Acculturation is a phenomenon which results when groups of individuals with different cultures come into continuous first-hand contact with each other, with subsequent changes in the original culture patterns of either or both groups. What an individual does when he or she comes into contact with a second culture is assumed to have an effect on his or her sense of emotional well-being. It has been hypothesized that how one copes with that contact will affect such socio-emotional factors such as self-esteem, social adjustment and academic performance and mental health. Furthermore, it has been hypothesized that the strategies an individual uses to cope with second culture contact will have an effect on that individual's academic or job performance, sense of social competence, and psychological well-being. From the available literature, various models are used in acculturation studies, namely the Unidimensional model, Bidimensional model and Interactive Acculturation Model. It is from the latter models that three groups of variables were addressed in this study: at the group level, acculturation context variables include characteristics of the society of settlement (work) and characteristics of the society of origin, at the individual level, acculturation conditions include characteristics or factors that act as moderators prior to acculturation and during acculturation and acculturation outcomes refers to the consequences of the frequent contact between people from different cultural backgrounds in terms of how well they function (do) and feel. The general objective of this research is to analyse the acculturation process and to determine the impact of acculturation context and individual variables on acculturation outcomes of members of the SAPS. A cross-sectional survey design was used. A random sample (n = 153) was taken of members of the SAPS in the Pretora Arca. Instruments used in previous acculturation research were adapted to measure Mainstream Domain, Ethnocultural Domain, Individual variable and Socio Cultural Acculturation Outcomes. The results indicated that acculturation context and individual coping styles of members of the SAPS did impact on acculturation outcomes variables explaining 29% and 35% of the variance in physical and psychological (ill) health respectively and 26% and 33% of the variance in perceived (work success) effectiveness and efficiency at work and perceived status and recognition that you receive at work (for being successful) respectively. Although 14% and 13% of the variance in perceived commitment from the organisation to its employees and perceived commitment of the individual to its organisation, only one of the models used in the hierurchicul regressions were found to be statistically significant, with none of the predictors being statistically significant contributors. Limitation for the present study and recommendations for the organisation and future research are also provided. / Thesis (M.A. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

This project analyses the acculturation process in a specific context, in order to predict the perceived work success and health (both psychological and physical) of mineworkers in a mine in the North-West Province.1 Success is evaluated in terms of meeting deadlines at work, reputation and respect at work, and training and development opportunities at work. Employees' success and health is considered from an acculturation perspective and thus viewed as a result of the acculturation process. This hypothesis was investigated by examining the affect of the acculturation context and individual intervening factors, which are translated into variables, on perceived work success and health (acculturation outcomes). A random convenience sample of participants from the mine under investigated was taken (n = 288 the majority of the participants are male, married, Black, and Afrikaans-speaking). English questionnaires using a cross-sectional survey design were administered to these participants. The questions were derived from adapted measuring scales and scales developed for the project, which follow a five-point Likert format ('strongly agree' to 'strongly disagree'). Four categories of instruments were used: those examining the mainstream domain (multiculturalism, tolerance of other cultures by the mainstream, multicultural practices, relationships with host culture members at work), individual intervening factors (individual integration acculturation strategy and perceived self-efficacy), acculturation outcomes (health and work success), and the ethnocultural domain (ethnic integration demands, ethnic solidarity and social support, relationship with co-ethnics, and ethnic vitality at work). The data was captured in a spreadsheet, quality controlled, and statistically analysed using multivariate analysis of variance, one-way analysis of variance, and T-tests in SAS, SPSS, and AMOS (regression using structural equation modelling). Descriptive statistics, Cronbach alpha coefficients, and Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients were examined. Effect sizes were used to determine the practical significance of the findings. Perceived self-efficacy is a statistically significant predictor of work success in terms of meeting deadlines. Multicultural practices, ethnic integration demands at work, relationship with co-ethnics individual integration acculturation strategy, and perceived self-efficacy statistically significant predictors of work success in terms of reputation and respect at work. Multicultural practices and ethnic solidarity and social support are statistically significant predictors of work success in terms of training and development opportunities at work. Relationships with host culture members at work, ethnic solidarity and social support, ethnic vitality at work, and individual integration acculturation strategy are statistically significant predictors of psychological health. Multiculturalism, multicultural practices, and tolerance of other cultures by the mainstream are statistically significant predictors of physical health. This project concludes that success and health can be considered from an acculturation perspective and these acculturation outcomes can be predicted based on the acculturation context and individual intervening factors. / Thesis (M.Com. (Human Resource Management))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

This project analyses the acculturation process in a specific context, in order to predict the perceived work success and health (both psychological and physical) of mineworkers in a mine in the North-West Province.1 Success is evaluated in terms of meeting deadlines at work, reputation and respect at work, and training and development opportunities at work. Employees' success and health is considered from an acculturation perspective and thus viewed as a result of the acculturation process. This hypothesis was investigated by examining the affect of the acculturation context and individual intervening factors, which are translated into variables, on perceived work success and health (acculturation outcomes). A random convenience sample of participants from the mine under investigated was taken (n = 288 the majority of the participants are male, married, Black, and Afrikaans-speaking). English questionnaires using a cross-sectional survey design were administered to these participants. The questions were derived from adapted measuring scales and scales developed for the project, which follow a five-point Likert format ('strongly agree' to 'strongly disagree'). Four categories of instruments were used: those examining the mainstream domain (multiculturalism, tolerance of other cultures by the mainstream, multicultural practices, relationships with host culture members at work), individual intervening factors (individual integration acculturation strategy and perceived self-efficacy), acculturation outcomes (health and work success), and the ethnocultural domain (ethnic integration demands, ethnic solidarity and social support, relationship with co-ethnics, and ethnic vitality at work). The data was captured in a spreadsheet, quality controlled, and statistically analysed using multivariate analysis of variance, one-way analysis of variance, and T-tests in SAS, SPSS, and AMOS (regression using structural equation modelling). Descriptive statistics, Cronbach alpha coefficients, and Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients were examined. Effect sizes were used to determine the practical significance of the findings. Perceived self-efficacy is a statistically significant predictor of work success in terms of meeting deadlines. Multicultural practices, ethnic integration demands at work, relationship with co-ethnics individual integration acculturation strategy, and perceived self-efficacy statistically significant predictors of work success in terms of reputation and respect at work. Multicultural practices and ethnic solidarity and social support are statistically significant predictors of work success in terms of training and development opportunities at work. Relationships with host culture members at work, ethnic solidarity and social support, ethnic vitality at work, and individual integration acculturation strategy are statistically significant predictors of psychological health. Multiculturalism, multicultural practices, and tolerance of other cultures by the mainstream are statistically significant predictors of physical health. This project concludes that success and health can be considered from an acculturation perspective and these acculturation outcomes can be predicted based on the acculturation context and individual intervening factors. / Thesis (M.Com. (Human Resource Management))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

Titel: DART- en modell för värdesamskapande - En studie i hur fastighetsmäklare och kunder samskapar värde Nivå: C-uppsats i ämnet företagsekonomi Författare: Lizbet Brittsten och Sanna Pickelner Handledare: Jens Eklinder - Frick och Jonas Molin Datum: 2015 – Maj Syfte: Att kunder intresserar sig för ett värdeskapande tillsammans med företagen och vill delta allt mer i affärsprocesser, framför allt i tjänstesektorn, ligger i tiden. Då vi båda kommer arbeta i en tjänstebransch där det krävs samarbete med kunder, väcktes vårt intresse att fördjupa oss i ämnet. Syftet med den här studien är att utifrån ett företags- och kundperspektiv öka förståelsen för hur delarna dialog, access, riskbedömning och transparens påverkar värdesamskapandet i en säljprocess mellan tjänsteföretag och kunder. Metod: I studien har vi använt oss av en kvalitativ metod. Underlaget till studien samlades in genom semistrukturerade djupintervjuer med både fastighetsmäklare och kunder (säljare). Från intervjuerna har vi tagit ut nyckeltermer och presenterat dem i empirikapitlet. Utifrån ett deduktiv angreppssätt har det empiriska underlaget analyserats mot teorin och respondenternas svar har även jämförts sinsemellan.   Resultat & slutsats: Av de faktorer vi undersökte visade sig dialog och transparens ha ett starkare samband och vara mer framträdande vid värdesamskapande än access. Dessutom låg riskbedömning snarare till grund för de tre andra faktorerna vilket vi anser borde revideras och tydliggöras i modellen. Ett annat resultat från vår studie är att ett värdesamskapande snabbt kan övergå till ett värdeförstörande om det inte hanteras på rätt sätt igenom hela affärsprocessen.   Förslag till fortsatt forskning: Det vore intressant att prova våra två omarbetade DART-modeller i en studie med fler respondenter då vårt urval varit begränsat i storlek. Vi finner det också intressant att se om den befintliga DART-modellen är applicerbar i en studie där  utgångspunkten är en annan tjänstebransch där risktagandet inte är av samma betydelse. Vi föreslår även att utföra studier på området med ett induktivt angreppssätt, då vår studie varit begränsad till en befintlig teoretisk modell.   Uppsatsens bidrag: Ett teoretiskt bidrag från vår studie är att DART-modellen borde omformas. Den visade sig inte applicerbar fullt ut i vår studie. Vi har därför vidareutvecklat två modeller baserat på ursprungsmodellen. Dialog och transparens visade sig vara starkt sammankopplade och viktiga verktyg för mäklarna för att få kundernas förtroende. Det ser vi som ett praktiskt bidrag då vi anser att kombinationen av dialog och transparens är central och kan vara kopplad till förtroendeskapande även i andra tjänstebranscher. Kunders helhetsupplevelse, såväl monetärt som relationsmässigt, har i vår studie visat sig vara avgörande för det upplevda värdet.

P53 est un gène suppresseur de tumeur ubiquitaire qui empêche la prolifération de cellules malignes chez l’humain. En réponse à des dommages à l’ADN ou à des stress cellulaires, p53 entraine l’arrêt du cycle cellulaire et initie la réparation des lésions du génome. Si ces réparations échouent, p53 déclenche alors la mort de la cellule endommagée par apoptose. De plus, p53 présente une forte homologie avec deux autres gènes suppresseurs de tumeur : p63 et p73. Ces trois protéines forment une famille de facteurs de transcription qui protège l’organisme contre le développement de tumeurs. Ce système de défense est enrichi par les multiples isoformes de p53, p63 et p73 dont les rôles sont encore mal décrits. La neutralisation de la fonction de suppression de tumeur de p53, p63 et p73 est un mécanisme clef du développement tumoral auquel participent les mutants hotspots de p53 ainsi que certaines isoformes de p53, p63 et p73 par un effet dominant-négatif. Toutefois, de nombreuses zones d’ombre limitent notre compréhension de ce phénomène. Tout d’abord, l’identification des membres de la famille de p53 impliqués dans l’effet dominant-négatif reste incomplète. Ensuite, les mécanismes responsables de l’effet dominant-négatif sont débattus, suite notamment à l’émergence d’une nouvelle hypothèse impliquant un mécanisme de type prion. Enfin, l’effet dominant-négatif de la famille de p53 pourrait également être mis en cause dans d’autres types de pathologies comme les syndromes développementaux associés à des mutations de p63. Au cours de cette thèse, j’ai étudié l’impact fonctionnel des mutations hotspots de p53 ainsi que celui des principales isoformes de la famille de p53 sur l’activité transcriptionnelle des isoformes actives de p53, p63 et p73. En utilisant comme modèle d’étude un eucaryote simple, la levure S. cerevisiae, nous avons pu démontrer que l’effet dominant-négatif des mutants et isoformes de la famille de p53 repose sur la formation d’hétéro-tétramères entre formes actives et inactives de ces protéines et n’implique pas de mécanisme de type prion. De plus nos travaux ont montré que certains mutants de p53 interfèrent avec les isoformes actives de p63 et p73 par un mécanisme partiellement basé sur la tétramérisation. En outre, nos résultats préliminaires suggèrent que les mutants de p63 impliqués dans les syndromes développementaux EEC, ADULT et NSCL1 exercent également un effet dominant-négatif similaire à celui des mutants de p53. L’identification des mécanismes de l’effet dominant-négatif observé au sein de la famille de p53 permet d’envisager de nouvelles cibles thérapeutiques tant dans les cancers que dans certaines maladies rares du développement humain. / P53 is a ubiquitous tumor suppressor gene that prevents damaged cells from proliferating. Following DNA damage or cellular stress, p53 induces a cell cycle arrest and initiates an attempt to repair the lesions. If the repair fails, p53 triggers the apoptosis of the cell. p53 shares a high homology with two other tumor suppressor genes: p63 and p73. Together they form a family of transcription factors, which are actively protecting the organism from tumor development. This defense network is enriched by multiple N-terminal and C-terminal isoforms of p53, p63 and p73. The loss of p53, p63 and p73 tumor suppression function is a key step of cancer progression. Mutants of p53 and isoforms of p53, p63 and p73 often exhibit a dominant-negative behavior resulting in the loss of p53 tumor suppression activity. However, the extent of the dominant-negative effect within p53 family remains unclear. The mechanisms behind the dominant-negative effect are also debated due to the recent emergence of a prion-like hypothesis. Finally, the dominant-negative effect of p53 family members could be involved in other pathologies such as p63-related developmental syndromes During this PhD, I studied the functional consequences of hotspot mutations of p53 and of the main isoforms of the p53 family on the transcriptional activity of p53, p63 and p73. Using the naïve eukaryotic model S. cerevisiae we have demonstrated that the dominant-negative effect of mutants and isoforms of the p53 family relies on the formation of hetero-tetramers between functional and non-functional members of the family but not on a prion-like mechanism. In addition, certain p53 mutants are able to interfere with p63 and p73 isoforms though a mechanism that is only partially based on tetramerization. Of note, we obtained preliminary results suggesting that mutants of p63, which are involved in EEC, ADULT and NSCL1 developmental syndromes, behave like dominant-negative hotspot mutants of p53. The identification of the mechanisms of the dominant-negative effect occurring within p53 family could lead to new therapeutic targets both in cancer and in rare developmental syndromes.1 EEC : ectrodactyly, ectodermal dysplasia and cleft lip/palate syndrome, ADULT : acro-dermato-ungual-lacrimal-tooth syndrome, NSCL : non-syndromic cleft lip

The thesis introduces thorough analysis of current approach towards margin squeeze practice, an abuse of dominant position by vertically integrated entity. For proper categorization, definition and understanding of the basic assumptions behind the strategy of margin squeeze and its application, the paper presents necessary conceptual apparatus. Further the paper deals also with regulatory framework of abuses of dominant position, national as well as international. In the practical section the paper introduces margin squeeze strategy within telecommunication industry and its regulatory framework in the Czech republic and brings recommendations for ex-ante margin squeeze testing in relation with current European regulators policy updates following the dynamic technological development of the industry.

This exploratory descriptive study looks at the characteristics of immigrant children in the greater metropolitan Los Angeles area who participate in organizations associated with their parents' country of origin. By drawing on the 2004 Immigration and Intergenerational Mobility in Metropolitan Los Angeles (IIMMLA) survey dataset, I bring together aspects of the participation and assimilation literatures in order to better understand who participates in ethnic organizations. Results provide evidence that ethnic organization participants differ from the full sample and from respondents who participate in community organizations; they exhibit more ethnic resource characteristics. Significant determinants of participation in ethnic organizations include having a larger numbers of close relatives in the Los Angeles metropolitan area, literacy in their parents' native language, higher education levels, and being married. These findings indicate that ethnic resources are more important to immigrant children who participate in ethnic organizations than attaining dominant characteristics or straight-line assimilation in society.

Education and academic related services have become as important as manufacturing and, in some cases, even more important. Considering the importance of these services as it relates to manufacturing, a problem exists. Products such as education and academic services are far less specific in value when comparing with manufactured goods, even though their quality depends on resources which can be measured, such as funding. At the same time, we must be able to quantify them and compare their values with predetermined expected levels for each area of expertise, as well as with each other. The quality of the services provided, specifically academic services, is an intangible concept that can be assessed through various methods. This research study applies the Academic Services Experience Survey, a modified version of SERVQUAL, to solve a complex and multifaceted problem of assessing and improving the quality of academic services in higher education institutions.

Η υλοποίηση αποδοτικών αριθμητικών κυκλωμάτων αποτελεί ένα ανοικτό πεδίο έρευνας καθώς η συνεχής εξέλιξη της τεχνολογίας απαιτεί την επανεκτίμηση των μεθόδων σχεδίασής τους, ενώ παράλληλα δημιουργεί νέους τομείς εφαρμογής τους. Ο τεράστιος όγκος πληροφορίας και η ανάγκη γρήγορης επεξεργασίας της έχει οδηγήσει στην ανάγκη αύξησης της συχνότητας λειτουργίας των αντίστοιχων κυκλωμάτων. Μεγάλης σημασίας παραμένει επίσης η ανάγκη για τη μείωση της κατανάλωσης ισχύος των συστημάτων αυτών, αλλά και του κόστους τους, που συνδέονται άμεσα με την επιφάνεια ολοκλήρωσής τους. Η ικανοποίηση των παραμέτρων αυτών επιτάσσει σε διάφορες περιπτώσεις την υιοθέτηση αριθμητικών συστημάτων, πέραν του συμβατικού δυαδικού συστήματος. Χαρακτηριστικά παραδείγματα αποτελούν το Αριθμητικό Σύστημα Υπολοίπων (Residue Number System – RNS) όπως επίσης και τα αριθμητικά συστήματα πλεοναζουσών αναπαραστάσεων (redundant number systems). Η διδακτορική αυτή διατριβή ασχολείται με την υλοποίηση αποδοτικών κυκλωμάτων για το Αριθμητικό Σύστημα Υπολοίπων, με την έρευνα να επικεντρώνεται στην υιοθέτηση τόσο πλεοναζουσών όσο και μη-πλεοναζουσών αναπαραστάσεων στα διάφορα κανάλια επεξεργασίας του. Το πρώτο μέρος της διατριβής έχει ως στόχο τη σχεδίαση αποδοτικών κυκλωμάτων υπολοίπων με χρήση μη-πλεοναζουσών αναπαραστάσεων τόσο για τις κύριες-βασικές αριθμητικές πράξεις (πρόσθεση, πολλαπλασιασμός) όσο και για τις δευτερεύουσες-βοηθητικές (αφαίρεση, ύψωση σε δύναμη) πράξεις. Συγκεκριμένα, παρουσιάζονται κυκλώματα αφαίρεσης και πρόσθεσης/αφαίρεσης για κανάλια υπολοίπου της μορφής 2^n+-1, κυκλώματα πολλαπλασιασμού με σταθερά για το σύνολο διαιρετών {2^n-1, 2^n, 2^n+1} καθώς και κυκλώματα Booth πολλαπλασιασμού προγραμματιζόμενης λογικής για τα κανάλια υπολοίπου 2^n+-1. Επιπλέον, παρουσιάζονται κυκλώματα ύψωσης στον κύβο για το κανάλι υπολοίπου 2^n-1. Προτείνεται επίσης μια οικογένεια αριθμητικών κυκλωμάτων (αθροιστές, αφαιρέτες, πολλαπλασιαστές, κυκλώματα ύψωσης στο τετράγωνο) υπολοίπου 2^n+1 για την αναπαράσταση ελάττωσης κατά 1, που ενσωματώνουν τη μετατροπή του αποτελέσματος στην κανονική αναπαράσταση μέσα στην αρχιτεκτονική τους, ενώ παρουσιάζεται και μία ενιαία μεθοδολογία σχεδίασης κυκλωμάτων ανάστροφης μετατροπής για σύνολα διαιρετών με κανάλια της μορφής 2^n+1 που υιοθετούν την αναπαράσταση ελάττωσης κατά 1. Τέλος, διερευνούνται και οι διαιρέτες της μορφής 2^n-2 και προτείνονται για αυτούς αποδοτικές αρχιτεκτονικές κυκλωμάτων πρόσθεσης, πολλαπλασιασμού, ύψωσης στο τετράγωνο και ευθείας μετατροπής. Στο δεύτερο μέρος της διατριβής το ενδιαφέρον εστιάζεται σε μία διαφορετική κατηγορία αναπαραστάσεων, οι οποίες παρέχουν περισσότερους από ένα δυνατούς τρόπους κωδικοποίησης των εντέλων τους. Οι πλεονάζουσες αυτές αναπαραστάσεις παρουσιάζουν συγκεκριμένα χαρακτηριστικά, όπως η δυνατότητα εξισορρόπησης ταχύτητας και επιφάνειας υλοποίησης. Στη διατριβή εξετάζονται τρεις πλεονάζουσες αναπαραστάσεις για το Αριθμητικό Σύστημα Υπολοίπων με κανάλια διαιρετών της μορφής 2^n+-1 και παρουσιάζεται μία γενικευμένη μεθοδολογία διαχείρισης των ψηφίων τους, η οποία εφαρμόζεται στη σχεδίαση κυκλωμάτων μετατροπής. Στο τελευταίο μέρος περιγράφονται δύο εφαρμογές συστημάτων που βασίζονται στο Αριθμητικό Σύστημα Υπολοίπων. Αναλυτικότερα, σχεδιάζεται και υλοποιείται ένα σύστημα ανίχνευσης ακμών σε εικόνα με ένα στάδιο προ-επεξεργασίας για μείωση του θορύβου καθώς και τρία φίλτρα πεπερασμένης κρουστικής απόκρισης. / The implementation of efficient arithmetic circuits has always been an open field for research, since the technology evolves rapidly, demanding the reevaluation of their design methods. At the same time this continuous evolution opens new research areas for these circuits. The need for fast processing of a vast amount of information demands an increase of the operational frequency of the corresponding circuits, while at the same time low power consumption, low cost and therefore low area remain of crucial importance. Meeting these needs in arithmetic circuits usually implies the employment of alternative, non-binary number systems. Such examples are the Residue Number System (RNS) and number systems with redundant representations. The subject of this PhD dissertation is the implementation of efficient arithmetic circuits for the RNS emphasizing both in redundant and not redundant representations. The first part of the dissertation deals with the design of efficient non-redundant arithmetic circuits for main arithmetic operations such as addition and multiplication that are met in every processing system, as well as for auxiliary operations like subtraction, squaring and cubing. Specifically, the circuits presented include subtractors and adders/subtractors for the moduli channels of the 2^n+-1 form, single-constant multipliers for the {2^n-1, 2^n, 2^n+1} moduli set, configurable modulo 2^n +-1 Booth-encoded multipliers as well as modulo 2^n-1 cubing units. Furthermore, a family of diminished-1 modulo 2^n+1 arithmetic circuits (adders, subtractors, multipliers and squarers) is also presented, that produces the respective result directly to weighted (normal) representation, embedding that way the conversion process between these two representations. The design of efficient Residue-to-Binary converters is also considered and a novel generic methodology is proposed for the systematic design of those circuits. The modulo 2^n-2 channel is also investigated and an arithmetic processing framework is proposed including adders, multipliers, squarers and Binary-to-Residue converters. In the second part, we focus on a different category of representations, where operands can be encoded in more than one ways. Such representations offer certain characteristics such as a tradeoff between area and speed. In particular, we consider three redundant representations for the RNS processing channels of the 2^n+-1 form, which are the most common choice. A generic methodology is presented for treating their digits in order to design efficient converters for them. The last part of the dissertation presents two applications that are implemented entirely in the RNS domain. Their architectures rely on the proposed arithmetic circuits. The first application is an image edge detector with a pre-processing noise filtering stage. The second application involves the design of three Finite Impulse Response (FIR) filters.

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