Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Civil Engineering / Sunanda Dissanayake / Young drivers are over-represented in crashes when compared to other age group drivers. Distracted driving is one of the major causes of traffic crashes by young drivers. The objective of this study was to assess the hazards of distracted driving among teenage (15–20 year old) and young-adult (21–26 year old) drivers in Kansas. This study used five years of crash data from the Kansas Crash and Analysis Reporting System (KCARS) database from 2011 to 2015. A multinomial logit modeling was used to identify the odds that a driver with a certain type of distraction would be involved in one of the three most common crash types: rear-end, angular, and single-vehicle crashes. Furthermore, ordered logistic modeling was used to analyze the crash data to identify the odds of more severe injuries for teenage and young-adult distracted drivers and their passengers involved in crashes. Survey data was used to develop a structural equation model (SEM) to define the relationship among young drivers’ characteristics (e.g., participants’ socioeconomic and demographic status), attitudes, and behaviors associated with distracted driving and cell phone use while driving. Preliminary analysis showed that more than 12% of the total young drivers’ crashes were distraction-affected crashes. According to the multinomial logit model results, most distraction types for teenage and young-adult drivers are related to rear-end or angular collisions. However, when distracted by cell phones at night, teenage drivers had a greater probability of being involved in single-vehicle crashes. In addition, when teenage drivers drove with their peers as front-seat passengers and were distracted in/on vehicle or by other electronic devices, they were more likely to be involved in single-vehicle crashes. Young-adult drivers distracted in/on vehicle or by cell phones under different conditions such as while driving old or sport utility vehicles, on curved roads, or at intersections, they were more likely to be involved in single-vehicle or angular crashes. Whereas, when they were inattentive during the weekend, rear-end collisions were the most likely collision type. According to the results of the ordered logistic model, teenage and young-adult drivers were more likely to be severely injured in cell phone-related crashes. More specifically, female teenage drivers had a greater probability of being severely injured than male teenage drivers when they were distracted by a cell phone, inside the vehicle, or were inattentive. Young-adult drivers that were distracted on road construction work zones by a cell phone or inside the vehicle, they and their passengers had a greater likelihood of sustaining a severe injury. The SEM results revealed that teenage drivers are more prone than young-adult drivers to drive while distracted and are less likely to support the Kansas laws that ban cell phone use while driving. Also, the model results showed that young drivers who have been involved in crashes or near-crashes during the previous year are more likely to drive while distracted. These results indicate that distractions create threats to the lives of young Kansas drivers, their passengers, and other road users.

In this thesis it is suggested that the local context and culture has a large impact on how Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is perceived and worked with. Previous research shows that it is important for Multinational Corporations (MNCs) to govern their CSR with respect to the local context to be trusted and run their business in a ‘good’ (what is socially perceived as good) way. The aim of this study is to examine how MNCs that are founded in Sweden and in some ways have established in China, perceive CSR and how they work with it in respect to the global- and the local context. The thesis further studies what approaches, and drivers lies behind the engagement in CSR-related activities. The thesis is based on a qualitative approach with six semi-structured interviews, that makes up the empirical material. The interviews were conducted with participants in leading positions in Swedish MNCs located in Shanghai, China. The results show that a global perspective is perceived as important for MNCs to work with, and that they in many ways adapt their global practises with respect to local culture. Furthermore, the approaches used when working with CSR are in many ways strategic and has an ethical and philanthropical drive behind them.

The purpose of this thesis was to investigate and analyse the internationalization of Swedish SMEs operating within the artificial intelligence industry, as well as to identify the drivers and barriers that influence the process. The methodology chosen for the research was to conduct a qualitative multiple case study with different Swedish AI firms with international operations through an abductive approach. The theoretical framework was established based on different theories related to internationalization, drivers and barriers. With the theoretical framework, a conceptual model was created to illustrate how the parts are connected. In the empirical chapter, the primary data is presented by the different cases, further constructed by the logical order of internationalization, drivers and barriers. The analysis chapter thereafter presents a discussion of differences and similarities between theory and the empirical findings. The thesis concludes that there are a variety of different specific and general drivers and barriers that influence the firms. The findings display that there are a lot of international opportunities for AI, and the firms' growth and profit goals, the managerial’ international drive and vision, a limited domestic market and external interest and investment made the firms internationalize. The combination of the factors also influenced the firms to take a rapid approach to internationalization and seek markets with the highest potential for profit. The thesis findings further emphasize that the capability to create valuable contacts and establish a position in networks tend to be an important factor of success. Concluding, theoretical and practical implications and also suggestions for future research are presented.

Thesis (MTech (Industrial Design))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2016. / Simulators are used for many different purposes, among them physical rehabilitation and the training of differently abled learner-drivers. In South Africa, however, the extent of the latter type of simulators is limited to paraplegic learner-drivers only. The reason is that locally sourcing the necessary equipment to adapt commercial simulators for the training of differently abled learner-drivers presents a problem. The concept of Universal Design stipulates that as many individuals as possible should be able to use a particular product. Consequently, a simulator for differently abled learner-drivers should accommodate as many such persons as possible. However, applying Universal Design in the area of design researched for the present dissertation adds further complexity due to the unique nature of the physical limitations experienced by individuals. A differently abled driver puts an extreme constraint on the design of a product - and becomes a limiting user. Nevertheless, this dissertation adopts a Universal Design approach to investigate the possibility of designing such a simulator in South Africa, as well as its viability. A limiting user was included in the research to represent the bigger differently abled community. Field research was carried out by implementing a Participatory Design process. Furthermore, a team was selected according to a Meta-Design mind-set, including professionals from engineering, clinical psychology and occupational therapy. The leader and researcher was an industrial designer.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T15:07:01Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 KlebiaRC_DISSERT.pdf: 2568345 bytes, checksum: 06d49f454b61d5d9e861b5e172d2395e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-12-18 / In the contemporary society, the language is presented in all social spaces and assumes many different purposes in order to meet the needs that emerge from each of these sphere. In traffic, this reality is not different. To guide vehicles, it is necessary to know, by means of reading artifacts, what the legislation establishes in what concerns the way to act in this domain. Thus, this works aims at describing the practices of literacy held in events of driver trainings and know the expectations generated by drivers/learners from this training. In theoretical terms, it anchors in Literacy Studies, comprehended here as social practices (BARTON; HAMILTON, 1998; KLEIMAN, 1995, 2008; MORTATTI, 2004; STREET, 1984; OLIVEIRA, 2008, 2010; ROJO, 2009; PAZ, 2008). Genre Theory (BRONCKART, 2004, 1999; OLIVEIRA, 2010) and in your multimodal instance (KRESS; VAN LEEUWEN, 1996; DION?SIO, 2006). In terms of methodology, it follows the bias of qualitative research, because of its ethnographic nature (BOGDAN; BIKLEN, 1994; MINAYO, 2010; CAN?ADO, 1994; CHIZZOTTI, 2005). The research corpus was generated by reading the Brazilian Traffic Code, by observing the literacy events held in Drivers Training Centers of Natal, analysis of course books used in these events, plus questionnaires with open and closed questions and semistructured interviews. The collaborators are constituted of drivers in training, and instructors who work in this field. The analyses show significant contributions regarding the placement more committed of future drivers with the welfare and safety of those who use the public roads, from the practice or reading done during the traffic training. The contribution of this work lies in the possibility to expand the discussion about the language practice uses regarding the training for the traffic, more specifically, the training of drivers of vehicles / Na sociedade contempor?nea, a linguagem se presentifica em todos os espa?os sociais e assume as mais diversas finalidades para atender ?s necessidades que emergem em cada uma dessas esferas. No tr?nsito, essa realidade n?o ? diferente. Para guiar ve?culos, faz-se necess?rio conhecer, por meio de artefatos de leitura, o que estabelece a legisla??o quanto ? forma de agir no ?mbito da mobilidade urbana. Dessa feita, o presente trabalho tem como objetivos descrever as pr?ticas de letramento realizadas em eventos de forma??o de condutores de ve?culos, ressaltando as expectativas geradas pelos condutores/aprendentes a partir dessa forma??o. Em termos te?ricos, ancora-se nos estudos de letramento, entendidos como pr?ticas sociais que se inserem nos mais diversos dom?nios (BARTON; HAMILTON, 1998; KLEIMAN, 1995, 2008; MORTATTI, 2004; STREET, 1984; OLIVEIRA, 2008, 2010; ROJO, 2009; PAZ, 2008), na Teoria dos g?neros (BRONCKART, 2004, 1999; OLIVEIRA, 2010) e na sua inst?ncia multimodal (KRESS; VAN LEEUWEN, 1996; DION?SIO, 2006). Metodologicamente, segue o vi?s da abordagem qualitativa de pesquisa, em virtude da sua natureza etnogr?fica (BOGDAN; BIKLEN, 1994; MINAYO, 2010; CAN?ADO, 1994; CHIZZOTTI, 2005). O corpus da pesquisa foi gerado por meio da leitura do C?digo de Tr?nsito Brasileiro, da observa??o de eventos de letramento realizados em Centros de Forma??o de Condutores da cidade do Natal, da an?lise das cartilhas utilizadas nesses eventos, al?m da aplica??o de question?rios com quest?es abertas e fechadas e entrevistas semiestruturadas. Os colaboradores compreendem condutores em forma??o, assim como os instrutores que atuam nesse campo. As an?lises apontam para contribui??es significativas no tocante a posicionamentos mais comprometidos dos futuros condutores com o bem-estar e seguran?a daqueles que utilizam as vias p?blicas, a partir das pr?ticas de leitura e de escrita realizadas no decorrer da forma??o para o tr?nsito. A contribui??o deste trabalho reside na possibilidade de ampliar as discuss?es acerca dos usos das pr?ticas de linguagem no ?mbito da forma??o para o tr?nsito, mais especificamente no que diz respeito ? prepara??o de condutores de ve?culos

O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar o perfil da molécula relacionada à inflamação (ICAM-1), citocinas e da atividade das NTPDases como potencial influência sobre a genotoxicicdade em trabalhadores expostos ocupacionalmente a HPA. Este estudo incluiu 45 taxistas e 40 indivíduos com atividades administrativas (não-expostos ocupacionalmente), ambos nãi fumantes. O monitoramento biológico foi realizado pela quantificação do 1-hidroxipireno (1-pireno OH) urinário. A expressão de ICAM-1 (CD54) em neutrófilos foi realizada por citometria de fluxo. O perfil de hidrólise das NTPDases em plaquetas foi determinada pelo método colorimétrico. Além disso, os níveis de malondialdeído no plasma (MDA), citoquinas inflamatórias (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α e IFN-γ) e o dano ao DNA (ensaio cometa e do micronúcleo) foram também avaliados. Os resultados demonstraram que os níveis de 1-OH pireno foram significativamente aumentados nos motoristas de táxi em comparação com o grupo não exposto ocupacionamente (p <0.0001); também foi positivamente correlacionada com neutrófilos ICAM-1, níveis de MDA e biomarcadores de danos no DNA. A expressão de ICAM-1 em neutrófilos foi significativamente elevado em motoristas de táxi (p <0.05), bem como os níveis de MDA (p <0.01), sendo a última positivamente correlacionada com a % de DNA na Cauda e frequência de MN. Aumento da hidrólise de ATP e ADP forma encontrados nos taxistas. Concentrações dos marcadores pró-inflamatórios foram aumentadas e anti-inflamatórias (IL-10) diminuída no grupo exposto. Para o teste de ensaio de micronúcleos e cometa, houve aumento significativo em motoristas de táxi, inclusive depois da adição de enzimas de reparo. Correlações positivas foram encontradas entre IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-γ e preditores de danos no DNA (% de DNA na cauda e frequência de MN), enquanto que a IL-10 está negativamente correlacionada com os biomarcadores de lesão ao DNA. Em resumo, a exposição ocupacional à poluição do ar pode levar a anormalidade homeostática como potencial contribuição para o processo aterosclerótico. Este estudo mostrou também que a exposição crônica à poluição do ar pode causar danos no DNA relacionado com a peroxidação lipídica e processo inflamatório. / The present study aimed to evaluate the profile of inflammatory molecule (ICAM-1), cytokines and the NTPDases activity as potential influence on genotoxicity process in workers exposed occupationally to PAH. This study included 45 taxi drivers and 40 non-occupationally exposed subjects, both non smorkers. Biological monitoring was performed by quantification of urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OH pyrene). The expression of ICAM-1 (CD54) in neutrophil was performed and the hydrolysis profile of the NTPDases in platelets was determined. Plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, inflammatory cytokines and DNA damage (comet and micronucleus assays) were also evaluated. The results demonstrated that the 1-OH pyrene levels were significantly increased in taxi drivers (p<0.0001); were also positively correlated to neutrophil ICAM-1 expression, MDA levels and biomarkers of DNA damage. ICAM-1 expression in neutrophil was significantly elevated in taxi drivers (p<0.05), as well as MDA levels (p<0.01), being the last positively correlated with % Tail DNA and MN frequency. ATP and ADP hydrolysis was increased in taxi drivers. Pro-inflammatory markers concentrations were increased and anti-inflammatory (IL-10) was decreased in exposed group. For the comet assay and micronucleus test, increase was significant in taxi drivers, inclusive after repair enzymes. Positively correlations were found between IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-γ and predictors of DNA damage (%Tail DNA and MN frequency), while IL-10 is negatively correlated with the biomarkers of DNA lesion. In summary, occupational exposure to air pollution, especially to PAHs, may be related with homeostatic abnormality as potential contribute to atherosclerosis process. This study showed also that the chronic exposure to outdoor air pollution may cause DNA damage related with lipid peroxidation and inflammatory process.

Introdução: Estima-se que os comportamentos de risco no trânsito, como erros e violações, sejam responsáveis por aproximadamente 90% dos acidentes automobilísticos. Dentre as principais variáveis preditoras de comportamento de risco no trânsito estão os traços de personalidade do condutor. A associação positiva entre impulsividade, busca de sensações e comportamentos de risco no trânsito já é bem documentada na literatura. No entanto, estudos que explorem essas associações entre condutores infratores versus não infratores são escassos, principalmente no Brasil. Objetivo: Explorar as associações entre impulsividade, busca de sensações e comportamentos de risco no trânsito em uma amostra de condutores infratores versus não infratores da cidade de Porto Alegre. Método: A amostra foi composta por 158 condutores infratores que tiveram o direito de dirigir suspenso nos últimos 12 meses por acúmulo de pontos (68,4%) ou tipo de infração específica (31,6%), selecionados no Departamento Estadual de Trânsito do Rio Grande do Sul (79,7% homens) e 181 não infratores (76,2% homens) captados em três Centros de Formação de Condutores e em dois parques públicos locais. As medidas utilizadas foram: a Escala de Impulsividade de Barrat (BIS-11), o Inventário de Busca de Sensações de Arnett (AISS) e um questionário padronizado para coleta de informações demográficas e de comportamentos de risco no trânsito. As variáveis foram analisadas através de regressão logística de acordo com um modelo hierarquizado. O nível de significância adotado foi 5%. Resultados: Maior impulsividade (OR = 4,8, IC 95%: 2,68-8,6), anos de estudo (OR=0,91, IC 95%: 0,85-0,97); dirigir com maior frequência (OR = 4,01, IC 95%: 2,05-7,83), assumir infrações de outro condutor (OR = 2,91, IC 95%: 1,63-5,19), solicitar que outro condutor assumisse suas infrações (OR = 6,74, IC 95%: 2,39-19,25), envolvimento em acidentes de trânsito com vítima (OR = 2,73, IC 95%: 1,24-6,01) e consumir bebida alcoólica nos últimos 12 meses (beber não binge = OR 0,77, IC 95%: 0,38-1,55; binge drinking = OR 1,97, IC 95%: 0,87-4,47) foram significativa e independentemente associados à suspensão do direito de dirigir. Não foi constatada associação entre busca de sensações e ter o direito de dirigir suspenso. Conclusão: Os achados sugerem que a impulsividade, alguns comportamentos associados a risco – tais como envolvimento em acidentes graves, beber bebida alcoólica nos últimos 12 meses, assumir infrações de outro condutor, solicitar que outro condutor assumisse suas infrações - e a frequência com que o condutor dirige foram preditores para o cometimento de mais infrações; também se evidenciou que possuir mais anos de estudo representou um fator de proteção à direção segura. Nesse sentido, nossos resultados demonstram a natureza complexa e multideterminada do fenômeno. Espera-se que este trabalho, pioneiro no Brasil, contribua para a identificação de potenciais fatores de risco e associados ao cometimento de infrações, bem como contribua na discussão de medidas de avaliação, reabilitação e fiscalização para o trânsito. / Introduction: It is estimated that risk behaviors in traffic, such as errors and violations, are responsible for approximately 90% of all automobile accidents. Among the leading predictors of risk behavior in traffic are driver personality traits. The positive association between impulsivity, sensation seeking and risk behaviors in traffic is already well documented in literature. However, studies that explore these associations among offender drivers and non-offender drivers are scarce, especially in Brazil. Objective: To explore the association between impulsivity, sensation seeking and risk behavior in traffic in a sample of offender drivers versus non-offender drivers in the city of Porto Alegre. Method: The sample comprised 158 offender drivers whose right to drive had been suspended over the past 12 months due to an accumulation of points (68.4%) or a specific violation (31.6%), selected at the Rio Grande do Sul State Traffic Department (79.7% men) and 181 non-offender drivers (76.2% men) from three Driving Schools and in two local parks. Measures used were: the Barrat Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11), the Arnett Inventory of Sensation Seeking (AISS) and a standardized questionnaire for the collection of information of demographics and risk behavior in traffic. The variables were analyzed through logistic regression according to a hierarchical model. The adopted level of significance was 5%. Results: More impulsiveness (OR = 4.8, IC 95%: 2.68-8.6), years in school (OR=0.91, IC 95%: 0.85-0.97); frequent driving (OR = 4.01, IC 95%: 2.05-7.83), take on other driver’s violations (OR = 2.91, IC 95%: 1.63-5.19), request that other driver’s take on one’s violations (OR = 6.74, IC 95%: 2.39-19.25), involvement in traffic accidents with a victim (OR = 2.73, IC 95%: 1.24-6.01) and drinking alcoholic beverages during the last 12 months (non-binge drinking = OR 0.77, IC 95%: 0.38-1.55; binge drinking = OR 1.97, IC 95%: 0.87-4.47) were significantly and independently associated with the suspension of driving privileges. We verified no association between sensation seeking and the suspension of driving privileges. Conclusion: The findings suggest that impulsivity and behaviors associated with risk – such as involvement in serious accidents, drinking alcoholic beverages within the last 12 months, taking on violations of other drivers, requesting that other drivers take on his/her violations - and the frequency of driving were indicative of committing additional violations; it was also shown that more years of study represented a factor favoring safe driving. In this sense, our results show the complex and multidetermined nature of the phenomenon. It is hoped that this pioneering study in Brazil contributes to the identification of potential risk factors and those associated with committing violations, as well as contributing to the discussion of measures for evaluation, rehabilitation and monitoring of traffic.

Motoristas de ônibus estão diariamente expostos a vibrações de corpo inteiro (VCI), o que os submetem a riscos de desenvolver problemas de saúde relacionados a essas condições. Numerosos estudos focados em quantificar e identificar os riscos a que os motoristas estão expostos foram desenvolvidos nos últimos anos. Porém, pesquisas mostram que muitos fatores influenciam na transmissão da vibração ao corpo humano. Estradas podem ser consideradas um fator importante na determinação da exposição à VCI que um motorista de ônibus recebe. Nas áreas urbanas, os tipos mais comuns de estradas encontradas são: asfalto bom, asfalto irregular, paralelepípedo, estrada de chão, estradas esburacadas, entre outros. O objetivo deste estudo é determinar se diferentes tipos de estradas, encontradas em vias urbanas, provocam diferentes respostas de VCI; e determinar a influência de cada tipo de estrada na exposição à VCI de acordo com a norma ISO 2631-1 (1997). Dois motoristas diferentes guiaram o mesmo ônibus urbano sobre diferentes tipos de pista: asfalto regular, paralelepípedo e estrada de chão, caracterizando condições comuns nas cidades brasileiras. Para avaliar as vibrações transmitidas ao condutor, valores de aceleração foram registrados usando um acelerômetro tipo seat-pad montado no assento do motorista. Os resultados mostraram que o tipo de terreno que mais afeta a vibração de corpo inteiro no motorista é o paralelepípedo. Também foi possível detectar a ineficiência da poltrona do motorista quanto à absorção da vibração. Finalmente, observou-se que os motoristas não tiveram influência significativa nos resultados finais. / Bus drivers are daily exposed to whole-body vibrations (WBV) submitted to risks for develop health problems related to these conditions. Numerous studies focused to quantify and identify the risks that drivers are exposed have been developed in recent years. Many factors influence the transmission of vibration to the body. Road type may be an important factor in determining the WBV exposure which a bus driver receives. In urban areas, common types of routes include several road surfaces like: smooth highway, older rough freeway, pavement, bumpy, speed humps, and others. The purpose of this study is to determine whether different kinds of road surfaces, found in urban routes, cause different WBV responses, and determine the influence for each road type in daily exposure to WBV according the standard ISO 2631-1 (1997). Two different drivers drove the same urban bus over a route which included three road types: a rougher old freeway, a city street segment with pavement, and a road bumpy segment, characterizing the conditions of most Brazilian cities. To assess vibrations transmitted to the driver, vibration values were recorded using a seat pad accelerometer mounted on the driver’s seat. The results showed that the road type with the highest level of whole body vibration on the driver is the asphalt. It was also possible to detect the inefficiency of the driver's seat as the vibration absorption. Finally, it was observed that the drivers had no significant influence on the final results.

Esta tese é composta por três ensaios que versam sobre a complexa relação entre desenvolvimento e meio ambiente. No primeiro ensaio é feita uma revisão das principais abordagens teóricas que tratam do assunto, com destaque para a Curva Ambiental de Kuznets (CAK) e para os conceitos de sustentabilidade fraca e forte. Ambos apontam o crescimento econômico como um importante indutor de impacto ambiental. No entanto, a CAK afirma que a geração de riqueza pode ser aliada na proteção ambiental quando o país alcança um patamar de desenvolvimento suficientemente elevado para que o meio ambiente passe a ser incorporado como um bem superior. Já a conceituação de sustentabilidade não reforça esta conclusão ao passo que sugere que o capital natural precisa ser preservado: seja relativamente (conceito fraco) ou absolutamente (conceito forte). Para estes, a relação entre crescimento e impacto é sempre direta. As abordagens multidimensionais vão além e afirmam que a relação entre o homem e os ecossistemas se dá uma forma impossível de ser mensurada através da simples relação entre crescimento econômico e degradação. Para se aproximar minimamente deste modo de pensar, um conjunto maior de indutores precisa ser considerado. O ensaio 2 desta tese apresenta modelos na literatura que buscam estimar impactos ambientais causados pela atividade humana através de um número maior de indutores (produtivos, populacionais, institucionais, entre outros). Estes modelos (IPAT e STIRPAT) têm como característica a possibilidade de estimar o impacto ambiental esperado através da verificação das variáveis consideradas indutoras. Mas, duas fragilidades são especialmente importantes: i) a variável que mede impacto ambiental é, em geral, reportada com poluição apenas; e, ii) os modelos não fornecem cenários não lineares nos indutores, ou seja, o patamar das variáveis não faz diferença no tamanho do impacto gerado. Então, é proposta a aplicação de um modelo logístico ordenado que seja capaz de estimar as probabilidades de diferentes níveis de impacto ambiental, que é medido através do tamanho da Pegada Ecológica dos países. A metodologia proposta, além de contar com uma medida mais ampla e completa de impacto ambiental, também é capaz de fornecer cenários com maior riqueza informativa, pois levam em consideração os níveis das variáveis indutoras. No trabalho, foram avaliados cenários a partir de um modelo que contou com as seguintes variáveis: percentual de população urbana, percentual de população entre 15-64 anos, densidade demográfica, PIB per capita e percentual de área agrícola. Os sinais e magnitudes das variáveis utilizadas são condizentes com o que a literatura vem apresentando. O diferencial da proposta é, de fato, a possiblidade de análise de cenários através de outra perspectiva. O ensaio 3 da tese aplica este modelo estimado para o globo aos municípios gaúchos. A partir da suposição de que os impactos ambientais são homogêneos ao redor do mundo, foi possível estimar as probabilidades de impacto para cada município. Com estes resultados, foi elaborada uma análise regional dos potenciais impactos ambientais dos municípios a partir dos indutores que apresentavam. Trata-se de um exercício interessante quando se considerada a carência de informações ambientais neste nível de desagregação. / This thesis presents three essays on the complex relationship between development and the environment. On the first essay is performed a survey of the main theoretical approaches on this matter with an emphasis on the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) and the weak and strong sustainability concepts. Both approaches points out the economic growth as an important driver of environmental impact. However, the EKC sustains that the pursuit of economic wealth can be responsible for environmental protection as the country reaches a certain level of income which turns the environment into a superior good. On the other hand, the concepts of sustainability do not enforce this conclusion either in relative terms (weak concept) or absolute terms (strong concept); in this scope, the relationship between growth and environment is constantly direct. The multidimensional approaches propose that the relationship between humankind and the ecosystems are established in a way which is impossible to measure through economic growth and environmental degradation. To become closer to this sort of approach it is necessary to consider a wider set of drivers. The essay 2 of this thesis analyses some statistical models that aim to estimate environmental impacts caused by human activity based on a larger number of drivers (production, population, institutions, etc.). These models (IPAT and STIRPAT) present as a major characteristic the ability to estimate the expected environmental impact grounded on the drivers considered. Nevertheless, two important caveats should be considered: i) the impact variable is most of the time just a pollution measure; and, ii) the models do not offer a nonlinear analysis on the drivers, i.e., the level of the drivers does not make any difference in terms of impact. So, we propose an ordered logistic model that is suitable for estimating the probabilities of different levels of environmental impact which is represented by the size of the Environmental Footprint. The proposed methodology, besides counting on a wider and more complete measure of environmental impact, is capable to offer scenarios with a richer degree of information because the level are effectively taken into consideration. The study has evaluated scenarios base on the following drivers: percentage of population in urban areas, percentage of population between 15-64 years old, demographic density, GDP per capita, and the percentage of agricultural land. The signs and magnitudes of the drivers have proven to be the same as those found in the literature. The main difference of this proposal is, in fact, the possibility of analyzing scenarios through a different (wider) perspective. The essay 3 applies the model, which was prior estimated for the globe, to the municipalities of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Based on the assumption that the environmental impact generated by those drivers is homogeneous around the world, it was possible to estimate the probabilities of environmental impact for each municipality and to draw a regional study of these results. It is an interesting exercise if you take into account that there exists a huge lack of information of environmental conditions for municipalities.

Cloud computing is seen as the new IT paradigm and the biggest development of the decade in computing. The term was commercially formed in 2008 but the technology has been used earlier. Modern enterprises rely greatly on information technology and as it is changing, enterprises need to change with it. The view on ICT-strategy is evolving and becoming more incorporated with business strategy. Cloud computing has grown because of its many benefits, however there are drawbacks which hinders the technology from being widely adopted. This makes strategic decisions on whether to adopt cloud services or not difficult. This thesis provides aspects on drivers and barriers concerning adoption, with connection to ICT-strategy and how they affect medium-sized enterprises. As conditions regarding cloud computing are constantly changing this thesis aims to provide new insight on what drives enterprises to adopt cloud computing, as well as what hinders them. This qualitative study has used semi-structured interviews together with scientific articles and books to reach a conclusion of what enterprises face when constructing a successful ICT-strategy.