This thesis is exploratory in nature and examines the perspective of graduate and undergraduate matriculating international students at the University of Oregon as they consider, prepare for, reflect on, and participate- or not- in study abroad programs. The three-phase model design of this study assesses the opportunities, obstacles and resources international students experience as they consider or do not consider studying abroad by analyzing online survey responses from University of Oregon graduate and undergraduate international students; quantitative data sets; semi-structured interviews with University of Oregon graduate and undergraduate international students, as well as with staff members from the Office of International Affairs. International student areas of opportunities include receiving academic credit towards degree; practicing a language abroad; learning about new cultures; and developing new friendships. The challenges include difficulty in academic planning; limited financial resources; lack of family approval or support; and having to make difficult decisions between going abroad or visiting home. International student resources include major applicable coursework that is only open through specific study abroad programs; some available funding; and receiving practical support from staff members at the Office of International Affairs on campus. Recommendations include how international educators may be more inclusive and more sensitive to international students needs and challenges as they consider study abroad.

The current study aims to investigate empirically the main incentives for mandatory and voluntary risk reporting (MRR and VRR) across the USA, the UK and Germany, each of which has a unique approach towards risk reporting. While the UK approach encourages more voluntary risk reporting above imposing risk rules, the German approach formally requires firms to provide risk information in a certain place in their annual report narratives. The US approach is a compromise between these two approaches; it obligates and encourages firms to provide more information about their risks mandatorily and/or voluntarily, respectively. Investigating the incentives for risk reporting in such set of countries answers the calls of some prior research (e.g., Linsley and Shrives, 2006; Dobler, 2008; Dobler, Lajili and Zeghal, 2011) to deepen our understanding of what motivates firms to disclose their risks. To this end, computerised content analysis and multilevel analysis (MLA) on a large scale (compared with previous work e.g., Linsley and Shrives, 2005, 2006; Abraham and Cox, 2007) are utilised. The results are produced in four cumulative contexts through Chapters Six to Nine. These results are consistent with managers’ incentives theories (discussed in Chapter Two) and prior risk reporting literature (discussed in Chapter Three and Chapter Four). Based on 15 firms in each country during 2007 and 2008, multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) results reveal significant differences between a firm’s risk levels and its risk disclosure levels across the USA, the UK and Germany. The correlation results indicate that these differences are statistically correlated, supporting the main argument of the current study that differences in a firm’s risk levels should be reflected in their risk reporting practices (Chapter Six). Based on 1160 firm-years of non-financial firms of the FTSE all share index over 2005-2008, linear mixed model (LMM) results document that firms with higher levels of systematic and financing risks are likely to exhibit significantly higher levels of aggregated and voluntary risk reporting, whereas firms with high variability of stock returns or lower levels of liquidity are likely to exhibit significantly lower levels of aggregated and voluntary risk reporting. The current study also finds, however, that MRR is associated significantly and positively with firm size rather than with risk levels. The results also indicate that managers of firms exhibiting greater compliance with UK risk reporting regulations have greater incentives to disclose voluntary risk information (Chapter Seven). When the study extends the scope to the other two countries, different patterns of relations are found. Based on 1270, 1410 and 1005 firm-year observations over 2005 to 2009 in the USA, the UK and Germany, respectively, repeated measures multilevel analysis (RMMLA) results suggest that, in the USA, MRR is more sensitive to firm risk levels (total, systematic and liquidity risks) than is VRR, which is more correlated to other firm characteristics. The UK results suggest that VRR is more sensitive to firm risk levels (systematic and liquidity risks) than is MRR, which is dominated by firm size, among other firm characteristics. In Germany, however, both MRR and VRR are significantly related to risk levels (total, systematic, un-systematic, financing and liquidity risks) (Chapter Eight). Based on 3685 firm-year observations during the period between 2005 and 2009, and concerning both firm- and country-level analyses, repeated measures multilevel analysis (RMMLA) results support that variations in MRR can be attributed to differences in the legal systems (country characteristics) and in firm size (firm characteristics). The variations in VRR are more associated with firm characteristics, especially a firm’s risk levels across the USA, the UK and Germany (Chapter Nine). These results have many implications and support the respective regulatory approach adopted within each country by interpreting the extent to which either MRR or VRR is more or less sensitive to underlying risks.

Using a sample of 21 OECD-countries we measure productivity in top-edge economic research by using data envelopment analysis (DEA). DEA is a tool for evaluating relative efficiency and is widely used when there are multiple inputs and outputs and one lacks a specific functional form of a production function. The publications in 10 economics journals with the highest average impact factor over the time period 1980-1998 are taken as research output. Inputs are measured by R&D expenditures, number of universities with economics departments and (as uncontrolled variable) total population. Under constant returns-to-scale the USA are in dominant position with remarkable distance to other countries. Under variable returns-to-scale the efficiency frontier is created by the USA with most productive scale size (MPSS), and by Ireland and New Zealand, which are technical efficient but scale inefficient. All countries - except the USA - display increasing returns-to-scale, which shows that they have a possibility to improve their efficiency by scaling up their research activities. (author's abstract) / Series: Department of Economics Working Paper Series

Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited / The problem of violent extremism is approaching a critical point in America. American government and community leaders must find an effective approach to deterring violent extremism immediately. A national and comprehensive approach to deter violent extremism in America is currently lacking. This comparative policy perspective seeks to determine whether the United Kingdom and Australia have good practices to deter violent extremism that can be useful in America. Secondly, this thesis also seeks to determine whether the United States can implement potential good practices to deter violent extremism. After a thorough review of the issue of violent extremism in America, this thesis studies similar background, research, and violent extremism issues in the United Kingdom and Australia. This thesis concludes that a variety of good practices in the United Kingdom and Australia can counter radicalize and deter violent extremists in America. The findings and recommendations from this research include challenges and a way forward to implement certain potential best practices for the United States. The arguments offer viable options and alternatives that the United States should consider when creating a national deterring-violent-extremism strategy. The details and information regarding understanding and implementing good practices to deter violent extremism in America are contained in this thesis. / Major, New York Army National Guard, Latham, New York

O objetivo do presente estudo foi verificar empiricamente as implicações dos modelos desenvolvidos por Almeida e Campello (2007) e Acharya, Almeida e Campello (2007) em um contexto de simultaneidade entre as decisões financeiras da firma e no qual o impacto do ambiente legal sobre a capacidade de crédito da mesma fosse considerado. Para alcançar esse objetivo estimou-se um sistema de quatro equações simultâneas, que incorpora os avanços teóricos recentes no tocante as decisões financeiras da firma, para uma amostra de firmas de diversos países. Os resultados alcançados sugerem a rejeição empírica das implicações dos referidos modelos, visto que as diferenças esperadas entre as firmas classificadas como não restritas e classificadas como restritas não puderam ser confirmadas. Os resultados também sugerem que ignorar a simultaneidade que caracteriza as decisões financeiras da firma consiste em um erro de especificação que pode ter consequências sérias sobre as estimativas dos parâmetros e que as restrições financeiras manifestam-se em praticamente todas as firmas, possivelmente em intensidades diferentes. / The purpose of this study is to empirically verify the implications of the Almeida and Campello (2007) and Acharya, Almeida, and Campello (2007) models in a context of simultaneous financial decisions of the firm while taking into account the effects of the legal environment on the credit capacity of the firm. To achieve this goal I estimated a system of four simultaneous equations, which incorporates recent theoretical advancements, over a sample of firms from several countries. The results suggest the rejection of the empirical implications, since the expected differences between constrained and unconstrained firms could not be confirmed. The results also suggest that ignoring the simultaneity among financial decisions induces a misspecification that could have serious consequences on the estimated parameters and that the financial constraints arises in almost all firms, possibly in different degrees.

Submitted by Thassia da Silva (tdasilva22@gmail.com) on 2018-01-18T18:07:34Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Thassia da Silva--Key Success Factor Ranking for Intrafirm Knowledge Sharing A Delphi Method Approach in the Oil and Gas Industry.pdf: 2005716 bytes, checksum: 3357ec23f1c093750910850a6e7e9434 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by ÁUREA CORRÊA DA FONSECA CORRÊA DA FONSECA (aurea.fonseca@fgv.br) on 2018-03-02T19:31:43Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Thassia da Silva--Key Success Factor Ranking for Intrafirm Knowledge Sharing A Delphi Method Approach in the Oil and Gas Industry.pdf: 2005716 bytes, checksum: 3357ec23f1c093750910850a6e7e9434 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-03-12T18:57:52Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Thassia da Silva--Key Success Factor Ranking for Intrafirm Knowledge Sharing A Delphi Method Approach in the Oil and Gas Industry.pdf: 2005716 bytes, checksum: 3357ec23f1c093750910850a6e7e9434 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-12-18 / Knowledge and its propagation are unquestionably at the center of most, if not all, discussions on innovation, performance, as well as other elements related to firm success. Although the literature has proposed several key success factors for knowledge sharing, it has yet to explore how these factors rank in terms of importance from a firm nationality perspective. Through a Delphi Method approach, upstream professionals from four major multinational Oil & Gas firms (Brazilian, North American, Norwegian and French), with at least seven years of experience, ranked specific literature-based proposed factors for successful intrafirm knowledge sharing. There was a total of three rounds, where the first round had 41 participants, and the remaining two rounds (second and third) had 39 participants. On average, open door policy was the most relevant factors that lead to knowledge sharing among the four firms. In terms of the least relevant ones, acknowledgement and status were seen, on average, as factors less likely to lead to intrafirm knowledge sharing.

O objetivo do presente estudo foi verificar empiricamente as implicações dos modelos desenvolvidos por Almeida e Campello (2007) e Acharya, Almeida e Campello (2007) em um contexto de simultaneidade entre as decisões financeiras da firma e no qual o impacto do ambiente legal sobre a capacidade de crédito da mesma fosse considerado. Para alcançar esse objetivo estimou-se um sistema de quatro equações simultâneas, que incorpora os avanços teóricos recentes no tocante as decisões financeiras da firma, para uma amostra de firmas de diversos países. Os resultados alcançados sugerem a rejeição empírica das implicações dos referidos modelos, visto que as diferenças esperadas entre as firmas classificadas como não restritas e classificadas como restritas não puderam ser confirmadas. Os resultados também sugerem que ignorar a simultaneidade que caracteriza as decisões financeiras da firma consiste em um erro de especificação que pode ter consequências sérias sobre as estimativas dos parâmetros e que as restrições financeiras manifestam-se em praticamente todas as firmas, possivelmente em intensidades diferentes. / The purpose of this study is to empirically verify the implications of the Almeida and Campello (2007) and Acharya, Almeida, and Campello (2007) models in a context of simultaneous financial decisions of the firm while taking into account the effects of the legal environment on the credit capacity of the firm. To achieve this goal I estimated a system of four simultaneous equations, which incorporates recent theoretical advancements, over a sample of firms from several countries. The results suggest the rejection of the empirical implications, since the expected differences between constrained and unconstrained firms could not be confirmed. The results also suggest that ignoring the simultaneity among financial decisions induces a misspecification that could have serious consequences on the estimated parameters and that the financial constraints arises in almost all firms, possibly in different degrees.

O objetivo do presente estudo foi verificar empiricamente as implicações dos modelos desenvolvidos por Almeida e Campello (2007) e Acharya, Almeida e Campello (2007) em um contexto de simultaneidade entre as decisões financeiras da firma e no qual o impacto do ambiente legal sobre a capacidade de crédito da mesma fosse considerado. Para alcançar esse objetivo estimou-se um sistema de quatro equações simultâneas, que incorpora os avanços teóricos recentes no tocante as decisões financeiras da firma, para uma amostra de firmas de diversos países. Os resultados alcançados sugerem a rejeição empírica das implicações dos referidos modelos, visto que as diferenças esperadas entre as firmas classificadas como não restritas e classificadas como restritas não puderam ser confirmadas. Os resultados também sugerem que ignorar a simultaneidade que caracteriza as decisões financeiras da firma consiste em um erro de especificação que pode ter consequências sérias sobre as estimativas dos parâmetros e que as restrições financeiras manifestam-se em praticamente todas as firmas, possivelmente em intensidades diferentes. / The purpose of this study is to empirically verify the implications of the Almeida and Campello (2007) and Acharya, Almeida, and Campello (2007) models in a context of simultaneous financial decisions of the firm while taking into account the effects of the legal environment on the credit capacity of the firm. To achieve this goal I estimated a system of four simultaneous equations, which incorporates recent theoretical advancements, over a sample of firms from several countries. The results suggest the rejection of the empirical implications, since the expected differences between constrained and unconstrained firms could not be confirmed. The results also suggest that ignoring the simultaneity among financial decisions induces a misspecification that could have serious consequences on the estimated parameters and that the financial constraints arises in almost all firms, possibly in different degrees.

The development of the Internet as a means of offering services (information sources), are developing means for presenting services to users online. Service is called everything that gives users the opportunity to educate, entertain the possibility of trade and of course meet new people. Means are programming languages and programming environments. The project aims to use these resources and create a website that would serve as an electronic support in the subject Elektronic Deutsch. Content sites is also information relating to the German language as well as test. Test is to assess the student's options for the successful completion of the course in Elektronic Deutsch.

Yes / Objectives: Making a medical error can have serious implications for clinician wellbeing, affecting the quality and safety of patient care. Despite an advancing literature base, cross-country exploration of this experience is limited and a paucity of studies has examined the coping strategies used by clinicians. A greater understanding of clinicians¿ responses to making an error, the factors that may influence these, and the various coping strategies used are all essential for providing effective clinician support and ensuring optimal outcomes. The objectives were therefore to investigate a) the professional or personal disruption experienced after making an error, b) the emotional response and coping strategies used, c) the relationship between emotions and coping strategy selection, d) influential factors in clinicians¿ responses, and e) perceptions of organisational support. Methods: A cross-sectional, cross-country survey of 265 physicians and nurses was undertaken in two large teaching hospitals in the UK and USA. Results: Professional and personal disruption was reported as a result of making an error. Negative emotions were common, but positive feelings of determination, attentiveness and alertness were also identified. Emotional response and coping strategy selection did not differ due to location or perceived harm, but responses did appear to differ by professional group; nurses in both locations reported stronger negative feelings after an error. Respondents favoured problem-focused coping strategies and associations were identified between coping strategy selection and the presence of particular emotions. Organisational support services, particularly including peers, were recognised as helpful, but fears over confidentiality may prohibit some staff from accessing these. Conclusions: Clinicians in the UK and US experience professional and personal disruption after an error. A number of factors may influence clinician recovery; these factors should be considered in the provision of comprehensive support programmes so as to improve clinician recovery and ensure higher quality, safer patient care. / This research was funded by the Bradford Institute for Health Research as part of a PhD studentship and supported by a travel grant through the Postgraduate Study Visits scheme by the British Psychological Society.