The aim of the thesis is to explain short and medium term movements of the U.K. real effective exchange rate index from 1972 to 1984, within a relative purchasing power parity framework. This index is measured using both consumer and wholesale price indices. Movements are examined within a model that incorporates trade flow and asset market mechanisms. In order to validate the model, consideration of time series analysis, the measurement of expectations and the econometric estimation of the model are undertaken. The time series characteristics of the U.K. real and nominal effective exchange rate index are examined using regression, correlation, spectral and non-parametric statistical techniques. These imply that U.K. real exchange rate movements follow a quasi-random walk. Violations from the random walk occur partly due to the use of period averages in the construction of the index and partly from medium term time dependence. The empirical analysis of expectations is undertaken in a rational expectations framework. It is found that the best short term predictor of the nominal effective exchange rate index is a constructed forward effective exchange rate index. However, short term exchange rate movements appear largely due to 'news'. In the longer term, exchange rate expectations appear to be influenced by movements in the real current balance of goods and serVIces. The econometric analysis gives results broadly consistent with the model. This supports the view that the U.K. real effective exchange rate index returns to its equilibrium value in the long term, with movements in the short and medium terms eventually being corrected by trade flow and asset market mechanisms

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Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and polystyrene (PS), which are fully amorphous polymers, have been extensively studied for over a decade to discover how their mechanical behaviours vary with temperatures and strain rates. In this study, Mechanical tests were carried out at a range of strain rates and temperatures using a Hounsfield H50KM Test Machine wluch provides quasi- static rates (10-4 - 10-3 S-l) and low strain rates (10-2 - 10-1 S-l), and an in-house built Dropweight Machine which provides high strain rates (102 - 103 S-l) Mechanical tests were also performed in a high-speed photographic system, which provides high strain rates (103 S-l), to visualise the deformation of the polymers at a range of temperatures. An aluminium-heating block was built to heat up the samples to the required temperature. Strain limited tests were carried out at a range of strain rates and temperatures. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) was employed to study the glass transition temperatures and the specific heats of the samples. Dynamic Mechanical Thermal Analysis (DMTA) was adopted to study the transitions in the samples and the change of moduli with temperature densities of samples before and after high strain rate compression at certain strain were measured using a Six Column Density Apparatus The polarising microscope was used to study the orientation of the polymer chains at a range of temperatures, strains and strain rates. Eyring's theory of viscous flow was applied on yield point, 20% and 30% strain to relate the activation energy and volume with strain rate and temperature from the thermodynamic perspective. Temperature rise was calculated for high strain rate data to fit into the isothermal curve for the application of Eyring's theory and to obtain the actual smnple temperature at which the deformation took place. PMMA and PS showed ductile behaviour when tested at quasi-static and low strain rates at temperatures below their ductile-brittle transition temperatures. The densities of samples were not found to increase at different strains. The orientations of polymer chains did not influence the increase at Yield stress at high strain rates. The interpretation of activation energy and volume provided information of how the flows of chains took place at different temperatures and strain rates.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 95-98). / 105 leaves, bound ill. 29 cm

Errata tipped in before title page. / Bibliography: p. 173-194. / xv, 194 p. : ill. (some col.) ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Considers various signal processing aspects of heart rate variability analysis; in particular, those of data visualisation and classification. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Depts. of Electrical and Electronic Engineering and Applied Mathematics, 1999

Thesis (M.Phil.)--Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 62). Also available in electronic version.