Project schedules should mirror the project, as the project takes place. Accurate project schedules, when updated and revised, reflect the actual progress of construction as performed in the field. Various methods for monitoring progress of construction are successful in their representation of actual construction as it takes place. Progress monitoring techniques clearly identify when we are behind schedule, yet it is less obvious to recognize when we are going to slip behind schedule. This research explores how schedule performance measurement mechanisms are used to recognize construction projects that may potentially slip behind schedule, as well as what type of early warning they provide in order to take corrective action. Such early warning systems help prevent situations where the contractor and/or owner are in denial for a number of months that a possible catastrophe of a project is going to finish on time. This research develops the intellectual framework for schedule control systems, based on a review of control systems in the construction industry. The framework forms the foundation for the development of a schedule control technique for forecasting schedule slippage — the Required Performance Method (RPM). The RPM forecasts the required performance needed for timely project completion, and is based on the contractor's ability to expand future work. The RPM is a paradigm shift from control based on scheduled completion date to control based on required performance. This shift enables forecasts to express concern in terms that are more tangible. Furthermore, the shift represents a focus on what needs to be done to achieve a target completion date, as opposed to the traditional focus on what has been done. The RPM is demonstrated through a case study, revealing its ability to forecast impending schedule slippage. / Master of Science

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Emergency vehicles are at increased traffic risk due to legal exemptions like speeding or running red lights during emergencies. These exemptions can cause delays and complications in their response. The study explored if warning messages to passenger car drivers, particularly the EVA (Emergency Vehicle Approaching) message, with or without ambient lighting, could improve safety and response. A driving simulator experiment with 60 participants tested the impact of different levels of warning, including the EVA message and augmented ambient lighting (AEL). Participants also completed pre- and post-experiment questionnaires. The test involved a rural road scenario with background music to challenge emergency vehicle detection. Results showed significant behavioural differences between drivers receiving no warning and those receiving either form of warning, but no significant difference between the two warned groups. While attitudes towards this technology were positive, further research on the effectiveness of ambient lighting is needed. / <p>Examensarbetet är utfört vid Institutionen för teknik och naturvetenskap (ITN) vid Tekniska fakulteten, Linköpings universitet</p>

There is much debate among genocide scholars as to the causes and even accurate definitions of genocide. Early warning developed to address the increasing need for humanitarian intervention in violent conflicts around the world. As a subset of genocide studies, early warning seeks to go beyond explaining the causes of genocide. The early warning model created here uses six indicator variables - government, leaders/elites, followers, non-followers/bystanders, outsider group, and environment - to detect the likelihood of genocide within a given case study. Four cases were chosen - Kenya, Nigeria, Yemen, and Ethiopia - and analyzed using the indicator variables to determine if these violent conflicts may already be or may become genocides. Preliminary findings show that the civilian outsider group is a vital component when determining whether or not a conflict is or may become a "limited-genocide" and that genocides are a function of the interaction of the six indicator variables and not just their presence. Other implications for sovereignty and humanitarian intervention are discussed.

Cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae for a long time, are the most ancient and problematic bloom-forming phylum on earth. An alert levels framework has been established by World Health Organization(WHO) to prevent the potential harmful cyanobacterial blooms. Normally, low cyanobacteria levels are found in surface water. 2000 cyanobacterial cells/mL and 100,000 cyanobacterial cells/mL are established for WHO Alert Level 1 and 2, respectively. However, eutrophication, climate change and other factors may promote the spread of cyanobacteria and increase the occurrence of harmful cyanobacterial blooms in water on a global scale. Hence, a rapid real time cyanobacteiral monitoring system is required to protect public health from the cyanotoxins produced by toxic cyanobacterial species. Current methods to control or prevent the development of harmful cyanobacterial blooms are either expensive, time consuming or not effective in the long term. The best method to control the blooms is to prevent the formation of the blooms at the very beginning. Although emerging advanced autofluorescence-based sensors, imaging flow cytometry applications, and remote sensing have been utilized for rapid real-time enumeration and classification of cyanobacteria, the need to accurately monitor low-level cyanobacterial species in water remains unsolved. Microflow cytometry has been employed as a functional cell analysis technique in past decades, and it can provide real-time, accurate results. The autofluorescence of cyanobacterial pigments can be used for determination and counting of cyanobacterial density in water. A pre-concentration system of an automated cyanobacterial concentration and recovery system (ACCRS) based on tangential flow filtration and back-flushing technique was applied to reduce the sample assay volume and increase the concentration of target cells for further cell capture and detection. In this project, a microflow cytometry platform with a microfluidic device and an automated pre-concentration system was established to monitor cyanobacteria and provide early warning alerts for potential harmful blooms. In this work, quantification of low-level cyanobacterial samples (∼ 5 cyanobacterial cells/mL) in water has been achieved by using a microflow cytometer together with a pre-concentration system (ACCRS). Meanwhile, this platform can also provide early warning alerts for potential harmful cyanobacterial blooms at least 15 days earlier before reaching WHO Alert Level 1. Results have shown that this platform can be applied for rapid determination of cyanobacteria and early warning alerts can be triggered for authorities to protect the public and the environment. / Thesis / Doctor of Engineering (DEng) / Harmful cyanobacterial blooms have been a rising risk to the public heath across the world in recent decades. Alert levels of cyanobacteria in water has also been established. In this case, a rapid on-side monitoring system for cyanobacteria is required. In this thesis, a microflow cytometer platform combined with a bacterial concentration and recovery system was built to quickly monitor the relatively low level of cyanobacteria for early warning alerts. A pre-enrichment system based on tangential flow filtration and back-flushing technique was applied to increase the concentration levels of microbial samples and a microfluidic device capable of collecting phycocyanin fluorescence was designed to count cyanobacterial cells. The limit of quantification for cyanobacterial concentration based on the microflow cytometry platform was as low as ∼ 5 cells/mL. We can claim that the microflow cytometry platform can provide useful early warning alerts for the decision-makers to control the potential harmful cyanobacterial blooms at the very early stage and protect the aquatic animals and public health.

Bakgrund: Sepsis som i vardagligt tal benämns blodförgiftning är ett allvarligt tillstånd och uppstår när kroppens immunsystem överreagerar på en infektion. Är de metabola och cirkulatoriska förändringarna påtagligt förhöjda i kombination med organdysfunktion benämns tillståndet som septisk chock. Tidig identifikation har en betydande roll för patientens överlevnad och livskvalité. Sjuksköterskan arbetar patientnära och med rätt förutsättningar möjliggörs tidig identifikation. Syfte: Syftet är att belysa sjuksköterskans omvårdnadsåtgärder för tidig upptäckt av sepsis. Metod: Studien utfördes som en litteraturöversikt där både kvalitativa och kvantitativa artiklar användes. Fribergs granskningsmall användes för att granska kvalitén. Resultat: Två huvudteman identifierades; Sjuksköterskans kunskap och Ett gemensamt förhållningssätt som sedan följs av sex subteman; Kunskapsutveckling och sepsisprotokoll, Vikten av praktisk kunskap, Teamsamverkan, Stödjande bedömningsverktyg - NEWS, Vikten av att tala samma språk och Kliniska blicken. Konklusion: Denna litteraturöversikt belyser faktorer som kan inverka på sjuksköterskans möjlighet att identifiera sepsis i tid. Eftersom sepsis är ett vanligt och allvarligt tillstånd är det av betydelse att sjuksköterskor ges möjlighet att öka kompetensen inom området. Eftersom det brister inom hälso- och sjukvården avseende huruvida sepsis upptäcks i tid, bör vidare forskning inom området studeras för att minska patientens lidande och för att minska dödlig utgång. / Background: Sepsis also known as blood poisoning, is a serious condition and occurs when the body's immune system overreacts to an infection. If the metabolic and circulatory changes are significantly increased in combination with organ dysfunction, the condition is called septic shock. Early identification has a significant role for the patient's quality of life and survival. The nurse works close to the patient and with the right conditions early identification is possible. Aim: The aim is to shed light on the nurse´s care measures for early detection of sepsis. Method: The study was conducted as a literature review where both qualitative and quantitative articles were used. Friberg's review template was used to review the quality. Findings: Two main themes were identified; The nurse's knowledge and A joint approach which is then followed by six sub-themes; Knowledge development and sepsis protocols, The importance of practical knowledge, Team collaboration, Supporting assessment tools - NEWS, The importance of speaking the same language and The clinical gaze. Conclusion: This literature review highlights factors that can influence the nurse's ability to identify sepsis in time. As sepsis is a common and serious condition, it is important that nurses are given the opportunity to increase their competence in the area. Since there are deficiencies in the healthcare system regarding whether sepsis is detected in time, further research in the field should be studied to reduce patient suffering and to reduce mortality.

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