The present study aimed to investigate the influences of socio-cultural context on content of delusions within schizophrenic patients among three different geographical areas in Saudi Arabia and to estimate the prevalence of schizotypal personality within the non-clinical Saudi population. Methods: 148 patients meeting DSM-IV criteria of schizophrenia were drawn from in-patient sections of mental health hospitals in three areas of study (Riyadh, Jeddah, and the Eastern Province), and 364 participants were recruited for comparison groups from Saudi universities and general medical practices in the same areas. The study utilized the following instruments: Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms (SAPS), Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS), the MacArthur-Maudsley Delusions Assessment Schedule (MMDAS), the World Health Organization (WHO) Life Events Schedule, the Aetiological Beliefs Questionnaire (ABQ), and the Schizotypal-Personality Questionnaire (SPQ). Results: Firstly: there were significant main effects of residence and sex on the three dependent SPQ scales, and females and Riyadh area residents scored higher on all dependent SPQ scales especially on the cognitive scale. Secondly: persecutory delusions were the most common delusions among schizophrenic patients followed by delusions of being controlled, and the frequency of persecutory delusions was significantly higher in females and in the Riyadh area. Thirdly: only delusions of jealousy were specifically associated with violent behaviours among schizophrenic patients. Finally: ABQ showed that both supernatural and psychological explanations of illness were common among both control and clinical groups. Qualitative analysis of the content of delusions revealed socio-cultural and gender-related issues that were strongly reflected in the themes and content of delusions. Conclusion: Content analysis of delusions in a Saudi schizophrenic sample showed strong effects of the socio-cultural context and stress points such as racism and gender inequality, and gender and regional culture affected both the frequency with which persecutory delusions were observed, and the mean scores of schizotypal personality in a non-clinical sample.

This research project investigated girls' perceptions of specialist computer courses in secondary schools. Literature both international and in New Zealand indicate a dwindling number of females pursuing study and careers in ICT. This project identified some of the factors influencing girls' choices to take computer courses; their perceptions on computer careers and the implications for teachers and schools. The research was based on a collective case study with embedded cases. Data was collected from a survey using a mind map and questionnaire, as well as semi-structured face-to-face interviews. A descriptive narrative derived from the interviews with five of the participants is presented as well as cross case analysis for more than five participants. Overall the students' accounts revealed complex, inter-related and disparate data regarding their perceptions of computing. The data revealed confusion with language and terminology; a perception of variance in levels of knowledge and abilities in specific courses; stereotypical perceptions of computing; and differences in experience, relevance and choices within the computing context. The study highlights issues related to the association of computing with science and mathematics; girls' perceptions of the relevance and content of computer courses; genderrelated issues with computing; apparent lack of knowledge of computer careers and how schools label and describe their computer courses. It also puts forward some implications for schools and suggests some actions that schools could take as a starting point to try and break down some of the stereotypes and myths that seem to be discouraging girls into specialist computer courses.

Vaccination av typiska barnsjukdomar världen över, har som enskild innovation räddat miljoner människor de senaste 200 åren. Trots detta är anti-vaccin rörelsen ett växande fenomen. Syftet med föreliggande litteraturöversikt var att kartlägga faktorer som påverkar föräldrar i deras beslut om att vaccinera sina barn. 18 vetenskapliga artiklar analyserades och utgjorde grunden för resultatet. Med stöd av Rogers teori (1995) om spridning av innovationer kategoriserades resultatet i tre teman: Innovationens karaktär, Kommunikationskanalen och Det sociala systemet. Några av de vanligaste orsakerna till att föräldrar valde att vaccinera sina barn var att de följde normen och/eller kände en rädsla för de vaccinpreventivbara sjukdomarna. Framträdande faktorer till att föräldrar valde att avstå barnvaccination var rädsla för biverkningar och bestående men, samt att barnet ansågs för litet och hade ett alltför sårbart immunsystem. En informationsaspekt genomsyrade samtliga studier och det främsta problemet bedömdes vara bristfällig- och opålitlig information från myndigheter och vårdpersonal. Som sjuksköterska behöver man därför vara öppen för att ta del av de faktorer som ligger bakom föräldrars tankar om barnvaccinationer för att på så sätt kunna hjälpa dem ta adekvata beslut. / Vaccination of typical childhood diseases in the world has as an intervention itself saved millions of people the last 200 years. Despite this the anti-vaccine movement is a growing phenomenon. The aim of this review was to map out the different factors affecting parents in their decision-making regarding childhood vaccination. 18 peer reviewed articles were analyzed and constituted the basis for the result. From this three themes emerged, all of them with inspiration from Rogers (1995) Diffusion of Innovation theory. The themes are: The Innovation, Communication Channels and A Social System. Some of the reasons for why parent choose to vaccinate their children were following a tradition/norm and/or a fear of the vaccine preventable diseases. The most prominent factors to why parents chose to refrain from childhood vaccinations were a fear of side effects and permanent disability as well as the belief that an infant is too young and its immune system is too vulnerable. An information aspect permeated all studies and the primary problem seemed to be inadequate and unreliable information from authorities and health care providers. Therefore, as a nurse, there is a need to be open to take part of the factors behind parents’ childhood vaccination beliefs to be able to help them make an adequate decision.

abstract: Financing lease has bloomed as a new financing tool in China for the last several years. In this thesis I investigate the factors that influence China’s automobile financial leasing decisions by both lessors and lessees through market surveys. Based on Probit regression analysis of the data collected from 250 companies and 300 individuals, I find that a firm is more likely to use automobile financial leasing when its corporate tax rate is lower, growth potential is more stabilized, and profit is higher. It is also more likely to happen when a firm's long-term debt ratio and its degree of internationalization are higher. At the individual level, I find that the likelihood of individuals’ leasing decision is influenced by their risk preference, income level, and car price. Individuals’ gender, age and education level show no effect. Using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) analysis, I further find that financing costs, service value-added, and products diversity are the three most important competitive factors for the auto financial leasing service providers. This is the case for both the corporate and individual customers in the sample. By contrast, the factors of sales channel and government relationship are found to be much less important. Finally, through an in-depth case study of the leasing company Shanghai Auto Financial Leasing, I find that the key factors determining the customers’ credit default risk are interest rate and automobile type. I also investigate factors that influence business risk during the automobile procurement stage, at the selling stage, and toward the disposition stage. The managerial implications of the above results are discussed throughout the thesis. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Business Administration 2015

The objective of my study was to analyse the factors negatively influencing a somatic cell count (SCC) in raw cow´s milk. Milk samples were tested in three breeds with different technology of breeding and milking for a time period of three years. The SCC values were determined by Fluoro-opto-electronic method on a Fossomatic apparatus. Significant factor influencing SCC was quality practise hygiene of mammary gland. The lowest average values of SCC were determined in breed where was practise thoroughly hygiene of mammary gland (avarage SCC in year 2006 was 223,3.103 SB.ml-1). Next factors negatively influencing SCC were age of cows, annual period, quality of feed and frequency exchanges a udder sleeve. Influence a technology of breeding, milking and size breed on somatic cell count in milk was not extended.

Den föreliggande systematiska litteraturstudien behandlar matematiskt begåvade elevers skolsituation i grundskolan. Studien syftar till att undersöka hur matematiskt begåvade elever egentligen undervisas och vilket reellt stöd de får i sin akademiska progression. Matematiskt begåvade elever undervisas vanligtvis genom inkluderande eller exkluderande undervisning. De olika undervisningspraktikerna har olika fördelar och nackdelar och påverkar både begåvade elever och normalbegåvade elevers akademiska progression och personliga utveckling, men på olika sätt. / The systematic literature study processes mathematically talented students' school situation in elementary school. The study aims to investigate how mathematically talented students are actually taught and what real support they receive in their academic progression. Mathematically talented students are usually taught through inclusive or exclusive teaching. The different teaching practices results in different advantages and disadvantages and affect both talented students and the normal progressive students' academic progression and personal development, but in different ways.

Enterprise system (ES) is being considered an important phenomenon in the corporate use of information technology, enhancing organizational cross functional efficiency and effectiveness through the integration of all the information flowing through a company. The implementation and use of this system involve high expenditure and risk and it has a great impact in every aspect of an adopting organization. The wrong selection of this system would have an adverse effect on the company performance. So the selection of this system deserves considerable attention from the practitioner and researcher. In this study, our objective is to identify the influencing factors on the ES selection process from the existing theory and investigate them in real life situation from the client and vendor’s perspectives. To fulfil the first objective of the study, we have made a comprehensive review on ES literature and synthesized an integrated framework of influencing factors on the ES selection process. To fulfil the other objective, we have made a qualitative empirical study through multiple case study approach. To collect necessary in-depth information, we have used purposive sampling and general interview guide approach. The integrated framework has guided us in empirical study and the cross case analysis of empirical data has been performed on the basis of this framework from the view point of client and vendor. The result of this study shows that there exists a good fit between client and vendor views about the influencing factors on the ES selection process, in spite of insignificant imbalance between them. The result also reveals that most of the influencing factors of integrated framework have been recognized both by client and vendor with some diversity. Three new influencing factors: geographical proximity, requirement specification and sales skill of vendor have emerged from the study.

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Syftet med studien är att genom tidigare forskning undersöka hur elever med begåvning för matematik kan stödjas genom utformning av undervisningen. Inom denna forskningsöversikt studeras området undervisningspraktikens utformning för matematiskt begåvade elever. Att begåvade elever inom ämnet matematik behöver stöd och hjälp för att utvecklas råder det ingen tvekan om. Däremot existerar det olika åsikter för hur undervisningen skall bedrivas för att gynna de begåvade eleverna. Studiens metod är litteraturstudier, följd av textanalys där objektiva värden prioriterats. Utifrån den systematiska litteraturstudiens resultat presenteras två huvudkategorier för elevutveckling, nämligen undervisningsmetodik och påverkansfaktorer. Forskningsöversikten beskriver vidare nödvändigheten av att de båda huvudkategorierna samspelar i undervisningen av matematiskt begåvade elever. Det konstateras mestadels positiva resultat i utvecklingen av matematiskt begåvade elever, med några negativa invändningar vilket poängterar vikten av vidare forskning inom området begåvning och begåvningsutveckling. Slutsatsen är att undervisningspraktiken med fördel kan utformas med stöd av undervisningsmetodik och påverkansfaktorer. / The purpose of the study is through previous research examining how gifted students in mathematics can be supported through the development of teaching. In this research review, the areas of teaching practice design for mathematically gifted students are examined. There is no doubt that gifted students in mathematics need help and support to develop. However, there exist different views of how teaching should be conducted for the benefit of the gifted students. The study's methodology is a literature review, combined with text analysis in which objective values are prioritized. Through a systematic literature review, study results presented two main categories of student development, teaching practice and influencing factors. The research review describes the necessity of the two main categories interacting in teaching of mathematically gifted students. It is found mostly positive results in the development of mathematically gifted students, with a few negative objections, which emphasizes the importance of further research in the area of giftedness and their development. The conclusion is that teaching practice can advantageously be designed with the support of teaching practice and influencing factors.

This study focuses on exploring the relative importance of six influential factors in cruise customers’ decision-making process such as: cruise vacation price, cruise duration, distance from the cruise port, itineraries, environmental friendliness of cruise line and cruise online reviews. The decision on which influencing factors to select was made based on the review of literature. The complexity of cruise customers’ decision-making process for these six attributes with several levels was examined with Choice-Based Conjoint (CBC) Analysis. CBC was selected due to its realistic approach to purchase decisions, in the form of trade-offs. The online survey collected data anonymously. The survey was distributed through Amazon Mechanical Turk (Mturk) platform. Only 450 cruise customers, who had experienced a cruise vacation before were eligible to participate in the study. The purpose of the study was to discover the relative importance of the influencing factors to gain more insights about cruise customers. The findings of the study showed that online reviews were the most influential attribute for cruise customers in their cruise decision, followed very closely by the environmental friendliness of the cruise line. The next influential factor was the duration of the cruise vacation which was followed by distance from the cruise port, cruise itinerary and cruise vacation price. The best and the worst cruise vacation profile were generated from CBC analysis. The findings of this study provide some insights with regard to cruise customers’ importance about influencing factors when deciding on a cruise vacation.