The increasing demand for fish in the food industry has resulted in the extensive overfishing of wild fisheries. In efforts to alleviate the demand from the food industry, genetically modified (GM) fish were developed possessing traits such as larger mass, faster growth, and increased resistance to disease. However, the greater fitness advantage of GM fish presents potential risks for wild type populations in the event of release or escape from a confined fish facility. In addition to physical barriers, it is critical to develop a genetic mechanism in order to ensure that the spread of GM transgene to the natural populations does not occur. RNA interference (RNAi) is an endogenous mechanism used to regulate gene expression by destroying targeted mRNA molecules. Manipulation of this biological process has been successfully utilized to knockdown specific genes through the introduction of synthetic transgenes in organisms such as C. elegans, M. musculus, and D. melanogaster. Although the use of RNAi as a biological tool is still relatively new in zebrafish, recent work has explored elements of this mechanism allowing for greater knockdown efficiencies. The deadend (dnd) gene is required for primordial germ cell (PGC) development and survival. Previous studies have shown that zebrafish dnd knockouts develop into sterile adults without disrupting somatic development. In efforts to induce sterility in zebrafish, short hairpin RNA (shRNA) constructs targeting dnd were designed to exploit the endogenous RNAi pathway. Upon qualitative analysis in transient and transgenic zebrafish subjected to the synthetic RNAi construct, a reduction in the germ cell population at early stages of development was observed. However, quantification of dnd mRNA in fish from the same time points did not show significant changes in expression levels compared to their wildtype counterparts. Adult fish subjected to the transgene construct produced viable gametes. The use of RNAi as a tool for bioconfinement relies on sterility among all individuals subjected to the shRNA bearing transgene. Based on the results obtained, the verdict is still unclear as to whether shRNA is a viable mechanism for large scale bioconfinement.

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Submitted by Johnny Rodrigues (johnnyrodrigues@ufcg.edu.br) on 2017-11-20T15:35:14Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Mary Elenn Campos Soares - Dissertação PPGCS - 2016..pdf: 739219 bytes, checksum: 74eda977790ea12f8c99cd1d227d4321 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-11-20T15:35:14Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Mary Elenn Campos Soares - Dissertação PPGCS - 2016..pdf: 739219 bytes, checksum: 74eda977790ea12f8c99cd1d227d4321 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-05-24 / Com a promulgação de leis voltadas ao amparo das crianças, o exercício da paternidade passou a ocupar um lugar importante nos debates em torno dos valores que caracterizam à família contemporânea. Em certa medida, na dinâmica da vida social pode observar-se que a relação paterno/filial se realiza em diversas dimensões. A dimensão biológica da paternidade, baseada na consanguinidade, é o critério mais comum para definir o vínculo pai e filho. A dimensão socioafetiva que gera vínculos entre pai e filho se constrói pela convivência e pela força dos laços afetivos que possibilita uma simbiose de cuidado e afeto mútuos. A dimensão sociocultural decorre de um critério jurídico, ou de uma imposição social segundo a qual a paternidade é determinada após a confirmação cientifica da descendência genética. Nossa análise se situa nessa última dimensão, ou seja, quando o homem necessita da confirmação de um teste de DNA para confirmar a paternidade de um filho. Com a ascensão do romantismo, nas últimas décadas, a família passou a ser reconhecida como um grupo de companheirismo, fundado essencialmente nos laços de solidariedade e afeto. Perante essa representação da família moderna, formulamos uma pergunta para nortear nossa pesquisa: pela força coercitiva exercida pelo círculo de sociabilidade do homem envolvido nessa situação, da confirmação de um teste de consanguinidade é possível construir o sentido da paternidade? Apoiados na teoria sociológica e mediante o uso do método qualitativo, analisamos a trajetória de alguns homens que, depois de receberem a confirmação do teste de DNA se viram perante uma situação concreta que os colocou como sendo pais de uma criança, onde inicialmente surgiu a dúvida por parte deles e de pessoas próximas a eles sobre a veracidade da paternidade, onde após sanada a dúvida eles se viram perante a situação de assumirem a paternidade de filhos não esperados e não planejados. Entre outros, nossa pesquisa se propõem responder aos seguintes questionamentos: Que sentimentos se desdobram nesses indivíduos a partir da confirmação do teste de DNA e da consequente imposição do exercício da paternidade? Como se dá a relação pai e filho após a ativação de mecanismos de coerção social e/ou jurídica? Quais são os valores que se desdobram nesses homens a partir do processo de interação com seus filhos?

With the new and rising popularity of Baldur’s Gate 3, an exploratory qualitative research comparing it to its tabletop predecessor: Dungeons and Dragons 5E, is necessary to gather new data about player experience within these different formats.  This research explores the difference in immersion into character between Dungeons and Dragons 5E and Baldur’s Gate 3. This is done through a mixed methods approach, combining interviews and digital ethnography. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 6 interviewees from varying backgrounds who had played both games for a significant amount of time. For the digital ethnography, relevant selected posts from Reddit users in r/DnD and r/BaldursGate3 were filtered and selected using the software Communalytic.  The themes correlated to immersion into character were transformative play, social play, and creative agenda. Through these themes, it was concluded that the main difference between these two games were related to transformative potential, as well as the social aspect 2 of both games, where in-person D&D and co-op BG3 seemed to help players get immersed into their characters more easily than in online D&D and solo mode BG3.

Bakgrund: Företag kan använda sig av flera olika distributionsprocesser för att leverera produkter till kunder och alla dessa distributionsprocesser innebär olika kostnader, förutsättningar och hinder. Distributionskostnaden består av transport-, hanterings-, lagrings- och informationskostnad och utgör hos många företag en stor andel av de totala produktkostnaderna. Kostnaderna påverkas av hur ett företag väljer att utforma sin distributionsstruktur. Vid utformning av en distributionsstruktur finns det även vissa faktorer att ta hänsyn till, såsom olika kundkrav. Dessa faktorer och kostnader behöver samlas i ett ramverk för att kunna utgöra beslutsunderlag för företag. Syfte: Studien syftar till att utveckla ett teoretiskt ramverk för val av distributionsstruktur. Vidare syftar studien till att applicera ramverket på fallföretaget för att demonstrera hur ramverket kan tillämpas och branschanpassas. Slutligen redovisas möjliga kostnadsbesparingar för fallföretaget och en handlingsplan för att uppnå besparingarna. Tillvägagångssätt: Studien är en fallstudie på möbelåterförsäljaren Svenssons i Lammhult. Utifrån intervjuer och observationer har fallföretagets nuläge kartlagts i form av en processkarta. Därefter har ett teoretiskt ramverk för val av distributionsstruktur utformats och tillsammans med nulägesbeskrivningen har kostnader för alternativa distributionsprocesser beräknats på 30 utvalda produkter. Utifrån kostnadsberäkningarna har en ny distributionsstruktur presenterats tillsammans med en handlingsplan för en övergång till den nya distributionsstrukturen. Slutsats: Den största kostnadsbesparingen, cirka 2.000.000 kr, uppnås vid en övergång till direktleverans för de hemlevererade produkter som i dagsläget endast skickas med produkter från en leverantör. Vidare kostnadsbesparingar är uppnåbara genom att distribuera mindre produkter via upphämtningsplats istället för att dessa levereras hem till kund. För att implementera dessa förändringar kan förhandlingar med leverantörer krävas och kostnader för integrerade informationssystem kan uppstå. / Background: Companies can use a variety of distribution processes in order to deliver their products to their customers and all of these distribution processes results in different costs. The distribution costs are transport, handling, storage and information costs and these costs constitute a large share of the total product cost for many companies. Depending on how a company designs their distribution structure the resulting cost varies. There are also several factors that influence the design of a distribution structure, such as various customer requirements. When gathering these factors and costs in a framework it is possible to use the framework when making business decisions. Purpose: The purpose of the study is to develop a theoretical framework designed to choose a distribution structure. Furthermore, the framework will be applied on the case company in order to demonstrate how the framework can be applied on the case company and adapted to an industry. Lastly, possible savings for the case company will be demonstrated and an action plan for reaching these savings will be presented. Methodology: The study is a case study at the furniture retailer Svenssons i Lammhult. A current state map has been created through interviews and observations at the case company. Thereafter a theoretical framework for choosing a distribution structure has been developed, and by using the current state map, cost calculations for alternative distribution processes has been carried out on 30 selected products. Based on the cost calculations a new distribution structure and an action plan has been presented. Conclusions: The largest savings, about 2.000.000 SEK, can be achieved by a transition to direct delivery for home delivered products that are being ordered with products from a single supplier. Further cost savings can be achieved by distributing smaller products through pickup points instead of home delivery. To implement these changes the case company needs to negotiate with their suppliers and investigate costs for implementing integrated information systems with their suppliers.K

The CEO and CFO are the two key executives of a firm. They work cohesively to ensure the growth of the firm. After the adoption of the Sarbanes Oxley Act (SOX) in 2002, the importance of CFOs has increased due to their personal legal obligation in certifying the accuracy of financial statements. Only a few papers such as Mian (2001), Fee and Hadlock (2004), and Geiger and North (2006) focus on CFOs in the pre-SOX era. However, a vacuum exists in research focusing exclusively on CFOs in the post-SOX era. The purpose of this dissertation is to delve into a comprehensive investigation of the CFOs. More specifically, I answer three questions: a) does the CEO change lead to the CFO change? b) does the CFO appointment type affect the firm’s debt-equity choice? and c) does the CFO appointment affect the firm’s information environment? I use Shumway’s (2001) dynamic hazard model in answering question ‘a’. For question ‘b’, I use instrumental variable (IV) regression under various estimation techniques to control for endogeneity. For part ‘c’, I use the cross sectional difference-in-difference (DND) methodology by pairing treatment firms with control firms chosen by the propensity scores matching (PSM). I find there is about a 70% probability of CFO replacement after the CEO replacement. Both of their replacements are affected by prior year’s poor performance. In addition, as a custodian of the firm’s financial reporting, the CFO is replaced proactively due to a probability of restatement of earnings. I find firms with internal CFO hires issue more equity in the year of appointment than firms with external hires. The promoted CFO significantly improves the firm’s overall governance which helps the firm obtain external financing from equity issue. However, I find that CFO turnover does not significantly affect the firm’s information environment. To ensure that my finding is not due to mixing up of samples of good and distressed firms together, I separated distressed firms and re-ran my models and my finding still holds. This dissertation fills the gap in the literature with regards to CFOs and their post SOX relationship with the firm.