根據Bass(1969)擴散模式，放寬市場特性不影響創新擴散之假設，並使創 新係數與模仿係數可隨著時間而改變，以行動電話為例，探討ぇ各國採用 行動電話之市場潛能、市場飽和時之普及率以及單年最高採用人數出現的 時間，え市場特性因素如何影響行動電話之擴散，ぉ比較各國擴散模式與 多國擴散模式之解釋能力。研究結果發現：ぇ就本研究所分析的國家，各 國行動電話的市場大小，以美國最大，日本次之，愛爾蘭為最小。而行動 電話的最高普及率以美國與瑞典最高，超過10% ；其餘國家之最高普及率 都不超過 0.4%，顯示行動電話是一種普及率較低的服務。就單年最高採 用人數出現時間來看，只有日本是超過十年，其餘國家均在十年之內，甚 至比利時在第二年就出現採用高峰，顯示行動電話之產品生命週期可能不 是很長。え「市場需求指標」高的國家，有較高的模仿效果；「流動性」 對於創新效果與模仿效果的影響均是負的；「四海胸襟」對於創新與模仿 效果的影響均是正的。ぉ多國擴散模式的解釋能力較各國擴散模式佳，因 此，將市場特性因素加入創新擴散模式中確實有其必要性。

Relay-assisted cooperative communications are promising solutions for error-performance improvement and cell coverage extension. In this thesis, we propose several efficient cooperative relay communication schemes. First, an efficient space-time coded cooperative relay communications scheme that employs linear precoding and transmission-pattern selection is proposed. This is built upon an existing block linear precoding technique for conventional multiple-input multiple-output systems in order to improve the diversity performance of a multihop relay network. Second, we consider several multiuser cooperative relay communication schemes employing layered modulations, such as hierarchical modulation and superposition coding. Conventional cooperative relay communication is effective in mitigating fading effects. However, additional resources, such as time slots or frequency bands are required for the relay, which reduce the overall throughput. Reduction of throughput will become more severe as the number of users increases. In order to overcome this limitation, multiuser cooperative relaying schemes that employ hierarchical modulation and superposition coding are proposed. These schemes exploit the superimposed message for users in the network and allow the system to transmit two or more independent data streams simultaneously. The proposed schemes do not require additional resources than the conventional schemes, while improving the error performance by flexibly controlling the power division coefficient of superposition coding or the distance parameter of hierarchical modulation. / Graduation date: 2012 / Access restricted to the OSU Community at author's request from Sept. 28, 2011 - Sept. 28, 2012

The overall aim of this thesis was to describe experiences of emergency treatment among people injured in traffic accidents, and to test and evaluate the effects of follow-up telephone calls from a nurse during the subsequent phase. The thesis is based on four sub-studies of motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians who had fallen in traffic during the years 2002-2005. The participants were aged 18 to 70 years old and had minor (MAIS 1) or nonminor (MAIS 2+) injuries. Sub-study I was a qualitative study in which individual narrative interviews were conducted with nine persons who had sustained traffic injuries. The aim of this study was to describe the injured individuals’ experiences of pre-hospital and hospital care and subsequent rehabilitation. The interviews were analysed using content analysis, and the experiences of the interviewees were formulated into four themes: facing commotion, experiencing trust and security, lacking security and support, and struggling to return to everyday life. The results showed that a sensitive caregiver who provides comprehensible information facilitates both the emergency treatment and the subsequent period of care and rehabilitation. Sub-study II was a cross-sectional study in which the participants (n=565) estimated their perceptions of the quality of care in the accident and emergency department (A&E) after an injury event. The Mini-KUPP (“Quality from the Patient’s Perspective”) questionnaire was used to estimate quality of care at the A&E. The questionnaire was posted to the subjects’ home addresses three weeks after the visit to the A&E. The results showed that the quality of care was scored on the top half of the scale by all three road user categories. In a multiple logistic regression analysis, significant connections emerged between good quality of care and a short waiting time, non-minor injuries (MAIS2+), higher age, and higher levels of education. The factor most closely associated with the perception of good quality of care was a short waiting time. Sub-study III was a stratified and randomised intervention study including 568 injured persons. In addition to modern trauma care, the intervention group received follow-up via telephone, three weeks after the injury, by a nurse who provided advice and support during the rehabilitation period. The control group received modern trauma care but no follow-up. Both groups estimated their health-related quality of life two weeks (baseline) and six months after the injury. After six months, estimates of health-related quality of life were generally higher in the intervention group than in the control group. A sub-group analysis found that the differences were most pronounced for the group who had received adequate advice in connection with the telephone follow-up. Of the three road user categories, the motorists gained the greatest benefit from the telephone intervention, with milder problems with regard to pains/difficulties and essential activities. Sub study IV was a health economic study. The calculations were built on the results from study III (n=568). A cost utility analysis was performed, including the costs for the intervention and the QALYs gained. The results showed that the telephone intervention was cost-effective. The total gain in the intervention group was 2.60 QALYs, while the car occupants gained 1.54 QALYs. The cost per QALY gained was 16 000 SEK overall and 8 500 SEK for car occupants. Conclusion: A sensitive caregiver who also provides good information can instil security and trust in the patient. For the purposes of generally improving the quality of care in an A&E, the aim above all should be a short waiting time, but the treatment of minor injuries should also be improved. Access to a supportive nurse who is able to provide advice during the subsequent phase has the potential to improve health-related quality of life in a cost-effective way.

The subject of this study is the policing of the drug problem during the period between the nationalization of the police force in 1965 and the introduction of imprisonment as a penalty for drug consumption in 1993. The influence of four key factors are discussed: legislation, organization, the conception of and the attention paid to the drug problem. Qualitative and quantitative data from police archives, the prosecutor general, parliamentary publications, a public TV newsroom and various statistics from other sources are combined. The analysis shows four important stages in the process towards a substantially increased drug control: By the end of the 1960s, all data indicate increased attention to the drug problem. The penal law on narcotics was passed in 1968. It laid the foundation for subsequent policing activities. The police was also given increased possibilities to use telephone-tapping to combat serious crimes. By the end of the 1970s, the creation of a special narcotics police organization at the medium level of police hierarchy institutionalized, emphasized and assigned manpower to combat serious crimes. Since the beginning of the 1980s new target groups have been added. The "street dealer" is a new direct target. With the strengthening of the preventive role of the police new indirect target groups emerged: the police also emphasized their work against recruitment of new drug users. The main objective of the new penal law on narcotics of 1968 was to help drug addicts recover and merge back in society again. Addiction was seen as a disease. Drug dealing by the addicts was reprehensible but not a priority matter to the police. Over time, this attitude changed and in 1989 the police saw distinct actions against street dealers as the most important element in the repressive policy.

In this thesis, target induced glint error phenomenon is analyzed and the glint reduction techniques are evaluated. Glint error reduction performance of the methods is given in a comparative manner. First, target glint is illustrated with the dumbbell model which has two point scatterers. This illustration of the glint error builds the basic notion of target scattering centers and effect of scattering characteristics on glint error. This simplest approach is also used to understand the glint reduction methods. In an effort to evaluate the glint reduction techniques, a model based upon the concept of coherent summation of scattering complexes is used . The model is also used for introducing the basic properties of glint phenomenon. Basics of the glint phenomenon and glint reduction techniques are discussed with particular emphasis on diversity methods. Frequency diversity and spatial diversity techniques are described and investigated with generated simulation data. The diversity selection methods which are used to eliminate the erroneous data are introduced and their performances are investigated. Glint error reduction results of various scenarios including both reduction techniques and selection methods are evaluated in comparison with each other. The results indicate that significant reduction of glint error is possible by the appropriate utilization of diversity techniques in radar systems.

This dissertation is focused on developing the new target localization and the target velocity estimation methods for frequency-only multi-input, multi-output (MIMO) radar systems with widely separated antennas. If the frequency resolutions of the transmitted signals are enough, only the received frequencies and the Doppler shifts can be used to find the position of the target. In order to estimate the position and the velocity of the target, most multistatic radars or radar networks use multiple independent measurements from the target such as time-of-arrival (TOA), angle-of-arrival (AOA) and frequency-of-arrival (FOA). Although, frequency based systems have many advantages, frequency based target localization methods are very limited in literature because of the fact that highly non-linear equations are involved in solutions. In this thesis, alternative target localization and the target velocity estimation methods are proposed for frequency-only systems with low complexity. One of the proposed methods is able to estimate the target position and the target velocity based on the measurements of the Doppler frequencies. Moreover, the target movement direction can be estimated efficiently. This method is referred to as &quot / Target Localization via Doppler Frequencies - TLDF&quot / and it can be used for not only radar but also all frequency-based localization systems such as Sonar or Wireless Sensor Networks. Besides the TLDF method, two alternative target position estimation methods are proposed as well. These methods are based on the Doppler frequencies, but they requires the target velocity vector to be known. These methods are referred to as &quot / Target Localization via Doppler Frequencies and Target Velocity - TLD&amp / V methods&quot / and can be divided two sub-methods. One of them is based on the derivatives of the Doppler Frequencies and hence it is called as &quot / Derivated Doppler - TLD&amp / V-DD method&quot / . The second method uses the Maximum Likelihood (ML) principle with grid search, hence it is referred to as &quot / Sub-ML, TLD&amp / V-subML method&quot / . The more realistic signal model for ground based, widely separated MIMO radar is formed as including Swerling target fluctuations and the Doppler frequencies. The Cramer-Rao Bounds (CRB) are derived for the target position and the target velocity estimations for this signal model. After the received signal is constructed, the Doppler frequencies are estimated by using the DFT based periodogram spectral estimator. Then, the estimated Doppler frequencies are collected in a fusion center to localize the target. Finally, the multiple targets localization problem is investigated for frequency-only MIMO radar and a new data association method is proposed. By using the TLDF method, the validity of the method is simulated not only for the targets which are moving linearly but also for the maneuvering targets. The proposed methods can localize the target and estimate the velocity of the target with less error according to the traditional isodoppler based method. Moreover, these methods are superior than the traditional method with respect to the computational complexity. By using the simulations with MATLAB, the superiorities of the proposed methods to the traditional method are shown.

The purpose of this study is to determine the scientific and technological, economic, social and organizational impacts of the European Framework Programmes (FPs) on Turkish universities by focusing on the projects in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), Energy, Food, Agriculture and Fisheries and Biotechnology (KBBE) themes in order to understand, monitor and evaluate outcomes and impacts of FPs as well as to help decision makers and policy makers to develop strategies for maximizing benefits of participation. Data/document review and survey methods were used as evaluation methods. T&Uuml / BITAK and EC&rsquo / s data and document were reviewed. An online survey was sent to the academicians who have Seventh Framework Projects (FP7) projects in these themes in Turkey. Data that were gathered by survey were analyzed by using Mann-Whitney U Test Method. We concluded that the impacts of these four categories of FP7 projects were high on the universities. Value additions of scientific and technological impacts are relatively high compared to other impacts. Universities whose roles were coordinator or WP leader have higher impacts in all factors. Turkey&#039 / s participation and success in the FP7 are growing thanks to T&Uuml / BITAK&rsquo / s effort, but further efforts are needed for meeting competitive participation within a defined strategy. Bearing in mind the results of the impact analyses, the study supports Turkey&rsquo / s continuity to forthcoming FPs but there is need for developing national strategies to maximize benefits of participation and to integrate the outcomes with the national innovation strategy.

An RF switch in substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) technology for X-band is designed and demonstrated. Design is based on embedding shunt pin diodes of the switch in an evanescent mode waveguide filter. At reverse bias, pin diodes formed a part of filter&#039 / s capacitances. Thus switch also functions as a filter when it is in &ldquo / on&rdquo / state. At forward bias of diodes, capacitances of the filter are short circuited to obtain a good isolation. The same circuit structure is used to design a tunable filter and an RF power limiter which also functions as a filter. Several RF functions usually used in RF frontends (power limiting, filtering, switching) are combined in a single circuit which helps miniaturization of the frontend. The circuit can be produced with standard PCB and chip&amp / wire technology. The circuits developed have comparable performances with microstrip counterparts and they are advantageous to use in microwave systems using SIW as the basic transmission medium and need filtering functionality.

Swedish health care is currently facing problems, such as lack of financial resources, staff shortage and dissatisfaction among patients and professionals. Patients’ dissatisfaction was the point of departure for the present study, and one approach dealing with this problem was investigated. It was hypothesised that a patient-centred perspective could offer a possible solution. The aim of the study was to explore health care professionals’ and medical students’ understanding of their professional role and the patient encounter. A further goal was to determine whether these understandings could be developed by educational interventions. Students and professionals have been either interviewed or responded to a survey about their professional role and the patient encounter. Qualitative analysis was used. One group- and one individualised intervention were carried out. The participants’ understandings of their professional role were taken as the starting point for learning. The results showed that a minority of medical students and professionals in diabetes care had incorporated a patient-centred perspective. Nurses in telephone advisory services recognised the patients’ needs, but experienced conflicting demands of being both carer and gatekeeper. A non-optimal match between patients’ needs and what professionals understand as their role could cause some of the problems. Competence development could be achieved by taking the participants understanding of the professionals’ role and of the patient encounter as a starting point for reflection. The results have implications for changes in organisation and education in health care, to optimise outcomes of care. Time for reflection, mentoring and professional development is needed.

In this thesis study, single target tracking algorithms including IMM-PDA and IMM-IPDA algorithms / Optimal approaches in multitarget tracking including IMM-JPDA, IMM-IJPDA and IMM-JIPDA algorithms and an example of Linear Multi-target approaches in multitarget tracking including IMM-LMIPDA algorithm have been studied and implemented in MATLAB for comparison. Simulations were carried out in various realistic test scenarios including single target tracking, tracking of multiple targets moving in convoy fashion, two targets merging in a junction, two targets merging-departing in junctions and multitarget tracking under isolated tracks situations. RMSE performance, track loss and computational load evaluations were done for these algorithms under the test scenarios dealing with these situations. Benchmarkings are presented relying on these outcomes.