Child growth reference charts have been used since the 1960s to assess children´s growth - enabling comparison of different population groups and the implementation of nutritional surveillance. In 2006, an important critical juncture occurred in the history of anthropometry and nutritional assessment, when the WHO released new growth charts for international comparison after promoting, since 1975, the use of the charts developed by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and US National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). According to the WHO, these charts indicate how children should grow for the best health outcome in contrast to the NCHS/CDC charts that indicated how the average child grows. This shift from a descriptive to a prescriptive -and rather normative - approach allowed the WHO to state that all children in the world have the potential to grow and develop to within the same range of height and weight, thus implying that all children should develop in specific standardised ways, regardless of ethnicity, socioeconomic status and type of feeding. By 2011, approximately 125 countries had adopted the WHO charts for individual growth monitoring as well as the means of producing statistics for under- and over-nutrition, which would be used to assess and monitor a population's health status. This shift between charts has direct implications for how children's growth is measured and how malnutrition is assessed. The adoption of the WHO charts has immediate consequences for the calculation of underweight, overweight, stunting, and wasting prevalence. In this sense, the adoption of the new charts considerably changes the estimates to predict nutrition-related emergencies, the assessment of appropriate weaning practices, and the screening and monitoring of populations at risk or with growth deficiencies or excesses. In my doctoral research, I use Colombia as a case study to unpack how a standard developed by an international organisation is negotiated, adopted and constantly transformed once it is scaled down to a specific country. Using the theoretical approach to standards by authors such as Star, Bowker, Timmermans, Berg, and Epstein, in this dissertation I show how, far from being 'stable' and 'value-free' (as the World Bank would describe them), growth charts are political tools of measurement, charged with specific values regarding children's bodies. Given that Colombia had previously used the NCHS charts, this research explores how the WHO charts have been adopted within individual growth monitoring programmes in Colombia. I also describe how the change in charts has destabilised the production of under and over-nutrition indicators by national bodies, such as the Ministry of Health and the Instituto Nacional de Salud. My data includes twenty-eight interviews with policy makers, experts and civil servants who actively participated in the process of adopting and adapting the standards in Colombia at the national level; seventeen interviews with nurses and doctors; observation of 158 anthropometric assessments of children under five years old within six health facilities in the Caribbean region that were implementing a growth monitoring programme. By exploring how the WHO charts are interpreted and used in practice, this research contributes to the study of standards and standardisation as a field of study in its own right.

A humanidade passa por um intenso momento de transformações sociais, na qual se valoriza a interpretação de fenômenos, a criatividade e o pensamento crítico. Neste sentido, o ensino das ciências da natureza pode contribuir na formação dos cidadãos. Entretanto, no cotidiano escolar prevalece a compartimentalização das disciplinas, o que pode prejudicar tanto no entendimento sistêmico dos fenômenos, quanto na percepção das relações de influências dos seus pormenores. A busca pela alfabetização científica através de ferramentas de visualização (mapas conceituais), pode ser uma alternativa para essa modificar este cenário educacional. O objetivo desta pesquisa é analisar os conhecimentos e descrever os ingressantes da Escola de Artes, Ciências e Humanindades (EACH), em relação ao tema \"Ciência, Tecnologia e Sociedade\" e suas relações de influência. Para tal, foi realizado um estudo de caso exploratório-descritivo, a partir de mapas conceituais semi-estruturados (MCs). Os 53 MCs foram coletados na 5ª semana do Ciclo Básico da EACH, na disciplina do ACH 0011, ministrada no 1º semestre de 2009. Foram realizadas as seguintes análises: (1) \"semântica\", na qual todas as proposições (n = 683) foram categorizadas pelo consenso entre três especialistas em ensino de ciências, com o objetivo entender as intenções de significado dos mapeadores, na tentativa de responder a questão focal do MC; (2) \"estrutural\", na qual observou-se a complexidade da rede proposicional do MC, seguindo os parâmetros \"Densidade Proposicional\" (DP), \"Conceitos Iniciais com Múltiplas proposições\"(CIM) e \"Conceitos Finais com Múltiplas proposições\"(CFM), fundamental para agrupar os MCs para subsequentes comparações; (3) \"frequência das categorias dos grupos de maior e menor complexidade estrutural\", com o intuito de verificar a influência da estrutura dos MCs na intenção semântica das proposições; (4) \"conceitual das proposições da categoria \'Natureza da ciência\' dos grupos de maior e menor complexidade estrutural\", a fim de averiguar os conceitos mais utilizados em ambos os grupos. Os resultados indicaram o caráter multidisciplinar não transversal da educação básica brasileira ao evidenciar a preponderância da categoria \"Natureza da ciência\". Mostraram, também, não haver relação imediata entre a complexidade da estrutura dos MCs e as intenções semânticas das suas proposições. Ressalta-se que os procedimentos utilizados configuram-se como interessantes estratégias para o uso cotidiano nas salas de aula. Esta dissertação permitirá aos docentes da EACH obter maiores informações sobre os conhecimentos prévios dos seus ingressantes. / Humanity is passing through an intense momentum of social transformations, which are valued phenomenon\'s interpretation, creativity and critical thinking. At this sense, the teaching of Natural Sciences can contribute to citizens\' formation. However, inside the academic quotidian the compartmentalization of subjects remains, which can affect both the systemic understanding of the phenomenon, and the perception of influences\' relations and its details. The goal of scientific literacy through visual tools (concept maps) can be an alternative to modify this backward educational pattern. The objective of this research is to analyze the knowledge and describe the freshmen of Escola de Artes, Ciências e Humanidades (EACH), upon the theme \"Science, Technology and Society\" and its relations of influence. For that, there were performed an exploratory and descriptive case study from semi structured concept maps (CMs). The 53 CMs had been collected at the 5th week of the Basic Cycle of the EACH, in the subject ACH 0011 given at the 1st semester of 2009. It has been realized according to the following analysis: (1) \"semantic\", in which all the proposals (n = 683) had been categorized according to a consensus among three specialists in the teaching of science, with the objective to understand the mappers intentions meanings, in an attempt to answer the main question of the CM; (2) \"structural\", in which has been observed the complexity of the propositional network from the CM, according to parameters such as \"Propositional Density\" (PD), \"Initial Concepts with Multiple propositions\" (ICM) and \"Final Concepts with Multiple propositions\" (FCM), fundamental to cluster the CMs for subsequent comparisons; (3) \"frequency of the categories of groups with more and less structural complexity\", with the intention of identifying the influence of the CMs structures in the semantic intention of the propositions; (4) \"conceptual of the \'Natural Sciences\' category propositions of the groups with more and less structural complexity\", with the intention of ascertaining the most used concepts in both groups. The results indicated the multidisciplinary not crossed character of Brazilian basic education by pointing the preponderance of the category \"Nature of science\". It has also showed no immediate relationship between the complexity of the structure of the CMs and the semantic intentions of its propositions. It should be noticed that the procedures used are configured as interesting strategies for the everyday use in classroom. This essay will allow the teachers of EACH to obtain more information upon prior knowledge of their freshmen.

L'utilisation et la gestion des composants sont au coeur des nouvelles architectures logicielles. Les composants représentent les briques de bases des logiciels. Les efforts de recherche actuels se concentrent sur l'élaboration de modèles à base de composants qui intègrent des propriétés importantes comme, par exemple, la description et l'intégration des composants avec des comportements explicites (protocoles d'interaction). Ce sont ces descriptions plus complètes que les interfaces classiques (les points d'entrée et de sortie), qui ouvrent la voie vers la correction des assemblages. Comme aboutissement des travaux de cette thèse, nous proposons un modèle de composants qui utilise des Systèmes de Transitions Symboliques (STSs) pour décrire les comportements des composants. Les composants de notre modèle sont des boîtes noires communicant exclusivement par l'intermédiaire de leurs interfaces étendues avec des protocoles d'interaction. Le modèle spécifie aussi les règles de compatibilité, les algorithmes de vérification des assemblages des composants et de la substitution et un langage de description des composants. Nous proposons une implémentation dans le langage Java en suivant une approche générative ou le code Java est généré à partir des descriptions des composants de haut niveau. Le code est donc garanti a être conforme à la spécification.

<p>Mobile phones have had a tremendous diffusion rate in Africa in recent years. This has brought access to telecommunication to new user groups, among them Tanzanian fishermen. But how does mobile phone use affect the way fishermen live their lives, how they pursue economic activities and how they protect themselves from vulnerability to risk?</p><p>During a field study in Tanzania, interviews with fish boat captains were conducted in order to investigate what impact mobile phone use has on the livelihood indicators empowerment, opportunity and vulnerability to risk. Our research shows that increased access to information, enabled by mobile phones brings positive effects to all indicators. Mobile phone use empowers, both through increased bargaining power and increased control over external events. Mobile phones give increased knowledge about market opportunities and a possibility to work more efficiently. Furthermore, mobile phones give fishermen a possibility to take measures to decrease the risks they are exposed to, such as emergencies out at sea. The negative effects are found negligible. These effects are most likely not isolated to Tanzanian fishermen. Communication through mobile phones can bring similar advantages to other groups that have earlier been excluded from the communication system.</p>

Mobile phones have had a tremendous diffusion rate in Africa in recent years. This has brought access to telecommunication to new user groups, among them Tanzanian fishermen. But how does mobile phone use affect the way fishermen live their lives, how they pursue economic activities and how they protect themselves from vulnerability to risk? During a field study in Tanzania, interviews with fish boat captains were conducted in order to investigate what impact mobile phone use has on the livelihood indicators empowerment, opportunity and vulnerability to risk. Our research shows that increased access to information, enabled by mobile phones brings positive effects to all indicators. Mobile phone use empowers, both through increased bargaining power and increased control over external events. Mobile phones give increased knowledge about market opportunities and a possibility to work more efficiently. Furthermore, mobile phones give fishermen a possibility to take measures to decrease the risks they are exposed to, such as emergencies out at sea. The negative effects are found negligible. These effects are most likely not isolated to Tanzanian fishermen. Communication through mobile phones can bring similar advantages to other groups that have earlier been excluded from the communication system.

Studentorganisationen Värmlands nation i Uppsala genomdrev under våren och sommaren 2006 ett konceptbyte på sin dansklubb. Initiativet togs av nationsledningen, men genomförandet skedde i form av ett självständigt projekt drivet av projektanställda nationsmedlemmar. Den här uppsatsen studerar hur nationens ideella organisationsstruktur har påverkat projektarbetet. Detta görs främst genom intervjuer med berörda individer inom både nationen och projektet. Uppsatsen utgår från organisationsteori av Henry Mintzberg och projektteori av Anders Marttala, Kjell Nordberg och Anders Blomé. Värmlands nations organisationsform kännetecknas av ideella drivkrafter, informell kommunikation och att många olika individers diversifierade insatser resulterar i en mångfasetterad och stundtals svåröverblickbar helhet. Denna struktur har sina fördelar i en bred studentorganisation med väldefinierade och återkommande aktiviteter, men när den överfördes till ett tillfälligt projekt visade den sig skapa en hel del problem i form av oklara riktlinjer och svårdefinierade ansvarsfördelningar. Trots detta är det tydligt att arbetssättet inte varit enbart en nackdel; projektets lyckade resultat kan till viss del härledas de nationsaktivas självpåtagna insatser. Sammantaget kan dock ett behov av tydligare arbetsfördelning och klarare arbetsledning identifieras i uppsatsen.

Tjänsteföretag är kunskapsintensiva företag som är beroende av den kunskap som finns inom företaget. Det är vanligt inom dessa företag att basera arbetet på en projektform. Detta innebär att när ett projekt ska bedrivas tillsätts en projektgrupp, bestående av individer som besitter den kunskap som behövs för att slutföra projektet. Projektets karaktär kan vara av varierande slag men i de flesta fall kommer ett skapande av ny kunskap att äga rum samt även någon form av kunskapsöverföring. För att projektets resultat ska bli en allmänt vedertagen modell eller produkt så måste den framtagna kunskapen valideras av beställaren. Därefter är det upp till organisationen att förvalta den framtagna kunskapen. För att kunna identifiera dessa kunskapsprocesser har vi i denna kandidatuppsats undersökt ett specifikt projekt, Alphaprojektet, som har bedrivits inom företaget Gamma AB. Gamma AB är ett tjänsteföretag som är verksamt inom tre affärsområden. Målet med Alphaprojektet var att kunna erbjuda marknaden ett koncept tidigt i kundens arbetsprocess vilket binder samman dessa tre affärsområden. Den process och det problem som denna uppsats beskriver är hur kunskap skapades inom denna projektgrupp samt hur den skapade kunskapen förvaltades av projektets beställare. En av de slutsatser som denna uppsats genererat är att kunskap skapades i Alphaprojektet ge-nom att individer med skilda bakgrunder och olika mentala modeller interagerade. Denna skapade kunskap tog, mer konkret formen av att projektgruppen enades kring att de måste skapa ett gemensamt mål. Detta mål var att de skulle inrikta sig mot ett visst antal kunder och att dessa kunder sedan skulle kunna utnyttjas som referenser för framtida uppdrag samt att Tidiga skeden är komplext och svårt att definiera. Beställaren valde under Alphaprojektets gång att omstrukturera projektet. De bakomliggande orsakerna till detta var enligt beställaren själv att projektet skulle ha tagit för lång tid och på så sätt medfört ökade kostnader och även problem inom den egna organisationen. Enligt vår me-ning berodde omstruktureringen på fler orsaker. Vår slutsats är att organisationen misslycka-des att förvalta den kunskap som gruppen skapade samt att projektets mål, initialt, inte var tillräckligt tydligt definierade.

Det finns idag ett väldigt stort urval av återförsäljare som agerar på Internet och dessa kan vid en första anblick te sig väldigt svåra att överskåda för konsumenter inför ett köp. Prisjämförelsesajter finns därför som en konsumentguide som med sina sökfunktioner snabbt hjälper konsumenter att hitta återförsäljare med de billigaste priserna samt även tillhandahåller information om såväl produkter som återförsäljare. Uppsatsen syftar till att studera prisjämförelsesajternas roll i samspelet mellan återförsäljare och konsument på den Internetbaserade marknaden för hemelektronik. Den kvalitativa studien grundas på intervjuer med de två marknadsledande prisjämförelsesajterna, PriceRunner och Prisjakt, samt intervjuer med tre återförsäljare inom detta branschsegment, CDON, Expert och Kameraexperten. Intervjuerna analyseras med hjälp utav en analysmodell där vi kopplat samman flera olika marknadsföringsteorier. Det resultat vi kommit fram till visar på att det nätverk av återförsäljare och konsumenter som prisjämförelsesajterna tillhandahåller har lett till en ökad konsumentmakt men att detta inte behöver ses som negativt för återförsäljarna då dessa har stora konkurrensfördelar att vinna om de sköter sina kundrelationer på ett bra sätt.

La nanostructure et les propriétés électroniques locales de films passifs formés sur Ni(111) et Fe-18Cr-13Ni(100) ont été étudiées par microscopie à effet tunnel sous potentiel électrochimique (EC-STM) et par spectroscopie à effet tunnel combinée à l'imagerie (STM/STS). Les propriétés électroniques des sites granulaires et inter-granulaires de films passifs ultraminces formés sur le nickel dans différentes conditions de pH et potentiel ont été différenciées par STM/STS pour la première fois. Elles montrent les variations locales en lacunes anioniques ou en lacunes cationiques aux joints de grains des différentes couches passives formées. Les mesures sur l'acier inoxydable mettent en évidence l'hétérogénéité locale en épaisseur de la couche superficielle ultramince d'oxyde natif. La croissance des grains d'oxyde/hydroxyde est générée par la passivation de la surface et localisée préférentiellement sur les bords de marches du substrat. L'étude à haute résolution in situ montre la formation de zones cristallisées après 2-3 heures de passivation. L'étude par STM/STS du film natif et de films passifs formés à des temps de polarisation croissants montre la présence de deux types de sites ayant des propriétés électroniques différentes attribuées à la variation de la composition locale. Après passivation la largeur du gap augmente considérablement sur les deux types de sites du fait de l'enrichissement en Cr3+ du film passif mais l'hétérogénéité locale attribuée à la concentration en Fe2+ subsiste. Le vieillissement provoque des variations similaires mais atténuées

Powered orthotic devices can be used to restore mobility to the impaired user, and may thereby assist them in daily living tasks. An investigation is performed herein to examine the feasibility of a powered lower-limb orthotic in assisting the sit-to-stand task by 50% of the required torque. Feasibility is considered via simulation. A three-link sit-to-stand model, which is driven by kinematic data, is developed. Models of a Pneumatic Muscle Actuator and a DC motor are used to determine which of the two technologies can make a more appropriate contribution to the sit-to-stand task. Simulation revealed that both the Pneumatic Muscle Actuator and the DC motor are reasonable actuator choices, and neither limited the ability to achieve 50% torque assistance. The ability to assist the task was, however, limited by the ability to derive a control signal for the actuator from the user-orthotic interface. It was concluded that the user-orthotic interface requires further investigation. It was also found that while both actuator technologies are suitable for contributing 50% of the required torque, the Pneumatic Muscle Actuator is preferable due to its ability to scale to greater torques.