This thesis presents and analyzes the author's original jazz composition "A Hero's Journey," based on the ancient and widespread storytelling pattern that Joseph Campbell called the "monomyth." Using major concepts from the monomyth, the author composed a suite for ten-piece jazz orchestra consisting of six scenes divided into two acts. Although rooted in the jazz tradition, the piece borrows freely from classical music, African music, Indian music, and modern rock and hip-hop to create an adventurous and continually evolving musical experience. This thesis first provides an overview of the entire suite, then discusses its important melodic themes, and finally analyzes the techniques used for harmonic development within the piece. / text

The trumpet and electronics genre of music has been in existence since 1965. While various dissertations have discussed other composers and their works in this field, there is still a need for a treatise exploring appropriate performance practice for the electroacoustic trumpet music of Meg Bowles. There has been no study of the compositional process nor trumpet techniques required for performance of these works and other electronic compositions. This dissertation will study the compositions for trumpet and electronics by Bowles, develop strategies for performing these works, and explore compositional techniques used to create them. Interviews have been conducted between the author and composer (Meg Bowles), as well as the author and collaborating performer (David Bilger). In addition, existing interviews with the composer are included from journals and websites. This document is presented in two parts: Part I, “Introduction to Music for Trumpet and Electronics,” “Biography of Meg Bowles,” “Compositional Techniques,” “Night Sun Journey,” “Places Where Rivers Meet,” “Shapeshifter,” and “Twilight Embrace.” The second part of this dissertation contains materials which are pertinent to the Doctor of Musical Arts Degree and includes recital programs, program notes, and vita.

A journey planning tool accessible from a mobile device provides travel information on the move. This work studies various aspects of mobile journey planners, including the history and limitations of mobile devices to deal with. First we analyze the connection with phone networks and the Internet for possible choices to place the tool, while recommending the most suitable ones. Then we study the developer environment consisting of various operating systems to show how compatible an application will be while selecting a programming language. Another part covers possible parameters for the journey search, from setting of basic location and time to optimizing other journey attributes. Following is an evaluation of journey planners already available. Then we investigate the source and form of input traffic data along with their availability. Finally we illustrate the ideas how the proposed parameters can be implemented on an example search algorithm. The purpose is to provide a comprehensive overview of the subject while researching possible improvements.

A journey planning tool accessible from a mobile device provides travel information on the move. This work studies various aspects of journey planners in order to develop a solution for this task. We analyze the connection with phone networks and the Internet for possible choices to place the tool. Then we study the development environment consisting of operating systems programming languages. Another part covers possible parameters for the journey search. Then we investigate the source and form of input traffic data along with possible algorithms for this problem. Based on this analysis we design an application, making decisions from the analyzed areas. The design is applied for the following implementation and the resulting program we describe and measure. The purpose of this work is to develop a working application for mobile devices capable of public transit journey search, and to show what development of such application entails.

This diploma thesis studies the issue of spatiotemporal mobility of pensioners in the environment of the city of České Budějovice and its hinterland. This research uses a combination of two methods. The first method is a questionnaire survey in witch each respondent received two questionnaires. Journeys made were recorded into the first questionnaire and characteristics of respondents and their households into the second one. The second method uses GPS loggers to collect spatial data on mobility of people. The theoretical part of this thesis deals with concepts of time geography, mobility specifics of pensioners, the issue of retirement age in the Czechia and the potential use of modern geoinformation technologies for mobility research. The methodology part presents methodological procedures for evaluating the obtained data, criteria for selection of respondents and the process of research. Followed by evaluation of actual results of surveys and their interpretation with regard to sub-goals of this thesis. The results are in many cases formed using a combination of data from both research methods. The main results, that relate to the specified individual goals and their consequent hypotheses, deal with the daily rhythms of the spatiotemporal mobility, evaluate the use of vehicles with regard to...

The thesis is of an analytical/interpretative character, focusing on paradigmatic analysis of the motives, images, symbols and allusions in the works of Slovak novelist Stanislav Rakús. The object of the analysis is the short story collection Pieseň o studničnej vode, first published in 1979. The multilayeredness of Rakús's texts urges the reader to search for different interpretative possibilities. The language of images, symbols and allusions affects not only the motivic and expressive structure of the text, but also e.g. the temporal and spatial identification of the stories, and in a specific manner it also affects the narrative situation implied. The thesis focuses on detailed analysis of individual layers of the literary texts.

This project focused on developing a more complete picture of the event that most often occurs when an older adult’s health care needs can no longer be met in the community setting; the transition from home into a new long-term care (LTC) environment (i.e., assisted living [AL] or residential care [RC]). Informed by a life course perspective (Elder, 1998; Marshall, 2009) and by the health service utilization framework (Andersen, 1995; Andersen & Newman, 1973), this thesis explores the relationship between service users and their social and service contexts in the Fraser Health (FH) region of British Columbia. Employing a multi-method research design, two studies, one quantitative and one qualitative, were conducted. The goal of the quantitative study was to draw attention to individual, social, and structural factors (e.g., age, gender, marital status, presence of/relationship to primary caregiver, and health variables) that influence the transition from home and community care (HC) services to either AL or RC among older LTC clients (age 65+; N=3233) in three geographic areas (urban, suburban, and rural). Findings revealed that marital status, income, functional disability, and cognitive performance influenced type of transition for both rural and urban clients. However, gender, medical frailty (i.e., CHESS score), number of chronic conditions, and total hospitalizations emerged as significant among clients in suburban areas. The goal of the qualitative study was to draw attention to the role of family caregivers in the care transition context. Employing thematic analysis, this study drew on a sample of 15 semi-structured interviews with family caregivers who had helped a family member transition from home into a new care environment in FH. Out of this work, a conceptual framework was developed inductively to illustrate three key phases that seemed important in their care journey: ‘Precursors leading to transition’, ‘Preparing to transition into new care environment’, and ‘Post-transition: Finding a new balance Three overarching themes, labelled with direct quotes (in vivo), were also developed to capture how family caregivers made sense of their roles and responsibilities: “I’m just her daughter” / “I’m just his wife”, “Just go with the flow”, and “There wasn’t a door I didn’t try to open”. Overall, the findings from both studies draw attention to the importance of generating a better understanding of the local service and social contexts. Implications for social policy are addressed and highlight the need to continue to invest in efforts aimed at supporting older adults to remain in the community as long as possible, including ensuring appropriate forms of care are available and adequate resources for family caregivers are offered. / Graduate

Arbetets övergripande syfte har varit att kartlägga ­företagsinkubatorn Movexums kundresa, lokalisera eventuella problem och hitta ­­­­­­­­­­­förbättringsmöjligheter. En företagsinkubator hjälper entreprenörer och idébärare med att göra sina innovativa idéer att bli framgångsrika ­produkter och tjänster. Data samlades först in genom research för att sedan fyllas på med data genom observationer av det dagliga arbetet på Movexum och vid ­tillfällen där kontakt med kund sker, till exempel vid coachmöten, en kunds första intervju eller en av deras främsta tjänster, Boost Chamber. Även intervjuer med både personal på Movexum och med sju av deras kunder genomfördes, plus kortare samtal med nyblivna medlemmar i Boost Chamber. I det stora hela upplever kunderna sin resa hos Movexum väldigt positivt. Jag möttes av stor nöjdhet från dem, framförallt gällande personalen på Movexum och det bemötande och engagemang de ger kunderna. Men efter att ha analyserat den inkomna datan lade jag märke till att det rådde lite problem, förvirring och oklarheter gällande ­­­­informationen från Movexum. Exempelvis kunde kunderna uppleva svårigheter att veta om aktiviteter och information var relevant för just dem, men ­också att ­information ibland kom med för kort varsel. Dessutom rådde det ­­oklarheter hos kunderna om vad vissa tjänster faktiskt innebär för dem. Resultaten av detta blev tre förslag på verktyg. Det första är själva ­­­­kartläggningen av kundresan. En visuell kartläggning som på ett ­tydligt sätt förklarar den resa kunden gör från det att en idé föds till att man blir ­utskriven från inkubatorn som alumniföretag. Det andra ­verktyget blev beteendetyper. Ett verktyg med syftet att öka förståelsen för ­kunden och dess upplevelser under resan. Det sista verktyget blev en ­introduktionsguide. Tillsammans skapar de tre förslagen ett förbättrat ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­samarbete och underlättar arbetet för både Movexum och kunderna.

Abstract This study outlines a reading of Saramago’s novels as tracing a reflective itinerary into history, questioning the modalities informing a contemporary consciousness, thus acknowledging and re–configuring the past. Through an interpretation of these narratives as ‘voyages into the idea of identity’ it is shown that they reveal a symmetrical pattern tracing the Portuguese national saga from its foundation myth in The History of the Siege of Lisbon to contemporary images of identity in The Stone Raft. In light of this, the analysis examines the subversive narrative strategies employed with regard to the interrogation of canonized historical facts that led to the construction of Portuguese cultural memory and identity. Although the discussion is particularly located within Portuguese texts, the issues raised are relevant within the broader context of Western civilization. It is argued that, within his fictional discourse, Saramago aims at a reformulation of the notion of identity, highlighting the importance of preserving and actively affirming one’s individuality. Drawing on the postmodern perspective of pluralism in the reconstruction of the past, this analysis explores the relationship between history, fiction, memory and identity as reflected in the narratives under discussion. The focus will be on the textual nature of historiography as well as on the relative character of memory, aspects suggesting the irretrievable nature of the past and the necessity of using various acts of supplementation, construction and invention when representing it. Furthermore, the dialogue between Saramago’s fictional canvass and the theoretical framework, drawing on the thinking of critics such as Hayden White, David Lowenthal, Tzvetan Todorov, Linda Hutcheon, is intended to situate Saramago’s stance viz–à-viz the truthfulness of historiography within the contemporary preoccupation with the representation and construction of the past with an eye to reflecting present needs.

China’s economy is growing. It has been said that “the question like ‘how to do business with Chinese people’ have occupied the minds of international business people who are planning to enter China.” (Fan & Zigang, 2004). Sweden as a country which listed China as its largest trading partner in Asia and a priority country in Sweden's export strategy, has a need to gain understanding about guanxi –an important concept in Chinese business culture. In this thesis, the author will present the development of three exercises inspired by design methods (role play, visualization and customer journey map) which aim to help Swedish business managers to learn guanxi in an experiential way. It includes the challenges the design team went through, how did they solve it and what are the latest version of the exercises looks like. The main challenges presented in this thesis are: how to embed specific knowledge smoothly into exercise; how to set up the role of facilitator(s); and how to increase the level of satisfaction for the users. Those challenges are not only specific to our project, but also could be inspirational for other people (e.g. designers, business culture scholars and so on) who want to create similar exercises or looking for new ways to deliver the knowledge about cross-cultural business communication.