When it comes to monitoring human health, accuracy is not a choice. Accuracy in blood pressure (BP) estimation is essential for proper diagnosis and management of hypertension. An error of 5 mmHg is so serious, it can be responsible for doubling or halving number of patients diagnosed with hypertension. Motion artifacts are external sources of inaccuracy and can be due to sudden arm motion, muscle tremor, shivering, and transport vehicle vibration. Medium term drift, due to changing environmental factors, such as ambient temperature, can also contribute to the inaccuracy. Long term drift (ageing), can reach 9 mmHg during the first three months of usage. In this thesis, a new stage is added to current cuff based BP devices. This stage is responsible for adjusting the pressure reading before displaying it to end users. The proposed stage is provided with a 3-axis accelerometer, which makes the detection of motion artifacts during measurement possible. Moreover, it monitors changes in the ambient temperature and sensor ageing, so that it will adaptively compensate for these inaccuracies. These sources of inaccuracy are suppressed using algorithms based on Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD), which has the feature of removing unwanted noise components little effect on the phase or the frequency distribution of the measured signal. With motion artifacts, measurements show that the proposed algorithms considerably improved the accuracy of the blood pressure estimates in comparison with the commonly-used conventional oscillometric algorithm that does not include a stage for artifact suppression, and allowed the estimates to consistent with the international ANSI/AAMI/ISO standard. Moreover, simulations based on experimental results show that the system is able to compensate for drift due to temperature changes and ageing with excellent performance. Results show promise towards building a robust BP monitor, with very low errors due to motion artifacts, environmental changes, and ageing.

This thesis addresses the problem of computationally estimating the motion of pack ice in sequential digital satellite images. The problem is posed in terms of linear filter theory and is solved by minimizing the error variance. The intuitive use of cross correlation and edge detection are shown to flow naturally from this approach. The theoretical framework also allows a geometric intuition into the action of the filter which is not possible through ad hoc methods. The noise corrupting the filtering process is investigated and the filter is implemented through both a first order method common to image processing, and a more sophisticated second order approach from computational vision. The class of imagery for which the filtering system is appropriate is discussed and the images chosen for the experiments are shown to be representative of this class. The experimental results reveal the power of the system in estimating ice motion, and some analysis of the derived motion is performed by comparison to a simple theory of wind-driven ice motion. The failings of the system are discussed and improvements are suggested. / Science, Faculty of / Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, Department of / Graduate

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(理学) / 甲第22257号 / 理博第4571号 / 新制||理||1656(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院理学研究科地球惑星科学専攻 / (主査)教授 田口 聡, 教授 秋友 和典, 准教授 藤 浩明 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Science / Kyoto University / DGAM

We have been traveling on roads for hundreds of years and the development during those years has led to safer roads. Barriers between the two traffic lanes have been one of the most important measures to prevent cross-median collisions. In 1998, the world's first cable barrier was arranged and ever since, there have been discussions held about the cable barrier’s function and maintenance cost. This report shows, like many before, that the cable barrier is more expensive in maintenance costs from a life cycle perspective than the steel beam is. The 2+1 road's working environment is considered to be a problem for operating contractors, rescue personnel and others who may be working on the road. The road itself is quite narrow and the surrounding traffic passes close by the workers. This could be avoided with an extra traffic lane, like a 2+2 road. The costs to society, caused by traffic delays and fatal and severe injuries, would probably also decrease, while statistics proves less accidents due to driving into the midbarrier on a 2+2 road, than a 2+1 road. Similarly to this, statistics also indicates that the 2+2 road would provide a smoother traffic flow and a higher traffic safety. LCC is an abbreviation for Life-Cycle Cost and is a method for calculating and comparing different investment options. The two main alternatives calculated are the 2+1 road with cable barrier and the 2+2 road with steel beam. A third alternative, 2+1 road with steel beam has also been compared in this report. The results show the 2+2 road’s top layers with steel beam barrier included, is less expensive over years, than the 2+1 road’s top layers with cable barrier or with steel beam barrier. The maintenance costs have been calculated over a period of 30, 40 and 60 years, in order to analyze the cost variations over different periods. The initial cost of the 2+2-road is of little importance in relation to the probable increased road safety, the safer work environment and hopefully the lower society costs. Especially when the 2+2 road is less costly after already 20 years. / Vi har färdats på vägar i hundratals år och utvecklingen har lett till jämnare och säkrare vägar. En del i detta arbete har varit mittseparationer för att förhindra mötesolyckor. År 1998 sattes världens första stållineräcke upp och ända sen dess har diskussioner förts om dess funktion och underhållskostnad. Denna rapport visar att vajern på en 2+1-väg är dyrare i underhållskostnader ur ett livscykelperspektiv, än vad stålbalken är på en 2+2-väg.  2+1-vägens arbetsmiljö anses vara ett problem för driftentreprenörer, räddningspersonal och andra som kan komma att arbeta på eller vid vägen. Detta beror på att vägen är smal och att omgivande trafik passerar väldigt nära de arbetande. Detta skulle undvikas med en extra körfil, som vid en 2+2-väg. Där skulle troligtvis även samhällskostnaderna minska, då statistik visar att räckespåkörningar är färre vid en 2+2-väg i relation till en 2+1-väg. Likaså finns statistik som tyder på att 2+2-vägen skulle ge ett jämnare trafikflöde och därmed högre trafiksäkerhet.  LCC är en förkortning för Life-Cycle Cost och är en metod för att beräkna och jämföra olika investeringsalternativ. De två huvudalternativ som beräknats är 2+1-vägen med stållineräcke och 2+2-vägen med stålbalk. Även ett tredje alternativ, 2+1-väg med stålbalk har jämförts i denna rapport.  Resultaten visar att 2+2-vägens överbyggnad med stålbalk och mittremsa, är dyrare att bygga, men mindre kostsam i underhåll över kalkylperioderna 30, 40 och 60 år, gentemot 2+1-vägens överbyggnad med vajer, respektive stålbalk.   De initiala kostnaderna väger lätt i relation till trolig förhöjd trafiksäkerhet, tryggare arbetsmiljö och förhoppningsvis lägre samhällskostnader, med tanke på att 2+2-vägen är mindre kostsam efter redan 20 år.

Considering the importance of routine execution within firm replication, exploring the balance between organisational routine development in terms of variations and routine constraints of this variation, with the goal of allowing for improvements without deviating too far from the original routine that makes it a success. Aim: Shed light onto how routine variations are managed in the face of the two extremes; no routine development at all and too much routine development. Methodology: This qualitative case study was conducted within two IKEA stores, the iconic furniture retailer from Älmhult, Sweden. The in-store goods flow process was the platform for the study. The study involved participant observation, as well as 13 (semi-structured) interviews with IKEA co-workers on operational and managerial level to identify mechanism for balancing drift in organisational routines. Findings: This study has developed a conceptual model visualizing a hierarchy of mechanisms composed by artifacts, embededdness and identity that IKEA stores use to curb drift in organisational routines.

Title: Pandemic's impact on real estate companies - a qualitative study of privately owned and commercial real estate companies' management during the pandemic. Authors: Anton Berg and Anton Bjerborn Keywords: Commercial properties, property management, operation and maintenance work. Aim: The aim of the study is to describe and explain how the commercial real estate companies have been affected by the current pandemic and then with a focus on its operation and maintenance work as well as investments. The study also aims to describe the economic consequences that the pandemic has caused for the real estate companies, this to create an understanding over the situation and to cope with similar circumstances in the future. Theoretical reference frame: The study's theoretical frame of reference is established through three subject areas that are relevant to the study and consists of external and internal circumstances as well as property management. Each subject area also has several subcategories that address essential parts for each area. The chapter concludes with a graphic model that summarizes the theoretical frame of reference and its subcategories to make it easier to get an overview of the study's theory. Method: The study has been established through a qualitative research method at the same time as the empirical material has been collected through semi-structured interviews of eight different privately owned and commercial real estate companies in Sweden. Conclusion: After analyzing the theoretical and empirical material, the study's conclusion shows that the real estate companies have to some extent been affected by the pandemic in the form of poorer cash flows, postponed operation and maintenance work and minor investments. The actual outcome cannot be determined in this situation

Denna rapport innefattar utformningen av en driftmanual samt ett arbetsschema för Renova Sävenäs försorteringsanläggning. Anläggningen förbehandlar idag endast träavfall. Syftet med denna studie är att ta reda på vilka komponenter som är avgörande för att skapa ett arbetsschema och driftmanual. Det står även i fokus att se om man kan förbehandla RDF bränslet på försorteringsanläggningen. Det skall kontrolleras om det går att köra 200,500, 1000 ton/vecka igenom anläggningen. All information om driftmanual och arbetsprocess tas från gamla serviceinstruktioner och från expertis av personal på plats. Rapporten kommer även innefatta hur anläggningen fungerar under drift. Studien innehåller också en inblick i vad RDF bränsle är, hur det produceras samt hur det förbehandlas på Renova. Avslutningsvis har det också gjorts en evaluering om det finns möjlighet att förbehandla RDF på försorteringsanläggningen. Det kommer presenteras relevanta fakta baserat på skötselinstruktioner om varför det inte är angeläget att köra RDF på försorteringsanläggningen. / This report will contain the modelling and design of an operation manual and work schedule for Renova Sävenäs pre-sorting facility, the facility today is only managing the pretreatment of wood waste. The purpose of this scientific study is to further investigate what components   necessary for a complete work schedule and operation manual. The focus of this study is also to take a closer look if it is possible to switch out the wood fuel for RDF fuel. Furthermore, the amount of RDF fuel that is going to pass through the facility is 200,500, 1000 tons/week. All the information that is provided for designing the operation manual and work schedule is taken from old service instructions and the trough interviews with the personnel at the facility. This report will also contain how the facility operates during the day. Throughout this report it will be explained what RDF fuel is, how it is produced and how Renova is using it at its facility. Finally, there will be an evaluation if it's possible based on the facts presented in the report to pre-treat RDF fuel in the pre-sorting facility, and also the obstacles on why it's not feasible to do this process.

Foster care drift is the extended stay in foster care without attaining family reunification or permanency with another placement. When foster care youth experience foster care drift, they face the possibility of aging out of the foster care system. Interventions and policies have been implemented to aid family service workers during the process of permanency planning; however, a great number of foster care youth remain in care. This study explored the perceptions of social work professionals regarding foster care drift regarding issues and challenges that social workers engaged in foster care placement face regarding foster care drift. The ecological system theory provided the foundation for understanding the connection of social workers and the external systems surrounding them. An action research design was used to carry out this study. A focus group with family service workers in the southeastern region of the United States was conducted. Seven participants discussed foster care drift and developed possible solutions. Key findings from the study show 3 main themes: ineffective communication, unproductive parent education classes, and unhelpful allocation of agency funding. Possible solutions to decrease foster care drift include improving communication among workers and other agencies, improving parent education courses to include an independent living skills component, and allocating monetary resources to develop programs specific for foster care youth and their families. The findings of this study might effect social change by supporting a shift in focus of foster care services from out-of-home interventions to preventative services to promote family stability.

The nonprofit sector is increasingly engaged in social enterprise, which involves a combination and balancing of social mission and business goals which can cause mission drift or mission tension. A work integrated social enterprise (WISE) is a specific type of social enterprise that focuses on integrating hard-to-employ individuals, such as ex offenders, back into the workforce, usually through producing goods or offering services. Little is known about how WISE organizations manage mission drift, particularly given the unique characteristics of this type of organization. Using institutional values theory and resource dependence theory as the foundation, the purpose of this case study was to explore how a WISE in Indiana experience and manage mission drift and mission tension. Data were collected from semistructured interviews with 4 board members and 4 staff persons, and from organizational documents. All data were inductively coded and subjected to a constant, comparative analysis between empirical and predictive themes. The study revealed the organization has not experienced mission drift or mission tension because, (a) there was a strong mission and a commitment by the board and staff to the mission, (b) there was a constant balancing act between mission and income, (c) business goals aligned with mission, and (d) operating systems were in place for mission sustainability. The positive social change implications stemming from this study include providing beneficial information about best practices and strategies to other organizations seeking to develop WISE programs that provide opportunities and training for difficult to employ populations.

Low-earth orbit (LEO) contains plasma which can impact satellite charging and radio frequency (RF) communications. Quantifying both the composition and movement of ions in LEO can improve efficiency of the forecasting models that predict the impact plasma will have on satellite communications and accuracy of global positioning satellite measurements. Two instruments known as the Retarding Potential Analyzer (RPA) and the Ion Drift Meter (IDM) have been used in tandem to measure ionospheric properties including ion temperature, velocity, and density. These instruments are costly and occupy large areas on a spacecraft. In recent years, space mission budgets have diminished. This change has driven innovation towards creating new instruments which are compatible with smaller and cheaper satellites yet still yield measurements of comparable quality. This thesis presents the design of a new instrument that encompasses the functionality of both the RPA and IDM, known as the Plasma Velocity Vector Instrument for Small Satellites (PVVISS). PVVISS has compact form factor and low power requirements, making it a viable option for smaller, low cost nano-satellite sized missions. Missions utilizing the PVVISS sensor will allow increased exploration of the ionospheric impact on satellite communications.