This master thesis gives an account for the numerous uncertainties that prevail one-dimensional hydraulic models and flood inundation maps, as well as suitable assessment methods for different types of uncertainties. A conducted uncertainty assessment on the river Voxnan in Sweden has been performed. The case study included the calibra-tion uncertainty in the spatially varying roughness coefficient and the boundary condi-tion uncertainty in the magnitude of a 100-year flood, in present and future climate conditions. By combining a scenario analysis, GLUE calibration method and Monte Carlo analysis, the included uncertainties with different natures could be assessed. Significant uncer-tainties regarding the magnitude of a 100-year flood from frequency analysis was found. The largest contribution to the overall uncertainty was given by the variance between the nine global climate models, emphasizing the importance of including projections from an ensemble of models in climate change studies. Furthermore, the study gives a methodological example on how to present uncertainty estimates visually in probabilistic flood inundation maps. The conducted method of how the climate change uncertainties, scenarios and models, were handled in frequency analysis is also suggested to be a relevant result of the study.

O café é uma planta de crescimento contínuo. A cada novo ciclo vegetativo novos órgãos são formados e completa o crescimento dos órgãos existentes. As folhas presentes nos nós com frutos são fontes de fotoassimilados e de parte de nutrientes, por meio da redistribuição, durante a frutificação. A redistribuição é influenciada por vários fatores, entre os quais a carga de frutos e o estádio fenológico, a qual é incorretamente avaliada pela variação da concentração de nutriente no 3° e/ou 4° pares de folhas de café. Esse processo deve ser avaliado nas folhas maduras (folhas velhas) associadas aos nós com frutos, pois são as folhas fontes. Esta pesquisa foi realizada com o objetivo de avaliar duas metodologias para quantificar a redistribuição, identificar a fase da frutificação que o processo é significativo e, ainda, se a carga de frutos interfere na redistribuição. O trabalho foi realizado na fazenda São João, em Presidente Olegário - MG. Foram simuladas quatro cargas de frutos (0%, 30%, 60% e 100%) entre fases fenológicas: chumbinho (CH) - expansão (EX), expansão (EX) - granação (GR), granação (GR) - maturação (MT) e chumbinho (CH) - maturação (MT). A redistribuição dos nutrientes (N, P, K, Mg e Zn) foi calculado com base na metodologia de Maillard e Zhao. As maiores redistribuições de N, P, K, Mg e Zn para a metodologia de Maillard et al. (2015) ocorreram entre as fases GR-MT; enquanto para a metodologia de Zhao et al. (2014) a maior redistribuição de N se deu entre as fases GR-MT, K, Mg e Zn entre as fases CH-EX e de P entre EX- GR. Para carga de frutos, a maior redistribuição de N, P, K, Mg ocorreu na ausência de frutos e Zn com 100% dos frutos presentes (metodologia Maillard ), enquanto para a metodologia de Zhao a redistribuição de N e K foi maior na presença de 100% dos frutos; P e Mg na carga de 60% de frutos e Zn quando havia 30% de frutos nas plantas. As cargas pendentes de frutos e as fases de frutificação influenciaram na redistribuição dos nutrientes. O nutriente mais redistribuído foi o K e a maior fase de redistribuição ocorreu entre o período de granação e maturação. Das metodologias avaliadas no ensaio, recomenda-se o uso da metodologia de Maillard. / Coffee is a plant of continuous growth. With each new vegetative cycle new organs are formed and complete the growth of existing organs The leaves present in the nodes with fruits are sources of photoassimilates and part of nutrients, through the redistribution, during the fruiting. Redistribution is influenced by several factors, including fruit load and phenological stage, which is incorrectly assessed by the variation of nutrient concentration in the 3rd and / or 4th pairs of coffee leaves. This process must be evaluated in the mature leaves (old leaves) associated to the nodes with fruits, since they are the source leaves. This research was carried out with the objective of evaluating two methodologies to quantify the redistribution, to identify the fruiting phase that the process is significant and also, if the fruit load interferes with the redistribution. The work was carried out at Fazenda São João, in Presidente Olegário - MG. Four fruit loads (0%, 30%, 60% and 100%) were simulated between phenological phases: small green (CH) - expansion (EX), expansion (EX) - seed- filling (GR), seed-filling (GR) - maturation (MT) and small green (CH) - maturation (MT). Redistribution of nutrients (N, P, K, Mg and Zn) was calculated based on the methodology of Maillard and Zhao. The largest redistributions of N, P, K, Mg and Zn for the methodology of Maillard occurred between the GR-MT phases; while for the methodology of Zhao the greatest N redistribution occurred between the GR-MT, K, Mg and Zn phases between the CH-EX and P phases between EX-GR. For the fruit load, the highest redistribution of N, P and Mg occurred in the absence of fruits and Zn with 100% of the fruits present (Maillard), while for the methodology of Zhao the redistribution of N and K was greater in the presence of 100% of the fruits; P and Mg at 60% fruit load and Zn when there were 30% fruits in the plants. Pending fruit loads and fruiting phases influenced nutrient redistribution. The most redistributed nutrient was K and the largest redistribution phase occurred between the period of granation and maturation. Of the methodologies evaluated in the essay, the use of Maillard\'s methodology is recommended.

Everything around us that is not a simple untouched piece of nature has been designed by someone. Human society has found a great refuge in these designed objects or the artefacts, and thus has adapted vociferously to their inclusion into everyday life. From the early conception as art and then lately as scientific activity, now during the last few decades, designing has been understood as a fundamental aspect of human life. This understanding has become a motivating force in the last four decades for design research community. Remarkable theories, methods, models and approaches for designing have been propounded during this period by various active design researchers. Yet a comprehensive design theory remains largely an elusive dream, and usage of proposed methods in practice unimpressive. The dominant paradigms in design theory, though rich in description seem to lack interconnection. The thesis explores and questions the very foundations on which design theories have been built. Theoretical contemplation over designing is sought through asking why question, which brings in context to the forefront. Thus understanding context in designing is the central theme to this dissertation. Incidentally it is the context that holds key to the enhanced usage of design methods in practice. The thesis presents a basis to thaw the development of design theory, and provides a pragmatic approach to augment usage of design methods in practice. These objectives have been achieved through the approach outlined below. • An extensive discussion on the notion of context is presented, underpinned by the detailed survey of definitions and world views held in by various domains of studies in regard to context. The salient characteristics of context identified through this discussion have been used to articulate a concise definition of context. • A comprehensive dialogue, supplemented by the literature in design, incorporating dyv of design, designing, artifacts, and context has been put forth. The theoretical insight obtained has been abstracted into an elemental model of context in designing, that is then elaborated at length. • Definitions of context in designing, context of designing, and that of designing in context have been formulated, using the definition of context and the elemental model of context in designing. • The empirical validation of the proposed model of context in designing has been carried out, which runs across six design projects, accounts for academic; controlled; and industrial environment, as well as focuses on both individual and team designing. Four methods for data collection and analysis - Questionnaire survey, design protocol analysis study, replication protocol analysis, and participant observation study were employed in this exercise. • A detailed prescriptive study for development of aid to designers; in selection process of design methods has been carried out. Based on the issues identified in the literature and survey with designers, a measure to assess contextual usability of design methods (MACUM) was formulated. A web-based software tool based on MACUM has been developed for supporting design method selection process. The thesis concludes that the dominating paradigms in design theory only represent the partial perspective of designing. It is argued that, the proposed model of context in designing provides a sound basis to coherently redress the disjunctions between paradigms of design and progress towards a holistic design theory. And further on the practical end, the thesis underlines the contribution of MACUM towards sustained usage of design methods in practice.

Almost all businesses are affected by the current trend of digitalization. To stay competitive, they need to find the right balance between innovation and exploitation. IT-investments could result in increased efficiency, as well as other competitive advantages. To be sure that the IT- investments contributes to these expected advantages, the businesses should evaluate their IT- investment. For the systems to continue to create value and to avoid the use of outdated systems, it’s also of major importance the IT-systems are assessed at a regular basis.   The aim of this thesis is to investigate on what basis IT-investments are made, as well as what approaches organizations tend to adopt while valuating and evaluating their systems. The study was conducted through a qualitative method and the data-collection was made through semi- structured interviews with respondents from 6 different businesses who occupied positions such as chief information officer, chief digital officer and project manager. The part of empirics and analysis explains the results of the study and compares the empirical data with theory.   The result of the study shows that IT-investments often are made to match the digitalization of society and that such investments are affected by factors such as competition and customer’s requests. The result also reveals that acquisition, through Business Case, often is made to decide whether the IT-investment should carry on or discontinue. Furthermore, the result shows that the work with system management often is conducted in a controlled and thoroughly way, but that the work with evaluation isn’t sufficiently comprehensive; which the businesses is aware of and wishes to do in greater extent.

The web and mobile web traffic is growing rapidly due to service accessibility in densely populated areas and massive usage of smart hand held devices (smartphones, pads and Internet dongles). This is a challenge for mobile operators and service providers, because it forces systematically increasing network throughput capacity and in parallel to keep this investment on profitable basis. On the other side, the user satisfaction with mobile broadband service should be considered as well, in order to balance the user expectations and mobile operator investments. Our work provides extensive QoE study for different conditions in sense of mobile web service, web content, network conditions and end user device. Finally, the obtained results create basis for more dimensional overview of mobile web QoE and allow to recognize quality and saturation thresholds based on network parameters. Further, obtained data provide base for design three prediction models for prediction of MOS (one for notebook, one for mobile device) and acceptability.

Syfte och frågeställningar: Syftet med studien var att i) undersöka validiteten i befolkningens skattning av stillasittande (SED) respektive måttlig till kraftig fysisk aktivitet (MVPA) samt ii) beskriva eventuella skillnader mellan de som under-, över- respektive korrekt skattar sitt beteende. Följande frågeställningar utformades: 1) Förekommer diskrepans mellan deltagarnas subjektiva skattning av SED och MVPA jämfört med objektivt mätt fysisk aktivitet med accelerometer? 2) Skiljer sig de deltagare som under-, över- respektive korrekt skattar sitt beteende avseende kön, socioekonomisk status, BMI, konditionsvärde respektive självskattad hälsa? Metod: Studien använder data från the Swedish CArdioPulmonary bioImage Study (SCAPIS) pilotstudie där deltagarna besvarade ett frågeformulär samt bar en accelerometer i sju på varandra följande dagar (N = 652). I denna studie har fyra frågor använts ur SCAPIS deltagarenkät för att mäta deltagarnas subjektiva nivå av fysiska aktivitet. Diskrepans av SED respektive MVPA räknades fram som subjektivt skattad tid (enkätfrågorna) minus accelerometerns registrerade tid. Data beskrivs deskriptivt där populationen har kategoriserats i kvintiler utefter medianskillnaden mellan subjektivt skattad och objektivt mätt tid. Resultat: Medianvärdet för diskrepans av SED och MVPA var -180,2 min/dag (under-) respektive 18,6 min/dag (överskattning). Avseende diskrepans av SED föreligger signifikanta skillnader mellan kvintilerna för diskrepans av SED (p = 0,000), accelerometermätt tid i SED (p = 0,000) samt totalt antal registrerade minuter (p = 0,000). Inga signifikanta skillnader ses för kön (p = 0,744), socioekonomisk status (p = 0,986), BMI (p = 0,806), konditionsvärde (p = 0,727) eller självskattad hälsa (p = 0,385). Avseende diskrepans av MVPA föreligger signifikanta skillnader för diskrepans av MVPA (p = 0,000), accelerometer-mätt tid i både SED (p = 0,000) och MVPA (p = 0,000), antal registrerade minuter totalt (p = 0,001), socioekonomisk status (p = 0,001) samt självskattad hälsa (p = 0,009). Slutsats: Resultaten visar att det är en stor diskrepans mellan hur svenska medelålders män och kvinnor skattar SED respektive MVPA om man jämför med objektivt accelerometermätt tid. Det verkar dock inte finnas en viss kategori människor som under- eller överskattar SED mer än andra avseende de undersökta variablerna. Beträffande diskrepans av MVPA ses dock en tendens till ökad diskrepans för de som bor i socioekonomiska högstatusområden samt att de med god självskattad hälsa överskattar mer. Studiens resultat tyder även på att mer registreringstid med accelerometern medför ökad diskrepans av SED respektive MVPA. Mer forskning kring hur olika registreringstider påverkar utfallen är därför önskvärt. / Aim: The aim of this study was to i) examine the validity of the population estimates of sedentary behaviour (SED) and moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and ii) describe possible differences between groups that are under-, over- and correctly classifying their behaviour. The following questions were designed to answer the above aim: 1. Are there discrepancies between the participants self-reported SED and MVPA compared to objective measurement by accelerometer? 2. Do the participants who under-, over- and correctly classify their behaviour differ with respect to gender, socioeconomic status, fitness factor and self-rated health? Method: This study used data from the Swedish CArdioPulmonary bioImage pilot Study  (SCAPIS) where participants answered a questionnaire and wore an accelerometer for seven subsequent days (N = 652). Four questions were used to measure the participants’ physical activity level. Discrepancy of SED and MVPA was calculated as the difference between subjectively and objectively measured time. The data is descriptively presented where misclassification has been categorized into quintiles and estimated as median differences. Results: The median time for discrepancy of SED was for the whole population -180,2 min/day (under-) and for MVPA 18,6 min/dag (overestimation). Regarding discrepancy of SED, there were significant differences between quintiles for discrepancy of SED (p = 0,000), accelerometer-registered time in SED (p = 0,000) and total number of minutes registered (p = 0,000). No significant differences existed for gender (p = 0,744), socioeconomic status (p = 0,986), BMI (p = 0,806), fitness factor (p = 0,727) or self-rated health (p = 0,385). Regarding discrepancy of MVPA there were significant differences for discrepancy of MVPA (p = 0,000), accelerometer-registered time in SED (p = 0,000) and MVPA (p = 0,000) and total number of minutes registered (p = 0,001). Significance also existed for socioeconomic status (p = 0,001) and self-rated health (p = 0,009). Conclusion: The results show that the population in this study misclassify SED and MVPA and the differences between the quintiles are large. However, there seems to be no particular category of people who misclassify SED more than others in regards to the examined variables. Concerning discrepancy of MVPA, the results suggest that the discrepancy is greater for those with high socioeconomic status and that those with good self-rated health tend to overestimate more. The results also suggest that more time registered with accelerometer entails greater discrepancy. More research examining how different recording times affect outcomes is warranted. / <p>Kursen Projektarbete.</p><p>SCAPIS-projektet</p>

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Assim como outros investimentos em tecnologia da informação, os sistemas de Business Intelligence (BI) também têm sido questionados em relação aos benefícios e retornos obtidos depois de sua implantação. Isso porque o produto de BI é inteligência, ou, em outras palavras, algum tipo de informação processada, e o valor da informação é difícil de avaliar. A presente pesquisa pretende contribuir ao estudo desse problema de pesquisa, abordando o tema da avaliação dos sistemas de BI por meio do modelo de sucesso de sistemas de informação proposto por DeLone e McLean. Além das dimensões tradicionais inter-relacionadas do modelo: capacidade de BI, qualidade da informação, satisfação dos usuários e nível de uso, foi incluída a variável a abordagem de decisão, pois um dos principais objetivos dos sistemas de BI é processar dados advindos de diferentes fontes, para produzir informação que sirva como suporte para a tomada de decisão. Uma vez que a capacidade de BI e a qualidade da informação são constructos multidimensionais, uma das contribuições desta pesquisa foi realizar um levantamento na literatura sobre as dimensões que operacionalizam esse constructo e avaliá-las empiricamente. A capacidade de BI foi definida em termos de acessibilidade, capacidades analíticas, flexibilidade e integração, e qualidade da informação em termos de atualidade, completude, oportunidade e precisão. O problema de pesquisa foi abordado por meio da metodologia de survey, em que os respondentes foram convidados a participar da pesquisa via e-mail e o questionário foi disponibilizado em forma eletrônica através da ferramenta SurveyMonkey. No total, foram obtidas 483 repostas, das quais 246 foram válidas. Já que o modelo conceitual proposto inclui múltiplas relações de interdependência, a técnica estatística selecionada para analisar os dados foi a modelagem de equações estruturais. O software utilizado foi o SmartPLS que testa o modelo estrutural por meio do método de mínimos quadrados ordinários. Foi possível comprovar empiricamente todas as relações de causalidade propostas entre as dimensões de sucesso dos sistemas de BI, a exceção da relação de moderação da variável abordagem de decisão na relação de causalidade entre satisfação e nível de uso. Um teste subsequente permitiu observar que essa variável poderia ser preditora do nível de uso. Segundo os resultados, é possível afirmar que o sucesso de BI pode ser definido em termos da capacidade de BI, qualidade da informação, satisfação dos usuários e nível de uso. A operacionalização realizada dos constructos multidimensionais \"capacidade de BI\" e \"qualidade da informação\" poderia dar luzes sobre quais características devem ser priorizadas na implantação e/ou desenvolvimento dos sistemas de BI nas empresas. / As well as other investments in Information Technology (IT), Business Intelligence (BI) systems have also been questioned in relation to the benefits and returns obtained after its implementation. These questions arise because the BI product is intelligence, or, in other words, some kind of processed information and the value of information is difficult to assess. This research aims to contribute to this by addressing the issue of evaluation of BI systems through the information systems success model proposed by DeLone and McLean, beyond the traditional dimensions that are interrelated: BI capabilities, quality of information, user satisfaction, and level of use. The decision approach was included as a variable since a key objective of BI systems is to process data coming from different sources to produce information that serves as a basis for the decision-making process. Once the BI capability and information quality are multidimensional constructs, one of the contributions of this study was to review the literature available about the dimensions that operationalize this construct and evaluate them empirically. BI capability was defined in terms of accessibility, analytical capabilities, flexibility and integration, and the information quality in terms of opportunity, completeness, timeliness and accuracy. The research problem was addressed by the survey methodology: the respondents were invited to participate in the survey via email and the questionnaire was made available in electronic form through the SurveyMonckey tool. A number of 246 responses were usable out of the 483 total responses that were obtained. Since the proposed conceptual model includes multiple interdependencies, the statistical technique selected to analyze the data was the structural equation modeling. The software used was the SmartPLS, which tests the structural model using the ordinary least squares method. It was possible to prove empirically all the causal relationships proposed between success dimensions of BI systems, except for the moderation effect of making-decision approach variable on the relationship between satisfaction and usage level. A subsequent test allowed us to observe that this variable could be a predictor of the level of use. According to these results, we can say that the success of BI can be defined in terms of BI capability, the quality of information, user satisfaction and the level of use. The operationalization of the variables BI capability and information quality as a multidimensional construct could enlighten the decision about which features should be prioritized in implementing the development of BI systems in companies.

SEISMIC STRENGTHENING OF A MID-RISE REINFORCED CONCRETE FRAME USING CFRPs: AN APPLICATION FROM REAL LIFE Tan, Mustafa T&uuml / mer M.S., Department Of Civil Engineering Supervisor: Prof. Dr. G&uuml / ney &Ouml / zcebe Co-Supervisor: Assoc. Prof. Dr. BariS Binici May 2009, 162 pages FRP retrofitting allows the utilization of brick infill walls as lateral load resisting elements. This practical retrofit scheme is a strong alternative to strengthen low to mid-rise deficient reinforced concrete (RC) structures in Turkey. The advantages of the FRP applications, to name a few, are the speed of construction and elimination of the need for building evacuation during construction. In this retrofit scheme, infill walls are adopted to the existing frame system by using FRP tension ties anchored the boundary frame using FRP dowels. Results of experiments have previously shown that FRP strengthened infill walls can enhance lateral load carrying capacity and reduce damage by limiting interstory drift deformations. In previous, analytical studies, a detailed mathematical model and a simplified version of the model for compression struts and tension ties was proposed and verified by comparing model estimations with test results. In this study, an existing 9-storey deficient RC building located in Antakya was chosen to design and apply a hybrid strengthening scheme with FRPs and reduced number of shear walls. Linear elastic analysis procedure was utilized (force based assessment technique) along with the rules of Mode Superposition Method for the reftrofit design. FRP retrofit scheme was employed using the simplified model and design was conducted such that life safety performance criterion is satisfied employing elastic spectrum with 10% probability of exceedance in 50 years according to the Turkish Earthquake Code 2007. Further analytical studies are performed by using Modal Pushover and Nonlinear Time-History Analyses. At the end of these nonlinear analyses, performance check is performed according to Turkish Earthquake Code 2007, using the strains resulting from the sum of yield and plastic rotations at demand in the critical sections. CFRP retrofitting works started at October 2008 and finished at December 2008 for the building mentioned in this study. Eccentric reinforced concrete shearwall installation is still being undertaken. All construction business is carried out without evacuation of the building occupants. This project is one of the first examples of its kind in Turkey. Keywords: CFRP, Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymers, Masonry Infill Walls, Reinforced Concrete Infill Walls, Mid-Rise Deficient Structures, Turkish Earthquake Code 2007, Modal Pushover Analysis, Nonlinear Time History Analysis, Linear Elastic Building Assessment

The aim of this study was to assess the effective functioning of the Middle Management Learning Programme (MMLP) within the South African Police Service (SAPS), as well as evaluate the performance and effectiveness of employees who were sent for training to enhance their skills and develop their capacity in order to improve service delivery within the broader South African society. The research focused specifically on middle managers who had completed the MMLP. The MMLP was presented at the SAPS Academy in Thabong from 2007 to 2011. According to Meyer et al. (2004:225), a learning programme is a coordinated combination of learning activities, methodologies, processes and other elements of learning, crafted to assist learners to acquire the required knowledge, skills and attitudes. The primary objective of this study was, therefore, to evaluate the effective functioning of the MMLP within the SAPS and to provide sound recommendations based on the empirical findings. Semi-structured interviews and questionnaires were used to determine the effectiveness of the MMLP and obtain information from the respondents who completed the programme during the 2007/8 and 2009/10 financial years. The literature review, interviews and completion of the questionnaires by respondents confirmed the objectives of this study. The overall results indicated that the MMLP had a positive impact on middle managers in the SAPS. The middle managers appear to be driven by a need for recognition, and authorities could exploit this to its advantage by providing a reward system for good performance. The study concludes by, inter alia, recommending that the SAPS review its military culture or style, because the managers who attended the MMLP are unable to advise their seniors, respondents feel overwhelmed, powerless, and helpless and this leads to ineffectiveness in their performance. The requirements to attend the MMLP should be placed on record and should not be compromised to suit particular individuals. The MMLP should also be made a prerequisite for promotion as invaluable skills are transferred to course attendees. / Thesis (Master of Development and Management)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013