In 1968, Rein Taagepera created growth curves of four empires by measuring the surface area of each and plotting his data on a graph of area versus time. He used his growth curves to analyse the development of empires quantitatively, as he considered surface area to be the best measurable indicator of an empire’s strength. His growth curve of the Roman Empire, in particular, has been referenced numerous times by scholars researching the decline and fall of complex civilizations to support their individual analyses of the collapse of Rome. While this thesis surveys only the territories of the Western Roman Empire, many of the parameters used by Taagepera have been either borrowed or adapted in order to define, measure, and graph the surface area of the Western Empire as precisely as possible. This thesis also adds further precision and validity to Bryan Ward-Perkins’ theory that surface area can be used to analyse and quantify the collapse of a complex society accurately. In order to demonstrate the extent to which differing circumstances and outcomes of provincial history impacted the total surface area of the Western Roman Empire, it was essential to include not only an overview of Rome’s extensive history, but also to establish the chronology, as it related to the Roman Empire, of each individual province, territory, and client kingdom within the Western Empire. Detailed chronologies of Noricum and Britannia have been included to serve as case studies as they comprise a broad range of distinct characteristics and so represent typical western provinces. My research of the history and geography of the Roman Empire has generated a comprehensive inventory that includes all the pertinent onomastic and chronological data needed to measure the surface area of each of Rome’s western provinces and client kingdoms. When plotted on a graph of area versus time, my data not only produced an accurate representation of the actual surface area of the Western Roman Empire, but also one that facilitates temporal analyses of territorial fluctuations at any given point in the Empire’s history until the fall of the Western Empire in CE 476.

Inúmeros trabalhos avaliando as exigências de lisina podem ser encontrados na literatura, mas seus resultados são heterogêneos. Revisões sistemáticas e a meta-análise permitem integrar diferentes variáveis, gerar novos resultados e obter respostas ajustadas a uma maior diversidade experimental. Objetivou-se explorar as relações da lisina digestível com as variáveis de desempenho, estabelecer a exigência e avaliar a eficiência marginal da lisina segundo a lei de rendimentos decrescentes para suínos em crescimento e terminação. Para os estudos I e II, foram compilados 36 artigos publicados entre 2002 e 2013 avaliando 2.399 suínos pesando entre 15-120 kg. Para o estudo III, foram utilizados 26 artigos que avaliaram 1.820 suínos pesando entre 20-120 kg. No estudo I, o consumo diário de lisina apresentou correlações maiores com a ingestão de energia metabolizável e proteína bruta e com as deposições de proteína e lipídios. O consumo diário de lisina apresentou melhor ajuste nas equações de variância-covariância do que o nível percentual de lisina. No estudo II, o aumento no consumo diário de lisina melhorou o ganho de peso e a deposição de proteína na fase de 70-120 kg. Nas fases de 15-30; 30-70 e 70-120 kg os níveis de lisina digestível determinados para obter as melhores respostas de ganho corresponderam ao consumo diário de 14,8; 20,2 e 18,3 g lisina/dia. Os níveis de lisina digestível determinados para obter as melhores respostas de deposição de proteína corresponderam ao consumo diário de 16,3 e 24,1 g lisina/dia nas fases 15-30 e 30-70 kg. No estudo III, observamos que a medida que o animal se aproxima ou atinge o ponto de máximo desempenho, a eficiência de uso da lisina digestível diminui segundo a lei de rendimentos decrescentes. Dietas formuladas para atender 95% da máxima resposta de ganho de peso permitem uma melhora na eficiência marginal de uso da lisina da ordem de 2,4; 2,5 e 1,5 g de ganho de peso para cada g de lisina ingerida nas faixas de peso vivo 20-50; 50-70 e 70-120 kg. Sugerimos a inclusão de variáveis como a eficiência alimentar e o ganho de peso nas análises de determinação de exigências de lisina, também a escolha de metodologias analíticas adequadas e a inclusão da lei de rendimentos decrescentes da eficiência marginal de uso da lisina nos atuais modelos de determinação de exigência para evitar a superestimação observada nas tabelas de recomendação nutricional. / Several studies evaluating the lysine requirements are avaible in the literature, but its results are heterogeneous. Systematic reviews and meta-analysis allows integrating different variables, generating new results and producing answers adjusted to experimental diversity. This objective of this study was to explore the relationship among dietary lysine and the performance variables, establishing the requirement and assessing the marginal efficiency of dietary lysine according to the law of diminishing returns for growing-finishing pigs. For studies I and II, 36 articles published from 2002 to 2013 evaluating 2399 pigs weighing between 15-120 kg were compiled. And for the study III 26 articles evaluating 1820 pigs weighing between 20-120 kg were used. In the study I, daily intake of lysine showed higher correlations with the metabolizable energy intake and crude protein, with the protein deposition and lipid deposition. The daily intake of lysine showed better adjustment in the variance-covariance equations than the dietary level of lysine. In Study II, increasing the daily intake of lysine improved the weight gain and protein deposition in the 70-120 kg phase. In 15-30; 30-70 and 70-120 kg phase the levels digestible lysine that maximized weight gain reponse corresponded to the daily intake of 14.8; 20.2 and 18.3 g lysine/day. Lysine levels that maximized protein deposition reponse corresponded to daily intake of 16.3 and 24.1 g lysine/day in the phases 15-30 and 30-70 kg. In the study III, it was observed that, as the animal approaches or reaches the maximum performance the efficiency of lysine use decreases according to the law of diminishing returns. Diets formulated to meet 95% of the maximal weight gain response permit a marginal improvement in efficiency of use of the lysine the order of 2.4; 2.5 and 1.5 grams of weight gain for each lysine grams ingested in live weight phases 20-50; 50-70 and 70-120 kg respectively. It suggest the inclusion of variables feed efficiency and weight gain in analysis for the determination of lysine requirements, also the choice of appropriate analytical methods and the inclusion of diminishing returns law of marginal efficiency the dietary lysine in current models for the determination of requirements to avoid the overestimation observed in nutritional recommendation tables.

Inúmeros trabalhos avaliando as exigências de lisina podem ser encontrados na literatura, mas seus resultados são heterogêneos. Revisões sistemáticas e a meta-análise permitem integrar diferentes variáveis, gerar novos resultados e obter respostas ajustadas a uma maior diversidade experimental. Objetivou-se explorar as relações da lisina digestível com as variáveis de desempenho, estabelecer a exigência e avaliar a eficiência marginal da lisina segundo a lei de rendimentos decrescentes para suínos em crescimento e terminação. Para os estudos I e II, foram compilados 36 artigos publicados entre 2002 e 2013 avaliando 2.399 suínos pesando entre 15-120 kg. Para o estudo III, foram utilizados 26 artigos que avaliaram 1.820 suínos pesando entre 20-120 kg. No estudo I, o consumo diário de lisina apresentou correlações maiores com a ingestão de energia metabolizável e proteína bruta e com as deposições de proteína e lipídios. O consumo diário de lisina apresentou melhor ajuste nas equações de variância-covariância do que o nível percentual de lisina. No estudo II, o aumento no consumo diário de lisina melhorou o ganho de peso e a deposição de proteína na fase de 70-120 kg. Nas fases de 15-30; 30-70 e 70-120 kg os níveis de lisina digestível determinados para obter as melhores respostas de ganho corresponderam ao consumo diário de 14,8; 20,2 e 18,3 g lisina/dia. Os níveis de lisina digestível determinados para obter as melhores respostas de deposição de proteína corresponderam ao consumo diário de 16,3 e 24,1 g lisina/dia nas fases 15-30 e 30-70 kg. No estudo III, observamos que a medida que o animal se aproxima ou atinge o ponto de máximo desempenho, a eficiência de uso da lisina digestível diminui segundo a lei de rendimentos decrescentes. Dietas formuladas para atender 95% da máxima resposta de ganho de peso permitem uma melhora na eficiência marginal de uso da lisina da ordem de 2,4; 2,5 e 1,5 g de ganho de peso para cada g de lisina ingerida nas faixas de peso vivo 20-50; 50-70 e 70-120 kg. Sugerimos a inclusão de variáveis como a eficiência alimentar e o ganho de peso nas análises de determinação de exigências de lisina, também a escolha de metodologias analíticas adequadas e a inclusão da lei de rendimentos decrescentes da eficiência marginal de uso da lisina nos atuais modelos de determinação de exigência para evitar a superestimação observada nas tabelas de recomendação nutricional. / Several studies evaluating the lysine requirements are avaible in the literature, but its results are heterogeneous. Systematic reviews and meta-analysis allows integrating different variables, generating new results and producing answers adjusted to experimental diversity. This objective of this study was to explore the relationship among dietary lysine and the performance variables, establishing the requirement and assessing the marginal efficiency of dietary lysine according to the law of diminishing returns for growing-finishing pigs. For studies I and II, 36 articles published from 2002 to 2013 evaluating 2399 pigs weighing between 15-120 kg were compiled. And for the study III 26 articles evaluating 1820 pigs weighing between 20-120 kg were used. In the study I, daily intake of lysine showed higher correlations with the metabolizable energy intake and crude protein, with the protein deposition and lipid deposition. The daily intake of lysine showed better adjustment in the variance-covariance equations than the dietary level of lysine. In Study II, increasing the daily intake of lysine improved the weight gain and protein deposition in the 70-120 kg phase. In 15-30; 30-70 and 70-120 kg phase the levels digestible lysine that maximized weight gain reponse corresponded to the daily intake of 14.8; 20.2 and 18.3 g lysine/day. Lysine levels that maximized protein deposition reponse corresponded to daily intake of 16.3 and 24.1 g lysine/day in the phases 15-30 and 30-70 kg. In the study III, it was observed that, as the animal approaches or reaches the maximum performance the efficiency of lysine use decreases according to the law of diminishing returns. Diets formulated to meet 95% of the maximal weight gain response permit a marginal improvement in efficiency of use of the lysine the order of 2.4; 2.5 and 1.5 grams of weight gain for each lysine grams ingested in live weight phases 20-50; 50-70 and 70-120 kg respectively. It suggest the inclusion of variables feed efficiency and weight gain in analysis for the determination of lysine requirements, also the choice of appropriate analytical methods and the inclusion of diminishing returns law of marginal efficiency the dietary lysine in current models for the determination of requirements to avoid the overestimation observed in nutritional recommendation tables.

A avaliação do estado nutricional das culturas requer o uso de padrões para comparação, tais como os níveis críticos e as faixas de suficiência. Esses padrões de interesse agrícola geralmente são estimados a partir da curva de calibração da produção vegetal, que relaciona os rendimentos de uma cultura com a dose do adubo aplicada no solo ou com o teor de algum elemento nos tecidos. A curva de produção vegetal é fundamental para o desenvolvimento de pesquisas nas áreas de nutrição mineral de plantas e adubação, uma vez que o conhecimento a seu respeito possibilita o uso econômico de adubos e a elaboração de estratégias corretivas para o solo. No entanto, a curva de produção divide-se em diferentes regimes nutricionais, que lhe conferem uma forma peculiar e dificultam sua descrição matemática. O objetivo desse trabalho é a construção de modelos de regressão flexíveis, capazes de descrever adequadamente a curva de produção vegetal. Em uma primeira abordagem, modelos lineares segmentados com transições de fase suaves são usados para descrever a produção do trigo de inverno em função da adubação com nitrogênio. Por meio dos ajustes destes modelos, também são estimados os níveis críticos e as faixas de suficiência. Posteriormente, realiza-se a modelagem matemática da resposta vegetativa à adubação, desconsiderando doses tóxicas. Observa-se que cada tipo possível de resposta vegetativa é ligado de forma unívoca a uma função de produção agrícola. A técnica proposta, além de permitir a construção de novas funções de produção, fornece interpretações fisiológicas claras para parâmetros de alguns modelos de uso comum na agricultura. Com base na segunda abordagem, um novo enunciado para a lei de Mitscherlich é apresentado: quanto maior é o conteúdo total do nutriente limitante na planta, menor é o aproveitamento feito (a fim de lhe prover crescimento) de um incremento em sua disponibilidade - como consequência, os retornos da adubação são decrescentes. / The evaluation of the plant nutritional status requires standards for comparisons, such as the critical levels and sufficiency ranges. These standards are generally estimated by means of the yield curves in response to fertilizers, which relates production with doses applied or nutrient content in the plant tissues. The yield curve is essential for the development of researches on plant mineral nutrition and fertilization, since knowledge of this curve allows economic use of fertilizers and planning strategies for soil correction. However, the production curve is divided into different nutritional regimes, which give it a peculiar shape and hinders its mathematical description. In this work, the objective is to build flexible regression models, able to adequately describe the yield curves. In a first approach, linear piecewise models with smooth transitions between regimes are used to describe the winter-wheat yield in function of the nitrogen doses. By means of the fits of these models, the critical levels and sufficiency ranges are also estimated. In another approach, it is proposed a mathematical model for yield response (or returns) from fertilizers - toxic doses are neglected in this phase. It is verified that each possible yield response type is uniquely related with a production function. This approach allows to construct new production functions and, indeed, provides clear physiological interpretations for the parameters of some common models in agriculture. Based on the second approach, it is presented a new statement for the Mitscherlich law: the greater is the total content of the limiting nutrient in the plant, the lower is the exploited fraction (in order to provide growth) of an increment in its availability - as a consequence, the returns from fertilization are diminishing.

Individuals who suffer from depression can be stigmatized by labeling and resort to negative stigma coping orientations such as secrecy and withdrawal, resulting in internalized self-stigma. Self-stigma can have negative effects such as low self-esteem, low self-efficacy, isolation, and feeling like a failure. Guided by modified labeling theory, the purpose of this study was to fill a gap in the literature on predictors of two orientations (challenging and deflecting) of positive stigma coping. Challenging stigma involves taking action, and deflecting is a cognitive strategy; both are used to positively cope with the stigma of mental illness. Predictors included symptom severity, depression literacy, stereotype awareness, treatment seeking, social support, and stigma sentiments in a sample of undergraduates (N = 195). Results from a canonical correlation found that individuals with high scores on deflecting and, simultaneously, low scores on challenging tended to have high scores on stigma sentiments and low scores on both symptom severity and treatment seeking. Analyzed in independent regressions, challenging was significantly predicted only by symptom severity (+), while deflecting was predicted by symptom severity (-), depression literacy (+), and stigma sentiments (+). These findings reinforce the potential for individuals who suffer from depression to address stigma using healthier and more affirming coping orientations. Implications for positive social change include a decrease in self-stigma regarding depression, less negative stigma coping, an increased awareness of how depression stigma affects individuals who suffer from the disorder, and a decrease in the social stigma of depression. Educators and practitioners can apply this information in academia, counseling, and clinical practice.

Acquisition is a crucial element of consumer behavior. By gaining a deeper understanding of the factors that influence consumers' acquisition of products, marketers and managers can develop more effective marketing strategies, and design products that better align with the needs and desires of their target customers. This dissertation develops two essays that examine key components of consumers' interest to acquisition: (1) the impact of ownership language on product evaluation, and (2) the influence of dispositional greed on the experience of diminishing marginal utility. Essay 1 investigates the impact of ownership language (e.g., this is my car) on prospective buyers' item evaluation. Results show that using ownership language has a negative effect on both tangible and intangible item evaluation. Specifically, using more ownership language raises contamination concerns and leads to decreased item evaluation. Essay 2 focuses on the individual differences in the experience of diminishing marginal utility (DMU), which is an essential component of consumers' interest in acquisition. By examining the relationship between dispositional greed and the experience of DMU, this research provides valuable insights into the motivations and desires that drive consumer behavior. The findings from six studies demonstrate that individuals with higher levels of dispositional greed are less likely to experience DMU and that such a heterogeneous experience of DMU depends on consumption scenarios (i.e., quantity-based vs. non-quantity-based). / Doctor of Philosophy / Understanding what motivates people to buy things is a key focus for consumer research. By studying consumers' interest in acquisition, businesses can gain valuable insights into the factors that drive consumer behavior, which can help them design better marketing strategies and create products better suited for the needs of their target customers. This dissertation features two essays that focus on the concept of "consumers' interest in acquisition." Essay 1 studies how using phrases like "this is my car" (i.e., ownership language) affects consumers' evaluation of second-hand products. The results find that using ownership language makes consumers evaluate both tangible and intangible items less favorably. To be specific, using ownership language raises contamination concerns (e.g., the feeling of having been "polluted"), which leads to lowered item evaluation. Essay 2 investigates an aspect of consumer behavior that has received little attention in previous research: the individual differences in the experience of diminishing marginal utility (DMU). I argue that individuals' dispositional level of greed (e.g., dissatisfaction of not having enough, combined with the desire to acquire more) is related to the experience of DMU, such that individuals with higher levels of greed tend to experience less DMU compared to less greedy consumers. In other words, as greedy consumers acquire more of a good or service, the additional satisfaction they gain from each additional unit does not decrease as rapidly as it does for less greedy people. Moreover, I discovered that this heterogeneous experience of DMU was more evident when consumption experiences involved changes in quantity vs. attributes or features of a product/service.

No description available.

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito de formulações de rações para frangos de corte utilizando programação linear e não linear sobre desempenho, características de carcaça e aspectos econômicos. Um mil e oitenta machos da linhagem Cobb 500™, com um dia de idade, foram distribuídos em delineamento em blocos casualizados, com seis tratamentos e seis repetições de 30 aves cada. Os tratamentos foram: 1) ração formulada por programação linear com exigência nutricional das Tabelas Brasileiras para Aves e Suínos; 2) ração formulada por programação linear com exigência nutricional do Manual de Manejo Cobb™; 3) ração formulada por programação linear com exigência nutricional de modelos matemáticos; 4) ração formulada por programação não linear em cenário normal de mercado; 5) ração formulada por programação não linear em cenário favorável de mercado; e 6) ração formulada por programação não linear em cenário desfavorável de mercado. Considerou-se cenário de mercado normal os valores do milho, do farelo de soja e do preço pago pelo kg de frango vivo em 26/03/2015, para o interior do Estado de São Paulo. Para o cenário favorável, os valores dos ingredientes baixaram 10% e o preço pago pelo kg de frango vivo subiu 10% e, para o cenário desfavorável, ocorreu o inverso. Foram avaliadas as características de desempenho e econômicas aos 21 e 42 dias de idade e também as características de carcaça aos 42 dias. Os dados foram submetidos à análise de variância e, em caso de significância (P<0,05), aplicou-se o teste de Scott-Knott (5%). Os melhores resultados de desempenho e de características de carcaça foram associados aos tratamentos oriundos da programação linear, cujas concentrações de nutrientes foram mais elevadas, dos quais proteína bruta, aminoácidos e fósforo disponível são determinantes do desempenho superior de frangos de corte. Os tratamentos oriundos da programação não linear geraram melhores resultados econômicos, principalmente no cenário de mercado favorável, que apontou o menor custo para produção de 1 kg de peso corporal e maior lucro. Conclui-se que a formulação de ração com o uso da programação não linear, embora não maximize o desempenho, possibilita a obtenção de rações que otimizam o lucro. / The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of feed formulations for broilers using linear and nonlinear programming on performance, carcass characteristics and economic aspects. One thousand and eighty, one-day-old male broilers, Cobb 500 ™ strain, were distributed in a randomized block design, with six treatments and six replicates of 30 birds each. The treatments were: 1) feed formulated by linear programming with nutritional requirement of the Brazilian Tables for Poultry and Swine; 2) feed formulated by linear programming with nutritional requirement of Management Cobb™ Manual; 3) feed formulated by linear programming with nutritional requirement of mathematical models; 4) feed formulated by nonlinear programming on normal market scenario; 5) feed formulated by nonlinear programming on favorable market scenario; and 6) feed formulated by nonlinear programming on unfavorable market scenario. In the normal market scenario values of corn, soybean meal and the price paid for kg of live broiler were that practiced on March 26, 2015, for the state of São Paulo. To the favorable scenario, the values of the ingredients decreased 10% and the price paid for kg of live broiler increased by 10% and, for the unfavorable scenario, the opposite happened. The performance and economic characteristics at 21 and 42 days, and carcass characteristics at 42 days were evaluated. Data were submitted to analysis of variance and, in case of significance (P<0.05), the Scott-Knott test (5%) were applied. Best performance and carcass characteristics results were associated with treatments derived from linear programming, whose nutrient concentrations were higher, of which crude protein, amino acids and available phosphorus are determining the superior performance of broilers. Treatments arising from the non-linear programming generated better economic results, especially in the favorable market scenario, which showed the lowest cost to produce 1 kg of body weight and higher profit. It was concluded that feed formulation using non-linear programming, even though does not maximize performance, allows to feed formulation that optimize profit.

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito de formulações de rações para frangos de corte utilizando programação linear e não linear sobre desempenho, características de carcaça e aspectos econômicos. Um mil e oitenta machos da linhagem Cobb 500™, com um dia de idade, foram distribuídos em delineamento em blocos casualizados, com seis tratamentos e seis repetições de 30 aves cada. Os tratamentos foram: 1) ração formulada por programação linear com exigência nutricional das Tabelas Brasileiras para Aves e Suínos; 2) ração formulada por programação linear com exigência nutricional do Manual de Manejo Cobb™; 3) ração formulada por programação linear com exigência nutricional de modelos matemáticos; 4) ração formulada por programação não linear em cenário normal de mercado; 5) ração formulada por programação não linear em cenário favorável de mercado; e 6) ração formulada por programação não linear em cenário desfavorável de mercado. Considerou-se cenário de mercado normal os valores do milho, do farelo de soja e do preço pago pelo kg de frango vivo em 26/03/2015, para o interior do Estado de São Paulo. Para o cenário favorável, os valores dos ingredientes baixaram 10% e o preço pago pelo kg de frango vivo subiu 10% e, para o cenário desfavorável, ocorreu o inverso. Foram avaliadas as características de desempenho e econômicas aos 21 e 42 dias de idade e também as características de carcaça aos 42 dias. Os dados foram submetidos à análise de variância e, em caso de significância (P<0,05), aplicou-se o teste de Scott-Knott (5%). Os melhores resultados de desempenho e de características de carcaça foram associados aos tratamentos oriundos da programação linear, cujas concentrações de nutrientes foram mais elevadas, dos quais proteína bruta, aminoácidos e fósforo disponível são determinantes do desempenho superior de frangos de corte. Os tratamentos oriundos da programação não linear geraram melhores resultados econômicos, principalmente no cenário de mercado favorável, que apontou o menor custo para produção de 1 kg de peso corporal e maior lucro. Conclui-se que a formulação de ração com o uso da programação não linear, embora não maximize o desempenho, possibilita a obtenção de rações que otimizam o lucro. / The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of feed formulations for broilers using linear and nonlinear programming on performance, carcass characteristics and economic aspects. One thousand and eighty, one-day-old male broilers, Cobb 500 ™ strain, were distributed in a randomized block design, with six treatments and six replicates of 30 birds each. The treatments were: 1) feed formulated by linear programming with nutritional requirement of the Brazilian Tables for Poultry and Swine; 2) feed formulated by linear programming with nutritional requirement of Management Cobb™ Manual; 3) feed formulated by linear programming with nutritional requirement of mathematical models; 4) feed formulated by nonlinear programming on normal market scenario; 5) feed formulated by nonlinear programming on favorable market scenario; and 6) feed formulated by nonlinear programming on unfavorable market scenario. In the normal market scenario values of corn, soybean meal and the price paid for kg of live broiler were that practiced on March 26, 2015, for the state of São Paulo. To the favorable scenario, the values of the ingredients decreased 10% and the price paid for kg of live broiler increased by 10% and, for the unfavorable scenario, the opposite happened. The performance and economic characteristics at 21 and 42 days, and carcass characteristics at 42 days were evaluated. Data were submitted to analysis of variance and, in case of significance (P<0.05), the Scott-Knott test (5%) were applied. Best performance and carcass characteristics results were associated with treatments derived from linear programming, whose nutrient concentrations were higher, of which crude protein, amino acids and available phosphorus are determining the superior performance of broilers. Treatments arising from the non-linear programming generated better economic results, especially in the favorable market scenario, which showed the lowest cost to produce 1 kg of body weight and higher profit. It was concluded that feed formulation using non-linear programming, even though does not maximize performance, allows to feed formulation that optimize profit.

A commonly researched problem in computer science considers the different parameters of an evacuation simulation and how they affect evacuation times. Parameters like room size, obstacles and exit layouts have proven to have an impact on evacuation times. Previous research indicates that evacuation times are not always reduced when adding exits to virtual environments, suggesting diminishing returns of adding exits in crowd evacuation simulations. This raises the question if it is always advantageous to add exits with the goal of reducing evacuation times, and if the effectiveness of adding exits is dependent on factors like room size and layout. This thesis investigates the changes in evacuation times obtained by adding exits to virtual furnished environments using an agent- based orderly crowd simulator developed in Unity3D. The virtual environments used are modeled after three classrooms at The Royal Institute of Technology (KTH): a small classroom (E34), a medium sized classroom (D32) and a large classroom (Q33). The models are modified to accommodate one through six exits with the goal of determining if there are diminishing returns of adding exits in different crowd evacuation scenarios. The results indicate that diminishing returns in crowd evacuation times occur when adding exits to virtual rooms. Diminishing returns seem to appear at different points depending on the size and/or layout of the virtual rooms, appearing at higher exit amounts the larger the room is. Several limitations could have affected the results, which means that more research within the field is required before the findings are used in real world applications. / Ett ofta undersökt problem inom datavetenskap berör hur olika parametrar i en evakueringssimulering påverkar evakueringstider. Parametrar som rumstorlek, hinder och utgångslayout har visats ha en inverkan på evakueringstider. Tidigare forskning indikerar att evakueringstider inte alltid reduceras när man adderar utgångar till virtuella miljöer, vilket tyder på avtagande avkastning av att addera utgångar i evakueringssimuleringar. Detta väcker frågan ifall det alltid är fördelaktigt att addera utgångar i syfte att reducera evakueringstider, samt ifall effektiviteten av att addera utgångar beror på faktorer som rumstorlek och layout. Detta arbete undersöker förändringarna i evakueringstider som fås av att addera utgångar till virtuella möblerade miljöer genom att använda en agentbaserad ordnad simulator utvecklad i Unity3D. De virtuella miljöerna modelleras efter tre klassrum på KTH: ett litet klassrum (E34), ett medelstort klassrum (D32) och ett stort klassrum (Q33). Modellerna modifieras för att rymma en upp till sex utgångar med målet att bestämma ifall det finns avtagande avkastning med att addera utgångar i olika evakueringsscenarion. Resultaten indikerar att avtagande avkastning i evakueringstider förekommer när utgångar adderas till virtuella rum. Avtagande avkastning verkar framträda vid olika punkter beroende på de virtuella rummens storlek och/eller layout, och de framträder vid högre antal utgångar ju större rummet är. Flertalet begränsningar kan ha påverkat resultatet, vilket innebär att mer forskning inom ämnet behövs innan resultaten appliceras och används i verkligheten.