Over the past several decades, the senior age group has become the fastest growing segment of the population in the United States (Warner, 2011). This study seeks to contribute to the ongoing discussion of the impacts that the increases in senior travel will have on the future transportation systems and planning efforts. The main objective of this research is to conduct an explorative analysis of the changes in senior travel behavior over the past two decades and discuss the implications of these changes to transportation planning in the future. This thesis seeks to further understanding of this topic by providing a detailed analysis and consideration of relevant contexts through a review of previous studies and the author's background in the field of transportation. Results indicate significant changes in travel behaviors and make-up of the senior population. Over the three (1990, 2001, and 2009) survey periods, senior travel changed as a result of increased activity and a need to maintain their typical way of life well into older age. As the baby boom generation continues to out travel each previous generation, there is no evidence to assume that as they reach retirement age that trend will end. Seniors today are remaining active and working well into their older age and the age group has continued to increasingly contribute to total travel. These increases will be echoed by the baby boom generation and must be considered by traffic forecasters, researcher and policy makers in the future.

This study looked at the efficacy of using woodland caribou fecal pellets as a source of DNA to identify sampled animals and estimate population demographics. Fecal pellet samples were collected using systematic surveys of woodland caribou ranges in Jasper National Park, Alberta and the North Interlake region, Manitoba. Collection of pellet samples took place when snow was present to allow for tracking and location of caribou cratering areas and to obtain good quality DNA. DNA was amplified at ten polymorphic loci and one sex-specific primer. To estimate population size (N ̂) and population growth rate (λ), mark-recapture models were used. Model assumptions were evaluated and tested by stratifying available samples based on herd and gender information. In using the Mh (jackknife) model, the population sizes for south Jasper National Park were estimated at 125 animals in 2006-2007 (95% CI: 114, 143), 91 animals in 2007-2008 (95% CI: 83, 105) and 134 animals in 2008-2009 (95% CI: 123, 152); comparable to the mark-resight population estimates calculated over the same sampling periods. Genetic diversity indices for the different herds in Jasper National Park presented a lower genetic diversity for the smaller Maligne and Brazeau herds when compared to the larger Tonquin and A La Peche herds. Use of population assignment tests on samples collected in Jasper National Park indicated considerable admixture between the different herds despite earlier telemetry work demonstrating strong herd fidelity. The North Interlake population was estimated at 134 animals (95% CI: 122,151) in 2006-2007 and 106 animals (95% CI: 97, 121) in 2007-2008. Using data collected between 2005 and 2008, population growth rate for North Interlake was estimated at 0.83 (90% confidence interval: 0.65, 1.02). As a λ below 1 indicates a declining population, continue monitoring of the North Interlake herd is highly recommended. This studied clearly showed that the sampling of fecal DNA is a reliable and noninvasive alternative to monitoring woodland caribou population sizes and trends in the boreal and mountain regions.

Praėjęs dešimtmetis Lietuvai atnešė negatyvų demografinį rekordą. Pirmą kartą Lietuvos istorijoje taikiu periodu ir nesikeičiant šalies teritorijai nuo 1992 m. pradėjo mažėti gyventojų. Daug emigravo ir emigruoja. Aukštos kvalifikacijos darbuotojų emigracija. Savižudžių gausėjimas pirmauja Europoje. Mirtingumas ženkliai viršijo gimstamumą. Juk panaši situacija būdavo tik per karus, badmečius, kai dėl išorinių veiksnių labai padidėdavo gyventojų mirtingumas. O kur dar nesantuokinių vaikų gimimas, jau vejasi santuokoje gimusių vaikų skaičių. Šeima vienas iš institutų, kuris įskiepija, ugdo meilę tėvynei, tautinį tapatumą ir tautiškumą. Tad ar pavyks išsaugoti mūsų tautines vertybes, lietuviškumą, etninę kultūrą, tautinę savimonę kintančio pasaulio kontekste? Todėl kyla klausimas, koks gi jaunimo požiūris į tautiškumą kaip vertybę ar ji įtakoja jų elgseną bei savimonę. Darbo tikslas – ištirti, koks jaunimo požiūris į tautiškumą kaip vertybę, kokie veiksniai turi įtakos šio požiūrio formavimuisi. Tyrimo dalykas - jaunimo požiūris į tautiškumą kaip vertybę. Tyrimo objektas - Druskininkų miesto jaunimas. Uždaviniai: Apibendrinti vertybės sampratos teorinius aspektus; Apžvelgti tautiškumo aiškinimą įvairių sociologijos autorių darbuose; Išanalizuoti globalizacijos iššūkius tautiškumui; Remiantis atlikto tyrimo duomenimis, nustatyti, kaip reiškiasi tautiškumo ir jo išsaugojimo būdai. Tyrimo hipotezės: Tautiškumas, šiuolaikiniam jaunimui, nėra prioritetinė vertybė (pasitvirtino)... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The work was made by Irma Kruckaite, Political sociology master’s degree student of VPU Social sciences faculty Sociology and political sciences department. The subject of the work is young attitude towards national identity as a value and its conservation opportunities of globalization (Druskininkai town case). The director of the work is Dr. V. Senkus. The work size is 60 pages. The aim of work: explore what young people view about nationalism like value, what are the main factors affecting the formation of such an approach. For this purpose there were tasks raised: • Summarize the theoretical aspects of the concept of values. • An overview of the various sociological authors’ interpretations about nationality. • To analyze the challenges of globalization for nationality. • Based on research results to establish how nationality is expressed and its preservation ways. Hypotheses of the research: 1. Nationality for young people today, is not a priority value – was proved. Young people understand what is nationality, but the general answer is perception that young people represent not emigration if feel safe in Lithuania. Young people need motivation, that nationality wasn’t a burden but an asset to be transferred to their future generations. Nationality invaded the consciousness of people, the recovery of Lithuania's independence in 1990. But now it has spread dangerously overshadow people’s material poverty, social vulnerability. Young people are a passive observer; they... [to full text]

This study examines the determinants of a household’s threshold price for a restaurant meal cost increase; the level of cost increase that would cause households to either eat in restaurants less frequently or change what they would typically purchase. The design of the study is formulated using a Tobit model to examine the threshold price by differing social, economic and demographic characteristics of households in Kentucky as well as their preferences for restaurant-specific characteristics. The empirical estimates suggest that households that frequently have dinner at restaurants, households with higher incomes and households that strongly prefer full-service restaurants have a positive threshold price-range; which suggests that such households are more willing to pay an additional cost increase in restaurant meals. Conversely, households that always notice taxes before paying their checks, households close to retirement-age, and households that do not strongly prefer local-food restaurants have negative threshold price-range and are consequently less willing to pay an additional cost increase in restaurant meals.

The present study addresses the perceived gap in literature on contribution of managerial demographics to the innovation performance of manufacturing firms of 12 European countries so as to highlight the distinctive role of managers in a broader context. The managerial demographics is conceptualised as the managerial knowledge(education and experience), gender role (number of female managers), leadership role (top manager's years of experience) and, management ratio. The effect of managerial demographics is examined on two dimensions of innovation performance: first, the propensity of firms to perform innovation and, second, the innovation intensity of firms. We report that the role of female managers in innovation is more significant, than that otherwise emphasised in innovation literature, as evident in case of countries under study. And, the number of female managers have a positive impact on the innovation performance of manufacturing firms. Moreover, the results show that managerial experience also have a non-linear effect on the innovation performance of manufacturing firms. Finally, the implications of the findings are discussed in-detail.

This study looked at the efficacy of using woodland caribou fecal pellets as a source of DNA to identify sampled animals and estimate population demographics. Fecal pellet samples were collected using systematic surveys of woodland caribou ranges in Jasper National Park, Alberta and the North Interlake region, Manitoba. Collection of pellet samples took place when snow was present to allow for tracking and location of caribou cratering areas and to obtain good quality DNA. DNA was amplified at ten polymorphic loci and one sex-specific primer. To estimate population size (N ̂) and population growth rate (λ), mark-recapture models were used. Model assumptions were evaluated and tested by stratifying available samples based on herd and gender information. In using the Mh (jackknife) model, the population sizes for south Jasper National Park were estimated at 125 animals in 2006-2007 (95% CI: 114, 143), 91 animals in 2007-2008 (95% CI: 83, 105) and 134 animals in 2008-2009 (95% CI: 123, 152); comparable to the mark-resight population estimates calculated over the same sampling periods. Genetic diversity indices for the different herds in Jasper National Park presented a lower genetic diversity for the smaller Maligne and Brazeau herds when compared to the larger Tonquin and A La Peche herds. Use of population assignment tests on samples collected in Jasper National Park indicated considerable admixture between the different herds despite earlier telemetry work demonstrating strong herd fidelity. The North Interlake population was estimated at 134 animals (95% CI: 122,151) in 2006-2007 and 106 animals (95% CI: 97, 121) in 2007-2008. Using data collected between 2005 and 2008, population growth rate for North Interlake was estimated at 0.83 (90% confidence interval: 0.65, 1.02). As a λ below 1 indicates a declining population, continue monitoring of the North Interlake herd is highly recommended. This studied clearly showed that the sampling of fecal DNA is a reliable and noninvasive alternative to monitoring woodland caribou population sizes and trends in the boreal and mountain regions.

The images of tourist destinations significantly influence travel choices. Accordingly, destination marketers make great efforts to inform their potential consumers about their destinations using deliberately designed projected images. This research focuses on a Chinese tourism destination, Qingdao, exploring the relationships between the images projected by Qingdao government agencies and those perceived by current visitors and by residents. It also examines the factors that influence the image formation of visitors and residents. Three sources of information are used in this research: promotional materials issued by the Qingdao municipal government and the Qingdao Tourism Administration, key informant interview transcripts and a questionnaires survey. The promotional materials were collected from the aforementioned agencies in May 2009. Key informant interviews were conducted in April and May 2009. Self-administered surveys of 578 visitors and 337 residents of Qingdao were administered throughout May and June 2009. The image construct was conceptualized as having three dimensions: cognitive, affective and overall images. The cognitive image attributes included seafood, scenery, beaches, local people, green space, special events, ethnic attractions, weather, squares, architecture, relaxing atmosphere, resorts, hygiene and cleanliness, cultural attractions, golf course, highway system, accommodation, public transport, shopping, fashion shows, value for money, transportation cost, nightlife, football games, airline schedules, and traffic congestion. The affective image attributes included arousing-sleepy, exciting-gloomy, pleasant-unpleasant, and relaxing-distressful. Qualitative evaluation suggested greater congruence between the images projected by Qingdao government agencies and those perceived by visitors than quantitative correlation analysis. The projected images of Qingdao and images perceived by visitors were consistent in their emphases on certain image themes. However, the correlations between these two types of images suggested that the extent to which these image themes were emphasized differed. Similar results were found in the comparison between the images projected by Qingdao and those perceived by residents. Furthermore, most visitors and residents held positive images of Qingdao. Both similarities and differences were discovered in the cognitive, affective and overall images perceived by visitors and residents. Residents were generally more positive than visitors in their cognitive and affective images. It was found that sex, education, place of residence, and previous travel experience only significantly affected visitors’ images of one or two attributes, while age, occupation, primary motivation, most important information source used and number of sources used significantly influenced visitors’ images of between 5 and 8 attributes. Additionally, place attachment and importance of the 2008 Olympic Games were significantly positively correlated with most of the image attributes examined in this study, while importance of German Heritage and Qingdao International Beer Festival were significantly positively correlated with fewer attributes (8 and 6 attributes, respectively). With regard to the factors influencing resident images, it was discovered that sex, education, age, occupation, length of residence, most important source used and number of sources used significantly affected residents’ images to different degrees, ranging from 7 to 18 attributes. Furthermore, place attachment and the importance of German heritage, the 2008 Olympic Games and Qingdao International Beer Festival were significantly positively correlated with the majority of the image attributes examined in this research. This study is one of very few that compares projected and perceived images although methodological challenges for undertaking such research remain. It is also innovative in that it encompasses both tourists’ and residents’ images. Very few such studies have been undertaken in China which has a massive domestic tourism industry and is a major player in international tourism.

ABSTRACT Beginning in 1946 fertility in Canada and other Western countries increased to rates unequaled throughout the rest of the 20th century. Sixty five years since the beginning of the baby boom, as this generation was labelled, workers are retiring or nearing retirement on scale not previously witnessed. This workforce exodus has signalled concern among scholarly, professionals and government sources alike. The public sector has been identified as particularly at risk with both and older average worker age and a low average retirement age. Within the public sector, jobs relating to the Canadian water workforce have similarly been identified for retirement concerns, specifically among senior positions. Retirements have highlighted aspects of concern for the future: knowledge leaving the workplace, and recruiting talent for the future. Among primary concerns is for knowledge that has no place in traditional documentation methods, tacit knowledge. Although transferring this knowledge presents difficulties, strategies include retaining knowledgeable employees and creating programs that facilitate knowledge exchange. Mentorship programs are one such strategy identified specifically for tacit knowledge transfer. This thesis considers how retirements would affect the water workforce including positions centred on conservation and policy efforts, as well as the water utilities industry. Although a few studies have focused on water utilities, this area of the public workforce had largely been ignored. Conducting fourteen interviews within three case study municipalities, primary data was gathered to determine how the water workforce would be affected by retirements, if retirements created concerns with respect to inter-organizational networks, and what strategies would be most suited to the needs of participating organizations.

Purpose – In the context of digitalization in healthcare and Swedish demographical development, the importance of meta-organizational decision-making can be discussed. This paper studies the decision-making processes in a national meta-organization which members face the current challenges of Swedish public healthcare. Therefore, this paper aims to contribute to meta-organizational decision-making. Design/methodology/approach – This paper has a qualitative approach and is based in abductive reasoning towards theory and research. Data has been collected from interviews, podcasts and documents that describe the decision-making process in the meta-organization. Findings – Our empirical findings show that the decision-making process of the metaorganization is complex, time-consuming and aims to provide consensus before its members' decisions. To reach consensus, the meta-organization uses various coordination and collaboration activities and groupings such as networks, workshops, expert panels, and conferences. Practical implications – Both informal and formal activities and groupings are considered important in reaching consensus. Furthermore, both formal and informal groupings help to overcome interest-conflicts such as differing priorities. It is also important the metaorganization provide an arena where all members feel that the can contribute and influence the decision-making process, regardless of size or resources. Originality/value – Because of dichotomic views on the importance of consensus in decision-making in meta-organization, and from calls for future research, this study can be argued to be of interest. Furthermore, digitalization and demographical development suggest that the healthcare sector is in current and significant change. Keywords – decision-making, meta-organizations, digitalization, demographics, healthcare, coordination, interest-conflict, consensus Paper type – Research paper, master's thesis

Purpose: We aim to characterize a large cohort of CVS patients seen at MGH in order to better understand this disorder. In addition, as CVS patients are known to have a higher cannabis use than those with other functional disorders, characteristics specific to CVS marijuana user patients have yet to be determined. Therefore, we aim to determine the variables that are patient specific predictors of cannabis use in CVS. Methods: All patients with a CVS diagnosis were seen at our facility as inpatient, outpatient or in the emergency department and medical record numbers were identified via Research Patient Data Registry (RPDR) query search tool. From the medical records, we verified a diagnosis of CVS based on Rome III criteria and collected information on demographics, co-morbidities, health care utilization and substance abuse history over a 16 year time period (1997-2013). We then proposed patient specific predictor variables of marijuana use based on our experience with CVS patients and incorporated these variables into a model for predicting marijuana use. We used this model to examine the effect of patient characteristics on marijuana use via logistic regression with estimation of odds ratio and 95% confidence ratio. Results: A total of 91 CVS patients were obtained, 67% of which were male with a mean age of 28 years old, average age of first attack of 20.2 years and employment or full time student status in 62% of patients. Psychiatric conditions were present in 73% of individuals with anxiety present in 50% and depression in 47%. The presence of a chronic pain syndrome was found in 40%. Marijuana use was present in 76% of our cohort, daily alcohol use 53%, and narcotic use 27%. Men with CVS were at significantly greater risk for marijuana use compared to women (OR .23, 95% CI .07-.77) as well as daily alcohol use (OR 5.26, 95% CI 1.469-18.828). Individuals with a chronic pain syndrome were at significantly lower risk for cannabis use (OR .15, 95% CI .039-.575) and psychiatric illness, age and narcotic use were found not to be associated with marijuana use. On average, individuals presented to the ED 1.6 times/year with one patient having a high of 208 ED visits/year. Of those that presented more than once during the time period in study there was a median interval between visits of 103.6 days. Conclusion: We found that CVS patients had significant psychiatric co-morbidities, chronic pain syndromes, and history of substance abuse. We found male gender and alcohol use to be two variables that were predictors of marijuana use in the CVS population while the presence of a chronic pain syndrome decreased the likelihood of marijuana use. The significant employment rate and full time student status of our cohort suggests a higher degree of functionality. Further prospective studies are needed to determine the role of marijuana use in the CVS population in terms of quality of life, health care utilization, and severity of disease.