This study investigated the self-efficacy (also often referred to as self-confidence) of principals as determined by school administrator certification credentials and teaching endorsements at low performing middle schools in Mississippi. In educational literature, the term “self-confidence” is often referred to under the nomenclature of self-efficacy. In the context of an educational environment, self-efficacy pertains to a principal’s capability to organize and execute courses of action required in leading and managing a school. Successful school management requires a leader who is task oriented, consistently stays focused, employs effective strategies, and utilizes managerial skills. The investigation focused on the self-efficacy, as determined by credentials and endorsements, of the principals charged with leading and managing the 24 Mississippi middle schools that received Mississippi Department of Education accountability ratings of “D” or “F” in relation to student academic performance. The overall research question that guided the investigation asked: Did the self-efficacy of the principals charged with leading and managing the 24 Mississippi middle schools that received low accountability scores suggest any connection to the ratings? Based on the findings of the investigation, it may be concluded that the self efficacy of the principals charged with leading and managing the middle schools that received low accountability scores didn’t appear to have any connection to the ratings. Also, neither the principals’ certification credential levels nor teaching endorsements appeared to be factors.

The Green Bond market in Sweden is still relatively new and the first companies to issue these new financial products in Sweden were companies on the real estate market. The purpose of this thesis is to examine the characteristic that makes a Green Bond different to other Bonds and to understand why this product is of interest to investors and issuers. Furthermore we try to estimate the future for this financial product. This descriptive study on Green Bonds at the real estate market derives from economic theories on capital structure, Greenwashing, CSR, environmental certification of buildings and interviews with prominent individuals within this field. We have limited our field of study to Swedish real estate companies that have issued Green Bonds to answer the research questions. A Green Bond does not different from an ordinary Bond, so what makes this product unique is the framework that states that the money should be invested in projects that lowers climate impact. The Swedish real estate companies who have issued Green Bonds recognized a great demand for their products. One reason behind this great demand among investors is that they don’t need to give up yield on their investment and at the same time receive positive reactions from the society when investing in these products. To avoid the risks of Greeenwashing the invested money must be traceable to projects within the framework. The Norwegian research institute CICERO plays an important role in assuring that the framework made for the Green Bods clearly states which projects the money are allowed to be spent on. / Marknaden för gröna obligationer i Sverige är fortfarande relativt ny och de företag som har varit i framkant med att emittera gröna obligationer är företag på den svenska fastighetsmarknaden. Syftet med vår uppsats är att ta reda på hur en grön obligation skiljer sig från en vanlig obligation, vilka aktörer som har intresserat sig för produkten och hur framtidsutsikterna för denna finansiella produkt ser ut. Utifrån teorier som beskriver företags kapitalstruktur, Greenwashing, CSR, miljöcertifiering av byggnader och med stöd från de tolv intervjuer som genomförts har vi genomfört en deskriptiv studie av marknaden för gröna obligationer, med avgränsning mot fastighetsbolag som emitterat denna produkt för att få svar på vårt syfte- och frågeställning. En grön obligations finansiella aspekt är direkt kopierad från en vanlig obligation, det som skiljer dem åt är att ett ramverk reglerar vilka projekt likviden får gå till. De svenska fastighetsbolagen som emitterat gröna obligationer har mött en hög efterfrågan på produkten och har inte haft problem med att få in kapital för att miljöcertifiera sina fastigheter. En orsak till det stora intresset för produkten är att investerare inte behöver göra avkall på avkastningen på investeringen, samtidigt som både emittenter och investerare hamnar i ett positivt sammanhang när produkten emitteras. För att inte riskera att konceptet urvattnas och att likviden inte går till projekt som bidrar till en sänkt klimatpåverkan ställs höga krav på de inblandade parterna. Därför spelar det norska forskningsinstitutet CICERO en viktig roll vars uppgift är att granska det ramverk som reglerar vilka projekt likviden får gå till.

Fastighetsmarknaden är en högt bidragen faktor till klimatkrisen. Grön finansiering och statliga stödprogram, som det tidigare investeringsstödet och dess miljöbonus, har gjort det förmånligt att producera- och investera i Miljöcertifierade bostadsfastigheter. Vidare finns krav på hållbarhet från bostadsfastighetsaktörernas finansiella investerare. Med andra ord finns det idag en efterfrågan att investera i hållbara fastigheter. En hållbar kvalitetsstämpel som finns är miljöcertifieringar. Rapporten syftar att undersöka hur investerarna resonerar kring en grön premie för nyproducerade bostadsfastigheter med en miljöcertifiering på den svenska marknaden. Med en grön premie syftar rapporten till förmånliga skillnader för bostadsfastigheternas hyresnivåer, drift- och underhållskostnader, direktavkastningskrav samt priserna vid en transaktion. Rapporten kartlägger även den gröna premiens utveckling över tid på den svenska marknaden. En kvalitativ metod används genom en semistrukturerad intervjustudie med respondenter från fem olika aktörer marknaden. Resultatet visar att investerarna på marknaden anser att det finns mervärden med miljöcertifiering, både när det gäller finansiella fördelar samt skillnader för faktorer som bland annat antalet intressenter för en fastighet samt direktavkastningskravet, det sistnämnda är dock väldigt svårt att kvantifiera. Skillnaden i antalet intressenter gör också att grundläggande ekonomisk teori om utbud och efterfrågan används, vilken antyder att det finns en premie för priset då fastigheten är miljöcertifierad. / The real estate market is a highly contributing factor to the climate crisis. Green financing and governmental support programs, such as the previous investment support program and its environmentally based bonuses, have made it advantageous to produce and invest in certified green residential properties. Furthermore, the financial investors demand a higher degree of sustainability. In other words, there is a demand to invest in sustainable real estate. A grade in sustainability is accessed through green certifications. The report aims to examine what the real estate investors think about the existence of a green premium for newly produced residential properties with a green certification on the Swedish market. A green premium is considered throughout the report as favorable differences in the property rent levels, operating and maintenance costs, yield and transaction prices. The report also maps the development of the green premium in the Swedish market over time. A qualitative method is used through a semi-structured interview study with respondents from five different actors on the real estate market. The results show that real estate investors believe that there is value premium associated with a green certification, both in terms of financial benefits and favorable differences regarding factors such as the number of potential buyers and yield, though the latter is very difficult to quantify. The differences in the number of potential buyers resulted in further usage of the basic economic theory of supply and demand, which suggests that there is a premium for the transaction prices in case of the property being certified green.

WELL är ett av det första certifieringssystemet för byggnader som fokuserar på människors hälsa och välbefinnande. Det innehåller över 100 olika prestandamätningar, strategier och riktlinjer som rör allt från projektering, produktion till förvaltning av byggnader.WELL-certifiering utvecklades av International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) och bygger på forskning förhållandet mellan medicin, vetenskap och design. Standarden omfattar olika aspekter av byggnadernas inomhusmiljö och hur de påverkar människors hälsa och välbefinnande. Certifieringen bedömer och främjar faktorer som kan påverka människors hälsa och välbefinnande, exempelvis luft- och vattenkvalitet, belysning, ljudmiljö, ergonomi, kost och fysisk aktivitet. Den tar också hänsyn till faktorer som främjar välbefinnande, som exempelvis åtkomst till grönområden och designelement som främjar stressreducering och mental klarhet. Genom att uppnå WELL-certifiering kan en byggnad visa sitt engagemang för att skapa en hälsosam och stimulerande inomhusmiljö för de som arbetar, bor eller vistas i byggnaderna. Syftet med arbetet är att undersöka hur WELL-certifieringar kan implementeras i den svenska bygg- och fastighetsbranschen. Arbetet fokuserar på vilka anpassningar som behövs för att möta WELL:s krav, samt hur det gällande regelverket och dess lagstiftningar kan tillämpas på certifierade byggnader. Metoden som valdes för arbetet omfattar litteraturstudie och intervjun. Litteraturstudien användes för att samla underlag och information om hur certifieringsprocessen fungerar med fokus på begrepp och koncept som ingår i WELL-certifieringen. Intervjuer användes för att undersöka hur WELL anpassar sig till det svenska samhället och dessa kräv. Även för att undersöka underhåll och förvaltning av WELL -certifierade byggnader samt redogöra för skillnaderna mellan traditionell förvaltning och förvaltning utifrån certifieringen. Intervjuerna genomfördes med olika aktörer inom byggbranschen. Urvalet av intervjupersoner görs utifrån deras erfarenhet och kunskap inom WELL. Resultatet av studien visade certifieringsprocessen är en omfattande och följer steg-för-steg-process som involverar olika aktörer, inklusive fastighetsutvecklare, arkitekter, ingenjörer och konsulter för olika steg i certifieringsprocessen. Att implementeringen av WELL-certifiering i svenska byggprojekt kan vara utmanande och kräver anpassningar, inklusive övervinnande av språkbarriärer och irrelevanta indikatorer. Genom att ta hänsyn till svenska lagar och byggregler (BBR) och undvika krav som redan uppfylls i Sverige, samt revidera och anpassa svåra krav till svenska förhållanden, kan WELL-certifiering vara mer genomförbar, mer kostnadseffektiv och relevant för den svenska marknaden. När det gäller förvaltning, fastighetsägaren har ansvaret för regelbundna mätningar och kontroller, vilket kan medföra ökade kostnader och kräva förvaltningsarbete. I WELL betonas vikten av förebyggande åtgärder för att minimera risker och skador samt förbättring av rutiner och kvalitet i förvaltningsprocessen. WELL-certifiering kan fungera som ett differentierande element och attrahera brukare som prioriterar hälsa och välmående på arbetsplatsen. WELL erkänns som en helhetlig strategi för att främja välmående. / WELL is one of the first certification systems for buildings that focuses on human health and well-being. It contains over 100 different performance measurements, strategies and guidelines covering everything from planning, production to building management. WELL certification was developed by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) and is based on research into the relationship between medicine, science and design. The standard covers various aspects of the buildings' indoor environment and how they affect people's health and well-being. The purpose of the work is to investigate how WELL certifications can be implemented in the Swedish construction and real estate industry. The work focuses on what adaptations are needed to meet WELL's requirements, as well as how the current regulations and its legislation can be applied to certified buildings. The method chosen for the work includes literature study and interview. The literature study was used to collect data and information about how the certification process works with a focus on terms and concepts included in the WELL certification. Interviews were used to investigate how WELL adapts to Swedish society and these demands. Also, to investigate the maintenance and management of WELL-certified buildings and explain the differences between traditional management and management based on the certification. The results of the study showed the certification process is a comprehensive and follows a step-by-step process that involves different actors, including real estate developers, architects, engineers and consultants for different steps in the certification process. That the implementation of WELL certification in Swedish construction projects can be challenging and requires adaptations, including overcoming language barriers and irrelevant indicators. By considering Swedish laws and building regulations (BBR) and avoiding requirements that are already met in Sweden, as well as revising and adapting difficult requirements to Swedish conditions, WELL certification can be more feasible, more cost-effective and relevant for the Swedish market. When it comes to management, the property owner is responsible for regular measurements and checks, which can lead to increased costs and require management work. WELL certification can serve as a differentiator and attract users who prioritize health and wellness in the workplace.

Utilizing survey data gathered from local local level floodplain administrators (FPAs) operating within Federal Emergency Management Agency Region 6, this study provides a more nuanced understanding of perceived competency among FPAs across key floodplain management topics through the use of a principal component analysis (PCA). PCA identified six distinct components related to perceived competency among FPAs including; Modification and Update Process, General Knowledge, Grants and Programs, Analysis, Development and Real Estate, and Administration and Outreach. The study then employed regression analyses to identify organizational and individual level characteristics that predict perceived competency. Data analyses identified several organizational variables as significant positive predictors of perceived competency including working within an urban community, full-time job status and overall workload percentage dedicated to floodplain management. Additionally, several individual characteristics such as educational attainment, professional certification, previous disaster experience, and years of experience working as an FPA were also identified as significant positive predictors of perceived competency. Based on these findings the study makes several recommendations about improvements to training and educational materials for practitioners and students.

Product labeling is increasingly used as a tool to differentiate products with public and private benefits that cannot be readily evaluated by a consumer at the time of purchase. Our research investigates how a labeling program may be applied in the sale of ornamental plants to address two key issues; plant disease and irrigation water use. A choice modeling survey was utilized to estimate consumers' willingness to pay a premium for six ornamental plants with disease-free and/or water conservation certification labels. The results of the mixed logit models show consumers are willing to pay a premium for plants certified as disease-free and/or produced with water conservation practices. The results strongly suggest producers can recoup some of the costs of implementing water conservation measures such as water recycling and disease control measures amid regulatory and drought concerns. Our research also investigated consumers' preferences for multiple third party certifying authorities and whether preferences for the labels varied among consumers. The results showed ornamental plant consumers did not reveal a preference for a particular certifying authority. The results are mixed as to whether willingness to pay for the labels varies among respondents. We show willingness to pay does vary among respondents for three of the plant models indicating preference heterogeneity. / Master of Science

Yes / The Stream X-Machine (SXM) testing method provides strong and repeatable guarantees of functional correctness, up to a specification. These qualities make the method attractive for software certification, especially in the domain of brokered cloud services, where arbitrage seeks to substitute functionally equivalent services from alternative providers. However, practical obstacles include: the difficulty in providing a correct specification, the translation of abstract paths into feasible concrete tests, and the large size of generated test suites. We describe a novel SXM verification and testing method, which automatically checks specifications for completeness and determinism, prior to generating complete test suites with full grounding information. Three optimisation steps achieve up to a ten-fold reduction in the size of the test suite, removing infeasible and redundant tests. The method is backed by a set of tools to validate and verify the SXM specification, generate technology-agnostic test suites and ground these in SOAP, REST or rich-client service implementations. The method was initially validated using seven specifications, three cloud platforms and five grounding strategies. / European Union Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) under grant agreement no. 328392, the Broker@Cloud project [11].

This study is one of the first of its kind to examine actual consumer purchasing decisions for forest products certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). Consumer purchasing was examined based on the presence or absence of a promotional brochure and a price premium for red oak and yellow poplar surfaced-four-sides (S4S) boards. This research also compared typical demographic factors for purchasers and non-purchasers of FSC certified S4S boards. Finally, the study examined subscales from a previously designed ecoscale to determine whether two of the subscales were effective predictors of the sale of FSC certified boards. Due to significant interactions between the price premium and the promotional brochure, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) statistics could not be interpreted. However, these strong interactions indicate that these two factors are interdependent. Examining respondents' understanding of the trade term, "certification," showed that most did not understand the term as it is used by the forest products industry. Respondents did not link certification directly with the environment, but rather stated that it was a measure of quality excellence. This illustrates that the forest products industry must use more specific descriptions that consumers will understand when referring to certification. Based on survey results from this study, a large proportion of respondents who paid more for FSC certified boards were unable to recall whether they had cost any more than the alternative product. Respondents of this study were not found to have a high level of confidence in the environmental claims of any group. These included forest products companies, industry associations, and independent organizations. The subscales of a previously designed ecoscale were not found to be strong indicators of a respondents' likelihood to purchase FSC certified S4S boards. This project should be seen as a starting point for additional researchers interested in studying actual purchase decisions of consumers of environmentally conscious products, such as certified hardwood boards. / Master of Science

Звукоизоляция материалов является ключевым вопросом в оценке конкурентоспособности на строительном рынке. Поэтому, для удовлетворения новым и перспективным нормам по шуму необходимы прорывные решения, основанные на глубоких научных исследованиях, создание работоспособных методов и методик оценки звукоизоляции строительных материалов и повышения коэффициента звукопоглощения. Для реализации этих целей требуются научно-исследовательские лаборатории, имеющие достаточную материально-техническую базу, удовлетворяющие требованиям стандартов. Главной целью диссертации является создание акустической реверберационной камеры для испытаний строительных изделий и конструкций на звукоизоляцию. Также диссертация посвящена проведению первичной аттестации камеры. / Soundproof materials is a key issue in assessing competitiveness in the construction market. Therefore, to meet new and promising noise norms, breakthrough solutions based on in-depth scientific research, the creation of efficient methods and techniques for assessing the sound insulation of building materials and increasing the sound absorption coefficient are necessary. To achieve these goals, research laboratories that have sufficient material and technical facilities that meet the requirements of standards are required. The main goal of the dissertation is to create an acoustic reverberation chamber for testing construction products and structures for soundproofing. Also the Thesis is devoted to the primary certification of the camera.

Enligt Kammarkollegiet visar auktorisation i teckenspråkstolkning på tolkens gedigna kunskaper och färdigheter, samt tolkens lämplighet för tolkyrket. Auktorisation för teckenspråkstolkar har erbjudits i Sverige sedan 1 juli 2003. Idag saknas information kring auktorisationens betydelse för teckenspråkspråkstolkens yrkesverksamhet. Den här forskningen syftar till att utifrån teckenspråkstolkars perspektiv belysa deras inställning till auktorisation och dess betydelse för yrkeslivet, samt undersöka om en relation kan bindas till tolkens arbetsplats om tolken har en auktorisation eller inte. Studien bygger på en digital enkät till yrkesverksamma teckenspråkstolkar om deras inställning till auktorisation för teckenspråkstolkar. Majoriteten av de auktoriserade tolkarna ansåg att auktorisation har liten till ingen betydelse för deras yrkesliv. Nästan hälften av de auktoriserade tolkarna uttryckte att deras arbetsgivare önskat att anställda ska auktorisera sig. Vidare angav drygt en tredjedel av de icke-auktoriserade tolkarna att deras arbetsgivare samt de själva inte upplevt något behov av auktorisation i yrkeslivet. Studien visar också på att det fanns en relation mellan tolkens arbetsplats och om tolken har en auktorisation eller ej. Forskningen visar på en del meningsskiljaktigheter kring auktorisationens betydelse för teckenspråkstolkens yrkesverksamhet beroende på om tolken är auktoriserad eller icke-auktoriserad. / Authorization in sign language interpreting demonstrates the interpreter's knowledge and skills, as well as their suitability for the interpreting profession according to Kammarkollegiet. Authorization for sign language interpreters has existed in Sweden since July 1, 2003. There is a lack of information about the meaningfulness of authorization. This study aims to highlight, from the perspective of sign language interpreters, their attitude towards authorization and its importance for their careers. It also examines whether the interpreter’s workplace has an impact on them being authorized or not. The study is based on a digital survey of professional sign language interpreters and their attitudes towards authorization for sign language interpreters. Most of the responding authorized interpreters thought that authorization has little or no importance in their careers. Almost half of the authorized interpreters expressed that their employer wanted employees to authorize themselves. Furthermore, just over a third of the non-authorized interpreters indicated that neither their employers nor they themselves had experienced a need for authorization within their profession. The study also shows that there is a statistically significant difference in the interpreters' workplace depending on whether the interpreter has an authorization or not. The study shows that there are differing opinions regarding the importance of authorization for sign language interpreters and their careers, depending on whether the interpreter is authorized or not.