When tones comprised of six octave-related harmonics are placed in pairs, where the two tones are separated by a tritone, some subjects perceive the direction of pitch change from the first to the second tone as ascending, while other subjects perceive it as descending. This is the basis for what is currently labeled the Tritone Paradox. The Tritone Paradox was investigated in a set of four experiments that made use of different experimental procedures that employed a 0-750 ms silent interval between tones in a trial-pair, different methods of stimulus presentation (i.e. open air or earphone) and 125 - 500 ms stimulus durations. Major emphasis was placed on the implementation of a standardized experimental procedure and the use of a standardized method of analyzing results in a Tritone Paradox experiment. To this end, an analysis method was designed using circular statistics, which resulted in a truly objective method of analyzing and classifying subjects while making use of all subject data. Analyses indicated that peak-pitch class was highly correlated with the angle of a mean vector (AMV) and that the depth of a profile was correlated with the length of a mean vector (LMV). The AMV and LMV may be combined to produce a single summary measure for a subject's performance. Two modes of responding employed by subjects were identified. Profiles generated using a spectral-envelope-controlled mode of responding are characterized by judgments of tones under one envelope being close to 180° out of phase with judgments made under a spectral envelope centered one half octave away from the other. Profiles generated using a pitch-class-controlled mode of responding are characterized by judgments of tones under one spectral envelope closely resembling judgments of tones made under a spectral envelope centered a tritone away from the first spectral envelope. Angular-Separation analysis details the difference between the AMV for two separate profiles generated by a subject. This analysis technique is a fast, reliable method for identifying individual differences in mode of responding between subjects. Angular-Separation analyses were used to verify the presence of 'spectral-envelope-controlled' subjects, which were first described in detail by Repp (1994). These subjects appeared in significant proportions in all conditions. Based on the results of these analyses, the traditional practice of using a single-averaged profile to describe a subject has been questioned. Such a profile does not adequately describe the performance of a subject using a spectral-envelope-controlled mode of responding. The single-averaged profile masks the differences between these subjects and those using a 'pitch-class-controlled' mode of responding, which are the subjects typically described in the literature. Results of the Angular-Separation analysis across Experiments 1 -4 showed similar proportions of subjects using a pitch-class-controlled or a spectral-envelope-controlled mode of responding. Evidence was found to indicate that the largest proportion of subjects using a pitch-class-controlled mode of responding was observed in an experimental condition that used 125-ms stimuli with no silent interval between tones in a pair. Evidence was also found to indicate that the largest proportion of subjects using a spectral-envelope-controlled mode of responding was observed in an experimental condition that employed 500 ms stimuli with a 500 ms silent interval between tones in a trial pair. It therefore appears that the duration of tones and the duration of a silent interval between tones in a trial pair will influence the mode of responding adopted by a subject in a Tritone Paradox experiment. The pure-tone pre-test, described in the literature as a subject selection tool, was investigated and results indicate that performance on such a pre-test does not predict how consistent a subject's performance will be in a Tritone Paradox task. Although mean LMV decreased as pre-test error scores increased, there was no significant correlation found between individual subjects' error scores and LMV values. This pretest, however, has some value in predicting some subjects' mode of responding. The vast majority of subjects with three or more errors on a pure-tone pre-test produced profiles that were classified as spectral-envelope controlled. These results suggest that the bulk of those subjects eliminated in past Tritone Paradox experiments that employed a pure-tone pre-test, may have been subjects who were far more likely to use a spectral-envelope controlled mode of responding. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

This thesis presents the strong and weak forms of the Banach-Tarski paradox based on the Hausdorff paradox. It provides modernized proofs of the paradoxes and necessary properties of equidecomposable and paradoxical sets. The historical significance of the paradox for measure theory is covered, along with its incorrect attribution to Banach and Tarski. Finally, the necessity of the axiom of choice is discussed and contrasted with other axiomatic and topological assumptions that enable the paradoxes. / Den här uppsatsen presenterar den starka och svaga formen av Banach-Tarskis paradox baserade på Hausdorffs paradox. Den tillhandahåller moderniserade bevis av paradoxerna och nödvändiga egenskaper av likuppdelningsbara och paradoxala mängder. Den historiska betydelsen av paradoxen på måtteori tas upp samt dess felaktiga tillskrivning till Banach och Tarski. Till sist diskuteras behovet av urvalsaxiomet som ställs i kontrast mot andra axiomatiska och topologiska antaganden som möjliggör paradoxerna.

Our study investigates how the organizational growth paradox is perceived and managed by incumbent firms from a degrowth perspective. There is a growing critique against the growth paradigm, an increasing support for its abandonment. Scholars are calling for a paradigm shift towards a post-growth economy. The degrowth movement has paid more attention to macroeconomics but it has been insufficiently researched on a micro level. It is viewed as being too abstract and does not provide concrete frameworks that can be applied in a business context. We address this gap by applying two theoretical frameworks, organizational paradox and degrowth theory. Then the degrowth notion is defined on a macro- and a micro-level, including relevant degrowth frameworks such as the Doughnut Economic and the Circular Economy model. Lastly, we define organizational paradoxes and possible managerial responses to them. The degrowth agenda has a variety of perspectives that range from radical to more moderate. We adopt a moderate perspective, influenced by Buch-Hansen and Nesterova (2023) and consequently, we anticipate gradual changes as incumbents adapt to a post- growth economy. We collect empirical data by conducting a case study and performing semi-structured interviews on a cooperative in Sweden’s primary food industry. In addition, we interviewed the CEO of a family-owned company operating in the same industry. Moreover, we analyze the resulting organizational paradoxes, and explore management responses. Two new paradoxes have been discovered. First, the governance paradox shows that a cooperative structure by itself, as advocated by degrowth theory, does not prevent but potentially creates paradoxical tensions. Second, the core business paradox describes a dissent between the business or product and public perception. A justification response approach in this case can endanger the business’ existence. We conclude that profitability in financial terms is key to being able to transition towards degrowth. Moreover, the governance structure of a cooperative can create paradoxical tensions which, when not managed properly, can cause other paradoxes to surface. We highlight the challenges of implementing degrowth thinking at a micro-level, as incumbents are influenced by external factors and face tensions. To achieve widespread diffusion, collaboration and shared values throughout the value chain is essential. When operating in an everchanging dynamic environment, the core business can develop into a source of paradoxical tension. We recommend the paradoxical response approach, described in the Dynamic Equilibrium model (Smith & Lewis, 2011) for managing tensions, but note the risks involved. Shifting priorities without sufficient communication and motivation can harm commitment, trust, transparency, collaboration, and employee alignment. To successfully apply consistent inconsistency, strong management skills to foster employee commitment to changing priorities are required.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Many theories of vagueness employ question-begging assumptions about the semantic boundaries between truth and falsity. This thesis defends a theory of vagueness put forward by Charles S. Peirce and argues for a novel solution to the sorites paradox based upon his work. Contrary to widespread opinion, I argue that Peirce distinguished borderline vagueness from other related forms of indeterminacy, e.g. indefiniteness, generality, unspecificity, uninformativity, etc. By clarifying Peirce’s conception of borderline vagueness, I argue for a solution to the sorites paradox based upon his logical semantics. In addition, I argue for this theory against the epistemic theory of vagueness, which makes controversial claims concerning the sharp semantic boundary between truth and falsity, and against the supervaluationist theory of vagueness, which is committed to the in principle impossibility of sharp semantics boundaries for propositions with vague terms.

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The essays presented in this dissertation strive to narrow the gap between Operations models and practice. They describe three models with seemingly paradoxical or counter-intuitive predictions and then test them in the controlled environment of the laboratory.Essay 1 studies the departure time decisions of commuters traversing a Y-shaped network with two bottlenecks, who wish to arrive at their common destination at a desired time. Imposed on the network are costs associated with arriving either too early or too late with respect to an exogenously determined arrival time as well as to the delay experienced due to the bottlenecks. The equilibrium solution implies that, for certain parameter values, expanding the capacity of the upstream bottlenecks while keeping the capacity of the other fixed may induce a shift in the endogenously-determined departure times so as to increase total travel costs. We report the results of a large-group experiment designed to test this counterintuitive hypothesis. Our experimental results are strongly supportive of this prediction.Essay 2 examines the Braess Paradox which is a counterintuitive discovery that removing a link from a network that is subject to congestion may decrease the equilibrium travel cost for each of its users. We demonstrate this phenomenon in a complex network and test it experimentally with large groups of players. Our main purpose is to compare two information conditions. In the PUBLIC condition every user is informed of the route choices and payoffs of all the users. In the PRIVATE condition, each user is only informed of her own payoff. We show that under both information conditions, aggregate route choices converge to equilibrium.Essay 3 examines the impact of information on the routing decisions that drivers make in a congestible two route traffic network. We present a model and theoretical predictions of driver choices in such a network and compare outcomes under conditions of full and no-information regarding the capacities of each route. Under certain circumstances, the model predicts a paradox: aggregate travel delays increase with the provision of a priori information regarding stochastic travel conditions. We report evidence supporting this paradox in a laboratory experiment.

Evidence continues to demonstrate that racial/ethnic minority groups experience a disproportionate burden of disease and mortality in cardiovascular-related diseases (CVDs). However, emerging evidence suggests a health advantage for Latinos despite a high risk profile. The current study explored the hospital utilization trends of Latino and non-Latino patients and examined the possibility of an advantage for Latinos within the context of CVD-related events with retrospective data collected over a 12-month period from a local safety-net hospital. Contrary to my hypotheses, there was no advantage for in-hospital mortality, length of stay or re-admission in Latinos compared to non-Latinos; rather, Latinos hospitalized for a CVD-related event had a significantly longer length of stay and had greater odds for re-admission when compared to non-Latinos. Despite data suggesting a general health advantage, Latinos may experience a relative disparity within the context of hospital utilization for CVD-related events. Findings have implications for understanding the hospital utilization trends of Latinos following a CVD-related event and suggest a call for action to advance understanding of Latino cardiovascular health.

Student Number : 9900131F - MSc (Eng) dissertation - School of Mechanical Engineering - Faculty of Engineering / Recent high-resolution numerical studies of weak shock reflections have shown that a complex flow structure exists behind the triple point which consists of multiple shocks, expansion fans and triple points. This region had not been detected earlier in experimental observations or numerical studies of weak shock reflections due to the small size of this region. New components were designed and built to modify an existing large-scale shock tube in order to obtain experimental observations to validate the numerical results. The shock tube produced a large, expanding cylindrical incident wave which was reflected off a 15° corner on the roof of the section to produce a weak shock Mach reflection with a large Mach stem in the test section. The shock tube was equipped with PCB high-speed pressure transducers and digital scope for data acquisition, and a schlieren optical system to visualise the region behind the triple point. The tests were conducted over a range of incident wave Mach numbers (M12 = 1.060-1.094) and produced Mach stems of between 694 mm and 850 mm in length. The schlieren photographs clearly show an expansion fan centered on the triple point in all the successful tests conducted. In some of the more resolved images, a shocklet can be seen terminating the expansion fan, and in others a second expansion fan and/or shocklet can be seen. A ‘von Neumann reflection’ was not visualised experimentally, and hence it has been proposed that the four-wave reflection found in these tests be named a ‘Guderley reflection’. The experimental validation of Hunter & Tesdall’s (2002) work resolves the ‘von Neumann Paradox’.

The Hispanic Paradox is the finding that Hispanic immigrants living in the United States have better health than Anglo Americans despite being socioeconomically disadvantaged (Crespo et al., 1996; Stern et al., 1999; Sundquist et al., 1999; Dixon et al, 2000; Lariscy et al., 2015; Overton et al., 2015; Thomson et al., 2013). The literature surrounding the Hispanic Paradox has studied these effects primarily in Mexican-American Immigrant populations (Sundquist et al., 1999; Dixon et al, 2000; Lariscy et al.); however, additional research has found similar findings for various other Hispanic countries such as Cuba and Puerto Rico (Abraido-Lanza, A F. et al., 1999). It is not known if there is a Hispanic Paradox advantage during the menopausal transition. This study compared the health outcomes of 90 Mexican immigrant women between the ages of 40-60 living in the Utah to 78 Anglo American women of the same age in order to test the hypothesis that Mexican immigrant women are healthier than their Anglo-counterparts during the menopausal transition. We compared the health of the two groups of women across various health outcomes including blood pressure, C-reactive protein, BMI, fasting glucose, and cholesterol. Contrary to our hypotheses, Anglo Americans had better health across the board on all health outcome variables (BMI; F (1)= 3.63, p =.050; C-Reactive Protein; F (1)= 9.05, p =.003; Cholesterol; F (1)= 43.51, p =.000; Blood Pressure; F (1)= 43.32, p =.000; Fasting Glucose; F (1)= 12.25, p =.001). We speculate that our findings are not consistent with Hispanic Paradox theory because of the religious culture in Utah that lends itself to healthier individuals who refrain from cigarette smoke and alcohol consumption.

Den här studien ämnar undersöka hur mellanchefer beskriver deras arbete kring implementering av strategiska beslut eller förändringar. Den traditionella synen på mellanchefers strategiska arbeta utgår från ett topp till botten perspektiv där mellanchefer ses som strategiska genomförare. I denna process tas strategiska beslut och förändringar från en ledning som sedan implementeras av mellancheferna nedåt i organisationen. Forskning har uppmärksammat att mellanchefer kan ha strategiskt inflytande i form av att kunna styra och förändra de strategiska målen utifrån ett botten till toppen perspektiv. På senare tid har forskningen uppmärksammat paradoxen som kan uppstå för en mellanchef när de har en position som innebär en roll som både strategiska genomförare och samtidigt inneha strategisk inflytande. För att besvara syftet har en kvalitativ metod använts utifrån ett socialkonstruktivistiskt synsätt. Sju intervjuer har genomförts som sedan analyserats med hjälp av tematisk analys. Vårt resultat visar på att mellancheferna förhåller sig till ett långsiktigt och ett kortsiktigt tankesätt i deras strategiska arbete. Sammanfattningsvis innebär dessa tankesätt skillnader i hur de agerar och vilka val det finns utrymme till i deras roll när de implementerar beslut eller förändringar. Studien har förhållit sig till Bengtsson et al (2007) teori ”Activity-community model” och paradoxalt tillvägagångssätt. Studien bidrar till forskningsfältet genom att belysa ur ett paradoxalt synsätt hur mellanchefer förhåller sig till kortsiktigt och långsiktigt tankesätt inom organisationer samt hur detta påverkar deras arbete att implementera beslut i praktiken.