Increasing population, finite resources, over-consumption, and unsustainable trends in business contribute to urgent and complex sustainability challenges in society. The intent of this research is to understand the role business can play in moving society toward sustainability, specifically by analyzing the strengths and weaknesses present in the outdoor industry. Evaluation of the outdoor industry using a lens of the FSSD highlights unique opportunities for the outdoor industry in moving society toward sustainability while addressing the complex challenges. Using the advantages of being cooperative and sharing the values of trust and a connection to nature, the outdoor industry has the potential to make a unique shift from the current profit-driven market economy. This thesis examines how the current operations of the industry can be more strategic, efficient, and impactful in moving consumers, business, and society in a transition toward sustainability.

Initially driven by a strong need for increased computational performance in science and engineering, heterogeneous systems have become ubiquitous and they are getting increasingly complex. The single processor era has been replaced with multi-core processors, which have quickly been surrounded by satellite devices aiming to increase the throughput of the entire system. These auxiliary devices, such as Graphics Processing Units, Field Programmable Gate Arrays or other specialized processors have very different architectures. This puts an enormous strain on programming models and software developers to take full advantage of the computing power at hand. Because of this diversity and the unachievable flexibility and portability necessary to optimize for each target individually, heterogeneous systems remain typically vastly under-utilized. In this thesis, we explore two distinct ways to tackle this problem. Providing automated, non intrusive methods in the form of compiler tools and implementing efficient abstractions to automatically tune parameters for a restricted domain are two complementary approaches investigated to better utilize compute resources in heterogeneous systems. First, we explore a fully automated compiler based approach, where a runtime system analyzes the computation flow of an OpenCL application and optimizes it across multiple compute kernels. This method can be deployed on any existing application transparently and replaces significant software engineering effort spent to tune application for a particular system. We show that this technique achieves speedups of up to 3x over unoptimized code and an average of 1.4x over manually optimized code for highly dynamic applications. Second, a library based approach is designed to provide a high level abstraction for complex problems in a specific domain, stencil computation. Using domain specific techniques, the underlying framework optimizes the code aggressively. We show that even in a restricted domain, automatic tuning mechanisms and robust architectural abstraction are necessary to improve performance. Using the abstraction layer, we demonstrate strong scaling of various applications to multiple GPUs with a speedup of up to 1.9x on two GPUs and 3.6x on four.

Läxor är en del av undervisningen i många skolor idag. Det finns många tankar om hur läxan ska vara utformad och i vilket syfte eleverna ska ges läxa. I vår läroplan, Lgr 11 (Skolverket, 2011), finns dock inget skrivet om läxor. Syftet med min studie är att ta reda på hur matteläxan uppfattas ur ett elevperspektiv. Vilken uppfattning har eleverna om varför de får matteläxa och hur ser uppfattningen ut gällande utformningen? Detta undersöker jag genom en kvalitativ studie i form av semistrukturerade gruppintervjuer med elever på lågstadiet. Den data som samlas in bearbetas utifrån en induktiv tematisk analys. Resultatet visar bland annat att den vanligaste läxan som eleverna får är den som behandlar färdighetsträningen. Eleverna uppfattar matteläxan som att det är något de ska träna på hemma. Dock är matteläxan sällan individanpassad och uppfattas av många elever som alldeles för lätt och att den går alldeles för fort att göra. Inte heller framkommer att det finns någon uppföljning av matteläxan i skolan, som kopplas ihop med dess syfte. Min förhoppning med denna studie är att den ska lyfta fram elevernas uppfattning och tankar omkring matteläxan och ge mig som verksam lärare en vägledning till utformningen av mina matteläxor. / Homework is part of the teaching in many schools today. There are many thoughts about how the homework should be designed and for what purpose the students should be given homework. However, in our curriculum, Lgr 11 (Skolverket, 2011), nothing is written about homework.   The purpose of my study is to find out how the math homework is perceived from a student perspective. What view do the students have about why they get math homework and what does the perception of the design look like? I study this through a qualitative study in the form of semi-structured group interviews with pupils at the lower grades. The data collected is processed based on an inductive thematic analysis. The result shows, among other things, that the most common homework that the students receive is the one who treats the skills training. The students perceive the math homework as something that they should train at home. However, the math homework is rarely individualized and perceived by many students as being too easy and too fast to do. Nor does it appear that there is any follow-up of the math homework at school, which is linked to its purpose.   My hope with this study is that it will highlight the students' perceptions and thoughts about the math homework and give me as an effective teacher a guide to the design of my math homework’s.

See Abstract on Page 3 of declaration: / Dissertation (MSc (Anatomy))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Anatomy / unrestricted

This study was inspired by the ever growing need for significance expressed both by my life coaching and pastoral therapy clients as well as the need for existential meaning reported both in the lay press and academic literature. This study reflected on a life that matters with a group of co-researchers in a participatory action research context. The study has been positioned within pastoral theology and invited the theological discourse into a reflection of existential meaning. Adopting a critical relational constructionist epistemology, the research was positioned within a postmodern paradigm. The implications for meaning and research were explored and described. My fellow researchers were invited to reflect on what constitutes a meaningful life or “a life that matters” to them personally. These stories of meaning were explored and situated within personal meaning histories. Meaning discourses introduced to the discussion of “a life that matters” were deconstructed, their effects externalised and embedded in life long meaning stories. In the process outsider witnesses were introduced to these stories, enriching these as we did. Together the research community made up of me and my fellow researchers, reflected on the meaning discourses introduced to the conversation on a life that matters in this way. These discourses included spirituality, purpose, and being meaningful in somebody else’s life. Only then did the group decide that perhaps these discourses were complemented by identity discourses. When we reflected upon the value of the research process as meaning enhancing action in their lives, my co-researchers suggested that it was the reflection process which added most value to their own experiences of meaningfulness. Throughout the research process, the voices of literature were invited into the conversation, exploring their perspectives on existential meaning. These voices acted as outsider witnesses, authenticating the stories of meaningfulness which were introduced by my fellow researchers. This study may serve to revive the conversation both in the practical theology discourse and the pastoral theology discourse. It positions existential meaning within an uncertainty discourse and suggests that reflexive co-construction in the manner suggested previously, can contribute to the meaning enhancing multilogue. Meaning making is introduced in a non-totalitarian way, strongly suggesting that an experience of meaningful living is possible even in postmodern times often described as confusing and potentially relativistically or nihilistically meaningless. This study creates space for spirituality in the existential meaning conversation; perhaps even strongly proclaiming that it should be part of any conversation on meaningfulness. Meaningfulness has been introduced as a local experience devoid of the power discourses of meta narratives and do-it-yourself recipes. Local process rather than universal content was positioned as meaning enhancing in the study, thus opening space for local life knowledges and negating the need to conform to meta-narratives of meaningfulness which may in effect be alienating and disempowering in that they relegate the life knowledges of objectified people into anecdotal and fictional. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Practical Theology / unrestricted

Few studies apply the Eriksonian model of identity formation to cross-cultural samples (3), even though issues of ethnicity and culture may inform a Hispanic woman’s self-concept (Phinney, 1996). Hispanic women may also be influenced by traditional gender role behaviors such as passivity or dependence that are outlined by marianismo (Stevens, 1973). A recent study of a multiethnic sample of emerging adult women and men found that purpose commitment mediated the effects of identity commitment on hope and life satisfaction (Burrow & Hill, 2011). The current research consists of two studies that replicate and expand upon the work of Burrow and Hill (2011). Study I replicated the work of Burrow and Hill (2011) among a sample of emerging adult Hispanic women, in order to assess the extent to which the original findings would replicate in a culturally distinct sample. Study II examined the role of marianismo, ethnic identity, and acculturation on identity commitment among emerging adult Hispanic women. Both studies utilized a sample of 532 female undergraduate psychology students, age 18 to 25, who self-identified as Hispanic and submitted data via online surveys. Both studies used self-report, quantitative data which was analyzed using structural equation modeling. Results from Study I indicated good model fit and replicated the findings from Burrow and Hill (2011). Specifically, the direct effect of identity commitment on hope was fully contingent upon an individual’s level of purpose commitment, while the effect of identity commitment on life satisfaction was not contingent upon an individual’s level of purpose commitment. Results from Study II indicated that marianismo, Spanish proficiency, familiarity with Latino culture, and familiarity with American culture demonstrated statistically significant direct effects on identity commitment among emerging adult Hispanic women. Results indicated cultural convergence regarding the association of an individual’s identity with well-being through a sense of purpose. Findings also revealed the role of cultural factors in the extent to which Hispanic women commit to a personal identity. Future studies should employ mixed method research designs as a means to better ascertain implications of findings.

The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Interpretation No. 46 (FIN 46), Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities – An Interpretation of ARB No. 51, in January 2003 and revised it in December 2003, with the objective to improve the transparency of financial information. Under FIN 46, companies are required to consolidate variable interest entities (VIEs) on financial statements if they are the primary beneficiaries of the VIEs. This dissertation empirically examines whether the implementation of this new financial reporting guidance affects firms’ accruals quality and investment efficiency. A manually collected sample comprised of firms affected by FIN 46 and firms disclosing no material impact from FIN 46 is used in the empirical analyses.The first part of the dissertation investigates the effects of FIN 46 on accruals quality. By using different accrual quality measures in prior studies, this study found that firms affected by FIN 46 experienced a decrease in accrual quality compared to firms reporting no material impact from FIN 46. Among the firms affected by FIN 46, firms consolidating VIEs were compared with firms terminating or restructuring VIEs. The accruals quality of firms consolidating VIEs was found to be lower than that of firms terminating or restructuring VIEs. These results are consistent in tests using alternative control samples.The second part of this dissertation examines the effects of FIN 46 on investment efficiency. Mixed results were found from using two different proxies used in prior literature. Using the investment-cash flow sensitivity to proxy for investment efficiency, firms affected by FIN 46 experienced a decrease in investment efficiency compared to firms reporting no material impact. It was also found that higher investment-cash flow sensitivity for firms consolidating VIEs during post-FIN 46 periods compared to both the no-impact firms and the matched pair control sample. Contrasting results were found when the deviation from expected investment is used as another proxy for investment efficiency. Empirical analyses show that FIN 46 firms experienced improved investment efficiency measured by the deviation from expected investment after their adoption of FIN 46. This study also provides explanations for the opposite results from the two different proxies.

Esta dissertação tratou da relação entre os tipos de gerência e a missão da organização. Utilizando o estudo de caso e o questionário, objetivou-se identificar e avaliar os estilos de gerência adotados pelo grupo de 26 gerentes de uma instituição financeira em atividade no Baixo-Vale do Paraíba, a partir de suas próprias apreciações, e ainda verificar se o estilo de gerenciar facilita ou não a consecução da missão organizacional. Os resultados obtidos com a aplicação de questionário adaptado dos modelos de TANNEMBAUM e SCHMIDT e do Clima Organizacional, utilizado pela própria empresa junto aos 26 gerentes da instituição financeira X do Baixo-Vale do Paraíba, reafirmaram a crença na criatividade humana que, fundamentada em princípios, leva esses gestores a ajustar seus estilos à missão da organização. Entre os resultados significativos, destacaram-se: (1) a predominância do gênero masculino (73%) e a crença entre os gerentes de que valores religiosos e políticos podem auxiliar o comprometimento com o comportamento organizacional esperado; (2) a predominância do estilo gerencial democrático, seja quando da autodefinição e da definição pelo subordinado, seja em relação às variáveis sexo e escolaridade; (3) as relações com significância de 95% entre as metas organizacionais vinculadas às decisões e competência, com o estilo democrático de gerenciamento; (4) as relações com significância de 95%, entre as metas organizacionais vinculadas ao estabelecimento de métodos de trabalho e solução de problemas e compreensão dos fatos. Conclui-se que o estilo predominante é o democrata com 73,1% e para as duas primeiras etapas da missão com cerca de 50%. Para as duas últimas, prevalece o estilo liberal com cerca de 60%. / This project treats the relationship between the types of management and the organizational purpose. As using the case study and the questionnaire, the objective of this project is to identify and evaluate the management styles adopted by a group of 26 managers of a financial institution in a specific area of São Paulo State, known as Baixo Vale do Paraíba, according to their own appreciation, and still verify the importance of the management styles as facilitators of the organization purpose establishment. The application of a questionnaire adapted to TANNENBAUN and SCHIMIDT models and Organizational Environment research used by the financial institution X in Baixo Vale do Paraíba itself and answered by its 26 managers will provide the results. This work accomplishment must confirm our belief in human creative capacity which once based on solid principles will lead these managers to adjust their own styles to the organization purpose. Among the significant results it is possible to point out: (1) predominance of male leadership (73%) and the belief that religious and political values can help their commitment to the expected organizational behavior; (2) predominance of democratic management style, either when self-defined and defined by the subordinates, or when related to sex and educational background; (3) the relationship, 95% significant, between the organizational purpose related to decisions and competence and the democratic management syle; (4) the relationship, 95% significant, between the organizational purpose related to problem-solving and factual comprehension . Therefore, it is possible to conclude that the democratic style is predominant (73,1%), including the first two parts of the organizational purpose (about 50%). However, the liberal styles prevails in the last two ones (about 60%).

O objetivo do presente estudo é analisar a imunidade dos templos de qualquer culto. Por intermédio do exame dos conceitos que compõem a normativa e dos parâmetros objetivos que lhe conferem limites, pretende-se fixar a extensão da prerrogativa assegurada no artigo 150 da Constituição Federal. Delimitado este substrato teórico, o trabalho propõe-se a refletir acerca da interpretação da imunidade religiosa diante do atual contexto fático das religiões brasileiras, buscando expor releituras aptas a fornecer respostas mais satisfatórias ao desvirtuamento da prerrogativa observado na prática. / The aim of this study is to analyse the tax immunity of religious temples. The concepts that compose the normative and the parameters objectives that allow its limits were analysed, in order to fix the extension of the privilege granted by the art. 150 of the Constitution of Federative Republic of Brazil. This theoretical study aims to reflect about the interpretation of religious tax immunity toward the current context of brazilian religions, trying to expose reviews of the current method to grant more satisfactory responses for the distortion of the benefit that is shown in practice

Human Computation methods such as crowdsourcing and games with a purpose (GWAP) have each recently drawn considerable attention for their ability to synergize the strengths of people and technology to accomplish tasks that are challenging for either to do well alone. Despite this increased attention, much of this transformation has been focused on a few selected areas of information science. This thesis contributes to the field of human computation as it applies to areas of information science, particularly information retrieval (IR). We begin by discussing the merits and limitations of applying crowdsourcing and game-based approaches to information science. We then develop a framework that examines the value of using crowdsourcing and game mechanisms to each step of an IR model. We identify three areas of the IR model that our framework indicates are likely to benefit from the application of human computation methods: acronym identification and resolution, relevance assessment, and query formulation. We conduct experiments that employ human computation methods, evaluate the benefits of these methods and report our findings. We conclude that employing human computation methods such as crowdsourcing and games, can improve the accuracy of many tasks currently being done by machine methods alone. We demonstrate that the best results can be achieved when human computation methods augment computer-based IR processes, providing an extra level of skills, abilities, and knowledge that computers cannot easily replicate.