Diss. Uppsala : Sveriges lantbruksuniv., 2007.

Interface automaton is a model of software component behaviour based on finite state machines. It describes component's provided interface, the supported usage, and required interface, the usage of other components. A considerable number of components can be used in parallel with no bound on the level of parallelism. It is not necessary for the model to attempt to capture such unboundedness. An alternative approach is to allow an increment of the level of parallelism on- demand. This thesis analyses on a theoretical level and proposes a final form of an operation to perform such replication to allow creation of models of an arbitrary level of parallelism of certain parts of its behaviour.

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Cette étude s'inscrit dans le cadre du projet FUI TiMaS (Titanium Machining and Simulation) dont l'objectif est de développer un outil d'analyse et d'optimisation continu du procédé de production et visant à maîtriser et à prédire la création des contraintes résiduelles pour les pièces de structure en alliage de titane. Les contraintes résiduelles peuvent être générées notamment durant la trempe qui suit les traitements thermomécaniques. L'objectif de cette étude est d’étudier le comportement mécanique ainsi que l'évolution microstructurale de l’alliage Ti-6Al-4V, induits par le refroidissement depuis le domaine α+β, et d’intégrer cela dans une démarche de modélisation. Pour cela, un moyen expérimental, composé d’une machine d'essais hydraulique et d'un chauffage par induction, a été développé afin d’analyser la réponse mécanique de l'alliage Ti-6Al-4V sous différentes conditions mécaniques et thermiques. Ce moyen a permis la réalisation d’essais de traction/relaxation/traction à différentes températures. Parallèlement, une étude par analyse de micrographies a permis de quantifier les fractions de phases α et β ainsi que les épaisseurs de lamelles αII lors du refroidissement. Les observations ont pu être confrontées aux résultats des essais mécaniques afin d’expliquer l’influence du traitement thermique sur la résistance du matériau. Deux modèles de comportement ont été proposés pour prédire la réponse thermomécanique de l’alliage Ti-6Al-4V à l'issue de cette analyse. Le premier est un modèle élasto-visco-plastique incluant un l'écrouissage isotrope prenant en compte l'adoucissement par restauration statique du matériau. Il est valable pour différentes vitesses de refroidissement. Le second est un modèle non-unifié basé sur une loi des mélanges de phases. Il reproduit plus fidèlement le comportement mécanique et permet notamment de modéliser le phénomène de yield point par l'intermédiaire du mouvement des dislocations mobiles. / This research is part of the TiMaS project (Titanium Machining and Simulation). The main goal of this project is to develop an analysis and optimization tool of the global production process to control and assess the generation of residual stresses for titanium alloys structures parts. Residual stresses can be generated during thermal and mechanical treatment quenching steps. The main goal of this work is to study the mechanical behaviour and the microstructural evolution of Ti-6Al-4V alloy, induce by quenching from the α+β phase field, and incorporate these results in a modelling approach. For this purpose, a new experimental facility, using conventional hydraulic testing machine and induction heating, was developed to investigate the mechanical behaviour of Ti-6Al-4V alloy under different thermal and mechanical loads. This experiment has permitted to realise tensile/relaxation/tensile tests. Furthermore, an image analysis protocol was developed to study fraction of α and β phases and αII lamellae thickness. Microstructural observations can explain some aspects of the material hardening during quenching. Two mechanical behaviour models were proposed to assess the mechanical behaviour of the Ti-6Al-4V alloy. The first one is an elasto-visco-plastic model with isotropic hardening that taking account of the static recovery. It can predict the mechanical behaviour under different quenching rates. The second one is a non-unified model based on a phases mixing law. It permits a better assessment of the mechanical behaviour and allows the modelling of the yield point phenomenon by using mobile dislocations motion.

Climate change is an enormous challenge which, if not addressed will have detrimental impacts across the globe. This problem is largely produced by human behaviour. Therefore, strategies aimed at influencing behaviour are necessary in addressing this issue. Governments are currently utilising informational campaigns, rewards, penalties, nudging and structural changes to influence pro-environmental behaviour. Although these methods are creating change, it is far from sufficient to address the massive and urgent issue of climate change. Therefore, alternative strategies should be considered. As such, this thesis aims to explore the effectiveness and the extent to which the Social Credit System, as it is being developed in China, can be considered an alternative strategy for producing pro-environmental behaviour. A framework to analyse and describe the SCS was developed by executing a literature review of key environmental behaviour models and intervention strategies aimed at producing pro-environmental behaviour. It concludes that the Social Credit System utilises a variety of methods similar to the behaviour models and interventions reviewed in this thesis, especially as far as rewards and punishments are concerned. However, surveillance stands out as a distinct means of intervention that is not utilised outside China to produce pro-environmental behaviour. The discussion suggests that this aspect of the system might be effective in contributing to address the challenge of climate change due to its coercive nature.

Single-species research dominates the field of ecology; however there is a growing appreciation of the importance of a multi-species approach to holistic conservation. Carnivores exert a top-down control on other species, and are vital components of stable ecosystem functioning. Physiologically adapted for predation upon other animals, competition between carnivores can be particularly aggressive; frequently resulting in mortality, and even population suppression. Big cat research has historically focused on those species that are most easily observable; in particular the lion Panthera leo. The majority of the Felidae however are secretive and elusive, and receive relatively little scientific attention. In particular, there are few data available that measure the effect of direct intraguild interactions between carnivores. Using leopards Panthera pardus as a model species, this research aimed to investigate the impact of lions on the behavioural ecology of a socially subordinate carnivore. Leopards are the most abundant large carnivore in Africa, and have the largest global range of all felids; their ecological niche overlapping with that of both lions and tigers. The knowledge gained from examining their competitive interactions is therefore widely relevant, and may be applicable to other subordinate carnivore species that remain unstudied. Biotelemetry and camera-trap data were modelled using novel algorithms to show that lions impact on leopard population density, demographics and spatial ecology. Faecal analyses suggest that dietary niche segregation may facilitate sympatry. These results indicate the level of impact that large carnivores can exert over smaller species, and the potential for a focus on single-species conservation to undermine holistic conservation. The manifestation of intraguild competition has a significant influence on an animal’s ecology; leopards are generalist species that cope with persecution by adapting their behaviour and niche. Ecological specialists may not fare as well under competitive pressure, and proactive conservation initiatives may be required for endangered species.

The study addresses the limited and fragmented approaches of consumer behaviour studies in the existing literature and a lack of comprehensive integrated theoretical models of online consumer behaviour. The aim of the study is to propose a conceptual integrated theoretical model for online consumer behaviour which suggests a deviation from the existing purchasing approaches to consumer behaviour - hence a move towards an understanding of consumer behaviour in terms of two new approaches, namely the web-based communication exposure and internal psychological behavioural processes approaches, is proposed. The study addresses two main research problems, namely that inadequate knowledge and information exist on online consumers’ behavioural processes, especially their internal psychological behavioural processes during their exposure to web-based communication messages and their progression through the complete web-based communication experience; and that there is no conceptual integrated theoretical model for online consumer behaviour in the literature. This study, firstly, allows for systematic theoretical exploration, description, interpretation and integration of existing literature and theory on offline and online consumer behaviour including the following: theoretical perspectives and approaches; determinants; decision making; consumer information processing and response; and theoretical foundations. This systematic theoretical exploration and description of consumer behaviour literature and theory commences with the contextualisation and proposal of a new definition, perspective and theoretical approaches to online consumer behaviour; the discussion and analysis of the theory of the determinants of consumer behaviour; the discussion and analysis of decision-making theory; the proposition of a new online information decision-making perspective and model; the discussion and analysis of consumer information-processing and response theory and models; the discussion and analysis of the theoretical foundations of consumer behaviour; and the identification of theoretical criteria for online consumer behaviour. Declaration – acknowledgements - abstract Secondly, the study develops a conceptual integrated theoretical model for online consumer behaviour, thereby theoretically grounding online consumer behavioural processes in the context of internal psychological behavioural processes and exposure to web-based communication messages. It is hence posited that the study provides a more precise understanding of online consumers’ complicated internal cognitive and psychological behavioural processes in their interactive search for and experience of online web-based communication and information, which can be seen as a major contribution to the field of study. / Communication Science / D. Litt. et Phil. (Communication)

The study addresses the limited and fragmented approaches of consumer behaviour studies in the existing literature and a lack of comprehensive integrated theoretical models of online consumer behaviour. The aim of the study is to propose a conceptual integrated theoretical model for online consumer behaviour which suggests a deviation from the existing purchasing approaches to consumer behaviour - hence a move towards an understanding of consumer behaviour in terms of two new approaches, namely the web-based communication exposure and internal psychological behavioural processes approaches, is proposed. The study addresses two main research problems, namely that inadequate knowledge and information exist on online consumers’ behavioural processes, especially their internal psychological behavioural processes during their exposure to web-based communication messages and their progression through the complete web-based communication experience; and that there is no conceptual integrated theoretical model for online consumer behaviour in the literature. This study, firstly, allows for systematic theoretical exploration, description, interpretation and integration of existing literature and theory on offline and online consumer behaviour including the following: theoretical perspectives and approaches; determinants; decision making; consumer information processing and response; and theoretical foundations. This systematic theoretical exploration and description of consumer behaviour literature and theory commences with the contextualisation and proposal of a new definition, perspective and theoretical approaches to online consumer behaviour; the discussion and analysis of the theory of the determinants of consumer behaviour; the discussion and analysis of decision-making theory; the proposition of a new online information decision-making perspective and model; the discussion and analysis of consumer information-processing and response theory and models; the discussion and analysis of the theoretical foundations of consumer behaviour; and the identification of theoretical criteria for online consumer behaviour. Declaration – acknowledgements - abstract Secondly, the study develops a conceptual integrated theoretical model for online consumer behaviour, thereby theoretically grounding online consumer behavioural processes in the context of internal psychological behavioural processes and exposure to web-based communication messages. It is hence posited that the study provides a more precise understanding of online consumers’ complicated internal cognitive and psychological behavioural processes in their interactive search for and experience of online web-based communication and information, which can be seen as a major contribution to the field of study. / Communication Science / D. Litt. et Phil. (Communication)

The aim of this study was to firstly examine via a literature study, the response of the South African Department of Education (DoE) to HIV/AIDS. This required contextualizing this response in national as well as global terms. South African policies that impact on HIV/AIDS and the role of stakeholders in Education were focussed on. The various models of health behaviours were also examined. The efficacy of the Department of Education's response was then evaluated by conducting an empirical study at selected schools. Areas focussed on were: educators' and learners' knowledge of HIV/AIDS-related issues, their attitudes to HIV/AIDS and persons with HIV/AIDS, as well as their health behaviours. Research findings indicated that HIV/AIDS-related policies in Education were in place since 1999. The DoE, however, had not communicated these policies effectively to educators and learners, who were therefore unaware of the Universal Precautions related to safer behaviour practices in respect of HIV/AIDS. The DoE had not been effective in its response to HIV/AIDS in changing educator' and learners' risk behaviours. / Educational Studies / M.Ed. (Guidance and Counselling)

The aim of this study was to firstly examine via a literature study, the response of the South African Department of Education (DoE) to HIV/AIDS. This required contextualizing this response in national as well as global terms. South African policies that impact on HIV/AIDS and the role of stakeholders in Education were focussed on. The various models of health behaviours were also examined. The efficacy of the Department of Education's response was then evaluated by conducting an empirical study at selected schools. Areas focussed on were: educators' and learners' knowledge of HIV/AIDS-related issues, their attitudes to HIV/AIDS and persons with HIV/AIDS, as well as their health behaviours. Research findings indicated that HIV/AIDS-related policies in Education were in place since 1999. The DoE, however, had not communicated these policies effectively to educators and learners, who were therefore unaware of the Universal Precautions related to safer behaviour practices in respect of HIV/AIDS. The DoE had not been effective in its response to HIV/AIDS in changing educator' and learners' risk behaviours. / Educational Studies / M.Ed. (Guidance and Counselling)