Traffic Congestion is a critical problem in large urban areas. In this thesis, six different control strategies aiming to alleviate congestion are performed through TRANSIMS simulation in the city of Alexandria. Main objective of this thesis is to study and explore the impacts of these control strategy in terms of system performance. Macroscopic Fundamental Diagrams has been used during research to present traffic movement and evaluate traffic performance. This thesis also look at the outcome of each strategy at different household income group in the city. The attention are drawn to the importance of taking socio-economic impact in traffic management decisions. Some of the control strategies presented in this thesis have different impacts on different income groups in the city, while other control strategies have similar impacts (negative, or inconclusive) on different groups in Alexandria city. The thesis gives the conclusions on the impact of selecting different signal control strategies. / Master of Science

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is an impairing mental illness and has a core component of emotional dysregulation. Evidence suggests the emotional cascade model describes how this emotional dysregulation leads to engaging in risky and life-threatening behaviors, such as non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). Specifically, this model describes rumination as a cognitive component that links the emotional and behavioral dysregulation. The current study aimed to expand the model by investigating how individuals with heightened BPD traits engage in NSSI and in cognitive strategies to cope with their negative affect. Specifically, it was investigated whether behaviors like suicide attempts and cognitions differentiated between those with mild/moderate and severe NSSI. Criterion for severe NSSI was hospitalization or medical care because of NSSI. Participants (N = 292) were screened to endorse a history of NSSI and then self-selected to take a self-report survey through Mturk. Correlations and a binomial logistic regression were completed. Results indicated suicide attempts, BPD symptoms, and anger rumination differentiated mild/moderate and severe NSSI. Evidence reinforces the strong relationships between NSSI, suicide attempts, and BPD. Additionally, it reinforces anger rumination as a potential cognitive mechanism in NSSI. Future research can continue to test this model and include other potential thought processes to increase efficiency in assessment and treatment of BPD and NSSI.

Electro-Hydraulic (EH) systems are commonly used in the industry for applications that require high power-weight ratios and large driving forces. The EH system studied in this master thesis have recently been upgraded with new hardware components and as a part of this upgrade a new controller was requested. The system consists of a controller that computes a control signal for an electric motor. The motor drives a gear pump that generates a flow of hydraulic fluid. The flow is then directed to a cylinder. The movements of a piston in the cylinder is affected by the flow and the piston position can be measured. The measured piston position is then fed back to the controller and the control loop is complete. The system was previously controlled using a Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) controller and the purpose of this thesis is to compare the old controller with alternative control strategies suitable for this application. The evaluation of the controllers is based on both software and hardware simulations and results in a recommendation for final implementation of the best suited controller. The control strategies chosen for investigation are: a retuned PID controller, a PID controller with feed forward from reference, a PID based cascade controller, a Linear Quadratic (LQ) controller, and a Model Predictive Controller (MPC). To synthesize the controllers an approximate model of the system is formed and implemented in the software environment Matlab Simulink. The model is tuned to fit recorded data and provides a decent estimation of the actual system. The proposed control strategies are then simulated and evaluated in Simulink with the model posing as the real system. These simulations resulted in the elimination of the cascade controller as a possible candidate since it proved unstable for large steps in the reference signal. The remaining four controllers were all selected for simulation on the real hardware system. Unfortunately the MPC was never successfully implemented on the hardware due to some unknown compatibility error and hence eliminated as a possible candidate. The three remaining control strategies, PID, PID with feed forward from reference and the LQ controller, were all successfully implemented and simulated on hardware. The results from the hardware simulations compared to simulations made with the old controller, as well as the results from the software simulations, were then evaluated. Depending on the purpose one of two control strategies is recommended for this application. The LQ controller achieved the best overall performance and is presented as the control strategy best suited for this application.

A automação de uma central de água gelada é muito utilizada para reduzir o consumo energético de edificações comerciais ao controlar a operação dos seus componentes e consequentemente das vazões de ar e água em função da carga térmica. Considerando as estratégias de controle atualmente em uso, existe a possibilidade de melhorá-las por meio do controle das variáveis de temperatura do sistema (temperaturas de insuflação do ar, da água gelada e da água de condensação), que na maioria dos casos são mantidas fixas para as condições de dimensionamento do sistema ou alteradas apenas em função das condições externas. Estudos demonstram que o controle adequado de cada uma dessas temperaturas nas condições de operação momentâneas (condições climáticas e carga térmica), seja de forma individualizada ou integradas, pode proporcionar reduções significativas no consumo de energia do sistema de climatização. Dessa forma, o presente estudo avaliou os ganhos de uma automação isolada e integrada dessas três temperaturas em base anual para as condições climáticas brasileiras, implementando a automação em diferentes cidades representativas do zoneamento bioclimático brasileiro via simulação computacional utilizando o software EnergyPlus(TM) para uma edificação comercial típica. Os resultados obtidos para a automação integrada indicam reduções globais de consumo que variam com a condição climática entre 5,03% e 19,68% quando comparado com o controle de temperatura fixa, e quando comparado com um controle que varia apenas em função das condições externas as reduções variam entre 3,22% e 8,21%. Esses resultados demonstram que o controle sugerido é melhor que os modelos adotados como referência de mercado. / Automation of a central chilled-water plant is widely used to reduce the energy consumption of commercial buildings by controlling the operation of its components and consequently the air and water flow rates according to the thermal load. Considering the control strategies currently in use, there is a possibility to improve them by controlling the system temperature variables (air insufflation, cold and condensation water temperatures), which in most cases are fixed in system design conditions or variable only according to the external weather. Studies demonstrate that an adequate control of each of these temperatures under momentary operating conditions (climatic conditions and thermal load), whether in an individualized or integrated way, can provide significant reductions in the energy consumption of the HVAC system. Thus, the present study intends to evaluate the energy consumption gains of an individualized and integrated automation of the three variable temperatures on an annual basis for Brazilian climatic conditions, implementing automation for different cities representing the Brazilian bioclimatic zoning. Such evaluation was made by computer simulation using EnergyPlus(TM) software for a typical commercial building. The results obtained with the integrated automation show savings in global consumption that change with the weather between 5,03% and 19,68% when compared with a fixed control, and when compared with a control that varies according to weather conditions the savings are between 3,22% and 8,21%. These results show that the proposed control is better than both models adopted as market benchmarks.

A automação de uma central de água gelada é muito utilizada para reduzir o consumo energético de edificações comerciais ao controlar a operação dos seus componentes e consequentemente das vazões de ar e água em função da carga térmica. Considerando as estratégias de controle atualmente em uso, existe a possibilidade de melhorá-las por meio do controle das variáveis de temperatura do sistema (temperaturas de insuflação do ar, da água gelada e da água de condensação), que na maioria dos casos são mantidas fixas para as condições de dimensionamento do sistema ou alteradas apenas em função das condições externas. Estudos demonstram que o controle adequado de cada uma dessas temperaturas nas condições de operação momentâneas (condições climáticas e carga térmica), seja de forma individualizada ou integradas, pode proporcionar reduções significativas no consumo de energia do sistema de climatização. Dessa forma, o presente estudo avaliou os ganhos de uma automação isolada e integrada dessas três temperaturas em base anual para as condições climáticas brasileiras, implementando a automação em diferentes cidades representativas do zoneamento bioclimático brasileiro via simulação computacional utilizando o software EnergyPlus(TM) para uma edificação comercial típica. Os resultados obtidos para a automação integrada indicam reduções globais de consumo que variam com a condição climática entre 5,03% e 19,68% quando comparado com o controle de temperatura fixa, e quando comparado com um controle que varia apenas em função das condições externas as reduções variam entre 3,22% e 8,21%. Esses resultados demonstram que o controle sugerido é melhor que os modelos adotados como referência de mercado. / Automation of a central chilled-water plant is widely used to reduce the energy consumption of commercial buildings by controlling the operation of its components and consequently the air and water flow rates according to the thermal load. Considering the control strategies currently in use, there is a possibility to improve them by controlling the system temperature variables (air insufflation, cold and condensation water temperatures), which in most cases are fixed in system design conditions or variable only according to the external weather. Studies demonstrate that an adequate control of each of these temperatures under momentary operating conditions (climatic conditions and thermal load), whether in an individualized or integrated way, can provide significant reductions in the energy consumption of the HVAC system. Thus, the present study intends to evaluate the energy consumption gains of an individualized and integrated automation of the three variable temperatures on an annual basis for Brazilian climatic conditions, implementing automation for different cities representing the Brazilian bioclimatic zoning. Such evaluation was made by computer simulation using EnergyPlus(TM) software for a typical commercial building. The results obtained with the integrated automation show savings in global consumption that change with the weather between 5,03% and 19,68% when compared with a fixed control, and when compared with a control that varies according to weather conditions the savings are between 3,22% and 8,21%. These results show that the proposed control is better than both models adopted as market benchmarks.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-10T14:38:29Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 cristiane Oficial CD.pdf: 1800136 bytes, checksum: 90ce26316dd58731f112c41b5247fc7d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-03-28 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Brazil is one of the largest producers of eggs, and this production is constantly growing, based on investment independent producers and the creation of cooperatives. Brazilian poultry facilities are mainly in wood with metal cages. There are few fully automated poultry, mainly by the high initial investment they require. The wooden structures, usually older, favor the appearance of some arthropod pests, as the poultry red mite Dermanyssus gallinae (De Geer, 1778) (Acari: Dermanyssidae). This mite is hematophagous and features gregarious and nocturnal behavior, spending the day hiding in cracks and crevices of the poultry houses, timber slots, dirt and debris accumulation of food and cobwebs. Among the damage caused by this mite infestation highlights the stress of birds, dermatitis and anemia, which can cause a decrease in production. Moreover, D. gallinae can also be transmitter the bacteria genus Salmonella, viruses of Newcastle disease and avian pox. Control strategies are mainly based on the use of chemical acaricides, which present risks to animals, poultry farmers and eggs consumers by residues in the eggs. Also, can select populations of resistant mites. Currently, the integrated management with use of less impactful strategies has been researched aiming their use at the field level. Among these strategies include the use of extracts and essential oils, inert powders (diatomaceous earth, silicas, talc), predators and entomopathogenic fungi. The entomopathogenic fungus has emerged as one of the most efficient techniques to control D. gallinae in laboratory conditions, but with a few field studies. The combination of these control strategies are also being studied aiming to find a method that is efficient and at the same time represents no risk to human and animal health. / O Brasil está entre os maiores produtores mundiais de ovos, sendo esta produção em constante crescimento, impulsionada principalmente por investimento de produtores independentes e da criação de cooperativas. As instalações aviárias brasileiras são principalmente em madeira com gaiolas metálicas. Há poucos aviários completamente automatizados, principalmente pelo alto investimento inicial que estes exigem. As estruturas em madeira, geralmente mais antigas, favorecem o aparecimento de alguns artrópodes-pragas, dentre os quais destaca-se o ácaro vermelho das galinhas Dermanyssus gallinae (De Geer, 1778) (Acari: Dermanyssidae). Este ácaro é hematófago e apresenta comportamento gregário e hábitos noturnos, passando o dia escondido em frestas e fendas dos aviários, ranhuras da madeira, restos de sujeira e acúmulo de comida e teias de aranha. Dentre os prejuízos causados pelas infestações deste ácaro, destacam-se o estresse das aves, a dermatite e a anemia, a qual pode ocasionar diminuição da produção. Além disso, D. gallinae também pode ser transmissor de bactérias do gênero Salmonella, vírus causadores da doença de Newcastle e da varíola aviária. As estratégias de controle são baseadas principalmente no uso de acaricidas químicos, os quais representam riscos aos animais, aos avicultores, aos consumidores pelos resíduos que podem deixar nos ovos, além de selecionar populações de ácaros resistentes. Atualmente, o manejo integrado com utilização de estratégias menos impactantes está sendo pesquisado, visando sua utilização no controle da praga. Dentre estas estratégias, destacam-se os extratos e óleos essenciais vegetais, pós inertes (terra de diatomáceas, sílicas, talcos), predadores e fungos entomopatogênicos. Os fungos entomopatogênicos têm se apresentado como uma das técnicas mais eficientes para controle de D. gallinae em condições de laboratório, porém com poucos estudos de campo. A combinação destas estratégias de controle também estão sendo pesquisadas visando encontrar um método que seja eficiente e ao mesmo tempo não represente riscos a saúde animal e humana.

La paratuberculosis (PTB) est une maladie endémique des ruminants causée par Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (Map). Les stratégies de maîtrise actuelles ne sont pas suffisamment efficaces. La réponse à l'exposition à Map varie entre les animaux avec une part de déterminisme génétique. Des marqueurs génétiques pourraient permettre une sélection. L'objectif était d'évaluer par modélisation l'efficacité potentielle attendue de stratégies de maîtrise utilisant la sélection génétique ou la réduction de l'exposition en élevage. Nous avons identifié quatre traits phénotypiques de résistance influençant principalement la propagation de Map à l'échelle du troupeau et montré la valeur ajoutée de leur amélioration simultanée. Nous avons évalué l'effet de l'environnement du troupeau et du système d’élevage sur la propagation et la maîtrise de Map. Nous avons montré une différence d’efficacité des stratégies de maîtrise les plus pertinentes entre deux systèmes d'élevage bovins laitiers contrastés d'Europe: l'ouest de la France et l'Irlande. Nous avons évalué l'efficacité que pourrait apporter la sélection génomique en évaluant le temps nécessaire pour atteindre des niveaux de variation des traits sélectionnés permettant un bon contrôle de l‘infection sous l’hypothèse que des marqueurs de sélection soient disponibles. Nous avons identifié 2 paramètres du modèle de sélection génomique influents sur l’efficacité de la sélection. Notre modèle permet d’intégrer de nouvelles connaissances biologiques sur le déterminisme génétique de la résistance à Map pour évaluer des stratégies de maîtrise complexes comprenant une composante de sélection génomique. / Paratuberculosis (PTB) is an endemic disease of ruminants caused by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (Map). Current control strategies are not effective enough. The response to Map exposure varies between animals with evidence of a partial genetic determinism. Genetic markers could allow selection. The objective was to assess the potential expected effectiveness of control strategies relying on genetic selection or reduction of exposure in herds, using a modelling approach. We identified four phenotypic traits of resistance mainly influencing the spread of Map at the herd scale and showed the added value of their simultaneous improvement. We evaluated the effect of the herd environment and management on the spread and control of Map. We showed a difference in effectiveness of the most relevant control strategies between two contrasting dairy cattle systems in Europe: western France and Ireland. We evaluated the effectiveness of genomic selection by assessing the time required to reach levels of variation in the selected traits allowing to achieve a good control of infection, assuming that associated genomic markers could be available. Effectiveness of selection was mainly influenced by 2 of the parameters of the developed genomic selection model. Our model allows to account for future knowledge about the genetic determinism of cattle resistance to Map in order to assess the effectiveness of complex control strategies including a genomic selection component.

<p>The main aim of this thesis has been to compare psychosocial working conditions in workplaces with different forms of ownership, i.e. public, private and cooperative. A second aim has been to study how organisational characteristics of relevance for psychosocial working conditions (in terms of management control strategies and prerequisites for management) are manifested in these ownership forms. The empirical data is based on structured interviews with managers at 60 workplaces within the service sector and on a questionnaire to all employees working in the participating workplaces, resulting in a set of 1384 individuals. An additional seven interviews with first-line managers within geriatric care were also conducted for the last study. The results show that employees in cooperatives perceived that they had better opportunities to influence decisions concerning the workplace as a whole, although there were also results showing advantages for public and private employees. Regarding opportunities for employees to influence their own work situation, there were no differences between the ownership forms. Differences were found in the prerequisites for first-line geriatric care managers. As a result of an earlier organisational change, the public managers were now further away from the strategic level and had to focus on daily, operative work tasks, while simultaneously also being responsible for keeping within the budget. The private managers, on the other hand, having group leaders to deal with the daily work concerning personnel and operations, could focus more on strategic work related to financial results in terms of planning and follow-up of the budget. One conclusion is that there are certain differences in both psychosocial working conditions and organisational characteristics between the ownership forms, but when the comparisons were restricted to only one type of service, in this case the provision of care, it is rather the similarities within the care organisations, regardless of ownership form, that are most pronounced.</p>

The main aim of this thesis has been to compare psychosocial working conditions in workplaces with different forms of ownership, i.e. public, private and cooperative. A second aim has been to study how organisational characteristics of relevance for psychosocial working conditions (in terms of management control strategies and prerequisites for management) are manifested in these ownership forms. The empirical data is based on structured interviews with managers at 60 workplaces within the service sector and on a questionnaire to all employees working in the participating workplaces, resulting in a set of 1384 individuals. An additional seven interviews with first-line managers within geriatric care were also conducted for the last study. The results show that employees in cooperatives perceived that they had better opportunities to influence decisions concerning the workplace as a whole, although there were also results showing advantages for public and private employees. Regarding opportunities for employees to influence their own work situation, there were no differences between the ownership forms. Differences were found in the prerequisites for first-line geriatric care managers. As a result of an earlier organisational change, the public managers were now further away from the strategic level and had to focus on daily, operative work tasks, while simultaneously also being responsible for keeping within the budget. The private managers, on the other hand, having group leaders to deal with the daily work concerning personnel and operations, could focus more on strategic work related to financial results in terms of planning and follow-up of the budget. One conclusion is that there are certain differences in both psychosocial working conditions and organisational characteristics between the ownership forms, but when the comparisons were restricted to only one type of service, in this case the provision of care, it is rather the similarities within the care organisations, regardless of ownership form, that are most pronounced.

Biological systems are able to perform complex movements with high energy-efficiency and, in general, can adapt to environmental changes more elegantly than traditionally engineered mechanical systems. The Equilibrium Point Hypothesis describes animal motor control as trajectories of equilibrium joint angle and joint stiffness. Traditional approaches to robot design are unable to implement this control scheme because they lack joint actuation methods that can control mechanical stiffness, and, in general, they are unable to take advantage of energy introduced into the system by the environment. In this paper, we describe the development and implementation of an FPGA-controlled, servo-actuated robotic joint that incorporates series-elastic actuation with specially developed nonlinear springs. We show that the joint's equilibrium angle and stiffness are independently controllable and that their independence is not lost in the presence of external joint torques. This approach to joint control emulates the behavior of antagonistic muscles, and thus produces a mechanical system that demonstrates biological similarity both in its observable output and in its method of control.