5S is a technique used alongside methodologies such as lean, total quality management and six-sigma for continuous improvement and workplace standardization. Nonetheless, despite the upsurge in the implementation of 5S by lean manufacturing facilities and other industries, educational laboratories appear to be lagging. Taking into consideration the benefits of implementing 5S within industry, it has become crucial to replicate the technique in an educational laboratory to obtain equivalent results. To upgrade educational laboratories into industrial laboratories, 5S (sort, set in order, shine, standardize, and sustain) is required to improve the laboratory’s ergonomics that subsequently increases efficiency, productivity, and lessens waste amongst many other benefits. The aim of this study was to: first, standardize the surveying laboratory in Western Kentucky University by implementing 5S. Second, evaluate the impact of 5S based on the chosen performance indicators such as efficiency, workspace, equipment search time, working environment, and safety. To evaluate the impact of 5S on the selected performance indicators, study participants responded to a survey instrument pre and post 5S implementation. In addition, observations were made to assess the impact. The results showed that there was a perceived improvement in efficiency, workspace, equipment search time, working environment and safety.

Standardized testing has been part of the American educational system for decades. Controversy from the beginning has plagued standardized testing, is plaguing testing today, and will continue to be controversial. Given the current federal educational policies supporting increased standardized testing, psychometricians, educators and policy makers must seek ways to ensure that tests are not biased towards one group over another. In measurement theory, if a test item behaves differently for two different groups of examinees, this test item is considered a differential functioning test item (DIF). Differential item functioning, often conceptualized in the context of item response theory (IRT) is a term used to describe test items that may favor one group over another after matched on ability. It is important to determine whether an item is functioning significantly different for one group over another regardless as to why. Hypothesis testing is used to determine statistical significant DIF items; an effect size measure quantifies a statistical significant difference. This study investigated the addition of reporting an effect size measure for differential item functioning of items and tests’ (DFIT) noncompensatory differential item functioning (NCDIF), and reporting empirically observed power. The Mantel-Haenszel (MH) parameter served as the benchmark for developing NCDIF’s effect size measure, for reporting moderate and large differential item functioning in test items. In addition, by modifying NCDIF’s unique method for determining statistical significance, NCDIF will be the first DIF statistic of test items where in addition to reporting an effect size measure, empirical power can also be reported. Furthermore, this study added substantially to the body of literature on effect size by also investigating the behavior of two other DIF measures, Simultaneous Item Bias Test (SIBTEST) and area measure. Finally, this study makes a significant contribution to the body of literature by verifying in a large-scale simulation study, the accuracy of software developed by Roussos, Schnipke, and Pashley (1999) to calculate the true MH parameter. The accuracy of this software had not been previously verified.

The pressure to have students perform well on standardized tests can serve as a stressor to some teachers in their efforts to autonomously teach their students, particularly those of low socioeconomic status (SES). However, the relationship between teachers' sense of autonomy, teachers' attitudes and behaviors, SES, and student's academic success remains unclear. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the relationship between teachers' autonomy to make decisions about classroom teaching practices and specific science curricula, school-wide student achievement in science, and students' SES. Freire's empowerment theory served as the theoretical framework. The research questions investigated the extent that student SES background moderated the relationship between teacher autonomy, curricula, and school district science achievement. Data sources were student Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test science achievement scores and teacher autonomy data from 108 eighth grade science teachers in 16 school districts. Data were analyzed using hierarchical linear regression analysis. Results revealed no significant relationships between eighth-grade science teachers' perceptions of their autonomy, teaching practices, their science curriculum, and district eighth-grade science achievement scores (p > .001). Although the results were not significant, this study provides insights into 8th grade science education which may benefit students, teachers, and administration. Factors such as SES and teacher perception of autonomy can be advantegeously considered in science classes to increase student achievement. Such considerations can influence positive social change by increasing the science capacity of students at all SES levels.

Abstract [en]Customization and product development are crucial for competitiveness, and modular product architectures enable adaptation and improvement without extensive changes. Originally introduced by Starr in 1965, modular solutions aim to minimize costs through maximum part combination. In sanitation engineering, where water and sewage systems are critical, high-quality, and customized solutions are required. Uponor, a leading player in the field, offers prefabricated water cabinet units to distribute water to various devices. Based on this, a question has been formulated for the study to address: How can a modular product architecture be applied to water cabinets in plumbing and HVAC systems to reduce component costs and production time? The study introduces fundamental concepts in product architecture and modularity, detailing how products can be divided into modules and designed to function independently yet collaboratively. Modularity enables increased flexibility, lower costs, and simpler product development, while component standardization streamlines manufacturing and facilitates adaptation to customer requirements. Additionally, pipe flow and its impact on water distribution systems are discussed, focusing on pressure drops and legionella risks. The study resulted in two new components contributing to cost reduction within the product family, thanks to the modular product architecture. The components enable the company to reduce costs by 38 - 46 SEK per cabinet. This is a cost reduction of 7.5% to 9% for the specific subsystem. Abstract [sv]Kundanpassning och produktutveckling är avgörande för konkurrenskraft, och modulära produktarkitekturer möjliggör anpassning och förbättring utan omfattande ändringar (Modrak & Soltysova, 2018 ,Bouchard, et al, 2023). Ursprungligen introducerades modulära lösningar av Starr ((1965, refererad i Amend, et al, 2022).) för att minimera kostnader genom maximal kombination av delar. Inom sanitetsteknik, där vatten- och avloppssystem är avgörande, krävs högkvalitativa och kundanpassade lösningar. Uponor, en ledande aktör inom området, erbjuder prefabricerade tappvattenskåp för att distribuera vatten i olika enheter. Baserat på det här har en fråga formulerats som studien syftar till att besvara: Hur kan en modulär produktarkitektur för tappvattenskåp inom VVS tillämpas för att minska komponentkostnader och produktionstiden? Den teoretiska referensramen presenterar grundläggande begrepp inom produktarkitektur och modularitet, samt hur produkter kan delas upp i moduler och designas för att fungera oberoende men samverka. Modularitet möjliggör ökad flexibilitet, lägre kostnader och enklare produktutveckling, medan standardisering av komponenter effektiviserar tillverkning och möjliggör anpassning till kundkrav. Dessutom diskuteras rörströmning och dess påverkan på vattenledningssystem, med fokus på tryckfall och risker för legionella bakterier. Studien resulterade i två nya komponenter som bidrar till sänkta kostnader inom produktfamiljen, tack vare den modulära produktarkitekturen. Komponenterna möjliggör för företaget att reducera kostnaderna med 38 - 46 kronor per skåp.

O uso de energia solar para o aquecimento de água, além de permitir economizar energia elétrica, evita picos de consumo nas horas mais críticas do dia. Para um uso eficiente da energia solar é necessário utilizar um coletor solar. Este deve passar por um teste para analisar sua eficiência de conversão da energia solar em energia térmica para a água. A eficiência é avaliada com base na temperatura de entrada, na temperatura de saída, na radiação solar que atinge a área do coletor, no calor específico da água e na vazão mássica. Para padronizar os testes e ter uma melhor precisão dos resultados obtidos são utilizadas normas, neste caso a norma brasileira NBR 15747-2. Nela são descritos os seguintes métodos de ensaio de coletores com cobertura de vidro: o método estacionário e o quase dinâmico. Ambos possuem requisitos que devem ser cumpridos para validação do resultado dos testes. Um dos parâmetros que influencia diretamente no cálculo da eficiência é a temperatura de entrada da água no coletor. A variação permitida desta para o método estacionário é de ± 0,1°C da temperatura média medida. No Laboratório de Energia Solar da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul existe uma bancada construída para realizar o teste de coletores solares, porém para fazer ensaio simultâneo de dois coletores é necessário que a temperatura de entrada para ambos os coletores seja a mesma e também não varie mais que o permitido. Assim, foi desenvolvido e montado um estabilizador de temperatura com controle proporcional, integral, derivativo (PID) para atender essa necessidade. O estabilizador foi testado em bancada de laboratório de modo a observar seu comportamento e, após constatar que sua capacidade de controle atendia ao requisito da norma, este foi montado na bancada externa em que são realizados os testes. De posse dos resultados obtidos durante os ensaios dos coletores conclui-se que o estabilizador de temperatura cumpriu seu papel na bancada. Além de permitir que a bancada possa ser utilizada para ensaios de mais de um coletor simultaneamente, o dispositivo agrega a possibilidade de realizar comparações muito precisas do desempenho de dois coletores diferentes. / The use of solar energy in water heating is a way to save electricity, and avoid consumption peaks during the most critical hours of a day. For an efficient use of solar energy it is necessary to use a solar collector. The collector should pass a test to analyze its efficiency in conversion of solar energy into thermal energy for the water. Efficiency is evaluated based on the inlet and outlet temperature, solar radiation reaching the area of the collector, specific heat of water and mass flow rate. To standardize the tests and have greater certainty of results standards are used like the Brazilian´s standard NBR 15747-2. This norm describes two test methods for glassed collectors: the stationary and quasi dynamic method, both have requirements that must be met for the validity of the test results. One of the parameters which directly influence the calculation of the efficiency is the water inlet temperature in the collector. The stationary method requires a variation of ± 0.1 °C at the average temperature measured. In the Laboratório de Energia Solar da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul exists a bench built to perform testing of solar collectors, but to simultaneously test more than one collector is necessary that the inlet temperature of both collectors are the same and also does not vary more than allowed. Thus it was developed and mounted a temperature stabilizer with proportional, integral, derivative (PID) control to meet this need. The stabilizer has been tested indoor at the laboratory to observe their behavior and after noting that his ability to control met the standard required it was mounted on the outdoor bench where the tests are performed. With the results obtained during the testing of collectors is possible to notice that the temperature stabilizer comply with its purpose on the bench. In addition to allowing the test bench to be used for testing more than one collector simultaneously, the stabilizer adds the possibility of performing accurate comparisons of the performance of two different collectors in various situations, since all operational conditions are equal.

O uso de energia solar para o aquecimento de água, além de permitir economizar energia elétrica, evita picos de consumo nas horas mais críticas do dia. Para um uso eficiente da energia solar é necessário utilizar um coletor solar. Este deve passar por um teste para analisar sua eficiência de conversão da energia solar em energia térmica para a água. A eficiência é avaliada com base na temperatura de entrada, na temperatura de saída, na radiação solar que atinge a área do coletor, no calor específico da água e na vazão mássica. Para padronizar os testes e ter uma melhor precisão dos resultados obtidos são utilizadas normas, neste caso a norma brasileira NBR 15747-2. Nela são descritos os seguintes métodos de ensaio de coletores com cobertura de vidro: o método estacionário e o quase dinâmico. Ambos possuem requisitos que devem ser cumpridos para validação do resultado dos testes. Um dos parâmetros que influencia diretamente no cálculo da eficiência é a temperatura de entrada da água no coletor. A variação permitida desta para o método estacionário é de ± 0,1°C da temperatura média medida. No Laboratório de Energia Solar da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul existe uma bancada construída para realizar o teste de coletores solares, porém para fazer ensaio simultâneo de dois coletores é necessário que a temperatura de entrada para ambos os coletores seja a mesma e também não varie mais que o permitido. Assim, foi desenvolvido e montado um estabilizador de temperatura com controle proporcional, integral, derivativo (PID) para atender essa necessidade. O estabilizador foi testado em bancada de laboratório de modo a observar seu comportamento e, após constatar que sua capacidade de controle atendia ao requisito da norma, este foi montado na bancada externa em que são realizados os testes. De posse dos resultados obtidos durante os ensaios dos coletores conclui-se que o estabilizador de temperatura cumpriu seu papel na bancada. Além de permitir que a bancada possa ser utilizada para ensaios de mais de um coletor simultaneamente, o dispositivo agrega a possibilidade de realizar comparações muito precisas do desempenho de dois coletores diferentes. / The use of solar energy in water heating is a way to save electricity, and avoid consumption peaks during the most critical hours of a day. For an efficient use of solar energy it is necessary to use a solar collector. The collector should pass a test to analyze its efficiency in conversion of solar energy into thermal energy for the water. Efficiency is evaluated based on the inlet and outlet temperature, solar radiation reaching the area of the collector, specific heat of water and mass flow rate. To standardize the tests and have greater certainty of results standards are used like the Brazilian´s standard NBR 15747-2. This norm describes two test methods for glassed collectors: the stationary and quasi dynamic method, both have requirements that must be met for the validity of the test results. One of the parameters which directly influence the calculation of the efficiency is the water inlet temperature in the collector. The stationary method requires a variation of ± 0.1 °C at the average temperature measured. In the Laboratório de Energia Solar da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul exists a bench built to perform testing of solar collectors, but to simultaneously test more than one collector is necessary that the inlet temperature of both collectors are the same and also does not vary more than allowed. Thus it was developed and mounted a temperature stabilizer with proportional, integral, derivative (PID) control to meet this need. The stabilizer has been tested indoor at the laboratory to observe their behavior and after noting that his ability to control met the standard required it was mounted on the outdoor bench where the tests are performed. With the results obtained during the testing of collectors is possible to notice that the temperature stabilizer comply with its purpose on the bench. In addition to allowing the test bench to be used for testing more than one collector simultaneously, the stabilizer adds the possibility of performing accurate comparisons of the performance of two different collectors in various situations, since all operational conditions are equal.

O uso de energia solar para o aquecimento de água, além de permitir economizar energia elétrica, evita picos de consumo nas horas mais críticas do dia. Para um uso eficiente da energia solar é necessário utilizar um coletor solar. Este deve passar por um teste para analisar sua eficiência de conversão da energia solar em energia térmica para a água. A eficiência é avaliada com base na temperatura de entrada, na temperatura de saída, na radiação solar que atinge a área do coletor, no calor específico da água e na vazão mássica. Para padronizar os testes e ter uma melhor precisão dos resultados obtidos são utilizadas normas, neste caso a norma brasileira NBR 15747-2. Nela são descritos os seguintes métodos de ensaio de coletores com cobertura de vidro: o método estacionário e o quase dinâmico. Ambos possuem requisitos que devem ser cumpridos para validação do resultado dos testes. Um dos parâmetros que influencia diretamente no cálculo da eficiência é a temperatura de entrada da água no coletor. A variação permitida desta para o método estacionário é de ± 0,1°C da temperatura média medida. No Laboratório de Energia Solar da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul existe uma bancada construída para realizar o teste de coletores solares, porém para fazer ensaio simultâneo de dois coletores é necessário que a temperatura de entrada para ambos os coletores seja a mesma e também não varie mais que o permitido. Assim, foi desenvolvido e montado um estabilizador de temperatura com controle proporcional, integral, derivativo (PID) para atender essa necessidade. O estabilizador foi testado em bancada de laboratório de modo a observar seu comportamento e, após constatar que sua capacidade de controle atendia ao requisito da norma, este foi montado na bancada externa em que são realizados os testes. De posse dos resultados obtidos durante os ensaios dos coletores conclui-se que o estabilizador de temperatura cumpriu seu papel na bancada. Além de permitir que a bancada possa ser utilizada para ensaios de mais de um coletor simultaneamente, o dispositivo agrega a possibilidade de realizar comparações muito precisas do desempenho de dois coletores diferentes. / The use of solar energy in water heating is a way to save electricity, and avoid consumption peaks during the most critical hours of a day. For an efficient use of solar energy it is necessary to use a solar collector. The collector should pass a test to analyze its efficiency in conversion of solar energy into thermal energy for the water. Efficiency is evaluated based on the inlet and outlet temperature, solar radiation reaching the area of the collector, specific heat of water and mass flow rate. To standardize the tests and have greater certainty of results standards are used like the Brazilian´s standard NBR 15747-2. This norm describes two test methods for glassed collectors: the stationary and quasi dynamic method, both have requirements that must be met for the validity of the test results. One of the parameters which directly influence the calculation of the efficiency is the water inlet temperature in the collector. The stationary method requires a variation of ± 0.1 °C at the average temperature measured. In the Laboratório de Energia Solar da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul exists a bench built to perform testing of solar collectors, but to simultaneously test more than one collector is necessary that the inlet temperature of both collectors are the same and also does not vary more than allowed. Thus it was developed and mounted a temperature stabilizer with proportional, integral, derivative (PID) control to meet this need. The stabilizer has been tested indoor at the laboratory to observe their behavior and after noting that his ability to control met the standard required it was mounted on the outdoor bench where the tests are performed. With the results obtained during the testing of collectors is possible to notice that the temperature stabilizer comply with its purpose on the bench. In addition to allowing the test bench to be used for testing more than one collector simultaneously, the stabilizer adds the possibility of performing accurate comparisons of the performance of two different collectors in various situations, since all operational conditions are equal.

Entering into contracts of adhesion by entrepreneur Abstract This thesis is focused on the topic of entering into contracts of adhesion by entrepreneur. It is an agreement that allows one party no bargaining power, typically to the weaker party and though is limited only to accept it or to reject it. In this thesis I pursue to describe problematics of adhesional contracts in detail focusing on specifics related to entrepreneur and possible lack of legislation. At the end of this thesis i describe the benefits of this institute and it's possible future evolution. Key Words Contracts of adhesion, Standardize form of a contract, clauses, freedom of contract, weaker contractual party, entrepreneur