Preface: Establishing assembly and production facilities has traditionally constituted the possibility for companies to avoid high import duties, or a possibility to establish themselves in free-trade areas. Purpose statement: This thesis is intended for companies that explore their possibilities to establish an assembly plant in Brazil. The aim is to try to interpret and to create an understanding concerning which factors can have an influence when relocating production activities abroad. Research method: The basis for this study has been internal information from Tetra Pak along with literature. The study has been carried out as case study based research where interviews and articles have formed the basis for the gathering of data. Results: For companies that want to establish long-term production, Brazil possesses the prerequisites required. However, not all areas in Brazil are adequate for establishing an assembly plant – industries are mainly concentrated to the federal states of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro and these are therefore the areas best suited for production activities.

The aim of this essay is, due to a noted lack of earlier research together with an even more accentuated responsibility regarding the matter in question, to study the citizens’ preparedness for crisis. Starting out from a number of questions regarding the citizens’ responsibility and learning from the hurricanes Gudrun and Per, the discussion concerns the terminology of crisis together with the question of responsibility and learning from experience. In conclusion, the source material consisting of nine interviews shows that preparedness for crisis for the affected citizen above all is related to the personal measures to create a working situation in a state of crisis. Hence, to a great extent, the citizens show consciousness of their own responsibility. Regarding the question of learning from these specific crises, this can only be noted among those citizens that lack earlier experience from crisis.

Repetitive Model Predictive Control (RMPC) incorporates the idea of Repetitive Control (RC) into Model Predictive Control (MPC) to take full advantage of the constraint handling, multivariable control features of MPC in periodic processes. The RMPC achieves perfect asymptotic tracking/rejection in periodic processes, provided that the period length used in the control formulation matches the actual period of the reference/disturbance exactly. Even a small mismatch between the actual period of process and the controller period can deteriorate the RMPC performance significantly. The period mismatch occurs either from an inaccurate estimation of actual frequency of disturbance due to resolution limit or from trying to force the controller period to be an integer multiple of sampling time. An extension of RMPC called Robust Repetitive Model Predictive Control (R-RMPC) is proposed for such cases where period length cannot be predetermined accurately, or where period is not an integer multiple of sampling time. This robust RMPC borrows the idea of using weighted, multiple memory loops in RC for robustness enhancement. The modified RMPC is more robust in the sense that small changes in period length do not diminish the tracking/rejection properties by much. Simulation results show that R-RMPC achieves significant improvement over the standard RMPC in case of a slight period mismatch. The effectiveness of this Robust RMPC is demonstrated by applying it to a mechanical motion tracking machine whose function is to follow a constant trajectory while rejecting periodic disturbances of an uncertain period.

A simple technique of designing a robust discrete-time variable structure output tracking controller for a class of perturbed MIMO linear and nonlinear systems is proposed in this thesis. For linear systems, a model reference scheme is employed. Both an adaptive mechanism and a perturbation estimation process are embedded in the proposed control scheme. The information of the upper bound of the perturbation estimation error is not required due to the usage of adaptive mechanism. It is shown that the dynamics of the controlled systems will be driven into the vicinity of the designed switching surface, therefore the tracking error will be constrained in a small bounded region. Furthermore, the stability of the overall controlled system is guaranteed, and one can increase the tracking accuracy by adjusting the controller's parameters or by employing the perturbation estimation process.

Since water-use characteristics and the new technology of plumbing fixtures have changed, it is significant to educate a facility manager in the characteristics of these systems. Also, it is necessary to provide a better understanding of parameters that may determine the suitability of retrofitting plumbing fixtures. The 1992 Energy Policy Acts enforces 1.6-gallon per flush (gpf) for a toilet and 1.0 gpf for a urinal. In response to the regulation, the purpose of this research is to measure automatic flush valve performance (gpf) of fixtures in a mixed use classroom building at Texas A&M University. Water consumption (gpf) among three types of fixtures; low-consumption manual, old optic automatic and improved optic automatic systems are measured by using a magnetic water flow meter. The data in the study were analyzed to determine compliance with plumbing standards and to compare the average water volume per flush cycle of toilets in the men??s and women??s restrooms. Finally, the results of the data show that retrofitting the old optic automatic with the improved optic automatic system resulted in water savings of about 15.80% in toilets, and urinals.

This thesis is focused on Smart Grid applications in medium voltage distribution networks. For the development of new applications it appears useful the availability of simulation tools able to model dynamic behavior of both the power system and the communication network. Such a co-simulation environment would allow the assessment of the feasibility of using a given network technology to support communication-based Smart Grid control schemes on an existing segment of the electrical grid and to determine the range of control schemes that different communications technologies can support. For this reason, is presented a co-simulation platform that has been built by linking the Electromagnetic Transients Program Simulator (EMTP v3.0) with a Telecommunication Network Simulator (OPNET-Riverbed v18.0). The simulator is used to design and analyze a coordinate use of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) for the voltage/var control (VVC) in distribution network. This thesis is focused control structure based on the use of phase measurement units (PMUs). In order to limit the required reinforcements of the communication infrastructures currently adopted by Distribution Network Operators (DNOs), the study is focused on leader-less MAS schemes that do not assign special coordinating rules to specific agents. Leader-less MAS are expected to produce more uniform communication traffic than centralized approaches that include a moderator agent. Moreover, leader-less MAS are expected to be less affected by limitations and constraint of some communication links. The developed co-simulator has allowed the definition of specific countermeasures against the limitations of the communication network, with particular reference to the latency and loss and information, for both the case of wired and wireless communication networks. Moreover, the co-simulation platform has bee also coupled with a mobility simulator in order to study specific countermeasures against the negative effects on the medium voltage/current distribution network caused by the concurrent connection of electric vehicles.

Partiendo de los principios epistemológicos de las teorías del punto de vista y del concepto de actividades de mantenimiento, la presente tesis doctoral analiza las características espaciales, materiales y simbólicas del trabajo textil y de cocina en Creta durante los periodos Pre-, Proto- y Neopalacial (ca. 3100-1425 ANE). Teniendo en cuenta la importancia que históricamente han tenido estos trabajos en la estructura que regula las relaciones entre hombres y mujeres, la tesis aportará información sustancial acerca de la configuración del sistema sexo-género minoico. / Drawing on the epistemic principles of standpoint theories and the concept of maintenance activities, this doctoral thesis examines the spatial, material and symbolic features of textile production and cooking in Crete during the Pre-, Proto- and Neo-palatial (ca. 3100-1425 ANE). Considering the main role that, historically, these activities have played in structuring gender relations, this thesis will shed light on the minoan sex-gender system.

Esta tesis doctoral aborda la colonización agrícola en el protectorado español de Marruecos (1912-1956) desde la perspectiva de la gestión de la propiedad inmueble rústica. Para ello hemos realizado una aproximación al momento en el que se forjó el argumento de la necesidad de modernización de la agricultura para justificar la penetración colonial. También hemos analizado la instauración de un nuevo régimen de la propiedad en la zona, como herramienta para la colonización, y la explotación de los distintos tipos de propiedades que existían en Marruecos: privadas, del estado español, del Majzén, del Habús y el patrimonio comunal de las cabilas. / This thesis deals with agricultural colonization in the Spanish Protectorate in Morocco (1912-1956) from the perspective of rural property management. It gives an approach to the moment in which emerged the need of agriculture modernization as an argument to justify colonial penetration. It also analyzes the implementation of a new property system in the area as a tool for the colonization and exploitation of the different types of property that existed in Morocco at the time: private properties, lands owned by the Spanish government, and Makhzen’s and Habous’ properties as well as the communal patrimony of the different tribes (qaba’il). / Cette thèse de doctorat traite de la colonisation agricole au Protectorat espagnol au Maroc (1912-1956) du point de vue de la gestion des biens immobiliers ruraux. Nous avons fait une approche à l'émergence du besoin d'une modernisation de l'agriculture comme argument pour justifier la pénétration coloniale. Nous avons aussi analysé la mise en place d'un nouveau régime de propriété dans la région comme un outil pour la colonisation et l'exploitation des différents types de propriété qui existaient au Maroc: privées, de l'État espagnol, du Makhzen, du Habous et le patrimoine communal des kabyles.

Esta tesis estudia las dinámicas de continuidad y cambio entre la cultura material procedente del período prehispánico, en diversas sociedades que habitaron en las regiones que hoy conforman Venezuela y proximidades, con las del presente amerindio. Para ello, se ha elaborado un análisis que parte desde la historia del arte, pero que a su vez incorpora las contribuciones de la arqueología, la etnografía y la historia. De este modo, el estudio se enfoca en el desarrollo de las formas simbólicas que se ha producido en estas sociedades, a través del lenguaje visual abstracto, teniendo en cuenta las variaciones existentes en el período prehispánico, así como los cambios que se sucedieron a partir de la Colonia. Este trabajo considera, igualmente, la valoración de esta cultura material como objeto estético desde Occidente, los valores de autenticidad y las distintas perspectivas tomadas a partir de la relación de estas sociedades con sus concepciones religiosas y mitológicas, así como su adaptación al mundo laico y contemporáneo occidental. / This dissertation examines the different dynamics of change and continuity between the material culture from diverse pre-Columbian societies and the Amerindian societies in present times, which have lived in the regions that today conform Venezuela and its proximities. The methodologies applied in this study depart from the art historical analysis, taking into consideration the archaeological, ethnographical and historical contributions. This analysis focuses on the development of the symbolic forms of representation through an abstract visual language, within the different styles that existed in these societies during the pre-Columbian period, and the changes that unfolded from Colonial times to the present. This study also considers the values of authenticity applied to this material culture when seen as aesthetic objects by Western society, and the different perspectives that have been assumed from the relationship between these societies and their religious and mythological conceptions, as well as their adaption to the laicized and contemporary Western society.

Esta tesis doctoral tiene como objetivo analizar el papel de Eugeni d’Ors como intelectual durante el período comprendido entre el inicio de la Gran Guerra y el comienzo de la dictadura de Primo de Rivera en España desde una triple perspectiva europea, española y catalana. Partiendo de este propósito general, tiene su justificación en dos objetivos generales que articulan tanto las argumentaciones como su estructura formal. En primer lugar, aportar una nueva documentación que ilumina algunos posicionamientos poco conocidos y unas relaciones con intelectuales y políticos que se alejan de las perspectivas de análisis de muchos de los autores que han estudiado su vida y su obra. En segunda instancia, pretende revisar algunos de los más importantes estudios sobre su figura que se realizaron implícita o explícitamente desde la perspectiva de los orígenes intelectuales del fascismo europeo establecida hace ya varias décadas por el historiador Zeev Sternhell. / This PhD dissertation aims to analyze the role of Eugeni d’Ors as an intellectual between the beginning of Great War and the start of Primo de Rivera’s dictatorship in Spain from a triple European, Spanish and Catalan perspective. According to this general purpose, this work is justified by two global objectives that articulate both arguments and its formal structure. Firstly, it presents a new documentation which lights up some D’Ors hardly known positions and relations with intellectuals and politicians that are far from the lines of interpretation of many of the authors who have studied his life and work. In the second instance, this thesis tries to review some of the most important studies on his figure that have been directed implicitly or explicitly by the perspective of European fascism’s intellectual origins established several decades ago by Zeev Sternhell.