Noctiliostrebla Wenzel, 1966 pertence a Streblidae, uma família de moscas parasitas exclusivas de morcegos, e compreende atualmente quatro espécies divididas em dois grupos, grupo A: Noctiliostrebla dúbia (Rudow, 1871) e N. traubi Wenzel, 1966; e grupo B: N. aitkeni Wenzel, 1966 e N. maai Wenzel, 1966. O gênero está incluído dentro da subfamília Trichobiinae, junto com Paradyschiria Speiser, 1900, sugerido como seu grupo-irmão hipotético. Com uma classificação sistemática complicada e poucos estudos taxonômicos, Noctiliostrebla caracteriza-se como um grupo muito homogêneo e de difícil distinção entre suas espécies. Restrito ao continente americano, exibe um alto grau de especificidade em relação às duas únicas espécies de morcegos do gênero Noctilio Linnaeus, 1766, N. albiventris Desmarest, 1818 e N. leporinus (Linnaeus, 1758). Não existem trabalhos filogenéticos para Noctiliostrebla, sendo que, os únicos estudos envolvendo Streblidae foram feitos para propor uma hipótese de relacionamentos entre as famílias de Hippoboscoidea. O projeto tem como objetivos realizar a revisão taxonômica do gênero Noctilostrebla e reconstruir uma hipótese de relacionamento entre as espécies do gênero, utilizando caracteres morfológicos e um conjunto de dados moleculares composto por três genes mitocondriais (12S, COI e cytB) e um gene nuclear (CAD). Dois métodos de análise foram empregados: análise de parcimônia, com pesagem igual dos caracteres, e análise de máxima verossimillhança. As análises foram realizadas com dados morfológicos e moleculares separados, enquanto os dados moleculares foram analisados com genes concatenados e separados em mitocondriais e nucleares. Como resultados, as quatro espécies já descritas foram consideradas válidas, sendo aqui redescritas, e outras seis novas espécies foram descritas. Do total de onze espécies, cinco são parasitas restritos de N. albiventris e seis de N. leporinus. As estruturas abdominais forneceram os únicos caracteres diagnósticos encontrados para separação entre as espécies. Tanto a análise morfológica como a molecular recuperaram Noctiliostrebla como monofilético e corroboraram a divisão do gênero em dois clados morfologicamente distintos. As análises com genes mitocondriais e nucleares foram incongruentes com relação a alguns clados, o que pode ser um indicativo de histórias filogenéticas diferentes. Os resultados obtidos para Noctiliostrebla apresentaram semelhanças com as hipóteses consideradas para os hospedeiros / Noctiliostrebla Wenzel 1966 belongs to Streblida, a family of batflies, and currently comprises four species divided into two groups, group A: Noctiliostrebla dubia (Rudow, 1871) and N. traubi Wenzel, 1966; Group B: N. aitkeni. Wenzel, 1966 and N. maai Wenzel, 1966. The genus is included within the Trichobiinae subfamily, along with Paradyschiria Speiser, 1900, suggested as your hypothetical sister group. With a complicated systematic classification and a few taxonomic studies, Noctiliostrebla is characterized as a very homogeneous group and difficult to distinguish between their species. Restricted to the American continent, exhibits a high degree of specificity with the only two bats species of the genus Noctilio Linnaeus, 1766, N. albiventris Desmarest, 1818 and N. leporinus (Linnaeus, 1758). There are no phylogenetic works with Noctiliostrebla and the only studies involving Streblidae were made to propose a relationship hypothesis among Hippoboscoidea families. The project aims to conduct a taxonomic revision of the Noctilostrebla genus and to rebuild a relationship hypothesis among Noctilostrebla species using morphological and molecular data set, with three mitochondrial genes (12S, COI and cytB) and one nuclear gene (CAD). Two analysis methods were used: parsimony with equal weighting of characters and lielihood. The analyses were performed using morphological and molecular data separate, while the molecular data were analyzed with concatenated genes and separated into mitochondrial and nuclear genes. As a result, the four described species were considered valid being here redescribed, and six new species have been described. Of all eleven species, five are restricted parasites of N. albiventris and six are restricted parasites of N. leporinus. The abdominal structures provided the only diagnostic characters found for separation of the species. Both morphological and molecular analysis recovered a monophyletic Noctiliostrebla and supported the division of the genus into two distinct clades. The analyses of mitochondrial and nuclear genes showed inconsistent clades, which may be indicative of different phylogenetic histories. The results obtained for Noctiliostrebla showed similarities with the assumptions for the hosts

Este estudo aborda a utilização das mídias sociais como ferramenta para gestão de marcas. O tema se demonstra relevante por tratar de três assuntos considerados importantes na atualidade: gestão de marcas, marketing de relacionamento e redes sociais no ambiente virtual. A proposta do estudo é explorar se as organizações estão estabelecendo um relacionamento com seus clientes de forma que este promova o brand equity por meio do uso das redes sociais. Para se atingir os objetivos do estudo, foi realizada uma pesquisa exploratória de cunho qualitativo em que os dados foram coletados a partir do método netnográfico, ou seja, a partir da observação das informações que foram disponibilizadas publicamente nas páginas das marcas Coca-Cola, Microsoft e Google no site Facebook. A análise da pesquisa permitiu concluir que as três marcas observadas estão atuando no Facebook com o objetivo de se relacionar com seus consumidores, sendo que seu uso permite o engajamento natural das pessoas - seja por meio das mensagens postadas, que devem ser simples e conter em sua essência um conteúdo que promova o diálogo, a interação e confiança entre os participantes, evitando um teor que fale de si mesmo, ou seja por meio das ferramentas disponibilizadas. / This study addresses the use of social media as a tool for brand management. This is a (highly) relevant theme because it deals with three matters of current importance: brand management, relationship marketing and social networking in the virtual environment. The purpose of this study is to explore whether organizations are establishing a relationship with their customers so as to promote brand equity through the use of social networks. To achieve the objectives of the study, an exploratory qualitative character survey was conducted where data was collected from netnographic method, in other words, from the observation of the information that was publicly available on Coca-Cola, Microsoft and Google\'s pages on Facebook. The research analysis concluded that the three brands are seen using Facebook in order to relate to their customers, and its use promotes the natural engagement of persons - whether through postings, which should be simple and contain in its core a content that promotes dialogue, interaction and trust among participants, thus avoiding the company to speak of itself, or through the tools available.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi compreender a maneira como professores e gestores percebem a relação entre escola e família e identificar possíveis estratégias já existentes na prática desses profissionais no sentido de uma aproximação maior entre as duas instituições. A literatura científica da área indica que tal interação pode contribuir com o processo de ensino e aprendizagem, porém também mostra que a escola exerce uma postura superior frente às famílias, aumentando a distância entre uma e outra e dificultando sua interação. Entretanto, algumas ações desenvolvidas se revelaram positivas na promoção desta relação, o que indica a necessidade de que a escola desenvolva estratégias para estabelecer uma gestão democrática, na qual pais e educadores possam se relacionar de maneira igualitária. Participaram deste estudo 30 professores e três gestores atuantes nas três escolas municipais de Ensino Fundamental de uma cidade do interior paulista. Através do emprego da abordagem qualitativa, do tipo etnográfica, foram feitas duas sessões de entrevistas semiestruturadas com cada professor e uma com cada gestor, além de observações participantes dos eventos escolares que contavam com a presença da família e da análise documental do Projeto Político-Pedagógico destas instituições. As entrevistas foram audiogravadas e transcritas na íntegra; as observações foram anotadas nos diários de campo; e os documentos coletados junto aos gestores. A Análise de Dados foi feita de acordo com a Análise Temática de Conteúdo. Os resultados apontaram para diversas dificuldades que permeiam a relação escola-família, contribuindo para a criação de pré-julgamentos e generalizações frente aos problemas enfrentados no cotidiano escolar. As observações mostraram que, na maioria dos casos, a família não é acolhida pelos educadores, revelando certa distância entre eles, na qual os pais assumem uma posição de espectador enquanto os educadores conduzem seus encontros. Entretanto, destacou-se a criação de estratégias por parte dos professores e gestores para reverter este quadro, além do desenvolvimento de atitudes positivas na forma como eles se relacionam com as famílias, criando um ambiente amistoso e colaborativo que beneficia o processo de ensino e aprendizagem de crianças e adolescentes, sendo que as características pessoais da equipe escolar podem influenciar esta relação, ou seja, aqueles mais pacientes, amorosos e compreensivos relataram nunca ter vivenciado problemas com familiares, que se sentem à vontade quando comparecem à escola, pois avaliam o relacionamento como igualitário e se voluntariam a participar e colaborar no que for preciso. Estes profissionais demonstraram estar disponíveis para a família não apenas em horários pré-estabelecidos, mas de acordo com a necessidade de cada um. Percebeu-se também que elogiar os alunos pode aumentar o elo do professor com a família, pois professores que utilizam este recurso, ao invés de se queixarem dos alunos, conseguiam maior apoio dos pais ou responsáveis. Isso não significa deixar de abordar os problemas, mas rever a forma como eles são transmitidos, ressaltando os aspectos positivos das crianças a fim de fortalecer também sua autoestima. Desta forma, pode-se dizer que a relação escola-família é possível, desde que haja mudança na postura da escola capaz de empoderar pais e responsáveis / The objective of this study was to understand how teachers and managers perceive the relationship between school and family and to identify possible strategies already existing in the practice of these professionals in order to approaching both institutions. Scientific literature in the field indicates that this interaction might contribute to the teaching and learning process, however it also shows that school assumes a superior posture towards families, stretching the distance between them and hindering their interaction. However, some actions developed revealed to be positive for promoting this relationship, what indicated the need for school to develop strategies to establish a democratic management, where parents and educators are able to relate in equal ways. Thirty teachers and three managers, who act in three municipal elementary schools in the countryside of the State of São Paulo, took part in this study. By applying an ethnographic qualitative approach, two sessions of semi-structured interviews were conducted with every teacher and one session with every manager, in addition to participant observations emerged from school events that had the presence of the family, and the documentary analysis of the political pedagogical project of these institutions. Interviews were voice-recorded and transcribed in full; participant observations were written in field diaries; and documents were collected with the managers. The data analysis was done according to the Thematic Content Analysis. The results pointed to several difficulties which are posed in the school-family relationship, contributing to prejudgment and generalization upon the problems faced in school routine. Participant observations showed that mostly educators do not welcome family, disclosing a certain distance between them, where parents take a position of spectators, while educators conduct their meetings. Meanwhile, we noticed the creation of strategies by teachers and managers to reverse this situation, in addition to the development of a positive attitude in the way they relate with families, promoting a friendly and collaborative environment that benefits the teaching and learning process for children and teenagers; once the personal features of the school team may influence this relation, it means, those who are more patient, caring and comprehensive reported that they have never experienced problems with family members, and that they feel comfort when they come to school, because they evaluate their relationship as egalitarian and volunteer to participate and collaborate with what it is needed. These professionals show to be available to family not only in pre-established time, but also according to everyones need. We also noted that praising the students might increase the bound of the teacher with the family, because teachers that use this resource, instead of complaining about their students, received more support from parents or legal guardian. It does not mean to not approach problems, but reverse the way they are conveyed, highlighting childrens positive aspects with the aim of also strengthening their self-esteem. Thus, it is possible to say that an effective school-family relationship is achievable, since there is a change in the schools attitude capable of empowering parents and legal guardians

Thesis advisor: Thomas O'Hare / Domestic violence is a widespread social problem impacting an estimated 6.2 million women in the United States each year (Department of Justice, 2008). The purpose of this study was to determine the existence, prevalence, and degree of disparity in prosecution and sentencing based on domestic violence status, victim-offender characteristics, and victim-offender relationship. The study specifically looked at cases of assault and battery, which is the most prevalent type of offense in domestic violence (Buzawa, Buzawa, and Stark, 2012; Payne & Wermeling, 2009). This study utilized simple random sampling, involved an archival analysis of court records, and examined a ten-year period (2000-2010) at Salem District Court in Essex County, Massachusetts. This investigation found that the likelihood of a case not being prosecuted was affected by whether or not it was a domestic violence incident. Fifty-five percent of domestic violence cases resulted in dismissal, while only 45% of the non-domestic violence cases were dismissed. If prosecuted, 84% of domestic violence cases resulted in a suspended sentence, while only 21% of the non-domestic violence cases that were charged resulted in a suspended sentence. The results also showed that the degree of social closeness between a victim and offender influences the likelihood that a case will be prosecuted. For instance, an offender who assaults a family member or an acquaintance is more likely to be prosecuted than one who assaults an intimate partner. In addition, among prosecuted cases, domestic violence offenses resulted in shorter sentences and less severe sanctions relative to other offenses. The most significant implication of this study is that domestic violence victims continue to receive unequal treatment by the criminal justice system. Policy makers and those in the advocacy field can utilize this information to improve the prosecutorial and judicial response to domestic violence and to better guide victims through the judicial process. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2014. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Social Work. / Discipline: Social Work.

A paixão, os relacionamentos extraconjugais e o casamento são temas interligados que instigam os homens desde os tempos remotos. A paixão apresenta como característica principal a experiência excessiva e é difícil de ser controlada pela razão. Será abordado neste trabalho o conceito de amor para esclarecer que a paixão amorosa possui uma estrutura que se diferencia das demais modalidades de amor. A paixão insere o indivíduo em uma vivência estrondosa e tem como característica elementar a ativação da criatividade e do desejo. O objetivo do trabalho é verificar por meio de um estudo comparativo entre pessoas casadas e pessoas casadas vivendo uma relação extraconjugal se as últimas apresentam maiores índices nas manifestações de distresse, expressão de afetos, impulsividade, propensão ao risco e busca de sensações. Para isso foram acompanhados 40 (quarenta) adultos entre 25 (vinte e cinco) e 60 (sessenta) anos, casados, de ambos os sexos, sendo 25 (vinte) deles vivendo uma relação extraconjugal, e outros 20 (vinte) que não vivenciavam relação extraconjugal. Foram utilizados os seguintes instrumentos de pesquisa: Escala do amor apaixonado (Passionate Love Scale), Escala de tipos de apego adulto, Avaliação de Classe Social-Pelotas, Mental Health Inventory (MHI), Escala de Alexitimia de Toronto, Escala de Propensão ao Risco Específico (Epre), Escala Barrat de Impulsividade (Barrat Impulsivity Scale), Inventário de Busca de Sensações de Arnett. Os resultados dos dois grupos (casados em relacionamento extraconjugal e casados sem relacionamento extraconjugal) foram comparados estatisticamente. Os dados foram analisados pelo teste não paramétrico de Mann-Whitney. A análise de resultados permitiu verificar que: (1) pessoas casados vivendo uma relação extraconjugal não estão comprometidas em termos de psicopatologia; (2) estão em busca de sensações; (3) não há padrão de apego diferente nos dois grupos analisados; (4) as pessoas têm consciência de que transgridem as normas sociais e refletem sobre isso; (5) para viver essa relação transgressora essas pessoas têm como característica assumir riscos; (6) os casados em relação extraconjugal estão buscando algo mais idealizado e mais duradouro enquanto afeto. No entanto, compensam menos com outras coisas e não se apresentam impulsivos. Conclui-se que não existem diferenças na vivencia da paixão entre os grupos com e sem relação extraconjugal no que se refere às suas características. O grupo de pessoas com relação extraconjugal não apresentou nenhum comprometimento psíquico ou funcional. Portanto, as pessoas vivendo relação extraconjugal não estão comprometidas em termos de psicopatologia, não se apresentam impulsivas e nem estão em busca de sensações. Entretanto, podem estar, simplesmente, em busca de completude e de satisfação nem sempre presentes nos relacionamentos institucionalizados / Passion, extramarital relationships, and marriage are intertwined themes that have instigated men since ancient times. Passion presents as its main characteristic excessive experience and is difficult to be controlled by reason. It will be approached in this thesis the concept of love to clarify that the passionate love has a structure that differs from the other modalities of love. Passion insert the individual into a thundering experience and has as na elementary characteristic the activation of creativity and desire. The objective of this study is to verify by means of a comparative study between married and married people living an extramarital relationship if the latter present higher indexes in the manifestations of distress, affection expression, impulsivity, risk propensity and sensation search. 40 (forty) adults were followed between 25 (twenty-five) and 60 (sixty) years of age, married, of both sexes, 25 (twenty) of whom were living in an extramarital relationship, and 20 (twenty) not living na extramarital relationship. The following research tools were used: Passionate Love Scale, Adult Attachment Type Scale, Social-Pelotas Classification, Mental Health Inventory (MHI), Toronto Alexithymia Scale, Risk Propensity Scale Specific (Epre), Barrat Impulsivity Scale, Arnett Sensation Search Inventory. The results of the two groups (married in extramarital relationship and married without extramarital relationship) were compared statistically. The data were analyzed by the non-parametric Mann-Whitney test. The analysis of the results allowed to verify that: (1) married persons living in an extramarital relationship are not compromised in terms of psychopathology; (2) are in search of sensations; (3) there is no different pattern of attachment in the two groups analyzed; (4) people are aware that they violate social norms and reflect on it; (5) to live this transgressive relationship these people have the characteristic to take risks; (6) those married in extramarital affairs are seeking something more idealized and more enduring as affection. However, they compensate less with other things and are not impulsive. It is concluded that there are no differences in the experience of the passion between the groups with and without extramarital relationship in relation to their characteristics. The group of people with extramarital relationship did not present any psychic or functional impairment. Therefore, people living in extramarital relationships are not compromised in terms of psychopathology, are not impulsive and are not in search of sensations. However, they may simply be seeking completeness and satisfaction not always present in institutionalized relationships

Ao longo dos anos, com o principal intuito de manter seus clientes, as organizações têm aplicado diversas abordagens para aproximar-se dos mesmos por meio do cultivo de relacionamentos lucrativos e duradouros. De que modo tais práticas poderiam ser influenciadas pelo uso de alta tecnologia dentro de um cenário cada vez mais competitivo? A fim de elucidar esta questão, este estudo teve como objetivo principal analisar os impactos da Internet sobre as práticas de Marketing de Relacionamento e suas implicações em empresas atuantes no mercado consumidor. Ao realizar um retrospecto teórico sobre o Marketing de Relacionamento, a Internet, e os resultados das interações entre ambos observados por uma diversidade de autores, foi possível angariar subsídios para pesquisar e compreender as práticas de algumas empresas no Brasil. Assim, por meio de pesquisa exploratória na forma de estudo de multi-casos, identificaram-se nas empresas pesquisadas variados níveis de evolução das práticas voltadas ao objetivo de perpetuar o relacionamento com clientes, aproveitando-se das características sem precedentes da Internet. Observou-se um amplo espectro de medidas, conforme o setor de atividade da empresa, a natureza de seus produtos/serviços, o seu grau de compreensão e assimilação do conceito de relacionamento, a sua orientação estratégica e disponibilidade de recursos, além das expectativas e do nível de familiaridade de seus clientes com a tecnologia. Este estudo sinaliza, por fim, uma compreensão e uma receptividade das empresas às diversas oportunidades de crescimento geradas pelo emprego bem sucedido deste ferramental. / In order to maintain customers in their portfolios, organizations have developed several strategies to approach them by building long term and profitable relationships. But how such strategies would be influenced by the use of high technology tools? To find answers to this question, this study aimed to analyze the impacts of Internet on Relationship Marketing practices and related implications to the consumer market companies. By developing a comprehensive theoretical research on Relationship Marketing, Internet and the their interactions, it was able to organize key knowledge to understand the current practices adopted by companies in Brazil. Therefore, by developing an exploratory research through a multiple cases study, it was identified distinct evolution levels in customer relationship practices of the sample companies which have already taken advantages of Internet. It was observed a large range of results depending on company industry, type of products/services, understanding level of relationship concept, strategic orientation, available resources, customer expectations and technology familiarities. Despite the observed different stages of Internet usage in Marketing practices, this study demonstrates the clear awareness and the interest of companies in capturing the growth opportunities allowed by Internet tools.

L’évolution de la formation en soins infirmiers et son inscription dans un processus d’universitarisation, depuis le programme de juillet 2009, permet de questionner l’alternance du système dans une approche par compétences. Ce nouveau partenariat, entre les Institut de Formation en Soins Infirmiers, les terrains de stage et l’Université nécessite de clarifier un maillage complexe. De nouveaux dispositifs, tels que le portfolio et les analyses de pratique, participent d’un dialogue intersubjectif pour accompagner l’étudiant dans la construction de ses compétences. Au-delà de se former pour un métier à l’humain, il peut se trans-former pour un métier humain de la Relation, à travers les enjeux d’alternances du système et ses en-jeux d’alternances, dans une Relation réciproque et récursive qui participe d’une co-construction du parcours et d’une co-émergence de chacun. Dans ce contexte, nous avons fait le choix d’interroger le parcours de l’étudiant en formation, en tant que per-cursus, voyage initiatique dans une approche pératologique. L’étudiant se trans-forme entre des attendus professionnels et des possibles singuliers, dans un parcours singulier interrogé à travers la symbolique des trois labyrinthes : unicursal, Irrweg et rhizome. Ainsi par son processus d’énaction, avec une part de mètis, il peut être Dédale à la fois architecte, maître et artisan de ses labyrinthes en formation. L’étudiant peut alors se construire et interagir dans une Relation aux autres et à soi, traversant ses dédalités. Pour interroger ce parcours, nous avons mené des entretiens non directifs auprès de quatre néo-diplômés en soins infirmiers. Ces entretiens sont traités selon deux modalités, une analyse de contenu catégorielle et une approche statistique. Les principaux résultats sont interprétés en termes de dédalités et de parcours labyrinthique, entre Mouvements, Espaces et Relations. En tant que praticien/chercheur, nous interrogeons notre implication, dans une démarche subjective dans laquelle notre posture de praticien enrichit notre posture de chercheur, qui enrichit notre posture de … traversant notre propre parcours singulier, lui aussi interrogé dans ce travail. / The changes in nurse training and its inclusion as part of the university system since July 2009 allow for a reassessment of the system of alternation in its skills-based approach. This new partnership, between the Nursing School, the student internship placements, and the University, requires clarification of this complex network. New features, such as the portfolio and practice analysis, are part of an intersubjective dialogue to help students build their skills. They can do more than train to join a human-oriented profession, they can also transform themselves for a human-oriented profession based on Relationships, through the challenges of alternations in the system and challenges of alternations in a reciprocal and recurrent Relationship which participates in a co-construction of the training path and the co-emergence of each student. In this context, we chose to consider the student’s training path in terms of a percursus, a voyage of initiation with a peratological approach. The student becomes transformed between his professional aspirations and singular possibilities, in a unique path examined through the symbolism of 3 labyrinths: unicursal, Irrweg, rhizome. In this manner, through this process of enaction, with a part of mètis, he could be Daedalus, at once the architect, master, and artisan of his own complex training path. In this way the student can construct himself, and interact in a relationship with others and himself, as he navigates this dédalités. In order to examine this training path, we conducted non-directive interviews with four newly graduated nurses. These interviews were carried out according to two formats: a content analysis by categories and a statistical approach. The main results are interpreted in terms of dédalités and labyrinthine paths, between Movements, Spaces, and Relationships. As practitioners/researchers, our own involvement was called into question, in a subjective process in which our role as a practitioner enriched our role as a researcher, which enriched our role as… navigating our own unique path, which was also called into question in this work.

Nowadays, an increasing amount of media platforms provide the users with opportunities for sharing their opinions about products, companies or people. In order to support users accessing opinion-based information, and to support engineers building systems that require opinion-aware reasoning, intelligent opinion-aware tools and techniques are needed. This thesis contributes methods and technology for opinion-aware information management from two different perspectives, namely document summarisation and knowledge representation. Document summarisation has been widely investigated as a mean to reduce information overload. This thesis focuses on statistical models for summarisation, with a particular attention to divergence-based models, within the context of opinions. Firstly, topic-based document summarisation is addressed, contributing a study on divergence-based document to summary similarity and the definition of a novel algorithm for summarisation based on sentence removal. Secondly, summarisation models are tailored to opinion-oriented content and shown to be useful also when exploited for different tasks such as sentiment classification. Thirdly, summarisation models are applied to knowledge-oriented data, in order to tackle tasks such as entity summarisation. The comprehensive task addressed is the knowledge-based opinion-aware summarisation of content (free text, facts). This thesis also contributes a broad discussion on knowledge representation of opinions. A thorough study on how to model opinions using traditional techniques, such as Entity-Relationship (ER) modelling, underlines that a high-level, opinion-aware layer of conceptual modelling is useful since it hides away implementation details. A conceptual and logical knowledge representation methodology for modelling opinions is hence proposed, with the purpose of guiding engineers towards the use of best practices during the development of sentiment analysis applications. Specifically, an extension of the traditional ER modelling and the definition of an automatic mapping procedure, to translate opinion-aware components of the conceptual model into a relational model, help achieving a clear separation between conceptual and logical modelling. The mapping procedure yields an automatic and replicable methodology to design applications which require opinion-aware reasoning.

This thesis explores how the owners of 21 small hotels in a major UK resort perceived and experienced emotionalities surrounding the host-guest relationship, with a particular focus on employment of emotion management. The experiences of the owners of 5 large family hotels and the manager of a large corporate hotel were also captured in this study to provide an additional complementary ‘layer’ of data. I employed narrative inquiry using semi-structured interviews to gain insights into how participants constructed and negotiated the host-guest relationship through emotion management. I was also interested in uncovering the wider emotionalities of contextual influences that might impact on that relationship, such as hoteliers’ motivations and values. Adopting an inductive approach, my research was primarily informed by my interpretation of the concepts of ‘emotion management’ and the ‘host-guest relationship’. Further, and consistent with this cross-disciplinary approach, the lenses of ‘power’ and ‘identity’ enhanced my understanding of research participants’ experiences, particularly since these phenomena themselves play a role in the manifestation of both ‘emotion’ and ‘hospitality’. Whilst emotion management in its pecuniary form, as emotional labour, has been well documented in the corporate hotel sector, its manifestation in the smaller setting has been less clear. What I discovered in this study was that owners of small hotels employ an intriguing mix of emotion management strategies within a range of host roles adopted to establish and manage the boundaries of the host-guest relationship. An over-arching theme that emerged from the study was owners’ concerns about guest suitability, particularly with regard to the ‘dirty work’ and/or ‘risky work’ they could present. A key influencing factor here was that the hotel also constituted the owner’s ‘home.’ For the ‘suitable ‘guest, hoteliers could demonstrate considerable scope for hospitableness through philanthropic and personalized emotion management. Hence what seemed to emerge was an image of the small hotel owner as an autonomous flexible emotion manager, relatively free to engage in human connectedness with the guest and capable of eschewing the strictures of customer sovereignty that can envelop corporate counterparts. Host-guest relationships that emerged generally appeared to satisfy both parties and were often long lasting, even taking on the status of ‘friendships,’ where host and guest engaged in reciprocal appreciation that seemed ‘natural’ and spontaneous.

The aim was to elucidate the social construction of chronic pain as a cause of work absence in the UK, focusing on negotiation of sickness certification and return to work, in the context of recent policies to tackle rising sick-listing rates, including a national educational programme about the health benefits of work, and introduction of the ‘fit note’. Following a literature review, two qualitative studies were conducted from a symbolic interactionist perspective. The first comprised semi-structured interviews with doctors and chronic pain patients, leading to a second study in which employers and employees with chronic pain were interviewed. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed according to constructivist grounded theory principles. The first study revealed tensions in the doctor-patient relationship as the process of sickness certification was negotiated. The indeterminacy of chronic pain rendered the biomedical approach to diagnosis and assessment of capability for work problematic, while a shift to the psychosocial model could generate feelings of invalidation in patients. A wide range of moral and socio-cultural factors was invoked by doctors and patients to contest sick-listing decisions. The second study identified difficulties that can emerge when chronic pain patients return to work. Employees discussed how managers failed to understand their problems or make sustained adaptations; employers reported difficulty reconciling the needs of employees with organisational imperatives and argued that employees and doctors colluded in sanctioning low resilience. All stakeholder groups supported the fit note’s focus on capacity not incapacity, but were skeptical about whether it would surmount the tensions and difficulties that arise in sickness certification and return to work for chronic pain patients. Struggles for meaning and construction of identities are difficult for policy to address, but deeper understanding of the processes behind them and rich accounts of stakeholders’ views, may nudge the system towards more appropriate responses.