A year after Crimea: continuity and change of Finnish-Russian relations reflected in the views of the government officials of Finland and Russia

This thesis discusses the dynamism of bilateral relations between Finland and Russia and their interconnection with wider EU-Russia relations in the sight of the recent conflict in Ukraine. In particular, incorporation of Crimea in the territory of Russia in March 2014 is believed to have triggered a series of disputes between the European Union and Russia and thus, have impacted the course of the bilateral Finnish-Russian relations. The study leans on a premise that there are some historical traditions and regularities in the Finnish foreign policy course towards Russia which make the bilateral Finnish-Russian relations special. These traditions are distinguished and described in the book ���Russia Forever? Towards Pragmatism in Finnish/Russian relations��� (2008) edited by H. Ryt��vuori-Apunen. Assuming that the featured traditions take place in modern relations between Finland and Russia, the aim of the thesis is to find out how these traditions reappear during the year shaped by the events in Ukraine. In order to do that, author follows the timeline of happenings around the Ukraine crisis starting with Crimea���s referendum on independence, and exams the way these events were commented on and evaluated by the key government officials and political institutions of Finland and Russia. The main focus is given to the Finnish official discourse on Russia during the study period. The data collection, consisting of mostly primary sources (ministerial press releases and comments, statements, speeches and blog posts of individual policy makers) is processed using the thematic analysis supported by the content analysis. The study reveals that the consequences of the Ukraine crisis have brought, among others, complications to the economic cooperation between Finland and Russia, and have stimulated the increased attention of the Finnish decision makers to the country���s security questions. As a result, the character and importance of some historical regularities of the Finnish foreign policies on Russia, like the Continental Dilemma, have taken new shape.

Managing the change of organizational culture in cross-border mergers and acquisitions: The role of post-acquisition integration in organizational culture change

Over the years, cross-border mergers and acquisitions have become a popular strategic option for variety of firms. Companies often seek rapid growth through acquiring potentially valuable enterprises or attempting to enhance their organization���s profitability by merging with other firms. However, managing the change of organizational culture is a major managerial challenge as companies often confront difficulties when merging two previously autonomous organizational cultures into one, joint organizational culture. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to increase understanding related to the challenges and possibilities concerning the management of organizational culture change in cross-border mergers and acquisitions. The research question ���How to manage the change of organizational culture in cross-border mergers and acquisitions?��� is analysed in relation to the theories presented in this thesis regarding organizational culture, organizational change and acculturation as well as in relation with the collected empirical data. The research question is divided into three sub-questions according to the following: (1) ���What is the role of organizational culture in organizations?���, (2) ���How to manage organizational change in mergers and acquisitions?��� and (3) ���How to manage organizational culture change through acculturation?���. The thesis is conducted as a qualitative case study research including three personal interviews and one group interview. The interviews were conducted as a combination of semi-structured and unstructured interviews. Theories related to organizational culture, the management of change as well as acculturation are studied and further analysed in relation to empirical material collected by the researcher. Research findings indicate that that several factors can influence the success of managing the organizational culture change in cross-border mergers and acquisitions. Factors such as defining the preferred acculturation model prior the merger; managing the resistance of change; open communication; acknowledgement of local culture and cultural differences; involvement of personnel in change processes; as well as the formulation and implementation of comprehensive change plans proved to be important factors with relation to successful management of organizational culture change

The form and function of aggressive subtypes: Relations with the goodness of fit between adolescent temperament and parent personality

The current research investigated whether the interaction between adolescent temperament and parent personality, consistent with the goodness of fit perspective, differentially predicted overt (e.g., kicking, punching, insulting) and relational (e.g., gossiping, rumour spreading, ostracising) forms of reactive (e.g., provoked, a response to goal blocking, unplanned and emotional) and proactive (e.g., unprovoked, goal-directed, deliberate and relatively unemotional) aggression. Mothers, fathers and their adolescent child (N = 448, age 10-17) from southern Ontario, Canada filled out questionnaires on adolescent temperament (i.e., frustration, fear, and effortful control) and aggression. Parents reported on their own personality traits (i.e., agreeableness, conscientiousness, and emotional stability). The form and function of aggression not encompassed by the subtype under investigation were controlled in each regression analysis. Consistent with the hypothesis, results indicated that a poor fit between adolescent temperament vulnerabilities and lower parent personality traits, including agreeableness, conscientiousness and emotional stability, was predictive of greater levels of differentiated aggression. For instance, lower father conscientiousness strengthened the relation between higher frustration and reactive overt aggression. Unexpectedly in some cases, temperament risk factors were more strongly associated with aggression subtypes when personality scores were at higher levels, particularly agreeableness and conscientiousness, traits normally considered to be at the optimal end of the dimension. For example, higher father agreeableness strengthened the relation between higher frustration and reactive relational aggression. At the main effects level, low fearfulness was significantly associated with only the overt subtypes of aggression, and unexpectedly, higher frustration and lower effortful control were related to both proactive and reactive subtypes of aggression. A temperamentally vulnerable adolescent was also at greater risk of displaying aggressive behaviour when the father lacked emotional stability, but not the mother. These results are broadly consistent with the prediction that temperament risk factors are more strongly associated with aggression subtypes when an adolescent predisposition does not fit well with parent personality traits. Mechanisms pertaining to stress in the family environment and the fostering of self-regulation abilities are discussed with respect to why a poor fit between temperament and parent personality is predictive of adolescent differentiated aggression.

Priming the Governance System for Climate Change Adaptation: The Application of a Social Ecological Inventory (SEI) to Engage Actors in Niagara, Canada

Adaptive systems of governance are increasingly gaining attention in respect to complex and uncertain social-ecological systems. Adaptive co-management is one strategy to make adaptive governance operational and holds promise with respect to community climate change adaptation as it facilitates participation and learning across scales and fosters adaptive capacity and resilience. Developing tools which hasten the realization of such approaches are growing in importance. This paper describes explores the Social Ecological Inventory (SEI) as a tool to 'prime' a regional climate change adaptation network. The SEI tool draws upon the social-ecological systems approach in which social and ecological systems are considered linked. SEIs bridge the gap between conventional stakeholder analysis and biological inventories and take place through a six phase process. A case study describes the results of applying an SEI to prime an adaptive governance network for climate change adaptation in the Niagara Region of Canada. Lessons learned from the case study are discussed and highlight how the SEI catalyzed the adaptive co-management process in the case. Future avenues for SEIs in relation to climate change adaptation emerge from this exploratory work and offer opportunities to inform research and adaptation planning.

Numerical modelling of the impact of climate change on the morphology of Saint-Lawrence tributaries

Cette th��se examine les impacts sur la morphologie des tributaires du fleuve Saint-Laurent des changements dans leur d��bit et leur niveau de base engendr��s par les changements climatiques pr��vus pour la p��riode 2010���2099. Les tributaires s��lectionn��s (rivi��res Batiscan, Richelieu, Saint-Maurice, Saint-Fran��ois et Yamachiche) ont ��t�� choisis en raison de leurs diff��rences de taille, de d��bit et de contexte morphologique. Non seulement ces tributaires subissent-ils un r��gime hydrologique modifi�� en raison des changements climatiques, mais leur niveau de base (niveau d���eau du fleuve Saint-Laurent) sera aussi affect��. Le mod��le morphodynamique en une dimension (1D) SEDROUT, �� l���origine d��velopp�� pour des rivi��res graveleuses en mode d���aggradation, a ��t�� adapt�� pour le contexte sp��cifique des tributaires des basses-terres du Saint-Laurent afin de simuler des rivi��res sablonneuses avec un d��bit quotidien variable et des fluctuations du niveau d���eau �� l���aval. Un module pour simuler le partage des s��diments autour d�����les a aussi ��t�� ajout�� au mod��le. Le mod��le ainsi am��lior�� (SEDROUT4-M), qui a ��t�� test�� �� l���aide de simulations �� petite ��chelle et avec les conditions actuelles d�����coulement et de transport de s��diments dans quatre tributaires du fleuve Saint-Laurent, peut maintenant simuler une gamme de probl��mes morphodynamiques de rivi��res. Les changements d�����l��vation du lit et d���apport en s��diments au fleuve Saint-Laurent pour la p��riode 2010���2099 ont ��t�� simul��s avec SEDROUT4-M pour les rivi��res Batiscan, Richelieu et Saint-Fran��ois pour toutes les combinaisons de sept r��gimes hydrologiques (conditions actuelles et celles pr��dites par trois mod��les de climat globaux (MCG) et deux sc��narios de gaz �� effet de serre) et de trois sc��narios de changements du niveau de base du fleuve Saint-Laurent (aucun changement, baisse graduelle, baisse abrupte). Les impacts sur l���apport de s��diments et l�����l��vation du lit diff��rent entre les MCG et semblent reli��s au statut des cours d���eau (selon qu���ils soient en ��tat d���aggradation, de d��gradation ou d�����quilibre), ce qui illustre l���importance d���examiner plusieurs rivi��res avec diff��rents mod��les climatiques afin d�����tablir des tendances dans les effets des changements climatiques. Malgr�� le fait que le d��bit journalier moyen et le d��bit annuel moyen demeurent pr��s de leur valeur actuelle dans les trois sc��narios de MCG, des changements importants dans les taux de transport de s��diments simul��s pour chaque tributaire sont observ��s. Ceci est d�� �� l���impact important de fortes crues plus fr��quentes dans un climat futur de m��me qu����� l���arriv��e plus h��tive de la crue printani��re, ce qui r��sulte en une variabilit�� accrue dans les taux de transport en charge de fond. Certaines complications avec l���approche de mod��lisation en 1D pour repr��senter la g��om��trie complexe des rivi��res Saint-Maurice et Saint-Fran��ois sugg��rent qu���une approche bi-dimensionnelle (2D) devrait ��tre s��rieusement consid��r��e afin de simuler de fa��on plus exacte la r��partition des d��bits aux bifurcations autour des ��les. La rivi��re Saint-Fran��ois est utilis��e comme ��tude de cas pour le mod��le 2D H2D2, qui performe bien d���un point de vue hydraulique, mais qui requiert des ajustements pour ��tre en mesure de pleinement simuler les ajustements morphologiques des cours d���eau.

Further characterization and determination of the single amino acid change in the tsI138 reovirus thermosensitive mutant

Many temperature-sensitive mutants have been isolated in early studies of mammalian reovirus. However, the bio- logical properties and nature of the genetic alterations remain incompletely explored for most of these mutants. The mutation harbored by the tsI138 mutant was already assigned to the L3 gene encoding the l1 protein. In the present study, this mu- tant was further studied as a possible tool to establish the role of the putative l1 enzymatic activities in viral multiplication. It was observed that synthesis of viral proteins is only marginally reduced, while it was difficult to recover viral particles at the nonpermissive temperature. A single nucleotide substitution resulting in an amino acid change was found; the position of this amino acid is consistent with a probable defect in assembly of the inner capsid at the nonpermissive temperature.

Technological Change and the Development of the Primary Fishing Industry of Kerala - A Study of Limited Growth

Induction of growth in the primary marine fishing industry of Kerala is a sine gua Qgn for improving the economy of the fishermen, the state's domestic product as well as earning more foreign exchange for the country. The State Administration has been trying to instil growth into the industry eversince the output of the industry showed marked sign of decline (particularly after 1975). Significantly, it has attempted to strengthen the traditional sector, (which is considered to be the crucial sector of the primary marine fishing industry of the state) by introducing intermediate technology and by revamping the organisational structure of the industry. But it appears that the production system in the primary marine fishing industry of Kerala has been severely constrained by the existing technology, organisation of production and marketing institutions. Regeneration of growth in the industry calls forth an understanding of the 'process' of growth in the industry and the need to r��organise it with new technology, and new organisations. The present study is an attempt to unraval the process of growth in the primary marine fishing industry of Kerala since 1951

Theory for the change of bond character in divalent-metal clusters

To determine the size dependence of the bonding in divalent-metal clusters we use a many-electron Hamiltonian describing the interplay between van der Waals (vdW) and covalent interactions. Using a saddle-point slave-boson method and taking into account the size-dependent screening of charge fluctuations, we obtain for Hg_n a sharp transition from vdW to covalent bonding for increasing n. We show also, by solving the model Hamiltonian exactly, that for divalent metals vdW and covalent bonding coexist already in the dimers.

Applying the Lessons of ���Lean Now��� to Transform the US Aerospace Enterprise

Lean is common sense and good business sense. As organizations grow and become more successful, they begin to lose insight into the basic truths of what made them successful. Organizations have to deal with more and more issues that may not have anything to do with directly providing products or services to their customers. Lean is a holistic management approach that brings the focus of the organization back to providing value to the customer. In August 2002, Mrs. Darleen Druyun, the Principal Deputy to the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition and government co-chairperson of the Lean Aerospace Initiative (LAI), decided it was time for Air Force acquisitions to embrace the concepts of lean. At her request, the LAI Executive Board developed a concept and methodology to employ lean into the Air Force���s acquisition culture and processes. This was the birth of the ���Lean Now��� initiative. An enterprise-wide approach was used, involving Air Force System Program Offices (SPOs), aerospace industry, and several Department of Defense agencies. The aim of Lean Now was to focus on the process interfaces between these ���enterprise��� stakeholders to eliminate barriers that impede progress. Any best practices developed would be institutionalized throughout the Air Force and the Department of Defense (DoD). The industry members of LAI agreed to help accelerate the government-industry transformation by donating lean Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to mentor, train, and facilitate the lean events of each enterprise. Currently, the industry SMEs and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are working together to help the Air Force develop its own lean infrastructure of training courses and Air Force lean SMEs. The first Lean Now programs were the F/A-22, Global Hawk, and F-16. Each program focused on specific acquisition processes. The F/A-22 focused on the Test and Evaluation process; the Global Hawk focused on Evolutionary Acquisitions; and the F-16 focused on improving the Contract Closeout process. Through lean, each enterprise made many significant improvements. The F/A-22 was able to reduce its Operational Flight Plan (OFP) Preparation and Load process time of 2 to 3 months down to 7 hours. The Global Hawk developed a new production plan that increases the annual production of its Integrated Sensor Suite from 3 per year to 6 per year. The F-16 enterprise generated and is working 12 initiatives that could result in a contract closeout cycle time reduction of 3 to 7 years. Each enterprise continues to generate more lean initiatives that focus on other areas and processes within their respective enterprises.

Development and/or change of the notion of permanent object and operative causality: empirical evidence in the first year of life

This study examines the notion of permanent object during the first year of life, taking into account the controversy of two approaches about the nature of change: developmental change and cognitive change. Using a longitudinal/cross-sectional design, tasks adapted of the subscale of permanent object and operative causality of the Uzgiris-Hunt Scale (Uzgiris and Hunt, 1975) (Uzgiris & Hunt, 1975) were presented to 110 infants of 0, 3, 6 and 9 months-old, which reside in three cities of Colombia. The results showed three types of strategies: (a) Not resolution; (b) Exploratory and (c) Resolution, which follow different trajectories in children���s performance. This allows affirming that adaptive conquests of the cognitive development stay together with the variety of strategies. Using strategies reveals adjustments and transformations of action programs that consolidate the notion of permanent object not necessarily with age, but with self-regulatory processes. Empirical evidence contributes to the understanding of the relations between the emergence of novelty in the development and performance variability