<p>The benefits gained by the presentation of environmental enrichment (EE) to captive animals are widely recognized. Few studies have, however, studied how to maximize the effect of EE. Repeated presentations of EE may cause a reduced interest towards the EE device, called habituation. To study the effect of habituation towards EE, behavioural data from 14 captive Sloth bears (<em>Melursus ursinus</em>) were collected during two different EE treatments. In treatment one, honey logs were presented for five consecutive days (ConsEE). In treatment two, the logs were presented every alternative day for five days (AltEE). The different treatments both showed a significant effect on responsiveness toward the EE, however, leaving gap days inbetween presentations in AltEE showed no reliable reduction in habituation. Both treatments significantly reduced stereotypies, however, only ConsEE reduced levels of stereotypies long term. Explorative behaviours, which are the most prominent behaviours in the wild, increased during both treatments. This is consistent with previous findings (Fischbacher & Schmid 1999, Grandia et al. 2001) that EE increases natural behaviours, which has been desribed as an indication of improved welfare (Carlstead et al. 1991 etc.). Other behavioural categories such as social and passiva behaviours were unaffected by the EE presentations. THe results show that it is possible to increase the effectiveness of EE by simple means in order to ensure animal welfare.</p>

Der vorliegende Aufsatz unternimmt den Versuch, die einst für die Kommunikationswissenschaft höchst relevante „Theorie der kognitiven Dissonanz“ des Sozialpsychologen Leon Festinger erneut ins wissenschaftliche Bewusstsein zu rücken. Während der Dissonanzforschung innerhalb der Psychologie auch heute noch Erkenntnispotentiale zugesprochen werden, ist sie in der Kommunikationswissenschaft kaum mehr von Bedeutung. Betrachtet man aber aktuelle Forschungsfragen, mit denen sich Kommunikationswissenschaftler beschäftigen, fällt auf, dass gerade die Dissonanzforschung alternative Erklärungen für gegenwärtige Probleme in Mediengesellschaften bieten kann. Diese Annahme wird am Beispiel der Politikverdrossenheit und unter Rückgriff auf das Konzept der „Dis-Identification“ einer explorativen Prüfung unterzogen. / This paper attempts to reconsider the value of Festinger’s „Theory of Cognitive Dissonance“ on mass media topics. Investigations in cognitive dissonance still represent an important field of research in social psychology. Yet, despite having once been one of the most important psychological theories on selective exposure, the concept is barely seen as relevant to current communication studies. Indeed, Festinger’s assertions have lost scientific importance in media studies. However, if one examines the present research topics in communication science, several objects of investigation can be identified that seem to call for psychological explanations in general and for Dissonance Theory predictions in particular. Thus, a reintegration seems to be worthwhile. The author exemplifies this intention by connecting political malaise with the concept of “Dis-identification”.

The aim of the thesis is twofold. First, a need is exposed for adopting a situated design perspective in designing computer-based tools that support knowledge work. Second, an examination is made of what this perspective may reveal concerning the nature of processes and relations within the design situation. This is done to understand better what it means for users and developers, as well as other stakeholders, to approach and capture the tacit knowing within the work context. The argument for adopting a situated design perspective is based on experience drawn from development projects, as well as literature reviews. In these projects, the design situations encountered are best characterized as explorative and iteratively interpreted. Here, approaching and understanding the work context, together with the users, has at best been a pursuit of the vision of the future system guided by local circumstances, and where the users had difficulties in expressing and understanding what it is they want and how they want it. This implies that formal engineering methods, where the development work is reduced to an engineering endeavor based on a rationalistic perspective, are not sufficient. The situated design perspective is presented in this thesis as a conceptual model of the design practice, highlighting its constituent worlds, processes, and relations. The model depicts designing as an explorative and sense-making process, navigating between what is wanted or envisioned and what may be negotiated and discovered. It emphasizes the importance of the artifact being designed as a means to capture, communicate, and discover what is possible in the work context. The model makes clear that the design process is highly situated, and that it cannot take place outside the work context because of interdependent relationships. It is designing within the living work context, not design for an objectified one. Thus, it cannot be planned as a pure engineering endeavor, but needs to be viewed as a situated practice.

Bakgrund Ordet kundägt används av både ömsesidiga och kooperativa bolag men vad är ett kundägt bolag för något och vad gör ett kundägt bolag speciellt? I förhållande till sina marknadsandelar är kundägda bolag understuderade vilket motiverar en explorativ studie för att öka kunskapen kring den här typen av bolag. Syfte Genom att göra en explorativ kvalitativ fallstudie i ett kundägt företag vill vi driva fram akademiska undersökningsområden för att främja den företagsekonomiska forskningen i området. Metod Studien gjordes genom en explorativ kvalitativ fallstudie på Länsförsäkringar Östgöta på grund av att det är ett framgångsrikt kundägt bolag. Fyra personer från ledningsgruppen på Länsförsäkringar Östgöta och en person från dotterbolaget Länsförsäkringar AB intervjuades. Parallellt så inhämtades information även från deltagande observationer och dokument för att förstärka empirin som genererades vid intervjutillfällena. Slutsats Studien bidrar med att visa att kundägda bolag fortfarande spelar en viktig roll på marknaden och visar på ett antal områden som bör studeras närmare. En av de främsta punkterna är den lokala aspekten som verkar samverka med det kundägda för att skapa en organisation med hög trovärdighet bland kunderna. Hur konceptet med ett kundägt lokalt bolag påverkas av digitaliseringen är en annan punkt som bör väcka ett intresse bland forskarna att studera vidare. / Background The word customer-owned is used by both mutuals and cooperatives but what is a customer-owned company and what makes it special? Customer-owned companies are in relation to their market shares less studied which motivates an explorative study to increase the knowledge about this type of companies. Aim We want to develop academic research areas to advance the theory in the field of business by doing an explorative qualitative case-study in a customer-owned company. Methodology The study was made by an explorative qualitative case-study on Länsförsäkringar Östgöta as it is a successful customer-owned company. Four people from the Länsförsäkringar Östgöta management team and one person from the subsidiary Länsförsäkringar AB was interviewed. Data was gathered parallel to the interviews by participatory observations and documents to enhance the empiricism. Conclusion The study contributes by showing that customer-owned companies still plays an important role in the market and the study also shows areas were future research should be conducted. One of the main conclusions is that it seems like the local aspect have synergies with the customer-owned to create a company that have a high level of trustworthiness. How the concept with a local and customer-owned company will fare in a more digitalized world is another area that should have a high interest among researchers.

The presence of trace transition metal species in the atmosphere can be attributed to the emission of particulate matter into the atmosphere by anthropogenic activities, as well as from natural sources. Trace metals emitted into the atmosphere can cause adverse health–related and environmental problems. At present, limited data exists for trace metal concentrations in South Africa. In this investigation, the general aim was to determine the concentrations of trace metals in atmospheric aerosols in the industrialised western Bushveld Igneous Complex, as well as to link the presence of these species in the atmosphere to possible sources in the region. The measurement site was placed in Marikana, a small rural town situated 35 km east from Rustenburg in the North West Province of South Africa. It is surrounded by numerous industrial and metallurgical operations. MiniVolumeTM samplers and Teflon® filters (2 ;m pores) were utilised to collect PM2.5 and PM10 particulate samples. The MiniVolumeTM samplers were programmed to filter 5 litres of air per minute for 12 hours per day, over a six–day period. The starting time for sampling was altered every six days, in order to obtain both day and night samples. Sampling was performed for a period of one year. The collected samples were chemically analysed with inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP–MS). Surface analysis of the sampled filters was performed with a scanning electron microscope (SEM) in conjunction with energy–dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The dataset was also subjected to factor analysis in an attempt to identify possible sources of trace metal species in the atmosphere. The concentrations of 27 trace metals (Be, B, Na, Mg, Al, K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Pd, Cd, Ba, Pt, Au, Hg, Tl, Pb, U) were determined. Pd, Hg, Tl, U, Ca, Co, As, Cd, Ba and Au were above the detection limit 25% or less of the time during the sampling period. With the exception of Ni, none of the trace metals measured at Marikana during the sampling period exceeded local and international standards. Higher Ni levels were possibly due to base metal refining in the region. Pb, which is the only metal species that has a standard prescribed by the South African Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA), did not exceed any of the standards. It is also significant to refer to Hg that was below the detection limit of the analytical instrument for the entire sampling period. The impact of meteorological conditions revealed that wet removal of atmospheric PM10 trace metals was more significant than the wind generation thereof. During the dry months, the total trace metal concentrations in the PM10 fraction peaked, while PM10 particles were mostly washed out during the wet season. Wind speed showed an unexpected inverse pattern compared to wet deposition. A less significant seasonal trend was observed for the trace metal concentrations in the PM2.5 fraction, which was attributed to a faster replenishment of smaller particles into the atmosphere after rain events. Separation of trace metal concentrations into PM10–2.5 and PM2.5 fractions indicated that 79% of the total trace metal levels that were measured were in the PM2.5 fraction, which indicated a strong influence of industrial and/or combustion sources. Fractionalisation of each of the trace metal species detected showed that for each metal species, 40% and more of a specific metal was in the PM2.5 fraction, with Cr, V, Ni, Zn and Mn occurring almost completely in the PM2.5 fraction. Surface analysis with SEM supported results from the chemical analysis, which indicated that a large fraction of the particles was likely to originate from anthropogenic activities and from wind–blown dust. SEM–EDS also detected nonmetallic S that is usually associated with the Pt pyrometallurgical industry that is present in the western Bushveld Igneous Complex. Correlations between Cr, V, Ni, Zn and Mn revealed that the main sources of these species were pyrometallurgical industries. Explorative factor analysis of the unprocessed and Box–Cox transformed data for all 27 metals detected, resolved four meaningful emission sources, i.e. crustal, vanadium related, base metal related and chromium related. Comparison of trace metal species to other parameters measured (e.g. CO, BC) also indicated pyrometallurgical activities and wind–blown dust to be the main sources of trace metals in this region. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Chemistry))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

The presence of trace transition metal species in the atmosphere can be attributed to the emission of particulate matter into the atmosphere by anthropogenic activities, as well as from natural sources. Trace metals emitted into the atmosphere can cause adverse health–related and environmental problems. At present, limited data exists for trace metal concentrations in South Africa. In this investigation, the general aim was to determine the concentrations of trace metals in atmospheric aerosols in the industrialised western Bushveld Igneous Complex, as well as to link the presence of these species in the atmosphere to possible sources in the region. The measurement site was placed in Marikana, a small rural town situated 35 km east from Rustenburg in the North West Province of South Africa. It is surrounded by numerous industrial and metallurgical operations. MiniVolumeTM samplers and Teflon® filters (2 ;m pores) were utilised to collect PM2.5 and PM10 particulate samples. The MiniVolumeTM samplers were programmed to filter 5 litres of air per minute for 12 hours per day, over a six–day period. The starting time for sampling was altered every six days, in order to obtain both day and night samples. Sampling was performed for a period of one year. The collected samples were chemically analysed with inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP–MS). Surface analysis of the sampled filters was performed with a scanning electron microscope (SEM) in conjunction with energy–dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The dataset was also subjected to factor analysis in an attempt to identify possible sources of trace metal species in the atmosphere. The concentrations of 27 trace metals (Be, B, Na, Mg, Al, K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Pd, Cd, Ba, Pt, Au, Hg, Tl, Pb, U) were determined. Pd, Hg, Tl, U, Ca, Co, As, Cd, Ba and Au were above the detection limit 25% or less of the time during the sampling period. With the exception of Ni, none of the trace metals measured at Marikana during the sampling period exceeded local and international standards. Higher Ni levels were possibly due to base metal refining in the region. Pb, which is the only metal species that has a standard prescribed by the South African Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA), did not exceed any of the standards. It is also significant to refer to Hg that was below the detection limit of the analytical instrument for the entire sampling period. The impact of meteorological conditions revealed that wet removal of atmospheric PM10 trace metals was more significant than the wind generation thereof. During the dry months, the total trace metal concentrations in the PM10 fraction peaked, while PM10 particles were mostly washed out during the wet season. Wind speed showed an unexpected inverse pattern compared to wet deposition. A less significant seasonal trend was observed for the trace metal concentrations in the PM2.5 fraction, which was attributed to a faster replenishment of smaller particles into the atmosphere after rain events. Separation of trace metal concentrations into PM10–2.5 and PM2.5 fractions indicated that 79% of the total trace metal levels that were measured were in the PM2.5 fraction, which indicated a strong influence of industrial and/or combustion sources. Fractionalisation of each of the trace metal species detected showed that for each metal species, 40% and more of a specific metal was in the PM2.5 fraction, with Cr, V, Ni, Zn and Mn occurring almost completely in the PM2.5 fraction. Surface analysis with SEM supported results from the chemical analysis, which indicated that a large fraction of the particles was likely to originate from anthropogenic activities and from wind–blown dust. SEM–EDS also detected nonmetallic S that is usually associated with the Pt pyrometallurgical industry that is present in the western Bushveld Igneous Complex. Correlations between Cr, V, Ni, Zn and Mn revealed that the main sources of these species were pyrometallurgical industries. Explorative factor analysis of the unprocessed and Box–Cox transformed data for all 27 metals detected, resolved four meaningful emission sources, i.e. crustal, vanadium related, base metal related and chromium related. Comparison of trace metal species to other parameters measured (e.g. CO, BC) also indicated pyrometallurgical activities and wind–blown dust to be the main sources of trace metals in this region. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Chemistry))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

The purpose of the study was to try and see how the usage of game elements in games, affect our experience in horror games. We used the fundamentals of the 12-Item Narrative Engagement Scale to gather the data, and also changed the model a bit to better fit the subject. By having test subjects answer a questionnaire about their engagement after having tested three horror games; results could be calculated by the use of Linear Mixel Model. The results were compared in a qualitative manner to the three elements of survival horror games mentioned above, to see if each element could impact the way a player perceives a horror game. It became clear here that there is a big possibility that the way game elements are presented in horror games can have an influence on a player’s immersion and experience in horror games. However it’s still unclear which specific elements affect which aspects of the player’s immersion and experience. / Syftet med den här studien var att försöka se hur spelelement i spel kan påverka upplevelsen i skräckspel. Studien använder grunderna av 12-Item Narrative Engagement Scale-metoden, men vi vidareutvecklade den genom att öka antalet deltagare samt sättet resultatet analyserades och jämfördes. Genom att låta deltagare besvara en enkät som handlade om deras engagemang efter att ha testat tre skräckspel, kunde resultat beräknas med hjälp av Linear Mixel Moxel. Resultaten jämfördes sedan på ett kvalitativt sätt med de tre element av skräckspel, som nämnts ovan, för att se om varje element kunde påverka sättet en spelare upplever ett skräckspel. Det framgick här att det finns en stor möjlighet att sättet spelelement presenteras i spel kan göra en inverkan i spelarens inlevelse i skräckspel. Däremot är det fortfarande oklart exakt vad för element som påverkar vilken del av en spelares inlevelse.

This study is a qualitative exploration of the experiences of female executives in the financial sector of South Africa. It aims to explore the perceptions of the possible challenges which have been experienced by executive women within the financial sector while attempting to break the glass ceiling. In many countries including South Africa there lies a contradiction between our governmental policies of equality and equal representation for men and women in the employment sectors and the actual practice. Despite the fact that our employment laws have changed in order to give equal opportunities to both males and females there is still such a small percentage of women holding executive positions in corporate South Africa and this could be a consequence of the challenges faced by them. Using interpretive phenomenological analysis based on a feminist standpoint as a method, this study explores the hidden gender inequalities that exist within the boardrooms of the financial sector. It starts by exploring how available literature constructs the problem as related to the internal organisational and institutional structures of the financial sectors and individual matters and societal perceptions. Interview data from semi-structured interviews with females in executive positions were analysed using interpretive phenomenological analysis. Similar views emerged from the participants in this study, which confirm previous literature and studies. The barriers highlighted in this research were the different roles which men and women perform, compensation, networking and mentoring disadvantages, re-entry into the corporate world after maternity leave and the ability to be a mother and career woman at the same time. The study agrees that women tend to experience the glass ceiling or factors contributing to what has been termed the glass ceiling. / Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2014. / tm2015 / Psychology / MA / Unrestricted

Studierende von zwei verschiedenen Universitäten erforschen gemeinsam ein konkretes Thema. Ihre Forschungsergebnisse diskutieren, veranschaulichen und überarbeiten sie in einem Wiki. Diesen Weg des forschenden Lernens verfolgte das Projekt Exegese- WerkstattWiki, das an den theologischen Instituten der TU Dresden und der Universität Leipzig durchgeführt wurde.

Bakgrund: Anestesisjuksköterskan ansvarar för att identifiera när ett förlopp avviker från det normala i den perioperativa vården. Tidigare studier visar att explorativ laparotomi har hög förekomst av allvarliga komplikationer och 30-dagarsmortalitet. Syfte: Syftet var att undersöka korrelation mellan preoperativa variabler och förekomst av allvarliga komplikationer hos vuxna patienter som genomgår akut explorativ laparotomi på en operationsavdelning. Syftet var även att undersöka korrelation mellan preoperativa variabler och mortalitet hos vuxna patienter som genomgår akut explorativ laparotomi på en operationsavdelning. Metod: Studien var en retrospektiv registerstudie med kvantitativ ansats. Registerdata innehållande pre-, intra- och postoperativa uppgifter om 387 patienter som genomgått explorativ laparotomi, inhämtades från Provisio för åren 2019–2021. Datamatris skapades utifrån Clavien-Dindos komplikationsklassifikation. Materialet analyserades med beskrivande statistik, Spearmans rho och multipel linjär korrelationsanalys. Huvudresultat: Allvarliga komplikationer förekom hos 33,6% av patienterna. 9,6% av patienterna avled inom 30-dagar. ASA-klass var statistiskt signifikant korrelerat till allvarliga komplikationer (p: &lt;0,001). Ålder (p:&lt;0,001), ASA-klass (p: &lt;0,001) och prioritetsnivå till operation (p: 0,049) var statistiskt signifikant korrelerat till 30-dagarsmortalitet. Slutsats: Explorativ laparotomi är en allvarlig operation som i de flesta fall utförs på redan svårt sjuka patienter. Anestesisjuksköterskan har en betydande roll i optimeringen av den intraoperativa omvårdnaden. Alla människor har rätt till god evidensbaserad vård och det finns utvecklingspotential vid explorativ laparotomi. / Background: The nurse anesthetist is responsible for identifying when a course of care deviates from the normal in perioperative care. Previous studies show that exploratory laparotomy has a high incidence of severe complications and 30-day mortality. Aim: The aim was to investigate correlation between preoperative variables and the presence of severe complications in adult patients undergoing acute exploratory laparotomy in an operating department. The aim was also to investigate correlation between preoperative variables and mortality in adult patients undergoing acute exploratory laparotomy in an operating department. Method: The study was a retrospective registry study with a quantitative approach. Registry data containing pre-, intra- and postoperative data on 387 patients who underwent exploratory laparotomy were obtained from Provisio for the years 2019–2021. A data matrix was created based on Clavien-Dindo's classification of complications. The material was analyzed with descriptive statistics, Spearman's rho and multiple linear correlation analysis. Result: Severe complications occurred in 33.6% of patients. 9.6% of patients died within 30 days. ASA class was statistically significantly correlated to severe complications (p:&lt;0.001). Age (p:&lt;0.001), ASA class (p: &lt;0.001) and priority level to surgery (p: 0.049) were statistically significantly correlated to 30-day mortality. Conclusion: Exploratory laparotomy is a serious operation that in most cases is performed on already severely ill patients. The nurse anesthetist has a significant role in the optimization of intraoperative nursing. All people have the right to good evidence-based care and there is development potential in exploratory laparotomy.