I den här uppsatsen har en kvalitativ undersökningsmetod tillämpats i form av fokusgrupper, enskilda intervjuer och observationer för att undersöka och försöka förstå hur kroppsideal kommuniceras i klädbutiker, samt om unga kvinnor påverkas av detta. För att försöka förstå hur denna kommunikation utspelar sig har en linjär kommunikationsmodell tillämpats där effekten på mottagaren står i fokus. Den forskning som tidigare bedrivits inom området har konstaterat att mötet mellan kläder och den egna kroppen ofta är problematiskt. Hur och varför detta kommer sig är en fråga större än vad vi kommer att helt lyckas besvara i denna uppsats. Vi kan dock fastslå att det borde ligga i företagen och butikernas bästa intresse att förbättra det klimat som råder idag. Detta genom att se över sin visuella kommunikation och storleksutbud. / In this essay a qualitative survey method has been applied in the form of focus groups,individual interviews and observations to investigate and attempt to understand how bodyideals are communicated in clothing stores, and whether young women are affected by this.To determine which variables that takes part in this process a linear communication modelhas been used where the effect on the recipient are in focus.The research previously conducted in the field has found that the meeting between clothesand the body is often problematic. How and why this happens is a question bigger than wewill be able to fully answer in this essay. However, we can say that it should be in thecompanies and retailstores best interests to improve the current climate. This by reviewing itsvisual communication and size range.

Lipid bilayers are key components of biomembranes; they are self-assembled two-dimensional structures, primarily serving as barriers to the leakage of cell's contents. Lipid bilayers are typically charged in aqueous solution and may electrostatically interact with each other and with their environment. In this work, we investigate electrostatics of charged lipid bilayers with the main focus on the binding and bending of the bilayers. We first present a theoretical approach to charge-correlation attractions between like-charged lipid bilayers with neutralizing counterions assumed to be localized to the bilayer surface. In particular, we study the effect of nonzero ionic sizes on the attraction by treating the bilayer charges (both backbone charges and localized counterions) as forming a two-dimensional ionic fluid of hard spheres of the same diameter <i>D</i>. Using a two-dimensional Debye-Hückel approach to this system, we examine how ion sizes influence the attraction. We find that the attraction gets stronger as surface charge densities or counterion valency increase, consistent with long-standing observations. Our results also indicate non-trivial dependence of the attraction on separations <i>h</i>: The attraction is enhanced by ion sizes for <i>h</i> ranges of physical interest, while it crosses over to the known <i>D</i>-independent universal behavior as <i>h</i> &rarr; &infin;; it remains finite as <i>h</i> &rarr; 0, as expected for a system of finite-sized ions. We also study the preferred curvature of an asymmetrically charged bilayer, in which the inner leaflet is negatively charged, while the outer one is neutral. In particular, we calculate the relaxed area difference &Delta; <i>A</i>₀ and the spontaneous curvature <i>C</i>₀ of the bilayer. We find &Delta; <i>A</i>₀ and <i>C</i>₀ are determined by the balance of a few distinct contributions: net charge repulsions, charge correlations, and the entropy associated with counterion release from the bilayer. The entropic effect is dominant for weakly charged surfaces in the presence of monovalent counterions only and tends to expand the inner leaflet, leading to negative &Delta; <i>A</i>₀ and <i>C</i>₀. In the presence of even a small concentration of divalent counterions, however, charge correlations counterbalance the entropic effect and shrink the inner leaflet, leading to positive &Delta; <i>A</i>₀ and <i>C</i>₀. We outline biological implications of our results.

Thesis (MScFor (Forest and Wood Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to develop and assess a methodology of using pruning information (age and height) and ring width measurements on increment core samples taken at breast height from standing pruned Pinus patula trees for modeling the knotty core sizes in the pruned section of a tree. A total of 170 trees from 17 compartments, representing a wide variety of growth sites from the Mpumalanga escarpment, were selected and destructively sampled. Sample trees were selected to represent the productive timber volume available from the compartments using stratified sampling. Sample discs were removed at breast height (1.3m) and at six meter height. After drying and sanding, the cross-sectional surfaces of one surface of each of the discs were scanned on a document scanner and the ring widths measured, using an image analysis program. A preliminary study, using 30 discs, was undertaken to ascertain the appropriate number of radii per disc to measure. A comparison between results of two opposite radii, as opposed to four radii, showed that the difference in mean ring width resulting from the two approaches was statistically not significant. In practice this means that for ring width assessment, sampling of increment cores opposite to one another at breast height would be sufficiently accurate to study average ring width variation across the radius of a tree. A study was also conducted to determine to what accuracy ring widths at six metre height could be predicted from breast height measurements. It was shown that cumulative growth at six metre height can be predicted from cumulative growth at breast height, site index and cambial age at breast height as independent variables (R2 = 0.96). Ring width measurements at breast height can, therefore, be used to predict incremental growth throughout the pruned section. Combined with available information on the pruning history of a stand (pruning heights and pruning age), this study proved that quantitative knowledge on incremental growth can be used as a basis for estimating changes in knotty core sizes along the entire pruned section of the stem. Analysis of variation for the entire data set from ring width measurements showed that there was far greater variation in knotty core percentages (the percentage of diameter occupied by knotty core) between different compartments than within compartments. Within a tree, the knotty core percentages between three stem sections, 0-2.4m, 2.4–4.8m, and 4.8-7m, were found to increase significantly from the bottom section (49.1%) to the top section (65.4%). A single 2.4m log from the pruned section of each tree was removed and processed into sawn timber at a sawmill. After drying of the boards, a sub-sample of sawn boards from 17 logs, one log from each compartment, was selected and reconstructed into log form. From the reconstructed log (reconstructed to represent their original position in the log) the actual knotty core size was estimated by measuring the distance from the pith to the end of the branch stub. A comparison of the actual knotty core sizes and the modelled knotty core sizes of a sub-sample of trees showed only a modest relationship (R2 = 0.62). Reasons for this might be variability in pruning quality, inaccurate pruning records, nodal swellings and the methodology used to measure the actual knotty core sizes. Knowledge of knotty core sizes of standing trees can be used for many different purposes. Two applications that were assessed and found to be useful include decision support for cross cutting logs and for sawmill production planning purposes. Sawmill simulation software was used to evaluate value -and grade recoveries under different scenarios. Results showed that cross-cutting the pruned sections of logs from a compartment with large within-tree knotty core size variation into shorter logs, as opposed to keeping the pruned sections as single logs, result in increases in grade and value recovery. It was also shown that sawing of pruned logs from compartments with relatively small knotty cores, results in much better grade recoveries than logs from compartments with relatively large knotty cores (this information will be useful for production planning purposes). It can be concluded that the methodology proposed to reconstruct knotty cores from tree ring measurements has the potential to be used as a decision aid in the forest and forest products industry.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-07-29T14:52:06Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese Rafael Felippe Ratke.pdf: 2153548 bytes, checksum: 3b1b0433567da1104e5eeda7d9edfe69 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-06-30 / Lime particle size is key to soil correction as it defines the reactivity of the soil due to its low solubility. The lime presenting a particle size larger than 0,3 mm corrects soil acidity and enables soil residual effect whereas the finely ground lime presents a lower residual effect, however; it promotes soil acidity correction and can percolate in the layer correcting subsoil acidity. This study aimed at clarifying chemical alterations in the soil applying lime following two procedures: i)incorporation of limestone presenting particle size larger than 0.3 mm and; ii) finely ground limestone onto the soil surface. Both liming strategies were performed at corn crops harvested in 2008/2009 and 2009/2010. The experiments were assembled into randomized blocks with four repetitions using dystroferric Red Latosol. The incorporated dolomitic lime particle sizes were as follows: 0.20 mm to 0.30 mm; 0.30 mm to 0.56 mm; 0.56 mm to 0.82 mm and 0.82 mm to 2.00 mm, at doses of 1.3; 2.6; 3.9 e 6.5 t ha-1 respectively. The lime particle sizes applied onto soil surface were as follows: 0.30 mm to 0.20 mm; 0.20 mm to 0.10 mm; 0.10 mm to 0.05 mm and 0.05 mm to 0.01 mm, at the dose of 1.3 t ha-1, a control treatment (with no lime) was the same for both experiments. Chemical attributes of the soil, root attributes, leaf nutrients and corn yield were assessed at two crops 2008/2009 and 2009/2010. The results demonstrated that by using higher doses of lime with less reactive particle sizes, i.e., larger than 0.30 mm, it was possible to correct the soil in the same way as using lime with 0.20 mm to 0.30, and with residual effect on the second year of research. The use of lime with particles of 0.30 to 0.20 applied onto soil surface reduced exchangeable Al and increased the levels of Ca and Mg within the soil profile. The use of lime presenting particle size larger than 0.82 mm and at the quantity of 6.5 t ha-1 applied and incorporated onto the soil evidenced root lengthening of the corn at the layer of 20-40 cm of depth in the soil. There was higher corn yield on the first year using the same particle size. Regarding the second crop, there was no difference concerning corn yield among lime particle sizes incorporated to the soil. Corn yield was not influenced by the use of finely ground lime onto the soil at both assessed crops. The level of corn leaf nutrients were influenced by the use of lime of different particle sizes incorporated and superficially applied to the soil. The root lengthening at the layer of 20-40 cm of depth was greater when there was the use of lime particle sizes between 0.30 mm and 0.20 applied to soil surface. Root attributes assessed at corn crop with the use of lime with different particle sizes correlated with leaf levels of Cu on the first year, and of K and Ca on the second year. There was a correlation between the length of the roots and corn yield on the second year as well. The use of finely ground lime onto soil surface promoted a significant correlation between root mass and the level of Mn in the corn leaves on the first year. / A granulometria do calcário é essencial na correção do solo, pois define sua reatividade devido à baixa solubilidade deste material. O calcário com granulometrias maiores de 0,3 mm corrige a acidez do solo e proporciona efeito residual no solo enquanto o calcário finamente moído tem menor efeito residual, mas sua aplicação na superfície do solo promove a correção da acidez do solo e pode percolar no perfil corrigindo a acidez no subsolo. O objetivo deste trabalho foi elucidar as alterações químicas no solo com duas formas de aplicação do calcário: i) incorporação de calcários com granulometria acima de 0,3 mm e; ii) calcário finamente moído na superfície do solo. Ambas estratégias de calagem foram feitas na cultura do milho e nas safras 2008/2009 e 2009/2010. Os experimentos foram montados em blocos casualizados com quatro repetições em Latossolo Vermelho distroférrico. As granulometrias de calcário dolomítico incorporadas foram: 0,20 mm a 0,30 mm; 0,30 mm a 0,56 mm; 0,56 mm a 0,82 mm e 0,82 mm a 2,00 mm, nas doses de 1,3; 2,6; 3,9 e 6,5 t ha-1 respectivamente. As granulometrias de calcário aplicados na superfície do solo foram: 0,30 mm a 0,20 mm; 0,20 mm a 0,10 mm; 0,10 mm a 0,05 mm e 0,05 mm a 0,01 mm, na dose de 1,3 t ha-1, um tratamento controle (sem calcário) foi comum para os dois experimentos. Os atributos químicos do solo, atributo radiculares, a nutrição foliar e a produtividade do milho foram avaliados em duas safras 2008/2009 e 2009/2010. Os resultados mostram que utilizando maiores doses de calcário com granulometrias menos reativas, ou seja, maior que 0,30 mm, corrigiu o solo igualmente quando utilizado calcário com 0,20 mm a 0,30 mm, e com efeito residual no segundo ano de pesquisa. O uso de calcário com partículas de 0,30 mm a 0,20 mm aplicado na superfície do solo reduziu Al trocável e aumentou os teores de Ca e Mg no perfil do solo. O uso de calcário em granulometria maior que 0,82 mm, e na quantidade de 6,5 t ha-1 aplicado e incorporado ao solo evidenciou o alongamento das raízes de milho na camada de 20-40 cm de profundidade no solo. Nessa mesma granulometria foi encontrada a maior produtividade de milho no primeiro ano. Já na segunda safra não houve diferença para a produtividade de milho entre as granulometrias de calcário incorporados no solo. A produção de milho nas duas safras avaliadas não foi influenciada pelo uso de calcário finamente moído na superfície do solo. Os teores de nutrientes nas folhas do milho foram influenciados pelo uso de calcário em diferentes granulometrias incorporados e aplicados superficialmente no solo. O alongamento das raízes na camada de 20-40 cm de profundidade foi maior quando se utilizou calcário com granulometrias entre 0,30 mm e 0,20 mm aplicado na superfície do solo. Os atributos radiculares avaliados na cultura do milho com o uso de calcário com diferentes granulometrias correlacionaram com os teores folheares de Cu no primeiro ano, e de K e Ca no segundo ano. Nesse segundo ano, também houve correlação entre o comprimento de raízes e a produtividade do milho. O uso de calcário finamente moído na superfície do solo promoveu correlação significativa entre a massa de raízes e o teor de Mn nas folhas de milho no primeiro ano.

This diploma work deals with a dynamic multi-level multi-item lot sizing problem in a general production-assembly structure represented by a directed acyclic network, where each node may have several predecessors and successors. We assume stochastic demand, finite planning horizon consisting of discrete time periods, dynamic lot sizes, multiple constrained resources and time-varying cost parameters. The objective is to minimize the total costs over the planning horizon. This thesis includes overview of models with stochastic demand and also general description of genetic algorithm. Using different modifications of genetic algorithm I have proposed and implemented methods for solving a chosen model. Then I have made an experimental comparison of these method on selected problems.

Resume The thesis is focused on the usage of statistical and substantive significance in the Czech social science. The thesis consists of four articles (3 published, 1 unpublished yet), introduction and conclusion including practical recommendations. The aim of the thesis is theoretically describe the current " standards" in the use of statistical and substantive significance and through research (content analysis) of articles published in the three leading Czech journals (Czechoslovak Psychology , Pedagogy and Czech Sociological Journal) empirically assess whether the published articles adhere to the " standards" in the field of statistics and the substantive significance of the results . Basic research question was: How are current " standards" followed in the use of statistical and substantive significance in the Czech social science production? In addition to the basic research questions were additional (auxiliary) research questions: What are the basic limits of statistical significance, i.e. in which cases statistical tests are not appropriate to use? What are the shortcomings of statistical significance itself, and what are the most common problems in the practical use of it by researchers? What are the alternatives to the concept of statistical significance? How is it possible to assess the...

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This study compared the results for McNemar's test, the t test for related measures, and the chi-square test of independence as cell sized varied in a two-by-two frequency table. In this study. the probability results for McNemar's rest, the t test for related measures, and the chi-square test of independence were compared for 13,310 different combinations of cell sizes in a two-by-two design. Several conclusions were reached: With very few exceptions, the t test for related measures and McNemar's test yielded probability results within .002 of each other. The chi-square test seemed to equal the other two tests consistently only when low probabilities less than or equal to .001 were attained. It is recommended that the researcher consider using the t test for related measures as a viable option for McNemar's test except when the researcher is certain he/she is only interested in 'changes'. The chi-square test of independence not only tests a different hypothesis than McNemar's test, but it often yields greatly differing results from McNemar's test.

For effective operation of microgrid systems (MGSs), it is important to understand the major types of power grid failures and how to deal with them. Detecting the fault, locating it, and isolating the faulty line are important to avoid damaging components and interrupting the service for customers. This will also improve the reliability and protection level of the system during fault conditions. Among the most successful protection methods to limit fault currents in power systems is the fault current limiter (FCL). The FCL improves the reliability of the system, voltage stability, and the fault current reduction. However, limited researches consider its applications inMGSs. The location and impedance size of the FCL play a major role in limiting fault currents in the system. Several studies concluded that installing FCLs near all generators, transformers, or loads in the system enhanced the performance of the system during fault conditions. However, increasing the number of FCLs in the system leads to an increase in cost. This dissertation proposes several effective approaches to specify the optimal locations and impedance values of the required number of installed FCLs in a grid-connected MGS. These FCLs improve the reliability and the protection level of the system by limiting fault currents during fault conditions. The goal is to reduce the required number of installed FCLs in the system. These installed FCLs must be able to reduce fault currents under the interrupting ratings of circuit breakers in the system. This goal will lead to lower the cost of installed protection devices in the system. In order to achieve this goal, this dissertation presents a novel fault management approach, sensitivity analysis, and an optimization model to find the optimal solutions. The study of this dissertation is meant to be used during the planning stage of power distribution system design. The results of this dissertation prove the robustness of the proposed approaches. This enhances the system’s performance while minimizing the required number of installed FCLs. Their sizes limit fault currents within safe ranges. Thus, the FCL significantly improves the reliability and protection scheme of the grid-connected MGS.

M. Tech. (Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology): Vaal University of Technology / Presently there exist a lot of controversies about the mechanical properties of nanomaterials. Several convincing reasons and justifications have been put forward for the controversies. Some of the reasons are varying processing routes, varying ways of defining equations, varying grain sizes, varying internal constituent structures, varying techniques of imposing strain on the specimen etc. It is therefore necessary for scientists, engineers and technologists to come up with a clearer way of defining and dealing with nanomaterials’ mechanical properties. The parameters of the internal constituent structures of nanomaterials are random in nature with random spatial patterns. So they can best be studied using random processes, specifically as stochastic processes. In this dissertation the tools of stochastic processes have been used as they offer a better approach to understand and analyse random processes. This research adopts the approach of ascertaining the correct mathematical models to be used for experimentation and modelling. After a thorough literature survey it was observed that size and temperature are two important parameters that must be considered in selecting the relevant mathematical definitions for nanomaterials’ mechanical properties. Temperature has a vital role to play during grain refinement since all severe plastic deformation involves thermomechanical processes. The second task performed in this research is to develop the mathematical formulations based on the experimental observation of 2-D grains and 3-D grains deformed by Accumulative Roll-Bonding and Equal Channel Angular Pressing. The experimental observations revealed that grains deformed by Accumulative Roll-Bonding and Equal Channel Angular Pressing are elongated when observed from the rolling direction, and transverse direction, and equiaxed when observed from the normal direction. In this dissertation, the different experimental observations for the grain size variants during grain refinement were established for 2-D and 3-D grains. This led to the development of a stochastic model of grain-elongation for 2-D and 3-D grains. The third task was experimentations and validation of proposed models. Accumulative Roll-Bonding, Equal Channel Angular Pressing and mechanical testing (tensile test) experiments were performed. The effect of size on elongation and material properties were studied to validate the developed models since size has a major effect on material’s properties. The fourth task was obtaining results and discussion of theoretical developed models and experimental results. The following facts were experimentally observed and also revealed by the models. Different approaches of measuring grain size reveal different strains that cannot be directly obtained from plots of the corresponding grain sizes. Grain elongation evolved as small values for larger grains, but became larger for smaller grains. Material properties increased with elongation reaching a maximum and started decreasing as is evident in the Hall-Petch to the Reverse Hall-Petch Relationship. This was alluded to the fact that extreme plastic straining led to distorted structures where grain boundaries and curvatures were in “non-equilibrium” states. Overall, this dissertation contributed new knowledge to the body of knowledge of nanomaterials’ mechanical properties in a number of ways. The major contributions to the body of knowledge by his study can be summarized as follows: (1) The study has contributed in developing a model of elongation for 2-D grain and 3-D grains. It has been generally reported by researchers that materials deformed by Accumulative Roll-Bonding and Equal Channel Angular Pressing are generally elongated but none of these researchers have developed a model of elongation. Elongation revealed more information about “size” during grain refinement. (2) The Transmission Electron Microscopy revealed the grain shape in three directions. The rolling direction or sliding direction, the normal direction and the transverse direction. Most developed models ignored the different approaches of measuring nanomaterials’ mechanical properties. Most existing models dealt only with the equivalent radius measurement during grain refinement. In this dissertation, the different approaches of measuring nanomaterials’ mechanical properties have been considered in the developed models. From this dissertation an accurate correlation can be made from microscopy results and theoretical results. (3) This research has shown that most of the published results on nanomaterials’ mechanical properties may be correct although controversies exist when comparing the different results. This research has also shown that researchers might have considered different approaches to measure nanomaterials’ mechanical properties. The reason for different results is due to different approaches of measuring nanomaterials’ mechanical properties as revealed in this research. Since different approaches of measuring nanomaterials’ mechanical properties led to different obtained results, this justify that most published results of nanomaterials’ mechanical properties may be correct. This dissertation revealed more properties of nanomaterials that are ignored by the models that considered only the equivalent length. (4) This research has contributed to the understanding of nanomaterials controversies when comparing results from different researchers.