Background: Functional sales has in recent years become increasingly debated among companies, as a result of increased interest in developing more sustainable strategies. Meanwhile, companies lack knowledge of what changes functional sales causes, particularly about what incentives, barriers and financial implications that affect the development and implementation of the business model. Since companies are not fully aware of what aspects to take into consideration before implementing functional sales, many companies hesitate on taking the step towards a more sustainable future. Research aim: The research aim of this study is to investigate underlying incentives and barriers that affect the development and implementation of functional sales within retail industry, but also what financial implications it causes. Moreover, this study aims to investigate how the conditions for an implementation of functional sales can be improved, by managing the incentives and barriers identified. Method: This study has been conducted with pragmatism as a scientific starting point. Moreover, an abductive approach has been used. The research design for this study is qualitative design, where a simple case study was selected through a targeted sampling of ”a typical case”. The respondents were selected through a snowball and a targeted sampling. The method used for conducting the analysis was a thematic analysis. Findings: The incentives identified in this study were environmental sustainability, meeting customer needs, closer connection to the customer and profitability. The barriers identified were increased requirements for product design, increased costs for warehousing, service and transportation, changes in cash flows, existing accounting principles and lack of profitability. In order to strengthen versus bridge these incentives and barriers, companies should take the following aspects into consideration: a well-adapted design, environmentally friendly and efficient transportation, ensure high inventory turnover rate, an adequate pricing, a well- formulated guarantee agreement and ensure financing. / Bakgrund: Funktionsförsäljning har på senare år blivit allt mer omdebatterat bland företag, till följd av att ökat intresse av att utveckla mer hållbara strategier. Samtidigt saknas forskning om vilka processer som förändras vid funktionsförsäljning, samt vilka incitament, hinder och finansiella implikationer som påverkar utveckling och implementeringen av affärsmodellen. I och med att företag inte är fullt medvetna om vilka aspekter de behöver ta i beaktning inför en implementering, tvekar företag att ta steget mot en mer hållbar framtid. Syfte: Denna studie syftar till att undersöka vilka bakomliggande incitament och hinder som påverkar utvecklingen och implementeringen av en cirkulär affärsmodell baserad på funktionsförsäljning inom detaljhandeln, samt vilka finansiella implikationer de ger upphov till. Vidare syftar studien till att undersöka hur förutsättningarna för en implementering av funktionsförsäljning kan förbättras, genom hantering av dessa incitament och hinder. Metod: Studien har genomförts med pragmatism som vetenskaplig utgångspunkt. Vidare har ett abduktivt angreppssätt använts. Studiens forskningsdesign är kvalitativ, där ett fallföretag valts ut genom ett målstyrt urval av ”ett typiskt fall”. Respondenterna valdes ut genom både ett snöbollsurval och ett målstyrt urval. Den analysmetod som studien har använts sig av är en så kallad tematisk analys. Slutsats: De incitament som identifierats i denna studie är miljömässig hållbarhet, möta kundens behov, komma närmare kund samt lönsamhet. De hinder som identifierats är ökade krav på produktdesign, ökade kostnader vid lagerhållning, service och transport, förändrade kassaflöden, befintliga redovisningsprinciper samt utebliven lönsamhet. För att förstärka respektive överbrygga dessa bör företag ta följande aspekter i beaktning: en anpassad design, miljövänliga och effektiva transporter, säkerställa hög lageromsättningshastighet, rätt prissättning, ett välformulerat garantiavtal samt säkerställa finansiering.

This study investigated international medical graduates (IMGs), registered between January 1, 2007 and April 14, 2011, at the Access Centre for Internationally Educated Health Professionals in Ontario. By way of logistic regression in a cross-sectional design, it was found that permanent residents who were recent immigrants had lesser chances of being employed full-time at registration (baseline). By way of survival analysis in a cohort design, it was found that younger IMGs who have been in Canada less than 5 years and who have taken the Medical Council of Canada Evaluating Exam (MCCEE) have the greatest chances of securing residency positions in Canada or the US, whereas IMGs from Eastern Europe, South Asia and Africa have lesser chances. It was revealed that registered IMGs are a vulnerable population, and certain groups may be disadvantaged due to underlying characteristics. These groups can be targeted for specific interventions.

By using the cross-sectional data from the World Bank Enterprise Survey, this dissertation selects a sample of over 3000 firms from 16 Central and Eastern European countries during the 2008 financial crisis, to assess (1) How effective priori classifications are to identify financially constrained and unconstrained firms in times of economic recession (2) What the main robust determinants are at the firm and country-level that affect SMEs' degree of financing obstacles (3) What experiences and lessons we can learn from 2008 crisis to combat with 2020 and future emerging recession. Our evidence indicates that during the economic crisis happened in 2008, size, industry, ownership and EU dummy are useful priori classifications while distinguishing firms' different degree to financing troubles, although some of other priori classifications appeared on other literature are ineffective. Smaller firms, foreign-owned and firms in manufacturing are more likely to report the financing trouble and have less access to formal sources of finance. However, government-owned firms and firms with adequate educated workers are less likely to be financially constraint. The result confirms that economic freedom, financial market and trade integration all have a significant relationship with SMEs' access to finance. For...

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Essential hypertension (HTN) has been and continues to be a serious public health problem across the globe, particularly among Black races, with an estimated morbidity rate of over 1 billion people and an estimated mortality rate of 9.4 million people worldwide. Essential HTN can lead to a host of chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease (CVD), stroke, myocardial infarction, brain damage, kidney failure, and retinopathy. The main purpose of this quantitative, descriptive, nonexperimental study was to investigate the association of physical inactivity, length of stay in the United States, immigrants' health status, and food security as risk indicators in the development of essential HTN among African-born immigrants after accounting for age and education. The conceptual framework for this study was the socioecological model of health (SEMH). A secondary dataset from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), for the year 2014, was used for this study, including data for Africa-born immigrants over the age of 40 who participated in the survey. Logistic regression was used for statistical analyses. The results of the study revealed that length of stay or years in spent in the United States have a significant association with the development of essential HTN. Results from this study could be used to promote positive social change by identifying and assessing challenges in implementing intervention programs meant to assist in controlling essential HTN among African-born immigrants and Black populations who are disproportionately affected by this condition.

The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) garnered global news media attention in Summer 2014 when it seized a significant section of land in Iraq and Syria. The group then mishandled and executed its captives. There is a lack of consensus among the international community, led by Russia and the United States, on how best to address the threat posed by ISIS. An understanding of the function of Russian and U.S. news media coverage of the ISIS threat is an appropriate research topic. The purpose of this qualitative content analysis study was to explore how the U.S, Russian, and Qatari news media represented ISIS between May 1, 2014, and May 1, 2015. The theoretical framework for this study was the agenda-setting theory. The research questions centered on how 3 news media outlets from the 3 countries represented ISIS within this time frame. The study design was a qualitative deductive content analysis with purposeful sampling. Data were coded in a binary manner and analyzed using the data software program Dedoose. Themes identified in the analysis were mitigation, insecurity, foreign fighters, responsibility, and propaganda. The results of this study suggest that there are similarities and differences in Russian, Qatari, and U.S. media outlets' depiction of ISIS between May 1, 2014, and May 1, 2015, which can be explained by agenda-setting theory. The significance of this study is twofold. First, the information arising from the study may influence social change by assisting counterterrorism officials and policy makers in making informed decisions about how to mitigate the ISIS threat. Second, this study contributes to the existing literature on ISIS and its global media representation for future researchers.

The rise of TikTok has revolutionised our interaction with music on social media, altering how we discover and share songs. Artists recognise TikTok's potential as a launchpad for their careers, while music streaming platforms have embraced user-generated content and introduced features for incorporating music into online sharing. Based on a user centred mixed-methods approach of content analysis and semi-structured interviews with established TikTok creators, this thesis investigates the motivations and mindsets behind sharing music-related content on the platform. Overall, 285 videos were analysed in the first research pillar and 16 user-interviews were conducted in the second pillar. The interviewed participants were all located in the US, under the age of 30 and required to have posted music-related content in the past 30 days. The data of both research pillars was analysed based on an inductive affinity mapping process. The study identified four distinct creator mindsets: reach-oriented, music-oriented, artist-oriented, and self-oriented mindsets. Each mindset represents a unique approach to music sharing, shaped by specific creator motivations and content themes. The study recommends features that enhance personalisation, facilitate music sharing and authentic self-expression, and offer customisation options for visual aesthetics. Additionally this research recommends exploring AI-generated sounds to create a framework for sharing music in a set context, following trending audio ideas on TikTok. The concept of personalisable sharing templates is explored, highlighting the different nuances to be considered when designing them for creators with different mindsets and offering customisation options to express themselves. By considering the unique motivations and characteristics of each mindset and content theme, these design implications aim to enrich the creator experience, foster engagement within the TikTok community and meaningful connections between creators and their audience. In conclusion, this thesis highlights the importance of considering distinct creator mindsets and content types when exploring motivations and user needs in music sharing on TikTok, providing a foundational guideline for platform designers and music industry professionals to tailor their strategies to meet the specific needs and preferences of creators. Future research should evaluate the discovered mindsets based on a quantitative approach and investigate the applicability of these mindsets to other areas of content creation, further extending our understanding of user needs and motivations across various domains when sharing content online. / TikToks frammarsch har revolutionerat vår interaktion med musik på sociala medier och förändrat hur vi upptäcker och delar låtar. Artister förstår TikToks potential som en möjlig språngbräda för deras karriärer, medan musikstreamingtjänster har välkomnat användargenererat innehåll och infört funktioner för att inkludera musik i online-delning. Baserat på en användarcentrerad mixad metod bestående av innehållsanalys och semistrukturerade intervjuer med etablerade TikTok-kreatörer, undersöker denna avhandling motivationen och tankesättet bakom att dela musikrelaterat innehåll på plattformen. 285 tiktok videor analyserades, följt av 16 användarintervjuer. Samtliga intervjuade var under 30 år, befann sig i USA, samt hade publicerat musikrelaterat innehåll under de senaste 30 dagarna. Data från båda delarna av arbetet analyserades baserat på en induktiv affinitetskartläggning. Studien identifierar fyra distinkta tankesätt hos kreatörer: räckvidds-orienterade, musikorienterade, artist-orienterade och själv-orienterade tankesätt. Varje tankesätt representerar en unik inställning till musikdelning, formad av specifika motivationskällor och innehållsteman. Studien rekommenderar funktioner som förbättrar personaliseringen, underlättar musikdelning och autentiskt självuttryck samt erbjuder anpassningsalternativ för visuell estetik. Dessutom rekommenderar denna forskning att utforska AI-genererade ljud för att skapa ett ramverk för att dela in musik i konkreta sammanhang, utefter ljudrelaterade idétrender på TikTok. Ett koncept med anpassningsbara mallar för delning undersöks och belyser de olika nyanser som bör beaktas vid utformandet av dem för kreatörer med olika tankesätt samt erbjuder anpassningsalternativ. Genom att ta hänsyn till de unika motivationskällorna, egenskaperna för varje tankesätt och innehållsteman ämnar dessa designförslag att berika kreatörs-upplevelsen, främja engagemang inom TikTok-communityn och etablera meningsfulla kontakter mellan kreatörer och deras publik. Sammanfattningsvis belyser den här avhandlingen vikten av att ta hänsyn till kreatörernas olika tankesätt och innehållstyper vid undersökning av motiv och användarbehov vid musikdelning på TikTok, vilket ger en grundläggande riktlinje för plattforms-designers och yrkesmän inom musikindustrin att skräddarsy sina strategier för att möta kreatörernas specifika behov och preferenser. Framtida forskning bör utvärdera de upptäckta tankesätten baserat på en kvantitativ metod och undersöka tillämpligheten av dessa tankesätt på andra områden för innehållsskapande, vilket ytterligare ökar vår förståelse för användarnas behov och motiv inom olika domäner när de delar innehåll online.

Cybercriminals' digital threats to security are increasing, and organisations seek smarter solutions to combat them. Many organisations are using artificial intelligence (AI) to protect their assets. Statistics show that the adoption of AI in cyber security worldwide has grown steadily over the past few years, demonstrating that more and more companies are searching for more effective methods than traditional ones. At the same time, some are cautious about its implementation. Previous research shows this is a topic of discussion in the cyber security branch. Researchers seek to understand further how AI is used, uncovering how it may benefit security and the challenges organisations face. Sweden is a country known for its high level of technological advancement and innovation, and it has seen a particularly significant increase in the integration of AI in cyber security practices. Using semi-structured interviews as the primary research method, a diverse range of companies, were interviewed regarding their viewpoints on the topic, both those implementing AI-based cyber security solutions and those who do not. The research objectives were to examine how companies in Sweden understand and perceive AI in cyber security, identify their perceived risks associated with any potential opportunities with AI adoption, and explore possible future developments in the field. Through in-depth interviews, participants discussed their experiences, concerns, and expectations surrounding the topic, showing anywhere from mixed to negative opinions from companies not utilising AI cyber security. This study shows how more research is needed to advance our understanding of AI cyber security and how it is implemented in companies. The study concludes that when showing interest in strengthening their security with the help of AI, organisations should consider the ethical and legal issues as well as the importance of choosing the right AI solutions. Professionals recommend AI implementation for companies wishing to increase cyber security defences in the rising and ever-changing cyber threats landscape. / Cyberbrottslingarnas digitala hot mot säkerheten ökar, och organisationer söker smartare lösningar för att bekämpa dem. Många organisationer använder artificiell intelligens (AI) för att skydda sina tillgångar. Statistik visar att användningen av AI inom cybersäkerhet världen över har ökat stadigt under de senaste åren, vilket visar att allt fler företag söker efter mer effektiva metoder än de traditionella. Samtidigt är vissa försiktiga vad gäller AI:s implementering. Tidigare forskning visar att detta är ett diskussionsämne inom cybersäkerhetsbranschen. Forskarna vill förstå mer om hur AI används, hur det kan gynna säkerheten och vilka utmaningar organisationerna står inför. Sverige är ett land som är känt för sin höga nivå av teknisk utveckling och innovation och man har sett en särskilt betydande ökning av integrationen av AI i cybersäkerhetspraxis i landet. Med hjälp av semistrukturerade intervjuer som primär forskningsmetod intervjuades en rad olika företag om deras syn på ämnet, både de som implementerar AI-baserade cybersäkerhetslösningar och de som inte gör det. Målet var att undersöka hur företag i Sverige förstår och uppfattar AI inom cybersäkerhet, att identifiera deras upplevda risker i samband med eventuella möjligheter med AI-adoption och utforska möjlig framtida utveckling inom området. Genom djupintervjuer diskuterade deltagarna sina erfarenheter, farhågor och förväntningar i ämnet, som visade allt från blandade till negativa åsikter från företag som inte använder AI i cybersäkerhet. Studien visar att det behövs ytterligare forskning för att öka vår förståelse för AI-cybersäkerhet och hur den ska implementeras i företag. Studien drar slutsatsen att organisationer som visar intresse för att stärka sin säkerhet med hjälp av AI bör ta hänsyn till etiska och juridiska frågor samt vikten av att välja rätt AI-lösningar. Experter rekommenderar att AI implementeras för företag som vill stärka sin cybersäkerhet i det ständigt ökande och föränderliga cyberhotslandskapet.

<p> Studies to date involving the network properties of drainage systems have been theoretical in nature; and the environmental implications of these network characteristics have not been exploited to the extent that would appear warranted. This situation exists due to the lack of an accurate data source. Many studies have recognized this. inadequacy of the conventional data sources to meet the necessary requirements of efficiency (in data production and handling), accuracy, consistency and uniformity. </p> <p> The present study demonstrates that high altitude, small scale colour infrared photography is capable of providing drainage network data that fulfill all these basic requirements. Data derived from the three drainage basins, mapped from a variety of data sources, demonstrate three important points. The level of detail obtained from the small scale colour infrared photography far exceeds that available from more traditional data sources. Secondly, these network data are statistica+ly consistent with the traditional data sources. Thirdly, the basin characteristics derived from the high altitude data source show a marked association with the known surficial environments and an expected variation from one surficial environment to another. </p> / Thesis / Master of Arts (MA)

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