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The main purpose of the study was to produce a model that will elucidate the relationships among a number of variables associated with employees' participation in activities of continuing professional development (CPD). The study specifically aimed to explore public librarians' motivation for participation in CPD and to investigate the interest generated by various topics and types of CPD. A subsidiary purpose was to examine work environment factors and management policies and practices impinging on public librarians' CPD. The model hypothesised that perceptions about the applicability of new skills and motivational orientations influenced employees' updating behaviour through the mediation of educational interest. The study used two research methodologies: a survey of public librarians, by means of questionnaires; and semi-structured interviews with 22 library officials and policy-makers. A response rate of 73 percent yielded 303 valid questionnaires. Data were analysed through various statistical and qualitative analyses. In addition, path analysis was used to examine two causal models of participation in CPD activities. The results suggested that the perception of the applicability of new skills was significantly correlated to all motivational factors and with most educational interest factors, particularly to IT skills. Most deterrent factors were negatively correlated with educational factors, indicating that the perception of deterrents stifled the interest in virtually every topic. The study revealed a serious mismatch between librarians' motivations and perceptions of deterrents to participation in CPD activities, on the one hand, and library directors' opinions regarding librarians' motivations and constraints, on the other. Several recommendations are made to advance employees' professional development. Ways were suggested to strengthen the collaboration between state and local initiatives that could encourage librarians to engage in lifelong, planned, professional development.

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Detta examensarbete utfördes på lack- och tryckavdelningen på företaget Emballator Ulricehamns Bleck med målet att undersöka om det fanns brister och slöserier i det befintliga lacksortimentet. Efter en noggrann nulägesanalys som inkluderade bland annat genomgång av applicerbara datablad, arbetsplatsintroduktion och studiebesök hos en av företagets lackleverantörer genomfördes arbetet utan missöden. Nulägesanalysen resulterade i en översikt av dagens lacksortiment och efter det fortsatte arbetet med att ta fram en egenskapsmatris innehållande samtliga lacker i sortimentet. Efter att de lacker som föll inom författarens specifikation för dubbletter identifierats togs ett antal rekommendationer för hur företaget bör agera för att ha ett uppdaterat sortiment fram. Förutom detta har författaren tagit fram ett förslag på hur företaget skall testa sina insideslacker för att i framtiden ha möjligheten att undersöka om några av dessa kan tas ut ur sortimentet. / This degree project was performed in the coating and printing department at Emballator Ulricehamns Bleck. The task was to investigate if any waste and improvement opportunities in the lacquer range at Emballator Ulricehamns Bleck exist. A thorough analysis of the current situation including a review of applicable data, work place introduction and a visit to one of the company´s suppliers was made. This gave a good understanding of the current status. The result of the analysis was an overview of the lacquer range that helped the author to compile a characteristic matrix including all the products in the lacquer range. Following this the author identified products that could be specified as duplicates. Furthermore the degree project has resulted in 5 recommendations regarding future work with the design of the lacquer range. The last part of the project resulted in an analysis of today’s test schedule and a suggestion how to modify it for future needs.

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Traditional methods of blood glucose monitoring involve obtaining samples for measurement via laboratory methodology or point of care devices and require invasive collection techniques such as capillary stick, venipuncture, or the placement of intravenous catheters. Limitations of traditional methods include the limited information provided by intermittent testing and the stress associated with restraint and discomfort experienced by patients. The snapshot nature of the provided information restricts a clinician's ability to truly monitor trends in glucose concentrations over an extended period of time, influencing clinical decision making. The stress of invasive sampling can cause stress hyperglycemia in many veterinary species, complicating interpretation. Continuous interstitial glucose monitoring technology is widely used in the human medical field due to the expansive information provided in a minimally invasive manner. In recent years, the device technology has advanced and cost has improved, prompting application of these devices into the veterinary sector. Studies have shown good agreement between newer glucose monitoring systems and traditional methods in small animal patients with diabetes mellitus, allowing veterinarians to obtain comprehensive glucose data with minimal stress and discomfort to the patient. However, information regarding the use of this new technology in equine medicine is limited. The following study describes the evaluation of two widely available glucose monitoring systems, the Dexcom G6 and the FreeStyle Libre, in healthy adult horses. / Master of Science / Monitoring of glucose concentrations is essential for the diagnosis and monitoring of a variety of disorders within equine medicine. Traditional methods of obtaining samples for testing include capillary stick, venipuncture, or the placement of intravenous catheters, which can cause stress and discomfort to equine patients. The information obtained by this testing methodology only allows for intermittent assessment of glucose concentrations, limiting the amount of information available for clinicians to make clinical decisions. The use of continuous glucose monitoring systems in the human medical field have allowed clinicians to obtain continuous or near-continuous glucose concentrations, improving interpretation. These devices have nearly eliminated the need for blood sampling for glucose concentrations, instead relying on interstitial glucose concentrations which have been shown to compare favorably to blood concentrations. Studies in small animal veterinary species, such as dogs and cats, have shown good agreement between newer glucose monitoring systems and traditional methods in small animal patients with diabetes mellitus, allowing veterinarians to obtain comprehensive glucose data with minimal stress and discomfort to the patient. However, information regarding the use of this new technology in horses is limited. The study described in the manuscript following evaluates the use of two widely available glucose monitoring systems, the Dexcom G6 and the FreeStyle Libre, in healthy adult horse.

In the continuous casting of steels, clogging of the submerged entry nozzle has long been a persistent and costly issue. Previous modelling attempts have assumed that inclusions of different types exhibit the same degree of adhesion when colliding with the nozzle wall - an assumption not borne out by evidence in the literature. In this thesis, a dynamic clogging model is proposed which accounts for the effects of different degrees of inclusion-wall and inclusion-clog adhesion on clog formation and growth. The overall clogging model consists of several sub-models in order to account for the different physics. The melt flow and inclusion motion are modelled using an Eulerian-Lagrangian approach. The inclusion adhesion behavior is determined by the use of a stochastic model activated when an inclusion collides with a surface. A user defined sticking probability is used to determine if an inclusion sticks to a surface (Swall for wall collision or Sclog for clog collision) or instead bounces off. A macroscopic model is used to determine clog growth, where the volume of clog in a cell is tracked and used to determine when the clog grows into adjacent cells. Finally, a modified Kozeny-Carmen equation is used as a porosity model so that the presence of the clog affects and diverts the melt flow. The modified melt flow then alters subsequent inclusion deposition and clog growth. The model is used to investigate the effects of different degrees of inclusion adhesion on inclusion deposition and clog growth. Three scenarios are examined - 1) Inclusion deposition in a pilot scale nozzle, 2) Inclusion deposition in an industrial scale slide-gate controlled nozzle and 3) Clog formation and growth in a pilot scale nozzle. The deposition studies indicate that in a pilot scale nozzle, only a minority of inclusions ever collide with the nozzle (≈ 10%). In contrast, in the industrial scale nozzle there are far more inclusion collisions with the nozzle wall, ranging from 80% when the slide-gate is 20% open to 30% when the slide-gate is 100% open. Despite the differences in nozzle geometry and flow conditions, a similar effect on inclusion deposition is seen when Swall is varied. The effects of Swall can be divided into two regimes. When 0 ≥ Swall < 0.05 there is a sharp increase in the deposition ratio as Swall increases. When Swall > 0.05 there is a small and linear increase in the deposition ratio as Swall increases. This pattern is also seen in the study of clog formation and growth in a pilot scale nozzle. The effects of Swall or Sclog on clog volume can be divided into two regimes. As Swall or Sclog increases, there is a large increase in clog volume, until the sticking probability increases above 1E-2, then any further increase results in only a small increase in clog volume. In comparison to literature data the model successfully simulates the location of clog formation, the initial jump in clogging factor and the clogging factor growth rate in the later stages of clogging. However, the model underestimates the overall increase in clogging factor, resulting in a clogging factor at the end of the simulation which is half of that seen in the experiment. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / One of the ongoing challenges in the continuous casting industry is the occurrence of nozzle clogging. Over time, a buildup of material occurs within the submerged entry nozzle, called a clog. The clog leads to the partial or complete blockage of the nozzle, resulting in increased production costs. Since studying this phenomena experimentally is difficult due to the high temperature and opacity of the molten steel, modelling provides a useful alternative approach. However, previous modelling efforts regarding nozzle clogging have treated all inclusions as exhibiting the same adhesion behavior. This thesis aims to address this issue by presenting a dynamic nozzle clogging model which accounts for the effects of different degrees of inclusion adhesion. The model is used to study both inclusion deposition and clog formation. Results indicate that even a small amount of sticking probability results in a significant degree of inclusion deposition and clogging. The effect of sticking probability on clogging can be divided into two regimes, one where the clogging is very sensitive to the sticking probability and one where it is insensitive. Finally, the model was shown to run adequately even on coarser meshes (meshes with a smaller number of larger cells), indicating its utility in industrial applications, where it can be used to predict the location of clog formation and the clog growth rate.

No / This paper presents a practical methodology for developing a process-based knowledge management system (KMS) for supporting continuous improvement (CI) and asset management. An action research methodology was used to develop a KMS to support CI in a manufacturing company. The KMS is evaluated through application in the case study company. This methodology ensures a consistent approach to carrying out all improvement initiatives. The final part of the methodology addresses the construction of an intranet-based knowledge warehouse. This contains several searchable areas such as existing information on assets, new knowledge generated from projects, details of expertise in the business and links to the key business drivers through the corporate intranet. The KMS is shown to support CI initiatives through the utilization of available data already held within the company's management databases (production, quality and maintenance) including consideration of corporate strategic plans. Process models trigger the application of improvement tools and projects in a true CI environment. This methodology acknowledges both tacit and explicit knowledge within the company, and it represents an appropriate environment to promote and develop a true learning organization. The system developed is shown to be flexible and has been implemented in a manufacturing environment. Financial benefits are presented.

Yes / Herein, the benefits which extrusion can provide for the automated continuous synthesis of organic compounds are highlighted. Extrusion is a well-established technique that has a vital role in the manufacturing processes of polymers, pharmaceuticals and food products. Furthermore, this technique has recently been applied to the solvent-free continuous synthesis of co-crystals and coordination compounds including metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). To date, a vast amount of research has already been conducted into reactive extrusion (REX), particularly in the polymer industry, which in many cases has involved organic transformations, however, it has not received significant recognition for this. This review highlights these transformations and discusses how this previous research can be applied to the future of organic compound manufacture. / EPSRC (EP/L019655/1)