Many ethical studies have focused on advertising; however, they have yet to focus specifically on Super Bowl advertisements. This thesis examines the ethical issue of portraying deceptive acts within the storylines of Super Bowl advertisements from 1988-2008. Results indicate that 196 of the 2,172 advertisements studied, contain deceptive storylines. Most often the advertisements depicted white males, ages 30-64, using deception. Also, deception was usually done out of self interest at the expense of others. The deception often led to negative social, material, and emotional consequences for the person being deceived, with mostly positive outcomes being shown for the person doing the deceiving. These, and other actions, provide a model of behavior that may have a negative impact on society, which warrants future research on this subject.

The goal of super-resolution is to increase not only the size of an image, but also its apparent resolution, making the result more plausible to human viewers. Many super-resolution methods do well at modest magnification factors, but even the best suffer from boundary and gradient artifacts at high magnification factors. This thesis presents Bayesian edge inference (BEI), a novel method grounded in Bayesian inference that does not suffer from these artifacts and remains competitive in published objective quality measures. BEI works by modeling the image capture process explicitly, including any downsampling, and modeling a fictional recapture process, which together allow principled control over blur. Scene modeling requires noncausal modeling within a causal framework, and an intuitive technique for that is given. Finally, BEI with trivial changes is shown to perform well on two tasks outside of its original domain—CCD demosaicing and inpainting—suggesting that the model generalizes well.

I vår kommande yrkesroll kommer vi att möta människor som var och en har en unik livsberättelse. Vi har i vår studie fått ta del av fyra personers beskrivningar av just deras unika vägar in i polisutbildningen. De här berättelserna utgör stommen i vår studie.Vi har intervjuat fyra studenter vid polisutbildningen för att sedan analysera deras berättelser och söka svar på frågor som är aktuella i vägledningsperspektiv. Vad gjorde att de valde just polisutbildningen? Vad har de för bakgrund? Vad har de för självbild?Uppsatsen vill sätta fokus på olika vägar till polisyrket. Vi har använt oss av en kvalitativ intervjumetod och sedan analyserat polisstudenternas berättelser utifrån två utvalda karriärteorier. Donald E Supers teori om livsförlopp, livsrum och självbild och S Gottfredsons teori om avgränsningar, kompromisser och skapandet av självet. Karriärteorier är viktiga redskap i arbetet med studie och yrkesvägledning, de hjälper oss förstå människors livsberättelser och kunna sätta dem in ett sammanhang som har betydelse för deras framtida karriärutveckling.Resultatet visar att för de här personerna har vägarna till polisyrket inte varit spikrak. Det är ingen av intervjupersonerna som haft polis som ett drömyrke sedan barnsben, utan det är något som utvecklats i vuxen ålder. Vägen till polisyrket skiljer sig åt och även hur intresset väckts. Viljan att pröva något nytt, kompisar som tipsat och uppmuntrat samt tidigare arbete som varit i nära kontakt med polisyrket. Vi har sett att den variation yrket erbjuder är en viktig faktor för samtliga i valsituationen. De talar alla om att det är ett flexibelt arbete, det händer ständigt nya saker, den ena dagen är inte den andra lik.Vi har även sett att den bild studenterna har av en bra polis återkommer när de berättar om deras självbild.

Due to renewed interest in the sub orbital rocket program of the Florida Space Authority and a surplus of Super Loki Sounding Rockets, an effort to improve the usefulness of this surplus is herein undertaken. Currently, the capacity of the payload compartment in the upper stage of the Super Loki system is very limited. A redesign of the upper stage will allow larger and more versatile payloads to be carried, assuming the appropriate design parameters are met. It has therefore been undertaken to create a design procedure that is comprehensive in scope in order to affect this redesign. This procedure includes five major components. These are the separation of the upper and lower stages, the stability of the vehicle, the altitude and velocity of the rocket, the mechanical loading and finally the aerodynamic heating. Semi-empirical methods were used whenever possible to allow comparison with experimental data. This procedure revealed that larger diameter upper stages might be used up to a reasonable maximum of four inches. The four-inch modification is found to be stable as were the smaller modifications considered. The altitude and velocity of the rocket were found via a simple Eulerian time stepping scheme resulting in an estimate of approximately 148,000ft for the four-inch dart. The mechanical loading analysis allowed for the material selection for the rocket components. Reinforced steel fins and carbon fiber tubing, for the payload section, are adequate to meet expected mechanical loads, those being, 16000psi for the fin section due to launcher forces, 22800psi for compressive plus torsion forces on the composite section and 18000psi for the ejection stresses. An ablative coating is considered necessary to counteract the 760ºF temperatures along the composite tube.

High carbon bainitic steel plates could surpass quench and tempered martensitic counterparts for fabrication of ammunition- and blast-resistant armours. Mechanical properties, microstructure and reaction kinetics of a commercially available carbide-free nanoscale bainite alloy were characterized. Based on the initial characterization and a comprehensive review of the literature a new alloy with lower carbon, higher silicon and cobalt additions was designed and processed into hot-rolled plates (10x10mm and 300x300mm) using CanmetMATERIALS pilot-scale facilities. The heat treated plates achieved strength above 2 GPa with elongation of 14%. Thorough analysis with electron backscattered diffraction revealed that the microstructure consisted of bainitic ferrite laths, islands of retained austenite, areas of mixed martensite-austenite (MA). Transmission electron microscopy confirmed the fine scale of bainitic ferrite and the presence of thin films of retained austenite encompassing bainite laths. Dilatometric study of the new alloy revealed that forming bainite at higher transformation temperatures, 275°C versus 250°C and 225°C, led to faster overall reaction kinetics and higher final fractions of bainite within 18 hours of isothermal holding. Although it is expected that the fraction of bainite increases at lower temperatures, substantial prolonged holding time is required for completion of the reaction. Microstructural features and particularly bainite lath thickness depended on bainite formation temperature. Ausforming, deformation of austenite at 600°C for 25-45% strain prior to decomposition to bainite, however led to a decrease in reaction rate and final fraction of bainite. Tensile testing of austempered specimens showed that higher transformation temperature yielded a stronger microstructure, which was attributed to the formation of thinner bainitic ferrite laths. Higher transformation temperatures led to an increase in ductility. Tensile testing of the ausformed specimens showed a reduction in both strength and ductility. A negative correlation was seen between the amount of MA areas in the microstructure and total elongation. / Thesis / Master of Science in Materials Science and Engineering (MSMSE) / This project has adopted the science of bainite transformation to develop a suitable alloy and processing method for the fabrication of very strong armour plates at a lower cost compared to commercially available grades. The pilot-scale casting and processing facility at CanmetMATERIALS centre was used to produce full sized, 1ft (304.8mm) by 1ft (304.5mm), prototype armour plates. The plates were subsequently characterized using a variety of techniques to determine interplay between processing parameters, microstructure and the ensuing final performance. The optimized alloy, tailored processing parameters, and characterization information constitute the contribution of the present work to the current state of research.

Super Earths are a class of exoplanets with masses between 1-10 M⊕. Comprising nearly 70 % of the discovered planet population, they are largest class of exoplanets known. Super Earths exhibit an interesting variety of compositions, as their densities imply that they range from dense, rocky planets to those with substantial amounts of water. This thesis aims to understand why super Earths form so frequently, and to connect the final compositions of super Earths to the regions where they form in protoplanetary disks. To do this, we combine a model that calculates the physical and chemical conditions within a protoplanetary disk with a core accretion model of planet formation. A key feature of our planet formation model is planet traps that act as barriers to rapid type-I migration. The traps we include in our model are the dead zone, which can be caused by cosmic ray or X-ray ionization, the ice line, and the heat transition. In disks with lifetimes >􏰐 4 Myr we find that planet formation in all traps results in Jovian planets. Typically, the X-ray dead zone and heat transition traps produce hot Jupiters orbiting near 0.05 AU while the cosmic ray dead zone and ice line traps produce Jupiters near 1 AU. Super Earths are found to form in disks with short lifetimes 􏰑< 2 Myr that photoevaporate prior to planets undergoing runaway gas accretion. Additionally, we find that super Earth formation takes place in low-mass disks (<􏰑 0.05 M⊙), where planet formation timescales exceed disk lifetimes inferred through observations. The location of various traps throughout the disk play a key role in allowing super Earths to achieve a range of compositions. Super Earths forming in the ice line or heat transition accrete solids from cold regions of the disk, resulting in planets with large ice contents (up to 50 % by mass). Conversely, super Earths formed in the dead zone trap accrete solids from warm regions of the disk and are therefore composed of mostly rocky materials (less than 5 % ice by mass). / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

Tumors are composed of proliferating cells that invade healthy tissue and grow over time. Even though it is still unclear, it is a common opinion that the cells of origin should possess a proliferative capacity (Blanpain, 2013; Visvader, 2011). Particularly for brain cancers, the transition of neural progenitors to differentiated postmitotic neurons is considered irreversible in physiological and pathological conditions. Therefore, postmitotic neurons have not been considered as suitable cell of origin for brain cancer. Here, we show that neurons reprograming may occur upon Shh activation leading to medulloblastoma (MB) formation in vivo. Human SHH medulloblastoma (MB) is a brain tumor affecting adults and infants that is thought to originate from cerebellar granule neuron progenitors. Notably, several groups have shown that Shh pathway activation (SmoM2 overexpression) in mouse granule neuron progenitors is able to induce Shh MB (Schuller et al., 2008; Z.-J. Yang et al., 2008). These progenitors are present in infants and newborn mice, but they seem to be absent in adult humans and mice (Biran, Verney, &amp; Ferriero, 2012; Marzban et al., 2014; Z.-J. Yang et al., 2008). Furthermore, it was recently discovered that the two different forms of SHH MB are distinguished by different transcriptome/methylome levels suggesting that the adult SHH MB may originate from a different cell of origin (Cavalli et al., 2017; Kool et al., 2014). Relying on these data, we take advantage of a conditional Cre-Lox recombination system to recapitulate the human adult medulloblastoma pathogenesis in mice, demonstrating that cerebellar post-migratory mature granule neurons upon SmoM2 overexpression can dedifferentiate and give rise to SHH MB in vivo. Moreover, human adult patients present inactivating mutations of the chromatin reader BRPF1 that are associated with SMO mutations and absent in pediatric and adolescent patients. Here we found that truncated BRPF1 protein, as found in human adult patients, is able to induce medulloblastoma in adult mice upon SmoM2 activation. Notably, gene expression profiling on our samples allowed to associate “cerebellar granule progenitors-derived MB” with the human infant form while “truncated BRPF1-induced tumors” clustered with human adult SHH MB. Furthermore, as previously described by Kool et al., 2014, human adult SHH MB is characterised by the copresence of p-AKT and p-S6, compared to the human infant SHH MB that are positive for either p- AKT or p-S6 and always in a mutually exclusive way. Truncated BRPF1-induced tumors are double positive for p-AKT and p-S6, similarly to adult patients, while cerebellar granule progenitors derived MB present only p-S6. Furthermore, to define the contribution of chromatin changes in granule neurons dedifferentiation in response to Shh activation, we profiled changes in chromatin accessibility by ATAC-seq analysis on mice cerebella. SmoM2 overexpression changed the epigenetic landscape of granule neurons, enriching the number of open chromatin regions 12 associated with stem/progenitor-like genes. Moreover, the cooperation between truncated BRPF1 and SmoM2 in reshaping the chromatin arrangement of granule neurons was explored applying ATAC-seq on differentiated human cerebellar neurons derived from neuroepithelial cells. ATAC-seq analysis pointed out a synergistic mechanism between SmoM2 and truncated BRPF1 in modifying the epigenetic landscape of postmitotic neurons, increasing the chromatin accessibility of super-enhancers, associated with stemness and chromatin organization/modification genes. Our novel model of cancer development could explain the human SHH medulloblastoma onset in adult individuals where granule neuron progenitors are no more present. For these reasons, we strongly believe that our model configures as an important starting point for a new field in cancer and stem cell biology focusing on the study of mechanisms driving tumorigenesis in postmitotic cells.

Enterprise Information Systems (EIS) are large systems that enable the integration of business processes and allow seamless business process data flow throughout the organization. An EIS implementation is considered a failure if it is being cancelled; if it is removed early with relevant financial and organizational losses; or if the implementation resulted in a system being underutilized due to dissatisfaction, overspend or poor requirements gathering. Despite excessive spending over the years on digital transformation projects of such systems, failure rates have been excessively high. This research explores Super User effectiveness as an integral part of digital transformation processes. Super Users are regular but highly motivated employees who receive additional training in the use of a new or upgraded computer system to be introduced in the workplace, so that they can provide first-line technical support and training to their local colleagues. Super Users are frequently engaged in guiding and supporting users throughout and after EIS implementations or system upgrades. User satisfaction with the training process and Super User support effectiveness tends to contribute to more successful system transition and EIS implementation success. However, the role of Super Users in EIS implementations as a first line of education and support for EIS users has been substantially understudied as a potential way of reducing these failure rates. Although several studies have explored desired Super User characteristics in EIS systems implementation and successful organizational digital transformation processes, there has been a lack of attention to user perceptions of integrative systems as a contributing factor to better system utilization and implementation. This research explores Super User effectiveness as an integral part of digital transformation processes. A Theoretical Model was developed that draws from accepted theories of collaborative technology, technology adoption, and expectation confirmation. A survey was used to gather responses of 321 end users about their perceptions of Super User support and effectiveness, derived from their experience in several organizations that had undergone digital transformation. The study data were analyzed quantitatively, and the model validated through a structured equation model that was developed, based on relevant published models. A further explanatory study was conducted through thematic analysis of written participant responses. Our study found that Super User ability to emphasize the collaborative features of integrative systems by augmenting user perceptions of EIS as a social presence medium can contribute to higher levels of user performance and satisfaction. Immediacy of integrative systems as well as Individual user characteristics were found to play a positive role in user performance and satisfaction improvement. Situational characteristics of resource-facilitating conditions was also found to contribute positively to user performance and satisfaction. This study contributes to existing research on integrative systems characteristics and Super User effectiveness. It emphasizes collaborative components of integrative systems and discusses additional tools and expanded capabilities for systems utilization and user learning. It also expands on our understanding of Super User effectiveness through an exploration of user perceptions of integrative systems as a social presence medium and effective collaboration tool. Practitioners can thereby emphasize to users the resulting augmented capabilities that can contribute to effectiveness of the Super User training and development process. Practitioners should therefore urge organizations to focus on Super User selection and development as effective organizational resources that facilitate user support through organizational changes associated with EIS implementations, thereby contributing to increases in EIS implementation success rates. / Dissertation / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / This research examines the role of Super Users in Enterprise Information Systems (EIS) implementation as a means to reduce high failure rates in digital transformation projects. Super Users, motivated employees trained to provide technical support and training for colleagues during EIS transitions, play a crucial but underexplored role. The findings highlight the importance of Super Users in emphasizing collaborative aspects of EIS, contributing to improved user performance and satisfaction. This research underscores the significance of Super User selection and development in enhancing EIS implementation success rates.

We study positive solutions to nonlinear elliptic systems of the form: \begin{eqnarray*} -\Delta u =\lambda f(v) \mbox{ in }\Omega\\-\Delta v =\lambda g(u) \mbox{ in }\Omega\\\quad~~ u=0=v \mbox{ on }\partial\Omega \end{eqnarray*} where $\Delta u$ is the Laplacian of $u$, $\lambda$ is a positive parameter and $\Omega$ is a bounded domain in $R^n$ with smooth boundary $\partial\Omega$. In particular, we will analyze the combined effects of the nonlinearities on the existence and multiplicity of positive solutions. We also study systems with multiparameters and stronger coupling. We extend our results to $p$-$q$-Laplacian systems and to $n\times n$ systems. We mainly use sub- and super-solutions to prove our results.

We study positive solutions to classes of nonlinear elliptic singular problems of the form: -Δpu = λ g(u) uα in Ω u = 0 on δΩ where Ω is a bounded domain in ℝN, N ≥ 1 with smooth boundary δΩ, &lambda¸ is a positive parameter, α ∈(0; 1), Δpu := div(⌊∇u⌋p-2 ∇u); p > 1 is the p-Laplacian operator, and g is a smooth function. Such elliptic problems naturally arise in the study of steady state reaction diffusion processes. In particular, we will be interested in the challenging new class of problems when g(0) < 0 (hence lims→0+g(s) sα = - ∞ which we refer to as infinite semipositone problems. Our focus is on existence results. We obtain results for the single equation case as well as to the case of systems. We use the method of sub-super solutions to prove our results. The results in this dissertation provide a solid foundation for the analysis of such infinite semipositone problems.