Syftet med den här studien är att genom en kvalitativ intervjustudie undersöka vilken typ av motivation samt, i den mån de existerar, vändpunkter som lett till att individer har tagit sig ur ett alkoholmissbruk. Studien har utförts genom sex intervjuer med privatpersoner som har levt med alkoholmissbruk och via behandling fått hjälp att ta sig ur sagda missbruk. Intervjuerna bokades med hjälp av socialtjänsten i en mellansvensk kommun där samtliga respondenter har utfört sin behandling. Vi har tolkat vår empiri genom stämplingsteori och defining moments. Resultatet presenterar teman som belyser likheter i respondenternas upplevelser. Resultatet påvisar att individer behöver få en insikt om sitt missbruk för att behandling ska kunna ha en positiv påverkan. Denna insikt införskaffas genom olika processer eller fysiska skador som påverkat respondenterna liv. Även motivation från individen själv och det privata nätverket påverkar möjligheterna att ta sig ur ett alkoholmissbruk. Respondenterna ansåg att behovet av behandling är nyckeln för att bli fri från alkoholmissbruk då de ansåg att de inte hade kunskap eller möjlighet för att göra det själva. Detta är något som stärks av tidigare forskning inom området. / The purpose of this study is that through a qualitative interview study investigating what kind of motivation and, to the extent they exist, turning points that led individuals to emerged from an alcohol addiction. The study was conducted through six interviews with individuals who have been living with alcohol abuse and through the treatment received help to get out of said abuse. The interviews was booked with the help of the social services in a Swedish municipality where all respondents have completed their treatment. We have interpreted our empiricism by labeling theory and defining moments. The result presents themes that highlight the similarities in the respondents' experiences. The result demonstrates that individuals need to get an insight into his addiction to treatment will have a positive impact. This insight is acquired through various processes or physical damage that affected respondents lives. The motivation of the individual and the private network allso affects the ability to get out of an alcohol abuse. Respondents felt that the need for treatment is the key to freedom from alcohol abuse when they felt that they did not have the knowledge or the ability to do it themselves. This is something that is supported by previous research in the area.

Increasing bandwidth demands for cloud computing and autonomous applications push the need for system scaling instead of transistor scaling as predicted by Moore’s Law. Optoelectronic interconnections have the potential to enable system scaling at higher bandwidth, power efficiency, and lower cost than copper wiring. The objective of this research is to demonstrate polymer-based optical waveguides with integrated optical turning structures in ultra-thin glass interposers, for fiber-to-chip or chip-to-chip optical interconnections. The fundamental material and process challenges associated with achieving this objective are encompassed in: (1) polymer-glass interfaces and adhesion, (2) lithographically-defined polymer waveguides, and (3) integrated turning structures by inclined lithography. Process guidelines for substrate preparation, adhesion enhancement, and lithographic precision of siloxane-based polymer waveguides in glass were established by fundamentally breaking down and optimizing each process step. In addition, a new process was demonstrated to achieve, for the first time, waveguides with integrated turning structures with self-alignment and symmetry in a single exposure. The new process was enabled by fabricating pre-existing, direct-coated, metallic masks before the inclined exposure step. The demonstrated structures were imaged by polished cross-sectioning and Scanning Electronic Microscopy (SEM).

Thesis (MScEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In this study, Ti6Al4V machining is modelled using finite element analysis of orthogonal machining. Orthogonal turning tests are conducted for the verification of FE models in terms of machining forces, temperatures, and chip geometry. Milling force predictions are made using the "unified" mechanics of cutting model which is applied to ball nose milling for this study. The model makes use of orthogonal cutting data, collected from the turning tests, to model milling forces. Model predictions are compared with test data from slot milling tests for verification. Finally a hybrid form of the "‘unified"’ model is presented in which orthogonal data, obtained from the FE simulations, is used to model ball nose milling operations. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In hierdie studie word titaanmasjinering (Ti6Al4V) gemodelleer deur gebruik te maak van eindige element analise van ortogonale masjinering. Ortogonale draai toetse word uitgevoer om eindige element (FE) modelle te verifieer in terme van masjineringskragte, temperatuur en spaandergeometrie. Freeskragte word voorspel deur gebruik te maak van die "Unified Mechanics of Cutting" model wat toegepas word op ’n balneusfrees operasie in hierdie studie. Die model maak gebruik van ortogonale snydata, versamel gedurende snytoetse, om die freeskragte te modelleer. Die model word vervolgens vergelyk met die toetsdata afkomstig van die freestoetse vir verifikasie. Ten slotte word ’n hibriede weergawe van die model aangebied waarin ortogonale data verkry word van die FE simulasie om balneus freesoperasies te simuleer.

Syftet med studien är att studera subjektiva upplevelser av vilka faktorer som varit bidragande till ett upphörande med brottsligt beteende, samt de faktorer som enligt egna upplevelser leder till ett upprätthållande av en mer konventionell livsstil. För att studera detta har en kvalitativ metod tillämpats och semistrukturerade intervjuer med fyra före detta kriminella individer genomförts. Studiens resultat visade att kärleksrelationer och föräldraskap, att sluta med alkohol- och narkotika missbruk, bryta upp från tidigare omgivning samt egen vilja är faktorer som i samspel med varandra påverkat de intervjuade att upphöra med brottsligt beteende. Rutiner, nytt socialt nätverk och stöd är faktorer som enligt intervjupersonerna möjliggjort ett upprätthållande av en mer konventionell livsstil. Studiens viktigaste slutsats är att samspel mellan yttre och inre faktorer även kallade vändpunkter, är av största vikt för att en upphörandeprocess skall vara framgångsrik. / ”It´s never too late.” - Four stories about the path out of crime. The purpose of this paper was to study the subjective experiences of factors that have contributed to desistance from criminal behavior, and the factors which, according to the interviewees own experiences lead to the maintenance of a more conventional lifestyle. The study was performed using qualitative semi-structured interviews with four ex-offenders. The results have shown that factors, such as love relationships and parenting, as well as desistance from alcohol and drug abuse and changing their environment are factors that in interaction with each other have affected the interviewed individuals desistance from criminal behavior. Routines, new social network and support are factors which, according to the interviewees made it possible to maintain a more conventional lifestyle. The study's main conclusion is that the interaction between external and internal factors so called ”turning points”, is crucial to a desistance process to be successful.

Optimal prediction model of cyclical downturns proposed by Neftci (1982) was widely used in application to predict turning points of different economies such as US, UK, Japan, and West Germany. I apply Neftci model to predict the occurrence of bear markets of Taiwan stock market by using exchange rate of NTD, monitoring indicator of economy, and turnover rate of TAIEX as predictors. The results show that turnover rate outperforms the other two predictors, which signaled bear markets almost concurrently on average and the variation of the signal time is the smallest, ranging from 4 months lead to 4 months lag. / Optimal prediction model of cyclical downturns proposed by Neftci (1982) was widely used in application to predict turning points of different economies such as US, UK, Japan, and West Germany. I apply Neftci model to predict the occurrence of bear markets of Taiwan stock market by using exchange rate of NTD, monitoring indicator of economy, and turnover rate of TAIEX as predictors. The results show that turnover rate outperforms the other two predictors, which signaled bear markets almost concurrently on average and the variation of the signal time is the smallest, ranging from 4 months lead to 4 months lag.

Title: ”… Then came the realization that I was just like them. That I have a gambling addiction…” This is a qualitative study of four former gamblers and their experience of getting out of the gambling addiction. The study is about how individuals have overcome a gambling addiction. The purpose of this study is to examine the social processes and factors that are of importance when overcoming a gambling addiction. In addition, the study focuses on how individuals experience the change from gambling addiction to a life free of that addiction. In this thesis, I conducted a qualitative study in the form of semi-structured interviews with four former gamblers. The theoretical approach concentrated on Ebaugh’s (1988) role exit theory and Giddens’ (2005) identity formation theory has been used to illustrate the interviewees' experiences of gambling addiction and their identity as addiction free. The study shows that the gambling addiction has brought economic, social and health-related impacts and some of these aspects still exist today. The exit out of a gambling addiction has been a process with different phases and events where the process for some has been incrementally with relapses during the journey. Based on my results, the changing process appears to consist of parallel turning points where different and more significant events give rise to role exit. The study shows the need of continuous social support in combination with gambling association support efforts and the gamblers’ own insight, motivation and freedom of action. It appears that the interviewed have accepted their role that they had left behind and they take careful consideration to the past and the future and try to make more conscious choices and build their new identity. This is done by actions and re- evaluations of themselves and their world. It is based on their lives, by their own choices. However, these choices seem to be limited by conditions that occur in the interaction with the environment, social norms and social situations.

Silicon-on-insulator (SOI) technology has become increasingly attractive because of the strong light confinement, which significantly reduces the footprint of the photonic components, and the possibility of monolithically integrating advanced photonic waveguide circuits with complex electronic circuits, which may reduce the cost of photonic integrated circuits by mass production. This thesis is dedicated to numerical simulation and experimental performance measurement of passive SOI waveguide devices. The thesis consists of two main parts. In the first part, SOI curved waveguide and corner turning mirror are studied. Propagation losses of the SOI waveguide devices are accurately measured using a Fabry-Perot interference method. Our measurements verify that the SOI corner turning mirror structures can not only significantly reduce the footprint size, but also reduce the access loss by replacing the curved sections in any SOI planar lightwave circuit systems. In the second part, an optical 90o hybrid based on 4 × 4 multimode interference (MMI) coupler is studied. Its quadrature phase behavior is verified by both numerical simulations and experimental measurements.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between leg dominance and knee mechanics to provide further information about the etiology of ACL injury. Sixteen healthy females between the ages of 18 and 22 who were NCAA Division I varsity soccer players participated in this study. Subjects were instructed to perform a cutting maneuver; where they sprinted full speed and then performed an evasive maneuver (planting on one leg and pushing off to the other leg in a new direction) at a 45° angle with their dominate leg (DL) and non-dominate leg (NDL). Subjects were required to perform five successful cuts on each side given in a random order. Bilateral kinematic and kinetic data were collected during the cutting trials. After the cutting trials, subjects performed bilateral isometric and isokinetic testing using a Cybex Norm dynamometer at a speed of 60°/sec to evaluate knee muscle strength. During the braking phase the NDL showed greater (P=0.003) power absorption, greater (P=0.01) peak internal rotation angle and greater (P=0.005) peak flexion velocity. During the propulsive phase the DL showed greater (P=0.01) power production, greater (P=0.038) peak internal adductor moment and greater (P=0.02) peak extension velocity. In addition, no differences (P>0.05) in knee extensor and flexor isometric and isokinetic torques between the two limbs were shown. The results of this study show that a difference in knee mechanics during cutting does exist between the DL and NDL. The findings of this study will increase the knowledge base of ACL injury in females and aid in the design of more appropriate neuromuscular, plyometric and strength training protocols for injury prevention. / School of Physical Education, Sport, and Exercise Science

Syftet har varit att genom nyanlända ungdomars berättelser undersöka vilka faktorer som kan ha påverkat deras studie- och yrkesval. För att undersöka detta har livsberättelser använts som metodansats. Halvstrukturerade intervjuer genomfördes med sju nyanlända ungdomar i åldern 19-21 år, som har studerat i hemlandet, flyttat till Sverige och idag studerar på ett nationellt gymnasieprogram. Intervjumaterialet bearbetades och analyserades med hjälp av tematisk innehållsanalys. Resultatet visade att de nyanlända ungdomarna såg positivt på sin framtid och att de studie-och yrkesval som gjorts i hemlandet till viss del fanns kvar. Skolgångens utformning och svårigheter med det svenska språket har dock begränsat ungdomarnas möjligheter till att kunna visa sina kunskaper, något som skulle kunna leda till att aspirationerna förändras, kunskapsutvecklingen stannar upp och studietiden förlängs. / The purpose has been, through young migrants’ stories, to examining the factors that may have affected their study- and career choices. In order to study this, life stories have been used as method approach. Partly structured interviews were conducted with seven young migrants’ ages 19-21 years, who have studied in their home countries, moved to Sweden and today study in a national high school program. Interview material were processed and analyzed with the help of thematic content analysis. The results showed that the young migrants’ felt positive about their futures and that the study and career choices made in their home countries, to some extent, still exist. The schooling system and difficulty with the Swedish language have limited the youths’ possibilities to demonstrate their knowledge, which could lead to that their aspirations may change, their academic development may be impeded and their academic years prolonged.

This project has as main goal to study the influence of the coating thickness, deposited by arc-PVD- technology, on the wear resistance of coated cemented carbide inserts in three different turning operations. An additional effort has also been made to develop a new test method for evaluating flank wear resistance. Three different coating types (Coating A, Coating B and Coating C) have been studied in three distinctive thicknesses (2, 4 and 6 μ m) for each type. For two of the coating types (Coating A and B) special studies has been done with the thickest coating, creating two additional coating versions of the thickest coating, by changing various deposition parameters, with the aim to enhance the cohesive properties of the coating and lower the residual stresses at the cutting edge. The results show increased crater wear resistance with increased coating thickness for all coating types, but the amount of increase changes with coating type (Coating A>B>C). Flaking wear resistance decreased with increased coating thickness for all coating types. Further the high temperature version of Coating A, showed a significant increase in the flaking wear resistance compared to the standard version of Coating A. The flank wear test showed an increased resistance with thicker coatings in all cases except for the 6 μ m version of Coating C. The flank wear resistance of the most flank wear resistant coatings (Coating B, C) was also successfully examined in a new developed test method. The method suppressed excessive crater wear on the rake face and presented a high abrasive wear rate on the flank and some flaking on the rake face. The amount of flaking is judged not to influence the testing of the flank wear resistance. For all the tested coatings in the new test an increase in the coating thickness resulted in better flank wear resistance.