Arctic ecosystems are vulnerable to human-induced changes such as increases in contaminant levels and climatic warming. To predict effects of these changes, it is important to understand trophic relationships among Arctic organisms and how they change in response to time and environmental perturbations. Seabird diet can reflect relative availability and abundance of planktivorous fish and zooplankton in remote areas. The measurement of naturally occurring stable isotopes presents an alternative approach to evaluating dietary patterns of seabirds at both an individual level and at a larger, ecosystem level. Relative changes in δ13C values provided an indication of changes in consumption of benthic vs. pelagic prey and changes in δ15N values provided an indication of changes in trophic level.<p>I investigated trophic positions of four seabirds (Thick-billed Murres (<i>Uria lomvia</i>); Northern Fulmars (<i>Fulmarus glacialis</i>); Black-legged Kittiwakes (<i>Rissa tridactyla</i>); and Glaucous Gulls (<i>Larus hyperboreus</i>)) at Prince Leopold Island, Nunavut, 1988 2003, using my own and previously measured stable isotope measurements in blood samples. Trophic level and space use among years differed within and among species and may be related to ice conditions and species-specific foraging strategies. The species with the most flexible foraging methods, Thick-billed Murres, varied their foraging location and trophic level the most. In 2002, fewer chicks than average for all species were fledged and Thick-billed Murre chicks were lighter than in other years; however, only murres showed a concurrent decrease in the proportion of fish in their diet. Adult body condition of murres in 2002 was positively correlated with trophic level. Breeding season dietary patterns of Thick-billed Murre adults and chicks were examined on Coats Island, Nunavut, Canada, in 2004. Adult trophic level increased slightly through the breeding season and δ13C values indicated a switch from benthic to pelagic foraging locations. Chick and adult murres did not differ in either δ15N or δ13C values; however, within a family (two parents, one chick), chicks were fed at or slightly below adult trophic level. I found little variation in stable isotope values which suggests adult murres did not preferentially select prey for either themselves or their chicks. <p>Finally, stable isotope analysis was used to investigate winter foraging ecology of three species of alcids (Thick-billed Murres; Common Murres (<i>U. aalge</i>) and Razorbills (<i>Alca torda</i>)), off Newfoundland, Canada, 1996 2004. Thick-billed Murres fed at a higher trophic level than Common Murres. Razorbill δ15N values were highly variable and overlapped those of both murre species. I found no significant differences in δ13C values among the three species confirming a common spatial feeding pattern. Both murre species became depleted in 13C during winter suggesting foraging location or prey species shifted from nearshore to offshore. For Common Murres, hatching-year individuals fed at a higher trophic level and foraged farther offshore than after-hatch year birds. For Thick-billed Murres, I contrasted trophic level determined for the breeding colony at Prince Leopold Island with those determined for winter over four years and found considerable inter-annual variation in patterns of seasonal difference in trophic level. However, the proportion of lower trophic level (amphipod) vs. higher trophic level (fish) prey was generally greater in the winter than the summer.

The purpose of this study was to identify educators' beliefs indicating the most preferred support for students with disabilities in the general education classroom setting. This study examined professional educators' attitudes regarding four student supports (motivation, accommodations/modifications, academic improvements, and social issues) for students with disabilities in the inclusive classroom. In addition, the goals of this study included public school educators' attitudes toward the aforementioned four areas of support, specifically within three student ethnic groups (Hispanic, African American, and Whites). The final goal of the study was to compare the attitudes of each of the organizational roles (administrators, general education teachers, special education teachers, and others) regarding motivation, accommodations/modifications, academic improvements, and social issues of students with disabilities participating in general education inclusive classrooms. The findings from this research indicate: 1. Educators perceive accommodations/modifications to be the most beneficial support to offer all students with disabilities in the general education inclusive classroom. 2. Educators perceive accommodations/modifications to be the most beneficial support to offer all students with disabilities in the general education inclusive classroom, regardless of ethnic origin. The results of this study reveal no difference in educators' attitudes within the three student ethnic groups. 3. Administrators, general education teachers, and the organizational role of other professionals in the school believe the primary focus for student support in the inclusive classroom should be on incorporating appropriate accommodations/modifications. 4. Special education teachers perceive academic improvements (differentiated instruction) as their first preference of student support for children with disabilities in the inclusive classroom. The overall findings in this study clearly reveal a pattern of educators' preferences regarding the four student supports for students in special education programs. Accommodations/modifications is the first focus of support for educators to implement, followed by academic improvements (differentiated instruction). The pattern continues with educators indicating motivation to be the third student support and social issues to be the fourth preference.

Traditional studies of ethnic relations focus on racialization between Whites and Blacks, or ethnic stratification between Whites and people of color. The increasingly integrated world has ensured continued movements of humans and goods and the inevitable contacts between people of different cultural background. This dissertation aims at broadening conventional studies of interethnic relations to examine racial attitudes among people who have internalized more than one culture -- i.e. the biculturals and multiculturals. Social psychological research suggests that bicultural individuals are capable of switching between two cultural meaning frames depending on contextual demands. Bicultural individuals vary in how well they integrate the two cultural identities internalized in them -- i.e., their bicultural identity integration levels (BII levels). Their BII levels lead to either culturally congruent or culturally incongruent behaviors among bicultural individuals. The underlying assumption of linguistic intergroup bias indicates that people tend to describe more abstractly observed positive ingroup behaviors and negative outgroup behaviors and describe more concretely observed negative ingroup behaviors and positive outgroup behaviors. In this study, bicultural Asian American participants are hypothesized to use language of either higher or lower abstraction to describe actions of positive and negative valence performed by either ethnic Asians or European Americans depending on the cultural priming they received and their BII levels. The study results point out the perceived ingroup/outgroup orientation of the bicultural participants towards their coethnics and people of the mainstream culture. Effects of the cultural priming and impact of BII levels are also discussed. / text

This professional report explores the unique health needs of homeless individuals, how homeless individuals access medical and mental health services, and the impact that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) may have on medical services for homeless individuals. Homeless individuals are more likely to experience physical and mental health problems and earlier mortality rates than the general population. Common access points for homeless medical services include clinics, such as Community Health Centers, and emergency care centers, such as hospital emergency rooms. Homeless individuals often face barriers of access to medical services, including competing priorities to sustain life, strained relationships with medical providers, and an inability to pay for high health care costs. Through the expansion of Medicaid and the Community Health Center network, the ACA has the potential to increase access to medical services for homeless individuals. This report concludes by offering recommendations to ensure that homeless individuals benefit from health care reform through the ACA. / text

FIZINĘ NEGALIĄ TURINČIŲ ŽMONIŲ GYVENIMO PRASMĖS PATYRIMAS Situacijoje, kai žmogaus fizinės galios yra reikšmingai apribotos, vieninteliai tikri pagalbos resursai gali būti dvasiniai. Būtent tai, kas nepaisant praradimų padeda žmogui jausti pasitenkinimą gyvenimu ir savimi, kame jis įžvelgia stiprybės ir atspirties šaltinius, kas jo gyvenimą, nepaisant praradimų, daro vertingu, tai, ko negalia neatėmė ir negalės atimti – gyvenimo prasmės šaltiniai. Šiame darbe siekiame geriau suprasti žmonių, patyrusių fizinę negalią išgyvenimus, giliau panagrinėti jų subjektyvų gyvenimo prasmės patyrimą. Tam tikslui taikėme fenomenologinį analizės metodą pagal R. H. Hycner’į. Tyrimo dalyviai yra tikslinės atrankos principu atrinkti keturi vyrai ir keturios moterys, kurių amžius svyruoja nuo 29 iki 57 metų, patyrę sunkią fizinę negalią ilgiau nei prieš metus ir sutikę dalyvauti mūsų tyrime. Remiantis gautais rezultatais, galime teigti, kad beveik visi tyrime dalyvavę žmonės gyvenimą su negalia laiko kokybiškai skirtingu nuo prieš tai buvusio: jis siejasi su veiklos galimybių, o kai kuriems tyrimo dalyviams labiausiai vertinamų, apribojimu, bejėgiškumo, priklausomybės, pažeidžiamumo, vidinės dezorganizacijos ir mirties grėsmės išgyvenimais. Gyvenimo su negalia prasmės patyrimas, kaip jis atsispindi mūsų tyrimo dalyvių pasakojimuose, pasireiškia sveikatos ir rūpinimosi ja svarbos suvokimu, vertinant sveikatos atkūrimą ir išlaikymą kaip vieną prasmingiausių užsiėmimų; įvertinimu to, ką asmuo yra... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / THE MEANING OF LIFE AS EXPERIENCED BY INDIVIDUALS WITH A PHYSICAL DISABILITY When one’s physical abilities are considerably restricted, one’s spirit becomes the sole source of support. That which makes life fulfilling and worthwhile despite one’s losses, that which serves as a source of strength and resilience, that which disability can never take away, - all this is precisely what gives life its meaning. This paper seeks to attain greater insight into the experiences of the physically disabled. It also aims to analyse their subjective understanding of what makes life meaningful. In order to achieve these purposes, we have employed the method of phenomenological analysis devised by R. H. Hycner. The participants, four men and four women aged 29-57, were selected by means of objective sampling and agreed to take part in the stidy. All of them have experienced severe physical disability for at least a year. The results allow us to maintain that almost all the participants consider life to be qualitatively different for a disabled person, as opposed to a non-disabled one: namely, one’s ability to take part in various activities is compromised (for some, these are precisely the activities they used to treasure most), and, what is more, one becomes prone to feelings of helplessness, dependency, vulnerability, inner disaragement and fear of death. The interviews conducted with our participants illustrate that, for the physically disabled, a meaningful life entails understanding the... [to full text]

Huntingtons sjukdom är en ärftlig degenerativ sjukdom som förekommer hos 800-1000 personer i Sverige. Tidigare forskning visar på bristfällig kunskap om sjukdomen hos vårdpersonal vilket innebär ett stort lidande för de drabbade. För att skapa en djupare kunskap krävs att vårdpersonal lyssnar till personers upplevelser. Syftet med studien var att belysa personers upplevelse av att leva med Huntingtons sjukdom. För att få en överblick av forskningsläget genomfördes en systematisk sökordsbaserad litteraturstudie. Totalt elva artiklar granskades och kodades. Resultatet presenteras i tre huvudrubriker: upplevelser i relation till sjukdomen, upplevelser i relation till vården och upplevelser i relation till livet. Resultatet visade att lidande var centralt i samtliga upplevelser. Resultatet diskuteras mot bakgrund av Katie Erikssons lidandeteori. Avslutningsvis belyses betydelsen av fördjupad kunskap från vårdpersonal för att minska vårdlidandet och därmed minska livslidandet. Ytterligare forskning inom ämnet krävs för att vårdpersonal ska kunna bemöta personer med Huntingtons sjukdom på bästa möjliga sätt. / Huntington’s disease (HD) is a genetic degenerative disease affecting 800-1000 persons in Sweden. Previous research indicate that lack of knowledge about the disease among health care professionals adds to the suffering of persons with HD. Knowledge about the experiences of people living with the disease is required to improve the care. The aim of this study was to examine peoples´ experiences of living with Huntington’s disease. In order to get insights on the actual situation a systematic literature review was conducted. A total sample of eleven articles was reviewed and coded, resulting in three main themes: Experiences regarding the disease, Experiences regarding care and Experiences regarding life. The result showed that suffering was key to understanding the experience of living with the disease. The result of this study is discussed with reference to Katie Eriksson’s theory of suffering. Further research is required in order to improve the care for people with HD. By listening to the experiences of people affected by HD, health care professionals can learn how to create the best encounter possible and thus relieve some aspects of suffering.

The lack of research of the identity phenomenon in Lithuania that open up the opportunities to look into the problem of physical, social, psychological and spiritual nature from a holistic perspective, the problem being alcohol dependence and convalescence, hinders the identification of the preconditions of the identity (re)construction processes. The aim of this thesis is to devise a grounded theory on the peculiarities of (re)construction of identity of alcohol-dependent individuals during a period of abstinence. To this effect, the version of the grounded theory method by K. Charmaz employed in the thesis is combined with the following theoretical research preconditions: the fundamentals of the theory of social constructionism by P. Berger and T. Luckmann, A. Giddens’ concept of the reflexive self, E. Goffman’s concept of stigma and H. Hermans’ concept of the dialogical identity. Two underlying components of the identity construct of alcohol-dependant individuals who live in abstinence emerge in the devised grounded theory: (a) the dual axis of the identity reconstructed in the story and (b) the dimensions that describe it: temporality, self-image, embodiment, value/spiritual dimension, social dimension and dilemma of free will. In the stories the duality of identity, which marks the social dimension of identity construction and which is an important precondition for the (re)construction of identity in abstinence, manifests itself in the dialogue of dependent “self” and... [to full text] / Tapatumo fenomeno tyrimų, atveriančių galimybes iš holistinės perspektyvos pažvelgti į fizinio, socialinio, psichologinio ir dvasinio pobūdžio problemą – priklausomybės nuo alkoholio vystymąsi ir sveikimą – stoka Lietuvoje apsunkina prielaidų apie šių asmenų tapatumo (at)kūrimo procesus identifikavimą. Disertacijos tikslas – sukurti grindžiamąją teoriją apie priklausomų nuo alkoholio asmenų tapatumo (re)konstravimo ypatumus blaivybės periodu. Tam pasitelkta K. Charmaz grindžiamosios metodologijos versija derinama su teorinėmis darbo prielaidomis – P. Berger ir T. Luckmann socialinio konstrukcionizmo teorijos nuostatomis, A. Giddens refleksyvaus tapatumo E. Goffman stigmos ir H. Hermans dialoginio tapatumo koncepcijomis. Sukurtoje grindžiamojoje teorijoje išryškėja du pamatiniai nuo alkoholio priklausomų, bet blaivybėje gyvenančių asmenų, tapatumo konstrukto komponentai: (a) duali pasakojime rekonstruojamo tapatumo ašis ir (b) ją apibūdinantys matmenys: laikiškumas, savivaizdis, įkūnytumas, vertybių/dvasinis matmuo, socialinis matmuo ir laisvos valios dilema. Pasakojimuose tapatumo dualumas, kuris žymi tapatumo konstravimo socialinį matmenį ir yra svarbi prielaida tapatumui (at)kurti blaivybėje, reiškiasi priklausomo „aš“ ir blaiviojo „aš“ dialogu, taip integruojant gyvenimo pokyčius iki blaivybės periodo ir po jo. Siekiant tapatumo vientisumo ir integralumo, dualiam tapatumo konstruktui suteikiamos vertybinės gairės ir iškeliami socialiai pageidaujami tikslai, kompensuojamas... [toliau žr. visą tekstą]

Why do ordinary individuals participate in mass violence perpetrated against civilians? That is the question I will attempt to answer in the following paper. I consider these men ordinary to the extent that the majority was not socially deviant. Looking at the case of Nazi Germany, two groups stand out as good case studies: the SS Einsatzgruppen and the SS cadres in the Death camps. The following analysis will focus on the motivations of these men to commit mass murder. I argue for a causal sequence of action, beginning with the onset of Nazi ideology, further followed by the dehumanization of the victim and the brutalization of the perpetrator. I will demonstrate how the ideology present during German interwar society influenced these men into participation. Dehumanization and brutalization are complimentary factors that push these men into action.

O objetivo desse estudo foi verificar o efeito de diferentes volumes de treinamento de força na força máxima de membros inferiores e na hipertrofia do reto femoral e do vasto lateral após quatro, oito e doze semanas em indivíduos treinados em força. Vinte e seis indivíduos jovens saudáveis do sexo masculino (idade 23,6 ± 4,6 anos, massa corporal 76,6 ± 7,5 kg, estatura 1,75 ± 0,1 cm), com tempo médio de treinamento de força (4,7 ± 4,1 anos) foram divididos em três grupos experimentais, treinamento de força alto volume (TFAV, n = 8), treinamento de força médio volume (TFMV, n = 9) e treinamento de força baixo volume (TFBV, n = 9). As medidas de força dinâmica máxima (1RM) e de área de secção transversa muscular (ASTM) do reto femoral (RF) e do vasto lateral (VL) foram realizadas nos momentos pré- treinamento, pós quatro semanas, pós oito semanas e pós-treinamento. O volume total de treinamento apresentou aumento estatístico para todos os grupos TFAV (p < 0,0001), TFMV (p < 0,0001) e TFBV (p < 0,0001) ao longo do período experimental. Os valores de 1RM aumentaram de maneira significativa após a oitava semana de treinamento TFAV (11,8 ± 4,7%; p < 0,0001) e TFMV (12,1 ± 8,5%; p < 0,0001) e TFBV (9,6 ± 7,3%; p < 0,001) e no pós-treinamento TFAV (13,9 ± 3,9%; p < 0,0001), TFMV (16,7 ± 10,8%; p < 0,0001) e TFBV (14,0 ± 8,1%; p < 0,0001) para todos os grupos, porém não foi observado diferença entre os grupos. A ASTM do RF apresentou aumento estatístico no pós-treinamento somente para o grupo TFAV (15,0 ± 11,9%; p < 0,0001). Apenas o grupo TFAV aumentou estatisticamente a ASTM do VL após quatro semanas de treinamento (7,71 ± 4,42%; p < 0,0001), porém todos os grupos aumentaram significativamente a ASTM do VL após oito semanas de treinamento TFAV (11,37 ± 3,88%; p < 0,0001), TFMV (9,68 ± 9,36%; p < 0,0001) e TFBV (7,26 ± 3,15%; p < 0,01) e no pós-treinamento TFAV (14,54 ± 4,07%; p < 0,0001), TFMV (14,77 ± 8,24%; p < 0,0001) e TFBV (8,66 ± 3,97%; p < 0,001), porém não foi observado diferença entre os grupos. Os resultados do presente estudo demonstraram que, independente do volume adotado, os ganhos de força máxima foram semelhantes. Por outro lado, a ASTM foi influenciada pelo volume de treinamento, dado que o grupo TFAV foi o único que apresentou aumento significativo da ASTM do RF no pós-treinamento e aumentou a ASTM do VL com apenas quatro semanas de treinamento / The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different strength training volumes on muscle strength and hypertrophy of the lower limbs after four, eight and twelve weeks of strength training in strength-trained individuals. Twenty-six healthy young males (age 23.6 ± 4.6 years, body mass 76.6 ± 7.5 kg, height 1.75 ± 0.1 cm), with an average experience of strength training (4.7 ± 4.1 years) were divided into three groups, high-volume strength training (TFAV, n = 8), mid-volume strength training (TFMV, n = 9) and low-volume strength training (TFBV, n = 9). Maximum dynamic strength (1RM) and muscle cross-sectional area (MCSA) of the rectus femoris (RF) and vastus lateralis (VL) were measured at baseline, after four weeks, after eight weeks and post-training. The total training volume significantly increased for the groups TFAV (p < 0.0001), TFMV (p < 0.0001) and TFBV (p < 0.0001) throughout the experimental period. The 1RM values increased after the eighth weeks of training, compared to baseline values, for the TFAV (11.8 ± 4.7%; p < 0.0001), TFMV (12.1 ± 8.5%; p < 0.0001), and TFBV (9.6 ± 7.3%; p < 0.001) groups, and post-training TFAV (13.9 ± 3.9%; p < 0.0001), TFMV (16.7 ± 10.8%; p < 0.0001) and TFBV (14.0 ± 8.1%; p < 0.0001) for all groups, with no difference between groups. Only TFAV group presented higher RF MCSA values at post-training (15.0 ± 11.9%; p < 0.0001). Furthermore, only TFAV significantly increased the VL MCSA after four weeks of training (7.71 ± 4.42%; p < 0.0001). All of the groups presented significantly greater VL MCSA than baseline values at eight weeks TFAV (11.37 ± 3.88%; p < 0.0001), TFMV (9.68 ± 9.36%; p < 0.0001) and TFBV (7.26 ± 3.15%; p < 0.01) and at post-training TFAV (14.54 ± 4.07%; p < 0.0001), TFMV (14.77 ± 8.24% ; p < 0.0001) and TFBV (8.66 ± 3.97%; p < 0.001), with no difference between groups. The results of this study demonstrated that, regardless of the adopted volume, the muscle strength gains were similar. On the other hand , MCSA was influenced by the training volume, since the TFAV was the only group that showed significant increase of RF MCSA post- training and increased VL MCSA with only four weeks of training

Introduction: In Sweden today a third of all those 60+ live alone and the absolute number will continue to increase because of the aging population. The aim of this thesis was to identify if the subgroup, older individuals living alone, might be more disadvantaged in regard to the four key sources to vulnerability suggested by Mechanic and Tanner (2007): Poverty and low socioeconomic status, personal functions, low social network and lack of support, and physical location. Gender differences were also investigated.   Method: Data was from the Swedish Panel Study of Living Conditions of the Oldest Old (SWEOLD) collected in 2014. The total sample in this thesis includes 987 individuals with an age between 70-105. To estimate the current living conditions in regard to vulnerability among the subgroup, five dimensions of vulnerability were analyzed with multiple logistic and linear regressions.   Results: More disadvantages are found for those men and women living alone in all domains, except in social activity for women where living arrangement made no difference. Significant gender differences can be seen in depressive symptoms and social activity, but not for financial insecurity, mobility problems or living in a disorganized local community.   Conclusion: Men and women living alone are more disadvantaged compared to those living with a partner, according to the four key sources to vulnerability. With this deeper insight it is possible to obtain a greater understanding in where policies to support and strengthen this subgroup should be placed.