INTRODUCTION: There currently exists a wide variation in anesthesia perioperative management for pediatric patients undergoing laparoscopic appendectomy. The purpose of this retrospective chart review is to compare outcome indicators by using patient demographics. This study aims to establish evidence based guidelines for safe, efficient and effective anesthetic management for patients undergoing laparoscopic appendectomies by analyzing selected outcome indicators and metrics in relation to Surgical-End-to-Transport (SET) time: defined as the time from the end of surgical time until the patient is ready to exit the operating room. METHODS: After institutional review board approval, all laparoscopic appendectomies performed from 2012 through 2014 (n=790) were queried. Using the median SET time of 14 minutes, two groups were established as follows: Group A (n=431), SET time between 0 and 14 minutes, and Group B (n=338), SET time of 14 minutes and longer. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to compare readmissions by American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) status and reports of high pain with PACU (Post-Anesthesia Care Unit) duration, gender, age, and surgical duration using IBM SPSS Statistics (version 21.0, IBM, Armonk, NY). RESULTS: To limit confounding variables, patients over the age of 21 and those assigned an ASA Physical Status Classification 3 or 4 were excluded. Remaining cases (n=769) were then used to calculate readmission incidence. The median SET time for the study population was 14 minutes, while the median surgical and PACU durations were 58 minutes and 59 minutes, respectively. The readmission incidence rate was 300 per 10,000 (n=23, 3%). The study population consisted of 56% males and 44% females. Females had a higher incidence of readmission (n=13, 3.8%) than males (n=10, 2.3%), while males had longer SET times than females (Group A Males 52.33% vs. Group B Males 60.30%, p=0.0276). There was no difference in readmission incidence rates between ASA I (n=473) and ASA II (n=296) patients (ASA I readmits 3.2 % vs. ASA II readmits 2.7%, p=.711). Patients who reported high postoperative pain (n=75) were more than twice as likely to be readmitted than patients who did not report high pain (p=.071). Ethnicity frequencies were collected as follows: 60.3% White, 6.8% Black or African American, 3.6% Asian, and 29.1% Other. DISCUSSION: Males had significantly longer durations in SET times, and they experienced fewer readmissions than females. There were no significant findings related to the ethnic demographics. Further analysis identifying intraoperative and postoperative anesthesia management for both groups will be performed. This study was subject to the following limitations: retrospective design, incomplete data acquisition, and inconsistent EMR documentation. The correlations and results are preliminary in nature and will serve as a framework for future analyses.

Samples of stores were drawn from two chains, Pizza Hut and Zale Corporation. Two different samples were taken from Pizza Hut. Site specific material and sales data were furnished by the companies and demographic material relative to each site was gathered. Analysis of variance tests for linearity were run on the three regression equations developed from the data and each of the three regressions equations were found to have a statistically significant linear relationship. Statistically significant differences were found among similar variables used in the prediction of sales by using Fisher's Z' Transformations on the correlation coefficients. Eight of the eighteen variables used in the Pizza Hut study were found to be statistically different between the two regions used in the study. Additionally, analysis of variance tests were used to show that traffic pattern variables were not better predictors than demographic variables.

Submitted by Karen Britto (karenbritto@unipampa.edu.br) on 2018-11-20T14:17:03Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Carlos Hernan Rodas Cespedes - 2018.pdf: 1202988 bytes, checksum: a5116bad9be9f8dbe7e9d486c0098d29 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-11-20T14:17:03Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Carlos Hernan Rodas Cespedes - 2018.pdf: 1202988 bytes, checksum: a5116bad9be9f8dbe7e9d486c0098d29 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-02-22 / Este estudo investiga a demografia de empresas do Rio Grande do Sul no período de 2006 a 2013. Primeiro é quantificado o nascimento, a mortalidade e a rotatividade de empresas, além da sobrevivência delas ao longo do tempo. Depois, esses eventos demográficos são analisados segundo o tamanho, o setor e a localização geográfica das empresas. Para tanto, utiliza-se uma base de dados identificada, que possibilita o acompanhamento longitudinal de todas as empresas formais existentes no Rio Grande do Sul ao longo do período em estudo. / This study investigates the demographics of companies at Rio Grande do Sul State from 2006 to 2013. First, the birth, mortality and turnover of companies are quantified, as well as their survival over time. Then, these demographic events are analyzed by size, economic activity, and geographic location. For this purpose, an identified database is used, which allows the longitudinal monitoring of all formal companies existing in Rio Grande do Sul over the period under study.

Consumers make trade-offs in their purchase decision making between extending market knowledge from exploring a product market and maximizing purchase value based on exploiting their current knowledge. The value of these strategies can be enhanced opportunistically by taking advantage of promotions. In this research, a new and unique datamining model was developed to process store scanner data for quantifying the brand selection behaviour of an individual consumer in reaction to promotions. Selected consumers in each of Pittsfield’s salty snack, yogurt, and toilet tissue markets were then segmented into four behavioural segments using clustering analysis based on their Prevalence of Promotion and their Value of Information from Purchases. The behavioural segmentation was valid, as the four generated behavioural segments in each product market could be differentiated by using demographic variables. In a product market, the demographic profiles of behavioural segments can be generated andused for improving the performance in targeting consumers. The generated demographic profiles of a behavioural segment explain how consumers in the segment react to promotions,which can be used for predicting how consumers will react in the future. Complementing demographic profiles, dynamic behavioural evolvements in consumer purchase lifecycles can also help to predict the purchase behaviours of consumers in the future from the purchases that the consumers have made. The evolvements enable people to understand how consumers with a given amount of market experiences make their purchase decisions via making trade-offs between market knowledge extension and immediate purchase value maximization. Product markets differ in their available number of brands for selection. The findings generated in a product market, however, cannot be generalized to a different product market. Consumers have different demographic-related purchase behaviours across frequently purchased consumer goods markets. Based on the findings in the research, the dissertation discusses and provides suggestions forretail businesses to improve their performances for achieving a competitive edge.

Submitted by Carlos Augusto Rolim da Silva Junior (carlos_jrolim@hotmail.com) on 2016-02-17T17:38:40Z No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 1255636 bytes, checksum: db1ad020aa90913b44b90e0e13250b01 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-02-17T17:38:40Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 1255636 bytes, checksum: db1ad020aa90913b44b90e0e13250b01 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-12-04 / The dimensions in which species share resources can be classified into three general axis: food, habitat and time. The degree of sharing can be set indirectly throughout morphological differences, foraging mode and the use of space by sympatric species. This study presented two chapters, the first of which is entitled “Niche partitioning between the sympatric lizards Phyllopezus periosus and Phyllopezus pollicaris (Sauria: Phyllodactylidae) in a Caatinga area in northeastern Brazil”. We presented data on habitat use, perch height, period of activity, diet and morphology for both species. The second chapter was to focus on the “Demographic aspects of sympatric lizards Phyllopezus periosus and Phyllopezus pollicaris (Sauria: Phyllodactylidae) in a Caatinga area in northeastern Brazil”. In this chapter, we estimated the probability of survival (apparent survival), recapture probability and population density of P. periosus and P. pollicaris. Data collection was conducted in a Caatinga area (divided into sub-areas I, II and III) in the Salgadinho municipality, Paraíba State, from April 2012 to March 2013. The search for lizards occurred between 18:00 and 5:00 am of the following day. For each individual observed and/or captured, we recorded the following information: date and time of observation, microhabitat use, time, morphometric measurements, and gender. The marking of lizards was performed using Visible Implant Fluorescent Elastomer (polymer thick liquid that once applied subcutaneously, solidifies, however, remained flexible and visible). The analysis of apparent survival and recapture probability were performed using the model Cormack-Jolly Sebber (CJS), in the software MARK 6.2. Estimates of population density were calculated by the sums the individuals sighted, divided by the area (sub-area I) used in the study. Both species occupied predominantly saxicolous microhabitats, being observed a high overlap in the use of different microhabitats. The perch height preferentially used by P. periosus and P. pollicaris was 0 and 60 cm. However, P. periosus occupied higher perches (421 to 540 cm). The first individuals of both species were sighted from 18:02 until 04:29 hours of the the following morning. The two species showed no significant differences in the activity period. The more consumed prey by P. periosus were Coleoptera, Formicidae and Hemiptera, while the most consumed items for P. pollicaris were Coleoptera, Isoptera and Araneae. Phyllopezus pollicaris presented both the trophic niche breadth based on prey number and volume higher compared to P. periosus. However, the two species showed high overlap in their diets. We not observed differences in the volume of consumed prey. Both differed in body size and body mass, but adults of P. periosus and P. pollicaris showed no intraspecific differences in body size and body mass in relation to sex. Phyllopezus periosus presented a recapture rate of 30%, while P. pollicaris showed an average rate of 19%. Only Phyllopezus pollicaris showed variation in recapture rate over time, that it was negatively correlated with average rainfall of each month. The estimated survival in both species was constant over time. Phyllopezus periosus and P. pollicaris survival estimates showed 66% and 94%, respectively. P. pollicaris presented population density greater than P. periosus throughout the study. The highest densities observed for P. periosus were in July and November 2012, as for P. pollicaris were in the months of May and November of the same year. Both species showed variations in their population abundances depending on the sub-sampled area. While P. pollicaris was more abundant in sub-area I, P. periosus was more abundant in the sub-area III. Variations in population abundances between these two species may contribute to the coexistence of the two species in the area. / As dimensões em que as espécies animais partilham recursos podem ser classificadas em três grupos gerais: tipo de alimento, habitat e tempo. A forma mais comum de segregação é por habitat, seguido por tipo de alimento e, por fim, divisão temporal. O grau de partilha de recursos pode ser definido indiretamente através das diferenças morfológicas, do tipo de forrageamento e da utilização dos recursos espaciais por espécies simpátricas. O presente estudo foi desenvolvido em dois capítulos, o primeiro deles é intitulado de “Partição de nicho entre os lagartos Phyllopezus periosus e Phyllopezus pollicaris (Sauria: Phyllodactylidae) em simpatria em uma área de Caatinga no Nordeste do Brasil”. Foram abordados dados sobre uso do habitat, altura de empoleiramento, período de atividade, dieta e morfometria em ambas as espécies de lagartos. No segundo capítulo, intitulado de “Aspectos demográficos dos lagartos Phyllopezus periosus e Phyllopezus pollicaris (Sauria: Phyllodactylidae) em simpatria em área de Caatinga no Nordeste do Brasil”, foi estimada a probabilidade de sobrevivência (sobrevivência aparente), probabilidade de recaptura e densidade populacional de P. periosus e P. pollicaris. A coleta de dados foi realizada em uma área (dividida nas sub-áreas I, II e III) de caatinga no município de Salgadinho – PB, durante os meses de abril de 2012 a março de 2013. A busca pelos lagartos ocorreu entre 18:00 e 05:00 horas do dia seguinte. Para cada indivíduo observado e/ou capturado, eram registradas as seguintes informações: data e horário da observação, categoria de microhábitat utilizado, altura do empoleiramento, medidas morfométricas, sexo e número de marcação. A marcação dos lagartos foi realizada através do Implante Visível de Elastômero Fluorescente (polímero líquido pastoso - que depois de aplicado subcutaneamente solidifica-se, porém, se mantendo flexível e visível). As análises de sobrevivência aparente e probabilidade de recaptura foram realizadas através do modelo Cormack-Jolly Sebber (CJS), no software MARK 6.2. As estimativas de densidade populacional foram calculadas através da soma dos indivíduos avistados, divididos pela área (sub-área I) utilizada no estudo. Ambas as espécies ocuparam predominantemente microhábitats saxícolas, sendo constatada uma alta sobreposição quanto ao uso dos diferentes microhábitats. A altura de empoleiramento utilizada preferencialmente por P. periosus e P. pollicaris foi de 0 e 60 cm, entretanto, P. periosus ocupou poleiros mais altos (421 até 540 cm de altura), o que não foi observado em P. pollicaris. Os primeiros indivíduos de ambas as espécies foram avistados a partir das 18:02 até as 04:29 horas da manhã do dia seguinte e as duas espécies de lagartos não apresentaram diferenças significativas quanto ao período de atividade. As presas mais consumidas por P. periosus foram Coleoptera, Formicidae e Hemiptera, já para P. pollicaris os itens mais consumidos foram Coleoptera, Isoptera e Aranae. P. pollicaris apresentou ambas as larguras de nicho trófico (número e volume) bem superiores quando comparado com P. periosus. No entanto, as duas espécies apresentaram alta sobreposição em suas dietas. Não foi constatado diferenças quanto ao volume das presas consumidas. As duas espécies diferiram em relação ao tamanho do corpo e massa corpórea. Mas, indivíduos adultos de P. periosus e P. pollicaris não apresentaram diferenças intraespecíficas do tamanho do corpo e massa corpórea em relação ao sexo. P. periosus apresentou uma taxa de recaptura de 30%, enquanto que seu congênere apresentou uma taxa média de 19%. Apenas a espécie P. pollicaris apresentou variação na taxa de recaptura ao longo do tempo, que se mostrou negativamente correlacionada com a precipitação média de cada mês. A estimativa de sobrevivência em ambas as espécies foi constante ao longo do tempo. P. periosus e P. pollicaris apresentaram estimativas de sobrevivência de 66% e 94%, respectivamente. P. pollicaris apresentou densidade populacional maior que P. periosus durante todo o estudo. A maior densidade observada para P. periosus foi no mês de julho de 2012, já para P. pollicaris foi no mês de novembro do mesmo ano. Ambas as espécies apresentaram variações em suas abundâncias populacionais dependendo da sub-área amostrada. Enquanto P. pollicaris foi mais abundante na sub-área I, P. periosus mostrou-se mais abundante que seu congênere na sub-área III. Variações nas abundâncias populacionais entre essas duas espécies, provavelmente seja um fator que possa vir a contribuir para coexistência das duas espécies na área de estudo.

There is a good deal of data to suggest that the corregimiento of Conchucos was a significant textile production center. The systematization of this data has allowed us to map out the geography of the textile economy in the area, highlighting those zones where the work was carried out. On the other hand, although the lack of series for the textile production of Conchucos precludes a study of this sector that is comparable with that of Huamanga or Cusco, the available demographic information for the corregimiento allows the long-term evolution of its textile economy to be traced through to the eventual division into provinces during the Republican era. This analysis allows the ethnic and gender distribution of work in the textile sector to be discerned, while elucidating some of the elements of economic change that affected this territory. / Existe una gran cantidad de datos que sugieren que el corregimiento de Conchucos tuvo una significativa producción textil. La sistematización de esa información nos ha permitido trazar una geografía de la economía textil de ese territorio que destaca las zonas donde se desarrollaron los obrajes. Por otra parte, aunque la carencia de series para la producción textil de Conchucos no permite realizar un estudio de ese sector equiparable a los realizados para Huamanga o el Cusco, la información demográfica existente para aquella circunscripción, permite trazar un panorama de la evolución a largo plazo de su economía textil hasta su escisión en provincias ya en la época republicana. A través de ese análisis se puede percibir la distribución étnica y sexual del trabajo en el sector textil, y esclarecer algunos elementos de cambio económico que afectaron a ese territorio.

Master of Science / Department of Agricultural Economics / Vincent R. Amanor-Boadu / Changes in consumer preferences have frequently created markets for new products. Recently these changes in consumer preferences have been brought on by people we term as "ethical consumers." These consumers demand is driven by the extrinsic characteristics of the products they purchase. In this thesis we analyze consumer demand theory for its application to ethical consumers, we determine the demographic factors that influence the emergence of the ethical consumer, and we classify ethical consumers by the categories of extrinsic factors influencing their consumption decisions. We explore the theory of Abraham Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. Our theory tells us that as people reach the self-actualizing stage in Maslow's Hierarchy they have the income and education to make their purchase decisions based on how it will effect others and the environment. We found higher income levels and educational attainment to be characteristics of our ethical consumer. We also found that the reasons these ethical consumers are purchasing ethical products fall into five categories, environment, social justice, biodiversity, and religious. This paper develops a theory on Ethical consumers, determining the demographics of the consumer and their motivations for their ethical purchases. Future research may look at using this information to create a demand theory for ethical consumers.

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 assesses consumer behavior toward online shopping in Saudi Arabia by studying the factors that affect whether or not they shop online. The sample consisted of 206 Saudis approached using the “snowball” technique. Participants were all above eighteen and Internet users. Participants were asked to give the frequency of their online shopping transactions using a four-point Likert scale. They used a seven-point Likert scale to rate their opinions about trends affecting electronic commerce, companies’ marketing approaches, and other aspects of online shopping. Participants also were asked about their feelings regarding traditional and online shopping using a nine-point bipolar scale. Using the Six Dimensional Achievement Motivations Scale, they were asked to describe themselves, and finally, they were asked to rank the Rokeach Terminal Values based on their importance. The version of the Rokeach Value System used in this study is the one shortened to nine terminal values, by Munson & McQuarrie, 1988, since it reflects better relevance to consumption. Results show that, when compared to traditional shopping, participants have relatively negative perceptions of online shopping. In addition, participants’ demographics and values related to their online shopping frequency, while their achievement motivations were less related. The major limitation of this research is that it was conducted in only one city, Jeddah. Therefore, additional research should be carried out in other cities with larger samples. The research results suggest that businesses in Saudi Arabia should use online shopping as a second channel to distribute their products in addition to their physical stores. This thesis makes a distinctive contribution to the literature, as it is the first to examine the correlation between the Rokeach Value System (1973); the Six Dimensional Achievement Motivation Scale (Jackson, Ahmed, and Heapy, 1976); and online shopping behavior in the world, let alone Saudi Arabia.

This diploma thesis deals with pension systems that are applicable in the Czech Republic and the Russian Federation and comparing available products appropriate to ensure a higher standard of living in old age. In the introductory chapter is firstly analyzed demographic development. Followed by an analysis of the current state of the pension systems, with emphasis on the changes currently being performed. The aim of this work is to model examples to present the differences in opportunities pension security in both countries.