abstract: ABSTRACT This multi-case study research, using qualitative and quantitative methods, examines, compares, and validates the traits, behaviors, and formulas for success utilized by four experienced, long-term, exemplary executives who lead nonprofit organizations (NPOs) that serve homeless and "at risk" populations. Service longevity is a measure of success in this study and each leader subject must have served a minimum of five years at their NPO to participate, though most have been leading their respective NPOs far longer. An NPO leader affects not only an organization but individual constituents and the entire community. Each leader subject is considered successful by numerous constituents and the community. Anyone is at risk for homelessness and its effects on the entire community are boundless. Traits and formulas for success are measured using three surveys: Kouzes & Posner's 360 LPI and Most Admired Characteristics surveys and Cialdini's Influence IQ Test. Additional data sources are personal interviews, organizational 990s, annual reports, and other financial and programmatic data. The instruments for data analysis are a Likert 7 Point Importance Scale used for the program and organizational evaluations by NPO professional outside raters and the Strategic Plan. Analytic tools are the Pearson Product Moment Correlations, the organization's 990s, a 3 year annual report comparison, and participant observation. This study measures the leaders against the ideal. One common theme among all the leaders is consistency, one of Cialdini's Six Principles of Influence; ii / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Public Administration 2011

Master of Agribusiness / Department of Agricultural Economics / Major Professor Not Listed / Different dry bean crop varieties with different colors are produced in Malawi. Yet, little is known about the drivers of consumer preferences for the different dry bean varieties grown based on color. Literature shows that consumers link bean color to taste, cooking time, gravy quality and other desirable characteristics. The main objective of this research was to assess factors that determine consumption of different types of dry beans in Malawi based on color to determine preferences for different consumer segments and hence the potential value of these preferences communicated across the dry bean supply chain, to enhance the probability of success for breeders’ efforts and the bean value chain’s initiatives. The research used survey data that was collected by the Bean Value Chain Research Network in Lilongwe District, Malawi. The sample size of the dataset was 687 households from three different economic strata. The research focused on four dry bean colors: Red, Red Mottled, White and Cream Mottled bean. These were found to be the most prominent colors by sales and stated preference in Malawi. Two econometric approaches were used in the data analysis. A bivariate analysis using Pearson’s chi-square was used to test the significance of the association between bean consumption (dependent variable) and household as well as product characteristics explanatory variables. A logit model was run on each of the four color types to assess the extent to which the explanatory variables influence consumer preferences for alternative colors of dry bean products. Results showed that 40.8% of the respondents consumed red beans, 12.6% consumed red mottled, 14.6% consumed White and 32% consumed Cream mottled beans. In terms of demographic characteristics, respondents’ marital and employment status as well as household size were found to have no significant influence the consumption of all the four colors. Being educated decreased probability of consuming white and cream mottled beans. Household characteristics were also found to influence preferences for color. For example, households in low and middle-income households were shown to have a lower likelihood of consuming white beans. The characteristics of the beans were also important in influencing preferences. For example, medium grain size beans influenced preference for red beans while fast cooking beans negatively affected the consumption of mottled red beans. The results provide insights for bean breeders in their attempts to contribute to increased producer incomes through a careful response to consumer preferences and not just producer demands for agronomic traits.

The main revenue source for beef cattle farmers is the price they are awarded for carcasses based on carcass value (i.e., carcass weight, conformation and fat score) which is influenced by genetic and environmental factors (e.g., herd management). In order to improve profitability, accurate means of evaluating and improving both sets of factors influencing carcass trait performance are necessary. This would entail optimal management of genetic resources and herd practices. Furthermore, access to a large international germplasm pool would facilitate faster genetic gain. The objective of this thesis was to generate tools for the enhancement of carcass trait genetic and herd management evaluations both at a national and international level. The data used in the thesis originated from the Irish and UK national cattle databases and consisted of 336,944 Irish and 147,876 UK cattle of multiple beef and dairy breeds from 9,572 Irish and 3,385 UK commercial herds. Livestock mature at different rates depending on a number of factors including the genetic background; therefore, the optimum age at which to slaughter the progeny of different sires may differ. Chapter 2 examined sire level genetic profiles for three carcass traits (carcass weight, conformation and fat score) in cattle using data from the Republic of Ireland. Variance components for each trait across age at slaughter were estimated using sire random regression models. Heritability estimates of carcass traits across ages at slaughter varied depending on gender (heifers, steers, young bulls) and the trait in question, and ranged from 0.08 (± 0.02) to 0.34 (± 0.02) for carcass weight, from 0.24 (± 0.02) to 0.42 (± 0.02) for conformation score and from 0.16 (± 0.03) to 0.40 (± 0.02) for fat score. Genetic correlations between traits across ages at slaughter were all significantly less than unity, indicating that different genetic mechanisms control these traits across life. The results from chapter 2 show that genetic variability in the progeny growth trajectory of sires exists and that this variability in the growth profiles of sires for carcass traits may be exploited in breeding programmes. As carcass traits are a function of both the genetics of the animal and the environment in which the animal is reared, chapter 3 aimed to quantify the contribution of the herd environment to the same three beef carcass traits, with particular emphasis on generating finishing herd-specific profiles for carcass traits across different ages at slaughter. The data analysed in chapter 3 was from animals slaughtered in UK abattoirs. Genetic and finishing-herd-year of slaughter parameters were generated using random regression analysis. Across slaughter age and gender, the proportion of phenotypic variance accounted for by finishing-herd-year of slaughter variance was between 30.83%-71.48% for carcass weight, 21.38%-26.29% for conformation score and between 10.88%-44.04% for fat score. These parameters indicate that the finishing herd environment is an at least equally important contributor to carcass trait variability as the genetic background of animals, and amenable to improvement with appropriate management practices. The final study of the thesis was to investigate the feasibility of across-country carcass trait genetic evaluations. Examination of the level of genetic connectedness between Ireland and the UK found 225 distinct bulls common to both countries. These common bulls were related to 80,707 Irish and 23,162 UK animals with carcass records in each population. Genetic correlations for carcass traits between Ireland and the UK were almost unity, ranging from 0.92 (± 0.31) for fat score to 0.96 (± 0.17) for carcass weight, indicating that the carcass traits recorded in both countries are genetically essentially equivalent. These strong genetic correlations between carcass traits in both countries enabled the direct pooling of carcass data for the purpose of across-country genetic evaluations (breeding value estimation). An increased rate of genetic gain for carcass traits per generation was predicted from across-country selection compared to within country selection ranging from 2% (conformation score in Ireland) to 33.77% (conformation score in the UK). This improved gain was primarily due to greater intensity of selection and somewhat more accurate estimated breeding values when carcass records and pedigree information from both countries were combined. The results presented in this thesis demonstrate that routinely collected abattoir data in Ireland and the UK can be exploited to produce additional selection and on-farm management tools. The results also show that access to across-country carcass trait genetic evaluations would allow UK and Irish beef farmers to make more informed decisions on the selection of seed stock needed to increase genetic gain and profits. Outcomes of this thesis pave the way to improvements in national carcass traits genetic evaluations in Ireland and the UK based on appropriate age at slaughter and also demonstrate the feasibility of across-country carcass trait genetic evaluations between Ireland and the UK. The scope for further areas of research includes the identification of specific management practices for optimal herd performance for carcass traits. Additionally, across-country carcass trait genetic evaluations based on random regression models across different ages at slaughter would also be of benefit to beef producers in Ireland and the UK. Finally, the viability of across-country genetic evaluations for additional carcass traits, such as carcass cut weights should be explored.

Savannah ecosystems play a prominent role in the global carbon (C) cycle, yet fluxes are poorly quantified, and the key processes regulating vegetation dynamics are uncertain. Insight is particularly deficient in southern Africa’s miombo woodlands, a woody savannah that is home to over 100 million people. This biome is heavily disturbed, with widespread deforestation and degradation associated with agriculture, charcoal and timber extraction, and frequent fires from anthropogenic sources. In this thesis I combine plot inventory data with remote sensing and modelling techniques to improve our understanding of the miombo woodland C cycle. Using a network of forest inventory plots, I characterise floristic and functional diversity in a savannah-forest mosaic in southeastern Tanzania. Divergent vegetation structures are associated with variation in fire frequency, water supply, and soil chemo-physical properties. Corresponding differences are noted in fire resilience, water-use, and nutrient acquisition plant functional traits, suggesting that multiple interrelated environmental filters act to assemble heterogeneous tree communities. Re-inventory of forest plots was used to quantify key aspects of the woody C cycle. Tree growth rates are slow, calling for careful management of woodland resources, and significantly reduced where stems were damaged. Stem mortality is rare, though elevated in the smallest trees and where damage was recorded. Contemporary strategies to incentivise the conservation of miombo woodland ecosystems, such as the REDD+ programme of the United Nations, advocate payments for sustaining ecosystem services such as C sequestration. I report on a pilot REDD+ project aiming to reduce woodland degradation from frequent high intensity fires in southeastern Tanzania. Model simulations suggest that woody biomass is being gradually lost from the region, and that setting early season fires has the potential to reverse this trend. Realising substantial changes in C storage requires a demanding reduction to late fire frequency, and uncertainty in model predictions remains high. I quantify the C cycle of southern African woodlands by combining observational data with a diagnostic C cycle model under a model-data fusion framework. Model outputs show substantial variation in primary production, C allocation patterns, and foliar and canopy traits, which are associated with differences in woody cover, fire, and precipitation properties. C cycle dynamics correspond poorly to conventional land cover maps, indicating they may be unsuited to upscaling measurements and models of the terrestrial C cycle.

Este estudio tuvo como objetivo relacionar los estilos parentales disfuncionales con los rasgos de personalidad de los estudiantes universitarios de una universidad privada de Lima Metropolitana. Esta investigación es de tipo no experimental, asimismo, se empleó un diseño selectivo no probabilístico transversal. Fue aplicada a 145 estudiantes que cursaban el primer ciclo universitario, de las facultades de Psicología, Ingeniería, Medicina, Ciencias Económicas, Lenguas Modernas, Biología y Arquitectura y Urbanismo, con edades comprendidas entre 16 y 19 años. The objective of this study was to relate dysfunctional parental styles with personality traits of university students at a private university in Lima Metropolitan This research is non-experimental, and a design was used selective non-probabilistic transversal. It was applied to 145 students who attended the first university cycle, of the faculties of Psychology, Engineering, Medicine, Sciences Economics, Modern Languages, Biology and Architecture and Urbanism, with ages between 16 and 19 years.

All potential myrmecochorous plants of the Czech Republic have been detected from different published sources. My study aims to describe common traits of myrmecochorous plants of the Czech flora. One of myrmecochores, lousewort (Pedicularis sylvatica), was chosen for the purpose of finding peaks in seed removal by a Myrmica scabrinodis ant species during a day and year

abstract: Color as a communication medium plays an important role in conveying meaning. It has been identified as a major element in marketing and advertising, and has shown to influence consumer's emotions (Labrecque & Milne, 2012). Despite the large volume of color-centered research, the literature on the subject remains largely abstract and unreliable. Academic research on the impact of color on brand personality it is still in its early stages of investigation, and therefore fragmented and inadequate. The goal of this study is to identify and visually represent patterns of association between colors and specific brand personality traits. We hypothesized that such patterns exist, although the exact associations are difficult to predict. If such patterns are found, they can assist in creating a valuable design tool with wide range of applications in product design, manufacturing, and marketing. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Human Systems Engineering 2017

Submitted by MARINA MORTATI DIAS null (marina.mortati@gmail.com) on 2016-08-07T23:35:50Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese_Marina Mortati Dias.pdf: 1708247 bytes, checksum: 534b59570229fd27eb89d883f8e64df7 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Juliano Benedito Ferreira (julianoferreira@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2016-08-10T13:49:51Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 dias_mm_dr_jabo.pdf: 1708247 bytes, checksum: 534b59570229fd27eb89d883f8e64df7 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-10T13:49:51Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 dias_mm_dr_jabo.pdf: 1708247 bytes, checksum: 534b59570229fd27eb89d883f8e64df7 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-07-27 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Características reprodutivas, como a idade à puberdade, são economicamente relevantes para sistemas de produção de carne. A ocorrência de prenhez precoce aos 16 meses (OPP) é considerada um indicador da idade à puberdade e pode ser utilizada como critério de seleção. A busca por mutações potencialmente causais em genes candidatos pode ajudar a melhorar a acurácia de predição genômica se forem inseridas em painéis de marcadores genéticos. O objetivo desse estudo foi identificar polimorfismos potencialmente causais em genes candidatos associados a características reprodutivas em novilhas, por meio de dois ensaios. No primeiro, foram sequenciadas regiões dos genes PPP3CA e FABP4 em 380 amostras de DNA provenientes de novilhas Nelore, por meio de equipamento MiSeq® (Illumina, Inc). Nestas sequências foram detectadas duas mutações na região do gene PPP3CA e 13 no gene FABP4. Dentre elas, 14 eram SNP e uma era deleção, sendo esta última homozigota em todas as amostras sequenciadas, o que nos leva a acreditar que possa ser uma mutação fixada na raça Nelore. Um haplótipo constituído por quatro SNP no gene FABP4 não teve efeito significativo ao nível de p<0,05 sobre a característica OPP. Todos os SNP que passaram pelo controle de qualidade também foram analisados, porém nenhum teve efeito significativo sobre a característica OPP (p>0,05). No segundo ensaio, foram analisadas sequências de amostras de RNA de novilhas Brangus com o objetivo de identificar polimorfismos nas regiões de 62 genes candidatos associados a características reprodutivas. Detectou-se 1157 SNP nas regiões de 46 daqueles genes. Esses SNP foram comparados com SNP detectados a partir de sequências de amostras de RNA de outras quatro raças (Angus, Brahman, Nelore e Holandês). Cento e setenta e dois SNP foram coincidentes em todas as raças. A partir de sequências de RNA de Brangus também foram detectados 160 novos transcritos na região de 42 dos genes candidatos e cinco genes não anotados que sobrepõem a região de genes candidatos. A detecção de novos transcritos e genes é fundamental para enriquecer a anotação do genoma bovino. As mutações detectadas podem ser utilizadas para a customização de painéis de marcadores, e aplicações de seleção genômica. / Fertility traits such as age at puberty are economically important for meat production system. Occurrence of early pregnancy (OPP) is considered a good indicator of age at puberty and can be used as selection criteria. The search for causal mutations in candidate genes can helpful to improve the accuracy of genomic prediction if used to design low-density chips. The objective of this study was to identify polymorphism in candidate genes associated with puberty in heifers. DNA sequences were obtained from 380 Nellore heifers from exons sequencing of PPP3CA and FABP4 genes through MiSeq® equipment (Illumina, Inc.). From these sequences were found two SNP in the region of PPP3CA gene and 13 variations in the gene FABP4. Among these 15 variations 12 were SNP and one was a deletion, and this deletion was detected in all samples sequenced, which leads us to conclude that this may be a variation between Nellore and Hereford. One haplotype consisting of four SNP located in the FABP4 and nine SNP, that were analyzed separately, had not a significant effect at the p <0.05 on OPP characteristic. Also were analyzed RNA sequences from Brangus heifers in 62 candidate genes associated with puberty with the aim to discovery SNP in these regions. Were detected 1157 SNP in the region of 46 gene. These SNP were compared with SNP detected from RNA sequences from four breeds, Angus, Brahma, Nellore and Holstein. One hundred and seventy-two SNP were matched in all breeds. From Brangus RNA sequences were also detected 160 new transcripts in the region of 42 candidate genes and five genes not annotated that overlap the region of candidate genes. Detection of new transcripts and genes is essential to enrich the bovine genome annotation. The mutations detected can be used for the customization of low density chips and future genomics selection strategies.

Orientador: Maria Lídia Lichtscheidl Maretti / Banca: Ana Maria Domingues de Oliveira / Banca: Margarida da Silveira Corsi / Resumo: Ao entardecer: contos vários é uma coletânea de contos escritos pelo Visconde de Taunay que foram primeiramente publicados em jornais e depois reunidos pelo próprio autor em um livro previamente intitulado "Já Crepúsculo", em 1899. Porém, com sua morte neste mesmo ano, o Visconde de Taunay não presenciou a impressão do seu livro, deixando um dos seus últimos trabalhos nas mãos de seu irmão Luiz Goffredo de Escragnolle Taunay, que conclui este projeto publicando o livro com um título mais suave e definitivo, em 1901. Ele é composto por seis contos de diferentes gêneros discursivos, nos quais o autor revela a sua grande habilidade narrativa, explorando as facetas trágicas, cômicas, satíricas e irônicas, que dão o tom a cada um dos textos. Assim, para "Pobre menino!", "Cabeça e coração" e "Uma vingança", observa-se o tom trágico; para "Rapto original", o cômico-satírico; para "Ciganinha", o cômico; e para "Estorvo", o tom irônico-trágico. Além dessa versatilidade, estes narradores ainda apresentam alguns traços da modernidade como a intertextualidade (nos momentos em que as referências literárias desempenham funções diversas), as digressões (nas vozes outras que se inserem aqui e ali), alguns momentos metalingüísticos, a virtuosidade descritiva e o caráter urbano-culto da linguagem (que o leva a caracterizar os falares e as práticas culturais interioranas). Nesta fase já madura de sua vida, o Visconde de Taunay encontra, pois, no conto mais uma forma de atualizar suas idéias inovadoras, sua genialidade narrativa e seu espírito crítico em relação à sua época e à sociedade. / Résumé: Ao entardecer est un recueil de contes écrits par le vicomte de Taunay qui ont été d'abord publiés dans des journaux et ensuite réunis par l'auteur lui-même dans un livre à ce moment intitulé Já Crepúsculo, en 1899. Toutefois, lors de sa mort à cette annéemême, le vicomte n'a pas vu l'impression de son livre, laissant une de ses dernières productions aux mains de son frère, Luiz Goffredo de Escragnolle Taunay, qui achève ce projet tout en faisant paraître le livre sous un titre plus léger et définitif, en 1901. Cette oeuvre, composée de six contes de différents genres discursifs, dans lesquels l'auteur démontre sa grande habilité narrative, explore les facettes tragiques, comiques, satiriques et ironiques qui caractérisent chacun des textes. Ainsi, pour "Pobre menino!", "Cabeça e coração" et "Uma vingança", on remarque le ton tragique; pour "Rapto original", le ton comique-satirique; pour "Ciganinha", le comique; et finalement pour "Estorvo", le ton ironique-tragique. Outre cette versatilité, les narrateurs de tous ces textes présentent aussi quelques traits de modernité tels que l'intertextualité (aux moments où les références littéraires acquièrent des fonctions diverses), les digressions (dans les plusieurs voix qui s'insèrent ça et là), quelques moments métalinguistiques, le savoir-faire descriptif et le caractère urbain-culte du langage (fait qui amène l'auteur à distinguer les parlers et les pratiques culturelles provinciennes). / Mestre

M.A. (Counselling Psychology) / The "aim of this study was (1) to compare three different procedures of evaluation used with the "Group Assessment of Interpersonal Traits" (GAIT) in terms of reliability, and (2) to assess the strength of the relationships between the different measures of empathy and selfactualization and the quality of interpersonal relationships, to achieve a tentative indication of the validity of the three evaluation procedures. From a survey of the literature it is apparent that very little agreement exists as to the exact meaning of the construct empathy, and that there is need of a valid, reliable and economical measure of empathic ability. Against this background an evaluation procedure based on Barrett-Lennard's (1981) conceptualization of empathy as a cyclical process and Goodman's (1972) GAIT-procedure was developed. Eighty-nine third year psychology students were used as subjects. They were randomly divided into 12 subgroups. Three groupings of four subgroups were exposed to three different GAIT evaluation procedures, which were those of Goodman (972), Van Wyk (978) and one that was developed for the purpose of this study. The "Personal Orientation Inventory" (POI) and the "Personal, Home, Social and Formal Relations Questionnaire" (PHSF) were respectively used as measures of selfactiJalization and interpersonal relationships.