Energy saving and fuel consumption reduction techniques are among the principal interests for both academic institutions and industries, in particular, system optimization and hybridization. This paper presents a new hydraulic hybrid system layout for mobile machinery implemented on a middle size excavator. The hybridization procedure took advantage of a dynamic programming (DP) algorithm, which was also utilized for the hybrid components dimensioning and control strategy definition. A dedicated experimental activity on test bench was performed on the main components of the energy recovery system (ERS). The JCMAS working cycle was considered as the reference test for a fuel consumption comparison between the standard and the hybrid excavator. A fuel saving up to 8% on the JCMAS cycle, and up to 11% during the digging cycle, has been allowed by the proposed hybrid system.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Delineating the relevant product and geographic market is an important first step in competition inquiries, as it permits an assessment of market power and substitutability. Critics often argue that market definition is arbitrary and increasingly unnecessary, as modern econometric models can directly predict the competitive effects of a merger or anti-competitive practice. Yet practical constraints (such as limited data) and legal considerations (such as case law precedence) continue to support a formal definition of the relevant market. Within this context, this dissertation develops three tools to improve market definition: two empirical tools for cases with limited data and one conceptual decision-making tool to elucidate important factors and risks in market definition. The first tool for market definition involves a systematic analysis of consumer characteristics (i.e. the demographic and income profiles of consumers). Consumer characteristics can assist in defining markets as consumers with similar characteristics tend to switch to similar products following a price rise. Econometric models therefore incorporate consumer characteristics data to improve price elasticity estimates. Even though data constraints often prevent the use of econometric models, a systematic analysis of consumer characteristics can still be useful for market definition. Cluster analysis offers a statistical technique to group products on the basis of the similarity of their consumers. characteristics. A recently concluded partial radio station merger in South Africa offers a case study for the use of consumer characteristics in defining markets. The second tool, or set of tools, for defining markets involves using tests for price co-movement. Critics argue that price tests are not appropriate for defining markets, as these tests are based on the law of one price - which tests only for price linkages and not for the ability to raise prices. Price tests, however, are complements for existing market definition tools, rather than substitutes. Critics also argue that price tests suffer from low statistical power in discriminating close and less close substitutes. But these criticisms ignore inter alia the role of price tests as tools for gathering information and the range of price tests with better size and power properties that are available, including new stationarity tests and autoregressive models. A recently concluded investigation in the South African dairy industry offers price data to evaluate the market definition insights of various price tests. The third tool is conceptual in nature and involves a decision rule for defining markets. If market definition is a binary classification problem (a product is either 'in' or 'out' of the market), it faces risks of misclassification (incorrectly including or excluding a product). Analysts can manage these risks using a Bayesian decision rule that balances (1) the weight of evidence in favour of and against substitutability, (2) prior probabilities determined by previous cases and economic research, and (3) the loss function of the decision maker. The market definition approach adopted by the South African Competition Tribunal in the Primedia / Kaya FM merger investigation offers a useful case study to illustrate the implementation of such a rule in practice. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Mededingingsake neem gewoonlik 'n aanvang met die afbakening van die relevante produk- en geografiese mark. Die markdefinisie-proses werp dikwels lig op markmag en substitusie-moontlikhede, en ondersteun dus die beoordeling van 'n mededingingsaak. Markdefinisie word egter deur kritici as arbitrer en selfs onnodig geag, veral aangesien ekonometriese modelle die uitwerking van 'n samesmelting of 'n teen-mededingende praktyk op mededinging direk kan voorspel. Tog verkies praktisyns steeds om markte formeel af te baken op grond van sowel praktiese oorwegings (insluitend databeperkings wat ekonometriese modellering bemoeilik) as regsoorwegings (insluitend die rol van presedentereg). Hierdie proefskrif ontwikkel dus drie hulpmiddels vir die definisie van markte: twee empiriese hulpmiddels vir gevalle waar data beperk is sowel as 'n denkhulpmiddel om o.a. risiko's rondom markdefinisie te bestuur. Die eerste hulpmiddel vir die definisie van markte behels die sistematiese analise van verbruikerseienskappe, insluitend die demografiese en inkomste-profiel van verbruikers. Verbruikerseienskappe werp lig op substitusie, aangesien soortgelyke verbruikers neig om na soortgelyke produkte te verwissel na aanleiding van 'n prysstyging. Ekonometriese modelle maak derhalwe van data omtrent verbruikerseienskappe gebruik om beramings van pryselastisiteit te verbeter. Hoewel databeperkings dikwels ekonometriese modellering beperk, kan verbruikerseienskappe op sigself steeds nuttig wees vir die afbakening van die mark. Trosanalise bied 'n statistiese metode vir 'n stelselmatige ondersoek van verbruikerseienskappe vir markdefinisie, deurdat dit produkte op grond van gelyksoortige verbruikerseienskappe groepeer. 'n Onlangse ondersoek in Suid-Afrika rakende die gedeeltelike samesmelting van Primedia and Kaya FM radiostasies bied data om die gebruik van trosanalise en verbruikerseienskappe vir markdefinisie-doeleindes te illustreer. Die tweede hulpmiddel vir markdefinisie behels statistiese toetse vir verwantskappe tussen prystydreekse van verskillende produkte of streke. Hierdie prystoetse is gebaseer op die wet van een prys en beklemtoon prysverwantskappe eerder as die vermoë om pryse te verhoog (wat die uiteindelike fokus in mededingingsbeleid is). Hierdie klem verminder egter nie noodwendig die insigte wat prystoetse bied nie, aangesien markdefinisie dikwels 'n omvattende analise verg. Prystoetse se statistiese onderskeidingsvermoe word ook dikwels deur kritici as swak beskryf. Hierdie tegniese kritiek beskou prystoetse as eng-gedefinieerde hipotesetoetse eerder as hulpmiddels vir die verkenning van substitusiepatrone. Voorts ignoreer hierdie tegniese kritiek 'n verskeidenheid nuwe prystoetse met beter onderskeidingsvermoë, insluitend nuwe toetse vir stasioneriteit en nuwe autoregressiewe modelle. 'n Onlangse mededingingsondersoek in die Suid-Afrikaanse melkindustrie verskaf prysdata om die verrigting van verskillende prystoetse vir geografiese markdefinisie te ondersoek. Die derde hulpmiddel vir die definisie van markte behels 'n besluitnemingsreël. Hiervolgens word markdefinisie as 'n binêre klassifikasieprobleem beskou, waar 'n produk of streek 'binne' of 'buite' die mark geplaas moet word. Gegewe dat hierdie klassifikasie onder toestande van onsekerheid geskied, is markdefinisie blootgestel aan risiko's van wanklassifikasie. Praktisyns kan hierdie risiko‟s bestuur deur gebruik te maak van 'n Bayesiaanse besluitnemingsreël. Sodanige reël balanseer (1) die gewig van getuienis ten gunste van en teen substitusie, (2) a priori waarskynlikhede soos bepaal deur vorige mededingingsake en akademiese navorsing, en (3) die verliesfunksie van die besluitnemer. Die benadering van die Suid-Afrikaanse Mededingingstribunaal in die saak rakende die gedeeltelike samesmelting van Primedia en Kaya FM bied 'n nuttige gevallestudie om hierdie beginsels te demonstreer.

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In this thesis, an approach is presented for the generation of grids suitable for the simulation of high Reynolds number viscous flows in complex three-dimensional geometries. The automatic and reliable generation of such grids is today on the biggest bottlenecks in the industrial CFD simulation environment. In the proposed approach, unstructured tetrahedral grids are employed for the regions far from the viscous boundaries of the domain, while semi-structured layers of high aspect ratio prismatic and hexahedral elements are used to provide the necessary grid resolution inside the boundary layers and normal to the viscous walls. The definition of the domain model is based on the STEP ISO standard and the topological information contained in the model is used for applying the hierarchical grid generation parameters defined by the user. An efficient, high-quality and robust algorithm is presented for the generation of the unstructured simplicial (triangular of tetrahedral) part of the grid. The algorithm is based on the Delaunay triangulation and the internal grid points are created following a centroid or frontal approach. For the surface grid generation, a hybrid approach is also proposed similar to the volume. Semi-structured grids are generated on the surface grid (both on the edges and faces of the domain) to improve the grid resolution around convex and concave ridges and corners, by aligning the grid elements in the directions of high solution gradients along the surface. A method is also developed for automatically setting the grid generation parameters related to the surface grid generation based on the curvature of the surface in order to obtain an accurate and smooth surface grid. Finally, a semi-structured prismatic/hexahedral grid generation algorithm is presented for the generation of the part of grid close to the viscous walls of the domain. The algorithm is further extended with improvements meant to increase the grid quality around concave and convex ridges of the domain, where the semi-structured grids are known to be inadequate. The combined methodology is demonstrated on a variety of complex examples mainly from the automotive and aeronautical industry.

114 pp. / Riparian areas occupy less than 2% of the arid Western United States. Their importance is disproportionate to the small area they occupy because of their multiple use applications. Riparian areas provide recreational amenities, habitat and travel corridors for wildlife, livestock grazing areas and influence water quality and quantity. In Arizona, as in many other states, there is a need to provide science-based educational publications to inform the public on riparian areas. In this publications the information will focus on: 1) the definition, importance and characterization of riparian areas 2) hydrologic, geomorphic, climatic, and biological processes in riparian areas, and 3) human alterations to riparian areas. This information is essential for land-managers and the general public to manage properly or restore healthy riparian areas.

This thesis is a case study conducted at the Torsby hospital, medicine department in Torsby, Sweden. The hospital has some financial, communication, and process standardizing problems and was aiming to solve them by implementing lean strategies. The data for this study were collected through structured interviews and observations in the hospital. A thorough discussion of the information gathered from the interviews and the observations made are presented related to the theoretical frame of the study. The findings of this study showed that the lean concept is actually applicable to the healthcare system except for some problems that may affect the success of the lean implementation process in the hospital. By removing or fixing these problems, the hospital can reap the benefits of the implementation process. This study presents and discusses problems in question and suggests some relevant solutions.

This study investigates educators' experiences in choosing material for learners in the inclusive classroom setting as clearly stated in chapter one. Chapter two explored the literature on the learning and teaching support materials and the processes involved. The definition of learning and teaching support materials was explored. The kinds, importance and role of learning and teaching support, were discussed and the role is seen as a vehicle which enhances the awareness for expression and opportunities to capture evidence of learners knowledge. Guidelines to consider in the process of selecting learning and teaching support materials and the utilization thereof, as well as the funding of learning and teaching support materials received attention. This chapter further explored the inclusive classroom where inclusion is defined; the nature of inclusive classroom was discussed. The benefits and the criticism of inclusive classroom settings were also explored. In chapter three, the empirical research design used in the study is discussed. Focus group interviews in qualitative study were used to explore educators' experiences in choosing learning and teaching support material in inclusive classroom settings. Chapter four highlighted the research methods used to investigate the problems of this study. The application of the focus interview was explained in detail because the focus group was used for the collection of data which was analysed and interpreted. The data revealed that educators experience a number of difficulties in choosing learning and teaching support materials for learners in inclusive classroom settings. The last chapter concludes the study with recommendations on the way to assist educators in choosing materials for learners in the inclusive classroom setting. / Thesis (M.Ed.)--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2008.

The knowledge in the industry varies and it is far from all that works actively and continuously with Life Cycle Assessment. Discussions on issues dealing in particular with standardization,implementation, resources, future scenarios and advocacy opportunities occur frequently, and in the form of different standpoints. A common methodology and standard is demanded by all respondents. It is considered as one of the major inhibitions, as well as knowledge and the lack of interest from clients when it comes to the demand and use of LCA. It will require education in the subject at all levels of the company that deals with the analysis. Adequate knowledge is a must to use the LCA tool optimally and will be required for it to be considered cost effective and worth investing in. Data tools are a prerequisite and requests have been made to develop simpler and more manageable programs. The clients play an important role in the initial stages when the requirements tend to follow throughout the project. The production phase will be more focused as industry reports highlights it. The future of LCA and its implementation is considered to be good.

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Today, eavesdropping is becoming a common issue in the rapidly growing digital network and has foreseen the need for secret communication channels embedded in digital media. In this paper, a novel steganography technique designed for Standard Definition Digital Television (SDTV) H.264/AVC encoded video sequences is presented. The algorithm introduced here makes use of the compression properties of the Context Adaptive Variable Length Coding (CAVLC) entropy encoder to achieve a low complexity and real-time inserting method. The chosen scheme hides the private message directly in the H.264/AVC bit stream by modifying the AC frequency quantized residual luminance coefficients of intrapredicted I-frames. In order to avoid error propagation in adjacent blocks, an interlaced embedding strategy is applied. Likewise, the steganography technique proposed allows self-detection of the hidden message at the target destination. The code source was implemented by mixing MATLAB 2010 b and Java development environments. Finally, experimental results have been assessed through objective and subjective quality measures and reveal that less visible artifacts are produced with the technique proposed by reaching PSNR values above 40.0 dB and an embedding bit rate average per secret communication channel of 425 bits/sec. This exemplifies that steganography is affordable in digital television.