A sediment core from Himmerfjärden estuary, south of Stockholm, was examined to detect records of eutrophication on the site since the opening of the sewage treatment plant Himmerfjärdsverket in 1974. The core was analysed with respect to the diatom record and lithology. Four macrofossil that were found in the sediment were dated using 14C-dating.    This study aims to detect changes in the environment of Himmerfjärden by using the diatom stratigraphy record. The results have been interpreted and discussed regarding natural environmental and climate change and/or anthropogenic impact, and detected changes will be associated with the history of the sampling site. The results show that the lowermost zone started to deposit around 1300-1490 cal yr BP and the homogeneous sediment indicates that the area was not suffering from hypoxia at that time. There is a successive transition towards more distinct lamination further up in the core which show that the environment in Himmerfjärden have changed and become hypoxic. This may have to do with factors such as the opening of heavily trafficked Södertälje Canal, and also the increased nutrient input from Himmerfjärdsverket.    This study could be a part of the process of working towards a “good environmental status” in the Baltic Sea. However, continued and improved work is needed for further and more accurate interpretations.

In this thesis I present the spectroscopic analysis of a large sample of L and T dwarfs, in order to constrain the sub-stellar initial mass function and formation history. The main points I tried to address are the development of a better spectral type to distance calibration and of a better spectral type to effective temperature calibration, and the identification of a statistically complete sample of brown dwarf to be used to measure the luminosity function, and therefore to constrain the initial mass function and formation history. To achieve the first goal I conducted the spectroscopic follow-up of brown dwarfs from the PARallaxes of Southern Extremely Cool objects (PARSEC) program. This is a large astrometric campaign to measure the parallaxes and proper motions of 120 L and T dwarfs in the southern hemisphere. I combined the astrometric results with the near infra-red spectra I obtained using the Ohio State Infra-Red Imager/Spectrometer (OSIRIS) on the Southern Astrophysical Research telescope (SOAR). That allowed me to investigate the nature of some unresolved binaries and common proper motion companion in the sample, as well as sub-dwarfs candidates, and potential members of young moving groups. Combining the spectra with the astrometric information and the available photometry I derived the bolometric luminosity and effective temperature for the targets, and determined a new polynomial conversion between spectral type and effective temperature of a brown dwarfs. This is a fundamental step to compare the results of empirical observations to numerical simulations of the sub-stellar luminosity function. Once refined the type to temperature calibration, I measured the luminosity function. In order to do so my collaborators and I have selected a sample of 250 brown dwarfs candidates from the United Kingdom Deep Infra-red Sky Survey (UKIDSS) Large Area Survey (LAS) and followed them up with the echelle spectrograph X-shooter on the Very Large Telescope. I present in this thesis the results of the observations of 196 of the brown dwarfs candidates. Using the X-shooter spectra I determined their spectral types, and I identified a number of unresolved binary candidates and peculiar objects. One of the peculiar objects in the sample, ULAS J222711 004547, turned out to be the reddest brown dwarf observed so far, and I therefore proceeded to analyse further its spectrum. Applying a de-reddening technique to its spectrum suggests that the most likely reason for its redness is an excess of dust in its photosphere, and that can account for the differences seen between objects of similar spectral type. By comparing the results of the spectroscopic campaign to numerical simulations, I found that it is currently impossible to constrain robustly the initial mass function and formation history of sub-stellar objects, because of our limited knowledge of the binary fraction among brown dwarfs. The sample of binary candidates identified in this thesis can be used to place a better constraint on the binary fraction, but in order to do that the candidates need to be followed-up via high resolution imaging or radial velocity monitoring to confirm their binary nature.

Thesis (MBA (Business Management))--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This research study report takes place in a business setting, namely the new system implementation for consignment distributors supplied by the Epping branch of Afrox. Various signs of problems within the management of this project were observed, and this has led to research into those factors that may be obstructing proper project management at Epping, Afrox. The aim of the study is to gain understanding of these factors and to provide recommendations to the decision-makers in the organization. The author draws on a stream of research in order to identify those factors that in theory inhibit proper project management. Fourteen factors were identified, namely, business strategy; performance management system; communication; continuous improvement; customer focus; leadership; monitoring, control and measurement; motivation; organizational behaviour; risks; resources; skills; specifications and teamwork. These factors form the basis for the development of a structured questionnaire, and responses were received from a sample of employees in various departments at the Epping branch. The numeric data from the responses was analyzed through the descriptive statistical technique of describing the population proportion. The findings from the empirical study reveal that none of the factors identified and tested to be statically significant in obstructing proper project management. The overwhelming success of engineering projects and other information technology projects may have influenced the results. However, pressures may exist in the project management areas of performance management, continuous improvement, organizational behaviour and skills, as these factors received the least favourable responses from the sample group. It is concluded that opportunities exist, based on this primary research study, for further and more in-depth research. Recommendations are made to repeat the study by delimiting the population to only those employees assigned to and stakeholders affected by the consignment distributor new system roll out. Alternatively, a recommendation is made to conduct further research into those areas that may be under pressure in project management by means of personal interviews or through a second empirical survey focused on performance management, continuous improvement, organizational behaviour and skills. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studieverslag het betrekking op ’n sake-omgewing, te wete die nuwe stelselimplementering vir vragverspreiders soos verskaf deur Afrox se Epping-tak. Daar is talle tekens waargeneem van probleme met die bestuur van hierdie projek, wat gelei het tot ’n ondersoek na die faktore wat behoorlike projekbestuur by Afrox se Epping-tak moontlik kniehalter. Die doel van die navorsing is om hierdie faktore te ondersoek en om voorstelle vir oplossings te doen aan die besluitnemers binne die organisasie. Die outeur maak gebruik van ’n stroom navorsing ter identifisering van daardie faktore wat behoorlike projekbestuur teoreties inhibeer. Veertien faktore is geïdentifiseer, te wete: sakestrategie; prestasiebestuurstelsel; kommunikasie; voortdurende vordering; klantefokus; leierskap; monitering, beheer en meting; motivering; organisatoriese gedrag; risiko’s; hulpbronne; vaardighede; spesifikasies; en spanwerk. Hierdie faktore vorm die basis van die ontwikkeling van ’n gestruktureerde vraelys, en antwoorde is verkry van ’n toetsgroep van werknemers in verskeie afdelings by die Epping-tak. Die numeriese data van die response is ontleed met behulp van die deskriptiewe statistiese tegniek van beskrywing van die toetsbevolking. Die bevindings van die empiriese studie toon dat geeneen van die geïdentifiseerde en getoetste faktore statisties betekenisvol is in die belemmering van behoorlike projekbestuur nie. Die oorweldigende sukses van ingenieursprojekte en ander inligtingstegnologieprojekte kon dalk die uitslae beïnvloed het. Nietemin, daar mag dalk drukpunte bestaan in die projekbestuursareas van prestasiebestuur, voortdurende vordering, organisatoriese gedrag en vaardighede – siende dat hierdie faktore die mins gunstige respons by die toetsgroep ontlok het. Die gevolgtrekking, gebaseer op hierdie inleidende navorsingstudie, is dat daar geleentheid bestaan vir verdere en meer deurtastende navorsing. Dit is aan te bevele dat die studie herhaal word deur die toetsbevolking te beperk tot slegs daardie werknemers en belanghouers wat deur die nuwe vragverspreidingstelsel se inwerkingstelling geraak word. As alternatief word die voorstel gedoen dat verdere navorsing oor daardie areas van projekbestuur wat moontlik druk ervaar deur middel van persoonlike onderhoude gedoen word, of deur ’n tweede empiriese opname wat gefokus is op prestasiebestuur, voortdurende vordering, organisatoriese gedrag en vaardighede.

Šio darbo tema – trumpųjų balsių vartojimas bendriniuose ir tikriniuose daiktavardžiuose. Pagrindinis darbo tikslas – apskaičiuoti ir palyginti trumpųjų balsių dažnius bendriniuose ir tikriniuose žodžiuose. Rašant šį darbą buvo norima kuo daugiau sužinoti apie trumpųjų balsių dažnumą: kurie balsiai ir kodėl vartojami dažniau arba rečiau, ar skiriasi trumpųjų balsių dažniai pradiniuose, vidiniuose ir galiniuose tiriamų žodžių skiemenyse, kokie dažnių skirtumai tarp kirčiuotų ir nekirčiuotų trumpųjų balsių. Norint apskaičiuoti trumpųjų balsių dažnius bendriniuose daiktavardžiuose, buvo tiriama 410 dažniausiai vartojamų daiktavardžių (žr. 1 priedą), turinčių bent vieną trumpąjį balsį, paimtų iš elektroninio dažninio žodyno „Bendriniai XX a. spaudos žodžiai“. Norint apskaičiuoti trumpųjų balsių dažnius tikriniuose daiktavardžiuose ir palyginti jį su bendrinių daiktavardžių trumpųjų balsių dažniais, iš elektroninio dažninio žodyno „Tikriniai XX a. spaudos žodžiai“ buvo išrinkta 500 dažniausių tikrinių žodžių (žr. 2 priedą), turinčių bent po vieną trumpąjį balsį. Tiriami tikriniai žodžiai buvo renkami iš žodyno skyriaus, kuriame pateikiamos garamtinės žodžių formos pagal bendrąjį vidutinį dažnį (taip pat, kaip ir bendriniai daiktavardžiai). Jei žodyje randami keli trumpieji balsiai, tai to žodžio dažnis sumuojamas tiek kartų, kiek tame žodyje yra trumpųjų balsių. Visuose darbo skyriuose ir jų poskyriuose pateikiamos trumpųjų balsių dažnių skritulinės diagramos, taip pat... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The topic of this work is use of short vowels in common and proper nouns. The main purpose of this work is to calculate and compare the frequencies of short vowels in common and proper nouns. When writing this work, it was tried to know more about the frequency of short vowels: which vowels were used more or less often, if the frequencies of short vowels differ in the first, average and last syllables of the researched words, what differences were between the frequencies of stressed and unstressed short vowels. In order to find the frequencies of short vowels in common words, 410 mostly used nouns were researched (see Appendix 1) which had at least one short vowel and were taken from the electronic frequency dictionary „Common Press Words of the 20 th Century“. In order to find the frequencies of short vowels in proper nouns and compare with the frequencies of short vowels of common nouns, 500 mostly used proper nouns were taken from the electronic frequency dictionary „Proper Press Words of the 20th Century“ (see Appendix 2) which had at least one short vowel. The researched proper nouns were chosen from the chapter of the dictionary where grammatical forms were presented according to their general average frequency (the same as common nouns). If a few short vowels were found in the word, the frequency of this word was summed as many times as there were short vowels in that word. In all the chapters and subchapters of this work, circle diagrams of the frequencies of short... [to full text]

The project underlying this dissertation aims at analyzing three pro-animal-rights theories, evaluating the theories, and outlining an alternative theoretical account of animal rights. The analytical categories are justification and function of animal rights, the definition of the right holder, and the resolution approach to rights conflict. The categories are applied to a naturalist, a theocentric, and a contractarian approach to defend animal rights. The evaluation is substantiated by the assumption that rights are meant to protect less powerful beings against more powerful aggressors. The constructive segment is an investigation into what extent identified disadvantages of the theories can be avoided by outlining a new model for animal rights. The analyses and evaluation suggest that all three theories are at risk of contradicting the proper function of rights-based theories. Tom Regan’s naturalist account of animal rights includes a logical possibility to sacrifice less capable beings for the sake of more capable beings. Andrew Linzey’s theocentric case for animal rights may sometimes mean that vulnerable human persons should be sacrificed for more powerful non-human beings. Mark Rowlands’ outlined contractarian model, further reconstructed in this work, fails to provide a way to resolve rights conflicts, making the function of rights inapplicable to conflicts. In conclusion, it is suggested that defining the right holder as a self-preservative being can be supported by, at least, the contractarian rationale. That would also conform to the proper function of rights-based theories. It is also suggested that this means that rights conflicts should be resolved by a voluntary sacrifice of the most powerful being. Practical circumstances should be created where such voluntarity is both genuine and rationally possible.

The thesis examines the direct reference theory of proper names and natural kind terms as expounded by Saul Kripke, Hilary Putnam and others and finds that it has not succeeded in replacing some kind of description theory of the reference of such terms - although it does concede that the traditional Fregean theory is not quite correct. It is argued that the direct reference theory is mistaken on several counts. First of all it is question-begging. Secondly, it is guilty of a 'use/mention' confusion. And thirdly, and most importantly, it fails to deal with the notion of understanding. The notion of understanding is crucial to the present thesis - specifically, what is understood by a proper name or natural kind term. It is concluded that sense (expressed in the form of descriptions) is at least necessary for reference, which makes a significant difference to Kripke's claim that there are necessary a posteriori truths as well as contingent a priori truths. It is also argued that sense could be sufficient for reference, if it is accepted that it is speakers who effect reference. In this sense, sense determines reference. The thesis therefore not only argues against the account of reference given by the direct reference theorists, it also gives an account of how proper names and natural kind terms actually do function in natural language. As far as the epistemology of necessity is concerned the thesis concludes that Kripke (along with many others) has not succeeded in establishing the existence of the necessary a posteriori nor the contingent a priori from the theory of direct reference. Whether such truths can be established by some other means, or in principle, is not the concern of the thesis; although the point is made that, if a certain view of sense is accepted, then questions of necessity and a priority seem inappropriate.

This study focuses primarily on the inflection of singular place-names belonging to strong declensions and how their inflection developed in the Old Swedish period. It is based mainly on sources from Södermanland. Examination of the dative inflections of masculine and neuter place-names suggests that by and large place-names underwent the same course of development as appellatives, the dative having almost completely disappeared as a formal category by the end of the Middle Ages. In some cases dative endings were, however, retained in place-names: for example, certain name elements tended to keep the ending when they occurred as simplexes, but lost it in compound names. The dative may then have become the general form of such names. A special study was made of iō-stem place-names. Even in the nominative, forms ending in -e and -a predominate. The -e ending derives from the dative/accusative form, which may have become a new basic form at an early date. Reinterpretation of the dative/accusative resulted in someplace-names passing into the weak declension. Via the dative/accusative singular ending, place-names also adopted the generalized -a form which developed in plural habitative names. In the Middle Ages a mode of inflection peculiar to place-names appeared. In Latin texts, Swedish place-names occur in a generalized form, used regardless of case. A suitable form was chosen, often an accusative which had converged with the nominative. Generalized forms of this kind are found in both Latin and Old Swedish texts. The Latin scribal tradition was a contributory factor in their introduction. The author discusses whether place-names can be shown to have changed paradigm earlier than appellatives. Secondary -s genitives in particular, which occur earlier in place-names than in appellatives, suggest that they did. The fact that place-names exhibit secondary -s genitives in early sources may be partly due to their naming function. / <p>Doktorsavhandling vid Uppsala universitet.</p>

Measures of epistemic utility are used by formal epistemologists to make determinations of epistemic betterness among cognitive states. The Brier rule is the most popular choice (by far) among formal epistemologists for such a measure. In this paper, however, we show that the Brier rule is sometimes seriously wrong about whether one cognitive state is epistemically better than another. In particular, there are cases where an agent gets evidence that definitively eliminates a false hypothesis (and the probabilities assigned to the other hypotheses stay in the same ratios), but where the Brier rule says that things have become epistemically worse. Along the way to this 'elimination experiment' counter-example to the Brier rule as a measure of epistemic utility, we identify several useful monotonicity principles for epistemic betterness. We also reply to several potential objections to this counter-example.

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal.

Apresentamos conceitos da teoria de Grupos de Lie e Ações Próprias e descrevemos a demonstração da Conjectura de Palais-Terng efetuada por Alexandrino. Tal conjectura garante que uma folheação riemanniana singular com distribuição normal é uma folheação riemanniana singular com seções. Adaptamos para o caso particular das ações isométricas. / We present some aspects of the theory of Lie Groups and Proper Actions, and we review the proof of the Palais-Terng Conjecture given by Alexandrino. This theorem assures that a singular Riemannian foliation with integrable normal distribution is a singular Riemannian foliation with section. We adapt the proof for isometric actions.