Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Prisma framework'

Metal-organic materials (MOMs) assembled from metal-based building blocks and organic linkers have attracted much interest due to their large pore dimensions and their enormous structural diversity. In comparison to their inorganic counterparts (zeolites), these crystalline materials can be easily modified to tailor pore dimensions and functionality for specifically targeted properties. The work presented herein encompasses the development of a synthetic 2-step process for the construction of novel families of MOMs or 'platforms' and allow us exquisite design and control over the resulting network topologies. Examples of cationic mesoporous structures were initially exploited, containing carboxylate based centers connected by metal-pyridine bonds. The inherently cationic nets allowed for subsequent anion exchange which can be regarded as an elegant and easy postsynthetic modification strategy. The incorporation of different functionalities inside the channels of the networks was then demonstrated as useful in terms of carbon dioxide capture. The scope of the 2-step process was then expanded to construction of the first trinodal MOM platform involving triangular, tetrahedral and trigonal prismatic building units: tp-PMBB-1-asc. Examples of reticular chemistry are shown which enable the formation of large and functionalized nanocages with retention of the underlying network topology. Gas adsorption studies indicate relatively high uptakes of carbon dioxide and hydrogen which, together with the use of inexpensive ligands, provide an excellent cost/performance ratio of these materials. Moreover, very high stability in organic solvents and especially in water are addressed which is a particularly challenging, but industrially relevant target in the field of Metal-Organic Materials. The 2-step approach was also used to synthesize a new and versatile class of metal-organic materials with augmented lonsdaleite-e (lon-e-a) topology. This family of lon-e nets is built by pillaring of hexagonal 2-dimensional kagomé (kag) lattices that are in turn pillared by a trigonal prismatic Primary Molecular Building Block (tp-PMBB-1). These MOMs represent the first examples of axial-to-axial-pillared undulating kag layers and they are readily fine-tuned because the bdc2- moieties can be varied at their 5-position without changing the overall structure. This lon-e platform possesses functionalized hexagonal channels since the kag lattices are necessarily eclipsed. The effect of the substituent at the 5-positions of the bdc2- linkers upon gas adsorption, particularly the heats of adsorption of carbon dioxide and methane, were studied. If linear dicarboxylates were instead utilized, we were able to synthesize a new and versatile class of metal-organic materials that exhibits 4,6-connected fsb topology. These networks are constructed from simple and inexpensive building units and since interpenetration is precluded, afford very high void volumes. They therefore represent ideal targets to generate a novel family of frameworks, because of the ready availability functionalized and expanded ligand derivatives. They also allow for systematic fine tuning and could ultimately provide a roadmap to ultra-high surface areas from simple building blocks.

This thesis deals with distributed applications and WCF framework. The first part is based on theoretical information about distributed systems and we also concentrate on models of distributed systems. Next part describes WCF framework and key elements of WCF application. The following chapter is designated to introduce information about prime factorization. Then the knowledge from previous parts is used to create examples of service-oriented applications. In conclusion we discuss main parts of designing distributed application to solve factorization problem. Finally the comparison of distributed and dedicated application is made.

Identity management is a critical concept for enterprises, and it has turned to more challenging issue since businesses are significantly moving towards service oriented architecture (SOA) with the aim to provide seamless service delivery to their customers, partners and employees. The organizational domains are expanded to blur the virtual borders, simplify the business collaboration and maximize opportunities in the competitive market place, which explicitly shows the essentiality for federating the identities. Real-world identity comprises of different dimensions such as Law, Business, Policy, Technology and Society, therefore reliable digital identity management and successful federation are required to take these dimensions and complexity into consideration. Considering variety of academic and industrial researches that report on remarkable demands for identity federation adoption by enterprises, this study has approached federated Identity Management from technological point of view. Technologies provide tools and mechanisms to satisfy the business requirements and enable single sign-on capability in reliable federated platform. Different authentication technologies and standards have emerged to enable federated single sign-on (FSSO) implementation as a core service of the FIdM, each with different features and capabilities. This brings more complexity and confusion for experts and decision makers for FIdM adoption and development. To overcome this obstacle and accelerate the data collection and analysis process for decision makers, this research contributes to the filed by providing a conceptual framework to simplify the analysis of underlying technology for decision making process. In this framework 1) a list of state-of-the-art requirements and mechanisms for successful identity federation and reliable SSO is elaborated, 2) Six most prevalent standard authentication technologies along with latest specifications are analysed, explained and assessed against the defined criteria, and 3) several security and privacy consideration are gathered. The usage of framework is monitored and the efficiency of it is evaluated in 2 real business case scenarios by five IT experts and the result is reported.

Due to the pressure of hyper competitive markets, companies are forced to constantly search for improvements in their range of products and services. The success key is to be proactive and implement strategies that value innovation trough business processes and diversification of products and services. The ideal situation is when real

added values are offered to customers.

This Master Thesis, as a practice oriented project, analyzes the feasibility of a new business concept “Smart storage”, and aims to identify the existence of a real opportunity. It not only provides a practical solution to a case regarding innovation trough product diversification, but also shows the detailed processes that were used to solve it.

There were several phases in the project. The first phase included ideas generation(the discovery of different applications for the business idea); valuable information resulted

from brain storming sessions, focus groups and whishing and bug-lists of creative techniques. It was also necessary to run meetings with the consultant who is working close to the company that wants launch the new product and the Company itself. Once we come up with different applications, it was necessary to gather information about their attractiveness which constitutes the second phase of the study. In

this case we contacted several organizations and information resulted from interviews,internet search, telephone calls, e-mails and observation. The empirical data gathering phase was extremely important for the analysis of the project. Finally, for data analysis and its interpretation, we used the Feasibility analysis framework.

The conclusion points out that there is a great potential for starting a “Smart storage for Stadsarkivet-usage” project with public archive institutions. However further studies should be taken place in order to complete the feasibility analysis.

Cette thèse vise à interroger la consistance des politiques urbaines à partir d’une analyse des politiques en faveur de l’industrie mises en place à Lyon et Munich. Trois questions principales sont abordées. Existe-t-il des politiques urbaines de l’industrie ? Ces politiques ont-elles une consistance en tant que politiques urbaines et quels sont les facteurs, notamment institutionnels, participant à cette consistance ? L’analyse des politiques urbaines de l’industrie permet-elle de valider la thèse du « retour des villes » ? En caractérisant et contextualisant des systèmes d’acteurs dans des contextes nationaux et locaux différenciés, nous étudions les processus de production des politiques en faveur de l’industrie et analysons leurs répertoires d’action. Nous proposons une définition de la consistance des politiques urbaines qui découle de l’analyse du rôle des différents échelons de gouvernement dans la production des politiques en faveur de l’industrie, de la répartition des compétences, des instruments d’action publique mobilisés ou créés. L’entrée par les institutions révèle le poids des facteurs sociaux, politiques et institutionnels pouvant expliquer une autonomisation différenciée des gouvernements urbains et leur capacité à produire des politiques urbaines consistantes. Notre définition de la consistance d’une politique urbaine donne une grande importance à la capacité d’une ville à s’autonomiser et se constituer en acteur. Au regard de l’affirmation différenciée des pouvoirs urbains munichois et lyonnais, nous avons proposé de parler de « retour inégal », de sorte à pointer les conditions favorisant ou non ce retour des villes
This thesis aims at questioning the consistency of urban policies through an analysis of the policies in favour of industry in Lyon and Munich. Three fundamental issues are addressed. Do urban policies of the industry exist? Have these policies consistency as urban policies and what are the factors, particularly institutional factors, contributing to this consistency? Does the analysis of urban industry policies validate the thesis of the "return of cities"? By characterizing and contextualizing stakeholder systems in different national and local contexts, we focus on the production processes of policies in favour of industry and we investigate their policy frameworks. We propose a definition of the consistency of urban policies resulting from an analysis of the role of distinct levels of government in the production of policies in favour of the industry, the distribution of power, mobilized or created public policy instruments. The institutional approach reveals the influence of social, political and institutional factors that explain the distinguished empowerment of urban governments and their ability to produce consistent urban policies. Our definition of the consistency of urban policy gives significant importance to the capacity of a city to become autonomous and to constitute itself as a collective actor. In view of the differentiated affirmation of the Munich and Lyon’s urban powers, we propose to speak of an "unequal return", to point out the conditions favouring or not the return of cities

Cette thèse propose de construire un cadre de travail de modélisation systémique, pour aider à la compréhension de l'organisation des systèmes associant le cortex préfrontal (PFC) et les ganglions de la base (BG) et de leurs interactions fonctionnelles dans les processus de prise de décision et de comportement dirigé par les buts chez les humains. Un environnement de jeu vidéo, Minecraft, est utilisé pour concevoir des expériences. Elles visent à tester le jeu vidéo dans un environnement qui pourrait être plus complexe et réaliste, si besoin. Ce cadre, avec l'expérimentation virtuelle, forme une architecture en boucle fermée pour l'étude de comportements animaux de haut niveau. Le cadre des systèmes neuronaux de ce travail repose sur la dynamique des réseaux entre des sous-systèmes du PFC et des BG. Le PFC joue un rôle crucial dans les fonctions exécutives comme la planification, l'attention, le comportement dirigé par les buts, etc. Les BG sont un groupe de noyaux sous-corticaux qui ont fait l'objet d'études approfondies dans le domaine du contrôle moteur et de la sélection de l'action. Différentes régions dans le PFC et les structures au sein des BG sont organisées anatomiquement, en boucles parallèles et séparées (chacune d'entre elles étant appelée une boucle CBG). Ces boucles peuvent être, à un niveau abstrait, divisées en 3 types : les boucles limbiques, les boucles associatives et les boucles sensorimotrices. Tout d'abord, un cadre global avec ces boucles parallèles a été mis en oeuvre. L'accent est mis sur les boucles limbiques. Les boucles associatives et sensori-motrices sont modélisées de manière algorithmique, à l'aide de la plate-forme d'expérimentation pour le contrôle moteur. Pour ce qui concerne les boucles limbiques, le cortex orbitofrontal (OFC) représente une boucle pour estimer les préférences et la boucle du cortex cingulaire antérieur (ACC) représente les besoins internes. Le substrat correspondant de ces boucles dans les BG est le striatum ventral (VS), beaucoup étudié pour son rôle dans le codage des valeurs. Des scénarios simples sont conçus dans l'environnement virtuel en utilisant l'agent, certains objets et des récompenses appétitives dans l'environnement. Les boucles limbiques ont été implémentées selon des modèles existants de prise de décision dans les BG. Ainsi, le cadre théorique et la plateforme expérimentale servent de banc d'essai pour ces modèles spécifiques qui doivent s'adapter dans une perspective plus large. Ensuite, nous utilisons ce cadre pour étudier de plus près le rôle de l’OFC dans la prise de décision guidée par la valeur et le comportement dirigé par les buts. Dans le cadre de cette thèse, des observations importantes sur le rôle de l’OFC dans le comportement ont été intégrées en consolidant de nombreuses données expérimentales. [...]
This thesis attempts to build a computational systems-level framework that would help to develop an understanding of the organization of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and the basal ganglia (BG) systems and their functional interactions in the process of decision-making and goal-directed behaviour in humans. A videogame environment, Minecraft is used to design experiments to test the framework in an environment that could be more complex and realistic, if necessary. The framework, along with virtual experimentation forms a closed-loop architecture for studying the high-level animal behavior.The neural systems framework in this work rests on the network dynamics between the subsystems of PFC and BG. PFC is believed to play a crucial role, in executive functions like planning, attention, goal-directed behavior, etc. BG are a group of sub-cortical nuclei that have been extensively studied in the field of motor control and action selection.Different regions in the PFC and structures within BG are anatomically organized, in parallel and segregated loops (each of them referred as a CBG loop). These loops can be, on a high level, divided into 3 kinds : limbic loops, associative loops and sensori-motor loops.First, a comprehensive framework with the above mentioned parallel loops is implemented. The emphasis rests on the limbic loops. Therefore the associative and sensori-motor loops are modeled algorithmically, taking help of the experimentation platform for motor control. As for the limbic loops, the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) is the part of a loop for preferences and the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), for internal needs. These loops are formed through their limbic counterpart in BG, ventral striatum (VS). VS has been widely studied and reported to be encoding various substrates of value, forming an integral part of value-based decision making. Simplistic scenarios are designed in the virtual environment using the agent and some objects and appetitive rewards in the environment. The limbic loops have been implemented according to existing computational models of decision making in the BG. Thus the framework and the experimental platform stand as a testbed to computational models of specific processes that have to fit in a bigger picture. Next, we use this framework to study more closely, the role of OFC in value-guided decision making and goal-directed behavior. As part of this thesis, several outstanding observations about the role of OFC in behavior have been summarized by consolidating numerous experimental evidences and reviews.Lastly, to explain the findings of different roles of lateral and medial regions of OFC, existing computational architecture of CBG loops, pavlovian learning in amygdala and multiple evidences of amygdala-OFC-VS interactions are put together into a single model. The learning rules of reinforcement have been adapted to accommodate the appropriate credit assignment (correct outcome to correct chosen stimulus) and the value difference of the choice options. As a result, several findings from animal experiments studying the separable roles, were replicated. Difference in choice impairments depending on the value difference between the best and the second best option is one of them. Dissociable roles in Pavlovian Instrumental Transfer were also observed.The investigations into the observed evidences around OFC offer great insight into understanding the very process of decision-making, value computation in general. By venturing into a realm of bio-inspired adaptive learning in an embodied virtual agent, describing the principles of motivation, goal-selection and self-evaluation, it is highlighted that the field of reinforcement learning and artificial intelligence has a lot to gain from studying the role of prefrontal systems in decision-making

Environmental Justice defines the environment as the spaces where we live, work, and play. The Environmental Justice (EJ) Movement has traditionally used this definition to organize against toxics in communities. However, within EJ work, prisons or policing have often not been centralized or discussed. This means that the approximately 2.2 million people in prison are excluded from the conversation and movement. Additionally, communities and activists are identifying police and prisons as toxics in their communities, but an analysis of policing and prisons is largely missing in EJ scholarship. This thesis explores the intersection between prisons, policing, and pollution. It outlines how prisons, policing, and pollution are connected and reveals why this intersection is critical to understand in Environmental Justice (EJ) scholarship and organizing. Based on interviews with formerly incarcerated individuals in San Antonio, Texas, and a case study of the Mira Loma Women’s Detention Center in the Antelope Valley of California, this thesis expands the realm of EJ work to include and center the spaces of prisons and policing and complicates the definition of toxicity as it has been traditionally used and organized against in the EJ movement. I argue that policing and imprisonment are toxic systems to our communities and contradict and prevent the development of safe and sustainable communities. Thus, understanding prisons and policing as toxic to both people and to the environment, we should move toward abolishing these toxic systems and building alternatives to them. To this end, or rather, to this new beginning, [prison-industrial-complex] abolition should be explored as a framework within EJ to push us to fundamentally reconsider our ideas of justice, to better and differently approach the practice of making environmental justice available for all because abolition is not only about dismantling, but it is largely about building more just, safer, and more sustainable communities. This thesis brings abolition and EJ discourses together to assess the potential for coalition building between abolitionists and EJ activists to work toward a common goal of building safe, sustainable, and more just communities for everybody. I conclude that abolition should be embraced as a framework within EJ to liberate our carceral landscape and to imagine, and subsequently, create a new environmental and social landscape.

Le nombre des collisions avec des piétons aux passages à niveau restant stable dans les dernières années, c’est un problème majeur au niveau international. Suite à la revue étendue de la littérature, des lacunes scientifiques importantes liées à l’étude du comportement du piéton ont été identifiées. L’objectif principal de ce programme de recherche était de contribuer à mieux comprendre le comportement du piéton aux passages à niveau actifs en Australie, où malgré la mise en place des protections renforcées pour les piétons, le nombre de collisions reste plus important que sur les autres types de passages à niveau. Trois études ont été réalisées pour répondre aux trois buts de recherche que nous nous proposons d'examiner dans le cadre de ce programme. La première étape de recherche qui est exploratoire a été réalisée dans le cadre des études 1 et 2 dont les conclusions ont permis d'identifier les facteurs influençant la prise de décision aux passages à niveau. A la fin de cette étape un nouveau modèle systémique a été développé pour servir d’instrument à l’analyse du comportement du piéton, influencé par des facteurs de tous les niveaux du système. Dans la deuxième étape empirique de recherche, nous avons mené l’étude 3 pour examiner l’impact de facteurs clés sur les comportements à risque dans différentes situations à risque de traversée des piétons. L’articulation des trois études est une illustration des bénéfices associés avec l’utilisation à la fois des méthodes systémiques et traditionnelles, résultant des contributions théoriques et pratiques importantes
Level crossing collisions with pedestrians are a major issue worldwide and in Australia, where their number remains stable in recent years. An extended review of the literature highlighted a number of important scientific gaps in current knowledge on the factors shaping specifically pedestrian behaviour. The main objective of this research program was to contribute to the better understanding of pedestrian behaviour at active level crossings in Austalia, where a larger number of collisions are reported despite the reinforced safety measures in place. Three research aims were formulated and supported the development of three studies.Study 1 and 2 were part of the first explorative stage of research and informed on the main factors shaping crossing decisions of pedestrians. At the end of this stage a new systems-based framework was developed as a tool for the analysis of pedestrian behaviour as influenced by factors across all system levels. Study 3, part of the empirical stage of research, examined in depth the influence of key precursors of unsafe behaviour across different crossing situations. The articulation of the three studies demonstrates the benefits of using systems-based and traditional individual-centred methods in a complementary manner resulting in important theoretical and practical contributions

The proportion of Canadian prisoners with mental illnesses is rising. Prison administrators are legally responsible for funding and providing access to mental health services for prisoners. Models of service delivery are organized differently in prisons across Canada, and limited scholarly research exists on the efficacy of different approaches to delivering prison mental health care services. The purpose of this case study was to explore the organization and delivery of mental health services in a provincial prison (APP) in Canada. The research question considered how to organize the delivery of these services to meet the needs of prisoners with mental illnesses. The right to health, which holds that services should be available, accessible, appropriate, and of good quality (AAAQ), was applied as the conceptual framework. Data were collected from public documents, observations of the medical clinic and a meeting of a multidisciplinary committee, and individual interviews and focus groups. A total of 31 participants from APP, the provincial health care system, and community-based organizations participated in this study. The data were inductively coded and subjected to pattern matching with emerging themes from multiple sources. Findings indicated that the provincial health care system, not prison administrators, should be responsible for the oversight and management of prison mental health services. Collaboration between the systems is needed in program design and delivering these services. Application of the AAAQ framework against mental health services revealed that the services did not satisfy the right to health and need enhancement. These findings suggest that policy makers could use the AAAQ framework to design and deliver mental health services equivalent to services in the community for the benefit of prisoners.

Mestrado em Actuarial Science
The changes that the Affordable Care Act introduced to the US health insurance market have entirely altered the traditional ratemaking process. Precisely, the cre ation of statewide community rating schemes and a guaranteed issue has facilitated insurance coverage to the high-risk population, leading to massive changes in risk pool compositions. The implementation of Risk Adjustment has neutralized some of the consequences of limiting premium variation in the market. However, setting appropriate rate levels has remained cumbersome due to the uncertainty about the statewide risk pool. Many insurers, who could not quantify the health risk associ ated with the statewide yearly enrollment, had to face unexpectedly high payments on risk equalization. Natsis (2019) stated that in this environment, the use of tradi tional univariate techniques to project statewide health care costs could be potentially misleading. This thesis proposes a Bayesian approach to reflect important sources of uncertainty over statewide actuarial estimates. The aggregate loss is modeled with a novel collective risk model based on a Generalized Beta Prime (GBP) distribution, accounting for long tail risks and changes in risk pool compositions. The GBP is presented with a mean-dispersion parametrization, which allows the introduction of a hierarchical prior specification over the state-specific means. This parameter struc ture, responsible of quantifying uncertainty and sharing information among states, is a cornerstone of the adopted collective risk model. Using the Commercial Health Care data extract published by the Society of Actuaries (2019), the model is applied on the Surgical and Transplant service category. The resulting heavy-tailed posteri ors of the nationwide service means illustrate the high variation of inpatient medical costs. Moreover, the posteriors of the statewide aggregate claims remain highly right skewed, reflecting the risk of facing sicker populations and high-cost treatments at individual claim level.
As alterações que o Affordable Care Act introduziu tiveram um impacto significativo no processo de tarifação de seguros de saúde nos Estados Unidos. De forma mais precisa, a criação de um sistema de tarifação regulado, e com cobertura garantida, facilitou o acesso de seguro à população de risco. A inclusão destes indivıduos originou grandes alterações na composição dos grupos de risco de cada estado. A implementação da metodologia do Risk Adjustment neutralizou algumas das consequências de restringir as variações de prémios no mercado. No entanto, a estimativa dos níveis de prémios permaneceu complicada devido à incerteza dos riscos coletivos. Muitas seguradoras, que não foram capazes de quantificar corretamente o risco de saúde associado à carteira anual do estado, depararam-se inesperadamente com pagamentos muito altos do Risk Adjustment. De facto, Natsis (2019) afirmou que a utilização de técnicas univariadas para projectar os custos médicos neste novo panorama pode produzir resultados enganadores. Nesta tese propomos uma abordagem bayesiana ao problema que pretende incorporar as diversas formas de incerteza presentes em estimativas actuariais ao nível estadual. Implementamos um modelo de risco inovador, baseado na distribuição beta-linha generalizada (BLG), distribuição esta que é capaz de acomodar caudas pesadas e heterogeneidade na composição dos grupos de risco. Apresentamos uma parametrização da distribuição BLG baseada na média e na dispersão, o que permite introduzir uma estrutura paramétrica hierárquica no custo médio. Esta estrutura de parâmetros é a base do modelo para quantificar a incerteza e partilhar informações entre diferentes estados. Utilizando um subconjunto dos dados publicados pela Society of Actuaries em 2019, denominados Commercial Health Care Data, implementamos o nosso modelo no contexto dos custos associados à categoria Surgical and Transplant. Mostramos que a variabilidade nos custos médicos hospitalares de doentes internados conduz a distribuições das médias nacionais a posteriori com caudas mais pesadas. Adicionalmente, as distribuições a posteriori dos sinistros agregados apresentam um enviezamento à direita muito pronunciado, reflectindo a inclusão no mercado de indivíduos pouco saudáaveis e com custos de tratamentos muito altos.
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This analysis employs the sociolinguistic framework of status and solidarity (Holmes, 2001) to examine the use of codeswitching on the relational development between the characters in three plays by Cuban-American playwright Dolores Prida. The three plays discussed are Beautiful Señoritas (1978), Coser y cantar (1981) and Botánica (1991). Linguistic scholars recognize the lack of linguistic analysis of literary texts; specifically, codeswitching at present is not fully explored as a linguistic phenomenon in written contexts. Furthermore, Prida's works have never before been appraised using linguistic methodology. Hence, this work aims to add to scholarly research in the fields of codeswitching, discourse analysis, and literary linguistics, using the status and solidarity framework to examine the codeswitching in Dolores Prida's plays. Dolores Prida is a feminist and Hispanic dramatist whose central theme is the search for identity of Hispanic immigrants, specifically women, in the United States today. Due to her ideological stance, it is expected that a strong emphasis on solidarity rather than status and the use of affective rather than referential speech functions are present in the relationships in her plays. Accordingly, the analysis of Botánica reveals that indeed codeswitching between the characters does affect their relational development in maintaining solidarity and intimacy. However, the relationships found in Beautiful Señoritas and Coser y cantar do not offer such conclusions, due to the variable nature of the relationships identified. Further analysis of these and other literary works will more accurately determine benefits of the status and solidarity framework as applied to the codeswitching research.

Cette thèse s’intéresse aux liens entre réseaux d’interactions en écologie, espace et temps. On assiste à un changement croissant de représentation d’un communauté d’espèces, d’un ensemble d’espèces à un ensemble d’espèces et leurs interactions : un réseau d’interactions. On s’attachera alors à élaborer les prémisses d’une théorie spatiale des réseaux, en développant des méthodes, des modèles et en les appliquant sur des données écologiques. La thèse s’articule autour de quatre chapitres. Dans un premier chapitre, on se penchera sur le problème de comparaison de réseau en différents points du temps et de l’espace. Nous étendrons les mesures de diversité, jusque-là développées pour des abondances uniquement, aux réseaux avec abondances des espèces et des interactions. Nous nous attacherons à définir des indices à plusieurs niveaux d’agrégation des noeuds dans le réseau et montrerons l’intérêt de la méthode sur des données de réseaux trophiques. Dans un deuxième chapitre, nous nous intéresserons au développement d’une théorie des méta-communautés qui modélise explicitement l’espace comme un réseau spatial et la communauté comme un réseau d’interaction. Nous définirons la notion de capacité de persistance de la méta-communauté. Dans un troisième chapitre, nous nous intéresserons aux problèmes d’inférence d’interactions sur des données de sol d’ADN environnemental le long d’un gradient d’altitude dans les Alpes. Nous montrerons que la méthode proposée permet d’estimer l’influence des variables environnementales et de reconstruire un réseau d'interaction cohérent vis-à-vis de la littérature. Dans un quatrième chapitre, nous nous intéresserons à la combinaison d’abondances provenant de différents marqueurs d’ADN environemental et montrerons l’efficacité de la méthode proposée pour obtenir des meilleurs données d’abondances sur des données de plantes
This thesis focuses on the links between interaction networks, space and time. There is a paradigm shift in community ecology concerning the representation of a species community : from a collection of species towards species and their interactions, represented by an interaction network. We aim to build the bricks for a spatial network theory, by developing new methods, new models and applying it on ecological data. This manuscript contains four chapters. In a first chapter, we extend the diversity indices, built on Hill numbers, to network diversity indices. We define diversity indices across species aggregation levelsand show the interest of this method on a trophic network data set. In a second chapter, we develop a spatially explicit meta-community theory, with various kind of interactions. The theory contains a stochastic and a deterministic meta-community model. We then define the notion of meta-community persistence capacity. In a third chapter, we focus on network reconstruction from environmental DNA data along an environmental gradient.We show that the proposed method allows to evaluate the influence of environmental variables on community and infer a network in agreement with the literature on soil interactions. Finally, in a fourth chapter, we develop a method to combine environmental DNA data coming from different primers and show the efficiency of the method to better estimate plant abundances

Yes
The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Digital technologies (DT) is proliferating a profound socio-technical transformation. Governments and AI scholarship have endorsed key AI principles but lack direction at the implementation level. Through a systematic literature review of 59 papers, this paper contributes to the critical debate on the ethical use of AI in DTs beyond high-level AI principles. To our knowledge, this is the first paper that identifies 14 digital ethics implications for the use of AI in seven DT archetypes using a novel ontological framework (physical, cognitive, information, and governance). The paper presents key findings of the review and a conceptual model with twelve propositions highlighting the impact of digital ethics implications on societal impact, as moderated by DT archetypes and mediated by organisational impact. The implications of intelligibility, accountability, fairness, and autonomy (under the cognitive domain), and privacy (under the information domain) are the most widely discussed in our sample. Furthermore, ethical implications related to the governance domain are shown to be generally applicable for most DT archetypes. Implications under the physical domain are less prominent when it comes to AI diffusion with one exception (safety). The key findings and resulting conceptual model have academic and professional implications.
The full-text of this article will become publicly available at the end of the publisher embargo on 5 Oct 2023.

Num mercado tão competitivo como o atual, a gestão de armazém eficiente é crucial para manter a competitividade da empresa. A gestão de um armazém é uma tarefa importante a desempenhar numa empresa industrial uma vez que esta garante a eficiência dos processos linkados ao armazém, satisfazendo as necessidades das áreas a jusante dentro da empresa. O processo de receção de matéria-prima é crucial para a gestão de um armazém. Garantir que o armazém recebe a matéria-prima correta, na quantidade correta, nas condições acordadas e na hora prevista é um dos pilares do armazém. O presente projeto foi desenvolvido na empresa Bosch Car Multimedia Portugal, SA e tem como objetivo desenhar e implementar um novo posto de receção de matéria-prima de forma a rececionar, conferir e processar o material elétrico da empresa. Este projeto baseou-se numa framework desenvolvida que apresenta as fases, de forma sequencial, propostas para praticantes que tencionam desenhar e implementar postos de receção de matéria-prima em ambiente industrial. Como resultado da implementação deste projeto, estima-se que a empresa consiga eliminar 2 fluxos internos de material, libertando dois colaboradores que estão alocados a esta tarefa diariamente.
In a market as competitive as today's, efficient warehouse management is crucial to keep the company's competitiveness. The warehouse management is one of the main tasks to be performed in an industrial company since it guarantees the efficiency of the processes linked to the warehouse, satisfying the needs of the downstream areas within the company. The raw materials receiving process is crucial to the management of a warehouse. Ensuring that the warehouse receives the correct raw material, in the correct quantity, under the agreed conditions and at the expected time is one of the pillars of the warehouse. This project was developed at Bosch Car Multimedia Portugal, SA and aims to design and implement a new raw material reception workstation to receive, check and process the electrical material of the company. This project was based on a developed framework that presents the phases, sequentially, proposed for practitioners who intend to design and implement receiving workstations for raw materials in an industrial environment. As result of the implementation of this project, it is estimated that the company will be able to eliminate 2 internal flows of material, releasing two employees who are allocated to this task daily.
Mestrado em Engenharia e Gestão Industrial

The purpose of this study was to develop a medico-judicial framework for the rehabilitation of forensic psychiatric patients in Zimbabwe. The study used the grounded theory approach utilising a mixed sequential dominant status design. Purposive sampling of key stakeholders was the primary method and theoretical sampling became necessary as the study evolved in the qualitative phase. A confirmatory retrospective document review of 119 files of patients was done in the quantitative phase. Pierre Bourdieu’s conceptual canon of field, habitus and capital was utilised as the theoretical point of departure for the study. Findings and results showed dislocation and dissonance between and within the habitus of social fields the judiciary, health (medical) and the prison systems with an ensuing hysteretic effect that negatively affected the outcome of forensic psychiatric rehabilitation in special institutions in Zimbabwe. Forensic psychiatric patients were caught up in a double bind situation of aligning to both of the contradictory functions of the medical and the prison systems. The result of this hysteretic scenario seemed to breed some kind of rehabilitative schizophrenia. The developed medico-judicial framework is projected to transform the libido dominandi of the present into a widened scope of therapeutic jurisprudence. The medico-judicial framework is forwarding the forensic psychiatric practitioner to a new address since it has changed its residence from the special institution to the forensic psychiatric hospital. It is inviting the person involved with forensic psychiatric rehabilitation to begin again, inciting him or her to be open to the possibilities of mapping a path through the tangled growth of current realities into an increased width and depth of comprehensive forensic psychiatric practice that follows an empowering legislative prescript
Health Studies
D. Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)

Professional Doctorate - Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)
Purpose – This study seeks to examine the empirical relationship between the perception of a balanced and linked performance measurement system, the conceptual use of performance measures, and the satisfaction of managers with their performance measurement systems in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Singapore. In doing so, this study seeks to replicate and extend a significant research project conducted in Germany (Sandt, Schaeffer and Weber, 2001) into another cultural setting and with different users. Design/ methodology/ approach – The sample for the study is 600 managers from 300 SMEs in Singapore. To address common method variance (CMV) concerns in international business research, the present study uses a postal/online questionnaire survey (quantitative), followed by semi-structured email interviews (qualitative), as a method of triangulation. This mixed data collection process will, hopefully, provide greater insight into the concerns of the present study. Findings – The results indicate that 71 participating managers from 39 SMEs are satisfied with their performance measures, as their responses indicated that they perceived the measures that they used to be balanced and linked to their strategic plans. This suggests that managers' satisfaction with performance measures that they used related more positively to the conceptual use of the measures to improve firm’s performance. From eight respondents in the qualitative survey, the majority revealed that they use the feedback from the measures as a learning tool to help them balance profit, growth, and to control the firm’s results. The rest of the respondents use information from the performance measurement system to balance short-term results against long-term capabilities and growth opportunities of the firm. Research limitations – Besides the CMV-bias concern, the other main limitations of the study are the small sample size (relative to the total number of Singapore SMEs), and that the survey only applies to English-speaking SME managers. Practical implications – The study suggests that different firms may need different performance measures, since the strategies are unique to each firm. The findings will, hopefully, arouse Singapore SME managers' awareness of the strategic role of performance measurement in improving the firm's performance. Managers may also consider the findings from the present research useful as a benchmark of their firm’s performance measurement practices compared to other SMEs. Originality/ value – Firstly, the present research was a replication and extension of the German study to focus on Asian SMEs with a strong influence of Confucianism. The present research appears to be the first to examine the attitude of Singapore’s SME managers towards their firm's performance measurement systems. Secondly, this study aspires to contribute to the literature on managers' satisfaction with the conceptual use of performance measurement systems to improve their firm's performance. Thirdly, the evidence suggests that, despite the increased use of financial and non-financial measures, short-term financial measures remain crucial for the Singaporean SMEs in the sample to track their performance.

The South African Department of Correctional Services has a legislative mandate of detaining offenders in safe custody whilst ensuring their human dignity amongst others. This stems from section 2 of the Correctional Services Act 111 of 1998 as amended. In addition to that, chapter 3 of this Act makes provision for conditions under which offenders should be treated, conditions of human dignity. This piece of legislation is effectively giving effect to the Bill of Rights as articulated in chapter two of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa of 1996. It is expected of the department to treat offenders according to the provisions of not only this Constitution and Correctional Services Act 111 of 1998 as amended but also to comply with the international conventions and treaties. Extensive empirical and non-empirical studies on the treatment of offenders have been conducted by various scholars in the field of penology but not much has been done to bring to the fore knowledge with regard to the developmental trend of the treatment of offenders. It is against this backdrop that a qualitative study through systematic review of literature was conducted to bring together and examine available literature. In other words, a systematic literature review was conducted to determine if there is a developmental trend towards the treatment of offenders in South Africa as required by the prescripts of the law. Furthermore, this study was conducted to also demonstrate the researcher’s knowledge in the field of penology. The focus was on the central theories identified as offenders’ rights. The Department of Correctional Services identified eight offenders’ rights and sees them as its Constitutional mandate (Department of Correctional Services, 2013:8). This study has found a violation of the offenders’ right to equality to be diminishing over time. Apart from that, this study reveals a substantial violation of offenders’ rights because out of seven offenders’ rights, only one [freedom of religion] appears be successfully protected and promoted by the department. This study further present the recommendations and suggested areas of further research.
Penology
D. Litt. et Phil. (Penology)