The overall aim of this thesis was to investigate the fate of perfluorinated alkyl compounds (PFCs) in biological systems. During the past several years, it has been shown that wildlife are ubiquitously contaminated with two classes of PFCs, the perfluoroalkyl carboxylates (CxF2x+1C(O)OH, PFCAs) and sulfonates (CxF2x+1SO3H, PFSAs). However, there is still considerable uncertainty regarding how wildlife are accumulating these PFCs, particularly in remote areas such as the Canadian arctic. The potential for fluorotelomer acrylate monomers (CxF2x+1CH2CH2OC(O)CH=CH2, FTAcs) to act as precursors to PFCAs through atmospheric oxidation was investigated using smog chamber experiments. FTAc atmospheric fate is determined by OH radical reaction with a lifetime of approximately 1 day. The sole primary product of this reaction was the 4:2 fluorotelomer glyoxylate which is expected to undergo further atmospheric oxidation or photolysis to ultimately yield PFCAs. Temporal and spatial trends of PFCs in arctic ringed seals and seabirds were investigated to assist in understanding PFC transport mechanisms to remote regions. In ringed seals, perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) levels decreased rapidly, coinciding with the phase out by the major manufacturer. These findings are consistent with volatile precursors as the dominant source of PFCs to arctic wildlife. The bioaccumulation and biotransformation of the 8:2 FTAc was investigated in two complimentary studies with rainbow trout. During the in vivo dietary exposure study, fish rapidly accumulated and biotransformed the 8:2 FTAc, with intermediate metabolites observed within 1 hour of dosing. Perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), perfluorononanoate (PFNA) and perfluoroheptanoate (PFHpA) were formed and accumulated in low yields. The carboxylesterase activity in the trout liver and stomach was investigated using in vivo sub-cellular (S9) incubations. Very high esterase activities were shown with approximately equal efficiency in the stomach and liver. The metabolic pathway of the 8:2 fluorotelomer alcohol (8:2 FTOH) was investigated by separately dosing whole rainbow trout with three intermediate metabolites that represented important branching points. The 7:3 fluorotelomer saturated carboxylate (FTCA) did not form PFOA, but formed PFHpA and the 7:3 fluorotelomer unsaturated carboxylate (FTUCA). The 8:2 FTCA and 8:2 FTUCA did form PFOA, confirming a “beta-like-oxidation” mechanism.

The overall aim of this thesis was to investigate the fate of perfluorinated alkyl compounds (PFCs) in biological systems. During the past several years, it has been shown that wildlife are ubiquitously contaminated with two classes of PFCs, the perfluoroalkyl carboxylates (CxF2x+1C(O)OH, PFCAs) and sulfonates (CxF2x+1SO3H, PFSAs). However, there is still considerable uncertainty regarding how wildlife are accumulating these PFCs, particularly in remote areas such as the Canadian arctic. The potential for fluorotelomer acrylate monomers (CxF2x+1CH2CH2OC(O)CH=CH2, FTAcs) to act as precursors to PFCAs through atmospheric oxidation was investigated using smog chamber experiments. FTAc atmospheric fate is determined by OH radical reaction with a lifetime of approximately 1 day. The sole primary product of this reaction was the 4:2 fluorotelomer glyoxylate which is expected to undergo further atmospheric oxidation or photolysis to ultimately yield PFCAs. Temporal and spatial trends of PFCs in arctic ringed seals and seabirds were investigated to assist in understanding PFC transport mechanisms to remote regions. In ringed seals, perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) levels decreased rapidly, coinciding with the phase out by the major manufacturer. These findings are consistent with volatile precursors as the dominant source of PFCs to arctic wildlife. The bioaccumulation and biotransformation of the 8:2 FTAc was investigated in two complimentary studies with rainbow trout. During the in vivo dietary exposure study, fish rapidly accumulated and biotransformed the 8:2 FTAc, with intermediate metabolites observed within 1 hour of dosing. Perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), perfluorononanoate (PFNA) and perfluoroheptanoate (PFHpA) were formed and accumulated in low yields. The carboxylesterase activity in the trout liver and stomach was investigated using in vivo sub-cellular (S9) incubations. Very high esterase activities were shown with approximately equal efficiency in the stomach and liver. The metabolic pathway of the 8:2 fluorotelomer alcohol (8:2 FTOH) was investigated by separately dosing whole rainbow trout with three intermediate metabolites that represented important branching points. The 7:3 fluorotelomer saturated carboxylate (FTCA) did not form PFOA, but formed PFHpA and the 7:3 fluorotelomer unsaturated carboxylate (FTUCA). The 8:2 FTCA and 8:2 FTUCA did form PFOA, confirming a “beta-like-oxidation” mechanism.

I den här uppsatsen tillhandahåller vi resultatet av en deduktiv och kvalitativ fallsstudie om företagsinterna processer för framgångsrikt varumärkesarbete med fokus på hur identifiera, prioritera, applicera och omsätta effekterna av omvärldstrender till en framgångsrik och lönsam premiumstrategi; genom att beskriva och analysera detta arbete i två premiumföretag (Haglöfs och BMW). Studien avser att göra ett bidrag till teorin om effektivt varumärkesarbete med fokus på premiumstrategi, nämligen premiumstrategins sammanbindande länkar med hänsyn tagen till dess kontextuella förutsättningar   Den teoretiska referensramen utgörs av huvudbegreppen: trender, premiumvarumärken, varumärkesutvidgning samt marknadsposition. För studien valdes två empiriska undersökningsobjekt och relevant information beträffande dessa samlades in via två metoder; dels via en kvalitativ semistrukturerad-intervju samt via dokumentanalys. Detta för att undersöka hur premiumföretag arbetar utefter den struktur och teoretiska modell/bidrag som identifierats i samband med fastställandet av syntesen. Utifrån teorin identifierade vi ett antal förutsättningar samt länkar kopplade till en premiumstrategi. Dessa förutsättningar samt länkar verifierades senare via en analytisk induktion. Återkommande sekvenser i insamlad empiri söktes och förklarades genom att vi undersökte företagens branschspecifika förutsättningar men även hur de arbetade med att utveckla en premiumstrategi. Strukturen och länkarna för att utveckla en premiumstrategi var följande: att identifiera, prioritera samt applicera trender àatt identifiera och utarbeta värdeskapande attributà att därefter anpassa och utveckla premiumvarumärketà och att senare etablera en premiumkanal med syfte att tillgängliggöra varumärket till den bredare massan. Länkarna utgjorde viktiga förutsättningar associerade med en önskad effekt om en marknadsposition i form av premiumledarskap. / In this paper, we provide results of a deductive and qualitative case study on a company's internal processes for successful branding efforts with a focus on how to identify, prioritize, apply and translate the impact of external trends into a successful and profitable premium strategy by describing and analyzing this work in two premium companies (Haglöfs and BMW).   The theoretical framework consists of the main concepts: trends, premium brands, brand extensions and market position. For the study, two empirical survey items were elected and relevant information concerning these were collected via two methods; partly through a qualitative semi-structured interview, and through document analysis. This is to investigate how premium business works along the structure and theoretical model/contribution identified in connection with the determination of the synthesis. Based on theory, we identified a number of conditions, and links related to a premium strategy. These conditions, as well as links, were later verified through an analytical induction. Recurrent sequences in the collected empirical data were declared by investigating companies industry-specific conditions but also how they were developing a premium strategy. The structure and links in order to develop a premium strategy were: to identify, prioritize and apply trends à to identify and develop value-adding attributes à then to adapt and develop the premium brand à and later to establish a premium channel with the purpose of making the brand available to a wider mass. These links were important conditions associated with a desired effect on a market position in the form of premium leadership.

The South Nation watershed is located in Eastern Ontario, Canada and managed under the authority of the South Nation Conservation (SNC). The watershed covers an area of 400,000 hectares with four dominant categories of land-use classes (60% agriculture, 34% forest, 5% mixed urban, and 1% other). Water quality is a great concern for the SNC as many anthropogenic activities generate harmful pollutants (such as heavy metals, nitrogen, phosphorus, and pesticides) that are discharged to the river through surface and groundwater flow. The discharge patterns of these pollutants are mainly driven by land-use distribution within the watershed which has been constantly evolving with urbanization and intensification of agriculture. Major changes in land-uses can potentially offset current SNC efforts to mitigate water pollution. The objective of the current study is to predict land-use series of maps for the South Nation watershed starting from 1991 to 2020. The prediction is carried out using the land-use allocation algorithm of the Dyna-CLUE (Dynamic Conversion of Land-Use and its Effects) model which is implemented for local regions. Dyna-CLUE is a spatially explicit hybrid land-use allocation model that combines estimation and simulation models, and its allocation procedures predict future trends of land-use surface (estimated from historical trends). The binary logistic regression is used to link preferences of land-use classes and potential demographic and geographic driving factors. Expert judgment was used to select a set of spatial driving factors believed to be responsible for changes in land-use distribution in the South Nation watershed. Three different scenarios for future development of the region were considered, with different initial conditions and conversion restrictions. The simulation results were evaluated using visual and statistical validation techniques to assess the performance of the model in generating maps similar to reality. The Dyna-CLUE model was successfully applied to the South Nation watershed. It was observed that the simulated maps generated from the model were in good agreement with the reality maps. This was confirmed through statistical validation via map pair analysis (error matrix) used to assess the overall accuracy of the model predictions. Results showed that the model was sensitive to land-use restrictions. Such type of modeling can be valuable for assessing the land-use changes at the local level, and setting up a decision support system for the South Nation Conservation towards sustainable land-use management in the watershed. Better results are expected to be achieved with more reliable datasets (i.e., accurate classification of land-use types in reality maps). Data availability and quality were the main obstacles that faced this research work. Our work has the merit to be the first application of CLUE model in Eastern Ontario.

Carbon monoxide (CO) is present in the troposphere as a product of fossil fuel combustion, biomass burning and the oxidation of volatile hydrocarbons. It is the principal sink of the hydroxyl radical (OH), thereby affecting the concentrations of greenhouse gases such as CH4 and O3. Consequently, CO has an atmospheric lifetime of 1-3 months, making it a good tracer for studying the long range transport of pollution. Satellite observations present a valuable tool to investigate tropospheric CO. The Atmospheric InfraRed Sounder (AIRS), onboard the Aqua satellite, is sensitive to tropospheric CO in ~50 of its 2378 channels. This sensitivity to CO, combined with the daily global coverage provided by AIRS, makes AIRS a potentially useful instrument for observing CO sources and transport. An optimal estimation retrieval scheme has been developed for AIRS, to provide CO profiles from near-surface altitudes to 150 hPa. Through a validation study, using CO profiles from in-situ aircraft measurements, this retrieval scheme has been shown to provide CO observations with strong correlations to in situ measurements. Compared to the operational AIRS v4 CO product this retrieval scheme is shown to provide total column CO retrievals with a reduced bias relative to the in situ measurements (~ -10% to ~ -1%). In addition, the optimal estimation retrieval is shown to provide improved estimation and characterization of the retrieval errors. Further validation work has been carried out through comparison with the established CO observations from the MOPITT instrument, onboard the Terra satellite. Good agreement (correlation coefficient > 0.9, and bias < 1.0 ppbv) between the instruments is observed in the mid-troposphere. At this level, the optimal estimation scheme is shown to remove a positive bias of ~10 ppbv, relative to MOPITT, that is present in the AIRS v4 CO product. The AIRS instrument is also shown to be less sensitive to CO in the lower troposphere than MOPITT. AIRS is also demonstrated to provide fewer pieces of independent information about the vertical structure of CO at tropical latitudes, where higher thermal contrast increases the sensitivity of MOPITT. Through time series analysis, the capability of AIRS to detect seasonal trends in CO is demonstrated. The potential of AIRS to be used to track, both horizontal and vertical, CO transport is explored. AIRS is shown to be capable of tracking horizontal transport, and to have potential to track vertical transport when combined with another satellite sensor.

Abstract Trends of Hospital Utilization among High-Utilizers of Inpatient Services in an Urban, Safety-Net Hospital Introduction: Although high-utilizers of healthcare services represent only a small portion of hospital population they account for huge healthcare cost in the United States. Hence, there is a need to understand the patterns of hospital utilization among high-utilizers in order to develop intervention to reduce overall hospital cost. Aim: To determine inpatient hospital utilization pattern among high-utilizers in Grady Hospital, Atlanta. Methods: Trend analysis was done to understand the pattern of health care utilization among high-utilizer (n=510) patients (HUPs) from 2011 to 2014. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the association between selected socio-demographic characteristics and HUPs. Results: Almost all HUPs were non-Hispanic Blacks (82.6%) with average mean age of 58. Significant proportion were employed with no health coverage. Approximately 27% of the 510 participants were HUPs at the end of 2012. At the end of 2013, the proportion of patients who became HUPs and NHUPs were 37% and 39% respectively. By 2014, 37% of patients who were HUP in 2013 remained HUP in 2014. Conclusion: The pattern of hospital utilization among high utilizers is unstable and unpredictable, and may be driven by race. Our study shows that reducing heath care cost may require developing predictive models to reduce hospital over-utilization usage among at risk group.

After the Great Recession of 2007 there was a spotlight on executive compensation. The magnitude and structure of executive pay became an area of concern to the public. As a result, company management across all sectors had to find a way to offer competitive compensation plans that aligned the interest of shareholders with that of executives. The outcome was an increased focus on tying executive pay to company performance. The level of fixed-pay incorporated into target compensation began to decreases rapidly and was replaced by “at-risk” compensation. For some, this was a major achievement in the world of executive compensation, however, others view this change as potentially dangerous. I chose to analyze the pay-mix structure and annual incentive plans of a group of bellwether companies to see if this transition is increasing company’s exposure to fraud. In this essay I attempt to tie increases in at-risk pay to increases in fraud risk, while identifying incentive goals affected by common fraud practices.

Demographic and Socioeconomic factors related to the urbanization of Iran are discussed. An historical review of the growth of urbanization in Iran is reported. Factors included in the analysis are the birth, death, literacy, and mobility rates as well as the age-sex structure of the population. The data are from the national censuses of 1956 and 1966. Changes in demographic trends in both major and smaller cities during this decade are discussed in detail. The results of the analyses of these data are applicable to most developing countries. This information may be of possible aid in planning for the growth and redistribution of the Iranian population.

The performance of the Hugershoff curve on fitting the growth trends of tree-ring series was tested using ring-width series with different starting years. The fitted values tend to be biased by tree-ring series close to pith, a phenomenon that was referred to as the ‘‘start-fitting problem’’. We determined three parameters with specific biological age-related meanings for the Hugershoff growth curve, i.e. the maximum growth, the maximum slope and the maximum changing ratio of slopes. A set of modified Hugershoff curves with different starting years was proposed to mitigate the start-fitting problem. Behavior of the modified Hugershoff curves on tree-ring series standardizations was tested and discussed. The ‘‘end-fitting problem’’ suggests that deviations in one interval could bias the fitted values of other time periods by using the Hugershoff curve.

The thesis explains the term the commercial communication, especially parts of the communication mix. But mainly it analyzes contemporary situation in the commercial communication, which changes are happening and it also describes trends in the adressing the customers. One chapter is dedicated to the Purchasing cycle which is a product of the McCann-Erickson advertising agency.