Kognitiv beteendeterapi (KBT) har mest evidens vid social fobi, och på senare år har även guidad självhjälp baserad på KBT visat goda resultat. Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) är en del av den tredje vågens KBT och har visat lovande resultat vid ångestsyndrom. Företrädare för ACT har varnat för riskerna med tekniker för att utmana negativa automatiska tankar. Studien syftar till att med en single case experimentell design med multipel baslinje (N=9) studera effekterna av kognitiv omstrukturering (KO) och kognitiv defusion (KD) i form av guidad självhjälp på social ångest, socialt undvikande, psykologisk flexibilitet, defusion, samt frekvens av och trovärdighet hos negativa automatiska tankar. Resultaten visade att KO och KD inte enbart påverkade de processer som teorierna predicerar utan även den andra behandlingens processer.

Estimating reactivity ratios in multicomponent polymerizations is becoming increasingly important. At the same time, using cumulative models is becoming imperative, as some multicomponent systems are inherently so fast that instantaneous "approximate" models can not be used. In the first part of the thesis, triad fractions (sequence length characteristics) are employed in a multiresponse scenario, investigating different error structures and levels. A comparison is given between instantaneous triad fraction models and instantaneous composition model, which represent the current state-of-the-art. In the second part of the thesis, extensions are discussed with cumulative composition and triad fraction models over the whole conversion range, thus relating the problem of reactivity ratio estimation to the optimal design of experiments (i. e. optimal sampling) over polymerization time and conversion. The performance of cumulative multiresponse models is superior to that of their instantaneous counterparts, which can be explained from an information content point of view. As a side-project, the existence of azeotropic points is investigated in terpolymer (Alfrey-Goldfinger equation) and tetrapolymer (Walling-Briggs equation) systems.

Estimating reactivity ratios in multicomponent polymerizations is becoming increasingly important. At the same time, using cumulative models is becoming imperative, as some multicomponent systems are inherently so fast that instantaneous "approximate" models can not be used. In the first part of the thesis, triad fractions (sequence length characteristics) are employed in a multiresponse scenario, investigating different error structures and levels. A comparison is given between instantaneous triad fraction models and instantaneous composition model, which represent the current state-of-the-art. In the second part of the thesis, extensions are discussed with cumulative composition and triad fraction models over the whole conversion range, thus relating the problem of reactivity ratio estimation to the optimal design of experiments (i. e. optimal sampling) over polymerization time and conversion. The performance of cumulative multiresponse models is superior to that of their instantaneous counterparts, which can be explained from an information content point of view. As a side-project, the existence of azeotropic points is investigated in terpolymer (Alfrey-Goldfinger equation) and tetrapolymer (Walling-Briggs equation) systems.

In this study, results of a comparison on benchmark test problems are presented to investigate the performance of Primavera V.4.1 with its two resource allocation priority rules and MS Project 2003. Resource allocation capabilities of the packages are measured in terms of deviation from the upper bound of the minimum makespan. Resource constrained project scheduling problem instances are taken from PSPLIB which are generated under a factorial design from ProGen. Statistical tests are applied to the results for investigating the significance effectiveness of the parameters.

Term of remote-lab is certain types of laboratories which practical experiments are directedfrom a separate area by remote controller devices. This study is part of developing andupgrading advanced vibration remote laboratory. In the new remote lab, users have theability to measure the dynamic characteristics of the test object similar to the current existingremote lab. But in addition to current existing remote lab, they are capable to modifydynamic properties of the test object remotely by attaching vibration test instruments; such asa block of mass, spring-mass or non-linear spring. Doing several accurate experimental testsremotely on the test object are the toughest issues we faced as designers. In creating anddeveloping of this remote-lab, number of different approaches was adopted for producingwell-defined tests. Also, instead of implementing routine devices and techniques for regularvibration laboratories, the new prototypes were designed by finite elements method (FEM)and LABVIEW. For instance, the desirable test object, the attachment mechanism, usefulapplications, and proper software for managing via internet were prepared.

Bimodal polyethylene resins are frequently used for pipe applications. In this work, blending was used to produce polyethylenes with comparable properties, particularly with respect to processing, stress crack resistance and tensile properties. Suitable blend components were identified, and their performance screened used ECHIP experimental design software. Blends were characterized using gel permeation chromatography (GPC), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), tensile testing, stress crack resistance measurements, impact toughness testing, capillary rheometry and melt index measurements. GPC, DSC and melt index results reveal that the method of meltcompounding produced morphologically uniform blends, with different degrees of compatibility depending on the type and level of branching of blend components. Most of the blends produced showed higher crystallinity values compared to a reference bimodal resin. Binary high density polyethylene (HDPE) blends showed better stiffness and strength properties, whereas metallocene catalyzed linear low density polyethylene (mLLDPE) containing blends illustrated superior elongation and toughness properties compared to the reference polymer and other binary blends. The highest resistance to slow crack growth (SCG) was shown by low density polyethylene (LDPE) and mLLDPE containing blends due to their high branching content. The overall blend resistance to SCG or toughness can be enhanced with levels less than 20% by weight of LDPE or mLLDPE in the blend although the tensile properties are relatively unaffected at these low concentrations. The performance of blends was optimized by changing component polymers and their weight fractions, and a model to predict optimum blends was developed using the Maple code. Optimized blends showed higher branching content, comparable molecular weight, molecular weight distribution, tensile properties, viscosity and processing behaviour to the reference polymer. Optimized blend 3, in particular, encountered the same degree of shear thinning as the reference material. Better toughness and resistance to SCG were shown by the optimized blends when compared to the reference polymer.

Global warming challenges designers to pay attention to environmental effects of manufacturing when designing new products. This examination project was a personal challenge to uphold ethical responsibility as a designer and consider emotional aspects of design while aiming to create a pleasurable lighting for the home environment. The underpinning idea for the project was to promote the use of recycled materials and an environmentally friendly light source aiming to create a sustainable everyday commonplace product that it is possible to manufacture. High power LED-technology was chosen because of its energy efficiency, flexibility and a particularly long life-cycle. Recycled plastic and fibre cardboard were chosen to be applied as the shades of the lamps. Both these recycled materials can be broken down and recycled again after use. Emotional design aspect was the leading theory in the design process. The intention was to consider different levels of emotional aspects when defining the main characteristics of the lamp to create pleasurable lighting: Among usability and aesthetics the concentration was on the semiotics of the product and its usage context. It was designed with the aim of evoking pleasurable feelings in users who desire to lead an active and urban life-style but who are simultaneously worried about global warming. Both of the lighting designs are for a dining context. They are supposed to create a pleasurable atmosphere around a dining table while separating the party around the table from the rest of the space. Other lights can be dimmed or switched off when it is time to gather around the table to accentuate the illumination and feeling of togetherness. Inspiration for the project came from sustainability, contemporary thoughts and trends embodied into maps. The products turned out to be silent statements of today’s global world; Antarctica refers to glacial retreat while Town symbolises the importance of people’s own origin in this globalised world.

This thesis is divided in four parts. In the first one I will present our work on long wave run-up and some resonant amplification phenomena. With the use of numerical simulations for the nonlinear shallow water equations, we show that in the case of monochromatic waves normally incident on a plane beach, resonant run-up amplification occurs when the incoming wavelength is 5.2 times larger the beach length. We also show that this resonant run-up amplification can be observed for several wave profiles such as bichromatic, polychromatic and cnoidal. However, resonant run-up amplification is not restricted to infinitely sloping beaches. We varied the bathymetric profile, and we saw that resonance is present in the case of piecewise linear and real bathymetries. In the second part I will present a new analytical solution to study the propagation of tsunamis from a finite strip source over constant depth using linear shallow-water wave theory. The solution, which is based on separation of variables and a double Fourier transform in space, is exact, easy to implement and allows the study of realistic waveforms such as N-waves. In the third part I will explore the effect of localized bathymetric features on long wave generation. Even when the final displacement is known from seismic analysis, the deforming seafloor includes relief features such as mounts and trenches. We investigate analytically the effect of bathymetry on the surface wave generation, by solving the forced linear shallow water equation. Our model for bathymetry consists of a cylindrical sill on a flat bottom, to help understand the effect of seamounts on tsunami generation. We derive the same solution by applying both the Laplace and the Fourier transforms in time. We find that as the sill height increases, partial wave trapping reduces the wave height in the far field, while amplifying it above the sill. Finally, in the last part I will try to explore whether small islands can protect nearby coasts from tsunamis as it is widely believed by local communities. Recent findings for the 2010 Mentawai Islands tsunami show amplified run-up on coastal areas behind small islands, compared with the run-up on adjacent locations, not influenced by the presence of the islands. We will investigate the conditions for this run-up amplification by numerically solving the nonlinear shallow water equations. Our bathymetric setup consists of a conical island sitting on a flat bed in front of a plane beach and we send normally incident single waves. The experimental setup is governed by five physical parameters. The objective is twofold: Find the maximum run-up amplification with the least number of simulations. Given that our input space is five-dimensional and a normal grid approach would be prohibitively computationally expensive, we present a recently developed active experimental design strategy, based on Gaussian Processes, which significantly reduces the computational cost. After running two hundred simulations, we find that in none of the cases considered the island did offer protection to the coastal area behind it. On the contrary, we have measured run-up amplification on the beach behind it compared to a lateral location on the beach, not directly affected by the presence of the island, which reached a maximum factor of 1.7. Thus, small islands in the vicinity of the mainland will act as amplifiers of long wave severity at the region directly behind them and not as natural barriers as it was commonly believed so far.

This monograph contributes to the methodology of Agent-based Computational Economics. First, we introduce a generic simulation framework suitable for agent-based simulations featuring the support of heterogeneous agents, hierarchical scheduling, and flexible specification of design parameters. For the latter, we use an XML-based format enabling the design of flexible models, with the possibility of varying both agent population and parameterization. Further, the tool allows the definition of communication channels to single agents, or groups thereof, and handles the information exchange. Both agents and communication channels can be added and removed at runtime. To handle the heterogeneity arising from both the agents' implementations and the underlying platforms, we introduce an XML-based wrapper technique for mapping the functionality of agents living in an interpreter-based environment to a standardized JAVA interface. Second, we present a collection of artificial economic actors to be used with this framework. Their interplay is demonstrated in two fields of management science: marketing and technological choice. In the field of marketing, the question of choosing the optimal segmentation techniques for market segmentation is investigated, comparing the performance of firm agents with diverse segmentation strategies in a highly customizable artificial consumer market. In the second application, we study the influence of technological efficiency and organizational inertia on the emergence of competition when firms decide myopically. We observe the competitive reaction of a former monopolist to the advent of a new competitor to assess when new, "disruptive" technologies cause the failure of incumbent firms and investigate simple defensive strategies. (author's abstract)

Automatic object detection is a challenging field which has been evolving over decades. The application areas span many domains such as robotics inspection, medical imaging, military targeting, and reconnaissance. Some of the most concentrated efforts in automatic object detection have been in the military domain, where most of the problems deal with automatic target detection and scene analysis in the outdoors using a variety of sensors. One of the critical problems in Automatic Target Detection (ATD) systems is multiscenario adaptation. Most of the ATD systems developed until today perform unpredictably i.e. perform well in certain scenarios, and poorly in others. Unless ATD systems can be made adaptable, their utility in battlefield missions remains questionable. This thesis describes a methodology that adapts parameterized ATD systems with image metrics as the scenario changes so that ATD system can maintain better performance. The methodology uses experimentally obtained performance models, which are functions of image metrics and system parameters, to optimize performance measures of the ATD system. Optimization is achieved by adapting system parameters with incoming image metrics based on performance models as the system works in field. A simple ATD system is also proposed in this work to describe and test the methodology.