[pt] A tese em questão objetivou analisar a precarização do trabalho dos(as) assistentes sociais no SUS da capital fluminense, buscando refletir sua relação com o conjunto de expropriações dos direitos dos trabalhadores no contexto de crise do capital. Foram identificados alguns modos de precarização que compõem esse processo, tais como: condições de trabalho, vínculos de trabalho, salários, entre outros. A partir desses dados, buscou-se apontar incidências na vida das trabalhadoras do SUS lotadas no município do Rio de Janeiro (RJ) entre os anos 2015 e 2021, nas três esferas federativas, responsáveis pelo funcionamento das unidades hospitalares e de pronto atendimento. Trata-se de uma pesquisa qualitativa, com estratégias metodológicas que envolvem revisão bibliográfica e pesquisa empírica. Foram entrevistados(as) 21 assistentes sociais. Conclui-se que, no SUS do município do Rio de Janeiro, há um predomínio de contratos de trabalho com vínculos precários dos(as) assistentes sociais, afetando os(as) profissionais de forma objetiva e subjetiva. Estes(as) vivenciam condição de precariedade com sobrecarga emocional, salários incompatíveis com as exigências de formação e níveis altos de escolaridade, carga horária excessiva decorrente dos múltiplos vínculos de trabalho para suprir suas necessidades de reprodução social. O trabalho dos(as) assistentes sociais no SUS do RJ, assim como os demais profissionais que atuam na área da saúde pública, tem se caracterizado pelo crescente processo de expropriações secundárias dos trabalhadores expressa na retirada dos direitos sociais e trabalhistas. Essa expressão fenomênica do trabalho demonstra aumento da exploração do conjunto de trabalhadores, intensificação do trabalho, redução do custo com salários para os contratantes, o que atende aos interesses privatistas da política pública e desvalorização do conjunto da força de trabalho que dependente desse serviço essencial. / [en] The thesis in question aimed to analyze the precariousness of the work of social workers in the SUS in the capital of Rio de Janeiro (RJ) seeking to analyze its relationship with the set of expropriations of workers rights in the context of capital crisis. Some modes of precariousness that make up this process were identified and analyzed, such as: working conditions, employment relationships, wages, among others. From these data, we sought to point out incidences in the lives of SUS workers stationed in the city of RJ between the years 2015 to 2021, in the three federative spheres, responsible for the operation of hospital units and emergency care. It is a qualitative research, with methodological strategies that involve bibliographic review and empirical research. 21 social workers were interviewed. It is concluded that, in the SUS of the city of Rio de Janeiro, there is a predominance of employment contracts with precarious ties of Social Workers, affecting the professionals in an objective and subjective way. They experience a precarious condition with emotional overload, wages incompatible with training requirements and high levels of education, excessive workload resulting from multiple work relationships to meet their needs for social reproduction. The work of social workers in the SUS in RJ, as well as other workers working in area of public health, has been characterized by the growing process of secondary expropriations of workers expressed in the withdrawal of social and labor rights. This phenomenal expression of work demonstrates the increase in the exploitation of workers as a whole, intensification of work, reduction in the cost of wages for contractors, what meets the privatist interests of public policy and devaluation of the whole workforce dependent on this essential service.

As technology continues to rapidly develop, the realization of Virtual Reality (VR) stores is coming into view for various businesses and industries. As customers today are becoming more aware of their purchasing behaviour and the impact their products have on the environment, it puts pressure on the fashion industry to meet these requirements and needs by developing or adopting new technologies to their practices. In order to try to reduce the sustainability impact of the fashion industry the creation of VR fashion stores may play a role in reducing the need for physical stores, pre-production of clothes, and reducing transportation to reduce the environmental impact. The purpose of this study is to fill the knowledge gap regarding consumers' perceptions of using VR for personal fashion shopping, as well as to explore how consumers perceive the sustainability aspect of VR when considering it as a means to shop for fashion. A theoretical framework regarding this was developed based primarily on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model and the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). Twelve semi-structured interviews were conducted and then thematically analysed to develop codes and themes related to the research questions. The findings suggest that there is great acceptance of and interest in VR fashion shopping among participants. Participants expected it to become a reality in the future and to become an alternative way of shopping in society. Regarding the perception of the sustainability aspect that VR fashion shopping brings, the study participants noted that they embrace and approve it. However, cost and technological advancements and experiences are of primary importance to them. Future research should focus on conducting wider research regarding VR fashion shopping, as there was an apparent indication that it was accepted by all and something people would choose to use if the technology and opportunity were available.

No description available.

Urbanization increases runoff during storm events due to a reduction in vegetation and an increase in impervious surfaces, which limits the land's capacity to absorb and slow down water. This increase in runoff contributes to channel erosion. While extensive research exists on the hydrologic benefits of various types of stormwater control measures (SCMs), the relationship between urbanization, widespread SCM implementation, and channel stability in headwater streams remains less explored. Additionally, the impact of climate change (CC) on SCMs, with its growing focus due to improved global and regional CC models and data, is a critical area of study. However, most existing studies rely on simplified design storm analyses and unit-area runoff models, and there is a lack of comprehensive research evaluating the long-term, continuous hydrologic response of SCMs under future CC scenarios. This study presents an in-depth evaluation of the effectiveness of SCMs in maintaining channel stability in urbanized headwater streams, with a particular focus on the challenges posed by urbanization and CC. Conducted in a small catchment in Montgomery County, Maryland, USA, the study employs a sequential hierarchical modeling approach integrating the Storm Water Management Model (SWMM) with the Hydrologic Engineering Center's River Analysis System (HEC-RAS). First, the impact of a stormwater management system design following Maryland's Unified Stormwater Sizing Criteria (USSC) on channel stability was investigated. Simulation over 16 years (2004-2020) demonstrated that the majority of storm events were short in duration, with the greatest peak flows resulting from storm events with durations less than 24 hours. However, results indicated that despite the use of multiple SCMs, channel changes, including both degradation and aggradation up to 1.2 m, are likely over a period of 16 years. Study results indicate SCMs should be designed using continuous simulation models to simulate pre- and post-development sediment transport. Secondly, the impact of SCMs and CC on flow regime and channel stability was examined, challenging the previous simplified analyses. The findings highlight that future CC scenarios, characterized by decreased total rainfall but increased intensity, will likely shift watershed hydrology towards a flashier regime, exacerbating channel erosion. To address these shortcomings, a multicriteria design approach for SCMs is required, considering local sediment transport capacity and the complexities of urban catchments under changing climatic conditions. Lastly, evaluation of the impact of proposed stormwater regulations on channel stability using a novel three-step methodology revealed that SCM design goals focused on maintaining pre-development sediment transport or excess shear stress could reduce channel disturbance. Overall, this study illustrates the need for more nuanced and holistic approaches to stormwater management to ensure channel stability, especially in the face of the challenges posed by climatic changes. / Doctor of Philosophy / As cities grow, with more buildings and roads replacing green spaces, managing stormwater becomes a crucial challenge. Without enough soil and plants to absorb it, stormwater rushes over these hard surfaces, contributing to stream erosion. This urban scenario sets the stage for my research, which investigated effective ways to handle stormwater in cities to protect small, local streams. The focus of this study was to understand the performance of stormwater control measures (SCMs), which are engineered structures designed to manage this excessive runoff in urban environments. The key question is: Are SCMs effective, especially as we face the impacts of climate change? This research was conducted in a small watershed in Montgomery County, Maryland, using computer simulations to replicate water flow and stream conditions over a 16-year period. The findings reveal that, despite using SCMs, streams can still experience significant changes. This is especially true during intense, short-duration storms that can rapidly increase stream flow and cause channel erosion. With climate change, these problems may increase. Future weather patterns could lead to less frequent but more intense rainstorms. This study suggests that our approach to designing SCMs needs to be more sophisticated, taking into account not only the amount of water running into streams, but also the amount of coarse sediment moving during floods. In summary, this research highlights the need for comprehensive strategies in urban water management to ensure the stability and health of urban streams amidst the challenges of increasing urban development and climatic changes.

Learning Management Systems (LMSs) have been an essential part of the e-Learning ecosystem since the 1990s. LMSs have been developed and widely adopted by higher education institutions around the world. Despite the instructional and financial benefits of using LMSs, the adoption and diffusion of LMSs by faculty members continues to be challenging in higher education institutions, and particularly in developing countries. The purpose of this study is to determine the factors influencing the adoption of learning management systems (LMSs) by faculty members in Saudi Arabian higher education. The study employed a mixed method approach and applied the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) to explore these factors. Specifically, the study aims to determine the extent at which Performance Expectancy (PE), Effort Expectancy (EE), Facilitating Conditions (FC), and Social Norms (SN) influence faculty members' Behavioral Intention (BI) to adopt the Blackboard LMS. It also examines the moderating roles of age, gender, experience, perceived voluntariness, and computer self-efficacy on Performance Expectancy (PE), Effort Expectancy (EE), Social Norms (SN), and Facilitating Conditions (FC). The results of the study revealed a strong and positive correlation between performance expectancy and behavioral intention for Blackboard usage. The study also found Effort Expectancy, Facilitating Conditions, and Social Norms to be significant predictors of Behavioral Intention for Blackboard usage. Additionally, the findings show no moderation effects of age, gender, perceived voluntariness, and computer self-efficacy on Performance Expectancy, Effort Expectancy, Social Norms, and Facilitating Conditions. Experience was found to have a moderation effect on the relationship between Social Norms and Behavioral Intention. / Doctor of Philosophy / Learning Management Systems (LMSs) have been an essential part of the Electronic-Learning ecosystem since the 1990s. LMSs have been developed and widely adopted by higher education institutions around the world. Despite the instructional and financial benefits of using LMSs, the usage rate of LMSs by faculty members continues to be challenging in higher education institutions, and particularly in developing countries. The purpose of this study is to determine the factors influencing the usage of learning management systems (LMSs) by faculty members in Saudi Arabian higher education. The study employed a mixed method approach and applied the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) to explore these factors. Specifically, the study aims to determine the extent at which Performance Expectancy (PE), Effort Expectancy (EE), Facilitating Conditions (FC), and Social Norms (SN) influence faculty members' Behavioral Intention (BI) to adopt the Blackboard LMS. It also examines the moderating roles of age, gender, experience, perceived voluntariness, and computer self-efficacy on Performance Expectancy (PE), Effort Expectancy (EE), Social Norms (SN), and Facilitating Conditions (FC). The results of the study revealed a strong and positive correlation between performance expectancy and behavioral intention for Blackboard usage. The study also found Effort Expectancy, Facilitating Conditions, and Social Norms to be strong predictors of Behavioral Intention for Blackboard usage.

Property Management, one functional area within Right-of-Way offices in state transportation agencies, is responsible for managing the property acquired for highway projects. These activities are data and document intensive and efficiency for performing them would be improved through the implementation of an information management system. Because of the geospatial nature of many of these activities, geographic information systems (GIS) would increase the effectiveness of this system. A literature review and survey were conducted to understand the current state of practice for the use of GIS and information management systems in Property Management. There is no identified comprehensive system that covers all Property Management activities. An initial step in developing a geospatially-enabled enterprise-level information management system, a logical model was developed. This included developing the business process diagram, business process models, and use case models based on the principles of systems engineering using the Computer Aided Software (CASE) Enterprise Architecture. Activities that would benefit from a geospatial component have been identified and included in the models. The developed models have been validated by working with PennDOT staff. The resulting model serves as a standard template for state transportation agencies and helps conceptualize the advantages of integration and interaction with other systems, and geospatial enablement prior to investment in an information management system. / Master of Science

Under de senaste åren har artificiell intelligens (AI) blivit ett välkänt och etablerat begrepp i samhället och det har förändrat sättet som människor interagerar med teknik på. Användarna ställer allt högre krav på dagens UX-designers och designprocessen är tidskrävande. För att underlätta och effektivisera arbetet har fler och fler designers fått upp ögonen för hur AI kan vara en användbar designassistent. För UX-designern skapar AI möjligheten att automatisera repetitiva och tidskrävande uppgifter så att man istället kan fokusera på designutmaningarna. Trots en omställning mot en mer AI-involverande IT-bransch samt de många möjligheterna och förväntade fördelarna med att involvera AI i UX-designprocessen finns det UX-designers som inte använder AI. De riskerar att snart räknas som föråldrade och oattraktiva på arbetsmarknaden. Med ett syfte att undersöka UX-designers inställning till AI och vad som avgör om de använder AI i arbetet eller inte utformades en kvalitativ undersökning. Sju yrkesverksamma UX-designers intervjuades kring frågor och teman inspirerade av ramverket Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT). Resultatet analyserades därefter tematiskt. Resultatet visade att de flesta av deltagarna använde ChatGPT i jobbet och var positiva till AI. De trodde eller visste att AI hade potentialen att effektivisera deras jobb. Det fanns dock bekymmer kring kvaliteten på AI-genererat material, datasäkerhet och AI:s eventuella fördomar. Det fanns också en oro kring den okontrollerade utvecklingen av AI. De UTAUT-teman som verkade påverka deltagarnas användning av AI mest var förväntad prestanda, underlättande förhållanden och social påverkan, och dessa resultat gick delvis i linje med tidigare undersökningar. Tidsbrist samt brist på intresse, inspiration från designkollegor och kunskap om hur AI-verktyg appliceras i UX-designprocessen var tydliga mönster. Trots detta svarade alla deltagare att de troligen skulle använda AI inom de kommande månaderna. De flesta av deltagarna var inte oroliga för att AI skulle ta över UX-designrollen, men menade samtidigt att man måste lära sig att använda AI för att fortsätta vara relevant i framtiden som UX-designer. / During the last few years, artificial intelligence (AI) has become a well-known and established concept in society, changing the way people interact with technology. Today’s UX designers face increasing demands and expectations from users and the design process is time-consuming. To facilitate and make the designer's work more efficient, more and more designers have shown increased interest in how AI can be a useful design assistant. For UX designers AI creates an opportunity to make some repetitive and time-consuming tasks automated, allowing them to focus on design challenges instead. Despite a more AI-involved IT industry and the many opportunities and expected benefits of involving AI in the UX design process, there are UX designers who do not use AI. They risk being considered outdated and unattractive on the job market soon. This study aims to examine UX designers’ attitudes towards AI and what determines whether they use AI in their work or not by conducting a qualitative study. Seven professional UX designers were interviewed on questions and themes inspired by the framework Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT). The results were then analyzed thematically. The results showed that most of the participants used ChatGPT in their work and were positive about AI. They believed or knew that AI had the potential to make their job tasks more efficient. However, there were concerns about the quality of AI generated material, data security and potential biases of AI. There was also concern about the uncontrolled development of AI. The UTAUT themes that seemed to influence participants' user behavior towards AI the most were Expected Performance, Facilitating Conditions, and Social Influence. These results partly aligned with previous research. The lack of time, interest, inspiration from design colleagues and knowledge about how to implement AI tools in the UX design process were the most prominent patterns. Nevertheless, all participants stated that they would likely use AI in the coming months. Most participants were not worried that AI would take over the role of UX designers, but they argued that you have to learn to use AI to remain relevant in the future as a UX designer.

Yes / In the last few years, several studies have examined the predictors of mobile banking (m-banking) adoption using the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT). However, contradictory results in some of the UTAUT relationships were found in the existing literature. Therefore, we aim to clarify and synthesize the empirical findings from the m-banking studies published since 2004 by conducting weight and meta-analysis with a focus on the UTAUT theory. We also seek to identify the roles of moderating variables on each UTAUT path. A total of 364 path coefficients from 127 studies were relevant for data analysis. CMA software V3 was employed to combine the effect sizes. All UTAUT relationships were found to be significant. Performance expectancy emerged as the strongest antecedent of usage intention. We also find that usage intention is the most critical predictor of use behavior. It was also revealed that sample size and culture significantly moderated the linkages between facilitating conditions and usage intention, effort expectancy and usage intention, and usage intention and use behavior. Theoretical contributions and managerial implications are also discussed toward the end.

As a response to the increased awareness of digital banking together with the Covid-19 pandemic, digital banking has emerged as a true contender to traditional banking in Malaysia. Digital banking services (DBS) serves as a technological advancement to enhance the usefulness and access of all banking features. In order to successfully implement DBS, the awareness of customers’ personal attributes is of significance. Therefore, this study contributes by zooming in on young customers in Malaysia and investigates their intention to use DBS in general as well as highlighting differences between the two specific core banking services deposit and loan. To assess this, the research adopts a quantitative deductive approach, building a conceptual framework upon previous technology adoption theories such as Technology acceptance model (TAM), Diffusion of innovation (DOI) and Unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT). Furthermore, data was collected through a survey answered by 432 Malaysian students in Kuala Lumpur and analyzed through PLS-SEM and MGA.  The study found five significant drivers directly or indirectly influencing the intention to use DBS. While some of these drivers had been tested previously, the study developed a fresh constellation of drivers which to the best of the authors’ knowledge had not been tested previously. The analysis demonstrates distinct differences in the relationships between drivers for digital deposit and loan services. Overall, these results provide valuable insights for financial institutions seeking to enhance their digital banking offerings and cater to the preferences of young customers in Malaysia.

I det moderna samhället får Customer Relationship Management och CRM-system en allt större roll och systemanvändare ställer allt högre krav på de system de arbetar i. För att en organisation ska få ut så mycket som möjligt av sitt CRM-system måste användare arbeta i systemen. Det framgår från tidigare forskning att viljan att använda system påverkar användarbeteendet. Därför är det viktigt att studera vad som får användare att vilja använda CRM-system. Detta har studerats i detta uppsatsarbete genom en kvalitativ fallstudie med en tematisk analysmetod vid organisationen Byggföretagen där CRM-systemet heter Tellus. Studiens teoretiska ramverk utgår från Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) och har kompletterats med ytterligare teori. En modifierad UTAUT-modell som har tagits fram genom tidigare forskning visar på att det finns variabler och egenskaper hos dessa variabler som påverkar viljan att använda. Variablerna och egenskaperna som påverkar viljan att använda är: förväntad prestation med egenskaperna förväntat resultat, uppfattad nytta och anpassning till arbetet, förväntad ansträngning med egenskaperna uppfattad användbarhet och komplexitet, social påverkan med egenskaperna sociala faktorer, självbild och subjektiva normer, samt underlättande villkor med egenskaperna underlättande villkor* och upplevd beteendekontroll.Slutsatser som studien kommer fram till är att alla variabler påverkar systemanvändare att vilja använda Tellus. Speciellt framgår att utbildning och engagemang från ledningen som är en del av underlättande villkor samt systemkvalitet som ingår i förväntad prestation påverkar viljan att använda CRM-system mest. Det framgår även att självbilden inte verkar påverka viljan att använda Tellus.