This study focuses on one source of sex tourism diaries: posts on the World Sex Guide written about tourists who had sex while in Latin America. My interest is in exploring how posters on the World Sex Guide make sense of their involvement in sex tourism. Starting from the premise that the diaries constitute a forum in which a hegemonic masculinity is created and perpetuated I ask: what types of relations are valued and reproduced by the posters? How do the tourists construct the women whose services they seek? What do their narratives reveal about their own sense of selfhood in the process? I situate the diaries as pornographic representations or rhetorical strategies that are constituted by their context, interpretations, and inscriptions. I then undertake a discursive analysis to reveal their purpose and implications. In particular, I argue that the performances posted on the World Sex Guide reinforce lines of gender, race, economics, status, nationality, and ethnicity in a way that bolsters Western hegemonic masculinities, the implications of which have import not only in online settings but offline as well. / February 2009

El objeto de estudio de esta tesis es producto de una mirada problematizadora sobre la confluencia entre a) la participación, como idea y como práctica en los ámbitos más variados y bajo las concepciones más diversas; b) el Tercer Sector, como conjunto más o menos delimitado de organizaciones distinguibles respecto a los sectores público o privado y c) en el plano conceptual, el entrecruzamiento entre fenómenos organizativos y fenómenos de poder. El objetivo de la tesis es analizar las prácticas de participación en organizaciones del Tercer Sector en función de los fenómenos de poder que son inherentes a esas prácticas, destacando el papel de la toma de decisiones y la centralidad de la participación como una característica del Tercer Sector que se considera obvia e indispensable. Los capítulos 1 y 2 están dedicados a la revisión de literatura sobre participación y Tercer Sector. El primer capítulo ofrece una visión problematizadora de las concepciones y aproximaciones a la participación, enfatizando las diferencias entre las formas de entenderla y llevarla a la práctica. El segundo capítulo tiene como propósito describir y discutir el fenómeno del Tercer Sector, las formas en que ha sido concebido y sus relaciones con el Estado y con el Mercado como los grandes referentes con base en los cuales se define. Los capítulos 3, 4 y 5 tienen como propósito ofrecer el marco conceptual por medio del cual se ha desarrollado el planteamiento del problema y el diseño de la investigación. El Capítulo 3 presenta la concepción de poder de Foucault contrastándola con otras concepciones de alcances más limitados y subrayando su capacidad para un abordaje analítico de las relaciones complejas entre participación y Tercer Sector. El Capítulo 4 presenta y discute los conceptos clave de la teoría de prácticas sociales de Bourdieu. El Capítulo 5 se centra en fenómenos específicos como la toma de decisiones y los encuentros sociales, que resultan de especial relevancia en la comprensión de la articulación entre participación y Tercer Sector. Los capítulos 6 y 7 son dedicados a los objetivos y al diseño metodológico de la tesis. El Capítulo 6 hace una síntesis de los capítulos anteriores, resaltando las preguntas y las direcciones a seguir como base para los cuatro objetivos generales que sirven como ejes del estudio El Capítulo 7 detalla el método y el procedimiento seguidos. El capítulo enfatiza la centralidad de la noción de prácticas sociales, destacando sus implicaciones como unidad de análisis en un estudio de tipo etnográfico. Los capítulos 8, 9, 10 y 11 presentan los resultados de la tesis en forma de tres grandes mapas. El Capítulo 8 ofrece una introducción a los mapas, resaltando su estructura y contenidos. El Capítulo 9 presenta un mapa económico que parte de la idea de las actividades de participación como bienes intercambiables cuya producción y circulación condiciona el funcionamiento de las organizaciones del Tercer Sector. El Capítulo 10 está dedicado al proceso de conformación y en el funcionamiento de las organizaciones del Tercer Sector. El Capítulo 11 está dedicado a los aspectos simbólicos de la actividad del Tercer Sector en forma de mapa meteorológico. El Capítulo 12 presenta las conclusiones de la tesis. Los resultados expuestos en los mapas se retoman de forma sintética como base para señalar las conclusiones del estudio: a) un Tercer Sector cuyos efectos formalizadores neutralizan el potencial transformador de la actividad colectiva; b) una participación atrapada en el procedimiento y c) la dificultad de convertir en tema de discusiones la complicidad no deliberada de los agentes cuya actividad sostiene el Tercer Sector con esos efectos políticamente neutralizadores. Palabras clave: relaciones de poder; participación; Tercer Sector; prácticas sociales; organización / The object of study in this dissertation is the product of a problematizing view of the confluence among a) participation, as an idea and as a set of practices unfolded through the most varied fields and under the most diverse conceptions; b) the Third Sector, as a more or less delimited collection of organizations the activities and aims of which are different from those of organizations that belong to the public or private sectors; and c) at a conceptual level, the intertwining between organizational phenomena and power phenomena.The aim of the dissertation is to analyze practices of participation in Third Sector organizations according to power phenomena inherent to those practices, highlighting the role of decision making and the place of participation as a taken for granted characteristic of the Third Sector. Chapters 1 and 2 are devoted to the literature review about participation and Third Sector. The first chapter offers a problematizing view of conceptions and approaches to participation, underscoring the differences among the ways in which participation is understood and put into practice. The second chapter is aimed at describing and discussing the Third Sector as a social phenomenon, the ways in which it has been conceived and its relations with the Market and the State as the basis upon which the Third Sector is defined.Chapter 3, 4 and 5 are intended to provide the theoretical framework that has guided the development of the research problem and the design of the study. Chapter 3 presents Foucault's conception of power in contrast with other short range conceptions and stressing its capacity for an analytical approach to the complex relations between participation and the Third Sector. Chapter 4 presents and discusses key concepts of Bourdieu's theory of social practices. Chapter 5 is focused on more specific phenomena such as decision making and social encounters. Chapters 6 and 7 are devoted to the aims and the methodological design of the study. Chapter 6 starts with a synthesis of the former chapters, underscoring the questions and directions to follow as the basis for the general objectives around which the research has been developed. Chapter 7 offers a detailed account of method and procedure. The chapter highlights the centrality of the notion of social practices, stressing its implications as an analytical unit in an ethnographic study. Chapter 8, 9, 10 and 11 offer the results of the study in the form of three grand maps. Chapter 8 is aimed at introducing the maps, stressing their structure and contents. Chapter 9 presents an economic map that is focused on participatory activities as exchangeable goods the production and circulation of which shape the functioning of Third Sector organizations. Chapter 10 is focused in the process of conformation and in the functioning of Third Sector organizations. Chapter 11 is devoted to the symbolic aspects of Third Sector activity.Chapter 12 shows the conclusions of the dissertation. The results included in the maps are synthetically recalled as the basis for exposing the conclusions: a) a Third Sector the formalizing effects of which neutralize the transformative potential of collective undertakings; b) a participation trapped in procedures; and c) the difficulties in trying to turn the non deliberate compliance of agents whose activities sustain the Third Sector and its politically neutralizing effects into a discussable topic. Keywords: power relations; participation; Third Sector; social practices; organization

The third ventricle region houses several neuroanatomical structures that are primary components of the human memory system, and provides pathways through which these brain regions communicate with critical regions of the frontal and medial temporal lobes. Archival data was obtained for 42 children with cerebellar or third ventricle tumors, and was examined for tumor and treatment related confounds. Children with third ventricle tumors were hypothesized to exhibit; 1) better performance on a measure of auditory attention, 2) greater impairment in learning across trials, 3) greater memory loss over a 20-minute delay, and 4) greater impairment across delayed memory tests than the cerebellar group. Children with third ventricle tumors demonstrated significantly better auditory attention, but greater impairments in verbal learning, and greater verbal memory loss following a 20-minute delay. In contrast, children with third ventricle tumors did not demonstrate significantly greater memory impairments across long delay memory tests.

Fine art logistics concept is revealed by Innovative third party logistics services. However, fine art logistics concept is quite new topic of current logistics literature and existing resources, acquired knowledge are limited. Furthermore, innovative logistics services, which are provided by third party logistics service providers and their relation with niche market strategy, are not well researched. This study is prepared for making contribution to current logistics literature about fine art logistics and to investigate relation between niche market strategy and innovative third party logistics services. The method used is a qualitative case study at Benice Logistics, a fine art logistics service provider firm, located in Turkey. This study concludes and suggests how, third party logistics service providers should be more innovative for settle new business trend, and how they can create new opportunities and new specialization areas with their innovative services.

For a long time logistics have been an important part of industrial activities. Dated from 1970s, with the emergency of third party logistics (TPL), companies began to think about insourcing or outsourcing. As the development and expansion of TPL, outsourcing logistics activities to third party logistic have became a worldwide trend. Companies could gain a competitive advantage from outsourcing. Outsourcing to TPL providers could make companies focus on their core tasks. An appropriate TPL provider could apply technology and expertise, which help companies reducing costs and improving services. Flexibility and efficiency can also be achieved by adopting good TPL providers. In this sense, helping companies to make outsourcing decisions and to select optimal TPL providers is meaningful. The purpose of this thesis is to bring a holistic view of third party logistics and to build models for companies to select optimal TPL providers. To achieve the purpose, relevant literatures were reviewed to gain theoretical bases. Qualitative and quantitative research methods are both used in the thesis. Two models for selecting TPL providers were built in the thesis. One was qualitative model that contained four steps: defining problems, formulate criteria, qualify selection process and finally make decision. The other one was a quantitative model with DEA method. It contained six steps: define problem, select candidates, select criteria and indicators, determine input and output and collect data, calculate the efficiency and make final decision. Each model was applied on a case study to examine its validity and feasibility. Both advantages and disadvantages were found during the case studies. The conclusion is that both of models could be used for companies and it allows a company to choose the most suitable one.

Denna systematiska litteraturstudie behandlar ämnet modersmål eller som det också kallas heritage language. Syftet är att med hjälp av diverse vetenskapliga artiklar komma fram till vilken roll språket spelar i en individs utveckling. Detta anses vara viktigt då man i lärarutbildningen ofta lyfter fram den enskilda individen i ett klassrum och det är då viktigt att skapa en förståelse för de ungdomar i dagens Sverige som har ett annat heritage langauge än just svenskan. Artiklarna visar att de ungdomar som fått lära sig sitt heritage language känner en koppling till sin kultur medan de som inte har fått möjlighet till det känner att de saknar något. Genom sådana resultat har man därför kunnat komma fram till att inte bara finns det en stark koppling mellan ens språk, kultur och identitet men att den också är mycket viktig.

This study explores whether the third-person effect caused by the Pap smear advertisements appear & if they turn viewers into actions. The degree that the advertisements effect on third-person effect is focused, as a reference for the government when they¡¦d like to make more effective advertisements, instead of putting all the slogans & appeals together. The result shows: Advertising appeal¡]positive / negative¡^ & direct / indirect wording influences third/first-person effect ,while sexual attitude of audience doesn¡¦t. Because of the privacy of pap smear test, the research didn¡¦t find the relation between third/first person perception & behavior intention.

This study explores whether the third-person effect caused by the published article in the Ptt Gossiping bulletin board. And the follow-up support to restrict the inappropriate content in the Ptt Gossiping bulletin board. Source of this study is use recommended system detected written by Expect language. It would detect popular articles and published articles. Pick a representative to do the test article.and place in the survey questionnaire online. The result shows: All of the four article have third person effect. Affect the follow¡Ðup support restrict the behavior of inappropriate content.

Genetic algorithm is often used to find the global optimum in a multi-dimensional search problem. Inspired by the natural evolution process, this algorithm employs three reproduction strategies -- cloning, crossover and mutation -- combined with selection, to improve the population as the evolution progresses from generation to generation. Femtosecond laser pulse tailoring, with the use of a pulse shaper, has become an important technology which enables applications in femtochemistry, micromachining and surgery, nonlinear microscopy, and telecommunications. Since a particular pulse shape corresponds to a point in a highly-dimensional parameter space, genetic algorithm is a popular technique for optimal pulse shape control in femtosecond laser experiments. We use genetic algorithm to optimize third harmonic generation (THG), and investigate various pulse shaper options. We test our setup by running the experiment with varied initial conditions and study factors that affect convergence of the algorithm to the optimal pulse shape. Our next step is to use the same setup to control coherent anti-Stocks Raman scattering. The results show that the THG signal has been enhanced.

This study discusses third grade elementary school children¡¦s growth in mathematics ability through a mathematics curriculum integrated with problem posing. By applying action research method, this study tries to find out the participating teacher¡¦s progress in her teaching method. In particular, also to find out the problems that may arise from carrying out problem- posing instruction, the possible solutions to these problems, and the problem-posing activities that can be readily applied in classroom setting. The time this study takes, from identifying the problem to the point of retreating from the research setting, is about one year. During this year, the investigator used various methods to collect data: interviews, video recordings of class teaching, teachers¡¦ notes and recordings, and children mathematics diaries. He included research-related surveys and triangulation for data analysis. It is found that, the teacher has to do more than having a firm grasp of the teaching materials, but also to attend to the teaching processes, the timing of introducing the critical questions related to the main points, and the ability to conduct a discussion atmosphere that is conducive for the students¡¦ growth. Most important of all, the mindset has to be changed from a teacher-oriented one to a more student-oriented set. Compared to the original teaching without problem posing, it is found that students became more active in class discussions, and showed more logic in their solutions. They debated about mathematics problems instead of aimless quarreling. Moreover, the content of the problem-posing products become more creative and no longer mechanical. In addition, students¡¦ solution processes were no longer by imitation, but instead, showing expressions of elaborated thoughts. All these show that the integration of problem-posing instruction has increased students¡¦ interests and motivation in studying mathematics.