This study assesses the impacts of the invasive oil-collecting bee Centris nitida on the established endemic mutualism between Byrsonima lucida and Centris errans its sole native pollinator. In natural pine rocklands and urban areas, I examined the breeding system of B. lucida, assessed the degree of its pollen limitations, and compared the key processes of pollination for the Centris bees. Breeding system results showed that B. lucida was self incompatible and pollinator dependent. Pollen limitation treatments suggested that B. lucida is pollen limited, regardless of the contributions of the invasive bee. The native bee had significantly higher visitation rates to B. lucida plants, but had a lower foraging rate and was the less efficient pollinator. The invasive bee appears to be more common in urban environments. Further understanding the nature of these novel relationships is vital for the conservation of B. lucida and integrity of pine rocklands.

Supplemental carbon has been successfully added and implemented at biological nutrient removal treatment plants all around the world in order to reach low nitrogen discharge limits. Although, methanol has been the most prevalent external electron donor used due to its low cost and effectiveness, many utilities are moving away from it due to cost volatility, safety issues, and hindered performance in cold weather conditions. Many sustainable and alternative sources are being researched, such as glycerin-based products (Rohrbacher et al., 2009), sugar-based waste products (Pretorius et al., 2007), and effluents from food and beverage industries (Swinarski et al., 2009). Four 22-L sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) were utilized to investigate four different supplemental carbon sources: 100% reagent grade methanol, 100% reagent grade glycerol, bio-diesel glycerol waste, and an industrial waste alcohol. These reactors were operated at 20�"C with a 15 day solids retention time. Intensive profiles were carried out three times a week to monitor performance and collect data to calculate COD consumption: nitrate-nitrogen denitrified (C: N) ratios. The glycerol and bio-diesel glycerol waste reactors performed similarly as they both exhibited significant and consistent nitrite accumulation during the entire experiment. Based on reactor restart, nitrite accumulation was evident and significant within two days after startup and consistent for all further operation. Rapid nitrate to nitrite reduction coincident with COD uptake was also observed. The two glycerol reactors demonstrated an increased carbon demand over time. The commonly reported hypothesis that activated sludge transitions from a generalist population of ordinary heterotrophic organisms (OHO) that use substrate, glycerol in this case, less efficiently, producing low yields and slow growth rates, to a specialist population that use glycerol more efficiently, with higher yields and slightly faster growth rates, was verified. This is known as the generalist-specialist theory. While this hypothesis appears to be supported from an overall analysis of the data, the actual mechanism seems to be intracellular glycerol storage coincident with rapid nitrate to nitrite denitrification, followed by slow nitrite reduction to nitrogen gas. This can possibly lead to degradation of the internally stored glycerol in the aerobic zones of the following cycle, implying a significant economic impact with glycerin addition. Although this has not been investigated further, it is believed that the presence of glycogen-accumulating organisms (GAOs) could be responsible for this intracellular storage of glycerol resulting in partial denitrification and accumulation of nitrite. The methanol and waste alcohol reactors also performed similarly to each other and neither of these reactors exhibited any nitrite accumulation upon carbon addition. The specific denitrification rate (SDNR) of the waste alcohol was slightly higher and increased more rapidly than for the methanol reactor. The C: N for these two reactors was comparable, and methanol was close to the expected value of 4.8 g COD utilized/ g nitrate-N denitrified. The C: N for the waste alcohol during steady state operation was somewhat higher than expected. The waste alcohol exhibited an �"alcoholic�" odor upon addition to the reactors during startup, but this issue diminished as the biomass became acclimated to the waste alcohol. Both industrial waste alcohol and glycerol can be considered viable alternatives to methanol; however, glycerol supplementation for denitrification can be problematic. If the glycerol dose is not optimized, then partial denitrification is observed and will lead to nitrite in the effluent, causing an increased chlorine demand for plants applying chlorine for disinfection. This is thought to occur due to energy limitations resulting from carbon storage and thus, using glycerol at treatment plants performing biological phosphorus removal (BPR) or enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) might see inefficient removal due to selective carbon utilization by polyphosphate-accumulating organisms (PAOs), or due to competition between PAOs and GAOs. Although denitrification of nitrate to nitrite occurs more quickly with prolonged glycerol addition, it also results in an increased carbon demand which causes a significant impact economically. / Master of Science

In this thesis I will argue that popularized science books should adhere to normative criteria regarding the presentation, interpretation, and understanding of the natural sciences. The increasing popularity of popular science texts (PSTs) - based on sales, critical notice, and scholarly attention - indicates that they can function to interest and partially educate the lay public in scientific principals and practices. I will identify and analyze the narrative, rhetorical features of two popular science texts: Douglas Adams' Last Chance to See and Alan Lightman's Einstein's Dreams. These texts are selected based on a series of normative criteria, criteria constructed for the purpose of enhancing the public understanding of science. Additionally, these criteria are needed to help the lay public develop a proper appreciation of science. A proper appreciation of science, I argue, enables people to make better informed decisions regarding their own personal welfare and also that of the natural world. Finally, a proper appreciation of science, stimulated by PSTs, may help both scientists and the lay public reconceive the possibilities of narrative, public writing, and civic discourse. / Master of Arts

No / In 2005, the UK Department of Health recommended that a new role, the arrhythmia care coordinator (ACC), be created to guide patients through the diagnosis and treatment for arrhythmia. The belief was that this would improve the efficiency of care and improve their quality of life. The British Heart Foundation provided funding for 32 such posts, all of which were filled by arrhythmia specialist nurses, and commissioned an evaluation of the new service to assess its impact on patients. This paper focuses on the impact of the ACCs on their patients’ levels of anxiety and depression, hospital readmissions and costs to the National Health Service (NHS). From 2008 to 2010, using questionnaires, we conducted a longitudinal audit of the psychological status of the patients referred to the ACCs; we also assessed the ACCs’ impact on readmissions and cost benefits to the NHS using UK Hospital Episode Statistics. We found high levels of anxiety and depression amongst patients. Nearly one-third were at the ‘borderline’ or ‘clinically anxious’ and 18% were at the ‘borderline’ or ‘clinically depressed’ level at their first assessment with small changes at follow-up. In arrhythmia specialist nurse sites, readmission rates were reduced by half. After deducting the cost of the ACCs and their support, the estimated annual saving was £29,357 per ACC. This evaluation has shown that the NHS saves £29,357 per year over and above the costs of employing a British Heart Foundation ACC and that all arrhythmia centres should be encouraged to employ an appropriate number of such specialists.

<p>Abstract</p><p>Propose/Aim: The aim of this paper is to examine why the view of the conceptions, within the field of professional information and communication, seem to differ within the labour market of Sweden. This paper will investigate the two main professional roles that are at the centre of the field’s confusion and disorder. These are the Information Specialist and the Communication Specialist. The main question here is to answer whether there is a significant difference between the two or not and also gain knowledge about why the two titles are not used consequently within the labour market.</p><p>Material/Method: The method used for this study is of a qualitative character. A qualitative study is the most preferable method as the aim of the study is to obtain an insight into the field’s own views in the matter. Also, a more statistical research method would not have given this paper the same depth and nuance. The qualitative data has been gathered through the execution of personal interviews with professionals and experts within the field. These findings have then been related to a theoretical framework; including theoretical conceptions, and also theories concerning the profession, use of language and social change.</p><p>Main results: The main results from this study are that there is no homogeneous explanation to what the difference is between an Information Specialist and a Communication Specialist. However, one can come to the conclusion that there are two main standpoints concerning this issue; which definition is preferable and if one sees the two roles of the profession as one and the same or not. The confusion and disorder within the field information and communication shows the effects of when new discourses and views obtain ground in a field. The contemporary roles and views within the field are to a large degree influenced by changes in society.</p><p>Keywords: Information, Communication, Information Specialist, Communication Specialist,</p><p>Roles of Profession, Development, Use of Language, Social Change.</p>

The purpose of this thesis is to develop a decision model for how small audit firms should decide to bring an external IT specialist into the audit process. This model primarily aims to help identify those characteristics of IT in a client company that is being audited that a financial auditor should consider in this decision. This decision model is our proposed solution to a problem that we have identified through previous research; that financial auditors may not have an understanding of risks related to IT and hence infrequently bring an IT specialist into the audit process. The extent of the decision model is limited to small audit firms, because they are the ones requiring external IT specialist while larger audit firms today usually have internal IT specialists. To fulfil the purpose we conducted a qualitative study consisting of an expert study and a user study which identified and classified criteria to include in the decision model. The expert study included two interviews with Certified Information Systems Auditors while the user study included two financial auditors working at small auditing firms. In addition a model validation was conducted with the help of the financial auditors from the user study. The presented decision model has its starting point in the identification of a client company’s most critical process and how this process is affected by the IT in the client company. The expert study showed that the dependency on IT is crucial during an IT audit. The user study instead indicated that the primary criteria when assessing small client com-panies are the presence of software which have been created or adapted for the purpose of the client company. Other criteria that were included in the model were audit trails, access, routines and transaction intensity. The three empirical steps of our research process; the expert study, the user study and the model validation, indicated that all relevant criteria are included in the decision model and that it is useful. Our conclusion is that the decision model may increase the use of IT specialists through the identification of those questions that should be asked in a decision to bring an IT specialist into the audit process and through increasing the awareness of the limits of the users IT knowledge and the risks associated with IT. / Syftet med denna uppsats är att skapa en beslutsmodell för hur små revisionsbyråer skall besluta att ta in en extern IT-specialist i revisionsprocessen. Det främsta syftet med denna modell är att hjälpa till att identifiera de kvaliteter hos IT, i ett klientföretag som revideras, som en revisor skall överväga i detta beslut. Denna beslutsmodell är vår föreslagna lösning till ett problem som vi har identifierat genom tidigare studier; att finansiella revisorer möjligen inte har en full förståelse för de IT relaterade riskerna och till följd av det sällan tar in en IT-specialist i revisionsprocessen. Omfattningen av beslutsmodellen är begränsad till små revisionsbyråer eftersom det är de som behöver externa IT-specialister medan större revisionsbyråer idag ofta har interna IT-specialister. För att uppfylla syftet har vi genomfört en kvalitativ studie bestående av en expertstudie och en användarstudie vilka har identifierat och klassificerat kriterier som bör inkluderas i beslutsmodellen. Expertstudien bestod av två intervjuer med CISA-certifierade IT specialister, medan användarstudien bestod av intervjuer med två finansiella revisorer som arbetar på små revisionsbyråer. Utöver detta genomfördes en modellvalidering med hjälp av revisorerna från användarstudien. Den presenterade beslutsmodellen har sin utgångspunkt i identifieringen av ett klientföretags mest kritiska process och hur denna process är påverkad av klientföreta-gets IT. Expertstudien visade att beroendet av IT är avgörande under en IT-revision. Användarstudien indikerade å andra sidan att det främsta kriteriet när man bedömer små klientföretag är närvaron av mjukvara som har anpassats för klientföretaget. Andra kriterier som inkluderades i modellen var revisionsspår, rutiner för behörighet och transaktionsintensitet. De tre empiriska stegen i vår undersökningsprocess; expertstudien, användarstudien och modellvalideringen, indikerade att alla relevanta kriterier inkluderats i beslutsmodellen och att den är användbar. Vår slutsats är att beslutmodellen kan öka användandet av IT-specialister genom att identifiera de frågor som bör ställas i ett beslut att ta in en IT-specialist i revisionsprocessen och genom att öka medvetenheten om användarnas begränsade kunskap om IT och om risker med IT.

Abstract Propose/Aim: The aim of this paper is to examine why the view of the conceptions, within the field of professional information and communication, seem to differ within the labour market of Sweden. This paper will investigate the two main professional roles that are at the centre of the field’s confusion and disorder. These are the Information Specialist and the Communication Specialist. The main question here is to answer whether there is a significant difference between the two or not and also gain knowledge about why the two titles are not used consequently within the labour market. Material/Method: The method used for this study is of a qualitative character. A qualitative study is the most preferable method as the aim of the study is to obtain an insight into the field’s own views in the matter. Also, a more statistical research method would not have given this paper the same depth and nuance. The qualitative data has been gathered through the execution of personal interviews with professionals and experts within the field. These findings have then been related to a theoretical framework; including theoretical conceptions, and also theories concerning the profession, use of language and social change. Main results: The main results from this study are that there is no homogeneous explanation to what the difference is between an Information Specialist and a Communication Specialist. However, one can come to the conclusion that there are two main standpoints concerning this issue; which definition is preferable and if one sees the two roles of the profession as one and the same or not. The confusion and disorder within the field information and communication shows the effects of when new discourses and views obtain ground in a field. The contemporary roles and views within the field are to a large degree influenced by changes in society. Keywords: Information, Communication, Information Specialist, Communication Specialist, Roles of Profession, Development, Use of Language, Social Change.

In the absence of a Georgia Educator Certificate in instructional technology, and of state-wide staffing requirements for instructional technology specialists, media specialists may be playing an increasingly larger role in instructional technology support and focusing less on other vital media specialist responsibilities. A deeper understanding of the role of media specialists with respect to instructional technology may provide insight into determining a need for instructional technology certification and support in Georgia schools. The purpose of this quantitative survey study was to examine the role of media specialists with respect to instructional technology in an urban school district in Georgia. Practicing media specialists’ perceived use, and perceived ideal use, of instructional technology specialist and media specialist job competencies were examined. The data revealed an overall difference among the four dependent variables (a) perceived current use of media specialist competencies, (b) perceived ideal use of media specialist competencies, (c) perceived current use of instructional technology specialist competencies, and (d) perceived ideal use of instructional technology specialist competencies. Within-subjects contrasts revealed significant pairwise differences among all the variables except the comparison of the use of media specialist competencies and the use of instructional technology specialist competencies. These findings suggest that in the absence of consistently staffed, certified instructional technology specialists, media specialists are playing an increasingly larger role in instructional technology support and focusing less on other essential media specialist roles and responsibilities.

<p>The purpose of this thesis is to develop a decision model for how small audit firms should decide to bring an external IT specialist into the audit process. This model primarily aims to help identify those characteristics of IT in a client company that is being audited that a financial auditor should consider in this decision.</p><p>This decision model is our proposed solution to a problem that we have identified through previous research; that financial auditors may not have an understanding of risks related to IT and hence infrequently bring an IT specialist into the audit process. The extent of the decision model is limited to small audit firms, because they are the ones requiring external IT specialist while larger audit firms today usually have internal IT specialists.</p><p>To fulfil the purpose we conducted a qualitative study consisting of an expert study and a user study which identified and classified criteria to include in the decision model. The expert study included two interviews with Certified Information Systems Auditors while the user study included two financial auditors working at small auditing firms. In addition a model validation was conducted with the help of the financial auditors from the user study.</p><p>The presented decision model has its starting point in the identification of a client company’s most critical process and how this process is affected by the IT in the client company. The expert study showed that the dependency on IT is crucial during an IT audit. The user study instead indicated that the primary criteria when assessing small client com-panies are the presence of software which have been created or adapted for the purpose of the client company. Other criteria that were included in the model were audit trails, access, routines and transaction intensity.</p><p>The three empirical steps of our research process; the expert study, the user study and the model validation, indicated that all relevant criteria are included in the decision model and that it is useful. Our conclusion is that the decision model may increase the use of IT specialists through the identification of those questions that should be asked in a decision to bring an IT specialist into the audit process and through increasing the awareness of the limits of the users IT knowledge and the risks associated with IT.</p> / <p>Syftet med denna uppsats är att skapa en beslutsmodell för hur små revisionsbyråer skall besluta att ta in en extern IT-specialist i revisionsprocessen. Det främsta syftet med denna modell är att hjälpa till att identifiera de kvaliteter hos IT, i ett klientföretag som revideras, som en revisor skall överväga i detta beslut.</p><p>Denna beslutsmodell är vår föreslagna lösning till ett problem som vi har identifierat genom tidigare studier; att finansiella revisorer möjligen inte har en full förståelse för de IT relaterade riskerna och till följd av det sällan tar in en IT-specialist i revisionsprocessen. Omfattningen av beslutsmodellen är begränsad till små revisionsbyråer eftersom det är de som behöver externa IT-specialister medan större revisionsbyråer idag ofta har interna IT-specialister.</p><p>För att uppfylla syftet har vi genomfört en kvalitativ studie bestående av en expertstudie och en användarstudie vilka har identifierat och klassificerat kriterier som bör inkluderas i beslutsmodellen. Expertstudien bestod av två intervjuer med CISA-certifierade IT specialister, medan användarstudien bestod av intervjuer med två finansiella revisorer som arbetar på små revisionsbyråer. Utöver detta genomfördes en modellvalidering med hjälp av revisorerna från användarstudien.</p><p>Den presenterade beslutsmodellen har sin utgångspunkt i identifieringen av ett klientföretags mest kritiska process och hur denna process är påverkad av klientföreta-gets IT. Expertstudien visade att beroendet av IT är avgörande under en IT-revision. Användarstudien indikerade å andra sidan att det främsta kriteriet när man bedömer små klientföretag är närvaron av mjukvara som har anpassats för klientföretaget. Andra kriterier som inkluderades i modellen var revisionsspår, rutiner för behörighet och transaktionsintensitet.</p><p>De tre empiriska stegen i vår undersökningsprocess; expertstudien, användarstudien och modellvalideringen, indikerade att alla relevanta kriterier inkluderats i beslutsmodellen och att den är användbar. Vår slutsats är att beslutmodellen kan öka användandet av IT-specialister genom att identifiera de frågor som bör ställas i ett beslut att ta in en IT-specialist i revisionsprocessen och genom att öka medvetenheten om användarnas begränsade kunskap om IT och om risker med IT.</p>

Bakgrund: Specialistsjuksköterskans profession omfattar kompetens och kunskap som förvärvats genom studier i ämnet på avancerad nivå. För att synliggöra det förvärv ingår det att sjuksköterskan ser på sig själv och sin profession som självständig. Tidigare studier tyder på att trots att specialistsjuksköterskan har sin utgångspunkt i det egna kunskapsområdet är det inte alltid tydligt i möten med andra professioner. Det finns även ett synsätt som lever kvar beträffande sjuksköterskans profession som ett bihang till läkaren vilket gör utgör ett hinder till att arbeta självständigt. Syfte: Att beskriva specialistsjuksköterskans erfarenhet av att självständigt utöva sin professionella kompetens inom psykiatrisk slutenvård. Metod: Halvstrukturerade intervjuer genomfördes med sex kvinnliga specialistsjuksköterskor inom sluten psykiatrisk vård på en och samma klinik. Kvalitativ innehållsanalys valdes som metod vid analysen av materialet. Resultat: Specialistsjuksköterskorna upplevde att de hade möjligheter att påverka sin situation och således kunna utföra ett självständigt arbete. De beskrev att samarbetet med de övriga professionerna upplevdes oftast som stärkande och att det främjade patientarbetet. Respondenterna beskrev också specialistutbildningen som en bidragande faktor till ökad självständighet. Diskussion: Resultatet diskuteras utifrån det vårdvetenskapliga konsensusbegreppet vårdande som teoretisk referensram samt utifrån relevant vetenskaplig forskning. / Background: Specialist nurse profession includes skills and knowledge acquired through the study of the subject at the advanced level. In order to highlight the acquisition include the nurse looks at herself and her profession as an independent. Previous studies suggest that although the specialist nurse has its starting point in their own field of knowledge, it is not always clear in meetings with other professions. There is also an approach that persists regarding nursing profession as an appendage to the doctor which is an obstacle to work independently. Aim: To describe the specialist nurse experience to independently exercise their professional skills in psychiatric inpatient care. Method: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six females specialist nurses in inpatient psychiatric care at the same clinic. Qualitative content analysis was chosen as the method in the analysis of the material. Results: Specialist nurses felt that they had the opportunity to influence their situation and thus be able to carry out and independent work. They described the cooperation with the other professions often perceived as strengthening and it promoted the work with patients. Respondents also described the specialized training as a contributing factor to increased independence. Discussions: The results are discussed from the health scientific consensus term care as a theoretical framework and on the basis of relevant scientific research.