Many natural resource agencies are managing white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) populations in suburban areas and require information about deer populations, deer impacts on vegetation, and human preferences toward deer and deer management to support decision making. My study based in the Chicago Metropolitan Area during 2007-2011, utilized a multi-faceted approach to investigate common obstacles in suburban deer management. In my findings, I discuss the need for managers to examine suburban deer populations and management issues at a broader scale (i.e., countywide versus single community) and the promotion of proactive deer management in lieu of the conventional paradigm of beginning management only when deer populations have become overabundant. Discussion topics include practicality and costs of deer density estimation and herbivory monitoring techniques over multiple plant communities and numerous study sites. In addition, I illustrate how a comprehensive human dimensions survey can identify determinants that contribute to the public's perceptions of deer density and assess the acceptability, conflict, and beliefs regarding deer management methods. Lastly, I describe the relationship between landscape characteristics and deer density; this information can be utilized to determine suburban lands that may be prone to high deer densities and inform land management practices. My work provides suburban natural resource managers with techniques to identify management practices supported by their public constituents and information useful for managing deer populations.

The emergence of the Internet in business as a marketing tool and as a communication medium is one of the existing challenges for the banking industry. Because of this evolution, the banking industry has adopted Internet banking both for financial transactions and for the provision of information about products and services. Based on the ideas mentioned, this study aimed to examine the factors which may affect the intention to use Internet banking in the Kingdom of Bahrain with the following research objectives to be achieved: first, to identify the factors which affect the intention to use and adopt Internet banking in the Kingdom of Bahrain; second, to develop a model based on the identified factors that affect the intention to use Internet banking in the Kingdom of Bahrain; and third, to test the reliability and validity of the proposed model and find its implications on the intention to use and adopt Internet banking. In this study, five variables were initially chosen, namely, perceived privacy protection, perceived security protection, perceived trust, perceived information quality and perceived risks/benefits that may affect the intention to use Internet banking. Besides the five variables, two more variables were included: cultural dimension and biometric technology to measure a significant relationship with any of the five variables that might affect the intention of bank customers to use Internet banking in Bahrain. As a quantitative method of research, the study focused on assessing the co-variation among naturally occurring variables with the goal of identifying predictive relationships by using correlations or more sophisticated statistical techniques. In analysing the data, the descriptive statistics were used. In addition, construct reliability and discriminant validity tests were conducted and structural equation modelling were used to test the research model and verify the hypotheses. The cultural context has rarely been commented on in previous research, but as a result of taking this factor into account in addition to the more technical issues, a number of practical implications became evident for banking in Bahrain that may have applicability elsewhere in the Arab world. These include both a focus on relationship management as well as the need for additional levels of security through biometric fingerprinting to be implemented by banks wishing to increase the adoption of Internet banking amongst existing customers. These strategies also have potential to attract new market segments.

The study of general relativity in higher dimensions has proven to be a fruitful avenue of research, revealing new applications of the theory, for instance in understanding strongly coupled quantum field theories through the holographic principle, and proposing an explanation of the hierarchy problem through TeV gravity scenarios. To understand the non-linear regime of higher dimensional general relativity, such as that involved in the merger of black holes, we use numerical relativity to solve the Einstein equations. In this thesis we develop and demonstrate several diagnostic tools and new initial data for use in numerical relativity simulations of higher dimensional spacetimes, and use these to investigate binary black hole systems. Firstly, we present a formalism for calculating the gravitational waves in a numerical simulation of a higher dimensional spacetime, and apply this formalism to the example of the head on merger of two equal mass black holes. In doing so, we simulate the merger of black holes in up to 10 spacetime dimensions for the first time, and investigate the dependence of the energy radiated away in gravitational waves on the number of dimensions. We also apply this formalism to the example of head on unequal mass black hole collisions, investigating the dependence of radiated energy and momentum on the number of dimensions and the mass ratio. This study complements and sheds further light on previous work on the merger of point particles with black holes in higher dimensions, and presents evidence for a link between the regime studied, and the large $D$ regime of general relativity where $D$ is the number of spacetime dimensions. We also present initial data that enables us to study black holes with initial momentum and angular momentum, putting in place the framework needed to study problems such as the scattering cross section of black holes in higher dimensions, and the nature of black hole orbits in higher dimensions. Finally, we present, and demonstrate the use of, an apparent horizon finder for higher dimensional spacetimes. This allows us to calculate a black hole's mass and spin, which characterise the black hole.

O gerenciamento produtivo através da implementação de sistemas de certificação pode trazer melhorias significativas do desempenho organizacional. Neste estudo é apresentada uma revisão bibliográfica sobre o conceito de qualidade em alimentos, bem como são abordadas as particularidades de alguns sistemas de certificação de alimentos. O comportamento do consumidor de alimentos e atributos relacionados à percepção de qualidade em vinhos também faz parte da literatura pesquisada. Como método, realizou-se uma survey entre consumidores participantes de confrarias brasileiras de vinhos buscando avaliar a percepção atribuída por estes consumidores aos sistemas de certificação ISO 22000, APPCC, ISO 14001, produção orgânica e indicação geográfica para vinhos finos. Como resultado da análise de dados constata-se que a valorização aos sistemas de certificação abordados não se dá de forma igualitária, sendo a indicação geográfica de origem o sistema de certificação mais valorizado e mais conhecido para os consumidores confrades brasileiros, sobressaindo-se dos demais sistemas de certificação abordados. / Productive management through certification systems implementation may bring significant organizational performance improvements. This study is going to present a literature review based on the concept of food quality as well as the particularities of some food certification systems. Food consumer behavior and attributes regarding perception of quality in wines is also part of the studied literature. As a work method, a survey among consumers that participate in Brazilian fraternities of wines was carried out in order to evaluate the perception these consumers give to ISO 22000, HACCP and ISO 14000 certification systems, organic production and geographical indications for quality wines. A result of the data analysis reveals that the valuation certification systems do not get addressed equally, with the geographical indication of origin certification system more valued and better known to Brazilian consumer of wines of fraternities, standing out from the others certification systems addressed.

Freedom of expression can be viewed as the very heart of democracy, without it the democratic system falls apart. Political communication is a form of expression and perhaps the most important form as well. The intentions and methods of political communication are not always honest and nuanced though, which may jeopardize the legitimacy of the democratic system. This is because of the demos, the voters and citizens, who represent the core of democracy as a system. The demos often act as receivers of political messages, and very rarely as senders. Consequently, the demos are vulnerable in this aspect. On the other hand, the politicians do have the possibly to angle and manipulate information in order to favour their own intentions. Political propaganda is one kind of political communication that has been present during a long period of time in basically every corner of the world. According to various scientists, political parties often use propaganda in election campaigns to maximise votes. Further on, propaganda can be described as deceitful and manipulative, which are features that do not correspond well with democracy and its ideals. Does that mean that the voters are completely helpless in relation to the political propaganda? With the focus and aim of this study, which is to illuminate the various features and techniques of propaganda, we hope to give the voters further knowledge and understanding about the rhetoric strategies within political manifestos. Because if the voters are not aware of the issue, and does not have the tools to see past the propaganda, how are they supposed to form a well-founded perception and make a choice that they are fully comfortable with? With a certain analytical instrument that contains four dimensions of propaganda, some of the political manifestos that were presented during the election campaign in Sweden 2014 have been examined closely. Further on, regarding the results and conclusions of the study, it supports the assumption that propaganda exists in different ways within the chosen manifestos. All of the dimensions that exist within the analytical instrument can be perceived as found in the material. These dimensions/techniques are simplification, exaggeration, packaging the message and disguise.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:27:55Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2002-04-29Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T18:32:12Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 dinelli_tcs_me_arafo.pdf: 1293078 bytes, checksum: 75c774462e3c62fb92c7c9ef37c362e5 (MD5) / Para o presente trabalho, 235 crianças pertencentes às creches da Prefeitura Municipal de Araraquara foram avaliadas e moldadas com um dispositivo confeccionado com um palito abaixador de língua e cera utilidade na forma dos arcos dentários. No intervalo de um ano, as mesmas crianças foram remoldadas a fim de se verificar se houveram ou não mudanças nas dimensões do arco dentário decíduo. A partir da obtenção dos modelos em gesso, foram realizadas medições por meio de um dispositivo digitalizador tridimensional denominado MicroScribe-3DX nos instantes inicial (primeira moldagem) e final (moldagem após um ano). Foram avaliadas mensurações referentes às distâncias inter-segundos molares, interprimeiros molares, intercaninos, perímetro, comprimento de arco e espaços primatas. Consideraram-se ainda dimorfismo sexual, tipo de arco e influência de hábitos de sucção de dedo e chupeta. Concluiu-se que as dimensões transversais sofreram aumento significativo na dentadura decídua, enquanto que o perímetro, o comprimento e os espaços primatas permaneceram constantes. As distâncias interprimeiros molares e inter-segundos molares apresentaram dimorfismo sexual, mostrando dimensões maiores no sexo feminino. Com relação às medidas de perímetro, comprimento e espaços primatas não ocorreram diferenças significantes em relação ao sexo. As dimensões de comprimento nos arcos não diferem nos arcos decíduos Tipo I e Tipo II de Baume, enquanto que o diâmetro dos arcos do Tipo I de Baume, são maiores do que os do Tipo II. Os hábitos de sucção de dedo e chupeta não provocaram alterações nas dimensões dos arcos decíduos no período observado, de um ano. / Two hundred and thirty five children enrolled in kindergarden of Araraquara public school system were evaluated and cast models were obtained. For this purpose a special apparatus was confeccioned with utility wax and exam stick following the dental arch form. After an year same children were evaluated again in order to observe possible changes in the primary dental arches. Using the cast models some measurements were performed by a tridimensional digitalizer dispositive, MicroScribe - 3DX, on the first and after one year cast models. Second molars, first molars and canine width, arch perimeter, arch length and primate spaces were evaluated. Gender dimorphism, arch type and finger or pacifier sucking habits were also considered. It was concluded that the transverse measurements showed a significant increase in primary dentition, while the perimeter, arch length and primate spaces were stable. The first and second molars width presented gender dimorphism, with higher values in the females. Considering the perimeter, arch length and primate spaces there were no significant differences according to gender. The arch length dimensions were not different between Baume Type I and II arches, althougth Baume Type I arch width were larger than Type II. Finger and pacifier sucking habits had no effect on primary dentition dimensions during the observe period of one year.

O gerenciamento produtivo através da implementação de sistemas de certificação pode trazer melhorias significativas do desempenho organizacional. Neste estudo é apresentada uma revisão bibliográfica sobre o conceito de qualidade em alimentos, bem como são abordadas as particularidades de alguns sistemas de certificação de alimentos. O comportamento do consumidor de alimentos e atributos relacionados à percepção de qualidade em vinhos também faz parte da literatura pesquisada. Como método, realizou-se uma survey entre consumidores participantes de confrarias brasileiras de vinhos buscando avaliar a percepção atribuída por estes consumidores aos sistemas de certificação ISO 22000, APPCC, ISO 14001, produção orgânica e indicação geográfica para vinhos finos. Como resultado da análise de dados constata-se que a valorização aos sistemas de certificação abordados não se dá de forma igualitária, sendo a indicação geográfica de origem o sistema de certificação mais valorizado e mais conhecido para os consumidores confrades brasileiros, sobressaindo-se dos demais sistemas de certificação abordados. / Productive management through certification systems implementation may bring significant organizational performance improvements. This study is going to present a literature review based on the concept of food quality as well as the particularities of some food certification systems. Food consumer behavior and attributes regarding perception of quality in wines is also part of the studied literature. As a work method, a survey among consumers that participate in Brazilian fraternities of wines was carried out in order to evaluate the perception these consumers give to ISO 22000, HACCP and ISO 14000 certification systems, organic production and geographical indications for quality wines. A result of the data analysis reveals that the valuation certification systems do not get addressed equally, with the geographical indication of origin certification system more valued and better known to Brazilian consumer of wines of fraternities, standing out from the others certification systems addressed.

O realismo científico é uma concepção filosófica da ciência que assume uma atitude epistêmica positiva em relação às melhores teorias científicas disponíveis, recomendando, sob algumas circunstâncias (em geral o atendimento de princípios metodológicos bem estabelecidos), a crença nas afirmações que estas teorias fazem a respeito do observável e do inobservável. Hilary Putnam, um dos nomes mais salientes no atual cenário filosófico anglofônico, é um autor que, mesmo tendo mudado diversas vezes concepções centrais de suas propostas filosóficas, tem no realismo científico um interesse perene. Em sua mais recente produção, tem defendido que a relatividade conceitual (uma marca característica de muitas abordagens antirrealistas acerca da ciência) é compatível com o realismo científico (Putnam: 2012; p. 63). Esse trabalho procurará investigar a possibilidade de sustentar a proposta de Putnam, analisando a relatividade conceitual e os pressupostos realistas no campo que efetivamente separa as posições realistas e antirrealistas da ciência: o entendimento do que as melhores teorias científicas afirmam sobre o inobservável. Antirrealistas são em geral agnósticos em relação às proposições sobre o inobservável, ou instrumentalistas em relação a essa parte da teorização científica, ao passo que realistas (sob as circunstancias acima evocadas) afirmam que é epistemicamente justificável acreditar na existência dos ditos inobserváveis e que a descrição científica dos mesmos representa características desses eventos ou objetos. Concluímos que a proposta de Putnam leva ao que o mesmo chama em Ética Sem Ontologia a uma Objetividade sem Objetos, uma forma de realismo local (aqui entendido como envolvimento direto com o processo de mensuração/interação do objeto ou evento), de caráter eminentemente estrutural e cujo pronunciamento ontológico mais significativo é de que o mundo responde e restringe nossas ações, e esse responder (uma metáfora adequada seria ressoar) nos permite conhecê-lo. Construímos imagens do mundo, mas uma ontologia final assim como uma narrativa absoluta dos eventos está fora de nossas possibilidades cognitivas. / Scientific realism is a philosophical conception of science that assumes a positive epistemic attitude about the best available scientific theories, recommending, under some circumstances (usually the meeting of some well established methodological principles), the belief concerning what these theories claim about the observable and unobservable. Hilary Putnam, one of the most prominent names in the current Anglophonic philosophical scene, is an author even having changed central conceptions in their philosophical thought along time, keep scientific realism as an perennial interest. In his latest production, has argued that conceptual relativity (one hallmark of many anti-realists approaches about science) is compatible with scientific realism (Putnam 2012, p. 63). This work will seek to investigate the possibility of supporting what was proposed by Putnam, analyzing conceptual relativity and realistic assumptions in the field that effectively separates realistic and anti-realists conceptions of science: understanding what the best scientific theories say about unobservable. Anti-realists are at large agnostic about the unobservable or instrumentalists in relation to that part of scientific theorizing, while scientific realists ( under the circumstances mentioned above ) say the believe in the existence of said \"unobservable\" is epistemically justified, as the scientific description of that events or objects. We conclude the Putnam idea leads to what they call in \"Ethics Without Ontology\" for a \"Objectivity without objects\", a form of local realism (here understood as direct involvement with the measurement process / interaction with the object or event), eminently structural character and whose ontological statement more significant is the world responds and restricts our actions, and that answer (an apt metaphor would be resonate) allows us to meet him. We build images of the world, but an final ontology as well as an absolute narrative of events are out of our cognitive possibilities.

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior / De acordo com diferentes pesquisas, o setor de tecnologia da informaÃÃo vem crescendo muito nos Ãltimos anos, com dados cada vez mais significativos no Brasil e no CearÃ. Neste contexto, surgem Ãs startups digitais, consideradas como negÃcios embrionÃrios com caracterÃsticas de inovaÃÃo e agilidade de crescimento. Assim, o presente trabalho tem como objetivo geral analisar as caracterÃsticas dos empreendedores digitais cearenses a partir da atitude, intenÃÃo e do comportamento empreendedor. E como objetivos especÃficos, i) identificar as dimensÃes da atitude dos empreendedores das startups digitais cearenses; ii) identificar as dimensÃes da intenÃÃo empreendedora dos empreendedores das startups digitais cearenses; iii) identificar as dimensÃes do comportamento empreendedor dos empreendedores das startups digitais cearenses. Foi utilizada como referÃncia a Teoria do Comportamento Planejado proposta por Ajzen (2001) e, para estabelecer as dimensÃes de atitude, intenÃÃo e comportamento do empreendedor, foram utilizados os trabalhos de Lopes Jr. e Souza (2005), Carvalho e GonzÃlez (2006) e Brown, Davidsson e Winklund (2001). AlÃm destes, autores relevantes no contexto do empreendedorismo, foram usados tambÃm alguns estudos sobre startups, como Amzecua et al. (2013), Frick (2013), Butler e Anderson (2012), Viana (2012), Frezatti et al. (2010), Van der Merwe e Swardt (2008), entre outros, consolidaram o embasamento teÃrico deste estudo. Quanto à metodologia, a pesquisa apresenta natureza qualitativa; descritiva; documental e de campo por meio do estudo com empreendedores de startups digitais cearenses. Foram realizadas entrevistas semiestruturadas com catorze empreendedores, escolhidos por critÃrios de acessibilidade. A anÃlise dos dados seguiu as etapas da anÃlise de conteÃdo para os dados qualitativos proposta por Roesch (2006). Dentre os resultados constatou-se que os empreendedores de startups digitais cearenses apresentam as dimensÃes de atitude, sobretudo, aquelas ligadas à GestÃo e PersistÃncia. Quanto à intenÃÃo verificou-se que os empreendedores de startups digitais, em sua maioria, tambÃm apresentam as dimensÃes, principalmente as que estÃo relacionadas com antecedentes pessoais e motivaÃÃes empreendedoras. Jà com relaÃÃo ao comportamento empreendedor, percebeu-se que a maior parte dos entrevistados apresentam caracterÃsticas de comportamento em suas startups voltado para o empreendedorismo, nÃo para a parte considerada mais administrativa. Desse modo, conclui-se que os entrevistados apresentam todas as dimensÃes empreendedoras analisadas, ressaltando que eles colocam a atitude e intenÃÃo que tinham em empreender em prÃtica atravÃs da maneira como gerem suas startups. / According to different surveys, the information technology sector has been growing in recent years, with increasingly significant data in Brazil and CearÃ. This raises the digital startups considered embryonic deals with characteristics of innovation and growth speed. Thus, this study has the general objective analyze the characteristics of digital Cearà entrepreneurs from the attitude, intention and entrepreneurial behavior. And as specific objectives i) identify the dimensions of the attitudes of entrepreneurs of Cearà digital startups; ii) identify the dimensions of the entrepreneurial intention of the entrepreneurs of Cearà digital startups; iii) identify the entrepreneurial behavior of the dimensions of the entrepreneurs of Cearà digital startups. It was used as a reference the Theory of Planned Behavior proposed by Ajzen (2001) and to establish the attitude dimensions, intention and entrepreneurial behavior, we used the Lopes Jr. works and Souza (2005), Carvalho and GonzÃlez (2006) and Brown, Davidsson and Winklund (2001). In addition, relevant authors in the context of entrepreneurship, were also used some studies on startups, as Amzecua et al. (2013), Frick (2013), Butler and Anderson (2012), Viana (2012), Frezatti et al. (2010), Van der Merwe and Swardt (2008), among others, consolidated the theoretical basis of this study. As for the methodology, the research presents a qualitative nature; descriptive; documentary and field through the study of entrepreneurs cearenses digital startups. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with fourteen entrepreneurs, chosen by accessibility criteria. Data analysis followed the steps of content analysis for qualitative data proposed by Roesch (2006). Among the results it found that the entrepreneurs of Cearà digital startups have the attitude dimensions, especially those related to management and persistence. As for the intention it was found that the entrepreneurs of digital startups, most of them also have the dimensions, especially those related to personal background and entrepreneurial motivations. In relation to entrepreneurial behavior, it was noticed that most of the respondents have behavioral characteristics in their startups focused on entrepreneurship, not for the party deemed to be administrative. Thus, it is concluded that the respondents have all entrepreneurial dimensions analyzed, pointing out that they put the attitude and intention they had to undertake in practice by the way they manage their startups.

O gerenciamento produtivo através da implementação de sistemas de certificação pode trazer melhorias significativas do desempenho organizacional. Neste estudo é apresentada uma revisão bibliográfica sobre o conceito de qualidade em alimentos, bem como são abordadas as particularidades de alguns sistemas de certificação de alimentos. O comportamento do consumidor de alimentos e atributos relacionados à percepção de qualidade em vinhos também faz parte da literatura pesquisada. Como método, realizou-se uma survey entre consumidores participantes de confrarias brasileiras de vinhos buscando avaliar a percepção atribuída por estes consumidores aos sistemas de certificação ISO 22000, APPCC, ISO 14001, produção orgânica e indicação geográfica para vinhos finos. Como resultado da análise de dados constata-se que a valorização aos sistemas de certificação abordados não se dá de forma igualitária, sendo a indicação geográfica de origem o sistema de certificação mais valorizado e mais conhecido para os consumidores confrades brasileiros, sobressaindo-se dos demais sistemas de certificação abordados. / Productive management through certification systems implementation may bring significant organizational performance improvements. This study is going to present a literature review based on the concept of food quality as well as the particularities of some food certification systems. Food consumer behavior and attributes regarding perception of quality in wines is also part of the studied literature. As a work method, a survey among consumers that participate in Brazilian fraternities of wines was carried out in order to evaluate the perception these consumers give to ISO 22000, HACCP and ISO 14000 certification systems, organic production and geographical indications for quality wines. A result of the data analysis reveals that the valuation certification systems do not get addressed equally, with the geographical indication of origin certification system more valued and better known to Brazilian consumer of wines of fraternities, standing out from the others certification systems addressed.