To increase production and reduce intermediate storage in the factory a new flexible packaging machine is needed. The main purpose of this project is to design a new flexible and modular packaging machine and to create a new framework to use when designing new machines. Current research shows that no framework or practical guide for designing flexible and modular machines exist. A new framework is developed based on a literature study on flexibility in the industry with past, present, and future concepts. The proposed framework is a step-by-step tree/flowchart where each step has a set of rules/guidelines to follow. Along with the flowchart a help section is written to guide the user through the design steps. Existing industry standards are investigated to find a suitable structure for connecting the modules and the machine in the project. Results show that few standards exist in the connectivity structure for the industry.  To lower maintenance costs and increase operational reliability, predictive maintenance using edge computing is investigated. Using edge computing allows the machine to take advantage of predictive maintenance while being offline which makes it suitable for a moveable machine. Evaluation of predictive maintenance show that it still needs more research, and it is complex to implement, which makes it expensive for non-critical machines.The results of this project are a new proposed framework that was used in the project to design a new packaging machine and a flexible PLC program that is easily adaptable for changing modules. The proposed framework fills a gap in the practical usage of known concepts and was used while designing the new machine to evaluate its usability.

Introduction: Mental imagery (MI) has been shown to influence flexibility when used with treatments such as stretching. Currently, little evidence supports the efficacy of MI as an independent tool to increase flexibility. Therefore, the purpose of this investigation was to test if a guided mental imagery protocol could positively influence subject physical measures, including myofascial length, muscle tone and range of motion measures. Methods: Individuals with no history of lower limb injuries that would affect hamstring flexibility underwent initial measures, random assignment to a mental imagery or control group, and post-intervention measures. The imagery group followed a guided visualization of a hamstring stretch, and the control group remained still for the same amount of time. Independent T-Test, Dependent T-Test, and one-way ANOVA were used to analyze between-group differences, within-group differences, and group by time interaction, respectively. Results: 30 individuals enrolled in the study. No significant differences between groups at baseline were found for baseline demographics and ROM measures. No significant group by time differences were found between the two groups for any of the recorded measures. A posthoc power analysis showed a small effect size on the ANOVA test for knee extension. Discussion: Our evidence shows an acute MI-only protocol may not positively influence ROM measures. Future work should use familiarization periods, assess if imagery increases perceptions of flexibility, and utilize different musculature and stretches to see if visualization has a uniform influence globally.

Previous research has indicated that emotion regulation (ER) strategy use is crucial for predicting emotional and behavioral functioning. The current study examined the construct of ER by integrating ER strategy use with flexibility to use strategies and overall level of experienced emotion to determine the adaptiveness of ER as a process. Self-report data regarding strategy use, flexibility, and affect intensity was collected from undergraduate psychology students (N = 380). A latent class analysis (LCA) was used to test the predicted 4-class model of ER. A 4-class model and 2-class model were supported. MANOVA results indicated that both models predicted outcomes of ER difficulties, secure attachment, and internalizing and externalizing behaviors; the comparison model of high/low strategy use did not predict ER difficulties or internalizing and externalizing behaviors. Our results suggest that integrating strategy use, flexibility, and emotionality yields classes of ER predict functioning better than strategy use alone.

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Advertising is regarded as one of the most important and effective communication methods in tourism (Kim, Hwang & Fesenmaier, 2005; Morgan & Pitchard, 2001). Researchers have extensively analyzed travelers' responses to advertising exposure based upon a variety of perspectives including the hierarchy-of-effects model, and more recently, the dual process advertising model (Lavidge & Steiner, 1961; Petty, Briñol, & Priester, 2009; Te'eni-Harari, Lampert, & Lehman-Wilzig. 2007). Fundamentally, these models focus attention on the factors effecting the destination decision. However, a number of tourism scholars have argued that travel decision making is a complex/multifaceted process whereby travelers are required to make many sub-decisions rather than a single independent choice of a travel destination (Decrop & Snelders, 2004; Jeng & Fesenmaier 2002). As such, these studies suggest that most tourism advertising response models have been over simplified and therefore, offer little insight into the factors affecting the travel decision-making process (Choi, Lehto, Morrison, & Jang, 2012; Hyde, 2004; 2008). Further, Belk (1974; 1975), among others (Aqueveque, 2006; Kim & Chintagunta, 2012; Kim & Moon, 2009; Wakefield & Inman, 2003), argued that situational variables explain considerably more variance in consumer response to advertising than individual-related variables. Within the context of travel, Jeng and Fesenmaier (2002) and more recently, Gretzel, Fesenmaier and O'Leary (2006) and Hwang and Fesenmaier (2011) examined the ordering and extent to which travelers are willing to change their travel decisions. Jeng and Fesenmaier (2006) found that, for example, decisions regarding travel party, destination and attractions to visit are not likely to be changed once made; this finding contrasts to travel decisions regarding restaurants and shopping which are less likely to be firmly planned in advance, and therefore travelers are more likely to change depending upon the situation. Following Jeng and Fesenmaier (2002), it is posited that travel planning is a multi-stage contingent process and because of these various decisions that comprise trip planning are situational whereby travelers may change their trip plan depending the trip decision as well as their involvement, prior knowledge, the number of alternatives considered, and the nature of the travel party. As a result, it is argued that the degree to which travelers are willing to adapt their plans will affect the nature and extent to which they process travel advertising. Based upon these two sets of arguments, this dissertation seeks to: (1) develop a destination advertising response model that incorporates the various facets comprising travel decisions (e.g., places/attractions, additional destinations, accommodations, restaurants and shopping stores); and, (2) examine the role of decision flexibility on the facet-based advertising model. A pilot study was first conducted to test if the theoretical constructs in the proposed tourism advertising response model are valid. The results of the pilot study indicate that most of proposed constructs that form the travel advertising response model and decision flexibility are valid and reliable; however, the analyses indicate that there are two forms of decision flexibility: 1. Pre-trip flexibility and 2. En-route flexibility. Pre-trip flexibility relates to travel decisions/plans regarding places/attractions, additional destinations and accommodations, while en-route flexibility involves decisions regarding restaurants and shopping visited during the trip. Based on the findings of the pilot study, the main study was conducted to test the proposed relationships within the core tourism advertising model. The results of these analyses indicated that many/most of the hypothesized relationships are supported. Additionally, the moderating effects of decision flexibility on traveler's responses to travel advertising were examined. The results of these analyses indicate that Pre-trip flexibility significantly moderates the relationship between attitudes toward advertising and travel products, whereby high and low flexible travelers tend to have a strong positive attitude toward destination advertising; this compares to middle flexible travelers who have a significantly lower attitude toward the travel advertisements. The results of these analyses also indicate that en-route flexibility has very limited moderating influence on the how travelers perceive travel advertising. The findings of this study suggest that destination marketing organizations need to consider the various sub-decisions that comprise the travel decision making process. Further, destination marketing organizations need to take into account the degree to which potential travelers are willing to change their trip plan in that it appears to substantially influence a crucial aspect of traveler's response to advertising; these findings are especially important as travelers have begun to use mobile technology to guide their travel decision which, in turn, should enable destination marketers to develop customized advertising strategies depending on the various travel products purchased. / Tourism and Sport

Healthcare facilities are dynamic, long-term investments that must be able to respond to change in order to avoid obsolescence. Flexibility is a response used in healthcare facility design and construction to counter uncertainties, such as changing medical technologies, medical science and regulations. Flexible infrastructure design offers healthcare facilities the opportunity to combat obsolescence stemming from uncertainties. Interstitial Building Space (IBS) is one of many flexible infrastructure design options that assists with both mid-range and long-term flexibility. IBS is an unfinished and unoccupied horizontal space between a building's floors, fully accessible to people for the purpose of service and maintenance. The advent of Evidence Based Design (EBD) introduced a new dimension to the already dynamic healthcare facility. "EBD represents a body of science that links elements of the built environment with patient, staff and resource outcomes" (Malone et al. 2007 p.5). The incorporation of EBD increases the complexity for the design and construction of healthcare facilities. A framework was developed that articulates the dependent relationships between flexibility, IBS and EBD. The framework is comprised of three key elements: 1) a comprehensive "IBS Spectrum of Benefits" matrix resulting from a systematic literature review 2) a "Flexibility-EBD Conceptual Model" illustrating the relationship between flexibility and EBD, while identifying a continuum of flexibility enabled by this relationship; and 3) a "IBS-EBD Component Mapping Framework" articulating direct matches between the "IBS Spectrum of Benefits" and EBD components. The framework and the key elements within provide a foundational resource for stakeholders and researchers alike, navigating the interrelated intricacies associated with flexibility, EBD and IBS. / Master of Science / Healthcare facilities are dynamic, long-term investments that must be able to respond to change in order to avoid obsolescence. Flexibility is one response which enables facilities to combat changes and/ or uncertainties. This thesis explores the relationships between flexibility, Interstitial Building Space and Evidence Based Design, documents each relationship, and depicts their interrelated nature with the establishment of an overarching framework.

Metabolic flexibility plays a significant role in energy homeostasis by regulating fuel selection in correspondence to energy demand. Obese and type II diabetic populations have displayed a hindered ability to properly transition from fat oxidation while in a fasted state to carbohydrate oxidation once fed, leading to a buildup of mitochondrial metabolites such as acylcarnitines. Carnitine, essential for fatty acyl-CoA transport through the inner and outer mitochondrial membranes, can be an indicator of mitochondrial distress as elevated levels tend to spill over into plasma suggesting a disruption in oxidation. The current study was designed to examine the effect of short term, high fat feeding on plasma acylcarnitine species diversity and levels and if acylcarnitines are associated with metabolic flexibility. 13 healthy, non-obese, sedentary males, aged 18-40 years participated in this study. Following a 12-hour overnight fast a biopsy was taken from the quadricep before and 4 hours after a high fat meal. Blood draws were obtained pre-biopsy while fasted and every hour for 4 hours post high fat meal consumption. Acylcarnitines from plasma were converted to their butyl esters and analyzed by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). Changes were observed in acetylcarntine (P=0.0125), glucose oxidation (P=0.0295), C16:1/C16:0 desaturation index (P= 0.0397), and C18:1/C18:0 desaturation index (P=0.0012). We did not find that individual changes in flexibility correlated with circulating acylcarnitine measurements in a fasted state / Master of Science

"When the immediate vicinity is neither visible nor audible, the city apartment integrated into the urban fabric can be far more luxurious than the detached country home, provided both alternatives offer identical, house-like qualities of living: in the interior and at the transition to the appropriate exterior space - a small yard, a winter garden or a roof patio... ...the decision to opt for home ownership beyond the city boundaries, a voluntary choice it would seem, is in truth a flight from the insufficient housing options in the city, and less a rejection of the city as a place to live." Klaus-Dieter Weiss / Master of Architecture

The design process is a means to an end. It is the vehicle one uses to reach a destination. It is driven by past experiences, the advice from others or intuition. The thesis is a journey. For some, the destination is known before the journey even begins. For others, the destination is found somewhere along the way. For me, the destination is in sight, yet it constantly moves just out of reach. Each new discovery demands further exploration. In the journey, the project represents all the discoveries made along the way. Each step forward is an attempt to reinforce that which the traveller has already discovered or to inform the traveller to change directions. Thus, what is important about a journey is not only how one gets there, but also what is discovered along the way. / Master of Architecture