The Common bed bug, Cimex lectularius L., suddenly reappeared in developed countries in the past 15 years. The factor contributing to the sudden resurgence of the bed bugs is insecticide resistance. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms of reduced cuticular penetration type insecticide resistance in bed bugs. First, we determined and compared the lethal dosage (LD50) of a pyrethroid insecticide using topical and injection application. The resistant strain not only had significantly greater resistance ratios, but also demonstrated significantly greater penetration resistance ratios. This provided the evidence of the reduced cuticular penetration in bed bugs. Second, we determined the levels of gene transcription (CPR-type cuticle protein genes) using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). We identified 62 putative bed bug cuticle protein-encoding contigs based on the presence of the Chitin-binding 4 (CB4) domain. Based on the qRT-PCR analysis of the mRNAs, we found many of the genes were up-regulated in the resistant strain suggesting thickening of the cuticle or increasing the cuticular proteins might be involved in the reduced cuticular penetration. Third, we identified and described the cuticular proteins using the matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) time-of-flight/time-of-flight (TOF/TOF) high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/TOF). The total of 265 peptides were identified, among which 206 belonged to one of 50 confidently identified proteins. We identified the CPRL, CPF, CPFL, TWDL, and CPAP1 family proteins. The profile of the cuticular proteins between the resistant and the susceptible strains bed bugs were almost identical. Fourth, we determined and compared the cuticular thickness using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). We found statistical differences of the cuticular thickness among different strains (populations), however, correlation between the levels of insecticide resistance and cuticular thickness were not found. Finally, we identified and described bed bug cuticular hydrocarbon profiles using Gas-Chromatography and Mass-Spectrometry (GC-MS). The total of 87 compounds in addition to n-alkanes were extracted and identified. There were no correlation found with the concentration and the levels of insecticide resistance. However, several additional compounds exhibited the correlation between the concentration of the compounds and the levels of insecticide resistance. Overall, we found three lines of evidence to support reduced cuticular penetration as a mechanism of insecticide resistance in some bed bug populations. This study provides additional evidence of the reduced cuticular penetration type resistance in bed bugs. / Ph. D.

Syftet med uppsatsen var att undersöka om socialsekreterare som arbetar med barn och unga inom socialtjänsten upplever att kvaliteten i det klientnära arbetet påverkas av reducerad arbetstid samt om det ser olika ut beroende på erfarenheten inom yrket. Teorier om balans mellan arbets- och privatliv, handlingskompetensens utveckling samt evidensbaserad praktik har använts för att förstå det insamlade materialet. Studien genomfördes genom en webbaserad enkät som skickades ut till enhetschefer inom socialtjänstens enhet för barn och unga i fyra olika svenska kommuner. Enkäten vidarebefordrades till 103 medarbetare varav 34 av dessa svarade. Materialet har analyserats genom univariat och bivariat analys och redovisats genomtabeller, figurer och text. Resultatet visade inget som tyder på att yrkeserfarenhetens längd hos socialsekreterare påverkar upplevelsen av kvalitet i det klientnära arbetet. Resultatet visade även att majoriteten av socialsekreterarna upplevde sig nöjda med kvaliteten gentemot sina klienter samt att de i stor utsträckning hinner med sina tilldelade ärenden inom utsatt tid, oavsett om socialsekreterarna omfattades av arbetstidsförkortning eller inte. Det enda i studiens resultat som tydde på ett samband i upplevelsen av kvalitet i det klientnära arbetet var gällande barnsamtal där socialsekreterarna med arbetstidsförkortning i högre grad ansåg att arbetstiden var tillräcklig för att uppnå god kvalitet i detta arbetsmoment. Slutsatsen var att det verkar finnas ett visst samband mellan socialsekreterare som har arbetstidsförkortning och upplevelsen av att tiden räcker till för att uppnå god kvalitet i barnsamtal samt att arbetstidsförkortningen till syneshar god effekt på socialsekreterare och deras arbetssituation. / The purpose of this essay was to examine whether social workers who work with children and young people in the social services feel that the quality of the client-oriented work is affected by reduced working hours and if it looks different depending on the experience in the profession. Theories of work-life balance, the development of action competence and evidencebased practice have been used to understand the collected material. The study was conducted through a web-based questionnaire that was sent out to unit managers in the social services unit for children and young people in four different Swedish municipalities. The questionnaire was forwarded to 103 employees, of which 34 responded. The material has been analyzed through univariate and bivariate analysis and presented through tables, figures and text. The results showed nothing to indicate that the length of professional experience of social workers affects the experience of quality in the client-oriented work. The results also showed that the majority of the social workers felt satisfied with the quality of their work towards their clients and that they to a large extent had time to do their assigned cases within the set time, regardless of whether the social workers had a reduction in working hours or not. The only thing in the study's results that indicated a correlation in the experience of quality in the client-oriented work was regarding child conversations where the social workers with reduced working hours found to a greater extent considered that the working hours were sufficient to achieve good quality in this task. The conclusion was that there seems to be a definite correlation between social workers who have reduced working hours and the experience that there is enough time to achieve good quality in child conversations and that the shortening of working hours seems to have a good effect on social workers and their work situation.

Lithium ion (Li-ion) batteries have been identified as a promising solution to meet the increasing demands for alternative energy in electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid electric vehicle (HEVs). This work describes experimental and numerical study of thermal management of battery module consisting of cylindrical Li-ion cells, with an emphasis on the use of active control to achieve optimal cooling performance with minimal parasitic power consumption. The major contribution from this work is the first experimental demonstration (based on our review of archival journal and conference literature) and the corresponding analysis of active thermal control of battery modules. The results suggest that the active control strategy, when combined with reciprocating cooling flow, can reduce the parasitic energy consumption and cooling flow amount substantially. Compared with results using passive control with unidirectional cooling flow, the parasitic energy consumption was reduced by about 80%. This contribution was achieved in three steps, which was detailed in this dissertation in chapters 2, 3, and 4, respectively. In the first step, an experimental facility and a corresponding CFD model were developed to capture the thermal behavior of multiple battery cells. Based on the experimental and CFD results, a reduced-order model (ROM) was then developed for active monitoring and control purposes. In the second step, the ROM was parameterized and an observer-based control strategy was developed to control the core temperature of battery cells. Finally, based on the experimental facility and the ROM model, the active control of a battery module was demonstrated. Each of these steps represents an important facet of the thermal management problem, and it is expected that the results and specifics documented in this dissertation lay the groundwork to facilitate further study. / Ph. D.

This thesis describes several approaches for stabilizing POD-ROMs (that is, reduced order models based on basis functions derived from the proper orthogonal decomposition) for both the CDR (convection-diffusion-reaction) equation and the NSEs (Navier-Stokes equations). Stabilization is necessary because standard POD-ROMs of convection-dominated problems usually display numerical instabilities. The first stabilized ROM investigated is a streamline-upwind Petrov-Galerkin ROM (SUPG-ROM). I prove error estimates for the SUPG-ROM and derive optimal scalings for the stabilization parameter. I test the SUPG-ROM with the optimal parameter in the numerical simulation of a convection-dominated CDR problem. The SUPG-ROM yields more accurate results than the standard Galerkin ROM (G-ROM) by eliminating the inherent numerical artifacts (noise) in the data and dampening spurious oscillations. I next propose two regularized ROMs (Reg-ROMs) based on ideas from large eddy simulation and turbulence theory: the Leray ROM (L-ROM) and the evolve-then-filter ROM (EF-ROM). Both Reg-ROMs use explicit POD spatial filtering to regularize (smooth) some of the terms in the standard G-ROM. I propose two different POD spatial filters: one based on the POD projection and a novel POD differential filter. These two new Reg-ROMs and the two spatial filters are investigated in the numerical simulation of the three-dimensional flow past a circular cylinder problem at Re = 100. The numerical results show that EF-ROM-DF is the most accurate Reg-ROM and filter combination and the differential filter generally yields better results than the projection filter. The Reg-ROMs perform significantly better than the standard G-ROM and decrease the CPU time (compared against the direct numerical simulation) by orders of magnitude (from about four days to four minutes). / Ph. D.

Design problems involve finding optimal plans that minimize cost and maximize information about the effects of changing experimental variables on some response. Information is typically measured through statistically meaningful functions, or criteria, of a design's corresponding information matrix. The most common criteria implicitly assume equal interest in all effects and certain forms of information matrices tend to optimize them. However, these criteria can be poor assessments of a design when there is unequal interest in the experimental effects. Morgan and Wang (2010) addressed this potential pitfall by developing a concise weighting system based on quadratic forms of a diagonal matrix W that allows a researcher to specify relative importance of information for any effects. They were then able to generate a broad class of weighted optimality criteria that evaluate a design's ability to maximize the weighted information, ultimately targeting those designs that efficiently estimate effects assigned larger weight. This dissertation considers a much broader class of potential weighting systems, and hence weighted criteria, by allowing W to be any symmetric, positive definite matrix. Assuming the response and experimental effects may be expressed as a general linear model, we provide a survey of the standard approach to optimal designs based on real-valued, convex functions of information matrices. Motivated by this approach, we introduce fundamental definitions and preliminary results underlying the theory of general weighted optimality. A class of weight matrices is established that allows an experimenter to directly assign weights to a set of estimable functions and we show how optimality of transformed models may be placed under a weighted optimality context. Straightforward modifications to SAS PROC OPTEX are shown to provide an algorithmic search procedure for weighted optimal designs, including A-optimal incomplete block designs. Finally, a general theory is given for design optimization when only a subset of all estimable functions is assumed to be in the model. We use this to develop a weighted criterion to search for A-optimal completely randomized designs for baseline factorial effects assuming all high-order interactions are negligible. / Ph. D.

När en kvinna får sitt första barn skapar hon en ny identitet som mamma. Hon ställs inför nya situationer vilket skapar en osäkerhet. Tidigare sociala sammanhang som till exempel arbete eller studier sätts på paus och även vänskapsrelationer kan genomgå en förändring. Känslor av ensamhet och oro leder till att individen söker sig till andra som har liknande upplevelser. Många kvinnor finner stöd i grupper som anordnas på Familjecentralen. Syftet med denna kvalitativa studie är att förstå kvinnors upplevelser kring sitt identitetsskapande under första tiden som förälder samt vilken betydelse sociala relationer med andra nyblivna föräldrar har för att öka trygghet och skapa mindre ensamhet i föräldrarollen. Studien har använt socialpsykologiska teorier kring exempelvis självet, kategorisering och social jämförelse för att tolka och förstå respondenternas upplevelser. I studien utfördes 10 semistrukturerade intervjuer med förstagångsmödrar om deras upplevelser kring att bli mamma. Studiens resultat visar hur mammaidentiteten växer fram och hur kvinnans tro på sin egen förmåga är kopplat till barnets välmående. Barnet blir en del av kvinnans självbild. I föräldragruppen upplever kvinnorna en gemenskap med andra i samma situation. Råd, stöd, tankar och upplevelser delas i ett öppet klimat vilket tillsammans med möjlighet att rådfråga personal leder till ökad trygghet och minskad känsla av ensamhet. / When a woman has her first child, she creates a new identity as a mother. She is faced with new situations, which creates uncertainty. Previous social contexts such as work or studies are put on hold and even friendships can undergo a change. Feelings of loneliness and anxiety lead the individual to seek out others who have similar experiences. Many women find support in groups organized at the Family Centre. The purpose of this qualitative study is to understand womens´ experiences regarding their identity creation during the first time as a parent, as well as the importance of social relationships with other new parents to increase security and create less loneliness in the parental role. The study has used social psychological theories regarding, for example, the self, categorization and social comparison to interpret and understand the respondents' experiences. In the study, 10 semi-structured interviews were conducted with first-time mothers regarding their experiences of becoming a mother. The study's results show how the mother's identity develops and how the woman's belief in her own abilities is linked to the child's well-being. The child becomes part of the woman's self-image. In the parent group, the women experience a community with others in the same situation. Advice, support, thoughts and experiences are shared in an open climate, which together with the opportunity to consult staff leads to increased security and a reduced feeling of loneliness.

Behovet av bostäder ökar i takt med befolkningsökningen, samtidigt som tillgången på råmaterial för byggmaterial minskar. Samhället genomgår en grön omställning där varje bransch undersöker sätt att minska klimatpåverkan. I byggbranschen är cement en stor bidragande orsak till koldioxidutsläpp. Studien syftar till att utforska nya dimensioneringsregler för klimatreducerad och cirkulär betong enligt betongstandarder, samt hur konstruktörer och materialtillverkare arbetar med dessa. Studien genomförs som en kombinerad litteraturstudie och intervjustudie. Intervjustudien består av tre intervjuer med konstruktörer, materialtillverkare och projektutvecklare som bidrar med sina perspektiv kring att ta fram och arbete med klimatreducerad och cirkulär betong. I litteraturstudien ingår att jämföra nya och äldre standarder som beskriver dimensioneringsregler och materialegenskaper för beståndsdelarna i klimatreducerad betong. Litteraturstudien görs också för att ge mer översiktlig kunskap i ämnet och för att kunna jämföra och bekräfta data från intervjuerna. Resultaten visar att utvecklingen går framåt när det gäller att nå målet med klimatneutral betong år 2030. Nya material och produkter utvecklas ständigt och möjliggör mer klimatvänlig betong. Materialstandarden och dimensioneringsstandarden för betong ger möjligheter för cirkulering av återvunnen betong, medan cementstandarden beskriver hur tillsatsmaterial för cement kan användas. Intervjuerna indikerar att konstruktörerna har en liten roll när det gäller att påverka byggnaden ur ett hållbart perspektiv, men medvetenhet finns. Beslut kring materialval, funktionskrav och kravställning på materialen görs ofta tidigt i projekten, innan konstruktören är inkopplad. Resultaten överensstämmer med andra examensarbeten som visar att konstruktörer kommer in för sent i processen med idéframtagning för att bidra med kunskap i hållbarhetsfrågor i projekten. Det finns förhoppningar om att den nya standarden tillsammans med lagen om klimatdeklaration för byggnader och Boverkets nya byggregler ”möjligheternas byggregler” ska bidra ytterligare till utveckling av hållbart samhällsbyggande. Huruvida detta kommer bidra med att konstruktören får en större roll återstår att se. / The need for housing is increasing with population growth, while the availability of raw materials for construction materials is declining. Society is undergoing a green transition, with each industry exploring ways to reduce climate impact. In the construction industry, cement is a major contributor to carbon dioxide emissions. This study aims to explore new dimensioning rules for climate-reduced and circular concrete according to concrete standards, and how designers and material manufacturers work with these. The study is conducted as a combined literature review and interview study. The interview study consists of three interviews with designers, material manufacturers, and project developers contributing their perspectives on developing and working with climate-reduced and circular concrete. The literature review includes comparing new and older standards describing dimensioning rules and material properties for components in climate-reduced concrete. The literature review is also conducted to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the subject and to compare and confirm data from the interviews. The results show that progress is being made towards the goal of climate-neutral concrete by 2030. New materials and products are constantly being developed, enabling more climate-friendly concrete. The material standard and dimensioning standard for concrete provide opportunities for the circulation of recycled concrete, while the cement standard describes how cement admixtures can be used. The interviews indicate that designers have a small role in influencing building sustainability, but awareness exists. Decisions regarding material selection, functional requirements, and specification of materials are often made early in projects, before the designer is engaged. The results are consistent with other theses showing that designers enter the process too late in the ideation stage to contribute knowledge on sustainability issues in projects. There are hopes that the new standard, together with the law on climate declaration for buildings and the Swedish National Board of Housing, Building, and Planning's new building regulations "building regulations of opportunities," will further contribute to the development of sustainable community construction. Whether this will result in the designer having a larger role remains to be seen.

本論文は第二言語話者の発話を高精度で認識するための音素セットの構成方法に関する研究結果を述べている．本論文では，第二言語話者の発話をネイティブ話者の発話とは異なる音響特徴量の頻度分布を持つ情報源とみなし，これを表現する適切な音素セットを構築する手法を提案している．具体的には，対象とする第二言語と母語との調音位置や調音様式などの類似性に加え，同音異義語の発生による単語識別性能の低下を総合した基準に基づき，最適な音素セットを決定する．提案手法を日本人学生の英語発話の音声認識に適用し，種々の条件下で認識精度の向上を検証した． / This dissertation focuses on the problem caused by confused mispronunciation to improve the recognition performance of second language speech. A novel method considering integrated acoustic and linguistic features is proposed to derive a reduced phoneme set for L2 speech recognition. The customized phoneme set is created with a phonetic decision tree (PDT)-based top-down sequential splitting method that utilizes the phonological knowledge between L1 and L2. The dissertation verifies the efficacy of the proposed method for Japanese English and shows that the feasibility of building a speech recognizer with the proposed method is able to alleviate the problem caused by confused mispronunciation by second language speakers. / 博士(工学) / Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering / 同志社大学 / Doshisha University

This thesis deals with cohomologies on the symplectic quotient of a Frölicher space which is locally diffeomorphic to a Euclidean Frölicher subspace of Rn of constant dimension equal to n. The symplectic reduction under consideration in this thesis is an extension of the Marsden-Weinstein quotient (also called, the reduced space) well-known from the finite-dimensional smooth manifold case. That is, starting with a proper and free action of a Frölicher-Lie-group on a locally Euclidean Frölicher space of finite constant dimension, we study the smooth structure and the topology induced on a small subspace of the orbit space. It is on this topological space that we will construct selected cohomologies such as : sheaf cohomology, Alexander-Spanier cohomology, singular cohomology, ~Cech cohomology and de Rham cohomology. Some natural questions that will be investigated are for instance: the impact of the symplectic structure on these di erent cohomologies; the cohomology that will give a good description of the topology on the objects of category of Frölicher spaces; the extension of the de Rham cohomology theorem in order to establish an isomorphism between the five cohomologies. Beside the algebraic, topological and geometric study of these new objects, the thesis contains a modern formalism of Hamiltonian mechanics on the reduced space under symplectic and Poisson structures. / Mathematical Sciences / D. Phil. (Mathematics)

This thesis deals with cohomologies on the symplectic quotient of a Frölicher space which is locally diffeomorphic to a Euclidean Frölicher subspace of Rn of constant dimension equal to n. The symplectic reduction under consideration in this thesis is an extension of the Marsden-Weinstein quotient (also called, the reduced space) well-known from the finite-dimensional smooth manifold case. That is, starting with a proper and free action of a Frölicher-Lie-group on a locally Euclidean Frölicher space of finite constant dimension, we study the smooth structure and the topology induced on a small subspace of the orbit space. It is on this topological space that we will construct selected cohomologies such as : sheaf cohomology, Alexander-Spanier cohomology, singular cohomology, ~Cech cohomology and de Rham cohomology. Some natural questions that will be investigated are for instance: the impact of the symplectic structure on these di erent cohomologies; the cohomology that will give a good description of the topology on the objects of category of Frölicher spaces; the extension of the de Rham cohomology theorem in order to establish an isomorphism between the five cohomologies. Beside the algebraic, topological and geometric study of these new objects, the thesis contains a modern formalism of Hamiltonian mechanics on the reduced space under symplectic and Poisson structures. / Mathematical Sciences / D. Phil. (Mathematics)