This thesis outlines research completed in partnership between Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service and Liverpool John Moores University. The aim of the research was to investigate ways to develop and implement a bespoke Geographic Information System framework that could be used to identify risk of future anomalous accidental dwelling fires. This thesis outlines the techniques used to develop the framework and its application. In particular, the thesis presents an understanding of accidental dwelling fire causal factors and how data related to these can be incorporated into a model for identifying risk and targeting initiatives relative to the risk. The thesis also investigates two strands of customer insight developed for Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service. These are community profiles, based on a cluster analysis approach, to understand risks present within communities and the vulnerable person index, which identifies individuals most at risk from fire using data shared through information sharing agreements. Nationally recognised risk modelling toolkits, such as the Fire Service Emergency Cover toolkit do not utilise local information or have the ability to identify risk to an individual level. There is a need for this intelligence to be able to proactively target services, such as the Home Fire Safety Check. This paper also discusses some of the key operational and strategic areas that benefit from this information and presents some case studies related to the application of the research.

The focus of this thesis is an identification and analysis of problems which have occurred till now in the cooperation between two chosen organizations, followed by problem solution proposals. Methodology of two sociologists Charles H. Kepner and Benjamin B. Tregoe will be used to undertake this analysis. The thesis is divided in two parts, theoretical and practical. The aim of the theoretical part is to define the various concepts that will be used in this work, such as the Kepner-Tregoe methodology or definition of a problem. The practical part is oriented on the analysis of the cooperation of the chosen organizations and the problems that have occurred with the use of the mentioned methodology. The purpose of the thesis is to propose possible solutions and chose the most appropriate.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The biobutanol production by fermentative process has a great importance to increase the global supply of biofuel and becomes these able to replace the use of fossil fuel. The main difficulty associated to this production occurs due the not economic viability of applied production process. The aspects that have more contribution to this are the product inhibition at low concentration, low titer and the use of expensive substrates. This work is divided in four scientific articles which are focused in question involved to this solvent production. The first two are review papers about the topic, whereas the last two are research papers related to development of analytical methods and production process. The first paper reports to the main process development since 1980 year, by analyses of registered patents in relation to butanol production worldwide. The second paper presents a review from scientific articles about butyric fermentation published in recent years. The central characteristic of it is show the main troubles related to production, exhibiting the importance of the used substrate, as well as the choice of microorganism and separation process. Third paper presents a methodology to solvents determination from fermentation medium. This technique proposes a linear relationship between the density variation, sugar and solvents concentrations. The method proposed showed good results being promising to predict the ABE concentration in an easy and fast procedure. Fourth paper reports the development of the process to production of biobutanol by clostridial fermentation from sweet sorghum juice. Butanol is produced from substrate and small addition of yeast extract and tryptone, using 12.5% of initial inoculums size, at initial pH pH value equal to 5.5. In this work was demonstrated the possibility to produce biobutanol from sweet sorghum. / A produção de butanol a partir de processos fermentativos é de fundamental importância para aumentar a oferta mundial de biocombustíveis e permitir que estes substituam o uso de combustíveis fósseis. A principal dificuldade em relação a esta produção ocorre devido a não viabilidade econômica dos processos de produção aplicados. Os aspectos que mais contribuem para isto são a inibição pelo produto a baixas concentrações, baixa produtividade e uso de substratos caros. Este trabalho está dividido em quatro artigos científicos que estão voltados a questões envolvidas com a produção deste biocombustível. Os dois primeiros fazem uma revisão da literatura científica sobre o tópico, já os últimos são trabalhos científicos de desenvolvimento de metodologias e processos. O artigo 1 traz um ponto de vista em relação ao desenvolvimento do processo, desde o ano de 1980, através da análise das patentes registradas sobre produção de butanol no mundo. Além disso, a partir dos resultados é possível prever, parcialmente, como a tecnologia deverá avançar nos próximos anos. O artigo 2 faz uma revisão dos artigos científicos publicados sobre o fermentação butílica nos últimos tempos. A principal característica do mesmo é apontar os principais problemas relacionados à produção, mostrando a importância dada ao substrato utilizado, o microorganismo e os processos de separação. No artigo 3 uma metodologia para determinação de solventes no meio de fermentação é desenvolvida. Esta técnica propõe uma relação linear entre a variação da densidade, a concentração de açúcar e a concentração de solventes. Com sua aplicação o cromatógrafo pode ser dispensado e há somente a necessidade de um densímetro. O ajuste se mostrou bastante promissor e aparentemente capaz de predizer os resultados. Por fim, no artigo 4 é desenvolvido um processo para a produção de biobutanol via fermentação por clostridium a partir de sorgo sacaríneo. Butanol é produzido a partir do substrato sendo necessário um acréscimo pequeno de extrato de levedura e triptona com apenas 12,5% de volume de inóculo, com pH inicial ajustado em 5,5. Para a execução dos experimentos em meio anaeróbio foram elaborados aparatos alternativos e de baixo custo, que demonstraram ser eficientes na sua função. O principal ponto observado durante o trabalho é que é possível produzir biobutanol a partir de sorgo sacaríneo utilizando artefatos fabricados no laboratório para manutenção do meio anaeróbio.

Retrofitting the UK domestic built environment presents an excellent opportunity to improve its energy performance. However, retrofitting homes is a complex challenge conflated by multiple factors. Due to this complexity, a shortfall exists between the full potential and realised adoption of energy efficiency measures in the UK, a phenomenon termed the ‘Energy Efficiency Gap’. While a number of technical or economic factors may help explain this gap, difficult to quantify factors, such as social motivations, barriers, and viewpoints towards energy are also significant and often under-emphasised in public policy. As such, in order to improve the understanding of the Energy Efficiency Gap and the uptake of future retrofit initiatives, this research adopted a socio-technical approach that considered social and technical retrofit factors together. Specifically, this research collected data from interviews, questionnaires, and a Q Study in the cities of Manchester and Cardiff, alongside a questionnaire that measured energy efficiency technology and behaviour preferences. An original contribution to knowledge was using the data to empirically identify motivations and barriers to adopting energy efficient technologies, as well as identifying household viewpoints towards energy use and linking them to retrofit technology and energy efficiency behaviour preferences. As a result of this research, specific policy recommendations are presented to help promote energy efficiency retrofits in the UK. This research was carried out as part of the Engineering & Physical Science Research Council and Sustainable Urban Environment research programme, “Re-Engineering the City 2020-2050 Urban Foresight and Transition Management (RETROFIT 2050)”.

The subject of my dissertation is a process analysis of administration of Mortgage credit in G.E. Money bank Plc. The purpose of analysis is an improvement of selected process inside company. The theoretical part is dedicate to process analysis and corporate decision making process modeling.The practical part has two sections introduction of G.E Money bank Plc.basic description of Mortgage credit phases. The main part of my dissertation is a process analysis in G.E Money bank Plc. The analysis of present state, evaluation and improvement suggestion of selected processes is a main target of my work.

All big and important decisions come through analysis. The main aim of the analysis is to examine or investigate more complicated problems by decomposing them into simpler ones whereas we come to certain conclusions on the basis of a detailed recognition of particularities. This diploma thesis is dedicated to analytic tasks solving techniques in Business Intelligence which would describe and support the whole process of analysis, its needs and premises in real surrounding environment. During the project I cooperated with Clever Decision company and took part in the real project. This company deals with Business Intelligence solutions/applications development and this project is meant to set the method of how to treat the development of the solutions. My work consists in designing a template of BI analysis method which is a part of a complex technique. The aim of this diploma thesis is to introduce my own method of Business Intelligence solution analysis, to introduce its basic components and common work instructions for this method. I reached my aim by analyzing documents and reports provided by Clever Decision company and other methods and suggestions. The main contribution of my diploma thesis is that the method works as a draft for assistance and standardizing the process of Business Intelligence solution analysis in Clever Decision company. This draft can nevertheless work as a basis for creating a wholly new method. My work consists of three parts. The first part, a theoretical one, deals with recapitulation of basic terms and methods I worked with. The second part represents properties, components and general working instructions for this method. It moreover presents main outputs, more precisely documents that are practical attachments to the method itself. The third part introduces the method itself including presentation of outputs/document drafts designed by me.

La ricerca prende le mosse dalla constatazione che gli studenti di madrelingua romena delle medie commettono molti errori nell'inglese scritto. Anche facendo tesoro della esperienza condotta come insegnante d'inglese in Romania, ho scelto come tema della Tesi di Dottorato un'analisi dell'errore con lo scopo di scoprirne le ragioni e di proporre dei miglioramenti per l'insegnamento e l'apprendimento. La ricerca si propone due obiettivi: 1) la messa a punto di un quadro teorico relativo all'analisi contrastiva, all'analisi dell'errore e i modelli di analisi dell'errore; 2) la ricerca sulle origini dell'errore, identificando, descrivendo, classificando e diagnosticando gli errori nell'inglese scritto in cui incorrono solitamente gli studenti romeni. Lo studio ha preso in esame terminologie relative a errori interlinguistici, transfer negativo/interferenza, interlanguage , errori intralinguistici, gravità degli errori e valutazione degli errori. Lo scopo ultimo è di dimostrare fino a che punto il transfer negativo/interferenza sia la causa di errori nella comunicazione scritta degli studenti romeni e fino a che punto questi errori siano causati dalla lingua target. I risultati hanno dimostrato che gli errori interlinguistici e quelli intralinguistici sono piuttosto bilanciati. Trova altresì conferma l'ipotesi dell'utilità di stabilire una gerarchia degli errori basata sulla loro frequenza, così da suggerire agli insegnanti contromisure mirate. l'unico fattore che incide. Trova altresì conferma l'ipotesi dell'utilità di stabilire una gerarchia degli errori basata sulla loro frequenza, così da suggerire agli insegnanti contromisure mirate. / As lower secondary school students commit many errors in writing when English is the target language and Romanian is the native language, I have decided to conduct an error analysis in order to find out what the sources of their errors are, and to suggest improvements for teaching and learning. The present study is intended to provide a theoretical background for contrastive analysis, error analysis, models for error analysis and sources of errors by identifying, describing, categorising, and diagnosing Romanian students' errors in English written compositions. It will also examine related terms such as interlingual errors, negative L1 transfer/interference, interlanguage errors, intralingual errors, error gravity and error evaluation. The ultimate goal of this paper is to demonstrate to what extent negative L1 transfer/interference is the cause for errors in my students' English writing and to what extent these errors are caused by the target language. The findings have demonstrated that interlingual (negative transfer) errors and intralingual (developmental) errors are quite balanced; while interference from the mother tongue plays a role, it is not the only interfering factor. The hypothesis regarding the importance of establishing an error hierarchy based on error frequency has also been validated.

As of autumn 2011, all schools in Sweden have adopted and applied the latest curriculum for the compulsory school system. The following is written in concern to technology: "The school is responsible for ensuring that each pupil on completing compulsory school: [...] can use modern technology as a tool in the search for knowledge, communication, creativity and learning." (Skolverket, 2011, pp.13-14) With this said, there are no guidelines or manuals on how this is to be conducted. In a report from the Swedish Schools Inspectorate it was concluded that the investment in technology is not being used for school education. The education systems keep investing in technology in the belief that schools and teachers will sooner or later adopt and benefit from the use of mobile and ubiquitous technologies. The aim of this study is to “create an understanding of the aspects that have an impact on adopting novel use of mobile and ubiquitous technologies in everyday teaching and learning practices in compulsory schools.” The empirical foundation will be based upon three projects: Geometry Mobile (GeM); Learning Ecology with Technologies from Science for Global Outcomes (LETS GO); and Collaborative Learning Using Digital Pens and Interactive Whiteboards (Collboard). All were conducted at local compulsory schools in Växjö municipality, Sweden, in collaboration with teachers, students and fellow researchers from the CeLeKT research group at Linnaeus University. Two Thematic Analyses have been conducted: the first, an inductive analysis exploring the Students’ and Teachers’ Experience of using Mobile and Ubiquitous Technologies in their learning and teaching environment. The second analysis is deductive and uses themes from the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology models with the aim of understanding the Perception and Acceptance of Teachers’ use of Mobile and Ubiquitous Technologies. In the results from the two analyses there are clear indicators on the added value that mobile and ubiquitous technology brings to the classrooms: students are able to actively participate, collaborate and discuss in different learning settings, which enhances their understanding of the subject at hand. The challenges are mainly to be found in the lack of training and education in use of the technology as a supporting tool for teaching and learning. Further factors influencing the teachers and the students are ease of use and reliability of the technology and societal changes. The results of the analysis and the theoretical base of Technology Enhanced Learning have been illustrated with Soft Systems Methodologies Rich Picture, providing a holistic view of the problematic situation and making it possible to discuss the various parts as well as the situation as a whole. This study indicates that there are several factors influencing the adoption of the novel use of mobile and ubiquitous technologies in everyday teaching and learning within a complex situation on different levels.

The methodology of the design of experimnet has become an integral part of the optimisation of manufacturing processes in recent decades. Problems regarding designs of experiments are still up to date, especially because of a variety of approaches to collecting and evaluating data. Scientists in different research and development areas often do not take into account possible shortcommings or even essential assumptions of selected design and/or its evaluation methods. This disertation thesis summarizes theoretical bases of selected designs of experiments. Describes several applications of central composite design on responses regarding wire electrical discharge machining process. And compares different designs of experiment for response surfaces of five parameters with regards to algoritmic selection of statistically signifficant parameters.

[pt] GRASP (Greedy Randomized Adaptive Search Procedure)é uma metaeurística de partidas múltiplas usada para obter soluções para problemas de otimização combinatória. Nesse trabalho. A metaheurística GRASP tem sido usada para obter soluções de qualidade para muitos problemas de otimização combinatória. Nesse trabalho é proposta uma metodologia para análise do comportamento da metaheurística GRASP. Também são propostas estratégias de hibridização com o religamento de caminhos. Essas estratégias foram desenvolvidas para o problema de atribuição de três índices (AP3) e para o problema de escalonamento de tarefas conhecido na literatura como job-shop schedulling problem (JSP) e são analisadas de acordo com a metodologia proposta. A metodologia para análise do comportamento do método GRASP pode ser usada para prever a partir da versão seqüencial do algoritmo, como a qualidade da solução do algoritmo implementado em paralelo irá variar. Os algoritmos GRASPs desenvolvidos para AP3 e para JSP foram paralelizados e os resultados são comparados aos resultados obtidos usando a metodologia proposta. / [en] GRASP (Greedy Randomized Adaptive Search Procedure) is a multi-start metaheuristic for combinatorial optimization problems. GRASP has been used to find quality solutions of several combinatorial optimization problems. In this work we describe a methodology for analysis of GRASP. Hybrid strategies of GRASP with path relinking are also proposed. These strategies are studied for the 3-index assignment problem (AP3) and for the job-shop schedulling problem (JSP) and are analyzed according to the methodology proposed. The methodology for analysis of GRASP is used to predict qualitatively how the quality of the solution varies in a parallel independent GRASP, using the data of the GRASP sequential version as input. The GRASPs for the AP3 and for the JSP are parallelized and the computational results are compared to the results obtained using the methodology proposed.