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  • About
  • The Global ETD Search service is a free service for researchers to find electronic theses and dissertations. This service is provided by the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations.
    Our metadata is collected from universities around the world. If you manage a university/consortium/country archive and want to be added, details can be found on the NDLTD website.
351

THE EFFECTS OF CONSUMER ORIENTATIONS ON THE CONSUMPTION OF COUNTERFEIT LUXURY BRANDS

Bhardwaj, Vertica 01 December 2010 (has links)
The emergence of ‘new luxury’ available at affordable prices has resulted in abundance of counterfeit products in the markets. As the extent of counterfeiting is increasing in almost every industry, it becomes critical to develop measures that can help to prevent buying and selling of counterfeit products. In exploring consumers’ buying behavior of counterfeit products, this study was designed to examine the influence of individuals’ characteristics or consumer orientations, both social and personal, on that generate the demand for counterfeit brands. This study employed four theoretical frameworks: (a) the Theory of Planned behavior, (b) Value-Attitude-Behavioral intention system, (c) Bandwagon effect in the theory of consumer demand, and (d) Aberrant consumer behavior. Specifically, this study investigates consumers’ intention to purchase counterfeit brands based on their social consumer orientation (social conformity, status seeking, fashion consciousness, and price-quality schema) and personal consumer orientation (ethical value, social responsibility, and integrity), attitudes toward the purchase of counterfeit brands, subjective norm, and perceived control over the purchase of counterfeit brands. Further, this study aims to explore the role of price sensitivity as a moderator in understanding the relationship between attitudes and intentions to purchase counterfeit and original luxury brands. This study was conducted in the context of fashion luxury brands that sell handbags and wallets. An online self-administered survey methodology was employed to collect the data from 500 subjects. The data were analyzed by maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) procedure using structural equation modeling (SEM). Out of total 14 proposed hypotheses, 10 were significant, as expected. However, the rest 4 were not found to be significant. Status seeking was found to have an insignificant relationship with subjective norm to purchase a counterfeit brand. Fashion consciousness was found to have a negative influence on attitude while the relationship of price-quality schema with attitude was not found to be significant. Also, integrity was not found to significantly influence subjective norm. Price sensitivity did not act as a moderator due to non significant relationships between attitude and intensions to purchase counterfeit and original brands. Research and managerial implications, limitations, and suggestions for future research were drawn based on the results.
352

Evaluating Ecological Restoration in Tennessee Hardwood Bottomland Forests

Summers, Elizabeth Anne 01 August 2010 (has links)
Hardwood bottomland ecosystems provide critical habitat for various wildlife among numerous ecosystem services. Since the 1800s, these forested wetlands have been logged and drained for agriculture. The federal government passed a series of legislative acts that protected wetlands and provided monetary support for restoration. The Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) was established in 1990 with the goal of restoring ecological function in wetlands. Although several studies have measured plant and wildlife responses to WRP restorations, no standard protocol has been developed to monitor the state of ecological restoration at sites. Index of biotic integrity (IBI) models are commonly used to evaluate ecological function by assigning scores derived from biological characteristics measured at disturbed sites and comparing them with reference sites. Therefore, the objectives of my study were to: (1) characterize vegetation, amphibian and bird communities among 17 WRP restoration and 4 reference bottomland sites, and (2) develop IBI models for these communities to use in monitoring ecological restoration. My study was conducted across 10 counties in western Tennessee from March – August 2008, and communities were measured using standard sampling techniques. I detected 15 amphibian and 95 bird species at bottomland WRP sites, which ranged 2 – 21 years old. Anurans were common among sites, but salamanders were only detected at reference sites containing mature forests. The bird community changed predictably in response to succession, with grassland birds dominating young restoration sites and scrub-shrub and forest birds dominating older restoration and reference sites. Vegetation structure was related to site age, and a good predictor of bird community composition. Variables retained in the vegetation IBI model included density of snags, logs and overstory trees, basal area, and percent vertical cover measured using a profile board. The bird IBI model contained relative abundance of bark feeding, branch nesting, and twig nesting guilds. Presence of salamanders was the only variable in the amphibian IBI model. My results indicate that the WRP is contributing to the regional biodiversity of western Tennessee. The IBI models that I developed can be used for monitoring ecological restoration in Tennessee hardwood bottomlands; however, their applicability outside this region should be validated.
353

An in vitro study of post-restorative bleaching : effect on microleakage

Manni, Hassan January 2010 (has links)
<p>Aim and Objectives: To assess the effect of bleaching on the marginal integrity of Class V composite resin restorations. To determine the effect of a 6% hydrogen peroxide over the counter and a 38% hydrogen peroxide in-office vital bleaching treatment products on the microleakage of Class V composite restorations.</p>
354

Analysing Complex Oil Well Problems through Case-Based Reasoning

Abdollahi, Jafar January 2007 (has links)
The history of oil well engineering applications has revealed that the frequent operational problems are still common in oil well practice. Well blowouts, stuck pipes, well leakages are examples of the repeated problems in the oil well engineering industry. The main reason why these unwanted problems are unavoidable can be the complexity and uncertainties of the oil well processes. Unforeseen problems happen again and again, because they are not fully predictable, which could be due to lack of sufficient data or improper modelling to simulate the real conditions in the process. Traditional mathematical models have not been able to totally eliminate unwanted oil well problems because of the many involved simplifications, uncertainties, and incomplete information. This research work proposes a new approach and breakthrough for overcoming these challenges. The main objective of this study is merging two scientific fields; artificial intelligence and petroleum engineering in order to implement a new methodology. Case-Based Reasoning (CBR) and Model-Based Reasoning (MBR), two branches of the artificial intelligence science, are applied for solving complex oil well problems. There are many CBR and MBR modelling tools which are generally used for different applications for implementing and demonstrating CBR and MBR methodologies; however, in this study, the Creek system which combines CBR and MBR has been utilized as a framework. One specific challenging task related to oil well engineering has been selected to exemplify and examine the methodology. To select a correct candidate for this application was a challenging step by itself. After testing many different issues in the oil well engineering, a well integrity issue has been chosen for the context. Thus, 18 leaking wells, production and injection wells, from three different oil fields have been analysed in depth. Then, they have been encoded and stored as cases in an ontology model given the name Wellogy. The challenges related to well integrity issues are a growing concern. Many oil wells have been reported with annulus gas leaks (called internal leaks) on the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS) area. Interventions to repair the leaking wells or closing and abandoning wells have led to: high operating cost, low overall oil recovery, and in some cases unsafe operation. The reasons why leakages occur can be different, and finding the causes is a very complex task. For gas lift and gas injection wells the integrity of the well is often compromised. As the pressure of the hydrocarbon reserves decreases, particularly in mature fields, the need for boosting increases. Gas is injected into the well either to lift the oil in the production well or to maintain pressure in the reservoir from the injection well. The challenge is that this gas can lead to breakdown of the well integrity and cause leakages. However, as there are many types of leakages that can occur and due to their complexity it can be hard to find the cause or causal relationships. For this purpose, a new methodology, the Creek tool, which combines CBR and MBR is applied to investigate the reasons for the leakages. Creek is basically a CBR system, but it also includes MBR methods. In addition to the well integrity cases, two complex cases (knowledge-rich cases) within oil well engineering have also been studied and analysed through the research work which is part of the PhD. The goal here is to show how the knowledge stored in two cases can be extracted for the CBR application. A model comprising general knowledge (well-known rules and theories) and specific knowledge (stored in cases) has been developed. The results of the Wellogy model show that the CBR methodology can automate reasoning in addition to human reasoning through solving complex and repeated oil well problems. Moreover, the methodology showed that the valuable knowledge gained through the solved cases can be sustained and whenever it is needed, it can be retrieved and reused. The model has been verified for unsolved cases by evaluating case-matching results. The model gives elaborated explanations of the unsolved cases through the building of causal relationships. The model also facilitates knowledge acquisition and learning curves through its growing case base. The study showed that building a CBR model is a rather time-consuming process due to four reasons: 1. Finding appropriate cases for the CBR application is not straightforward 2. Challenges related to constructing cases when transforming reported information to symbolic entities 3. Lack of defined criteria for amount of information (number of findings) for cases 4. Incomplete data and information to fully describe problems of the cases at the knowledge level In this study only 12 solved cases (knowledge-rich cases) have been built in the Wellogy model. More cases (typically hundreds for knowledge-lean cases and around 50 for knowledge-rich cases) would be required to have a robust and efficient CBR model. As the CBR methodology is a new approach for solving complex oil well problems (research and development phase), additional research work is necessary for both areas, i.e. developing CBR frameworks (user interfaces) and building CBR models (core of CBR). Feasibility studies should be performed for implemented CBR models in order to use them in real oil field operations. So far, the existing Wellogy model has showed some benefits in terms of; representing the knowledge of leaking well cases in the form of an ontology, retrieving solved cases, and reusing pervious cases.
355

Grounds for Group-Differentiated Citizenship Rights : The Case of Ethiopian Ethnic Federalism

Daka, Getahun Dana January 2009 (has links)
The universal citizenship rights can not protect the interests of national minorities by systematically excluding them from social, economic and political life. It does this by denying national minorities access to their own societal cultures-a choice enabling background conditions. In order to enable meaningful choice, such cultures needs to be developing. The societal cultures of national minorities will, instead of being a living and developing ones, be condemned to an ever-increasing marginalization if the state follows a hands off approach to ethnicity. Thus the state must give a positive support to national minorities to help them develop their cultures in their own homeland. This can be done by drawing the boundary of the state in such a way that the ethnic minority can constitute a local majority to form a nation, and thus can be entitled to group-differentiated citizenship rights. This inevitably creates mutual-indifference among various nations, and seems to threaten the territorial integrity of the state. But as far as the multinational federation is the result of voluntary union of nations, though the social tie among these nations is weaker than the one found in a nation-state, it can nonetheless be enduring.
356

Patientens upplevelser av den fysiska vårdmiljön på sjukhus : En litteraturöversikt / The patient´s experiences of the physical health care environment in hospitals : A literature review

Lindström, Sophie, Wilhelmsson, Victoria January 2010 (has links)
Bakgrund: I den fysiska vårdmiljön framkom olika förutsättningar för att skapa god omvårdnad då grundläggande mänskliga värderingarna var av betydelse för hur begreppen hälsa och omvårdnad tolkades. De traditionella vårdmiljöerna kunde uppfattas som anonyma och sterila platser av både sjukvårdspersonal och patienter, dessa egenskaper representerar hur fysiskt påtaglig sjukvårdsmiljön var. Syfte: Syftet med denna litteraturöversikt var att beskriva hur patienter inom somatisk vård upplever den fysiska vårdmiljön på sjukhus. Metod: En litteraturöversikt baserad på tio vetenskapliga artiklar med både kvalitativ och kvantitativ ansats. Resultat: Tre huvudteman framkom vid analysen av artiklarna; sjukhusmiljö, vårdavdelningsmiljö och vårdsalsmiljö. När sjuksköterskan skapade en välkomnande atmosfär i vårdmiljön hade det betydelse för hur patienten upplevde hälsa oh välbefinnande, och detta förstärktes när patienten kunde påverka och inspirera miljön. När patienten kunde påverka tillgängligheten i vårdmiljön ökade användbarheten och patientens integritet. Slutsats: Sjuksköterskans bemötande och kommunikation hade en avgörande betydelse för hur patienten uppfattade och upplevde den fysiska sjukvårdsmiljön. / Background: There were different circumstances in the physical healthcare environment to create good care based on human values these were relevant concepts of how health and nursing care were interpreted. The traditional care environments were perceived as sterile andanonymous places of healthcare professionals and patients, these characteristics represented how crucial the physical care environments were. Aim: The aim of this literature review was to describe how patients in somatic care perceive the physical health care environment in hospitals. Method: A literature review based on ten scientific articles with both qualitative and quantitative approach. Result: Three main themes emerged from the results of analysis of the articles, hospital- ward- and patient rooms’ environment. Welcoming atmospheres created by the nurse were important in the patient experience of health and wellbeing. When the patients were able to influence and inspire the environment the wellbeing increased. When the patient affected the accessibility of the environment the usability and the privacy increased. Conclusion: Nurses' attitude and communication had an important impact on how the patient's perceived and experienced the physical health care environment.
357

Patienters erfarenheter av hur den personliga integriteten respekteras i vården : En kvalitativ studie baserad på Critical incident metoden / Patient’s experiences of how privacy is respected in healthcare : A qualitative study based on the Critical incident technique

Johansson, Maria, Karlsson, Sandra January 2008 (has links)
Syftet med studien var att beskriva patienters erfarenheter av hur den personligaintegriteten respekteras i olika vårdsituationer. Varje människa har rätt att blirespekterad som en individ och inte utsättas för intrång i den personliga sfären. Då dettainte alltid respekteras i vårdsituationerna blir det intressant att skaffa kunskaper om hurpatienter upplever detta. I studien användes en kvalitativ ansats. Med hjälp av criticalincident metoden undersöktes patienters positiva och negativa erfarenheter av hur denpersonliga integriteten respekterades i olika vårdsituationer. Nio informanter deltog istudien, dessa bidrog med arton berättelser. Materialet analyserades kvalitativt. Treöverordnade teman med fem underteman framstod. Övergripande handlar fenomenetom att bli respekterad som människa. De tre överordnade temana är att bli lyssnad till,att bli sedd och att bli förstådd. Resultatet visar att om den personliga integriteten interespekterades blev patienter kränkta och ett onödigt lidande orsakades därmed avvården. Studien har betydelse för vården då respekt för integriteten är ett grundläggandebehov för patienters upplevelse av hälsa och lidande. / The aim of this study was to describe patient’s experiences of how privacy is respectedin health care. Every human being has the right to be respected as an individual and notbe subjected to interference in the personal sphere. Since this is not always respected inhealth care, it is interesting to gain knowledge about patient’s experiences. Aqualitative method was used in the study. By using the critical incident techniquepatient’s positive and negative experiences of personal integrity in health care wasreviewed. Nine informants participated and contributed eighteen stories. The materialwas analyzed qualitatively. Three superior themes with five subthemes found. Overall,this phenomenon is about to be respected as a human being. The superior themes are tobe heard, to be seen and to be understood. The result shows that if the personal privacywas not respected, the patient’s felt violated and an unnecessary suffering was therebycreated of health care. The study has implications for health care because the integrityis a fundamental need for patient’s experiences of health and suffering.
358

Chefen hos Matisse : konst för organisationer och ledarskap

Ericson, Maria January 2007 (has links)
My analysis consists of an in-depth study of the experience of a group of development programme participants who were exposed to the use of art and artistic work in organisation and leadership development, resulting in positive effects. My starting point is creativity as a concept according to paediatrician and psychoanalyst DW Winnicott who stresses how important playing and creativity is for us, even as an adult, for us to utilise our full potential. He believes that we have a psychological space – a crossover area – where the outer, objective reality and the inner, subjective reality meet. Playing, creative development and experiences occur in this space. The purpose of my paper is to investigate art and artistic creation to determine if it can be used in the work environment as a means to provide individuals access to the crossover space, thereby developing creativity and the creative power. Risks have also been addressed within my paper. Art and culture can be brought down to a level where its use is only justifiable in those instances where value and economic benefits can be shown. In my opinion, this risk must be taken seriously. This does not mean, however, that one should not work across borders. This is about letting art and culture provide value in the leadership and organisation development by concurrently complementing logical and rationale methods, plans, and decision-making with the goal of striving to maintain the integrity and autonomy of the artistic endeavours.
359

Anonymiteten i dagens kameraövervakade stad

Gustafsson, Camilla January 2007 (has links)
Syftet är att ta reda på vad som menas med anonymitet i dagens kameraövervakade stad. Dentraditionella uppfattningen är att stadens karaktär är anonymitet och syftet är att ta reda på huranonymiteten ser ut idag när stadsmedborgarna är kameraövervakade. Studien är en begreppsutredning av anonymitet, och dess relaterade begrepp trygghet.Huvudsakligen används Simmels teori om storstaden och Foucaults teori om övervakning,men också teoretikerna Jane Jacobs och Mike Davis och deras syn på trygghet i staden så välsom en del andra källor. Jag kopplar Simmel och Foucault till anonymitetet och trygghet,tillämpat på dagens stad. Slutsatserna är att dagens stadsmänniska är både anonym och inte, beroende på hur man serdet. De som syns i kamerans blick är de som begår brott, medan de andra fortfarande äranonyma. Gällande tryggheten kan den uppnås genom ett levande folkliv. Det handlar om attmänniskor ska våga sig ut i staden och inte stänga in sig på grund av sin rädsla. Blir stadenöde så försvinner dess traditionella karaktär, det vill säga möjligheten till möten mellan olikamänniskor. Uppsatsen är uppdelad i fyra kapitel, varav det första är inledande, sedan följer enpresentation av de centrala teorierna. Det tredje kapitlet är ägnat åt att utveckla trygghetensoch tillitens begreppsmässiga mening i relation till samtida kameraövervakade städer. Detslutliga kapitlet drar slutsatsen att det inte finns någon inneboende spänning mellankameraövervakning och trygghet, men samtidigt finns det ingen garanti att en ökning avkameraövervakning kommer att resultera i ökad offentlig trygghet.
360

Bemötande av äldre inom vården : En litteraturstudie

Jansson, Tomas, Olsson, Peter January 2009 (has links)
Syfte med litteraturstudien var att beskriva bemötande av äldre människor inom vården utifrån de äldre vårdtagarnas, vårdgivarnas, observatörernas/anhörigas perspektiv. I en av dessa tre perspektiv representerade anhöriga tillsammans med observatörerna ett gemensamt perspektiv. En litteraturstudie gjordes och sexton vetenskapliga artiklar granskades och analyserades. Joyce Travelbee’s omsorgsteori (Interaktionsteori) var den teoretiska referensramen för studien. Resultatet visade att vårdgivarnas tillvaratagande av den äldre vårdtagarens autonomi bidrog påtagligt till upplevelsen av bemötandet, vårdtagarna uttryckte denna aspekt tydligast. Personalbrist var ett inbyggt fel i organisationen som påverkade bemötande. Alla tre perspektiv uttryckte detta problem tydligt. Vårdgivarnas egen förmåga att organisera och prioritera var av betydelse för upplevelsen av bemötande. Bemötandet påverkades när den äldre vårdtagarens önskemål nedprioriterades för rutiner. Nivån på vårdgivarnas empatiska förmåga påverkade upplevelsen av bemötandets kvalitet på olika sätt. Vården upplevdes som trygg när vårdgivare hade hög empatisk förmåga. Sammanfattningsvis var upplevelsen av bemötande att det var en förmåga till lyhördhet och en vilja att kommunicera, utförandet av dessa var i sin tur beroende av tid, personliga värderingar och invant beteende.

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