abstract: The United States elderly population is becoming increasingly larger, there is a need for a more adequate housing type to accommodate this population. It is estimated that by 2020, there will be a need for approximately 1.6 to 2.9 million units of affordable Assisted Living (Blake, 2005). With limited income and higher health bills, adequate housing becomes a low priority. It is estimated that 7.1 million elderly households have serious housing problems. (Blake, 2005) The scope of this research will look at literature, case studies, and interviews to begin to create and understand the necessary design aspects of Assisted Living and Affordable Housing to better create a housing typology that includes both low income residents and Assisted Living needs. This research hopes to have an outcome of Design Recommendations that can be utilized by designers when designing for an Affordable Assisted Living typology. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.S.D. Design 2014

abstract: Tempe political and business leaders implemented a series of strategies, composed of interconnected economic, political, and cultural factors that contributed to the city's growth over time. Influenced by a new economic opportunities and challenges, changing ideas about redevelopment and the role of suburbs, and Tempe's own growth issues after 1960, Tempe leaders and citizens formed a distinct vision for downtown redevelopment. Modified over time, the redevelopment strategy depended on effective planning and financing, public-private collaboration, citizen participation, and a revised perception of growth. After 1980, the strategy gained momentum enabling leaders to expand their ambitions for downtown. Redevelopment manifested through riverfront redevelopment, art and culture, and historic preservation redirecting the city's growth, creating economic development, and revitalizing downtown as Tempe began flourishing as a mature supersuburb. The strategy showed considerable economic success by 2012 and the completion of the Rio Salado Project, the Tempe Center for the Arts, and the preservation of the Hayden Flour Mill made downtown an attractive and diverse urban destination. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.A. History 2014

Cette thèse porte sur la signification du paon et du phénix dans des contextes cultuels et funéraires, autour du Bassin méditerranéen entre le IVe et le XIIe siècle. L’étude est basée sur un corpus de 490 documents dans lesquels apparaissent un ou plusieurs paons, mis en parallèle avec 68 témoignages figurés du phénix. Ces oiseaux ont été mis en image de différentes manières et selon différents contextes, aussi bien sur des pièces de monnaie, des fresques catacombales, des sarcophages, des décors mosaïqués (pavements, coupoles, absides, …), des manuscrits ou bien encore sur des clôtures de chœur. L’observation des documents révèle que des liens ont été tissés entre les deux oiseaux associés tous deux à l’idée de renaissance bien avant le IVe siècle. En effet, la notion de renaissance est transversale dans l’étude de la figuration du paon et du phénix entre Antiquité et Moyen Âge, et entre paganisme et christianisme. Les premières références à ces deux oiseaux, connues dans les textes et l’iconographie antiques, ont été analysées afin de réfléchir sur l’imaginaire construit autour du paon et du phénix, liés aux rythmes cycliques, à la mort et à la résurrection. La fonction du paon comme psychopompe et plus largement comme intermédiaire entre terre et ciel et entre l’humain et le divin, s’affirme progressivement. Entre le IIIe et le IVe siècle, le paon et le phénix entrent dans le répertoire visuel funéraire des premiers chrétiens et commencent à être mis en relation avec la conception du baptême comme une renaissance. Entre le IVe et le VIe siècle, ils sont introduits dans l’espace ecclésial et resserrent leurs liens avec le Christ et le baptisé. Les deux oiseaux offrent au fidèle un espoir de salut en témoignant du triomphe du Christ sur la mort et en annonçant la résurrection des Élus. Entre le VIIe et le IXe siècle, la figuration du paon est notamment étudiée sur des clôtures de chœur et d’autres éléments de décors sculptés, en lien avec le rituel eucharistique, avec l’idée de passage entre charnel et spirituel. Le corpus réuni met en évidence le rôle du paon comme gardien du seuil, d’un point de vue matériel et spirituel. La présence récurrente du paon et du phénix entre le VIe et le IXe siècle dans des espaces ecclésiaux romains est également mise en perspective vis-à-vis des réalisations papales et selon des enjeux liés à la mémoire des saints et de l’Église. L’étude s’ouvre au XIIe siècle avec le décor monumental de Saint-Clément à Rome comme un témoignage charnière dans la signification du paon. / This dissertation deals with the meaning of the peacock and the phoenix within contexts of worship and funerary contexts in the Mediterranean area, between the IVth and the XIIth centuries. The study is based on an iconographic documentation meeting 490 items of the peacock and 68 items of the phoenix. These birds were imaged in various ways as well as coins, paintings of catacombs, sarcophagi, mosaics (pavements, domes, apses, …), manuscripts, and even chancel screens. The analysis of the documentation indicates that links were weaved between both birds associated with the idea of revival long before the IVth century. The idea of revival, indeed, is a cross-cutting concept in the study of the iconography of the peacock and the phoenix between Antiquity and Middle Ages, between paganism and christianity. The first references to the these birds in the antique texts and the iconography are studied in order to reflect on the imagination about the peacock and the phoenix, both associated with cyclic rhythms, death and resurrection. The peacock was seen as a psychopomp, more generally like an intermediary between earth and sky, as well as between the human and the divine. Between the IIIth and the IVth centuries, the peacock and the phoenix were inserted into the funerary iconography of the first Christians and begin to be linked with the conception of the baptism as a revival. Between the IVth and the VIth centuries, they were inserted into the ecclesial space and they tightened their links with the Christ and the baptized. The peacock and the phoenix offer to the believer a hope of being healed. They show the triumph of the Risen Christ and announce the resurrection of the dead at the end of days. Between the VIIth and the IXth centuries, the iconography of the peacock is studied in particular on chancel screens and on the other sculptures linked with the eucharistic rite and with the idea of a connection between caro and spiritus. The documentation highlights the role of the peacock as the guard of the threshold, from a material and spiritual point of view. The recurring presence of these birds between the VIth and the IXth centuries in Roman ecclesial spaces was also put in perspective towards the papal realizations and according to stakes strongly bound to the memory of the saints and the Church. The study opens to the XIIth century with San Clement’s monumental decoration in Rome as a pivotal testimony in the evolution of the meaning of the peacock.

Westinghouse Electric Sweden AB’s three-dimensional reactor core simulation program POLCA uses a large number of tables containing various fuel dependent data, such as cross sections, pin power maps with power distribution etc. POLCA uses quadratic and linear interpolation to extract the values needed for the simulation. However, finding the correct values to interpolate between takes time. This master thesis describes a method of compacting the tables by removing values, in order to shorten the needed simulation time. This is done so that no significant accuracy is lost in the interpolations. The method also finds deviant values and replaces these with new, interpolated values. The thesis shows that approximately 90 % of all values can be removed without losing significant accuracy. These results are however heavily dependent on the choice of accuracy loss criterion; a lower allowance for accuracy loss lowers the amount of values which can be removed sharply.

Forest fires has become an increasing threat all over the world. Pollution and rising greenhouse gases has led to an ever increase in global temperatures. Sweden has previously been spared from larger fires, but in the past few year it has been been made clear that these climate changes will affect the number and intensity of forest fires.  In this project I have investigated how forest fires work and how the process of  extinguishing them looks today. With a focus on the personal equipment I have looked into how to improve the working environment and the safety for fire-fighters. Using the design process this problem is tackled from a holistic point of view, looking at both the users and context. The solutions presented in this project is a professional safety product called “Phoenix. PPe Wildfire respirator”. A lightweight portable oxygen harness with an attached emergency mask.

This master’s thesis deals with a new design of an oil pump for Tatra T158 transfer case. The new solution should replace earlier involute internal gear pump which is not able to provide sufficent lubrication. The main problem of the old design is a poor suction at low speeds of the vehicle. Gerotor type of the pump has been chosen. Its main advantages are a convenient specific flow rate and good volumetric efficency. In an analytic calculation of the pump gearing also important functional parameters have been checked, like a pressure angle, flow rate, flow irregularity, specific flow rate, specific slipping. A design with and without axial clearance compensation is introduced. Measurements on a test rig confirmed good suction ability even in low revs. Generated flow rate and pressure are improved. That is a good prerequisite for faster assembly of transfer case with no testing of each oil pump. The tests have not revealed any unexpected wear of parts of the pump so far. It is supposed an application of the new gerotor design in a serial production of T158 truck and other types in the future.

The diploma thesis is a part of the project Intelligent weighting and sorting of goods. The principle of measuring of weight from movement dynamics with derivation calculation relation is detailed described in the first part. The description of used automation means is also in the first part of the diploma thesis. The second part includes design of three adaptive control systems for controlling DC electromotor’s arm, communication principles between programmable logic controllers and designed code of program.

abstract: A mathematical approach was developed to evaluate the resilience of coupled power-water networks using a variant of contingency analysis adapted from electric transmission studies. In particular, the “what if” scenarios explored in power systems research were extended and applied for coupled power-water network research by evaluating how stressors and failures in the water network can propagate across system boundaries and into the electric network. Reduction in power system contingency reserves was the metric for determining violation of N-1 contingency reliability. Geospatial considerations were included using high-resolution, publicly available Geographic Information System data on infrastructure in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area that was used to generate a power network with 599 transmission lines and total generation capacity of 18.98 GW and a water network with 2,624 water network lines and capacity to serve up to 1.72M GPM of surface water. The steady-state model incorporated operating requirements for the power network—e.g., contingency reserves—and the water network—e.g., pressure ranges—while seeking to meet electric load and water demand. Interconnections developed between the infrastructures demonstrated how alternations to the system state and/or configuration of one network affect the other network, with results demonstrated through co-simulation of the power network and water network using OpenDSS and EPANET, respectively. Results indicate four key findings that help operators understand the interdependent behavior of the coupled power-water network: (i) two water failure scenarios (water flowing out of Waddell dam and CAP canal flowing west of Waddell dam) are critical to power-water network N-1 contingency reliability above 60% power system loading and at 100% water system demand, (ii) fast-starting natural gas generating units are necessary to maintain N-1 contingency reliability below 60% power system loading, (iii) Coolidge Station was the power plant to most frequently undergo a reduction in reserves amongst the water failure scenarios that cause a violation of N-1 reliability, (iv) power network vulnerability to water network failures was non-linear because it depends on the generating units that are dispatched, which can vary as line thermal limits or unit generation capacities are reached. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Civil, Environmental and Sustainable Engineering 2020

abstract: Environmental heat is a growing concern in cities as a consequence of rapid urbanization and climate change, threatening human health and urban vitality. The transportation system is naturally embedded in the issue of urban heat and human heat exposure. Research has established how heat poses a threat to urban inhabitants and how urban infrastructure design can lead to increased urban heat. Yet there are gaps in understanding how urban communities accumulate heat exposure, and how significantly the urban transportation system influences or exacerbates the many issues of urban heat. This dissertation focuses on advancing the understanding of how modern urban transportation influences urban heat and human heat exposure through three research objectives: 1) Investigate how human activity results in different outdoor heat exposure; 2) Quantify the growth and extent of urban parking infrastructure; and 3) Model and analyze how pavements and vehicles contribute to urban heat. In the urban US, traveling outdoors (e.g. biking or walking) is the most frequent activity to cause heat exposure during hot periods. However, outdoor travel durations are often very short, and other longer activities such as outdoor housework and recreation contribute more to cumulative urban heat exposure. In Phoenix, parking and roadway pavement infrastructure contributes significantly to the urban heat balance, especially during summer afternoons, and vehicles only contribute significantly in local areas with high density rush hour vehicle travel. Future development of urban areas (especially those with concerns of extreme heat) should focus on ensuring access and mobility for its inhabitants without sacrificing thermal comfort. This may require urban redesign of transportation systems to be less auto-centric, but without clear pathways to mitigating impacts of urban heat, it may be difficult to promote transitions to travel modes that inherently necessitate heat exposure. Transportation planners and engineers need to be cognizant of the pathways to increased urban heat and human heat exposure when planning and designing urban transportation systems. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Engineering 2019

The present study aims to create a deeper understanding of the cinematic representation of “evil”. Therefore, a special focus lies on contemporary historical fiction films whose stories are set in totalitarian systems with direct or indirect references to German history. This is interesting as the depiction in films influences the viewer's perspective and understanding of history. While many film narratives have very stereotypical imaginations of good and evil, there are also films that use a more observational perspective on the social dynamics that align with specific situations rather than address villains. As one of the main representatives of the Berlin School, Christian Petzold adopts such an observational perspective in his thematic trilogy “Love in the Times of Oppressive Systems”(Barbara, Phoenix, and Transit). In the three independent stories, he deals with the relationship between the male and female protagonists in different stages of oppression in German society, whereby the power structures in the oppressive systems influence human interactions and social situations of everyday life. Using these films as examples, I will look at the framing of evil in totalitarian systems. For this purpose, I will examine the characters and their constellations and individual and general threats, and their motivations for actions as they are played out in these film narratives by Petzold on a cinematographic and thematic level. By referring to Hannah Arendt's conceptualization of evil, the thesis accounts for the representation of “evil” as a multidimensional phenomenon, and how it resonates in the cinematography and historical imagination of Petzold’s films.