This dissertation concerns the development of market information technologies in the London Stock Exchange, c. 1945-1992. Based on archival research in London, Cambridge and Edinburgh, and 20 semistructured interviews with former technologists, brokers, and marketmakers, my dissertation identifies the social, technological and institutional factors that allowed dealings in bonds and equities to move off the trading floor of the Stock Exchange and onto competing electronic platforms. My dissertation utilises the history of market information technologies as an occasion for producing a multi-layered analysis of the material, social, and regulatory transformations of finance in the City of London between c. 1945 and the mid 1990s. In particular, my dissertation deals with the rise of the so-called ‘information age’ in relation to British finance. The analysis is carried out in three parts, each tackling a specific ‘myth’ on the role of information and communication technologies in contemporary finance. The first part (chapters 3-4) deals with the dematerialisation of finance, demonstrating the often ignored character of technologies, materialities and their associated expertise in the constitution of the market. The second part (chapter 5) deconstructs the concept of disintermediation by analysing the social history of broking and jobbing in post-war City of London. Specifically, this part argues that changes in financial practices amongst the membership of the Stock Exchange were neither determined by the adoption of computers nor defined by a pre-existing culture of gentlemanly capitalism. Rather, they derived from the adaptation of market participants to a changing economic and social environment. The third part of this thesis (chapter 6) engages with deregulation. In particular, it provides an account of three broad patterns of financial regulation in Britain and the emergence of the current understanding of financial markets as manageable entities. The dissertation finalises by exploring the role of ‘informational metaphors’ in mediating the practices, materialities and regulations of the London Stock Exchange.

Zheng, Wujie. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2011. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 128-141). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese.

Uma das atribuições da engenharia de automação é o desenvolvimento de solução de automação e controle de processos contínuos industriais. Para tanto, a principal ferramenta emprega para este controle é a ação de controle Proporcional-Integral-Derivativo (PID). Nas últimas décadas diversas empresas fabricantes de equipamentos de automação industrial têm desenvolvido e aprimorado seus controladores industriais. Estes, além de realizarem o controle de processo por lógica de intertravamento, também possuem a ação de controle PID com a finalidade de executar o controle de processo contínuo como controle de velocidade, controle de pressão, controle de nível, etc. Porém, devido a grande variedade de controladores industriais por conseqüência, a grande variedade de implementações instrução PID, implica, muitas vezes, em falta padronização da programação e operação do algoritmo da equação PID implementados nos mais diversos controladores industriais. Tal fato dificulta a engenharia de automação industrial em desenvolver controle de processos contínuos através de instruções PID. Este trabalho de pesquisa aborda o desenvolvimento de metodologia \"MAFPID\" como ferramenta de engenharia de automação para aferir o funcionamento da instrução de controle PID implementada em equipamentos de controle e automação. Esta metodologia é constituída de três Etapas de testes. A primeira Etapa constitui o estudo do equipamento testado a partir das documentações fornecidas pelo fabricante. A segunda Etapa constitui de teste dos parâmetros proporcional, integral e derivativo, realizados no controlador industrial isolado de qualquer processo. A terceira Etapa constitui de teste do controlador interagindo com um circuito analógico. Este circuito simula o comportamento de alguns processos industriais, fornecendo ao controlador aferido sinais de entradas e de saída semelhantes aos processos reais. Este trabalho também apresenta dois estudos de caso, nos quais foi aplicada a metodologia MAFPID. / One of attributions of the automation engineering is the development of automation solution and control of industrial continuous processes. For in such a way, the main tool uses for this control is the action of Proportional-Integral-Derivative control (PID). In the last diverse decades companies equipment manufacturers of industrial automation have developed and improved its industrial controllers. These, besides carrying through the control of process for interlocking logic, also possess the action of control PID with the purpose to execute the control of continuous process as control of speed, control of pressure, control of level, etc. However, due to great variety of industrial controllers for consequence, the great variety of implementations instruction PID, it implies in lack standardization of the programming and operation of the algorithm of equation PID implemented in the most diverse industrial controllers. Such fact, it makes difficult the engineering of industrial automation in developing control of continuous processes through instructions PID. This work of research approaches the development of methodology MAFPID as tool of engineering of automation to survey the functioning of the instruction of control PID implemented in control equipment and automation. This methodology is constituted of three stages of tests. The first stage constitutes the study of the equipment tested from the documentations supplied for the manufacturer. The second stage constitutes of test of the parameters proportional, integral and derivative, carried through in the isolated industrial controller of any process. The third stage constitutes of test of the controller interacting with an analogical circuit. This circuit simulates the behavior of some industrial processes, supplying signals of input and output to the surveyed controller of similar to the real processes. This work also presents two studies of case, in which was applied methodology MAFPID.

Typescript (photocopy) / Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

A challenge in Underwater Acoustics is identifying the independent variables associated with an environment’s ambient noise. A strict definition of ambient noise would focus on non-transient signatures and exclude transient impacts from marine mammals, pelagic fish species, man-made sources, or weather events such as precipitation or wind speeds. Recognizing transient signatures in acoustic spectra is an essential element for providing environmental intelligence to the U.S. Navy, specifically the acoustic signatures from meteorological events. While weather event detection in acoustic spectra has been shown in previous studies, leveraging these concepts via U.S. Navy assets is largely an unknown. Environmental intelligence collection can be improved by detecting precipitation events and establishing wind velocities with acoustic signatures. This will further improve meteorological models by enabling validation from both manned and unmanned sub-surface assets.

The social impacts of new information technology have attracted much attention in recent years. This study looked at the personal computer's impact on the public library's services and functions. Particular attention was paid to the public access personal computer. The method involved a Baseline survey to establish the availability and use of public access personal computers in Australian public libraries and a Delphi survey to consider possible futures. The researcher's framework was drawn from reviews of the literatures on futures research; new information technology and its social impacts; the development and current situation of the public library; and innovation research. The Baseline survey revealed that public access personal computers were becoming increasingly common in public libraries, though their provision was not yet widespread. Existing and planned uses included games, literacy and various other educational activities. Overall the public access personal computer was viewed as a favourable innovation with the part it could play in developing community computer literacy receiving particular attention. The Delphi panel was comprised of 25 public librarians selected on the basis of their knowledge about computers in public libraries. The 41 Event Statements postulated a wide range of changes in - (1) the nature and method of service provision; (2) the patterns of client demand and use; and, (3) financial allocations. The results revealed greater variability of opinion about the likely time of occurrence of the Events than about their desirability. A high level of opinion change between the two Rounds did not produce much movement toward consensus - indicating that the panel had varied views of the future. Comment on both surveys indicated that the librarians were keen to develop services relevant to their communities and if public access personal computers were such a service they would strive to provide them. The Delphi survey proved a good vehicle for encouraging consideration of the future and further research using the method seems warranted.

Software testing, one of the most important methods for quality assurance, has become too expensive and error prone for complex modern software systems. Test automation aims to reduce the costs of software testing and to improve its reliability. Despite advances in test automation, there are some domains for which automation seems to be difficult, for example, testing software to reveal the presence of security vulnerabilities, testing for conformance to security properties that traverse several functionalities of an application such as privacy policies, and testing asynchronous concurrent systems. Although there are research works that aim to solve the problems of test automation for these domains, there is still a gap between the practice and the state of the art. These works describe specific approaches that deal with particular problems, generally under restricted conditions. Nevertheless, individually, they have not made noticeable impact on the practice in test automation for these domains. Therefore, there is a need for an integrated framework that binds specific approaches together in order to provide more complete solutions. It is also important for this framework to show how current test automation efforts, tools and frameworks, can be reused. This thesis addresses this need by describing a general model-based testing framework and its specialisation for the testing domains of security vulnerabilities, privacy policies and asynchronous systems

<p>THIS PAPER IS BASED on thesis work done at Volvo CE Component</p><p>Division in Eskilstuna, from April to October 2007. The thesis work</p><p>considered industrial robots within lean production. The purpose was to</p><p>come up with guidelines on how to work with industrial robots and</p><p>design productions cells in a lean environment. The authors have used</p><p>various techniques e.g. literature study, study visit and interviews to reach</p><p>their result. First the authors tried to make a picture of and define lean</p><p>automation and then they wanted to compare that picture with the</p><p>present state of the factory. The purpose was to limit the thesis work to</p><p>the part of automation that is built by industrial robots and therefore only</p><p>this type of automation is considered in the current state analysis. The</p><p>authors consider that a holistic view and a stable foundation are the most</p><p>important things to start to work with lean automation. The result that is</p><p>presented in this thesis is most of the times far from specific for the design</p><p>of the individual cells since the authors felt it more important to focus on</p><p>building the right environment for lean automation. The easiest and</p><p>quickest way to summarize the work is the guidelines that are based on</p><p>the current state analysis made at CE Component Division and the</p><p>authors’ definition of lean automation. The purpose of the guidelines are</p><p>to give Component a picture of how to work to create clearer directives</p><p>when, where and how much the company wishes to implement</p><p>automation. At the same time they are also meant to help build a structure</p><p>for work with maintenance, internal transports, packaging etc. The paper</p><p>also presents a way to work as well as a suggestion on how to work with</p><p>building an individual cell could be conducted.</p> / <p>DEN HÄR RAPPORTEN BYGGER på ett examensarbete som utfördes på</p><p>Volvo CE Component Division i Eskilstuna från april till oktober 2007.</p><p>Examensarbetet behandlade området industrirobotar i ett lean</p><p>produktionssystem och hade som syfte att komma med riktlinjer på hur</p><p>arbetet med industrirobotar bör bedrivas och robotceller designas i en lean</p><p>produktionsmiljö. Författarna har använt sig av ett antal olika sätt, bl.a.</p><p>litteraturstudier, studiebesök och intervjuer för att komma fram till sitt</p><p>resultat. Först försökte författarna göra sig en bild av och definiera lean</p><p>automation för att sedan jämföra den bilden med situationen i fabriken.</p><p>Utgångspunkten var att begränsa arbetet till den del av automationen som</p><p>är uppbyggd med industrirobotar och i nulägesanalysen kartlades därför</p><p>endast de celler som innehåller industrirobotar. Författarna anser att för</p><p>att arbeta med lean automation är helheten och grunden det viktigaste.</p><p>Det resultat som presenteras i den här rapporten koncentrerades därför</p><p>kring att skapa förutsättningarna för lean automation. Arbetet kan enklast,</p><p>snabbast sammanfattas i de riktlinjerna som togs fram utifrån</p><p>nulägesanalysen och definitionen av lean automation. Riktlinjerna är</p><p>tänkta att ge Component en bild på hur de bör arbeta för att skapa klarare</p><p>direktiv när, var och hur mycket företaget önskar att automatisera.</p><p>Samtidigt som de även är tänkta att bygga upp en struktur för arbete med</p><p>underhåll, interna transporter, emballage etc. Rapporten presenterar även</p><p>ett tänkt arbetssätt samt förslag på hur arbetet med att utforma den</p><p>enskilda cellen bör bedrivas.</p>

<p>För att vara framgångsrik i dagens tillverkningsindustri gäller det att vara konkurrenskraftig och komma med nya tillverkningssätt. Därför satsar Volvo Aero på lasersvetsning och automation. På Aero-Craft i USA grovbearbetas fläkthus i titan. Fläkthusets diameter är cirka tre meter och dess bakre del sätts idag samman från tre delar med hjälp av skruvförband och plasmasvets. Volvo Aero vill lasersvetsa dessa delar istället. En studie har därför påbörjats som skall visa hur en produktionscell för lasersvetsning skulle kunna se ut och fungera. Svetsarna är alla av typen stumsvetsar och det som skall svetsas är tre axiella skarvar, två rundskarvar och fastsvetsning av ett växellådsfäste. Innan svetsning häftsvetsas delarna först ihop och 3D-skanner används för inspektion. Efter att svetsen svalnat kontrolleras rundskarvarna av en digitalröntgen. Allt skall ske i produktionscellen. Resultatet presenterar en produktionscell uppdelad i två rum. Det första rummet är laserskyddat, och där utförs svetsning av axiella skarvar och växellådsfäste. Ett hål laserskärs ut där växellådsfästet skall sitta. Det andra rummet är både röntgen- och laserskyddat och där svetsas rundskarvar. En fogföljare med laserdiod och kamera används under svetsprocessen för att rikta laserstrålen efter skarven. I rum ett finns en processrobot och en hanteringsrobot och i rum två en processrobot. Fixturerna som presenteras i rapporten är endast konceptuella. Antalet fixturer är en till rum ett och två likadana till rum två. Fixtureringen i rum två utgörs av en expanderfixtur med rotgasbackar i aluminium. På Volvo Aero används vanligen expanderfixturer vid svetsning, men de har aldrig gjorts i den storlek som krävs för fläkthuset. Krav som ställs på manipulator är att den skall klara detaljens och fixturens vikt, samt att den skall klara uppsatta svetstoleranser.</p>

Nowadays, companies are facing several competitive pressures, which push them to seek for new and better ways to conduct their internal processes. One of this ways is throughout processes innovations that allow the company to establish and maintain competitive advantages; one example of this new trend is the emergence of eProcurement, an electronic system aimed to automate purchasing processes in organizations, which, if it is properly implemented, will derive in processes cost reduction and efficiency improvement on those same procedures. This study is focused on identifying the propeller factors that make companies to engage in this kind of ventures; as well as studying which are the outcomes generated inside the organizations once the electronic system has been implemented. Purpose The purpose of this thesis is to identify the elements that trigger automation of procurement processes in organizations; as well as describing the implications derived from automation during and after such implementation. The study was conducted through interviews with managers and final user from two Mexican companies which are currently using Oracle as their eProcurement tool. Conclusions The study found that depending on how well organizations prepare themselves and their staff for the upcoming change, different results may be obtained in terms of benefits and acceptability from final users. In order to avoid potential pitfalls, firms must bear in mind that, both operational and social awareness are key factors for a successful implementation. If a company takes into consideration their internal operational needs and staff opinions to base their decision of engaging on eProcurement, it will be more likely to obtain benefits related to cost reduction, improved efficiency and final user satisfaction.