Fisher’s adaptive sex ratio theory predicts that organisms should invest equally in sons and daughters and the sex ratio at conception should be 1:1. Hamilton’s theory predicts that organisms should adjust sex ratios based on the relative strength of competition within a mating group. Testing sex ratio and sex allocation theories requires variation in sex ratio. Different sex allocation and sex allocation adjustment mechanisms can produce skewed sex ratios. I used Tigriopus californicus, a harpacticoid copepod with extrabinomial variation in sex ratios, to test sex ratio evolution and socially-mediated sex determination. Using artificially selected sex-biased populations, the trajectory of population sex ratios were as expected under Fisher’s theory and sex ratios approached/reached 0.5 proportion males. Populations with overlapping generations had a slower rate of change towards 0.5 than populations with non-overlapping generations. I show that these data are supported by multiple different models: a mechanistic and simulation model. I tested socially-mediated sex determination using seawater conditioned with different local sex ratios of copepods. There were detectable effects found in both wild populations and isofemale lines. However, these effects may be trivial as differences were small between treatments. Sex determination in T. californicus is a complex mechanism, with multiple genetic and environmental components. The complex nature of sex determination in T. californicus and the dynamic nature of their habitat in highly ephemeral splash pools provide a possible explanation for the non-Fisherian sex ratios we see. / Graduate

This thesis is an ethnographic study of the soap opera viewing patterns and interpretations of Zulu-speaking students living in residences on the Natal University's Durban campus who watch The Bold and the Beautiful (an American soap opera) and Generations (a South African soap opera). It presents an analysis of how the viewing practices of the students compare with the findings of soap opera audience studies conducted abroad. The students' motivations and reasons for watching both soap operas are investigated. The reason for choosing black students as subjects is that I wanted to determine how a soap opera (Generations) which is comprised largely of black cast members and designed with a young black audience in mind, is interpreted and impacts on the lives of said audience, when compared with an American soap opera (The Bold and the Beautiful) which has an almost exclusively white American cast, and is popular with young black viewers in spite of the fact that it appears on the surface to be unrelated to their everyday lives. Individual one-on-one interviews were conducted with 40 students, 20 male and 20 female. The interviews were analysed to gauge how the viewing behaviour of the students differs from, or is similar to, soap opera studies conducted elsewhere in the world. It emerged that the students watch in groups and not alone, and that watching Generations and The Bold and the Beautiful is a social activity, not motivated from loneliness or isolation. The ways in which the students relate to the characters and situations of both soap operas is also examined, in an attempt to establish the role that these two shows play in the creation of the students' identities. The students displayed a tendency to be more critical of Generations than of The Bold and the Beautiful in the sense that they compared it (unfavourably) in terms of quality of production, to its American counterpart, as well as in the sense that they analysed storylines in terms of their own lived experiences and were quick to criticise Generations when they felt that it did not conform to their notions of the reality of being a black South African. They accepted situations and characters on The Bold and the Beautiful far less critically, although they did voice objections to certain characters and situations which they felt were morally questionable in terms of their understanding of right and wrong. It also became apparent that there was a greater emotional involvement with the characters on The Bold and the Beautiful than with those on Generations. The students interpretations of (and level of involvement with) situations, characters and storylines are examined, as well as the ways in which they derive pleasure from both soaps and incorporate them into their own lives. In summary, this thesis examines the consumption of an American and a South African soap opera by a black South African audience . / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2002.

This research examined the representation of homosexual men in soap opera Generations. It reveals that while homosexual characters have been incorporated in the locally produced soap opera Generations, the representation of such characters is revealed as 'other’. This dissertation argued that the representation of homosexual men in soap opera Generations are categorized negatively often being seen to be morally degenerate consequently; the inclusion of homosexual men in Generations is often associated with negative stereotypes. This study argues that homosexual men in Generations are often represented as having problems to be solved. This include homosexual men being faced with secrecy, shame, guilt, homosexual violence, rejection and other negative stereotypes as represented in soap opera Generations. The research highlights the social constructions and gender stereotypes in mainstream media television which consider homosexuality as abnormal, unnatural and sickness. The secrecy of homosexuality implied by mainstream media television representation makes homosexuality to appear as something concealed and related to shame and regret. In addition, the dissertation also looks in-depth into categories of negative stereotypes where being a gay primarily realizes on the rigid gender schemas exploited by the mainstream media television to represent homosexual men as not men enough which appeared as natural rather than socially constructed. This study‟s theoretical frame work brought together the concepts of different area of enquiry such as negative representation of homosexuality, homophobia, secrecy, guilt, shame while using discourse analysis. The major areas addressing the coding includes the representation of homosexuality in the text, soap operas' (Generations) representation of homosexual men and the specific themes and objectives guiding each selected episode of Generations. / Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)-Unversity of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2012.

Magistro darbe nagrinėjamas šiuo metu vienas moderniausių rizikos matų – rizikos vertė (angl.Value-at-risk) Analizuojami trys pagrindiniai VaR rodiklio skaičiavimo metodai: variacijos/kovariacijos, istorinio modeliavimo ir Monte Karlo simuliacijos keliamų prielaidų, sudėtingumo ir adekvatumo požiūriais. Visų trijų metodų pagalba dabartinėmis rinkos sąlygomis atliekami empiriniai tyrimai, siekiant įvertinti rizikos vertes valiutų ir akcijų rinkose, atlikta gautų rizikos verčių palyginamoji analizė bei patikrintas naudotų metodų tikslumas. Autorės suformuluota hipotezė, kad VaR rodiklio skaičiavimo metodai nėra tinkami naudoti pereinamuoju laikotarpiu kuomet ekonominė aplinka ir padėtis nėra stabili iš dalies patvirtinta, nes atliktų tyrimų rezultatai atmetė tik variacijos/kovariacijos bei istorinio modeliavimo metodų tinkamumą. / In this master‘s work analyzed one of the modern risk measurements – Value-at-Risk (VaR). The paper examined three main VaR calculation methods: variance/covariance, historical simulation and Monte Carlo generations satisfying in the terms of the assumptions, adequacy and complexity. For all three methods was carried out empirical studies to assess the risk of currency and stock markets, made comparative analysis of the obtained risk values and verified accuracy of used methods in the current market conditions. The authors formulated the hypothesis that the VaR indicator calculation methods are not suitable for use during the transitional period when the economic environment and situation is not stable partially confirmed because the results of tests performed to reject just the variance / covariance and historical simulation methods.

Hur ser ungdomar på framtiden? Vilka drömmar finns och hur ska de förverkligas? Med denna undersökning vill jag ta reda på vilka värderingar ungdomar har idag. För att finna svar har sextio ungdomar deltagit i en enkätundersökning. Av dessa ungdomar har jag valt att intervjua sex personer med olika värderingar. Ronald Ingleharts teori om materialism/postmaterialism har använts som analysinstrument. Jag har också jämfört mina slutsatser med liknande undersökningar. Huvudresultatet av denna studie är att ungdomar har en stark framtidstro när det gäller den egna personen. I större sammanhang är de mer pessimistiska. Ungdomar upplever att den individuella prestationen är helt avgörande för den egna framgången, de känner också oro över ett eventuellt misslyckande. Undersökningen visar också att det finns både materialistiska och postmaterialistiska värderingar i den unga generationen.

Angesichts der pluralen und heterogenen Angebotslandschaft intergenerationalen Lernens fragt diese Dissertation, über welche pädagogischen Handlungen, Interaktionen und Steuerungseinflüsse sich intergenerationale Lernkulturen konstituieren, vor dem Hintergrund welcher gesellschaftlicher Tendenzen bestimmte Handlungen und Steuerungseinflüsse relevant werden und welche Ausdrucksformen von intergenerationaler Erwachsenenbildung dabei entstehen. Im theoretischen Pfeiler widmet sich diese Arbeit dem intergenerationalen Lernen auf mehreren Ebenen. Aufgrund der bestehenden Vielfalt und Komplexität an begrifflichen Rahmungen, gesellschaftlichen Hintergrundentwicklungen sowie theoretischen Konstruktionen werden intergenerationale Lernkulturen auf einer begrifflichen, gesellschaftswissenschaftlichen, theoretisch konstituierenden und institutionell systematisierenden Ebene beschrieben und definiert. Auf der Basis der dort vorgenommenen begrifflichen Abgrenzungen und Systematisierungen kann der Begriff sowie die Erscheinungsformen intergenerationaler Lernkulturen eingegrenzt und weitergehend empirisch untersucht werden. Dazu wird im empirischen Pfeiler der Arbeit eine zweistufige triangulative Explorationsstudie angesetzt, die durch eine Programmanalyse und Experteninterviews gekennzeichnet ist. Das Untersuchungsfeld verortet sich dabei auf der Mesoebene erwachsenendidaktischen Handelns und ist durch Interferenzen zwischen der makro- und mesodidaktischen Handlungs- und Interaktionsebene (Zeuner, 2009) gekennzeichnet. Aus den Befunden der Untersuchung lässt sich schlussfolgern, dass dichotome Adressat/-innenbeschreibungen, Begegnungs- anstatt Lernprozesse und wirtschaftliche anstatt pädagogische Orientierungen bei den Programmplanenden intergenerationaler Programme handlungsleitend für ihre Planungsarbeit sind. Es zeigt sich darüber hinaus, dass intergenerationale Lernkulturen einen sehr geringen Professionalisierungsgrad aufweisen und dass der gesellschaftliche Bedarf intergenerationalen Lernens in symbolischen Generationenbeziehungen instrumentalisiert wird. Die Relevanz der Studie liegt damit insbesondere in einem bildungswissenschaftlichen Beitrag zu einer Generationentheorie für die Erwachsenenbildung, einer theoretischen Konturierung des Intergenerationalitätkonzepts, unter Bezug auf eine erwachsenenpädagogische Generationentheorie, einem Beitrag zur Programm- und Planungsforschung sowie in dem empirischen perspektivverschränkenden Beitrag zur Professionalisierungsforschung innerhalb beigeordneter Bildungsangebote. / Seeing the diverse and plural programs in the field of intergenerational learning, it is interesting to find out about the pedagogical and didactic actions and interactions as well as the influences of governance and regulation in intergenerational learning cultures. In the theoretical part of this thesis intergenerational learning is described and defined on the level of conceptual and socioscientific approaches, theoretical constitutions and institutional systematisation. Based on the proposed conceptual differentiations, the empirical investigations will elucidate the field of intergenerational learning. As a result the empirical work focuses on a triangulative study combining a program analysis with theory generating expert interviews. The case of study is positioned in the mesodidactic level and is characterised by interferences between makro- and mesodidactic level of action and interaction (Zeuner, 2009). The theoretical and empirical findings present patterns of intergenerational learning cultures that show an unspecific and dichotomous description of the intended audience. The findings also show that typically intergenerational encounters are more prominent than intended and critically reflected learning processes. Moreover, economic interests overbalance pedagogical interest. Consequently, intergenerational learning is interpreted as a rather low professionalised exploited field of continuing education, where generational encounters are supposed to be pedagogical.

過去國外的實證研究結果指出，民眾在退休後的消費支出會有減少的現象，文獻稱此現象為 “退休消費的難題 （Retirement Consumption Puzzle）”。本研究主要目的在於探討不同世代是否在退休消費難題的程度上有所差異。研究結果顯示，臺灣民眾在退休後，家戶的消費並未有顯著的減少現象，但對不同世代戶長退休後的家戶消費行為進行分析，本研究發現相較於20年代的家戶，40年代的退休家戶其退休後的消費有顯著減少現象，可能的原因在於年輕世代面臨人口平均餘命增加所產生的長壽風險，而人口結構老化使得過去養兒防老的觀念式微，以及年輕世代對未來退休金制度產生疑慮，使得年輕世代家戶退休後的消費有顯著下降的現象，此結論顯示不同世代在退休後的消費行為確有顯著差異。 / The world is facing the dual effect of life expectancy and declining fertility, this phenomenon will enable society and individuals exposed to the longevity risk. In this study, we use “The Survey of Family Income and Expenditure” from Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics, Executive Yuan, R.O.C.（Taiwan）. The results show that there is a decline in the expenditure of food after retirement, and younger generations decline less than elder generation obviously. There are also declines in work-related expenditures, including clothing, transportations and communication. It means that retired-consumption puzzle is not obvious to younger generations. While the consumption of home management, recreation and education do not drop after retirement, showing leisure time increase and also increase those consumption. Health and medical expense is related to the age and health status, not to the status of work. Total consumption expenditure is no significant correlation with retirement. Finally, there is a trend of younger generation consumption increase. Comparing, it may have retirement plan to support the increasing consumption.

Norges Handelshøyskole, Diss.--Bergen, 2007. / Enth. 4 Beitr.

Universiẗat, Diss.--Würzburg, 2007.

Univ., Diss--Bielefeld, 2007.