O presente estudo foi dividido em dois experimentos, tendo como objetivo determinar a curva de excreção do cortisol fecal e sua estabilidade nas fezes perante exposição à diferentes períodos de tempo e temperatura entre as colheitas e análises, correlacionando os níveis de cortisol fecal com o pico de cortisol sanguíneo. No experimento 1, seis fêmeas mestiças (Dorper x Santa Inês) tiveram suas fezes totais colhidas durante 24 horas após a aplicação do hormônio adrenocorticotrófico (ACTH), além de colheitas de sangue realizadas antes da aplicação do ACTH, 60, 120 e 300 minutos depois; durante as quais foram atribuídos escores de reatividade para cada animal. Logo após as análises foi iniciado o experimento 2, no qual 9 cordeiros mestiços (Dorper x Santa Inês) foram submetidos a uma situação de estresse térmico durante os horários das 11 às 15 horas da tarde, tendo suas fezes colhidas às 23 horas do mesmo dia. Após a colheita, as fezes foram agrupadas e homogeneizadas em três grupos distintos, de onde retiraram-se alíquotas referentes aos tratamentos propostos: três temperaturas (15°, 25° e 35°) e quatro tempos (1, 3, 6 e 12 horas). Os dados da curva de excreção foram analisados por ANOVA, bem como pela correlação entre os valores de cortisol sanguíneo, fecal e reatividade. Para análise da estabilidade foi utilizada ANOVA multifatorial com dois fatores (temperatura e intervalo de tempo). Para avaliação das variáveis comportamentais foi realizada a transformação de escala dos dados para \"arco-seno raiz de porcentagem\", procedendo-se à análise de variância. O modelo estatístico contemplou os efeitos de dia (1, 2 e 3) com análise individual por animal. Os parâmetros de cortisol sanguíneo, frequência respiratória e temperatura retal foram analisados pelo teste t e correlação de Pearson. Todas as comparações de médias foram realizadas por teste F e teste t (PDIFF). A reatividade durante a colheita não exerceu efeito significativo sobre os valores de cortisol sanguíneo, os quais demonstraram médias maiores 60 minutos após a aplicação do ACTH e, após 300 minutos as ovelhas apresentaram níveis de cortisol considerados normais para ovinos sem estresse. Por outro lado, o pico de cortisol nas fezes foi verificado aproximadamente 10 a 12 horas após o pico de cortisol no sangue, não sendo verificadas diminuições significativas nas concentrações que indicassem o retorno aos níveis basais durante o período de 24 horas (P>0,05). Não foram observadas diferenças significativas entre os tempos e temperaturas aos quais as amostras de fezes foram submetidas (P>0,05), verificando-se uma tendência a manutenção da concentração do cortisol fecal em ovinos durante o período de 12 horas após a colheita. / This present study was divided into two experiments, aiming to determine the excretion curve of faecal cortisol and its stability over different periods of time and temperature between harvest and analyzes, correlating the fecal cortisol levels with peak blood cortisol. The project was developed in Biometeorology and Ethology Lab, Faculty of Animal Science and Food Engineering, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga - SP. In the first experiment, six crossbred (Dorper x Santa Inês) females sheep had their total feces collected during 24 hours after the application of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), beyond the blood samples taken before the application of ACTH, and one, two and five hours after application; in which was attributed reactivity scores to each animal. Soon after the analysis was started the second experiment, in which nine crossbred lambs (Dorper x Santa Inês) underwent a situation of thermal stress from 11 to 15 pm, and their feces were collected at 23 hours the same day. After harveting, the feces were pooled and homogenized in three different groups, where aliquots were withdrawn relating to the treatments proposed: three temperatures (15, 25 and 35°C) and four times (1, 3, 6 and 12 hours). The excretion curve data were analyzed by ANOVA, as well as the correlation between blood cortisol levels, faecal and reactivity. For stability analysis were used multifactor ANOVA with two factors (temperature and time range). To evaluate the behavioral variables was performed the transformation of the data range for \"arc sine percentage root\", proceeding to the analysis of variance. The statistical model included effects of day (1, 2 and 3) with individual analysis by animal. The blood cortisol parameters, respiratory rate and rectal temperature were analyzed by t test Pearson correlation. All comparisons of means were performed by F and t test (pdiff). The reactivity during harvest did not exert significant effect on blood cortisol levels, which showed higher averages 60 minutes after the application of ACTH, and after 300 minutes, the sheep showed cortisol levels considered normal to them, without stress. On the other hand, the peak of cortisol in the feces was observed approximately 10-12 hours after the peak of cortisol in the blood, not being observed significant decreases that indicate the return to the basal levels during the 24 hour period (P>0, 05). Were not observed no significant differences between the time and temperature in which the faecal samples were subjected (P>0.05), verifying a tendency on the maintenance of the concentration of faecal cortisol in sheep during the 12 hour period after harvest.

Diploma thesis deals with the financial analysis of a banking entity operating in Czech Republic and the analysis of time series of selected indicators. The first part gives methodology of the work and theoretical bases for processing financial analysis and time series. The second practical part consists of analysis itself. Based on the results, the state of banking company is evaluated in the final part and the possibilities and proposal are introduced for entity operating in the banking market.

The diploma thesis evaluates the strategic position and the level of financial health of a selected internationally operating company. The thesis is divided into three parts. The theoretical part defines the basic theoretical concepts of strategic and financial analysis. The analytical part evaluates the strategic position of the company and its financial situation. The last part of the thesis presents a proposal for the company's expansion strategy.

Objetivo: Determinar los factores institucionales y personales relacionados a la aplicación de indicadores de calidad en Servicios de Nutrición Hospitalaria de Lima Metropolitana, 2019. Materiales y Métodos: Estudio de enfoque cuantitativo, descriptivo, observacional, transversal y de diseño correlacional. La muestra estuvo conformada por 31 nutricionistas jefes de los Servicios de Nutrición de los Hospitales de Lima Metropolitana. Se aplico la técnica de la encuesta y como instrumento un cuestionario de 22 ítems diseñado por el autor, donde se consigna si cumple con la aplicación de indicadores de calidad e información de los factores institucionales y personales. Resultados: Los factores institucionales, tipo de contrato laboral nombrado, presenta correlación directa positiva con un valor de R de 0,607 y el valor p = 0,000. Los factores personales, el rango de edad de 51 a 60 años presenta correlación directa positiva, siendo el valor de R de 0,386 y el valor p = 0,032; el factor sexo femenino presenta correlación negativa con un valor de R de -0,372 y el valor p = 0,039. Conclusiones: La aplicación de indicadores de calidad está relacionado a factores institucionales y personales, en Servicios de Nutrición de Hospitales de Lima Metropolitana. Los indicadores de calidad establecidos para el estudio no se aplican en los Servicios de Nutrición de Hospitales de Lima Metropolitana, 2019. Los factores institucionales, tipo de contrato nombrado y los factores personales, edad de 51 a 60 años y el factor sexo femenino presentan correlación con la aplicación de indicadores de calidad en los Servicios de Nutrición de Hospitales de Lima Metropolitana. / Objective: To determine the institutional and personal factors related to the application of quality indicators in Hospital Nutrition Services of Metropolitan Lima, 2019. Materials and Methods: Study of quantitative, descriptive, observational, transversal and correlational design. The sample consisted of 31 chief nutritionists of the Nutrition Services of the Hospitals of Metropolitan Lima. The survey technique was applied and as an instrument a 22-item questionnaire designed by the author, where it is recorded if it complies with the application of quality indicators and information on institutional and personal factors. Results: The institutional factors, type of employment contract named, have a positive direct correlation with a value of R of 0.607 and the value p = 0.000. Personal factors, the age range of 51 to 60 years has a positive direct correlation, the value of R being 0.386 and the value p = 0.032; the female sex factor has a negative correlation with an R value of -0.372 and the p value = 0.039. Conclusions: The application of quality indicators is related to institutional and personal factors, in Hospital Nutrition Services of Metropolitan Lima. The quality indicators established for the study do not apply to Hospital Nutrition Services of Metropolitan Lima, 2019. The institutional factors, type of contract named and personal factors, age 51 to 60 years and the female sex factor correlate with the application of quality indicators in Hospital Nutrition Services of Metropolitan Lima. / Trabajo de investigación

This thesis presents three distinct chapters that look at different challenges faced by advanced and emerging market economies. Given the issues explored in these chapters, I contribute to several strands of economic literature. Yet, each chapter is motivated by its policy relevance and is embedded in the issues advanced and emerging market countries face. Chapter 1 explores the impact of income inequality on domestic investment in resource-rich countries. Income inequality may affect investment through different mechanisms. For instance, it could distort incentives for domestic investment; high-income inequality may discourage investment in public goods since low-income non-investors may benefit more from the returns on investment. As a result, countries with higher income inequality are expected to contribute less to their domestic investment. To investigate the relationship between income inequality and domestic investment, I use the data for 57 resource-rich countries from 1982-2015. Due to endogenous relationships among variables, I use generalized method-of moments estimators that employ lagged regressors as instruments in the estimation. Using a variety of income inequality measures, I find a negative and significant relationship between these two economic indicators: income inequality and domestic investment. This result could help resource-rich countries achieve higher growth from their resource endowments. The second chapter studies the extent to which worldwide shocks can explain country-specific inflation fluctuations. My benchmark model proxy world shocks with shocks to commodity prices. First, using a factor model of commodity prices, I extract three leading factors characterizing their co-movement. Then, I use the commodity price factors in a structural vector autoregressive model to investigate the fraction of inflation fluctuations that commodity price shocks can explain. My estimation is based on the data for 67 advanced and emerging market economies from 1970-2014. Furthermore, I examine the impact of world shocks on inflation through additional mechanisms, such as changes in the world interest rate and the global economic activity index. Compared to the previous literature, I find the increased importance of world shocks in explaining country-specific inflation fluctuations. This result can guide policymakers in setting the relevant monetary policy to control or prevent inflationary pressures in an economy. Finally, the third chapter studies whether commodity price shocks matter for estimating the output gap. First, I apply the Beveridge and Nelson decomposition method and calculate the share explained by world shocks in the variance decomposition of the output gap. In my analysis, world shocks affect the output gap through commodity price indices and global economic factors. My study includes five advanced and ten emerging market economies from 1980-2018. Then, I investigate whether commodity price shocks can improve the accuracy of this estimation. To do this, I exclude commodity price indices from my model to estimate the output gap. Finally, I use output gaps estimated with and without commodity price indices in an inflation forecasting model to compare the forecast errors of predicted inflation. Using a forecast error test, I find that the estimated output gap using commodity price indices would provide better results in forecasting inflation than other output measures.

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This dissertation is from the Joint Program Degree from the College of William & Mary and University of Virginia and awarded by the University of Virginia. The effects of petroleum hydrocarbons on salt marsh grasses and gastropods were examined under three different circumstances. In the first study reported, a small pocket marsh was repeatedly dosed with small amounts of a No. 2 fuel oil. The second study investigated the effects of a large accidental spill of No. 6 fuel oil. The third study involved single doses of a fresh and a weathered crude oil on artificially enclosed segments of marsh.

<p> A detailed study of sponge boring morphotypes within the molluscan fauna of Upper Cretaceous estuarine sediments near Drumheller, Alberta provides information relevant to the depositional environment. Problems with regard to utilizing Entobia as a paleoenvironmental indicator and as an indicator of salinity do not appear to be insurmountable.</p> <p> Distributions and characteristics of associated marine organisms (phoronid worms, gastropods and encrusting bryozoa) suggest that sponge colonies were affected by salinity and sedimentation. Boring networks in Ostrea glabra suggest that more than one species of sponge were present. Sponge distribution patterns, changes in papilla and chamber sizes and preferential occurrence of sponge borings on certain shell thicknesses provide good evidence for responses to salinity and sedimentation.</p> / Thesis / Bachelor of Science (BSc)

Due to an increasingly aging population and long-term care available, the number of older adults seeking long-term care facilities is growing. Resident satisfaction indicators have become essential measurements of service quality. However, few studies have investigated the evidence on prevalent resident satisfaction indicators and associated factors. In order to understand what are the types of resident satisfaction measurements utilized in long-term care facilities in the United States and how these types of care services influence resident satisfaction, the researcher conducted the first study, which consists of a systematic scoping review by summarizing the evidence on the types of resident satisfaction indicators utilized in long-term care settings in the United States. The second study completed a further systematic review to summarize how nursing assistants impact resident satisfaction in long-term care settings.The third study aims to translate and validate a Chinese version of the resident satisfaction assessment based on the Ohio Long-term Care Resident Satisfaction Survey (OLCRSS). The fourth study will apply hierarchical regression to predict older adults' satisfaction with individual factors and care services factors in long-term care settings. The dissertation provided a holistic solution to measure resident satisfaction in long-term care settings, assist health providers in meeting the resident`s needs and improve the quality of the care. These studies are significant because they provide fundamental data for using evidence-based indicators of resident satisfaction to enhance the residents' quality of life. Findings could also add to the existing literature regarding resident satisfaction indicators.

Since 1982, the state of Illinois has afforested over 100,000 acres of abandoned or marginal cropland. Afforestation, the planting of trees on land not in forest cover, is a sustainable forest management practice that has been shown to store carbon, increase plant diversity, improve soil and water quality, and assist in flood abatement. Our research seeks to develop practical soil and vegetative indicators that can be used by researchers and land managers alike to accurately assess changes to ecosystem function following land use shifts. To assess forest restoration success in terms of ecological function, seven ecological indicators were measured across a chronosequence of 50 afforested sites and 20 mature forested sites. Soil indicators: bulk density, aggregate stability, total nitrogen, total carbon, and labile carbon, and vegetation indicators: forest productivity and stocking density were assessed for each site. Additional sampling was completed on 25 nearby agriculture fields for each of the five soil indicators. Our data were analyzed using an analysis of variance test with multiple comparisons to examine differences among indicator values by land use category. Overall, soil indicator bulk density significantly decreased across afforested sites with stand age, whereas indicators aggregate stability, labile carbon, and total carbon significantly increased across afforested sites with stand age. Linear regression analyses were used to assess the change in indicator values with stand age. Additional linear regression analyses were used to assess the change in indicator values with site index, and significant results were recorded for 3 out of the 5 soil indicators. Indicator bulk density displayed a significant negative relationship with site index, and indicators aggregate stability and total carbon displayed a significant positive relationship with site index. Overall, our results indicated that four out of the five soil parameters measured were successful indicators of restored ecological function in afforested sites. Furthermore, we believe that the inclusion of vegetation indices forest productivity and stocking density provides vital information into forest succession and a better understanding of how productive sites benefit soil quality.