Infrastructure systems are critical to a country’s prosperity. It is extremely important to manage the infrastructure systems efficiently in order to avoid wastage and to maximize benefits. Deterioration of infrastructure systems is one of the primary issues in civil engineering today. This problem has been widely acknowledged by engineering community in numerous studies. We need to evolve efficient strategies to tackle the problem of infrastructure deterioration and to efficiently operate infrastructure. In this research, we propose stochastic models to predict the process of deterioration in engineering systems and to perform life-cycle analysis (LCA) of deteriorating engineering systems. LCA has been recognized, over the years, as a highly informative tool for helping the decision making process in infrastructure management. In this research, we propose a stochastic model, SSA, to accurately predict the effect of deterioration processes in engineering systems. The SSA model addresses some of the important and ignored areas in the existing models such as the effect of deterioration on both capacity and demands of systems and accounting for different types of failures in assessing the life-span of a deteriorating system. Furthermore, this research proposes RTLCA, a renewal theory based LCA model, to predict the life-cycle performance of deteriorating systems taking into account not only the life-time reliability but also the costs associated with operating a system. In addition, this research investigates the effect of seismic degradation on the reliability of reinforced concrete (RC) bridges. For this purpose, we model the seismic degradation process in the RC bridge columns which are the primary lateral load resisting system in a bridge. Thereafter, the RTLCA model along with SSA model is used to study the life-cycle of an example RC bridge located in seismic regions accounting for seismic degradation. It is expected that the models proposed in this research will be helpful in better managing our infrastructure systems.

We live in turbulent times. Success in today’s challenging economy marked by constant technological innovations, global competition and tight markets. A technological development and innovations often modifies the basis of competition in a given industry and technology is, in many cases, one of the main sources of competitive advantage. But it doesn’t means that it’s enough for a manufacturing enterprises to understand technological part for successful business. Technology management in a company is completely connected with marketing management. Engineering cannot be taken only as a technical activity, but as a set of human and technological activities securing the efficiency of technical solution and profitability in the given business. The marketing environment affects the solutions of the technology management and technological environment effect marketing management decisions. But the trouble is that most companies’ lack much in the way of an effective technological management and marketing program, and worse yet, seem at all doesn’t care about it effective utilization. In the first, theoretical part of the final work are analysed relationships between the technology management and the marketing mix. In the second one, JSC “Metos” technological strategy, its advantages and the place of the conveyor dishwashing machine in product life cycle. And lastly, there are presented improved marketing mix considering company’s technological strategy and product place in product... [to full text]

The fishery for Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) has received considerable attention in recent years, owing largely to the possibility of its significant expansion and the ecological implications of increased extraction of a keystone species. This thesis employed Ecological Footprint (EF) analysis and life cycle assessment (LCA) to measure the resource use, energy use, and emissions associated with three krill-derived products: meal and oil for aquaculture feeds, and omega-3 krill oil capsules for the nutraceutical market. The product supply chains of one krill fishing and processing company, Aker BioMarine, were used as a case study to examine Antarctic krill-derived products. Antarctic krill products were compared to products from similar fisheries targeting other species for reduction into meal and oil, including Peruvian anchovy (Engraulis ringens), Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus), blue whiting (Micromesistius poutassou) and Gulf menhaden (Brevoortia patronus), on the basis of marine footprint, carbon footprint, and fuel use intensity.

This study used environmental life cycle assessment (LCA) to investigate waste vegetable oil (WVO) biodiesel production at the University of Guelph, Ridgetown Campus, Centre for Agricultural Renewable Energy and Sustainability (CARES). CARES production data and Natural Resources Canada’s GHGenius LCA data were utilized to conduct a well-to-gate LCA. A range of scenarios were studied including using soybean oil feedstock and implementing methanol recovery. Results suggest that methanol is the environmental bottleneck of the WVO biodiesel production system. Results also suggest soybean biodiesel production released more GHG emissions and consumed more energy than both WVO biodiesel or petroleum diesel production. LCA is an iterative process. Due to the study’s limited scope, and status as a screening study, it is recommended that the study of the impacts of the CARES facility be redone with more reliable facility data, that it include the anaerobic digester, as well as a well-to-wheels boundary. / University of Guelph

The main purpose of this paper is to explore how the probability of taking continuing education programs towards no degree for job or career purposes after graduation will be affected by overeducation, which can be defined as having actual education levels that exceed requirements for the job. Using the data from the National Graduates Survey – Class of 2005-Public User Microdata File (PUMF) (Statistics Canada 2007), a probit model was estimated to test the hypothesis that graduates who are already overeducated would take fewer continuing education programs for job or career purposes. Possible reasons for the negative relationship between overeducation and the likelihood of taking continuing education programs after graduation were examined based on human capital theory.

Enhanced interest in biofuel production has renewed interest in bioenergy crop production within the United States. Agriculture’s role in biofuel production is critical because it has the potential to supply renewable energy while minimizing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. However, agronomic management practices influence direct and indirect GHG emissions, and both can have a significant impact on biofuel production efficiency. Our overall objective was to determine the carbon (C) footprint of bioenergy sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) production in central Texas. Specifically, we determined the impacts of crop rotation, nitrogen (N) fertilization, and residue return on direct and indirect GHG emissions, theoretical biofuel yield, C pools, and life cycle GHG emissions from bioenergy sorghum production in 2010 and 2011. An experiment established in 2008 near College Station, TX to quantify the impacts of crop management practices on bioenergy sorghum yield and soil properties was utilized, and included two crop rotations (sorghum-sorghum or corn-sorghum), two fertilization levels (0 or 280 kg N ha^(-1) annually), and two residue return rates (0 or 50% biomass residue returned) to assess management impacts on sorghum production, C cycling, and life cycle GHGs. Corn production was poor under moderate drought conditions, while bioenergy sorghum produced relatively large yields under both moderate and severe drought conditions. Nitrogen addition increased crop yields, and rotated sorghum had higher yield than monoculture sorghum. Fluxes of CO_(2) and N_(2)O were higher than those reported in literature and highest soil fluxes were frequently observed following precipitation events during the growing season. Residue return increased cumulative CO_(2) emissions and N fertilization increased N_(2)O emissions. Residue return also increased soil microbial biomass-C, an important indicator of soil quality. Continuous sorghum significantly increased soil organic C (SOC) concentrations near the soil surface and at two depths below 30 cm. Analysis of change in SOC across time to estimate net CO_(2) emissions to the atmosphere revealed bioenergy sorghum production accrued high amounts of SOC annually. Most treatments accrued more than 4 Mg C ha^(-1) yr^(-1) from 2008 to 2012, which indicated great potential for C sequestration and offsetting GHG emissions. Life cycle GHG emissions (as g CO_(2)-eq MJ^(-1)) were all negative due to high SOC increases each year and indicated all bioenergy sorghum production treatments sequestered atmospheric CO_(2) per unit of theoretical energy provided. Despite its relatively low production efficiency, rotated sorghum with N addition and residue return was selected as the ideal bioenergy sorghum production scenario due to a number of sustainability factors. Bioenergy sorghum may offer great benefit as a high-yielding biofuel feedstock with minimal impacts to net GHG emissions.

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No description available.

This thesis presents and discusses the results of research undertaken to explore the concept 'professional confidence'. The term 'confidence', is frequently to be found In previous research, yet this has not adequately been defined. The conceptions held by occupational therapists were not clear, and the events or circumstances that fostered professional confidence in occupational therapists have not been identified. Each of these aspects was identified as an area for research in the profession. Three studies were undertaken to gain greater insights and to add to the body of knowledge in terms of our understanding of 'professional confidence'. The studies included a concept analysis of the concept of 'professional confidence', a phenomenographic study of the conceptions of professional confidence that novice occupational therapists hold and finally, the sources or determinants of professional confidence beliefs in occupational therapy students were explored using an interpretative methodology. The research undertaken yielded antecedents and attributes or characteristics of professional confidence, and from these a definition was crafted. The conceptions or understanding of professional confidence held by the community service therapists, namely knowing, believing and being, were closely related to the attributes raised in the concept analysis, confirming the findings of the analysis. Final year occupational therapy students highlighted a number of determinants of professional confidence, including events, situations and circumstances within their control, the control of their clinical supervisors and/or the profession. These sources in turn had been confirmed as antecedents in the concept analysis. The research confirmed that professional identity, competence and professional confidence are inter-related and inter-dependent phenomena. Professional confidence involves a dynamic, maturing self-belief closely related to, and informed by both professional identity and competence. As such, equal attention should be given during the educational endeavour and initial employment opportunities, to the fostering of both professional identity and professional confidence while enhancing competencies. The recommendations provided within the research provide a rich source of information from which further research can be undertaken and interventions developed to assist students and novice practitioners to enhance their professional confidence. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2013.

As concern for the environment has been dramatically raised over the recent decade, all fields have increased their efforts to reduce impact on environment. The field of construction has responded and started to develop the building performance strategies as well as regulations to reduce the impact on the environment. HVAC systems are obviously one of the key factors of building energy consumption. This study investigates the system performance and economic value of variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems relative to conventional HVAC systems by comparing life-cycle cost of VRF systems to that of conventional HVAC systems. VRF systems consist mainly of one outdoor unit and several indoor units. The outdoor unit provides all indoor units with cooled or heated refrigerant; with these refrigerants, each indoor unit serves one zone, delivering either heating or cooling. Due to its special configuration, the VRF system can cool some zones and heat other zones simultaneously. This comparative analysis covers six building types—medium office, standalone retail, primary school, hotel, hospital, and apartment—in a eleven climate zones—1A Miami, 2A Houston, 2B Phoenix, 3A Atlanta, 3B Las Vegas, 3C San Francisco, 4A Baltimore, 4B Albuquerque, 4C Seattle, 5A Chicago, and 5B Boulder. Energy simulations conducted by EnergyPlus are done for each building type in each climate zone. Base cases for each simulation are the reference models that U.S. Department of Energy has developed, whereas the alternative case is the same building in the same location with a VRF system. The life-cycle cost analysis provides Net Savings, Savingto- Investment ratio, and payback years. The major findings are that the VRF system has an average of thirty-nine percent HVAC energy consumption savings. As for the results of the life-cycle cost analysis, the average of simple payback period is twelve years.