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1
Rashid, Waleed Bin. "Surface defect machining : a new approach for hard turning." Thesis, Heriot-Watt University, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10399/2840.
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Hard turning is emerging as a key technology to substitute conventional grinding processes, mainly on account of lower equipment cost, short setup time, and a reduced number of process steps. This is, however, being impeded by a number of challenges required to be resolved, including attainable surface roughness, surface deteriorations, surface residual stresses and metallurgical transformations on the machined steel surface (white layer). In this thesis, a novel approach named Surface Defect Machining (SDM) is proposed as a viable solution to resolve a large number of these issues and to improve surface finish and surface integrity. SDM is defined as a process of machining, where a workpiece is first subjected to surface defects creation at a depth less than the uncut chip thickness; either through mechanical and/or thermal means; then followed by a normal machining operation so as to reduce the cutting resistance. A comprehensive understanding of SDM is established theoretically using finite element method (FEM). Also, an experimental study has been carried out for extensive understanding of the new technique. A good agreement between theoretical and experimental investigations has been achieved. The results show very interesting salient features of SDM, providing favourable machining outcomes. These include: reduced shear plane angle, reduced machining forces, lower residual stresses on the machined surface, reduced tool-chip interface contact length and increased chip flow velocity, as well as reductions in overall temperature in the cutting zone and changing the mechanism of chip morphology from jagged to discontinuous. However, the most prominent outcome is the improved attainable surface roughness. Furthermore, SDM shows the ability to exceed the critical feed rate and achieve an optical surface finish upto 30 nm. A scientific explanation of the improved surface roughness suggests that during SDM, a combination of both the cutting action and the rough polishing action help to improve the machined surface. Based on these findings, it is anticipated that a component machined using the SDM method should exhibit improved quality of the machined surface, which is expected to provide tremendous commercial advantages in the time to come.
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Dehkordi, S. Emad. "Groundwater resources in coastal hard rock terrains : Geostatistical and GIS approach." Thesis, KTH, Mark- och vattenteknik, 2009. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-151296.
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Stockholm archipelago is a combination of coastal and young glaciated conditions on hard rock geology with almost no primary porosity and very limited secondary porosity. Therefore the aquifer is both of limited capacity and exposed to salinity problem. In this context importance of fractures and soil cover is magnified. Lineaments are representatives of fractures in remote sensing. Fracture mapping in study area proves close correspondence between orientation of fractures and nearly located lineaments. Especially in this type of terrain, lineaments normally occur together with many other interesting hydrogeological features such as topographic attributes, soil, and vegetation; however, still each of these factors has its own effect on the groundwater situation. Through employment of geostatistical analysis and a modified variant of the RV (Risk Variable) method, called the PV (Probability Value) method, different attributes are rated by importance. The results show, soil cover is the most influencing factor then rock type and distance from lineaments; other factors are classified after them. It is discovered that the center of lineaments may not be the most suitable site to extract water because of being clogged by fills. This is particularly the case for shear fractures in which clay can be internally formed due to friction. Based on the statistical results a model is made in GIS environment in order to create hydrogeological maps. Such maps, after validation, can be used for any other area with similar properties even with missing or very limited data from boreholes. These maps definitively are only probability maps projecting areas with higher and lower prospect of aquifer potential and cannot guarantee high capacity in every borehole drilled in designated areas due to high heterogeneity of fractured rock system. Analysis of chemical data from wells proves a correlation between fracture orientations and topography with salinization and groundwater flow. Groundwater flow in the surroundings seems to be essential for feeding the aquifer as most of the wells with increased salt content have also low capacities.
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Sagoo, Jaspal S. "The development of hard real-time systems using a formal approach." Thesis, Aston University, 1992. http://publications.aston.ac.uk/8092/.
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Hard real-time systems are a class of computer control systems that must react to demands of their environment by providing `correct' and timely responses. Since these systems are increasingly being used in systems with safety implications, it is crucial that they are designed and developed to operate in a correct manner. This thesis is concerned with developing formal techniques that allow the specification, verification and design of hard real-time systems. Formal techniques for hard real-time systems must be capable of capturing the system's functional and performance requirements, and previous work has proposed a number of techniques which range from the mathematically intensive to those with some mathematical content. This thesis develops formal techniques that contain both an informal and a formal component because it is considerd that the informality provides ease of understanding and the formality allows precise specification and verification. Specifically, the combination of Petri nets and temporal logic is considered for the specification and verification of hard real-time systems. Approaches that combine Petri nets and temporal logic by allowing a consistent translation between each formalism are examined. Previously, such techniques have been applied to the formal analysis of concurrent systems. This thesis adapts these techniques for use in the modelling, design and formal analysis of hard real-time systems. The techniques are applied to the problem of specifying a controller for a high-speed manufacturing system. It is shown that they can be used to prove liveness and safety properties, including qualitative aspects of system performance. The problem of verifying quantitative real-time properties is addressed by developing a further technique which combines the formalisms of timed Petri nets and real-time temporal logic. A unifying feature of these techniques is the common temporal description of the Petri net.
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Pugacs, Sergejs. "A clustering approach for vehicle routing problems with hard time windows." Master's thesis, Faculdade de Ciencias e Tecnologia, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10362/13045.
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Dissertação para obtenção do Grau de Mestre em
Logica ComputicionalThe Vehicle Routing Problem (VRP) is a well known combinatorial optimization problem and many studies have been dedicated to it over the years since solving the VRP optimally or near-optimally for very large size problems has many practical applications (e.g. in various logistics systems). Vehicle Routing Problem with hard TimeWindows (VRPTW) is probably the most studied variant of the VRP problem and the presence of time windows requires complex techniques to handle it. In fact, finding a feasible solution to the VRPTWwhen the number of vehicles is fixed is an NP-complete problem. However, VRPTW is well studied and many different approaches to solve it have been developed over the years. Due to the inherent complexity of the underlying problem VRPTW is NP-Hard. Therefore, optimally solving problems with no more than one hundred requests is considered intractably hard. For this reason the literature is full with inexact methods that use metaheuristics, local search and hybrid approaches which are capable of producing high quality solutions within practical time limits. In this work we are interested in applying clustering techniques to VRPTWproblem. The idea of clustering has been successfully applied to the basic VRP problem. However very little work has yet been done in using clustering in the VRPTW variant. We present a novel approach based on clustering, that any VRPTW solver can adapt, by running a preprocessing stage before attempting to solve the problem. Our proposed method, tested with a state of the art solver (Indigo), enables the solver to find solutions much faster (up to an order of magnitude speed-up). In general this comes with at slightly reduced solution quality, but in somes types of problems, Indigo is able to obtain better solutions than those obtained with no clustering.
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Rucci, Josh. "A hard or soft approach? reconfiguring South Korean relations with North Korea /." Click here for download, 2007. http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=1288668421&sid=1&Fmt=2&clientId=3260&RQT=309&VName=PQD.
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Jones, A. V. "An approach to the design of expert systems for hard real-time applications." Thesis, Swansea University, 1995. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.637449.
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Over recent years there has been considerable interest in the use of new programming techniques, derived from artificial intelligence (AI) research, in computer control. The reason for considering these techniques is the ever-growing desire for competitiveness in manufacturing and process plants. Two particularly important techniques to have emerged from AI research are expert systems and neural networks. In parallel with the growing need for efficiency, has been the desire to improve the safety and reliability of computer controlled systems. Achieving this requires that any software in the system must have reliable real-time performance - that is, it must produce results which are correct and on time. While progress is being made towards this end in the field of conventional software, the emergence of AI techniques is creating a new set of problems. This thesis examines the reasons why reliable AI systems must be developed, and highlights the differences between AI techniques and more-traditional programming methods. It is argued that true real-time performance can only be obtained from a resource-adequate system and that a state-based approach offers considerable advantages for a real-time expert system. An architecture is proposed which will provide the basis for developing expert systems for hard real-time applications. To overcome the predictability problems normally associated with the inference engine of an expert system, a knowledge-base compiler is presented which produces, from an expert-system ruleset, a procedural function with a known execution time. To validate this approach, a case study is presented in which an expert system has been developed for the control of a aircraft during landing. This example demonstrates the use of a rule-based expert system in a hard real-time environment. An evaluation of the ideas presented is given which identifies some of the limitations of the techniques discussed.
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Stampanoni, Marco. "A novel approach towards hard X-ray submicrometer computer tomography with synchrotron radiation." [S.l. : s.n.], 2002. http://e-collection.ethbib.ethz.ch/ecol-pool/diss/fulltext/eth14884.pdf.
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Jordan, Heidi Lynn. "A Purposeful Approach to Student Conduct with Deaf and Hard of Hearing Learners." ScholarWorks, 2016. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/2735.
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Teachers of deaf and hard of hearing students spend more time in conflict resolution than their general education colleagues do. Although emerging research suggests that both students and teachers benefit from an approach to student conduct that is more purposeful than traditional behavior modification models, further research was necessary to clarify how such an effective purposeful program would work. The purpose of this inquiry was to explore how teachers of deaf and hard of hearing students perceived and used a purposeful approach to student conduct. Deutsch's conflict resolution theory served as the conceptual framework. A single case study design was selected for this qualitative study conducted in a rural residential school for deaf and hard of hearing students in the western United States. Data were collected from interviews with six teachers, observations, and documents. Data were analyzed using line-by-line coding and the constant comparative method to construct categories for each data source, and examined across all data sources to determine emergent themes and discrepancies. Results indicated that teachers of deaf and hard of hearing students used a two-step approach to collaborative conflict resolution that included engaging in perspective-taking and engaging in solution generation. This study promotes positive social change by informing school administrators on how to plan effective teacher training on using a purposeful approach to student conduct with deaf and hard of hearing learners.
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Slimani, Amel. "Photonic approach for the study of dental hard tissues and carious lesion detection." Thesis, Montpellier, 2017. http://www.theses.fr/2017MONTT125.
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Les propriétés photoniques des tissus durs dentaires nous ont permis d’étudier l’email et la dentine a un niveau moléculaire (in vitro) en utilisant des techniques de microscopie optique non linéaires. La microscopie confocale Raman est technique d’imagine de haute résolution permettant d’analyse d’échantillon sans préparation spécifique ni marquage. Cette méthode nous a permis de reconstituer une cartographie de la réticulation du collagène et de la cristallinité au niveau de la jonction émail-dentine et cela avec une résolution spatiale non atteinte jusque-là. Cette analyse chimique de la jonction émail-dentine a permis de redéfinir la largeur de cette zone de transition. Cette largeur est nettement supérieure à celles proposées par les études précédentes. Par ailleurs, l’étude portant sur les changements de fluorescence intrinsèque entre les tissues dentaires sains et cariés suggèrent l’implication de la protoporphyrin IX et de la pentosidine dans l’expression de la fluorescence rouge des tissus cariés. La microscopie multiphotonique quant à elle nous a permis de détecter la lésion carieuse et de suivre son développement en utilisant la génération de seconde harmonique (SHG) et la fluorescence par excitation à deux photons (2PEF). Nos études ont démontré la validité du ratio SHG/2PEF comme paramètre fiable pour la détection de la lésion carieuse. Les études proposées par cette thèse montrent le potentiel des propriétés photoniques de l’émail et de la dentine en utilisant les microscopies Raman et multiphotoniques dans l’étude de ces tissus au niveau moléculaire. Cela offre de nouvelles perspectives en recherche et en applications cliniquesPhotonic properties of dental hard tissues allowed us to proceed to in vitro analysis of enamel and dentin on a molecular level. Confocal Raman microscopy has been used to produce a mapping of collagen cross-link and crystallinity of human dentin–enamel junction (DEJ) with a spatial resolution not achieved up to now. The method is a non-invasive, label-free and a high spatial resolution imaging technique. This chemical analysis of DEJ led us to redefine a wider width of this transition zone and advance our understanding of dental histology. A study on the intrinsic fluorescence changes of sound and carious tissues using conventional fluorescence microscopy suggests the involvement of protoporphyrin IX and pentosidine in the fluorescence red-shift observed in carious tissues. Multiphoton microscopy allowed to detect nonlinear optical signal changes during caries process using second harmonic generation (SHG) and two-photon excitation fluorescence (2PEF). Our studies led us to propose the ratio SHG/2PEF as valuable parameter to monitor caries lesion. Collectively, advances described in this thesis show the potential of photonic properties of enamel and dentin using Raman and multiphoton microcopies for molecular investigations on sound as much as on carious tissues. It opens new perspective in dental research and clinical applications
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Karpenko, Tatyana S. "Te(te(te(text)xt)xt)xt : a cognitive approach to the study of intertextuality." Thesis, Lancaster University, 1998. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.268003.
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Austin, Annie. "Hard times and capabilities : the effects of economic crisis on well-being in the UK." Thesis, University of Manchester, 2015. https://www.research.manchester.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/hard-times-and-capabilities-the-effects-of-economic-crisis-on-wellbeing-in-the-uk(14edea4f-b2b8-4308-927b-0bd5238a10a1).html.
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The global economic crisis that began in 2007 affected the lives of many people in the UK. Most existing research into the effects of ‘the Great Recession’ on well-being takes an economic or subjective approach to assessing the impacts of hard times. This thesis takes an alternative perspective: the Capabilities Approach (CA) is used to assess the effects of economic crisis on people’s freedom to lead flourishing lives. The study develops a theoretical framework that combines the CA with concepts from Philosophy and Social Psychology - the theories of practical reason and personal values. These concepts are then operationalised using data from the European Social Survey and quantitative methods, including latent variable techniques and structural equation models. The study reveals that economic crisis had a two-fold effect on well-being, resulting in (1) reduced opportunities to achieve valuable outcomes and (2) diminished expectations, aspirations and goals. These effects were concentrated among socio-economically vulnerable groups, including those on low incomes and the long-term sick and disabled: the findings show that economic crisis compounded existing socio-economic inequalities. The research makes three main contributions. First, it demonstrates theoretically and empirically that subjective well-being is not a reliable indicator for evaluating the effects of hard times on well-being; nor is it, more generally, a suitable guide for public policy. Second, it demonstrates a new methodological approach to identifying latent ‘value orientations’ within Schwartz’s framework of personal values. Third, in combining the CA with theories of practical reason and personal values, this research offers a new approach to conceptualising and measuring the agency aspect of capability.
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Nagpal, Charu. "A delay-efficient radiation-hard digital design approach using code word state preserving (cwsp) elements." Texas A&M University, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/1969.1/85906.
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With the relentless shrinking of the minimum feature size of VLSI Integrated
Circuits (ICs), reduction in operating voltages and increase in operating frequencies,
VLSI circuits are becoming more vulnerable to radiation strikes. As a result, this
problem is now important not only for space and military electronics but also for
consumer ICs. Thus, the design of radiation-hardened circuits has received significant
attention in recent times.
This thesis addresses the radiation hardening issue for VLSI ICs. In particular,
circuit techniques are presented to protect against Single Event Transients (SETs).
Radiation hardening has long been an area of research for memories for space and
military ICs. In a memory, the stored state can ip as a result of a radiation strike.
Such bit reversals in case of memories are known as Single Event Upsets (SEUs).
With the feature sizes of VLSI ICs becoming smaller, radiation-induced glitches have
become a source of concern in combinational circuits also. In combinational circuits,
if a glitch due to a radiation event occurs at the time the circuit outputs are being
sampled, it could lead to the propagation of a faulty value. The current or voltage
glitches on the nodes of a combinational circuit are known as SETs. When an SET
occurring on a node of a logic network is propagated through the gates of the network
and is captured by a latch as a logic error, it is transformed to an SEU.
The approach presented in this thesis makes use of Code Word State Preserving
(CWSP) elements at each ip-op of the design, along with additional logic to trigger
a recomputation in case a SET induced error is detected. The combinational part of
the design is left unaltered. The CWSP element provides 100% SET protection for
glitch widths up to min{(Dmin-D1)/2, (Dmax-D2)/2}, where Dmin and Dmax are
the minimum and maximum circuit delay respectively. D1 and D2 are extra delays
associated with the proposed SET protection circuit. The CWSP circuit has two
inputs - the flip flop output signal and the same signal delayed by a quantity 6. In
case an SET error is detected at the end of a clock period i, then the computation is
repeated in clock period i+1, using the correct output value, which was captured by
the CWSP element in the ith clock period. Unlike previous approaches, the CWSP
element is i) in a secondary computational path and ii) the CWSP logic is designed to
minimally impact the critical delay path of the design. It was found through SPICE
simulations that the delay penalty of the proposed approach (averaged over several
designs) is less than 1%. Thus, the proposed technique is applicable for high-speed
designs, where the additional delay associated with the SET protection must be kept
at a minimum.
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Shah, Purvi. "A PRIORITY-BASED RESOURCE MANAGEMENT APPROACH FOR DYNAMIC AND HARD MISSION CRITICAL REAL-TIME SYSTEMS." Ohio University / OhioLINK, 2005. http://www.ohiolink.edu/etd/view.cgi?ohiou1113835813.
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Castrignano, Salvatore [Verfasser], and Jörg [Akademischer Betreuer] Evers. "A Quantum Theoretical Approach to Hard X-ray Time-Domain Interferometry / Salvatore Castrignano ; Betreuer: Jörg Evers." Heidelberg : Universitätsbibliothek Heidelberg, 2019. http://d-nb.info/1180326628/34.
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Walters, Philippa Anne. "A rheological approach to the formulation and drug release of thixotropic gels for hard gelatin capsules." Thesis, University of Sunderland, 1994. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.239687.
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Patterson, Jesse. "An Energy-Efficient Semi-Partitioned Approach for Hard Real-Time Systems with Voltage and Frequency Islands." DigitalCommons@USU, 2016. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/4969.
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The shift from uniprocessor to multi-core architectures has made it difficult to design predictable hard real-time systems (HRTS) since guaranteeing deadlines while achieving high processor utilization remains a major challenge. In addition, due to increasing demands, energy efficiency has become an important design metric in HRTS. To obtain energy savings, most multi-core systems use dynamic voltage and frequency scaling (DVFS) to reduce dynamic power consumption when the system is underloaded. However, in many multi-core systems, DVFS is implemented using voltage and frequency islands (VFI), implying that individual cores cannot independently select their voltage and frequency (v/f) pairs, thus resulting in less energy savings when existing energy-aware task assignment and scheduling techniques are used. In this thesis, we present an analysis of the increase in energy consumption in the presence of VFI. Further, we propose a semi-partitioned approach called EDF-hv to reduce the energy consumption of HRTS on multi-core systems with VFI. Simulation results revealed that when workload imbalance among the cores is sufficiently high, EDF-hv can reduce system energy consumption by 15.9% on average.
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Murphy, Lyndon John. "An analysis of innovation programmes in Wales along a 'hard-soft' policy continuum : a case study approach." Thesis, University of South Wales, 2011. https://pure.southwales.ac.uk/en/studentthesis/an-analysis-of-innovation-programmes-in-wales-along-a-hard--soft-policy-continuum(3294d1c4-e285-439c-bd6f-30526f44add3).html.
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The thesis context is a Welsh innovation policy continuum. The research is primarily located in three innovation programmes representative of innovation policy in Wales. The representative programmes are: the Technium network; Innovation Network Partnership; and Communities First project. The Technium network is considered to be at the hard/tangible end of the policy continuum whilst Communities First is at the softer, more intangible pole of the continuum. The aim of this thesis is to ascertain the influence social capital may have upon levels of innovation across the innovation policy continuum. To achieve the aim, the existence and extent of forms of innovation, forms of social capital, and cooperation and collaboration are considered through a positivist and interpretivist analysis. The resultant data has been further exposed to a correlation analysis, undertaken to ascertain whether or not the presence and form of social capital has an association with forms of innovation. The three programmes each have a pan-Wales presence. The programmes all originate from Welsh Assembly Government innovation policy initiatives between 2001 and 2003. For each programme a case study has been produced. The case studies have been constructed using data from survey, interviews and participant observation. The survey was completed via an on-line questionnaire by representative individuals and groups from each innovation policy continuum programme. Further data was collected by interviews held with individuals representative of roles typically undertaken at each programme. Participant observation undertaken at each programme also informed the creation of the case studies. Literature in this field of study is typically limited to a comparatively narrow investigation of traditionally measured innovation. For social capital and cooperation and collaboration, research usually has a macro scale cynosure. This study has an innovation programme locale in Wales which may be considered unique in terms of innovation and social capital research. ii The findings reveal the existence of forms of innovation, social capital, and cooperation and collaboration at each case study. However, there are differences in terms of the extent of such phenomenon along the innovation policy continuum. For instance, there appears to be an increased likelihood of traditionally measured innovation at the Technium network. Social innovation is more likely to be present at the Communities First project. Similarly, forms of social capital are more likely to be found at Communities First partnerships than at other programmes along the continuum. The correlation analysis applied to the case study survey data discloses a number of, mainly positive statistically significant associations between explanatory social capital, and cooperation and collaboration variables and dependent innovation variables. Propositions resultant of the findings, are likely to be of use to policymakers. For instance, forms of social capital appear to be positively related to traditionally measured, hidden and social innovation. Policymakers considering the design of programmes to boost levels of innovation may be advised to include means of increasing levels of social capital, cooperation and collaboration in their policy and programme proposals and evaluation criteria.
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Stirrup, Rodney. "Optimization of a renewable energy supply system using hard and soft computational control methodologies : a hybrid approach." Thesis, University of Southampton, 2005. https://eprints.soton.ac.uk/72107/.
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As humanity becomes increasingly aware of the urgent need to re-address the delicate balance of nature, and as the Earth moves closer towards the natural global warming maximum of its current interglaciation, the reluctance of its decision makers to use the Earth’s diminishing supplies of fossil fuels in the traditional way is becoming more evident. To meet some of these changing objectives, research is gaining momentum into developing new forms of energy supply systems that are globally accessible, globally sustainable, and whose contribution to the current warming trends of our planet is negligible. Many of these real world energy systems have operating regions that exhibit varying degrees of non-linearity. An example of this is the significant variations in the dynamic characteristics of a distributed, solar-concentrating, parabolic collector field within a pilot solar thermal power plant situated in the Tabernas Desert, Almería, Spain. Here a hybrid controller was implemented, using a gain-scheduled controller with feed¬forward, to control the more linear operating regimes, while the natural task-orientated strengths of a fuzzy PI incremental controller were utilized to control the highly nonlinear operating region of the plant, i.e. below 5 litres per second. Removing the step-orientated nature of the problem from the fuzzy controller allows Multi-Objective Genetic Algorithm (MOGA)-tuning to use a greater variety of objective functions, improving its chances of finding better quality non-dominated solutions in a shorter time span. Bi-directional dynamic bumpless transfer was added to effect smooth transfer between the controllers. A unique way of improving the MOGA-tuning of the fuzzy logic controller was also employed by optimizing the number of input membership functions and their initial positions using fuzzy data clustering and adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system data training techniques, and also by optimizing the number of generations required for convergence. Finally enhancements to the visualization properties of the MOGA’s graphical user interface (GUI) relating to its trade-off graph of parallel coordinates were implemented. These included percentage objective trade-off information in tabular matrix and bar chart form, and the incorporation of an evolving conflict or trade-off sensitivity mechanism to improve the visualization of the trade-off graph. These improvements were carried out to give the decision maker a better understanding of the system’s characteristics, and in doing so, to enhance the chances of a successful outcome when deciding between non-dominated solutions or potential fuzzy controller inference systems.
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Olsson, Carl Olof. "A new world order? : A methodological approach to the soft and hard power of the European Union." Thesis, Internationella Handelshögskolan, Högskolan i Jönköping, IHH, Statsvetenskap, 2008. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hj:diva-6810.
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The European Union have since the signing of the Rome treaty in 1957, come to be a new superpower in the world, spreading the word of soft power through the economic and democratic cooperation in the pan-European continent. The theory of soft and hard power and the theory of diffusion of innovations illuminate how the European Union has been able to increase their influence and gain power in the world, as it has become the largest economy in the world. Through this soft power focus, the European Union has been able to grow and to act as a model for success as it attracts other parts of the world by the positive messages of cooperation and economic integration. This should be seen in a time when the US has increasingly acted unilateral in their foreign policy and experienced increasing legitimacy problems on the global scale. The understanding of the development of the European Union to its contemporary magnitude through the theory of soft and hard power and the diffusion of innovations, what I call cooptive enlargement, brings new light of how to understand its development and influence in the world. This theory could further be used to analyze and understand why and how other parts of the world create trade areas and Unions in their quest for future peace, democracy and economic development. The European Union has through this cooptive enlargement come to lay the foundation to a new world order, enabling all parts of the world to collide into a prosperous future of cooperation.
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Glusniewska, Magdalena. "What has the European Union done to approach terrorism - Responses to a growing security challenge." Thesis, Linnéuniversitetet, Institutionen för statsvetenskap (ST), 2018. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:lnu:diva-75026.
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One of the mayor security problems nowadays is the international terrorism and it has become a threat to the European people as well. The number of the attacks is increasing, European citizens are traveling to Middle East to join foreign terrorist groups and online propaganda is being more and more popular. The main goal that terrorists have is to get worldwide attention and harm as many people as possible. To answer the research questions of this study: What are the measures that the EU has taken to fight terrorism? And To what extend can EU’s counter-terrorism approaches be explained by hard-soft power theory? a qualitative one case study method has been used. The results of this study show that EU has taken many significant measures in the fight against terrorism, such as implementation of common strategies and regulations but also in giving mandate to Europol that is now the leader partner in the European counter-terrorism approach. There have been many improvements in the last years, but there are still gaps that need to be filled, especially in the collaboration between the Member States. The study has also concluded that EU is mostly using Soft Power as a tool for the international politics.
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Laclau, Charlotte. "Hard and fuzzy block clustering algorithms for high dimensional data." Thesis, Sorbonne Paris Cité, 2016. http://www.theses.fr/2016USPCB014.
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Notre capacité grandissante à collecter et stocker des données a fait de l'apprentissage non supervisé un outil indispensable qui permet la découverte de structures et de modèles sous-jacents aux données, sans avoir à \étiqueter les individus manuellement. Parmi les différentes approches proposées pour aborder ce type de problème, le clustering est très certainement le plus répandu. Le clustering suppose que chaque groupe, également appelé cluster, est distribué autour d'un centre défini en fonction des valeurs qu'il prend pour l'ensemble des variables. Cependant, dans certaines applications du monde réel, et notamment dans le cas de données de dimension importante, cette hypothèse peut être invalidée. Aussi, les algorithmes de co-clustering ont-ils été proposés: ils décrivent les groupes d'individus par un ou plusieurs sous-ensembles de variables au regard de leur pertinence. La structure des données finalement obtenue est composée de blocs communément appelés co-clusters. Dans les deux premiers chapitres de cette thèse, nous présentons deux approches de co-clustering permettant de différencier les variables pertinentes du bruit en fonction de leur capacité \`a révéler la structure latente des données, dans un cadre probabiliste d'une part et basée sur la notion de métrique, d'autre part. L'approche probabiliste utilise le principe des modèles de mélanges, et suppose que les variables non pertinentes sont distribuées selon une loi de probabilité dont les paramètres sont indépendants de la partition des données en cluster. L'approche métrique est fondée sur l'utilisation d'une distance adaptative permettant d'affecter à chaque variable un poids définissant sa contribution au co-clustering. D'un point de vue théorique, nous démontrons la convergence des algorithmes proposés en nous appuyant sur le théorème de convergence de Zangwill. Dans les deux chapitres suivants, nous considérons un cas particulier de structure en co-clustering, qui suppose que chaque sous-ensemble d'individus et décrit par un unique sous-ensemble de variables. La réorganisation de la matrice originale selon les partitions obtenues sous cette hypothèse révèle alors une structure de blocks homogènes diagonaux. Comme pour les deux contributions précédentes, nous nous plaçons dans le cadre probabiliste et métrique. L'idée principale des méthodes proposées est d'imposer deux types de contraintes : (1) nous fixons le même nombre de cluster pour les individus et les variables; (2) nous cherchons une structure de la matrice de données d'origine qui possède les valeurs maximales sur sa diagonale (par exemple pour le cas des données binaires, on cherche des blocs diagonaux majoritairement composés de valeurs 1, et de 0 à l’extérieur de la diagonale). Les approches proposées bénéficient des garanties de convergence issues des résultats des chapitres précédents. Enfin, pour chaque chapitre, nous dérivons des algorithmes permettant d'obtenir des partitions dures et floues. Nous évaluons nos contributions sur un large éventail de données simulées et liées a des applications réelles telles que le text mining, dont les données peuvent être binaires ou continues. Ces expérimentations nous permettent également de mettre en avant les avantages et les inconvénients des différentes approches proposées. Pour conclure, nous pensons que cette thèse couvre explicitement une grande majorité des scénarios possibles découlant du co-clustering flou et dur, et peut être vu comme une généralisation de certaines approches de biclustering populairesWith the increasing number of data available, unsupervised learning has become an important tool used to discover underlying patterns without the need to label instances manually. Among different approaches proposed to tackle this problem, clustering is arguably the most popular one. Clustering is usually based on the assumption that each group, also called cluster, is distributed around a center defined in terms of all features while in some real-world applications dealing with high-dimensional data, this assumption may be false. To this end, co-clustering algorithms were proposed to describe clusters by subsets of features that are the most relevant to them. The obtained latent structure of data is composed of blocks usually called co-clusters. In first two chapters, we describe two co-clustering methods that proceed by differentiating the relevance of features calculated with respect to their capability of revealing the latent structure of the data in both probabilistic and distance-based framework. The probabilistic approach uses the mixture model framework where the irrelevant features are assumed to have a different probability distribution that is independent of the co-clustering structure. On the other hand, the distance-based (also called metric-based) approach relied on the adaptive metric where each variable is assigned with its weight that defines its contribution in the resulting co-clustering. From the theoretical point of view, we show the global convergence of the proposed algorithms using Zangwill convergence theorem. In the last two chapters, we consider a special case of co-clustering where contrary to the original setting, each subset of instances is described by a unique subset of features resulting in a diagonal structure of the initial data matrix. Same as for the two first contributions, we consider both probabilistic and metric-based approaches. The main idea of the proposed contributions is to impose two different kinds of constraints: (1) we fix the number of row clusters to the number of column clusters; (2) we seek a structure of the original data matrix that has the maximum values on its diagonal (for instance for binary data, we look for diagonal blocks composed of ones with zeros outside the main diagonal). The proposed approaches enjoy the convergence guarantees derived from the results of the previous chapters. Finally, we present both hard and fuzzy versions of the proposed algorithms. We evaluate our contributions on a wide variety of synthetic and real-world benchmark binary and continuous data sets related to text mining applications and analyze advantages and inconvenients of each approach. To conclude, we believe that this thesis covers explicitly a vast majority of possible scenarios arising in hard and fuzzy co-clustering and can be seen as a generalization of some popular biclustering approaches
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McArthur, Guillian K. "Spectral and spatial characteristics of solar flare hard x-ray emission : a non-uniformly ionised thick target approach." Thesis, University of Glasgow, 2000. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.312728.
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TAVARES, Eduardo Antônio Guimarães. "A time Petri net based approach for software synthesis in Hard Real-Time embedded systems with multiple processors." Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, 2006. https://repositorio.ufpe.br/handle/123456789/2589.
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Previous issue date: 2006Atualmente, sistemas embarcados são ubíquos. Em outras palavras, eles estão em todos os lugares. Desde utilitários domésticos (ex: fornos microondas, refrigeradores, videocassetes, máquinas de fax, máquinas de lavar roupa, alarmes) até equipamentos militares (ex: mísseis guiados, satélites espiões, sondas espaciais, aeronaves), nós podemos encontrar um sistema embarcado. Desnecessário afirmar que a vida humana tem se tornado mais e mais dependente desses sistemas. Alguns sistemas embarcados são classificados como sistemas de tempo real, onde o comportamento correto depende não somente da integridade dos resultados, mas também nos tempos em que tais resultados são produzidos. Em sistemas embarcados de tempo real críticos, se as restrições temporais não forem satisfeitas, as conseqüências podem ser desastrosas, incluindo grandes danos aos equipamentos ou mesmo perdas de vidas humanas. Devido a tarefas que possuem alta taxa de utilização de processador, alguns sistemas embarcados (ex: dispositivos médicos) precisam ser compostos de mais de um processador para obter performance aceitável e, no caso de sistemas embarcados de tempo real críticos, para satisfazer as restrições temporais críticas. Entretanto, questões adicionais precisam ser consideradas para lidar com um ambiente multiprocessado, tal como comunicação entre processadores e sincronização. Nessa dissertação, um método de síntese de software baseado no formalismo matemático redes de Petri com tempo é apresentado para lidar com sistemas embarcardos de tempo real críticos com múltiplos processadores. A abordagem inicia a partir de uma especificação (usualmente composta de tarefas concorrentes e comunicantes) e automaticamente gera o código fonte de um programa considerando: (i) as funcionalidades e restrições; e (ii) o suporte operacional para execução das tarefas em um ambiente multiprocessado. Síntese de software é uma alternativa para sistemas operacionais especializados para dar suporte a execução de um programa. Sistemas operacionais são usualmente genéricos e podem introduzir atrasos no tempo de execução, e ao mesmo tempo produzir alto consumo de memória. Por outro lado, a síntese de software é uma alternativa de projeto, dado que este método automaticamente gera o código fonte do programa, satisfazendo a funcionalidade, as restrições especificadas, o suporte para execução, e a minimização dos atrasos e uso de memória
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Badarch, Bayarbat. "Yield Efficiency Using a Stochastic Frontier Approach for Corn, Soybeans, and Hard Red Spring Wheat in North Dakota." Thesis, North Dakota State University, 2017. https://hdl.handle.net/10365/28589.
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Agriculture is a keystone for the North Dakota economy. The research focused on three selected crops? yield: corn, soybeans and HRS wheat. The research provides a direct and indirect cumulative elasticity measure for North Dakota for each of the three crops? yields using stochastic yield frontier models. In addition, the research provides the technical efficiency frontiers for nine different regions in North Dakota as well as across the 22 years (1994 to 2015). The results revealed that each of the three crops? yields have a stronger relationship with weather variables than input cost and quantity variables. The mean level of corn, soybeans, and HRS wheat technical efficiency were 73 percent, 80 percent, and 72 percent, respectively. This research proposes that each of the three crops? operations could potentially improve efficiency without adding extra expense of input costs. Overall, North Dakota farmers were relatively efficient in each of the crops? operations.
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Gargh, Prashant Pawan. "INVESTIGATING AND UNDERSTANDING THE MECHANICAL RESPONSE OF LINKED STRUCTURES OF HARD AND SOFT METALSUSING CONSTANT DISPLACEMENT APPROACH: A NUMERICAL STUDY." University of Akron / OhioLINK, 2016. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1467977759.
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Nakeva, von Mentzer Cecilia. "Rethinking Sound : Computer-assisted reading intervention with a phonics approach for deaf and hard of hearing children using cochlear implants or hearing aids." Doctoral thesis, Linköpings universitet, Handikappvetenskap, 2014. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-108902.
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In the present thesis, computer-assisted reading intervention with a phonics approach was examined in deaf and hard of hearing children (DHH) aged 5, 6 or 7 years old using cochlear implants, hearing aids or a combination of both. Children with normal hearing (NH), matched for non-verbal intelligence and age, served as a reference group. Deaf and hard of hearing children constitute a heterogenetic population regarding cognitive and academic achievement. Many of them do not reach age appropriate levels in language and reading ability during their school years, with negative consequences for later training facilities and job opportunities. Finding relevant intervention methods to promote early language learning and literacy development that are easy to implement is therefore of great importance. In this thesis three aspects of cognitive ability (phonological processing skills, lexical access and working memory capacity), and reading ability was examined at three points in time; baseline 1, pre intervention and post intervention. Additionally, computer-assisted training delivered by means of the Internet in the children’s homes was explored in order to determine whether it would be a useful and efficient method for the DHH population. Overall, the results from the present thesis support the notion that offering a computer-assisted intervention program delivered at home, is an alternative way to support not only NH children with reading difficulties but also to support DHH children’s phonological development and decoding proficiency.I denna avhandling undersöktes fonologisk lästräning vid datorn för döva och hörselskadade barn 5, 6 och 7 år gamla som använde cochleaimplantat, hörapparat eller en kombination av båda. Barn med normal hörsel som var matchade avseende icke-verbal intelligens och ålder utgjorde jämförelsegrupp. Döva och hörselskadade barn utgör en heterogen grupp avseende kognitiv förmåga och skolframgång. Många av dem når inte kraven för åldern avseende språk och läsförmåga under skoltiden vilket får negativa konsekvenser för senare utbildning och arbete. Att hitta relevanta interventionsmetoder för att främja tidig språkinlärning och läsutveckling som är lätta att genomföra, är därför av stor betydelse. I avhandlingen undersöktes tre aspekter av kognitiv förmåga (fonologisk bearbetningsförmåga, lexikal åtkomst och arbetsminneskapacitet) och läsförmåga vid tre tidpunkter; förtest 1, före intervention och efter intervention. Dessutom undersöktes om datorbaserad intervention som genomförs via Internet i hemmet, skulle vara en användbar och effektiv metod för döva och hörselskadade barn. Resultaten i stort visar att fonologisk lästräning vid datorn i barnens hem är en alternativ metod att stödja inte bara barn i risk att utveckla lässvårigheter, utan även döva och hörselskadade barns fonologi och avkodningsförmåga.
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Hopkins, Thomas A. "An Automated Approach to a 90-nm CMOS DRFM DSSM Circuit Design." Wright State University / OhioLINK, 2010. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=wright1281645939.
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Manca, Laura. "Fonctionnements des sociétes de la fin du Néolithique au début de l'âge du Cuivre en Sardaigne : Une approche inédite à partir de l'étude des productions en matières dures animales." Thesis, Aix-Marseille, 2013. http://www.theses.fr/2013AIXM3086.
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L’industrie en matières dures animales joue un rôle important dans la préhistoire de la Sardaigne. Cette importance est soulignée par la présence de très nombreux objets retrouvés dans divers types de sites archéologiques dont la chronologie s’étend du Paléolithique à la fin de l’âge du Cuivre. L’ambition de ce travail est de constituer un panorama global de la production en matières dures animales au cours de la préhistoire sarde basé sur les données publiées à ce jour et tout particulièrement sur l’analyse des industries du Néolithique final Ozieri et du premier âge du Cuivre (4200-2900 av. J.C.). Dans un premier temps, ce travail propose la réalisation d’un bilan des connaissances actuelles sur la production en matières dures animales de la préhistoire sarde et met en évidence l’hétérogénéité des données et l’extrême rareté des études spécifiques à cette catégorie de vestiges. Dans un deuxième temps, l’analyse technologique de l’industrie en matières dures animales de deux sites majeurs de la préhistoire sarde, Su Coddu à Selargius (Cagliari) et Cuccuru s’Arriu à Cabras (Oristano) permet de poser les premières bases de la caractérisation de ces deux industries, définissant le rôle de l’industrie en matières dures animales (constitution de l’équipement) et permettant de reconstituer les techniques, les procédés et les méthodes de transformation employés pour la production des objets finis. Ce travail cherche également à caractériser les implications économiques de cette industrie et de mettre en évidence les affinités et les différences techno-économiques entre la production en matières dures animales du Néolithique final et celle du premier âge du Cuivre en SardaigneThe hard animal materials industry plays an important role in the prehistory of Sardinia. This importance is emphasized by the presence of many artefacts found in various types of archaeological sites (habitats, graves and “worship” sites) whose chronology extends from the Palaeolithic to the end of the Copper Age. The aim of this work is to provide a comprehensive overview of hard animal materials production in the Sardinian prehistory based on actual published data and especially on the analysis of the late Neolithic Ozieri and the first Copper Age (4200-2900 B.C.) industries. In the first step, this work implies to achieve a state of art of current knowledge on the production of hard animal materials in Sardinian prehistory and highlights the heterogeneity of the data and the extreme rarity of specific studies about this category of artefacts. In a second step, the technological analysis of hard animal materials industry of two major sites of Sardinian prehistory, Su Coddu at Selargius (Cagliari) and Cuccuru s’Arriu at Cabras (Oristano) permit to lay the first bases for the characterization of these two industries, defining the role of hard animal materials industry (constitution of equipment) and to reconstruct the techniques, procedures and methods used for the production of finished objects. This work also seeks to characterize the economic implications of this industry and to highlight the techno-economic similarities and differences between the hard animal materials productions of the late Neolithic and the first Copper Age in Sardinia
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Loukus, Amy Katherine. "Variables affecting hand sanitizer use in public facilities." OpenSIUC, 2010. https://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/theses/284.
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The following research was conducted to contribute to the greater understanding of the impact that most often utilized methods of public awareness and education have on behaviors relative to sickness and disease for the general public in terms of action toward prevention behaviors within a healthcare setting. The psycho educational approach is often considered an effective means to promote behavior change as it relates to preventative behavior, and in the clinical therapeutic setting has shown some relevance as an effective procedure. Unfortunately, no research as of yet speaks to the comparative effectiveness this approach may have over other approaches often thought to enhance preventative behavior, such as the more empirically based behavior analytic methods. This study provides such an analysis of the effectiveness each methodology has on changing the behavior of the public at large. Based on a study conducted in the academic setting to increase hand-sanitizing behavior of facility patrons (Loukus & Dixon, in review), this study utilizes the most effective form of prompting found to increase sanitizer use in a public facility. Because healthcare facilities often rely on psycho educational methodologies to influence sanitizer use amongst visitors and employees by placing "sanitizing stations" at the main entrance to the facility, this setting provides an appropriate venue for scientific manipulation of prompting variables to determine effectiveness on public preventative behavior towards sickness and disease, while a simple reversal design enhances the comparative value of effects obtained on behavior through observation and implementation of the two approaches within the setting.
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Odeh, Khaled. "Nouveaux algorithmes pour le traitement probabiliste et logique des arbres de défaillance." Compiègne, 1995. http://www.theses.fr/1995COMPD846.
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L'arbre de défaillance est un outil majeur dans les études de sûreté de fonctionnement des systèmes complexes. Ce modèle représente graphiquement les combinaisons d'événements conduisant à la réalisation de l'événement indésirable. Les analyses qualitative et quantitative de ce modèle sont des problèmes NP-difficiles. Notre but est de développer de nouveaux algorithmes et d'améliorer les algorithmes existants pour que l'on puisse effectuer ces analyses sur des gros arbres de défaillance. Nous proposons un algorithme de factorisation par rapport aux événements répétés et complémentaires afin de calculer la probabilité d'occurrence de l'événement indésirable. Le diagramme de décision binaire s'est avéré efficace dans le traitement des gros arbres de défaillance. Utilisant cette représentation, nous généralisons aux arbres de défaillance non-cohérents un algorithme de calcul des coupes minimales et nous proposons un algorithme de calcul du facteur d'importance de Birnbaum. Dans la continuité de l'étude précédente, nous nous sommes intéressés à la maintenance des composants dans les systèmes complexes. Nous étudions les principales politiques de maintenance systématique et proposons une résolution numérique de l'optimisation de la politique de remplacement en bloc. Nous appliquons cette dernière sur un exemple d'arbre de défaillance.
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Suljevic, Selma, and Ida Marquardt. "Parental Attachment and Adolescent Self-harm: : A multidimensional approach examining patterns of attachment in relation to self-harm." Thesis, Örebro universitet, Institutionen för juridik, psykologi och socialt arbete, 2016. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:oru:diva-52801.
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The study explored maternal and paternal attachment, taking a multidimensional approach, in relation to adolescent self-harm. Based on adolescents’ perception of their mothers and fathers availability, anger, and empathy, we examined what contribution of attachment was most predictive of self-harm separately and simultaneously. The sample included 564 Canadian high school students in grade 8 to 12. The quantitative survey was conducted on computers, and was from a three year longitudinal study, using the second and third annual assessments. Cross-sectionally, the results suggested low parental availability, anger toward mothers, and low empathy toward fathers to be related to self-harm. Longitudinal analysis did not support the hypotheses. In sum, attachment to mothers and fathers both contributed to the understanding of adolescent self-harm.
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Heinbach, Sonja, and Nathalie Binkiewicz. "Oriflame : What influence has management approch, marketing approach and product offering had on the ccompany's success?" Thesis, Mälardalens högskola, Akademin för hållbar samhälls- och teknikutveckling, 2011. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:mdh:diva-12785.
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Rehnberg, Rebecka, and Gabrielle Svensson. "HR-funktionen : en praktiknära studie om HR-arbete." Thesis, Högskolan i Borås, Akademin för textil, teknik och ekonomi, 2016. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hb:diva-10413.
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HR är ett yrkesfält som avser en verksamhets personalförvaltning, men har sedan det uppkom varit tvetydigt och under ständig utveckling. Många av de studier som bedrivits kring fältet har till följd av detta fokuserat på att fastställa vad HR är och vad dess funktion bör vara. Forskning har fokuserat på att finna universella svar, men det saknas studier som låter dessa frågor besvaras utifrån en specifik organisationskontext. Vidare finns även en brist på empirinära studier inom HR-fältet. Genom detta samt den tvetydighet och föränderliga bakgrund HR-fältet präglas av, har vi identifierat HR-funktionen som vagt inramad inom forskningen. Utifrån detta är studiens syfte att bidra med praktiknära kunskap om hur HR-arbetet sker i praktiken.Vi har genomfört en kvalitativ studie med en jämförande design. Baserat på ett teoretiskt urval inkluderades, genom semistrukturerade intervjuer, totalt tre företag med fristående HR-avdelning. I Varje företag intervjuades en HR-ansvarig respektive tre avdelningschefer. Analysen har tagit form utifrån en abduktiv ansats föranledd av ett hermeneutiskt perspektiv. Den teoretiska modell som tillämpades i analysen utvecklades via tidigare forskning och användes i syfte att belysa eventuella motsättningar i respondenternas synsätt avseende HR.Vår studie har lett till en slutsats om att HR som funktion inte bör fastställas i specifika termer, utan att vikten ligger i att skapa en för organisationen intern samstämmighet gällande HR’s roll och sedan kommunicera det till organisationens medlemmar. Detta för att främja enhetliga förväntningar kring funktionen och således minimera missriktad kritik. I samtliga företag framträder främst dualistisk HRM, genom vilken både mjuk och hård HRM återfinns. Till skillnad från en stor del av tidigare forskning som bedrivits inom fältet, inriktar sig denna studie på att undersöka HR praktiknära i sitt specifika sammanhang. Således bidrar studien till en djupare förståelse för hur HR-arbetet sker i praktiken givet en viss kontext.HRM, human resource management, is a profession concerning, as its name indicates, managing the human resources of an organization. Ever since emerging, it has been ambiguous and constantly evolving. Many of the studies conducted in the field has therefore focused on identifying what HR is and what its function should be. Research has focused on finding universal answers, but there are few studies that allow these questions to be answered on the basis of a specific organizational context. Furthermore, there is also a lack of empirical studies in the field of HR. Through this, as well as through the ambiguity and changing background the field of HR is characterized by, we have, in research, identified the HR function as vaguely framed. Based on this, the purpose of the study is to contribute with practice oriented knowledge about how HR work is managed in practice.We have conducted a qualitative study, on which we have applied a comparative design. Based on a theoretical sample, three corporations with an independent HR department were included in the study through semi-structured interviews. In every corporation a HR manager and three department heads were interviewed. The analysis has been shaped by an abductive approach, inspired by a hermeneutic perspective. The theoretical model used in the analysis, was developed on the basis of previous research and served purpose to help emphasize, possibly opposing, differences in the interviewees views, regarding HR.The findings of this study has led to conclusions that HR as a function should not be determined in specific terms. However, the importance is to create an internal consistency regarding the role of HR and then to communicate this throughout the organization. This, in order to promote consistent expectations of the function and thus minimize misguided criticism. In all the corporations, dualistic HRM was the most appearing approach, in which both soft and hard HRM exist. Opposed to the majority of previous presented research of the field, this study focus on exploring HR-practice in its specific context, thus it contributes to a deeper understanding the practice of the field. This paper is written in Swedish.
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Somasekharan, Arun. "Muscle activation mapping of skeletal hand motion : an evolutionary approach." Thesis, Bournemouth University, 2012. http://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/20980/.
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Creating controlled dynamic character animation consists of mathe- matical modelling of muscles and solving the activation dynamics that form the key to coordination. But biomechanical simulation and control is com- putationally expensive involving complex di erential equations and is not suitable for real-time platforms like games. Performing such computations at every time-step reduces frame rate. Modern games use generic soft- ware packages called physics engines to perform a wide variety of in-game physical e ects. The physics engines are optimized for gaming platforms. Therefore, a physics engine compatible model of anatomical muscles and an alternative control architecture is essential to create biomechanical charac- ters in games. This thesis presents a system that generates muscle activations from captured motion by borrowing principles from biomechanics and neural con- trol. A generic physics engine compliant muscle model primitive is also de- veloped. The muscle model primitive forms the motion actuator and is an integral part of the physical model used in the simulation. This thesis investigates a stochastic solution to create a controller that mimics the neural control system employed in the human body. The control system uses evolutionary neural networks that evolve its weights using genetic algorithms. Examples and guidance often act as templates in muscle training during all stages of human life. Similarly, the neural con- troller attempts to learn muscle coordination through input motion samples. The thesis also explores the objective functions developed that aids in the genetic evolution of the neural network. Character interaction with the game world is still a pre-animated behaviour in most current games. Physically-based procedural hand ani- mation is a step towards autonomous interaction of game characters with the game world. The neural controller and the muscle primitive developed are used to animate a dynamic model of a human hand within a real-time physics engine environment.
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Clark, Makena C. "Bow Hold Buddies| An Efficient Approach for Right Hand Formation." Thesis, California State University, Long Beach, 2018. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=10784183.
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Right hand violin technique is a challenge to both seasoned professionals and students. Particularly during group violin classes, difficulty arises in teaching many children, simultaneously, how to formulate a proper bow hold. If a teacher chooses to incorporate Bow Hold Buddies, a technically strong bow hold may become easily achievable for their students. These pedagogical tools may mold the right hand into a technically correct bow hold, so that students can begin to work on sound quality instead of spending hours on establishing a difficult position of the hand.
My Project Report examines how Bow Hold Buddies help to create technically strong young violinists as well as playing a role in improving the progress and efficiency of group classes. My project focuses on the use of the Bow Hold Buddy in classes of beginning violinists. I studied the progress of students over the course of a semester and noted how much more they improved when compared to teaching bow holds traditionally.
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Cacciapaglia, Holly M. "A STEPPED-CARE APPROACH to SMOKING CESSATION and HARM REDUCTION." Bowling Green State University / OhioLINK, 2006. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1151035089.
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Brackett, Andrew. "Understanding healthcare staff's hand hygiene adherence : a theory-driven approach." Thesis, University of Leicester, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/2381/38219.
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Literature Review: Healthcare staff’s hand hygiene adherence has been associated with reduced healthcare-associated infection rates. Addressing poor adherence is therefore imperative. The use of psychological theory in hand hygiene research is lacking. A systematic review was conducted of the application and efficacy of the theory of planned behaviour to understanding healthcare staff’s hand hygiene. Five databases were searched yielding nine relevant articles. The amount of variance accounted for across studies varied widely, explaining 35-70% of intention and 15-79% of actual behaviour. Current methodological limitations and heterogeneity of research aims limit the conclusions that can be drawn and inhibit an overall goodness-of-fit statistic being calculated. A revised model of the theory in relation to hand hygiene is proposed and salient issues discussed. Research Report: Despite a wealth of research, our understanding of hand hygiene adherence and how to improve it remains poor. Reasons for this may lie in an overreliance on self-report methodologies and a lack of reference to psychological theory (Edwards et al. 2012). Therefore a theory-informed, mixed-methods investigation was undertaken to identify key factors influencing nursing staff’s hand hygiene adherence within Critical Care. Three methodologies were triangulated and used concurrently: a) a quantitative questionnaire; b) a Delphi consensus approach; and c) ward observations. ‘Memory, Attention and Decision Processes’ were clearly highlighted as key to staff’s hand hygiene across all three methodologies, whilst ‘Environmental Context and Resources’ were highlighted across the two self-report methodologies. Findings suggest that interventions should prioritise addressing factors related to ‘Memory, Attention and Decision Processes’. ‘Environmental Context and Resources’ were also deemed important but appeared to reflect staff’s perception of busyness and difficulties prioritising hand hygiene rather than externally visible factors. Limitations and implications are discussed. Critical Appraisal: The researcher’s account of the research process, reflections, learning points and critique are offered.
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Heath, Hannah. "Understanding the impact of self-harm on friendship : a qualitative approach." Thesis, University of Bath, 2016. https://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.687362.
Full textAbstract:
It has been well established that self-harm is a key healthcare issue facing young people (Health and Social Information Centre, 2015). Consequently, many self-harmers preferentially seek support from friends (Evans, Hawton, & Rodham, 2005). Despite their unique position, friends’ experiences have been marginalised. Historically, friends have only been considered when they feature in the lives of the person who self-harms, when they are identified as “gate-keepers” to self-harming young people (Klingman & Hochdorf, 1993, p. 123), or when they themselves go on to self-harm (e.g. Hawton, Rodham, Evans, & Weatherall, 2002). Bearing in mind the friends’ unique, yet highly vulnerable status, there is a notable lack of research exploring how friends come to understand their experiences, and the subsequent impact this has on their friendships with the self-harmer. Through this qualitatively approached thesis I aimed to explore how the impact of self-harm on friendship is understood. Data was collected through a series of interviews and focus groups with friends of self-harmers, and those who supported them. Using a qualitative methodology, I conducted three studies. In Study One, I explored how counsellors made sense of the impact of self-harm on friendship. Studies Two and Three focussed on how friends, whilst maintaining a friendship with a self-harmer, came to understand themselves, their friendship with the self-harmer, and their relationships with others. The results indicated that friends struggled to integrate self-harm into their friendships and their understanding of themselves, took on excessive responsibility for the self-harmer, and felt constrained by secret-keeping. Additionally, as the friends in Study Three felt that information available to them was either absent, or lacking, I developed a prototype support tool tailored specifically to the needs of the friends.
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Amayeh, Gholamreza. "A component-based approach to hand-based verification and identification system." abstract and full text PDF (UNR users only), 2009. http://0-gateway.proquest.com.innopac.library.unr.edu/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation&res_dat=xri:pqdiss&rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:3387799.
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MACIEL, CRYSTAL LYNN. "IMPROVING HAND HYGIENE IN THE CLINICAL SETTING A BEST PRACTICE APPROACH." Thesis, The University of Arizona, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/613252.
Full textAbstract:
The purpose of this paper is to use evidence based recommendations to develop a best
practice protocol in an effort to improve hand hygiene compliance among healthcare workers
(HCWs) in the clinical setting. Infections that are acquired while receiving healthcare are the
most common adverse healthcare related event, with 1.7 million people affected yearly in the
United States. Hand hygiene is believed to be the most effective preventative measure against
healthcare acquired infections, yet adherence rates among HCWs are estimated to be well below
50%. A literature review was conducted to examine which interventions have been evaluated
and indicated the greatest association with improvement in hand hygiene compliance rates. The
proposed best-practice protocol is based on these evidence-based interventions and includes
suggestions from implementation, monitoring, and evaluation. It is believed that the
implementation of this protocol will increase hand hygiene compliance rates and subsequently
reduce healthcare associated infections.
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Isikli, Cansel. "Preparation And Characterization Of Chitosan-gelatin/hydroxyapatite Scaffolds For Hard Tissue Engineering Approaches." Master's thesis, METU, 2010. http://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12611568/index.pdf.
Full textAbstract:
Hard tissue engineering holds the promise of restoring the function of failed hard tissues and involves growing specific cells on extracellular matrix (ECM) to develop &bdquo&bdquo
tissue-like&rdquo
structures or organoids. Chitosan is a linear amino polysaccharide that can provide a convenient physical and biological environment in tissue regeneration attempt. To improve chitosan&
#8223
s mechanical and biological properties, it was blended with another polymer gelatin. 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-carbodiimide (EDC) and N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) were used to crosslink the chitosan-gelatin matrix to produce stable structures. These natural polymers are mechanically weak especially to serve as a bone substitude and therefore, an inorganic calcium phosphate ceramic, hydroxyapatite, was incorporated to improve this aspect. The objective of this study was to develop chitosan-gelatin/hydroxyapatite scaffolds for a successful hard tissue engineering approach. For this reason, two types of hydroxyapatite, as-precipitated non-sintered (nsHA) and highly crystalline sintered (sHA) were synthesized and blended into mixtures of chitosan (C) and gelatin (G) v to produce 2-D (film) and 3-D (sponge) structures. The physicochemical properties of the structures were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy, X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared-Attenuated Total Reflectance spectrometer (FTIR-ATR), differential scanning calorimetry, contact angle and surface free energy measurements and swelling tests. Mechanical properties were determined through tensile and compression tests. In vitro cell affinity studies were carried out with SaOs-2 cells. MTS assays were carried out to study cell attachment and proliferation on the 2-D and 3-D scaffolds. Several methods such as confocal, fluorescence and scanning electron microscopy were used to examine the cell response towards the scaffolds. Cell affinities of the samples were observed to change with changing chitosan-gelatin ratio and hydroxyapatite addition into the matrices. XRD and FTIR results confirmed the purity of the hydroxyapatite synthesized. Mechanical test results showed that 2-D and 3-D chitosan-gelatin/hydroxyapatite constructs have similar properties as bones, and in vitro studies demonstrated that the prepared matrices have the potential to serve as scaffold materials in hard tissue engineering applications.
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Gibbs, Sally Elizabeth. "Learning to learn the hard way? : learning styles and approaches to doctoral research." Thesis, University of Bristol, 2001. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.368399.
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Bengtsson, Hanna, and Malin Isaksson. "Vårdkedjeprojektet : En utvärdering av hur Vårdkedjeprojektets mål har implementerats i verksamheten på Behandlingshemmet Rällsögården." Thesis, Örebro University, Department of Behavioural, Social and Legal Sciences, 2006. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:oru:diva-481.
Full textAbstract:
An evaluation: how have the goals of “Vårdkedjeprojektet” been implemented at the treatment centre of Rällsögården
This evaluation was commissioned on behalf of the treatment centre of Rällsögården. The aim of this study is to evaluate how the goals of “Vårdkedjeprojektet” (VKP) have been implemented in the institutional care at the treatment centre of Rällsögården. This study was focused on the following questions: a) how is the function ”internal coordinator” experienced by staff at Rällsögården, b) in the function of internal coordinator what aspects are thought of as effective/non-effective concerning the cooperation with ”external coordinators” and contact with clients and staff, c) how is Vårdkedjeprojektet and its treatment approach “Community Reinforcement Approach” (CRA) experienced by coordinators, clients and staff and d) how well is the aftercare functioning for clients who have finished their treatment at Rällsögården, and still participate in VKP?
The choice of research method was triangulation; a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods. Data was collected through interviews with all the coordinators and clients and a questionnaire was distributed among the staff at Rällsögården. The result shows that the function internal coordinator is appreciated by the external coordinators as well as by staff at Rällsögården. The external coordinators and the internal coordinator find their cooperation as satisfying. However most of the clients experience the contact with the internal coordinator as not satisfying. The majority of the staff at Rällsögården would appreciate more participation from the internal coordinator in the daily treatment work at Rällsögården. A majority of the staff and none of the clients at the institution have knowledge of the significance of CRA. The clients in aftercare have knowledge of the method and they have had CRA-sessions. The two clients in aftercare have two different experiences of the aftercare and the contact with concerned authorities. One of the clients is satisfied with his aftercare and the contact with the internal coordinator and the other client is not satisfied.
In conclusion a majority of the respondents think that the positive aspects of VKP are the “over-all thinking” and the increased cooperation between social services and institutions. Another important aspect is the guaranteed six months aftercare.
Keywords: Aftercare, clients, coordinator, Community Reinforcement Approach, implementation, Vårdkedjeprojektet
En utvärdering av hur Vårdkedjeprojektets mål har implementerats i verksamheten på Behandlingshemmet Rällsögården
Denna utvärdering utförs på uppdrag från Rällsögårdens behandlingshem. Syftet med studien är att dels utvärdera den funktion som innehas av Rällsögårdens interna samordnare (IS), dels undersöka vilka hinder och möjligheter som kan identifieras vid implementeringsprocessen av Vårdkedjeprojektets mål på Rällsögården. Ur syftet formulerades följande frågeställningar: a) hur uppfattas funktionen intern samordnare av personal på Rällsögården, b) i samordnarfunktionen; vad upplevs som verksamt/mindre verksamt avseende samarbetet med samordnare och kontakt med berörda klienter samt personal, c) hur upplevs Vårdkedjeprojektet (VKP) och dess samtalsmetodik Community Reinforcement Approach (CRA) av samordnare, klienter och personal, d) hur har vårdkedjan fungerat för de klienter som avslutat sin behandling på Rällsögården?
För att besvara studiens syfte och frågeställningar tillämpades metodtriangulering; det vill säga en kombination av kvalitativa och kvantitativa metoder. Utvärderingen innefattar material från intervjuer med samtliga samordnare inom VKP, Rällsögårdens interna samordnare och klienter samt data från den enkätundersökning som genomfördes bland personal på behandlingshemmet Rällsögården. Av resultatet framkommer att funktionen intern samordnare är uppskattad av såväl samordnare inom VKP som personal på behandlingshemmet. Samtliga samordnare är nöjda över kontakten med Rällsögårdens interna samordnare och denne är i sin tur nöjd över samarbetet med samordnarna. Flertalet av klienterna är dock ej tillfredsställda över kontakten med den interna samordnaren. Ett önskemål som framförs av personalgruppen är att den interna samordnaren borde vara mer involverad i det dagliga arbetet på behandlingshemmets olika avdelningar.
Klienterna på institutionen uppger att de ej har kännedom om CRA, medan klienterna i eftervård har kunskap om metoden och har haft CRA-samtal. Även flertalet av personalen på behandlingshemmet uppger att de ej har kännedom om metoden. De två klienterna i eftervård har olika upplevelser av vårdkedjan och kontakten med berörda myndighetspersoner. Den ena klienten är nöjd över sin eftervård och den andra klienten är missnöjd med den. Flertalet respondenter menar att de positiva aspekterna av VKP är att projektet innebär ett helhetstänkande och att det har ökat samarbetet mellan socialtjänst och institutioner. Ytterligare aspekter som framhålls är projektets långsiktighet och dess satsning på eftervård.
Nyckelord: Community Reinforcement Approach, eftervård, implementering, klienter, samordnare, Vårdkedjeprojektet
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Scott, Dale Charles. "A data fusion approach to verifying hand-written signatures on bank cheques." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 1998. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk2/tape17/PQDD_0027/MQ33271.pdf.
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Gutridge, Kerry. "Assisted self-harm in mental health care facilities : an ethically acceptable approach?" Thesis, University of Bristol, 2012. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.601002.
Full textAbstract:
The aim of the thesis is to establish whether "assisted self-harm" is ethical or moral, when used in adult acute inpatient environments; in other words, whether it is consistent with how people should live their lives and treat others. "Assisted self-harm" refers to management strategies for self-harm which strive to reduce/limit, rather than stop, the behaviour. Strategies include offering advice on safer places to injure or allowing/providing sharp implements. In the project I used an "empirical ethics" approach, combining philosophical analysis with empirical studies to produce normative, not descriptive, conclusions. I conducted individual qualitative interviews with 5 patients and 20 inpatient or home intervention mental health professionals. Two focus groups were conducted: (I) with people from adult community services (n=4); and (2) with people from a specialist service for personality disorder (n=12). The interviews provided descriptive data about people's motivations, reasons and intentions when they self-injure, as well as predictive data about the possible consequences of allowing injury and participant-driven arguments for or against the approach. This data was used to complement theoretical analysis of the key concepts "autonomy", "responsibility" and "harm" and was integrated into my own arguments, to provide recommendations for action. Based on the combined analysis, I argue that "assisted self-harm" is justifiable in the shortterm as a means to reduce long-term harm, provided that five conditions are met. Thus, where the patient: is using self-injury primarily to manage distress; is injuring in a way which is associated with a low probability of physical damage (given the presence of appropriate support, such as advice on technique); possesses sufficient mental acuity after injury to engage with therapy; has an honest and open relationship with staff who are familiar with their history; and is capable of injuring in private, then "assisted self-harm" m.ay be an appropriate and effective approach.
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Tamtam, Abdurrzzag Giuma A. "A Framework for Exploring Information Systems Quality Perspectives." Doctoral thesis, Vysoké učení technické v Brně. Fakulta elektrotechniky a komunikačních technologií, 2008. http://www.nusl.cz/ntk/nusl-233430.
Full textAbstract:
Záměrem předložené disertační práce je porozumět tomu, jak investoři v konkrétním společenském kontextu vnímají význam kvality informačních systémů. Ze studia literatury zabývající se přístupy a rámci hodnocení kvality informačních systémů vyplývá, že tato kvalita je obecně hodnocena z hlediska striktního přístupu. V této práci je ukázáno, že kvalitu informačního systému lze smysluplně pochopit použitím interpretačního paradigmatu a že kvalita informačního systému je definována společensky a ovlivňována kontextem tohoto systému. Studie byla zahájena průzkumem dvaceti libyjských organizací. Podrobnější data byla získána z případové studie dvou vybraných libyjských organizací působících ve veřejném sektoru. Při empirické analýze nashromážděných dat bylo využito rámce mnohočetné perspektivy, který zahrnuje hlediska teorie strukturalizace, pojem mnohočetných perspektiv a metodologii měkkých systémů. V práci se dospělo ke zjištění, že: a) kvalita informačních systémů je pojata šíře, než je tomu u tradiční definice kvality, b) mnohočetné perspektivy kvality informačních systémů jsou ovlivněny opakovanou interakcí mezi investorem a institucionálními vlastnostmi kontextu informačního systému a že c) rozdílné hodnoty v kulturním prostředí a vnějším kontextu ovlivňují rozsah působnosti investora a interakce v kontextu informačního systému. Ze závěru práce vyplývá, že společenská skladba mnohočetných perspektiv kvality informačního systému je ovlivněna strukturalizačními procesy mezi investory a vlastnostmi v kontextu informačního systému.
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Ion, Valentina. "Nonlinear approaches for phase retrieval in the Fresnel region for hard X-ray imaging." Phd thesis, INSA de Lyon, 2013. http://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-01015814.
Full textAbstract:
The development of highly coherent X-ray sources offers new possibilities to image biological structures at different scales exploiting the refraction of X-rays. The coherence properties of the third-generation synchrotron radiation sources enables efficient implementations of phase contrast techniques. One of the first measurements of the intensity variations due to phase contrast has been reported in 1995 at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF). Phase imaging coupled to tomography acquisition allows threedimensional imaging with an increased sensitivity compared to absorption CT. This technique is particularly attractive to image samples with low absorption constituents. Phase contrast has many applications, ranging from material science, paleontology, bone research to medicine and biology. Several methods to achieve X-ray phase contrast have been proposed during the last years. In propagation based phase contrast, the measurements are made at different sample-to-detector distances. While the intensity data can be acquired and recorded, the phase information of the signal has to be "retrieved" from the modulus data only. Phase retrieval is thus an illposed nonlinear problem and regularization techniques including a priori knowledge are necessary to obtain stable solutions. Several phase recovery methods have been developed in recent years. These approaches generally formulate the phase retrieval problem as a linear one. Nonlinear treatments have not been much investigated. The main purpose of this work was to propose and evaluate new algorithms, in particularly taking into account the nonlinearity of the direct problem. In the first part of this work, we present a Landweber type nonlinear iterative scheme to solve the propagation based phase retrieval problem. This approach uses the analytic expression of the Fréchet derivative of the phase-intensity relationship and of its adjoint, which are presented in detail. We also study the effect of projection operators on the convergence properties of the method. In the second part of this thesis, we investigate the resolution of the linear inverse problem with an iterative thresholding algorithm in wavelet coordinates. In the following, the two former algorithms are combined and compared with another nonlinear approach based on sparsity regularization and a fixed point algorithm. The performance of theses algorithms are evaluated on simulated data for different noise levels. Finally the algorithms were adapted to process real data sets obtained in phase CT at the ESRF at Grenoble.
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Axelsson, Jenny. "Behovet av tillhörighet har större betydelse än genus inom vänskapsrelationer." Thesis, Södertörns högskola, Institutionen för kultur och kommunikation, 2011. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:sh:diva-14870.
Full textAbstract:
Vänskap är en viktig del för den psykiska hälsan och individens välbefinnande, det är även ett välbeforskat område inom psykologins värld. Tidigare forskning inom vänskapsrelationer har lagt den största tyngden på genus som den ensamma och bästa variabeln till denna typ av relationer och därmed inte tagit hänsyn till andra möjliga bakomliggande variabler. Denna studie ämnade undersöka om känslan av tillhörighet kan vara en bakomliggande variabler till skattning utav faktorer inom vänskapsrelationer, och möjligtvis kunna förklara skattningen bättre än genus. Undersökningen utfördes med en enkätundersökning. Urvalet bestod utav 60 deltagare, 30 män och 30 kvinnor i åldrarna 19 – 26. Resultatet visade att känslan av tillhörighet kunde förklara skattningen inom vänskapsrelationer bättre än genus. Detta resultat påvisar att skillnader inom vänskapsrelationer till stor del tycks bero på andra variabler än genus.
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Thaler, Lore. "A Representation Based Approach To Visually Guided Motor Behavior." The Ohio State University, 2008. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1211929634.
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Sandberg, Malin, and Louise Nilsson. "En hjälpande hand : Medlarens metoder och förhållningssätt i arbetet med gärningspersoner och brottsoffer." Thesis, Högskolan Kristianstad, Sektionen för Hälsa och Samhälle, 2011. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hkr:diva-8096.
Full textAbstract:
The purpose of this study was to examine the mediators' views on their work; mediation by reason of the breach. The starting point was to find out the mediator's approach and attitude in relation to the perpetrator and victim, and the prevailing regulatory framework. After review of the literature, we came to the realization that knowledge of this area was very limited and thus presents an unexplored topic. It emerged from the results that the mediators emphasize the importance of maintaining impartiality and neutrality in the process of mediation and that it is important to create a good relationship with both parties. The methods used by the mediators is not so different much about, but the mediators apply Crime Prevention Council handbook. Since mediation is a rather lonely profession when they are not very many, are the mediators to network with other municipalities to exchange experiences and knowledge and through this develop their professional role and mediation activities.