Made available in DSpace on 2015-05-14T13:16:04Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 999706 bytes, checksum: dc01f6366bc954bb9e9a52288d41ed75 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-12-11 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / This thesis aimed at elaborating and testing an explanatory model of attitudes towards the use of piercing based on the hypothesis of conventional commitment. For this, three empirical studies were done. Study 1 had the objective of identifying the psychometric parameters of Attitudes toward Use of Piercing Scale. Participants were 273 undergraduates, male and female, from 17 to 50 years-old, belonging to a private institution in João Pessoa (PB). They answered the following instruments: Attitudes toward Use of Piercing Scale (ATUPS), Conventional Group Identification Scale, Musical Preference Scale (MPS) and Basic Values Survey (BVS) as well as demographic asks. Results indicate that all items of the ATUPS were discriminating, and this instrument showed an only factor, with Cronbach s Alpha (α) of 0.97. Moreover, the psychometric adequacy for the other three instruments was confirmed. Study 2, done in João Pessoa, had the objective of both testing five hypotheses about the correlates of attitudes toward the use of piercing and elaborating an exploratory model about these attitudes. Participants were 210 16-to-30-years-old undergraduate students from a public university, most of them male (57%). They answered seven instruments: ATUPS, BVS, Attitudes toward Alcohol Use Scale (ATAUS), Attitudes toward Drug Use Scale (ATDUS), Attitudes toward Marijuana Use Scale (ATMUS), Musical Preference Scale (MPE-16), and Alternative Group Identification Scale (AGIS), as well as demographic asks. Results indicated that, with the exception of the hypothesis correspondent to the subfunction excitement, all the other hypotheses were confirmed. For instance, the identification with anti-conventional groups (alternative) and the preference for anti-conventional music favored the positive attitudes toward the use of piercing, while the importance given to normative values inhibited these attitudes. In addition, it was observed that these attitudes were directly related to those which were favorable to the use of drugs (alcohol, marijuana and drugs, in general). The explanatory model, which proved to be adequate, determined the musical preference, the identification with anti-conventional groups, and the normative values as explaining elements for the attitudes toward the use of piercing. These attitudes preceded the favorable attitudes toward the use of drugs. Study 3 aimed at replicating these findings by considering a sample of 230 17-to-48-years-old public and private undergraduate students from Aracaju (SE), most of them female (66.4%). They answered the same instruments as used in the previous study. Results suggested a less satisfactory model, though theoretically expected. In this case, only the normative values and the identification with the anti-conventional groups explained the attitudes towards the use of piercing, which were related to the attitudes toward the use of drugs. Finally, a hierarchical model, which proved to be adequate to explain the data, with the normative values (conventional commitment) → attitudes (toward the use of piercing) → behavior (use of drugs), was tested. The results of the three studies supported the conventional commitment hypothesis, indicating that the favorable attitudes towards the use of piercing can be accounted for the adherence to normative values and identification with anticonventional social groups, and those attitudes may contributing to the understanding of youth involvement in drugs use. / A presente tese teve como objetivo principal elaborar e testar um modelo explicativo das atitudes frente ao uso de piercing, partindo da hipótese do compromisso convencional. Neste sentido, realizaram-se três estudos empíricos. O Estudo 1 pretendeu, principalmente, conhecer os parâmetros psicométricos da Escala de Atitudes frente ao Uso de Piercing (EAFUP). Participaram 273 estudantes universitários de uma instituição privada de João Pessoa (PB), distribuídos equitativamente quanto ao sexo, com idades de 17 a 50 anos. Estes responderam a Escala de Atitudes Frente ao Uso de Piercing (EAFUP), e os seguintes instrumentos: Escala de Identificação com Grupos Convencionais (EIGC), Escala de Preferência Musical (EPM) e Questionário dos Valores Básicos (QVB), além de informações demográficas. Observou-se que os onze itens da EAFUP eram discriminativos, e que esta medida apresentou um único fator, com Alfa de Cronbach (α) de 0,97. Confirmou-se também a adequação psicométrica dos outros três instrumentos. O Estudo 2, realizado em João Pessoa (PB), teve como objetivos principais testar cinco hipóteses sobre os correlatos das atitudes frente ao uso de piercing e elaborar um modelo explicativo das mesmas. Assim, 210 estudantes universitários de instituição pública, a maioria do sexo masculino (57%), com idades entre 16 e 31 anos, responderam sete instrumentos: EAFUP, QVB, Escala de Atitudes frente ao Uso de Álcool (EAFUA), Escala de Preferência Musical (EPM-16), Escala de Identificação com Grupos Alternativos (EIGA), Escala de Atitudes frente ao Uso de Drogas (EAFUD) e Escala de Atitudes frente ao Uso de Maconha (EAFUM), e informações demográficas. Os resultados indicaram que, com exceção da hipótese correspondente à subfunção experimentação, todas as demais foram corroboradas; isto é, a identificação com grupos anticonvencionais (alternativos) e a preferência por músicas anticonvencionais favoreceram as atitudes positivas frente ao uso de piercing, ao passo que a importância atribuída aos valores normativos inibiu tais atitudes. Observou-se ainda que estas atitudes se correlacionaram diretamente com aquelas que eram favoráveis ao uso de drogas (álcool, maconha e drogas em geral). O modelo explicativo, o qual provou ser adequado, determina a preferência musical, a identificação com grupos anticonvencionais e os valores normativos como elementos explicativos das atitudes frente ao uso de piercing, as quais precederam as atitudes favoráveis frente ao uso de drogas. O Estudo 3 objetivou replicar estes resultados, considerando uma amostra de 230 estudantes universitários de Aracaju (SE), matriculados em instituições públicas e privadas de ensino, com idades entre 17 e 48 anos, a maioria do sexo feminino (66,4%). Todos responderam os instrumentos usados no estudo anterior. Os resultados sugeriram um modelo menos satisfatório, embora teoricamente esperado. Neste caso, unicamente os valores normativos e a identificação com grupos anticonvencionais explicaram as atitudes frente ao uso de piercing, as quais estavam relacionadas às atitudes frente ao uso de drogas. Finalmente, testou-se o modelo hierárquico valores normativos (compromisso convencional) → atitudes (frente ao uso de piercing) → comportamento (uso de drogas), que se mostrou adequado para explicar os dados. Os resultados dos três estudos apoiaram a hipótese de compromisso convencional, indicando que as atitudes frente ao uso de piercing podem ser explicadas pela adesão aos valores normativos e identificação com grupos sociais anticonvencionais, e que tais atitudes podem contribuir para o entendimento do envolvimento dos jovens com consumo de drogas.

The incidence and prevalence of body piercing health complications among students is a public health matter that has not been researched in Puerto Rico. College students are the most consistent participants in body piercing activities and have reported health complications resulting in visits to medical offices and emergency rooms. Based on the health belief model, which is used to explain and predict health attitudes, the purpose of this quantitative nonexperimental study was to analyze the health risks and possible complications occurring after body piercing and to investigate the association between sex and age and medical complications. Data were collected from 64 nursing students from Puerto Rico who completed the Body Piercing Experience survey. Results of descriptive analyses and logistic regression analyses indicated no significant associations between sex and age and medical complications. Most participants reported they would repeat a body piercing after having knowledge of the health risks and complications of this activity. Results may be used in various ways: to change attitudes of health professionals and the general population regarding health implications related to body piercing; to develop educational programs for children, because results of this study revealed that piercing began in many participants at age 11; and to develop education through promotion and prevention programs with college students and others who engage in body piercing.

The automotive industry is currently trying to replace the conventional steels to lightweight materials such as aluminum or carbon fiber to meet all stricter emission targets. When using such materials, traditional joining methods, such as spot welds, could be difficult to use. Therefore, more focus has been put on self-piercing rivets (SPR).In whole car models used in crash simulations, substitution models are used to model SPR joints. It is important to calibrate these models for different load cases. Volvo Cars Corporation (VCC) are currently calibrating using time-consuming physical tests where the SPR joint is subjected to loads in different directions. To save time, a way of virtually evaluating the SPR joint strength is therefore sought after. To do this, a method was developed using non-linear FEM in LS-DYNA. The method was then used to perform sensitivity studies concerning friction, sheet thickness and rivet geometry.The method developed can be divided into three parts. The process simulation, where the rivet insertion was simulated. A springback analysis, where the material is allowed to springback, closer resembling the real behaviour. Finally, the three destructive tests, lap-shear, cross-tension and KS2, were built using the geometry and initial values from the springback.For the process simulation, an explicit solution was used. To handle the large deformations present during the event, r-adaptivity was used together with a kill-element-method to describe failure, based on CrachFEM or Gissmo. The following springback analysis was then performed using one implicit step.For the destructive tests, a solid element representation of the SPR joint was created using the geometry and initial values from the springback. A shell-solid hybrid model was used to keep the computational time low.Using the method, a good correlation was found both for the process- and the destructive test simulations when compared to experiments. Furthermore, it could be concluded that friction, sheet thickness and rivet geometry affects the SPR joint strength and characteristics.

The doctrine of piercing the veil and its application in Czech corporate law The theses concerns with the doctrine of piercing the veil and its application in Czech corporate law. Firstly, the crucial term of the separateness of assets is described as a characteristic feature of a legal subject under Czech law, followed with explanation of the concept of the shareholders' guarantee in the Czech law based on the fact that all companies are legal persons with the asset separateness, even though their function is similar to the partnership. The doctrine of piercing the veil was developed by judiciary decisions dealing with different situations and circumstances, under which the legal separateness of a corporation and separateness of assets are misused by shareholders and creditors (voluntary or involuntary) are harmed. The main question asked is whether in specific cases of "corporate form abuse" law can find a way to reimburse directly the harmed creditors or the company. Based on the description of development of judiciary in the United States, Great Britain and Germany and its conclusions, specific factors for application the doctrine were researched, such as alter ego, instrumentality, undercapitalization, agency, commingling of funds etc. These factors are used differently by courts and can be analyzed...

The purpose of my Thesis is an analysis of primary and secondary liability of Members of the Board of directors agains third persons especially against creditors. The main aim of the Thesis is to provide a comprehensive explanation of how the law enshrined in the creditors'pursuit of their rights directly to the members of the Board compared with the international rules. The thesis is composed of tree chapters. Chapter one is a general introduction to an organization, functions, duties and responsibilities of a joint-stock company.The chapter is subdivided into three parts. Part one describes generaly the Board of directors and focuses on its nature, actions, as well as on the casting of its members, on the membership itself and the relationship between the company and its members.The part two targets the rights and obligations related to executing the function given. Part tree pays attention to the responsibility and lability of Members of Board to joint-stock company. Chapter two examines relevant Czech legislation of legal personal lability of Members of the Board, who took part in establishment and managment of the legal entity. This chapter, too, consists of tree parts. Part one deals with individual regulations of the personal liability of Members of the Board. Part two elaborates on the...

Student Number : 9304796E - MA research report - School of Psychology - Faculty of Humanities / The central aim of this research was to ascertain the psychological meaning of, and motivation for body piercing in a sample of female body modifiers. It was decided to conduct research on the psychology of body piercing because although medical, anthropological and social research has been conducted into piercing practices and body modification, very little has focused on the underlying psychological meanings and motivations associated with body modification. Furthermore, the focus of this study was limited to women because it was felt that had both genders been included, possibly gender based differences would have caused the scope of the research project to become too wide. By focusing specifically on women, it was felt that a deeper understanding of the underlying psychological motivations for the piercing of the female body could be explored. For the purposes of this research, the operational definition of body piercing is defined as that which does not echo mainstream fashion trends or promote Eurocentric, socially sanctioned ideals of beauty. The participants needed to have pierced body parts (excluding their earlobes), and the piercings or the piercing process should hold specific significance and meaning for them. Participants who had pierced body parts only for aesthetic reasons were excluded from this study. Those who were included attributed more than just a decorative function and aesthetic value to their body piercings. In other words, they deviated from mainstream piercing practices in terms of the meanings they attach to their piercings. Some of the piercings and piercing practices and processes undertaken by the participants represent a departure from the ‘norm’, and have been described as bordering on pathological. The research sought to identified commonalities and differences amongst the participants and to understand their experiences and behaviour within the context of psychodynamic feminist frameworks. Broadly defined, feminism is a movement organized around the belief that men and women are/should be socially, politically and economically equal. Contemporary feminism, which influences perceptions of female body modification, is split into two distinct strands: one school of feminism views body modification as a form of self-injury and self-mutilation while the other holds that it is a positive resistance in the face of gender norms (Pitts, 2003). This was taken into account in this study. Given that the participants were all women, and that the relationship between body modification and social structures of power/authority are a central concern in feminist literature (Atkinson, 2002), this paradigm was chosen because it provides an appropriate and relevant framework within which to explore the underlying motives and meaning of body piercing for female body piercers. Their attitudes, meaning making processes and relationships with their bodies in relation to their piercings are used to uncover the significance of their body projects and their decisions to be pierced. The central themes which emerged through the thematic data analysis are related back to the feminist literature. Psychoanalysis explores repressed or unconscious impulses, object relations, anxieties, and internal conflicts. For this reason, a psychodynamic framework was used to provide a context within which to explore the unconscious motivations, anxieties and defenses employed by the participants. Freud’s theories of masochism are examined in an attempt to further understand the female body piercer. These are placed within a general psychodynamic framework, and the works of Bowlby, Fonagy, Kernberg, Malan and Winnicott are used to support the findings of the research. The research is based in the qualitative paradigm, with the aim of exploring and describing the body modifier’s thoughts, fantasies, feelings and experiences around being pierced. The data gathered was analyzed using thematic content analysis to elucidate the participants’ reasons for choosing to modify their bodies, and to highlight the meanings of these practices in the context of the their personal histories. In total, six participants were interviewed, although one interview was not included for analysis as it was felt that the data gathered from this interview, while not contradicting the rest of the data gathered, was superficial in content and did not contribute to the research. The excluded participant spoke very broadly and did not really offer much personal information as to the meaning and motives behind her piercings. The research explored the history of body modification, definitions of body modification and body projects, issues pertaining to identity, body image and self concept, expanded consciousness and altered states of being, pain and sadomasochism, the pathologizing of body modification, feminist perspectives on body modification and psychodynamic explanations for body modification. Although much literature abounds on body modification practices, very little is of academic significance. Furthermore, few studies have been conducted into this area from a psychological perspective. In this regard, the writings of Favazza (1996), Featherstone (2003) and Vale & Juno (1989) were used to provide a context within which to place this study. Research papers by Atkinson (2002) and Dennes (2005) also proved particularly useful, and will be discussed in the following chapter.