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Organizational ambidexterity is a widely researched and known phenomenon amongst academics; however there are still research gaps. Most of the studies are in private sector; however, lately researchers have called for more studies in the public sector. The purpose of this dissertation is to explain casual relationships between different leadership styles and their influence on organizational ambidexterity in public sector organization. The dissertation use a positivistic philosophy and a deductive approach; hence, a cross sectional design is used. The quantitative method chosen was a web based survey, distributed by e-mail to 171 managers operating in waste management and water and sewerage industries in the Swedish public sector. The findings of the study are that are that it is not possible to differentiate a higher level of organizational ambidexterity in any public organizational form. Another finding is that organizational ambidexterity can be positively influenced by managerial leadership in the local government administration The limitations of this dissertation are that only two industries are included and that the results cannot be generalized for other populations due to a small sample. The implications of this study are that organizational ambidexterity is a concept that is present in the public sector and can be influenced by managerial leadership under certain circumstances

Imunoglobulinas secretoras presentes nas superfícies mucosas representam a primeira linha de defesa do sistema imune adaptativo contra desafios infecciosos. A imunidade humoral de recém-nascidos prematuros é diminuída em comparação a recém-nascidos a termo. A identificação de antígenos de virulência de bactérias colonizadoras da cavidade oral pode ajudar na investigação dos mecanismos de estimulação antigênica e desenvolvimento da resposta imune de mucosa. No presente estudo, foram medidos os níveis de imunoglobulina A (IgA) e M (IgM) na saliva e caracterizada a especificidade de IgA contra antígenos de espécies de estreptococos da cavidade oral no início da vida. Foram estudadas as respostas de anticorpos IgA específicos para espécies bacterianas pioneiras (Streptococcus mitis , S. sanguinis , S. gordonii) e patogênicas (Streptococcus mutans) da cavidade oral em crianças a termo (AT) e pré-termo (PT) em duas visitas: ao nascimento (T0) e aos 3 meses de idade (T3). Salivas de 123 crianças (72 AT e 51 PT) foram coletadas durante as primeiras 10h após o nascimento (T0) e, novamente, aos 3 meses de idade (T3). Os níveis de anticorpos IgA e IgM nas amostras salivares foram analisados por ELISA. Um subgrupo de 26 crianças AT e 24 PT foram comparados com relação a padrões de especificidades de anticorpos contra diferentes antígenos de estreptococos, utilizando ensaios de Western blot. Não houve diferença significativa (p> 0,05) nos níveis salivares de IgA e IgM entre o grupo de crianças AT e PT ao nascimento. Em T3, os valores médios de IgA foram semelhantes entre os grupos e os níveis de IgM foram significativamente maiores em PT que AT (p < 0,05). Os ensaios Western blot identificaram resposta positiva de IgA para os estreptococos estudados na maioria das crianças, especialmente no grupo AT . Houve algumas diferenças entre os grupos com relação à frequência de crianças com resposta positiva a antígenos e intensidade da resposta IgA. Em geral, os antígenos de estreptococos orais foram mais frequentemente detectados e as bandas foram mais intensas no grupo de crianças AT quando comparados aos PT, especialmente em T3. Análise prospectiva de padrões de IgA específica para os antígenos de diferentes espécies de estreptococos revelou um aumento na complexidade da resposta de anticorpos IgA do nascimento (T0) até os 3 meses de vida (T3), tanto em PT quanto nos AT. O padrão de resposta de IgA aos antígenos dos estreptococos parece ser influenciado pela idade gestacional, o que pode refletir o grau de maturidade do sistema imune de mucosa / Secretory immunoglobulins present in mucosa surfaces represent the first line of defense of the adaptive immune system against infectious challenges. Preterm neonates humoral immunity is diminished compared to fullterm newborns. The identification of important antigens of virulence of oral species may help in the investigation of the mechanisms of antigenic stimulation and the development of the mucosal immune response. In the present study we measured saliva levels of immunoglobulin A (IgA) and M (IgM) and characterized the specificity of IgA against antigens of several streptococcal species found early in life. Salivary IgA antibody responses to bacterial species that are prototypes of pioneer (Streptococcus mitis, S. sanguinis, S. gordonii) and pathogenic (Streptococcus mutans) microorganisms of the oral cavity were studied in fullterm (FT) and preterm (PT) children in two visits: at birth (T0) and at 3 months of age (T3). Salivas from 123 infants (72 FT and 51 PT) were collected during the first 10h after birth (T0) and again at 3 months of age (T3). Salivary levels of IgA and IgM antibodies were analyzed by ELISA. A subgroup of 26 FT and 24 PT children were compared with respect to patterns of antibody specificities against different streptococci antigens using Western blot assays. No significant differences (P>0.05) in salivary levels of IgA and IgM between FT and PT babies were found at birth. At T3, mean sIgA values were similar between groups and salivary IgM levels were significantly higher in PT than FT (p<0.05). Western blot assays identified positive IgA response to streptococci in the majority of children, especially in the FT group. There were some differences between groups in relation to the frequency of children with positive response to antigens and intensity of IgA response. In general, oral streptococci antigens were more frequently detected and bands were more intense in FT than in PT, especially in T3. Prospective analysis of patterns of saliva IgA against Ags of different streptococcal species revealed an increase in complexity of the salivary IgA antibody response from the first day of birth (T0) to T3 in PT and FT. The patterns of salivary IgA response to streptococci antigens appear to be influenced by the gestational age, which might reflect the level of immunological maturity of the mucosal immune system

Imunoglobulinas secretoras presentes nas superfícies mucosas representam a primeira linha de defesa do sistema imune adaptativo contra desafios infecciosos. A imunidade humoral de recém-nascidos prematuros é diminuída em comparação a recém-nascidos a termo. A identificação de antígenos de virulência de bactérias colonizadoras da cavidade oral pode ajudar na investigação dos mecanismos de estimulação antigênica e desenvolvimento da resposta imune de mucosa. No presente estudo, foram medidos os níveis de imunoglobulina A (IgA) e M (IgM) na saliva e caracterizada a especificidade de IgA contra antígenos de espécies de estreptococos da cavidade oral no início da vida. Foram estudadas as respostas de anticorpos IgA específicos para espécies bacterianas pioneiras (Streptococcus mitis , S. sanguinis , S. gordonii) e patogênicas (Streptococcus mutans) da cavidade oral em crianças a termo (AT) e pré-termo (PT) em duas visitas: ao nascimento (T0) e aos 3 meses de idade (T3). Salivas de 123 crianças (72 AT e 51 PT) foram coletadas durante as primeiras 10h após o nascimento (T0) e, novamente, aos 3 meses de idade (T3). Os níveis de anticorpos IgA e IgM nas amostras salivares foram analisados por ELISA. Um subgrupo de 26 crianças AT e 24 PT foram comparados com relação a padrões de especificidades de anticorpos contra diferentes antígenos de estreptococos, utilizando ensaios de Western blot. Não houve diferença significativa (p> 0,05) nos níveis salivares de IgA e IgM entre o grupo de crianças AT e PT ao nascimento. Em T3, os valores médios de IgA foram semelhantes entre os grupos e os níveis de IgM foram significativamente maiores em PT que AT (p < 0,05). Os ensaios Western blot identificaram resposta positiva de IgA para os estreptococos estudados na maioria das crianças, especialmente no grupo AT . Houve algumas diferenças entre os grupos com relação à frequência de crianças com resposta positiva a antígenos e intensidade da resposta IgA. Em geral, os antígenos de estreptococos orais foram mais frequentemente detectados e as bandas foram mais intensas no grupo de crianças AT quando comparados aos PT, especialmente em T3. Análise prospectiva de padrões de IgA específica para os antígenos de diferentes espécies de estreptococos revelou um aumento na complexidade da resposta de anticorpos IgA do nascimento (T0) até os 3 meses de vida (T3), tanto em PT quanto nos AT. O padrão de resposta de IgA aos antígenos dos estreptococos parece ser influenciado pela idade gestacional, o que pode refletir o grau de maturidade do sistema imune de mucosa / Secretory immunoglobulins present in mucosa surfaces represent the first line of defense of the adaptive immune system against infectious challenges. Preterm neonates humoral immunity is diminished compared to fullterm newborns. The identification of important antigens of virulence of oral species may help in the investigation of the mechanisms of antigenic stimulation and the development of the mucosal immune response. In the present study we measured saliva levels of immunoglobulin A (IgA) and M (IgM) and characterized the specificity of IgA against antigens of several streptococcal species found early in life. Salivary IgA antibody responses to bacterial species that are prototypes of pioneer (Streptococcus mitis, S. sanguinis, S. gordonii) and pathogenic (Streptococcus mutans) microorganisms of the oral cavity were studied in fullterm (FT) and preterm (PT) children in two visits: at birth (T0) and at 3 months of age (T3). Salivas from 123 infants (72 FT and 51 PT) were collected during the first 10h after birth (T0) and again at 3 months of age (T3). Salivary levels of IgA and IgM antibodies were analyzed by ELISA. A subgroup of 26 FT and 24 PT children were compared with respect to patterns of antibody specificities against different streptococci antigens using Western blot assays. No significant differences (P>0.05) in salivary levels of IgA and IgM between FT and PT babies were found at birth. At T3, mean sIgA values were similar between groups and salivary IgM levels were significantly higher in PT than FT (p<0.05). Western blot assays identified positive IgA response to streptococci in the majority of children, especially in the FT group. There were some differences between groups in relation to the frequency of children with positive response to antigens and intensity of IgA response. In general, oral streptococci antigens were more frequently detected and bands were more intense in FT than in PT, especially in T3. Prospective analysis of patterns of saliva IgA against Ags of different streptococcal species revealed an increase in complexity of the salivary IgA antibody response from the first day of birth (T0) to T3 in PT and FT. The patterns of salivary IgA response to streptococci antigens appear to be influenced by the gestational age, which might reflect the level of immunological maturity of the mucosal immune system

Clinicians use growth curves to assess infant health. Most children are measured on growth curves that contain percentiles for height, weight, and head circumference by sex. Preterm infants have their own growth curves. Infants who present with measurements below the 10th percentile are considered small-for-gestational age (SGA), and infants who present with measurements above the 90th percentile are considered large-for-gestational age (LGA). Growth curves and centiles can be generated using 3 and 4 parameter distribution models. To date, no studies have been published to investigate whether growth curves generated using a 3- or 4-parameter model differ significantly. Additionally, researchers have found mixed results when exploring the association between race and pregnancy/delivery. Black mothers may have greater risks and babies with lower weights than babies born to White mothers (Borrell, Rodriguez-Alvarez, Savitz, & Baquero, 2016), and growth curves that do not consider race may misclassify non-White babies (Buck-Louis et al., 2015). In this study, I had two specific aims: (1) to compare the preterm infant growth curves and centiles generated using 3 and 4 parameter methods (Lamba Mu Sigma [LMS] and Box-Cox Power Exponential [BCPE], respectively) and assess each model for adequate fit, and (2) to use percentile cut points from race-specific and non-race-specific LMS curves to classify babies in a validation dataset as SGA or LGA. Regarding the differences in curves generated from the LMS and BCPE distributions, the curves produced using the BCPE distribution had a lower GAIC in some cases but model fit criteria for the LMS curves were adequate. The simpler models generated by the LMS method were retained for birth length, head circumference, and weight by sex with an explanatory variable of gestational age. For aim 2, results indicated that race-specific curves classified babies within expected ranges. Non-race-specific curves overidentified Black babies as SGA and underidentified them as LGA. More research is required to test if this relationship persists for babies delivered at full term.

This thesis identifies some problems, the genetic algorithm (GA) is facing in the area of vehicle routing and proposes various methods to address those problems. Those problems arise from the unavailability of suitable chromosomal representation and evaluation schemes of GA for the Vehicle Routing Problem (VRP). The representation and evaluation schemes already in use have problems of high computational cost, illegal chromosomes (chromosomes not representing a legal tour) and wrong fitness assignment (fitness not truly representing chromosome genetic makeup). These problems are addressed by several proposed new schemes, namely the Self Imposed Constraints Evaluation scheme, the Contour and Reverse Contour Evaluation schemes and the Order Skipping Evaluation scheme, which are specifically tailored for various objectives, problems and situations. Apart from this, a methodology, which has previously being used in other meta-heuristics, is incorporated into GA i.e., the independent application of GA on various sub-localities of the problem. We call this GA, a Localized Genetic Algorithm (LGA). LGA is an iterative procedure between optimization and controlled de-optimization. The procedure of controlled de-optimization is also novel. It brings the solution into a new search space while controlling its cost effectively. LGA is introduced with various search techniques, i.e. intensive, extensive and selective, the use of which depends on the problem size and the availability of computational resources. Furthermore, search reduction techniques (Fitness Approximation Methods) are also introduced into the LGA, which has enabled the LGA to be applied to large scale problems. Due to the implementation of those proposals, LGA is the first GA-driven approach to be applied to very large scale CVRP problems of up to 1200 customers, i.e. datasets presented by Feiyue in 2005 and large scale VRPTW problems of up to 1000 customers, datasets presented by Gehring and Homberger in 1999. Lastly, a standard unit for computational comparison, i.e., Bellman's Evaluation Units BEUs, is also introduced to facilitate computational comparisons for future researchers. LGA has shown promising results on CVRP and VRPTW problems. It is flexible and also has the potential to be extended to not only other vehicle routing problems, but also to other ordering problems.

Introduction: Fetal weight estimations are essential to identify and treat high-risk pregnancies. According to the Swedish association for obstetricians and gynecologists, the mean deviation of estimated weight from birth weight should be 0%, and the standard deviation 8%. Aim: To evaluate fetal weight estimations, by comparing the deviation from expected weight at the examination to at birth. Methods: Eight examiners were included from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Västerås Central Hospital. All singleton pregnancies with live births examined by these examiners from week 36+0, from January 1st to February 10th, 2022, were included, with a few exceptions. The deviations mentioned above were compared using a paired T-test. Mean and standard deviations were calculated for individual examiners. Midwives and doctors were compared using an independent T-test. Results: 86 examinations were included. There was a tendency to overestimate birth weight deviation by 1.0%, with a standard deviation of 7.8%. The differences between the deviation at the weight estimation and at birth, and between the professions, were not statistically significant. Both mean and standard deviation varied between individual examiners. Conclusions: The precision found in this study fell within what is considered acceptable according to the SFOG, and the mean did not differ statistically significantly from the recommended. Differences in fetal growth rate between examination and birth may have induced an error in the results, but the magnitude of that error cannot be determined. The study indicates differences between examiners, but a larger study is needed to draw any definite conclusions.