This thesis presents an approach to modeling Multi Agent Systems (MAS). A framework and its implementation are presented as an extension to .NET. A number of definitions of agents are evaluated for the purpose of a broad understanding of the term software agent. Software agent has been defined in MAS context and its characteristics are identified and implemented. Motivation factors for building framework for MAS have been discussed. A number of existing technologies are discussed and evaluated. A number of agent systems previously developed are also being discussed in the middle part of the thesis. A model software agent has been defined and its characteristics are divided in two basic categories essential and optional. Its implementation has been distributed into different components throughout the MAS framework. Some of these characteristics are jointly implemented by a number of components and others responsibility rest on the individual components. Detail working of the MAS framework (i.e. what to do, when to do) is explained as guide to develop MAS using MAS framework. The protocols followed by the framework components to make communication possible between them are discussed at components level. The required information for developing MAS using MAS framework are also discussed. It answers the why, when and how questions in regards to using MAS framework A case study on Dynamic Truck Scheduling (DTS) system is discussed, designed and implemented using the MAS framework. DTS System has been used as a prototype application to test and evaluate the framework. DTS also represents a model problem that can be answered by using MAS; complete in-depth details about the problem statement are discussed. It also discusses the design and implementation of the solution along with the test results of the framework. Possible future expansion is presented in light of a number of limitations known of the MAS framework. The code working behind the different components of the MAS framework is given in appendices. Some important standards of XML that are used to pass information between agents and MAS framework components are also given in the format of tables.

<p>This Master’s thesis describes an evaluation of the stream-based knowledge pro-cessing middleware framework DyKnow in multi-UAV traffic monitoring applica-tions performed at Saab Aerosystems. The purpose of DyKnow is “to providegeneric and well-structured software support for the processes involved in gen-erating state, object, and event abstractions about the environments of complexsystems." It does this by providing the concepts of streams, sources, computa-tional units (CUs), entity frames and chronicles.</p><p>This evaluation is divided into three parts: A general quality evaluation ofDyKnow using the ISO 9126-1 quality model, a discussion of a series of questionsregarding the specific use and functionality of DyKnow and last, a performanceevaluation. To perform parts of this evaluation, a test application implementinga traffic monitoring scenario was developed using DyKnow and the Java AgentDEvelopment Framework (JADE).</p><p>The quality evaluation shows that while DyKnow suffers on the usability side,the suitability, accuracy and interoperability were all given high marks.</p><p>The results of the performance evaluation high-lights the factors that affect thememory and CPU requirements of DyKnow. It is shown that the most significantfactor in the demand placed on the CPU is the number of CUs and streams. Italso shows that DyKnow may suffer dataloss and severe slowdown if the CPU istoo heavily utilized. However, a reasonably sized DyKnow application, such as thescenario implemented in this report, should run without problems on systems atleast half as fast as the one used in the tests.</p>

<p>Abstract</p><p><strong>Titel: </strong>Diagnosing accountability, a study of accountability of UNT and DN’s medical journalism  ( Diagnos av ansvarstagande, en studie av accountability inom DN och UNT:s medicinjournalistik)</p><p><strong>Number of pages: </strong>45 (59 including enclosures)</p><p><strong>Author:</strong> Alexandra Johansson</p><p><strong>Tutor: </strong>Göran Svensson</p><p><strong>Course: </strong>Media and Communication studies C<strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Period: </strong>Fall 2008<strong> </strong></p><p><strong>University: </strong>Division of Media and Communication, Department of Information Science, Uppsala University</p><p><strong>Purpose/Aim: </strong>To evaluate the quality of medical journalism in DN and UNT according to the theories of accountability and responsibility in the media.</p><p><strong>Material/Methods: </strong>The materials and methods used in this thesis are 14 articles from DN and 14 articles from UNT that have been analyzed according to the criterion set forth by Media Doctors, an Australian media accountability system.</p><p><strong>Main Results: </strong>The results showed that DN scored an average of 57% “satisfactory” and UNT scored an average of 52% “satisfactory” of Media Doctors rating scale. Strengths were an educational tone and an insightful review of the newest findings in the scientific community. Weaknesses were poor transparency and a tendency to neglect full disclosure of the scientific findings and sources. Focus was also show to be on research and not on information for potential patients. Media Doctor was also shown to be a well formatted media accountability system which gave insights to the broad uses of such systems.</p><p><strong>Keywords: </strong>Medical journalism, DN, UNT, Accountability, media accountability systems (MAS), Media Doctor.</p><p> </p><p> </p>

Two approaches for creating a new all-cellulose composite material have been studied: the biosynthesis of compartmentalised bacterial cellulose fibril aggregates and the compression moulding of commercial chemical wood pulps processed with only water. The objective was to study the structural changes during processing and the complexity of relating the mechanical properties of the final biocomposites to the nanoscale structure was highlighted. Solid-state CP/MAS 13C NMR spectroscopy was utilised to determine both the fibril aggregate width and the content of the different crystalline cellulose forms, cellulose I and cellulose II. Using this method, the quantities of hemicellulose present inside the fibre wall and localised at the fibre surfaces could be determined. The formation of cellulose fibrils was affected by the addition of hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC) to a culture medium of Acetobacter aceti, and the fibrils were coated with a thin layer of HEC, which resulted in loose bundles of fibril aggregates. The HEC coating, improved the fibril dispersion in the films and prevented fractures, resulting in a biocomposite with remarkable mechanical properties including improved strength (289 MPa), modulus (12.5 GPa) and toughness (6%). The effect of press temperature was studied during compression moulding of sulphite dissolving-grade pulps at 45 MPa. A higher press temperature yielded increases in the fibril aggregation, water resistance (measured as the water retention value) and Young’s modulus (12 GPa) in the final biocomposite. The high pressure was important for fibril aggregation, possibly including cellulose-cellulose fusion bonds, i.e., fibril aggregation in the fibre-fibre bond region. The optimal press temperature was found to be 170°C because cellulose undergoes thermal degradation at higher temperatures. The effect of hemicellulose was studied by comparing a softwood kraft paper-grade pulp with a softwood sulphite paper and a softwood sulphite dissolving-grade pulp. A significant fibril aggregation of the sulphite pulps suggested that the content and distribution of hemicellulose affected the fibril aggregation. In addition, the hemicellulose structure could influence the ability of the hemicellulose to co-aggregate with cellulose fibrils. Both sulphite pulp biocomposites exhibited Young’s moduli of approximately 12 GPa, whereas that of the kraft pulp was approximately half that value at 6 GPa. This result can be explained by a higher sensitivity to beating in the sulphite pulps. The effect of mercerisation, which introduces disordered cellulose, on the softwood sulphite dissolving-grade pulp was also studied under compression moulding at 170°C and 45 MPa. The mechanisms causing an incomplete transformation of cellulose I to II in a 12 wt% NaOH solution were discussed. The lower modulus of cellulose II and/or the higher quantity of disordered cellulose likely account for the decrease in Young’s modulus in the mercerised biocomposites (6.0 versus 3.9 GPa). / Två metoder för att skapa ett nytt kompositmaterial baserat på enbart cellulosa har studerats, biosyntes av fibrillaggregat bestående av bakteriecellulosa och varmpressning av kommersiella träfiberbaserade massor med vatten som den enda processkemikalien. Målet var att studera de strukturella förändringarna som sker under tillverkningsprocessen. Även komplexiteten i att relatera strukturen på nanonivå till de mekaniska egenskaperna hos de slutliga biokompositerna belystes. Med fastfas CP/MAS 13C NMR-spektroskopi var det möjligt att bestämma både fibrillaggregattjockleken och mängden av cellulosakristallformerna; cellulosa I och cellulosa II. Det var också möjligt att bestämma mängden hemicellulosa dels närvarande inuti fiberväggen och dels mängden lokaliserad på fiberytor. Tillsats av hydroxyetylcellulosa (HEC) i odlingsmediet för Acetobacter aceti påverkade bildandet av cellulosafibriller som blev belagda med ett tunt skikt av HEC, vilket också resulterade i löst bundna fibrillaggregat. HEC-beläggningen förbättrade fibrilldispersionen i filmerna och minskade sprickbildningen, vilket gav en biokomposit med mycket goda mekaniska egenskaper med kombinerad hög styrka (289 MPa), styvhet (12.5 GPa) och seghet (6%). Effekten av presstemperatur vid varmpressning (45 MPa tryck) studerades på sulfit dissolvingmassor. Högre presstemperatur gav ökad fibrillaggregering, ökat vattenmotstånd (mätt som vattenretentionsvärde) och högre styvhet (12 GPa) för biokompositen. Det höga trycket var också viktigt för fibrillaggregeringen, som troligen omfattar cellulosa-cellulosa samkristallisation dvs. fibrillaggregering i fiber-fiber-bindningsregionen. Den optimala presstemperaturen föreslogs vara 170° C pga. termisk nedbrytning av cellulosa vid högre temperaturer. Effekten av hemicellulosa studerades genom att jämföra sulfat pappersmassa med sulfit pappersmassa och sulfit dissolvingmassa. Mängden och fördelningen av hemicellulosa föreslogs ligga till grund för skillnaden i fibrillaggregering, som var mera uttalad i sulfitmassorna. Även hemicellulosans struktur kan påverka förmågan hos hemicellulosa att sam-aggregera med cellulosafibriller. Biokompositerna baserade på sulfitmassorna hade en styvhet på ca. 12 GPa, medan sulfatmassan bara hade hälften av den nivån ca. 6 GPa, vilket förklarades av sulfitmassornas högre känslighet för malning. Även effekten av mercerisering av sulfit dissolvingmassa varmpressad vid 170° C och 45 MPa studerades. Mercerisering introducerar oordnad cellulosa och mekanismerna som endast ger en partiell omvandling av cellulosa I till II i en 12 vikt% NaOH-lösning diskuterades. Den sämre styvheten hos den merceriserade biokompositen (6.0 resp. 3.9 GPa) förklaras troligen genom cellulosa II kristallens lägre styvhet och/eller den högre mängden av oordnad cellulosa. / <p>QC 20121106</p> / Wallenberg Wood Science Center / Biomime

Abstract Titel: Diagnosing accountability, a study of accountability of UNT and DN’s medical journalism  ( Diagnos av ansvarstagande, en studie av accountability inom DN och UNT:s medicinjournalistik) Number of pages: 45 (59 including enclosures) Author: Alexandra Johansson Tutor: Göran Svensson Course: Media and Communication studies C Period: Fall 2008 University: Division of Media and Communication, Department of Information Science, Uppsala University Purpose/Aim: To evaluate the quality of medical journalism in DN and UNT according to the theories of accountability and responsibility in the media. Material/Methods: The materials and methods used in this thesis are 14 articles from DN and 14 articles from UNT that have been analyzed according to the criterion set forth by Media Doctors, an Australian media accountability system. Main Results: The results showed that DN scored an average of 57% “satisfactory” and UNT scored an average of 52% “satisfactory” of Media Doctors rating scale. Strengths were an educational tone and an insightful review of the newest findings in the scientific community. Weaknesses were poor transparency and a tendency to neglect full disclosure of the scientific findings and sources. Focus was also show to be on research and not on information for potential patients. Media Doctor was also shown to be a well formatted media accountability system which gave insights to the broad uses of such systems. Keywords: Medical journalism, DN, UNT, Accountability, media accountability systems (MAS), Media Doctor.

The seed size and shape of lentil are important traits because they determine the market class, cooking time, and can influence quality and yield of milled lentils. Understanding the genetic control of seed size and shape can help breeders develop varieties with improved seed size and shape characteristics such as seed diameter, seed thickness and seed plumpness. The objectives were to determine the heritability of seed size and shape and identify the genomic regions controlling these traits. This involved i) developing a linkage map for the LR-18 population (CDC Robin x 964a-46) using a recently developed single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) assay; ii) analyzing the LR-18 population for seed size and shape QTLs; iii) analyzing an association mapping panel for seed size and shape QTLs. Phenotyping trials were grown at two different locations in Saskatchewan, Canada. The mapping population was grown in two different years while the association panel was only grown in one. Seed diameter and thickness were measured using sieves and this data were used to calculate seed plumpness. Days to flowering was also recorded to determine if it had any effect on seed size or shape. A linkage map consisting of 537 SNPs, 10 SSRs and 4 morphological markers on seven linkage groups was constructed and used for the QTL analysis. The heritability estimates were high for seed diameter and seed plumpness (0.92 and 0.94, respectively) while for seed thickness and days to flowering they were more moderate (0.60 and 0.45, respectively). QTL analysis revealed QTLs on five of the seven linkage groups. The association mapping study revealed similar heritability estimates of 0.97, 0.62, 0.94, and 0.62 for seed diameter, seed thickness, seed plumpness and flowering time, respectively. There were 31 different significant marker trait associations, however only 5 of those were significant for both locations. Four of those five markers did not map in the LR-18 linkage map so their genomic locations are still to be determined. Results showed that there are key regions in the genome that control seed size and shape and flowering time in lentil. These markers could be used for marker-assisted selection or for further candidate gene analysis.

Methane activation with bromine followed by the condensation of the methyl bromide into higher hydrocarbons or oxygenates is a novel route. However, the selective production of monobrominated methane (CH3Br) at high conversions is a crucial prerequisite. A reaction model was developed according to the kinetic data available in the literature and thoroughly studied to investigate the optimum reactor conditions for selective methane bromination in gas phase. It was concluded that at high methane (&gt / 90%) conversions dibromomethane synthesis was favored at high selectivity (~90%) under the following conditions: T=330 &deg / C, Br:CH4 = 3. Sulfated zirconia included SBA-15 catalysts were prepared and characterized for the catalytic methane activation via bromination. The SBA-15 sol-gel preparation technique was followed and the zirconium was added during the preparation in the form of ZrOCl2&middot / 8H2O with 5-30 mol % ZrO2 with respect to the SiO2 content simultaneously with the silicon source (TEOS). The catalysts were sulfated in 0.25 M H2SO4 solution. The zirconium contents of the catalysts were determined by elemental analysis and 15 wt. % Zr was determined as the highest amount. XRD analysis showed the crystalline zirconia peaks only for high zirconia loadings (&gt / 25 mol % ZrO2) indicating the good distribution of Zr in silica framework at lower loadings. BET surface areas of the sulfated catalysts are in the range of 313-246 m2/g. The porous structures of the catalysts were determined by TEM pictures, which revealed that the increase in Zr content decreased the long range order of pore structure of SBA-15 in agreement with XRD results. The acidities of the catalysts were determined by 1H MAS NMR experiments. Br&oslash / nsted acidity was identified by a sharp 1H MAS NMR line at 10.6 ppm. The highest acidity was observed at 5.2 wt. % Zr loading according to 1H MAS NMR experiments. 29Si MAS NMR analysis showed the formation of Si-O-X linkages (X=H, Zr). Further characterization of Br&oslash / nsted acidity was performed by FT-IR spectroscopy of adsorbed CO at 82 K. The analysis revealed that the Br&oslash / nsted acidity of sulfated catalysts were similar to the acid strength of the conventional sulfated zirconia. In TPD experiments, the basic molecule isopropylamine (IPAm) was adsorbed and decomposition temperature of IPAm was monitored. The temperature decreased from 340 &deg / C to 310 &deg / C in sulfated catalysts, indicating the acidic character of these samples. Catalytic methane bromination reaction tests were performed in a quartz tubular reactor. The results showed that 69% methane conversion was attainable over SZr(25)SBA-15 catalyst at 340 &deg / C. The liquid 1H NMR measurements of the products revealed that &gt / 99% methyl bromide selectivity was achieved.

<p>Both artificial intelligence (AI) and database (DB) communities have advantages in incorporating features from each other's areas. From a DB view, handling of complexity in today's information systems can be aided by incorporating AI features, and database environments could gain in flexibility by entrusting some of their functionality to agent systems. Contemplated from the AI view, agent systems could gain in robustness by being based on DB-systems.</p><p>By applying the semantics of database-transaction to interactions between agents in a multiagent-system, and analysing the consequences, this project endeavours to cross borders of the two research areas. In the project, states where drop-out of some agent is severe to the task fulfilment, of the system, have been identified, and examined after applying transaction semantics to the agent interactions. An existing system for multiagent applications, JADE, has been examined in order to investigate how problem situations are handled in practice. The result from this work shows the feasibility to contemplate both type of systems as very similar, but modelled and viewed in different ways.</p>

The vegetation of New Zealand has undergone extreme changes during the period of European settlement, with not only forest clearance but a deliberate attempt to replace the native vegetation with species from Europe and later from other parts of the world. Garden escapes continue this process to the current day. Several European ferns that have been introduced to New Zealand gardens have subsequently escaped. At the time of writing D. filix-mas is the most obvious and probably the most abundant in the rural areas of Canterbury having been observed in a wide range of habitats from suburban to farm, to forests both plantation and montane and in shrublands. This thesis investigates some of the ecology of D. filix-mas and explores its potential as a weed detrimental to New Zealand’s indigenous ecosystems. An extensive literature review revealed that in the Northern Hemisphere D. filix-mas grows over a wide range of climates, vegetation types and soils. However the literature review did not clearly show the forest light conditions under which D. filix-mas grows nor could the Northern Hemisphere experience in deciduous woodlands and coniferous forests be directly carried over into New Zealand’s podocarps, evergreen hardwood and evergreen beech forests. An experiment was designed to investigate tolerance to shade and field data was collected at several sites across North Canterbury for subsequent investigation with ordination and standard statistical methods. Records from around New Zealand were collated and used to generate a map of potential extent using the Land Environments New Zealand dataset. Positive growth was achieved under all shade treatments including the heaviest at 96% shade. However the field data suggests that under some of the lowest light availability D. filix-mas does not grow. In the field D. filix-mas is found in diverse habitats with a preference for sheltered sites with more southerly than northerly aspects. Interpretation of the ordination output combined with knowledge of the sites suggests that D. filix-mas is mostly associated with degraded sites and sites of past disturbance. Regenerating kanuka is a reliable place in which to find D. filix-mas but relatively natural beech forest is not. D. filix-mas can potentially grow over much of the South Island particularly in drier areas and can be invasive following disturbance and when grazing is removed, making it a potential problem for indigenous forest restoration efforts.

Since the early 1990s, regulators in the UK and in many other countries have faced increasing pressure from media industry participants to liberalise media and cross-media ownership restrictions. Many countries, including the UK, have responded to this pressure by amending their domestic legislative frameworks in such ways as to remove at least some restrictions which had previously been established in order to protect pluralism. The main aim for this study has been to assess the 'economic' case in favour of de-regulating media and cross-media ownership in the UK. The principal method of investigation has been to analyse the relationship between, on the one hand, the size and vertical or diagonal structure of a selection of UK media firms and, on the other, their recent economic performance. Findings suggest that, although factors other than size will affect performance, there is generally a strong and positive correlation between the market share and the operating profitability of firms who are involved in either television or radio broadcasting, or national newspaper publishing. This correlation reflects efficiency gains through economies of scale and scope and, also, revenue advantages arising from increased market power. On the other hand, there is little evidence that previous monomedia ownership restrictions represented a threat to the economic viability of the industry or that developments in the late 1990s have introduced significant 'new' gains for enlarged monomedia enterprises. Nor is there evidence that de-regulation of monomedia restrictions would have any positive impact on the exports performance of traditional UK media firms. With regard to diagonal expansion, there is no evidence that cross-ownership between radio and television or between television and national newspapers yields important economic benefits. This thesis would argue that, taken as a whole, the de-regulation of UK media ownership in 1996 has delivered relatively few enhancements to the economic efficiency or prospects of the UK media industry while, at the same time, has engendered a considerable welfare loss through lower safeguards for pluralism. This outcome reflects serious systemic problems at the national UK level in the policymaking mechanism which is supposed to curb the political influence of media owners. This study finds that the scope - via a shift in responsibility for policy-formulation to the transnational European level - for overcoming such problems will be limited, not least because the protection of pluralism remains outside the official competence of the European Commission.