An expansive panel of well exposed (periglacial) strata of the Upper Kaza Group permitted a detailed study of the stratal architecture of proximal basin floor deposits in the Neoproterozoic Windermere turbidite system. Detailed stratigraphic and petrographic analyses identified six lithofacies: poorly-sorted, clast-rich mudstone (F1), thin-bedded siltstone and mudstone (F2), thick-bedded, massive sandstone (F3), medium-scale, cross-stratified sandstone (F4), mudstone-clast breccia (F5), and medium-bedded turbidites (F6). The spatial distribution of these facies identify five architectural elements: heterolithic feeder channel deposits (FA1), thin-bedded intralobe turbidites (FA2), terminal splay deposits (FA3), distributary channel deposits (FA4), and isolated scours (FA5). FA 1-4 are genetically related and form the basic building blocks of large-scale basin floor depositional lobes. FA 5, which is isolated to the stratigraphic top of the study area, is interpreted to have formed in a base-of-slope setting, and its superposition on FA 1-4 suggests the long-term progradation of the Windermere turbidite system.

Vibrations associated with lightweight floor systems, as a serviceability criterion, are not well addressed in current residential construction practice. Cold-formed steel floor systems are usually lighter and have less inherent damping. If designers are going to use the current span deflection criteria when designing residential floor systems, it is imperative to find the construction and design details that will limit these annoying vibrations in cold-formed steel floor systems. Presented in this seminar are the results from a recent laboratory study and field study on the vibration characteristics of cold-formed steel floors performed at the University of Waterloo. Several full-scale floor systems with varying construction and design details were constructed and tested, and several in situ floor systems were tested. The objectives of this research were: to evaluate the dynamic response of residential floor systems supported by cold-formed steel joists; to investigate the influence of span length, joist types, subfloor materials, toppings, ceilings, strongbacks, live loads and framing conditions on the vibration characteristics of cold-formed steel floor systems; to identify the critical construction details that will limit annoying floor vibrations; to compare the vibration characteristics of in situ floor systems and laboratory constructed floor systems; and to evaluate the vibration performance of laboratory and in situ floor systems based on current acceptability criteria.

Vibrations associated with lightweight floor systems, as a serviceability criterion, are not well addressed in current residential construction practice. Cold-formed steel floor systems are usually lighter and have less inherent damping. If designers are going to use the current span deflection criteria when designing residential floor systems, it is imperative to find the construction and design details that will limit these annoying vibrations in cold-formed steel floor systems. Presented in this seminar are the results from a recent laboratory study and field study on the vibration characteristics of cold-formed steel floors performed at the University of Waterloo. Several full-scale floor systems with varying construction and design details were constructed and tested, and several in situ floor systems were tested. The objectives of this research were: to evaluate the dynamic response of residential floor systems supported by cold-formed steel joists; to investigate the influence of span length, joist types, subfloor materials, toppings, ceilings, strongbacks, live loads and framing conditions on the vibration characteristics of cold-formed steel floor systems; to identify the critical construction details that will limit annoying floor vibrations; to compare the vibration characteristics of in situ floor systems and laboratory constructed floor systems; and to evaluate the vibration performance of laboratory and in situ floor systems based on current acceptability criteria.

This thesis summarizes the results of an experimental investigation involving the testing of push-out specimens with channel shear connectors. The test program involved the testing of 78 push-out specimens and was aimed at the development of new equations for channel shear connectors embedded in solid concrete slabs and slabs with wide ribbed metal deck oriented parallel to the beam. <p>The test specimens were designed to study the effect of a number of parameters on the shear capacity of channel shear connectors. Six series of push-out specimens were tested in two phases. The primary difference between the two phases was the height of the channel connector. Other test parameters included the compressive strength of concrete, the length and the web thickness of the channel. <p>Three different types of failure mechanisms were observed. In specimens with higher strength concrete, failure was caused by the fracture of the channel near the fillet with the channel web acting like a cantilever beam. Crushing-splitting of concrete was the observed mode of failure in specimens with solid slabs when lower strength concrete was used. In most of the specimens with metal deck slabs, a concrete shear plane type of failure was observed. In the specimens involving this type of failure, the channel connector remained intact and the concrete contained within the flute in front of channel web sheared off along the interface. <p>The load carrying capacity of a channel connector increased almost linearly with the increase in channel length. On average, the increase was about 39% when the channel length was increased from 50 mm to 100 mm. There was a further increase of 24% when the channel length was increased from 100 mm to 150 mm. The influence of web thickness of channel connector was significant when the failure occurred due to channel web fracture but was minimal for a concrete crushing-splitting type of failure. <p>The specimens with solid concrete slabs carried higher load compared to those with metal deck slabs. The increase in load capacity was 33% for specimens with 150 mm long channels but only 12% for those with 50 mm long channel connectors. <p>This investigation resulted in the development of a new equation for predicting the shear strength of channel connectors embedded in solid concrete slabs. The proposed equation provides much better correlation to test results than those obtained using the current CSA equation. <p>The results of specimens with metal deck slabs were used to develop a new equation for predicting the shear capacity of channel connectors embedded in slabs with metal deck oriented parallel to the beam. The values predicted by the proposed equation were in good agreement with the observed test values.

This paper analysis the cost-utility, measured in cost per QALY gained, of impact absorbent flooring that reduce hip fractures among institutionalized elderly in comparison to standard flooring. The study is based on experimental data from an elderly institution, where the absorbing floor was installed in 2010. Using a decision tree, the costs and benefits related to the new flooring are calculated on a one year basis, resulting in an incremental cost per QALY of 713327 SEK for the base case. Although the experimental data shows that there is an impact of the new flooring in reducing hip fractures a conclusion whether the policy is cost-effective or not can hardly be drawn. Sensitivity analysis based on a simulation of 5000 cases suggests that the result is robust. / Effektsamband i Samhället

<p>Introduction: Competition increases and companies need to adjust their business to stay competitive. Employees have gained an important for an or-ganisation and are often seen as the key to business success. Motiva-tion is important for increased performance. A reward system can, amongst other things, help an organisation to motivate, attract and retain their employees. Historically, rewards have concerned mostly senior management. We where interested in how a reward system could affect people further down in the hierarchy.</p><p>How can a reward system influence motivation in small shop-floor business units?</p><p>What are the benefits and possible pitfalls with a reward system for such a setting?</p><p>Purpose: The purpose of this report is slightly wider than what the research questions suggest. By thoroughly investigating the motivating ele-ments we aim to create a frame of reference, which is thought to give insight into the important components of a reward system and the motivating factors. It is our aim that this frame will be applicable to other settings similar to the one which we will investigate. We also intend to look into what positive and negative aspects there are and how the disadvantages with a reward system can be minimized.</p><p>Method: To fulfil our purpose we have chosen to perform a case study on the service unit of Hedin Göteborg Bil AB. In order to retrieve the necessary empirical data we have interviewed two managers and car-ried out a questionnaire amongst the thirteen service technicians.</p><p>Results: In line with theory, we found that financial rewards it is not the prime source for motivation; there are many factors that play a lar-ger role. Some of the most motivating factors turned out to be col-leges, autonomy and responsibility, fun and rewarding work tasks. More interestingly, we saw a relation between many of these and the reward system, indicating that financial rewards enhance the motiva-tional effects of other factors.</p><p>We found that there are several positive and negative aspects with any reward system. The case study presented solutions to many of the possible pitfalls and indicated that they benefited from their cur-rent reward system.</p>

Univ., Diss.--Bremen, 2005.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2000. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 84-88). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2000. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 84-88). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (S.M.)--Joint Program in Oceanography (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution), 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 44-48).