The focus of this thesis lies on tracing the similarities and differences between Liberal conservatism, Christian democracy and National conservatism, its relationship to the Moderates, Christian Democrats and Sweden Democrats' parties’ own interpretations of conservatism with a further ambition to discuss the ideological preconditions of a conservative parliamentary coalition. This study is based on the assumption that differences and similarities between various types of conservatism depend on relationship between political ideas and political practice. This relationship explains by a model that divides conservatism into fundamental and operative elements. The fundamental element of conservatism is an idea of human imperfection which leads to political skepticism, traditionalism and organicism. Operative elements are identified with support in the classical literature that describes the meaning of each type of conservative practice in a particular context. Furthermore, a typology of three ideal types of conservatism derives from fundamental and operational elements. Based on this typology, the parties' own manifesto is analyzed. The results show that the parties' own interpretations of conservatism contain both similarities that correspond to the fundamental elements and differences that are explained by the contextdependent operative elements. The thesis then opens up for a discussion about how those ideological similarities and differences affects possibilities for a conservative parliamentary coalition.

Human and animal studies show significant delays in neurobehavioral development in offspring after prolonged prenatal exposure to moderate and high ethanol doses resulting in high blood alcohol concentration (BECs). However, none have investigated the effects of lower ethanol doses given acutely during specific developmental time periods. Here, we sought to create a mouse model for modest and circumscribed human drinking during the 3rd and 4th weeks of pregnancy.We acutely treated mice during embryo gastrulation on gestational day (GD) 7 or neurulation on GD8 with a low or moderate ethanol dose given via gavage that resulted in BECs of 107 and 177. mg/dl, respectively. We assessed neonatal physical development (pinnae unfolding, and eye opening); weight gain from postnatal day (PD) 3-65; and neurobehavioral maturation (pivoting, walking, cliff aversion, surface righting, vertical screen grasp, and rope balance) from PD3 to 17. We used a multiple linear regression model to determine the effects of dose, sex, day of treatment and birth in animals dosed during gastrulation or neurulation, relative to their vehicle controls.We found that ethanol exposure during both time points (GD7 and GD8) resulted in some delays of physical development and significant sensorimotor delays of pivoting, walking, and thick rope balance, as well as additional significant delays in cliff aversion and surface righting after GD8 treatment. We also found that treatment with the low ethanol dose more frequently affected neurobehavioral development of the surviving pups than treatment with the moderate ethanol dose, possibly due to a loss of severely affected offspring. Finally, mice born prematurely were delayed in their physical and sensorimotor development.Importantly, we showed that brief exposure to low dose ethanol, if administered during vulnerable periods of neuroanatomical development, results in significant neurobehavioral delays in neonatal mice. We thus expand concerns about alcohol consumption during the 3rd and 4th weeks of human pregnancy to include occasional light to moderate drinking.

Explicit timing and interspersal assignments have been validated as effective methods to facilitate students' math practice. However, no researchers have explored the combinative effect of these two methods. In Study 1, we extended the literature by comparing the effect of explicit timing with interspersal assignments, and interspersal assignments without timing. Generally, participants' rate of digits correct on easy and hard addition problems was higher during the explicit timing condition than during the untimed condition. However, the participants' rate of digits correct decreased after initial implementation of the explicit timing condition. Motivation plays a crucial role in maintaining performance levels and helping students make continuous progress. Preferred reinforcers and setting academic targets have been widely utilized as active motivational components to increase the likelihood of a successful strategy in school settings. In Study 2, we employed a brief MSWO reinforcer assessment to identify individual student's low- and high-preference reinforcers and examined the effects of explicit timing on interspersed assignments combined with high preference or low preference reinforcers, and setting academic targets. In general, explicit timing combined with preferred reinforcers and academic targets produced a more sustainable effect on participants' rate of digits correct than explicit timing alone. In addition, high-preference reinforcers were more effective than low-preference reinforcers for three of five participants. For two participants, an increasing trend was observed when low preference reinforcers were contingent on meeting academic targets. These results are discussed relative to using preference assessments with students with mild/moderate disabilities.

The aim of this study was to investigate a sensory intervention of moderate pressure touch on children with sensory modulation disorder on the outcomes of sleep behaviors and social participation. 50 children, aged 6-11 years, with both sensory modulation disorder and sleep difficulties were randomly divided into an experimental group and a control group. The experimental group participants received three weeks of nightly massage by their parents. The parents filled out questionnaires reporting on sleep behaviors, sensory modulation, and social participation, as well as recording a sleep log, and determining goal attainment scaling goals. The questionnaires used were the Short Sensory Profile, the Child Sleep Habits Questionnaire, the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), and the Sensory Processing Measure social sub-section. Significant improvement was found between the total and sub-group scores of sleep and social participation measures. While obstructive sleep disorders remained unchanged, behavioral sleep difficulties of sleep onset, sleep anxiety, parasomnias, sleep duration, and daytime sleepiness, as well as the total sleep scores ( F(1,48)=24.71, p

This study examines the connection between curriculum, transition, and employment for individuals with moderate to severe disabilities. Employment for individuals with moderate to severe disabilities remains historically low. Results pointed to a need for increased coherence among transition planning, secondary school curriculum foci, and employers. Many factors influence successful post school employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities. These factors include expectations of the individual and family, individual adaptive behaviors, skill level and lack of knowledge by potential employers of individuals with disabilities. This study sought to understand the following questions: a) in what ways are curricular approaches, transition services, and employer requirements for individuals with moderate to severe intellectual disabilities interconnected? b) What factors affect employment for individuals with moderate to severe disabilities? c) In what ways do curricular approaches and transition services impact post school outcomes for individuals with moderate to severe ID? Connecting curriculum and transition directly to the needs of employers is imperative in understanding the effects both have on post school employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities.

[pt] Na primeira parte dessa tese, estudamos o desvio no número de triângulos com respeito à média em ambos os modelos de grafos aleatórios G(n,m) e G(n, p). Focamos no caso em que o grafo aleatório é esparso, no qual a densidade de arestas vai para zero quando o número de vértices cresce para o infinito. Nosso foco também reside no caso de desvios moderados, i.e., aqueles cuja ordem está entre o desvio padrão e a média. Além disso, também derivamos o mesmo tipo de resultado para cerejas (caminhos de comprimento dois). Na segunda parte dessa tese, estudamos a desigualdade de Freedman. Essa desigualdade fornece limitantes para a probabilidade de desvio de um martingal limitado usando sua variância condicional. No nosso trabalho, obtemos uma versão mais forte da desigualdade de Freedman, impondo condições adicionais de simetria nos incrementos do processo martingal. / [en] In the first part of this thesis, we study the deviation of the number of triangles with respect to its mean in both the random graph models G(n,m) and G(n, p). We focus on the case where the random graph is sparse, in which the edge density goes to zero as the number of vertices increases to infinity. Also, our focus is in the case of moderate deviations, i.e., those of order in between the standard deviation and the mean. In addition, we derive the same kind of results for cherries (paths of length two). In the second part of this thesis, we study Freedman s inequality. This inequality gives bounds on the probability of the deviation of a bounded martingale using its conditional variance. In our work, we obtain a strengthening of Freedman s inequality, under additional symmetry conditions on the increments of the martingale process.

No description available.

Composite cascode stages have been used in operational amplifier designs to achieve ultra-high gain at very low power. The flexibility and simplicity of the stage makes it an appealing choice for low power op-amp designs. Op-amp design using the composite cascode stage is often made more difficult through the lack of a design process. A design process to aid in the selection of the MOSFET dimensions is provided in this thesis. This process includes a table-based method for selection of the widths and lengths of the MOSFETs used in the composite cascode stage. Equations are also derived for the gain, bandwidth, and noise of the composite cascode stage with each of the devices operating in the various regions of inversion.

Syftet med detta examensarbete är att genom en litteraturstudie vidare utforska området kontrollerat drickande. Olika behandlingsmetoder för alkoholberoende kräver olika behandlingsmål. Ett vanligt behandlingsmål är helnykterhet. Ett antagande bland många är att helnykterhet är det enda tänkbara målet för alkoholberoende personer. Ett antagande som är utbrett än idag. Bakgrunden till detta resonemang är att alkoholberoende ses som en livslång och kronisk sjukdom. Kontrollerat drickande har varit och är ett kontroversiellt ämne. Tidigare forskning har identifierat faktorer eller prediktorer kopplade till utfallet av kontrollerat drickande. En framträdande prediktor har exempelvis varit alkoholberoendets svårighetsgrad. Senare forskning verkar också ge stöd till att beroendegraden har betydelse för möjligheten att uppnå ett kontrollerat drickande. Dock så har två presenterade studier med uppföljningsperioder under ett år inte hittat detta samband. Andra prediktorer är en hög alkoholkonsumtion innan behandling och alkoholism inom familjen. Det verkar dock som att vissa alkoholberoende personer kan reducera sin alkoholkonsumtion och uppnå ett kontrollerat drickande. Dessutom kan en kontrollerad konsumtion upprätthållas vid uppföljningsperioder på ett år eller mer. Dessa resulta diskuteras vidare i detta examensarbete. / The aim of this thesis is to research and explore the subject of controlled drinking further through a literature review. Different treatments for alcohol use disorders require different treatment goals. Some dictate that abstinence is the only feasible goal among people suffering from alcohol use disorders. This assumption appears to be prevalent still today. Behind this reasoning is the assumption that alcoholism is a lifelong and chronic disease. Controlled drinking sparked a lot of controversy during early research on the subject. Past research has identified factors, or predictors, associated with controlled drinking outcome. One emerging predictor has been the severity of dependence. According to subsequent research, the severity of dependence appears to be a predictor of success with controlled drinking. On the other hand, two studies obtained, with shorter follow up periods during one year, did not find this association. Other predictors that have been identified are past alcohol use and a family history of alcoholism. It still appears that some individuals suffering from alcohol use disorders can reduce their drinking to moderate drinking and maintain it through follow up through one year and more. These findings are further discussed in this thesis.

The controlled rocking heavy timber wall (CRHTW) is a high-performance structural solution that was first developed in New Zealand, mainly considering Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL), to resist high seismic loads without sustaining structural damage. The wall responds in bending and shear to small lateral loads, and it rocks on its foundation in response to large seismic loads. In previous studies, rocking has been controlled by both energy dissipation elements and post-tensioning, and the latter returns the wall to its original position after a seismic event. The controlled rocking response avoids the need for structural repair after an earthquake, allowing for more rapid return to occupancy than in conventional structures. Whereas controlled rocking walls with supplemental energy dissipation have been studied before using LVL, this thesis proposes an adapted CRHTW in which the design and construction cost and complexity are reduced for low-to-moderate seismic hazard regions by removing supplemental energy dissipation and using cross-laminated timber (CLT) because of its positive economic and environmental potential in the North American market. Moreover, whereas previous research has focussed on direct displacement-based design procedures for CRHTWs, with limited consideration of force-based design parameters, this thesis focusses on force-based design procedures that are more common in practice. A design and analysis process is outlined for the adapted CRHTW, based on a similar methodology for controlled rocking steel braced frames. The design process includes a new proposal to minimize the design forces while still controlling peak drifts, and it also includes a new proposal for predicting the influence of the higher modes by referring to previous research on the capacity design of controlled rocking steel braced frames. Also, a numerical model is outlined, including both a baseline version and a lower-bound model based on comparison to experimental data. The numerical model is used for non-linear time-history analysis of a prototype design, confirming the expected performance of the adapted CRHTW, and the model is also used for incremental dynamic analyses of three-, six-, and nine-storey prototypes, which show a low probability of collapse. / Thesis / Master of Applied Science (MASc) / The controlled rocking heavy timber wall (CRHTW) is a high-performance structural solution that was developed to resist high seismic loads without sustaining structural damage. The wall responds in bending and shear to small lateral loads, and it rocks on its foundation in response to large seismic loads. In previous studies, rocking has been controlled by both energy dissipation elements and post-tensioning; the latter returns the wall to its original position after a seismic event. This controlled rocking behaviour mitigates structural damage and costly repairs. This thesis explores the value of an adapted CRHTW in which the design and construction costs and complexity are reduced for low-to-moderate seismic hazard regions by using post-tensioning but no supplemental energy dissipation. A design and analysis process is outlined; numerical analysis confirms the expected performance of the adapted CRHTW; and the system is shown to have a low probability of collapse.