The essential tenet of the behavioral momentum model (BMM) is that relative response rate decreases less in the face of disruption when maintained by a higher reinforcer density. Empirical support exists based on both response-dependent and response-independent reinforcement. In the present study the BMM was tested with college students in 4 multi-element experiments, each using 2 reinforcement schedules and a disrupter. Participants performed a categorical sort (by orientation) of triangles on a computer monitor. Sorting response rates were disrupted by a concurrent task, pressing the keyboard “T” key whenever 2 displayed changing numbers were equal. Initial training established fast (under VR 4) and slow (under DRL 5-s) sorting rates, and provided practice with the disrupting task. In Experiment 1 DRL 5-s provided higher reinforcer density, while in Experiment 2 VR 4 did. In Experiment 3 the higher total reinforcer density was achieved by adding VT 6-s to DRL 5-s while in Experiment 4 it was achieved by adding VT 12-s to VR 4. In all 4 experiments, sorting rate decreased with introduction of the disrupter. In Experiments 1 and 3, relative sorting rate decreased less under DRL based schedule (greater reinforcer density), supporting the BMM. However, in Experiments 2 and 4, relative sorting also decreased less under DRL (lower reinforcer density), contrary to the BMM prediction. Taken together, these data show greater relative resistance to change under DRL (versus VR), independent of reinforcer density. Thus, contrary to the BMM, the nature of the reinforcement schedule seemed to be the principal factor determining behavioral momentum.

La thèse étudie la dynamique des Electrons Découplés (DE) dans une disruption plasma déclenchée par injection massive de gaz dans le tokamak JET et simulée par le code JOREK. Cette investigation est permise par l’implémentation d’un module de suivi des particules tests relativistes dans JOREK. L’étude montre que les électrons peuvent ‘survivre’dans le chaos magnétique caractérisant la phase dite de ‘Disjonction Thermique’ (DT) de cette disruption (simulée) grâce à la reformation des surfaces magnétiques fermées. Deuxièmement, l’accélération des électrons causée par les champs électriques dus aux fluctuations magnétohydrodynamiques (MHD) pendant la DT est analysée. Cela montre que les électrons peuvent être accélérés par ces champs et devenir DE, après reconfinement, pendant la phase dite de ‘Disjonction de Courant’. Une étude préliminaire sur les dépendances entre le courant des DE et l’activité MHD dans les expériences de disruption du tokamak ASDEX Upgrade est également reportée. / In view of better understanding Runaway Electron (RE) generation processes during tokamak disruptions, this work investigates test electron dynamics during a JET disruption simulated with the JOREK code. For this purpose, a JOREK module computing relativistic test particle orbits in the simulated fields has been developed and tested. The study shows that a significant fraction of pre-disruption thermal electrons remain confined in spite of the magnetic chaos characterizing the Thermal Quench (TQ) phase. This finding, which is related to the prompt reformation of closed flux surfaces after the TQ, supports the possibility of the so-called “hot tail” RE generation mechanism. In addition, it is found that electrons may be significantly accelerated during the TQ due to the presence of strong local electric field (E) fluctuations related to magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) activity. This phenomenon, which has virtually been ignored so far, may play an important role in RE generation. In connection to this modelling work, an experimental study on ASDEX Upgrade disruptions has been performed, suggesting that strong MHD activity reduces RE production.

The launch of the chatbot ChatGPT in November of 2022 has sparked a fierce debate on how AI tools will affect future education. Currently, there have been multiple articles about how universities and educators do not yet have an action plan on how to respond to the consequences of the launch of the chatbot. The technology behind ChatGPT is generative AI and is anticipated to be the next big digital disruption. Generative AI and its effects on higher education is still unexplored territory. In this thesis we aim to answer the following research question: how can generative AI be managed as a digital disruption in higher education? We conducted a qualitative case study at a university in Sweden, where the participants were educators from different departments. The three main themes discussed in this thesis are: disruptive effects of generative AI; three elements of managing digital disruption; emerging challenges and opportunities. We contribute to existing research by providing a model on how the digital disruption caused by generative AI manifests in higher education and provide suggestions on how to manage it. Further, we suggest that future research add students’ perspective to the model, since this was not covered in this thesis.

The anuran Xenopus tropicalis tadpole is an attractive model animal in toxicological evaluation of suspected thyroid disrupting xenobiotics. Due to its reliance of a functioning hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis for normal metamorphosis, effects on the HPT axis produces apical endpoints, which are easy to measure. More sensitive endpoints of mRNA expression and histological evaluation of the thyroid gland itself provide strong indications of in vivo thyroid endocrine disruption. X. tropicalis is traditionally exposed in groups of 20 animals in four replicates for each treatment group. However, exposing tadpoles individually can provide stronger statistics and a reduction of total animal sacrifice. In this study we have developed and optimized an individual exposure system by a method development study. This method was then applied in an exposure experiment of a suspected thyroid endocrine disruptor, propylparaben (PrP). Prometamorphotic (NF stage 51) X. tropicalis tadpoles were distributed in three treatment groups (0.05, 0.5 and 5.0 mg PrP/L water) and maintained semi-statically for 14 days. Afterwards, apical measurements (body weight (BW), total body length (BL), snout to vent length (SVL) and hind limb length (HLL)) and reached developmental stage were assessed. In addition, mRNA expression of HPT axis relevant genes encoding deiodinase 2 (D2, hepatic tissue), deiodinase 3 (D3, hepatic and tail tissue) and transthyretin (Ttr, hepatic tissue) were measured by quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR). The PrP exposure did not affect general growth and development, but it did cause a downregulation of dio3 and ttr. The downregulation of dio3 could possibly be associated with a reduced serum content of thyroid hormone, while ttr might be connected to a previously described xenoestrogenic effect of PrP in vitro and in fish.

The mitochondrion is an important therapeutic target due to its roles in energy metabolism, reactive oxygen species production, and activation of cell death. The connection of these cellular processes with diabetes, obesity, neurodegenerative disorders, and cancer makes this organelle a potential control point for treatment of these diseases. The advancement of mitochondrial medicine will be accelerated by the development of organelle-specific cellular transporters as well as by strategies to enhance the activity of mitochondrially-active drugs. Here, the discovery and development of a new class of mitochondria-specific agents, mitochondria-penetrating peptides (MPPs), is described. These peptides, exemplified by the sequences (FXY)3 and (FXY)4 where FX=cyclohexylalanine and Y=basic arginine or lysine residues, display hydrophobic and cationic residues critical for access to this organelle, and appear to accumulate within cells and mitochondria through membrane potential-dependent mechanisms. Subcellular localization of the peptides was determined by the interplay of hydrophobicity and positive charge, and necessary lipophilicity “thresholds” for access to the mitochondrion. MPPs can be engineered to have minimal mitochondrial disruptive activity and cytotoxicity through minimization of hydrophobicity and length. Furthermore, MPPs appear to accumulate predominantly in the mitochondrial matrix, a feature which places them within an exclusive class of mitochondria-specific transporters and may enable delivery applications for a number of therapeutically-relevant cargoes. Information gained from MPP studies on the physiochemical parameters that drive mitochondrial localization were applied to improve the activity of the anticancer peptide d-(KLAKLAK)2, an agent that activates apoptosis through mitochondrial disruption. Residue substitutions that increased peptide hydrophobicity, regardless of changes to secondary structure, enhanced mitochondrial localization, activity, and cytotoxicity induced by the peptide. In conclusion, these studies provide important guidelines for how to drive the subcellular localization and activity of peptides, and expand the possibilities for mitochondrially-targeted therapeutics.

Global sport competitions such as the Olympics and the World Cup were founded following universal principles of unity and peace and aiming to be celebrations of sportsmanship. Nowadays, however, they go beyond sport, being constructed as global media events in which both politics and media play an essential role. Caught in this triangle, the Olympics and the World Cup have re-emerged in the past years as sites of protests, after decades of relative calmness in this sense. This represents the point of entry into the analysis of global broadcasters, giving the chance to examine the way in which Al Jazeera English, BBC World News and Russia Today represent the protests they put in relation to sport competitions happening in different parts of the world. The chosen case studies are the London Olympics 2012, Sochi Olympics 2014 and Brazil World Cup 2014. The comparative analysis allows the drawing of similarities and differences between both the case studies and the broadcasters overall. The findings show that protests are dealt with differently according to the sport event they are related to, since some of them are legitimized and others are not. A major distinction, therefore, results in the manner in which the broadcasters use the protests in order to depict a certain version of the world. Global broadcasters offer, thus, multiple perspectives on the world as they carry what appears to be a heavy cultural baggage of the societies of origin.

Businesses globally are challenged to innovate their operations strategies and practices towards tighter delivery times, better quality and cheaper prices to remain profitable in addition to managing unpredictable circumstances well in today’s turbulent business environment. They often have to deal with the apparent paradox of advancing efficiency-fostering approaches such as lean production, and enhancing operational resilience against unanticipated disruptions. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether and how practices in seemingly contradicting paradigms in operations management can be utilised to attain a better competitive position in the face of uncertainties. This thesis is comprised of ‘modules’ of studies designed to systematically address the three research questions. This was necessary due to the different maturity level of the concepts brought together. Predominantly qualitative mixed-method approach was used for the overall research with some quantitative analysis included. The critical incident technique, case study and Bayesian inference were used in the different studies (papers). Operational resilience is characterised in terms of five core functions: sense, build, reconfigure, re-enhance, and sustain (RQ1). Resilience is also operationalised using routine practices that are bundled into internal/external, proactive/reactive dimensions of capabilities that positively influence performance upon recovery from disruption. An analysis showing that lean practice bundles lead to better operational performance under high uncertainty context is also done in this thesis (RQ2). Finally, operational resilience (based on routine practices that form the core functions) was found to have stronger synergies than trade-off with lean (based on practice bundles) in times of turbulence (RQ3). This thesis extends the resource-based view to high uncertainty contexts through empirical evidence and shows that resilience (dynamic) capabilities can be built from practices that firms normally employ; the capabilities are sources of better performance and competitive advantages in turbulent business environments. The thesis contributes to the discussion on the paradox of lean and operational resilience based approaches in the same context; lean practices bundles lend themselves to synergy with resilience capabilities, and leverage competitive gains in turbulent times. Practically, findings of this thesis suggest that companies need not abandon their lean implementation to become more resilient. In fact, it shows that lean implementation should be extended to address value chain processes beyond the shop floor for integrative removal of wastes, while being able to flexibly mitigate disruptions. / La sfida della competitività nei mercati globali dipende in larga parte dalla capacità delle imprese di innovare le loro operations per ottenere termini di consegna sempre più stretti, maggior qualità  a prezzi sempre più competitivi; tutto questo in un contesto industriale e socio-economico sempre più incerto e turbolento. Oggi le imprese sono chiamate a prendere decisioni e ad adottare dei modelli di business dagli effetti contrastanti, come ad esempio l’adozione di pratiche che enfatizzano risultati di efficienza produttiva (i.e. lean production) a fianco di strategie e soluzioni che mirano ad accrescere la capacità del sistema di adattarsi dinamicamente ad eventi perturbanti (resilienza), esterni o interni all’organizzazione. Lo scopo di questa ricerca è quello di investigare se e come l'adozione di pratiche potenzialmente contrastanti nell'ambito della gestione delle operations, possono essere utilizzate per mantenere e migliorare la propria posizione competitiva in contesti di forte incertezza e turbolenza dei mercati. La ricerca si compone di una serie di "moduli", ovvero di singoli studi progettati per affrontare sistematicamente e organicamente le tre domande di ricerca fondamentali, la cui risposta conduce alla proposta di tesi. Questa impostazione si è rivelata necessaria a causa del diverso livello di maturità dei concetti studiati e sviluppati nella tesi. Anche la metodologia di ricerca rispecchia le diverse esigenze e peculiarità dei vari aspetti studiati e per questo è stata definita seguendo un approccio misto, in cui metodi di tipo qualitativo sono affiancati da analisi quantitative che implementano tecniche statistiche. In particolare, nei diversi “moduli” (paper) si utilizzano: la critical incident technique, diverse metodiche di studi di caso, e inferenza Bayesiana. La resilienza operativa è stata caratterizzata secondo cinque funzioni principali (core functions): sense, build, reconfigure, re-enhance, e sustain (RQ1). Ciascuna di queste è tradotta a livello operativo attraverso procedure e pratiche stabili (routine) - interne/esterne, proattive/reattive - che sono in grado di influenzare positivamente le prestazioni a seguito di un evento perturbante. Attraverso la ricerca, viene analizzato l’effetto positivo che differenti pratiche lean (lean practice bundles) inducono sulle prestazioni operative in condizioni di incertezza (RQ2). Infine, un’analisi bayesiana sui parametri tipici di un campione selezionato di eventi incidentali a carico di organizzazioni e supply chain globali ha rivelato che tra resilienza operativa (implementata attraverso specifiche  routine) e lean production (implementata attraverso specifiche lean practice bundles) esistono fenomeni sinergici più forti dei meccanismi di trade-off, quando valutati in contesti turbolenti (RQ3). I risultati della tesi contribuiscono ad ampliare e rafforzare un approccio teorico contingent resource-based view all’analisi delle organizzazioni che operano in regimi di forte incertezza (complessità e dinamicità); il contributo originale si concentra in particolar modo nel fornire evidenza empirica che le capacità di resilienza di una organizzazione (dynamic capabilities) possono essere costruite su processi e routine normalmente eseguite dalle imprese. Ove disponibili, queste capacità sono usate come fonte di miglioramento prestazionale e per l’ottenimento di un vantaggio competitivo in contesti turbolenti. Ulteriori evidenze supportano la tesi che un’ampia gamma di lean practices possono essere usate in maniera sinergica per un ulteriore rafforzamento della resilienza operativa. Dal punto di vista pratico e in contrasto con parte della letteratura esistente, la tesi offre ai manager industriali solidi argomenti per non abbandonare la propria strategia lean o limitare i propri obiettivi di efficienza allo scopo di conseguire una maggiore resilienza operativa. Si dimostra infatti che quando l’adozione di partiche lean viene estesa ad una porzione sempre più ampia della value chain, alla conseguente riduzione degli sprechi si associa anche una maggior flessibilità nella gestione di eventi perturbanti o distruttivi. / I dagens turbulenta affärsklimat står företag världen över inför utmaningen att på ett effektivt sätt hantera oförutsägbara händelser och samtidigt förnya sina verksamheter med syfte att uppnå kortare leveranstider, bättre kvalitet och ökad lönsamhet. I dessa ansträngningar möter företagen ofta det skenbara dilemmat av att vissa arbetssätt såsom lean produktion ställs i kontrast mot aktiviteter syftande till att skapa återhämtningsförmåga, dvs angreppssätt och rutiner för att hantera oväntade störningar (operational resilience). Syftet med denna avhandling är att undersöka om och hur dessa två olika arbetssätt, med till synes motstridiga paradigm, kan användas för att uppnå ökad konkurrenskraft för företag verksamma under osäkra marknadsförhållanden. Avhandlingen består av fem artiklar och syftar till att, på ett systematiskt sätt, avhandla tre övergripande forskningsfrågor. Uppdelningen i artiklar motiveras av olikheter i mognadsgrad hos de båda grundbegreppen. En kombination av forskningsmetoder har använts. Den övergripande forskningsstrategin har varit kvalitativ och fallstudiebaserad. Även kritiska händelse metoden, (Critical Incident Technique, CIT) och kvantitativa metoder såsom statistisk analys och Bayesiansk inferens har använts som komplement i några av artiklarna. Resultaten visar att operativ återhämtningsförmåga kan beskrivas i termer av fem kärnfunktioner: uppfatta, formera, konfigurera, återförbättra och bibehålla (RQ1). Resultaten visar även att återhämtningsförmågan kan operationaliseras såsom kombinationer av sammansatta organisatoriska rutiner (practice bundles) vilka kan karaktäriseras i termer av interna/externa och proaktiva/reaktiva dimensioner. Kombinationer av dessa sammansatta organisatoriska rutiner har identifierats vilka både samverkar och förstärker varandra i situationer av störning och efterföljande återhämtning. Vidare visas att implementering av lean rutiner leder till ökad effektivitet i situationer karakteriserade av hög osäkerhet (RQ2). Avslutningsvis visar resultaten att återhämtningsförmåga och lean, operationaliserade som kärnfunktioner respektive sammansatta organisatoriska rutiner, har stark samverkan då det gäller att hantera störningar. Några sammansatta organisatoriska rutiner har dock en trade-off relation till vissa kärnfunktioner (RQ3) Ur ett teoretiskt perspektiv utökar avhandlingen det resursbaserade synsättet till att även inkludera företag som verkar under osäkra marknadsförhållanden. Resultaten visar att (dynamisk) återhämtningsförmåga kan byggas med hjälp av metoder som företagen normalt använder idag (sammansatta organisatoriska rutiner). Genom att omkonfigurera existerande förmågor och rutiner skapas en källa till ökad produktivitet och ökad konkurrenskraft. Således bidrar avhandlingen till diskussionen om det skenbara dilemmat av att en samtidig användning av strategier baserade på lean production och strategier fokuserande på återhämtningsförmåga (operational resilience) samverkar och förstärker varandra snarare än motverkar varandra. Avhandlingens praktiska implikation är att företag inte behöver överge sitt lean arbetssätt för att öka sin återhämtningsförmåga (operational resilience). I själva verket, bör företag utgå ifrån existerande lean arbetssätt och utvidga dessa till att även omfatta processer utanför den direkta tillverkningen. / <p>This thesis is produced as part of the EMJD Programme <em>European Doctorate in Industrial Management (EDIM) </em>funded by the European Commission, Erasmus Mundus Action 1.</p><p>EDIM is run by a consortium consisting of the industrial management departments of three institutions.</p><p>•KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden</p><p>•Politecnico de Milano, POLIMI, Milan, Italy</p><p>•Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, UPM, Madrid, Spain</p><p>QC 20151105</p><p></p>

Using data from the Chicago Homicide Dataset for years 1988-1992 and the Chicago Community Area Demographics, multiple regression and mediation analysis are used to examine various community level factors’ impact on Intimate Partner Homicide (IPH) rates per Chicago community area. The relationship between the percentage of non-white and IPH rate per Chicago community area is significant and positive, but disappears once economic strain is taken into account, as well as when family disruption is included in the model. There is a weak, but positive relationship between population density and IPH rates, but neither economic strain nor family disruption mediates the relationship between population density and IPH rates. Economic deprivation is positively related to IPH rates, but economic strain and family disruption partially mediate the relationship between economic deprivation and IPH rates. Finally, the relationship between the percentage of males aged 30-59 and IPH rates per community area in Chicago is moderately negative, but this relationship disappears once economic strain is accounted for in the model. However, family disruption does not mediate the relationship between the percentage of males aged 30-59 and IPH rates. These results indicate that some structural covariates impact IPH rates and that some relationships are mediated by economic strain and family disruption. These results also lend support to a modified approach to general strain theory (GST). More research is necessary to validate these results.

<p>Following the phase out of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), manufacturers turned to several alternative flame retardants (FRs) to meet flammability standards. Organophosphate FRs (OPFRs), and in particular tris (1,3-dichloropropyl) phosphate (TDCPP), have been increasingly detected in textiles and foam padding used in a variety of consumer products including camping equipment, upholstered furniture, and baby products. Like PBDEs, OPFRs are additive, meaning that they are not chemically bound to the treated material and can more readily leach out into the surrounding environment. Indeed, OPFRs have been detected in numerous environmental and biological matrices, often at concentrations similar to or exceeding that of PBDEs.</p><p>Although OPFRs have been in use for several decades, relatively little is known regarding their potential for adverse human and environmental health consequences. However, based on their structural similarity to OP pesticides, they may have analogous mechanisms of toxicity. OP pesticide toxicity is classically associated with cholinesterase inhibition, resulting in cholinergic intoxication syndrome. OPFRs have been shown to be ineffective cholinesterase inhibitors, however chlorpyrifos (CPF) and other OP pesticides have been shown to elicit adverse effects on developing organisms through other mechanisms.</p><p>The main objective of this research project was to evaluate the toxicity of four structurally similar OPFRs (TDCPP; tris (2,3-dibromopropyl) phosphate, (TDBPP); tris (1-chloropropyl) phosphate (TCPP) and tris (2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP)) in comparison to chlorpyrifos (CPF), a well-studied OP pesticide. A combination of in vitro and in vivo models was used to elucidate potential mechanisms as well as functional consequences of exposure in developing organisms. </p><p>In the first research aim, a series of in vitro experiments with neurotypic PC12 cells was used to evaluate the effects of four structurally similar OPFRs (TDCPP, TDBPP, TCEP, or TCPP) and CPF on neurodevelopment. The effects of TDCPP were also compared to that of BDE-47, a major component of the commercial PentaBDE mixture. In general, TDCPP elicited similar or greater effects when compared to an equimolar concentration of CPF. All OPFRs tested produced similar decrements in cell number and altered phenotypic differentiation, while BDE-47 had no effect on cell number, cell growth, or neurite growth. </p><p>For the second research aim, zebrafish (Danio rerio) were used to evaluate the effects of the same suite of chemicals on early development. TDCPP, TDBPP, and CPF elicited overt toxicity (e.g., malformations or death) within the concentration range tested (0.033-100 µM). TDBPP was the most potent with 100% mortality by 6 days post fertilization (dpf) at &#8805;3.3 µM. CPF and TDCPP showed equivalent toxicity with malformations observed in at 10 µM and significant mortality (&#8805;75%) at &#8805;33 µM. There was no overt toxicity among TCEP- and TCPP-exposed fish. All test chemicals affected larval swimming behavior on 6 dpf at concentrations below the overt toxicity threshold. Parent chemical was detected in all in embryonic (1 dpf) and larval (5 dpf) tissues. TDCPP and TDBPP showed rapid and extensive metabolism.</p><p>Finally, for the third aim, juvenile (45-55 dpf) zebrafish were exposed to CPF (1 µg/g food) or TDCPP (Low TDCPP = 1 µg/g food; High TDCPP = 40 µg/g food) via diet for 28 days followed by a 7 day depuration period where all treatments received clean food. A dietary exposure was chosen to more closely recapitulate exposure in humans. Samples were collected at seven time points throughout the experiment: days 0, 7, 14, 21, 28, 30, 35. Whole tissues were collected for tissue accumulation and histopathology endpoints. Viscera and brain were dissected and flash frozen separately for DNA damage analyses. </p><p>Tissue measurements of CPF, TDCPP, and the metabolite bis (1,3-dichloropropyl) phosphate (BDCPP) were often below the method detection limit, however when present there was a trend towards increased accumulation with treatment and time. On Day 7 Low TDCPP caused a dramatic but transient increase in DNA damage in both viscera and brain that returned to control levels by Day 14. Similar results have been seen previously with other genotoxicants and may be due to CPF and High TDCPP inducing an adaptive response prior to the 7 day sampling point. All treatments shifted the neurohypophysis to adenohypophysis ratio (NH/AH; Day 7 only) and significantly increased thyroid follicle activation (Day 14). Finally High TDCPP affected gonad maturation, causing a significant increase in ovary follicle development (Day 14) and a transient but marked decrease in testes maturity (Day 7). Taken together these data suggest that dietary exposure to TDCPP and CPF elicits DNA damage in brain and viscera and alters endocrine function in juvenile zebrafish. Importantly, analyses were restricted to the first three time points (Days 0, 7, and 14) due to the emergence a disease among the experimental colony. Although these samples were collected prior to the disease becoming apparent, it remains a potential confounder of the current results.</p> / Dissertation

En quoi la notion de rupture permet-elle de comprendre ce qu'est un acte de création artistique ? Ce travail s'attache à montrer le lien entre trois figures de la rupture dans le domaine de l'art : au fondement de sa posture de créateur, il y aurait une rupture qui habite l'artiste ; comme principe de génération de l'œuvre, il y aurait acte de rupture ; dans la manière dont elle s'inscrit dans la civilisation, l'œuvre d'art ferait rupture. Faut-il ainsi penser que toute œuvre d’art reposerait sur l'exigence de rupture ? Et dans ce cas, pourquoi l'art serait-il déterminé par cette exigence ? / How can the notion of disruption enable us to understand what an act of artistic creation actually is? This study applies itself to showing the link between three aspects of disruption in the field of art. One may surmise that at the root of the artist's chosen position as a creator lies some form of disruption within him or her, that the principle which generates artwork is an act of disruption and that in the way in which artwork enters into the make-up of a civilization it represents a form of disruption. Are we then to consider that all artwork necessarily requires some form of disruption? And in this case, why should art be determined by this requirement?