京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(理学) / 甲第22236号 / 理博第4550号 / 新制||理||1654(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院理学研究科物理学・宇宙物理学専攻 / (主査)教授 柳瀬 陽一, 教授 川上 則雄, 教授 松田 祐司 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Science / Kyoto University / DFAM

The matter of a gender gap in electoral participation is a fact in many parts of the world but has mostly been investigated by, and studied within, the Global North. In spite of this, scholars have not reached an undisputed conclusion for why this is. Scholars have argued for the importance of studying the institutions and systems composing voting in order to explain electoral participation, especially since the form and degree of direct influence of voters are differing within different electoral systems. Relying on the rational voter hypothesis in combination with feminist theory this thesis suggests that women have different experiences of civic duty and influence, and therefore participate in elections to a lesser extent than men. The main results suggest that presidentialism, to an extent which is neither statistically nor practically significant, decrease women’s electoral participation while majoritarian electoral rules seem to have an even smaller, but similar, effect. Testing electoral systems’ effect on the gender gap, statistically significant results points to the fact that presidentialism increases the gender gap in electoral participation. Majoritarian electoral rules do too increase the gender gap, but to a more restricted extent. This thesis concludes that electoral systems do have a gendered effect on electoral participation and that these effects need to be further investigated by future research.

This study investigates the gender earnings gap among nurses in Denmark years 2004-2016. The data at hand will be from Luxembourg Income studies which provided 7078 observations. Furthermore, ordinary least squares method with gender as dummy variable will be conducted. The findings are a raw male-female annual wage gap of 13 percent. After adding control variables, the gap decreased to 7.4 percent. The remaining wage gap can be due to unobservable characteristics. However, discrimination cannot be discounted.

Immigration to Sweden has increased in recent decades with low employment records of foreign-born, especially among females. It is a political challenge to integrate immigrants into the labour market and in the ongoing debate, an integration factor that has been put forward is immigrant’s adaption of the majority identity in the host country. Using data from the European Social Survey, this thesis investigates the female native-immigrant employment gap in Sweden and contributes to the debate about the relationship between ethnic identity and labour market-outcomes. The results indicate that it exists an interethnic employment gap and being an immigrant leads to an employment penalty of 10%. Further, ethnic identity is negatively correlated with employment probabilities. Having a strong identity being an immigrant decreases the probability of employment by 6%.

8 ABSTRACT Rab GTPases (Rabs) are the most populous branch of eukaryotic Ras GTPase superfamily. In active GTP-binding conformation, they serve as key instruments in defining transient membrane identity and through various effectors regulate formation, transport, conversion, and fusion of membrane vesicles. This is important for upkeep of compartmentalized structure of eukaryotic cells and for facilitating both endo- and exocytic processes. Rabs are converted into GDP-binding conformation by interactions with Rab GTPase activating proteins (Rab GAPs) that possess ability to significantly speed up weak intrinsic GTP hydrolytic activity of Rabs. Through this process, Rab GAPs can limit scope of the Rabs' activity and lay out spatiotemporal boundaries for varying Rab populations. In this thesis, I tried to characterize a Rab GAP, GAP2, seemingly necessary for standard development of thale cress plants. Besides TBC catalytic domain, GAP2 (product of At2g39280 gene) possesses a C-terminal coiled-coil motif, which was previously found to interact with Rab GTPases. Experiments aiming to complement T-DNA insertion mutant in GAP2, elucidate GAP2 intracellular localization, novel interacting partners, and character of interaction with the Rabs discovered in the pilot study were undertaken. The results suggest that...

The purpose of this study was to describe and explain the perspectives of five participants representing the school district and community regarding the achievement gap between Black and White students. This study attempted to answer two major questions: 1. What are the components of their perspectives and how they are formed? 2. What beliefs support or hinder that perspective? In this study social conflict theory was used as the theoretical framework for this study, harnessing the concept of resiliency as a new paradigm shift looking at Black students and community not as "deficient" or "deficits" but implementing their unique cultural assets and strengths to help close the achievement gap. Trends show that academic disparities between Black students and White students are complicated by many factors, including family poverty, limited neighborhood resources, displacement of communities due to gentrification and/or government interventions, lack of power, placement into lower-track classes and often community hostility towards the current public education system in general. These disparities contribute to the academic achievement gap. Historically, these disparities have challenged, Black students ability to survive, cope and sustain resiliency. This study looked at resiliency can be used and embraced so that Black students can become their own advocates for change including inside the educational arena and in their external environments to help close the achievement gap. This study relied on qualitative research methods, which is an inquiry process of understanding based on distinct methodological traditions of inquiry. The participants were selected according to the roles they play within the community and school district. Interviews were conducted two times with each of the participants regarding their perspectives. Other data was compiled from field notes and the researcher reflective journal. The data was coded and analyzed concerning the participants perception of the achievement gap. The major findings of this study reveal that organizational vision, a true collaborative partnership between the district and community and the political will to change is key to closing the achievement gap. Each of the participants have a dual vision for the future, one, that recognizes the centrality of closing the achievement gap. They also reveal that present and past political policies are contributing factors as well.

INTRODUCTION: Spinal deformities, including adult spinal deformities (ASD) and adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), can cause significant pain and disability. Radiographic parameters are measured in order to establish quantitative relationships among spinal alignment and health related quality of life metrics. Various classification systems including the Scoliosis Research Society (SRS)-Schwab and Global Alignment Proportion (GAP) score have been developed to correlate radiographic parameters with relevant clinical outcomes. While the SRS-Schwab Classification is both a coronal and sagittal categorization that correlates to health related quality of life metrics, the GAP score is a newly developed 13-point scale that focuses on sagittal alignment to predict mechanical failure postoperatively. The study aims to evaluate the utility of the GAP score as a method of evaluating radiographic correction and maintenance over one year. METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of ASD and AIS patients who underwent operative intervention. Patients were evaluated for GAP score changes from preoperative to postoperative and then to a one year follow up. Of the 285 screened patients, 73 had suitable radiographs for measurements. This included 45 ASD patients, 32 of which had one year follow up radiographs, and 28 AIS patients, of which only 19 had one year follow up radiographs. Measurements were obtained by three independent readers. These included pelvic incidence (PI), pelvic tilt (PT), L1-S1 lumbar lordosis (L1-S1 LL), L4-S1 lumbar lordosis (L4-S1 LL), sacral slope (SS), global tilt (GT), and sagittal vertical axis (SVA). GAP score subcategories were calculated and summed to produce the GAP score. RESULTS: The 73 included patients had an average age of 41.8 ± 24.1, BMI of 26.2 ±6.3, and consisted of 51 females (69.9%). All but one radiographic parameters exhibited an Intra Class Correlation (ICC) of over 0.66. PI had an ICC of 0.59 which was likely due to the incomplete visibility of the femoral heads in few radiographs. Among ASD patients, from pre to postoperative, PI-LL significantly decreased from 18° to 5°, PT significantly decreased from 26° to 19°, L1-S1 LL significantly increased from 37° to 47°, L4-S1 LL significantly increased from 28° to 31°, GT significantly decreased from 37° to 25°, SVA significantly decreased from 120 mm to 64 mm, and total GAP score significantly decreased from 8 to 6. For the 32 patients with long term data, the GAP score changed significantly from 9 to 6 to 7 at one year follow up. Of the 32 patients, 14 patients experienced a worsened score at the one year follow up. Among AIS patients, PI-LL increased from 0° to 3°, PT remained 13°, L1-S1 LL decreased from 56° to 53°, L4-S1 LL significantly decreased from 37° to 31°, GT increased from 14° to 16°, SVA decreased from 25 mm to 28 mm, and total GAP score increased from 3 to 4. For the 19 with long term data, the GAP score changed significantly from 3 to 3 to 2 and 2 patients experienced a worsened score at the one year follow up. DISCUSSION: The patient population showed a slight improvement in GAP score among both ASD and AIS groups. The improvement is more pronounced when evaluating with the SRS-Schwab Classification. The GAP score does not emphasize the same radiographic parameters and therefore does not correlate well with the SRS-Schwab Classification. Many patients also experienced a worsened GAP score by the one year follow up which can be attributed to the adjacent superior or inferior region (PJK), thoracolumbar region (construct failure), or compensation at the pelvis through hip flexion. Additionally, GAP is potentially oversensitive to measurement error and rounding differences. Thus, the utility of the GAP score in evaluating spinal deformity patients is questionable and requires further adjustment and evaluation based on prospective studies.

Crowdfunding has become an alternative source of funding for small medium enterprises (SMEs) due to inadequate or lack of finance at its start-up. There has been lot of analysis by scholars pertaining the determinants of crowdfunding success and the objective of this theory is to pinpoint the factors of a successful crowdfunding project based on the most analyzed determinants by prior researchers (technology-based projects, social media and entertainment-based projects, other projects (such as food, publishing, arts), visual features (such as pictures, comments, updates, videos,etc), as well as investors contribution. Also, to find out if the analysis of prior researchers are in line with the result of our analysis, we based our study on a sample of 1000 projects inclined on a crowdfunding platform (kickstarter) as at 2019. The econometric models used for the analysis were based on logit model, linear probability model, mean difference test and probit regression model (to serve as a check on robustness). The result of our analysis was indeed in line with prior research (Mollick, 2014; Schwienbacher et al., 2014, etc) except for technology-based projects. The outcome of our analysis depicts that the higher investors contribution, the higher the success of crowdfunding. Nevertheless, technology-based projects are less reliable and are less funded on kickstarter platform; thereby, having a low success rate on crowdfunding platforms. More funds were also made on projects relating to social media and entertainment (M&E) and other projects such as publishing, food,etc. The result of the probit regression shows a correct check on the analysis made even though, there might be slight differences in figures as compared to the result of the logit regression. The result of the probability of success rates of projects based on our four main variables of interest was 75% averagely for both logit and probit regressions performed. Start-ups (SMEs) frequently achieve a higher funding support depending on their projects at hand and this can be absolutely motivated by the presence of a high social media networks (thus, founder's link through Facebook, LinkedIn,Twitter and projects related to entertainment). Hence, from our analysis, the determinants of success of crowdfunding projects included high investors contribution, social media and entertainment projects, as well as, social media networks, project funding goal, project updates, project description and country selection of projects. Also, we found out that, project duration and visual description of projects such as images and videos do not contribute to the funding success of crowdfunding on kickstarter platform. / No

In order to slow down, if not stop, climate change, we all need to contribute to reducing our greenhouse gas emissions. This knowledge has been with us for a long time, but nevertheless emissions have not decreased, but rather increased. To understand the reason why we don't act in line with what we know, we need to study behaviors. In this paper we focus on behaviors at the individual level. The gap that exists between what we know and what we do has many names where it is studied from different perspectives, and to understand what creates this gap is very complex. There is therefore not just one answer to this question and many different complementary theories and models are needed. The majority of the studies carried out on the subject examine perceptionsof the gap among people without higher education in environmental science, which has contributed to knowledge being, in many cases,seen as one of the main contributing factors to inaction.In our study, we want to contribute with a perspective on the gapin people who already have a higher education in environmental science. We conducted a qualitative study with three focus group interviews with environmental science students at Linköping University. The results show that, despite higher education and knowledge, there are variousindividual, structural and responsibility factors thathinder individuals fromactingenvironmentally friendly. Throughout the analysis the situational aspect comes into play and that knowledge of the complexity of environmental and climate issues can in many cases contribute to inaction. / För att kunna bromsa, om inte stoppa, klimatförändringarna behöver vi alla bidra till att minska våra växthusgasutsläpp. Denna vetskap har funnits med oss länge, men trots det har inte utsläppen minskat utan snarare ökat. För att förstå orsaken till varför vi inte agerar i linje med vad vi vet behöver vi studera beteenden. I denna uppsats fokuserar vi på beteenden på individnivå. Det gap som finns mellan vad vi vet och vad vi gör har många namn (e.g. value-action gap, attitude-behavior gap) där man studerar det utifrån olika perspektiv. Att förstå vad som skapar detta gap är mycket komplext. Det finns därmed inte ett rätt svar på denna fråga utan det behövs många olika kompletterande teorier och modeller. Majoriteten av de studier som gjorts undersöker uppfattningar om gapet hos personer utan högre utbildning inom miljövetenskap. Vilket har bidragit till att bristande kunskap i många fall setts som en av de största bidragande faktorerna till overksamhet. Vi vill därmed i vår studie bidra med ett perspektiv på gapet utifrån personer som redan har en högre utbildning inom miljövetenskap, och kallar således gapet för knowledge-action gap. Vi genomförde en kvalitativ studie med tre fokusgruppsintervjuer med miljövetarstudenter från Linköpings universitet. Resultatet visar på att det, trots en högre utbildning och kunskap, finns många olika, individuella, strukturella och ansvarsrelaterade, faktorer som gör att en individ inte agerar miljövänligt. Genomgående i analysen för dessa är att den situationella aspekten spelar in samt att kunskapen om miljö-och klimatfrågans komplexitet i många fall kan bidra till overksamhet.

Vid inhandling av livsmedel är det lätt att frångå vetskapen om hur en produkt gått från jord till butikshylla. Genom att undersöka geografiska hållbarhetsfaktorer av ett antal livsmedelsprodukter och därefter genomföra ett butiksexperiment har denna studie undersökt i vilken grad ytterligare information angående hållbarhetsfaktorer kan få konsumenter att handla mer hållbart. Kvantitativ experimentdata stöds av kvalitativa semi-strukturerade intervjuer med tio respondenter för att besvara studiens frågeställningar. Butiksexperimentet kunde inte påvisa signifikant skillnad i konsumenters inköpsbeteende då konsumenter hade tillgång till utökad information angående produkters hållbarhetsfaktorer. I kombination med intervjuerna visade resultaten på ett attityd-beteende-gap bland konsumenter då samtliga respondenter sade att de skulle bli påverkade i fall de hade mer information om en produkts hållbarhetsfaktorer. För att besvara frågor som den här studien lämnar öppna föreslås vidare liknande studier som pågår under längre tid och där informationen angående produktionsförhållanden presenteras på ett sätt som tydligare framställer ett fördelaktigt alternativ.