The thesis compares the development time and performance of two types of Microsoft analytical models created in Visual Studio that are deployed on the local analytics servers and the Azure cloud server. Theoretical research will be summarizing business intelligence and data warehouses components, Microsoft tools for business intelligence realization and features using in-memory database technologies. The practical part introduces the AdventureWorks demonstration database,describes the implementation of both analytical models and compares both models with respect to the time-consuming development, performance and suitability of deployment.

The thesis is dedicated to the study and numerical analysis of the non- linear flows in the porous media, using general Forchheimer models. In the numerical analysis, the local discontinuous Galerkin method is chosen. The first part of the paper is dedicated to the derivation of the studied equations based on the physical motivation and summarizing the theory needed for the further analysis. Core of the thesis consists of the introduction of the chosen discretization method and the derivation of the main stability and a priory error estimates, optimal for the linear ansatz functions. At the end we present a couple of numerical experiments to verify the results. 1

This study investigates the tensile behavior of anchor pull-out tests from super early age concrete(less than 12h) by finite element(FE) software ANSYS Workbench. In previous experiment, several series of pull-out tests were finished and analyzed. In each per hour, different speeds(1mm/s, 0.2mm/s, 0.1mm/s and 0.833mm/s) were evaluated, getting the results about correlation of pull-out force and displacement(F-D curve). It is difficult to evaluate the specific development of tensile strength in super young concrete, due to the super plasticity that makes itself soft and unstable. The first step of this study is to collect relevant empirical formula, theoretical varying material properties with time and pull-out force of experimental applied anchors. Comparison of simulation analysis results and empirical formulas determines whether the establishment of the finite element model and adapted constitutive model of known natural hardened concrete(NHC) are valid or not. The second procedure is that the material properties of NHC are replaced by different age values and modified until getting the same simulation results as experiment outcome. The propose of this paper is to investigate a more accurate modified formula to describe the development of tensile behavior in super early age concrete:1. Introduction 2. Background 2.1 Modes of failure 2.2 A new failure mode 2.3 Finite Element Numerical Simulation 3. Research Questions 4. Aims/Objectives of the Research 5. Proposed Research Method 5.1 Previous Empirical theory 5.1.1 Cubic Compressive strength of Early Age Concrete 5.1.2 Tensile Strength of Early Age Concrete 5.1.3 Modulus of Elasticity in Early Age Concrete 5.1.4 Prediction of pull-out maximum force to headed studs from concrete 5.2 Pervious Experiment 5.3 Numerical Simulation 6. Significance/Contribution to the Discipline 7. Experiment Program 7.1 Experiment Setup 7.2 Experiment Result 8. Numerical simulation and analysis 8.1 Material Properties 8.2 Modelling Setup 8.3 The first pull-out test 8.4 Comparison Results at different stages 9. Discussion and Results 10. Summary and Conclusion 11. Recommendation for future studies 12. References 13. Appendix

Relaxation in nuclear magnetic resonance is a powerful method for obtaining spatially resolved, timescale-specific dynamics information about molecular systems. However, dynamics in biomolecular systems are generally too complex to be fully characterized based on NMR data alone. This is a familiar problem, addressed by the Lipari-Szabo model-free analysis, a method that captures the full information content of NMR relaxation data in case all internal motion of a molecule in solution is sufficiently fast. We investigate model-free analysis, as well as several other approaches, and find that model-free, spectral density mapping, LeMaster’s approach, and our detector analysis form a class of analysis methods, for which behavior of the fitted parameters has a well-defined relationship to the distribution of correlation times of motion, independent of the specific form of that distribution. In a sense, they are all “model-free.” Of these methods, only detectors are generally applicable to solid-state NMR relaxation data. We further discuss how detectors may be used for comparison of experimental data to data extracted from molecular dynamics simulation, and how simulation may be used to extract details of the dynamics that are not accessible via NMR, where detector analysis can be used to connect those details to experiments. We expect that combined methodology can eventually provide enough insight into complex dynamics to provide highly accurate models of motion, thus lending deeper insight into the nature of biomolecular dynamics.

In the past decades, wireless Machine-to-Machine (M2M) networks have been developed in various industrial and public service areas and envisioned to improve our daily life in next decades, e.g., energy, manufacturing, transportation, healthcare, and safety. With the advantage of low cost, flexible deployment, and wide coverage as compared to wired communications, wireless communications play an essential role in providing information exchange among the distributed devices in wireless M2M networks. However, an intrinsic problem with wireless communications is that the limited radio spectrum resources may result in unsatisfactory performance in the M2M networks. With the number of M2M devices projected to reach 20 to 50 billion by 2020, there is a critical need to solve the problems related to the design and applications in the wireless M2M networks. In this dissertation work, we study the wireless M2M networks design from three closely related aspects, the wireless M2M communication reliability, efficiency, and Demand Response (DR) control in smart grid, an important M2M application taking the advantage of reliable and efficient wireless communications. First, for the communication reliability issue, multiple factors that affect communication reliability are considered, including the shadowing and fading characteristics of wireless channels, and random network topology. A general framework has been proposed to evaluate the reliability for data exchange in both infrastructure-based single-hop networks and multi-hop mesh networks. Second, for the communication efficiency issue, we study two challenging scenarios in wireless M2M networks: one is a network with a large number of end devices, and the other is a network with long, heterogeneous, and/or varying propagation delays. Media Access Control (MAC) protocols are designed and performance analysis are conducted for both scenarios by considering their unique features. Finally, we study the DR control in smart grid. Using Lyapunov optimization as a tool, we design a novel demand response control strategy considering consumer’s comfort requirements and fluctuations in both the renewable energy supply and customers’ load demands. By considering those unique features of M2M networks in data collection and distribution, the analysis, design and optimize techniques proposed in this dissertation can enable the deployment of wireless M2M networks with a large number of end devices and be essential for future proliferation of wireless M2M networks. / Graduate / 0544 / flintlei@gmail.com

Quality of life (QOL) is an extremely important concept in the promotion of appropriate and successful health care programmes. However, there is a need for conceptual clarity to unravel the complexities of terminology in different medical conditions and the underlying factors that have a direct influence on the quality of life for people with coronary heart disease. The primary objective of this thesis is to propose a theoretical model which specifies the domains of QOL and the interrelationships among these domains. The objectives of the study are four-fold: (1) To examine whether a cardiac rehabilitation programme has a beneficial effect on cardiac heart disease patients; (2) To evaluate the primary components of generic health-related quality of life assessment tools for people with coronary heart disease; (3) To identify the main factors governing disease-specific health-related quality of life assessment tools amongst patients with coronary heart disease; (4) To examine a variety of conceptual models of QOL and to determine their relevance to cardiac patients. First, in order to provide conceptual clarity, a comprehensive review of QOL measures was undertaken. Second, data was collected on a cardiac rehabilitation programme in a county hospital using Short Form-36 (SF-36) and Quality of Life for Myocardial Infarction (QLMI) instruments. This data was analysed using a number of techniques including (l)meta-analysis; (2)discriminant analysis; (3)factor analysis and (4)structural equation modelling. Analysing the data in this way enabled the development and clarification of the specific domains of the quality of life model. Meta-analysis involved pooling the results of several studies, these were then analysed to provide a systematic, quantitative review of the data. The results found that the related studies did not have consistent outcomes to support the positive effects of a cardiac exercise rehabilitation programme on quality of life in coronary patients. Findings from the SF-36 indicate that older people with coronary heart disease gain more pain relief than their younger counterparts. After a cardiac exercise rehabilitation progranune, statistically significant improvements occurred in physical function, social function, role limitation/physical, energy/vitality, body pain, and change in health-related dimensions of quality of life. The first-order five domains model includes the symptom domain, the restriction domain, the confidence domain, the self-esteem domain and the emotion domain. This model represents an appropriate model of quality of life for people with coronary heart disease compared to the three-domain model and the four-domain model. In terms of the second-order QOL model, the five-domain model also has an adequate fit to the data. According to the result of structural equation modelling, three models, including the null model, the alternative model I and the alternative model n, did not fit the data perfectly. However, the construct of full latent variable model gradually increased the fit statistics from the null model to the alternative model I and from the null model to alternative model n. Therefore, it can be concluded that the paths and indicators of the three models need to be further adjusted in order to provide a more appropriate model. Nevertheless, this is a first trial to examine a full model of quality of life for people with coronary heart disease using the structural equation analyses. As such, this study provides a new approach to examining the difference between empirical studies and theoretical approaches.

This thesis presents an analysis of the public sphere in the environment of two different media types. The analysis is performed on the basis of the extent of different participants in the media contents which were related to the declaration of the ban on selling alcohol spirits in the Czech Republic in September 2012. The theoretical part of the paper is focused primarily on the definition of the basic concepts, such as new and traditional media, the public and the public sphere, then also on normative theories in general, along with a more detailed view on the normative theory of the public sphere, within which the paper is focused on participatory and discursive model of Jürgen Habermas. The second part of the paper provides on the basis of quantitative research, which was preceded by qualitative analysis, an empirical comparison of the extent of different participants and their access to the content of both media types. It also provides an overview of applied topics and contextual frameworks through which was a declaration of the ban on selling alcohol spirits in the media reported. In the conclusion, there is a statement which is based on the evaluation of the collected data. It was concluded, that the public sphere in the internet environment is not, considering the extent of participation of...

This Master's Thesis aims to assess overall financial health of the company Silektro s.r.o. and makro and micro surroundings components influence to its business. Firstly, theoretical basis and selected procedures are described. In practical part, individual methods combining internal and external analyses are applied. The key methods of this thesis are financial analysis, PEST analysis and Porter's Competitive Forces Model. The last used method is synthesis by SWOT. The required outcome is to evaluate analyses used and assessment of the overall business situation in reference period.

This diploma thesis based on a result of the European Union's intention to increase the share of electricity produced from renewable energy sources in the total production, Slovak Republic currently subsidises building gasifier power plants (high efficiency combined production) to produce electricity and thermal energy from the biomass. Therefore, this thesis aims to build a financial plan of gasifier, which will be used for the evaluation of the investment from the point of view of an investor. Valuation depends mainly on the economic benefits of the project with regards to the assessment of business environment. The work contains a sensitivity analysis to determine what impact on the value of the cash flows will make a percentage change in one variable.

Submitted by admin tede (tede@pucgoias.edu.br) on 2018-09-27T18:13:44Z No. of bitstreams: 1 ParcileneFernandesdeBrito.pdf: 2444083 bytes, checksum: eea4e1b897bdd9e57504c34888b57c01 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-09-27T18:13:44Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 ParcileneFernandesdeBrito.pdf: 2444083 bytes, checksum: eea4e1b897bdd9e57504c34888b57c01 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-06-29 / The vast amount of information available on the Internet have enabled numerous multidisciplinar investigations aimed to understand nuances of human consumption behavior, especially to identify people's opinions about products and services. From Behavioral Perspective Model (BPM), consumer behavior analysis can be conducted focusing on antecedent variables (behavioral setting and consumer learning history) and consequences (reinforcement and punishment, utilitarian and informative) to the occurrence of behavior. The present thesis investigated consumption behavior in the context of tourism, with BPM as theoretical support for interpretations of verbal data extracted from comments available on the TripAdvisor®, a website about tourism. Verbal responses of tourism consumers, engaged in the process of online avaluation of components of tourism products (specifically, Accommodations [ACO], Restaurants [RES] and Attractions [ATR]), were analyzed. Research participants were the unknown individuals who, between the beginning of February and the end of March 2017, emitted 6.438.497 comments distributed among the 100 most evaluated Brazilian touristic destinations at TribAdvisor®. In two studies (Study 1 [E1] and Study 2 [E2]), the thesis research aimed at: a) extraction and analysis of tourist´s verbal information (commentaries) throught a Sentiment Analysis (SA) computational technique; extraction the number of touristic product component (ACO, RES e ATR) evaluative indications emitted by tourism consumers with different statuses as TripColaborators; extraction of the number of votes (Likes) to the comments; b) describe the polarized evaluative response attributed to the 100 evaluated touristic destinations and interpret such responding considering BPM concepts. E1 resulted in the successful development of the SentimentALL tool, focusing on the AS module, and the generation the primary variables explored in E2 (n = 197). In E2, data generated in E1 and derived measures were explored (described in rankings and correlation analyzes) and interpreted using the BPM conceptual framework. With a fundamental exploratory caracter, the interpretative effort suggested profitable research lines and utility of the computational and psychological knowledges integration. / A grande quantidade de informações disponíveis na internet tem viabilizado numerosas investigações de caráter multidisciplinar com o objetivo de entender nuances do comportamento de consumo humano, especialmente identificar as opiniões das pessoas sobre produtos e serviços. A partir do Behavioral Perspective Model (BPM), análises do comportamento do consumidor podem ser realizadas considerando variáveis antecedentes (cenário do comportamento e história de aprendizagem do consumidor) e consequências (reforços e punições, utilitários e informativos) à ocorrência do comportamento. A presente tese investigou o comportamento de consumo no contexto do turismo, com o BPM como suporte teórico para interpretações de dados verbais extraídos de comentários disponíveis no TripAdvisor®, website do setor. Para tanto, analisaram-se as respostas verbais de turistas-consumidores no processo de “opinar on-line” sobre componentes de produtos turísticos (especificamente, acomodações – ACO, restaurantes – RES e atrações – ATR). Os participantes da pesquisa foram os indivíduos (desconhecidos) que, entre o início de fevereiro e o final de março de 2017, emitiram, no TripAdvisor®, 6.438.497 comentários distribuídos entre os 100 destinos turísticos brasileiros mais avaliados. Descrita em dois estudos (Estudo 1 [E1] e Estudo 2 [E2]), a pesquisa de tese se propôs a: a) extração e análise de informações verbais (comentários) dos turistas com base na técnica computacional Análise de Sentimentos (AS); extração do número de indicações avaliativas dos componentes do produto turístico (ACO, RES e ATR) emitidas por turistas-consumidores com diferentes status como TripColaboradores; extração do número de votos úteis (Likes) nos comentários; b) descrever o responder avaliativo polarizado atribuído aos 100 destinos turísticos avaliados e analisar interpretativamente tal responder a partir do BPM. O E1 resultou no desenvolvimento da ferramenta SentimentALL, com foco no módulo de AS, e na geração das variáveis primárias exploradas no E2 (n = 197). No E2, dados gerados no E1 e medidas derivadas foram explorados (descritos em rankings e análises de correlação) e interpretados com recurso ao referencial conceitual do BPM. De caráter fundamentalmente exploratório, o esforço interpretativo sugeriu linhas profícuas de pesquisa e a utilidade da integração entre conhecimentos computacionais e psicológicos.