Chapter 4 examines the investment behaviors and attitudes of different minorities. The financial risk tolerance and portfolio composition of different minority groups are examined to gain insights into the large wealth gap between Whites and minorities in the United States. In addition, this paper examines the hypothesized reasons for the differences between racial categories in consumption, investing, and saving choices. In Chapter 5, I explore the different theories and assumptions presented in the literature on these topics in order to give the reader insight into why racial groups might make different consumption, investment, and savings decisions even when controlling for socioeconomic variables. The final chapter explains the consequences of consumption, investment, and savings decisions for the individual, the community, and the United States.

This study will, with the help of young people aged 15, strive to increase the knowledge about the importance of social media (with a delimitation to Instagram and Snapchat) in the everyday lives and social relationships of young people. To achieve this, the essay will focus on how young people describe their own experiences and experiences through the collection of data in the form of interviews through focus groups. The collection of the empirical material has been done through qualitative research method. We have used focus group interviews aimed at five groups where the informants were selected by criteria-controlled selection. Social media provides advantages and disadvantages. It is really just the latest tool that makes it possible to do what we have always done through the ages, which is to communicate with each other and tell stories, but now in a more exciting and creative way than ever with social media as a tool.

Thesis (M. A. (Social Work)) -- University of the North, 1998 / Refer to document

Digesting Dystopia There is a discrepancy between where our food comes from and where we believe it comes from. Our understanding of the origins of our consumable food is often distorted. The relationship between consumers and the ingredients keeping us alive is characterized by an overwhelming amount of contradictory information. The decisions that we make regarding these products have a profound effect on every facet of our existence. I use the contentious climate of the food industry as the background for making surreal images that open up conversations about the politics of eating. These compositions are fabricated representations of our relationship with food and the industry that surrounds it. The images exaggerate the realities that exist within our culture and illuminate our desensitization and disconnect to the consequences of what we chose to consume. What does our food culture look like, and what will it lead to in the near future?

With increasing pressures on sagebrush steppe ecosystems, the sagebrush defoliating Aroga moth, Aroga websteri Clarke (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) has become a critical organism of concern. Despite the cyclic nature of A. websteri outbreaks throughout the Great Basin, there is limited information on the moth’s population dynamics. The goal of this dissertation was to develop effective means of assessing and describing population trends of the Aroga moth across space and time, and potentially promoting biological control of the moth to prevent unnaturally large, prolonged and destructive outbreaks. Field studies were conducted to: 1) monitor and quantify activity of the Aroga moth and its damage to sagebrush across a montane landscape, 2) assess the effects of parasitoid and floral diversity on parasitism of the moth, and 3) develop a degree-day (D) model to describe the phenology of the insect, as well as field populations studied previously. North-facing stands of sagebrush, characterized by low values of solar radiation, appear to be especially suitable local habitats for the Aroga moth. High habitat suitability may result from favorable microclimate, both in its direct effects on the Aroga moth and in indirect effects tied to sagebrush plant community productivity and performance. Parasitoid and floral diversity differed strongly and predictably across space and time, with greatest overall parasitism occurring when three major parasitoid species were present. Field experiments revealed individual species of parasitoids differed substantially and complemented one another in their patterns of attack among local populations of the Aroga moth across the montane landscape. Differing responses to provision of floral resources and methyl salicylate (an herbivore- induced plant volatile) support the general hypothesis that over large scales of space and time, species diversity of natural enemies promotes suppression of insect herbivores. Lastly, degree-day models were developed and least variation among years in (D) phenology resulted with the single-sine method with base temperature of 5C. Years of historical Aroga moth outbreaks had characteristic seasonal patterns of D accumulation that were intermediate and characterized by high precipitation in June and July during late stage larval development. Thus, it appears that periodic outbreaks of the defoliator are due to favorable weather conditions.

A database of United States bridge failures was used to ascertain the failure rate of bridge collapses for a sample population with associated rates by causes. By using the National Bridge Inventory bridge counts, the bridge population, from which the collapsed bridge came from, was determined. The average number of bridge collapses based on the sample population was approximately 1/4,700 annually. The geometric distribution was determined to be a valid model for the number of bridge failures per annum through multiple methods. Based on the data extrapolation and 95% confidence interval, the estimated average annual bridge collapse rate in the United States is between 87 and 222 with an expected value of 128. The database showed hazards that have caused bridges to collapse historically, throughout the United States. Conditional probabilities of collapse rate with consideration for the features under the structures were constructed. The most likely cause of collapse was determined to be hydraulic in nature when adjusting for the features under the structure. The collapse rate of hydraulic causes was unknown from past investigations; however, the value was determined to be an annual rate of 1.52E-4. Collapse rates were also quantifiably established for other causes. The consequences coupled with the rate of failure by cause were quantitatively evaluated. A benchmark, set by the United States Army Corps of Engineers interim guideline for dam safety, was used to show that bridge collapses within the United States are within a tolerable range comparing collapses to life loss. To enhance risk-based and data-driven approaches to bridge management systems in compliance with Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act, efficacious bridge collapse data collection is examined for this investigation. Trends obtained from statistical analysis of existing data show 53% of collapsed bridges were structurally deficient prior to collapse, and a failure rate of structurally deficient bridges to be 1/1,100 annually. Age and structural deficiency are related, structural deficiency and collapse are related, and age at collapse is contingent on collapse cause. It was determined that deterioration-caused and overload-caused bridge collapses are age related, but hydraulic-caused and collision-caused bridge collapses are not. Based on the desired results, trends seen in existing collapse data, improved collection efforts and data fields of interest are assessed with recommendations for analytical methods and consequence assessment while maintaining concise data. A national repository of bridge collapses at the federal level is paramount for effective bridge collapse risk analysis. Currently, bridge failure data is incomplete and insufficient to enable in-depth lifetime data analysis for improved bridge preservation. However, the frequency of collapses is often enough for large amounts of data to be collected in relatively few years.

Nitrous oxide (N2O) oxidizes vitamin B12. disrupting deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) synthesis. Occupational exposures to subanesthetic levels of the gas have been documented that may result in suppressed proliferative cell activities. Male CD-I mice were exposed to 0, 50, 500, and 5000 parts of N2O per million parts of air (ppm) for 6 hr/day, 5 days/week for 2 and 13 weeks. Splenic lymphocytes were assayed for responsiveness to mitogens and for the ability to produce interleukin-2 (lL-2) . Tritiated-thymidine ([3H]-TdR) uptake was measured in CD-I splenic lymphocytes cultured in a mixed-lymphocyte culture (MLC). Cytolytic cell activity was measured by 51chromium release assay. Antibody-mediated immunocompetency was determined for sheep red blood cell (SRBC)-sensitized animals by plaque-forming cell (PFC) assay and sera anti-SRBC antibody titer. Deoxyuridine suppression tests (dUdRST) were performed on bone marrow cells. Serum adrenocorticotropic hormone and corticosterone levels were determined. There was significantly decreased splenic lymphocyte uptake of [3H)-TdR by cells cultured with mitogenic substances and in MLC following 2-week animal exposures to 5000 ppm. After 13-week exposures, the animals' splenic lymphocytes showed decreased [3H]-TdR uptake following low N20 dosing and nonsignificantly increased responsiveness at the higher gas exposures in both the blastogenic and MLC assays. Compared to control animals, the 5000- ppm-exposure group had significantly depressed PFC activity and circulating anti-SRBC immunoglobulin M levels following 13-week gas exposures, and all three subchronic exposure groups demonstrated both decreased liver weights and leukopenia. Bone marrow activity at these dosing levels was dose-responsively depressed following subchronic gas exposures.No hormonal effect appears to be attributable to N20 exposure.

This thesis reviews the housing-related implications of separation and divorce for women. It arges that the housing circumstances must be placed within a broader perspective of the social and economic consequences and ideological environment surrounding divorce. In the same way, operation of the housing system must be placed within a wider context, particularly in relation to the degree of change in its operational environment within the last 20 years. The thesis finds that the circumstances surrounding leaving a marriage are personally traumatic, and lead to a period of economic, housing and personal crisis. Over time, although the tendency is for establishment of re-equlibrium, considerable disadvantages prevail for women. The quickest method of establishing re-equilibrium for women is to repartner.