Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2004. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, San Diego, 1997. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M. Eng.)(Mechanical)--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references. Available on the Internet via the World Wide Web.

This diploma thesis deals with the topic of offshore outsourcing in a chosen company. The strategy of outsourcing will be carried out with using tools and methods of project management. First part of this thesis will analyse relevant characteristics of the company and target market and should explain importance of this project. Next part will cover detailed planning of scope and timeline of the project, risk analysis and cost analysis, which will also provide the basis for evaluation of the outcomes of this project.

The diploma thesis focuses on assessment of given financial indicators of chosen company. It is predicted the future development of chosen financial indicators using appropriate statistical methods. It contains assessment of financial situation of analysed company and solutions of its present situation.

The objective of this study was to determine the capability and applicability of a conventional gas chromatography system for fast chromatography. Many gas chromatographic separations actually require much Iss time than js actually being spent on the analysis. Capillary columns are known to be very efficient due to the long lengths and thin stationary phase films. However, analysis can be done much faster if shorter column lengths and thinner stationary phases are used because the retention time is a function of the column length and stationary phase film thickness. This study involves varying a number of column and instrumental parameters in order to determine their effect on the chromatographic analysis time. The parameters which were varied include the column stationary phase film thickness, the column length, the injection volume, the split ratio, the column position, the injector liner, and the flow and temperature programming rates. The effect of column length on the average linear gas velocity was also determined by plotting the Golay equation for each. The Golay equation (12) illustrates the effect of the various column parameters on column efficiency. The most detrimental effect of decreasing the analysis time is the loss of resolution that may occur. Both shorter lengths and faster than optimum flow rates result in lower resolution. By careful adjustment of some column parameters, the loss in resolution can be minimized. The results of this research show that many gas chromatographic analyses require much less time than is actually spent and that a fast analysis can be achieved with little to no loss in resolution. / Master of Science

Structural health monitoring (SHM) systems is a relatively new discipline, studying the structural condition of buildings and other constructions. Current SHM systems are either wired or wireless, with a relatively high cost and low accuracy. This thesis exploits a blend of digital signal processing methodologies, for structural health monitoring (SHM) and develops a wireless SHM system in order to provide a low cost implementation yet reliable and robust. Existing technologies of wired and wireless sensor network platforms with high sensitivity accelerometers are combined, in order to create a system for monitoring the structural characteristics of buildings very economically and functionally, so that it can be easily implemented at low cost in buildings. Well-known and established statistical time series methods are applied to SHM data collected from real concrete structures subjected to earthquake excitation and their strong and weak points are investigated. The necessity to combine parametric and non-parametric approaches is justified and to this direction novel and improved digital signal processing techniques and indexes are applied to vibration data recordings, in order to eliminate noise and reveal structural properties and characteristics of the buildings under study, that deteriorate due to environmental, seismic or anthropogenic impact. A characteristic and potential harming specific case study is presented, where consequences to structures due to a strong earthquake of magnitude 6.4 M are investigated. Furthermore, is introduced a seismic influence profile of the buildings under study related to the seismic sources that exist in the broad region of study.

Influenza is a viral infection that affects global health and economy with its endemic and sometimes pandemic spread. Rapid detection of Influenza viruses enables antiviral use and can bring financial savings. It is also essential for the global surveillance of prevalent Influenza strains. RT-PCR is considered the most specific and sensitive method for detection of Influenza, but Influenza mutates at a high rate and it is therefore crucial that RT-PCR methods are updated regularly. In 2014, Cepheid released their Xpert Flu/RSV XC assay, which can detect Influenza A and B and RSV by multiplex RT-PCR in approximately one hour. The aim of this study was to evaluate this assay at Laboratoriemedicin Västernorrland by using the laboratory’s previous PCR assay for detection of Influenza viruses as reference method. Real-time RT-PCR was used to compare Xpert Flu/RSV XC to the reference method. A dilution series was performed to estimate the methods’ PCR efficiencies and precision was calculated from quadruplicates of a positive control sample. Clinical specimens (n=42) were used to evaluate the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of Xpert Flu/RSV XC. Objective statistical analysis of PCR data was performed and discussed. The Xpert Flu/RSV XC was equivalent to the reference method and demonstrated high diagnostic sensitivity and specificity. Estimated PCR efficiencies were however low. With the introduction of Xpert Flu/RSV XC to the laboratory follows many potential benefits, primarily in form of a simplified pre analytical procedure and a shortened analysis time. The Xpert Flu/RSV XC assay enables fast diagnosis of Influenza infection.

Delay is one of the most common problems in the steel construction industry. At the time of bidding steel contractors plan tasks and assign resources according to the site visits, the information given in the contract and specifications related with the project. However, as the project progresses some conditions of the work may change. These changes may affect originally planned means and methods. Finally, the affected activities cause the project total cost and duration to increase. In steel construction projects, if not managed properly in accordance with the contract, changes are likely to result in claims between the project participants. In this study, a delay analysis methodology which is based on time impact analysis is proposed. The aim of this methodology is to quantify impacts of work changes on the schedule and cost of steel construction projects and identify the responsible parties for these changes. A risk breakdown structure is presented to help decision-makers to identify probable sources of risk factors that usually result in time and cost overruns. The potential sources of change are categorized into 3 groups: contractor-related, owner-related and external factors. By using this structure, contractors may classify changes and assign the impacts of changes to the appropriate parties. The proposed methodology comprises of 3 steps: identification and quantification of delays, allocation of these delays to responsible parties and using TIA to calculate overall impact of changes on time and cost. The major benefits of this methodology are / a) its ability to handle and quantify changes in a step by step procedure, b) it provides a graphical representation of actual progress, and c) it helps decision-makers to give reliable decisions by monitoring the impact of changes during the project&amp / #8217 / s life cycle. Construction professionals may use it to apportion impact of changes in a systematic and reliable way. Moreover, reports generated by using this methodology can provide evidence during the claim management process. An application of this methodology on a steel project demonstrates the superiority of the process in explaining the dynamic nature of changes and in apportioning the impacts between different parties in a systematic way.

Thesis (M. Soc. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1991.