This thesis focuses on practices of disarticulation and bodily manipulation in the Mesolithic of north-west Europe. While the presence of 'loose human bone' has been noted on Mesolithic sites for several decades, this has often been dismissed as the result of taphonomic factors, such as disturbed graves. Instead, studies of mortuary practices have primarily focused on the cemeteries and issues of social complexity, ranking and status. Disarticulated human bone, which cannot throw new light on such issues, has consequently been ignored. Only with more recent discoveries of larger collections of disarticulated human remains, from secure contexts, has this phenomena begun to be taken more seriously, Cauwe (2001) arguing for example, that disarticulation represents the primary Mesolithic mortuary practice. Despite this claim, little work has focused on practices of manipulation and disarticulation beyond a few studies of individual sites, thus little is understood about the nature and variability of these mortuary practices. The aim of this thesis is therefore to provide a broad study of disarticulated Mesolithic remains across north-west Europe (though excluding Scandinavia). In order to tackle the methodological issues involved in the analysis of these assemblages, as well as to provide a considered study of the context of these remains, three detailed osteological case studies - Hardinxveld in the Netherlands and Les Varennes and Petit Marais in France - are presented. These are then compared with a series of well-published sites in order to draw out the full parameters of Mesolithic mortuary variability. It is argued here that Mesolithic mortuary practices were complex and were often temporally and spatially extended. These practices of disarticulation and manipulation also appear to indicate a concern with bodily decay and the circulation of body parts. The implications of these practices for the understanding of Mesolithic identities, bodies, and attitudes to death are also drawn out.

The primary purpose of this study was to identify dimensions of weak tie relationships including characteristics (e.g., distinctive qualities, traits, or properties), functions (e.g., outcomes, purposes, or meanings derived from the interaction) and determinants of engagement to gain insight into the weak tie exchange process and develop frameworks that can be used to operationalize the concept. Data were collected through stories provided by participants during face-to-face interviews. Respondents recounted a situation when someone they did not know well and to whom they did not feel particularly close provided them with assistance. Over 70 stories were collected from 50 adults aged 65 and older who were active in their community. Stories collected were analyzed using an inductive approach that was supported by the concepts of interpersonal tie strength, loose connections, social exchange theory, and social support. Findings suggest that weak tie relationships occur in a variety of community settings and in response to a variety of daily challenges. The exchanges occur more frequently with acquaintances than strangers and the initiator of the exchange is generally the person offering support. The types of support offered are broad-based and include instrumental, emotional, and informational support. Weak tie exchanges range from one-time brief interactions to intermittent exchanges over extended periods, depending on the circumstances. Findings also suggest that weak ties have a specific task or purpose, encourage awareness about the value and purpose of social interactions, and influence participants' future social interactions. Six factors were identified as determinants of engagement in weak ties: situational factors, personal characteristics, judgments of responsibility, attitudes about helping behaviors, personal network type, and exchange history. The findings from this study provide a foundation for further conceptualization of weak ties and a framework on which to develop instruments to measure tie strength and the potential for engaging in weak tie exchanges. / Ph. D.

No description available.

In the beginning of my research I focused on transformations of the urban leftover and void space found in between buildings, street networks, parks or other institutionalized public spaces into urban places of character. By studying the spatial qualities of different places and their relation to human activities in those places I came up with the main question of my thesis: Can a space be designed loose and/or can it be loosened by design? The concept of “heterotopia”, as described by Michel Foucault in his essay “Of Other Spaces: Utopias and Heterotopias”, is a place functioning in nonhegemonic conditions, the place of “otherness” that has more layers of meaning than meet the eye. That concept proved to be the best description and the bounding frame of the design part of my research. / Master of Science

Syfte: Syftet med denna studien är att öka förståelsen kring hur medlemmar hanterar spänningar mellan ett traditionellt styrsystem och ett modernt styrsystem. Metod: För att besvara studiens syfte har vi använt oss av den naturalistiska forskningsfilosofin och en induktiv forskningsansats. Empiriinsamlingen har bestått av intervjuer av en kvalitativ karaktär. Analys av den empiriska data gjordes med hjälp av en tematisk analys. Bidrag: Studien tillför ett teoretiskt bidrag där spänningarna bevisligen existerar mellan styrsystem. De centrala spänningar vi har fått fram är Ansvarstagande, Organisationsstruktur, Kommunikation och Arbetssätt, när Lean används som styrkoncept. Med hjälp av att kunna se verksamhetsstyrning som ett paket kan spänningarna dels förstås bättre, dels förklara varför de kan uppstå. Till sist, kan Loose coupling med framgång användas för att analysera hur medlemmarna hanterar spänningar som uppstår mellan dessa styrsystem. Vi kan se att företagen som undersöks i studien använder olika metoder för att hantera spänningarna. Förslag till vidare forskning: ● Vidareutveckla de teorier vi presenterat i studien gällande identifiering av spänningar. Genom att vidare undersöka hur spänningar fungerar och var de kan uppstå kan forskare bidra till en stabilare verksamhetsstyrning för företag. ● Mer fördjupning inom hantering av spänningar. Genom att utveckla de metoder som redan finns kan det underlätta för företag med spänningar och genom att formulera nya metoder och identifiera nya verktyg kan forskningen föras framåt ytterligare. ● Att undersöka om spänningar går att mäta, för att sedan bygga ett verktyg för företagen att kunna identifiera och hantera spänningarna. / Aim: The aim is to increase the understanding of how members in a company handle tensions between a modern traditional control system and a modern control system. Method: This study was conducted with a qualitative design using a multiple case study and an inductive process. Furthermore, has the study been shaped after the scientific method. Empirical data has been gathered from interviews and the analysing of the empirical data has been done using thematic analysis. Contributions of the thesis: The theoretical contribution of this study is proof that tensions exists between two different control systems. The most central tensions that we have discovered are Responsibility, Organizational structure, Communication and Working methods, when Lean is used as a control concept. With the help of being able to see business management as a package, the tensions can be better understood and also explain why they can arise. Finally, Loose coupling can be successfully used to analyse how members handle tensions that arise between these control systems. We can see that the companies that are analysed in this study use different methods to handle the tensions. Suggestions for future research: ● To further develop the theories we presented in the study regarding the identification of tensions. This can be made by further investigating how tensions work and where they can arise. Researchers can contribute to more stable business management for companies. ● More in-depth study of handling the tensions. By developing the methods that already exist, this can make it easier for companies to handle their tensions between the control systems. But also formulating new methods and identifying new tools that could take the research further. ● To examine if tensions could be measured in order to build a tool that could identify and handle the tensions.

Syftet med detta examensarbete har varit att utveckla ett lekmaterial som uppmuntrar barns kreativitet, motorik och kognitiva förmågor samtidigt som det bidrar till ett hållbart samhälle. Detta genom att ta fram ett konceptförslag på en könsneutral produkt som kan användas av barn i flera åldrar under många år. Projektet har följt en iterativ designprocess (iterERA) med de fem faserna, Planera, Rekognosera, Generera, Detaljera och Kommunicera. Arbetet inleddes med en undersökning av de tänkta användarna och dess närmiljö med hjälp av enkätundersökning, observationer och intervjuer. Parallellt med detta genomfördes en omfattande litteraturstudie för att skapa en vetenskaplig grund till arbetet. Teorin som behandlats innefattar bland annat barnens utvecklingsstadier, lek och leksakers betydelse för barnens utveckling, normkritisk design, material och designteori. Uttalade problem med dagens lekmaterial var hållbarheten då många upplevde att saker gick sönder alldeles för lätt. Undersökningen visade att det fanns behov av omformning då barnen gärna bytte lek och leksaker ofta och det fanns även ett önskemål från föräldrar att kunna återanvända och ärva leksaker mellan syskon. Viktiga egenskaper hos lekmaterial är lärande, säkerhet, omformning och produkter som bidrar till kreativitet och fri lek. Under Genereringsfasen genomfördes kreativa metoder för att få fram en stor mängd idéer som efter kombination och utveckling resulterade i fyra konceptförslag. Slutkonceptet valdes utifrån återkoppling till användarnas behov och önskemål samt utifrån den teoretiska referensramen. Projektet resulterade i lekmodulsystemet MEGO. Produkten består av lådor i olika former och lösa komponenter i trä som på ett enkelt och roligt sätt kan byggas ihop till olika lekkonstruktioner. Modulsystemet ger barn en möjlighet att på ett kreativt sätt påverka sin lekmiljö genom att bygga sina egna leksaker samtidigt som de utvecklar motoriska och kognitiva förmågor. MEGO grundar sig i hållbarhet och består av ekologiska och giftfria material.

During recent years the principles of Mendelism have been used extensively in the production of the new types of plants possessing resistance to various diseases. Results of this mode of attacking the disease problem have been very favorable. Old varieties are gradually giving way to newer types equal to or exceeding in quality and productivity as well as possessing resistance to one or more diseases. Loose smut (U. tritici) in wheat, while not as serious a problem in Utah as the covered smut (T. tritici), according to Tapke (14) has caused an average annual loss of between 50,000 and 100,000 bushels of wheat. these data shown in figure 1 are for the period 1917 to 1926, inclusive. The various methods advocated for the control of loose smut (U. tritici), with the exception of the use of resistant varieties and hot water treatments, either have been impradtical of application or have been ineffective in control or both (14). The modified hot water treatment of Freeman and Johnson (4), has generally been the method recommended. While this method is effective if properly executed, it is rather complicated and tedious to apply, especially for farmers who are not usually properly equipped. Because of this and the fact that the disease frequently escapes observation, seed treatment for the control of loose smut (U. tritici) is seldom practiced; as a result the smut is allowed to go unchecked. The development of a resistant variety possessing the adaptability and desirable characteristics of our locally-grown spring wheats would be a decided advantage to the farmers in combating the disease.

Bolted joints are integral parts of mechanical systems, and bolt preload loss is one of the major failure modes for bolted joint structures. Understanding the damping and frequency response to a varying preload in a single-bolted lap-joint structure can be very helpful in predicting and analyzing more complicated structures connected by these joints. In this thesis, the relationship between the bolt preload and the natural frequency, and the relationship between the bolt preload and the structural damping, have both been investigated through impact hammer testing on a single-bolted lap-joint structure. The test data revealed that the bolt preload has nonlinear effects on the structural damping and on the natural frequency of the structure. The damping ratios of the test structure were determined to increase with decreasing preload. An increase in structural damping is beneficial in most engineering circumstances, for it will reduce the vibrational response and noise subjected to external excitations. It was also observed that the modal frequency increased with increasing preload, but remained approximately constant for preload larger than 30% in the bolt yield strength. One application for studying the preload effect is the detection for loose bolts in structures. The possibility of using impact testing for estimating preload loss has been confirmed, and the modal damping was determined to be a more sensitive indicator than the natural frequency in a single-bolted lap-joint structure.

This thesis explores characteristics of loose space and their implications for physical activity. A space becomes loose when an individual is using it for something other than what it was intended. Individuals can pursue a range of physical activities not possible in other public spaces. To assess the compatibility between loose space and physical activity a survey of 27 users of loose space and key informant interviews from public health, municipal parks and landscape architecture disciplines were used. Interview findings suggest that unstructured forms of physical activity are more likely to be adopted and maintained while survey results show 70% of loose space users are achieving recommended physical activity levels. Multifunctional space that can accommodate appropriation and change may have design implications for improving health. Design recommendations and strategies were developed to inform the design and management of loose space for physical activity. This study suggests that the qualities and distribution of loose space could improve adoption and maintenance of physical activity.

This research studied children’s educational outdoor environments in order to understand which contexts and environmental characteristics support children’s creativity in play. Creativity is an important factor in children’s cognitive development; children’s creativity can flourish in outdoor environments as they can engage in free play. Accordingly, this research had two central aims: Aim 1: To classify and assess children’s levels of creativity during play. Aim 2: To develop design principles for educational outdoor environments in order to nurture children's creativity in play. Initially, behaviour observation and the Leuven Wellbeing and Involvement Scale were used to collect data for a pilot study. Children’s play behaviours were observed and analysed, and based on the Evaluation of Potential for Creativity, the Creative Play Taxonomy was designed in relation to the first aim of the study. Then, at two study sites, experimental research was designed. At both study sites, children were observed in four different play contexts. At Study Site One, duration recording was used and the videorecorder observations were coded with the Creative Play Taxonomy using the software The Observer from Noldus. At Study Site Two, narrative recording was used in the observation sessions and focus group discussions were held with the children. The findings from both study sites achieved the second aim of this study. The current research makes two main contributions to knowledge. Firstly, it introduces the Creative Play Taxonomy, which can be used by researchers, psychologists, educationalists and related disciplines to understand, categorise and assess children’s creativity in play. Secondly, it increases the understanding of the particular play contexts that support children’s creativity in play, and the environmental characteristics that enhance these types of play. Accordingly, this research suggests that: - Outdoor play spaces should include a variety of different play contexts to encourage creative play amongst different groups of children. - The most effective play contexts for children’s creativity are those facilitated with flexible, changeable, mouldable, movable, multi-functional and open-ended play materials. - Children’s outdoor play spaces should be facilitated with loose parts, both natural and synthetic, as they are highly supportive of children’s creativity. - Natural outdoor environments and elements highly encourage creative play behaviours amongst children. The findings are intended to guide landscape architects and playground design professionals to produce informed design decisions based on the framework of creativity, in order to nurture children's creative thinking abilities.