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This thesis explores the creation and assessment of semi-active control algorithms for both squat shear buildings and tall flexible structures. If cost-effective, practicable, semi-active structural control systems can be developed, the potential reduction in loss of both property and lives due to seismic events is significant. Semi-active controllers offer many of the benefits of active systems, but have power requirements orders of magnitude smaller, and do not introduce energy to the structural system. Previous research into semi-active controllers has shown their potential in linear simulations with single earthquake excitations. The distinguishing feature of this investigation is the use of appropriate non-linear modelling techniques and realistic suites of seismic excitations in the statistical assessment of the semi-active control systems developed. Finite element time-history analysis techniques are used in the performance assessment of the control algorithms developed for three and nine story structural models. The models include non-linear effects due to structural plasticity, yielding, hysteretic behaviour, and P-delta effects. Realistic suites of earthquake records, representing seismic excitations with specific return period probability, are utilised, with lognormal statistical analysis used to represent the response distribution. In addition to displacement focused control laws, acceleration and jerk regulation control methods are developed, showing that potential damage reduction benefits can be obtained from these new control approaches. A statistical assessment of control architecture is developed and undertaken, examining the distribution of constant maximum actuator authority for both squat shear buildings, and tall slender structures, highlighting the need to consider non-linear structural response characteristics when implementing semi-active control systems. Finally, statistical analysis of all results and normalised values shows the efficacy of each control law and actuator type relative to different magnitude seismic events. As a result, this research clearly presents, for the first time, explicit tradeoffs between control law, architecture type, non-linear structural effects, and seismic input characteristics for the semi-active control of civil structures.

Inledning: De psykoterapeutiska ramarna, samt brott mot dessa ramar, är av central betydelse för psykodynamiska terapeuter. Syftet: med denna studie var att undersöka psykoterapeuters rambegrepp, dess mening, samt deras upplevelser av egna rambrott. Frågeställningar: Frågeställningarna var vilken ramen och dess mening var, samt hur psykoterapeuterna upplevde sina egna rambrott. Metod: I studien användes kvalitativ metod och fem psykodynamiska terapeuter intervjuades. Data analyserades med tematisk analys. Resultat: Resultatet visade att deltagarnas rambegrepp skiljde sig åt. Skillnaderna härleddes dels från olika teoribildningar för psykoterapi, dels efter egna ställningstaganden. Vidare tillämpades något olika ramar för olika patienter.  Även psykoterapeuternas upplevelser av egna i studien redovisade rambrott uppvisade olikheter så som oro, skam, känsla av misslyckande och tillfredsställelse. Diskussion: Ramar samt avsteg från dessa intog en komplex roll i terapeuternas arbete. Ramar utformades av terapeuterna själva på grundval av terapeutisk inriktning. Brott mot dem kunde ske planerat eller spontant, orsakade sammansatta känsloreaktioner och kunde ge ett bättre eller sämre utfall för patienten. / Introduction: The psychotherapeutic frames, and breaking these frames, is of central significance to psychodynamic therapists. The purpose of this study was to investigate the psychotherapist's concepts of frames, and experiences of personal frame breaks. Problem statement: The questions explored were which the frame and its meaning were, and how the psychotherapists experienced their own frame breaks. Methods: In the study, a qualitative method was used, and five psychodynamic therapists were interviewed. The material was analyzed by thematic analysis. Results: The results showed, that the concepts of frame were differing. The differences were derived partly from different theories of psychotherapy, partly from personal standpoints. Moreover, somewhat differing frames were used for different patients. The psychotherapists' experiences of their own frame breaks also showed differences, such as anxiety, shame, feelings of failure and satisfaction. Discussion: Frames and departures from them take a complex role in the therapists work. Frames are formed by the therapists themselves with their psychotherapeutic orientation as a cornerstone. Breaks to the frames can take place in a planned or unplanned way, cause compounded reactions of feelings and can bring better or worse result for the patient.

The literature emphasizes the important role played by stakeholder perceptions in explaining success and failure of IT-enabled change efforts. However, our knowledge of how stakeholder perceptions evolve and interact with outcomes during change processes is still limited. Consequently, this study adapts technological frames of reference (TFR) to explore the dynamics of stakeholder perceptions based on action research into an IT-enabled sales process innovation project at VoiceTech. The study attempts to answer the following research questions: How can TFR be adapted and applied to support action research into IT-enabled change efforts? What was the role of stakeholder perceptions during IT-enabled sales process innovation at VoiceTech? How do stakeholder perceptions evolve and interact with outcomes during IT-enabled change efforts? The study develops TFR as a theory for investigating stakeholder perceptions during IT-enabled change and it offers a process model of how frame interactions, incongruencies, and inconsistencies contribute to frame shifts and change outcomes over time. In addition, the study provides detailed insights into how the IT-enabled sales process innovation at VoiceTech shaped and was shaped by shifts in stakeholder perceptions over time.

Climate change is an issue surrounded by risk and uncertainty. The public oftentimes receive most of its general knowledge regarding science on the issue from the mass media. This can mean that the public receive mixed messages, those of apocalyptic narrative, those of narratives claiming no such thing exists, for example, which can lead to misconceptions of what the actual status is, and in extension lead to fear and anxiety. The aim of this study was to explore how individuals experience alarmistic media frames, through conducting a survey asking the respondents to react to visual examples in an alarmistic demeanor. Findings showed that while respondents felt worry, hopelessness and compassion in relation to the examples presented, they also responded with indifference on some levels. Contexts of the respondents also showed existing knowledge about what can be done to help the environmental issues, as well as altruistic values about other living organisms both in the present and the future. Conclusively, alarmistic media frames effect individuals directly on an emotional level, whether it can be feelings of worry, hopelessness, compassion or indifference. However it is not as simple in evaluating a totality of effect on individuals. This study implies a deeper process of experience, as respondents implied possessed knowledge and values as a base for what the initial experience lead to. / Klimatförändringar är ett problem omringat av hög osäkerhet och risk. Information om klimatförändringar och dess konsekvenser tar ofta vägen genom massmedia innan den når allmänheten, vilket gör att det ofta är där den generella kunskapen angående problemet och forskning runt det skapas. Det kan innebära att allmänheten får ta emot mixade budskap, som till exempel de som talar om apokalyptiska framtidsvisioner, de som talar om klimatförändringar som ett påhittat problem och så vidare, vilket kan leda till förvirring och misstolkningar av problemets egentliga natur och status och kan i förlängning leda till ohälsosamma psykiska tillstånd så som ångest och djuprotad rädsla. Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka hur individer upplever alarmistiska mediagestaltningar av klimatförändringar genom en enkätundersökning där respondenterna ombads att reagera på visuella exempel av alarmistisk natur. Resultaten visar på att även om respondenterna upplevde oro, hjälplöshet och medkänsla i relation till de exempel som presenterades, svarade de också med likgiltighet och att inte känna något till vissa exempel. Respondenternas egen kontext visade också på redan innehavd kunskap om vad som kan göras för att påverka miljöproblemen i positiv riktning, vidare även altruistiska värden gentemot andra levande organismer både i nutid och framtid. Slutsatserna var att alarmistiska mediagestaltningar påverkar individer direkt på en känslomässig nivå, så som oroskänslor, hjälplöshet, medkänsla eller likgiltighet. Emellertid är det inte lika enkelt och direkt att värdera totaliteten av effekter hos individer. Studien implicerar en djupare process av upplevelser, då respondenterna implicerade en innehavd kunskap och värderingar som en grund för vad den initiala upplevelsen kan leda till.

Steel moment frames are often used in structures to provide lateral strength and stiffness to the structure. These frames are subject to failure modes including buckling in the out of plane direction in a lateral-torsional buckling mode. This failure mode is influenced by interactions of the members through their connections. While the flexural behaviour has been studied in depth and for some time, the effect of torsional warping interaction between members has not been studied extensively. This work presents an analysis of the effect of including the effects of warping interaction or neglecting them, as is done in the current design practice. The issues of inelastic behaviour are considered, as well as the case of torsionally sensitive members. A joint element model is created to treat the warping displacements and their continuity through the joint. The study finds that the current practice of neglecting the warping displacement continuity appears to be a conservative assumption. It is recommended that the present practice of neglecting the effects of warping in analysis of frames continues. / Structural Engineering

We consider two different problems in quantization theory. During the first part we discuss the so called Bennett's White Noise Hypothesis, introduced to study quantization errors of different schemes. Under this hypothesis, one assumes that the reconstruction errors of different channels can be considered as uniform, independent and identically distributed random variables. We prove that in the case of uniform quantization errors for frame expansions, this hypothesis is in fact false. Nevertheless, we also prove that in the case of fine quantization, the errors of different channels are asymptotically uncorrelated, validating, at least partially, results on the computation of the mean square error of reconstructions that were obtained through the assumption of Bennett's hypothesis. On the second part, we will introduced a new scalar quantization scheme, called a Beta Alpha Encoder. We analyze its robustness with respect to the quantizer imperfections. This scheme also induces a challenging dynamical system. We give partial results dealing with the ergodicity of this system.

This study examines what frames the Swedish Lev Upp till Barnkonventionen campaign use, and whether the frames are in accordance to the frames suggested by Keck and Sikkink in their award-winning book Activists Beyond Borders. The Swedish Lev Upp till Barnkonventionen campaign is the only campaign in Sweden that aims to promote the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child into Swedish law. It started in 2009 as a network driven by 7 organizations, UNICEF, BRIS, World Childhood Foundation, Swedish Save the Children (Rädda Barnen), ECPAT, Plan Sverige and SOS-Barnbyar, together with the Swedish Children‟s Ombudsman (Barnombudsman). An ideational analysis of the texts, that the campaign uses to appeal to society and persuade, shows that four frames are frequently used within the campaign. Two of the frames are in accordance with the proposed frames, being "bodily harm to innocent and vulnerable people" and "legal inequality". The other two frames set the problem to be poverty/economic vulnerability or psychological harm. Although, all four frames identified follow the three parts a frame should include according to Keck and Sikkink – a problem, a cause with a short causal chain and a specific type of action to solve the problem. This study has contributed with another case study to the limited amount of cases that study how international norms are framed in national contexts. Furthermore, this study has discovered that Sweden, although is using other frames too, use the frames that Keck and Sikkink have proposed.

Thesis (Ph.D.) -- McMaster University, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 317-323). Also available via World Wide Web.