Incorporating traditional craft mediums of crochet and embroidery, I use digital technology to experiment with wording to graphically represent my abuse trauma. Due to the severity of the subject matter and the work ethic I employ in my art practice, using my hands and being completely involved is a form of masochistic pleasure. My process takes on a Sisyphean approach of penance for the sins of others in my work. During my studio practice, my process reaches a meditative state where my mind is clear and free of the burden. Once I've completed a panel of trauma, the burden is transported into the art and a state of enlightenment is achieved. I began this program taking an analysis from an external perspective, gradually shifting my focus of artistic practice to my internal struggles with memory and repressed abuse trauma. Since I have selfishly focused on my personal tragedies for inspiration for the past three years, my work can now address a more universal subject matter in the future

In some organizations four generations work together creating a unique culture. Millennials are the second largest generation currently in the workforce. Organizational culture is affected by interpersonal communication. Interviews were conducted with 17 workers between the ages of 19 and 30. Interviews consisted of 22 open-ended questions regarding daily tasks, organized activities, and interpersonal interaction. The perspective of organizational culture was evaluated through personal, task, social, and organizational rituals. Membership categorization was used to determine common vocabulary used to identify with coworkers. Duck’s theory on attraction was used to evaluate interpersonal behavior seeking to determine psychological attractors acting as catalysts for relationship building. Data found suggests that Millennials create a culture similar to the tribal example suggested in previous research. Rituals act as forms of cultural dissemination and strengthening. The use of membership categorization devices reflected the structure of the organization and relationships between coworkers. Using Duck’s attraction theory, an analysis reflected the identification factors that act as catalysts for relationships. Psychological attraction was linked to common interests

Place branding refers to the strategical act of attaching a positive reputation to a geographical place. This concept is argued important due to its ability to boost places with advantageous lead when globally competing over financial, cultural and human resources. In 2015, the Nordic Council of Ministers accordingly adopted an official strategy for how to internationally brand the Nordic Region. The strategy includes illustrations of the Region, along with detailed goals on how the Nordics – natively called ‘Norden’ – should be associated and perceived.  Nevertheless, when dissecting the elements of which place-brands are made up by, it is found that residents ‘sense of place’ form an essential component to the quality and success of the place-brand. At the same time, it is recognized that people belonging to different generational groups typically carry different social and cultural frames of references, eventually influencing their perception of the world and potentially even their experienced sense of place.  This study has therefore aimed to examine the convergence between the Nordic Council of Ministers’ Place Branding strategy and the ‘sense of place’ experienced by residents of the Region. Additionally, by comparing results between two generational groups; the ‘Gen-z’s’ and the ‘Boomers’. Practically by answering up to the following research questions: (1) How is Nordic residents experienced ‘sense of place’ differing between generational groups? And (2) How are the outcomes in RQ1 standing in relation to the Nordic place branding strategy?  The study has applied a qualitative methodology using surveys and gathering data from a total of 94 respondents, of which 49 have belonged to the Gen-z group and 45 to the Boomer group.   Concludingly, it has been found that residents’ sense of place in the Nordics in fact is differing between generational groups. In broad, the differences are reflected by a strong sense of Nordic belongingness among Boomers, however, in combination with a sense of the Nordics that is further away from what the strategy is intending to communicate. On the other hand, the Gen-z’s are found to have significantly lower sense of Nordic belongingness, although, together with a more positive sense of the Nordics, that also is more in line with strategy.

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Electrical distribution networks face many operational challenges as various renewable distributed generation (DG), such as solar photovoltaic (PV) systems and wind, become part of their structure. Unlike conventional distribution systems, where the only unpredictable aspect is the load level, the intermittent nature of DG poses additional uncertainty levels for distribution system operators (DSO). The voltage quality problem considers the most restrictive issue that hinders high DG integration into distribution grids. Voltage deviates from the nominal grid voltage limits due to the excess power from the DG. DSOs are accustomed to improving the voltage profile by optimal adjustments of the on-load tap changers, voltage regulator taps and capacitor banks. Nevertheless, due to the frequent variability of the output energy from DG, these devices may fail in doing the needful. Battery energy storage systems (BESS) and smart PV inverter functionalities are regarded as promising solutions to promote the seamless integration of renewable resources into distribution networks. BESS are utilized to store the surplus energy during the high penetration of renewable DG that causes high voltage levels and discharge the stored energy when the distribution grid is heavily loaded, which leads to the low voltage levels. Smart PV inverters regulate the network voltage by controlling the reactive power injection or absorption at the inverter end. This dissertation proposes a management strategy that coordinates BESS and smart PV inverter reactive power capability to improve voltage quality in the distribution systems with high PV and wind penetrations. The proposed management method is based on a bi-level optimization algorithm consisting of upper and lower optimization levels. The proposed method determines the optimal location, capacity, numbers and BESS charging and discharging rates to support the distribution system voltage and to ensure optimal deployment of BESS. Case studies are conducted to evaluate the proposed voltage control method. The large size PV system and wind turbine impacts are studied and simulated on the modified IEEE-34 bus test feeder. In addition, the proposed method is applied to the modified IEEE low voltage test feeder to investigate the effectiveness of installing residential rooftop PV systems on the distribution system's voltage. Experimental results show promising outcomes of the proposed method in controlling the distribution networks' voltage. In addition, a day-ahead forecast of PV power output is developed in this dissertation to assist the DSOs to accurately predict the future amounts of PV energy available and reinforcing the decision-making process of batteries operation. Hybrid forecasting models are proposed based on machine learning algorithms, which utilize support vector regression and backpropagation neural network, optimized with three metaheuristic optimization algorithms, namely Social Spider Optimization (SSO), Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and Cuckoo Search Optimization (CSO). These algorithms are used to improve the predictive efficacy of the selected algorithms, where the optimal selection of their hyperparameters and architectures plays a significant role in yielding precise forecasting outcomes. / Doctor of Philosophy / The need for more renewable energy has grown significantly, and many countries are embracing these technologies. However, the integration of distributed generation (DG), such as PV systems and wind turbines, poses several operational problems to the distribution system. The voltage problem represents the most significant issue that needs to be addressed. The traditional voltage control equipment may not cope with the rapid fluctuation and may impact their service life. The continuous developments in the battery energy storage systems (BESS) and the smart PV inverter technologies result in increasing the hosting capacity of DG. BESS can store the excess power from the distributed generators and supply this energy to the grid for different operational objectives. On the other hand, the advanced PV inverter's reactive power capability can be exploited from which the grid can attain many benefits. This dissertation aims at providing a reliable control method to the voltage profile in distribution networks embedded with high PV and wind energy by optimal coordination between the operation of the BESS and the smart PV inverter. In addition, the solar forecasting can mitigate the uncertainty associated with PV system generation. In this dissertation, the PV power forecasting application is applied in the distribution system to control the voltage. Through utilizing PV power forecasting, the decision-making for battery operation can be upheld and reinforced. The BESS can store the surplus energy from the PV system as needed and supply it back in low PV power incidents. Experimental results indicate that proper coordination between the BESS and smart PV inverter is beneficial for distribution system operation that can seamlessly integrate PV and wind energy.

This dissertation investigates telework participation within the US federal government, structured through three interconnected articles from a human resource management perspective. It sheds light on the factors critical for the successful implementation of telework including human resource management (HRM) practices, differences among generational cohorts, and the role of line managers. Chapter 1 presents the motivation for this dissertation, theoretical foundations, an overview of telework within the US federal government, and a summary of the three research studies conducted. Chapter 2 introduces the first manuscript, which examines the impact of HRM practices on telework participation among US federal employees using the Ability, Motivation, and Opportunity (AMO) framework. This study analyzes data from the 2015 Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey (FEVS) through multinomial logistic regression. The results highlight that skills enhancement, promotional opportunities, and cooperative work environments significantly correlate with the likelihood of telework participation. Chapter 3, the second manuscript, applies generational cohort theory to investigate differences in telework participation among generational groups. Utilizing multinomial logistic regression analysis on FEVS data from 2013, 2014, and 2015, the study finds varied preferences for telework across Millennials, Generation X, Late Baby Boomers, and Early Baby Boomers. Generation X shows the most likelihood of telework participation compared to Millennials and Baby Boomers, with Early Baby Boomers displaying the least inclination. Chapter 4, the third manuscript, assesses the role of line managers as HRM partners and facilitators in telework participation. Applying Leader Member Exchange (LMX) theory and 2015 FEVS data, the study finds that the quality of relationships between line managers and employees -marked by mutual trust, support, and respect – enhances the likelihood of telework participation. Chapter 5 concludes this dissertation with summaries of research findings, theoretical and practical implications, research limitations, and avenues for future research directions. / Doctor of Philosophy / This dissertation investigates telework challenges within the US federal government, focusing on key factors that contribute to successful telework implementation. It consists of three interconnected studies, each addressing different aspects of telework from a human resource management perspective. The first study examines how human resource management (HRM) practices influence telework participation among federal employees. It found that skills enhancement, fair promotion opportunities, and cooperative work environments significantly increased the likelihood of teleworking. These findings suggest that HRM systems need to be adaptive and supportive through the alignment of practices with telework goals to ensure effective implementation. The second study explores generational differences in telework participation. The research showed that Generation X employees are the most likely to participate in telework, followed by Millennials and Late Baby Boomers, while Early Baby Boomers are the least likely. These findings underscore the importance of tailoring telework policies to the preferences of different generational groups. The third study focuses on the role of line managers in supporting telework. It demonstrated that strong relationships between employees and their supervisors, characterized by mutual trust, support, and respect, significantly enhance telework participation. This highlights the critical role of managerial support in successful telework programs. The dissertation concludes with a summary of research findings, practical implications for managing telework in the federal government, and recommendations for future research. These insights can help public sector organizations develop effective telework programs that meet the diverse needs of their employees.

The Lyons group denoted by Ly is a Sporadic Simple Group of order 51765179004000000 = 28 37 56 7 11 31 37 67. It(Ly) has a trivial Schur Multiplier and a trivial Outer Automorphism Group. Its maximal subgroups are G2(5) of order 5859000000 and index 8835156, 3 McL:2 of order 5388768000 and index 9606125, 53 L3(5) of order 46500000 and index 1113229656, 2 A11 of order 29916800 and index 1296826875, 51+4 + :4S6 of order 9000000 and index 5751686556, 35:(2 M11) of order 3849120 and index 13448575000, 32+4:2 A5 D8 of order 699840 and index 73967162500, 67:22 of order 1474 and index 35118846000000 and 37:18 of order 666 and index 77725494000000. Its existence was suggested by Richard Lyons. Lyons characterized its order as the unique possible order of any nite simple group where the centralizer of some involution is isomorphic to the nontrivial central extension of the alternating group of degree 11 by the cyclic group of order 2. Sims proved the existence of this group and its uniqueness using permutations and machine calculations. In this dissertation, we compute the (p; q; t)-generations of the Lyons group for dis- tinct primes p, q and t which divide the order of Ly such that p < q < t. For computations, we made use of the Computer Algebra System GAP / Mathematical Sciences / M.Sc. (Mathematics)

A two-sector OLG model illuminates the intergenerational effects of a tax that protects an environmental stock. A traded asset capitalizes the economic returns to future tax-induced environmental improvements, benefiting the current asset owners, the old generation. Absent a transfer, the tax harms the young generation by decreasing their real wage. Future generations benefit from the tax-induced improvement in environmental stock. The principal intergenerational conflict arising from the tax is between generations alive at the time society imposes the policy, not between generations alive at different times. A Pareto-improving tax can be implemented under various political economy settings. (authors' abstract)

The aim of the thesis is to cover the variability of the protectorate press propaganda in relation to the generational and social belonging of the target readership group. This has been researched through analysing three collaboration newspapers - Arijský boj, Zteč and Přítomnost. Propagandist images have been reconstructed based on an analysis of three large topics, namely depicting the classes of the protectorate intellectuals, the youth and finally the Jewish minority. Except for covering the specific propagandist techniques, the aim is also an attempt to evaluate the perspectives of accepting these images by the protectorate society, and of explaining why they failed. Due to the primary sources that were used in the research, presented thesis affects mainly the period between 1942 and 1945.