This study concerns school-development and the political public sphere in a Swedish context. It draws on an earlier study in which school-leaders expressed political signals in relation to school-development as being ambiguous and contradictive. On one hand they saw a political support for openness and dialogue in school. On the other hand they perceived control and competition. Another point of departure for the study is what tentatively was suggested as a shift in focus for the state government of schools during the 1990:s, from decentralization as such to an increased emphasis on control of its consequences. The overriding aim of the study was to illuminate how this shift could be understood regarding the relation between school-development and the political public sphere. The study was conducted within a larger, national project where almost 900 schools worked without the national time table. Policy texts behind the governments’ decision on starting the project were used in order to describe and analyse school policy. School-leaders´ accounts on school-work and school-development in the project was used for analysis and description of school practice. Habermas’ theory of communicative action, particularly his notions on “the welfare-state crisis” as an opening for a revitalized political public sphere grounded upon communicative action, was used as a theoretical frame for the study. The results support the assumption that school policy, as formulated in the studied documents, did shift over time from a focus on decentralization to an emphasis on control of its consequences. The school-leaders, however, gave voice to a school practice where the importance of a communicative direction was emphasized. The overall conclusion is that while a vital political public sphere in Habermas´ terms is supported in school practice, school policy seems to direct school development in the opposite direction, thereby closing the opportunity for school to support a revitalized public sphere.

Detta är en kvalitativ uppsats med syfte att ge en inblick i hur ett antal läroböcker och lärare valt att belysa Sveriges nationella minoritetsspråk i Svenska B på gymnasiet. Jag har analyserat fem läroböcker böcker i svenska, samtliga utgivna efter år 2000. Analysen visade att alla analyserade böcker utom en har gett minoritetsspråken mycket lite utrymme. Informationen i majoriteten av böckerna fokuserar på vilka minoritetsspråken är och vilka rättigheter de sedan 2000 erhållit. I tre av de analyserade böckerna nämns den historiska aspekten men informationen är ofta tagen ur sin kontext. Till studien intervjuades också tre verksamma gymnasielärare i svenska med avsikten att ta reda hur de tolkar minoritetsspråkens roll i Svenska B. Resultatet visade att samtliga informanter gav minoritetsspråken mycket lite och ibland inget utrymme i Svenska B. Sammanfattningsvis kan sägas att minoritetsspråken varken i den analyserade litteraturen eller av de intervjuade lärarna gavs vidare stort utrymme. / This is a qualitative essay in order to study how a number of textbooks and teachers illuminate Sweden’s national minority languages in the B-course in Swedish, in the upper secondary school. Five Swedish textbooks, published after year 2000 has been analysed which showed that all books except one gave the minority languages little room and that the information in the majority of textbooks was focused on which languages that are the minority languages and the rights they have received. In three books of five, the historical aspect is mentioned but it is often taken out of its context. For the study I also interviewed three active Swedish teachers with the intention to find out there view on the minority languages role in the Swedish b-course. The result showed that all teachers gave the minority languages very little or sometimes no space at all.

Demands for including more functions such as haptic guiding in power steering systems in road vehicles have increased with requirements on new active safety and comfort systems. Active safety systems, which have been proven to have a positive effect on overall vehicle safety, refer to systems that give the driver assistance in more and less critical situations to avoid accidents. Active safety features are going to play an increasingly important roll in future safety strategies; therefore, it is essential that sub systems in road vehicles, such as power steering systems, are adjusted to meet new demands. The traditional Hydraulic Power Assisted Steering, HPAS, system, cannot meet these new demands, due to the control unit's pure hydro-mechanical solution. The Active Pinion concept presented in this thesis is a novel concept for controlling the steering wheel torque in future active safety and comfort applications. The concept, which can be seen as a modular add-on added to a traditional HPAS system, introduces an additional degree of freedom to the control unit. Different control modes used to meet the demands of new functionality applications are presented and tested in a hardware-in-the-loop test rig. This thesis also covers various aspects of hydraulic power assisted steering systems in road vehicles. Power steering is viewed as a dynamic system and is investigated with linear and non-linear modeling techniques. The valve design in terms of area gradient is essential for the function of the HPAS system; therefore, a method involving optimization has been developed to determine the valve characteristic. The method uses static measurements as a base for calculation and optimization; the results are used in both linear and the non-linear models. With the help of the linear model, relevant transfer functions and the underlying control structure of the power steering system have been derived and analyzed. The non-linear model has been used in concept validation of the Active Pinion. Apart from concept validation and controller design of the active pinion, the models have been roven effective to explain dynamic phenomena related to HPAS systems, such as the chattering phenomena and hydraulic lag. / The printed version and the electronic version differ in that the electronic version contains two built in video films (see page 78 and page 89).

When driving a vehicle on the road, the driver has to compensate continuously for small directional deviations from the desired course due to disturbances such as crosswinds, road irregularities and unintended driver inputs. These types of deviations have a tiring effect on the driver and should therefore be minimised. When the magnitude of these disturbances increases, especially with crosswind, the directional deviation might become so large that the driver will have difficulties in compensating for it, and will thereby affect the traffic safety. The objective of this research work is to increase the understanding of the crosswind sensitivity of buses and to find solutions to the problem of improving the safety of buses with respect to crosswind performance. The work presented in this thesis contributes to increased knowledge about the directional stability of buses under the influence of crosswind gusts through parameter studies using detailed vehicle simulation models, through full-scale experiments and through studies of the effect of steering feel on the subjective and objective evaluation of crosswind performance. A natural crosswind gust model has been derived from wind tunnel measurements and implemented in a multi-body dynamics simulation tool. The aerodynamic loads of the crosswind gust model have been applied on a detailed vehicle model and the behaviour of the vehicle model has been studied for various vehicle configurations in both open- and closed-loop manoeuvres. The vehicle model, with parameters corresponding to real vehicle data, has been validated and the agreement with measurements is good. A method for estimating the aerodynamic loads on a bus due to crosswind on a road section is also presented. Aerodynamic loads under real conditions were estimated using this method and these data were thereafter used in a study where the effect of steering feel on the subjective and objective evaluation of crosswind performance was investigated using a moving-base driving simulator, with the aim of finding a relationship between steering feel and crosswind sensitivity. The thesis covers the influence of changing chassis-related parameters and aerodynamics-related parameters on the crosswind sensitivity, as well as the influence of the setting of the steering system on the crosswind performance of the driver-vehicle system. The results identify areas of high potential for improving the crosswind sensitivity of buses, such as the centre of gravity location and the yaw moment overshoot at gust entry. Furthermore, the study shows the importance of having a vehicle that facilitates prompt driver corrections for reducing the lateral deviation under crosswind excitation; i.e. it is shown that a steering system with the possibility of changing the yaw rate gradient referencing the steering-wheel input when the vehicle is subjected to a sudden crosswind has a good potential for improving the crosswind performance of the driver-vehicle system. / QC 20100722

Multi-trailer articulated heavy vehicles (MTAHVs) exhibit unstable motion modes at high speeds, including jack-knifing, trailer swing, and roll-over. These unstable motion modes may lead to fatal accidents. On the other hand, these vehicle combinations have poor maneuverability at low speeds. Of all contradictory design criteria of MTAHVs, the trade-off relationship between the maneuverability at low speeds and the lateral stability at high speeds is the most important and fundamental. This trade-off relationship has not been adequately addressed. The goal of this research is to address this trade-off relationship through the design optimization of MTAHVs with active safety systems. A parallel design optimization (PDO) method is developed and applied to the design of MTAHVs with integrated active safety systems, which involve active trailer steering (ATS) control, anti-roll (AR) control, differential braking (BD) control, and a variety of combinations of these three control strategies. To derive model-based controllers, a single-trailer articulated heavy vehicle (STAHV) model with 5 degrees of freedom (DOF) and a MTAHV model with 7 DOF are generated. The vehicle models are validated with those derived using a commercial software package, TruckSim, in order to examine their applicability for the design optimization of MTAHVs with active safety systems. The PDO method is implemented to perform the concurrent design of the plant (vehicle model) and controllers. To simulate the closed-loop testing maneuvers, a driver model is developed and it is used to drive the virtual vehicle following the prescribed path. Case studies indicate that the PDO method is effective for identifying desired design variables and predicting performance envelopes in the early design stages of MTAHVs with active safety systems. / UOIT

In this thesis I set out to study how the reading of fictional literature is viewed, legitimatized and operationalized in two educational domains: the recently revised steering documents that all Swedish teachers must relate to, as well as a selection of teaching materials designed for education in the Swedish language for upper secondary school. The teaching material I have studied has been recently updated in order to correspond with the new steering documents. I relate my analysis to previous research about the use of fiction in education, and I also combine my analysis of the two educational domains to see whether the underlying intentions of the steering documents have influenced the revision of the teaching material. The outcome indicates that the steering documents’ previous focus on culture has diminished although a certain insecurity as to how to use the concept and deal with the issue of whose culture should be taught can be identified. The hierarchy between different “subjects” within Swedish language education remains, as well as the ambivalent view on literary canon. The steering documents for upper secondary school Swedish remain remarkably uncritical where the reading of fiction is concerned. In my analysis of the teaching material, I find that while the new steering documents’ focus on methods and concepts from traditional literary criticism has affected the material, it has not resulted in an increase of text-centered assignments in the teaching material.

The education sector can be seen as a cornerstone of today's society, an organization that is under constant change and evolve as society. The compulsory school system is of significant role in society that places high demands on its management. The following study investigates the requirements for documentation in primary school organization and operations, and how these requirements are perceived and affect the school's organization and activities of the study carried out at different levels of the organization so as to get an overall picture of its impact.   In order to analyze and create understanding of the results, the study applies the theory of New Public Management and various reforms that can be linked to the increased documentation requirements and its influence in the public administration. Study results show that there is a mixed picture of the documentation impact on the school system. Shown are both positive and negative effects of the documentation requirements. It also becomes clear that there is a connection between the theory and the increased documentation requirements.

A new design synthesis method for articulated heavy vehicles (AHVs) with an active trailer steering (ATS) system is examined and evaluated. Due to their heavy weights, large sizes, and complex configurations, AHVs have poor maneuverability at low speeds, and low lateral stability at high speeds. Various passive trailer steering and ATS systems have been developed for improving the low-speed maneuverability. However, they often have detrimental effects on the high-speed stability. To date, no systematic design synthesis method has been developed to coordinate the opposing design goals of AHVs. In this thesis, a new automated design synthesis approach, called a Single Design Loop (SDL) method, is proposed and investigated. The SDL method has the following distinguished features: 1) the optimal active design variables of ATS systems and the optimal passive vehicle design variables are searched in a single design loop; 2) in the design process, to evaluate the vehicle performance measures, a driver model is developed and it „drives‟ the vehicle model based on the well-defined testing specifications; and 3) the ATS controller derived from this method has two operational modes: one for improving the lateral stability at high speeds and the other for enhancing path-following at low speeds. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the new SDL method, it is applied to the design of an ATS system for an AHV with a tractor/full-trailer. In comparison to a conventional design approach, the SDL method can search through solutions in a much larger design space, and consequently it provides a more comprehensive set of optimal designs.. / UOIT

I denna rapport redogör projektgruppen för resultatet i kursen examensarbete 15hp (C-nivå) utfört på maskiningenjörsprogrammet, inriktning produktutveckling och design, vid Jönköpings Tekniska Högskola. Examensarbetet har utförts i samarbete med Kongsberg Power Product Systems AB i Ljungsarp. Syftet var att utveckla en ny typ av övre teleskopfunktion till Kongsbergs modulsystem för ställbara rattstänger. Utgångspunkten i projektet var att skapa en mer ergonomisk förarmiljö, något som Kongsbergs kunder och marknaden för långsamtgående fordon allt mer efterfrågar. Kraven som ställts på projektet bestod i största del av axiella och radiella krafter som konstruktionen skulle klara av, samt den axiella förlängningen av rattstången. För att strukturera arbetet har en produktutvecklingsmetod från boken The Mechanical Design Process av David G. Ullman använts. Dessa metoder har använts i genomförandefasen för att leda fram till resultatet. Projektet har resulterat i ett koncept som löser Kongsbergs krav på förbättrad förarergonomi. / In this report the project team describes the outcome of the course degree project 15 ECTS (C level) performed at the program of mechanical engineering, targeted product development and design, at Jönköping University. The degree project has been carried out in cooperation with Kongsberg Power Products Systems AB in Ljungsarp. The aim was to develop a new type of upper telescopic function to the Kongsberg modular system for adjustable steering columns. The starting point of the project was to create a more ergonomic driver's environment, as Kongsberg’s customers and the market for slow vehicles are increasingly demanding. The requirements placed on the project consisted in the main part of the forces that construction would meet, and the axial extension of the steering column. To structure the work a product development methodology from the book The Mechanical Design Process by David G. Ullman has been used. The project has resulted in a concept that solves Kongsberg's demands for improved driver ergonomics.

Direct Digital Frequency Synthesis (DDFS) is a method of producing an analog waveform by generating a time-varying signal in digital form, succeeded by digital-to-analog reconstruction. At behavioral level the bit products with specified weights are used to generate the sine wave. In representation of a sine wave both positive and negative weights are generated. Since negative weights are not desired in design, the negative weights are transformed to positive weights. To reduce the number of current sources and control signals, bit product signals of those current sources which cannot be switched on simultaneously and have equal weights are shared. After sharing weights, the control signals are reduced to from 59 to 43 and current sources from 207 to 145. Different control words are used by the DDFS system in order to generate different frequencies. The control word is successively added to the previous value in a 20-bit accumulator. Nine most significant bits out of these twenty bits are used for the DAC. Since the Current Steering DAC architecture is suitable for high speed and high resolution purposes, so a 9-bit nonlinear current steering DAC is used to convert the output of bit products to the analog sine wave. Seven bits are used to generate one quarter of the sine wave. Eighth and ninth bits are used to generate the full sine wave. HCMOS 9 (130 nm) ST Microelectronics process is used by employing high speed NMOS and PMOS transistors. The bit products (control signals) are computed by using complementary static CMOS logic which then act as control signals for the current sources after passing through D-flip flops. Practical design issues of current sources and parts of digital logic were studied and implemented using the Cadence full-custom design environment.