<p>Betydelsen av att ha medarbetare som känner arbetstillfredsställelse utgör en ovärderlig del av ett företags framgång. En betydelsefull uppgift att tillgodose den aspekten har chefen och dennes sätt att kommunicera med sina medarbetare. I intervjuer med personer som blivit internrekryterade till en överordnad position i förhållande till forna kollegor var syftet att undersöka hur de upplevde bemötandet från över- och underordnade i samband med rekryteringsprocessen. Hur deras nya position påverkat relationen till kollegorna och hur de nu ser på sin position och arbetssituation. Resultatet visade att relationerna förändras. Viktiga förutsättningar för att leda under dessa förhållanden är en vetskap om verksamhet och medarbetare och ett tydligt förhållningssätt. Detta talar för betydelsen av erfarenhet och personliga egenskaper vid rekrytering av ledarpositioner.</p>

<h1>Sammanfattning</h1><p> </p><p> </p><p>Syftet med vår studie är att undersöka hur kontakten mellan förskola, skola och hem betraktas. I läroplan för förskolan, Lpfö 98, förespråkas att förskola och hem ska samarbeta för att kontakt ska etableras. Kontakten har olika förutsättningar och innebörder vilka bidrar till hur kontakten mellan parterna gestaltar sig. Kontakten motiveras även utifrån barns lärande, dock är barns perspektiv många gånger försummat i studier som handlar om kontakten mellan förskola, skola och hem. Vi undersöker hur kontakten betraktas och värderas i såväl relevanta studier på området som på lokal nivå. Vår ambition är även att undersöka hur barn positioneras i denna kontakt. För att konkretisera hur kontakten värderas samt hur barn positioneras på lokal nivå, granskar vi kvalitetsredovisningar för förskolans verksamhet inom Örebro kommun.</p><p> </p><p>Efter olika granskningar konstaterar vi att kontakten betraktas och värderas som betydelsefull i såväl studier vi tagit del av, som i förskolornas verksamheter inom Örebro kommun. Vår slutsats är att engagemanget från förskolans sida syftar till att etablera goda kontakter med barnens vårdnadshavare, kontakten sker således på de vuxnas villkor. Dock urskiljer vi skillnader och likheter i hur kontakten betraktas och värderas inom Örebro kommuns förskolor. I kvalitetsredovisningarna påvisas alltifrån att kontakten ska ske genom nära och förtroendefullt samarbete med barnens vårdnadshavare till att förskolorna enbart ska hålla vårdnadshavarna informerade om verksamheten. Flertalet förskolor belyser daglig kontakt som mest betydelsefull, till skillnad från sporadisk kontakt som sker vid till exempel föräldraråd.</p><p> </p><p>Vår empiriska undersökning påvisar att barn negligeras i kontakten mellan förskola och hem. Dock finner vi att barn i ett flertal kvalitetsredovisningar omnämns latent, det vill säga de omnämns indirekt och dolt. Endast i ett fåtal förskolors kvalitetsredovisningar omnämns barnen manifest, följaktligen tydligt och påtagligt. Vår kommentar till detta resultat är att barn bör få en tydligare position i kontakten mellan förskola och hem. Möjligen kan kontakten mellan förskola och hem få en annan karaktär om barnens position blir mer påtaglig.</p><p> </p><p>Nyckelord: kontakt, förskola och hem, kvalitet, barns position</p>

This thesis describes the open-loop behavior of an ionic polymer metal composite (IPMC) strip as a novel actuator, the empirical force and position models, the control system and the improved dynamic characteristics with the feedback control implemented. Ionic polymer metal composite is a novel polymer in the class of electroactive polymers. IPMC consists of a base polymer coated with electrodes made up of highly conducting pure metals such as gold. The actuation behavior of IPMC can be attributed to the bending of an IPMC strip upon application of voltage across its thickness. The main reasons for the bending are ion migration on the application of voltage and swelling and contraction caused by water content. An experimental setup to study the open-loop force and tip displacement of an IPMC strip in a cantilever configuration was developed, and real time controllers were implemented. In open loop, the force response of the IPMC strip of dimensions 25 mm x 3.9 mm x 0.16 mm to a 1.2-V step input is studied. The open-loop rise time was 0.08 s and the percent overshoot was 131.62 %, while the settling time was about 10 s. Based on this open-loop step response using a least-square curve-fitting methodology, a fourth-order empirical transfer function from the voltage input to the force output was derived. The tip displacement response of an IPMC strip of dimensions 23 mm x 3.96 mm x 0.16 mm to a 1.2-V step input was also studied. The step response exhibited a 205.34 % overshoot with a rise time of 0.08 s, and the settling time was 27 s. A fourth-order empirical transfer function from the step input to the tip displacement as output was also derived. Based on the derived transfer functions lead-lag feedback controllers were designed for precision control of both force and displacement. The control objectives were to decrease the settling time and the percent overshoot, and achieve reference input tracking. After implementing the controllers, the percent overshoot decreased to 30% while the settling time was reduced to 1.5 s in case of force control. With position control, the settling time was reduced to 1 s while the percent overshoot decreased to 20%. Precision micro-scale force and position-control capabilities of the IPMC were also demonstrated. A 4 ?N force resolution was achieved, with a force noise of 0.904-?N rms. The position resolution was 20 ?m with a position noise of 7.6-?m rms.

Betydelsen av att ha medarbetare som känner arbetstillfredsställelse utgör en ovärderlig del av ett företags framgång. En betydelsefull uppgift att tillgodose den aspekten har chefen och dennes sätt att kommunicera med sina medarbetare. I intervjuer med personer som blivit internrekryterade till en överordnad position i förhållande till forna kollegor var syftet att undersöka hur de upplevde bemötandet från över- och underordnade i samband med rekryteringsprocessen. Hur deras nya position påverkat relationen till kollegorna och hur de nu ser på sin position och arbetssituation. Resultatet visade att relationerna förändras. Viktiga förutsättningar för att leda under dessa förhållanden är en vetskap om verksamhet och medarbetare och ett tydligt förhållningssätt. Detta talar för betydelsen av erfarenhet och personliga egenskaper vid rekrytering av ledarpositioner.

Sammanfattning     Syftet med vår studie är att undersöka hur kontakten mellan förskola, skola och hem betraktas. I läroplan för förskolan, Lpfö 98, förespråkas att förskola och hem ska samarbeta för att kontakt ska etableras. Kontakten har olika förutsättningar och innebörder vilka bidrar till hur kontakten mellan parterna gestaltar sig. Kontakten motiveras även utifrån barns lärande, dock är barns perspektiv många gånger försummat i studier som handlar om kontakten mellan förskola, skola och hem. Vi undersöker hur kontakten betraktas och värderas i såväl relevanta studier på området som på lokal nivå. Vår ambition är även att undersöka hur barn positioneras i denna kontakt. För att konkretisera hur kontakten värderas samt hur barn positioneras på lokal nivå, granskar vi kvalitetsredovisningar för förskolans verksamhet inom Örebro kommun.   Efter olika granskningar konstaterar vi att kontakten betraktas och värderas som betydelsefull i såväl studier vi tagit del av, som i förskolornas verksamheter inom Örebro kommun. Vår slutsats är att engagemanget från förskolans sida syftar till att etablera goda kontakter med barnens vårdnadshavare, kontakten sker således på de vuxnas villkor. Dock urskiljer vi skillnader och likheter i hur kontakten betraktas och värderas inom Örebro kommuns förskolor. I kvalitetsredovisningarna påvisas alltifrån att kontakten ska ske genom nära och förtroendefullt samarbete med barnens vårdnadshavare till att förskolorna enbart ska hålla vårdnadshavarna informerade om verksamheten. Flertalet förskolor belyser daglig kontakt som mest betydelsefull, till skillnad från sporadisk kontakt som sker vid till exempel föräldraråd.   Vår empiriska undersökning påvisar att barn negligeras i kontakten mellan förskola och hem. Dock finner vi att barn i ett flertal kvalitetsredovisningar omnämns latent, det vill säga de omnämns indirekt och dolt. Endast i ett fåtal förskolors kvalitetsredovisningar omnämns barnen manifest, följaktligen tydligt och påtagligt. Vår kommentar till detta resultat är att barn bör få en tydligare position i kontakten mellan förskola och hem. Möjligen kan kontakten mellan förskola och hem få en annan karaktär om barnens position blir mer påtaglig.   Nyckelord: kontakt, förskola och hem, kvalitet, barns position

Au Québec, 58% des travailleurs passent la majorité de leur temps de travail en posture debout. Selon des études épidémiologiques, une posture debout prolongée est associée à des problèmes de santé tels que des troubles de circulation sanguine veineuse, des problèmes d'athérosclérose, des complications lors de la grossesse, de la douleur aux membres inférieurs et au dos. La littérature rapporte que la posture debout occasionne des changements physiologiques tels que l'accumulation de sang dans les membres inférieurs ou de l'enflure. Cependant, ce n'est pas clair si ces changements sont associés à l'inconfort. La présente étude a comme but d'étudier les associations possibles entre l'inconfort au niveau des membres inférieurs et divers paramètres physiologiques, sous différentes conditions en laboratoire. Huit sujets ayant un emploi où la majorité du temps de travail est passé en posture debout et étant en parfaite santé ont participé à l'étude. Pour chaque sujet, des mesures de température cutanée, d'indice de saturation d'oxygène tissulaire (TOI), de fréquence cardiaque, de variabilité du rythme cardiaque, de pression artérielle, d'analyse du centre de pression et d'inconfort ont été prises durant trois conditions expérimentales d'une durée de 31 minutes chacune: A-posture statique sans possibilité de bouger les pieds; B-posture statique durant 9 minutes et piétinement durant une minute, répété 3 fois; C-posture statique durant 9 minutes et marche durant une minute, répété 3 fois. Les résultats obtenus démontrent que la posture statique provoque un inconfort au niveau des membres inférieurs et que les périodes de mobilité diminuent cet inconfort. Les mesures de température cutanée, du TOI et de la fréquence cardiaque ont été affectées par l'une ou l'autre des conditions expérimentales mais aucun lien entre ces mesures et l'inconfort n'a pu être établi. D'autres études sont nécessaires avec davantage de sujets et comportant une analyse de différents mécanismes pouvant être impliqués dans la présence d'inconfort. Les mesures de TOI, d'oedème sous-cutané, de pressions mécaniques sur les tissus, de composition biochimique du sang pourraient être de bonnes mesures à utiliser dans de futures études. De plus, il serait important de réaliser des études sur le sujet dans de vrais milieux de travail puisque c'est à ce niveau que la problématique prend tout son sens. ______________________________________________________________________________ MOTS-CLÉS DE L’AUTEUR : Posture debout, Inconfort, Membres inférieurs, Laboratoire, Indicateurs physiologiques.

In this thesis, we study certain aspects of signal source/target localization by sensory agents and their biomedical applications. We first focus on a generic distance measurement based problem: Estimation of the location of a signal source by a sensory agent equiped with a distance measurement unit or a team of such a sensory agent. This problem was addressed in some recent studies using a gradient based adaptive algorithm. In this study, we design a least-squares based adaptive algorithm with forgetting factor for the same task. Besides its mathematical background, we perform some simulations for both stationary and drifting target cases. The least-squares based algorithm we propose bears the same asymptotic stability and convergence properties as the gradient algorithm previously studied. It is further demonstrated via simulation studies that the proposed least-squares algorithm converges significantly faster to the resultant location estimates than the gradient algorithm for high values of the forgetting factor, and significantly reduces the noise effects for small values of the forgetting factor. We also focus on the problem of localizing a medical device/implant in human body by a mobile sensor unit (MSU) using distance measurements. As the particular distance measurement method, time of flight (TOF) based approach involving ultra wide-band signals is used, noting the important effects of the medium characteristics on this measurement method. Since human body consists of different organs and tissues, each with a different signal permittivity coefficient and hence a different signal propagation speed, one cannot assume a constant signal propagation speed environment for the aforementioned medical localization problem. Furthermore, the propagation speed is unknown. Considering all the above factors and utilizing a TOF based distance measurement mechanism, we use the proposed adaptive least-square algorithm to estimate the 3-D location of a medical device/implant in the human body. In the design of the adaptive algorithm, we first derive a linear parametric model with the unknown 3-D coordinates of the device/implant and the current signal propagation speed of the medium as its parameters. Then, based on this parametric model, we design the proposed adaptive algorithm, which uses the measured 3-D position of the MSU and the measured TOF as regressor signals. After providing a formal analysis of convergence properties of the proposed localization algorithm, we implement numerical tests to analyze the properties of the localization algorithm, considering two types of scenarios: (1) A priori information regarding the region, e.g quadrant (among upper-left, upper-right, lower-left, lower-right of the human body), of the implant location is available and (2) such a priori information is not available. In (1), assuming knowledge of fixed average relative permittivity for each region, we established that the proposed algorithm converges to an estimate with zero estimation error. Moreover, different white Gaussian noises are added to emulate the TOF measurement disturbances, and it is observed that the proposed algorithm is robust to such noises/disturbances. In (2), although perfect estimation is not achieved, the estimation error is at a low admissible level. In addition, for both cases (1) and (2), forgetting factor effects have been investigated and results show that use of small forgetting factor values reduces noise effects significantly, while use of high forgetting factor values speeds up convergence of the estimation.

Whiplash injuries occur in automotive crashes and may cause long term health issues such as headache, neck pain, and visual and auditory disturbance. Whiplash-Associated Disorders are very costly and can impair the quality of human lives. Most studies focus on whiplash injuries that occur in neutral position head postures, although there is some evidence in the literature that non-neutral head posture can significantly increase the persistence of symptoms on patients. Crash dummies have limited biofidelity particularly for out-of-position scenarios and the current neck injury criteria were not derived for situations at which the head motion is not through the sagittal plane. Therefore Finite Element Methods provide an important tool that can be used to predict injury in different impact scenarios. The Finite Element model which was used for this study was previously developed at the University of Waterloo representing a 50th percentile male. The model had been previously validated at the segment level in extension, flexion, tension, and axial rotation. The full cervical spine model was validated in frontal and rear impact as well as tension. Since the final validation of the model, the ligament properties of the upper cervical spine and the muscle implementations had been improved to enhance the biofidelity of the model. To further improve the model, the addition of laxities to the ligaments of the upper cervical spine was studied. Several studies were performed based on the experiments in the literature to determine appropriate laxities for the upper cervical spine model. First, the laxities of -2 to 4 mm on all the ligaments were studied on the segment level of the model to find their effect on the failure force and displacement to failure in extension, flexion, tension, and axial rotation. The model development then went through a series of iterations in order to achieve laxity values that satisfied the failure force and displacement to failure reported in the literature for the four loading cases. Finally the laxities were used on a full cervical spine model and tested in physiological range of motion in extension, flexion, axial rotation, and lateral bending. The laxities were optimized using an iterative process. The results of this study provided laxity values that were acceptable in both segments level failure study and full cervical spine physiological range of motion study. The model was also validated against literature in impact scenarios. Using a cadaver experiment of 7 g rear impact, the global kinematics of the cervical spine was verified against the literature. The model provided good agreement with the head kinematics and relative rotations between the vertebrae for the cadaver tests. An 8 g rear impact cadaver test was used to validate the ligament strains and disc shear strains. For the anterior longitudinal ligament, the capsular ligament, and the disc shear strains, the model results were within one standard deviation of the literature in the majority of cervical spine regions that were reported. The model was also validated against volunteer low severity rear impact to verify the active musculature in the cervical spine. The head kinematics was generally within the boundaries that were reported by the literature. The model was compared to an experiment that used cadavers to investigate non-neutral rear impact scenarios. This experiment used cables and springs to replicate the passive behaviour of the musculature. The model showed good agreement with the extension and axial rotation results in both head kinematics and relative vertebrae rotations. The flexion and lateral bending results were not similar to the experimental data; attributed to the difference in muscle implementation between the two models. A total of 24 simulations were completed to find the effect of impact severity, axial rotation, and muscle activations on ligament strains during out-of-position rear impacts. The results illustrated that in general, ligament strains increased with the severity of impact and decreased with muscle activation. In out-of-position scenarios, the strains increased in some of the ligaments. An increase to the ligament strain as a result of non-neutral posture was mostly visible in the capsular ligaments of the upper cervical spine. The alar ligament and the apical ligaments of the upper cervical spine may fail in out-of-position at high rear impact scenarios. Recommendations for future work on the cervical spine Finite Element model includes the validation of the musculature and the usage of the muscles to rotate the head to a desired position to improve the biofidelity of the model and the results in out-of-position rear impacts. Further optimization of the laxities of the upper cervical spine can increase the biofidelity in this region. The modeling of the vertebral arteries into the FE model can help investigate whether out-of-position can increase the chance of injury of this region. The effect of flexion, extension, lateral bending, and their combination with axial rotation and the study of frontal and side impacts can be helpful in design of safer headrests for vehicles.

<p>This dissertation recruited 24 premature infants born less than 32 weeks gestational age over a one year time period from October 2010 to 2011. The goals were to longitudinally measure cerebral oxygen saturation, evaluate how environmental variables controlled by nursing, positioning and noise, affect cerebral oxygen saturations, and examine the relationship between cerebral oxygen saturation and two currently measured vital signs.</p><p>Using mixed general linear models, findings from this dissertation showed the developmental trajectory of cerebral oxygen saturation values in premature infants' began in the high 70s during the first two days of life and then significantly decreased into the mid-60s over several weeks during hospitalization in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The trajectory of cerebral oxygen saturation during the first week of life in those infants who developed an IVH did not significantly differ from those infants without IVH. At this time, use of cerebral oxygen saturation to identify those infants at risk for IVH during the first week of life cannot be supported, but findings may indicate that cerebral oxygen saturation monitoring could potentially monitor the severity of the impact of IVH later during hospitalization as those infants with an IVH had significantly lower cerebral oxygen saturation values after the third week of life. In this case, cerebral oxygen saturation might help to understand the long-term degree of neurological damage. </p><p>Heart rate and peripheral oxygenation were chosen as the two physiologic variables to compare to cerebral oxygen saturation and average cerebral oxygen saturation was lower with higher heart rate and higher with higher peripheral oxygenation. Peripheral oxygenation that is already routinely measured in premature infants appears to not provide an accurate measure of the changes in cerebral oxygen saturation. Cerebral oxygen saturation monitoring is highly suggested for those infants who are at risk for neurological damage such as infants with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy or seizures since peripheral oxygenation does not appear to be an appropriate proxy for cerebral oxygenation.</p><p>Finally, sound and positioning were chosen to represent two frequently encountered components of the neonatal intensive care environment that also influence infant cerebral oxygen saturation. A peak in sound from the ambient sound level was only 5 decibels and found to not significantly affect cerebral oxygen saturation values. A neutral position considered the gold standard-- supine, head midline--was compared to five other positions widely used by NICU nurses. However, results showed positions with a turned head did not significantly change cerebral oxygen saturation from the neutral position. Yet, differences in cerebral oxygen saturation were found between two lateral positions (left lateral and right lateral, head elevated 15°) with an elevated head measuring lower cerebral oxygen saturation levels.</p> / Dissertation

The main purpose of this research, which are based on Ferris, Adams, Kolodinsky, Hochwarter, & Ammeter, (2002). revised model, is to explore the relationship between perceptions of organizational politics and the member of position, the member of tenure, the formalization, and the centralization. There are 2133 questionnaires provided from public and private hospitals, public and private schools, government agencies, public and private service industries, manufacturing, private financial institution, the high-tech industries and traditional industries. Questionnaires¡¦ response rate are 91.0%. Available response rate are 88.6%. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, correlation, and hierarchical linear model. The major results of this study are as following: 1. The member of position has a significant effect on perceptions of organizational politics. 2. The member of tenure has no effect on perceptions of organizational politics. 3. Formalization has no effect on perceptions of organizational politics. 4. Centralization has a significant effect on perceptions of organizational politics. 5. Formalization has no moderate effect on the relationship between the member of position and perceptions of organizational politics. 6. Formalization has no moderate effect on the relationship between the member of tenure and perceptions of organizational politics. 7. Centralization has no moderate effect on the relationship between the member of position and perceptions of organizational politics. 8. Centralization has no moderate effect on the relationship between the member of tenure and perceptions of organizational politics.