This research project examined the diffusion of change within one Victorian TAPE Institute by engaging action research to facilitate implementation of e-mail technology. The theoretical framework involving the concepts of technology innovation and action research was enhanced with the aid of Rogers's (1983) model of the diffusion of the innovation process. Political and cultural factors made up the initiation phase of innovation, enabling the research to concentrate on the implementation phase of e-mail Roger's (1983) model also provided adopter categories that related to the findings of a Computer Attitude Survey that was conducted at The School of Mines and Industries Ballarat (SMB), now the University of Ballarat—TAPE Division since amalgamation on 1st January 1998. Despite management rhetoric about the need to utilise e-mail, Institute teaching staff lacked individual computers in their work areas and most were waiting to become connected to the Internet as late as 1997. According to the action research reports, many staff were resistant to the new e-mail facilities despite having access to personal computers whose numbers doubled annually. The action research project became focussed when action researchers realised that e-mail workshop training was ineffective and that staff required improved access. Improvement to processes within education through collaborative action research had earlier been achieved (McTaggart 1994), and this project actively engaged practitioners to facilitate decentralised e-mail training in the workplace through the action research spiral of planning, acting, observing and reflecting, before replanning. The action researchers * task was to find ways to improve the diffusion of e-mail throughout the Institute and to develop theoretical constructs. My research task was to determine whether action research could successfully facilitate e-mail throughout the Institute. A rich literature existed about technology use in education, technology teaching, gender issues, less about computerphobia, and none about 'e-mailphobia \ It seemed appropriate to pursue the issue of e-mailphobia since it was marginalised, or ignored in the literature. The major political and cultural influences on the technologising of SMB and e-mail introduction were complex, making it impossible to ascertain the relative degrees of influence held by Federal and State Governments, SMB's leadership or the local community, Nonetheless, with the implementation of e-mail, traditional ways were challenged as SMB's culture changed. E-mail training was identified as a staff professional development activity that had been largely unsuccessful. Action research is critical collaborative inquiry by reflective practitioners who are accountable for making the results of their inquiry public and who are self-evaluating of their practice while engaging participative problem-solving and continuing professional development (Zuber-Skerritt 1992, 1993). Action research was the methodology employed in researching e-mail implementation into SMB because it involved collaborative inquiry with colleagues as reflective practitioners. Thoughtful questions could best be explored using deconstructivist philosophy, in asking about the noise of silence, which issues were not addressed, what were the contradictions and who was being marginalised with e-mail usage within SMB. Reviewing literature on action research was complicated by its broad definition and by the variability of research (King & Lonnquist 1992), and yet action research as a research methodology was well represented in educational research literature, and provided a systematic and recognisable way for practitioners to conduct their research. On the basis of this study, it could be stated that action research facilitated the diffusion of e-mail technology into one TAPE Institute, despite the process being disappointingly slow. While the process in establishing the action research group was problematic, action researchers showed that a window of opportunity existed for decentralised diffusion of e-mail training,in preference to bureaucratically motivated 'workshops. Eight major findings, grouped under two broad headings were identified: the process of diffusion (planning, nature of the process, culture, politics) and outcomes of diffusion (categorising, e-mailphobia, the survey device and technology in education). The findings indicated that staff had little experience with e-mail and appeared not to recognise its benefits. While 54.1% did not agree that electronic means could be the preferred way to receive Institute memost some 13.7% admitted to problems with using the voice answering service on telephones. Some 43.3% thought e-mail would not improve their connectedness (how they related) to the Institute. A small percentage of staff had trouble with telephone voice-mail and a number of these were anxious computer users. Individualised tuition and peer support proved helpful to individual staff whom action researchers believed to be 'at risk', as determined from the results of a Computer Attitude Survey. An instructional strategy that fostered the development of self-regulation and peer support was valuable, but there was no measure of the effects of this action research program, other than in qualitative terms. Nevertheless, action research gave space to reflect on the nature of the underlying processes in adopting e-mail. Challenges faced by TAPE action researchers are integrally affected by the values within TAPE, which change constantly and have recently been extensive enough to be considered as a 'new paradigm'. The influence of competition policy, the training reform agenda and technologisation of training have challenged traditional TAPE values. Action research reported that many staff had little immediate professional reason to use e-mail Theoretical answers were submerged beneath practical professional concerns, which related back to how much time teachers had and whether they could benefit from e-mail. A need for the development of principles for the sound educational uses of e-mail increases with the internationalisation of education and an increasing awareness of cultural differences. The implications for conducting action research in TAPE are addressed under the two broad issues of power and pedagogy. Issues of power included gaining access, management's inability to overcome staff resistance to technology, changing TAPE values and using technology for conducting action research. Pedagogical issues included the recognition of educational above technological issues and training staff in action research. Finally, seventeen steps are suggested to overcome power and pedagogical impediments to the conduct of action research within TAPE. This action research project has provided greater insight into the difficulties of successfully introducing one culture-specific technology into one TAPE Institute. TAPE Institutes need to encourage more action research into their operations, and it is only then that -we can expect to answer the unanswered questions raised in this research project.

<p>Den 21 juli 2001 trädde Europaparlamentets och rådets direktiv, om bedömning av vissa planers och programs miljöpåverkan, i kraft. Syftet med direktivet var att säkerhetsställa en hög nivå på miljöskydd, genom att utföra miljöbedömningar på vissa planer och program som kan antas medföra en betydande miljöpåverkan. När ny lagstiftning ska implementeras brukar det vanligtvis uppkomma implementeringsproblem och det var något som jag misstänkte skulle uppkomma även i detta fall. Syftet med uppsatsen är därför att ta reda på hur arbetet har fortlöpt med att implementera de nya bestämmelserna som har haft sin upprinnelse från EU:s direktiv. Informationsflödet kring de nya bestämmelserna har också studerats. För att uppfylla syftet utfördes en intervjuundersökning med tre tjänstemän på olika administrativa nivåer för att ta reda på deras uppfattning om problem respektive styrkor med de nya bestämmelserna som härrört från EU:s direktiv, samt hur de tyckte att informationsflödet kring de nya bestämmelserna hade fungerat. Två analyser utfördes sedan i uppsatsen: en jämförande analys där svar från min intervjustudie sattes i förhållande till fem ståndpunkter som jag valt ut från regeringens proposition Miljöbedömningar av planer och program 2003/04:116, samt en analys där tre nyckelbegrepp inom implementeringsteorin har satts i förhållande till intervjuresultaten. Vissa av ståndpunkterna i regeringens proposition visade sig vara väl optimistiska, i alla fall i förhållande till intervjusvaren. En del implementeringsproblem verkar också vara ofrånkomliga, framförallt var respondenterna missnöjda med hur informationsflödet kring de nya bestämmelserna hade fungerat. De nya bestämmelserna kan säkerligen bidra till en mer hållbar utveckling men jag tror att det kommer att ta tid innan bra rutiner för att arbeta med dem har hittats.</p>

<p>The IT industry is characterised by rapid changes and an increased level of consolidation and competition. Hardware and software developers are moving away from proprietary technologies to open-standards based technology. This makes it more difficult for large hardware vendors, such as Hewlett Packard (HP) and IBM, to lock their customers and partners to proprietary solutions. Therefore, in order to keep and increase its market share, HP needs to improve its collaboration with partners. The partners, especially local and regional independent software vendors (ISV), are important due to their applications focused on solving business problems, their ability to provide industry relevance to HP’s products and their ability to influence what kind of hardware and software platforms the end-customers will choose.</p><p>We have identified key market characteristics, the ISVs’ key needs and challenges, as well as what they consider crucial in order for them to recommend a certain vendor’s hardware platform. Companies in the IT industry face several unique challenges; one is that there often exist conflicting interests between the different industry members, e.g. competitors collaborating with each other. This puts extra pressure on clarifying the rules of engagement between the collaborating parties. The ISVs are generally agnostic to which hardware platform the customers buy as long as their applications run on the specific platform, therefore the ISVs’ vendor preference is often based on more intangible relationship factors. Factors that affect and decide the ISVs’ preference are e.g. their existing vendor relationships, ease of doing business, clear point of contact and clear rules of engagement. Furthermore, many of the ISVs are interested in having joint- business planning and go-to-market strategies with HP. In order to leverage hardware, we recommend that HP tries to tie the ISVs to them and form closer relationships with the ISV community. (HP must however carefully evaluate the value of the individual ISVs and what they can offer.)</p><p>The recommendations consist mainly of how to select the relevant ISVs and, after the selection, how the ISVs should be categorised and managed by utilising HP’s partner portal for developers. This would enable HP to engage more efficiently with key partners, which in turn would lead to increased leverage of HP hardware.</p>

The IT industry is characterised by rapid changes and an increased level of consolidation and competition. Hardware and software developers are moving away from proprietary technologies to open-standards based technology. This makes it more difficult for large hardware vendors, such as Hewlett Packard (HP) and IBM, to lock their customers and partners to proprietary solutions. Therefore, in order to keep and increase its market share, HP needs to improve its collaboration with partners. The partners, especially local and regional independent software vendors (ISV), are important due to their applications focused on solving business problems, their ability to provide industry relevance to HP’s products and their ability to influence what kind of hardware and software platforms the end-customers will choose. We have identified key market characteristics, the ISVs’ key needs and challenges, as well as what they consider crucial in order for them to recommend a certain vendor’s hardware platform. Companies in the IT industry face several unique challenges; one is that there often exist conflicting interests between the different industry members, e.g. competitors collaborating with each other. This puts extra pressure on clarifying the rules of engagement between the collaborating parties. The ISVs are generally agnostic to which hardware platform the customers buy as long as their applications run on the specific platform, therefore the ISVs’ vendor preference is often based on more intangible relationship factors. Factors that affect and decide the ISVs’ preference are e.g. their existing vendor relationships, ease of doing business, clear point of contact and clear rules of engagement. Furthermore, many of the ISVs are interested in having joint- business planning and go-to-market strategies with HP. In order to leverage hardware, we recommend that HP tries to tie the ISVs to them and form closer relationships with the ISV community. (HP must however carefully evaluate the value of the individual ISVs and what they can offer.) The recommendations consist mainly of how to select the relevant ISVs and, after the selection, how the ISVs should be categorised and managed by utilising HP’s partner portal for developers. This would enable HP to engage more efficiently with key partners, which in turn would lead to increased leverage of HP hardware.

Den 21 juli 2001 trädde Europaparlamentets och rådets direktiv, om bedömning av vissa planers och programs miljöpåverkan, i kraft. Syftet med direktivet var att säkerhetsställa en hög nivå på miljöskydd, genom att utföra miljöbedömningar på vissa planer och program som kan antas medföra en betydande miljöpåverkan. När ny lagstiftning ska implementeras brukar det vanligtvis uppkomma implementeringsproblem och det var något som jag misstänkte skulle uppkomma även i detta fall. Syftet med uppsatsen är därför att ta reda på hur arbetet har fortlöpt med att implementera de nya bestämmelserna som har haft sin upprinnelse från EU:s direktiv. Informationsflödet kring de nya bestämmelserna har också studerats. För att uppfylla syftet utfördes en intervjuundersökning med tre tjänstemän på olika administrativa nivåer för att ta reda på deras uppfattning om problem respektive styrkor med de nya bestämmelserna som härrört från EU:s direktiv, samt hur de tyckte att informationsflödet kring de nya bestämmelserna hade fungerat. Två analyser utfördes sedan i uppsatsen: en jämförande analys där svar från min intervjustudie sattes i förhållande till fem ståndpunkter som jag valt ut från regeringens proposition Miljöbedömningar av planer och program 2003/04:116, samt en analys där tre nyckelbegrepp inom implementeringsteorin har satts i förhållande till intervjuresultaten. Vissa av ståndpunkterna i regeringens proposition visade sig vara väl optimistiska, i alla fall i förhållande till intervjusvaren. En del implementeringsproblem verkar också vara ofrånkomliga, framförallt var respondenterna missnöjda med hur informationsflödet kring de nya bestämmelserna hade fungerat. De nya bestämmelserna kan säkerligen bidra till en mer hållbar utveckling men jag tror att det kommer att ta tid innan bra rutiner för att arbeta med dem har hittats.

L’objecte del present estudi és la optimització d’un sistema de separació mitjançant llit mòbil simulat (SMB), mitjançant la seva simulació numèrica. Per a això, s’ha desenvolupat un mètode de simulació numèrica per columnes d’adsorció, per al model amb transport de matèria. D’aquesta manera, s’aconsegueix minimitzar el nombre de càlculs necessaris per a la simulació d’una columna cromatogràfica, sense pèrdua de precisió. S’ha desenvolupat i aplicat el mateix mètode per al model amb transport de matèria i difusió axial. Els resultats de la simulació de columnes cromatogràfiques per a una substància i per a barreges binàries han estat validats tot comparant-los amb resultats experimentals. A més, s’ha ampliat l’aplicabilitat dels mètodes teòrics d’optimització, a isotermes no lineals i no-Langmuir, mitjançant la integració numèrica de les corbes hodogràfiques. Aquest mètode d’integració permet simular el funcionament d’un conjunt de columnes de separació fins arribar a l’estat estacionari del sistema. Per a això s’ha desenvolupat un programa per a la simulació d’un sistema de llit mòbil simulat (SMB), capaç de simular diverses configuracions. S’han validat els resultats de la seva utilització tot comparant-ho amb resultats publicats a la bibliografia. S’ha establert una estratègia d’optimització dels paràmetres de funcionament d’un SMB, amb objecte de minimitzar el cost del sistema. S’han utilitzat els mètodes teòrics per a establir unes condicions de treball inicials per tal de ser posteriorment refinades mitjançant un algoritme símplex modificat. L’aplicació d’aquest mètode d’optimització a diversos casos publicats a la bibliografia, per a barreges binàries amb isoterma d’adsorció lineal, Langmuir i bi-Langmuir, aconsegueix en tots els casos reproduir o millorar els resultats originals. El mateix mètode s’ha utilitzat en algun dels casos per a proposar millores en la configuració del sistema. / El objeto del presente estudio es la optimización de un sistema de separación por lecho móvil simulado (SMB), mediante su simulación numérica. Para ello, se ha desarrollado un método de simulación numérica para columnas de adsorción, para el modelo con transporte de materia. Se consigue así minimizar el número de cálculos necesarios para la simulación de una columna cromatográfica, sin pérdida de precisión. Se ha desarrollado y aplicado el mismo método para el modelo con transporte de materia y difusión axial. Los resultados de la simulación de columnas cromatográficas para una sustancia y para mezclas binarias han sido validados comparándolos con resultados experimentales. Además, se ha ampliado la aplicabilidad de los métodos teóricos de optimización, a isotermas no lineales y no Langmuir, mediante la integración numérica de las curvas hodográficas. Este método de integración permite simular el funcionamiento de un conjunto de columnas de separación hasta alcanzar el estado estacionario del sistema. Para ello se ha desarrollado un programa para la simulación de un sistema de lecho móvil simulado (SMB), capaz de simular diversas configuraciones. Se han validado los resultados de su utilización comparándolo con resultados publicados en la bibliografía. Se ha establecido una estrategia de optimización de los parámetros de funcionamiento de un SMB, con objeto de minimizar el coste del sistema. Se han utilizado los métodos teóricos para establecer unas condiciones de trabajo iniciales para su posterior refinado mediante un algoritmo simplex modificado. Al aplicar este método de optimización a diversos casos publicados en la bibliografía, para mezclas binarias con isoterma de adsorción lineal, Langmuir y bi-Langmuir, se consigue en todos los casos reproducir o mejorar los resultados originales. El mismo método se ha utilizado en alguno de los casos para proponer mejoras en la configuración del sistema. / The purpose of this study is the optimization of a simulated moving bed system (SMB), by numerical simulation. To do this, we have developed a method for numerical simulation of adsorption columns, for the mass transport model. This method minimizes the number of calculations required for the simulation of a chromatographic column, without loss of accuracy. The same method has been developed and applied for the model with mass transfer and axial diffusion. The simulation results of chromatographic columns for one substance and for binary mixtures have been validated by comparing them with experimental results. Furthermore, it has been expanded the applicability of theoretical methods of optimization, nonlinear isotherms and Langmuir, by numerical integration of the hodographic curves. This method allows simulating the operation of a separation column up to the steady state of the system. For this it has been developed a program for simulating a simulated moving bed system (SMB) able to simulate various configurations. The results of its use compared with results published in the literature give a validation of the method. An optimization strategy of the operating parameters of a SMB has been established, in order to minimize the cost of the system. Theoretical methods had been used to establish initial working conditions for further refinement using a simplex algorithm. Applying this optimization method to several cases reported in the literature for binary mixtures with linear adsorption isotherm, Langmuir and bi-Langmuir, permitted in every case to reproduce or enhance the original results. The same method has been used in some cases to suggest improvements to the system configuration.

Dieser Vortrag gibt eine kleine Uebersicht ueber die Einsatzmoeglichkeiten von Linux im Netz - sowohl als Client als auch als Server.

Der Vortrag stellt die Public Domain Software ¨samba¨ vor. Samba ist eine Implementation des SMB-Protokolls und wird benutzt, um Ressourcen eines UNIX-Systems, wie Filesystem-Kapazitaet und Drucker-Warteschlangen einem PC unter MS-DOS oder Windows verfuegbar zu machen. Es wird insbesondere auf die Verwendung von Samba im URZ der TU Chemnitz-Zwickau eingegangen, wo mittels Samba der Zugang zu AFS-HOME-Verzeichnissen aller Nutzer und weiteren Ressourcen ausgehend von jedem PC im Campusnetz ermoeglicht wird.

Det är sedan länge känt att det finns en positiv korrelation mellan risk och avkastning. Investerare och bolag kan välja mellan flera olika prissättningsmodeller för att förutspå priset på en aktie. Forskare har, med den kända enfaktormodellen CAPM som utgångspunkt, utvecklat en modell som tar hänsyn till mer än bara marknadsfaktorn. Detta resulterade i framtagandet av Fama &amp; French-trefaktormodellen (FF3) som även inkluderar storleksfaktorn SMB samt värdefaktorn HML. Syftet med studien är att utvärdera två prissättningsmodeller, CAPM och FF3, för att kunna bedöma deras prestanda vid värdering av förväntad avkastning. Tidigare forskning, inom området för nämnda modeller, berör ofta internationella marknader samt modellernas prestanda för portföljer. Vår studie utförs på utvalda enskilda svenska aktier inkluderade på Stockholmsbörsens Large Cap för januari år 2011 till december år 2015, genom att replikera tidigare forskning gjord av Bartholdy &amp; Peare (2005). Utvalda bolag analyseras efter regressioner för modellerna för att kunna utvärdera dessa var för sig, samt för att se om FF3 har en högre justerad förklaringsgrad än CAPM för enskilda svenska aktier. Resultatet av studien visar att både CAPM och FF3 är applicerbara för utvalda enskilda svenska aktier. Ställs FF3 i förhållande till CAPM föreligger skillnad i justerad förklaringsgrad, dock är den ytterst marginell. Sammanfattningsvis bidrar studien med kunskapen om att CAPM och FF3 går att applicera på enskilda svenska aktier, men att det inte föreligger någon större skillnad i val av dessa två modeller. / Investors and companies can choose between multiple pricing models to predict the price of shares. With the known one factor model CAPM, researchers have developed a model that consider more than just the market factor. This resulted in the creation of the Fama &amp; French three factor model (FF3), which also includes the size factor SMB and the value factor HML. The purpose of the study is to evaluate two pricing models, CAPM and FF3, to assess their performance when evaluating expected returns. Previous research often deal with international markets and model performance of portfolios. We study selected individual Swedish shares for January 2011 to December 2015 by replicating previous research by Bartholdy &amp; Peare (2005). Selected companies are analysed by regressions for the models to be able to evaluate these separately, and to see if FF3 has a higher degree of explanation than CAPM for individual Swedish shares. The result of the study shows that both CAPM and FF3 are applicable for selected individual Swedish shares. There is a difference in the adjusted degree of explanation between the models but it is marginal. In conclusion, the study contributes with the knowledge that CAPM and FF3 can be applied to individual Swedish shares, but there is no major difference in the choice of these two models.

L’asthme équin est une condition inflammatoire fréquente affectant les voies respiratoires inférieures. Cette maladie est caractérisée par une bronchoconstriction, une hyperréactivité bronchique, ainsi que des changements des différentes couches tissulaires des voies respiratoires que l’on regroupe sous le terme de remodelage pulmonaire. Le remodelage du muscle lisse bronchique dans l’asthme comprend une hyperplasie, une hypertrophie, ainsi qu’une altération des propriétés contractiles des myocytes. Bien que ces changements aient été décrits dans la forme sévère de l’asthme équin, la présence de telles altérations chez les chevaux atteints des formes légères à modérées de l’asthme demeure incertaine. L’objectif de notre étude est donc de déterminer si le muscle lisse bronchique présente un remodelage chez les chevaux asthmatiques légers à modérés. Des biopsies endobronchiques provenant de 18 chevaux asthmatiques et de 7 chevaux contrôles ont été étudiées. Le diagnostic était basé sur les signes cliniques et confirmé par cytologie du lavage bronchoalvéolaire. La prolifération des cellules du muscle lisse bronchique était évaluée par l’expression du proliferating cell nuclear antigen marqué par immunohistochimie, et l’expression génique de l’isoforme rapide de la myosine, une protéine hypercontractile, a été mesurée par RT-qPCR. Cette étude a permis de mettre en évidence une surexpression de l’isoforme rapide de la myosine chez les chevaux asthmatiques légers à modérés. Malgré l’absence de différence dans le taux de prolifération cellulaire du muscle lisse bronchique entre les groupes, le pourcentage de myocytes en prolifération était corrélé à l’inflammation pulmonaire neutrophilique ainsi qu’à l’expression de l’isoforme rapide de la myosine chez les chevaux asthmatiques. Cette première étude évaluant le remodelage du muscle lisse bronchique chez les chevaux asthmatiques légers à modérés a démontré une altération fonctionnelle du muscle lisse bronchique dans les formes légères de l’asthme équin, une possible influence de la neutrophilie pulmonaire sur la prolifération du muscle lisse, ainsi qu’une association entre les phénotypes prolifératifs et contractiles. Les altérations identifiées pourraient servir de biomarqueurs potentiels dans l’évolution de la maladie et de la réponse aux traitements. / Equine asthma is a common inflammatory condition affecting the lower airways. This disease is characterised by bronchoconstriction, airway hyperreactivity, and changes in the different tissue layers of the airways, which are referred to as airway remodelling. Remodelling of the smooth muscle in asthma includes hyperplasia, hypertrophy, and altered contractile properties of the myocytes. Although these changes have been described in severe equine asthma, their presence in horses with milder forms of asthma remains unclear. The aim of our study was therefore to determine whether airway smooth muscle remodelling occurs in horses with mild to moderate asthma. Endobronchial biopsies from 18 asthmatic horses and 7 control horses were studied. The diagnosis was based on clinical signs and confirmed by bronchoalveolar lavage cytology results. Airway smooth muscle cell proliferation was assessed by the expression of immunohistochemically labelled proliferating cell nuclear antigen, and the gene expression of the fast contracting myosin isoform, a hypercontractile protein, was measured by RT-qPCR. This study showed overexpression of the fast contracting myosin isoform in horses with mild to moderate asthma. Although there was no difference in the proliferation rate of airway smooth muscle myocyte between groups, it was correlated with neutrophilic lung inflammation as well as with the expression of the fast myosin isoform in asthmatic horses. This first study evaluating airway smooth muscle remodelling in mild to moderate asthmatic horses has demonstrated a functional alteration of airway smooth muscle in mild equine asthma, as well as a possible influence of pulmonary neutrophilia on smooth muscle proliferation, and an association between proliferative and contractile phenotypes. The identified alterations could eventually serve as biomarkers in the evolution of the disease and the response to treatments.