The overall aim of this study has been to deepen the understanding of the phenomenon ofboy’s school dropout and whether there are other explanations than sociological ones. Thestudy has focused on what students and teachers perceive as factors for success and failure inschool and if there are gender differences. Furthermore,the study has targeted students andteacher's perceptions of pedagogical structure design on teaching and examination forms. Themethod has been mixed; both qualitative and quantitative with an abductive approach -discovery logic and hypothesis testing. The empirical data of the study consists of two parts, aqualitative one with four teacher interviews and a mixed one - both qualitative andquantitative - with 100 student questionnaires. The theory was critical and based on Bernsteinwho stated that school has its own acoustics. This study has confirmed Bernstein’s theory ofpedagogy and his concept of grammar. The result showed that there are biological as well associological explanations related to success or failure in school. The results also showedsignificance in the gender difference between which form of teaching boys and girls prefer,girls prefer more than boys to read and write. According to the interview responses of theteachers the result was that boys are more immature and practical than girls, who are moretheoretical. Boys seem to also have a larger memory while girls think a step further.Furthermore, the results showed that girls struggle more and are better at analyzing, boys putthemselves lower and settle for a passing grade. Boys are not as literate as girls and there is adifference between the sexes.It has also emerged in the study that girls are treated differently.

Dans les modules de puissance à connexion filaire de type wire-bonding (WB), les forts courants commutés (jusqu’à 200A pour une puce de 10x10mm²) imposent de faibles résistances et inductances d’interconnexion pour réduire la chute de tension et les surtensions. Pour cette raison, les concepteurs multiplient les fils de bonding de grand diamètre (jusqu’à 500μm) en parallèle. De plus, quand la surface de puce le permet, les WB sont soudés à au moins deux endroits différents pour améliorer la distribution du courant. A la différence d’un assemblage standard de type WB, dans un module de puissance de type Direct-Lead-Bonding (DLB), la puce et la diode sont généralement brasées d’un côté, via la technique du flip-chip, sur le dissipateur intégré. L’autre face est brasée ou frittée directement sur une broche (ou clip) interne large pour former la maille électrique grâce à une brasure à base d'étain, d’argent et de cuivre (SAC ou Sn-Ag-Cu), très épaisse pour éviter le claquage broche-terminaison de puce. Par conséquent, le DLB peut offrir une surface de contact plus performante sur les plans électrique et thermique que le WB, réduisant ainsi la résistance de contact d’environ 50% selon la bibliographie (d’un facteur dix selon nos simulations électromagnétiques), améliorant la distribution du courant dans les puces et homogénéisant la température au sein du composant. De plus, l’inductance parasite interne peut être atténuée de 57% comparé au WB selon la littérature. Si l’on aborde la dimension sécuritaire, la tenue en surintensité ou I²T d’un module de puissance WB rempli de gel de silicone est faible et procure un effet fusible naturel bien qu’imparfait (mode de défaut circuit-ouvert). Les fils de bonding subissent un phénomène de soulèvement même si leur design n’a pas été pensé dans ce sens. En remplaçant le gel par de la résine époxy, ce comportement se dégrade pour donner un mode de défaut intermédiaire dû à la limitation en température de la résine. A l’inverse, le DLB devrait montrer un très fort I²T et donc, un mode de défaut se rapprochant du court-circuit. Ces travaux proposent une approche innovante sur le thème du design des topologies de conversion sécurisées à tolérance de panne : pourquoi ne pas construire une topologie autour du mode de défaillance intrinsèque d’un module de puissance, au lieu de mettre en place des moyens classiques pour le contrecarrer, i.e. essayer d'isoler systématiquement le défaut avec des fusibles ? Le module de puissance DLB était le candidat idéal pour mettre à l’œuvre notre philosophie. Dans un premier temps, nous avons cherché à comparer les modes de défaillance des deux technologies, WB et DLB, grâce à des essais destructifs d’énergies maîtrisés. Les résistances de défaut, énergies critiques et I²T ont été mesurées sur un banc dédié, de même que des analyses d'endommagements des zones de défaillance ont été réalisées au sein du CNES-THALES Lab de Toulouse par une méthode non intrusive de type Lock-In-Thermography (LIT). Il a été montré que la technologie DLB pouvait présenter une résistance de défaut dix fois plus faible que celle de la technologie WB à même surface de puce et à même énergie de destruction. La présence du clip permet aussi de réduire le gradient thermique dans la région du défaut et de moins contraindre thermiquement l'encapsulant par rapport à la technologie WB. La forte épaisseur du joint de brasure broche – puce garantit aussi une meilleure métallisation par refusion de la zone de perçage et ainsi une résistance de défaut plus faible. Dans un second temps, les modules détruits WB et DLB ont subi des essais d’endurance sur 5 semaines, afin d’éprouver la robustesse et la stabilité de leur résistance de défaut à faible et fort courants. Les résultats montrent clairement la supériorité de la technologie DLB. Par la suite, une campagne de caractérisation thermique (Rth/Zth) des deux technologies WB et DLB a été réalisée sur la base d'un banc développé à cet effet. / In wire-bonding (WB) power-modules, high current commutated by fast power chips (up to 200A on a 10x10mm² chip) implies low resistance and low stray inductance interconnections in order to reduce voltage drop and overvoltage. For this purpose, designers use numerous large-diameter bonding wires (up to 500μm) in parallel. Whenever the die surface is large enough (like IGBTs), bonding wires are soldered at least in two different spots to improve current distribution. Compared to conventional WB structure, inside Direct-Lead-Bonding (DLB) power-modules, chip and diode are generally soldered on one side, using flip-chip method, to the heat spreader. The other side is directly soldered or sintered to the large inner lead (or clip) to form the electrical loop with a thick standard SAC soldering (Sn-Ag-Cu) in order to avoid electrical breakdown between chip and clip. Therefore, DLB would provide a wider bonding area than WB design, reducing the emitter contact resistance by almost 50% in the literature (by a factor of 10 according to our simulation results), improving current uniformity in the chips and thus resulting in a uniform surface temperature distribution inside the device. Besides, DLB internal inductance could be reduced to 57% of wire-bonded modules according to literature. Considering safety aspects, the overcurrent capability of a gel-filled wire-bonding power module is low and provides a natural but imperfect wire-fuse-effect (as an open-failure mode). Lift-offs happen even if WB design is not optimized for it. Replacing the gel with an epoxy resin, this behaviour gets worse and an intermediate failure-mode is reached due to the epoxy temperature limitation. On the opposite, DLB should have a very high overcurrent capability characteristic and thus short-failure mode behaviour. This work offers a quite new approach in the field of fault-tolerant structure design: what if we use the faulty power module in a new way, instead of getting rid of it using classic methods to disconnect it, i.e. systematically isolating the power device using fuses? The DLB power module was the perfect candidate to experience our philosophy. In the first place, a comparison of both technologies has been performed through post-fault-behaviour characterisation using controlled energy failure tests. Post-fault resistances, critical energies and overcurrent capability have been measured on a dedicated test-bench, along with defect localization and analysis through micro-section thanks to the CNES-THALES Lab in Toulouse, using non-intrusive Lock-In Thermography (LIT) method. Failed DLB power-modules have showed post-fault resistances 10 times lower than wire-bonded power-modules with the same die size and the same destruction energy. The clip also reduces temperature gradient around the defect location and thus, releases the resin’s thermal constraints compared to WB technology. The very thick solder joint between clip and chip ensures a better metallic reforming and therefore a less resistive post-fault resistance. In the second place, faulty power modules under low and high destruction energy, both WB and DLB, have been tested during 5 weeks for durability and robustness. Results clearly show DLB supremacy. Then, a long campaign of thermal characterization of both designs (Rth/Zth) has been carried out thanks to another dedicated bench. We have proposed a new heating technique setting the die in its linear mode, which avoids using a high current power supply. We have modelled both designs using COMSOL Multiphysics in order for them to be simulated and compared in terms of thermal resistance and impedance, electrical resistance and inductance. The DLB thermal diffuser effect has been analysed. Thermal resistances are very similar (~0,13°C/W) meanwhile, surprisingly, WB is better than DLB in terms of thermal impedance with a maximum difference of 20% at 0.1s.

Genom denna avhandling undergår vi som speldesigners en dokumenterad process där vi utvecklar ett spel från koncept till funktionell prototyp. Målet är att kunna bygga vidare på våra egna samt andras metoder för utvecklingen av mekaniker som kompletterar övrigt gameplay. Undersökningsområdet för denna process utgörs av hur vi kan framställa en dödsmekanik som passar i kontext till vårt valda spelkoncept och dess förutsättningar. Detta inriktningsområde grundas i vår vilja att skapa dödsmekaniker som upplevs inge betydelsefulla konsekvenser både på spelarkaraktären och spelupplevelsen i sin helhet vilket stämmer överens med konceptets designmål. Genom ett speltest där en testgrupp genomför ett antal kvalitativa prototyptester av dödsmekaniker kan vi sedan jämföra resultaten och etablera slutsatser kring hur väl varje prototyp lyckas uppfylla konceptets designmål och inge tydliga konsekvenser för spelaren som förstärker resterande gameplay. / Through this thesis we as game designers undergo a documented process in which we develop a game from concept to functional prototype. The end goal is to allow us to further our own as well as others’ methodology for the development of mechanics that complement existing gameplay. The field of inquiry for this process consists of how we can establish a death mechanic that fits in context to our chosen game concept and its parameters. This focal point originates from a desire on our part to create death mechanics that strive to instill meaningful consequences affecting the player as well as the game experience itself which correspond with the design goals of the concept. By performing a playtest where a number of qualitative prototypes of death mechanics are carried out by a test group we can compare the results and establish conclusions concerning how well each prototype manages to fulfill the concept’s design goals and convey clear consequences for the player, reinforcing surrounding gameplay.

aLes techniques utilisées pour la réalisation de systèmes électroniques destines au contrôle/commande d'applications critiques sont généralement basées sur le concept de la logique fail-safe conventionnelle. Bien qu'elles aient été largement éprouvées, ces techniques s'avèrent maintenant de plus en plus mal adaptées à la conception de systèmes de plus en plus complexes puisqu'elles font appel à des composants discrets spécifiques. C'est dans ce contexte que cette étude essaie d'évaluer la contribution des circuits intégrés autotestables, et plus spécialement les circuit self-checking (capables de détecter instantanément leurs propres erreurs), à la réalisation de systèmes intégrés à haute sureté de fonctionnement. Les travaux présentés dans cette thèse se proposent d'élargir la théorie des systèmes fail-safe aux circuits intégrés combinatoires. Comme application, nous étudions la faisabilité d'une interface autotestable hors-ligne capable de transformer les données des circuits autotestables en-ligne (self-checking) en signaux surs adaptes au pilotage d'éléments électrons mécaniques. Cette interface autorise la réalisation de circuits Vlsi strongly fail-safe qui sont susceptibles, dans les années à venir, de tenir une place de premier ordre dans le domaine des automatismes intégrés de sécurité. Toutes les considérations pratiques pour la conception de ces circuits sont basées sur des hypothèses de pannes analytiques liées à la technologie utilisée, ici le CMOS

A failure of systemically important bank was up to the present time in most cases avoided through providing financial support by government because there were concerns about destroying the financial stability followed by decline in economic activity because of size, interconnectedness and limited substitutability of the failing bank. However, the implicit governmental guarantees for systemically important banks create many distortions in an economy which are desirable to eliminate. Considering restriction of moral hazard, no increase in systemic risk and preservation of social benefits of G-SIBs the parallel implementation of higher capital requirements and recovery and resolution policy seems to be the most effective measure from proposed regulatory measures for systemically important banks. The future benefits and costs of these measures will be dependent in a high degree on the form and way in which the new rules will be incorporated by governments to their national regulatory frameworks.

O flúor é comprovadamente um agente terapêutico contra a cárie dentária, porém, quando consumido de maneira inadequada pode causar reações indesejáveis, tanto crônicas como agudas. A proteômica é uma ferramenta que permite analisar o perfil proteico completo dos sistemas biológicos, permitindo um melhor entendimento da fisiologia normal do organismo, bem como dos mecanismos de doenças, descoberta de biomarcadores para detecção precoce de doenças, identificação de novas terapias e descobertas de fármacos. Assim, o presente estudo teve como trabalho realizar um estudo proteômico diferencial em amostras de tecido renal de ratos submetidos à intoxicação aguda por fluoreto. Para isso, 27 animais, receberam desde o desmame água deionizada e ração AIN-93 por 50 dias. Ao completarem 75 dias de vida, e, após jejum por 12 horas, os animais receberam via gástrica as seguintes doses agudas de F: 0 (controle), 50 e 100 mgF/Kg peso corporal. Após 2 horas foram, os animais foram anestesiados e tiveram o sangue e os rins coletados. Inicialmente foi realizada a dosagem de flúor no plasma e tecidos renais, após difusão facilitada por hexamethyldisiloxano. Em um segundo momento, as proteínas do tecido renal foram extraídas e submetidas à eletroforese bidimensional. Os géis obtidos foram analisados através do software ImageMaster 2D-platinum v. 7.0. Os spots que se apresentaram diferencialmente expressos foram submetidos à identificação por espectrometria de massas. As proteínas identificadas foram classificadas em 5 categorias funcionais. A categoria metabolismo e energia reuniu a maior parte das proteínas (40%), seguida pelas categorias de transporte e processos celulares com 20% e 13% respectivamente. Na categoria estrutura e organização estrutural, que reúne proteínas com funções relacionadas ao citoesqueleto e membrana celular, foram identificadas 17% das proteínas. Por fim, os 10% restantes das proteínas pertenciam à categoria vias de informação, que abriga proteínas envolvidas nos processos de síntese/degradação de DNA e RNA. Com base nos resultados obtidos pode se concluir que doses agudas de fluoreto alteram a expressão a nível renal de diversas proteínas relacionadas a distintos processos celulares. / Fluoride has been widely used in dentistry as a caries prophylactic agent. However, if consumed in high concentrations, it can cause side effects as dental fluorosis, skeletal fluorosis and, in extreme situations, death. The recent development of proteomic techniques has allowed the analysis of the entire protein profile of biological systems, contributing to the understanding of the normal physiology of the organism, as well as the mechanisms of diseases and the investigation of biomarkers for their early detection, identification of new therapies and drugs. This study used proteomic techniques to analyze the differential protein expression in kidney of rats submitted to acute fluoride treatments. Three groups of five 75-day-old Wistar rats received, by gastric gavage, the following single doses of fluoride: 0 (control), 50 and 100 mgF/Kg body weight. After the treatments, the animals were killed and the left kidney and plasma were collected for fluoride analysis. For proteomic analysis, the right kidney was collected. Fluoride in plasma and renal tissues was analyzed with the electrode, after hexamethyldisiloxanefacilitated diffusion. Proteins from kidney were profiled by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Gels from control and treated groups were digitalized using the ImageScanner III and analyzed with ImageMaster 2D Platinum version 7.0 for statistical differences (ANOVA, p <0.05). The proteins identified were classified into five functional categories. The category of metabolism and energy had the majority of the proteins (40%), followed by the categories of \"transport\" and cell processes, with 20% and 13% of the proteins, respectively. In the category \"structure and cell organization, which brings together proteins with functions related to the cytoskeleton and plasma membrane were identified 17% of the protein. Finally, 10% of the proteins belonged to the category \"information pathways\", which comprises the proteins involved in the processes of synthesis and degradation of DNA and RNA. Based on the results obtained, it can be concluded that acute doses of fluoride alters the expression of several proteins related to different cellular processes in the kidneys.

Thesis advisor: Diana C. Pullin / The introduction of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) in 2002 and the reauthorization of the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in 2004, resulted in numerous changes in the American education system. In particular, the IDEA reauthorization introduced an initiative entitled Response to Intervention (RTI) that has impacted both regular and special education practices and policies. RTI is a regular education initiative that involves a multi-tiered approach to service delivery and is based on student outcomes. The purpose of this qualitative, single case study is to examine and report teachers' perceptions of the RTI implementation process for reading in grades K-3 in a suburban elementary school. Additionally, this research seeks to identify themes that have influenced the success of the RTI model, and to provide a framework for key components for a successful reading RTI implementation process according to teachers. The data sources used in this qualitative study included: focus groups, individual semi-structured interviews, and artifacts. This data was analyzed and compared using constant comparison analysis. According to the teachers and principal, seven themes emerged from the analysis, including: communication, success, professional development, support/materials, challenges, implementation, and leadership. Every participant reported that communication among all members of the school community is essential within an RTI model. Most importantly, teachers expressed the significance of creating a shared vision among staff. Teachers defined successful RTI implementation and their perceptions of reading success in grades K-3. Teachers reported the need for authentic, purposeful, RTI professional development and support/materials to support each tier. The participants reported the challenges that are inherent in RTI implementation and how the model has changed since inception. Participants discussed the role of leadership and the qualities of a leader that promote success. Lastly, recommendations are made for teachers and school leaders who are beginning the RTI implementation process and for public policy officials who create and monitor regulations regarding reading RTI policies and procedures. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2012. / Submitted to: Boston College. Lynch School of Education. / Discipline: Educational Administration and Higher Education.

O custo elevado da crise financeira do subprime, que assolou a economia norte-americana nos últimos anos e provocou a intervenção estatal no salvamento de diversas Instituições Financeiras consideradas Grandes Demais para Falir, abriu espaço para o crescimento dos títulos Condicionalmente Conversíveis (CoCos). Trata-se de títulos que injetam capital automaticamente no balanço do banco sempre que o nível de capital fique abaixo de determinado parâmetro pré-estabelecido – chamado de gatilho – pela conversão da dívida em capital e com termos de conversão já estabelecidos em contrato. Essa é uma inovação do mercado que entrou no arcabouço de Basileia III e poderá exercer um importante papel na prevenção ao risco moral, uma vez que tais instrumentos permitem a divisão dos riscos entre o banco emissor do título e o investidor, retirando eventuais encargos dos recursos públicos de ter que salvar grandes empresas insolventes. Espera-se, assim, reduzir ou até mesmo eliminar o problema da existência de companhias Grandes Demais para Falir. Mas o mercado de CoCos, que são títulos híbridos, terá de se tornar mais líquido – de forma a atrair mais investidores – e buscar um caminho em torno da padronização nas emissões ao eliminar, principalmente, incertezas relacionadas ao nível do gatilho e aos termos de conversão. / The high cost of the 2007-08 subprime financial crisis that led to state intervention with the rescue of several financial institutions considered too big to fail made room for the growth of the contingent convertible bonds (CoCos). These securities automatically inject capital in the bank’s balance sheet when its capital level is below certain pre-set ratio (trigger), by converting debt into equity. Both trigger and conversion terms are established by contracts. This is a market innovation that has entered the Basel III framework and can play an important role in preventing moral hazard, since such instruments allow risk sharing between the issuing bank and CoCos investors, preventing government bailouts. CoCos are expected to reduce or even eliminate the existence of too big to fail companies. But these hybrids must provide more liquid markets – in order to attract more investors – and seek contracts standardization by eliminating mainly uncertainties related to the trigger level and conversion terms.

Identifying the detrimental effect of environmental factors and subsystem interactions are one of themost challenging aspects of early hazard assessment in the design of complex safety critical systems.Therefore, a complete understanding of potential failure effects before the catastrophe happens is a verydifficult task. The thesis proposes a model-based hazard analysis procedure for early identification ofpotential safety issues caused by unexpected environmental factors and subsystem interactions within acomplex safety critical system. The proposed methodology maps hazard and vulnerability modes tospecific components in the system and analyzes the hazard propagation paths for risk control andprotection strategies. The main advantage of the proposed method is the ability to provide the designerswith means to use low-fidelity, high level models to identify hazardous interactions. Using thistechnique, designers can examine the collective impacts of environmental and subsystem risks onoverall system during early stages of design and develop a hazard mitigation strategy.

Sammanfattning Examensarbete i företagsekonomi, Internationella handelshögskolan i Jönköping, Revision, Magisteruppsats, VT 2011. Författare: Caroline Lillevang &amp; Anna Norrsell Karlsson Handledare: Gunnar Rimmel &amp; Fredrika Askenmalm Titel: Oligopolets fall? – En analys av EU kommissionens förslag till att lösa upp revisions- och rådgivnings-branschens marknadskoncentration Bakgrund och Problem: Enligt den utgivna Grönboken är det nödvändigt för den finansiella stabiliteten att re-visions- och rådgivningsbranschen och dess marknadsstruktur utvecklas. EU kommissionen vill lösa upp mark-nadskoncentrationen och diskuterar bland annat ett införande av krav på gemensam revision för större bolag samt krav på byrårotation. Syfte: Syftet med studien är att undersöka huruvida Grönbokens förslag är rätt väg att gå för att uppfylla EU kommissionens önskan om att förändra revisions- och rådgivningsbranschens marknadsstruktur. Avgränsningar: Studien berör EU kommissionens Grönbok Revisionspolitik: Lärdomar från krisen. Avgräns-ningar är gjorda till frågor rörande den omdiskuterade marknadskoncentrationen inom revisions- och rådgiv-ningsbranschen med fokus på frågorna gällande förslag om gemensam revision samt byrårotation. Studien har även valts att avgränsas till hur Sveriges sex största revisionsbyråer ställer sig till EU kommissionens framtagna förslag i den utgivna Grönboken. Metod: Studien har ett kvalitativt angreppssätt och primär data har samlats in genom personliga intervjuer. Resultat och slutsatser: Författarna finner att EU kommissionens förslag inte kommer ge det utfall som ämnas uppnå. Vidare anser marknadens aktörer att ett utvidgande av lagen inte är rätt väg att gå för att lösa upp den rå-dande marknadskoncentrationen, utan anser att fokus bör läggas på att minska existerande etableringshinder och därigenom låta marknadsekonomin själv styra. Förslag till vidare forskning: I november år 2011 kommer uppföljningsåtgärder att presenteras av EU kommis-sionen och om förslagen rörande obligatorisk byrårotation samt gemensam revision införs kan intressant forsk-ning göras kring de faktiska utfallen. Vidare förslag på fortsatt forskning är att utifrån intressenters perspektiv undersöka behovet av att lösa upp marknadskoncentrationen samt hur de ser på de givna förslagen. I april 2010 presenterades ytterligare en Grönbok inom bolagsstyrning, vilken hotar den väl fungerande bolagsstyrningen i Sverige. Något som gör den Grönboken intressant att studera är att frågor rörande aktieägarnas delaktighet är centrala, vilket också diskuterats i den aktuella studien.Nyckelord: Marknadskoncentration, ”too big to fail”, byrårotation &amp; gemensam revision.