Thesis (M.S. in Operations Research)--Naval Postgraduate School, June 2010. / Thesis Advisor(s): Royset, Johannes O. ; Second Reader: Wood, R. Kevin. "June 2010." Description based on title screen as viewed on July 14, 2010. Author(s) subject terms: Reliability-based Design Optimization, Failure Probability, Buffered Failure Probability, Structural Reliability. Includes bibliographical references (p. 37-41). Also available in print.

Thesis (M.Sc.)(Genetics--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Title from opening screen (viewed March 28, 2006). Summaries in English and Afrikaans. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1993.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1993.

<p> Theory has been an object of interest for HCI researchers working on questions related to disciplinary identity and maturity. And recently there have been empirical studies of theory use in HCI research publications. These recent studies are crucial for enriching our understanding of how HCI researchers use theoretical knowledge objects like Activity Theory or the Trajectories Conceptual Framework. Moreover, they establish precedent for conducting textual-analytic empirical studies of theory use. However, there are limitations to these recent empirical studies.</p><p> In this dissertation, I discuss several formative studies conducted during my doctoral career. These formative studies contribute material to the conceptual and theoretical frameworks that I apply in a summative study of theory use in five years of CHI best paper winners (n=90). These studies motivate three primary contributions. First, I provide an empirically grounded description of the richness and diversity of theory use in HCI scholarship. Second, I show that there is a growing collection of nascent HCI theories being proposed and developed. Finally, I suggest an alternative way of framing the HCI research community &ndash; one that embraces the diversity and richness of theory use evidenced in its scholarly publications.</p><p>

<p> <b>Purpose.</b> The purpose of the mixed methods study was to identify and describe the extent to which individual or team workspace contributes to innovation in an organizational setting as perceived by knowledge workers in California. In addition, the purpose was to identify stimulators and barriers in the physical workspace on innovation. A literature review revealed the importance of creativity and innovation in organizations. Gaps in the literature between workspace and innovation were examined and perspectives on the combination of workspace design and innovation were assessed. </p><p> <b>Methodology.</b> This mixed-method research design combined two methods, surveys and interviews, in a sequential manner. First, the quantitative component (surveys) was administered via a 53- question online survey. The results of the quantitative survey guided the qualitative interviews by prioritizing data and themes. The population for the study included full-time knowledge workers in California. </p><p> <b>Findings:</b> Respondents identified core dimensions within the Situational Outlook Questionnaire that led to innovation and creativity in the workspace environment. To further expand respondents acknowledged individual and team workspace factors that led to more innovative outcomes. Within the individual workspace technology surfaced as a primary driver of innovation. When asked about team workspace respondents were more constructive indicating concern over noise and interruptions. Additionally, the study asked about stimulators and barriers to innovation within the workspace. Stimulators included placement of staff within close proximity to key team members, design that encourages trust, and inspiring d&eacute;cor that awakens creativity. Lastly, barriers to innovation in the workspace included status quo mentality, decreasing square footage from individual workspace, and concerns with open space design. </p><p> <b>Recommendations for Action:</b> The author offers several recommendations for action including: optimize the right level of playfulness to drive innovation; avoid workspace fads and focus on workspace intent; add pulse surveys about employee workspace to drive design strategies that compliment innovation objectives; consider new ways of assigning space by giving thought to the requirements for the worker instead of seniority within an organization; adopt policies to reduce noise and utilize space more purposefully; lastly, the researcher introduces a new model to use when planning workspace that drives innovation.</p>

Class of 2011 Abstract / OBJECTIVES: To design a tool to assess for bias in studies for pharmacy services. METHODS: This study will involve reviewing published reports of studies comparing pharmacists’ services to usual services to identify the key study design components and methods for addressing study design limitations. We will then design a tool to assess further such studies for bias. RESULTS: The aspects of a good pharmacy services study that can be controlled include: large study population, equivalence of population at baseline, experimental mortality, multi-centered study, adequate adherence to treatment, and independence from study staff/manufacturer influence. If these things are controlled and/or accounted for it increases the strength of the study. CONCLUSION: The tool we have designed can successfully evaluate the quality of studies of pharmacy services.

Yes / Background: How to meaningfully partner with patients as data analysts remains obscure. A process evaluation of the ‘Improving the Safety and Continuity Of Medicines management at care Transitions’ (ISCOMAT) cluster randomised control trial of an intervention for improving medicines use for people living with heart failure is being conducted. The intervention includes patient held information on heart medicines and care, enhanced communication between hospital and community pharmacists, and increased engagement of community pharmacists with patient care post-hospital discharge. ISCOMAT patients living with heart failure were interviewed about experiences with the intervention. We sought to gain insights from patients on data collected to enhance our understanding of experiences with the intervention. Objective: To develop a method for involving patients as analysts of qualitative data in a process evaluation. Design: Patients and researchers co-analysed qualitative data. A framework method was applied involving; familiarisation, coding, developing an analytical framework and interpretation. The process was facilitated through home working and a workshop with a training component. Results: The co-designed framework enabled researchers to map all further patient interview data. Patients' specialist knowledge enhanced understanding of how the ISCOMAT intervention can be best implemented. Conclusions: Patients’ unique experiences can enhance validity and rigour in data analysis through sharing their interpretations of qualitative data. The involvement process is crucial in elucidating knowledge and avoiding tokenism. As analysts, patients gain an appreciation of research processes, building trust between researchers and patients. Group dynamics and involving patients throughout the whole research process are important considerations. / NIHR Grant RP-PG-0514-20009. NIHR Yorkshire and Humber Patient Safety Translational Research Centre.

No / This paper summarises recent experimental research on structural steel I-section beam/column connections for fire safety, based on a programme of research on robustness of different types of steel beam/column connections, carried out in collaboration between the Universities of Sheffield and Manchester. In this research project, two series of connection tests were conducted, one on isolated connections under different combinations of axial load, shear and moment at different elevated temperatures, and one on steel beam-to-column assemblies in fire, in which the resulting connection forces were varied during the fire exposure. This paper summarises the results and the main findings of these tests, focusing on connection failure modes, tying resistance, the rotation capacity of different types of connection and their potential influences on fire resistance of the connected members. The principal objective of this paper is to discuss the implications of this research project on integrating fire resistance into the design of steel-framed structures, firstly to highlight connection characteristics which contribute most to overall robustness, and to suggest how connection detailing might change to enable connections to possess such desirable characteristics.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Uppsala University, 1989. / In English. Includes bibliographical references (p. 582-592).