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Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Environments'
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Markarian, Naro R. "Environmental control of vegetable storage environments." Thesis, McGill University, 2001. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=31268.
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A large-scale experimental, state of the art storage facility was constructed on the Macdonald Campus of McGill University. This storage facility will serve as a tool to further investigate many of the laboratory experiments performed in agricultural and food science topics, by providing a representation of actual storage facilities in use in the industry today. The storage facility was fully instrumented to provide valuable data of the stored commodity and it's environment. A custom control software was developed with a user friendly graphical interface. This fully automated software allows data acquisition and control of temperature and relative humidity of the experimental storage facility.Experiments were performed and the control software provided an adequate temperature and relative humidity control. The controller was based on a conventional PID or proportional, integral and derivative controller. To further improve the control of the storage facility, a novel multivariable PID controller was developed using enthalpy as the process variable, which encompasses both temperature and relative humidity. The novel controller was tested using a mathematical model developed. Simulations were performed comparing the performance of the novel multivariable controller to two other conventional controllers. The results demonstrate that the novel multivariable PID controller is capable of controlling temperature and relative humidity better than the other two conventional control techniques.
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Banker, William P. "Virtual environments and wayfinding in the natural environment." Monterey, Calif. : Springfield, Va. : Naval Postgraduate School ; Available from National Technical Information Service, 1997. http://handle.dtic.mil/100.2/ADA341166.
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Thesis (M.S. in Computer Science) Naval Postgraduate School, September 1997."September 1997." Thesis advisor(s): Rudolph Darken. Includes bibliography references (p. 149-150). Also available online.
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Coe, Michelle Autumn. "Influential Environments: School Gardens Impacting Arizona Children's Environmental Perspectives." Thesis, The University of Arizona, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/595817.
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Manzo Elementary is located in Barrio Hollywood, a low-income neighborhood of Tucson, Arizona. Despite the school's low testing scores and small enrollment, Manzo was recognized as the Best Green School in the nation for 2012 by the U.S. Green Building Council and continues to receive positive media attention. This is because Manzo is thriving in areas of experiential learning and ecological initiatives through the use of its school garden. The school has built sustainability into the core of its curriculum and physical environment, integrating chickens, composting piles, rainwater cisterns, and desert biomes within its courtyards, classrooms and playgrounds. Literature on school gardens suggests that gardens heighten children's sense of place, time spent in the environment, and perceptions of natural areas. However, there is a large gap in the literature which focuses on the use of school gardens as an environmental learning tool, and the ways in which it can appeal and connect children and community partnerships from the perspective of those children involved. The research presented here is an attempt to close that gap by bringing Manzo students into the conversation on school gardens and experiential learning. This study looks at how students perceive their environment, how they are learning and acquiring new environmental knowledge, how they share that knowledge, and the actions and behaviors—both individually and collaboratively—that ensue.
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Foster, Alec. "EVERYDAY IDENTITIES, EVERYDAY ENVIRONMENTS: URBAN ENVIRONMENTAL GEOGRAPHIES OF PHILADELPHIA." Diss., Temple University Libraries, 2016. http://cdm16002.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p245801coll10/id/396150.
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GeographyPh.D.
This study examines the environmental identity processes of Philadelphians involved in volunteer local everyday urban environmental stewardship through tree plantings and prunings, urban gardening, and neighborhood cleanups. A hybrid theoretical framework for environmental identities that simultaneously incorporates structural, discursive, and material concerns through the ground of everyday life was adapted from the political ecology of the body developed by Hayes-Conroy and Hayes-Conroy (2013). Three qualitative methodological techniques were performed: in depth interviews, participatory observation, and neighborhood walking tours. Results highlight the emotional and affective connections that participants held with their neighborhoods, neighbors and other participants, and trees and other nonhuman others.
Temple University--Theses
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Sepponen, J. (Jussi). "Improved user experience with realistic virtual environments and environmental states." Bachelor's thesis, University of Oulu, 2019. http://jultika.oulu.fi/Record/nbnfioulu-201903211349.
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Abstract. Virtual reality has been a topic of keen research for last three decades. Recent advances on display technology and wireless network systems combined with easily maintainable and expandable social networks allow more pervasive experiences and better collaboration than ever before. Still the virtual reality remains as rarely used resource and a niche form of entertainment.
Virtual Reality is still far from its Science Fiction epitome. Sci-fi presents virtual reality as a ubiquitous technology that generally provides an immersive experience that transforms the concept of communication and collaboration by taking the user into completely another reality.
Thanks to leaps in technology, users can experience previously unseen levels of resolution with minimal network lag on consumer priced products. Despite of this VR technology has not caught on. From users’ perspective, this is affected by user experience.
This thesis sets out to discover use cases for realistic virtual environments and states and issues in user experience affecting adoption. It will also take a look on different hindrances and difficulties concerning the mass adaption of virtual reality tools and applications.Realististen virtuaaliympäristöjen ja tilojen käyttö käyttäjäkokemuksen parantamiseen. Tiivistelmä. Virtuaalitodellisuutta on tutkittu vilkkaasti 80-luvulta saakka. Näyttöteknologian ja langattomien verkkojärjestelmien viimeaikainen kehitys yhdessä helposti ylläpidettävien ja laajennettavien sosiaalisten verkostojen kanssa mahdollistavat aiempaa kokonaisvaltaisempia kokemuksia ja yhteistyömahdollisuuksia. Tästä huolimatta virtuaalitodellisuus pysyy edelleen harvoin käytettynä resurssina ja viihteen erikoismuotona. Virtuaalitodellisuus on edelleen kaukana sci-fi visualistien haaveesta: kaikkialla läsnäolevana, ubiikkina teknologiana, joka tarjoaa mukaansatempaavia ja ainutlaatuisia kokemuksia, sekä muuttaa käsitystämme sosiaalisesta kanssakäynnistä.
Uusimmat teknologiat tarjoavat käyttäjälle ennennäkemättömän korkearesoluutioista kuvaa ja minimaalista verkkoviivettä kuluttajahintaisilla laitteilla. Tästäkään huolimatta suuri yleisö ei ole lämminnyt VR-teknologialle. Käyttäjän näkökulmasta tähän vaikuttaa suuresti käyttökokemus.
Tämä tutkimus käsittelee realististen virtuaaliympäristöjen ja -tilojen vaikutusta käyttäjäkokemukseen, sekä ottaa kantaa erilaisiin esteisiin ja hankaluuksiin virtuaaliteknologian leviämisessä suuren yleisön suosioon.
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Acevedo, Michelle. "An environmental-behavior evaluation of pediatric clinic waiting room environments." Thesis, This resource online, 1995. http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-07112009-040524/.
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Cilingiroglu, Idil. "Exploring Environments." VCU Scholars Compass, 2014. http://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/etd/3369.
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My search for creative inspiration often leads to explorations in natural and built environments. Being physically immersed in an environment offers endless vantage points, as well as points of focus; allowing all senses to function as receptors of surrounding data. Observations stimulate thoughts and ideas, which inspire experiments. Projects are born, sometimes out of the smallest details. In a series of projects I explore the possibilities of using physical environments as primary source of inspiration and input in the creation of tools that function in design contexts.
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Zanger, Maggy. "Urban Environments." College of Agriculture, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 1992. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/295727.
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Rau, Andreas. "Interactive Play Environments : Digitally Augmenting the Built Environment to Mediate Play." Thesis, KTH, Medieteknik och interaktionsdesign, MID, 2015. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-173935.
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This master’s thesis expands the field of research in interactive playgrounds by examining the role of the built environment that is augmented with digital technology for richer interaction possibilities in such playgrounds. Based on a literature study, this thesis distinguishes interactive play environments from interactive playgrounds, since these often do not reflect the impact of the environment on play very well. The research question being raised is then as follows: “How do children use the digitally augmented built environment in their play?” The thesis describes the process of designing and prototyping an interactive play environment that features communication and a tube to throw objects through as play concepts. Six different prototypes shape the interactive environment in close interplay with landscape and existing built environment. The prototyped environment is then evaluated in a 4-day study at a Swedish school with approximately 240 children during their recess times. This study uses observation as the predominant data gathering method. The gathered data are analyzed based on content analysis. As an answer to the research question, this thesis describes the play that happens in an interactive play environment and draws conclusions on the influence of such an environment on play. The results of the study indicate, that the digitally augmented built environment has an impact on play in stimulating certain new play patterns. It shows its potential mainly as a mediator between the children and the environment, thus stimulating children to explore their environment through play and discover dormant values of the environment. Although we found that the digitally augmented built environment influences play, this study can not confirm that the digital components embedded in the built environment actually improve the play. However, the increasing presence of digital technology in society in general makes it inevitable to think about how this presence should be reflected in children’s playgrounds in the future and this work can give some directions for that.
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Bryant, Molly E. "Physical Environments Conducive To Creativity and Collaboration Within the Work Environment." The Ohio State University, 2012. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1338474660.
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Moafipoor, Shahram, Lydia Bock, Jeffrey A. Fayman, Gerry Mader, and Michael Strong. "Collaborative Environment Learning: The Key to Localization of Soldiers in Urban Environments." International Foundation for Telemetering, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/606113.
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ITC/USA 2009 Conference Proceedings / The Forty-Fifth Annual International Telemetering Conference and Technical Exhibition / October 26-29, 2009 / Riviera Hotel & Convention Center, Las Vegas, NevadaSeveral navigation technologies exist, which can facilitate the generation of Time Space Positioning Information (TSPI) in urban environments. These include GPS, image-based localization, radio-based localization and dead reckoning. This paper first presents a basic overview of these techniques including advantages and limitations of each. We present an approach to localization in urban environments, based on environment learning and collaborative navigation using multiple homogeneous and non-homogeneous localization technologies, fused to form a multi-sensor system.
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Eldstål, Emil. "Generating Procedural Environments using Masks : Layered Image Document to Real-time environment." Thesis, Luleå tekniska universitet, Institutionen för konst, kommunikation och lärande, 2019. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:ltu:diva-74667.
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This paper will explore the possibilities of using an automated self-made procedural tool to create real-time environments based on simple image masks. The purpose of this is to enable a concept artist or level designer to quickly get out results in a game engine and to be able to explore ideas. The goal of this thesis was to better understand how you can break down simple ideas and shapes into more complex details and assets. In the first part of this thesis, I go over the traditional workflow of creating a real-time environment. I then go on and break down my tool, what it does and how it works. I start off with a Photoshop file, make tools in Houdini and then utilize those in Unreal for the end result. I also argument about the time-saving possibilities with these tools. From the work, I draw the conclusion that these kinds of tools save a lot of time for repeating tasks and the creation of similar environments.
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Fagge, Megan. "Variable learning environments." Thesis, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/1853/39595.
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Research shows the environment affects the user both psychologically and physiologically. Teachers often alter their classrooms in order to effect these changes, for instance, by adding elements for warmth, offsetting harsh lighting, or using found objects to mark and divide space. Research and observed use communicate a need for a planned variety of spaces in function and in character.
The project is a redesign of Therrell High School in southwest Atlanta seeking to complement the new movement to small learning communities, which embeds programmatic variety in the public school system.
Therrell is divided into three small thematically described academies, which effectively function as three separate high schools: the School of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math; the School of Health Sciences and Research; the School of Law, Government, and Public Policy.
The design focuses on the necessary variability of spaces inherent in small learning communities. These spaces seek to address the varied instructional strategies that accompany the thematic endeavors of each school and introduce variety in architectural character, thus accommodating variable needs and desires of students. The focus of the project is on the student and the nature of space that fosters positive experiences as well as positive learning outcomes.
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Parkinson, Adrian. "Designing catalytic environments." Thesis, University of Cambridge, 1993. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.320030.
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Carlsson, Jacob. "Isolated WiFi Environments." Thesis, Linköpings universitet, Fysik och elektroteknik, 2015. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-114537.
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WiFi is becoming common in households and digital devices needs to support it. At the same time the devices are getting smaller and the Ethernet port may seem superfluous. When testing these devices the test environment needs to be able to provide WiFi connectivity. The tests may be focused on testing WiFi but it could also be the only network connectivity and thus needs to be very reliable. With a large number of devices in a small physical area a normal WiFi setup would have a density of devices that is too high for today’s1 WiFi standards. A combination of wired physical medium and physical isolation was considered.
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Eslick, Ian S. (Ian Scott). "Quasistatic computing environments." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1996. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/38790.
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Meyer, Anthony. "Interactive urban environments." Kansas State University, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/2097/8789.
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Master of Landscape ArchitectureDepartment of Landscape Architecture/Regional and Community Planning
Jessica Canfield
Interactive technology is rapidly affecting our society, extending opportunities for convenience, communication, function, and pleasure. Defined as electronic or computation-based entities that reciprocate human use or action, interactive technology allows people the opportunity to personalize how something looks, how it feels, what it does, and how it is perceived. Many physical objects, such as a home thermostat system or a motion-activated sculpture, are embedded with computation that allows them to detect certain environmental influences, and respond with a purposeful action. As suggested by Malcolm McCullough, interactive technologies will be implemented into the urban environment, grounding them to a specific place and reflecting the character and context. Interactive technology will be combined with traditional urban design practices to generate an interactive urban environment. The Civic Room in Downtown St. Louis is prime for renewal. Underutilized and monotonous, the park space is seen as a tear in the urban fabric and lacks diverse program opportunities. The Civic Room will be used as a testing ground for an interactive urban environment, utilizing three dimensions of interactive technology, including information exchange, creative expression, and kinetics, as well as the specific elements of an effective urban open space (Whyte, 1980). Then, the existing site and resulting interactive urban environment will be evaluated on its potential to improve certain dimensions of performance (Lynch, 1981), and its impact on the identity and use of the space. Engaging an interactive urban environment in the St. Louis Civic Room will promote an understanding of the effects that interactive technology can begin to have in a larger context. It will activate the space, promote social collaboration, and establish a dynamic atmosphere that reflects more closely the desired intent of all users. In turn, it can propel the opportunity to approach interactive urban environments as an alternative method of urban space design.
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Stafford-Fraser, James Quentin. "Video-augmented environments." Thesis, University of Cambridge, 1996. https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/272415.
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Ehrlich, Stefan, Jens Gärtner, Eduard Daoud, and Alexander Lorz. "Process Learning Environments." TUDpress, 2016. https://tud.qucosa.de/id/qucosa%3A33938.
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Purpose – Due to faster innovation cycles and competitive markets, current methods for implementing and adapting business processes can not keep pace with changing requirements and cause BPM solutions to falls short of business needs. The purpose of this paper is to propose a new approach for implementing an agile BPM methodology by substituting the plan-build-run approach with an incremental prototype-based model, removing intermediaries from the time critical path of business process evolution, and empowering end users to change business processes at runtime by manipulating process artefacts.
Design/methodology/approach – Based on interviews with customers and stakeholders and our experience in implementing complex BPM solutions in SMEs, we propose key concepts for an agile BPM approach and derive basic requirements for implementing a BPM system that allows users to redefine business processes during their execution. This analysis is supplemented by a brief overview of current research trends in modelling and implementing agile BPM.
Originality/value – All existing solutions examined by our team imply a separate modelling step by users or process managers. The designed key concepts enable users to implicitly model processes without interrupting day to day operations. Our approach enables organisations to introduce business process management in areas where agility is very important (e.g. product development) or to increase operational agility in areas with established BPM.
Practical implications – An agile BPM solution can give organisations the flexibility they need to react quickly to changing markets and customer needs. We want to help them to introduce standardization and efficiency without losing agility. In areas where classical BPM is in place, our approach can increase the adaptation rate of process changes. In the areas of knowledge workers with a high level of agility, our approach can increase efficiency by supporting knowledge sharing.
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Evanshen, Pamela, and L. Phillips. "Environments That Work!" Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2003. https://dc.etsu.edu/etsu-works/4395.
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Feldman, Alicia. "Environmental equifinality: (Re)Examining predictors of specific responsible environmental behaviours in Australian recreational fishing environments." Thesis, Queensland University of Technology, 2021. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/208423/1/Alicia_Feldman_Thesis.pdf.
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Environmental stewardship is essential to conserving recreational fishing areas. This thesis explores the characteristics of Australians engaged in such stewardship. A novel theoretical perspective (complexity theory) and methodology (fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis) uncovers complex configurational mechanisms, with multiple equifinal solutions identified as sufficient for performance of stewardship behaviours. Configurations predictive of stewardship differ between environmental organisation members and non-members. While there are numerous, varied configurations sufficient for performance among environmental organisation members, there are fewer among non-members, indicating only a specific subset of non-members perform these behaviours. These findings can inform targeted recruitment and engagement strategies for environmental stewardship participation.
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Cubukcu, Ebru. "Investigating wayfinding using virtual environments." Columbus, Ohio : Ohio State University, 2003. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc%5Fnum=osu1070246663.
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Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2003.Title from first page of PDF file. Document formatted into pages; contains xx, 182 p.; also includes graphics (some col.). Includes abstract and vita. Advisor: Jack L. Nasar, City and Regional Planning Dept. Includes bibliographical references (p. 121-135).
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Ihlström, Joakim, and Fredrik Westerlund. "Interactive learning environments : The effects of interactivity in online learning environments." Thesis, Umeå universitet, Institutionen för informatik, 2013. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-73182.
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We live in an era where interactivity is gradually becoming more available, yet our schoolsare not catching up to this trend, instead we are faced with passive learning environmentswhere active construction of knowledge is limited. In this study we looked at theconstructivist approach to learning and compared it to the objectivist approach that iscommonly used in most schools of today. We looked at other successful interactive learningenvironment and how they may look like. We developed a passive educational video and aprototype of an interactive learning environment, where the interactive environmentworked as a supplement to the educational video. We further conducted a quantitative testthrough a questionnaire on these environments to see if the learning outcome of theinteractive learning environment outperformed the learners of the educational video. Thedata we collected did not show any significant difference between passive and interactivelearning, it did, however, show some interesting trends such as younger participants ingeneral performed better than older participants in our interactive learning environment.
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Fischer-Welsh, Kay. "Environmental coping employed in the home environments of persons with Alzheimer's disease." Kansas State University, 1990. http://hdl.handle.net/2097/36099.
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Cranwell, Caresse. "Women, environments and spirituality : a study of women in the Australian environment movement." Title page, contents and abstract only, 1991. http://web4.library.adelaide.edu.au/theses/09ENV/09envc891.pdf.
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Blose, Ralph J. "Effects of teachers school-level environment perceptions on changing elementary mathematics classroom environments /." Full text available, 2002. http://adt.curtin.edu.au/theses/available/adt-WCU20040331.142834.
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McClernon, Christopher K. "Stress effects on transfer from virtual environment flight training to stressful flight environments." Monterey, Calif. : Naval Postgraduate School, 2009. http://handle.dtic.mil/100.2/ADA501682.
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Dissertation (Ph.D. in Modeling, Virtual Environments, and Simulation)--Naval Postgraduate School, June 2009.Dissertation supervisor: McCauley, Michael E. "June 2009." Description based on title screen as viewed on July 14, 2009. DTIC Identifiers: Flight simulator, virtual environment, human physiology, transfer of training, human performance, stress coping, stress exposure training. Author(s) subject terms: Stress, training, transfer of training, flight simulator, virtual environment, human physiology, human performance, strain, stress coping, stress exposure training. Includes bibliographical references (p. 163-170). Also available in print.
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Blose, Ralph J. "Effects of teachers school-level environment perceptions on changing elementary mathematics classroom environments." Thesis, Curtin University, 2003. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/2445.
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The purpose of this study was to establish an action research plan for teachers to improve student outcomes by assessing, describing, and changing their classroom environments. This study relied on student perceptions, using survey responses, to assess and describe the classroom environment. Teachers used this information to develop intervention strategies designed to change the students' perceptions of their actual classroom environment to more closely mirror their preferred classroom environment perceptions.More than forty years of classroom environment research has proven the importance of the classroom environment in developing positive student outcomes. Additional research has established the reliability of student perceptions of their learning environment. Previous research has developed several dependable student survey instruments to measure student perceptions of their classroom environment.This study was conducted in a Title I elementary school in the United States over a seven month period. Two intermediate level mathematics teachers participated in the project. Both quantitative data, using the My Classroom Inventory (MCI) and the School Level Environment Questionnaire (SLEQ), and qualitative data, teachers' case studies, were collected and analyzed.The study established that an action research plan for teachers to assess, describe, and change their classroom environments could be developed. However, even though teachers realized the benefits, for their students and themselves, in changing their classroom environments, school level environment demands negatively influenced their willingness to implement changes to their classroom environments.
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Blose, Ralph J. "Effects of teachers school-level environment perceptions on changing elementary mathematics classroom environments." Curtin University of Technology, Science and Mathematics Education Centre, 2003. http://espace.library.curtin.edu.au:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=14538.
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The purpose of this study was to establish an action research plan for teachers to improve student outcomes by assessing, describing, and changing their classroom environments. This study relied on student perceptions, using survey responses, to assess and describe the classroom environment. Teachers used this information to develop intervention strategies designed to change the students' perceptions of their actual classroom environment to more closely mirror their preferred classroom environment perceptions.More than forty years of classroom environment research has proven the importance of the classroom environment in developing positive student outcomes. Additional research has established the reliability of student perceptions of their learning environment. Previous research has developed several dependable student survey instruments to measure student perceptions of their classroom environment.This study was conducted in a Title I elementary school in the United States over a seven month period. Two intermediate level mathematics teachers participated in the project. Both quantitative data, using the My Classroom Inventory (MCI) and the School Level Environment Questionnaire (SLEQ), and qualitative data, teachers' case studies, were collected and analyzed.The study established that an action research plan for teachers to assess, describe, and change their classroom environments could be developed. However, even though teachers realized the benefits, for their students and themselves, in changing their classroom environments, school level environment demands negatively influenced their willingness to implement changes to their classroom environments.
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Esteve, González Patricia. "Competition in nonmarket environments." Doctoral thesis, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/10803/127110.
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This doctoral thesis analyses competitive situations in which public institutions are involved and evaluates public institutions from three different perspectives. The first contribution analyses a regular activity of public institutions, procurement of services, in which there is a potential moral hazard problem. A public institution should bias future competitions in favour to the past winner who performs a high quality service, and that this bias should be additive. When the linearity is reduced a bit, the moral hazard problem is less severe. However, if the linearity is reduced too much, the advantage of the past winner disappears and biasing the contest can be counterproductive. The second contribution regards how public institutions can change a reality: disadvantage of minorities. Some affirmative action policies establish that a set of disadvantaged competitors has access to an extra prize. We find that an extra prize is a powerful tool to ensure participation of disadvantaged agents and this tool can be established purely on efficiency grounds when the disadvantage of the minority is not too severe. The third contribution studies agents’ perception of public institutions for the case of political parties in member countries of the European Union (EU). We find that economic factors, in addition to ideological and electoral motives, are determinants of partisan support to European integration. This support, which has grown in recent periods, depends on the distribution among member countries of the benefits from the EU and the specific economic situation of the each political party’s country.Aquesta tesi doctoral avalua les institucions públiques en situacions competitives des de tres perspectives diferents. La primera contribució analitza una activitat ordinària de les institucions públiques, la contractació de serveis, on hi ha un problema de risc moral potencial. Una institució pública hauria d’esbiaixar les competicions futures a favor del guanyador passat si aquest va realitzar un servei d’alta qualitat, i aquest biaix hauria de ser additiu. Quan la linearitat es redueix lleugerament, el problema de risc moral és menys sever. Tanmateix, si la linearitat es redueix massa, l’avantatja del guanyador passat desapareix. Llavors, esbiaixar el concurs pot ser contra productiu. La segona contribució considera com les institucions públiques poden canviar una realitat: el desavantatge de minories. Algunes polítiques de discriminació positiva estableixen que un conjunt de competidors amb desavantatge té accés a un premi addicional. Els nostres resultats mostren que un premi addicional és una eina poderosa per garantir la participació dels agents amb desavantatge i aquesta eina pot ser establerta només sobre fonaments d’eficiència si el desavantatge de la minoria no és molt sever. La tercera contribució estudia la percepció que tenen els individus de les institucions públiques pel cas de partits polítics en països membres de la Unió Europea. Els nostres resultats mostren que els factors econòmics, a més a més dels factors ideològics i electorals, són determinants del suport dels partits polítics envers la integració europea. Aquest suport, que ha anat creixent en períodes recents, depèn de la distribució dels beneficis de la Unió Europea entre els països membres i de la situació econòmica particular del país de cada partit polític.
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Hybinette, Maria. "Interactive parallel simulation environments." Diss., Georgia Institute of Technology, 2000. http://hdl.handle.net/1853/9174.
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Burke, Peter. "Scheduling in dynamic environments." Thesis, University of Strathclyde, 1989. http://oleg.lib.strath.ac.uk:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=21291.
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Much of the work in the area of automated scheduling systems is based on the assumption that the intended execution environment is static and deterministic. The work presented in this thesis is motivated by recognition of the fact that most real world scheduling environments are dynamic and stochastic. It views the scheduling task as one of satisfaction rather than optimisation, and maintenance over creation. This thesis reviews existing work in the area and identifies an opportunity to combine recent advances in scheduling technology with the power of distributed processing. Within a suitable problem-solving architecture it is argued that this combination can help to address the fundamental problems of execudonal uncertainty, conflicting objectives and combinatorial complexity. A scheduling system, DAS, which employs such a problem-solving architecture, is presented. It is distributed, asynchronous and hierarchical, and requires careful management of problem-solving effort. DAS adopts an opportunistic approach to problem-solving and the management of problem-solving effort. The mechanisms which manage problem-solving effort within DAS are also presented. In conclusion it is argued that the architecture and mechanisms presented lend themselves very well to the view taken of the scheduling task.
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Smith, Robert James. "QSO clustering and environments." Thesis, University of Cambridge, 1998. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.624809.
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Cash, M. "Ceramics in reducing environments." Thesis, University of Cambridge, 1998. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.597354.
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Coal gasification poses many problems to the materials engineer due to the high temperatures and corrosive gases involved in the process. The main aim of this research is to investigate the influence of a simulated coal gasification environment on the mechanical properties and surface chemistry of a clay bonded SiC filter. This type of material is presently used to filter combustion gases and it is proposed that it may be used in gasification systems between the gasifier and gas turbine to filter particulates that would damage the turbine blades and lining. Three separate gases are used to investigate the corrosive effects of low pO2/high pS2, high pHC1 and increases in water vapour. Corrosion tests are performed at 1273K/1073K/873K at exposure times of 50, 100 and 200 hours. All physical and chemical observations are supported by theoretical modelling. The filter material is first characterised and found to be composed of SiC particles held together in an aluminosilicate clay binder. The only crystalline material identified in the clay is mullite. The 3-point fracture strength of the filter decreases substantially with increases in exposure time and temperature. It is concluded that the fluxing effects of the sodium present in the clay substantially lower its softening temperature. As a consequence, at temperatures of 1073K and above the filter is above its working temperature. Massive reductions in fracture strength of up to 40% seem to reflect this. The cause of the strength loss is believed to be due to both micro-cracking in the clay bond associated with the differential cooling rates of the clay and SiC, and mass loss from the clay bond due to volatile gas formation. The composition of the gas is found to significantly effect the chemistry of the surface reactions.
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Knaust, Stefan. "Microsystems for Harsh Environments." Doctoral thesis, Uppsala universitet, Mikrosystemteknik, 2015. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-253558.
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When operating microsystems in harsh environments, many conventionally used techniques are limiting. Further, depending on if the demands arise from the environment or the conditions inside the system, different approaches have to be used. This thesis deals with the challenges encountered when microsystems are used at high pressures and high temperatures. For microsystems operating at harsh conditions, many parameters will vary extensively with both temperature and pressure, and to maintain control, these variations needs to be well understood. Covered within this thesis is the to-date strongest membrane micropump, demonstrated to pump against back-pressures up to 13 MPa, and a gas-tight high pressure valve that manages pressures beyond 20 MPa. With the ability to manipulate fluids at high pressures in microsystems at elevated temperatures, opportunities are created to use green solvents like supercritical fluids like CO2. To allow for a reliable and predictable operation in systems using more than one fluid, the behavior of the multiphase flow needs to be controlled. Therefore, the effect of varying temperature and pressure, as well as flow conditions were investigated for multiphase flows of CO2 and H2O around and above the critical point of CO2. Also, the influence of channel surface and geometry was investigated. Although supercritical CO2 only requires moderate temperatures, other supercritical fluids or reactions require much higher temperatures. The study how increasing temperature affects a system, a high-temperature testbed inside an electron microscope was created. One of the challenges for high-temperature systems is the interface towards room temperature components. To circumvent the need of wires, high temperature wireless systems were studied together with a wireless pressure sensing system operating at temperatures up to 1,000 °C for pressures up to 0.3 MPa. To further extend the capabilities of microsystems and combine high temperatures and high pressures, it is necessary to consider that the requirements differs fundamentally. Therefore, combining high pressures and high temperatures in microsystems results in great challenges, which requires trade-offs and compromises. Here, steel and HTCC based microsystems may prove interesting alternatives for future high performance microsystems.
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Purbrick, James C. R. "Continuously available virtual environments." Thesis, University of Nottingham, 2001. http://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/11544/.
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This thesis presents a framework for continuously available persistent collaborative virtual environments which is fundamentally more flexible than current approaches. Whereas existing systems allow the artefacts in the environment and the application behaviours of those artefacts to be changed at run time, they still need to be shut down if the infrastructure mechanisms of the system need to be changed. The framework presented by this thesis pushes run-time extensibility to a lower level allowing previously static infrastructure mechanisms and application level behaviours to be replaced and extended in a uniform way. By associating infrastructure mechanisms with artefacts in the same way that application behaviours are associated, the framework allows multiple alternative infrastructure mechanisms to coexist within the virtual environment system. Rather than applying a single infrastructure mechanism to all artefacts in a virtual environment, mechanisms can be tailored to an artefact’s role, optimising the operation of each artefact. This allows a wider range of artefact behaviours and so applications to be supported by a single virtual environment. Infrastructure level behaviours may implement a single infrastructure mechanism or multiple mechanisms, allowing the framework to explicitly present the complex interdependencies which can exist between infrastructure mechanisms such as persistence and consistency. In addition to providing greater run-time flexibility for continuously available persistent virtual environments, the framework allows infrastructure mechanisms to be easily developed, compared, tested and configured, making it a useful test bed for the development of future infrastructure mechanisms. After reviewing existing virtual environment systems and related systems, the thesis presents an experiment which reveals some of the problems existing with current approaches to persistence in virtual environments. The thesis then describes the framework discussed above and the issues involved in its realisation before evaluating the current prototype. Finally some conclusions are presented and future work discussed.
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Hendry, David G. "Extensible information-seeking environments." Thesis, Robert Gordon University, 1996. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.337903.
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Salmond, David J. "Tracking in uncertain environments." Thesis, University of Sussex, 1989. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.394442.
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Fricke, Niklas, Sebastian Sturm, Marc Lämmel, Sebastian Schöbl, Klaus Kroy, and Wolfhard Janke. "Polymers in disordered environments." Universitätsbibliothek Leipzig, 2016. http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bsz:15-qucosa-198948.
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Using a combination of analytical theory and newly developed numerical algorithms, we analyze the most pertinent conformational characteristics of three paradigmatic types of polymers in disordered environments: (i) flexible polymers in quenched, self-similar disorder as represented by a self-avoiding random walk on a critical percolation cluster, (ii) semiflexible polymers in quenched, steric disorder as represented by an equilibrium hard-disk fluid and (iii) semiflexible polymers subject to the random energy landscape that emerges from a surrounding network of similar semiflexible polymers.
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Fricke, Niklas, Sebastian Sturm, Marc Lämmel, Sebastian Schöbl, Klaus Kroy, and Wolfhard Janke. "Polymers in disordered environments." Diffusion fundamentals 23 (2015) 7, S. 1-12, 2015. https://ul.qucosa.de/id/qucosa%3A14586.
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Using a combination of analytical theory and newly developed numerical algorithms, we analyze the most pertinent conformational characteristics of three paradigmatic types of polymers in disordered environments: (i) flexible polymers in quenched, self-similar disorder as represented by a self-avoiding random walk on a critical percolation cluster, (ii) semiflexible polymers in quenched, steric disorder as represented by an equilibrium hard-disk fluid and (iii) semiflexible polymers subject to the random energy landscape that emerges from a surrounding network of similar semiflexible polymers.
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DENLINGER, KEVIN L. "Living Systems, Living Environments." University of Cincinnati / OhioLINK, 2008. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1212165895.
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Gomadam, Karthik Rajagopal. "Semantics Enriched Service Environments." Wright State University / OhioLINK, 2009. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=wright1251246445.
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Parry, Ariana J. "Flow: Abstracting Mundane Environments." Kent State University Honors College / OhioLINK, 2016. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ksuhonors1481565925915224.
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Fencl, Heidi S. "Photoerosion in astrophysical environments /." The Ohio State University, 1992. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1487779914825901.
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Kubica, Tommy. "Adaptable Collaborative Learning Environments." Technische Universität Dresden, 2018. https://tud.qucosa.de/id/qucosa%3A73177.
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Audience Response Systems (ARSs) provide a promising opportunity to address issues occurring in traditional higher education, e.g., the lack of interaction, by allowing students to participate anonymously in lectures using their mobile devices. This can promote the students' attention, increase the interaction between the lecturer and the students and foster active thinking during class. In order to choose an appropriate ARS, numerous surveys list and classify these systems according to different criteria, e.g., supported features and platforms. [From the introduction]
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Ogel, Frédéric. "Dynamically adaptable execution environments." Paris 6, 2004. http://www.theses.fr/2004PA066253.
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Khandpur, Neha. "Creating Healthy Nutrition Environments." Thesis, Harvard University, 2016. http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:27201723.
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The home nutrition environment and the consumer nutrition environment present two important settings for addressing the high prevalence of overweight and obesity among children and adults. They provide the broader context for the three papers that constitute this dissertation.
Chapters 1 and 2 are situated within the home nutrition environment and further our understanding of the role that fathers play in child feeding. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 40 fathers and qualitative methods were used to organize and analyze the data. Both papers draw from the same data set. Chapter 1 identified the strategies used by fathers to feed their children or, their food parenting practices. Thematic analysis was conducted to identify 13 responsive practices and 7 unresponsive practices. Differential use of food parenting practices was found by fathers’ education and residential status.
Chapter 2 examined how fathers and mothers co-parent around responsibilities for child feeding tasks and FPPs used. Sixty two percent of the fathers used a variety of approaches to manage planning, procuring and preparing food along with the mother. Co-operative FPPs around structuring, monitoring and organizing the child’s meals were reported by 46% of fathers. Forty percent reported instances of conflicting FPPs regarding access to energy-dense, nutrient-poor snacks and introducing variety in the diet. Dissimilarities in practices were driven by differences in parental eating habits, feeding philosophies and concern for child health. They resulted in the practices of one parent being undermined and in child tantrums or refusal to eat.
Chapter 3 is based within the consumer nutrition environment. The goal of this randomized, controlled, experimental study was to test the influence of different formats for displaying added sugars on consumer understanding, perceptions, and purchase intentions. Amazon’s Mechanical Turk was used to recruit 2,509 U.S adults. Participants were randomized to one of eight display formats and responded to a quiz that assessed study outcomes. Displaying added sugars in relative formats (grams accompanied by high/medium/low text, % DV, or the combination of the two) led to the most accurate understanding of added sugars content and judgments about product healthfulness. None of the eight display formats impacted purchase intentions.
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Uyar, Emrah. "Routing in stochastic environments." Diss., Atlanta, Ga. : Georgia Institute of Technology, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/1853/26554.
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Thesis (Ph.D)--Industrial and Systems Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2009.Committee Co-Chair: Erera, Alan L.; Committee Co-Chair: Savelsbergh, Martin W. P.; Committee Member: Ergun, Ozlem; Committee Member: Ferguson, Mark; Committee Member: Kleywegt, Anton J.. Part of the SMARTech Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Collection.
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Blom, Kristopher James. "Dynamic, interactive virtual environments." Göttingen Sierke, 2009. http://d-nb.info/992932998/04.
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Law, Robin Ren-Pei. "Localisation for virtual environments." Thesis, University of Bath, 2002. https://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.269674.
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