Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Barriers'

Introduktion – Ekonomistyrning innefattar färdigställandet och användandet av finansiell information och det hjälper företagsledare i sitt beslutsfattande. När det sätts i bruk bland människor har det ett dubbelriktat förhållande där systemet och människorna påverkar varandra. När man ser det så är det inte förvånande att många försök att byta styrsystem misslyckas. För att kunna förstå varför en del försök att byta system lyckas och andra misslyckas är det viktigt att veta var motstånd mot förändringar kommer ifrån och hur motståndet verkar. De flesta modeller som behandlar byte av ekonomistyrningssystem tar inte hänsyn till motståndet som finns och de som gör det underskattar dess betydelse. En forskare som går längre än så är Kasurinen. Han har utvecklat en modell i vilken han delar upp barriärerna mot förändring i tre kategorier för att öka förståelsen för dem. Modellen har dock än så länge bara blivit testad i ett sammanhang med ett balanserat styrkort. För att se om modellen är applicerbar även i andra sammanhang ska författarna testa den i ett annat fall.

Metod – Den här studien är genomförd med ett kvalitativt tillvägagångssätt. För att uppfylla syftet har en fallstudie genomförts i det svenska Alpha (fingerat namn), som under den senaste tiden har bytt sitt ekonomistyrsystem. Intervjuerna tog plats på företagets huvudkontor och de hade en semistrukturerad natur. Allt som allt har fem personer blivit intervjuade.

Teoriram – Både interna och externa faktorer kan framdriva en förändring. I modellen är de drivande faktorerna uppdelade i motivators, catalysts och facilities baserat på dess natur och timingen på deras influens. Modellen belyser även ledarnas roll i förändringen och även vad som kallas momentum of change, nämligen förväntningen att förändringen ska fortlöpa kontinuerligt. Sedan så finns det barriärer mot förändring, vilka är faktorer som hindrar, fördröjer och avstyr förändringen. Dessa är indelade i confusers, frustrators och delayers för att öka förståelsen för dem.

Slutsats – Den här fallstudien ger stöd åt Kasurinens model då bevis från alla tre kategorier av barriärer; confusers, frustrators och delayers hittades. De tog även samma form som Kasurinen skriver att de tar och hade samma ursprung. Vad författarna anser saknas i Kasurinens model är att ”oväntade faktorer” ignoreras. I Alphas fall tog dessa oväntade faktorer sig uttryck i form av en börsnotering som inträffade samtidigt som förändringen och som tog samma resurser i anspråk.

Introduction - Management accounting is contained by the preparation and use of financial information and it aids managers in their decision making. Put into a human context it is a two-way relationship where the accounting system and the people within the company influence each other. Seen to this it is not surprising that many attempts to change the management accounting system in a company fail. In order to understand why some implementations succeed and some fail it is important to know how the resistance to those changes works and where it comes from. Most models that deal with management accounting change are excluding this resistance and most of those that recognizes it, tends to give it too little thought. One researcher that has gone further is Kasurinen. He has developed a model in which he has divided these barriers to change into three categories, in order to understand them better. This model has however only been tested in a balanced scorecard context so far. In order to see if this model is applicable on other types of management accounting change the authors will test it in a different context.

Method - This study has been conducted with a qualitative approach. In order to fulfil the purpose a case-study has been carried out in the Swedish company Alpha (which is an assumed name), which lately has been undergoing a management accounting change. The interviews were carried out at Alpha’s head-office and they were of a semi-structured nature. All in all five people were interviewed.

Frame of reference – Both internal and external factors can be the driving forces of change. Firstly, in Kasurinen’s model, the driving factors are divided into motivators, catalysts and facilities depending on the nature and timing of their influence on change. The model also acknowledges the leaders’ role in the change and also what is called the momentum of change, which is the expectation that the change will proceed continuously. Then there are the barriers to change, which are factors that hinder, delay and prevent change. Those are divided into confusers, frustrators and delayers in order to understand them better.

Conclusion – This case-study support Kasurinen’s model in that evidence from all three categories of barriers; confusers, frustrators and delayers were found. They also took the same form as Kasurinen writes they take and had the similar roots. What the authors feel is missing in the model is the fact that “unexpected factors” is ignored. In this case those took the form of an IPO that took place at the same time as the implementation and which required the same resources as the change project.

"Barriers to Closure" was a series of narratives specifically focusing on reoccurring thoughts, fears and anxieties within the artist's life. Instilled when he was younger, these anxieties were never resolved, thus creating additional fears as he grew into adolescence. Eventually they transformed into an intricate obstacle causing resolution to be a difficult task.These narratives are presented in thick bronze frames which constrain the content into a limited space. The pieces are purposefully small due to the artist's personal restriction of revealing what needs to be seen. Therefore, the viewer must draw closer to the piece in order to view the information presented and relate the body of work to their own hidden fears.This exhibition provided an outlet for the artist to deal with feelings that are difficult to explain/express. Communicating these anxieties through this series of visual narratives, assisted the artist in resolving many personal conflicts.
Department of Art

There is a growing body of literature recognizing the benefits of Open Data. However, many potential data providers are unwilling to publish their data and at the same time, data users are often faced with difficulties when attempting to use Open Data in practice. Despite various barriers in using and publishing Open Data still being present, studies which systematically collect and assess these barriers are rare. Based on this observation we present a review on prior literature on barriers and the results of an empirical study aimed at assessing both the users' and publishers' views on obstacles regarding Open Data adoption. We collected data with an online survey in Austria and internationally. Using a sample of 183 participants, we draw conclusions about the relative importance of the barriers reported in the literature. In comparison to a previous conference paper presented at the conference for E-Democracy and Open Government, this article includes new additional data from participants outside Austria, reports new analyses, and substantially extends the discussion of results and of possible strategies for the mitigation of Open Data barriers.

An alternative road traffic noise barrier using an array of periodically arranged vertical cylinders known as a Sonic Crystal (SC) is investigated. As a result of multiple (Bragg) scattering, SCs exhibit a selective sound attenuation in frequency bands called band gaps or stop bands related to the spacing and size of the cylinders. Theoretical studies using Plane Wave Expansion (PWE), Multiple Scattering Theory (MST) and Finite Element Method (FEM) have enabled study of the performance of SC barriers. Strategies for improving the band gaps by employing the intrinsic acoustic properties of the scatterer are considered. The use of the tube cavity (Helmholtz type) resonances in Split Ring Resonator (SRR) or the breathing mode resonances observed in thin elastic shells is shown to increase Insertion loss (IL) in the low-frequency range below the first Bragg stop band. Subsequently, a novel design of composite scatterer uses these 2 types of cylindrical scatterer in a concentric configuration with multiple symmetrical slits on the outer rigid shell. An array of composite scatterers forms a system of coupled resonators and gives rise to multiple low-frequency resonances. Measurements have been made in an anechoic chamber and also on a full-scale prototypes outdoors under various meteorological conditions. The experimental results are found to confirm the existence of the Bragg band gaps for SC barriers and the predicted significant improvements when locally resonant scatterers are used. The resonant arrays are found to give rise to relatively angle-independent stop bands in a useful range of frequencies. Good agreement between computational modelling and experimental work is obtained. Studies have been made also of the acoustical performances of regular arrays of cylindrical elements, with their axes aligned and parallel to a ground plane including predictions and laboratory experiment.

While some of the developed and emerging economies are registering phenomenal growth in their renewable energy industries, it would appear that there are still a number of factors that are limiting the renewable energy to its potential worldwide. This paper applies a theoretical framework using the systems thinking to examine three possible multi-dimensional factors that are barriers to be development of renewable energy in South Africa. The objective was to use a qualitative research to investigate further the barrier interconnection and multi-dimensional barriers limiting renewable energy development using the South Africa market for sampling and interviews.The methodology employed involved a literature review. In addition, a questionnaire was designed and interviews were conducted to ascertain the prevalence of such barrier multi-dimensional and interconnection. The results obtained were analysed using qualitative method. These analyses revealed that the possible multi-dimensional barriers that were identified namely technology; pricing and costing; policy and regulations; and market performance are valid for South Africa. In addition, even though the results highlighted, as identified initially that technology have a significant impact as a linkage, the results suggest that the regulatory framework have a more significant linkage and effect on the relationship and interconnection.
Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2012.
Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS)
Unrestricted

The Atlantic salmon depend on successful migration between essential habitats in freshwater and the ocean. However, during both downstream and upstream migration the fish encounter natural or manmade obstacles which can block or delay their migration and migration through hydropower turbine can cause severe mortality. This PhD-study has focused the salmon migration challenges, upstream and downstream, based on studies in Norwegian rivers, and the results are presented in four scientific papers. A study of all the 344 Atlantic salmon fishways in Norway was conducted to investigate the state and function of the fishways and to identify links between passage efficiency and physical characteristics of the construction and the river site. The results showed that 66 % of the Norwegian fishways were passing fish effectively. No correlation was found between fishway functionality and their height, length or technical design. Functional fishways were found at river sites with larger discharge than dysfunctional fishways and efficiency was better among fishways passing man-made obstacles. These findings indicate that fishways in smaller rivers and fishways without supervision and funding from hydropower companies suffer from lack of sufficient attention. While entrance design problems are reported to be a main challenge in many fish pass projects, this was not the same situation among Norwegian fishways. On the other hand, many fishways were not functional because of long time lack of maintenance or damages from physical strain. Downstream migration of juvenile Atlantic salmon past a hydropower intake in a Norwegian river was studied by use of radio tagged fish during three spring seasons. The results showed that it was possible to create models for both the smolt timing and for the route choice at the intake, where the fish could enter the intake or choose a bypass section. Route choice was controlled by both total river discharge and proportion of discharge in the bypass. Additionally, a model could be developed to describe the effect of strobe lights at the intake. This model demonstrated that more fish chose the bypass when the strobe lights were on during night, while no such effect was found during daytime. Further, a hydropower simulation model was calibrated for the same river. By use of this model, it was shown that river discharge and partition could be optimized to increase bypass migration according to the route choice model. Both reservoir manipulation and manipulation of discharge partition at the intake was simulated and showed that bypass migration could be increased from 20 to 80% in selected years. The use of models to describe downstream migration represents a useful tool for planning of fish-friendly hydropower production and the methods are most likely applicable to other rivers and regions. In a case study of man-made weirs on a residual flow river reach the delaying impact from the weirs on upstream migration was studied. Adult Atlantic salmon were enumerated in an upstream fish ladder before and after removal of two concrete weirs. The point of time for peak migration was more than one month earlier after the removal, indicating that even small obstacles may imply significant migration delay. Additionally, the weir removal changed the physical habitat from a lake habitat to a riverine habitat. Consequently, a large increase in spawning and subsequent juvenile densities was observed immediately after restoration.

The primary purpose of this research was to examine a sample of sixteen lesbian women regarding the barriers to lesbian health-care. From this information several interpretive findings regarding lesbian health-care are made. Data were gathered via indepth interviews with each individual lesbian. The data suggest that most lesbian women do not reveal their sexual orientation to their primary-care physician for fear of reprisal. Most of the women interviewed do feel they receive adequate health-care from their physician. The women who participated in this project did so confidentially and were assigned pseudonyms. They were asked questions on a variety of topics, which included demographics, physical health-care, mental health-care, general health, dental care, social and political issues, and homophobia. It was assumed that participants from smaller, more rural areas would face more barriers to health-care than participants from larger cities. The data gathered indicate that only three of the participants had, in fact, informed their primary-care physicians of their sexual orientation. Erving Goffman's stigma and social identity theory, feminist standpoint theory, lesbian feminist theory, and feminist theory provided the theoretical framework utilized in the analysis of barriers to lesbian health care. Combining these three theories allows a discussion of how stigma and homophobia combine to make lesbians invisible in the medical community. Health-care systems, like other major institutions, are structured to support traditional society.

Across the world, confirmed by academic and internal research evidence, Government and public sector organisations consistently display varying degrees of difficulty in generating, developing and implementing innovative ideas. Now, as budgets become tighter, the pressure to fundamentally transform the UK’s public sector by relying upon the exploration and adoption of sustainable innovation continues to grow as a policy necessity. Given this necessity, there is a definite, identified need to critically review the literature covering theory development and innovation practice as part of a cultural challenge within the UK public sector to identify the key deep rooted and persistent barriers to public sector innovation to assist in researching potential workable solutions. To facilitate this endeavour this Doctoral study deploys, as per Chapter 3, Ethnographic methods underpinning qualitative thematic template analysis to explore and identify existing innovation barriers from qualitative data collected from the management and staff of a major UK Civil Service Department. The primary objective of this research study is to contribute to the effective improvement in public sector Innovation delivery, via identification of the key barriers via ten literature defined and participant response analysis propositions to facilitate improved innovation generation. In Chapters 2 & 4, by critically showing the linkages between innovation literature and the practical observations and innovation process experiences of public servants, workable solutions as to how the UK’s Civil Service can overcome such persistent problems have been explored. This research aims to add value to the wider debate by identifying an environment that supports and encourages the practical generation of public sector innovative ideas and change behaviour. In Chapters 5 & 6, from analysis of the quantitative data, the study identified 18 barrier subject nodes covering a number of themes which appear to inhibit the successful embedding of such innovation practices and processes.

Australia is one of the driest continents in the world with changing climatic conditions continuing to put a strain on potable water sources. The use of water saving technologies such as greywater systems in residential properties is an important water conservation tool in order to reduce the consumption of the finite potable water resources in Australia. To this end, Master Builders Association Victoria with the assistance of RMIT University investigated the current barriers that builders face with regard to the installation of greywater systems in residential properties. Builders like other property and construction professionals have a part to play in promoting the use of sustainable technologies. The main aims of the project were to firstly find out or identify barriers that are inhibiting builders from installing greywater systems and secondly to identify and formulate strategies to reduce or eliminate the barriers identified. The main barriers for builders are; high cost, government regulations, lack of builder awareness or knowledge, and low client demand. The potential solutions for the reduction or elimination of the barriers identified as part of the research include; economic and reliable greywater systems, creation of a website with link on greywater systems and educating the general public.

This work undertook the examination of the perceived barriers that exist to the management of occupational noise exposure in the workplace. Exposure to excessive levels of noise results in cumulative damage to the hearing mechanism of the ear and a subsequent hearing loss. This hearing loss is permanent and does not recover over time. Initially the conventional method of addressing or controlling noise exposure was through Hearing Conservation Programs and more recently through Occupational Noise Management Programs that take more of a risk management approach. However, the numbers of new hearing loss claims submitted through the various ???workcover??? and ???worksafe??? authorities in Australia continue to remain very high. Hearing loss claims rank within the top two in number of new claims each year. The research conducted shows that there are four main barriers perceived by individuals that work against the institution of effective preventive action. These four main barriers in order of priority are hearing protectors, information, culture and management, and are themselves each composed of several lesser factors. Each of the barriers was examined more closely in an attempt to better understand how they operate and the potential to discover how they may be overcome. To briefly summarise the main barriers: 1) Hearing protectors are uncomfortable, impede communication and are unpleasant to wear; 2) Individuals would like more information on noise reduction and for this information to be supplied by management; 3) workplace and management culture needs to be supportive of occupational health and safety in general and with the implementation of supportive preventive measures in particular; and 3) management needs to be seen to place importance on occupational health and safety in the workplace in general and the reduction of excessive noise in particular. By being aware of the barriers and operation the design of future more effective intervention or better noise management programs should be possible.

The problem addressed by the student was the creation of private, separate spaces within a larger area. It was determined that folding screens could be utilized in a variety of settings and situations thereby providing a flexible solution.As the creation of the folding screens progressed, the student was exposed to ideas and motivating concepts within the artworld which influenced him to consider a more sculptural response to the problem. A shift of the emphasis from the purely functional to a viewer oriented. perceptual interaction with the sculptural space was the result; although the sculptures did not have the obvious usefulness of the folding screens, the student found the sculptures to be personally useful in his artistic development.The primary method of constuction utilized was welding. Several of the sculptures were the result of combining wooden elements and assemblages with welded steel. Sevendifferent artworks were created, three being folding screens and four being sculptural barriers.
Department of Art

Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited
As our reliance on the Internet grows, our interconnected networks become more vulnerable to cyberattacks. Cyberattacks and other cyber threats can cause disastrous results, especially if a coordinated targeted attack hits multiple networks at the same time. For this reason, cyber information-sharing among public and private organizations becomes necessary and important to defend our networks. Many cyber threats are difficult to detect and identify by a single organization. Information sharing can help detect these potential risks, prevent cyberattacks, and facilitate incident response to better defend networks. Although the public and private sectors have begun to share cybersecurity information, there are still many barriers that stop agencies from sharing more. This research identifies and reviews what the barriers are to sharing cyber information and possible ways that the barriers can be overcome.

Dissertation (PhD)--University of Stellenbosch, 2006.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The formation of Ni-, Co- and Fe-silicides through different diffusion barrier interlayers was investigated. The diffusion barrier layers examined were Ta, Ti and Cr. In some cases the thickness of the barrier layer and the influence of a capping layer was also investigated. The thin-film structures were prepared on single crystal Si-substrates by Electron Beam Vacuum Deposition. The samples were vacuum annealed for times ranging from 10 to 60 min at temperatures ranging from 340 - 800°C and sample characterization was carried out by conventional RBS, dynamic RBS, channeling RBS and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The use of a thin (20Å) Ta diffusion barrier in the Ni-Si system allowed no reaction even after annealing for 10 min at 400°C, but RBS measurements showed that after annealing for 15 min at 400°C uniform NiSi formed suddenly as first phase. XRD as well as dynamic RBS measurements confirmed this abrupt formation of NiSi instead of the normal first phase Ni2Si. According to the Effective Heat of Formation (EHF) model this shows that the diffusion barrier reduces the effective concentration of the Ni atoms to a value where the effective heat of formation of NiSi is more negative than that of Ni2Si and first phase formation of NiSi is thus thermodynamically favoured. The thickness uniformity of the first phase NiSi that formed through the thin Ta barrier improved at higher annealing temperatures. A thicker (100Å) Ta barrier also retarded the Ni diffusion and first phase, non-uniform NiSi only started to form at 500°C. The uniformity of this NiSi also improved with increased temperature but the use of the 20Å Ta barrier produced more uniform first phase NiSi in the 400 to 700°C temperature range. The use of a thin (30-50Å) Cr barrier also allowed the formation of mainly NiSi at 400°C, although XRD spectra indicated the presence of some Ni2Si. The uniformity of NiSi improved at higher temperature anneals. Similar results were obtained from samples with a thicker (100Å) Cr barrier layer at lower temperatures, i.e. the formation of NiSi as first phase at 400°C, but the first phase NiSi that formed at 500 to 700°C was non-uniform. In the case of Ti-barriers, the thicker (100Å) Ti barrier seems less effective than the thinner Ti barriers in delivering uniform first phase NiSi in the 500 to 700°C temperature range. The use of a thin (30-50Å) Ti barrier produced a mixture of Ni2Si and NiSi as first reaction at 400°C, but a 10 min anneal at 500°C formed uniform NiSi as confirmed by RBS and XRD measurements. The uniformity of the NiSi improved with an increase in annealing temperature up to 700°C. In the case of the thicker Ti interlayer no reaction occured at 400°C and non-uniform first phase NiSi formed at 500°C. All three thin barriers formed NiSi2 at temperatures of 750°C and above, but the thin Ti barrier formed the most uniform di-silicide. The NiSi2 that formed at 800°C through all three of the thicker barriers was non-uniform. The use of a thin (10-30Å) Ta diffusion barrier prevented Co-silicide formation up to 560°C. The effective Co concentration at the growth interface is lowered, thus skipping the usual first phase formation of Co2Si at 450°C. At 560°C a mixture of CoSi and CoSi2 formed, as was confirmed by XRD. The CoSi2 that formed at 640°C (a higher formation temperature than without barrier) was of quite uniform thickness, but XRD measurements indicated that some CoSi was present as well. The use of thicker (100Å) Ta barrier layers retarded the diffusion of Co atoms for temperatures of up to 600°C. Annealing at 700°C formed CoSi2 and some CoSi and at 800°C non-uniform CoSi2 formed. The addition of a Ta capping layer (of different thicknesses) in conjunction with a 30Å Ta diffusion barrier layer did not significantly improve Co-silicide formation. The use of thin (10-30Å) Ti barrier layers resulted in the skipping of the Co2Si precursor phase and the formation of quite uniform first phase CoSi at 520°C. Uniform CoSi2 started forming at 560°C and the CoSi2 remained uniform at higher temperatures. The presence of a thicker (100Å) Ti barrier lowered the effective concentration of Co at the growth interface to such an extent that CoSi2 started to form as first phase after annealing for 30 min at 600°C. At 700 and 800°C non-uniform CoSi2 formed. For Fe-silicide formation the use of 50Å and 100Å Cr barriers, as well as CrSi2 barriers, delivered very similar results. There was no change in the normal Fe-silicide phase formation sequence, as non-uniform FeSi was the first phase to form at 500°C and thereafter FeSi2 started to form at 600°C. At 700°C the use of Cr barriers resulted in the complete formation of FeSi2 of greater uniformity than was formed in the Si-Fe binary system without the presence of a diffusion barrier. In this study dynamic real-time RBS has been used for the first time to prove without any doubt that diffusion barrier layers can be used to bring about “phase skipping”. These results have been interpreted in terms of the Effective Heat of Formation (EHF) model and are good examples of concentration controlled phase selection (CCPS). In general it was found that the thicker the diffusion barrier layer, the higher the temperature of silicide formation. Furthermore, silicide formation was generally found to be more uniform at higher annealing temperatures and when thinner diffusion barrier layers were used.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die vorming van Ni-, Co- en Fe-silisiedes deur verskillende diffusie sper-tussenlagies is ondersoek. Die diffusie sperlagies onder beskouing was Ta, Ti en Cr. In sommige gevalle is die invloed van die dikte van die sperlagie en van ‘n deklagie ook ondersoek. Die dun-film strukture is voorberei op enkelkristal Si-substrate d.m.v. Elektronbundel Vakuum Deposisie. Die monsters is in vakuum uitgegloei vir tye wat wissel van 10 tot 60 minute by temperature wat wissel van 340 - 800°C en die karakterisering van die monsters is uitgevoer d.m.v. konvensionele RBS, dinamiese RBS, kanaliserings RBS en X-straal diffraksie (XRD). Die gebruik van a dun (20Å) Ta sperlagie in die Ni-Si sisteem het reaksie verhoed selfs na ‘n uitgloei van 10 min. by 400°C, maar RBS resultate het getoon dat uniforme NiSi skielik gevorm het as eerste fase na ‘n 15 min. uitgloei by 400°C. XRD sowel as dinamiese RBS metings het hierdie abrupte formasie van NiSi in plaas van die normale eerste fase Ni2Si bevestig. Volgens die Effektiewe Hitte van Formasie (EHF) model toon dit dat die diffusie sperlagie die effektiewe konsentrasie van die Ni-atome verlaag tot ‘n waarde waar die effektiewe hitte van formasie van NiSi meer negatief is as dié van Ni2Si en sodoende word die eerste fase formasie van NiSi termodinamies bevoordeel. Die dikte uniformiteit van die eerste fase NiSi wat deur die dun Ta sperlaag gevorm het, het verbeter met uitgloei by hoër temperature. ‘n Dikker (100Å) Ta sperlaag het ook Ni diffusie vertraag en nie-uniforme, eerste fase NiSi het eers by 500°C begin vorm. Die uniformiteit van hierde NiSi het ook verbeter met toename in temperatuur, maar die gebruik van die 20Å Ta sperlagie het meer uniforme eerste fase NiSi produseer in die 400 tot 700°C temperatuur gebied. Die gebruik van ‘n dun Cr (30-50Å) sperlagie het ook by 400°C die vorming van hoofsaaklik NiSi opgelewer, maar XRD spektra het Ni2Si ook aangedui. Die uniformiteit van NiSi het verbeter by hoër temparatuur uitgloeiings. Soortgelyke resultate is verkry van monsters met ‘n dikker (100Å) Cr sperlaag by laer temperature, d.w.s die vorming van NiSi as eerste fase by 400°C, maar die eerste fase NiSi wat by 500 tot 700°C gevorm het, was nie-uniform. In die geval van Ti-sperlagies was die dikker (100Å) Ti minder effektief as die dunner Ti sperlagies vir die verkryging van uniforme eerste fase NiSi in die 500 tot 700°C temperatuur gebied. Die gebruik van ‘n dun (30-50Å) Ti sperlagie het ‘n mengsel van Ni2Si en NiSi as eerste reaksie gevorm by 400°C, maar ‘n 10 min. uitgloei by 500°C het uniforme NiSi gevorm, soos bevestig is deur RBS en XRD metings. Die uniformiteit van die NiSi het verbeter met toename in uitgloei-temperatuur tot by 700°C. In die geval van die dikker Ti sperlagie het geen reaksie by 400°C plaasgevind nie en nie-uniforme eerste fase NiSi het by 500°C gevorm. Al drie dun sperlagies het NiSi2 gevorm by temperature van 750°C en hoër, maar die dun Ti sperlaag het die mees uniforme di-silisied gevorm. Die NiSi2 wat deur al drie die dikker sperlae by 800°C gevorm het, was nie-uniform. Die gebruik van ‘n dun (10-30Å) Ta diffusie sperlagie het Co-silisied formasie voorkom tot by 560°C. Die effektiewe Co-konsentrasie by die groei-intervlak is verlaag, derhalwe word die gewone eerste fase formasie van Co2Si by 450°C oorgeslaan. By 560°C het ‘n mengsel van CoSi en CoSi2 gevorm, soos bevestig deur XRD. Die CoSi2 wat by 640°C gevorm het (‘n hoër formasie temperatuur as sonder ‘n sperlagie) se dikte was redelik uniform, maar XRD metings het getoon dat daar ook CoSi teenwoordig was. Die gebruik van dikker (100Å) Ta sperlae het die diffusie van Co-atome vertraag tot by temperature so hoog as 600°C. Uitgloei by 700°C het CoSi2 sowel as CoSi gevorm en by 800°C het nie-uniforme CoSi2 gevorm. Die toevoeging van ‘n Ta deklagie (van verskillende diktes) in samehang met ‘n 30Å Ta diffusie sperlagie het nie Co-silisied formasie wesentlik beïnvloed nie. Die gebruik van dun (10-30Å) Ti sperlagies het gelei tot die oorslaan van die Co2Si voorloper fase en die vorming van redelik uniforme eerste fase CoSi by 520°C. Uniforme CoSi2 het by 560°C begin vorm en by hoër temperature was die CoSi2 steeds uniform. Die teenwoordigheid van ‘n dikker (100Å) Ti sperlagie het die effektiewe konsentrasie van Co by die groei-intervlak so verlaag dat CoSi2 as eerste fase begin vorm het na ‘n 30 min. uitgloei by 600°C. By 700 en 800°C het nie-uniforme CoSi2 gevorm. Vir Fe-silisied formasie het die gebruik van 50Å en 100Å Cr sperlae, sowel as CrSi2 sperlae, soortgelyke resultate opgelewer. Daar was geen verandering in die gewone Fe-silisied fase formasie volgorde nie, want nie-uniforme FeSi was die eerste fase wat by 500°C gevorm het en daarna het FeSi2 begin vorm by 600°C. Uitgloei by 700°C deur Cr sperlagies het gelei tot die volledige formasie van FeSi2 wat meer uniform was as dié wat in die Fe-Si binêre sisteem gevorm het sonder ‘n diffusie sperlagie. In hierdie studie is dinamiese intydse RBS vir die eerste keer gebruik om bo enige twyfel te bewys dat diffusie sperlae gebruik kan word om die “oorslaan” van fases te bewerkstellig. Hierdie resultate is interpreteer in terme van die Effektiewe Hitte van Formasie (EHF) model en is goeie voorbeelde van konsentrasie-gekontroleerde fase seleksie. In die algemeen is bevind dat hoe dikker die diffusie sperlagie, hoe hoër die temperatuur van silisied-formasie. Bowendien was silisied-formasie oor die algemeen meer uniform by hoër uitgloei-temperature en met die gebruik van dunner diffusie sperlagies.

One of the most important aspects for all life on this planet is the act to keep their biological processes in a state where they do not reach equilibrium. One part in the upholding of this imbalanced state is the barrier between the cells and their surroundings, created by the cell membrane. Additionally, terrestrial animal life often requires a barrier that protects the organism's body from external hazards and water loss. As an alternative to experiments, the investigation of the processes occurring at these barriers can be performed by using molecular dynamics simulations. Through this method we can obtain an atomistic description of the dynamics associated with events that are not accessible to experimental setups.  In this thesis the first paper presents an improved particle-mesh Ewald method for the calculation of long-range Lennard-Jones interactions in molecular dynamics simulations, which solves the historical performance problem of the method. The second paper demonstrate an improved implementation, with a higher accuracy, that only incurs a performance loss of roughly 15% compared to conventional simulations using the Gromacs simulation package. Furthermore, the third paper presents a study of cholesterol's effect on the permeation of six different solutes across a variety of lipid bilayers. A laterally inhomogeneous permeability in cholesterol-containing membranes is proposed as an explanation for the large differences between experimental permeabilities and calculated partition coefficients in simulations. The fourth paper contains a coarse-grained simulation study of a proposed structural transformation in ceramide bilayer structures, during the formation of the stratum corneum. The simulations show that glycosylceramides are able to stabilize a three-dimensionally folded bilayer structure, while simulations with ceramides collapse into a lamellar bilayer structure.

QC 20160308

A Work Project, presented as part of the requirements for the Award of a Masters Degree in Management from the NOVA – School of Business and Economics
The lack of knowledge concerning business practices and saving habits in developing countries is still very significant. This paper analyzes the relation that record keeping and saving habits have on business profits and revenues. A survey was conducted among micro-entrepreneurs (grocers) in the city of Maputo, in Mozambique, in order to evaluate their business practices and what their saving habits were. It was found that record keeping and saving habits are strong determinants of business profits and revenues, particularly when used together – an indication of potential synergies between these two variables.

The Internet of Things (IoT) is often referred to as one of the key technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Along with the three industrial revolutions before it, this current industrial revolution promises to be disruptive, changing how we live our lives and run our organizations. Yet, while the IoT has demonstrated great promise, it will underperform in terms of expected adoption and resultant benefits realization compared to initially overly optimistic industry forecasts. This is partly due to several barriers to implementing IoT based solutions that inhibit, reduce, or slow the realization of the intended benefits. In this research thesis, I identify and then analyze several of the barriers to IoT benefits realization. These include issues related to IoT architectural heterogeneity, the challenges with securing the IoT, the reduction in privacy that the IoT creates and the resultant regulatory burden and the need for new business models to realize the value that the IoT can create. For each identified barrier I look to contribute to the literature by furthering understanding of that phenomena in question and/or by exploring potential solutions to improve benefits realization. Adopting a “Thesis including Publications” approach the analysis of each barrier is presented in a separate self-contained research paper with four papers presented in total. Two of these research papers (on IoT Architecture and Privacy) have been published and a further two (on IoT Security and Business Models) have been submitted for publication.

Digital Transformation is changing the ICT industry and companies must act with speed to stay in the race. In order to be a credible business transformation partner, responding to industry changes and customer demands faster, companies today are transforming themselves and embarking on their digital journey and digitalization is high on every company’s agenda.   Most of these transformation initiatives fail or are progressing slowly and one major reason for this is organizational barriers to transformations. These barriers are challenging as organizations and employees react differently to change. Hence in this paper, I will study the transformation process and try to identify and understand the barriers and the most challenging stage of the transformation by interviewing eleven executives from across companies which are in various stages of their Digital Transformation journey. Even though significant number of barriers were identified in the Initiation and the Transition phases, the results indicate that each phase is equally important and is an outcome of the previous phase. By addressing barriers in the first two phases and taking concrete actions, the resistance can be reduced, and organizations can smoothly transition and transform ensuring that the organization and staff embrace the changes.   Several barriers to change and transformation were identified ‐ Unclear Company Vision and Goal of the Transformation; Top Management, Leaders and their Leadership style; Project group, Organizational set‐ up and Agility; Change and Middle managers lacking expertise; Lack of Rewards and Incentives; Unclear Measurement systems, Lack of HR involvement and a strong Learning culture missing.   In this work with executives working across a variety of industries, the findings suggest that by putting people first and by running change management programs with more people‐centric approaches can lead to dynamic results. The study revealed the need for top leaders and executives to present a united front, provide more autonomy, increase collaboration and transparency across project functions and structures. Middle managers and HR need to work together bettersupporting and coaching the employee’sindividual development plans, tracking changes, creating an atmosphere that engages and energizes employees and by rewarding or incentivizing employees ensure that the changed behaviours stick and quickly spread throughout the organization. Siloed organizational structures were further identified as making the organizations obsolete and the transformation journey must begin by putting together diverse project teams encompassing the right capabilities and skills with a clear driver of change.

The quantitative study attempted to examine the barriers and challenges of grandparents raising grandchildren. The primary focus is to explore the problems and concerns to determine what are the specific needs of these redefined families. The researcher employed a questionnaire with some closed and open-ended questions, pertaining to the problems and concerns of custodial grandparents. Twenty-five grandparents in San Bernardino County were interviewed to obtain data regarding this issue. The findings of the study revealed that grandparents and grandchildren both are in need of internal and external resources to enhance, empower and support their inner ability to adjust and cope with their new and often traumatic family transitions.

An administration of a private school located in the south reported the problem of a lack of curriculum fidelity to a new phonics program, which created a need to identify barriers preventing full curriculum implementation. Using the concerns-based adoption model (CBAM) as the conceptual framework, this qualitative case study identified concerns and barriers teachers report when implementing a new curriculum and used the. Data were collected from 10 participants (8 teachers and 2 administrators) through a questionnaire, interviews, and observations. Participants were interviewed to identify any barriers experienced with curriculum fidelity of a new phonics program. Teachers were observed to determine which components of the curriculum were present in or omitted from their lessons. Participants completed a questionnaire to determine their levels of concern when asked to implement a new curriculum. Results indicated that teachers required additional information before the expected implementations occur and an understanding of demands on their personal time. Common themes showed a desire for professional development (PD), peer-collaboration, and access to curriculum resources, which served as the basis for the project. The resulting project integrated PD to address concerns connected to reoccurring themes. Implications for social change include change at a systematic level by providing administrators with data to support teachers during curriculum changes and substantiation for the benefits of understanding concerns prior to a change for improving curriculum fidelity.

Background: Chronic Kidney Disease is a global health problem. In the United Kingdom, there is impetus for self-management of long term conditions. In 2002, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence’ technology appraisal guideline on haemodialysis suggested that 10%-15% of the centre’s dialysis population should undertake home haemodialysis. The clinical community is yet to rise to this challenge. In this study, we seek to explore patient-related clinical and psychosocial predictors and provider beliefs and attitudes which determine the choice of self-care dialysis, particularly, home haemodialysis. Design and methods: The design is a combined cross-sectional and longitudinal study employing an integrated mixed methodology (convergent, parallel design). Study participants include patients and multidisciplinary staff. The three patient cohorts (n = 535) include pre-dialysis (222), hospital (213) and self-care haemodialysis patients (100) from geographically distinct NHS sites, and with variable prevalence of home haemodialysis (low <3%; medium 5-8%; high >8%). The pre-dialysis patients were followed up for a period of 12 months from study entry. Quantitative data ascertained include biomarkers, clinical, psychosocial quantitative and neuropsychometric-cognitive tests in the study cohorts. Organizational attitudes and dialysis unit practices were gathered from a survey of the participating units. Semi-structured interviews were carried out for patients and care-providers. The datasets were analysed independently and the findings mixed at the stage of interpretation. Statistical tests appropriate to the specific questions were considered for the quantitative data and qualitative data was analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Home haemodialysis has a high composite (training+home) technique survival rate of 90.2%, 87.4% & 81.5% at 1, 2 and 5-years respectively in a death and transplantation censored analysis. The key predictors of self-care dialysis, especially home haemodialysis, are self-perceived higher cognitive ability (metaconcentration), lower comorbidity score, home ownership, and white ethnicity background. There are 20% lower odds of choosing self-care dialysis over fully-assisted dialysis for every unit reduction in metaconcentration score and this is significantly associated with trails making test B, an objective test of executive brain function. Perceived inability to self-cannulate was a significant predictor of the choice of peritoneal dialysis over home haemodialysis amongst CKD-5, predialysis patients. However, approximately 1 in 3 patients from the predialysis and hospital haemodialysis groups feel able to consider self-cannulation. The centre to which the patient belonged had an impact on the choice of dialysis modality, with greater proportion opting for home haemodialysis in a centre with greater home haemodialysis prevalence. Amongst predialysis patients who made a modality choice, the experience of their interaction with healthcare teams and dialysis counselling, self-efficacy, personal fulfilment through work and social engagements, and their views of the modality’s impact on their significant others, influenced the choice of home or hospital-based haemodialysis. 45% of all respondents in a survey of healthcare practitioners felt that staff knowledge and bias influenced the offer of home haemodialysis therapy. At a policy level, the tariff for home haemodialysis was not a clear incentive for its adoption due to uncertainty about operational costs. Conclusions: There exists a perception of lack of uniformity in practice pertaining to offer of home haemodialysis across the study centres. The impact of financial incentives designed at a policy level is influenced by the understanding of cost and benefits at the local operational level. Most barriers are surmountable and patients should be able to consider self-care therapies option in all but the most limiting physical and cognitive states. There is a need locally, for units to investigate barriers to home haemodialysis therapy using a conceptual framework in order to facilitate change.

ABSTRACT OVERCOMING BARRIERS: WOMEN IN THE SUPERINTENDENCY by Claire M. Miller Women currently represent the largest number of teachers in the United States but remain underrepresented in the superintendent position. This suggests that the superintendency has been influenced by patriarchy. If women are to break through the barriers that prevent them from attaining a superintendency, we will need to understand the social construction of the position and women superintendents’ experiences with barriers. What do women in the superintendency think about what it means to be one of a few women in a male-dominated occupation? How does gender consciousness play a role in the ability to examine and understand barriers? How do characteristics of the position interacting with gender? Literature is reviewed surrounding these questions and includes barriers with feminine expectations, career mobility, good old boy network, mentors, family obligations, and the selection process. A qualitative approach was used to examine the experiences of five female superintendents. Additionally, race was masked to protect the identities of the women. Patriarchy was identified as the central structure for understanding the women’s experiences with barriers. This study also sought to draw on the theoretical model of sociocultural explanations for the underrepresentation of women in the superintendency. This model analyzes gender differences and focuses on sex role stereotyping, career socialization, and women’s culture to describe women’s experiences. The findings indicate that women are beginning to overcome some of the barriers; however, many of them are still present. This inquiry is important because it allows us to examine the barriers within the superintendency in order to provide a new perspective to the body of literature that has historically been grounded in almost exclusively white, male, and heterosexist epistemologies. This new perspective includes methods to overcome the barriers rather than navigate them.

Abstract Authors:   Ekman, Felix 890924                Henriksson, Richard 880325 Tutor:       Prof. Anders Pehrsson Examiner: Ass. Prof. Sarah Philipson Title:         Explanatory Factors of Perceived Expansion Barriers Introduction: A characteristic of the twenty first century business environment is the increased globalisation. Due to the globalisation, it has become necessary for organizations to be involved in international business, and the globalisation of the marketplace in general has increased the export. When expanding to international markets, companies might face some obstacles and barriers, which makes it an important topic in the research field of international marketing and strategy. Since most research focuses just on the importance of the expansion barriers, it would be of importance to provide empirical evidence on what types of explanatory factors that are associated with firms’ perception of expansion barriers. Purpose: Gain an understanding of different explanatory factors regarding expansion barriers for companies’ expansion on international markets. Methodology: The research approach was quantitative with mainly primary data, which was collected through a questionnaire distributed through e-mail. The sample frame was Swedish companies that exporting goods to Norway, Poland, Russia and/or the Baltic region. A total of 157 completed questionnaires, response rate of 20%, were collected and was the foundation for the analysis and results. Conclusion: The explanatory factors that are associated with the perception of expansion barriers were; Geographical and Cultural distances, Market experience and Institutional collaborations. The fourth explanatory factor, intermediating strategy, has in this study no association to the perception of the barriers. Keywords: Expansion Barriers, Explanatory Factors, International Marketing Strategy.

Objectives: To explore the experiences of staff working in a recovery oriented service, with particular focus on the elements which help and hinder the provision of the service.Design: A qualitative approach was taken, in which interviews were used to produce data.Methods: Twelve participants were interviewed using a semi structured interview. The participants were from a variety of professional backgrounds and worked for a recovery oriented Early Intervention Team. The interviews were analysed using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis.Results: Participants highlighted the importance of having a strong team culture which involved having a strong leadership, a clear vision, an absence of a medical focus, a mutually supportive team, and the role of STR workers. Barriers to providing a recovery oriented service focused on the attitudes of others and the position of the team in the wider service. Participants highlighted the issues regarding the role of generic workers. Some difficulties with the implementation of the model itself were highlighted.Conclusions: This paper highlights many of the factors which need to be considered when operationalising the recovery model. Recently there has been an influx of policy documents which support the implementation of recovery oriented services. However, fundamental conflicts between the recovery model and the medical model may hamper its implementation.

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning, 2006.
This electronic version was submitted by the student author. The certified thesis is available in the Institute Archives and Special Collections.
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 61-62).
The study of greyfields for this thesis was motivated by the increasing problems of traffic and air pollution associated with sprawling development patterns. Typically located in inner ring suburban areas, greyfields, or failed retail malls, represent sites that can be redeveloped profitably into mixed-use, walkable neighborhoods. Yet, few successful examples of greyfield redevelopment exist, especially when compared to the relative proliferation of brownfield redevelopment. Brownfields, or contaminated urban sites, are very costly to remediate and it is surprising that this type of redevelopment outpaces greyfield redevelopment on such a significant scale. This thesis addresses the disparity between the two redevelopment types and describes differences between brownfields and greyfields through application of an economic model for redevelopment. The variables of the model are then applied to each redevelopment type and considered in the context of several greyfield case studies located on the east coast.
(cont.) Where the economic model is incomplete in fully explaining the disparity between the redevelopment types, factors outside of the model have been considered, including the existence of externalities and public subsidies at federal, state and local levels. Lastly, suggestions of how to foster increased implementation of greyfield redevelopment and create an industry around the reuse of greyfield sites are discussed.
by Amy W. Merritt.
S.M.

Humans are increasingly being exposed to nanoparticles from sources such as CoCr nanoparticles in metal on metal bearing orthopaedic implants, and also due to the increasing use of nanotechnology. The potential for nanoparticle exposures during pregnancy to cause developmental toxicity has been shown in vivo, and most commonly affects fetal neural development. This has generally been presumed to be due to the passage of nanoparticles to the fetus. It has however been shown that nanoparticles can cause DNA damage across placental barriers without crossing them. This 'indirect toxicity' is due to nanoparticles being internalised within the barrier and initiating a signalling cascade that is believed to transverse the barrier via connexin 43 gap junctions. In this thesis BeWo trophoblast cells were used to make in vitro models of the placenta to determine whether indirect nanoparticle toxicity could alter neurodevelopment. BeWo barriers were exposed to CoCr nanoparticles and media was harvested from beneath the barrier. This was applied to human neural progenitor cells that were differentiating into neurons and astrocytes. The viability of these cells was.unaffected although a shift to an astrocytic phenotype did occur. The resultant astrocytes had enlarged nuclear and cytoplasmic areas on immunostaining and were believed to be reactive astrocytes. These astrocytes also exhibited high levels of yH2AX foci on immunostaining, representing increased levels of DNA damage. The developing human cortical neurons, in culture with the astrocytes, were also found to have increased levels of yH2AX foci but to a lesser level than found in astrocytes. Near pure neuronal cultures did not however develop increased levels of yH2AX foci, therefore it was believed that the reactive astrocytes were initiating the DNA damage in the developing neurons. Exposures to differentiating embryoid bodies derived from human embryonic stem cells also found that differentiation into neuroectoderm was not affected. These results indicate that nanoparticies may alter neurodevelopment due to triggering signalling within the placenta, and that this is dependent on the presence of astrocytes, with earlier developmental events not being equally affected. Finally further investigations were performed to delineate the initiation and methods of transfer of this DNA damaging signalling in the BeWo barrier. These found that when nanoparticles come into contact with the barriers, impairment of autophagic flux occurs in the upper layers. Successful knockdown of Cx43 in the BeWo barriers was performed using shRNA lentiviral vectors to investigate the transfer of DNA damaging signalling. This however did not prevent morphological changes from developing in astrocytes, suggesting that Cx43 gap junctions may not be the only method of signalling transport involved in indirect nanoparticle toxicity. These results are discussed in relation to our current knowledge of neurodevelopment and the effects that astrocytes have in health and disease. Based on the results in this thesis I believe that limiting exposure to nanoparticles is important in women of childbearing age.