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This research focuses on the analysis of pictorial images from objects of Germanic/early Scandinavian cultures in order to discriminate elements which are only applied for decorative reasons from those which also express symbolic values. At the outset I introduced an interpretation of the terms �signs� and �symbols� in order to inform the reader to which extent these terms were applied. It appeared that techniques, such as the geographical and chronological classification, traditionally used by archaeologists and historians to analyse objects/artefacts, were not always sufficient enough to gain all information which images may offer. Sometimes it seems to be difficult to determine if certain images shown on objects from early mediaeval, central and northern European origin, were created as a space-filling decoration only or if they held additional, probably symbolic, information as well. I have investigated aspects from visual perception, as applied within the domains of psychology, visual art and design. The methods, as they are introduced in this thesis, can be used as a identification scheme, applied on objects of great diversity. I have applied them on guldgubber (little embossed gold foils), bracteates and Gotland picture-stones. Objects of great historical and geographic difference, as well as physical diversity, such as size and material were chosen purposely to create an overview of the symbolic expressions in Germanic/early Scandinavian artefacts and to test the extent of the identification method derived from the domain of visual perception. A detailed analysis of sixty four guldgubber, found in Lundeborg, near Gudme, on the island of Fyn (Denmark), is placed in an appendix. An analysis of these objects appeared to be particularly interesting because it is not known what the purpose of guldgubber were to the present day.

Given an algebra of pseudo-differential operators on a manifold, an elliptic element is said to be a reduction of orders, if it induces isomorphisms of Sobolev spaces with a corresponding shift of smoothness. Reductions of orders on a manifold with boundary refer to boundary value problems. We consider smooth symbols and ellipticity without additional boundary conditions which is the relevant case on a manifold with boundary. Starting from a class of symbols that has been investigated before for integer orders in boundary value problems with the transmission property we study operators of arbitrary real orders that play a similar role for operators without the transmission property. Moreover, we show that order reducing symbols have the Volterra property and are parabolic of anisotropy 1; analogous relations are formulated for arbitrary anisotropies. We finally investigate parameter-dependent operators, apply a kernel cut-off construction with respect to the parameter and show that corresponding holomorphic operator-valued Mellin symbols reduce orders in weighted Sobolev spaces on a cone with boundary.

My intention with this paper is to try to understand the meaning of the double sex symbols which can be identified on a number of Neolithic so called battle axes from the region round the lake Mälaren in Sweden. My conclusions are drawn after having studied a number of archaeological thesises. I have realized that the society was egalitarian from what is said about the funeral habits since women and men were buried with the same care. Ceramics from the Skogsmossen site show a very long continuity over 15-20 generations. These facts indicate a peaceful society without traumatic breaks where knowledge would have been lost. The fingerprints produced on the ceramics are those of women, since they do not seem to fit with the hands of men. Women are by this fact persumed to be the producers of ceramics. In early and primitive farming digging sticks were used, often with a weight. My conclusion is that the boat axe can be a magic tool used on the digging sticks. We have to understand the boat axes as spiritual helpers to fruitful and fertile success.

Over the past few decades, researchers have firmly established that a wide range of nonhuman animals exhibit some form of numerical competence. The focus of this research was to define further the extent of numerical ability in rhesus monkeys, and specifically to determine whether the animals possess a symbolic understanding of Arabic numerals. This required examining the stimulus attributes (e.g., number vs. hedonic value) represented by the numerals, as well as the precision (e.g., absolute vs. relative) and generality of those representations. In chapters 2 and 3, monkeys were required to compare and order numerals and were rewarded with either proportional or probabilistic rewards. The results indicated that monkeys were relying on the ordinal or absolute numerical values associated with each numeral and not hedonic value or learned 2-choice discriminations. The studies in chapters 4 and 5 indicated that monkeys can use numerals to symbolize an approximate number of sequential motor responses. The study in Chapter 6 tested the generality of the monkeys’ symbolic number concept using transfer tests. The results indicated that some monkeys are able to abstract number across presentation mode, but this ability is only exhibited under limited conditions. Collectively, these studies provide evidence that rhesus monkeys view Arabic numerals as more than sign-stimuli associated with specific response-reward histories, but that numerals do not have the same precise symbolic meaning as they do for humans.

The intention of this study was to create an understanding of how multi-professional interaction could convert into inter-professional collaboration, which takes advantage of and acknowledges the individual professional identity. The intention was to understand the meaning of collaboration through the study of meetings between professionals who use different symbol systems. In particular, we wanted to study inter-professional interaction from a symbolic interactional perspective with a focus on Self, Identity, Symbols, Meaning and Professional community. The employed method was semi-structured interviews with ten questions. A convenience sample was used to identify working groups composed of different professions, such as teachers, social workers and therapy assistants. The results suggest that the working group believed that personality precedes the profession one is impending, and that participants preferred stability before communication and reflection. Our study also revealed that inter-professional collaboration cannot be pursued without cultivating awareness, active reflection and communication between the professionals involved. Keywords: Self ∙ Multi-professional ∙ Inter-professional ∙ Identity ∙ Collaboration ∙ Symbols ∙ Qualitative rapport.

The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of K.K.phonetic symbols-assisted instruction on students¡A English achievement and motivation for learning. A quasi-expermental design was used. The subjects were 75 sixth-grade students from elementary school.They were divided into three groups.After an English achievement Test and the scale of Motivation for Learning English,the K.K.phonetic symbols-assisted instruction was implemented .After 4 months of instruction, all groups took an English Achievement Test and the Scale of Motivation . The results were as the followings: 1. No significant difference was found between the phonics group and the phonics+K.K. phonetic symbols group in their English Achievement Test. 2. No significant difference was found between the phonics group and the phonics+K.K. phonetic symbols group in their motivation for learning English. 3. There were significant differences found between the phonics+K.K. group-consonant and vowel taught together and the phonics+K.K. phonetic symbols group-taught separately in their English Achievement Test. 4. There were significant differences found between the phonics+K.K. group-consonant and vowel taught together and the phonics+K.K. phonetic symbols group-taught separately in their motivation for learning English. Finally, based on the findings of this study, suggestions for administrators, teachers, and future research were discussed

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Wyoming, 2008. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on Nov. 19, 2009). Includes bibliographical references (p. 148-154).

Graphical trademarks, or logos, represent important aspects of organizational identity and have become ubiquitous in society. Although the conventional wisdom of practitioners in design and business dictates that trademarks should be unique and distinctive, anecdotal evidence suggests that many trademarks appear to be similar to one another. This dissertation attempts to understand patterns of similarity and difference in graphical trademark design through the lens of neoinstitutional theory in sociology. Using data on trademarks from the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the designs of the over 750,000 graphical trademarks filed in the United States between 1884 and 2003 are analyzed in terms of their content, design complexity, and degree of design realism or abstraction. A series of hypotheses regarding trademark design dynamics is tested. Evidence is found suggesting that, rather than providing distinctiveness, trademarks serve to provide legitimacy to organizations by imitating the symbols employed by other organizations, particularly those within the same industry. Further analysis examines the institutionalization and deinstitutionalization of norms in trademark design within industries over time. Finally, the survival of trademarks that deviate from design norms, relative to more normal trademarks, is studied. While such "deviant" trademarks do not seem more likely to be abandoned or cancelled or to expire, further study suggests that trademarks that adhere most strictly to design norms are more likely to survive in use over time.

This thesis is about the cultural bargain; the balancing relationship between author monopoly and user affect desires, as applying to the ambiguity of characters. Character culture is a hybrid of the characters that are created and sold by authors with artistic and legal concerns, and the character-affect-relationship of the audience users of those characters. This study examines the law and industry practices in the United States and Canada as it relates to character and the limited scope of the law in defining just what exactly a character is. Also, I examine the major issues in the cultural bargain between the ownership of characters of authors, and the appropriation of characters by audiences, through the dominate arguments for both authors and audiences and the issue of privileged accessibility to characters. By "appropriate", I am referring to any act of an audience member, utilizing a character they do not own, in new ways, that the original author of the character did not give permission for, or approve. Finally, I present my analysis of how the cultural bargain may experience a balance between both authors and audience, by defining characters using the audience affect interpretation as criteria.