We have analyzed the application of decision analysis and risk management tools to solve practical problems associated with Climate Change and Risk Detection in the financial services industry. Geoengineering, which is described as an intentional modification of earth’s environment to mitigate the harmful effects of climate change, is evaluated as a policy alternative using the aforementioned tools. We compared the performance of geoengineering with optimal emission controls and a business as usual strategy under various scenarios and found that geoengineering passes the cost benefit test for a majority of the scenarios. We modified the DICE model (Nordhaus, 2008) and used it to evaluate the performance of different environmental policies. Our results show geoengineering as a potential alternative to solve climate change problems. Through this application, and by comparing our findings against Goes et al. (2011), we showed that how framing of the decision problem can lead to completely different results. We also analyzed the application of risk management in the financial services industry. The industry faces three main types of risk: Market risk, Credit risk and Operational risk. Market risk is managed using a diversified portfolio, derivatives, insurance and contracts. More challenging is the task of preventing credit and fraud risk. Statistical models used by the industry to detect and prevent these types of risk are explained in the thesis. / text

Diversos fatores de risco biológicos e ambientais estão envolvidos na trajetória de desenvolvimento de bebês pré-termo. O presente estudo teve por objetivos avaliar os indicadores de risco ou atraso para problemas no desenvolvimento de bebês nascidos pré-termo e baixo peso, focalizando o desenvolvimento neurocomportamental na fase neonatal, desenvolvimento pessoal-social, linguagem e motor nos oito primeiros meses de idade pós-natal; identificar o melhor modelo de predição para os indicadores de risco ou atraso na trajetória de desenvolvimento dos bebês, baseado nas variáveis biológicas e socioeconômicas; analisar a trajetória de desenvolvimento dos bebês nascidos pré-termo por meio do acompanhamento longitudinal desde o período neonatal até oito meses de idade cronológica corrigida (ICC); avaliar os parâmetros psicométricos de validade concorrente do Teste de Denver II e avaliação do desenvolvimento motor e validade preditiva do NAPI e Teste de Denver II. A amostra foi constituída por 190 bebês nascidos pré-termo com baixo peso ao nascimento, provenientes da UTIN do Hospital Materno Infantil em Goiânia (GO). Na avaliação utilizou-se os instrumentos Neurobehavioral Assessment of Preterm Infant (NAPI) na fase neonatal, Teste de Triagem do Desenvolvimento de Denver II entre 2 e 8 meses de ICC, Test of Infant Motor Performance (TIMP) entre 2 e 4 meses de ICC, Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS), entre 4 e 8 meses de ICC. O procedimento de coleta envolveu visitas à unidade neonatal de médio risco para avaliação dos bebês na fase neonatal ainda no período de internação hospitalar e avaliações subseqüentes de seguimento no Ambulatório de Alto Risco do referido Hospital. Os dados de caracterização das crianças foram analisados por meio de estatística descritiva. Na análise de comparação entre grupos foram utilizados os testes Qui-quadrado e t de Student. Na análise de predição foram realizados testes de regressão logística. Em todas as análises realizadas foi adotado o nível de significância de 5%. Os resultados demonstraram que 31% dos bebês apresentaram atrasos no desenvolvimento neurocomportamental na fase neonatal. Em relação ao desenvolvimento global avaliado pelo teste de Denver II, 51% revelou risco para problemas entre 2 e 4 meses de ICC, 43% entre 4 e 6 meses de ICC e 33% entre 6 e 8 meses de ICC Quanto ao desenvolvimento motor, 48% dos bebês apresentaram atraso entre 2 e 4 meses de ICC, 47% entre 4 e 6 meses de ICC e 36% entre 6 e 8 meses de ICC. Ao comparar o desempenho dos bebês nas idades cronológica e corrigida, verificou-se a necessidade de realizar a correção da idade em todas as faixas etárias avaliadas. Verificou-se que fatores de risco tais como: peso <1.500g, idade gestacional 32 semanas, alto risco clínico neonatal, presença de hemorragias intracranianas, aleitamento materno artificial, baixa escolaridade do chefe da família, maior densidade de pessoas na residência, número reduzido de cômodos na casa e nível sócio-econômico baixo foram as principais variáveis de maior influência no risco e atraso no desenvolvimento. Os bebês acompanhados longitudinalmente apresentaram 24% de atraso na avaliação neurocomportamental na fase neonatal e manutenção da taxa de risco no desenvolvimento global e atraso no desenvolvimento motor entre 2 e 8 meses de ICC. Quanto ao estudo da validade concorrente, verificou-se que o Teste de Denver II apresentou concordância de 64% com o teste TIMP entre 2 e 4 meses de ICC, 89% com a escala AIMS entre 4 e 6 meses de ICC e 82% com a escala AIMS entre 6 e 8 meses de ICC. Em relação a validade preditiva, verificou-se que a avaliação NAPI apresentou associações com o desenvolvimento motor e global e o teste de Denver apresentou concordância 52% nas faixas etárias avaliadas pela AIMS. / Several biological and environmental risk factors influence the development of preterm infants. The objective of this study was to assess risk factors for development delay in preterm infants born with low birth weight, focusing on the following domains: neurobehavioral achievements in the neonatal phase, as well as personal-social, language and motor developments in the first 8 months of postnatal age. We also aimed to: identify the better predictive model for development, based on the biological and socioeconomic variables measured in our sample of low birth weight preterm; to longitudinally follow and to describe the development of these infants during the first 8 months of corrected chronological age (CA); to test the psychometric parameters and to estimate the predictive value of the Neurobehavioral Assessment of Preterm Infant (NAPI) and Denver II tests (DDST-II), in assessing the motor development of the infants. Our sample consisted of 190 preterm infants (< 37 weeks of gestational age) and with low birth weight (<2,500 grams) seen during their first year of age, born and initially assisted at a neonatal specialty center at the Infant Maternity Hospital of Goiania (GO), Brazil. At the neonatal phase, the infants were assessed using the NAPI test; from 2-4 months of CA, we used the Test of Infant Motor Performance (TIMP); from 4-6 months and 6-8 months of CA, we used, the DDST-II; from 6-8 months of CA, we used the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS). Initial assessments were performed in the neonatal unit of intermediate risk (while the infants were hospitalized); subsequent assessments were conducted in our outpatient hospital clinic (ambulatory) for high risk infants. Descriptive statistics included mean, range, and standard deviation for continuous variables, and frequency and percentage for categorical variables. The in-between group comparisons were conducted using the Chi-square Test or Student T Test. For predictive assessments, we used logistical regression. The significance level for each test was set at 5%. Over 31% of the infants in our sample showed signs of impaired neurobehavioral development in the neonatal phase. Infants assessed from 2-4 months of CA had 51% of risk for developmental problems according to the DDST-II; 48% obtained abnormal classifications in the TIMP. Similarly, 43 % of the infants were at risk in the DDST-II, and 47% had abnormal motor development according to the AIMS at 4-6 months of CA. At 6-8 months of CA, 33% of the infants were at risk as per the DDST-II, and 36% of the infants had abnormal motor development according to the AIMS. When comparing the development of the infants as per the chronological and corrected age, it became evident the needs for correcting the age in all assessed age-ranges. The main variables imposing risk and influencing the development of our sample were: weight <1.500g; gestational age 32 weeks; high neonatal clinical risk; presence of intracranial hemorrhage; lack of natural breast feeding; low levels of education by the household head; number of individuals living in the household; reduced number of rooms in the household; low socio-economic level. The 80 infants that were longitudinally followed had 24% of delay, as measured by the neurobehavioral assessment conducted in the neonatal phase, and mantained the risk levels for global development, as well as deleyed in motor development between 2 to 8 months of CA. Regarding our concurrent validty study, the DDST-II test showed 64% of agreement with the TIMP test between 2 and 4 months of CA; the agreement with AIMS betwen 4 and 6 months of CA was 89%, and from 6-8 months of CA it was 82%. Regarding the predictive values, the NAPI assessment for motor and global developments agreeed with the DDST-II test in 52%, in the age ranges measured by the AIMS.

Efter regelbundna diskussioner om huruvida autentisering med statiska lösenord är ett bra tillvägagångssätt växte en idé fram om att undersöka hur människor hanterar sina autentiseringsuppgifter. Detta arbete tar sig an uppgiften att kartlägga svagheter i samband med autentisering vad gäller metoden, samt människors säkerhetsmedvetande och risktagande. Under studien genomfördes en enkätundersökning där 100 personer med varierande ålder och sysselsättning svarade fullständigt. Vi frågade hur de värderar, skapar och hanterar lösenord. De svarande fick även ta ställning till ett antal påståenden, vad gäller deras säkerhetsmedvetande och risktagande i samband med autentisering.Resultatet från studien visar att en majoritet återanvänder lösenord i mycket hög grad. Det framkommer också att en övervägande majoritet använder sig av memorering som huvudsaklig teknik för hantering av lösenord. Resultatet visar även att de svarande i hög utsträckning tycker lösenordets komplexitet är viktigare än dess längd. Dessutom kände sig endast 22% av de svarande ej trygga med ett lösenord som är 8 tecken långt, vilket är en låg procentandel eftersom 8 tecken är för svagt idag. Ämnet är dock komplext, en kombination av längd och komplexitet är önskvärt för att skapa ett starkt lösenord, samtidigt som lösenorden skall vara unika för varje enskild tjänst. Att använda memorering som sin huvudsakliga metod är dessvärre i dessa fall ej applicerbart. En bättre strategi är att använda sig av exempelvis en lösenordshanterare eller att memorera en ramsa. Exempelvis ta förstabokstaven från varje ord i en mening, Min katt heter Glenn han har 3 ben Vit nos &amp; Rött koppel vilket kan resultera i MkhGhh3bVn&amp;Rk. En bra början för att förbättra sin lösenordshantering är att först och främst värdera sina autentiseringsuppgifter som värdefulla, läsa på om ämnet, samt därefter ta fram en egen strategi som är lämplig. / After regular discussions about whether authentication with static passwords is a good approach, an idea emerged to investigate how people handle their authentication credentials. This report tackles the task of mapping weaknesses associated with authentication regarding the method, as well as human security awareness and risk taking. During the study, a survey was conducted in which 100 people completely responded, all with varying age and employment. We asked how they value, create, and manage their passwords. The respondents were also tasked to take a position on a number of allegations, regarding their security awareness and risk-taking in connection with authentication.The result of the study shows that the majority reuse passwords to a very high extent. It also appears that a large majority uses memorization as the maintechnique for password management. The result also shows that respondents to a great extent think the complexity of the password is more important than its length. In addition, only 22% of respondents felt unsafe with a password that is 8 characters long, which is a low percentage since 8 characters are too weak today.Though the subject is complex, a combination of length and complexity is desirable to create a strong password. In addition to that the passwords must be unique to each service. Using memorization as its main method is unfortunately not applicable in these cases. A better strategy is to use, for example, a password manager or to generate a memorandum chant. For example, take the first letter of each word in one sentence, My cat is called Glenn he has 3 legs White nose &amp; Redlink which can result in McicGhh3lWn&amp;Rl. A good start to improve one’s password management is to firstly evaluate authentication credentials as valuable, read upon the subject, and then develop a strategy that is appropriate to one’s needs.

Diversos fatores de risco biológicos e ambientais estão envolvidos na trajetória de desenvolvimento de bebês pré-termo. O presente estudo teve por objetivos avaliar os indicadores de risco ou atraso para problemas no desenvolvimento de bebês nascidos pré-termo e baixo peso, focalizando o desenvolvimento neurocomportamental na fase neonatal, desenvolvimento pessoal-social, linguagem e motor nos oito primeiros meses de idade pós-natal; identificar o melhor modelo de predição para os indicadores de risco ou atraso na trajetória de desenvolvimento dos bebês, baseado nas variáveis biológicas e socioeconômicas; analisar a trajetória de desenvolvimento dos bebês nascidos pré-termo por meio do acompanhamento longitudinal desde o período neonatal até oito meses de idade cronológica corrigida (ICC); avaliar os parâmetros psicométricos de validade concorrente do Teste de Denver II e avaliação do desenvolvimento motor e validade preditiva do NAPI e Teste de Denver II. A amostra foi constituída por 190 bebês nascidos pré-termo com baixo peso ao nascimento, provenientes da UTIN do Hospital Materno Infantil em Goiânia (GO). Na avaliação utilizou-se os instrumentos Neurobehavioral Assessment of Preterm Infant (NAPI) na fase neonatal, Teste de Triagem do Desenvolvimento de Denver II entre 2 e 8 meses de ICC, Test of Infant Motor Performance (TIMP) entre 2 e 4 meses de ICC, Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS), entre 4 e 8 meses de ICC. O procedimento de coleta envolveu visitas à unidade neonatal de médio risco para avaliação dos bebês na fase neonatal ainda no período de internação hospitalar e avaliações subseqüentes de seguimento no Ambulatório de Alto Risco do referido Hospital. Os dados de caracterização das crianças foram analisados por meio de estatística descritiva. Na análise de comparação entre grupos foram utilizados os testes Qui-quadrado e t de Student. Na análise de predição foram realizados testes de regressão logística. Em todas as análises realizadas foi adotado o nível de significância de 5%. Os resultados demonstraram que 31% dos bebês apresentaram atrasos no desenvolvimento neurocomportamental na fase neonatal. Em relação ao desenvolvimento global avaliado pelo teste de Denver II, 51% revelou risco para problemas entre 2 e 4 meses de ICC, 43% entre 4 e 6 meses de ICC e 33% entre 6 e 8 meses de ICC Quanto ao desenvolvimento motor, 48% dos bebês apresentaram atraso entre 2 e 4 meses de ICC, 47% entre 4 e 6 meses de ICC e 36% entre 6 e 8 meses de ICC. Ao comparar o desempenho dos bebês nas idades cronológica e corrigida, verificou-se a necessidade de realizar a correção da idade em todas as faixas etárias avaliadas. Verificou-se que fatores de risco tais como: peso <1.500g, idade gestacional 32 semanas, alto risco clínico neonatal, presença de hemorragias intracranianas, aleitamento materno artificial, baixa escolaridade do chefe da família, maior densidade de pessoas na residência, número reduzido de cômodos na casa e nível sócio-econômico baixo foram as principais variáveis de maior influência no risco e atraso no desenvolvimento. Os bebês acompanhados longitudinalmente apresentaram 24% de atraso na avaliação neurocomportamental na fase neonatal e manutenção da taxa de risco no desenvolvimento global e atraso no desenvolvimento motor entre 2 e 8 meses de ICC. Quanto ao estudo da validade concorrente, verificou-se que o Teste de Denver II apresentou concordância de 64% com o teste TIMP entre 2 e 4 meses de ICC, 89% com a escala AIMS entre 4 e 6 meses de ICC e 82% com a escala AIMS entre 6 e 8 meses de ICC. Em relação a validade preditiva, verificou-se que a avaliação NAPI apresentou associações com o desenvolvimento motor e global e o teste de Denver apresentou concordância 52% nas faixas etárias avaliadas pela AIMS. / Several biological and environmental risk factors influence the development of preterm infants. The objective of this study was to assess risk factors for development delay in preterm infants born with low birth weight, focusing on the following domains: neurobehavioral achievements in the neonatal phase, as well as personal-social, language and motor developments in the first 8 months of postnatal age. We also aimed to: identify the better predictive model for development, based on the biological and socioeconomic variables measured in our sample of low birth weight preterm; to longitudinally follow and to describe the development of these infants during the first 8 months of corrected chronological age (CA); to test the psychometric parameters and to estimate the predictive value of the Neurobehavioral Assessment of Preterm Infant (NAPI) and Denver II tests (DDST-II), in assessing the motor development of the infants. Our sample consisted of 190 preterm infants (< 37 weeks of gestational age) and with low birth weight (<2,500 grams) seen during their first year of age, born and initially assisted at a neonatal specialty center at the Infant Maternity Hospital of Goiania (GO), Brazil. At the neonatal phase, the infants were assessed using the NAPI test; from 2-4 months of CA, we used the Test of Infant Motor Performance (TIMP); from 4-6 months and 6-8 months of CA, we used, the DDST-II; from 6-8 months of CA, we used the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS). Initial assessments were performed in the neonatal unit of intermediate risk (while the infants were hospitalized); subsequent assessments were conducted in our outpatient hospital clinic (ambulatory) for high risk infants. Descriptive statistics included mean, range, and standard deviation for continuous variables, and frequency and percentage for categorical variables. The in-between group comparisons were conducted using the Chi-square Test or Student T Test. For predictive assessments, we used logistical regression. The significance level for each test was set at 5%. Over 31% of the infants in our sample showed signs of impaired neurobehavioral development in the neonatal phase. Infants assessed from 2-4 months of CA had 51% of risk for developmental problems according to the DDST-II; 48% obtained abnormal classifications in the TIMP. Similarly, 43 % of the infants were at risk in the DDST-II, and 47% had abnormal motor development according to the AIMS at 4-6 months of CA. At 6-8 months of CA, 33% of the infants were at risk as per the DDST-II, and 36% of the infants had abnormal motor development according to the AIMS. When comparing the development of the infants as per the chronological and corrected age, it became evident the needs for correcting the age in all assessed age-ranges. The main variables imposing risk and influencing the development of our sample were: weight <1.500g; gestational age 32 weeks; high neonatal clinical risk; presence of intracranial hemorrhage; lack of natural breast feeding; low levels of education by the household head; number of individuals living in the household; reduced number of rooms in the household; low socio-economic level. The 80 infants that were longitudinally followed had 24% of delay, as measured by the neurobehavioral assessment conducted in the neonatal phase, and mantained the risk levels for global development, as well as deleyed in motor development between 2 to 8 months of CA. Regarding our concurrent validty study, the DDST-II test showed 64% of agreement with the TIMP test between 2 and 4 months of CA; the agreement with AIMS betwen 4 and 6 months of CA was 89%, and from 6-8 months of CA it was 82%. Regarding the predictive values, the NAPI assessment for motor and global developments agreeed with the DDST-II test in 52%, in the age ranges measured by the AIMS.

Thèse de doctorat présenté en vue de l'obtention du doctorat en psychologie - recherche intervention, option psychologie clinique (Ph.D) / Les violences sexistes et sexuelles constituent un enjeu majeur dans les universités et depuis #MeToo, plusieurs mobilisations ont émergé à travers le monde pour les dénoncer (Tadros et Edwards, 2020). Le sujet des violences sexuelles subies par les étudiants de l’international a reçu trop peu d’attention, et ce, en dépit de décennies de recherches sur ces violences et sur les expériences de cette population (Lee, 2018). Ces étudiants sont d’ailleurs considérés comme étant « particulièrement vulnérables », notamment en raison de caractéristiques individuelles (p. ex. origine ethnique) (Bonistall Postel, 2020). Toutefois, cette perspective peut renforcer des stéréotypes à l’égard de cette population et donner lieu à des recommandations pour la prévention qui sont inutiles, voire dommageables (Hutcheson, 2020 ; Todorova et al., 2022). De plus, elle néglige à la fois les inégalités reliées au statut et celles associées à d’autres positions sociales (p. ex. le genre, l’identité sexuelle). Le statut d’étudiant international implique des restrictions en matière de droits, de ressources et de privilèges, entrainant ainsi d’importantes conséquences sur la sécurité de ces étudiants (Marginson et al., 2010). Dénominateur commun d’une population très hétérogène, le statut d’étudiant international peut également amplifier des enjeux auxquels les étudiants nationaux sont aussi confrontés (p. ex. sexisme, racisme, homophobie) (Marginson et al., 2012). Adopter une approche intersectionnelle permet de comprendre comment ces enjeux s’entrecroisent et se renforcent mutuellement. En quoi les expériences de ces étudiants diffèrent-elles des autres ? Cette population est-elle particulièrement à risque ? Comment réduire ce risque ? L’état des connaissances actuelles, tant au Canada qu’à l’international, ne permet ni de répondre à ces questionnements ni d’orienter adéquatement les efforts de prévention et d’intervention. Cette recherche doctorale répond à ces lacunes par le biais trois études. La première étude a comparé les expériences de violences sexuelles des populations étudiantes universitaires (nationale/internationale), en examinant les formes de ces violences (p. ex. harcèlement sexuel), leur contexte, leurs conséquences et leur dévoilement. La deuxième étude a analysé le risque associé au statut d’étudiante internationale à travers le temps et examiné les intersections entre le statut et quatre facteurs de risque (p. ex. l’exposition à la maltraitance durant l’enfance). La troisième étude a identifié des mesures préventives qui permettraient de diminuer l’incidence des agressions sexuelles auprès de femmes de premier cycle. Les résultats de ces trois études révèlent que les expériences de violences sexuelles des deux populations sont généralement similaires, toutefois les étudiants de l’international rapportent une fréquence plus élevée de certaines formes de violences. Le risque associé au statut ne s’explique pas uniquement par des caractéristiques individuelles (p. ex. le genre, l’identité sexuelle, la minorité visible) ou psychologiques (p. ex. croyances et attitudes envers les agressions sexuelles, perception du risque). Les analyses intersectionnelles suggèrent que le statut d’étudiant international est associé à des effets complexes et hétérogènes. Les contributions théoriques, empiriques et pratiques de cette recherche doctorale soulignent la nécessité d’une approche intersectionnelle et multidisciplinaire. Il est nécessaire de reconnaitre que les violences sexuelles dans les universités sont un enjeu transnational et de créer des solidarités au service de luttes communes. / Gender-based sexual violence is a major concern in higher education institutions and since #MeToo, several movements have emerged around the world to condemn this issue (Tadros & Edwards, 2020). The topic of sexual violence against international students has received little attention, despite decades of research on sexual violence and on the experiences of this population (Lee, 2018). These students are seen as a "particularly vulnerable population" due to personal characteristics (e.g. ethnic origin) (Bonistall Postel, 2020). However, this perspective can reinforce stereotypes towards this population and can lead to ineffective and harmful interventions (Hutcheson, 2020; Todorova et al., 2022). Additionally, it overlooks inequalities related to student status and across other social positions (e.g., gender, sexual identity). International student status involves a restricted access to rights, resources and privileges which has significant implications for their security (Marginson et al., 2010). While a common denominator of a very heterogeneous population, international student status can also amplify issues that domestic students also face (e.g., sexism, racism, homophobia) (Marginson et al., 2012). Using an intersectional framework is necessary to understand how these issues intersect and reinforce each other. How do international students’ experiences of sexual violence differ from those of other students? Are they particularly at risk? How could this risk be reduced ? The existing body of knowledge, both in Canada and globally, is insufficient to answer these questions or to guide prevention and intervention efforts. To address these gaps, three studies were conducted in this doctoral research. The first study compared the experiences of sexual violence among university students (domestic/international), examining the type of assaults (e.g., sexual harassment), their context, their consequences, and the disclosure of events. The second study investigated the risk associated with international student status over time and examined the intersections between student status and four risk factors (e.g., exposure to childhood maltreatment). The third study identified interventions that would reduce the incidence of sexual assault among undergraduate women. The results of these three studies reveal that the experiences of sexual violence for both populations are generally similar, however international students report a higher frequency of some forms of sexual violence. The risk associated with status is not entirely explained by individual characteristics (e.g., gender, sexual identity, visible minority) or psychological dispositions (e.g., beliefs and attitudes towards sexual assault, risk perception). Intersectional analyses suggest that international student status is associated with complex and heterogeneous effects. The theoretical, empirical, and practical contributions of this doctoral research emphasize the need for an intersectional and multidisciplinary approach. It is essential to recognize that sexual violence in higher education is a transnational issue and to create solidarities to work against common struggles.