The aim of this essay was to investigate the knowledge of, and attitudes towards unbiased English usage amongst Swedish upper secondary school students. For the purpose of this study, a survey was carried out at an upper secondary school in southern Sweden. In the theoretical background section, terms such as political correctness and gender-neutral language use are defined. In addition, references are made to studies in the United States and Europe on students’ awareness of these aspects of language. For the present study, a survey was carried out in which 41 students answered 13 questions in written form. The students attend their third year at four different programmes at upper secondary school. The results show that a majority of the students are very aware of the sensitivity of referring to persons of colour, and they are even afraid of being perceived as racists if they use terms such as black American. As regards non-sexist language use, the Swedish students were aware of the fact that terms such as firefighter and police officer can be used to designate both men and women. However, the students have little knowledge of the title Ms and of the neutral alternative to chairman, chair.

Climate change is one of the most pressing environmental issues of our time, as it threatens the survival of human civilisation. With the increasing number of initiatives trying to address climate change, it is important to examine how effective they are and what other roles these initiatives can serve in transitioning society towards sustainability. This thesis investigates the role of one such initiative, carbon neutrality, within a strategic approach to sustainable development, based on the case study of the North American Credit Union (NACU). A scientific understanding of climate change and sustainability provide a strict evaluation of the carbon neutrality concept with its benefits and challenges, including the role of carbon offsets. Within this context, recommendations are provided for roles and actions that a financial organisation such as NACU can take in order to set high standards in this new and still evolving market of voluntary carbon offsets, while striving for full sustainability and leadership within the community.

This study compared the differential influence of reframing, self-control, and neutral counselor interventions on high and low trait-anxious subjects' self -descriptions as measured by the Adjective Check List. Reframing was predicted to be superior to self-control and neutral interventions in eliciting more favorable self-descriptions. An interaction was also predicted between counselor intervention and trait anxiety such that, in the reframing condition, low trait-anxious subjects would describe themselves more positively than high trait-anxious subjects.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Animal Sciences and Industry / Michael D. Tokach / Eleven experiments using 5,434 growing-finishing pigs were performed in addition to the development of a model to predict dietary NE that yields the greatest economic benefit. Two experiments were conducted to determine the effect of dietary phytogenics on growth and carcass performance of growing-finishing pigs. The addition of the combination of two phytogenics products (EOM 1+2) to diets improved ADFI, HCW, and carcass ADG. However, there was no evidence for treatment differences for growth or carcass performance in a second study. Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of feeding high SID Trp:Lys ratios with and without Ractopamine HCl (RAC) on growth and carcass characteristics of finishing pigs. In Exp. 1, whereas increasing SID Trp:Lys ratio above 20% improved growth and carcass performance when diets contained RAC, pigs fed SID Trp:Lys ratios above 20% in diets without RAC had reduced growth and carcass performance. Contrary in Exp. 2, pigs fed increasing SID Trp:Lys in diet containing RAC did not provide further performance benefits. Three experiments were conducted to determine the optimum dietary SID Lys and CP concentrations in finishing pigs over 100 kg. The SID Lys requirement to obtain 100% of maximum response was 0.55 to 0.63% depending on the response variable. Growth and carcass performance was maximized in diets containing at least 12% dietary CP. Four experiments were conducted to determine the effects of SBM concentration and whether dEB, choline, or K are the reasons that performance is reduced when pigs over 100 kg BW are fed low CP diets. Performance was reduced as SBM concentration was reduced in the diet. Choline, K, and dEB do not appear to be the reason that performance is reduced when SBM concentration is decreased in low CP diets fed to pigs over 100 kg BW. A Microsoft Excel®-based model to predict the value of dietary NE that yields the greatest economic return to the production system was developed. Furthermore, a meta-analysis was conducted to incorporate the impact of NDF on carcass yield in the model.

Response Interruption and Redirection (RIRD) was compared to no-interaction, continuous neutral sound, and contingent neutral sound in order to determine the mechanism by which RIRD functions to suppress vocal stereotypy in children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. A neutral sound was determined through the use of a preference assessment of various sounds. Use of a neutral sound did not suppress vocal stereotypy in participants. Manipulating the amount of time with a sound playing did not have an effect on vocal stereotypy either. These results suggest that it is unlikely that RIRD suppresses vocal stereotypy through an extinction-like effect. Rather, it is more likely that RIRD suppresses vocal stereotypy through a punishment-like effect.

The lands of Southern Brazil comprising the municipalities of Santa Vitória do Palmar and Chui, during the process of colonial occupation, were classified as neutral ground. In this territory still hold the remains of a pastoral heritage: the Stables of Palmas. The Stables of Palmas found in the landscape are square and circular structure consisting of palm Butia capitata. Therefore, the general aim of this research is to georeference the Stables of Palmas in order to record the traces of human action that may corroborate or refute the hypothesis that the Stables of Palmas in neutral camps are evidence of a cultural heritage building threatened with extinction. Once they are exposed in areas of agricultural production, cattle ranching, urban growth and weather. Therefore, this production agropastoral destroyed (and continues destroying the trees) deep folds of the palms. However, the interest in researching the Stables of Palmas in neutral camps rests with the need to record these material traces of a pastoral heritage that, being a tree, certainly over time will disappear. However, even time can bring relevant information to regional history, on the historical process of occupation and exploitation of the land called the neutral ground. This dissertation proposes not only to record information, but can also promote further research on this forgotten region in Southern Brazil. Strengthen local identity and memory, providing grants to educational projects to the community in general and finally, the interpretation of landscape transformation that compromises this cultural heritage. / As terras do extremo Sul do Brasil que compreendem os municípios de Santa Vitória do Palmar e Chuí, durante o processo de ocupação colonial, foram denominadas de Campos Neutrais. Nesse território ainda resistem os vestígios de uma herança cultural pastoril: os Currais de Palmas. Os Currais de Palmas encontrados nesta paisagem são estruturas quadradas e circulares constituídas de palmeiras Butia capitata. Portanto, o objetivo geral dessa pesquisa consiste em georreferenciar os Currais de Palmas no intuito de registrar os vestígios da ação humana que possam corroborar ou refutar a hipótese de que os Currais de Palmas nos Campos Neutrais são testemunhos de um patrimônio cultural construído ameaçado de extinção. Uma vez que se encontram expostos em áreas de produção agrícola, ganadeira, de crescimento urbano e a intempérie. Assim sendo, essa produção agropastoril destruiu (e continua destruindo as árvores) profundamente os currais de palmas. Contudo, o interesse em pesquisar os Currais de Palmas nos Campos Neutrais recai sobre a necessidade de registrar esses vestígios materiais de uma herança cultural pastoril que, se tratando de uma árvore, certamente ao longo do tempo irá desaparecer. No entanto, ainda em tempo pode-se trazer relevantes informações para a história regional, sobre o processo histórico de ocupação e exploração dessas terras denominadas de Campos Neutrais. A presente dissertação se propõe não somente em registrar informações, mas de poder também fomentar outras pesquisas a esta região esquecida no extremo Sul do Brasil. Fortalecer a identidade e a memória local, proporcionando subsídios a projetos educativos à comunidade em geral e finalmente, interpretações à transformação da paisagem que compromete este Patrimônio Cultural.

This thesis presents a study of neutral-current π⁰ production from <i>ν_µ</i> interactions. The study uses data taken at the Tokai-to-Kamiokande off-axis experiment's near detector (ND280). Monte Carlo studies were used to develop selection criteria to reconstruct event signatures produced from such interactions. This physics analysis focuses on the tracker region of the ND280 subdetector. Other π⁰ analyses using different detector regions are either underway or completed. The physics analysis, after being developed from Monte Carlo studies, was then run on real data. This analysis goes partway towards measuring the neutral-current π⁰-producing neutrino interaction cross-section, by measuring the rate of such interactions in the T2K experiment's near detector, ND280.

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / Rehabilitation of edentulous jaws without the option of osseointegrating implants will remain the only treatment option within reach of many older patients for the foreseeable future. Many routine prosthodontic procedures are based on dogmas, because no high-level scientific evidence exists to either accept or reject them, among these is the “neutral zone” (NZ) concept. In spite of paucity of evidence using approved patient-based outcome instruments, it is generally agreed that the NZ should be respected when constructing complete dentures. The purpose of this research project was to determine how shapes of conventional and NZ mandibular dentures differ, and if the two different types of dentures impact differently on oral health–related quality of life by using an accepted oral health-related quality of life instrument as a patient-based outcome. Thirty nine edentulous patients were selected for this prospective, randomised, cross-over, single-blinded clinical trial. Two sets of complete dentures were made for each patient. One denture set was made following conventional biometric guidelines for determining the position of the mandibular posterior denture teeth in relation to the ridge; another set was made following a functional impression of the potential denture space. Each set of dentures was worn for at least two months. A similar number of types of dentures were delivered first. Widths of residual ridges and mandibular denture arches were measured using digital measuring software. Position of denture teeth was related to the ridge. Denture dimensions were compared by means of analysis of variance using the mixed procedure. Using formula of parabola, arch-widths were compared using paired t-tests. Pre- and post-treatment patient feedback was obtained by means of the 20-item Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-20) and a preference score. Treatment effect size (ES) was established based on the OHIP-20 scores. Relevant associations among denture dimensions, OHIP-20 scores, preference, age, gender, marital status, education, income, period of edentulousness, and quality of denture-bearing tissue were done using the generalised linear model and correlation analysis. For all statistical analysis, level of significance was determined at p<0.05. The mean age of the sample was 62.3 years. Twenty four patients were female. Mean period of edentulousness was 31 years and mean number of denture sets worn prior to the trial was 2.5. Except for the canine region, NZ dentures were statistically wider than anatomic dentures. The difference in mean widths between the two types of dentures was larger for female patients. Older patients had smaller differences in denture dimensions. More unfavourable denture-bearing tissue was associated with a larger difference in the two types of dentures. Both types of mandibular dentures significantly improved the OHRQoL of patients. Both types of dentures had a high treatment ES. The OHIP-20 instrument could not distinguish a statistical difference in impact on OHRQoL between the two treatment options. There was a minute difference in treatment ES between the two types of treatment. The only domain representing a small clinical benefit between NZ and anatomic dentures was “physical pain”, with the NZ dentures scoring better. There was no correlation between pre- and post-treatment scores for both types of dentures. No significant associations were found between post-treatment OHIP- 20 scores on the one hand and tissue scores, gender, age, education, marital status, period of edentulousness and denture dimension differences on the other hand. Based on OHIP-20 scores, there was a significant association between denture preference and NZ dentures, but not for the other preferences. No significant associations were found between denture preferences on the one hand and tissue scores, gender, age, period of edentulousness and denture dimension differences on the other hand. Even though no significant relationship was found between preference and gender, the majority of female patients preferred the NZ denture and the majority of male patients did not express a preference. Providing new complete dentures improved OHRQoL of edentulous patients. The majority of female patients preferred the NZ compared over the ANA denture. The NZ technique appeared to have a higher positive impact on OHRQoL of female patients compared to male patients.

Most research on stock prices is based on the present value model or the more general consumption-based model. When applied to real economic data, both of them are found unable to account for both the stock price level and its volatility. Three essays here attempt to both build a more realistic model, and to check whether there is still room for bubbles in explaining fluctuations in stock prices. In the second chapter, several innovations are simultaneously incorporated into the traditional present value model in order to produce more accurate model-based fundamental prices. These innovations comprise replacing with broad dividends the more narrow traditional dividends that are more commonly used, a nonlinear artificial neural network (ANN) forecasting procedure for these broad dividends instead of the more common linear forecasting models for narrow traditional dividends, and a stochastic discount rate in place of the constant discount rate. Empirical results show that the model described above predicts fundamental prices better, compared with alternative models using linear forecasting process, narrow dividends, or a constant discount factor. Nonetheless, actual prices are still largely detached from fundamental prices. The bubble-like deviations are found to coincide with business cycles. The third chapter examines possible cointegration of stock prices with fundamentals and non-fundamentals. The output gap is introduced to form the non-fundamental part of stock prices. I use a trivariate Vector Autoregression (TVAR) model and a single equation model to run cointegration tests between these three variables. Neither of the cointegration tests shows strong evidence of explosive behavior in the DJIA and S&P 500 data. Then, I applied a sup augmented Dickey-Fuller test to check for the existence of periodically collapsing bubbles in stock prices. Such bubbles are found in S&P data during the late 1990s. Employing econometric tests from the third chapter, I continue in the fourth chapter to examine whether bubbles exist in stock prices of conventional economic sectors on the New York Stock Exchange. The ‘old economy’ as a whole is not found to have bubbles. But, periodically collapsing bubbles are found in Material and Telecommunication Services sectors, and the Real Estate industry group.

This diploma thesis concerns Service-Oriented Architecture and possibilities of using framework NGOSS (New Generation Operations Systems and Software) by its adoption to organization. Diploma thesis is divided into four main parts. The first three parts are theoretical and are the foundation for the last practical part of diploma thesis. The first part is devoted to enterprise architecture and to their importance for a big company. The second part of the diploma thesis is devoted to framework, to their principles and importance in connection with enterprise architecture. In first chapters of this part is devoted to description of framework generally, while the last parts contain the description of particular framework for telecommunication industry named NGOSS. I describe its main characteristics and its main parts with emphasis on its part concerning architecture of information system named TNA (Technology Neutral Architecture). This TNA description also contains description of NGOSS contract, which is very important for practical part of diploma thesis. The third and the last theoretical part is concerned with service oriented architecture and its main architectural elements -- services. In the last and practical part of diploma thesis, I am trying to design NGOSS contract for the chosen SOA service and demonstrate its importance for SOA adoption. The end of the practical part contains conclusion on possibilities and benefits of NGOSS framework by SOA adoption.