Optimizing customer satisfaction is vital to maintain relevance as well as being competitive on a growing market. This research is aimed to explore what aspects of design and functionality that should be prioritized when developing solo tunnel tents for four season use within a European market. Since solo tents are small in size, users seem to prioritize purchasing a tent for two people because it provides bigger space for equipment, accompanied animals and is more reliable in bad weather. To examine the research questions, a design theory and human centered design method has been applied to optimize customer satisfaction. The study consists of literature study, survey, interviews, empathy mapping and prototyping, which resulted in an implemented prototype for a four season solo tent planned for future production. Furthermore, a prototype has been developed by data conducted from the survey, interviews and a design brief given by the partnering company. Conspicuous results have been shown through a survey and interviews, which explains the difficulties in development of tents to ensure a wider range of customer satisfaction. Findings in this research emerged that weight was not the most important aspect when buying a four season solo tent. A correlation has been investigated, there was an expectation from the producer that lightweight tents were preferred by the users, however this research exposed that it is not as important as imagined for a four season solo tent. In the sense of a solo tent for four seasons, the users desire space over weight. Furthermore, the results also showed that there was a difference in requirements related to the two different groups that had been investigated. It was found that experienced users had a higher preference of design and ergonomic aspects compared to the common users that did not rank it as important. Within this research a total of 55 people participated, where 44 people participated in the survey and 11 people participated in the interviews. For future research a larger number of participants, preferably women, could provide an interesting result and more on if people from a larger area outside Sweden participated in the research. Furthermore a physical test of the prototyped tent would ensure that this study results in a design that optimizes customer satisfaction.

No description available.

A consequence of climate change may be higher frequencies and higher intensities of extreme climate events all over the world. This paper takes a closer look at the Northern Vietnam climate conditions. The area of interest are the geographical regions North East, North West, Red River Delta and North Central Coast. For research of extreme climate, the data from 72 meteorological stations for the time period from 1975 to 2006 were used and tested for the rainy season with the method of indices for climate change research created by Expert Team on Climate Change Detection (ETCCDI). Apparently, there is a linkage between the indices and topics of social and economic impacts, but this is not a clear fact. The climate change and extreme precipitation indices of the annual total precipitation above the 95th percentile (R95p), the annual total precipitation above the 99th percentile (R99p), the simple precipitation intensity amount (SDII), the annual total precipitation on wet days (PRCPTOT) and a modified annual total precipitation above 50 mm (R50mm) are used in this study. The question, whether there are statistically significant trends is answered using the Mann-Kendall Trend test. The results show that the indices are strongly influenced by the variations of the Vietnamese climate. Hence many stations have no significant trends. For the investigated time period, most of significance trends were decreasing. But there is a positive correlation between the total precipitation in the rainy season (PRCPTOT) and the frequencies of extreme climate events above the indices thresholds from R95p and R99p. Concluding, climate models show that higher total precipitations are likely for the area of interest. Therefore, it can be expected that, in a changing climate, more extreme climate events with higher intensities will occur. / Biến đổi khí hậu có thể dẫn đến sự gia tăng về tần số và cường độ của các hiện tượng thời tiết cực đoan trên toàn thế giới. Nghiên cứu này sẽ xem xét kỹ hơn về các điều kiện khí hậu ở miền Bắc Việt Nam. Địa điểm nghiên cứu bao gồm các khu vực địa lý Đông Bắc, Tây Bắc, Đồng bằng sông Hồng và Bắc Trung Bộ. Để nghiên cứu về khí hậu cực đoan, các dữ liệu trong khoảng thời gian từ 1975 đến 2006 đã được thu thập từ 72 trạm khí tượng. Những dữ liệu này được dùng để kiểm chứng đối với mùa mưa theo phương pháp chỉ số nghiên cứu biến đổi khí hậu của Nhóm chuyên gia về phát hiện biến đổi khí hậu (ETCCCDI). Hiển nhiên có một mối liên hệ giữa các chỉ số với các chủ đề về tác động kinh tế và xã hội, tuy nhiên thực tế này vẫn chưa rõ ràng. Các chỉ số biến đổi khí hậu và mưa cực đoan của tổng mưa hằng năm trên 95 phần trăm (R95p), tổng mưa hằng năm trên 99 phần trăm (R99p), chỉ số cường độ mưa trên ngày (SDII), tổng mưa hằng năm vào những ngày ẩm ướt – mùa mưa (PRCPTOT) và tổng mưa hằng năm biến đổi trên 50mm (R50mm) được sử dụng trong nghiên cứu này. Câu hỏi về sự tồn tại của các xu hướng quan trọng về mặt thống kê được trả lời bằng phương pháp Mann-Kendall Trend. Các kết quả chỉ ra rằng các chỉ số chịu ảnh hưởng lớn từ sự biến đổi của khí hậu Việt Nam. Do vậy, ở một số trạm khí tượng không có các xu hướng có ý nghĩa. Trong khoảng thời gian nghiên cứu, các xu hướng quan trọng đều giảm. Tuy nhiên, có một mối tương quan thuận giữa tổng lượng mưa trong mùa mưa (PRCPTOT) và cường độ của các hiện tượng thời tiết cực đoan trên các cực của chỉ số từ R95P và R99p. Kết luận, các mô hình thời tiết cho thấy tổng lượng mưa lớn hơn có khả năng sẽ xảy ra trên địa bàn nghiên cứu. Vì vậy, có thể phỏng đoán rằng khi thay đổi khí hậu, sẽ diễn ra nhiều hiện tượng thời tiết cực đoan với cường độ cao.

Like many species, Florida's population of Northern Crested Caracaras (Caracara cheriway, hereafter "caracara") is likely declining due to loss of breeding habitat. Consequently, management-oriented restrictions on landscape modification are applied where breeding occurs, but management rarely is extended beyond breeding areas. Focusing management on breeding areas can be effective if all caracaras occupy breeding areas, all breeding areas are detected, and no intermittent breeding occurs. Management may not operate as intended if any of these criteria are unmet. To explore this possibility, I investigated the movement, habitat, survival, and social biology of non-breeding caracaras. I also investigated long-term occupancy of breeding habitat, and factors contributing to detection of breeding. Non-breeding caracaras occupy areas much larger than individual breeding territories, particularly during breeding seasons. Pastures occupied by cattle were the most used habitat, but non-breeding caracaras also occupied habitats atypical of breeding areas. Specifically, citrus groves were occupied extensively, and row crops were used particularly during breeding seasons. Non-breeding caracaras also shared communal roosts, sometimes with hundreds of conspecifics, and roosts were occupied year-round. Survival of non-breeding caracaras was lowest during breeding seasons. Adult non-breeding caracaras persisted in groups for multiple years without establishing breeding territories. This implies that breeding habitat is limited and saturated. Given the proportion of adults in groups, adults also were the first to find carrion more often than expected. Apparently, young caracaras benefit from grouping by following adults. I found caracaras at all sampled breeding areas where nests were originally documented during the 1990s, and found nests at 83% of territories where nests likely existed. I also found that observer experience, visit start time, and weather affected the probability that a nest would be detected. Thus, not all caracaras occupy breeding areas, and not all breeding attempts are likely to be detected. Long-term occupancy of breeding areas should render annual verification of nesting unnecessary as a trigger for maintaining management actions. Rather management should persist even without confirmation of annual breeding. Caracara management also may be optimized through supporting the non-breeding population by maintaining a matrix of cattle pasture and citrus groves, particularly around roosts. / Ph. D.

Sustainable design is often conceived of only in terms of applied technologies, without a concern for quality of life of residents. This thesis is an investigation of sustainable design that meets standards of quality of life for residents. The study focuses on balancing the needs for integration with the existing context and maintenance of privacy for the residents, and on heightening peopleâ s responsiveness to and awareness of daily and seasonal phenomena. The goal of this investigation is to create a residence that heightens the inhabitantsâ psychological connection with the outdoor environment, and thus enhances their quality of life. / Master of Architecture

[ES] Los públicos de las orquestas sinfónicas son la parte fundamental que da sentido y que permite la continuidad de estas entidades culturales. Esta investigación pretende analizar a los públicos interesados en las propuestas culturales que interpretan las orquestas sinfónicas, así como a las propias entidades respecto a la gestión y comunicación que desarrollan sus responsables mediante acciones que propician la conexión entre entidad y público. El análisis que se presenta se enfoca desde tres aspectos fundamentales de estudio: las características, gustos y preferencias de los públicos de las orquestas sinfónicas, el personal responsable de la gestión de las entidades y las iniciativas que diseñan en relación con la programación y la comunicación. De este modo, se pretende responder a la pregunta de si los responsables de gestionar las orquestas sinfónicas conocen a sus públicos y llevan a cabo la gestión de la entidad teniendo en cuenta ese conocimiento. Si bien los públicos de las orquestas sinfónicas es un concepto muy amplio y puede hacer referencia a multitud de posibilidades, en este estudio se hace referencia únicamente a los públicos de la cultura como principales interesados en disfrutar de propuestas de diversa índole cultural y los abonados de las propias entidades como asistentes habituales a las propuestas que se programan cada temporada. El estudio se concentra en dos grandes bloques, en el primero de éstos se lleva a cabo un análisis descriptivo de la orquesta sinfónica, el público musical, la situación de la música clásica en España y la comunicación cultural. Y en el segundo bloque se realiza un trabajo empírico que busca recabar información acerca de los públicos de la cultura y abonados de las orquestas sinfónicas, la programación de estas entidades culturales respecto a una temporada musical, los equipos de gestión y personal que las forman, el punto de vista de expertos en los públicos de la cultura y comunicación cultural y la comunicación que realizan estas organizaciones. / [CA] Els públics de les orquestres simfòniques són la part fonamental que dona sentit i que permet la continuïtat d'aquestes entitats culturals. Aquesta investigació pretén analitzar als públics interessats en les propostes culturals que interpreten les orquestres simfòniques, així com a les pròpies entitats respecte a la gestió i comunicació que desenvolupen els seus responsables mitjançant accions que propicien la connexió entre entitat i públic. L'anàlisi que es presenta s'enfoca des de tres aspectes fonamentals d'estudi: les característiques, gustos i preferències dels públics de les orquestres simfòniques, el personal responsable de la gestió de les entitats i les iniciatives que dissenyen en relació amb la programació i la comunicació. D'aquesta manera, es pretén respondre a la pregunta de si els responsables de gestionar les orquestres simfòniques coneixen als seus públics i duen a terme la gestió de l'entitat tenint en compte aqueix coneixement. Si bé els públics de les orquestres simfòniques és un concepte molt ampli i pot fer referència a multitud de possibilitats, en aquest estudi es fa referència únicament als públics de la cultura com a principals interessats a gaudir de propostes de diversa índole cultural i els abonats de les pròpies entitats com a assistents habituals a les propostes que es programen cada temporada. L'estudi es concentra en dos grans blocs, en el primer d'aquests es duu a terme una anàlisi descriptiva de l'orquestra simfònica, el públic musical, la situació de la música clàssica a Espanya i la comunicació cultural. I en el segon bloc es fa un treball empíric que busca recaptar informació sobre els públics de la cultura i abonats de les orquestres simfòniques, la programació d'aquestes entitats culturals respecte a una temporada musical, els equips de gestió i personal que les formen, el punt de vista d'experts en els públics de la cultura i comunicació cultural i la comunicació que realitzen aquestes organitzacions. / [EN] The audiences of symphony orchestras are the fundamental part that gives meaning and allows the continuity of these cultural entities. This research aims to analyze the audiences interested in the cultural proposals performed by symphony orchestras, as well as the entities themselves with respect to the management and communication developed by their leaders through actions that promote the connection between the entity and the audience. The analysis presented here is approached from three fundamental aspects of study: the characteristics, tastes and preferences of the audiences of symphony orchestras, the personnel responsible for the management of the entities and the initiatives they design in relation to programming and communication. In this way, the aim is to answer the question of whether those responsible for managing symphony orchestras know their audiences and carry out the management of the entity taking this knowledge into account. Although the audiences of symphony orchestras is a very broad concept and can refer to a multitude of possibilities, in this study reference is made only to cultural audiences as the main ones interested in enjoying proposals of different cultural nature and the subscribers of the entities themselves as regular attendees to the proposals programmed each season. The study is concentrated in two large blocks, in the first of which a descriptive analysis of the symphony orchestra, the musical public, the situation of classical music in Spain and cultural communication is carried out. And in the second block an empirical work is carried out that seeks to gather information about the cultural audiences and subscribers of symphony orchestras, the programming of these cultural entities with respect to a musical season, the management teams and personnel that form them, the point of view of experts in cultural audiences and cultural communication and the communication carried out by these organizations. / Oropesa Mateos, C. (2023). Los públicos de las orquestas sinfónicas españolas: un estudio sobre el vínculo entre entidad y públicos [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/200380

The American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) is the smallest and most abundant falcon in North America with a wide geographic range. Unfortunately, surveys have suggested that some kestrel populations have been in decline since the 1950s, though the nominal causes of this decline are unknown. Migratory movement patterns and connectivity have yet to be established for any population of migratory kestrels. In Chapter 2, I investigated methods for attaching migration trackers to kestrels. Specifically, I showed that leg-loop style harnesses may have negatively affected return rates whereas backpack harnesses did not. Based on these results, I recommend that backpack-style Teflon harnesses is the safest and most effective method for attaching tracking devices to small raptors. In Chapter 3, I quantified survivorship for kestrels wintering in north Texas to identify the timing of kestrel mortality. Notably, I found that juvenile kestrels had similar annual survival rates as adults (81.6% versus 79.5%). High overwintering survival in north Texas indicated that once kestrels arrived on their wintering grounds, they were highly likely to survive to spring migration. In Chapter 4, I investigated pairing behaviors previously undocumented in wintering kestrels. I found that winter pairing was relatively common, but more prevalent in urban environments than rural. My data suggested that pairing during the winter could be a coping mechanism to increase kestrel survival in stressful anthropic landscapes. Altogether, this research highlights that the documentation of migratory connectivity is essential to understanding how many processes affect kestrel population dynamics, as I found evidence of potential seasonal carryover effects.

The project examines the possibilities to develop a local and sustainable model for food production in Uppsala with focus on diet, farming methods and different types of greenhouse installations. With the simulation software VIP energy 3.1.1 the energy balance and temperature development of greenhouses of different materials were calculated for different operating cases. The results were also compared when the greenhouse was installed stand-alone or integrated to the wall of a small standard or passive house. With a starch based diet and biological farming methods research suggests it is possible to produce food efficiently without compromising the environment or our health. The yearly food needs for a family of four that follows the suggested diet was estimated to 4362 kg and the outdoor land required to produce it was calculated to 4676 m2 through organic yield statistics. The area could however be reduced to 2813 m2 if the only starch staple in production was potatoes. The tender growing season in a greenhouse constructed with a covering of 5 mm glass or 5-16Ar-5 mm was calculated to 85 and 148 days respectively. The energy use required for year round production of mushrooms in the respective greenhouses was calculated to 53 or 16 kWh/m2,year. Half hardy plants required 399 or 173 kWh/m2,year and tender plants 953 or 358 kWh/m2,year. When the greenhouses were connected to the wall of a small house the heating demand could be reduced by up to 22 % depending on the operating case.

Title: Competitive Balance of the selected football leagues in Europe, their development and comparison. Goals: Determining the competitive balance in the six top European football competitions. This is a Czech Gambrinus liga, Dutch Eredivisie, German Bundesliga, Austrian Bundesliga, Ukrainian Premier liha Hungarian OTP liga, compare to competition and an outline of the development trend. Methods: The standard deviation of percentage wins, correlation coefficient, the presentation of results based on percentages, graphs, trends. Results: All results are presented in the analytical part of the work, verify predetermined hypotheses and are an important source of comparison for each event and outline trends. Keywords: Competition, equilibrium, European football league, football league, static balance, dynamic balance, season, club, reform, UEFA, sport, decreased balance, standard deviation, correlation coefficient.

Although New Zealand is fortunate in having a climate mild enough to allow some growth of pasture in winter even in the extreme south of the South Island (Duffy, 1971), growth is nevertheless considerably less than in spring and summer. O’Connor et al, (1968) point out that at Lincoln, Canterbury, winter production from a New Zealand Certified Grasslands Ruanui Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne c.v.) and New Zealand Certified Grasslands Huia white clover (Trifolium repens c.v.) sward is at best only 8% of the mean total annual dry matter (D.M.) production. A similar seasonal pattern is shown by irrigated pastures (Rickard, 1968), as well as pastures in the milder North Island of New Zealand (O’Connor and Vartha, pers comm.). Stocking of grazing animals is normally related to the growth rate of pastures in the spring, with conserved hay or silage, plus specially grown greenfeed or root crops being fed if necessary to offset the winter feed deficit. However on hill country too steep for tractor cultivation, cropping and conservation are not possible. Animals have to rely upon in situ grazing of native or dominant browntop (Agrostis tenuis) swards which may not have been improved by the aerial introduction of clovers. In an unimproved state, the quality and quantity of the herbage grown on such areas are low, Molloy (1966) have discussed clover introduction into native swards and the notably beneficial result this has on stock thrift, particularly during the winter period. Considerably better growth rates of stock grazing legumes rather than grasses have been noted by many authors including Ulyatt, (1971), and McLean et al (1962); this superiority being due largely to the greater digestible organic matter intake and higher ratio of soluble to insoluble carbohydrate associated with the herbage of legumes (Ulyatt, 1971). Consequently the presence of clover, and the winter activity of this, have an important influence on the productivity of steep hill country during winter. An increase of winter activity is also desirable, but not essential, in clover associated with flat or gently rolling pastures. The main pasture legume used in New Zealand has, in the past, been the white clover cultivar Huia. Whilst since 1945 selection and breeding of ryegrasses has brought about a very considerable improvement in the winter or cool season activity of these (Corkill, 1966), no legume cultivar having an increased level of cool-season activity has been released to commerce in New Zealand over the same period to date. Breeding for increased winter growth has been an objective of the Grasslands Division Plant Breeding Section for many years (Barclay, 1960). Since 1957, breeding and selection work has been proceeding with the objective of increasing the winter growth of the New Zealand Certified Grasslands white clover cultivar – Huia (henceforth to be referred to as Huia) without sacrificing the moderately good summer growth of this strain, (Barclay, 1969). Seed of a promising cultivar selected during the course of this work – New Zealand Grasslands 4700 white clover, (henceforth to be referred to as 4700) became available for testing in 1967. The investigation to be reported here aimed to measure the cool-season activity of 4700 by comparison with that of Huia, at the same time elucidating if possible the factors controlling this growth.