This thesis provides a deep study of the Reach Control Problem (RCP) for affine systems defined on simplices. Necessary conditions for solvability of the problem by open loop control are presented, improving upon the results in the literature which are for continuous state feedback only. So-called reach control indices are introduced and developed which inform on the structural properties of the system which cause continuous state feedbacks to fail. A novel synthesis method is presented consisting of a subdivision algorithm based on these indices and an associated piecewise affine feedback. The method is shown to solve RCP for all cases in the literature where continuous state feedback fails, provided it is solvable by open loop control. Textbook examples of existing synthesis methods for RCP are provided. The motivation for studying RCP and its relevance to complex control specifications is illustrated using a biomedical application.

This thesis studies the Reach Control Problem (RCP) for affine systems defined on simplices. The thesis focuses on cases when it is known that the problem is not solvable by continuous state feedback. Previous work has proposed (discontinuous) piecewise affine feedback to resolve the gap between solvability by open-loop controls and solvability by feedbacks. The first results on solvability by time-varying feedback are presented. Time-varying feedback has the advantage to be more robust to measurement errors circumventing problems of discontinuous controllers. The results are theoretically appealing in light of the strong analogies with the theory of stabilization for linear control systems. The method is shown to solve RCP for all cases in the literature where continuous state feedback fails, provided it is solvable by open loop control. Textbook examples are provided. The motivation for studying RCP and its relevance to complex control specifications is illustrated using a material transfer system.

This thesis provides a deep study of the Reach Control Problem (RCP) for affine systems defined on simplices. Necessary conditions for solvability of the problem by open loop control are presented, improving upon the results in the literature which are for continuous state feedback only. So-called reach control indices are introduced and developed which inform on the structural properties of the system which cause continuous state feedbacks to fail. A novel synthesis method is presented consisting of a subdivision algorithm based on these indices and an associated piecewise affine feedback. The method is shown to solve RCP for all cases in the literature where continuous state feedback fails, provided it is solvable by open loop control. Textbook examples of existing synthesis methods for RCP are provided. The motivation for studying RCP and its relevance to complex control specifications is illustrated using a biomedical application.

In 2008 it was estimated that in Broward County approximately 1 in 130 was living with HIV/AIDS. Broken down by race, it was 1 in 216 Whites, 1 in 50 Blacks and 1 in 198 Hispanics. Broward County had the second highest case rate of all the counties in the state of Florida. HIV/AIDS prevention remains a critical challenge and high impact prevention strategies are needed consistently to reach the most people using limited time, effort and funds. There has been little evidence to demonstrate the relationship between sources of information, specifically media channels, and risk perception and risk behaviors. Through its ability to widely spread information and education, media (TV, radio, newspaper and internet) remains a formidable tool in addressing HIV/AIDS prevention with minorities. The literature review found few published reports that explored media and its relationship to risk perception, behavior and testing in minority communities. This epidemiological study analyzed data from the REACH 2010 Project (“Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health”), a project funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), that performed a variety of prevention interventions targeted at minority communities in Broward County, Florida. The study assessed the relationship between media as a source of information for HIV/AIDS with three behaviors; risk perception, risk behavior and HIV testing. It provides valuable information for future media interventions aimed at risk minority populations by community based organizations (CBOs), HIV/AIDS prevention service providers and state health departments.

Universiẗat, Diss.--Augsburg, 2007.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / These study of the agricultural market of Sergipe analyse the his bases, structure and importance to start of the identify of the principal imports and exports products, that destine to the supply of the markets. These meaning, were adopts of the principles of the ,search direct and indirect that counted with the stand of the infomations of field, following of extensive prospectus bibliography, visit about ten trade fair and interview with professionals, management, producers, intermediary and the consumer. In Sergipe, the agricultural market introduction multiple forms, with emphasis in the market retail of Aracaju and the wholesaler of Itabaiana. The informal agricultural market predominate, with prominence for trade fair that make up the principal canal of the sale of fruit and vegetable present at 98,6% of the sergipanos towns. The market occurrence of form difusse and range, observe the happening of change through of the hidroponics and organics, complete with the diversity chain of distribution and the market carry out in the irrigation perimeter. The crystallize of market give with the sale of the principals agricultural products that estabilish import link between the internal and external market, while the reach space of the products is difference on yours chains. The agricultural market is a economical activite primary that proportionate the integration of the markets of forms multiple and give backing in the seedling resulting of the global that apply adjust of the agent wrap and for the competitiveness from on news challenge. / Este estudo da comercialização agrícola de Sergipe analisa as suas bases, estruturas e importância, a partir da identificação dos principais produtos importados e exportados, que se destinam ao abastecimento dos mercados. Nesse sentido, foram adotados os princípios da pesquisa direta e indireta que contou com o levantamento de dados censitários e de campo, seguido de extensa prospecção bibliográfica, visitas a dezenas de feiras e entrevistas com profissionais, gestores, produtores, intermediários e os consumidores. Em Sergipe, a comercialização agrícola apresenta múltiplas formas, com ênfase no comércio varejista de Aracaju e o atacadista de Itabaiana. O comércio agrícola informal predomina, com destaque para as feiras que compõem o principal canal da venda de hortifrutigranjeiros, presente em 98,6% dos municípios sergipanos. A comercialização ocorre de forma difusa e ambivalente, já se observando a ocorrência de mudanças, sobretudo através dos produtores hidropônicos e orgânicos, cujo corolário, se completa com as diversas cadeias de distribuição e a comercialização realizada nos perímetros irrigados. A cristalização da comercialização se dá com a venda dos principais produtos agrícolas que constituem importante elo entre o mercado interno e o externo, enquanto o alcance espacial dos produtos é diferenciado em suas cadeias. A comercialização agrícola é uma atividade econômica fundamental que proporciona a integração dos mercados de forma multilateral e ganha respaldo nas mudanças decorrentes da globalização que requer ajustes dos agentes envolvidos e prima pela competitividade diante dos novos desafios.

Three of the most important factors with regards to wireless multi-hop networks, namely reachability, energy consumption and network stability are considered in our transmitter macrodiversity supported broadcasting routing algorithms. Broadcasting applications are not only used to send routing table, queries, programming logic, any specific request etc. to all the nodes from access point but are also capable of playing a vital role in wireless TV distributions and visual sensor networks. All the algorithms are simulated in the MATLAB environment in which the nodes are random and are battery driven on a multi-hop randomized topology. Four new single frequency network (SFN) based algorithms (SFN-A, SFN-B, SFN-C and SFN-D) are formed in order to work over multi-hopping and where three of the algorithms SFN-A, SFN-B and SFN-D bear more or less the same amount of reachability. These three algorithms are able to reach more than 90% of reachability in only Tx power -8dBm whereas non-SFN requires -4dBm and SFN-C requires -2dBm and, in addition can achieve a maximum of 29 percentage points more reachability than the non-SFN algorithm. However, the best algorithm SFN-D consumes a maximum of 58.76% less energy than the SFN-A and a maximum of 14.28% less energy than the SFN-B. The SFN-D algorithm achieves a maximum 3.43 dB diversity gain together with the maximum 37.33% energy consumption gain in comparison to the non-SFN algorithm.

Physical habitat for instream biota derives from a combination of stream system structural and hydraulic phenomena. Consequently, the quantity and quality of physical habitat is dynamic both over time and in space along the river, laterally, longitudinally and vertically. Its characterization through stream assessment and classification leads to a better understanding of factors that determine and limit habitat extent and quality. This thesis investigates the effects of space and time on nearshore aquatic habitat in the gravel reach of Fraser River, British Columbia by employing a large river, stage-adaptive habitat classification system. The distribution and abundance of habitat are spatially quantified at the reach scale (32 km), and temporally quantified through a period of about 60 years at several adjacent gravel bars (7 km), and at approximately 500 m3 s-1 increments in discharge during the declining limb of the flood hydrograph at two well-developed gravel bars. Of the ten habitat types evaluated, the bar edge habitat type is most abundant by length and number of units. However, its relative importance is reduced when weighted by fish-habitat association characteristics. Preferred habitat types (channel nook, eddy pool and open nook) are frequent and available to aquatic organisms, and most common at well-developed bars and in zones of equilibrium long-term sedimentation. Preferred habitat was at a maximum 30 years ago when major new bars developed and the thalweg shifted, effectively increasing the amount of bar shoreline and nearshore habitat. This increase is due to substantial change in river planform morphology following a 30-year period of large annual floods. However, amounts of habitat did not increase exclusively during periods of higher than average flows, or decrease exclusively during periods of lower than average flows. Instead, habitat abundance response to flow may occur with a two- or three-year lag. Short term changes in stage are critical to amount of preferred habitat. Optimal discharge for maximum preferred habitat vailability is in the range of approximately 2500 m3 s-1 to 4000 m3 s-1, which approximates long term mean flow. As flow increases, the proportion of preferred habitat compared with total bar shoreline decreases. Comparison with the 2006 flow duration curve shows that 15 – 30 % of discharges are optimal for maximum fish density and biomass. These discharges occurred during April 27 to May 17 and July 14 to August 7, 2006. / Arts, Faculty of / Geography, Department of / Graduate

The structure of the thesis is divided into seven parts. The first one deals with introduction into new REACH regulation. The second part evaluates actual chemical policy and reasons for transition to REACH. Moreover this part also describes REACH and its goals and plans. The third chapter evaluates anticipated costs of REACH implementation in the European Union. The fourth part describes chemical industry in the European Union, its determination, structure and classification. The fifth part deals with anticipated benefits of REACH on chemical industry in the EU in general, while sixth chapter determines how REACH would affect directly companies in chemical industry. Situation of such affected companies in the Czech republic is described as an example in the last chapter.

Background: This thesis reflects upon a heuristic study of a Storytelling Programme which took place in a KS3 Pupil Referral Unit. Previous experiences in the field, as a community storyteller, revealed the power of stories to calm and engage young people. In my community work I had seen that storytelling particularly engaged those considered ‘hard to reach.’ This research was designed to explore the storytelling process further with the aim of understanding more about the impact of the process and to understand the key components as identified by the young people themselves. Methodology: A heuristic research methodology was adopted within this study. The Storytelling Programme was delivered to twelve young people at a Pupil Referral Unit in the North West of England. Five of these participants were interviewed along with their teacher, and their reflections were integrated with my own to create a crystallized understanding of the storytelling process, whilst also remaining true to the unique experiences of each participant. Findings: Heuristic analysis of the Storytelling Programme revealed that young participants developed new personal narratives that reflected new ways of being and thinking. Change was demonstrated by the young people expressing a more positive sense of self. A striking finding, echoed by all participants, was the significance of the relationship in facilitating the therapeutic change process. Discussion: Whilst some of the changes could be linked to particular stories, the participants could not articulate whether their increased sense of well-being came from the stories or more generally from the programme or my ‘way of being’ (Rogers, 1980). It appears that stories and the therapeutic relationship intertwine within the storytelling process to create opportunities for therapeutic change. The findings of this study suggest that story is a particularly useful indirect medium to engage ‘hard to reach’ young people who have disorganised attachment styles. Storytelling offers the opportunity to place the intersubjective relationship as central, fostering an implicitly nurturing and co-regulating dyad that can offer reparation as well as the opportunities for catharsis and the development of emotional literacy through the processing of the story material. Conclusion: It appears that storytelling intertwines the interpersonal relationship with the stories to create a process which is both interpersonal and intrapersonal. The storytelling process appears to facilitate dyadic co-regulation, which may be an essential first step in the therapeutic change process. Once in a state of calm the young people could connect to the story stimuli and develop new ways of being and thinking. Whilst stories appear to promote changes at both the relational and semantic level, the findings from this study suggest that the implicit relational changes had primacy in facilitating significant therapeutic change.