The purpose of this study is to describe if and how a seasonal based company named SkiStar, learns through the exchange of experience and knowledge. We have analyzed gathered qualitative and empirical data to explore this subject. We conducted three semi-structured group interviews with employees from the SkiStarshop division. They described their routines and procedures in SkiStarshop. The collected data was processed and analyzed through our theoretical framework. This framework consisted of research and theoretical presentations of the concepts: seasonal work, learning organization, single- and double-loop learning, mental models, shared visions and corporate amnesia. In conclusion this division, within this seasonal based company, was to some degree successful in acquiring and transmitting the employee’s knowledge and experience to next season’s employees. However, we found that the studied division’s transfer of knowledge and experience to other separate divisions within SkiStar was limited. Our final result is that this company has qualities of a learning organization with improvement potential in this same area. / Syftet med denna studie är att beskriva om och hur ett säsongsbaserat företag, SkiStar, arbetar med lärande i form av kunskaps- och erfarenhetsutbyte och hur det påverkar organisationens arbete. Vi har analyserat insamlad kvalitativ empirisk data för att svara på våra frågeställningar. Tre semistrukturerade gruppintervjuer genomfördes med anställda i SkiStar som berättade om rutiner och arbetssätt inom affärsområdet SkiStarshop. Det insamlade materialet bearbetades och analyserades mot studiens teoretiska referensram. Den utgjordes av en kunskapsöversikt och teoretisk presentation av begreppen: säsongsarbete, lärande organisation, singel- och double- loop learning, tankemodeller, gemensamma visioner och organisationsminnesförlust. Det visade sig att det studerade affärsområdet inom det säsongsbaserade företaget till viss del lyckades ta till vara på medarbetarnas kunskap och erfarenheter och överföra dessa till nästa säsong. Däremot fann vi att det studerade affärsområdets förmedling av kunskap och erfarenheter till SkiStars övriga affärsområden var begränsat. Resultatet är att vi har funnit att företaget till viss del är en lärande organisation.

Vernal pools are small, seasonally filling wetlands found throughout forests of north eastern North America. Vernal pools have been proposed as potential 'hot spots' of carbon cycling. A key component of the carbon cycle within vernal pools is the decomposition of leaf litter. I tested the hypothesis that leaf litter decomposition is more rapid within vernal pools than the adjacent upland. Leaf litter mass losses from litterbags incubated in situ within vernal pools and adjacent upland habitat were measured periodically over one year and then again after two years. The experiment was carried out at 24 separate vernal pools, over two replicate years. This is a novel degree of replication in studies of decomposition in temporary wetlands. Factors influencing decomposition, such as duration of flooding, water depth, pH, temperature, and dissolved oxygen were measured. Mass loss was greater within pools than adjacent upland after 6 months, equal after 12 months, and lower within pools than adjacent upland after 24 months. This evidence suggests that vernal pools of Central Ontario are 'hot spots' of decomposition up to 6 months, but not after 12 and 24 months. In the long term, vernal pools may reduce decomposition rates, compared to adjacent uplands.

Thesis (M.S.) -- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 2005. / Title from title screen (viewed Aug. 14, 2007). Includes bibliographical references (p. 95-106).

Arctic sea ice has undergone a dramatic transformation in recent decades, including a substantial reduction in sea ice extent in summer months. Such changes, combined with relatively recent advancements in seasonal (1-12 months) to decadal forecasting, have prompted a rapidly-growing body of research on forecasting Arctic sea ice on seasonal timescales. These forecasts are anticipated to benefit a vast array of end-users whose activities are dependent on Arctic sea ice conditions. The research goal of this thesis is to address fundamental challenges pertaining to seasonal forecasts of Arcitc sea ice, with a particular focus placed on improving operational sea ice forecasts in the Canadian Seasonal to Interannual Prediction System (CanSIPS). Seasonal forecasts are strongly dependent on the accuracy of observations used as initial condition inputs. A key challenge initializing Arctic sea ice is the sparse availability of Arctic sea ice thickness (SIT) observations. I present on the development of three statistical models that can be used for estimating Arctic SIT in real time for sea ice forecast initialization. The three statistical models are shown to vary in their ability to capture the recent thinning of sea ice, as well as their ability to capture interannual variations in SIT anomalies; however, each of the models is shown to dramatically improve the representation of SIT compared to the climatological SIT estimates used to initialize CanSIPS. I conduct a thorough assessment of sea ice hindcast skill using the Canadian Climate Model, version 3 (one of two models used in CanSIPS), in which the dependence of hindcast skill on SIT initialization is investigated. From this assessment, it can be concluded that all three statistical models are able to estimate SIT sufficiently to improve hindcast skill relative to the climatological initialization. However, the accuracy with which the initialization fields represent both the thinning of the ice pack over time and interannual variability impacts predictive skill for pan-Arctic sea ice area (SIA) and regional sea ice concentration (SIC), with the most robust improvements obtained with two statistical models that adequately represent both processes. The final goal of this thesis is to improve the quantification of uncertainty in seasonal forecasts of regional Arctic sea ice coverage. Information regarding forecast uncertainty is crucial for end-users who want to quantify the risk associated with trusting a particular forecast. I develop statistical post-processing methodology for improving probabilistic forecasts of Arctic SIC. The first of these improvements is intended to reduce sampling uncertainty by fitting ensemble SIC forecasts to a parametric probability distribution, namely the zero- and one- inflated beta (BEINF) distribution. It is shown that overall, probabilistic forecast skill is improved using the parametric distribution relative to a simpler count-based approach; however, model biases can degrade this skill improvement. The second of these improvements is the introduction of a novel calibration method, called trend-adjusted quantile mapping (TAQM), that explicitly accounts for SIC trends and is specifically designed for the BEINF distribution. It is shown that applying TAQM greatly reduces model errors, and results in probabilistic forecast skill that generally surpasses that of a climatological reference forecast, and to some degree that of a trend-adjusted climatological reference forecast, particularly at shorter lead times. / Graduate

While agricultural work is hazardous for all workers, migrant workers face additional challenges that make them more vulnerable than domestic workers. The lack of access to permanent immigration status in the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP) and the agricultural stream of the Temporary Foreign Workers Program (TFWP) makes workers’ jobs hinge on retaining their employers’ favour and creates a particular type of job insecurity that overshadows their behaviour, decisions, and agency to assert their rights for safe and healthy workplaces and workers’ compensation. While researchers argue that the TFWP competes with the SAWP as employers search for the cheapest and most docile workers, less research has examined whether workers’ health and safety exposures and experiences differ within the two programs. Drawing primarily from interviews with advocates and system stakeholders and participant observation at advocate-organized events, this research will offer preliminary answers to discovering whether the programs pose different obstacles to improving health and safety and access to compensation that affect migrant workers’ experiences in Ontario before and after injury. The research will help gather information about possible avenues to improve the health and safety of migrant workers given how the two programs operate within both federal and provincial frameworks. Advocates’ experience assisting workers in both programs offers important insights about whether differences between the programs create particular vulnerabilities for some migrant workers. / Thesis / Master of Arts (MA) / This research identifies opportunities and barriers that migrant agricultural workers and their advocates face in improving occupational health and safety and access to workers' compensation in the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program (SAWP) and the agricultural stream of the Temporary Foreign Workers Program (TFWP). Through semi-structured interviews, participant observation, and document review, the research will help identify whether interplay between the programs causes additional vulnerabilities for some workers. The research will help gather information about possible avenues to improve the health and safety of migrant workers given how the two programs operate in a federal and provincial framework.

The short dark days of winter, related lack of energy, and low mood have always been part of life for those living in northern latitudes. For many, the gradual changes of the seasons are accompanied by the gradual degradation of their mental health. This disruptive effect is called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). It is defined as major depressive episodes characterized by their seasonal recurrence for at least 2 consecutive years. Symptoms generally involve fatigue and a severe lack of energy leading to difficulty in performing daily activities as well as increased worry, anxiety, and irritability. Product Design in the field of SAD is positioned primarily in the treatment phase. Bright Light Therapy (BLT) products are used to attempt to alleviate the symptoms of the disorder. Efforts should focus on the prevention of mental illness to have a holistic impact on sustainable development. This project aims to identify an innovation opportunity where Product Design can be leveraged to prevent SAD. By leveraging semiotics, the study of signs and how meanings are created, in the field of lighting and design, a concept was developed that aims at complementing existing regulations in providing users with the conditions for improved well-being in the home. SAD is strongly linked to natural light and its cycles. Windows, the main provider of this kind of light in the home, have practical, comfort- and information-related roles. The developed concept aims at enhancing the meaning of windows to highlight our dependency on natural light cycles and prevent SAD. To effectively evaluate the concept and its effectiveness in creating meaning, it must be further developed and exposed to potential users.

Sveriges meteorologiska förhållanden genererar kalla och mörka perioder under stora delar av året. Utifrån dessa naturliga årstidsväxlingar finns ett behov för svenska städer att i större utsträckning än vad som görs i dagsläget anpassa stadsplaneringen efter samtliga väderförutsättningar som råder. Detta för att skapa aktiva utemiljöer och en levande stad för invånarna att använda och åtnjuta året om.Studien syftar till att ge läsaren en övergripande bild över hur vistelse i offentliga utemiljöer kan bidra till att främja Malmö som en aktiv och attraktiv stad året om och oberoende av säsong eller väderförhållanden. Ett tydligt resultat från studien visar att det finns både intresse och en önskan hos Malmös stadsplanerare att öka aktiviteten och attraktiviteten i staden året om också under mindre tilltalande väderförhållanden. Den bakomliggande idén som uttryckts är att medborgarna ska kunna ta tillvara på stadens fulla potential oavsett årstid och genom detta bidra till en socialt hållbar stadsutveckling. Två huvudsakliga uppfattningar om åtgärder kan identifieras hos Malmös stadsplanerare och forskare i stadsplanering för att få till ett ökat folkliv i staden året om. Det första är en uppfattning som handlar om fysiska förändringar av utemiljön så som evenemang, arrangemang, aktiviteter, installationer samt sammanlänkande stråk. Den andra uppfattningen handlar om att ändra invånarnas beteende och attityd kopplat till utomhusvistelse.Som en följd av det intresse och behov som har identifierats hos studiens informanter vad gäller att öka kunskapen om stadsplanering och ökad utomhusvistelse året om, har studien resulterat i en konkret företagsidé, Smart Seasonal Solutions. Smart Seasonal Solutions syftar till att bidra med kunskap till framtida stadsplanering för att främja och öka utomhusvistelse och ett aktivt stadsliv året runt. / Swedish meteorological conditions generate a changing climate throughout the year, including rather long, cold and dark periods. There is a great potential for Swedish cities to adapt this aspect in urban planning to a wider extent than what is currently being done. By doing so, the cities will become more attractive to their citizens in terms of being able to enjoy active outdoor spaces all year around.This report aims to give the reader an overall view and understanding of how public outdoor spaces better can be used throughout the year in Malmö to foster and encourage outdoor activity in the city regardless of weather or seasonal conditions. This is to allow citizens to take advantage from the city's full potential and to contribute to a socially sustainable urban development. A clear scope of the study is that there is both a will and an interest by city planners in Malmö to increase the activity and attractiveness of the city all year around. Conclusions to be drawn are that two main approaches can be identified by Malmö's city planners to increase a richer city life all year round. The first approach constitutes by physical and concrete elements, such as events, activities, installations and interconnecting pathways. The second approach is more about changes in attitude and behavior linked to outdoor stay.The interest and need to fill the knowledge gap that the research report is aiming to do, this theoretical study has resulted in a concrete business proposal, Smart Seasonal Solutions. Smart Seasonal Solutions aims to contribute with knowledge for future urban planning to increase outdoor activity and city life all year around.

Benthic invertebrates inhabiting boreal rivers are exposed to very large seasonal variations in their physical environment. The extremes are in winter when the littoral area freezes solid and in spring when water flow increases rapidly. In the North Swedish river Vindelälven, the invertebrates fell into three main categories according to their seasonal lateral distribution. One category of animals was stationary in the littoral zone and let itselt freeze into the ice, adopting a "take it" alternative. The category consisted of many species belonging to several higher taxa. By overwintering in ice, the animals avoided predation for nearly half the year and they were in the productive littoral at the same time as they thawed out from the ice in spring. On the other hand the animals had to withstand sub-zero temperatures. A typical representative for this category of animals was the semivoltine snail Gyraulus acronicus. It is a less mobile species connected to dense stands of macrophytes, which are found only in the littoral zone of the river. Nearly the whole population was found overwintering successfully enclosed in ice. Its shell and epiphragm could serve as mechanical protection when frozen into the ice. G. acronicus was cold-hardy only during late autumn and early winter, but it could stand prolonged sub-zero exposure during the proper time. A second category of animlas avoided being frozen by performing lateral movements to deeper parts of the river, adopting the Vleave it" alternative. No species tested in this category were found cold-hardy. It consisted of mobile species known to utilize sedimentated detritus which was only found in greater amounts in the littoral zone of the river. In springtime, prior to spring flood peak, these species colonized promptly the former frozen zone. This behaviour was most pronounced in several lentie mayfly species. An extreme case of migratory behaviour was found in the mayfly Pararneletus chelifer which not only moved towards the river bank but continued up into small tributaries. The shoreward movements of mayflies both allowed the nymphs to avoid the high current velocities in the central part of the river during spring flood time and to utilize the food resources in the flooded areas. A third category of animals avoided the ice by living stationary in the sublittoral zone, adopting the "never face it" alternative. This category was dominated by filter feeders. / <p>Diss. (sammanfattning) Umeå : Umeå university, 1982, härtill 5 uppsatser</p> / digitalisering@umu

No description available.

published_or_final_version / Community Medicine / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy