This study investigates how multilinguals compared with monolinguals categorise landscape. The aim is to contribute to research already done with fresh data in a new setting. The thesis suggests that speakers with lower proficiency in a language will tend to choose vocabulary based on frequency and not semantic knowledge. The study was done through a quantitative and qualitative questionnaire targeting French, English, and Swiss-German speakers. Methods used were among others word-to-referent mapping and priming to gather useful vocabulary. The participants were to look at 30 images per language and choose among three words which one best fit the images. All images portraying different features of landscapes. What could be found is that 20% of the time the multilingual had a tendency to behave differently to the monolingual baseline. Data from this study shows that the Indo-European languages in this research seem to have more similar constraints on the semantic domains than differences. 80% of the time all speakers, monolingual and multilingual, agreed on what word best fit the image. Qualitative and quantitative data support this idea. The frequency theory proved to be true in the 20% of cases where the trilingual group deviated from the answers of the other groups.

In this thesis, Margaret Atwood’s The Edible Woman and Michel Faber’s Under the Skin are analysed from the perspective of feminist-vegetarian critical theory. Both texts deal with the idea of feeling like or being meat, but approach this idea from different angles. In The Edible Woman, the connection to feeling like meat is metaphorical and rooted in gender relations, while in Under the Skin, it is literal, related to the idea of being animal. What becomes clear through an analysis of these two texts is that they both deal with the interlocking oppressions of women and animals. In The Edible Woman, protagonist Marian loses her subjectivity and stops eating meat when, as a result of the dynamics of her relationship with her boyfriend (later fiancé), she starts identifying with animals that are hunted or eaten. In Under the Skin, the alien protagonist Isserley, as female, non-human and in her natural form looking like a kind of mammal, represents both women and animals in her objectifying returned gaze on human men. Examining these two texts together highlights the interlocking nature of patriarchy and speciesism, and shows how these oppressions are better understood in relation to each other.

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Cette thèse prend ses racines dans la tradition sémantique montagovienne et dynamique standard. L’objet est les conditions dans lesquelles un syntagme nominal peut agir comme antécédent d'une expression anaphorique. Le travail porte sur l'accessibilité des référents de discours dans un système formel de la sémantique dynamique. Le cadre choisi est celui proposé par De Groote, type théorique Dynamic Logic (TTDL) car il fait appel à des outils mathématiques et logiques standards, qui permettent de conserver le principe de compositionnalité. Nous étendons la couverture de la gestion de l’accessibilité des référents dans TTDL à deux cas naturellement problématique pour les théories sémantiques dynamiques classiques, en particulier, l'anaphore sous la double négation et les modalités. Une adaptation est définie pour chaque cas et enfin, l'intégration des différentes solutions est proposée, ce qui montre la souplesse de TTDL. / This thesis has its roots in the standard Montagovian and dynamic semantic tradition. The subject is conditions under which a noun phrase may act as antecedent of a particular anaphoric expression. The work thesis deals with the accessibility of discourse referents using a formal system of dynamic semantics. The framework used is the one proposed by De Groote, Type Theoretic Dynamic Logic (TTDL) because it follows the Montagovian tradition and only makes use of standard mathematical and logical tools which allows to maintain compositionnality. We extend the coverage of TTDL to cases which are naturally problematic for classical dynamic semantic theories. In particularly, this thesis aims to extend TTDL's coverage of the accessibility of referents to two exceptions of classical dynamic theories, namely anaphora under double negation and modality. An adaptation is defined for each case and finally, an integration of various solutions is proposed, which shows the flexibility of TTDL

Ce travail de recherche s’interroge sur la perception et la représentation discursive de référents exotiques perses filtrées par un regard occidental dans vingt récits de voyageurs français du XIXe siècle. Les énonciateurs-voyageurs, placés dans un contexte linguistique et culturel étranger, tentent de saisir et de transcrire leurs observations sur le terrain en fonction de leur intellect, leur cognition, leur expérience, leur sensation et sentiment. Cette représentation n’est pas plate, objective ou neutre. Une série d’éléments discursifs, langagiers, culturels, subjectifs et marqués par l’altérité viennent modifier la représentation que l’auteur-voyageur donne du référent et de l’univers référentiel auquel il est confronté. C’est à cette « façon occidentale » de voir les « choses orientales » et à l’intervention de l’idéologie (subjective ou intersubjective) que nous nous intéressons dans cette étude. Il ne s’agit pas pour autant d’établir une dichotomie entre une bonne ou une mauvaise vision du monde dans un espace décalé mais uniquement de relever sur le plan langagier et discursif, les éléments qui traduisent cet « écart sémantico-référentiel » dans la représentation du référent dans ce type de texte. Pour mener cette recherche nous avons dû articuler trois niveaux d’analyse : lexical, textuel et discursif. Un cadre historique, contextuel et théorique est d’abord élaboré pour laisser ensuite la place à la question de la représentation et des contraintes (textuelles, subjectives, idéologiques) de cette transmission de données majoritairement descriptives. Nous analysons les effets discursifs produits par l’usage des ressources linguistiques ainsi que par les positionnements énonciatifs des auteurs-voyageurs. Ces outils d’analyse langagiers et discursifs permettent de mettre en relief ce regard marqué par l’altérité dans vingt récits de voyageurs français. Les résultats de cette analyse critique discursive constituent autant de données concrètes à insérer dans le champ des études postcoloniales et de la critique de l’orientalisme. / This work investigates the perception and the discursive representation of Persian exotic referents filtered by a western look in nineteen travel stroeis of French travelers of the nineteenth century. Traveler-enunciators, placed in a foreign linguistic and cultural context, attempt to transcribe what they see according to their intellect, cognition, experience and feelings. This representation is not flat, objective or neutral. A series of discursive, linguistic, cultural, subjective elements marked by alterity filter the perception or modify the representation that the author-traveler gives of the referent and the referential universe to which he is confronted. It is in this "western way" of seeing "oriental things" and the question of subjectivity in the representation of the other that we are interested in this study. It is not necessary to establish a dichotomy between a good or a bad vision of the world in a space shifted but only to raise linguistically and discursively the elements that translate this "semantic-referential gap" in the representation of the referent in this type of text. To carry out this research we had to articulate three levels of analysis: lexicon, textuality and discourse. Information on the context is first proposed to leave room for the question of the representation and the restrictions (textual, subjective, ideological) of this transmission of data mainly descriptive. We analyze the discursive effects produced by the use of these linguistic resources and by the enunciative positions. These linguistic and discursive analysis tools make it possible to highlight this look marked by otherness in nineteen travel stories. The results of this critical discursive analysis constitute so much concrete data to be inserted in the field of the postcolonial of Orientalism.

Type 2 diabetes is a significant health problem because of its high prevalence and strong association with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. An increase of type 2 diabetes is predicted due to increasing obesity and sedentary lifestyle habits. The development from latent to diagnostic disease spans many years and during this time it is possible to prevent or postpone type 2 diabetes using lifestyle and pharmacological interventions. The objective of this thesis is to investigate and describe early patterns and risk indicators of type 2 diabetes. The focus is on type 2 diabetes as one component in metabolic syndrome, i.e. the clustering of several cardiovascular risk markers. Two studies based on the Västerbotten Intervention Programme (VIP) provided the data; one case-referent study nested within VIP which includes 237 diabetes cases that were clinically diagnosed 5.4 years after the health survey, each with two referents; and one panel study with 5 consecutive annual cohorts including subjects that participated in VIP between1990 and 1994 and returned to a follow-up after 10 years, a total of 16 492 individuals. Associations between risk markers and type 2 diabetes or metabolic syndrome are evaluated by several statistical techniques. A model of metabolic syndrome is hypothesized. A prediction model for developing type 2 diabetes among middle-aged individuals is proposed, where high risk is defined as having at least two out of three risk criteria (fasting plasma glucose ≥6.1 mmol/L, HbA1c ≥4.7% (Swedish Mono-S standard) and BMI ≥27 in men and BMI ≥30 in women). With positive predictive values of 32% in men and 46% in women, this model performs at least as well as other published prediction models. Information on family history of diabetes does not improve the result and the cumbersome oral glucose tolerance test is not needed. Therefore this model should be feasible for use in routine care. A model of metabolic syndrome with five composite factors, based on 14 variables including markers produced by adipose tissue and b-cells, suggest that obesity with insulin resistance and b-cell decompensation are the core perturbations in the early stages of type 2 diabetes, while inflammation and dyslipidemia could not be shown to be independent early risk indicators. The composite factors do not improve the prediction as compared to the single markers of fasting glucose, BMI and proinsulin and, possibly blood pressure values. Stress (measured as passive or tense working conditions) and weak social support (measured as emotional support), are suggested to be strong risk indicators along with high BMI for type 2 diabetes in women. In men BMI is predictive, but the stress variables are not shown to be associated with future type 2 diabetes. A social gap is indicated by double risk of metabolic syndrome among subjects with low (≤ 9 years at school) compared to high education (≥ 13 years). High consumption of Swedish smokeless tobacco, snuff (>4 cans/week), is independently associated with metabolic syndrome, obesity and hypertriglyceridemia, but not with dysregulation of glucose. To conclude, single markers, that are commonly used in daily practice, are useful and sufficient for identification of subjects that are in the early stages of type 2 diabetes. Obesity with insulin resistance and b-cell decompensation are the core perturbations in early development to T2DM. Lifestyle, socioeconomic and psychosocial markers, in addition to biomarkers, are important determinants of future type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome, albeit not similarly among men and women.

Many different approaches have been proposed with the aim of facilitating sound and successful information management (IM) and knowledge management (KM) practices within business contexts. These approaches seek to identify organizational factors (e.g. culture or information technology practices) or to suggest management processes (e.g. human resources management) required to establish environments conducive to IM and KM. Most of these approaches, often presented as frameworks (as they are referred to in this study) for organizational IM or KM, are exemplified by the following features.Firstly, they have emerged as unrelated notions, with little reference to each other or to foundational studies in the area. Secondly these frameworks are not based on any theoretical foundation. Thirdly, these frameworks have tended to focus on either information or knowledge management activities but not both, even though organizational IM and KM exist in a complementary and co-dependent relationship. The usefulness of these frameworks is made problematic by muddled use of the terms 'information', 'knowledge', 'IM' and 'KM', which are often transposed or used synonymously. The situation is further complicated by the inherent complexity of the organizational environments into which practitioners attempt to introduce information and knowledge management (IKM) initiatives. Early outputs of this research are explanations of how the terminology above is used in this study and a literature review that describes current IM and KM frameworks by analyzing their components. The literature review identifies current challenges in the research domain, including the need for sound foundation (referent model) on which future IKM frameworks can be based. A suitable referent model is proposed by integrating single and double feedback loops (from systems theory) with two concepts from the IM literature: IM processes and the domains of IM activity. Then, an interpretive multi-methodological research (MMR) approach is pursued consisting of three sequential phases: action research, transition and case study. The first phase, a 3-cycle action research project accompanied by a longitudinal descriptive case study and an embedded literature analysis, was conducted over a 31 month period. The key research outcome of the action research phase was a set of candidate enablers Information and Knowledge Management (IKM) in Business Contexts for organizational IKM, while the organizational deliverables included policies, strategies, process improvement and new information systems. The information gathered in phase one was rich and deep. However, in keeping with the goal of the research to produce a practical, useful IKM framework, the researcher sought a broader view from the IKM community. To achieve this practitioner view, a second research phase was designed to bridge the gap between the detailed examinations of IKM initiatives within one organizational environment, to the examination of IKM initiatives within other organizations. Therefore phase two - a transition phase - consisted of a series of surveys and interviews with IKM practitioners that explored their perceptions of organizational IKM activities and environments. The data collected in phase two supported the findings from phase one and informed the development of the case protocols for the third - case study - phase. In the third phase, six IKM projects in three organizations were studied. Documentary and interview data were examined to understand the relationships between IKM projects, the candidate enablers identified earlier in phases one and two, and other organizational factors implicated in IKM initiatives. When analyzed, the findings from the third phase converged with the data collected in the previous two phases, and provided a rich, deep and broad collection of material. The study culminates by synthesizing the data collected in the three research phases to (1) confirm a suitable referent model on which IKM frameworks can be based and (2) develop an integrated, multidimensional IKM framework that assimilates the referent model. The referent model, which is based on previous calls for IKM frameworks to have a sound theoretical foundation, incorporates two established concepts from the IKM literature: (a) the operational, analytical and strategic domains of IKM activity and (b) double and single loop feedback loops of systems thinking applied to IKM processes. The practical and flexible IKM framework, which assimilates these concepts, has three dimensions. These dimensions are (i) domains of IKM activity and feedback loops (ii) organizational enablers (iii) project context. It is envisaged that this framework be used by practitioners to identify and manage areas of the business environment that require attention to ensure success of IKM projects or initiatives.

Thesis (M.S.)--Miami University, Dept. of Family Studies and Social Work, 2008. / Title from first page of PDF document. Includes bibliographical references (p. 46-54).

The purpose of this thesis is to look into the differences between the theoretical frame-works of Realism and Feminism in general as well as their differences with regards to security and referent objects to security. With the differences noted applied upon the Humanitarian Intervention that took place in Kosovo 1999. That is how a shift in the referent objects could change outcome and success or failure in the case studied. This is done by a theory testing study based upon literature within the topics of Realism and Feminism, by mainly Morgenthau (1993) with regards to Realism and Tickner (1992) with regards to Feminism. The reason for these authors in particular is due to their importance in the field and the fact that they are found liberally quoted in academic articles and other literature. By shifting the referent object of security from e.g. territory (state), that Realism uses, to the individuals in general and the women in particular within the territory (state), like Feminism does, there is bound to be a change in outcome and success. The result of this thesis is that a different referent object offers a new perspective.

[pt] Esse artigo argumenta como a securitização do narcotráfico influenciou o chefe do poder executivo Wilson Witzel, como ator securitizador a construir uma política pública de segurança que não engloba todos os habitantes do estado do Rio de Janeiro e por meio dos seus atos de fala pode-se identificar quem está inserido e excluído do objeto referente a ser protegido. Os efeitos da linguagem nos discursos como uma prática social serão obtidos por meio do mapeamento de significados feitos através da análise de discurso. Portanto, ao securitizar o narcotráfico, o governador estimula a letalidade da polícia fluminense, trata seus resultados como sinônimo de eficiência para os seus apoiadores e alarga a barreira entre os cidadãos da cidade, ao excluir os moradores das favelas do objeto referente e da audiência por causa das suas características físicas e ocupação geográfica. / [en] This paper argues how the securitization of drug trafficking influenced the state governor, Wilson Witzel, as a securitizing actor to build a public security policy that does not include all inhabitants of the state of Rio de Janeiro. Through his act of speech it is possible to identify who is inserted and excluded from the referent object of protection. The effects of language in speech as a social practice will be obtained by mapping meanings made through discourse analysis. Therefore, by securitizing drug trafficking, the governor encourages the lethality of the Rio de Janeiro police, treats its results as a synonym of efficiency for its supporters and widens the barrier between the citizens of the city, by excluding the residents of the favelas from the referent object and the audience for because of their physical characteristics and geographical occupation.