Access to and understanding data plays an essential role in the increasingly digital world. Representation and analysis of relations between various data entities, i.e., graph and network structures in the data, is an important problem for various industries. In contrast to simple graphs that focus on edges with two endpoints only, a hypergraph provides a natural method to represent multi-way interactions with an arbitrary number of endpoints for each edge, and it can be a better alternative than a bipartite graph for comparable applications. However, traditional approaches for visually representing hypergraphs are purely static diagrams without support for interaction, which can be difficult to perceive and do not scale well with regard to the number of nodes and edges. They are not adequate for the representation and interactive exploration of large or dense hypergraph data sets found in real-world applications. The ISOVIS (Information and Software Visualisation) research group at Linnaeus University has previously introduced a novel radial visualization approach for undirected hypergraphs called Onion. The Onion tool focuses on solving the issues of edge clutter, overlaps, and edge crossings. However, certain open challenges and suggestions for improvements were identified for the respective implementation, and there is an opportunity to fill a gap in the hypergraph visualization research by building upon the original Onion approach study. In this thesis project, we implement the new version of the Onion approach based on the principles and challenges established previously. The contributions of this work include evidence regarding the effectiveness and efficiency of a hypergraph comparison technique, the usability of edge bundling in the context of hypergraph exploration tasks, and the scalability of the interactive visualization through an entirely new web-based version of the Onion approach. To obtain the respective results, the new implementation is applied for two case studies involving real-world data sets, and further validated through a user study with several participants. The results of this work can be helpful for researchers of network visualization and practitioners in need of approaches for representing and exploring data that can be modeled as hypergraphs.

Många av Sveriges vattenkraftverk drivs med gamla tillstånd. Detta har letttill att regeringen tvingat fram en omprövning av alla elproducerandevattenkraftverk mot miljöbalken och moderna miljövillkor. En av de storaåtgärderna som kommer behöva utföras vid många av anläggningarna för attanpassa kraftverket till moderna miljövillkor är byggnation av fiskvägar.Detta medför en betydande kostnad för verksamhetsutövaren och det blirdärför viktigt att hitta lösningar för att hålla ned dessa kostnader så mycketsom möjligt. Ett sätt att spara pengar är genom samordning mellanbyggandet av fiskväg med det återkommande betongunderhållet. Dennarapport undersöker möjligheterna för denna samordning med fokus på tidenför utförande och hur stor kostnadsökningarna faktiskt blir förverksamhetsutövaren. Det visar sig att över majoriteten av kraftverken haråtgärdsbehov i form av betongrenoveringar som ligger väl i tiden för attsamordnas med byggandet av eventuella fisktrappor. Att upphandla bådaåtgärderna under samma upphandling visar sig ha goda chanser förkostnadsbesparing. / Many of Swedens hydropower constructions operates on old permissions.This have led to a national reconsideration for every hydropower stationwhether or not they operates with modern environmental conditions or not.Interviews suggest that the main action that will be required probably is tobuild fish-ladders. This will be a large cost for the operator and therefore itis important to keep the cost as low as possible. One way of saving money isto bundle different projects to reduce costs. This paper investigates whetheror not bundling between building of fish-ladders and the recurring concretemaintenance would be economically advantageous and prefarable for theowner. The focus is to examine the possibility of bundling in terms of thetime-frame of both the construction of the fish-ladder and the concretemaintenance and check the difference in cost between these two actions.The results suggests that a majority of the examined hydropower-stationshave renovation measures to deal with within the same time-frame as theintended construction of fish-ladders. To bundle the two operations alsoseems like an economically preferable choice.

本篇論文旨在探討在不確定狀況及競爭市場的假設下將不同商品組合出售是否較單獨 出售為佳。本篇計分五章：第一章先介紹組合商品策略（bundling strategy ）在行 銷上的應用及類型。第二章則為相關文獻探討。其中有的文獻是在確定狀況下，利用 組合商品之訂價策略來區分消費者，有的則是在不確定狀況下的二階段訂價（two pa rt tariff ），然而兩者皆在比較不同訂價策略之優劣。第三章則以耐久財及檢修服 務為例，在對檢修服務之需求不確定的狀況下，建立模式以比較組合耐久財及檢修服 務一起出售是否絕對較單獨出售為佳，或是在何種條件下方較佳，第四章則對模式之 結果在行銷策略上的涵義做一說明。第五章說明模式的限制及未來發展方向。

Approved for public release, distribution is unlimited / This thesis investigates the effect that acquisition reform has had on small business participation in the Federal contracting arena. As a result of the transformation of the Federal acquisition process through acquisition reform legislation and the reduction in the acquisition workforce, small business contractors are faced with new challenges to compete for and win Federal contracts. This paper concentrates on examining contract bundling, reverse auctions, electronic commerce and multiple award schedules. It concludes that contract bundling has had a negative effect on small businesses by excluding them from many competitions. It also finds that electronic commerce has had a positive effect on small businesses by giving them greater access to Federal contract opportunities and by speeding up the acquisition process. Regarding multiple award schedules, the research supports benefits for small businesses when they are given the chance to compete through multiple award schedules. It also finds negative implications for small businesses in that multiple award schedules often favor large established businesses at the expense of small businesses. The paper finds a lack of awareness on the part of small business concerning reverse auctions and finds no major impact on small businesses resulting from reverse auctions. / Civilian, Department of the Army PEO-EIS

Submitted by Franciele Moreira (francielemoreyra@gmail.com) on 2018-04-17T15:48:39Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Tese - Joelma de Moura Ferreira - 2018.pdf: 58164875 bytes, checksum: c19d300de77be476834ac9c2e7ca8b0e (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2018-04-18T11:17:22Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Tese - Joelma de Moura Ferreira - 2018.pdf: 58164875 bytes, checksum: c19d300de77be476834ac9c2e7ca8b0e (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-04-18T11:17:22Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Tese - Joelma de Moura Ferreira - 2018.pdf: 58164875 bytes, checksum: c19d300de77be476834ac9c2e7ca8b0e (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-03-21 / Edge bundling is a technique to group, align, coordinate and position the depiction of edges in a graph drawing, so that sets of edges appear to be brought together into shared visual structures, i.e. bundles. The ultimate goal is to reduce clutter to improve how it conveys information. This thesis provides a general formulation for the explicity edge bundling problems, as a formal combinatorial optimization problem. This allows for the definition and comparison of edge bundling problems. In addition, we present four explicity edge bundling optimization problems that address minimizing the total number of bundles, in conjunction with other aspects, as the main goal. An evolutionary edge bundling algorithm is described. The algorithm was successfully tested by solving three related problems applied to real-world instances. The reported experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness and the applicability of the proposed evolutionary algorithm to help resolve edge bundling problems formally defined as optimization models. / A união de arestas em feixes é uma técnica para agrupar, alinhar, coordenar e posicionar a representação de arestas em um desenho de grafo, de modo que os conjuntos de arestas pareçam ser reunidos em estruturas visuais compartilhadas, ou seja, feixes. O objetivo final é reduzir a poluição visual do desenho melhorando a forma como ele transmite informações. Esta tese apresenta uma formulação geral para problemas de união explícita de arestas, como um problema formal de otimização. Essa formulação pode ser usada para definir e comparar problemas de união de arestas. Ainda, são definidos quatro problemas de otimização de união explícita de arestas, que têm por objetivo minimizar o número total de feixes, em conjunto com outros aspectos. Um algoritmo evolucionário é descrito. O algoritmo foi testado com sucesso em três dos problemas relacionados aplicados a instâncias do mundo real. Os resultados experimentais demonstram a eficácia e a aplicabilidade do algoritmo evolutivo proposto para ajudar a resolver problemas de união de arestas em feixes formalmente definidos como um modelo de otimização.

Le big data est un challenge majeur de la visualisation ; l'augmentation du nombre de données à visualiser augmente la densité et l'occultation des graphes et il devient difficile de distinguer les éléments qui le compose. Pour résoudre ce challenge, plusieurs techniques de visualisation se focalisent sur la simplification visuelle ; parmi elles, l'agrégation visuelle (bundling) permet l'agrégation des liens pour créer des zones de fortes densités au profit d'espaces plus clairsemés faisant ainsi émerger des structures visuelles. Cette thèse s'efforce à faire le trait d'union entre la complexité technique des algorithmes de bundling et les utilisateurs finaux. Dans un premier temps, nous avons formalisé l'espace de design des techniques de bundling afin d'améliorer la compréhension des chercheurs et des utilisateurs. Notre formalisation se fonde sur une taxonomie centrée utilisateur organisant l'ensemble des techniques d'agrégation en fonction des données d'entrée. Ensuite, à partir d'une définition formelle du bundling, nous proposons un modèle générique décrivant l'ensemble des étapes usuelles des algorithmes de bundling et montrons comment les techniques existantes implémentent chaque étape. Enfin, à travers une analyse des tâches, nous exposons des cas d'utilisation avérés. Notre analyse de l'espace des techniques de bundling nous a montré les limites actuelles du bundling quant au traitement de grande quantité de données tant en terme de rapidité de calcul qu'en terme de taille des jeux de données. Ainsi, nous avons résolu ces limites en introduisant une nouvelle technique plus rapide et sans limitation de taille : FFTEB (Fast Fourier Transform Edge Bundling Technique). Notre technique déplace le processus d'agrégation de l'espace pixelaire vers l'espace spectral. Enfin, grâce à un processus de transfert des données, FFTEB résout les problèmes de taille de jeux de données. En dernier lieu, dans le cadre d'une application à la maladie d'Alzheimer, cette thèse démontre l'efficacité des techniques de bundling comme outil d'exploration visuelle. Dans le contexte d'une étude nationale sur la maladie d'Alzheimer, nous avons focalisé notre recherche sur l'analyse de la représentation mentale de l'espace géographique chez les personnes âgées. Nous montrons que l'utilisation du bundling pour comparer les cartes mentales des populations démentes et non-démentes a permis à des neuropsychologues de formuler de nouvelles hypothèses sur l'évolution de la maladie d'Alzheimer. Ces nouvelles hypothèses nous ont permis de montrer l'émergence d'un potentiel marqueur de la maladie près de douze ans avant que les patients ne soient diagnostiqués comme atteints de cette maladie. / Dense and complex data visualizations suffer from occluded items, which hinders insight retrieval. This is especially the case for very large graph or trails set. To address cluttering issues, several techniques propose to visually simplify the representation, often meeting scalability and computational speed limits. Among them, bundling techniques provide a visual simplification of node-link diagrams by spatially grouping similar items. This thesis strives to bridge the gap between the technical complexity of bundling techniques and the end-point user. The first aim of this thesis was to improve the understanding of graph and trail bundling techniques as a clutter reduction method for node-link diagrams of large data-set. To do so, we created a data-based taxonomy that organizes bundling methods on the type of data they work on. From this thorough review and based on a formal definition of path bundling, we propose a unified framework that describes the typical steps of bundling algorithms in terms of high-level operations and show how existing methods classes implement these steps. In addition, we propose a description of tasks that bundling aims to address and demonstrate them through a wide set of applications. Although many techniques exist, handling large data-sets and selectively bundling paths based on attributes is still a challenge. To answer the scalability and computational speed issues of bundling techniques, we propose a new technique which improves both. For this, we shift the bundling process from the image to the spectral space, thereby increasing computational limits. We address the later by proposing a streaming scheme allowing bundling of extremely large data-sets. Finally, as an application domain, we studied how bundling can be used as an efficient visualization technique for societal health challenges. In the context of a national study on Alzheimer disease, we focused our research on the analysis of the mental representation of geographical space for elderly people. We show that using bundling to compare the cognitive maps of dement and non-dement subjects helped neuro-psychologist to formulate new hypotheses on the evolution of Alzheimer disease. These new hypotheses led us to discover a potential marker of the disease years before the actual diagnosis.

La grippe, infection respiratoire virale fréquente, est due aux virus Influenza. Leur génome est constitué par huit molécules d’ARN de polarité négative retrouvés sous la forme de complexe ribonucléique (RNPv). Au cours du cycle viral, il a été démontré que les régions terminales des segments de gène étaient cruciales pour l’incorporation sélective des huit RNPv à l’intérieur des particules virales. Par des techniques d’interaction in vitro et de tomographie électronique, nous avons montré que les segments de gène du virus H3N2 interagissaient entre eux par des interactions ARN/ARN impliquant leurs régions de packaging. Nos résultats suggèrent que la mise en place de ce réseau permettrait la formation d’un complexe supra macromoléculaire multi-segmenté permettant l’incorporation d’un jeu complet des huit RNPv dans les particules virales néosynthetisées. En raison de la nature segmentée du génome viral, des phénomènes de réassortiment génétique peuvent avoir lieu lors d’une co-infection. Afin de définir les mécanismes responsables de la restriction observée lors de ce phénomène, nous avons évalué le taux de réassortiment génétique in vitro entre le virus humain H3N2 et le virus aviaire H5N2. Nos résultats suggèrent que le mécanisme gouvernant l’incorporation sélective des segments de gènes, régulerait le réassortiment génétique. Nous avons montré que la modulation de l’interaction ARN/ARN entre les segments de gènes HA et M permet d’augmenter le taux d’incorporation du segment de gène HA H5 dans le fond génétique du virus humain, prérequis pour l’émergence de virus pandémique / The Flu is a frequent viral infectious disease caused by the Influenza viruses. Their genomes are composed by eight negative single-stranded RNA organised as vRNPs. During the viral cycle, the terminal non-coding and coding regions of viral genome have been shown to be crucial for the selective incorporation of a complete set of the eight vRNPs into influenza viral particles. Band shift assay and electron tomography allowed us to show that all gene segments interact together by RNA/RNA interactions involving their packaging region. Our results suggest that the eight genomic vRNAs are selected and packaged as an organized supramolecular complex held together between identified packaging regions into neosynthesized virions. Due to genome segmented nature, genetic reassortment can occur during co-infection. In order to identify molecular mechanisms responsible for the observed restriction during the genetic reassortment, we have developed a new competitive reverse genetic strategy allowing us to evaluate the genetic reassortment between H3N2 and H5N2 viruses. Our results suggest that mechanism controlling the packaging should regulate genetic reassortment. We have shown that the modulation of RNA/RNA interaction between HA and M gene segment have allowed us to increase HA H5 gene segment incorporation rate into a viral human genetic background, prerequisite for pandemic virus emergency

Approved for public release, distribution is unlimited / This study examines the effects of acquisition reform on Women-Owned Small Businesses (WOSBs) and Small Disadvantaged Businesses (SDBs) who contracted with DOD during the 1990s through 2002 timeframe. Review and analysis of DOD data for fiscal years 1992 through 2002, an analysis of websites and acquisition literature, and interviews with DOD contracting and small business specialists provided the basis for this study. It identifies acquisition reform legislation enacted in the 1990s that has had a direct impact on WOSBs and SDBs and examines the charge that the practice of contract bundling has negatively impacted the ability of small businesses to win DOD contracts. An analysis of contract bundling data from the Small Business Office of Advocacy, Congress and DOD demonstrates that the data is insufficient and inconsistent to prove or disprove that contract bundling is negatively impacting small businesses. However, DOD data for fiscal years 1992 through 2002 indicates that DOD contracting with WOSBs improved consistently, particularly after enactment of the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act (FASA) of 1994 which mandated that the federal government, inclusive of DOD, award five percent of total yearly procurement dollars to WOSBs. / Civilian, United States Army

<p>Changes in sectors and industries have brought new challenges to corporations as well as been important driving forces for the dynamics in strategy at the corporate level. With the dramatic developments of the 1990’s in mind, such as multilateral free-trade agreements, liberalization, privatization, sharp industry growth/decline, increased competition and globalization, in particular within the telecom and the construction industry, this study contributes to describing and understanding strategic change at the corporate level as well as changes in the division of work within value chains. Strategy is defined as intentions, decisions and actions that relate to bundling and unbundling at different strategic levels, aiming to establish and reestablish a value chain position. Thus, outsourcing, M&As, modularization and systems development and sales are important strategic components which are examined from a value chain perspective. From a value chain perspective, the purpose of this study is to describe and understand strategic change at the corporate level in the telecom and construction industries during the 1990’s. More specifically this study shall contribute to describing and understanding (i) the dynamics of and between M&As, outsourcing, modularization and systemization, as well as (ii) industrial and financial drivers to strategic change.</p><p>The conclusions describe strategic change from a value chain perspective using three descriptive patterns, including an increasing degree of specialization and need for interorganizational coordination across the value chain. In addition, outsourcing and modularization of systems and an increased scope of offering through systemization and BOT-projects, result in the fact that due to M&As the horizontal boundary of the firm sometimes goes beyond the industry scope while the vertical scope is often narrowed through outsourcing. The conclusions also focus on understanding the content of strategic change, that is to say the dynamics of and between mergers and acquisitions, outsourcing, modularization and system sales. These findings are summarized in nine explanatory patterns. These patterns show that the strategic decisions of bundling and unbundling at the corporate and functional level through mergers and acquisitions, outsourcing, systemization and modularization are guided by an industrial as well as a financial logic. By considering the descriptive and explanatory patterns found this study, the conclusions also include what to expect during the next decade with regard to corporate strategy from a value chain perspective in five predictive patterns.</p>

Changes in sectors and industries have brought new challenges to corporations as well as been important driving forces for the dynamics in strategy at the corporate level. With the dramatic developments of the 1990’s in mind, such as multilateral free-trade agreements, liberalization, privatization, sharp industry growth/decline, increased competition and globalization, in particular within the telecom and the construction industry, this study contributes to describing and understanding strategic change at the corporate level as well as changes in the division of work within value chains. Strategy is defined as intentions, decisions and actions that relate to bundling and unbundling at different strategic levels, aiming to establish and reestablish a value chain position. Thus, outsourcing, M&amp;As, modularization and systems development and sales are important strategic components which are examined from a value chain perspective. From a value chain perspective, the purpose of this study is to describe and understand strategic change at the corporate level in the telecom and construction industries during the 1990’s. More specifically this study shall contribute to describing and understanding (i) the dynamics of and between M&amp;As, outsourcing, modularization and systemization, as well as (ii) industrial and financial drivers to strategic change. The conclusions describe strategic change from a value chain perspective using three descriptive patterns, including an increasing degree of specialization and need for interorganizational coordination across the value chain. In addition, outsourcing and modularization of systems and an increased scope of offering through systemization and BOT-projects, result in the fact that due to M&amp;As the horizontal boundary of the firm sometimes goes beyond the industry scope while the vertical scope is often narrowed through outsourcing. The conclusions also focus on understanding the content of strategic change, that is to say the dynamics of and between mergers and acquisitions, outsourcing, modularization and system sales. These findings are summarized in nine explanatory patterns. These patterns show that the strategic decisions of bundling and unbundling at the corporate and functional level through mergers and acquisitions, outsourcing, systemization and modularization are guided by an industrial as well as a financial logic. By considering the descriptive and explanatory patterns found this study, the conclusions also include what to expect during the next decade with regard to corporate strategy from a value chain perspective in five predictive patterns.