This study aims to evaluate the use of mathematical optimisation algorithms for the optimisation of a vehicle’s spring and damper characteristics, with respect to ride comfort and handling. Traditionally the design of a vehicle’s suspension spring and damper characteristics are determined by a few simple planar model calculations, followed by extensive trial-and-error simulation or track testing. With the current advanced multi-body dynamics computer software packages available to the design engineer, the integration of traditional mathematical optimisation techniques with these packages, can lead to much faster product development. This, in turn results in a reduction of development costs. A sports utility vehicle is modelled by means of a general-purpose computer programme for the dynamic analysis of a multi-body mechanical system. This model is validated against measurements from road tests. The mathematical model is coupled to two gradient-based mathematical optimisation algorithms. The performance of the recently proposed Dynamic-Q optimisation algorithm, is compared with that of the industry-standard gradient based Sequential Quadratic Programming method. The use of different finite difference approximations for the gradient vector evaluation is also investigated. The results of this study indicate that gradient-based mathematical optimisation methods may indeed be successfully integrated with a multi-body dynamics analysis computer program for the optimisation of a vehicle’s suspension system. The results in a significant improvement in the ride comfort as well as handling of the vehicle. / Dissertation (MEng (Mechanical Engineering))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering / unrestricted

Denitrification removes large amounts of reactive nitrogen (N) from ecosystems via reduction of nitrate to dinitrogen gas. In aquatic ecosystems, the influences of terrestrial and aquatic sources of organic matter (OM) on denitrification are potentially complex. Terrestrially-derived OM is often less labile than autochthonous OM; it may inhibit denitrification directly via biochemical mechanisms; and it may indirectly inhibit denitrification by reducing light availability to—and thus OM exudation by—aquatic primary producers. Using a natural dissolved OM gradient among rivers of northern Florida, I investigated these mechanisms using laboratory denitrification assays subjected to factorial amendments of NO3- and dextrose, humic acid dosing, and cross-incubations of sediments and water. Results indicated that C-limitation increased with DOC concentrations, consistent with the indirect inhibition hypothesis. Blackwater neither depressed nor stimulated denitrification rates, indicating that this DOC neither directly inhibits nor acts as a usable OM source for denitrifiers.

The thesis focuses on the progress of the oil economies in MENA since 90's. Due to the outbreak of unrest in the Arab world, the thesis deals with the political area and causes leading to the Arab Spring. The importance of oil in the world economy and it's discovery in the Middle East and North Africa increased strategic importance of this region. Arab countries have for the past three decades undergone significant social, economic and political transformation and their oil wealth played a major role in this transformation. The first chapter focuses on economic theory dealing with raw materials and their impact on economic growth of countries. The next chapter focuses on presentation of the MENA region. The third chapter deals with the development of four selected countries - Algeria, Egypt, Syria and Libya since 90's, the impact of the global financial crisis on Arab countries and the Arab Spring.

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This thesis is focused on a comparison of two frameworks, built on two different platforms. The first one is a PHP-based framework Nette and the second one is Spring, developed in Java. They both are popular choices of frameworks on their respective platforms. The first part of the thesis' target is to introduce the reader to elementary ideas related to frameworks - design pattern MVC. The second part describes the Nette framework, the third is devoted to Spring framework. The fourth part deals with an example application and it's realization in both Nette and Spring, and the fifth and last part compares both frameworks, evaluates them and closes the whole topic.

The main objective of this diploma thesis is the analysis of current result management sys-tem of Euro hry Doksy competition and then design and implementation of a new result management system. The first chapters focus on the analysis of current state of the system, its context and the disadvantages of using the system. After analysis there is a part that specifies the requirements, based on the results of the analysis and interviews with the or-ganizers of the competition. Next part of the thesis describes the design of the new applica-tion, which would suit the organizers better. The design describes architecture of the application and technologies used in development. The thesis concludes with user guide and installation guide, which are there to help application's users. The main benefit of the thesis is the new result management system, which will replace the current system. After deployment the system will be used by thousands users and will help with the management of Euro hry Doksy.

This thesis is about design and implementation one part of Integrated testing node, which is project developed by students of University of Economics. The aim of this project is create a solution, which integrates open-source tools for software testing support. The aim of this thesis is to create new part of Integrated testing node, which will be used for maintenance and creation of new automated tests created in Selenium, which is tool for frontend testing. This thesis continues with work, which was started in thesis of Bc. Jan Ženíšek. His thesis is focused to analyses and design of whole Integrated testing node. He also chose Selenium as tool responsible for automated test support. This thesis is also related to Bc. Helena Munzarová's thesis. She created REST mediator which should be used for communication with all other parts of Integrated testing node.

The Arab Spring, the protests that spread through the Arab world, led to very different outcomes in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. That some regimes survived during the Arab Spring and some experienced regime-change has been explained through political, economic and social perspectives. This desk-study investigates how the Moroccan government addressed popular discontent during and after the Arab spring in 2011. In order to examine the case study through a new theoretical angle, this research applies the Theory of Policy Substitutability by Amy Oakes (2012) to the chosen case study. This study identifies that the Moroccan government used political reform, repression, a sort of economic reform and the use of cultural symbols were put in place to lower the intensity of protests. The findings underline that the government used a number of tactics that can be analyzed through the concept of diversionary tactics, meaning the diversion from internal struggle.   This research adds value to the discussion about regime survival in the case of the Moroccan Arab Spring not only by applying the Theory of PS as a structuring device for existing explanations of regime survival, it furthermore adds value by giving an example of how scholars can examine qualitatively how the concept of diversionary tactics (military and non-military responses) can have applicability.

This magister thesis is focused on relationships between mass media, political power and society in Czechoslovakia in the late 60' and in the beginning of 70' in 20th century and desribe the transformation of media atmosphere during the era of political changes in Czechoslovakia, that means the transformation from "liberalized" 60' due to the normalization. I find answers to these questions: What were the most important changes in medial atmosphere in the Czechoslovakia in late 60' and beginning of 70'? Were media and politics connected? How important was the influence of mass media due to the political changes and normalization? Did comunists mass medias have such great power to influence society and persuade people about the rightness of intervention? As a main hypothesis there is the claim, that mass media under the comunists influence wanted to and actually managed to manipulate with people and their opinions. The answers for questions and hypotesis are verified on the basis of a general theory of media history and studies and then specifically analyzed on the concete historical example -- Munich Treaty. Methodologically this work come out of the new political history and discussion that lead to the role of mass media in modern sotieties, and also from the latest scientific literature and archival materials.

Please read the abstract in the section 00front of this document / Dissertation (MEng)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering / unrestricted