published_or_final_version / Business Administration / Master / Master of Business Administration

The building industry are currently going through a huge alteration. The introduction of BIM (Building Information Modeling). Which also implements a lot of new ways of solving problems that building modeling can cause. This report is written for Uppsala University in cooperation with Temagruppen in Uppsala. However, it contains a comparison between two different systems that checks building models. Temagruppen invested in a new Swedish adaptation of a software called Solibri Model Checker. This Software controlling the availability in building models, it also introduces a new way of interaction between different instances during a building project. The definition of the report is availability in public buildings. A building model has been designed in Revit, then imported to Solibri Model Checker who controls the availability and creates a report of certain design fault. Interviews are given to get a look into how the work with availability controls currently works at Temagurppuen. This results in a discussion of benefits and disadvantages of the two different methods. The result finally shows that certain work can be more effectively done with Solibri Model Checker. But availability contains more than just disabled impairment. Visual- and cognitive impairment can’t still be controlled by just a computer software.

A series of studies was undertaken at Plastic Lake-1 (PC1) to determine the sources and controls on S cycling in small headwater catchments on the Precambrian Shield in south-central Ontario. Two observations were made about the S cycle in this region: (1) all streams exhibit highly coherent temporal patterns in SO4 concentrations and export, and (2) most catchments exported more SO4 in stream water than is received in bulk deposition during the past 2 decades. Synchronous temporal patterns in annual SO4 concentrations in both upland and wetland-draining streams were related to changes in climate, specifically those factors that determine catchment dryness. The number of days with no stream flow or stream flow below a critical threshold was a good predictor of the average stream SO4 concentration in a particular year. Sulphate chemistry in the PC1 outflow is highly dependent on processes occurring in a conifer <i>Sphagnum</i> swamp located immediately upstream of the chemical sampling station. Hydrologic inputs to the swamp during the summer determine whether S is retained or released from peat on an annual basis. Drying and re-wetting of <i>Sphagnum</i>-derived peat caused a substantial increase in soluble SO4 in laboratory experiments, which was slightly enhanced at higher temperature, but alternating moisture conditions had no immediate effect on <i>Sphagnum</i>. Despite large inter-annual changes in SO4 release, over the long-term (<i>i. e. </i> 20-years) SO4 inputs and exports from the swamp are in approximate balance. In contrast, the upland portion of PC1 (<i>i. e. </i> PC1-08) consistently exports more SO4 than is input in bulk deposition in every year of record. Even when inputs are increased to account for potential underestimates in dry deposition or weathering, the majority of catchments in this region exhibit net export in many years. Two internal sources are suggested to account for negative budgets: desorption and mineralization. Adsorption/desorption reactions respond directly to changes in SO4 input concentration, and lysimeter data indicate the importance of these processes for buffering short-term changes in SO4 concentration in LFH percolate. Desorption may be the primary direct response of upland soil to decreasing SO4 inputs in deposition and may substantially extend the period of net SO4 export in catchments that have large adsorbed SO4 pools such as PC1. However, the adsorbed pool may be sustained by continuous net release from mineralization, and should also be considered in budget calculations. Mineralization was shown to be responsive to drying and re-wetting events and temperature, although results varied among different materials. Sulphate release from mineral soil did not appear to be influenced by changing moisture, temperature or deposition chemistry in laboratory experiments, although adsorption/desorption reactions may have largely masked small changes in SO4 release <i>via</i> mineralization. The magnitude of organic S storage in mineral soil indicates that this pool could be an important source of export over the long-term. While it is unknown why (or if) mineralization is a net source of SO4 to drainage streams, changes in climate and/or deposition could potentially influence SO4 release from organic compounds. Soil moisture and temperature are important controls on microbial processes in soil, and changes in climate that bring about changes in soil moisture or temperature conditions could affect decomposition and mineralization processes. Similarly, historically high inputs of S and N in deposition may have brought about slow shifts in litter quality (<i>i. e. </i> decreased C:N, C:S) which could also potentially influence decomposition and mineralization rates. In order to predict the future response of surface water chemistry to changes in SO4 (and N) deposition, it is important to consider not only the magnitude of S pools in soil, but also the potential for SO4 cycling between pools. Likewise, models that predict changes in stream SO4 by adsorption isotherm data alone will underestimate the importance of desorption unless the potential for continual replenishment of the adsorbed pool through the relatively slower process of mineralization is also considered. In general, predictions of recovery from S deposition can only be made from a complete understanding of S pools, transformations, and the effects of climate, which are superimposed upon the long-term trend in deposition.

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The United States is the leading producer and exporter of corn and soybeans in the world. The United States exports 20% of the world’s corn and 30% of soybeans in a typical year (USDA, ERS). The U.S., being the top producer and exporter of these commodities, is also confronting major rivals such as Argentina, Brazil, and Ukraine, which are increasing their exports and causing the U.S. to lose some of its market share. In order to stop this decline in market share, the U.S. can adopt and implement different policies to manage resources and employ advanced technology more effectively. In this study, we empirically estimate the export demand function of U.S. corn and soybeans to the top four export destinations: China, Japan, European Union, and Mexico in the current context of energy and agriculture linkages and production of ethanol from corn. A log-linear, panel data equation is used to estimate the U.S. corn and soybeans export demand function. Own price, cross price, income and exchange rate elasticities are estimated econometrically. Data for the U.S. and its top four importer countries were gathered for the 1980-2012 period. A Hausman test implies that a random effects estimator is better for the estimations. Elasticity analysis indicates that U.S. corn demand is elastic to own price, cross price, income and poultry inventory, while inelastic to real exchange rate and pig inventory. The positive cross price elasticity reveals that corn and soybeans are substitutes in these countries. Conversely elasticity analysis for the U.S. soybean demand shows elastic cross price, real exchange rate, and pig and poultry inventory effects, while inelastic own price and income effects. Consequently, for the U.S. to gain more international market share, U.S. corn and soybean producers need to take advantage of their advanced technology and high management skills to increase quality and have more competitive pricing compared to rivals. The U.S. can gain more market share by employing better regulation to increase the quality of products, and provide incentives to U.S. farmers and exporters that could help boost their advantages in a highly competitive international environment. Higher quality and more product differentiation could help in this regard. This could help U.S. farmers increase exports to currently existing foreign destinations and access new markets, to expand market shares.

Background: The Swedish economy is dependent on exports as it represents 45% of the country's GDP. Simultaneously, Swedish exporting market shares are decreasing on a global scale. In the Swedish government's export strategy which is primarily aimed at Swedish SMEs, the goal is to benefit from future growth expected to originate from the Asian marketplace. The Asian region is expected to represent 44% of future economic growth until 2020, compared to 19% and 23% in Europe and North America respectively. More Swedish SMEs therefore need to enter the Asian market and in order to implement their strategies and operate efficiently, well-suited management control systems must be in place. Purpose: This study’s objective is to identify implemented features of management control systems in Swedish SMEs' located on the Asian marketplace, as to facilitate sustainable future market presence. Contribution: The study identifies several management control aspects which affect a successful establishment of Swedish SMEs on the Asian marketplace, through subsidiaries or strategic partnerships, namely control tightness, communication, budgeting, incentive systems, cultural controls, and end customer controls. The extent to how and when such mechanisms are efficient are dependent on several contingent factors relating to for example national culture, type of presence, and the industry in which the SMEs operate.

Ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) is a serine-threonine protein kinase and major regulator of the DNA damage response (DDR). One critical ATM target is protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) known to regulate diverse cellular processes such as mitosis and cell growth as well as dephosphorylation of many proteins during the recovery from the DDR while returning the cell to normalcy. Interestingly, ATM and PP2A are known to form an auto-regulatory yin-yang kinase-phosphatase relationship. Herein, we show that the phosphorylation of the PP2A-Aα structural subunit at S401 by ATM results in nuclear export, which regulates the DDR at multiple levels and affects genomic stability and cell growth. We generated PP2A-Aα conditional knockout mouse embryonic fibroblasts expressing PP2A-Aα-WT, S401A (cannot be phosphorylated), or S401D phosphomimetic) transgenes by floxing out the endogenous PP2A-Aα alleles with Cre. The S401D mutant cells displayed increased ERK and AKT signaling, resulting in an enhanced growth rate. Phosphorylation of PP2A-Aα at S401 caused the dissociation of ATM with the holoenzyme, an effect that could be recapitulated with S401D. Additionally, the S401A and S401D mutants exhibited significantly more chromosomal aberrations and underwent increased mitotic catastrophe after radiation. Both the S401A and the S401D cells showed impaired DSB repair (Non-homologous end joining and Homologous recombination repair) and exhibited delayed DNA damage recovery, which was reflected in reduced radiation survival. Time-lapse video and cellular localization experiments showed that the PP2A-Aα subunit was exported to the cytoplasm after radiation possibly by CRM1, a nuclear export protein, in line with the very rapid pleiotropic effects seen. In conclusion, our study demonstrates using a genetically defined system that ATM phosphorylation of a single, critical amino acid S401 is essential for regulating DDR. To study how the interplay between ATM and PP2A affects DDR in the brain, we are in the process of generating a brain specific PP2A-Aα conditional knockout mouse. Loss of many DDR related proteins like ATM and PP2A can lead to severe neuropathological effects. This model will be helpful in dissecting the PP2A-Aα/ATM regulatory circuit in the brain in response to DDR.

In this paper, an Export Decision Support Model applied to the Czech Republic is developed, with the aim of finding export opportunities. The model functions using a filtering process in which a stream of data composed of numerous socio-economic indicators representing the world trade is analysed. For their construction, an extensive literature review was developed relying strongly on a previous EDSM targeted as well for the Czech Republic, as at the moment no explicit rule exist describing its appropriate composition. Then, if a given market, determined by its associated matrix of indicators, fulfils the conditions of the model, then it is retrieved as an export opportunity. After the model construction, it is supplied with two streams of data, for 2010 and for 2014 and, the hypothesis that for both years the output is equal is evaluated. With the intention to infer if the constructed model needs periodical recalibrations for its appropriate use. Finally, a local sensitivity analysis is deployed uncovering the behaviour of the different parameters of the model, a novel approach not yet implemented in an EDSM tailor made for the Czech Republic. JEL Classification F10, F13, F23, M31 Keywords export opportunity, entrepreneurship, international marketing, sensitivity analysis, trade Author's e-mail...

China's increasing geo-economic blow all-inclusive has pulled in remarkable researchconsideration during recent years. As opposed to entirely embrace a national-particular and waysubordinate viewpoint, this paper investigates Chinese economic developments abroad and itsimpact around the world. Data has been collected from some reliable resources and it’s beenreviewed and analyzed by the researchers. This paper gives a deeper insight of Geoeconomics andfocuses on Industrial policy, export and strategic trade of China. Furthermore, the influence ofChina’s growing geo-economic has been discussed in detail.

The work deals with the topic of portability of test questions and creating a program unit for on-line testing. It mentions standards used for data exchange among e-learning systems and describes formats used for import and export of test questions. On the basis of gained knowledge a concept and subsequently a complex program unit for on-line testing of students were created, which matches the requirements for work with test questions, test management and evaluation and the possibility of exchanging questions with other systems.