The overall aim of this thesis is to increase our knowledge of the physical environment of office workers with special focus on electromagnetic fields and to address the question of whether electromagnetic fields can directly or indirectly contribute to symptoms or discomfort among video display terminal ( VDT) workers. Furthermore, we have measured light modulation from various commonly used light sources in laboratory conditions and, as a second step, used modulated light as stimulus for provocation of neurophysiological responses in persons with perceived “electrical hypersensitivity” (EHS).During the last 20 years work-related illness among office workers has received increased attention. Changes in the physical environment, the introduction of VDTs and other electrical equipment and changes in light conditions have been discussed in this context. The basis for this thesis is the interdisciplinary Office Illness Project in Northern Sweden. Using a questionnaire completed by 4,943 office workers, 150 VDT workers with or without facial skin symptoms were selected for a case referent study of the electromagnetic fields in offices.When the measurements in the offices were performed in 1989, the general level of the 50 Hz magnetic fields in the offices was rather low, but in 5% of the offices the flux density exceeded 0.5 pT. At this level VDT monitors were shown to display detectable instability (jitter). Furthermore, the ability of test subjects (healthy volunteers) to detect jitter was shown to depend on both the amplitude and frequency characteristics of this instability. The study indicates that the instability of computer monitors and thereby the instability of the visual image of the VDT screen might be an increasing problem since it is known that the harmonic content of the general magnetic field in offices is on the rise.VDT monitors contributed to the magnetic field level at VDT workplaces in both extremely low and very low frequency ranges. However, the dominant source of electric fields in rooms was ungrounded electrical equipment, not VDT screens.High electric fields in the extremely low frequency range in the offices were associated with skin symptoms among VDT workers. The causal nature of this association cannot be determined since it may depend on undetected factors related to exposure. No associations were found, however, for any of the VDT-related electromagnetic fields and skin symptoms.Commonly used fluorescent tubes in our office environment have a degree of modulation of the light (flicker) that varies widely from less than 1% (fluorescent tubes with high frequency gear) up to nearly 100%. When persons with perceived EHS were exposed to flickering light, a higher amplitude of brain cortex responses were found at all tested frequencies compared with control subjects. These findings are of considerable interest, but further studies are required in order to establish a possible relationship between flickering light and discomfort/symptoms in persons with perceived EHS. / digitalisering@umu

The Development Program for the J. H. Wysor Store and Office Building Restoration and Reuse for a City Hall for Muncie, Indiana is an analysis of one of Muncie's best known landmarks. The development program is a study that investigates the history, physical characteristics, and potential reuse of the J. H. Wysor Store and Office Building. The program includes space requirements and an analysis of the needs for a city hall for Muncie, Indiana.The study was also extended to the entire city block with special emphasis on the small store fronts, 107, 109, and 111 West Main Street.The results of my thesis are a proposed design for the restoration of the Wysor Building, the 107, 109, and 111 West Main Street and an example of a proposed parking garage, through drawings and a model. / Department of Architecture

Sammanfattning Introduktion: I dagens arbetsliv och samhälle har individen blivit allt mer stillasittande och minskat mängden motion med risk för sämre kondition trots att detta är en känd riskfaktor för sjukdom och nedsatt arbetsförmåga. Syftet med denna studie var att studera konditionsnivån hos kontorsanställda i förhållande till BMI, kön och ålder. Metod: En kvantitativ tvärsnittsstudie har genomförts baserad på data från hälsoundersökning där BMI, kön, ålder och konditionstal undersöktes. 100 personer deltog i studien, varav 33 kvinnor och 67 män i åldern 25-63 år. Resultat: De kontorsanställda hade en god syreupptagningsförmåga på i genomsnitt 37,3 ml/(kg x min) och låg över det rekommenderade konditionstalet 35 ml/(kg x min) för kontorsarbetare. Kvinnorna i gruppen hade bättre konditionstal än männen. Medelålders kvinnor (41-50 år) hade något lägre konditionstal än yngre (25-40 år)och äldre kvinnor (51-63 år). Männen med högt BMI hade ett sämre konditionstal än dem med ett lägre BMI. Konklusion: Trots stillasittande arbete hade de kontorsanställda en god kondition och det ger förutsättningar att prestera ett bra resultat i arbetet. Kvinnorna hade ett bättre konditionstal än männen och högre BMI förknippades med lägre konditionstal. Företagssköterskan och företagshälsovården kan spela en viktig roll för att medverka till förbättrad kondition och lägre vikt bland anställda, vilket skulle gynna hälsan och arbetsförmågan. Nyckelord: BMI, konditionstal, kontorsanställda, syreupptagningsförmåga och ålder. / Summary Introduction: In modern working life and society, individual have become more and more sedentary and physical activity has decreased affecting the fitness level. This has occurred despite the common knowledge that a sedentary lifestyle is a risk factor associated with illness and decreased ability to work. The aim of the study was to study the fitness level of office workers in relation to BMI, sex, and gender. Method: A quantitative cross-sectional study has been done which included data from health checks including BMI, gender, age, and capacity of absorption of oxygen, which was expressed as fitness level (1-5). One hundred office workers participated in the study, 33 females and 67 males aged 25-63 years. Result: The office employees had a good capacity of absorption of oxygen, on average 37.3 ml/(kg x min), which was over the recommended fitness level 35 ml/(kg x min) for office employees. The females had a better fitness level than the males. Middle aged (41-50 years) women had somewhat lower fitness level than younger (25-40 years) and older (51-63 years)females. Men with high BMI had a lower fitness level than men with low BMI. Conclusion: The office employees had a good fitness level in spite of sedentary work and this gives conditions of performing well at work. The females had a better fitness level than the males and higher BMI was associated with lower fitness level. The company nurse and the occupational health service may play an important role in contributing to better fitness level and lower weight among office employees, which would promote health and working capacity. Keywords: Age, BMI, fitness level, office employees and oxygen uptake.

The mixed method design examined the impact of a 6-week pedometer based 10,000 moderate-vigorous steps a day employee workplace wellness challenge on aerobic fitness, chronic disease markers, and self-reported physical activity. The study used prompts to both educate and facilitate the intervention. Pre and post-test data analyzed self-report physical activity and sedentary time, sub max aerobic walking levels, and anthropometric measures. Participants logged their step count across the intervention and were challenged to increase their steps throughout. Participants were on average unable to achieve the goal step count and thus no statistically significance was found between pre-post tests. Qualitatively, three themes emerged from discussions with participants about their experiences: awareness of physical activity (PA) levels, demands of both work and family, and the frequency and content of the information given as prompts. The combination of prompts and the pedometer created an awareness of PA levels among participants but failed to fully motivate them to hit their target step count. / Graduate / 0354 / karadelaney_04@hotmail.com

Twenty weeks ago I got the honor to pursue a project for ABB Crane Systems. After success with an innovative direction on their Remote Control Station they wanted a continuation of industrial design in another new product development. The aim was to specify the customer needs and create a concept to a Terminal Test Box (TTB), with hopes to gain momentum and funds for continuation of the project.   The terminals earn their money based on productivity of the quay, meaning that the number of ship-to-shore lifts per minute becomes very important. Clients have requested a solution where they can simulate their cranes to ensure function. At the moment approximately five prototypes have been delivered, for example to Peel Ports in Liverpool and Lazaro Cardenas in Mexico. The current Test box lack a proper casing and user adapted features. Based on interviews with personnel at Crane Systems representing linked/adjacent work with TTB the customer needs was determined to: a solution adapted to commissioning phase,a process panel easy to reach, access to components without exposing them, oversight of components and ability to move TTB. The test box is used either standing on the floor or placed on a table. Placed on the floor the operator must twist and bend to access the box, leading to an unpleasant working posture. Set on the table the box is bulky.   The initial idea development resulted in three potential positions and seven initial concepts. Of these seven three ideas was conceptualized and graded in Pughs matrix. The concept Stand high offered a convenient and ergonomic solution independent of the available interior in commissioning phase. However Stand high had weaknesses where the other two concepts Cross and Transparent showed strengths and therefore the three concepts were combined into one. Knowledge about the included components such as an industrial computer and power supply and their requirements has driven the process.   TTB will be produced in approximately ten units per year. The slim edition made it alluring to look into state of the art manufacturing such as Additive Manufacturing compared to the more traditional use of shielded metal. Possibilities regarding the small series can be used by ABB for continuously trying the product towards the customer and offer a flexible product that can be individually adapted to some extent.   The final concept of TTB is improved compared to the Test box looking at horizontal and vertical spacing between the components, which also enables cable channels. The process panel included has an inclination of 15 degrees to avoid reflections as much as possible and to create an ergonomic working position. It has a see through front door giving access and viewing of the components. A combined CNC and 3D-printing prototype/product from the company HLH in aluminum and Plexiglas would cost approximately 24 750 SEK. Manufacturing in shaped sheet metal at Sweco (without a see through door) would cost approximately 10 000 SEK. This is creating an exciting situation, where the recommendation is to create a prototype to further evaluate the concept into completion.

Vanligtvis har de flesta vuxna svenskar någon typ av relation till en bank. De svenska storbankerna erbjuder alla likartade tjänster och produkter. Ett av bankernas stora konkurrensmedel är räntorna, dock är det inte stora skillnader mellan räntenivåerna. Detta leder till en svårighet för bankerna att differentiera sig. En större förståelse av kunder och hur banklokalerna påverkar dem, kan vara en väg för bankerna att differentiera sig. / Almost every adult in Sweden have some kind of relationship to a bank. The Swedish banks provide similar goods and services with an interest rate that usually doesn’t differ from the competitors. Therefore it is difficult for banks to differentiate themselves under these circumstances.

Magistro baigiamajame darbe išanalizuota ir įvertinta savivaldybėse bei seniūnijose teikiama socialinė parama šeimoms auginančioms nepilnamečius vaikus Lietuvoje, iškeltos valstybės teikiamos socialinės paramos administravimo problemos bei pateikti pasiūlymai, kaip spręsti iškilusias problemas. Teorinėje darbo dalyje yra aptariama šeimos politika, jos tipai bei šeimos samprata; analizuojami dokumentai reglamentuojantys socialinę paramą šeimai Lietuvoje bei institucijos atsakingos už paramos šeimai skyrimą; aptariamos šiuolaikinės viešojo valdymo reformos viešojo administravimo procese ir reformos modelio kūrimas. Praktinėje darbo dalyje yra nagrinėjamas socialinės paramos teikimas šeimoms auginančioms nepilnamečius vaikus Kupiškio ir Vilniaus savivaldybėse bei seniūnijose. Apibrėžiamos pagrindinės problemos teikiant socialinę paramą ir problemų sprendimų gairės. / Master thesis analyzed and evaluated an offer social support for the families rising minor children in municipalities and wards, warded state of social assistance provided of administrative problem and to make suggestions how to solve the problems. The family policy is discussed in the theoretical part of this work, the types and the concept of family; analyzed documents which are regulating social support for the family and institutions which are responsible for the support award for the Lithuania families. In the practical work part are considered social support for the families raising minor children of Kupiškis and Vilnius municipalities and wards. Are defined the main problems by providing social support ant the solutions guidelines of problems solving.

In this study, the energy conservation potential of selected retrofitting interventions on an office building were investigated, on the basis of which some rational strategies for the improvement of building envelopes in terms of energy, environment and comfort design were proposed. Examined were various measures on envelope constructions that can be retrofitted to existing buildings. By using simulation techniques, the effectiveness of such measures in reducing energy consumption and environmental threat were also assessed. Effects of glazing types, effect of insulation and thermal mass were analyzed as energy efficient retrofit measures to the Engineering Building (MM building) situated on Middle East Technical University Campus, Ankara. The Energy-10 computer program was used for the modeling and simulation of the energy flows through the envelope to examine measures for reducing thermal load. Within this framework, the energy conservation potential of single and combined retrofitting actions was investigated. Based on results from the evaluation model, it was found that a saving of 161.20 MWh in the annual heating load could result, depending on the glazing type. The evaluation showed that thermal insulation is the most effective factor in thermal performance when placed as an exterior layer on walls. The study showed thermal mass has significant impact on increasing the duration, where highest temperatures were achieved, under passive mode. The study also revealed that applying a combination of retrofitting measures which responded to the challenges and opportunities presented by different fa&ccedil / ade orientations, a saving of 52.41% can be achieved in annual heating energy use in case study building.

Syfte: Syftet med examensarbetet var att undersöka hur och varför högstadieelever kontaktar skolsköterskan. Vidare var syftet att undersöka om det förelåg någon skillnad mellan könen samt årskurser i relation till antal kontakter med skolsköterskan samt antal gånger de sökt för fysiska respektive psykiska orsaker. Metod: Kvantitativ deskriptiv studiedesign via enkäter. 151 elever i årskurs 7-9 tillfrågades om att besvara en enkät, 74 % (n=112) av populationen deltog. Resultat: Majoriteten av eleverna kontaktade skolsköterskan via den öppna mottagningen. 67,9 % hade kontaktat för fysiska orsaker där ”längd och vikt”, ”gjort mig illa” och ”huvudvärk” var vanligast. För psykisk ohälsa var siffran 10,7 % och ”stress” vanligast förekommande. Ingen skillnad mellan könen kunde påvisas i antalet kontakter samt kontakter för fysiska respektive psykiska orsaker. Mellan årskurserna finns det en skillnad gällande i antalet besök (p = 0,02) och antalet besök för fysiska orsaker (p = 0,005), där årskurs 7 är mest frekvent att söka. Majoriteten (64,2%) av deltagarna ville helst kontakta skolsköterskan direkt via den öppna mottagningen. Slutsats: Det är främst via den öppna mottagningen som elever tar och vill kunna komma i kontakt med skolsköterskan. Det finns en skillnad mellan årskurser i antalet besök hos skolsköterskan samt antalet besök för fysiska orsaker. / Aim: The aim of this bachelor thesis was to examine how and why high school students contacted their school nurse. Furthermore the aim was to examine if there was a difference between genders and grades pertaining to number of contacts with the school nurse and number of contacts because of physical respectively mental reasons. Method: Quantitative descriptive study design using questionnaires. 151 students in grades 7-9 were asked to answer a questionnaire, 74% (n = 112) of the population participated. Results: The majority of the students contacted the school nurse through the nurse’s office. 67.9% had contacted concerning physical health issues which "height and weight", "hurt me" and "headache" was the most common. For mental issues the same number was 10.7 % and “stress” most common. There was no significant difference between genders in relation to number of contacts with the school nurse or physical or mental reasons for contact. However there was a significant difference (p = 0.02) between grades pertaining to relation to number of contacts and to physical reasons for contact (p = 0.005), which grade 7 is most frequently. Most (64.2 %) pupils would like to contact the school nurse through the nurse’s office. Conclusion: The students prefer to have direct contact with the school nurse at the nurse´s office. There is a difference between grades in the number of visits to the school nurse and the number of visits for physical reasons.

The study described in this thesis investigates how the implementation of raised floor system (RFS) for the fitout of office buildings can be promoted in the Australian construction industry. It essentially achieves this goal through justifying the RFS fitout advantages, improving industry practitioners' awareness of the innovative technology, and identifying the barriers hindering RFS application, and exploring integrated approaches to overcome these barriers. Due to increasing levels of technological, environmental and organizational changes in office buildings, the traditional office building fitout method cannot deliver flexible services economically and in a timely manner. RFS is highlighted for its superior underfloor distribution technologies and ability to promote healthy workplace environments and organizational flexibilities. Despite the many benefits RFS may bring, this innovative technology has not been widely used. Therefore, for countries with potential growth in the office building market, including Australia, how to make this state-of-the-art fitout technology more acceptable is of great importance. To encourage the RFS implementation in office buildings, the research set up five objectives: (1) to justify the RFS advantages for office building fitout compared with traditional fitout method; (2) to identify and present appropriate specifications of RFS products and applications in order to improve industry practitioners' awareness on RFS fitout; (3) to identify and seek potential solutions to barriers hindering RFS fitout implementation; (4) to integrate the barriers and their solutions into RFS project delivery using constructability study; and (5) to formulate guidelines for RFS fitout implementation in office buildings in the Australian construction industry. A comprehensive research methodology consisting of questionnaire, semi-structured interview, site observations, focus groups, life cycle cost (LCC) comparison, and constructability study was structured to support the exploratory research. With a combined qualitative and quantitative data analysis method, the questionnaire and interview surveys revealed the low level recognition of RFS within the industry, and identified 20 significant influence factors (SIFs) and 15 real problems associated with RFS fitout implementation. The site observations and focus groups validated the survey findings and justified the RFS fitout advantages. Then, the LCC comparison established a model and verified the LCC benefits of RFS fitout through a case study. The final discussion on the SIFs, real problems and their solutions uncovered 36 project level critical factors pertaining to RFS fitout design, construction, operation and maintenance. A constructability study was employed to integrate these key factors into RFS fitout project delivery, such as construction knowledge inputs, team skills, and RFS fitout programs. More importantly, five key issues with significant influences were revealed. Further investigation of these key issues led to a framework for the constructability implementation, a contracting strategy with nominated specialist contractors under CM/GC, and a process-based conceptual model for the selection of RFS products. Based on these findings, a set of guidelines for the RFS fitout implementation in office buildings was formulated as a contribution to practice. Questionnaires were again used to invite comments on the key issues and guidelines, and the results proved the validity of the research outcomes.