Upper airway endoscopy at rest has been the diagnostic method of choice for diagnosing equine upper respiratory tract (URT) disease since its development in the 1970´s. The development of high-speed treadmill endoscopy (HSTE) improved the sensitivity of URT endoscopy by allowing the examiner to observe the horse’s nasopharynx and larynx during exercise. However, the level of exertion achieved during HSTE may not always represent that achieved during normal exercise as surface, rider, tack, and environmental variables are altered. Recently, the development of dynamic overground endoscopy (DOE) has addressed some of those shortcomings. A retrospective study was undertaken to describe the upper airway abnormalities detected during DOE in horses presenting with poor performance and/or abnormal respiratory noise in South Africa. Patient records of Thoroughbred racehorses undergoing DOE from November 2011 to August 2012 by the Onderstepoort Veterinary Academic Hospital were reviewed. Data collected included signalment, primary complaint, distance exercised, maximum speed attained, and dynamic airway abnormalities detected. XIII A second study was carried out to evaluate agreement within and among examiners of three grading systems for laryngeal function at exercise. The grading systems assessed were an existing system for grading axial deviation of aryepiglottic folds (ADAF), a modified system for grading recurrent laryngeal neuropathy (RLN) at exercise, and a proposed system for grading vocal cord collapse (VCC). For investigation of intra-observer variability, recordings were watched by two of the investigators at the same time, on two different occasions, in real time, slow motion, and at frame-by-frame speed. To evaluate inter-observer variability, recordings were watched by four investigators on one occasion, as described for investigation of intra-observer variability, and scoring sheets completed. Kappa agreement was calculated for both intra- and inter-observer sessions. Fifty-two horses that underwent DOE for investigation of poor performance and/or abnormal respiratory noise were identified. The main abnormalities detected included dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP) (13/52 horses, 25%); recurrent laryngeal neuropathy (RLN) (17/52 horses, 33%); axial deviation of the aryepiglottic folds (ADAF) (21/52 horses, 40%) and vocal cord collapse (VCC) (18/52 horses, 35%). A total of 40 horses presented one or more abnormalities of the URT (77%). Fifteen horses (29%) had a single abnormality, and 25 horses (48%) had multiple abnormalities. Results at frame-by-frame speed from the intra-observer evaluations for all the conditions showed substantial agreement for RLN by both observers (K = 74 - 80). Intra-observer evaluations for VCC were moderate to substantial (K 53 – 63). ADAF was the most difficult URT abnormality to assess for both observers, and agreement within observers was only fair to moderate (K = 36 - 52). Inter-observer evaluations for RLN showed substantial to moderate agreement (K = 62). Inter-observer evaluations for VCC showed moderate agreement (K = 47 – 54), and inter-observer evaluations for ADAF showed only slight to fair agreement and were the lowest for all the conditions (K = 14 – 22). This study showed that DOE is a useful technique for providing valuable information about disease of the URT. Finding multiple abnormalities in 48% of horses examined using DOE suggests that DOE may be indicated even for those horses with an obvious abnormality found during resting endoscopy. The intra-observer evaluations showed that RLN had higher agreement values than those for ADAF and VCC at all speeds, and that ADAF had lower agreement values than those for VCC and RLN at all speeds. Inter-observer agreement was less than intra-observer agreement, presumably because more observers were involved in the inter-observer assessment. / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / gm2014 / Companion Animal Clinical Studies / unrestricted

At the end of 2016, the Swedish petroleum and biofuel company Preem applied for an environmental permit to convert high-sulfur bunker oil to low-sulfur petrol and diesel at Preemraff Lysekil. Something that required an expansion of the refinery. The process ended abruptly in September 2020 when Preem chose to withdraw their application. In connection with the process, two actor coalitions were formed, with one being for an expansion and the other against. Both coalitions had the explicit goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and preventing climate change. The difference, however, was their view on whether this could be achieved thanks to an expansion of Preemraff Lysekil, or if it could only happen without it. Through their actions the coalitions have tried to influence the policy process in a direction that is desirable for them. This study aims to systematically map the coalitions and their actions and contribute to a deeper understanding of their actions and impact on the process of the planned expansion project of Preemraff Lysekil. The study is designed as a qualitative case study and is based on The Advocacy Coalition Framework (ACF), which can be used to explain and understand beliefs and policy change when multiple actors are involved in a policy process. According to the ACF, actors who share similar policy core beliefs come together in coalitions to increase the chances of policy change. The study also uses urban regime theory to understand the informal and unspoken agenda between Preemraff Lysekil and Lysekil municipality. The results from previous research show several common denominators with the Preemraff Lysekil case. The analysis shows that the actors who were against an expansion had similar deep core beliefs and consistent policy core beliefs, they also had a consensus on how the policy change should be implemented. They have tried to influence the process by appealing court decisions and tried to get the Swedish government to take over the assessment of the application, which also happened. The analysis shows that the actors who were in favor of an expansion had more dispersed deep core beliefs but were consistent in their policy core beliefs and secondary beliefs. They have made attempts to stop the government from taking over the case from the court. As these attempts have been unsuccessful, they instead tried to get the government to allow an expansion. By using different forms of resources, both coalitions have tried to get the public and decision-makers to support their own proposal for policy change, with varying results. What ultimately led Preem to withdraw the application is not clarified. Maybe the pressure from those who were against an expansion became too powerful, maybe the COVID-19 pandemic left such a big mark on international production chains and the global market that an expansion was no longer profitable. There is also a possibility that Preem's decision is based on both parts, but we will probably never know.

COVID-19 has taken a major toll on the tourism industry. Traveler confidence has decreased as travel restrictions and fears regarding the virus have increased. As tourist destinations rely more on local tourism to survive the current crisis, communicating COVID-19 procedures is vital to mitigate tourist ́s safety concerns. Therefore, the objective of this study was to use content analysis to identify COVID-19 policy initiatives highlighted within tourism company websites and to compare regions to identify differences in website communication content. The study analyzed 100 various tourism company websites throughout Sweden. The findings and the supporting literature indicating that the websites should have information available about booking policy, operation limitations, social distance policy, and customer/staff responsibility to properly communicate their COVID-19 policies. Overall, the tourism company websites in this study were lacking in the communication of COVID-19 policies. To ameliorate communication of COVID-19 procedures, this study offers recommendations for tourism firms to incorporate.

nÃo hà / The real estate investment (REI) is a newly created investment vehicle and still under constant development. Introduces, as basic characteristic, a property used for rental as the main asset. Governed by federal laws and regulations of the CVM instruction, regulatory frameworks help to give credibility to this investment vehicle. The REIs have tax benefits and remunerate its shareholders with regular income through rents. In addition, we present a third types of gain, which is the value of the shares of real estate funds. The current characteristics have a debonding between the equity and value of your shares, setting its recovery from supply and demand in the market. The study of this factor recovery was used to study development. Featuring a conservative perspective while being traded at BOVESPA, the question to be answered is whether the REI have a conservative characteristic when compared with other market indicators, such as IMOB, IBOVESPA, CDI, the IGP and INCC. And especially if there is a tendency over time with these same indicators, allowing to verify long-term behavior. With a stochastic characteristic non-stationary, the REI are cointegrated with the market indicators. The presentation of this tendency implies on a similar behavior over time, making it understandable with what market indicator the real estate investment presents tendency. Thus, the REI can be considered conservative investments, which have two returns (valuation of shares and payment of monthly rent), have characteristics of present value above the market benchmarks, low total and systemic risks and can be used as protection for stock investors, as a hedging tool. / O fundo de investimento imobiliÃrio (FII) à um instrumento de investimento recentemente criado e ainda em constante desenvolvimento. Apresenta como caracterÃstica bÃsica, possuir como o ativo principal um imÃvel utilizado para locaÃÃo. Regidos por leis federais e por instruÃÃes normativas da CVM, os marcos regulatÃrios ajudam a dar credibilidade a este instrumento de investimento. Os FII apresentam benefÃcios tributÃrios e remuneram seus cotistas atravÃs de receitas periÃdicas com aluguÃis. AlÃm destes, à apresentada uma terceira tipologias de ganho, que à a valorizaÃÃo das cotas dos fundos imobiliÃrios. As caracterÃsticas atuais apresentam um descolamento entre o patrimÃnio lÃquido e o valor das suas cotas, configurando uma valorizaÃÃo proveniente da oferta e procura pelas mesmas no mercado. O estudo desta valorizaÃÃo foi o elemento utilizado para o desenvolvimento do estudo. Apresentando uma perspectiva conservadora embora sendo negociado na BOVESPA, a pergunta a ser respondida à se os FII apresentam uma caracterÃstica conservadora comparado com outros indicadores de mercado, tais como o IMOB, o IBOVESPA, o CDI, o IGPM e o INCC. E principalmente se existe tendÃncia ao longo do tempo com estes mesmo indicadores, possibilitando verificar comportamento de longo prazo. Com uma caracterÃstica estocÃstica nÃo estacionÃria, os FII sÃo co-integrados com os indicadores de mercado. A apresentaÃÃo desta tendÃncia determina comportamento semelhante ao longo do tempo, fazendo com que possa ser entendido com qual indicador de mercado o fundo imobiliÃrio apresenta tendÃncia. Desta forma, os FII podem ser considerados investimentos conservadores, que apresentam duas rentabilidades (valorizaÃÃo das cotas e pagamento mensal de aluguel), possuem caracterÃsticas de apresentarem valorizaÃÃo acima dos benchmarks de mercado, apresentam baixo risco total e sistÃmico e podem ser utilizados como proteÃÃo para quem investe em aÃÃes, como uma ferramenta de hedge.