Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Schedule theory'

Military marriages may be particularly vulnerable to marital distress and dissolution due to the unique challenges associated with military service. To better understand the research regarding military marriages, a critical literature review was conducted. Fifteen peer-reviewed, published articles were critically reviewed based on their theoretical applications and empirical findings. Articles were categorized according to stage in marriage and primary theoretical orientation. Results suggest that military marriages are at risk due to military factors, but they are also mostly stable. Results also indicate that theories are rarely made explicit in military marriage literature. Future research would benefit from providing clearer links from theory to hypothesis testing. Finally, empirical findings are translated into practical implications at the macro-level and micro-levels of intervention.

The focus of this thesis is the study of mobile learning, specifically learning in different locations and under various contextual situations, from the perspective of university students. I initially derived and designed a theoretical mobile context-aware learning schedule (mCALS) framework from an extensive literature review. Its objective is to recommend appropriate learning materials to students based on their current locations and circumstances. The framework uses a learning schedule (i.e. electronic-based diary) to inform the location and available time a student has for learning/studying at a particular location. Thereafter, a number of factors are taken into consideration for the recommendation of appropriate learning materials. These are the student’s learning styles, knowledge level, concentration level, frequency of interruption at that location and their available time for learning/studying. In order to determine the potential deployment of the framework as a mobile learning application by intended users, I carried out three types of feasibility studies. First, a pedagogical study was conducted using interviews to explore together with students (a) what their learning requirements were when studying in a mobile environment, (b) whether the framework could potentially be used effectively to support their studies and, (c) using this user-centred understanding, refined user requirements of the framework. Second, a diary study was conducted where I collected data and analysed the usability feasibility of the framework by (a) determining whether students could plan their daily schedule ahead and keep to it, (b) ascertaining which learning contexts were important and, (c) establishing which learning materials were appropriate under which situations. Two validation studies were conducted. The first one was an online experiment utilising Java learning objects. Participants of this study were suggested appropriate learning objects to study with, based on their amount of available time, current motivation level for learning and their proficiency level of Java. The second validation study was an investigation into high-quality Java learning objects available in the public domain. Finally, a technical design of the framework was carried out to determine whether the framework at present could realistically be implemented using current mobile technologies. The data analyses of the feasibility studies show that (a) a learning schedule approach is successful to an extent in obtaining location and available time information to indicate accurate values of these contexts, (b) different learners may require different personalisation strategies when selecting appropriate learning materials for them in mobile environments, and (c) the mCALS framework is particularly well-suited for self-regulated students. I also proposed a set of suggestion rules which can be used to recommend appropriate Java learning materials to students in different contexts. The validation studies show that 1) the proposed suggestion rules are effective in recommending appropriate materials to learners in their situation, in order to enhance their learning experiences, and 2) there are a sufficiently large number of high-quality LOs available in the public domain that can be incorporated for use within my framework. Finally, the development of mCALS has been considered from three perspectives – pedagogical, usability and technical. These perspectives consist of critical components that should be considered when developing and evaluating mobile learning software applications. The results demonstrated that the mCALS framework can potentially be used by students in different locations and situations, and appropriate learning materials can be selected to them, in order to enhance their learning experiences.

This overview was made to discuss coping with families who have lost a child/sibling, specifically children in preschool and elementary school. This subject can be daunting and difficult to navigate for parents however, understanding the importance of communication, involvement, and proper coping techniques is vital to the child’s development and perception of death. This educational poster discusses ways to tackle the issues that come when losing a child and give parents further insight into young minds dealing with tragedy. We look at Family Stress Theory to further explain assumptions about families, how families manage conflict and stress, stressors family systems undergo, and other related concepts.

Objective: The goal of this empirical and theoretical review was to examine how pregnant women used faith, religion, and spirituality as stress-related coping mechanisms throughout their pregnancies. Methods: A comprehensive review of the literature was conducted to identify relevant studies, and a total of 10 peer-reviewed articles were included in this review based on the inclusion criteria. Results: Three major themes emerged from the review. Faith, religion, and spirituality were 1) a more common form of coping than optimism, 2) a useful stress-reducing resource among those who value it, and 3) viewed as being as impactful as preparation throughout pregnancy. Two primary theories were invoked across this research: coping theory and hope theory. Conclusions: This review provides a look at the state-of-the-science on how faith, religion, and spirituality are used as a coping mechanism during pregnancy and identifies meaningful gaps in the literature with regard to theory and research.

Much investigation has explored the potential effects of video games in adolescence. However, limited research has been conducted on the effects of social video game play and individual and relational well-being in adults. The Social Organization Theory of Action and Change (SOAC) may be a helpful way to examine social behaviors (like gaming) and how they relate to well-being. This exploratory study will utilize the SOAC to examine social gaming behaviors in adults, and examine the relationships between these behaviors and adult individual and relational outcomes (e.g., loneliness, relationship satisfaction). Descriptive statistics and correlations are provided. Regression analyses will be performed. Results will be used to discuss the viability of applying the SOAC to online, social gaming contexts. Implications for social video game play in adults will be provided.

Fathers play a major role in their son’s lives. From teaching them how to play football to having the birds and the bees talk with them. Statistics show that a son is greatly affected by whether his father is around or not. So that leaves the question of are girls just as affected as boys are by a father’s presence? For example, what did Mulan, the movie character, have in her life that some girls do not? A rare, yet healthy bond with her father could be the very factor that affected her attitude, values, and beliefs tremendously. The Social Learning Theory and nature versus nurture ideology are used to explain how this factor could be the very difference in her overall development. Briefly discussed is the Social Learning Theory, nature versus nurture ideology, Chinese culture, Mulan’s relationship with her father and how it correlates with Mulan’s overall development.

Objective: The aim of this empirical and theoretical review was to investigate how romantic partners influence their significant others’ weight- and diet-related behaviors and to identify effective and ineffective tactics used in romantic relationships to promote behavior changes. Methods: A comprehensive literature review was conducted to locate relevant studies, and a total of 11 peer-reviewed articles were included in this review based on the inclusion criteria. Results: Empirical findings indicated positive communication messages are effective in promoting partners’ health behaviors whereas negative tactics are not as effective. The negative messages may lead to harmful consequences including the development of disordered eating behaviors, body image dissatisfaction, and self-doubt. Social control, social support, confirmation, and social comparison theory emerged in this area of research. Conclusions: This review identifies romantic partners’ influence on their significant others’ weight- and diet-related behaviors and pinpoints the existing research gap in this area of study.

Several studies have found that learning styles differ based on gender, but others found no differences. There are no previous studies on gender differences in intentional learning styles. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to evaluate intentional learning style differences based on gender, demographics, and psychological characteristics. The participants were junior level nursing students in a research course in two different semesters. The Learning Orientation Questionnaire of Martinez (2006) was administered in February of 2018 and 2019 to participants (n=198) and analyzed using ANOVA. The LOQ score was significantly different between males and females (p= 0.013). Males had a mean of 2.76 + .89 SD (N=26) but females had an LOQ score of 2.40 + .52 SD (N=169). The LOQ score was not significantly different for students seeking different degrees (p= 0.16). 2nd Degree-seeking students had a mean of 2.43 + 0.37 SD (N=25), LPN-BSN students had a mean of 2.63 + 0.35 SD (N=2), Main BSN students had a mean of 2.44 + 0.62 SD (N=163), RN-BSN students had a mean of 2.5 + 0.70 SD (N=6). Other types of degrees had a mean of 3.5 + 0.35 SD (N=2). The LOQ score was not significantly different for distances that students had to travel to the nearest hospital (p=.54) Students with a distance of 15-30 minutes from their house had a mean of 2.5 + 0.67 SD (N=75). A distance of 30-45 minutes had a mean of 2.62 + 0.63 SD (N=15). A distance of 5-15 minutes had a mean of 2.42 + 0.54 SD (N=86) A distance of less than 5 minutes had a mean of 2.31 + 0.55 SD (N=12). A distance of greater than 45 minutes away had a mean of 2.29 + 0.45 SD (N=9). The LOQ score for the age of responders was not significantly different (p=0.71). Students who were 23 or less had a mean of 2.45+ 0.66 SD (N=103), students who are between 24-29 had a mean of 2.35 + 0.34 SD (N=15), students who are between the ages 30-39 had a mean of 2.63 + 0.38 SD (N=6), students who are older than 40 had a mean of 2.13 + 0.37 SD (N=4), students who preferred not the answer had a mean of 3.0 + SD not available (N=1). The conclusion is that males and females have varied intentional learning styles. This supports previous studies that found differences in learning style in medicals students and practicing nurses.

In the United States, 30.3 million people live with diabetes. The cost of the disease is immense and the need for successful management strategies is pertinent. Food insecurity is associated with both the development and the poor management of diabetes. Several behavioral risk factors associated with food insecurity that influence the poor management of the disease include financial concerns, smoking, and disrupted eating patterns. Food insecurity screening in the clinical setting is endorsed by several professional organizations. To address the intersection between clinical care and this social determinant of health, an educational and training program was developed and implemented. The Theory of Planned Behavior is utilized for provider-level interventions and was applied to the program design for What About Food? Food insecurity screening in the clinical setting, which focuses on the topics of food insecurity and screening patients for food insecurity. Program content was evidence-based and employed a variety of learning strategies. The program was evaluated with a non-experimental pre- and post-test design. The program was successful in increasing knowledge about food insecurity, self-efficacy in screening for food insecurity, and in improving attitude toward food insecurity screening. The potential to tailor the program for specific groups is promising.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the factors that may be related to employees' decisions to use the family-friendly benefits (e.g., maternity/paternity leave, flexible work schedule) that are offered to them by their employers. Research has shown that both employees and organizations benefit when employees use family-friendly benefits. However, research has also shown that many employees do not take advantage of such benefits. Studies examining this issue are limited, and much of the research that has been conducted is anecdotal and atheoretical. The present study overcame this problem by empirically examining the use of family-friendly benefits within the theoretical context of Ajzen's (1991) theory of planned behavior. The results of this study support the theory of planned behavior. Specifically, the results indicated that whether an individual perceived he/she had control over the use of family-friendly benefits was the most predictive of whether he/she intended to use them. Whether the individual perceived that others would approve of these behaviors was also predictive of intention to perform the behaviors. In addition, an individual's intention to take leave or use a flexible work schedule was the most predictive of whether he or she actually engaged in the behaviors. Implications for practice as well as future research directions are also discussed.
Ph.D.
Department of Psychology
Sciences
Psychology

The fields of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) lay the groundwork for much of the innovation driving society forward. Despite the contributions of these fields to society, women are chronically underrepresented in STEM careers. Could one cause for this underrepresentation lie in how these subjects are taught in school? The purpose of our study was to explore how methods of presenting educational material may affect retention and motivation of students, especially women. We predict that by increasing the presented communal value of a scientific topic (that is, how the topic can be applied to help others), participants’ retention and scientific motivation will increase. University-enrolled participants completed online pre-tests of content knowledge and motivation, then were randomly assigned to read one of three versions of a brief scientific article: Control (basic information presented), Increased Communal Value, or Increased Communal Value with Related Images. Participants then completed a knowledge and motivation post-test. The results of this study are under analysis. Expected outcomes include a main effect for communal value on outcomes of science motivation and retention, as well as interaction effects for gender (such that communal value impacts females’, more than males’, motivation and retention).

The purpose of the present study was to investigate factors that contribute to the social adjustment to college for gifted emerging adults. Specifically, perceived parental attachment, and social competence were included. Additionally, social competence was examined to determine if it served as a mediator between parental attachment and social adjustment to college. Responses from 70 participants recruited from the Honors Program at Florida State University (FSU) were included in analysis of the data, which comprised of 19 males (27.1%) and 51 females (72.9%) with a mean age of 19.27 years (SD = 1.05). Results from bivariate correlations and multiple regression analyses revealed positive, significant correlations between parental attachment and social adjustment to college, parental attachment and social competence, and social competence and social adjustment to college. Analyses also found that social competence partially mediated the relationship between parental attachment and social adjustment to college. The majority of research regarding gifted individuals focuses on the experience and developmental domains within the K-12 setting. The findings of the present study add to the significant dearth of literature concerning the college experience of gifted individuals. Specifically, the results provide support that a secure parental attachment influences positive development of social competence and better social adjustment to college in gifted emerging adults. Furthermore, these findings are important factors for researchers, clinicians, and university officials to consider when assessing the needs of gifted and non-gifted emerging adults in a college setting, and when developing social support services and resources for students.

Emotionally Focused Therapy has been shown to produce statistically significant and sustainable change in couples (Wiebe, Johnson, Lafontaine, Burgess Moser, Dalgleish, & Tasca, 2017). This change has also been shown to extend to the family system through the use of Emotionally Focused Family Therapy (Stavrianopoulos, Faller, & Furrow, 2014). The methodology focuses on developing resilience through the co-regulation of the family system by developing secure attachment bonds (Wiebe & Johnson, 2017). EFFT strives to develop a high level of security within families that promotes more fluid communication patterns and more flexible problem solving strategies (Johnson & Lee, 2005). One of the most important steps in developing this security is by clarifying the current interactional cycles taking place, which typically leave the attachment needs of the family unmet (Johnson & Brubacher, 2016). Clinicians who help clients track their interactional cycles lay the foundation for effective change.

In couple relationships, the phenomenon of accepting influence is both an observable action, seen in couples compromising and respecting each other, as well as an approach to the relationship, one’s perception that their partner is someone worthy of sharing power with. This study utilizes a life course perspective to examine the mediated relationship between childhood experiences, partners accepting influence, and relationship satisfaction in a sample of military couples. An actor partner interdependence mediation model was fit in Amos to examine the relationships. Civilian spouses’ childhood experiences were related to their perception their partner accepts influence and service members’ perception their partner accepts influence; this was then related to both partners’ relationship satisfaction. Accepting influence is a potential leverage point for improving relationship satisfaction in military couples who may be at an increased risk due to the nature of military life.

O processo de planejamento de empreendimentos residenciais verticais no Brasil tem apresentado deficiências principalmente quanto do confronto das programações que balizam a decisão de investir, da tomada de risco do empreendimento, versus os resultados obtidos a partir do controle de sua implantação. As discrepâncias observadas entre o desempenho esperado na programação e aquelas obtidas nos processos de controle, principalmente quanto a indicadores de prazo e de alocação de recursos mostram a necessidade de se buscar sucessivos aprimoramentos dos processos da programação orientada a prazos. Aspectos como maior consistência no mapeamento de escopo na elaboração do planejamento operacional suportados por redes lógicas, além de uma adequada correlação entre as durações das atividades com as respectivas alocações e nivelamento de recursos merecem ser aprimorados. Uma abordagem para o desenvolvimento de programações operacionais, contemplando recursos para fazer frente aos aspectos acima citado se torna necessária. A ênfase se dá no estreitamento da correlação entre a estimativa das durações das atividades com as respectivas alocações de recursos. O objetivo deste trabalho é propor um método de nivelamento de recursos desenvolvido com o emprego de princípios da Theory of Constraints (TOC). O método de nivelamento consiste de regras heurísticas para programação operacional, complementado por procedimentos para o mapeamento de escopo e de uma biblioteca de redes lógicas elementares para edifícios residenciais verticais. Estes complementos têm por objetivo assegurar um nível mínimo de consistência e adequação do emprego do método de nivelamento ora proposto. Foram desenvolvidos 16 estudos de caso para suportar estes processos complementares, além de 171 testes em 21 redes lógicas para avaliar: os princípios da TOC, calibrar o método, analisar o seu desempenho e demonstrar sua aplicabilidade. Finalmente, concluiu-se que as regras heurísticas que compõem o método proposto nesta Tese são de fácil aplicação, e apresentaram desempenho igual ou superior as melhores regras existentes.
The planning process of construction of vertical housings used in Brazil have shown lacks, mainly when confronting the scheduling guiding the decision-making to invest, concerning the risk of the enterprise, versus the results obtained during the execution control. The discrepancies observed between the expected results regarding scheduling and those observed in the execution control processes, especially those about timeframe and resource allocation indicators, show the necessity to adjust and improve constantly the scheduling processes. Aspects such as greater consistency in defining scope and in the design of operational planning supported by logical networks, along with an appropriate correlation between the duration of activities and the corresponding resource allocation, deserve to be optimized. This study focus on the development of operational scheduling techniques, contemplating resource allocation to deal with those aspects above mentioned. Emphasis is given to the reinforcement of correlation between estimated timeframes for activities and the corresponding resource allocation. The objective of this research work is to propose one method of resource levelling developed using the principles of the Theory of Constraints (TOC). This method consists of a heuristic scheduling process oriented towards operational schedule, complemented by procedures for mapping of scope for the construction of vertical residential buildings and a library of elementary logical networks also oriented towards this type of buildings. The objective of these complements is to guarantee a minimum level of consistency for the simulated implementation model, as well as to insure the adequate use of the levelling resource process proposed here. Sixteen cases studies were developed to support these complementary processes, beyond 171 tests in twenty one logical networks to evaluate the principles of the TOC, to calibrate the method, to analyze its performance and to demonstrate its applicability. Finally, it was concluded that the heuristics rules proposal that compose the method in this Thesis is of easily application, and presented a performance equally or higher than the best existent rules.

LUS is short for reading development schedule, which is a concept that schools in a municipality or parts of a municipality uses, to get an overview at the pupils’ reading capacity.

The purpose with this C-paper is to analyse if LUS is a relevant and useful instrument in the upper level of compulsory school of today, concerning the work with pupils’ reading development.

My research contains a theoretical section and a practical section witch is based on qualitative interviews with three teachers. The result of my research shows that LUS is built on sociocultural thoughts, where – despite a competence theoretical structure – the individual reading experience is in focus and the optimal reading is considered the reading which lies within the readers’ closest zone of development. The relevance of LUS in the upper level of compulsory school is mostly justified as a clarifying model of reader competences that can be used as a help when putting together small goals to those pupils that doesn’t reach the goal of the syllabus. For those pupils that, considering age, follow that development which the reading development schedule explains, LUS feels some what unnecessary in the upper level of compulsory school.

LUS är en förkortning för läsutvecklingsschema, vilket är ett koncept som skolor i hela eller delar av kommuner använder sig av, för att få en överblick på elevernas läsförmåga.

Syftet med denna C-uppsats är att analysera huruvida LUS är ett relevant och användbart instrument i dagens högstadieskola, vad gäller arbetet med elevers läsutveckling.

Min undersökning innehåller dels en teoretisk del som bygger på LUS egen forskning, dels en praktisk del som grundar sig på tre kvalitativa lärarintervjuer. Resultatet av min undersökning visar att LUS bygger på sociokulturella tankegångar, där – trots en kompetensteoretisk uppbyggnad – den individuella läsupplevelsen står i fokus och den optimala läsningen anses vara den som ligger inom läsarens närmaste utvecklingszon. LUS relevans på högstadiet är dock mest befogat som en tydliggörande mall av läskompetenser, för uppsättande av delmål i åtgärdsprogram för de elever som inte når upp till kursplanens mål. För de elever som åldersmässigt följer den utveckling läsutvecklingsschemat målar upp, känns LUS överflödigt på högstadiet.

People who live with Type 1 diabetes (T1D) have to carefully self-administer insulin to keep blood glucose levels in a safe healthy range – a complex and demanding task (WHO, 2016). Social support has been found to alleviate diabetes-stress and increase management behaviors (Mackey et al., 2016). Social support from family members is especially advantageous, however currently no single family-based intervention has been established to show reliable improvements in T1D outcomes (Rosland et al., 2010). A review of the literature reveals that social support promoting autonomy is associated with the best T1D outcomes; social support that undermines autonomy is associated with worse T1D outcomes (Kelly & Berg, 2018). These findings are consistent with the self-determination theory (SDT), which identifies autonomy as a psychological need (Ng et al., 2012). The findings of this literature review support the need for a disease-specific family-based intervention that is built on the foundations of SDT.

The aim of this thesis is to propose a decision support tool for contractors before the bidding stage to quantify the probability of schedule delay in construction projects by using fuzzy logic incorporated with relative importance index (RII) method. Eighty three (83) different schedule delay factors were identified through detailed literature review and interview with experts from a leading Turkish construction company, then categorized into nine (9) groups and visualized by utilizing Ishikawa (Fish Bone) Diagrams. The relative importances of schedule delay factors were quantified by relative importance index (RII) method and the ranking of the factors and groups were demonstrated according to their importance level on schedule delay. A schedule delay assessment model was proposed by using Fuzzy Theory in order to determine a realistic time contingency by taking into account of delay factors characterized in construction projects. The assessment model was developed by using Fuzzy Logic Toolbox of the MATLAB Program Software. Proposed methodology was tested in a real case study and probability of schedule delay was evaluated by the assessment model after the required inputs were inserted to software. According to the case study results, the most contributing factors and groups (that need attention) to the probability of schedule delays were discussed. The assessment model results were found to be conceivably acceptable and adequate for the purpose of this thesis.

Freshness of information has become of high importance with the emergence of many real- time applications like monitoring systems and communication networks. The main idea behind all of these scenarios is the same, there exists at least a monitor of some process to which the monitor does not have direct access. Rather, the monitor indirectly receives updates over time from a source that can observe the process directly. The common main goal in these scenarios is to guarantee that the updates at the monitor side are as fresh as possible. However, due to the contention among the nodes in the network over limited channel resources, it takes some random time for the updates before they are received by the monitor. These applications have motivated a line of research studying the Age of Information (AoI) as a new performance metric that captures timeliness of information. The first part of this dissertation focuses on the AoI problem in general multi-source multi-hop status update networks with slotted transmissions. Fundamental lower bounds on the instantaneous peak and average AoI are derived under general interference constraints. Explicit algorithms are developed that generate scheduling policies for status update dissem- ination throughout the network for the class of minimum-length periodic schedules under global interference constraints. Next, we study AoI in multi-access channels, where a number of sources share the same server with exponentially distributed service times to communicate to a monitor. Two cases depending on the status update arrival rates at the sources are considered: (i) random arrivals based on the Poisson point process, and (ii) active arrivals where each source can generate an update at any point in time. For each case, closed-form expressions are derived for the average AoI as a function of the system parameters. Next, the effect of energy harvesting on the age is considered in a single-source single- monitor status update system that has a server with a finite battery capacity. Depending on the server’s ability to harvest energy while a packet is in service, and allowing or blocking the newly-arriving packets to preempt a packet in service, average AoI expressions are derived. The results show that preemption of the packets in service is sub-optimal when the energy arrival rate is lower than the status update arrival rate. Finally, the age of channel state information (CSI) is studied in fully-connected wire- less networks with time-slotted transmissions and time-varying channels. A framework is developed that accounts for the amount of data and overhead in each packet and the CSI disseminated in the packet. Lower bounds on the peak and average AoI are derived and a greedy protocol that schedules the status updates based on minimizing the instantaneous average AoI is developed. Achievable average AoI is derived for the class of randomized CSI dissemination schedules.

The subject of this article is the job shop scheduling problem and methods for solving this problem. It contains model for the task of schedule optimizing for partially ordered jobs on machines with different productivity in the presence of idle time and algorithm for getting initial permissible solution.

This thesis describes a practitioner led exploration carried out in two phases: Phase 1. A scoping (Delphi) study that explored the school-based provision in place to meet the needs of pupils experiencing special educational needs, the outcome of which guided the choice of focus of the second phase. The scoping (Delphi) study findings highlighted the importance of continuing professional development (CPD) suggesting that it will have an increasingly significant role to play in preparing schools for a future in which they will become increasingly responsible for identifying, assessing, meeting, monitoring and reviewing the needs of their pupils. Phase 2. An exploration (using a SENCo questionnaire and a senior management semi-structured interview schedule) of the CPD arrangements in place in primary schools in one local authority cluster. The thesis describes, in as much detail as the available resources and goodwill allowed, the CPD practices that existed within one local authority cluster and compares these with best CPD practices as described in the literature In addition to presenting a summary of best CPD practices, conclusions are drawn, and recommendations made, regarding: actions that schools in the sample cluster might wish to take to improve the efficacy of their CPD practices, actions that I can take to improve the efficacy of my own CPD practices, and actions that I can take to inform the CPD practices of those organisations, agencies and professionals with or for whom I work.

Denna studie undersöker begreppet likvärdighet genom att analysera hur elevernas bristande kunskapskontinuitet vid skolbyte upplevs och hanteras av rektorer och lärare, samt deras uppfattningar om den nya stadieindelade timplanens påverkan i måluppfyllelse och likvärdighet. Studien baseras på en semikvantitativ webbenkätundersökning med 145 rektorer och lärare i grundskolor i hela landet.  Mer än hälften av informanterna får inte någon information om elevernas tidigare undervisningstid. Kartläggning av elevernas kunskapsnivå vid skolbyte är utbredd och många bekräftar att påtagliga kunskapsluckor existerar. Majoriteten menar att eleverna får möjlighet att ta igen undervisningen genom kompensatoriska åtgärder som innebär anpassning av undervisningssätt och extra insatser utanför skolans ordinarie schema. Tidsstyrningen i skolan påverkas huvudsakligen av timplanen istället för lärarnas och elevernas önskemål. Ramfaktorteori och händelselogik visar att begreppet likvärdighet har två dimensioner. Likvärdighet mellan skolorna påverkas negativt av den befintliga timplanens brist på avstämningstillfällen, som leder till låg kunskapskontinuitet vid skolbyte. Detta avspeglas i informanternas positiva attityd mot centraliseringsåtgärder som exempelvis en stadiepreciserad timplan. Likvärdighet mellan eleverna är det mål som informanterna enligt sin inre logik strävar efter med hjälp av pedagogisk kartläggning och kompensatoriska åtgärdar. För att öka likvärdigheten måste timplanens implementering vara mer realistisk och stadieprecisering måste kompletteras med uppföljning i förhållande till måluppfyllelse.
This study examines the interpretation of educational equity by analysing how students’ lack of knowledge continuity upon school switching is experienced and handled by principals and teachers, and their opinion on the new level-divided national time schedule’s effects on goal attainment and equity. 145 principals and teachers in primary and lower secondary schools in Sweden participate in a semi-quantitative web survey for this study.  More than half of the informants do not receive any information concerning students’ former teaching hours. It is a common practice to chart students’ level of knowledge and one third of the informants confirm a significant knowledge gap. Catching up on lost teaching is possible according to most informants, with compensatory measures that encompass adaptation of teaching methods and extra-curricular activities not included in the normal timetable. Time allocation is mainly determined by the constraints of the national time schedule instead of the needs of teachers and students. By applyingthe theory of frame factor and practical reasoning, it is shown that equity has two dimensions. Equity between schools is dampened by the current national time schedule’s lack of follow-up occasions, leading to inadequate knowledge continuity upon school switching. This is reflected by the informants’ positive attitude towards educational centralisation by means of a more precise, level-divided time schedule. Equity between students has been the main goal that most schools strive for, by implementing knowledge-charting procedures and compensatory measures in the light of practical reasoning. In order to improve equity, a more precise and realistic time schedule needs to be complemented by more rigorous control in relation to goal-fulfilment.

Магістерська дисертація: 110 с., 24 рис., 23 табл., 81 джерело, 1 додаток. Актуальність. На сьогодні стрімко зростає рівень складності об'єктів автоматизації підприємств різних сфер діяльності. Це пояснюється тим, що замовники висувають все більш специфічні вимоги до інформаційних систем для задоволення потреб підприємства. На цей час ІТ-галузь є однією з перспективніших сфер людської діяльності. Невід’ємною складовою якої є реалізація різних ІТ-проєктів від замовників з усього світу. Успішне виконання проєктів залежить від їх ефективного управління. Успішність проєкту залежить від низки показників, що визначають його сутність та впливають на стан проєкту протягом його життєвого циклу. Ця сукупність елементів проєкту по суті є об'єктами управління. Історія різноманітних підходів до питання управління проектами має вже п'ять тисяч років за своєю тривалістю, хоча перша згадка про управління проектами була наведена ще на початку 20 століття. Основоположниками управління проєктами можна назвати таких трьох вчених: Генрі Гант (1861–1919) — американський інженер, який у 1910 році створив та впровадив підхід календарного планування, де основою побудови діаграм стали горизонтальні елементи. Власне, його винахід такого планування пізніше стали називати діаграмою Ганта. Фредерік Уінслоу Тейлор (1856–1915) – американський інженер, математик та фізик, його роботи і досі використовують як прототипи сучасних різних інструментів, куди також входить ієрархічна структура його робіт. Анрі Файоль (1841–1925) — французький інженер, засновник головної класичної моделі управління проєктом. Став доволі відомим завдяки тому, що саме він описав 5 головних функцій управління (менеджменту), які, власне, і стали основою теорії управління проєктами. Теоретичні аспекти досліджень щодо управління проєктами містяться у працях таких українських та зарубіжних вчених, як, зокрема О.О. Кулінич, С.Д. Бушуєв, Ю.С. Грисюк, І.В. Кононенко, В.І. Максимова, В.Б. Силова, Є.К. Корноушенко, О.Г. Тімінський, В.І. Прангішвілі, Долорес Шервуд Стайгер, Ю.М. Теслі, Паула Мартін, Карел Тейт, Л.А. Заде, Деніз Колонна д’Істріа. У своїх працях вони висвітлювали питання розробки інформаційних технологій в проєктному менеджменті. Причиною актуальності ефективного процесу планування є необхідність збільшення людського потенціалу для вирішення унікальних задач. Доволі часто компанії реалізовують одночасно одразу декілька проектів, в яких задіяні одні й ті самі людські чи технічні ресурси. Автоматизація цього процесу може збільшити ефективність роботи компанії в цілому. На сьогоднішній день існує безліч прикладів підвищення ефективності, шляхом автоматизації монотонної ручної роботи. Зв'язок роботи з науковими програмами, планами, темами. Робота виконувалась на кафедрі автоматизованих систем обробки інформації та управління Національного технічного університету України «Київський політехнічний інститут ім. Ігоря Сікорського» в рамках теми «Ефективні методи розв’язання задач теорії розкладів» (№ ДР 0117U000919). Метою дослідження є підвищення ефективності виконання ІТ-проєктів в компанії, за рахунок створення інформаційної системи планування ресурсів ІТ-проектів, в основу якої покладені методи, що дозволяють мінімізувати час реалізації проєкту. Для досягнення поставленої мети необхідно виконати наступні завдання: − виконати аналітичний огляд та провести детальний аналіз існуючих систем планування ресурсів, управління проєктами, керування обмеженнями та ризиками у рамках проєкту, методів планування розкладів виконання завдань у межах ресурсних обмежень; − розробити алгоритми розв’язання задачі підтримки роботи системи планування ресурсів ІТ-проєктів; − дослідити ефективність розроблених алгоритмів; − розробити програмну реалізацію інформаційної системи планування ресурсів ІТ-проєктів; − виконати експериментальне дослідження розробленої інформаційної системи, методів розв’язання задачі та ефективність використаних алгоритмів. Об’єктом дослідження є процес управління ІТ-проєктами. Предметом дослідження є методи планування ресурсів ІТ-проектів. Методи дослідження. Для виконання поставлених завдань у роботі було використано методи: системного аналізу (при проектуванні інформаційної системи); теорії розкладів, дослідження операцій, теорії складності (при розробленні методів розв’язання задач розподілу ресурсів); комп’ютерного моделювання (при експериментальному дослідженні ефективності методів розв’язання задач розподілу ресурсів). Наукова новизна одержаних результатів полягає у побудові методу планування ресурсів, з урахуванням їх обмеженності, ризиків та аналізу; розробці та вдосконаленню алгоритмів розв’язання задачі за допомогою виконання експериментальних досліджень. Публікації. Матеріали роботи опубліковані у збірнику П’ятнадцятої міжнародної науково-практичної конференції МАТЕМАТИЧНЕ ТА ІМІТАЦІЙНЕ МОДЕЛЮВАННЯ СИСТЕМ (МОДС 2020), а також в матеріалах V всеукраїнської науково-практичної конференції молодих вчених та студентів «Інформаційні системи та технології управління» (ІСТУ-2020).
Master's dissertation: 110 pp., 24 figs., 23 tables, 81 sources, 1 appendix. Topicality. Today, the level of complexity of automation facilities of enterprises in various fields of activity is growing rapidly. This is due to the fact that customers are increasingly specific requirements for information systems to meet the needs of the enterprise. Currently, the IT industry is one of the most promising areas of human activity. An integral part of which is the implementation of various IT projects from customers around the world. Successful project implementation depends on their effective management. The success of a project directly depends on a number of indicators that determine its essence and affect the state of the project during its life cycle. This set of project elements are essentially objects of management. The history of various approaches to project management is five thousand years old, although the first mention of project management was given in the early 20th century. The founders of project management can be called the main three scientists: Henry Gant (1861–1919) was an American engineer who in 1910 created and implemented a calendar planning approach in which horizontal elements became the basis for constructing diagrams. In fact, his invention of such planning was later called the Gantt chart. Frederick Winslow Taylor (1856-1915) - American engineer, mathematician and physicist, his work is still used as prototypes of various modern tools, which includes the hierarchical structure of his work. Henri Fayol (1841–1925) was a French engineer who founded the main classical project management model. He became quite famous due to the fact that he described the 5 main functions of management (management), which, in fact, became the basis of the theory of project management. Theoretical aspects of research on project management are contained in the works of such Ukrainian and foreign scientists as, in particular, OO Kulinich, SD Bushuyev, Yu.S. Грисюк, І.В. Kononenko, VI Максимова, В.Б. Силова, Є.К. Корноушенко, О.Г. Timinsky, VI Prangishvili, Dolores Sherwood Steiger, Yu.M. Tesla, Paula Martin, Karel Tate, L.A. Zade, Denise Colonna d’Istria. In their works, they covered the development of information technology in project management. The reason for the relevance of an effective planning process is the need to increase human capacity to solve unique problems. Quite often companies implement several projects at the same time, which involve the same human or technical resources. Automating this process can increase the efficiency of the company as a whole. To date, there are many examples of efficiency by automating monotonous manual work. Connection of work with scientific programs, plans, themes. The work was performed at the Department of Automated Information Processing and Control Systems of the National Technical University of Ukraine "Kyiv Polytechnic Institute. Igor Sikorsky ”in the framework of the topic "Effective methods for solving problems of schedule theory" (№ DR 0117U000919). The purpose of the study is to increase the efficiency of IT projects in the company, by creating an information system for resource planning of IT projects, which is based on methods that minimize the time of project implementation. To achieve this goal it is necessary to perform the following tasks:  perform an analytical review and conduct a detailed analysis of existing systems of resource planning, project management, management of constraints and risks within the project, methods of planning schedules for tasks within resource constraints;  develop algorithms for solving the problem of supporting the work of the resource planning system of IT projects;  investigate the effectiveness of the developed algorithms;  develop software implementation of information system for resource planning of IT projects;  perform an experimental study of the developed information system, methods of solving the problem and the effectiveness of the algorithms used. The object of research is the process of planning IT project resources. The subject of research - there are methods of automation of resource planning of IT projects. The research methods used in this paper are based on methods for solving the problem of resource planning. The scientific novelty of the obtained results is to build a method of resource planning, taking into account their limitations, risks and analysis; development and improvement of algorithms for solving the problem by performing experimental research. Publications. Materials of the work are published in the collection of the Fifteenth International Scientific and Practical Conference MATHEMATICAL AND SIMULATION MODELING OF SYSTEMS (MODS 2020), as well as in the materials of the V All-Ukrainian Scientific and Practical Conference of Young Scientists and Students "Management and Technology" Information.

Vacation systems represent an important class of queueing models having application in both computer communication systems and integrated manufacturing systems. By specifying an appropriate server scheduling discipline, vacation systems are easily particularized to model many practical situations where the server's effort is divided between primary and secondary customers. A general stochastic framework that subsumes a wide variety of server scheduling disciplines for the M/GI/1/L vacation system is developed. Here, a class of server scheduling disciplines, called Markov schedules, is introduced. It is shown that the queueing behavior M/GI/1/L vacation systems having Markov schedules is characterized by a queue length/server activity marked point process that is Markov renewal and a joint queue length/server activity process that is semi-regenerative. These processes allow characterization of both the transient and ergodic queueing behavior of vacation systems as seen immediately following customer service completions, immediately following server vacation completions, and at arbitrary times The state space of the joint queue length/server activity process can be systematically particularized so as to model most server scheduling disciplines appearing in the literature and a number of disciplines that do not appear in the literature. The Markov renewal nature of the queue length/server activity marked point process yields important results that offer convenient computational formulae. These computational formulae are employed to investigate the ergodic queue length of several important vacation systems; a number of new results are introduced. In particular, the M/GI/1 vacation with limited batch service is investigated for the first time, and the probability generating functions for queue length as seen immediately following service completions, immediately following vacation completions, and at arbitrary times are developed.
Ph. D.

Магістерська дисертація: 85 с., 7 рис., 23 табл., 29 джерел, 1 додаток. Актуальність. Сьогодні є актуальною онлайн-освіта. На жаль, в Україні мало альтернативних ресурсів, де б можна було отримати онлайн-допомогу з різних предметних областей. Все більше учнів, студентів, людей, які перекваліфіковуючись чи просто хочуть розвиватися шукають способи отримати нові теоретичні знання та практичні навички онлайн. Надзвичайно важко самостійно опанувати великий потік інформації, яку б предметну область не вивчали учні, і тому необхідна допомога професіоналів. Тож великою цінністю представляється функціонал щодо розкладу. Для вирішення проблеми, як реалізувати цю частину функціоналу, буде поставлена і розв’язана нова математична задача, яка дасть можливість і підґрунтя вирішувати подібні проблеми. Зв'язок роботи з науковими програмами, планами, темами. Робота виконувалась на філії кафедри автоматизованих систем обробки інформації та управління Національного технічного університету України «Київський політехнічний інститут ім. Ігоря Сікорського» у рамках науково-дослідницької теми Інституту кібернетики ім. В. М. Глушкова НАН України ВФ.180.11 «Розробити математичний апарат, орієнтований на створення інтелектуальних інформаційних технологій розв'язування проблем комбінаторної оптимізації та інформаційної безпеки» (2017-2021 рр.), що виконується за Постановою бюро Відділення інформатики НАН України від 23.06.2016 р. № 2. Мета роботи – підвищення якості інформування потенційних споживачів та інтелектуалізація процесів надання освітніх послуг онлайн, шляхом розробки оригінального програмно-алгоритмічного забезпечення та реалізації його у вигляді спеціалізованої програмної системи. Для досягнення мети необхідно виконати наступні завдання:  виконати огляд існуючих постановок задач у сфері освіти;  виконати огляд існуючих методів розв’язання задач складання розкладу;  здійснити порівняльний аналіз різних методів та моделей та класифікувати їх;  формалізувати задачу складання розкладу для менторів та учнів;  розробити алгоритм локального пошуку і мурашиний алгоритм;  виконати аналіз експериментальних досліджень;  розробити програмне забезпечення для надання послуг у сфері освіти;  розробити стартап-проект. Об’єкт дослідження – процес побудови розкладу для менторів і учнів, який задовольняє певним критеріям. Предмет дослідження – методи та моделі задач комбінаторної оптимізації в задачах теорії розкладів. Наукова новизна одержаних результатів полягає у постановці та аналізі нової задачі, а також у дослідження методів розв’язання цієї задачі, розробці методів локального пошуку та мурашиного алгоритму для поставленої задачі складання розкладу онлайн занять. Публікації. Матеріали роботи опубліковані в міжнародних наукових журналах «INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS IN MODERN SCIENCE» (№6 (33), 2019), та «POLISH JOURNAL OF SCIENCE» (№16, 2019), а також у тезах міжнародних науково-практичних конференцій «Математичне та імітаційне моделювання систем» (МОДС 2019), «Інформаційні системи та технології управління» (ІСТУ-2019).
Master's thesis: 85 p., 7 figures, 23 tables, 29 sources, 1 applications. Relevance: Online education is relevant today. Unfortunately, there are few alternative resources in Ukraine where online help can be obtained from various subject areas. More and more students from schools and universities, people who are retraining or just looking to develop are looking for ways to gain new theoretical knowledge and practical skills online. It is extremely difficult to master a large flow of information on your own, whatever the subject area is not learned by students, and therefore requires the help of professionals. Therefore, scheduling functionality is of great value. To solve the problem of how to implement this part of the functionality, a new mathematical problem will be posed and solved, which will give the opportunity and the basis for solving such problems. Connection of the thesis with scientific programs, plans, topics. The thesis was written at the branch of The Department of Computer-aided management and data processing systems of the National Technical University of Ukraine «Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute» at the V. M. Glushkov Institute of Cybernetics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine under the topic VF.180.11 «To develop a mathematical apparatus focused on the creation of intelligent information technologies for solving combinatorial optimization and information security problems» (2017-2021 biennium), which is executed by the Resolution of the Bureau of Informatics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine from 23.06.2016 р. № 2. The purpose of the study is improving the quality of informing potential consumers and intellectualizing the processes of providing educational services online, by developing original software and algorithmic software and implementing it in the form of a specialized software system.. To achieve this goal, you must complete the following tasks: − review the existing formulations of educational tasks; − review existing methods for scheduling tasks; − carry out comparative analysis of different methods and models and classify them; − formalize the timetable for mentors and students; − develop a local search algorithm and an ant algorithm; − carry out the analysis of experimental studies; − develop software to provide educational services; − develop a startup project. The object of study is a process for scheduling mentors and students that meets certain criteria. The subject of study is methods and models of combinatorial optimization problems in scheduling theory problems. The scientific novelty of the results is the formulation and analysis of a new task, as well as the study of methods for solving this problem, the development of methods of local search and ant algorithm for the task of scheduling online classes. Publications. Work materials have been published in the international scientific journals «INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS IN MODERN SCIENCE» (№6 (33), 2019) and «POLISH JOURNAL OF SCIENCE» (№16, 2019), as well as in theses of international scientific and practical conferences «Mathematical and systems simulation» (MODS 2019), «Information systems and control technologies» (ISTU-2019).

The Lack of Homogeneity in the Product (LHP) appears in productive processes with raw materials, which directly stem from nature and/or production processes with operations that confer heterogeneity to the characteristics of the outputs obtained, even when the inputs used are homogeneous. LHP appears in different sectors such as ceramic tile, horticulture, marble, snacks, among others. LHP becomes a managerial problem when customers require to be served with homogeneous product. Supply chains responsible to provide homogeneous product face the need to include classification activities in their productive processes to obtain sub-lots of homogeneous product. Due to the inherent LHP uncertainty, these homogeneous sub-lots will not be known until the product have been produced and classified. An improper management of the LHP can have a very negative impact on the customers' satisfaction due to inconsistencies in the answer to their requirements and also on the Supply Chain's efficiency. The Order Promising Process (OPP) appears as a key element for properly managing the LHP in order to ensure the matching of uncertain homogeneous supply with customer order proposals. The OPP refers to the set of business activities that are triggered to provide a response to the orders from customers. These activities are related to the acceptance/rejection decision, and to set delivery dates. For supply chains affected by the LHP, the OPP must consider the homogeneity as another requirement in the answer to the orders. Besides, due to the LHP inherent uncertainty, discrepancies between the real and planned homogeneous quantities might provoke that previously committed orders cannot be served. The Shortage Planning (SP) process intends to find alternatives in order to minimise the negative impact on customers and the supply chain. Considering LHP in the OPP brings a set of new challenging features to be addressed. The conventional approach of assuming homogeneity in the product for the master production schedule (MPS) and the quantities Available-To-Promise (ATP) derived from it is no longer adequate. Instead, both the MPS and ATP should be handled in terms of homogeneous sub-lots. Since the exact quantity of homogeneous product from the planned lots in the MPS is not exactly known until the classification activities have been performed, the ATP also inherits this uncertainty, bringing a new level of complexity. Non-homogeneous product cannot be accumulated in order to fulfil future incoming orders. Even more, if the product handled is perishable, the homogeneity management becomes considerably more complex. This is because the state of the product is dynamic with time and related variables to it, like quality, price, etc., could change with time. This situation could bring unexpected wasting costs apart from the shortages already mentioned. The perishability factor is itself another source of uncertainty associated to the LHP. This dissertation proposes a conceptual framework and different mathematical programming models and tools, in both deterministic and uncertainty environments, in order to support the OPP and SP under LHP's effect. The aim is to provide a reliable commitment with customer orders looking for a high service level not just in the due date and quantity but also in the homogeneity requirements. The modelling of the characteristics inherent to LHP under deterministic context constitutes itself one of the main contribution of this dissertation. Another novelty consists in the inclusion of uncertainty in the definition of homogeneous sub-lots, their quantities and their dynamic state and value. The uncertainty modelling approach proposed is mainly based on the application of fuzzy set theory and possibility theory. The proposed mathematical models and tools have been validated in real cases of SC, specifically in the ceramic tile sector for non perishables, and in the fruit sector for perishables. The results show a ...
La Falta de Homogeneidad en el Producto (LHP, por sus siglas del inglés ``Lack of Homogeneity in the Product'') aparece en procesos productivos con materias primas que derivan directamente de la naturaleza y/o procesos de producción con operaciones que confieren heterogeneidad a las características de los productos obtenidos, incluso cuando los insumos utilizados son homogéneos. La LHP aparece en diferentes sectores como la cerámica, horticultura, mármol, snacks, entre otros. Se convierte en un problema gerencial cuando los clientes requieren homogeneidad en el producto y las cadenas de suministro enfrentan la necesidad de incluir actividades de clasificación en sus procesos productivos para obtener sub-lotes de producto homogéneo. Debido a la incertidumbre inherente a la LHP, los sub-lotes homogéneos y su cantidad no serán conocidos hasta que el producto haya sido producido y clasificado. Una gestión inadecuada de la LHP puede tener un impacto muy negativo en la satisfacción de los clientes debido a inconsistencias en la respuesta a sus requerimientos y también en la eficacia de la Cadena de Suministro. El Proceso de Comprometer de Pedido (OPP, por sus siglas del inglés ``Order Promising Process'') aparece como un elemento clave para gestionar adecuadamente la LHP, con el fin de asegurar la coincidencia entre el suministro incierto de producto homogéneo y las propuestas de pedido del cliente. El OPP se refiere al conjunto de actividades empresariales realizadas para proporcionar una respuesta a las órdenes de los clientes. Estas actividades están relacionadas con las decisiones de aceptación/rechazo, y establecimiento de fechas de entrega para las órdenes del cliente. En las cadenas de suministro afectadas por la LHP, el OPP debe considerar la homogeneidad como otro requisito adicional en la respuesta a los pedidos. Además, debido a la incertidumbre intrínseca de la LHP, las discrepancias entre las cantidades homogéneas reales y planificadas podrían provocar que las órdenes comprometidas anteriormente no puedan ser completadas debido a la escasez de producto. El proceso de planificación de la escasez (SP, por sus siglas del inglés "Shortage Planning") se encarga de encontrar alternativas para minimizar este impacto negativo en los clientes y la cadena de suministro. Considerar la LHP dentro del OPP implica un conjunto nuevo de características desafiantes que deben ser abordadas. El enfoque convencional de asumir la homogeneidad en el producto para el programa maestro de producción (MPS, por sus siglas del inglés "Master Production Schedule") y las cantidades disponibles a comprometer (ATP, por sus siglas del inglés "Available-To-Promise") derivadas de él, no es adecuado. En cambio, tanto el MPS como el ATP deben manejarse en términos de sub-lotes homogéneos. Dado que la cantidad exacta de producto homogéneo de los lotes previstos en el MPS no se sabe exactamente hasta que se han realizado las actividades de clasificación, el ATP también hereda esta incertidumbre, trayendo un nuevo nivel de complejidad. El producto no homogéneo no se puede acumular para satisfacer futuras órdenes entrantes. Más aún, si el producto manipulado es perecedero, el manejo de la homogeneidad se vuelve mucho más complejo. Esto se debe a que el estado del producto es dinámico en el tiempo, y variables relacionadas como calidad, precio, etc., podrían también cambiar con el tiempo. Esta situación puede provocar costos inesperados de desperdicio aparte de la escasez ya mencionada. El factor de perecedero es en sí mismo otra fuente de incertidumbre asociada a la LHP. Esta disertación propone un marco conceptual y diferentes modelos y herramientas de programación matemática, tanto en entornos deterministas como de incertidumbre, para apoyar al OPP y SP considerando el efecto de LHP. El objetivo es proporcionar un compromiso fiable con los pedidos de los clientes en busca de un alto nivel de servicio no s
La Falta d'Homogeneïtat en el Producte (LHP, per les seues sigles de l'anglés ''Lack of Homogeneity in the Product'') apareix en processos productius amb matèries primes que deriven directament de la natura i/o processos de producció amb operacions que conferixen heterogeneïtat a les característiques dels productes obtinguts, fins i tot quan les entrades utilitzades són homogènies . La LHP apareix en diferents sectors com la ceràmica, horticultura, marbre, snacks, entre altres. Es convertix en un problema gerencial quan els clients requereixen homogeneïtat en el producte i les cadenes de subministrament enfronten la necessitat d'incloure activitats de classificació en els seus processos productius per a obtindre sublots de producte homogeni. A causa de la incertesa inherent a la LHP, els sublots homogenis i la seua quantitat no seran coneguts fins que el producte haja sigut produït i classificat. Una gestió inadequada de la LHP pot tindre un impacte molt negatiu en la satisfacció dels clients degut a inconsistències en la resposta als seus requeriments i també en l'eficàcia de la Cadena de Subministrament. El Procés de Comprometre Comandes (OPP, per les seues sigles de l'anglés ''Order Promising Process'') apareix com un element clau per a gestionar adequadament la LHP, a fi d'assegurar la coincidència entre el subministrament incert de producte homogeni i les propostes de comanda del client. L'OPP es refereix al conjunt d'activitats empresarials realitzades per a proporcionar una resposta a les ordres dels clients. Aquestes activitats estan relacionades amb les decisions d'acceptació/rebuig, i establiment de dates de lliurament per a les ordres del client. En les cadenes de subministrament afectades per la LHP, l'OPP ha de considerar l'homogeneïtat com un altre requisit addicional en la resposta a les comandes. A més, a causa de la incertesa intrínseca de la LHP, les discrepàncies entre les quantitats homogènies reals i planificades podrien provocar que les ordres compromeses anteriorment no puguen ser completades a causa de l'escassetat de producte. El procés de planificació de l'escassetat (SP, per les seues sigles de l'anglés "Shortage Planning") s'encarrega de trobar alternatives per a minimitzar aquest impacte negatiu en els clients i en la cadena de subministrament. Considerar la LHP dins de l'OPP implica un conjunt nou de característiques desafiants que han de ser abordades. L'enfocament convencional d'assumir l'homogeneïtat en el producte per al programa mestre de producció (MPS, per les seues sigles de l'anglés "Master Production Schedule") i les quantitats disponibles a comprometre (ATP, per les seues sigles de l'anglés "Available-To-Promise") derivades d'ell, no és adequat. En canvi, tant el MPS com l'ATP han de manejar-se en termes de sublots homogenis. Atés que la quantitat exacta de producte homogeni dels lots previstos en el MPS no se sap exactament fins que s'han realitzat les activitats de classificació, l'ATP també hereta aquesta incertesa, portant un nou nivell de complexitat. El producte no homogeni no es pot acumular per a satisfer futures ordees entrants. Més encara, si el producte manipulat és perible, el maneig de l'homogeneïtat es torna molt més complex. Açò es deu al fet que l'estat del producte és dinàmic en el temps, i variables relacionades com qualitat, preu, etc., podrien també canviar amb el temps. Aquesta situació pot provocar costos inesperats de rebuig a banda de l'escassetat ja esmentada. El factor de perible és en si mateix un altra font d'incertesa associada a la LHP. Aquesta dissertació proposa un marc conceptual i diferents models i eines de programació matemàtica, tant en entorns deterministes com d'incertesa, per a recolzar a l'OPP i SP considerant l'efecte de LHP. L'objectiu és proporcionar un compromís fiable amb les comandes dels clients a la recerca d'un alt nivell de servei no sols en la data i la quantitat esperades, s
Grillo Espinoza, H. (2017). Advanced methods and models in uncertainty for the order promising process in supply chain characterized by the lack of homogeneity in product [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/91110
TESIS

The purpose of this research was to explore the effects of small monetary or economic gains and/or losses on choice behavior through the use of a computerized game and to determine gain/loss ratio differences using both behavioral and electrophysiological measures. Participants (N=53) played the game in several 36 minute sessions. These sessions operated with concurrent variable-interval schedules for both rewards and penalties. Previously, asymmetrical effects of gains and losses have been identified through cognitive studies, primarily due to the work of nobel laureates Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky (1979). They found that the effect of a loss is twice (i.e., 2:1) that of a gain. Similar results have been observed in the behavioral laboratory as exemplified by the research of Rasmussen and Newland (2008), who found a 3:1 ratio for the effect of losses versus gains. The asymmetry of gains and losses was estimated behaviorally and through event-related brain potentials (ERPs) and the cognitive (Kahneman and Tversky) and behavioral (Rasmussen and Newland) discrepancy elucidated. In the game, the player moves an animated submarine around sea rocks to collect yellow coins and other treasures on the sea floor. Upon collecting a coin, one of three things can happen: The player triggers a penalty (loss), the player triggers a payoff (gain), or there is no change. The behavioral measures consisted in counting the number of clicks, reinforces, and punishers and then determining ratio differences between punished (loss) and no punished condition (gain) conditions. The obtained gain/loss ratio corresponded to an asymmetry of 2:1. Similarly ratio differences were found between male and female, virtual money and cash, risk averse versus risk seeking, and generosity versus profit behavior. Also, no ratio difference was found when players receive information about other player's performances in the game (players with information versus players without information). In electroencephalographic (EEG) studies, visual evoked potentials (VEPs) and ERPs components (e.g., P300) were examined. I found increased ERP amplitudes for the losses in relation to the gains that corresponded to the calculated behavioral asymmetry of 2:1. A correlational strategy was adopted that sought to identify neural correlates of choice consistent with cognitive and behavioral approaches. In addition, electro cortical ratio differences were observed between different sets of electrodes that corresponded to the front, middle, and back sections of the brain; differences between sessions, risk averse and risk seeking behavior and sessions with concurrent visual and auditory stimuli and only visual were also estimated.

Syftet med studien är att studera lärares roll i den muntliga interaktionen i ämnet svenska i årskurs två. Utifrån syftet besvaras två frågeställningar som knyts samman med de sociokulturella begreppen stöttning och mediering, nämligen hur lärarna stöttar elevernas muntliga interaktion och vilka medierande redskap som används i klassrummen. Studien bygger på sex observationer i årskurs två som tar sin grund i ett redan färdigställt observationsschema som ger verktyg att observera muntliga interaktioner och lärmiljö utifrån 25 olika faktorer, varav 14 faktorer redovisas och analyseras i studien. Resultatet analyseras med hjälp av ett ramverk inom den sociokulturella teorin som innefattar begreppen stöttning och mediering. Resultatet av studien visar faktorernas förekomst i de observerade klassrummen utifrån hur vanliga de är. Resultatet visar att lärarna främjar interaktionen i klassrummet genom att exempelvis ställa öppna frågor, använda sig av rekvisita för att stärka språkliga yttranden samt bekräftar elevernas yttranden. Under alla observationer använder sig även lärarna av muntliga övningar i både par och mindre grupper. Utifrån resultatet framkom det dock att flertalet lärare inte använder sig av flera av de metoder som tidigare forskning visat vara främjande för elevernas muntlighet, exempelvis använder de sig inte tillräckligt av ett långsamt taltempo eller av pausering och de agerar inte heller som språkliga förebilder i önskad grad. En slutsats som kan dras av resultatet är att lärare bör skapa ytterligare medvetenhet om vilka metoder och strategier som bör finnas med i undervisningen för att främja den muntliga interaktionen i klassrummet.

Fifty percent of Fortune 500 companies trust Xen, an open-source bare-metal hypervisor, to virtualize their websites and mission critical services in the cloud. Providing superior fault tolerance, scalability, and migration, virtualization allows these companies to run several isolated operating systems simultaneously on the same physical server. These isolated operating systems, called virtual machines, require a virtual traffic guard to cooperate with one another. This guard known as the Credit2 scheduler along with the newest Xen hypervisor was recently developed to supersede the older schedulers. Since wasted CPU cycles can be costly, the Credit2 prototype must undergo significant performance validation before being released into production. Furthermore, leading commercial virtualization products, including VMWare and Microsoft Hyper-V frequently adopt Xen's proven technologies. This thesis provides quantitative performance measurements of the Credit1 and Credit2 schedulers, and provides recommendations for building hypervisor schedulers.

The purpose of this investigation (a quasi-experimental design called a non-equivalent design group (NEDG)) was to determine if allowing students in a science majors general Chemistry I course the choice in establishing the due dates that their homework was due to the instructor would improve course averages. This study covered two semesters with a total of 288 students participating with n = 158 in the fall and n = 130 in the spring. The students self-selected the homework group, VOICES, that best fit his/her needs which included (1) the instructor's homework schedule, (2) a student-customized schedule or a schedule that followed the exam schedule, or (3) all homework due by the last class day prior to the final exam. Online homework was assigned and graded with individual assignment and homework average grades collected and analyzed. No statistically significant differences were found among the VOICES groups with respect to final course average. Other results of this study replicated findings in the literature; namely, that there is a higher correlation between mathematics skills and course success. Course averages of students who had completed Calculus I or higher were statistically significantly higher than students with less completed mathematics coursework in all VOICES groups. Also, the percentage of successful students in the on-sequence semester (fall) was higher than the percentage of students in the off-sequence semester (spring). No differences were seen in any VOICES group's student demographics or high school chemistry preparation.

This master's thesis aims to make the BRIO Labyrinth Game autonomous and the main focus is on the development of a path following controller. A test-bench system is built using a modern edition of the classic game with the addition of a Raspberry Pi, a camera and two servos. A mathematical model of the ball and plate system is derived to be used in model based controllers. A method of using path projection on a cubic spline interpolated path to derive the reference states is explained. After that, three path following controllers are presented, a modified LQR, a Gain Scheduled LQR and a Gain Scheduled LQR with obstacle avoidance. The performances of these controllers are compared on an easy and a hard labyrinth level, both with respect to the ability of following the reference path and with respect to success rate of controlling the ball from start to finish without falling into any hole. All three controllers achieved a success rate over 90 % on the easy level. On the hard level the Gain Scheduled LQR achieved the highest success rate, 78.7 %, while the modified LQR achieved the lowest deviation from the reference path. The Gain Scheduled LQR with obstacle avoidance performed the worst in both regards. Overall, the results are promising and some insights gained when designing the controllers can possibly be useful for development of controllers in other applications as well.

Developmental delays related to feeding dysfunction in premature infants can lead to lengthy hospitalizations and increased healthcare costs initially and throughout the first year of the child's life. The purpose of this project was to use readiness-to-feed assessments to evaluate the impact of an infant-driven feeding protocol on length of stay. The project compared the length of stay of 2 groups of infants: a demand fed according to a readiness-to-feed protocol (protocol group, n = 14) and a traditionally fed according to scheduled, volume-driven feedings (traditional group, n = 15). The logic model served as the change management framework and synactive theory of infant development provided the theoretical framework. According to Als' synactive theory, a shortened hospital stay for premature infants may reduce adverse effects related to neurosensory development, delayed bonding, and a distant parenting experience. A quantitative research design was used, and data were collected through a retrospective chart review of the 2 groups. Descriptive statistics and analysis of variance were completed. The findings indicated that the length of stay in the protocol group was less than the length of stay in the traditionally fed group and that the difference was statistically significant (p = 0.03). Social change benefits related to the project include improved family bonding, improved neurosensory development of infants, and a reduction in healthcare costs as a result of a shortened length of stay. The findings of this project demonstrated that by using the readiness-to-feed protocol, neonatal intensive care nurses can decrease lengths of stay and costs of hospitalization while reducing adverse effects of traditional care on infant development and bonding.

The purpose of this investigation (a quasi-experimental design called a non-equivalent design group (NEDG)) was to determine if allowing students in a science majors general Chemistry I course the choice in establishing the due dates that their homework was due to the instructor would improve course averages. This study covered two semesters with a total of 288 students participating with n = 158 in the fall and n = 130 in the spring. The students self-selected the homework group, VOICES, that best fit his/her needs which included (1) the instructor's homework schedule, (2) a student-customized schedule or a schedule that followed the exam schedule, or (3) all homework due by the last class day prior to the final exam. Online homework was assigned and graded with individual assignment and homework average grades collected and analyzed. No statistically significant differences were found among the VOICES groups with respect to final course average. Other results of this study replicated findings in the literature; namely, that there is a higher correlation between mathematics skills and course success. Course averages of students who had completed Calculus I or higher were statistically significantly higher than students with less completed mathematics coursework in all VOICES groups. Also, the percentage of successful students in the on-sequence semester (fall) was higher than the percentage of students in the off-sequence semester (spring). No differences were seen in any VOICES group's student demographics or high school chemistry preparation.

This thesis describes the analysis, design and implementation of a high performance DSP-based servo drive for a limited-angle torque motor used in thermal imaging applications. A limited-angle torque motor is an electromagnetic actuator based on the Laws' relay principle, and in the present application the rotation required was from - 10° to + 10° in 16 ms, with a flyback period of 4 ms. To ensure good quality picture reproduction, an exceptionally high linearity of ±0.02 ° was necessary throughout the forward sweep. In addition, the drive voltage to the exciting winding of the motor should be less than the +35 V ceiling of the drive amplifier. A research survey shows that little literature was available, probably due to the commercial sensitivity of many of the applications for torque motors. A detailed mathematical model of the motor drive, including high-order linear dynamics and the significant nonlinear characteristics, was developed to provide an insight into the overall system behaviour. The proposed control scheme uses a multicompensator, multi-loop linear controller, to reshape substantially the motor response characteristic, with a non-linear adaptive gain-scheduled controller to compensate effectively for the nonlinear variations of the motor parameters. The scheme demonstrates that a demanding nonlinear control system may be conveniently analysed and synthesised using frequency-domain methods, and that the design techniques may be reliably applied to similar electro-mechanical systems required to track a repetitive waveform. A prototype drive system was designed, constructed and tested during the course of the research. The drive system comprises a DSP-based digital controller, a linear power amplifier and the feedback signal conditioning circuit necessary for the closed-loop control. A switch-mode amplifier was also built, evaluated and compared with the linear amplifier. It was shown that the overall performance of the linear amplifier was superior to that of the switch-mode amplifier for the present application. The control software was developed using the structured programming method, with the continuous controller converted to digital form using the bilinear transform. The 6- operator was used rather than the z-operator, since it is more advantageous for high speed sampling systems. The gain-scheduled control was implemented by developing a schedule table, which is controlled by the DSP program to update continuously the controller parameters in synchronism with the periodic scanning of the motor. The experimental results show excellent agreement with the simulated results, with linearity of ±0.05 ° achieved throughout the forward sweep. Although this did not quite meet the very demanding specifications due to the limitations of the experimental drive system, it clearly demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed control scheme. The discrepancies between simulated and experimental results are analyzed and discussed, the control design method is reviewed, and detailed suggestions are presented for further work which may improve the drive performance.

Abstract Employees experience challenges managing home and work. The increase of women in the workforce, single-parents, childcare, elder care responsibilities, and men in nontraditional roles warrant changes in traditional working hours and flexibility in work schedules. Through the theoretical frameworks of work-family conflict, spillover, border, and boundary theories, the purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore how flexible work arrangements (FWAs) assisted employees in meeting work and family obligations. Minimal research is available in the defense industry and the use of FWAs. A nonprobability, convenience sample was used to explore how management and nonmanagement participants from a Midwest defense contractor used FWAs. An online questionnaire consisting of 59 questions and 14 face-to-face (FTF) interviews were used to collect data. There were 27 participants that responded to all online questions. FTF interviews were audio recorded and member-checked. The research questions were focused on how employees used FWAs and whether work-family balance (WFB) was achieved. Both data collection media were transcribed and inductively coded tracking emerging themes and patterns. Dominant themes showed that FWA increased WFB, employees worked longer hours, employees were loyal to the organization, and telecommuting was the ideal FWA. The implications for social change are providing a realistic view to employers on the importance of balancing work and family. FWAs are also shown to contribute to employee satisfaction and attract and retain highly-skilled workers.

Design trade-offs between estimation performance, processing delay and communication cost for a sensor scheduling problem is discussed. We consider a heterogeneous sensor network with two types of sensors: the first type has low-quality measurements, small processing delay and a light communication cost, while the second type is of high quality, but imposes a large processing delay and a high communication cost. Such a heterogeneous sensor network is common in applications, where for instance in a localization system the poor sensor can be an ultrasound sensor while the more powerful sensor can be a camera. Using a time-periodic Kalman filter, we show how one can find an optimal schedule of the sensor communication. One can significantly improve estimation quality by only using the expensive sensor rarely. We also demonstrate how simple sensor switching rules based on the Riccati equation drives the filter into a stable time-periodic Kalman filter. ￜ 2008 IEEE.

QC 20110224

碩士
真理大學
管理科學研究所
92
Dr. Goldratt issues the Critical Chain Project Management (CCPM) of TOC analysis, in which the core problem leading to most project failure be identified as “failure to effectively manage uncertainty.” Goldratt(1997) argues that the main reason for project overrun is because of the misuse of the safety time created within the estimated times for each activity. CPM has neglected to do with these uncertainties impacted in the project scheduling and controlling. Goldratt proposes a Critical chain project management method to overcome some of the problem inherent in the traditional project planning and scheduling methods, notably the basic CPM. The CCPM project planning and control process addresses schedule uncertainty and variation in project activity duration. It include activity dependent and resource dependent management, using the techniques of buffer management to aggregate safety in strategically important areas and eliminating undesirable behaviors, help to manage the delay schedule caused by schedule uncertainty under resource restrictions. The TOC applies unity ratio cut to all applicable to all activities, coupled with the project buffer and activity buffer, incurs several problem that need to be clarified. Thus, An Enhanced theory of constraint (ETOC) method intends to propose guidelines to establish various buffers and activity duration cut to shorten the project length rationally. There are difference between the method of CPM, ETOC and TOC to manage schedule uncertainty of project management. We build up simulation systems for each method to verify which method could manage schedule uncertainty in the condition of project stability, overdue cost and resource satisfaction under different scenario. We adopt ANOVA and Scheffe’ test to examine the quality of simulated data. Results of the simulations are as follows. (1) With respect to project stability, TOC is the best one in come up against non-violent schedule uncertainty. (2) None of these three models is stability under violent schedule uncertainty. (3) Under the consideration of schedule uncertainty variation and overdue cost, TOC is the best. (4) In scenario 1, under the consideration of resource application in effect and satisfaction, or on time delivery, TOC is the best. (5) In scenario 2~5, under the consideration of resource application in effect and satisfaction, or on time delivery, there’s no significantly difference between TOC and ETOC, but both of the two methods are significantly better than CPM.

碩士
元智大學
工業工程與管理學系
92
In the competitive market, the development of product is not only satisfying consumer’s demand in appearance and function, but also the cost and time is very important. It takes a motorcycle case, using concurrent engineering theory to systematize the whole product development cycle. The purpose is to shorten the research time, and cut R&D expense and product cost(it include engineering change notice, artificial cost, and material cost). It can response the market demand to increase the position of market. Through a serious of engineering concurrent method, it can introduce improvement process, and the case would get a great improvement in R&D. Conclusion of that, we could get the following: 1)The introducing of concurrent engineering should combine IT ; 2)concurrent engineering should change by organization and culture ; 3)concurrent engineering could use other IE method to improve process ; 4)concurrent engineering could introduce to every kind of industry, especially for the product that have complex design.

碩士
國立臺灣大學
土木工程學研究所
97
Scope, time and cost are the three key points that project management revolves around. These key points compose the “triple constraints” of a project. Regardless of the contract type, the core objective of project management is to facilitate the successful completion of projects within the triple constraints. For a contracted construction project, the triple constraints are absolutely crucial due to the restriction from the contract other than the unique construction environment itself. As a result, many invisible risks are embedded inside a construction project that must be carefully dealt with. Earned Value Management (EVM) has been generally recognized as an effective methodology for integrating the management of above mentioned triple constraints. This research studies the practice for implementing EVM to a construction project for its cost and schedule control from a contractor’s point of view. This thesis is mainly organized into three parts, EVM lead-in procedure, case-study, and the problems on applying EVM and suggestions for solution. It is expected that the outcome of this research may facilitate the development of a realistic EVM System (EVMS), and hence to mitigate the project risk and promote the project performance. For combining the theory with practice, this research considers the real construction environment and refers to ANSI/EIA-748-A Standard for EVMS and the prevailing global project management standards during the EVM lead-in procedure. On the case-study of EVM application, except for verifying the reasonability of the EVM lead-in procedure by real case, this research also studies the management meaning of various performance indexes resulted from the EVMS and the relations among these indexes. The research results will be provided as a feedback for future projects. Finally, this research classify and study some distortion problems encountered while implementing EVM under some different project management models and contractual environments .The research also makes suggestions for adjustment on the problems in order that the project will perform the EVM more accurately and more effectively, and then enhance the visibility on management.

碩士
崑山科技大學
資訊管理研究所
105
Project schedule management is one of the key issues of project management. Applying the project schedule management, the project manager can well control the project implementation status, reduce the resource waste, and ensure the project completion quality to meet the project objectives. In the context of project management, many tools used to control the schedule of the project. However, the schedule delay issue that cause by human factor still cannot be effective treatment in the project schedule management. This study considers the project environment, team, as well as in human factor, and employs five thinking processes of the theory of constraints to address the schedule delay issue in project schedule management. Finally, the earned value management tool is applied to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method by a real case.

Tese de Doutoramento em Psicologia Básica
O timing é tipicamente visto como a capacidade de se comportar de acordo com durações fixas, mas os animais são sensíveis a contingências temporais, mesmo quando estão perante pistas associadas a durações variáveis. Usando diferentes esquemas de intervalo variável (VI), Catania e Reynolds (1968) mostraram que os perfis da taxa local de resposta ao longo do tempo se relacionavam com os perfis da taxa local de reforço. Com base nisto, foi elaborada a conceção comportamental de timing, de acordo com a qual a taxa local de reforço controla a taxa local de resposta. No entanto, dados mais recentes obtidos por Swanton, Gooch e Matell (2009) demonstraram uma função de resposta em forma de pico num procedimento de pico desenvolvido a partir de um programa de intervalo variável (VI) que os autores explicaram como sendo resultado da média de várias memórias temporais, uma interpretação incompatível com a conceção comportamental de timing. Na primeira parte desta tese, explicamos como um modelo comportamental de perceção temporal, o modelo LearningtoTime (LeT), pode de fato explicar o pico de resposta observado no momento correspondente ao intervalo médio de Swanton et al. (2009). Depois, com uma experiência que estende a manipulação feita por Swanton et al. (2009) mostramos que, consistente com o modelo LeT e com a ideia de que a taxa local de reforço se traduz em taxa local de resposta mas inconsistente com a teoria da média, a largura do pico de resposta nos procedimentos de pico está relacionada com o intervalo de intervalos. Além disso, mostramos que nenhuma das versões da Scalar Expectancy Theory (SET, o principal modelo cognitivo de perceção temporal) pode explicar os nossos resultados. Após este primeiro estudo, apresentamos um novo VI, inspirado nos VIs do procedimento de pico, que alcançam uma taxa constante de reforço num intervalo de tempo finito. Em seguida, no segundo estudo, investigamos a questão da constância de resposta sob VIs de probabilidade constante e os limites dos processos de perceção temporal. Numa experiência comparamos o nosso novo método, o VI exponencial uniforme, ao popular VI de Fleshler & Hoffman e mostramos que, se ambos os VI sustentam uma taxa de resposta aproximadamente constante, o VI exponencial uniforme induz uma função de resposta mais plana se excluirmos a aceleração inicial. Numa outra experiência investigamos a evolução das funções de resposta de pombos treinados em três condições com intervalos máximos diferentes, com o VI exponencial uniforme e observamos que, apenas numa minoria dos casos, os padrões de resposta no tempo apresentaram invariância escalar, sugerindo uma situação limite para processos de percepção temporal ocorrerem. Apesar disso, na discussão geral argumentarmos que os processos que traduzem a taxa local de reforço em taxa local de resposta continuam a existir num VI de probabilidade constante mas estão parcialmente ocultos por um efeito de teto do reforço local e / ou por um efeito da resposta motivacional. Concluímos no sentido da validade do princípio da conversão de taxas proposto por Catania e Reynolds para dar conta do padrão de respostas nos programas intervalo no geral e, portanto, no sentido da validade da conceção comportamental de timing.
Timing is commonly seen as the ability to behave in accordance with fixed durations, but animals are sensitive to temporal contingencies even when facing cues associated to variable durations. Using different variable interval (VI) schedules, Catania and Reynolds (1968) showed that profiles of local rate of responding in time related to profiles of local rate of reinforcement in time. On this basis was elaborated the behavioral conception of timing according to which local rate of reinforcement controls local rate of responding. However, more recent data obtained by Swanton, Gooch and Matell (2009) came to show a peak-shaped response function under a peak-procedure made of a VI schedule, which the authors have explained by the averaging of temporal memories, an interpretation incompatible with the behavioral conception of timing. In the first part of this thesis we explain how a behavioral model of timing, the Learning to Time (LeT) model, can in fact account for the peak of responding observed at the time corresponding to the mean interval in Swanton et al. (2009). Then, with an experiment stretching Swanton et al. (2009) manipulation we show that, consistently with the LeT model and the idea that local rate of reinforcement translates into local rate of responding, but at odd with the averaging theory, the width of the peak of responding under peak-procedures relates to the range of the intervals. Moreover, we show that none of the versions of the Scalar Expectancy Theory (the leading cognitive model of timing), can account for our results. After this first study we present a new VI, inspired by the peak-procedure VIs, which achieves constant rate of reinforcement in a finite time range. Then, in a second study we investigate the question of the constancy of responding under constant-probability VIs and the limits of timing processes. In an experiment we compare our new method, the uniform exponential VI, to the popular Fleshler & Hoffman VI and show that if both VI sustain roughly constant response rate, the uniform exponential VI induces a flatter response function when excluding initial acceleration. In another experiment we investigate the evolution of the response functions of pigeons trained across three different maximum interval conditions with the uniform exponential VI and observe that only in a minority of cases patterns of responding in time presented scalar invariance, suggesting a limit situation for timing processes to happen. Though, in a general discussion we argue that the processes translating local rate of reinforcement into local rate of responding still exist under constant-probability VI but that there are partially hidden by a ceiling effect of local reinforcement and/or by an effect of motivational responding. We conclude in the sense of the validity of the rate translation principle brought by Catania and Reynolds to account for responding in interval schedules in general, and thus, in the sense of the validity of the behavioral conception of timing.

Transportation is important in making supply chain decisions. With the careful consideration of transportation expenses, the performance of each supply chain member, as well as the entire supply chain, could be improved significantly. The purpose of this research is: 1) to explore and identify the various situations that relate to replenishment and transportation activities; and 2) to reveal the strength of the connection between purchase quantity and transportation discounts, and integrate the two discounts to enhance supply-chain coordination. The problem is analyzed and categorized into four representative cases, depending on transportation. To aid the supplier or the carrier to determine the discount that should be offered, in light of the buyer's reaction to that discount, decision models are proposed under three different circumstances. First, assuming a single product, we investigate the quantity discounts from the supplier's perspective, via a noncooperative game-theoretical approach and also a joint decision model. Taking into account the price elasticity of demand, this analysis aids a sole supplier in establishing an all-unit quantity discount policy in light of the buyer's best reaction. The Stackelberg equilibrium and the Pareto-optimal solution set are derived for the noncooperative and joint-decision cases, respectively. Our research indicates that channel efficiency can be improved significantly if the quantity discount decision is made jointly rather than noncooperatively. Moreover, we extend our model in several directions: (a) the product is transported by a private fleet; (b) the buyer may choose to offer her customers a different percentage discount than that she obtained from the supplier; and (c) the case of multiple (heterogeneous) buyers. Numerical examples are employed, here and throughout the thesis, to illustrate the practical applications of the models presented and the sensitivity to model parameters. Secondly, we consider a situation with a family of SKUs for which the supplier will offer a quantity discount, according to the aggregate purchases of the product group. Management of those items is based on the modified periodic policy. From the supplier's point of view, what are the optimal parameters (breakpoint and discount percentage)? For deterministic demand, we discuss the cases in which demand is both constant and price-sensitive. First as a noncooperative Stackelberg game, and then when the two parties make the discount and replenishment decisions jointly, we illustrate the impact of price-sensitivity and joint decision making on the supplier's discount policy. The third approach studies the case in which transportation of the goods by a common carrier (a public, for-hire trucking company) is integrated in the quantity discount decisions. In reality, it is quite difficult for the carrier to determine the proper transportation discount, especially in the case of LTL (less-than-truckload) trucking. This is not only because of the "phantom freight" phenomenon, caused by possible over-declaration of the weight by the shipper, but also due to the fact that the discount relates to both transportation and inventory issues. In this research, we study the problem of coordinating the transportation and quantity discount decisions from the perspectives of the parties who offer the discounts, rather than the ones that take them. By comparison of the noncooperative and cooperative models, we show that cooperation provides better overall results, not only to each party, but also to the entire supply chain. To divide the extra payoffs gained from that cooperation, we further conduct a coalition analysis, based upon the concept of "Shapley Value." A detailed algorithm and numerical examples are provided to illustrate the solution procedure. Finally, the thesis concludes with comprehensive remarks. We summarize the contributions of this thesis, show the overall results obtained here, and present the directions that our research may take in the future.

by Lai Hin Lun.
Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2001.
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 54-57).
Abstracts in English and Chinese.
Abstract --- p.i
Acknowledgement --- p.iv
Table of Contents --- p.v
List of Figures --- p.vii
Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1
Chapter Chapter 2 --- Related Works --- p.8
Chapter 2.1 --- Source Modeling --- p.9
Chapter 2.2 --- CBR Scheduler for VBR Delivery --- p.11
Chapter 2.3 --- Brute Force Scheduler: --- p.15
Chapter 2.4 --- Temporal Smoothing Scheduler: --- p.16
Chapter Chapter 3 --- Decreasing Rate Scheduling --- p.22
Chapter 3.1 --- MDRS with Minimum Buffer Requirement --- p.25
Chapter 3.2 --- 2-Rate MDRS --- p.31
Chapter Chapter 4 --- Performance Evaluation --- p.33
Chapter 4.1 --- Buffer Requirement --- p.35
Chapter 4.2 --- Startup Delay --- p.38
Chapter 4.3 --- Disk Utilization --- p.39
Chapter 4.4 --- Complexity --- p.43
Chapter Chapter 5 --- Conclusion --- p.49
Appendix --- p.51
Bibliography --- p.54

M.Ing.
Previous research have entailed developing various network traffic models which describe network traffic behaviour, but no model describes differential traffic treatment to such an extent to be able to relate the impact different rates have on the various traffic classes. The main reason for this being the amount of parameters that needs to be taken into consideration. Previous research performed in this field, analysed certain schedulers according to fixed parameters, thus having a very limited results base. No detailed comparison of these schedulers behaviour in a Differentiated Services (DiffServ) environment is available since the parameters under which their analysis were performed are different. A first objective entailed performing a thorough literature survey concerning DiffSery to summarize the research material that is available. This gives us as well as the reader a foundation to start any future research and the means to make good use of this information. Secondly, a DiffSery module was ported from an old version of Ns-2 which was developed for an older Linux kernel and GCC version; to the newest available. Ns-2 was also limited in respects to traffic generation. We developed a traffic generator that generates traffic according to a certain statistical distribution. This generation is performed according to packet size since distributions according to arrival time was partially implemented already. Our aim is to provide an in depth study regarding the performance of the various schedulers in the network and the effect various network parameters have on them. Since no real-network trace data is available, we resort to computer simulations. With Ns-2, we implement four different standardized perhop-behaviours (PHBs), namely expedited forwarding (EF), assured forwarding (AF1, AF2) and besteffort (BE). The evaluation focuses mainly on the EF PHB in regards to the other PHBs. The priority queuing (PQ), start-time fair queuing (SFQ), self-clocked fair queuing (SCFQ), weighted fair queuing (WFQ), worst-case weighted fair queuing plus (WF2Q+) and low latency queuing (LLQ) scheduling mechanisms are analysed to find their performance in relation to EF traffic and BE traffic. The QoS metrics that are focused on are: one-way delay (OWD), inter-packet delay variation (IPDV) and packet loss. We used Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) to analyse the impact of the various DiffSery node configuration parameters such as rates, packets sizes, schedulers and queue weights have on the output QoS metrics mentioned previously. Regression is then used to explain the relationship between several of these factors and metrics.

碩士
元智大學
工業工程與管理學系
95
Local large TFT LCD industries are all beginning to produce middle and small sized LCD’s, yet middle and small sized TFT LCD are in an environment of small amounts with big varieties. In face of such a complex production characteristic, the arrangement and optimization in scheduling for different products of various manufacturing conditions is one major challenge TFT-LCD businesses must face currently. Within an environment of mixed MTO and MTS production lines, it is apparent that the short-term need for MTO may cause bottleneck resources to shift around and manifest several bottlenecks. This research proposes principles of production control, and uses the MTO product delivery rate, MTS product throughput rate, MTS product output, and invested material differences as the main standards for audit of performance. The designation of every process batch at all MTO work stations should be superior to all the process batches at the MTS. When the lacking material amount of bottleneck work stations is high, the MTS process batch designative order within the bottleneck work stations would be higher than the MTO process batch, thus preventing idleness from happening. The results that our tested example has given us, proves that the production control principles proposed in this research, will produce excellent results in the delivery rate and processing time for the MTO product and output performance and invested material differences in MTS production.