Vitreous humor is a fluid that is relatively well protected from postmortem degradation and contamination. Due to its postmortem stability, vitreous humor has high utility in forensic pathology. Vitreous humor biochemical constituents, especially potassium, have been widely used in the postmortem interval (PMI) estimations. The time dependant rise of vitreous potassium levels in the postmortem period has been considered to be helpful in PMI determinations. The relative stability of vitreous biochemistry is useful in assessing the antemortem metabolic status and in predicting the antemortem serum biochemistry of an individual. However, the validity of vitreous biochemistry in forensic applications has been questioned in light of the reported concentration differences of various biochemical constituents in the same pair of eyes at identical PMI. This study hypothesized that the concentration of vitreous biochemical constituents in the same pair of eyes change at the same rate and this change that occurs in a time dependent fashion may be utilized in accurately estimating the PMI. It was further hypothesized that postmortem vitreous humor biochemistry closely mimics antemortem serum biochemistry and may be a useful aid in establishing a postmortem diagnoses of hyperglycemia. To test these hypotheses, vitreous humor samples were collected from a total of 103 autopsies (Female, 35 and Male, 68; Mean Age ± SD, 60.6 ± 17.6) conducted at Royal University Hospital morgue between January 2003 to February 2005. In 61 of these subjects, the precise time of death was known. Right and left eye vitreous humor samples were collected separately through a scleral puncture at the lateral canthus. Most of the biochemical analyses were carried out immediately post-extraction. After centrifugation, the supernatant of the fluid were analyzed for sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, magnesium, urea, creatinine, glucose and lactate on an LX-20 Analyzer (Beckman-Coulter). Osmolality was measured on an Osmometer model 3900 (Advanced Instruments Inc.). Vitreous humor hypoxanthine and xanthine were analyzed using a colorimetric method (Amplex® Red Xanthine/ Xanthine Oxidase Assay Kit, Molecular Probes Inc.). Vitreous humor lipid hydroperoxides were measured using the Ferrous Oxidation in Xylenol Orange assay version 2 (FOX 2). The data was statistically analyzed by paired t-test, linear regression analysis and Mann-Whitney test using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) for Windows version 13.0. The results of this study indicated that there were no significant between-eye differences for all of the vitreous biochemical constituents that were studied. It was observed that there was a significant correlation between vitreous potassium (R, 0.731; P, <0.0001), hypoxanthine, (R, 0.450; P, <0.0001), xanthine (R, 0.590; P, <0.0001), lactate (R, 0.508; P, <0.0001), calcium (R, 0.33; P, <0.01) and PMI. The corresponding formulae derived from the linear regression equations to estimate PMI were for potassium (6.41 (K+) 46.25), hypoxanthine (0.32 (Hypoxanthine) 60.94), xanthine (0.14 (Xanthine) 50.08), lactate (5.21 (Lactate) 27.69) and calcium (200 (Ca2+) 380.4). On a comparison of the actual PMI and the estimated PMI calculated using the formulae derived from the linear regression correlationship, it was found that the lowest standard deviation and the highest correlationship was obtained for vitreous potassium. The mean paired actual and estimated PMI values were significantly correlated for potassium (P, <0.0001), hypoxanthine (P, <0.0001), xanthine (P, <0.0001), lactate (P, <0.0001) and calcium (P, <0.01). Only vitreous potassium along with lactate and xanthine were significantly correlated with PMI in the same linear regression model. It was found that there was a highly significant correlation between antemortem serum and postmortem vitreous urea (R, 0.967; P, < 0.0001) and antemortem serum and postmortem vitreous creatinine (R, 0.865; P, <0.0001) concentrations. There was a significant difference (P, <0.05) between the postmortem vitreous glucose levels in the diabetic subjects as compared to the non-diabetic subjects. Vitreous lactate and lipid hydroperoxide levels did not exhibit any significant differences in these two diagnostic subgroups. The results of the present study suggest that the previously reported between eye differences for various vitreous biochemical constituents in the same pair of eyes are insignificant so far as forensic applications are concerned. Vitreous potassium is a useful biochemical marker for PMI estimations. Vitreous hypoxanthine, xanthine, lactate and calcium are all significantly correlated with PMI and if used in conjunction with vitreous potassium may possibly enhance PMI estimations by narrowing the error margin. The knowledge of vitreous urea and creatinine levels are a useful index in predicting the antemortem metabolic and renal status of the deceased subject.

Vitreous humor is a fluid that is relatively well protected from postmortem degradation and contamination. Due to its postmortem stability, vitreous humor has high utility in forensic pathology. Vitreous humor biochemical constituents, especially potassium, have been widely used in the postmortem interval (PMI) estimations. The time dependant rise of vitreous potassium levels in the postmortem period has been considered to be helpful in PMI determinations. The relative stability of vitreous biochemistry is useful in assessing the antemortem metabolic status and in predicting the antemortem serum biochemistry of an individual. However, the validity of vitreous biochemistry in forensic applications has been questioned in light of the reported concentration differences of various biochemical constituents in the same pair of eyes at identical PMI. This study hypothesized that the concentration of vitreous biochemical constituents in the same pair of eyes change at the same rate and this change that occurs in a time dependent fashion may be utilized in accurately estimating the PMI. It was further hypothesized that postmortem vitreous humor biochemistry closely mimics antemortem serum biochemistry and may be a useful aid in establishing a postmortem diagnoses of hyperglycemia. To test these hypotheses, vitreous humor samples were collected from a total of 103 autopsies (Female, 35 and Male, 68; Mean Age ± SD, 60.6 ± 17.6) conducted at Royal University Hospital morgue between January 2003 to February 2005. In 61 of these subjects, the precise time of death was known. Right and left eye vitreous humor samples were collected separately through a scleral puncture at the lateral canthus. Most of the biochemical analyses were carried out immediately post-extraction. After centrifugation, the supernatant of the fluid were analyzed for sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, magnesium, urea, creatinine, glucose and lactate on an LX-20 Analyzer (Beckman-Coulter). Osmolality was measured on an Osmometer model 3900 (Advanced Instruments Inc.). Vitreous humor hypoxanthine and xanthine were analyzed using a colorimetric method (Amplex® Red Xanthine/ Xanthine Oxidase Assay Kit, Molecular Probes Inc.). Vitreous humor lipid hydroperoxides were measured using the Ferrous Oxidation in Xylenol Orange assay version 2 (FOX 2). The data was statistically analyzed by paired t-test, linear regression analysis and Mann-Whitney test using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) for Windows version 13.0. The results of this study indicated that there were no significant between-eye differences for all of the vitreous biochemical constituents that were studied. It was observed that there was a significant correlation between vitreous potassium (R, 0.731; P, <0.0001), hypoxanthine, (R, 0.450; P, <0.0001), xanthine (R, 0.590; P, <0.0001), lactate (R, 0.508; P, <0.0001), calcium (R, 0.33; P, <0.01) and PMI. The corresponding formulae derived from the linear regression equations to estimate PMI were for potassium (6.41 (K+) 46.25), hypoxanthine (0.32 (Hypoxanthine) 60.94), xanthine (0.14 (Xanthine) 50.08), lactate (5.21 (Lactate) 27.69) and calcium (200 (Ca2+) 380.4). On a comparison of the actual PMI and the estimated PMI calculated using the formulae derived from the linear regression correlationship, it was found that the lowest standard deviation and the highest correlationship was obtained for vitreous potassium. The mean paired actual and estimated PMI values were significantly correlated for potassium (P, <0.0001), hypoxanthine (P, <0.0001), xanthine (P, <0.0001), lactate (P, <0.0001) and calcium (P, <0.01). Only vitreous potassium along with lactate and xanthine were significantly correlated with PMI in the same linear regression model. It was found that there was a highly significant correlation between antemortem serum and postmortem vitreous urea (R, 0.967; P, < 0.0001) and antemortem serum and postmortem vitreous creatinine (R, 0.865; P, <0.0001) concentrations. There was a significant difference (P, <0.05) between the postmortem vitreous glucose levels in the diabetic subjects as compared to the non-diabetic subjects. Vitreous lactate and lipid hydroperoxide levels did not exhibit any significant differences in these two diagnostic subgroups. The results of the present study suggest that the previously reported between eye differences for various vitreous biochemical constituents in the same pair of eyes are insignificant so far as forensic applications are concerned. Vitreous potassium is a useful biochemical marker for PMI estimations. Vitreous hypoxanthine, xanthine, lactate and calcium are all significantly correlated with PMI and if used in conjunction with vitreous potassium may possibly enhance PMI estimations by narrowing the error margin. The knowledge of vitreous urea and creatinine levels are a useful index in predicting the antemortem metabolic and renal status of the deceased subject.

Many incidents have occurred because industries have ignored past incidents or failed to learn lessons from the past. Incident databases provide an effective option for managing large amounts of information about the past incidents. Analysis of data stored in existing databases can lead to useful conclusions and reduction of chemical incidents and consequences of incidents. An incident database is a knowledge based system that can give an insight to the situation which led to an incident. Effective analysis of data from a database can help in development of information that can help reduce future incidents: cause of an incident, critical equipment, the type of chemical released, and the type of injury and victim. In this research, Hazardous Substances Emergency Events Surveillance (HSEES) database has been analyzed focusing on manufacturing events in Texas from 1993-2004. Between thirteen to sixteen states have participated in the HSEES incident reporting system and it does not include all the near miss incidents. Petroleum related incidents are also excluded from the HSEES system. Studies show that HSEES covers only 37% of all incidents in the US. This scaling ratio was used to estimate the total universe size.

Texte remanié de: Th. doct.--Droit--Université catholique de Louvain, 2003. / Bibliogr. p. 885-905. Index.

Inaug.-Diss.--Freie Universität Berlin. / Bibliography: p. 290-307.

På en alltmer konkurrensutsatt marknad har det blivit viktigare för företag att aktivt arbeta med att värna om kundrelationer. Ett vanligt sätt att arbeta med att värna om befintliga kunder och locka nya är genom lojalitetsprogram. Dessa ämnar uppmuntra till återkommande köp genom att erbjuda kunder olika typer av förmåner för att de är kunder hos företaget. Inom cafébranschen används dessa i olika utsträckning då vissa cafékedjor använder dessa och andra inte gör det. Idag ställer konsumenter höga krav på att företag ska arbeta med hållbarhetsfrågor. Därmed är det viktigt för företag som arbetar med detta att kommunicera ut det på lämpligt sätt. En specifik form av arbete med detta är Cause-Related Marketing, CRM. CRM innebär att företag skänker pengar till icke-vinstdrivande organisationer eller välgörande ändamål när kunder handlar av företag. Eftersom lojalitetsprogram används för att värna om kunder och ansvarsfullt företagande är viktigt för kunder fann vi det intressant att undersöka en sammansättning av dessa, något som inte identifierats forskning kring.      Studiens syfte är att undersöka hur mycket värde kunder upplever med CRM som belöning i ett lojalitetprogram inom cafébranschen och hur mycket CRM som belöning påverkar kunders intentioner att gå med i ett sådant lojalitetsprogram. För att undersöka detta genomfördes en kvantitativ studie hos Barista i Umeå. Barista är en cafékedja som starkt genomsyras av ansvarsfullt företagande och har kombinerat CRM med lojalitetsprogram via sitt Stammiskort.   Studiens resultat visar att respondenterna upplever ganska mycket värde med CRM som belöning i ett lojalitetsprogram i cafébranschen samt att respondenterna är mer positivt inställda till lojalitetsprogram som har CRM som belöning än de som inte har det. Inga skillnader mellan det upplevda värdet identifierades mellan män och kvinnor eller bland olika åldersgrupper. Vidare identifierades inga skillnader angående det upplevda värdet med CRM som belöning mellan de som har Stammiskortet och de som inte har det. Det påvisas att det upplevda värdet med CRM som belöning påverkar cafékunders intention att gå med i lojalitetsprogram. Det kan även konstateras att CRM som belöning påverkar cafékunders intention att gå med i ett sådant lojalitetsprogram ganska mycket. De slutsatser som dras utifrån detta är att CRM som belöning i lojalitetsprogram både ger upphov till värde för cafékunder och även påverkar deras intention att gå med i sådana lojalitetsprogram i cafébranschen. Således bidrar studien till insikt kring kunders upplevelse av CRM som belöning och till att fylla forskningsgapet.

Many non-profit organizations in need of funding have turned to using endurance athletic events as fundraisers. These events, also known as cause-related sport events, can fulfill the many needs and desires of athletes. This study was designed to compare the motives of athletes in cause-related and non-cause-related sport events. Using the Motives of Marathoners Scales (MOMS), participants were asked to rate their motivations for attending either a cause-related sport event or non-cause-related sport event. Multiple motivations were found for attending both cause-related and non-cause-related sport events. Being associated with a cause provided cause-related sport events with an attribute that attracted participants for self-esteem, recognition/approval, personal goal achievement, and competition reasons. Non-cause-related events attracted participants motivated by general health motives. Overall, motives to attend events can be affected by the event’s attributes, such as affiliation with a cause, and these event attributes can fulfill more than one motive. / text

No description available.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karol. inst. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

The purpose 9f this thesis is to examine the Jacobite effort to secure support for an enterprise to restore the Stuart line in Britain and the effect which this had on relations between France and England from 1730 to 1740. Following a general account of the diplomatic pattern during this decade and the state of the Jacobite movement in 1730, the thesis examines in detail the Jacobite endeavor to win support at three critical junctures: first, the period from the Second Treaty of Vienna (1731) to the outbreak of the War of the Polish Succession (1733); second, the period of settlement after the Polish War, from 1735 to 1737; third, the time of crisis which ended with the outbreak of war between Spain and England in 1740. Although the Jacobites received a show of encouragement from the French government throughout these ten years, Cardinal Fleury constantly evaded fulfilling the promises of help he gave them, alleging as excuse circumstances the Jacobites themselves could not contest: the weakness of the party in Britain and the lack of co-operation between France and Spain despite their common causes of enmity against England. Fleury consistently avoided any policy which would involve France in a general European war; and this, in fact, precluded giving active help to the Jacobites; but he encouraged them to continue their efforts because they supplied him with useful information, because they were considered as a potential threat by the Hanoverian government in England whose fears of a renewed Jacobite enterprise increased with the increasing hostility between Britain and the Bourbon powers, and because supporting the Jacobite cause could strengthen Fleury's own position within the administrative power-structure of the French Court. By 1730 the lack of effective political support in Britain for the Jacobite Cause made it unlikely that an enterprise could have been successful; but, so long as the Hanoverians feared a potential change and so long as the Jacobites themselves hoped and worked for success, they remained a significant factor in the diplomatic history of Europe. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)