Significant interest is witnessed in the context of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) mediated interventions for development and empowerment of people living in Rural India since the turn of the century. An objective evaluation of impact of such initiatives is important for enrichment of these initiatives as well as potential scaling up and replication. Despite a large number of such initiatives and their subsequent scrutiny in the literature, there is a dearth of comprehensive studies to establish the potential and scope of ICT mediated interventions on empowerment and the role of participation. The present study focuses on bridging this gap. The study is undertaken in three phases- (1) Longitudinal observation, (2) Intensive analysis of ongoing ICT mediated interventions to study stages of empowerment and their measurement and (3) Analytical modelling of the processes and outcomes of empowerment. In the first phase, a longitudinal observation using Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) approach was undertaken in Sirsa, Haryana over two years to explore the relevance of ICT mediation through various communication devices. In the second phase, mobile phone based interventions, involving dissemination of information, were intensively studied. Nine PRA studies were undertaken at eight locations from three states representing diverse agriculture and allied contexts. A Knowledge Gap Analysis (KGA) was undertaken in which a participant was assessed at three different stages – (a) awareness, (b) knowledge and (c) internalization. A specimen based approach based on PRA techniques was adopted, to assess their retention and internalization. A ‘Knowledge Gap Indicator (KGI)’ approach was used to assess and compare retention between people who were part of the intervention with those who did not have exposure to it. In the third phase, the process of empowerment was conceptually modeled as ‘The Participation based ICT Mediated Empowerment Cycle (PICTEC)’. The conceptual model – PICTEC was empirically tested using data obtained from seven locations from three states based on a survey using structured audio-enabled questionnaire. The structural model of PICTEC based on the factors that influence the empowerment cycle was studied using Generalized Partial Least Square (PLS) techniques. The research points to the utility of understanding empowerment through the three distinct approaches adopted in the three phases. The other main contributions include design and development of a methodology to assess empowerment at various stages using Knowledge Gap Analysis (KGA), measurement of empowerment using Knowledge Gap Indicators (KGI) and data collection approaches in the spirit of PRA techniques based on specimen based approach and audio enabled questionnaires which are amenable to rigorous analysis. The results indicate evidence for positive impact of technology mediation in achieving the overall objectives of empowerment in the rural India context. The enabling role of participation is also observed. The results show that the stages of manifestation of empowerment and the internal processes can be studied simultaneously which has positive implications for designing effective interventions. The outcome of the present study are expected to contribute to existing literature on the subject and have relevance for policy makers, managers, designers and administrators of ICT based interventions targeting empowerment.

Das Innenhochdruck-Umformen (IHU), ein Verfahren der Metallformung zur Herstellung von anspruchsvollen Bauteilen mit komplexer Geometrie aus meist hohlzylindrischen Halbzeugen, wird in einigen Branchen seit mehreren Jahrzehnten mit großem Erfolg angewendet. Insbesondere die vielfältigen Applikationen aus dem Automotivbereich wie z.B. Elemente der Abgasanlage, Strukturbauteile oder auch Antriebselemente können hergestellt werden. Da die Trends der Rohr- und Blechumformung in Richtung Leichtbau, komplexer Bauteile mit geringen Ausbringungsmengen und hoher Genauigkeit gehen, ist perspektivisch mit der Erschließung weiterer Anwendungs-gebiete zu rechnen. Um das Verfahren effizienter zu gestalten, können zusätzliche Prozesse in das IHU-Verfahren integriert werden. Beispiele dafür sind das Lochen sowie das Kragenziehen und weitere Fügeprozesse. Typische Bauteile sind Leicht-baunockenwellen, bei denen die Nocken innerhalb des Umformprozesses auf die Rohre form- und kraftschlüssig gefügt werden. Ungeachtet einer beliebigen dreidimensionalen Formgebung und der hohen Flexibilität unterliegt das IHU-Verfahren gewissen Restriktionen. So werden im industriellen Umfeld generell nur Halbzeuge mit Wanddicken ab 1,5 mm bis maximal 3,5 mm umgeformt. Bei dünnwandigen, rohr-förmigen Bauteilen sind Wanddicken unter 1 mm üblich. Diese erfordern spezielle technologische Maßnahmen im Bereich des Werkzeugbaus insbesondere Anforderungen an Dichtsystem sowie Werkzeuggravur und unterliegen Prozessparametern mit entsprechend kleineren Prozessfenstern.

Serienfertiger im Bereich der Innenhochdruck-Umformung stehen unter starkem Wettbewerbsdruck alternativer klassischer Fertigungen und deren Kostenkriterien. Wechselnde Produktionsanforderungen im globalisierten Marktumfeld erfordern flexibles Handeln bei höchster Qualität und niedrigen Kosten. Durch Reduzierung der Lager- und Umlaufbestände können Kosteneinsparungen erzielt werden. Störungsbedingte Ausfälle an IHU-Anlagen gilt es dabei auf ein Minimum zu reduzieren, um die vereinbarten Liefertermine fristgerecht zu erfüllen und Konventionalstrafen zu umgehen. Die erforderliche Produktivität und das angestrebte Qualitätsniveau lässt sich nur durch angepasste Instandhaltungsstrategien aufrechterhalten, weshalb ein Konzept für die vorausschauende Instandhaltung mit integriertem Qualitätsmanagement speziell für den Bereich der IHU erarbeitet wurde. Dynamische Prozess- und Instandhaltungsanpassungen sind zentraler Bestandteil der Entwicklungsarbeit.

Hydroforming, a metal forming process for the production of sophisticated components with complex geometries from mostly tubular semi-finished products, has been successfully applied in some industries for several decades. Particularly, various applications from the automotive sector such as elements of the exhaust system, structural components or drive elements can be manufactured. As trends in tube and sheet metal forming move towards lightweight construction, complex components with low production volumes, and high precision, the prospective expansion into further application areas is anticipated. To enhance the efficiency of the process, additional processes can be integrated into the hydroforming process. Examples of this are punching, collar pulling and other joining processes. Typical components include lightweight camshafts in which the cams are form- and force-fitted onto the tubes within forming process. Despite arbitrary three-dimensional forming and the high degree of flexibility, the hydroforming process is subjected to certain restrictions. Generally, in an industrial environment, only semi-finished products with wall thicknesses from 1.5 mm to a maximum of 3.5 mm are formed. Wall thicknesses of less than 1 mm are common for thin-walled, tubular components. These require special technological measures in the area of toolmaking, particularly regarding sealing system and tool engraving, and are subjected to process parameters with correspondingly smaller process windows

Series manufacturers in the field of hydroforming face intense competition from alternative conventional manufacturing methods and their cost criteria. Changing production requirements in the globalized market environment require flexible action with highest quality and low costs. Cost savings can be achieved through reductions in warehouse and circulating stocks. Malfunction-related downtimes in hydroforming systems must be reduced to a minimum in order to meet the agreed delivery dates on time and avoid conventional penalties. The required productivity and the desired quality level can only be maintained through adapted maintenance strategies, leading to the development of a concept for predictive maintenance integrated with quality management specifically for the IHU domain. Dynamic process and maintenance adaptations are a central component to this developmental effort.

This dissertation consists of three essays on the empirical analysis of economic growth and technology development. In particular, I consider spillover effects in different frameworks. The first chapter outlines the three topics involved and briefly discusses the motivations, methods as well as some conclusions in each of the following chapters. The second chapter considers the spillovers in economic growth and convergence. Spillovers are prevalent in nowadays' economy. I formally model the spillover effects as the interdependence of total factor productivity (TFP), and develop a model in which spillover effects of R&D through the channel of international trade make the TFPs correlated among countries. In this sense, I apply the thoughts of international trade to the economic growth framework. Empirically, I develop a three-stage generalized method of moment(GMM) to estimate the dynamic panel spatial error autoregressive model. Simulation results show that my estimator is consistent and efficient. Through counterfactual analysis, I find that there are positive spillovers through both geographic connection and trade connection. Such a positive spillover effect, however, slows down the convergence speed. Moreover, there were little spillovers in the early 1960s. Spillover effects become stronger overtime. The third chapter is about the determinants of technology development in China. What makes my paper different from others is that I take a full consideration of the spillover effects: provincial spillovers in Science and Technology (S&T) capital as well as S&T personnel, and international spillovers through trade and FDI. The most interesting point in my paper is that I consider the indirect effects of institutions on technology development. Marketization, measured by the share of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) in the economy, affects the production of technology through different channels at different stages. I use a semiparametric varying-coefficient model to account for the effects. In this paper, I find that provincial spillovers are mainly through the externalities of S&T capital stock while international spillovers occur through trade. Marketization affects the technology development through S&T capital, S&T capital spillovers and trade. Although a certain share of SOEs is necessary for technology production, the marketization process will promote the development of technology in China in the long run. The fourth chapter looks into the provincial technology spillovers from another aspect. Instead of the S&T endowment spillovers from the nearby provinces, I consider the technology transfer from the frontier province to the targeted province as well as the absorptive capacity of the targeted province itself. Two forms of technology transfer are analyzed: the technology distance due to the structural discrepancy in the patent portfolio and the technology gap because of the difference in the patent level. Through the empirical analysis, several factors contributing to patent growth, such as S&T investment, road density, international spillovers from imports and FDI, are identified. Moreover, I find that technology transfer due to the technology distance can stimulate patent growth. However, I fail to find robust evidence of technology transfer due to the technology gap, which implies that the provincial technology convergence may not exist in China. / Ph. D.

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi desenvolver e avaliar péletes para compor sistema multiparticulado contendo ácido ascórbico, bem como validar metodologia analítica por cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência (CLAE) para aplicação em ensaio de dissolução destas formas farmacêuticas. A técnica de extrusão-esferonização foi utilizada por ser de fácil aplicação a nível laboratorial e industrial obtendo-se péletes matriciais, compostos de Methocel® K4M, Methocel® K100M e Eudragit® L 100, e péletes de liberação convencionais, para revestimento em leito fluidizado com Kollicoat® SR 30 D como agente regulador da liberação do fármaco. O sistema multiparticulado foi preparado na forma de comprimido pela compressão dos péletes com menor nível de revestimento, avaliando-se o nível de força aplicada e a presença da Microcel® 101 como protetor da camada de revestimento. Os péletes obtidos foram caracterizados quanto à esfericidade por análise imagem, friabilidade, dureza e perfil de dissolução comparativo com apresentações comerciais. Os péletes matriciais foram obtidos com grau de dificuldade variável em função do polímero utilizado, porém apresentaram esfericidade e resistência mecânica adequadas. O perfil de dissolução destas formulações demonstrou que não houve controle na liberação do fármaco, mesmo naquelas onde havia maior concentração de polímero. Os péletes revestidos com três níveis de polímero (5,07; 8,26 e 10,35% em relação à massa do pélete) apresentaram boas características granulométricas e o perfil de dissolução daqueles revestidos com 5,07% de polímero demonstrou semelhança com o da apresentação comercial. O perfil de dissolução comparativo entre os péletes isolados e os comprimidos obtidos sem a presença de excipiente mostrou que ocorre dano na camada de revestimento nos maiores níveis de força de compressão aplicada. Para os comprimidos obtidos a partir da mistura de péletes e Microcel® 101 este fato não foi observado, indicando que a presença do excipiente é fundamental para a manutenção da integridade da camada de revestimento além de promover a desintegração parcial dos comprimidos. / The present work aimed to develop and evaluate pellets to compound a multiparticulate system containing ascorbic acid, as well as, validate analytic methodology through high performance liquid chromatography and evaluate the essay of dissolution from these dosage forms. The extrusion-spheronization technique was used for its laboratorial and industrial application to obtain matrix pellets compounds of Methocel® K4M, Methocel® K100M, Eudragit® L 100, and conventional release pellets, for fluid bed coating with Kollicoat® SR 30 O as a regular occurrence release agent for the drug. The multiple system was prepared in tablets through the compression of the pellets with a lower coating levei, evaluating its applied compression force and the presence of Microcel® 101 as a protector of the coating layer. The obtained pellets were characterized according to its roundness through image analysis, friability, hardness and dissolution profile compared with those marketed products. The matrix pellets were obtained on varied difficulty degree due to the polymer utilized, even through they presented adequate spheroid and mechanical properties. The dissolution profile of these formulations didn\'t show any control in the release of the drug even in those, which had a high concentration of the polymer. The pellets coated with three polymers leveis (5,07%, 8,26% and 10,35% related to the pellets mass) presented good sphericity, and the dissolution profile of those pellets coated with 5,07% polymer demonstrated similarity with those ones marketed products. The comparative dissolution profile among isolated pellets and the tablets obtained without excipients presence, showed that damage right occur on the higher compression force levei is applied. This fact is not observed on the tablets obtained from the pellets blend and Microcel®101, which indicates that the presence of the excipients is fundamental for the maintenance and integrity of the coating layer, moreover, it causes the partial disintegration of the tablets.

Historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) lag behind predominantly White institutions in their production of online courses and degree programs because of nonexistent or inadequate technology training for faculty members and limited financial resources. The purpose of this qualitative comparative case study was to obtain insight into how decisions are made on technology deployment and integration of online programs at HBCUs. Guided by Donaldson's contingency theory, this case study addressed how decisions are determined at HBCUs to integrate online learning programs into the curriculum and how the individuals who make these decisions perceive online learning programs. Survey responses were collected from 16 administrators, chief information officers, and faculty department heads at 3 HBCUs. Frequency data from the surveys led to themes were confirmed by the analysis of interviews and campus documents. Emergent themes included the integration of online programs, interest in online learning, incentives/compensation and release time, mission and goal statements, strategic plans, and professional development. All 3 HBCUs have a process in place for measuring progress and updating strategic plans. Only 1 HBCU had incentives to encourage faculty or administrators to participate in technology deployment, although all 3 HBCUs offered professional development courses and seminars. Online learning was not included in any of the 3 HBCUs' mission and goal statements. Faculty interest in teaching online courses was high at 2 of the HBCUs. Among the implications of these findings for research and practice was the possibility of promoting positive social change through developing and applying improved strategies for technology deployment at HBCUs that might provide better services to students.

SAMMANFATTNING Tid för förändring av krigföringens principer. Världen är i en konstant förändring, allianser bildas och överenskommelser tecknas. Detta har drivit omvärldsutvecklingen och globaliseringen till där vi är idag och där det militära maktmedlet används i syfte att uppnå politiska och religiösa målsättningar. Precis som världen har utvecklats så har även de militära styrkorna och vapensystem utvecklats. Att bli segrare i nästa konflikt är en innovationskraft som har drivit utvecklingen av den militära förmågan framåt runt om i världen. Krigen och konflikterna har fungerat som en testanläggning där vapensystem och den militära personalen prövas i strid. Erfarenheter från krigen har dragits och sedan implementerats i syfte att bli ännu starkare och militärt överlägsen.     Krigföringens principer, även kallade de militära grundprinciperna, är ett antal olika principer vilka syftar till att ge en vägledning i planering och genomförandet av militära operationer. Dessa principer togs fram och utvecklades under mitten av 1800-talet av militärteoretikerna Carl von Clausewitz och Antoine-Henri Jomini. Båda dessa militärteoretiker hade framgångar på slagfältet vilket gjorde att de fick genomslag för sina teorier. Dessa teorier har sedan, genom utbildning, applicerats på officerskårer världen över och på så sätt ”cementerats” fast och blivit en basplatta i militärteorin.  Dagens militärteoretiker, framförallt med en amerikansk anknytning, menar på att grundprinciperna är föråldrade på dagens slagfält. Principerna skrevs för att vinna ett lokalt slag på en begränsad plats, inte för att vinna ett krig som påverkar ett helt samhälle under en lång tid. Med en accelererande teknikutveckling och globalisering så har vissa av dessa grundprinciper blivit föråldrade och bör således omformuleras för att vara relevanta i en modern konflikt. Denna studie syftar till att undersöka om krigföringens principer, ur en svensk kontext, behöver förändras för att på ett mer adekvat sätt kunna möta en modern konflikt. Detta görs genom att undersöka utvalda amerikanska militärteoretikers teorier gällande vilka grundprinciper som är inaktuella och därmed behöver ersättas eller omformuleras. Genom en kvalitativ innehållsanalys undersöks sedan om dessa nya grundprinciper kan återfinnas i skrivningar i Försvarsmaktens doktriner vilket kan utgöra stöd för att dessa principer kan implementeras i en svensk kontext. Analysen och resultatet av denna studie påvisar att det finns grundprinciper vilka, ur en svensk kontext, är i behov av revidering för att på ett mer adekvat sätt vara applicerbara i en framtida konflikt. Vidare påvisar resultatet att dessa principer tydligt återfinns i skrivningar i Försvarsmaktens doktriner. Dessutom har teknikutvecklingen spelat en stor roll i vidareutvecklingen av grundprinciperna, då den kan fungera som ett stöd och komplement till grundprinciperna. Således bör de militära grundprinciperna omformuleras alternativt revideras i svenska doktriner syftande till att göra det möjligt för Sverige att stå som vinnare i nästa konflikt. Nyckelord: Försvarsmakten, Krigföringens principer, teknisk utveckling, Militärstrategisk doktrin, Precision, Förskjutning, Överraskning, Modern krigsföring, Hybridkrigsföring. / ABSTRACT Time to change the principles of war. The world is under constant change, alliances and agreements are made. This has pushed the development and globalization to where we stand today, and the military force is used to achieve political and religious objectives. The armed military forces and weapon systems have been refined, just like the world has. The strive to win the next armed conflict has been an innovation force, pushing the augmentation of armed forces around the world. The wars and conflicts have served as test facilities, were weapon systems and personnel have been proven on the battlefield. Experiences from the battlefield have been implemented, with the purpose to achieve more military superiority.        The principles of war are principles that are meant to give guidance in the planning and implementation of military operations. These principles were created during the mid-19th century by the two military theorists Carl Von Clausewitz and Antoine-Henri Jomini. Both these military theorists had successful careers on the battlefield, contributing to the impact of their theories. These theories have been implemented in the education of officers worldwide, thereby forming a foundation in military theory.        Modern military theorists, especially from the US, states that the principles of war are outdated on the modern battlefield. The principles were written to win a battle in a constrained area, not for winning an entire war, affecting a whole society during a long period of time. With accelerating development of technology and globalization, some of the principles of war are outdated and should be rewritten or replaced to be relevant in a modern conflict.     The aim of this thesis is to examine if the principles of war, in a Swedish context, needs to be altered in order to confront a modern conflict more aptly. This is conducted through an examination of selected American military theorists’ theories in terms of which of the principles that are obsolete and in need of replacement or rephrasing. Swedish doctrines are then to be examined through qualitative content analysis in order to find wordings that can support the ability of these new principles of war to be implemented in a Swedish context. The analysis and result of this thesis demonstrates that there are principles of war that needs reformulation to be applicable on the battlefield of the future. Furthermore, the result demonstrates that these principles clearly are found in the Swedish doctrines writings. Also, the advancing technology has been a significant contributor in the development of the new principles of war, as a complement and support. The principles of war must be rewritten or changed in Swedish doctrines in order to enable Sweden to become the winner in the next modern conflict.           Keywords: Swedish armed forces, Principles of war, Technology development, Military Strategic Doctrine, Precision, Dislocate, Surprise, Modern Warfare, Hybrid Warfare.

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi desenvolver e avaliar péletes para compor sistema multiparticulado contendo ácido ascórbico, bem como validar metodologia analítica por cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência (CLAE) para aplicação em ensaio de dissolução destas formas farmacêuticas. A técnica de extrusão-esferonização foi utilizada por ser de fácil aplicação a nível laboratorial e industrial obtendo-se péletes matriciais, compostos de Methocel® K4M, Methocel® K100M e Eudragit® L 100, e péletes de liberação convencionais, para revestimento em leito fluidizado com Kollicoat® SR 30 D como agente regulador da liberação do fármaco. O sistema multiparticulado foi preparado na forma de comprimido pela compressão dos péletes com menor nível de revestimento, avaliando-se o nível de força aplicada e a presença da Microcel® 101 como protetor da camada de revestimento. Os péletes obtidos foram caracterizados quanto à esfericidade por análise imagem, friabilidade, dureza e perfil de dissolução comparativo com apresentações comerciais. Os péletes matriciais foram obtidos com grau de dificuldade variável em função do polímero utilizado, porém apresentaram esfericidade e resistência mecânica adequadas. O perfil de dissolução destas formulações demonstrou que não houve controle na liberação do fármaco, mesmo naquelas onde havia maior concentração de polímero. Os péletes revestidos com três níveis de polímero (5,07; 8,26 e 10,35% em relação à massa do pélete) apresentaram boas características granulométricas e o perfil de dissolução daqueles revestidos com 5,07% de polímero demonstrou semelhança com o da apresentação comercial. O perfil de dissolução comparativo entre os péletes isolados e os comprimidos obtidos sem a presença de excipiente mostrou que ocorre dano na camada de revestimento nos maiores níveis de força de compressão aplicada. Para os comprimidos obtidos a partir da mistura de péletes e Microcel® 101 este fato não foi observado, indicando que a presença do excipiente é fundamental para a manutenção da integridade da camada de revestimento além de promover a desintegração parcial dos comprimidos. / The present work aimed to develop and evaluate pellets to compound a multiparticulate system containing ascorbic acid, as well as, validate analytic methodology through high performance liquid chromatography and evaluate the essay of dissolution from these dosage forms. The extrusion-spheronization technique was used for its laboratorial and industrial application to obtain matrix pellets compounds of Methocel® K4M, Methocel® K100M, Eudragit® L 100, and conventional release pellets, for fluid bed coating with Kollicoat® SR 30 O as a regular occurrence release agent for the drug. The multiple system was prepared in tablets through the compression of the pellets with a lower coating levei, evaluating its applied compression force and the presence of Microcel® 101 as a protector of the coating layer. The obtained pellets were characterized according to its roundness through image analysis, friability, hardness and dissolution profile compared with those marketed products. The matrix pellets were obtained on varied difficulty degree due to the polymer utilized, even through they presented adequate spheroid and mechanical properties. The dissolution profile of these formulations didn\'t show any control in the release of the drug even in those, which had a high concentration of the polymer. The pellets coated with three polymers leveis (5,07%, 8,26% and 10,35% related to the pellets mass) presented good sphericity, and the dissolution profile of those pellets coated with 5,07% polymer demonstrated similarity with those ones marketed products. The comparative dissolution profile among isolated pellets and the tablets obtained without excipients presence, showed that damage right occur on the higher compression force levei is applied. This fact is not observed on the tablets obtained from the pellets blend and Microcel®101, which indicates that the presence of the excipients is fundamental for the maintenance and integrity of the coating layer, moreover, it causes the partial disintegration of the tablets.