No / Unilateral lower-limb amputees lead with their intact limb when stepping up and with their prosthesis when stepping down; the gait initiation process for the different stepping directions has not previously been investigated. Ten unilateral amputees (5 transfemoral and 5 transtibial) and 8 able-bodied controls performed single steps up and single steps down to a new level (73 and 219 mm). Duration, a-p and m-l centre of mass and centre of pressure peak displacements and centre of mass peak velocity of the anticipatory postural adjustment and step execution phase were evaluated for each stepping direction by analysing data collected using a Vicon 3D motion analysis system. There were significant differences (in the phase duration, peak a-p and m-l centre of pressure displacement and peak a-p and m-l centre of mass velocity at heel-off and at foot-contact) between both amputee sub-groups and controls (P<0.05), but not between amputee sub-groups. These group differences were mainly a result of amputees adopting a different gait initiation strategy for each stepping direction. Findings indicate the gait initiation process utilised by lower-limb amputees was dependent on the direction of stepping and more particularly by which limb the amputee led with; this suggests that the balance and postural control of gait initiation is not governed by a fixed motor program, and thus that becoming an amputee will require time and training to develop alternative neuromuscular control and coordination strategies. These findings should be considered when developing training/rehabilitation programs.

PURPOSE. To determine the effects of blurring vision on whole-body center-of-mass (CM) dynamics and foot-clearance parameters in elderly individuals performing a single step up to a new level. METHODS. Twelve healthy subjects (mean age, 72.3 ±4.17 years) performed a single step up to a new level (heights of 73 and 146 mm). Trials were undertaken with vision optimally corrected and with vision diffusively blurred by light-scattering lenses (cataract simulation). CM and foot-clearance parameter data were assessed by analyzing data collected by a five-camera, three-dimensional (3-D) motion analysis system. RESULTS. When vision was blurred, subjects took 11% longer to execute the stepping task (P < 0.05), mediolateral displacement of the point of application of the ground reaction force vector (i.e., weighted average of all pressures over the area in contact with the ground; the so called center of pressure, CP) decreased from 37.6% of stance width to 28.3% (P < 0.01), maximum distance between the mediolateral position of the CM and CP decreased by 9.8 mm (P < 0.01), and toe clearance (distance between tip of shoe and edge of step) increased in both the horizontal (28%) and vertical (19%) direction (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS. These findings suggest that when vision was blurred, subjects used a twofold safety-driven adaptation: First, to increase dynamic stability they ensured that the horizontal position of their CM was kept close to the center of the base of support and second, they increased horizontal and vertical toe clearance while swinging their lead limb forward to reduce the risk of tripping.

Air Quality Models are defined for prediction and simulation of air pollutant concentrations over a certain period of time. The predictions can be used in setting limits for the emission levels of industrial facilities. The input data for the air quality models are very large and encompass various environmental conditions like wind speed, turbulence, temperature and cloud density. Most air quality models are based on advection-diffusion equations. These differential equations are moderately stiff and require appropriate techniques for fast integration over large intervals of time. Implicit time stepping techniques for solving differential equations being unconditionally stable are considered suitable for the solution. However, implicit time stepping techniques impose certain data dependencies that can cause the parallelization of air quality models to be inefficient. The current approach uses Runge Kutta Chebyshev explicit method for solution of advection diffusion equations. It is found that even if the explicit method used is computationally more expensive in the serial execution, it takes lesser execution time when parallelized because of less complicated data dependencies presented by the explicit time-stepping. The implicit time-stepping on the other hand cannot be parallelized efficiently because of the inherent complicated data dependencies. / Master of Science

This thesis investigates pseudo time stepping as an implicit solver for non-uniform meshes. Specifically, on meshes with small cells. Regions with small cells can be treated with a time stepping scheme known as mixed explicit implicit time stepping, which treats small cells implicitly to ensure stability. The goal of this thesis is to examine whether pseudo time stepping is a good solver for the implicit part. To investigate this, results from pseudo time stepping on a uniform mesh are first compared with a direct implicit solver. This is done to ensure that both methods produce the same results. Then, tests are conducted on a non-uniform mesh, featuring one small cell in the center of the domain. The aim of these tests is to evaluate how the parameters in pseudo time stepping contribute to the accuracy and number of iterations in a small mesh. With respect to this, the thesis aims to answer whether and when pseudo time stepping is a feasible solver. The results show promising potential in pseudo time stepping, as similar results to the direct solver on the uniform mesh are achieved with few iterations. It also shows feasible iteration numbers for the non-equidistant case, nearly regardless of number of grid points or the size of the small cell.

The present study characterized the deep-sea gastropods community collected on whale bones and wood parcels artificially implanted in the deep Southwest Atlantic Ocean at 1500 and 3300 m depth for 23 months. A total of 5493 gastropods were collected and their distribution, abundance and diversity on substrates, depths and latitudes were calculated. Species richness and abundance of gastropods were higher in whale bones and deeper sites. Latitude did not seem to influence the distribution of mollusks. Five species were selected due to their abundance and possible ecological importance for further studies. Three were new species of the superfamily Abyssochrisoidea and were morphologically and genetically described (two Rubyspira and one Cordesia). The other two were Hyslogyrina rissoela (Heterobranchia) and Lusitanops cingulatus (Neogastropoda). To understand their feeding behavior and dispersal strategies were conduced stable isotopes analyzes, observations of gut content, and radular and larval shell morphology. Larval shell of most species suggested planktotrophic development. Animals on different growth stages were found. Gastropods presented a diversity of feeding strategies, such as bacterial mats grazing, predation and specialized bone eating. The overlap of this fauna with other chemosynthetic environments and with other basins corroborate with the ecological stepping stone hypothesis. Besides that, phylogenetic studies about Abyssochrysoidea were made. Their phylogenetic position within the Caenogastropoda are still uncertain but this group is considered closely related with Littorinidae. These snails are endemic from chemosynthetic environments, such as deep-sea hydrothermal vents, cold seeps and organic falls in the deep-sea. The genus Rubyspira is not settled at family level and no molecular studies were made for Cordesia. The present study also attempts to assign these groups phylogenetically. Concatenated COI, 16S, 18S and 28S and individual gene trees were constructed for maximum likelihood and Bayesian analysis. In all analyses the family Newtoniellidae were a sister group of Abyssochrysoidea. Morphological and genetic evidences suggest that Rubyspira and Cordesia are closer related to Abyssochrysos than to other provannid snails. The most accepted hypothesis is that Provannidae is paraphyletic. However, there are other ideas that indicates Rubyspira and Cordesia could be included in Abyssochrysidae or the Provannidae should be considered Abyssochrysidae. A morphologic revision of the superfamily should be made to better understand the relation within the group. Clades within the Abyssochrysoidea were always well supported and similar to those found in the literature. The position of Rubyspira and Cordesia within Abyssochrysoidea suggest whale bones and wood parcels did not play an evolutionary role as stepping stones for this group. / O presente estudo caracterizou a comunidade de gastrópodes de mar profundo coletados em carcaças de baleia e parcelas de madeira artificialmente implantadas no Sudoeste do Oceano Atlântico profundo a 1500 e 3300 m de profundidade por 23 meses. Um total de 5493 gastrópodes foram coletados e sua distribuição, abundância e biodiversidade nos substratos, profundidades e latitudes foram calculados. A riqueza e abundância dos gastrópodes foi maior nos ossos de baleia e em maiores profundidades. A latitude parece não ter influenciado na distribuição dos moluscos. Cinco espécies foram selecionadas devido à abundância e possível importância ecológica. Três são novas espécies da superfamília Abyssochrysoidea que foram descritas morfologicamente e filogeneticamente (duas Rubyspira e uma Cordesia). As outras duas foram Hyalogirina rissoela (Heterobranchia) e Lusitanops cingulatus (Neogastropoda). Para compreender os hábitos alimentares e de dispersão desses animais análises de isótopos estáveis, observações do conteúdo do trato digestório, da morfologia das rádulas e das conchas larvais foram realizadas. A concha larval da maioria das espécies sugere um desenvolvimento planctotrófico. Os moluscos encontrados apresentaram diversos tipos de hábitos alimentares como raspadores de carpete bacteriano, predadores e especialistas de ossos. A sobreposição dessa fauna com a de outros ambientes quimiossintéticos e de outras bacias oceânicas colabora com a hipótese ecológica das \"stepping stones\" no mar profundo. Além disso, estudos sobre a posição filogenética dos Abyssochrysoidea foi feita. Sua posição nos Caenogastropoda ainda é incerta, mas são considerados próximos aos Littorinidae. Esses animais são endêmicos de ambientes quimiossintéticos, como fontes hidrotermais de mar profundo, fontes frias e quedas orgânicas. O gênero Rubyspira não está atribuído à nenhuma Família e não foram realizados estudos moleculares para Cordesia. Esse estudo também tenta organizar esses grupos filogeneticamente. Árvores concatenadas e individuais dos genes COI, 16S, 18S e 28S foram construídas para máxima verossimilhança e análise bayesiana. Em todos resultados a família Newtoniellidae foi um grupo irmão dos Abyssochrysoidea. Evidências morfológicas e genéticas s para que sugerem que Rubyspira e Cordesia então mais próximos dos Abyssochrysos do que de outros provannides. A teoria mais aceita é de que os Provannidae são parafileticos. Porém há outras ideias de que Rubyspira e Cordesia poderiam ser inclusos em Abyssochrysidae, ou que os Provannidae fossem considerados Abyssochrysidae. Uma revisão dessa superfamilia deveria se feita para entender as relações desse grupo. Os clados de Abyssochrysoidea sempre foram bem suportados como na literatura. A posição de Rubyspira e Cordesia nos Abyssochrysoidea. aponta que os ossos de baleia e parcelas de madeira possam não terem servido como \"stepping stones\" evolutivas para esses gastrópodes.

The present study characterized the deep-sea gastropods community collected on whale bones and wood parcels artificially implanted in the deep Southwest Atlantic Ocean at 1500 and 3300 m depth for 23 months. A total of 5493 gastropods were collected and their distribution, abundance and diversity on substrates, depths and latitudes were calculated. Species richness and abundance of gastropods were higher in whale bones and deeper sites. Latitude did not seem to influence the distribution of mollusks. Five species were selected due to their abundance and possible ecological importance for further studies. Three were new species of the superfamily Abyssochrisoidea and were morphologically and genetically described (two Rubyspira and one Cordesia). The other two were Hyslogyrina rissoela (Heterobranchia) and Lusitanops cingulatus (Neogastropoda). To understand their feeding behavior and dispersal strategies were conduced stable isotopes analyzes, observations of gut content, and radular and larval shell morphology. Larval shell of most species suggested planktotrophic development. Animals on different growth stages were found. Gastropods presented a diversity of feeding strategies, such as bacterial mats grazing, predation and specialized bone eating. The overlap of this fauna with other chemosynthetic environments and with other basins corroborate with the ecological stepping stone hypothesis. Besides that, phylogenetic studies about Abyssochrysoidea were made. Their phylogenetic position within the Caenogastropoda are still uncertain but this group is considered closely related with Littorinidae. These snails are endemic from chemosynthetic environments, such as deep-sea hydrothermal vents, cold seeps and organic falls in the deep-sea. The genus Rubyspira is not settled at family level and no molecular studies were made for Cordesia. The present study also attempts to assign these groups phylogenetically. Concatenated COI, 16S, 18S and 28S and individual gene trees were constructed for maximum likelihood and Bayesian analysis. In all analyses the family Newtoniellidae were a sister group of Abyssochrysoidea. Morphological and genetic evidences suggest that Rubyspira and Cordesia are closer related to Abyssochrysos than to other provannid snails. The most accepted hypothesis is that Provannidae is paraphyletic. However, there are other ideas that indicates Rubyspira and Cordesia could be included in Abyssochrysidae or the Provannidae should be considered Abyssochrysidae. A morphologic revision of the superfamily should be made to better understand the relation within the group. Clades within the Abyssochrysoidea were always well supported and similar to those found in the literature. The position of Rubyspira and Cordesia within Abyssochrysoidea suggest whale bones and wood parcels did not play an evolutionary role as stepping stones for this group. / O presente estudo caracterizou a comunidade de gastrópodes de mar profundo coletados em carcaças de baleia e parcelas de madeira artificialmente implantadas no Sudoeste do Oceano Atlântico profundo a 1500 e 3300 m de profundidade por 23 meses. Um total de 5493 gastrópodes foram coletados e sua distribuição, abundância e biodiversidade nos substratos, profundidades e latitudes foram calculados. A riqueza e abundância dos gastrópodes foi maior nos ossos de baleia e em maiores profundidades. A latitude parece não ter influenciado na distribuição dos moluscos. Cinco espécies foram selecionadas devido à abundância e possível importância ecológica. Três são novas espécies da superfamília Abyssochrysoidea que foram descritas morfologicamente e filogeneticamente (duas Rubyspira e uma Cordesia). As outras duas foram Hyalogirina rissoela (Heterobranchia) e Lusitanops cingulatus (Neogastropoda). Para compreender os hábitos alimentares e de dispersão desses animais análises de isótopos estáveis, observações do conteúdo do trato digestório, da morfologia das rádulas e das conchas larvais foram realizadas. A concha larval da maioria das espécies sugere um desenvolvimento planctotrófico. Os moluscos encontrados apresentaram diversos tipos de hábitos alimentares como raspadores de carpete bacteriano, predadores e especialistas de ossos. A sobreposição dessa fauna com a de outros ambientes quimiossintéticos e de outras bacias oceânicas colabora com a hipótese ecológica das \"stepping stones\" no mar profundo. Além disso, estudos sobre a posição filogenética dos Abyssochrysoidea foi feita. Sua posição nos Caenogastropoda ainda é incerta, mas são considerados próximos aos Littorinidae. Esses animais são endêmicos de ambientes quimiossintéticos, como fontes hidrotermais de mar profundo, fontes frias e quedas orgânicas. O gênero Rubyspira não está atribuído à nenhuma Família e não foram realizados estudos moleculares para Cordesia. Esse estudo também tenta organizar esses grupos filogeneticamente. Árvores concatenadas e individuais dos genes COI, 16S, 18S e 28S foram construídas para máxima verossimilhança e análise bayesiana. Em todos resultados a família Newtoniellidae foi um grupo irmão dos Abyssochrysoidea. Evidências morfológicas e genéticas s para que sugerem que Rubyspira e Cordesia então mais próximos dos Abyssochrysos do que de outros provannides. A teoria mais aceita é de que os Provannidae são parafileticos. Porém há outras ideias de que Rubyspira e Cordesia poderiam ser inclusos em Abyssochrysidae, ou que os Provannidae fossem considerados Abyssochrysidae. Uma revisão dessa superfamilia deveria se feita para entender as relações desse grupo. Os clados de Abyssochrysoidea sempre foram bem suportados como na literatura. A posição de Rubyspira e Cordesia nos Abyssochrysoidea. aponta que os ossos de baleia e parcelas de madeira possam não terem servido como \"stepping stones\" evolutivas para esses gastrópodes.

This thesis studies the role of new firms in the labour market and uses Swedish data to analyze labour mobility in new firms, including both transitions of workers into and from new firms. In particular, it focuses on employees’ wages in new firms and post-new firm employment labour market outcomes as transitions into long-term employment and entrepreneurship.  This thesis consists of four essays. The first two essays concern labour mobility into new firms. The last two essays focus on post-new firm employment mobility. The first essay explores the role of new firms as an entry point into the labour market for individuals with little (or no) labour market experience. The findings show that the wage penalty found in previous research, which includes more heterogeneous groups of employees, decreases once the focus is solely on labour market entrants.  The second essay investigates whether there is a wage penalty for being employed at a new firm if the individual employee’s experience and status in the labour market are taken into account; this essay focuses on individuals who decide to switch jobs. The findings show that there is a wage penalty for being employed at a new firm; however, considering a random selection into new firms may underestimate the wage differentials. The third essay studies the role that new firms play for the career path of their employees. In particular, this paper analyzes whether short-term employment in new firms (employment lasting less than one year) may serve as a stepping stone toward long-term employment (at least two years of employment with the same employer) for non-employed individuals. The findings indicate that short-term employment in new firms may serve as a stepping stone toward long-term employment. The fourth paper examines the new firm effect on entrepreneurship, which the findings indicate is positive and statistically significant; this effect remains even after controlling for a worker's ability and shows that employees with both high and low levels of ability may transition to entrepreneurship. / <p>QC 20160916</p>

Human functional laterality, typically involving a right-sided preference in most sensory-motor activities, is still a poorly understood issue. This is perhaps particularly true in terms of what underlying mechanisms that may govern lateral biases, as well as the developmental origins and course of events. The present thesis aims at investigating functional asymmetries in the upper and lower body movements of young human infants. In Study I, the presence of side biases in the stepping and placing responses and head turning in healthy fullterm newborns were explored. No evident lateral bias for the leg responses in terms of the first foot moved or direction of head turning was found. However, a lateral bias was revealed for onset latency in relation to the first foot moved in both stepping and placing. Asymmetries in head turning did not correspond to asymmetries in leg movements. In Study II, functional asymmetries in the stepping response of newborn infants were investigated in more detail by means of 3-D kinematic movement registration. Evident side differences were found in relation to smoother movement trajectories of the right leg by means of less movement segmentation compared to the left leg. Side differences were also found in relation to intralimb coordination in terms of stronger ankle-knee couplings and smaller phase shifts in the right leg than the left. In Study III, using the same movement registration technique, the kinematics of left and right arm movements during goal-directed reaching in infants were prospectively studied over the ages 6, 9, 12, and 36 months. Main findings included side differences and developmental trends related to the segmentation of the reaching movements and the reaching trajectory, as well as the distribution of arm-hand-use frequency. The results from Study I and II are discussed in relation to underlying neural mechanisms for lateral biases in leg movements and the important role of a thorough methodology in investigating newborn responses. Findings from Study III are discussed in terms of what they imply about the developmental origins for hand preference. An emphasis is also put on developmental differences between fullterm and preterm infants. Overall, the studies of the present thesis show that an increased understanding of subtle expressions of early functional asymmetries in the upper and lower body movements of young infants may be gained by means of refined measurements. Furthermore, such knowledge may provide an insight into the underlying neural mechanisms subserving asymmetries in the movements of young infants. The present studies also add new information to the current understanding of the development of human lateralized functions, in particular the findings derived from the longitudinal data. Apart from theoretical implications, the present thesis also involves a discussion with regard to the clinical relevance of investigating functional asymmetries in the movements of young infants.

Bakgrund Revisionsbranschen   präglas av en hög personalomsättning vilket   har resulterat i att antalet kvalificerade revisorer sedan 2005 minskat med 20 %. Detta   är ett problem för revisionsbyråer då de   satsar mycket resurser på anställda   som sedan lämnar innan de hunnit uppnå auktorisation. Representanter   från Big 4-byråer beskriver att   revisorsassistenter erhåller attraktiva kompetenser som är intressanta för   rekryterare i andra branscher. Revisorsassistenter är medvetna om detta och   använder således yrket som en språngbräda. Syfte Syftet med studien är att utforska varför ett   arbete som revisorsassistent   fungerar som en karriärmässig språngbräda. Metod Studien har tillämpat   en intervjumetod med en huvudsaklig deduktiv ansats med induktiva inslag. För   datainsamlingen har sammantaget 17 semistrukturerade intervjuer genomförts   med respondenter från fyra olika intervjugrupper. Slutsats På grund av den stora   mängden utbildning som ges på revisionsbyråer erhåller revisorsassistenter en   rad kunskapsmässiga kompetenser som är attraktiva för rekryterare utanför   branschen. Revisorsassistenter blir även attraktiva till följd av branschens   arbetsklimat, som präglas av en intensiv högsäsong som bidrar till att   revisorsassistenter lär sig hantera stress och arbeta på ett effektivt sätt.   Studien indikerar även att revisorsassistenter utvecklar en god social   kompetens som värderas högt av rekryterare. / Introduction The audit industry is affected by a high employee turnover   that has resulted in a 20 % loss of certified public accountants since the year 2005. This is a problem for audit firms since they invest a lot of resources in educating their employees, who in turn leave the industry before they achieve their authorization. Representatives from the Big 4 describe that audit assistants acquire attractive knowledge which are appealing for recruiters in other lines of business. Audit assistants are aware of this which results in them using the job as a stepping stone in to other industries. Purpose    The purpose of the study is to examine why an employment as an audit assistant works as a stepping stone in to other industries. Method The study applies an interview method with a mainly deductive approach. To collect data the authors have carried out 17 interviews in total, with respondents from four different interview groups. Conclusion The findings of the study is that the large amount of internal education that the firms provide results in audit assistants gaining lots of attractive knowledge. Audit assistants also become attractive because of the industry’s work climate. The audit industry is affected by an intense peak season which teaches the audit assistants to cope with stress and to work efficient. The study also  indicates  that  audit  assistants  develop  social skills which are highly attractive in the eyes of recruiters.

Time integration methods are necessary for the solution of transient flow problems. In recent years, interest in transient flow problems has increased, leading to a need for better understanding of the costs and benefits of various time integration schemes. The present work investigates two common time integration schemes, namely the Semi-Implicit Method for Pressure-Linked Equations (SIMPLE) and the Fractional Step (FS) method. Three two-dimensional, transient, incompressible flow problems are solved using a cell centered, finite volume code. The three test cases are laminar flow in a lid-driven skewed cavity, laminar flow over a square cylinder, and turbulent flow over a square cylinder. Turbulence is modeled using wall functions and the k - ε turbulence model with the modifications suggested by Kato and Launder. Solution efficiency as measured by the effort carried out by the flow equation solver and CPU time is examined. Accuracy of the results, generated using the SIMPLE and FS time integration schemes, is analyzed through a comparison of the results with existing experimental and/or numerical solutions. Both the SIMPLE and FS algorithms are shown to be capable of solving benchmark flow problems with reasonable accuracy. The two schemes differ slightly in their prediction of flow evolution over time, especially when simulating very slowly changing flows. As the time step size decreases, the SIMPLE algorithm computational cost (CPU time) per time step remains approximately constant, while the FS method experiences a reduction in cost per time step. Also, the SIMPLE algorithm is numerically stable for time steps approaching infinity, while the FS scheme suffers from numerical instability if the time step size is too large. As a result, the SIMPLE algorithm is recommended to be used for transient simulations with large time steps or steady state problems while the FS scheme is better suited for small time step solutions, although both time-stepping schemes are found to be most efficient when their time steps are at their maximum stable value.