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| 2. |
- Afzal, Wasif
(författare)
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Search-based approaches to software fault prediction and software testing
- 2009
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Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Software verification and validation activities are essential for software quality but also constitute a large part of software development costs. Therefore efficient and cost-effective software verification and validation activities are both a priority and a necessity considering the pressure to decrease time-to-market and intense competition faced by many, if not all, companies today. It is then perhaps not unexpected that decisions related to software quality, when to stop testing, testing schedule and testing resource allocation needs to be as accurate as possible. This thesis investigates the application of search-based techniques within two activities of software verification and validation: Software fault prediction and software testing for non-functional system properties. Software fault prediction modeling can provide support for making important decisions as outlined above. In this thesis we empirically evaluate symbolic regression using genetic programming (a search-based technique) as a potential method for software fault predictions. Using data sets from both industrial and open-source software, the strengths and weaknesses of applying symbolic regression in genetic programming are evaluated against competitive techniques. In addition to software fault prediction this thesis also consolidates available research into predictive modeling of other attributes by applying symbolic regression in genetic programming, thus presenting a broader perspective. As an extension to the application of search-based techniques within software verification and validation this thesis further investigates the extent of application of search-based techniques for testing non-functional system properties. Based on the research findings in this thesis it can be concluded that applying symbolic regression in genetic programming may be a viable technique for software fault prediction. We additionally seek literature evidence where other search-based techniques are applied for testing of non-functional system properties, hence contributing towards the growing application of search-based techniques in diverse activities within software verification and validation.
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| 3. |
- Akbari, Keramatollah, 1961-
(författare)
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Impact of Radon Ventilation on Indoor Air Quality and Building Energy saving
- 2009
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Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Industrial living is caused much people do live and work in closed and confined places; offices and residential buildings. This is why in this new world more fresh air which is generally provided by forced ventilation plays a vital role in living of human being. Furthermore because of many different indoor pollutants, like radon and artificial pollutants, the amount of fresh air and in turn the energy consumption has increased. This energy consumption related to ventilation has reached up to about 30 percent of energy used of building section. So making interaction between indoor air quality (IAQ) and optimization of energy saving is a necessary work. Radon as a natural pollutant is occurred in environment and in many countries threatens people health whereas is called the second causes of cancer. For reducing radon concentration in residential building at the acceptable level forced ventilation is used usually. Ventilation can improve IAQ but in the other side would increase the energy consumption in building sector and just now the contribution of ventilation exceeds up 50 percent of building sector's share. The aim of this thesis is to study the impact of ventilation on indoor radon by using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to achieve indoor air quality and energy efficiency. Application of CFD as a new technology, because of its cost and time savings, and on the other side, of its flexibility and precision is increasingly grown and can be used as a very important and valuable tool for the prediction and measurement of radon distribution in a ventilated building . Currently, measurement techniques and proposed standards and regulations of indoor pollutants and ventilation, particularly related to indoor radon cannot be able to provide a secure, safe and energy efficient indoor climate. This is why the indoor airflow distribution is very complex and with changing building geometry and operation condition, the treatment of air flow pattern, substantially would be changed, whereas the rules are usually independent of the buildings features. Furthermore, the indoor standards and regulations are based on average amount of pollutants in a room, whereas the pollutant distributions aren't identical and are varied throughout the room. Then the current techniques aren't so exactly valuable and acceptable. From different methods which is privilege to control pollutants, ventilation method is applicable in existing buildings. Designing effective ventilation can reduce radon concentration to very level low with regarding energy conservation remarks. This thesis presents results from simulation studies on ventilation and radon mitigation in residential buildings, in view points of indoor air quality and energy savings. The CFD technique is applied to predict, visualize and calculate of mixture radon-air flow. The distribution of indoor radon concentration, air velocity and room temperature also have considered together for achieving indoor air quality and energy saving. The results are also compared with the experimental data and related previous works. It was found that with increasing ventilation rate, the radon concentration is decreased, but the location of ventilation system is also important. From the simulation results, it is observed that within the ventilated room, there are some zones, which are good for living and somewhere is more polluted. The traditional radon detectors basically show the average value of radon content in 1m3 of air. That is why detector measuring is not exact and safe. Simulation results proved that floor heat can be supported ventilation effect and speed up the mixture movement. Floor heating reinforces the buoyancy effect, which is useful to reduce radon content in the floor (seating area) and then lower ventilation rate can be applied.
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| 4. |
- Andersson, Anna, 1974-
(författare)
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A framework supporting the collaboration between the logistics- and the product development process
- 2007
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Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- In the competitive environment of today’s global markets, the demands of customers are increasing. They expect to get the best product at the lowest price with immediate availability. Logistics, including transportation, inventory maintenance, order processing, purchasing, warehousing, materials handling, packaging, customer service standards, and product scheduling must continuously be developed to meet the challenges of the market. The globalization, with longer distances to customers and suppliers, and the progressing trend of outsourcing are examples of why the importance of logistics has increased over the last few years.A considerable part of the final product cost is frozen during the early product development phases. In the early phases of the product development process, the cost of making design changes is low compared to making changes later in the product development process. The product development decisions made in the early phases of the product development process have considerable impact on future manufacturing and logistics activities as well.The objective of this research project is to develop a framework supporting the collaboration between the logistics- and the product development process. To do this, it has been essential to analyze which parameters influence the efficiency of the logistics process and the interface between the logistics- and the product development process. Also, to investigate how the logistics department can be integrated earlier in the product development process has been of interest. This has been done through both a theoretical review and also through a number of case studies.The result and conclusion of this project is a framework that gives support for what to focus on, how to collaborate, in which phases collaboration is meaningful, and which persons need to be involved in the different product development phases. Working as the framework suggests will, hopefully, give closer collaboration between the logistics- and the product development process than without this supportive framework. The expectation of the collaboration is an earlier integration of the logistics department in the product development process and through this influence and increase the efficiency of the logistics process.
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| 5. |
- Andersson, Carina, 1970-
(författare)
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Upplevelser av budskap : Fallstudier av hur användare upplever och förstår information i användargränssnitt
- 2007
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Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- När användbarheten studeras av den information som presenteras i ett användargränssnitt på en datorskärm kan det framkomma vad som fungerar effektivt och korrekt. I sådana sammanhang förs sällan någon diskussion om hur den information som presenteras kommunicerar med en användare.Syftet med detta forskningsprojekt är att på ett generellt plan öka kunskapen om olika analytiska perspektiv för att studera den information som presenteras i ett användargränssnitt på en datorskärm, som ett led till att skapa begriplig information för människor. Mer preciserat är syftet att få en djupare förståelse för hur en informationslämnare kan kommunicera med en informationsanvändare genom den information som presenteras i ett användargränssnitt. Målet med forskningsprojektet är att presentera ett antal relevanta analytiska perspektiv som kan användas för att beskriva hur presenterad information i ett användargränssnitt kan kommunicera med en användare. Forskningsresultatet bidrar med ett ramverk som kan ligga till grund för ett analysstöd. Forskningsresultatet bidrar även med en ansats för framtida forskning inom området.Forskningsprojektet bygger på fyra fallstudier. Analysobjekten i fallstudierna utgörs av fyra olika användargränssnitt på datorskärm, vilka används inom olika myndigheter, organisationer och företag. Vartdera användargränssnittet och dess informationsdesign studeras med hänsyn till: informationslämnarnas önskemål och intentioner, informationsanvändarnas upplevelse och förståelse av information och kontexters påverkan.De slutsatser som dras är bland annat att informationsdesign i ett användargränssnitt på datorskärm upplevs och förstås av användare i samklang med inre, när och yttre kontext. Dessa kontexter kan studeras utifrån tre olika perspektiv, ett semiotiskt, ett retoriskt och ett narrativt perspektiv. En sådan analys kan framhäva den kommunikation som sker mellan de budskap som informationslämnaren vill berätta, hur den presenterade informationen i användargränssnittet arrangeras och komponeras och hur olika kontexter påverkar användarnas upplevelse och förståelse av den information som presenteras.
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| 7. |
- Andersson, Mona, 1948-
(författare)
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Botvids väg till rätt vård : Planering av ett interorganisatoriskt vårdkedjeprojekt
- 2006
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Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The patient Botvid´s way to right care. The planning process of an inter-organizational care pathway project.A general problem in an elderly patient’s care – and rehabilitation process, which involves different care providers, is that there is no one single staff that is responsible for the whole “production process” i.e. from diagnosis to completed treatment. All too often care providers focus on their own part of the process with insufficient communication with other providers, resulting in low quality of care. Poor co-operation also leads to increased demand for check-ups, unproductive waiting time, duplication of work and other inefficiencies. A solution to these co-ordination problems can be to introduce process orientation (integrated care pathways). A process view requires the concerned staff to look at their own work with other eyes. The process view implies that they need to change focus to what is best from the patient’s point of view.Experiences from earlier reforms, that were centrally initiated and managed, show that the concerned staff (doctors, nurses etc.) had too little influence during the planning and implementation phases. Several official reports therefore call attention to the need for broad participation from all of the different staff categories in organizational development.In this thesis a qualitative case study of the planning process of an inter-organizational project between primary care, hospital treatment and municipality care is presented. The aim of the project was to develop an organization that could support a process view among the care providers. The focus of the thesis is on how the project management acted to shape the necessary conditions for a process view to enable the professional staff to participate, and on the role that the change strategy played in this connection.The results show that the professional staff had an active role in the management of the project. The initiator was a doctor, who managed the project team of 50 care staff together with a project leader. This team had a series of meetings and conferences during ten months. By exchanging ideas and experiences they found solutions to the operative problems that were the starting points for the project. They developed an action plan in consensus, with prioritized activities, which is now to be implemented.
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| 8. |
- Ask, Andréas, 1977-
(författare)
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Factory-in-a-Box : an Enabler for Flexibility in Manufacturing Systems
- 2006
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Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- AT PRESENT, many markets are characterized by a fast pace of change, as well as a high internationally enlarged competition. Since the conception of Mass Customization emerged in the late 1980´s, many companies within the manufacturing industry have been striving to fulfill this vision by increasing the flexibility within their manufacturing system. However, although there are many manufacturing theories that describe theoretical solutions to mass customization, but there is still a lack of practical enablers that can realize the conception.In January 2005, the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research started the project Factory-in-a-Box. There, the key characteristic is to realize is the concept of modular production units that are flexible, mobile and quick to ramp-up. This licentiate thesis is a part of the Factory-in-a-Box project, and its objective is to investigate if and how the Factory-in-a-box concept is an enabler to realize flexibility in manufacturing systems.The outcome of this research work indicates that the Factory-in-a-Box concept is a plausible solution that goes in line with previous research and future challenges within the manufacturing industry. The Factory-in-a-Box concept offers possibilities for a more flexible and responsive manufacturing system, which also unwrap new business possibilities, increased automation, and entering new markets. To succeed in implementing the Factory-in-a-Box concept in a manufacturing system some key generic requirements have been identified.The research project concludes that mobile manufacturing systems in general and the Factory-in-a-Box concept in particular offer new possibilities to the manufacturing industry. Also, the concept is not limited to the manufacturing industry, there are a wide range of applications where the concept could be useful, for example within the construction industry.
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| 9. |
- Aysan, Hüseyin
(författare)
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New Strategies for Ensuring Time and Value Correctness in Dependable Real-Time Systems
- 2009
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Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Dependable real-time embedded systems are typically composed of a number of heterogeneous computing nodes, heterogeneous networks that connect them and tasks with multiple criticality levels allocated to the nodes. The heterogeneous nature of the hardware, results in a varying vulnerability to different types of hardware failures. For example, a computing node with effective shielding shows higher resistance to transient failures caused by environmental conditions such as radiation or temperature changes than an unshielded node. Similarly, resistance to permanent failures can vary depending on the manufacturing procedures used. Vulnerability to different types of errors of a task which may lead to a system failure, depends on several factors, such as the hardware on which the task runs and communicates, the software architecture and the implementation quality of the software, and varies from task to task. This variance, as well as the different criticality levels and real-time requirements of tasks, necessitate novel fault-tolerance approaches to be developed and used, in order to meet the stringent dependability requirements of resource-constrained real-time systems. In this thesis, the major contribution is four-fold. Firstly, we describe an error classification for real-time embedded systems and address error propagation aspects. The goal of this work is to perform the analysis on a given system, in order to find bottlenecks in satisfying dependability requirements and to provide guidelines on the usage of appropriate error detection and fault tolerance mechanisms. Secondly, we present a time-redundancy approach to provide a priori guarantees in fixed-priority scheduling (FPS) such that the system will be able to tolerate one value error per every critical task instance by re-execution of every critical task instance or execution of alternate tasks before deadlines, while keeping the associated costs minimized. Our third contribution is a new approach, Voting on Time and Value (VTV) which extends the N-modular redundancy approach by explicitly considering both value and timing errors, such that correct value is produced at a correct time, under specified assumptions. We illustrate our voting approach by instantiating it in the context of the well-known triple modular redundancy (TMR) approach. Further, we present a generalized voting algorithm targeting NMR that enables a high degree of customization from the user perspective. Finally, we propose a novel cascading redundancy approach within a generic fault tolerant scheduling framework. The proposed approach is capable of tolerating errors with a wider coverage (with respect to error frequency and error types) than our proposed time and space redundancy approaches in isolation, allows tasks with mixed criticality levels, is independent of the scheduling technique and, above all, ensures that every critical task instance can be feasibly replicated in both time and/or space. The fault-tolerance techniques presented in this thesis address various different error scenarios that can be observed in real-time embedded systems with respect to the types of errors and frequency of occurrence, and can be used to achieve the ultra-high levels of dependability which is required in many critical systems.
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| 10. |
- Begum, Shahina, 1977-
(författare)
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A Case-Based Reasoning System for the Diagnosis of Individual Sensitivity to Stress in Psychophysiology
- 2009
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Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Increased stress is a continuing problem in our present world. Especiallynegative stress could cause serious health problems if it remainsundiagnosed/misdiagnosed and untreated. In the stress medicine, clinicians’measure blood pressure, ECG, finger temperature and breathing rate during anumber of exercises to diagnose stress-related disorders. One of the physiologicalparameters for quantifying stress levels is the finger temperature that helps theclinicians in diagnosis and treatment of stress. However, in practice, it is difficultand tedious for a clinician to understand, interpret and analyze complex, lengthysequential sensor signals. There are only few experts who are able to diagnose andpredict stress-related problems. A system that can help the clinician in diagnosingstress is important, but the large individual variations make it difficult to build sucha system.This research work has attempted to investigate several artificial Intelligencetechniques to develop an intelligent, integrated sensor system for diagnosis andtreatment plan in the Psychophysiological domain. To diagnose individualsensitivity to stress, case-based reasoning is applied as a core technique to facilitateexperience reuse by retrieving previous similar cases. Further, fuzzy techniques arealso employed and incorporated into the case-based reasoning system to handlevagueness, uncertainty inherently existing in clinicians reasoning process. Thevalidation of the approach is based on close collaboration with experts andmeasurements from twenty four persons used as reference.Thirty nine time series from these 24 persons have been used to evaluate theapproach (in terms of the matching algorithms) and an expert has ranked andestimated similarity which shows a level of performance close to an expert. Theproposed system could be used as an expert for a less experienced clinician or as asecond option for an experienced clinician to their decision making process.
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