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[Truncated abstract. Please see the pdf format for the complete text. Also, formulae and special characters can only be approximated here. Please see the pdf version for an accurate reproduction.] This thesis examines the water use, ecophysiology and hydraulic architecture of Eucalyptus marginata (jarrah) growing on bauxite mine rehabilitation sites in the jarrah forest of south-western Australia. The principal objective was to characterise the key environment and plant-based influences on tree water use, and to better understand the dynamics of water use over a range of spatial and temporal scales in this drought-prone ecosystem. A novel sap flow measurement system (based on the use of the heat pulse method) was developed so that a large number of trees could be monitored concurrently in the field. A validation experiment using potted jarrah saplings showed that rates of sap flow (transpiration) obtained using this system agreed with those obtained gravimetrically. Notably, diurnal patterns of transpiration were measured accurately and with precision using the newly developed heat ratio method. Field studies showed that water stress and water use by jarrah saplings on rehabilitation sites were strongly seasonal: being greatest in summer when it was warm and dry, and least in winter when it was cool and wet. At different times, water use was influenced by soil water availability, vapour pressure deficit (VPD) and plant hydraulic conductance. In some areas, there was evidence of a rapid decline in transpiration in response to dry soil conditions. At the end of summer, most saplings on rehabilitation sites were not water stressed, whereas water status in the forest was poor for small saplings but improved with increasing size. It has been recognised that mature jarrah trees avoid drought by having deep root systems, however, it appears that saplings on rehabilitation sites may have not yet developed functional deep roots, and as such, they may be heavily reliant on moisture stored in surface soil horizons. Simple predictive models of tree water use revealed that stand water use was 74 % of annual rainfall at a high density (leaf area index, LAI = 3.1), high rainfall (1200 mm yr-1) site, and 12 % of rainfall at a low density (LAI = 0.4), low rainfall (600 mm yr-1) site, and that water use increased with stand growth. A controlled field experiment confirmed that: (1) sapling transpiration was restricted as root-zone water availability declined, irrespective of VPD; (2) transpiration was correlated with VPD when water was abundant; and (3) transpiration was limited by soil-to-leaf hydraulic conductance when water was abundant and VPD was high (> 2 kPa). Specifically, transpiration was regulated by stomatal conductance. Large stomatal apertures could sustain high transpiration rates, but stomata were sensitive to hydraulic perturbations caused by soil water deficits and/or high evaporative demand. No other physiological mechanisms conferred immediate resistance to drought. Empirical observations were agreeably linked with a current theory suggesting that stomata regulate transpiration and plant water potential in order to prevent hydraulic dysfunction following a reduction in soil-to-leaf hydraulic conductance. Moreover, it was clear that plant hydraulic capacity determined the pattern and extent of stomatal regulation. Differences in hydraulic capacity across a gradient in water availability were a reflection of differences in root-to-leaf hydraulic conductance, and were possibly related to differences in xylem structure. Saplings on rehabilitation sites had greater hydraulic conductance (by 50 %) and greater leaf-specific rates of transpiration at the high rainfall site (1.5 kg m-2 day1) than at the low rainfall site (0.8 kg m-2 day1) under near optimal conditions. Also, rehabilitation-grown saplings had significantly greater leaf area, leaf area to sapwood area ratios and hydraulic conductance (by 30-50 %) compared to forest-grown saplings, a strong indication that soils in rehabilitation sites contained more water than soils in the forest. Results suggested that: (1) the hydraulic structure and function of saplings growing under the same climatic conditions was determined by soil water availability; (2) drought reduced stomatal conductance and transpiration by reducing whole-tree hydraulic conductance; and (3) saplings growing on open rehabilitation sites utilised more abundant water, light and nutrients than saplings growing in the forest understorey. These findings support a paradigm that trees evolve hydraulic equipment and physiological characteristics suited to the most efficient use of water from a particular spatial and temporal niche in the soil environment.

Master thesis is focused on how a change of Czech law affects functionality of information systems. Content of the work is describing a reactions of information systems suppliers to keep functionality with a current law. Thesis is focused on ERP systems especially SAP, Microsoft Dynamics and Helios. Defining of a new functionality is done by analyzing Value-added tax act, Electronic records of sales act and Accounting act. According to the change of accounting act we develop ad hoc application to keep duty defined by law.

Many Information and Communication Technologies for Development (ICTD) projects are established with the overall aim of positively developing the communities they are implemented in. However, the solutions that are provided are often commonly developed without the needs of these communities being sufficiently investigated beforehand. As a result the ICTD strategy of the project ends up not well aligned with the aims and targets of the needs of the community. As a result of this, an appropriate programme theory for the project and relevant impact indicators fail to be adequately developed. Consequently, when an impact assessment is conducted it is often found that the intended effects are not directly linked to the needs of the community or what the community had hoped to gain from the ICTD initiative. The purpose of this research serves to develop a needs-ICTD strategy alignment foundation that supports the identification and formulation of impact assessment indicators. Through this research, a framework is developed to support the alignment of ICTD strategy, the development and the promotion of contextual needs of rural communities and other frequently marginalized areas. The Needs-ICTD strategy alignment framework is composed of eight main components that describe the process that can be used to align ICTD strategy with community needs. These components include: collaboration between the internal and external stakeholders, the development of the community, conducting baseline studies, the needs assessment, the ICTD strategy, linking of the needs-ICTD strategy, and lastly the identification of impact indicators. An interpretive research approach is used to explore and inform the framework through a multi-case study investigation of the Siyakhula Living Lab and two projects in the Systems Application Products (SAP) Living Lab. Two main case study questions drive the exploration of the framework, that being: 1) How are the needs of the community elicited and how is the ICTD strategy aligned to the needs of the community? 2) And, why were the selected approaches chosen for aligning the needs of the community and ICTD strategy? Data for this research was collected qualitatively through interviews, document analysis and participant observation. Key findings indicate that the involvement of internal (local) stakeholders in the development and alignment of ICTD strategy to the needs of the community is still lacking. As a consequence, many community members end up not fully understanding the project objectives and how these objectives aims are to be achieved. The research also finds that ‘solution specific’ projects also fail communities as they focus specifically on one target group and repeatedly fail to assist the community holistically in supporting their information and their community development needs.

This thesis deals with the fundamental analysis of stocks of selected European technology companies. This type of analysis is the most widely used method of valuation of the shares. The first part describes the theoretical background of the analysis current economic situation, regression analysis, analysis of corporate shares and methods of intercompany comparison necessary for practical application. In the practical part focuses on the analysis of selected companies and selecting evaluation indicators. Subsequently is determined by corporate analysis the current intrinsic value of the shares. In conclusion, a comparison is made of firms using the methods of intercompany comparison. Based on the results of the analysis will be proposed recommendations for the best investment.

SummaryBackground Prosthetic users face significant challenges both physically and psychologically. Falling poses a significant risk for the individual, and a consequence of this is gaining a fear of falling and self-imposed restrictions. These consequences can have a major impact on the individuals’ health and quality of life. However, the research in this area is limited.   Objectives  This study aims to investigate prosthetic users’ fear of falling and the circumstances surrounding falls among individuals with a lower-limb amputation in England and Sweden.   Method  In April 2022 a cross-sectional survey was conducted in England and Sweden. 11 participants were recruited. The survey was aimed at the population of lower-limb amputated individuals at the age of 18 or above in the two countries. The survey consists of 111 items with mostly closed-ended questions. Descriptive and inferential statistical methods were used for the analysis of the data.       Results  The study showed that 8 (72.7%) out of 11 participants had not experienced a fall within the last 30 days and the most common frequency of falls was every six months (54,5%). 2 (18.2%) participants had a fall once every three months which was the highest frequency of falls reported in the survey. This is seen as low frequency, however, 7 (63,3%) out of 11 participants had a fear of falling. A correlation between Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I), Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC) and Gait-Specific Attentional Profile instruments (G-SAP) was performed using a Pearson’s product-moment correlation which showed there was a strong relationship between the three instruments. The correlation between the FES-I and G-SAP is 0,800, FES-I and ABC are -,853 and the correlation between ABC and G-SAP is -, 821.   Conclusion  A strong relationship was found between the Falls Efficacy Scale-International, Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale and the Gait-Specific Attentional Profile. Regardless of having fallen within the past 30 days, a high concern of fear of falling was found, and the most common reason for falls was uneven surfaces such as gardens. / Bakgrund Protesanvändare står inför många tuffa utmaningar dagligen, beroende på såväl fysiska som psykiska faktorer. Det finns en överhängande risk att ramla för individen, en konsekvens av detta är att drabbas av fallrädsla och sedermera individutvecklade hinder i vardagen. Dessa konsekvenser och hinder kan ha stor inverkan på individens hälsa och livskvalitet. Forskningen på detta område är dock begränsad.   Mål Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka protesanvändares rädsla för att ramla, samt omständigheterna kring varför man ramlar, hos individer med underbensamputation i England och Sverige.   Metod Under april 2022 genomfördes en tvärsnittsundersökning i England och Sverige. 11 deltagare rekryterades. Undersökningen riktade sig till individer i England och Sverige som genomgått amputation av nedre extremitet och var minst 18 år. Enkäten bestod av 111 frågor med till största delen slutna frågor. Beskrivande och inferentiella statistikmetoder användes för analys av data.   Resultat Studien visade att 8 st (72,7%) av de 11 deltagarna inte hade upplevt ett fall de senaste 30 dagarna och att den vanligaste fallfrekvensen var ett fall var sjätte månad (54,5%). Två (18,2%) deltagare angav fallolyckor en gång var tredje månad, vilket var den högsta fallfrekvensen som rapporterades i undersökningen. Detta ses som en låg frekvens, men 7 st (63,3%) av de 11 deltagarna upplevde en rädsla för att ramla. En korrelationsanalys mellan Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I), Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC) och Gait-Specific Attentional Profile (G-SAP) utfördes med hjälp av Pearsons produkt-moment korrelationskoefficient, som visade att det fanns ett starkt samband mellan de treinstrumenten. Korrelationen mellan FES-I och G-SAP var 0,800, mellan FES-I och ABC var det -,853 och mellan ABC och G-SAP var det -,821.   Slutsats Ett starkt samband hittades mellan Falls Efficacy Scale-International, Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale, och Gait-Specific Attentional Profile instrumenten. Oavsett om deltagarna hade ramlat under de senaste 30 dagarna, konstaterades en stor oro för att ramla, och den vanligaste fallorsaken var ojämna ytor såsom i trädgårdar.

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