Computation model is presented for mass spring systems of one and two dimensional phononic band gap crystals and micro-electro-mechanical systems. The computation model is veri ed with existing work, and phononic band gap microelectro- mechanical systems are analyzed. Phononic band gap in the scienti c and industrial community is discussed. The motivation and the recent popular methods are discussed. The computation models are highlighted with their pros and cons and adequate computational applications. The one dimensional mass spring model is developed and the simulator operation is validated through comparison with the published simulation data in the original paper by J.S. Jensen et al.. Additionally, the one dimensional mass spring simulator is validated for a micro-electro-mechanical system band structure. The two dimensional mass spring model is developed, as well, the simulator operation is validated through comparison with the published simulation data in the original paper by J.S. Jensen et al.. The two-dimensional simulator is utilized to analyze solid square-shaped, hollow square-shaped, solid diamond-shaped, and hollow diamond-shaped inclusion micro-electro-mechanical band gap structures. The solid inclusion-based micro-electro-mechanical band gap results are compared with hollow inclusion-based micro-electro-mechanical structures.

Computation model is presented for mass spring systems of one and two dimensional phononic band gap crystals and micro-electro-mechanical systems. The computation model is veri ed with existing work, and phononic band gap microelectro- mechanical systems are analyzed. Phononic band gap in the scienti c and industrial community is discussed. The motivation and the recent popular methods are discussed. The computation models are highlighted with their pros and cons and adequate computational applications. The one dimensional mass spring model is developed and the simulator operation is validated through comparison with the published simulation data in the original paper by J.S. Jensen et al.. Additionally, the one dimensional mass spring simulator is validated for a micro-electro-mechanical system band structure. The two dimensional mass spring model is developed, as well, the simulator operation is validated through comparison with the published simulation data in the original paper by J.S. Jensen et al.. The two-dimensional simulator is utilized to analyze solid square-shaped, hollow square-shaped, solid diamond-shaped, and hollow diamond-shaped inclusion micro-electro-mechanical band gap structures. The solid inclusion-based micro-electro-mechanical band gap results are compared with hollow inclusion-based micro-electro-mechanical structures.

Background: Service quality is considered to be a vital strategy for survival and success in today’s competitive environment. Although there have been an emphasis in quality overall, the research in companies performance within a business-to-business approach is still largely unexplored. Accordingly, service quality in recruitment companies will be interesting to examine in order to explore the business-to-business industry further. Purpose &: The purpose of this research is to study how recruitment Research Question: companies secure quality in their services. What factors indicate various quality levels? Methodology: This is a qualitative study with a deductive approach. Multiple case studies were conducted with a total of six respondents from three companies. Conclusion: This research concluded factors that indicate various quality levels in recruitment companies. The collected data that could not be strengthened with the theories was recommended as further research.

Thesis Purpose: The purpose of this study is to develop an increased knowledge of place branding, study the perception of inhabitants’ regarding Alvesta as a place and to explore an extended relationship between Alvesta and Växjö municipality. Methodology: The methodology of the study is conducted with qualitative and quantitative approach. There were two interviews in Alvesta and Växjö municipality office. A total number of 216 questionnaires were gathered in three urban areas in Alvesta municipality. Theoretical Framework: For this study place branding theory has been used as a guideline and SWOT, Gap analysis and Co-opetition theory were used to analyze Alvesta municipality as a place and its inhabitant’s perception. Empirical Finding: A total of 210 questionnaires were analyzed statistically through SPSS with functions such as cross tabulation, compare means, and scale reliability analysis. Also the results of two interviews with the Alvesta and Växjö municipality are written in this chapter regarding the theories used in this thesis. Analysis: The analysis chapter integrates the theory and the results of the empirical findings. Alvesta’s brand and service were evaluated based on SWOT and gap analysis. A co-opetition relationship was suggested between Växjö and Alvesta municipality in different issues such as branding, infrastructure and education. Conclusion: From this study we have attained insight that Alvesta municipality is in the initial stage in branding and there is a service gap in the inhabitants’ perception. Finally this study contributes how Alvesta municipality can create mutual value by cooperating and competing with Växjö municipality.

The use of architectures for the design, development, and documentation of system-of-systems engineering has become a common practice in recent years. At the same time, acquisition guidance has been recently reformed to move from the bottom-up approach of the Requirements Generation System (RGS) to the top-down approach mandated by the Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System (JCIDS), which requires the use of DoDAF to support acquisition. Defense agencies have had difficulty adjusting to these new policies, and are struggling to determine how to meet new acquisition requirements. This research has developed the Architecture-based Technology Evaluation and Capability Tradeoff (ARCHITECT) Methodology to respond to these challenges and address concerns raised about the defense acquisition process. The methodology integrates existing tools and techniques for systems engineering and system of systems engineering with several new modeling and simulation tools and techniques developed as part of this research to fill gaps noted in prior CBAs. Additional criteria for the methodology were developed by leveraging lessons learned from similar fields, including management science and cognitive psychology. A suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD) mission is used to demonstrate the application of ARCHITECT and to show the plausibility of the approach. Overall, it is shown that the ARCHITECT methodology results in an improvement over current CBAs in the criteria developed here.

<p>Thesis Purpose: The purpose of this study is to develop an increased knowledge of place branding, study the perception of inhabitants’ regarding Alvesta as a place and to explore an extended relationship between Alvesta and Växjö municipality.</p><p>Methodology: The methodology of the study is conducted with qualitative and quantitative approach. There were two interviews in Alvesta and Växjö municipality office. A total number of 216 questionnaires were gathered in three urban areas in Alvesta municipality.</p><p>Theoretical Framework: For this study place branding theory has been used as a guideline and SWOT, Gap analysis and Co-opetition theory were used to analyze Alvesta municipality as a place and its inhabitant’s perception.</p><p>Empirical Finding: A total of 210 questionnaires were analyzed statistically through SPSS with functions such as cross tabulation, compare means, and scale reliability analysis. Also the results of two interviews with the Alvesta and Växjö municipality are written in this chapter regarding the theories used in this thesis.</p><p>Analysis: The analysis chapter integrates the theory and the results of the empirical findings. Alvesta’s brand and service were evaluated based on SWOT and gap analysis. A co-opetition relationship was suggested between Växjö and Alvesta municipality in different issues such as branding, infrastructure and education.</p><p>Conclusion: From this study we have attained insight that Alvesta municipality is in the initial stage in branding and there is a service gap in the inhabitants’ perception. Finally this study contributes how Alvesta municipality can create mutual value by cooperating and competing with Växjö municipality.</p>

Communities in the vicinity of the Mico River, located in Chontales, Nicaragua, suffer from periodic dry season water shortages. The Mico River is impacted by artisanal and industrial mining, cattle ranching, effluent from local dairies and tanneries, and poor waste management practices in the watershed. Available water quality data consists of short term assessment studies and monitoring data for a mine operating in the headwaters, but to date this information has not been collated and interpreted as a whole. Communities in the vicinity of the Mico River have expressed an interest in having this data reviewed to verify information they have received from government and industry with regards to impacts from the La Libertad Mine. A gap analysis of existing water quality data in the headwaters of the Mico River is presented, with interpretation of current data and identification of further data needs. Recommendations are provided for future water quality monitoring in the region. The study area was defined as the Mico River watershed upstream of the town of Santo Tomas. A total of 14 studies were identified with information about the Mico River in this area. Individual study reliability was assessed, and study data were compiled to assess conditions in comparison to water quality guidelines and any spatial or temporal trends. Both water chemistry and bioassessment studies were assessed. The major gaps in existing information are: insufficient baseline/ reference information, insufficient information on impacts from contaminants other than metals, insufficient coverage of streams not directly impacted by the La Libertad Mine, poor quality and reliability of data, and poor coordination/ continuity between studies done to date. Cyanide concentrations were found to be below drinking water criteria at the majority of sample locations. Metals concentrations were elevated throughout the study area but it cannot be determined if this is due to natural background levels or anthropogenic sources. Water quality conditions with regards to other parameters (e.g., dissolved oxygen, temperature, pesticides and bacteria) and bioassessment data cannot be assessed due insufficient data quality and quantity. Existing monitoring in the region should be expanded to include reference locations. It is recommended that a benthic invertebrate bioassessment program designed for tropical mountain streams be implemented to supplement existing monitoring and identify areas where stream function is impaired, as bioassessment is cheaper and requires less equipment and logistical coordination than water chemistry monitoring programs. Whatever future work is done, care must be taken that study design and implementation is of a higher quality than that done to date, so that results are comparable and reliable. Coordination and cooperation between bodies involved in monitoring is essential for efficient use of scarce resources. / Graduate

Modern information systems strive to provide effective use of resources. Supplied with analysis tools, geographical information systems (GIS) can serve its stakeholders with minimal requirements. In this study, GIS capabilities were employed for Turkish Flora. Data related with the threatened plants that are indigenous to Turkey were gathered from the relevant literature and reshaped into a dataset in which spatial locations were represented in a geographically referenced format. Afterwards, this output was used to investigate the affects of different factors on the distribution patterns of these plants by means of functions of GIS and multivariate analysis. At last, overlay analysis was employed in order to reveal the congruence between official protection reserves, spatial locations of the plants in danger and areas of importance for other elements of wildlife specifically birds. Outcomes of the study is three-fold. First of all, a simple algorithm was established which can be used in the formation of a unified database of widely distributed floristic data in Turkey. Geographically referenced data and the analysis results produced in the study is another value added for Turkish botanics. From another perspective, effectiveness of GIS in handling different types of non-standard data were scrutinized. Overlay analysis of locations of the plants and the protection reserves constituted the managerial aspect of the study by pointing large gaps in the actual protection coverage and proposing candidate regions for official reserve choices of the future. In essence, GIS was deemed to be an effective tool for parties working on non-standard spatial data.

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O presente trabalho tem como objetivo principal o desenvolvimento de estruturas que contribuam para avaliação do alinhamento entre percepções de qualidade e planejamento de investimentos que impactem na melhoria da qualidade dos serviços aeroportuários prestados aos passageiros. Para tanto, o trabalho se propõe: (i) realizar o levantamento na literatura dos atributos de qualidade que afetam aos passageiros nos terminais; (ii) criar uma estrutura para avaliação de qualidade em serviços aeroportuários; (iii) hierarquizar atributos de qualidade; (iv) avaliar a qualidade percebida de atributos de qualidade; (v) analisar de gaps de importância atribuída e qualidade percebida, nas percepções de passageiros e gestores; (vi) verificar as relações entre investimentos e atributos de qualidade; e (vii) avaliar o impacto dos investimentos na qualidade percebida por passageiros. Entre as principais contribuições desta dissertação, está a proposição de três estruturas: (i) estrutura para avaliação da qualidade em serviços aeroportuários; (ii) estrutura para análise de gaps de qualidade em serviços aeroportuários; e (iii) uma estrutura para avaliação do impacto dos investimentos na qualidade percebida por passageiros. Utilizando o método proposto, os gestores dos aeroportos podem realizar diagnósticos, verificar oportunidades de melhoria e priorizar a alocação de recursos em planos de investimentos futuros. Além disso, as estruturas propostas nos capítulos deste trabalho podem auxiliar os profissionais aeroportuários a direcionar esforços e políticas estratégicas para atributos importantes e com baixa qualidade percebida pelos passageiros. As características diferenciadoras e específicas dos serviços aeroportuários são consideradas nas pesquisas desenvolvidas, uma vez que foram validadas por especialistas do setor. / This study's main objective is to develop frameworks for contribute to assess the alignment between quality perceptions and investment planning, that impact on improving airport services quality, provided to passengers. Thus, this study proposes: (i) a literature survey of quality attributes that affect passengers in the terminals; (ii) to create a framework for quality assessment in airport services; (iii) prioritize quality attributes; (iv) evaluate quality perceived of quality attributes; (v) analyze gaps of prioritization and perceived quality, on the perceptions of passengers and managers; (vi) verify the relationship between investments and quality attributes; and (vii) evaluate the impact of investments in the quality perceived by passengers. Among the main contributions of this study is the proposition of three frameworks: (i) framework for the evaluation of quality attributes in airport services; (ii) quality gaps framework in airport services; and (iii) framework for evaluate the impact of investments in the quality perceived by passengers. Using the proposed method, airport managers can perform diagnostics, check opportunities for improvement and prioritize the allocation of future investment plans resources. In addition, the proposed frameworks in the chapters of this work can contribute to a structured model for analyse the alignment between perceived quality assessment and planning of airport investiments. This model can help airport managers to direct efforts and strategic policies for important attributes and low quality perceived by passengers. The distinguishing and specific characteristics of the airport services are considered in the research developed, since had been validated by sector experts.