Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wollongong, 2003. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on Aug. 13, 2005). Some ill. and maps present in print version are lacking in electronic version. Includes bibliographical references (p. 238-266).

Syftet med studien är att utveckla kunskap om chefers uppfattningar om villkoren för att medarbetare ska stanna kvar på arbetsplatsen. Särskilt fokus läggs på synen på kompetensutvecklingens roll. Studiens metod är av kvalitativ karaktär. Inledningsvis presenteras relevant litteratur och tidigare forskning kring området. Med hjälp av en semistrukturerad intervjuguide har sedan sex chefer med någon form av personalansvar intervjuats. Det insamlade empiriska materialet har transkriberats och analyserats genom kvalitativ innehållsanalys. Resultatet visar vilka strategier cheferna använder sig av för att utveckla och behålla sina medarbetare. De aspekter som anses avgörande är: utvecklingsmöjligheter, inflytande och delaktighet, personlig dialog och feedback, öppet arbetsklimat, närvarande ledarskap, belöningar och förmåner samt tillhörighet och gemenskap. Slutsatsen är att cheferna lägger stor vikt vid att värna om sina medarbetare och arbetar aktivt med dessa aspekter för att få dem att utvecklas och vilja fortsätta sin anställning.

This thesis explores the combined subjects of keep alive forwarding, denial of service attacks and decentralized congestion control. In a society where the technical requirements on vehicles constantly escalate; inter-vehicle communication has risen as a potential springboard for new technologies. The ETSI ITS-G5 standard is a vehicular ad-hoc network standard that offers manufacturers the possibility to include a feature called keep alive forwarding. This feature lets the nodes forward messages on a pre-defined time interval even if the original broadcaster is no longer present. As this feature might provide exploits for potential people with malicious intent it has been evaluated how resilient the standard might be in such a situation. Also included in this thesis is the decentralized congestion control, a feature required by the standard. To evaluate these features a series of simulations has been performed where vehicles in a highway scenario have been exposed to a denial of service attack where the attacker uses the keep-alive forwarding as an exploit. The findings are that decentralized congestion control does mitigate some of the direct consequences of such an attack. Although it does not eliminate these entirely and new problems are introduced. Finally, alternative methods to perform keep alive forwarding are suggested to enhance this feature.

Advanced Driving Assistance Systems (ADAS) has the potential to decrease the number of fatal accidents in traffic. However, in some cases, drivers with the systems in their car are resistant against using them. Exploring the underlying reasons and factors of the low-usage of ADAS was the purpose of this thesis. The thesis consists of Study I, an exploratory interview study with ten drivers who had cars with ADAS. The goal of Study I was to highlight the possible reasons behind the low usage of ADAS. The results of Study I were used to design Study II, which consisted of a survey targeted to drivers who had access to the ADAS adaptive cruise control and lane keep assist (N = 49). The results indicate that the factors or circumstances that affect usage depend on the ADAS and the user groups. Some identified underlying factors for low usage behavior of ADAS are the need to monitor the vehicle more when ADAS is activated and lack of trust in own ability when using ADAS compared to the high usage group. / Advanced Driving Assistance Systems (ADAS) har potential att förhindra antalet dödsfall i trafiken. Det förekommer att förare som har systemen i sin bil, väljer bort att använda dem. Syftet med den här uppsatsen var att undersöka underliggande orsaker och faktorer till låg användningsgrad av ADAS. Uppsatsen består av två studier. Studie I är en explorativ intervjustudie med tio förare som hade bilar med ADAS. Målet med Studie I var att ringa in de möjliga bakomliggande faktorerna för låg användningsgrad av ADAS. Resultaten från Studie I användes för att utforma en enkätstudie till Studie II som var riktad till förare som hade bilar med förarstödsystemen adaptiv farthållare och körfältsassistans (N = 49). Resultaten pekar på att de underliggande orsakerna och faktorerna beror på vilken ADAS som avses samt vilket användargrupp föraren tillhör. Några underliggande faktorer för låg användingsgruppen tycks vara känsla av att behöva övervaka fordonet samt lägre grad av tilltro till den egna förmågan än vad höganvändingsgrupper rapporterade.

Vehicle platooning is an advanced vehicle maneuver that allows for the simultaneous control of several vehicles traveling on the roadway cite{al2010experimental}. Automated platoons, when activated in tractor trailer convoys, have a high potential of increasing the fuel efficiency and improving the utilization of roadways by allowing more vehicles to share the road at the same time. The increased fuel efficiency translates to lower cost on goods and motivates a more environmentally friendly and sustainable economy. In order to achieve the promised fuel savings from vehicle platooning, the vehicles need to follow each other at shorter headways than in typical driving scenarios. The reduced separation distance between the lead and follow vehicle reduces visibility and the reaction time available for the follow vehicle; this renders most modern Active Driver Assist Systems (ADAS) ineffective since they are not designed for operation in such short headway conditions. The focus of this work is related to understanding and improving the failures of Lane Keep Assist (LKA) systems in the follow vehicles of a platoon. In this work, the source of lane detection degradation when using a monocular forward facing camera in short headway platooning is identified. Furthermore, a novel lane augmentation algorithm is proposed to improve the lane detection capability of follow vehicles in a platoon. The lane augmentation process utilizes a longitudinal transformation of lane parameters from the lead to the follow vehicles. The transformation utilizes an accurate understanding of the relative spatial position and orientation of the two vehicles. The transformation also requires a reliable communication system between the two vehicles such as a Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) module. The work presented in this thesis develops theory, simulation and verification using real world data of the proposed cooperative lane augmentation. The results of this work indicate that it is possible to improve vehicle platooning performance by distributing the required sensing across multiple agents of the platoon. / Master of Science / Vehicle platooning is an advanced vehicle maneuver that allows for the simultaneous control of several vehicles traveling on the roadway cite{al2010experimental}. Automated platoons, when activated in tractor trailer convoys, have a high potential of increasing the fuel efficiency and improving the utilization of our roadways by allowing more vehicles to share the road at the same time. The increased fuel efficiency translates to lower cost on goods and motivates a more environmentally friendly and sustainable economy. In order to achieve the promised fuel savings from vehicle platooning, the vehicles need to follow each other at closer distances (headway) than in typical driving scenarios. The reduced separation distance between the lead and follow vehicle reduces visibility and the reaction time available for the follow vehicle; this renders most modern Active Driver Assist Systems (ADAS) ineffective since they are not designed for operation in such short headway conditions. The focus of this work is related to understanding and improving the failures of Lane Keep Assist (LKA) systems - the automated system used to keep the vehicle in the center of the lane - in the follow vehicles of a platoon. In the proposed scenario, the LKA uses a single forward facing camera to detect the lane lines ahead of the vehicle. The detected lanes serve as inputs to the lateral position (steering) controller in order to keep the vehicle in the center of the lane. In this work, the source of lane detection degradation in a follow vehicle of a short headway platoon is identified. Furthermore, a novel cooperative lane detection algorithm is proposed to improve the lane detection capability of the follow vehicles. The proposed algorithm utilizes lane information transformed from the lead to follow vehicle frame. The transformation utilizes the relative spatial position and orientation of the two vehicles. Additionally, a reliable communication protocol between the vehicles is required to transport the lane information. The work presented in this thesis develops theory, simulation and verification using real world data of the proposed algorithm. The results of this work indicate that lane keeping performance in a platoon can be improved using cooperative lane detection.

ABSTRACT This project discusses the development of Keep in Touch. Keep in Touch is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization which is designed to aid the visitation process. Visitation is concerned with children and their families who have been separated. Reasons for separation vary; however, many children have been separated and would benefit greatly from a local visitation program. Items such as children’s rights, California’s mandatory mediation law, and the current conditions of the family court house in San Bernardino County are all discussed and examined as supporting evidence to the problem of family visitation. The goal of Keep in Touch is to provide a comfortable environment, both physical and virtual, that encourages open communication (dialogue) between children and their families. The cultural climate of Keep in Touch is one that encourages, supports and nurtures the natural connection between children and their families.

Future heavy duty vehicles will be designed and manufactured with improved Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, ADAS. When developing ADAS, an accurate model of the vehicle dynamics greatly simplifies the development process. One element integral to the vehicle lateral dynamics and development of ADAS is the steering system. This thesis aims to develop an accurate model of a heavy duty vehicle steering system suitable for simulations. The input to the system is an input torque at the steering wheel and the output is the wheel angle. Physical models of the system components are developed using bond graphs and known relations. Some components are modelled with non-linear inefficiencies and friction of different complexity. Unknown parameters and functions are identified from measurement data using system identification tools such as, for example, linear regression and non-linear grid search. The different subsystems are identified separately to the extent deemed possible. Different model designs are considered, validated, and compared. The advantages and disadvantages of different model choices are discussed. Finally, a non-linear state space model is selected for its high accuracy and efficiency. As this final model can be used to simulate a heavy duty vehicle steering system on a desktop computer faster than real time, it fulfills its purpose.

This dissertation focuses on one of the most active research areas in the microelectronics industry: Thermo-mechanical reliability of 3-D interconnects containing through-silicon-vias (TSVs). This study constitutes two parts: 1. Thermal stress measurement on TSVs; 2. Analyses on thermo-mechanical reliability of TSVs. In the first part, a metrology for stress measurement of through-silicon-via (TSV) structures was developed using a bending beam technique. The bending curvature induced by the thermal expansion of a periodic array of Cu TSVs was measured during thermal cycles. The stress components in TSV structures were deduced combining the curvature measurement with a finite-element-analysis (FEA). Temperature-dependent thermal stresses in Cu TSVs and in Si matrix were derived. In the second part, the reliability issues induced by the thermal stresses of TSVs were analyzed from several aspects, including the carrier mobility change in transistors, the interfacial delamination of TSVs, and thermal stress interactions between TSVs. Among them, the mobility change in transistors was found to be sensitive to the normal stresses near the Si wafer surface. The surface area of a high mobility change was defined as the keep-out zone (KOZ) for transistors. FEA simulations were carried out to calculate the area of KOZ surrounding TSVs. The area of KOZ was found to be mainly determined by the channel direction of the transistor as a result of anisotropic piezoresistivity effects. FEA simulations also showed that the KOZ can be controlled by TSV geometry, material selection, etc. Interfacial delamination of TSVs was found to be mainly driven by a shear stress concentration at the TSV/Si interface. Crack driving force for TSV delamination was calculated using FEA simulations, which take into account the magnitude of thermal load, TSV geometry, TSV materials, etc. The results provided a design guideline to improve the TSV delamination problem. In the last, the stress interaction among TSV arrays was examined using a bi-TSV model. In the Cartesian coordinate system, thermal stresses can be intensified or suppressed between TSVs, depending on how TSVs are located. Further analyses suggested that the area of KOZ and the TSV-induced Si cracking can both be improved by optimizing the arrangement of the TSV arrays. / text

The decision of romantic partners to share or keep a secret involves each partner’s perception of the other’s trustworthiness. Indeed, trust may influence how romantic partners enact secrecy in their relationship. This study investigated the willingness of individuals to keep secrets from their partner, the number of secrets that people keep from their partner, individuals’ reports of their reasons for discussing their expectations regarding secrets, and the association between each of these characteristics and partners’ trust. First, the literature regarding secrecy and people’s willingness to keep secrets from a relational partner is investigated. People’s willingness to keep secrets from a relational partner should differ based on their trust in the partner. Secret holders are more likely to disclose to a confidant when they perceive that confidant to be trustworthy (Kelly & McKillop, 1996) and, conversely may not disclose to a confidant who lacks trustworthiness (Wheeless & Grotz, 1977). In light of these findings, it was expected that individuals’ willingness to keep secrets would be negatively related to the degree to which they trusted their partner. In a similar vein, the association between trust and the frequency of discussing expectations regarding secrecy was explored. The literature suggests two possibilities for the association between trust and the frequency of discussing expectations regarding secrecy. The first is that individuals who trust their partner enough may decide to discuss how secrets should be managed, because dyadic trust is associated with increased intimacy of disclosure (Larzelere & Huston, 1980). The second possibility is that people may choose to discuss their expectations of how they should manage secrets, not because of trust, but because a lack of trustworthiness. Research questions explored the associations between the frequency of discussing expectations regarding secrecy and partners’ willingness to keep secrets, the number of secrets they keep, and their trust. Finally, the reasons why individuals might or might not discuss their expectations regarding secrets with their partner, and what these discussions might consist of were explored. / text

This paper investigates how articles in Läkartidningen concerning the importance of physical activity have been formulated over the last twenty years. The paper analyses not only how a possible discursive change in the contents of the articles has occurred, but also how an attitude change among doctors can be detected. This is reflected in the increased amount of prescribed physical activity (“FaR”) that is notable during the investigated time period and thus could be considered a variable of effect.