Since the late 1980s there has been a greater awareness of the need to manage organisational knowledge resources, which are seen as vital to the value proposition of any organisation. This has resulted in the development of a multiplicity of Organisational Knowledge Management (OKM) approaches, systems and processes. OKM as a concept is however experiencing a prolonged period of practitioner and academic dissatisfaction, which is impacting its credibility. Commentators claim that this emanates from the fact that a general model, as a diagnostic mechanism for the field, has not yet emerged, an indicator of immaturity in the field and a destabilising influence on practitioner confidence. This research sets out to explore OKM, with the aim of understanding and attempting to help address this dissatisfaction. The literature review focuses on environmental drivers of OKM as a concept from both practitioner and academic perspectives. This highlights a need for (1) an agreed definition of purpose for OKM systems and (2) a general diagnostic model or framework for those systems that identifies common constructs across sectors or geographic locations. In turn, these require appropriate research evidence. The research reported on in this thesis utilises Soft Systems Methodology as a framework for enquiry. By means of a meta-analysis of literature, the enquiry progresses to a descriptive survey, with findings being illustrated and analysed through fractal analysis. The data is then compared against a sample of models from the field before being translated into a new OKM diagnostic model and supporting toolkit, using logic modelling and a Participatory Integrated Assessment Tool. The application of these to a case study, carried out within in a large multinational organisation, is reported on and evaluated. Findings are that 'self-similarity' exists across existing views of OKM; that the need for knowledge to be used as an organisational resource is a persistent one; that a methodology can be developed that reacts to the needs of academics and practitioners in responding to the challenges from the field; that a proposition for a general organisation diagnostic model is possible; that a robust evidence-based definition for the concept, as well as a general diagnostic model for the coordination of organisational knowledge resources is needed and are provided; and that such a general diagnostic tool, such as has been developed in the research on which this thesis is based, can be applied within an organisation to identify gaps in systems designed to coordinate organisational knowledge resources.

The main purpose of this project is to create a system where Älvdalens Utbildningscentrum can manage the equipment that is made available for their staff and students. This equipment can be computers, clothes, cycles or other things that is needed in the education or at work. Since there is no central management today there is a chance for financial loss when students or staff leaves. The technical solution in this project uses ASP.NET MVC Core and Microsoft Azure, where authentication is based on an existing Azure Active Directory. Since the system that has been developed during this project not yeat have full functionality, this report should be seen as a suggestion how to solve the problem. Further development of the suggested system will continue outside of this project. / Detta projekts huvudsakliga syfte är att skapa ett system där Älvdalens Utbildningscentrum kan hantera den utrustning som tillhandahålls för dess personal och elever. Denna utrustning kan bestå av dator, kläder, cyklar eller andra saker som är nödvändiga i undervisning eller arbetet. Då det saknas en central hantering av detta idag finns risken för ekonomiska förluster när elever eller personal slutar. Den tekniska lösningen i detta projekt använder ASP.NET MVC Core och Microsoft Azure, där autentisering är baserad på befintligt Azure Active Directory. Då det system som utvecklats under detta projekt inte har full funktionalitet ännu, kan denna rapport ses som ett lösningsförslag på det problem. Vidare utveckling av det föreslagna systemet fortsätter utanför detta projekt.

Thesis advisor: Dunwei Wang / Metal nanocrystals with size and shape control have great potential in heterogeneous catalysis. Controllable encapsulation of well-defined metal nanoparticles into the novel porous materials results in new multifunctional nanomaterials. The core-shell nanostructure can enhance the selectivity, durability, or reactivity of the catalysts and even provide additional functionalities. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are a class of novel crystalline nanoporous materials, with well-defined pore structures and distinctive chemical properties. Using MOFs as the encapsulating porous materials has drawn great interest recently due to their tunable structures and properties. However, it could be challenging to grow another porous material layer on metal surface due to the unfavorable interfacial energy. In this work we develop a new concept of colloidal synthesis to synthesize the metal@MOF core-shell nanostructures, in which a layer of self-assembled molecules directed the growth and alignment between two materials. Surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) is designated to facilitate the overgrowth of MOF onto metal surface, and an alignment between the {100} planes of the metal and {110} planes of the MOF can be observed. By utilizing the same concept, a third layer of mesoporous silica could also be coated on the MOF shell with assistance of CTAB. And our method could be a general strategy to fabricate multiple-layer MOF materials. / Thesis (MS) — Boston College, 2015. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Chemistry.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology University of the Witwatersrand Johannesburg February 2015 A research report submitted to the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters in Medicine, in the branch of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. / HIV accelerates the development of cervical cancer by up to15 years. South Africa is currently in the midst of an HIV epidemic. With limited facilities for colposcopy it is vital to identify risk factors within the HIV positive population resulting in positive margins after Large Loop Excision of the Transformation Zone (LLETZ) and persistence of cytological abnormalities on follow-up Pap smears. Objective: The primary objective was to determine the patient risk factors, pre and during colposcopy and LLETZ biopsy, which resulted in the histological involvement of margins of the LLETZ biopsy and persistent cervical dysplasia on follow-up Pap smears. Secondary objectives included determining follow up rate of patients at the clinic as well as the correlation between the original Pap smear cytology grade and the histological grade found on histology of the LLETZ biopsy. Methods: A retrospective review of the files of HIV seropositive patients was done at the colposcopy clinic at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital after the roll out of antiretroviral treatment for the period 1 April 2004 to 31 October 2012. Patients with abnormal pap smears during this time were referred to the colposcopy clinic where a colposcopy and LLETZ biopsies were done. Demographic and clinical data in regards to age, gravidity, contraception, CD4 count, antiretroviral usage, and referral time was collected. Data from the clinical description of the colposcopy and histology of the LLETZ biopsy was also collected. Patients followed up again after 6 months when a repeat pap smear was done. The results of these Pap smears were also collected. Data was then analysed and variate and multivariate logistical regression was used to find statistically significant correlations. Results: A total of 480 files were found to have complete clinical records. One hundred and sixty eight (42.71%) patients had both endo and ectocervical margins clear. Predictive factors for the involvement of endocervical margins was the doctor performing the procedure (p-value <0.01) cytology of the original Pap smear (p value <0.01) and the grade of histological abnormality found at time of LLETZ (p-value <0.01). The statistically significant predictive factors for ectocervical margin involvement was the visualization of the transformation zone at colposcopy (p-value <0.01), the size of lesion found at colposcopy (p-value <0.01), the use of combined oral contraceptive pill (OCP) (p-value 0.02) and the histological grade of abnormality found on the LLETZ biopsy. Age, parity, CD4 count, use of antiretroviral drugs, length of time from Pap smear to colposcopy and use of contraception other than OCP were not found to be statistically significant in our sample population for the involvement of either endo or ectocervical margins. Statistically significant risk factors for the recurrence of intraepithelial lesions on follow up Pap smear was having both endo and ectocervical margin involvement on histology (p-value 0.01) The Ectocervical margin alone was found to have a p-value of <0.01. Abnormal cytology on follow up Pap smear was found in 58.69% of patients. The follow up rate at the clinic was 46.04%. Correlation of cytological grade and histological grade of cervical intraepithelial neoplasm in our sample population was found to be adequate (p-value <0.01). Conclusion: Incomplete incision of the intraepithelial lesion was found to be a significant risk factor for the recurrence of cytological abnormality in patients undergoing LLETZ biopsy. Identifying patients at increased risk for recurrence is important to ensure close follow up in this patient population.

Thesis advisor: John Cawthorne / As a student at one of the nation’s leading universities, Boston College, it seems imperative to look at the university’s aims and accomplishments with a critical eye. The conceptual goals of higher education, particularly liberal arts education, have been the object of philosophical and political conversations for centuries, and it is important that universities continually assess their status through deliberative discussions. This paper seeks to analyze the liberal arts education provided at Boston College in relation to historic conceptions of higher education, current understandings on methods of this education, and the possibility of disparities between what Boston College claims to provide and what students, in reality, receive. Further, this report seeks to make comparisons between the liberal arts education provided by the honors program at Boston College and that which is delivered in the regular core program. / Thesis (BA) — Boston College, 2009. / Submitted to: Boston College. College of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: College Honors Program. / Discipline: Lynch School of Education.

Um dos componentes mais importantes de um Reator Nuclear é o Combustível Nuclear. Atualmente, o mais avançado combustível comercial, cuja aplicabilidade nos reatores brasileiros vem sendo desenvolvida pelo IPEN desde 1985, é o siliceto de urânio U3Si2. Este é formado por placas combustíveis com núcleos de dispersão (onde o material físsil (U3Si2) é disperso homogeneamente em uma matriz de alumínio) revestidos por alumínio. Tal combustível é produzido no Brasil com tecnologia totalmente nacional, resultado do esforço realizado pelo grupo de fabricação de combustíveis nucleares (CCN Centro do Combustível Nuclear) do IPEN. Diante da necessidade do aumento da potência do reator IEA-R1 e da construção do Reator Multipropósito Brasileiro (RMB), para a produção de radioisótopos principalmente para fins na área da medicina , haverá significativo aumento na produção deste combustível nuclear no IPEN. Em face desta conjuntura, faz-se necessário o desenvolvimento de técnicas de qualificação mais modernas e automatizadas. Visando a este objetivo, neste trabalho foi desenvolvido um novo método computacional de medição de espessuras de núcleos e revestimentos de placas combustíveis, o qual é capaz de realizar tais medidas em tempo menor e com dados estatísticos mais significativos, quando comparado com o método atual de medição. / One of the most important components of a nuclear reactor is the Nuclear Fuel. Currently, the most advanced commercial fuel, whose applicability in Brazilian reactors has been developed by IPEN since 1985, is the silicide U3Si2. This is formed by fuel plates with nuclei dispersion (where the fissile material (U3Si2) is homogeneously dispersed in a matrix of aluminum) coated aluminum. This fuel is produced in Brazil with developed technology, the result of the efforts made by the group of manufacturing nuclear fuel (CCN - Center of Nuclear Fuel) of IPEN. Considering the necessity of increasing the power of the IEA- R1 and Brazilian Multipurpose Reactor Building (RMB), for the production of radioisotopes - mainly for the area of medicine - there will be significant increase in the production of nuclear fuel at IPEN. Given this situation, if necessary, make the development of more modern and automated classification techniques. Aiming at this goal, this work developed a new computational method for measuring thickness of core and cladding of fuel plates, which are able to perform such measurements in less time and with more meaningful statistical data when compared with the current method of measurement.

Um dos componentes mais importantes de um Reator Nuclear é o Combustível Nuclear. Atualmente, o mais avançado combustível comercial, cuja aplicabilidade nos reatores brasileiros vem sendo desenvolvida pelo IPEN desde 1985, é o siliceto de urânio U3Si2. Este é formado por placas combustíveis com núcleos de dispersão (onde o material físsil (U3Si2) é disperso homogeneamente em uma matriz de alumínio) revestidos por alumínio. Tal combustível é produzido no Brasil com tecnologia totalmente nacional, resultado do esforço realizado pelo grupo de fabricação de combustíveis nucleares (CCN Centro do Combustível Nuclear) do IPEN. Diante da necessidade do aumento da potência do reator IEA-R1 e da construção do Reator Multipropósito Brasileiro (RMB), para a produção de radioisótopos principalmente para fins na área da medicina , haverá significativo aumento na produção deste combustível nuclear no IPEN. Em face desta conjuntura, faz-se necessário o desenvolvimento de técnicas de qualificação mais modernas e automatizadas. Visando a este objetivo, neste trabalho foi desenvolvido um novo método computacional de medição de espessuras de núcleos e revestimentos de placas combustíveis, o qual é capaz de realizar tais medidas em tempo menor e com dados estatísticos mais significativos, quando comparado com o método atual de medição. / One of the most important components of a nuclear reactor is the Nuclear Fuel. Currently, the most advanced commercial fuel, whose applicability in Brazilian reactors has been developed by IPEN since 1985, is the silicide U3Si2. This is formed by fuel plates with nuclei dispersion (where the fissile material (U3Si2) is homogeneously dispersed in a matrix of aluminum) coated aluminum. This fuel is produced in Brazil with developed technology, the result of the efforts made by the group of manufacturing nuclear fuel (CCN - Center of Nuclear Fuel) of IPEN. Considering the necessity of increasing the power of the IEA- R1 and Brazilian Multipurpose Reactor Building (RMB), for the production of radioisotopes - mainly for the area of medicine - there will be significant increase in the production of nuclear fuel at IPEN. Given this situation, if necessary, make the development of more modern and automated classification techniques. Aiming at this goal, this work developed a new computational method for measuring thickness of core and cladding of fuel plates, which are able to perform such measurements in less time and with more meaningful statistical data when compared with the current method of measurement.

A partir de registros de dois testemunhos, KF-12 localizado na Bacia de Campos e KF-18 na Bacia de Santos, ambos na margem continental sudeste brasileira, realizou-se a caracterização do Último Interglacial s.l., de 60 a 130 ka atrás. Primeiramente, estabeleceu-se um Modelo de Idade para o KF-12 tendo como referência a curva do KF-18 que já possuía uma boa cronologia. Com a curva do plexo Menardii, determinou-se as biozonas de Ericson e Wollin (1968) e constatou-se a diferença existente entre os limites da Zona X e do estágio isotópico marinho 5. Os limites inferidos para a biozona X foram 135,6 ka AP (limite inferior), e 82,3 ka AP (limite superior) para o testemunho KF-18 e; para o KF-12, 133,5 ka AP (limite inferior) a 88,4 ka AP (limite superior). O estágio isotópico marinho (MIS) 5, na região de estudo, compreende o intervalo entre 129,5 e 71,1 ka AP, em ambos os testemunhos. Também foram utilizados outros dados, tais como, razão isotópica em foraminífero planctônico, fauna, teor de carbonato, razão Ti/Ca e Fe/Ca através dos quais pôde-se estimar paleotemperaturas da superfície do mar, aporte de material terrígeno de acordo com as condições úmidas/seca da região de estudo durante o intervalo de interesse. Por fim, verificou-se que tanto os dados isotópicos de oxigênio (&#948;18O) do testemunho de gelo da Groenlândia (NGRIP) quanto os da razão de deutério da Antártica variaram de forma semelhante aos &#948;18O de foraminíferos bentônicos do KF-12 e KF-18, confirmando o sincronismo de tais registros. / The Last Interglacial Cycle s.l. (between 60 and 130 ky ago) was characterized through registers of two different cores in the Brazilian continental shelf, KF-12, located in Campos Basin and KF-18, located in Santos Basin. First an \"age model\" was established for KF-12, from the KF-18 curve that already had a good cronology. Using Menardii group curve, the biozones from Ericson e Wollin (1968) were established and the difference between the X Zone and the marine isotope stage 5 edges was noticed. The inferred limits for X biozone were 35,6 ky BP (inferior limit) and 82,3 ky BP (superior limit) for KF-18 core and 133,5 and 88,4 ky BP for KF-12 core. In both cores the marine isotope stage (MIS) 5 was between 129,5 and 71,1 ky BP. Other data were also used in the study, such as isotope ratio in planktonic foraminifera, fauna, carbonate content, Ti/Ca and Fe/Ca ratios whereby humidity/dry conditions and continental runoff were inferred. Lastly, the study showed that both the oxygen isotope data from Greenland ice core (NGRIP) and the Antarctic deuterium ratio ranged in a similar way of the &#948;18O benthonic foraminifera from KF-12 and KF-18, confirming the data synchronism.

Fung Shui Cheung. / Thesis (M. Phil.)--Chinese University of Hongkong. / Bibliography: leaves 177-188.

This thesis presents the development of photonic tools towards the realisation of an optical intensity waveform synthesiser and of an attosecond pulse synthesiser based on the generation and Fourier synthesis of a continuous-wave coherent spectral comb spanning more than 3 octaves (UV to mid-IR) by use of a gas-filled hollow core photonic crystal fibre (HC-PCF).