The purpose of this qualitative, exploratory study was to develop a deeper understanding of educational and other social experiences and relationships of post-secondary students who were clinically diagnosed with primary obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The researcher also investigated their strengths, weaknesses, coping strategies, and quality of life through mental and physical health. The majority of people with OCD have obsessions and compulsions that last greater than an hour each day or severely impact daily life. Obsessions are irritating feelings or mental pictures that individuals try to block or mitigate with irrational physical or mental compulsions, often appearing as excessive hand washing in reaction to a contamination obsession. Participants comprised seven university students who completed three self-report questionnaires and two semi-structured interviews with the researcher. Five participants submitted self-report journals. These data were examined using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA).The present study advanced previous research as it documented extensive lifelong characteristics, experiences, and relationships from these students. It yielded salient findings related to their OCD functional impairment and quality of life. Further, it showed that as students, their intellectual integration seemed to play a greater role in academic persistence than did their social integration. In addition, participants’ university policy and practice recommendations were congruent with a similar study from about a decade ago indicating that perhaps few or none of the past recommendations were implemented for the benefit of such students. Present recommendations should be implemented accordingly.

Advances in cancer treatment have led to increasing numbers of survivors left to struggle with the long-term adverse effects of disease and treatment. Many possible effects have been described including anxiety, depression, as well as physical side effects and consequences of cancer treatment. One particular adverse effect that is frequently reported but often overlooked in clinical practice is disturbances of cognitive functioning. Cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) is a growing area of research with important clinical implications for current patients and survivors. Despite a huge increase in this research endeavour in the last 20 years, many important questions remain unanswered due, in large part, to methodological limitations of many of the studies. The overall goal of this dissertation is to critically examine previous CRCI research from a methodological perspective. It will explore limitations and confounds in this research and provide suggestions for improving future work. This dissertation is comprised of three manuscripts, a critical literature review and two original papers, addressing specific research questions. The first original paper addresses the disparity between the results of objective (performance-based) and subjective (self-report) measures of cognition that is typically observed in samples of cancer patients, using multilevel modeling to explore the hypothesis that this is due to failure to address measures of change over time. Despite negative findings, the methodological approach taken to this research question provided greater evidence for this subjective-objective disparity as well as methodological suggestions for future studies. The second original paper explores the sensitivity and validity of a computerized cognitive test for measuring CRCI to determine if it might be an appropriate alternative to traditional, resource-intensive neuropsychological testing. This study found that, although the computerized measure of cognitive functioning was not sensitive enough to detect changes at the individual level or within specific domains, it was sensitive to changes in cognitive functioning at the group level suggesting its usefulness as a screening tool in research settings. By addressing methodological limitations of research to date and, specifically, the two issues identified above, this dissertation aims to a) make recommendations to help improve the quality of future research, b) validate the cognitive complaints of cancer patients, and c) improve access to cognitive assessments leading to increased detection and treatment of cognitive side effects and improvement in quality of life of cancer survivors.

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) was used to examine brain activity in women with early stage Breast Cancer (BC) and to compare their neural profiles to a matched control group. This was accomplished as participants performed two working memory tasks, before and at two time points following the chemotherapy intervention of the BC group. Nineteen BC patients between the ages of 18 and 65 years were recruited from the Ottawa Hospital Regional Cancer Centre. The nineteen control participants were matched on sex, language, age and education. The results, from whole brain analyses, show significant differences in neural activity between BC patients and matched control participants during both verbal and visuospatial working memory tasks, before and right after chemotherapy. However, these differences were no longer observed one year post chemotherapy for verbal WM processing. Performance results were not significantly different between groups until the third imaging sessions when patients made significantly more errors of omission than controls for both tasks. Importantly, mood, anxiety and fatigue all played significant roles in the observed findings demonstrating the multifaceted nature of the impact of both cancer and chemotherapy on neural function during working memory. This is one of the first fMRI studies to measure neural activations during cognitive performance both before and after chemotherapy in BC patients and a control group while controlling for many potentially confounding variables. While BC patients should be made aware of the potential cognitive challenges they might face before, during and shortly after treatment, they can also feel reassured that these impairments may not be long lasting.

Income decreasing strategies conducted by management could be harmful for various stakeholders. One example is big bath accounting, which could be accomplished in numer- ous ways. This study focus on big baths achieved by recognising impairments of goodwill. Purpose - The purpose of this study is to examine patterns of association between big bath accounting and impairment of goodwill within the telecommunication service industry in Europe. Further, this study aim at contributing to the discussion regarding utilisation of big baths through impairments of goodwill, and takes the perspective of an external stakehold- er. Delimitations - The study is restricted to European telecommunication entities comprised in STOXX Europe 600 Index. Method - This study was conducted using a hybrid of qualitative and quantitative research strategy with a deductive approach. The five indicators used to identify various big bath behaviours were inspired and derived from theory and previous research. Data from 2009 to 2015 was collected from the companies’ annual reports and websites, and analysed by the help of codification of each fulfilled indicator where 2009 merely served as a compara- tive year for 2010. By the use of a scoreboard the collected data was summarised on an ag- gregated yearly basis as the industry, not the specific companies, were analysed. Empirical findings - The results of this study suggests that big baths are executed among tele- communication companies within Europe. These are conducted simultaneously as impair- ments of goodwill are present, facilitated by earning management. A possible explanation is considered to be the room for interpretation inherent in IAS 36, enabling goodwill impair- ments to be recognised on managers’ command. Thereby an impairment could be “saved” for better or worse circumstances, or recognised when there exist an opportunity to max- imise (the manager's) wealth in the future. This study reveal the co-occurrence of goodwill impairments and big bath-indications, however a review of causal relationships are not en- abled by the limitations of the chosen method.

Cette thèse met en valeur une correspondance entre le système visuel humain d’un point de vue strictement scientifique et une expression plastique personnelle associant installations et photographies questionnant la mal-voyance. Comment rendre l'art accessible à tous ? Pour répondre à cette question nous avons interrogé les relations entre art et science et montré qu’ils sont tous deux concernés par la perception : l’art, car il développe une approche sensible, la science, car elle s’appuie sur une connaissance approfondie de l’œil et peut en pallier les défaillances. Nous avons étudié la perception d’un point vue théorique en nous attardant sur la théorie de la Gestalt, ainsi que les phénomènes que constituent les illusions et la synesthésie qui met en avant l’association des sens. Nous avons ensuite abordé la cécité à partir des points de vue terminologique et statistique, puis du vécu psychique et pratique du mal-voyant. Forts de cela, notre propos repère comment s’impose la figure de l’aveugle dans la culture occidentale à travers la littérature et les arts. De sa considération au cours de la Grèce antique à l’ouvrage, Les Aveugles, de Sophie Calle en passant par le Picasso mélancolique de la période bleue, nous avons pu apprécier l’évolution de son image. Il est alors temps de se pencher sur les rapports que le mal-voyant entretient avec l’art et, dans ce cadre l’intérêt que peut revêtir le braille qui infiltre la peinture, la sculpture, la photographie, la performance, etc. Comment appréhender l’art sans passer par le visuel en développant tous les autres sens ou en misant sur l’économie du visible ? L’architecture quant-à elle s’adapte aux normes juridiques tout en développant une créativité qui enrichit le vivre ensemble. Les innovations de la science en arrivent à proposer des outils révolutionnaires comme les dispositifs de substitution sensorielle, l’œil artificiel, ou encore un appareil photographie pour les mal-voyants. La perception étant la clé d’une communication entre voyant et mal-voyant. / This dissertation focuses on the link between the human visual system – examined from a scientific point of view – and the personal plastic expression relating facilities and photographs which deal with visual impairment. How can art be made accessible to everybody? To answer this question I explored the links between art and science and I demonstrated that both deal with perception: art develops our sensitive approach whereas science relies on a deep knowledge of the eye and can alleviate its failures. I examined perception from a theoretical point of view, dwelling on the Gestalt theory as well as on the phenomena deriving from illusions and the synesthesia which emphasizes senses association. I then dealt with blindness, first with its terminology and statistics and then with the psychological and practical life experience of the visually impaired. Against this backdrop, my research led me to investigate the image of the visually impaired through literature and art in western culture. I assessed its evolution first from an analysis of its image in ancient Greece, then through a book entitled Les Aveugles by Sophie Calle and also through the Blue Period of melancholy Picasso. This led me to examine how the visually impaired connect with art in order to gauge how fundamental Braille is in painting, sculpture, photography performance etc. How can we perceive art without resorting to visual perception? By developing all other senses or by relying on visual perception economy? Architecture adapts to legal standards while developing a kind of inventiveness which enriches the “living together”. Regarding scientific innovations, revolutionary tools are being proposed such as sensory replacement devices, the artificial eye or a camera for the visually impaired. The perception being the key of a communication between clairvoyant and visually impaired.

The topic of this thesis is the principle of prudence. The chapters are devoted to the tools (impairment, provisions, depreciation, deferred tax). The thesis is focused on Czech legislation, but it also contains the basic view of International Financial Reporting Standards.

This diploma thesis was focused on goodwill under IFRS specifically for treatment of goodwill, which arises only in acquisitions, involving the formation of relationships between parents and subsidiaries. The main objective was to approach goodwill and everything associated with it in terms of IFRS, which are generally more common for users of financial statements than US GAAP are. A substantial part of the work was devoted to business combinations that involve the recognition of goodwill. Valuation of non-controlling interests was described more specifically as well as impairment test of goodwill. Final analysis was dedicated to real presented data of goodwill in financial statements of three selected companies. Emphasis was placed on the development of discount rates in the years 2008 to 2011.

In Sweden 13% of the general adult population (16-84 years), with or without hearing aids (HAs), report that they have difficulties following a conversation when more than two people are involved. This means that more than one million people in Sweden (9 500 000 inhabitants in total) report subjective hearing difficulties. Observations further indicate that that people with hearing impairment (HI) have an unfavorable position in the labor market. Individuals with HI report poorer health more frequently and estimate their own health to be worse than their normally-hearing peers. Increased unemployment, early health-related retirement and sick leaves are also more common for people with hearing loss compared to the population at large. The focus of the present thesis is employees with mild-moderate aided HI in the labor market. The research project had three general aims: 1) to develop knowledge about how HI interacts with cognitive abilities, and different types of work-related sound environments and workrelated tasks, 2) develop tests and assessment methods that allow for the analysis and assessment of perceived problems in clinical settings and 3) to develop knowledge that enables the possibility to provide recommendations of room acoustics and work-related tasks for employees with HI. Four studies were carried out. The studies presented in papers I-III are quantitative laboratory studies focusing on health related quality of life, cognition and effort and disturbance perceived in different types of occupational noise (daycare, office and traffic). Paper IV is a qualitative interview study aiming at exploring the conceptions of working life among employees with mild-moderate aided HI. The results from papers I-IV clearly demonstrate that noise has negative effects on employees with mild-moderate aided HI. In addition to generating significantly greater effort and disturbance, it is further reported from the participants that noise at work in combination with a HI has an impact on daily life. This includes a sense of exposure during work hours, physical and mental fatigue after work, and withdrawal from social situations in the work environment and leisure activities. None of the participants with HI performed significantly worse on the visual working tasks employed in this project compared to their normallyhearing peers. This thesis shows that employees with HI objectively perform the employed  working tasks at a level similar to a well-matched normally-hearing control group. Instead, the findings of this thesis indicates that working in a noisy environment with a HI occurs at the expense of this group reporting significantly worse results on subjective measurements, including greater effort and disturbance, and lower physical health status. Interviews with these participants further confirm that these effects are indeed mostly due to noise at the workplace which could have a negative impact both physically, mentally and socially during and after work hours. The main findings of this thesis demonstrate that there is a need for extensive services for employees with HI even after a HA fitting. This thesis therefore emphasizes the importance of identifying the need for assistive listening devices, examining the room acoustics of the individual’s work setting and providing the workplace with information about the consequences of having a HI in order to facilitate communication at work. The latter is especially important as colleagues showing support and employers making adjustments at the workplace (technically or acoustically) are facilitating factors that would benefit both employees with HI and those with normal hearing. Additional research should focus on including and comparing other types of cognitive tests, work-related noises and working tasks. More research is also needed to unravel the complex area of research between factors such as cognitive processes, hearing and effort. / Tidigare forskning har visat att yrkesverksamma hörselskadade oftast har en mindre gynnsam position på arbetsmarknaden. Statistik visar att gruppen upplever en högre grad av trötthet och en lägre grad av arbetstillfredställelse. Avhandlingen har tre övergripande syften: 1) att utveckla ny teoretisk kunskap om hur hörselnedsättning samspelar med kognitiva förmågor, arbetsrelaterad ljudmiljö och typ av arbetsuppgifter, och 2) utveckla test- och utredningsmetoder ger möjlighet till analys och diagnos av upplevda problem samt 3) utveckla kunskap som ger möjlighet till åtgärd och anpassning av ljudmiljöer och arbetsuppgifter på arbetsplatser för hörselskadade. Projektets resultat visar på att yrkesverksamma med hörselnedsättning rapporterar en lägre fysisk hälsostatus och att en högre grad av upplevd ansträngning samt störning kan upplevas när de utför olika arbetsuppgifter i buller. Detta beror bland annat på att de kognitiva förmågorna blir mer belastade i en bullrig miljö och att hörselskadade är mer känsliga för höga bullernivåer. Djupintervjuer med gruppen visar även på att fysisk trötthet upplevs även efter jobbet som i sin tur kan leda till psykosociala konsekvenser för individen. Denna avhandling visar att de negativa effekterna av buller redan ses vid en lätt-måttlig hörselnedsättning hos en grupp som redan använder hörapparater. Från ett kliniskt perspektiv innebär det att dagens rehabiliteringsåtgärder bör vara mer omfattande än endast hörapparaturprovning för denna grupp. Tekniska hjälpmedel (FM-system, streamers, hörslinga, etc.) är viktiga för yrkesverksamma med hörselskada och information om konsekvenserna av att leva med en hörselnedsättning bör nås ut till arbetsgivare och kollegor för att underlätta kommunikation på jobbet.

The world population is increasing while the average age rises steadily. With this, the percentage with any kind of physical impairment is equally increasing (WHO, 2011). Today, a large part of our built environment is planned for people without disabilities. The inaccessible environment prevents people with disabilities to live independently and participate in society. This divides the population into two: the ones with a disability and the ones without one. The thesis is focused on accessibility for persons with various physical impairments in dwellings. Building legislation in Italy is limited to Milano and in Sweden the main focus has been Stockholm because of the similar population and accommodation. This master thesis aims at defining how two different countries, both part of the European Union, works with accessibility for disabled. To define and analyze the work at different political levels, laws and guidelines that is used to regulate accessibility for buildings have been investigated and to describe and analyze differences and similarities a comparative method has been used. A literature study and case study have been applied to answer the research questions, as well as for further understanding and comprehension. Both Sweden and Italy has ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of persons with disabilities, but the study has shown that there is work left before the buildings are fully accessible for all. Sweden has a clear legal framework and standards regarding accessibility in buildings, but yet many newly built dwellings do not meet the requirements or the process is ineffective concerning accessibility. Italy has not come as far as Sweden and their current building legislation is very strict, which causes problems for architects and the responsible for control of plans. Control of how well new built apartment houses function is poor and both countries have work to be done in the field; especially In Milano, Italy. When it comes to social support Italy is behind Sweden in available and free social support for disabled. In Italy it is depending on the family to help while in Sweden society take more responsibility. So the thesis shows that the countries have differences despite the same legal framework from the UN and the EU. They can learn from each other and together build a more accessible environment.

O brinquedo é um importante artefato na infância. Através dele a criança tem oportunidade de desenvolver suas competências e habilidades. Para criança com deficiência visual, além disso, a utilização do brinquedo pode servir como um potencial estimulador de seus resquícios visuais e sentidos remanescentes. O objetivo principal dessa pesquisa é o de propor orientações para designers no projeto de brinquedos a fim de facilitar o processo de desenvolvimento desses produtos enfocando as necessidades das crianças com deficiência visual. O trabalho escrito está organizado na disposição de cinco capítulos, a saber: Introdução, Revisão de Literatura, Metodologia, Desenvolvimento e Finalização. A metodologia, por sua vez, está exposta em etapas consecutivas: a Etapa 1 diz respeito a revisão de literatura, essa foi uma importante etapa da qual foi extraída uma análise qualitativa de dados a respeito dos temas abordados que foram: processo de desenvolvimento de produtos, usabilidade, o brinquedo e a criança com deficiência visual. A Etapa 2 é o desenvolvimento que apresenta-se dividido em dois itens principais: o estudo de direcionado e a delimitação das orientações. No estudo direcionado utilizaram-se informações levantadas a partir da revisão de literatura para realização do desenvolvimento do projeto de brinquedos através de fases metodológicas previstas para geração de produtos em Löbach (2001) com a participação de usuários (crianças com deficiência visual, familiares e profissionais envolvidos no atendimento dessas crianças). Posteriormente, na Etapa 3 com a organização dessas orientações prévias modelou-se um questionário aplicado com designers e profissionais de áreas afins para observar a opinião sobre o compendio de orientações previamente delimitadas. Assim, os resultados apontaram que a maioria das pessoas questionadas possuía pouco conhecimento sobre o tópico deficiência visual. Os entrevistados consideraram as informações delimitadas pertinentes e apontaram que um aprofundamento em alguns tópicos melhoraria o entendimento dos mesmos. / The toy is an important artifact in childhood. Through it the child has the opportunity to develop their skills and abilities. Children with visual impairments, besides the use of the toy can serve as a potential enhancer of its remaining traces and visual senses. The main objective of this research is to propose guidelines for designers in the design of toys to facilitate the process of developing these products focusing on the needs of children with visual impairment. The written work is organized in five chapters available, namely: Introduction, Literature Review, Methodology, Development and Completion. The methodology, in turn, is exposed in consecutive steps: Step 1 concerns the literature review, this was an important step which was extracted from a qualitative analysis of data regarding the topics discussed were: the process of product development, usability , toy and children with visual impairments. Step 2 is the development that has been divided into two main items: the study of directed and delineation guidelines. In the study we used directed information gathered from the literature review to completion of project development toys through methodological phases planned for generation of products Lobach (2001 ) with the participation of users ( visually impaired children , families and professionals involved in the care of these children ). Subsequently, in Step 3 with the organization of these guidelines prior modeled whether a questionnaire with designers and professionals in related fields to observe the review of compendium of guidelines previously delimited. Thus, the results indicated that the majority of those questioned had little knowledge about the topic visually impaired. Respondents considered the relevant information delimited and pointed to a deepening in some topics would improve understanding of the same.