This thesis presents the design of a broadband and high speed dc-coupled AGC amplifier for multi-level (4-PAM) signaling with a symbol rate of 1-GS/s ( 2-Gb/s ) . It is a high frequency analog design with several design challenges such as high -3 dB bandwidth ( greater than 500 MHz ) and highly linear gain while accommodating a large input swing range ( 120 mVp-p to 1800 mVp-p diff.) and delivering constant differential output swing of 1700 mVp-p to 50-ohm off-chip loads at high speed. Moreover, the gain control circuit has been designed in analog domain. The amplifier incorporates both active and passive feedback in shunt-shunt topology in order to achieve wide bandwidth. This standalone chip has been implemented in AMS 0.35 micron CMOS process. The post layout eye-diagrams seem to be quite satisfactory.

Der technologische Fortschritt gestattet die Implementierung zunehmend komplexerer Prozessorarchitekturen auf einem Schaltkreis. Ein Trend der letzten Jahre ist die Implementierung von mehr und mehr Verarbeitungseinheiten auf einem Chip. Daraus ergeben sich neue Herausforderungen für die Abbildung von Algorithmen auf solche Architekturen, denn alle Verarbeitungseinheiten sollen effizient bei der Ausführung des Algorithmus genutzt werden. Der Schwerpunkt der eingereichten Dissertation ist die Ausnutzung der Parallelität von Rechenfeldern mit Teilwortparallelität. Solche Architekturen erlauben Parallelverarbeitung auf mehreren Ebenen. Daher wurde eine Abbildungsstrategie, mit besonderem Schwerpunkt auf Teilwortparallelität entwickelt. Diese Abbildungsstrategie basiert auf den Methoden des Rechenfeldentwurfs. Rechenfelder sind regelmäßig angeordnete Prozessorelemente, die nur mit ihren Nachbarelementen kommunizieren. Die Datenein- und -ausgabe wird durch die Prozessorelemente am Rand des Rechenfeldes realisiert. Jedes Prozessorelement kann mehrere Funktionseinheiten besitzen, welche die Rechenoperationen des Algorithmus ausführen. Die Teilwortparallelität bezeichnet die Fähigkeit zur Teilung des Datenpfads der Funktionseinheit in mehrere schmale Datenpfade für die parallele Ausführung von Daten mit geringer Wortbreite. Die entwickelte Abbildungsstrategie unterteilt sich in zwei Schritte, die \"Vorverarbeitung\" und die \"Mehrstufige Modifizierte Copartitionierung\" (kurz: MMC). Die \"Vorverarbeitung\" verändert den Algorithmus in einer solchen Art, dass der veränderte Algorithmus schnell und effizient auf die Zielarchitektur abgebildet werden kann. Hierfür wurde ein Optimierungsproblem entwickelt, welches schrittweise die Parameter für die Transformation des Algorithmus bestimmt. Die \"Mehrstufige Modifizierte Copartitionierung\" wird für die schrittweise Anpassung des Algorithmus an die Zielarchitektur eingesetzt. Darüber hinaus ermöglicht die Abbildungsmethode die Ausnutzung der lokalen Register in den Prozessorelementen und die Anpassung des Algorithmus an die Speicherarchitektur, an die das Rechenfeld angebunden ist. Die erste Stufe der MMC dient der Transformation eines Algorithmus mit Einzeldatenoperationen in einen Algorithmus mit teilwortparallelen Operationen. Mit der zweiten Copartitionierungsstufe wird der Algorithmus an die lokalen Register und an das Rechenfeld angepasst. Weitere Copartitionierungsstufen können zur Anpassung des Algorithmus an die Speicherarchitektur verwendet werden. / The technological progress allows the implementation of complex processor architectures on a chip. One trend of the last years is the implemenation of more and more execution units on one chip. That implies new challenges for the mapping of algorithms on such architectures, because the execution units should be used efficiently during the execution of the algorithm. The focus of the submitted dissertation thesis is the utilization of the parallelism of processor arrays with subword parallelism. Such architectures allow parallel executions on different levels. Therefore an algorithm mapping strategy was developed, where the exploitation of the subword parallelism was in the focus. This algorithm mapping strategy is based on the methods of the processor array design. Processor arrays are regular arranged processor elements, which communicate with their neighbors elements only. The data in- and output will be realized by the processor elements on the border of the array. Each processor element can have several functional units, which execute the computational operations. Subword parallelism means the capability for splitting the data path of the functional units in several smaller chunks for the parallel execution of data with lower word width. The developed mapping strategy is subdivided in two steps, the \"Preprocessing\" and the \"Multi-Level Modified Copartitioning\" (kurz: MMC), whereat the MMC means the method of the step simultaneously. The \"Preprocessing\" alter the algorithm in such a kind, that the altered algorithm can be fast and efficient mapped on the target architecture. Therefore an optimization problem was developed, which determines gradual the parameter for the transformation of the algorithm. The \"Multi-Level Modified Copartitioning\" is used for mapping the algorithm gradual on the target architecture. Furthermore the mapping methodology allows the exploitation of the local registers in the processing elements and the adaptation of the algorithm on the memory architecture, where the processing array is connected on. The first level of the MMC is used for the transformation of an algorithm with operation based on single data to an algorithm with subword parallel operations. With the second level, the algorithm will be adapted to the local registers in the processing elements and to the processor array. Further copartition levels can be used for matching the algorithm to the memory architecture.

Visual recognition research develops algorithms and representations to autonomously recognize visual entities such as objects, actions, and attributes. The traditional protocol involves manually collecting training image examples, annotating them in specific ways, and then learning models to explain the annotated examples. However, this is a rather limited way to transfer human knowledge to visual recognition systems, particularly considering the immense number of visual concepts that are to be learned. I propose new forms of active learning that facilitate large-scale transfer of human knowledge to visual recognition systems in a cost-effective way. The approach is cost-effective in the sense that the division of labor between the machine learner and the human annotators respects any cues regarding which annotations would be easy (or hard) for either party to provide. The approach is large-scale in that it can deal with a large number of annotation types, multiple human annotators, and huge pools of unlabeled data. In particular, I consider three important aspects of the problem: (1) cost-sensitive multi-level active learning, where the expected informativeness of any candidate image annotation is weighed against the predicted cost of obtaining it in order to choose the best annotation at every iteration. (2) budgeted batch active learning, a novel active learning setting that perfectly suits automatic learning from crowd-sourcing services where there are multiple annotators and each annotation task may vary in difficulty. (3) sub-linear time active learning, where one needs to retrieve those points that are most informative to a classifier in time that is sub-linear in the number of unlabeled examples, i.e., without having to exhaustively scan the entire collection. Using the proposed solutions for each aspect, I then demonstrate a complete end-to-end active learning system for scalable, autonomous, online learning of object detectors. The approach provides state-of-the-art recognition and detection results, while using minimal total manual effort. Overall, my work enables recognition systems that continuously improve their knowledge of the world by learning to ask the right questions of human supervisors. / text

This study was part of a larger multi-informant longitudinal study with a sample of 319 children (52% male, 48% female) ages 4-12 (mean= 7 years 9 months) whose parents had recently filed for divorce. Three annual waves of data from four informants were used for analysis: child self-report, mother, teacher, and observer report. The purpose of the study was to add to the understanding of multi-informant research and children’s psycho-social well-being. The first goal was to determine the consensus of children’s psycho-social well-being scores within informant across time, within child across informant, and between children over time. The second goal was to determine factors that contribute to the levels of consensus, such as, child gender, child age, child ethnicity, and length of parents’ separation, maternal baseline depressive symptoms score, and timing of the teacher questionnaire. The third goal was to determine if children could be classified into meaningful psycho-social well-being groups. Lastly, a visual diagnostic tool, the “patchwork”, was created using a random sample of eight prototypical cases of group membership based on predicted probabilities. This tool displayed the four informants scores, and child and informant characteristics. A single measure of child psycho-social well-being was created for each informant to compare rater consensus in hierarchical linear modeling. Latent class analysis was used to determine groupings. The HLM results indicate that 53% of the variance is within informants across time, 31% is within child across raters, and only 16% is between child over time. As expected, results showed more consensus of informants’ scores among girls than boys, the greatest consensus for children in middle childhood over other age groups, among Non-Hispanic White children compared to other ethnicities, and among spring reports than fall reports from teachers. Maternal baseline depressive symptoms score was significantly related to level of consensus of reporters, with greatest consensus when mother’s baseline depressive symptoms scores are at the mean (15.47). Mother’s scores of children’s psycho-social well-being decrease from highest scores of when baseline depressive symptoms score is 0, decreasing -.02 with each point increase in baseline depressive symptoms score. The results of the latent class analysis show two latent classes with maternal baseline depressive symptoms as a covariate best fit the data, one class with psycho-social well-being scores above the mean (N=258), and one with scores below the mean (N=61). Baseline data alone sufficiently models these groups and is chosen for parsimony over latent transition analysis. In sum, this study demonstrated benefits of multi-method multi-informant research, while acknowledging the strengths and biases that influence informant consensus of children’s psycho-social well being / text

Bendroji temos charakteristika ir darbo aktualumas. Šio darbo temą padiktavo ES institucijų vis labiau pabrėžiama ir žingsnis po žingsnio įgyvendinama nuostata didinti pilietinės visuomenės vaidmenį ES valdyme ir su tuo susijęs klausimas, koks vaidmuo ES valdyme tenka VRE valstybių pilietinei visuomenei. Darbas atliktas studijuojant doktorantūroje Mykolo Romerio universitete ir dalyvaujant dviejuose tarptautiniuose doktorantų tinkluose, priklausančiuose Europos valdymo problemoms skirtai CONNEX programai (angl. The Network of Excellence CONNEX („Connecting Excellence on European Governance“)), kuri savo ruožtu priklauso ES 6-ajai Bendrajai tyrimų programai: "Pilietinės visuomenės įtraukimas į Europos valdymą" Vokietijoje, Manhaimo Europos Socialinių Tyrimų Centre (Universität Mannheim, Mannheimer Zentrum für Europäische Sozialforschung MZES), vadovė prof. Beate Kohler-Koch, ir „Viešosios politikos europeizacija Rytų Europos valstybėse“ Prancūzijoje, Paryžiaus Europos mokslo studijų centre (Centre d’études européennes de Sciences-Po), vadovas dr. François Bafoil. Darbas buvo rašomas taip pat stažuočių Lundo universitete Švedijoje ir Vroclavo universitete Lenkijoje metu. Darbo tiriamoji problema formuluojama įvertinus ES valdymo principą, pagal kurį svarbus vaidmuo ES sprendimų priėmime suteikiamas pilietinei visuomenei, ir siekiant ištirti, kiek šis principas palankus Vidurio ir Rytų Europos valstybėms. Darbas grindžiamas metodologine nuostata, pagal kurią šiuolaikinės... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Following the enlargement in 2004 and 2007, the European Union (EU) has been made of Western states of old democracy, as well as of post-communist countries of the Central and East Europe (CCEE), the latter counting less than two decades of democratic development. These two parts of Europe differ significantly with regard to the historical and political experience, cultural traditions, the level of economic and social development. The EU, however, functions as an integrated political and economic community. The key sign of the EU integration is the decision-making at the EU level. Decisions are taken after consultation with the member states, as well as with civil society. The topic of the research has been inspired by the EU governance reform which designates a greater role to consultations with civil society in the decision-making at the EU level. The Turin European Council in 1996 provided the Intergovernmental Conference negotiating the Treaty of Amsterdam with the mandate “to bring the EU closer to its citizens”. The guidelines of the European governance reform were presented in the European Commission’s White Paper “European Governance” in 2001 . The White Paper provided for a significant role of civil society. The research has been conducted during PhD studies at Mykolas Romeris University (Vilnius, Lithuania) and while participating in two PhD networks of the Network of Excellence CONNEX (“Connecting Excellence on European Governance”), a project funded by the EU... [to full text]

La thèse comporte trois essais en microéconomie appliquée. En utilisant des modèles d’apprentissage (learning) et d’externalité de réseau, elle étudie le comportement des agents économiques dans différentes situations. Le premier essai de la thèse se penche sur la question de l’utilisation des ressources naturelles en situation d’incertitude et d’apprentissage (learning). Plusieurs auteurs ont abordé le sujet, mais ici, nous étudions un modèle d’apprentissage dans lequel les agents qui consomment la ressource ne formulent pas les mêmes croyances a priori. Le deuxième essai aborde le problème générique auquel fait face, par exemple, un fonds de recherche désirant choisir les meilleurs parmi plusieurs chercheurs de différentes générations et de différentes expériences. Le troisième essai étudie un modèle particulier d’organisation d’entreprise dénommé le marketing multiniveau (multi-level marketing). Le premier chapitre est intitulé "Renewable Resource Consumption in a Learning Environment with Heterogeneous beliefs". Nous y avons utilisé un modèle d’apprentissage avec croyances hétérogènes pour étudier l’exploitation d’une ressource naturelle en situation d’incertitude. Il faut distinguer ici deux types d’apprentissage : le adaptive learning et le learning proprement dit. Ces deux termes ont été empruntés à Koulovatianos et al (2009). Nous avons montré que, en comparaison avec le adaptive learning, le learning a un impact négatif sur la consommation totale par tous les exploitants de la ressource. Mais individuellement certains exploitants peuvent consommer plus la ressource en learning qu’en adaptive learning. En effet, en learning, les consommateurs font face à deux types d’incitations à ne pas consommer la ressource (et donc à investir) : l’incitation propre qui a toujours un effet négatif sur la consommation de la ressource et l’incitation hétérogène dont l’effet peut être positif ou négatif. L’effet global du learning sur la consommation individuelle dépend donc du signe et de l’ampleur de l’incitation hétérogène. Par ailleurs, en utilisant les variations absolues et relatives de la consommation suite à un changement des croyances, il ressort que les exploitants ont tendance à converger vers une décision commune. Le second chapitre est intitulé "A Perpetual Search for Talent across Overlapping Generations". Avec un modèle dynamique à générations imbriquées, nous avons étudié iv comment un Fonds de recherche devra procéder pour sélectionner les meilleurs chercheurs à financer. Les chercheurs n’ont pas la même "ancienneté" dans l’activité de recherche. Pour une décision optimale, le Fonds de recherche doit se baser à la fois sur l’ancienneté et les travaux passés des chercheurs ayant soumis une demande de subvention de recherche. Il doit être plus favorable aux jeunes chercheurs quant aux exigences à satisfaire pour être financé. Ce travail est également une contribution à l’analyse des Bandit Problems. Ici, au lieu de tenter de calculer un indice, nous proposons de classer et d’éliminer progressivement les chercheurs en les comparant deux à deux. Le troisième chapitre est intitulé "Paradox about the Multi-Level Marketing (MLM)". Depuis quelques décennies, on rencontre de plus en plus une forme particulière d’entreprises dans lesquelles le produit est commercialisé par le biais de distributeurs. Chaque distributeur peut vendre le produit et/ou recruter d’autres distributeurs pour l’entreprise. Il réalise des profits sur ses propres ventes et reçoit aussi des commissions sur la vente des distributeurs qu’il aura recrutés. Il s’agit du marketing multi-niveau (multi-level marketing, MLM). La structure de ces types d’entreprise est souvent qualifiée par certaines critiques de système pyramidal, d’escroquerie et donc insoutenable. Mais les promoteurs des marketing multi-niveau rejettent ces allégations en avançant que le but des MLMs est de vendre et non de recruter. Les gains et les règles de jeu sont tels que les distributeurs ont plus incitation à vendre le produit qu’à recruter. Toutefois, si cette argumentation des promoteurs de MLMs est valide, un paradoxe apparaît. Pourquoi un distributeur qui désire vraiment vendre le produit et réaliser un gain recruterait-il d’autres individus qui viendront opérer sur le même marché que lui? Comment comprendre le fait qu’un agent puisse recruter des personnes qui pourraient devenir ses concurrents, alors qu’il est déjà établi que tout entrepreneur évite et même combat la concurrence. C’est à ce type de question que s’intéresse ce chapitre. Pour expliquer ce paradoxe, nous avons utilisé la structure intrinsèque des organisations MLM. En réalité, pour être capable de bien vendre, le distributeur devra recruter. Les commissions perçues avec le recrutement donnent un pouvoir de vente en ce sens qu’elles permettent au recruteur d’être capable de proposer un prix compétitif pour le produit qu’il désire vendre. Par ailleurs, les MLMs ont une structure semblable à celle des multi-sided markets au sens de Rochet et Tirole (2003, 2006) et Weyl (2010). Le recrutement a un effet externe sur la vente et la vente a un effet externe sur le recrutement, et tout cela est géré par le promoteur de l’organisation. Ainsi, si le promoteur ne tient pas compte de ces externalités dans la fixation des différentes commissions, les agents peuvent se tourner plus ou moins vers le recrutement. / This thesis includes three essays in applied microeconomics. Using learning and network effects models, we study agents’ behavior in various environments through three chapters. The first chapter examines natural resource exploitation under uncertainty with learning and heterogeneous priors. In the second chapter, we examine the problem of research Foundation concerned with finding good quality researchers for today and the future. The third chapter studies the Multi-level marketing organizations. The first chapter is entitled "Renewable Resource Consumption in a Learning Environment with Heterogeneous beliefs". This work uses a learning model with heterogeneity of beliefs to study natural resources consumption under uncertainty. Following Koulovatianos et al (2009), we distinguish two types of learning process: adaptive learning and learning. I find that learning decreases the total consumption of the resource in comparison with adaptive learning. However, individually and under some conditions, some exploiters could consume more in learning than in adaptive learning. In learning, the exploiter faces two kinds of incentive to invest in the resource: self-incentive which is always positive and heterogeneity incentive which may be negative. The effect of learning on individual consumption depends on the sign and the extent of the heterogeneity incentive. Using absolute change and relative change of consumption due to a change in beliefs, we find that the exploiters tend to converge to a common behaviour. The second chapter is entitled "A perpetual Search for Talent across Overlapping Generations". We use a dynamic discrete time model with overlapping generations to study how a research Fund should optimally rank and select which researchers to give a grant. The optimal decision rule depends on both the perceived quality of researchers based on past success histories and on age. Between two researchers of equal perceived qualities the Fund should select the youngest. This work contributes to the understanding of the bandit problems sometime known to be untractable and pspace-hard. Here, instead of looking for an index characterization, we propose to rank or eliminate progressively the researchers by comparing them two by two. The third chapter is entitled "Paradox about the Multi-Level Marketing". Over the past 50 years, the Multi-level Marketing (MLM) has become an important business strategy. vi MLM is a marketing method in which independent distributors of a product get profits not only from their own sales, but also from recruiting other distributors. According to the promoters of this organization, the purpose of the business and the will of the distributors are to sell the product and not to set up a scam. The question is the following: if the real intention is to sell, why does a distributor recruit other distributors who will become his competitors? It is well known in classical industrial organization that people avoid competition as well as possible. Why is it not the case in the MLM organization? We explain this paradox by the particular economic structure of the MLM. Distributor could not sell enough if he did not recruit. Recruiting provides a price leading power and allows to sell more and make more profit (in some respect). Moreover, the MLM is similar to the multi-sided market structure a la Rochet and Tirole (2003, 2006) and Weyl (2010). There is network effect between recruitment and selling activity. Thus, the extent of the paradox can also be explained by the different commissions set by the MLM promoters.

A new concept, the multi level voltage/current reinjection ac/dc conversion, is described in this thesis. Novel voltage and current source converter configurations, based on voltage and current reinjection concepts are proposed. These converter configurations are thoroughly analyzed in their ac and dc system sides. The fundamentals of the reinjection concept is discussed briefly, which lead to the derivation of the ideal reinjection waveform for complete harmonic cancellation and approximations for practical implementation. The concept of multi level voltage reinjection VSC is demonstrated through two types of configurations, based on standard 12-pulse parallel and series connected VSC modified with reinjection bridges and transformers. Firing control strategies and steady state waveform analysis are presented and verified by EMTDC simulations. The multi level current reinjection CSC is also described using two configurations based on standard 12-pulse parallel and series connected CSC modified with associated reinjection circuitry. Firing control strategies and steady state waveform analysis are presented and verified by EMTDC simulations. Taking the advantage of zero current switching in the main bridge valves, achieved through multi level current reinjection, an advanced multi level current reinjection scheme, consisting thyristor main bridges and self-commutated reinjection circuitry is proposed. This hybrid scheme effectively incorporates self-commutated capability into a conventional thyristor converter. The ability of the main bridge valves to commutate without the assistance of a turn-off pulse or line commutating voltage under the zero current condition is explained and verified by EMTDC simulations. Finally, the applications of the MLCR-CSC are discussed in terms of a back to back HVDC link and a long distance HVDC transmission system. The power and control structures and closed loop control strategies are presented. Dynamic simulation is carried out on PSCAD/EMTDC to demonstrate the two systems ability to respond to varying active and reactive power operating conditions.

The aim of this thesis is to describe and understand the introduction of entrepreneurship and enterprise projects in primary and secondary schools in the North of Sweden and to identify and analyse the driving forces and actors behind this process. In particular the influence and significance of education policy at supranational, national and subnational level for the introduction of entrepreneurship and enterprise in education are analysed. The main questions of the study have been: • How and why have entrepreneurship and enterprise education come to the schools in the northern region of Sweden, in particular within the framework of the PRIO1 project? • How were important stakeholders involved at the subnational level and how did they reason and act in relation to the introduction of entrepreneurship and enterprise in the schools? • How are the concepts of entrepreneurship and enterprise education presented in policy documents at different policy levels? The study wants to report on changes in education policy during recent years. Especially the emergence of international policy convergence and new forms of governance are among the factors that are considered. Drawing on a conceptual framework of structure and agency, the analyses in the empirical studies are informed by a combination of theoretical fields. Important contributions are rendered from the education policy literature. The first method consists of a policy study of documents produced by organisations at different levels (supranational, national and subnational). The purpose of this analysis is to capture the ideas and arguments that have been used but also to understand the context and driving forces for the introduction of entrepreneurship and enterprise in education. Starting from the supranational level, the analysis focuses mainly on two organisations, OECD and EU. These organisations were chosen because they are widely regarded as leading organisations in setting the supranational policy agenda for education. The document study consists of a selection of OECD documents that have been released during the period 1970 - 2006, as well as a selection of EU documents. The EU documents cover the last 15 years. Attention is paid to several documents at the national and subnational level as well. The second method is an interview study. The interview study aims to focus on some of the key stakeholders (agents/actors) that have been participating in the formation (initiation, financing and realisation) of a county wide project “PRIO1”, Priority Enterprise in Västerbotten, in the North of Sweden. In order to understand why and how these actors at the subnational level have become involved in the process, there exists a need to hear their arguments. The document study shows that there is interplay between the different levels, but intertextual aspects have also become visible. The policy drive and policy scope show the concatenation but also the complexity of the policy development. Education is increasingly related to economic policies, in particular through labour market policies. Although the concepts of Entrepreneurship and Enterprise have developed within the economic sector, they are penetrating the education and training systems of many countries. From the results presented in this study, it seems that lifelong learning has become the guiding principle for the amalgamation of education and the world of work, while learning is no longer equated with just schooling. The opening of the school towards the surrounding world is a characteristic development in all this, but it is also a process that certainly is stipulated by agencies and actors at different levels, as is shown in this study. The interviews with some stakeholders at the subnational level show that the promotion of entrepreneurship and enterprise in education is related to arguments for economic and societal development. The interviews also reveal some of the “bottom-up” aspects of the policy process. One of the important results of this study is that the education policy studies have to include the level beyond the national borders. The interplay between the different policy-levels (supranational, national and subnational) needs more attention in order to understand the transformation of the education system.

The issue of behavioural intentions has attracted the attention of hotel marketers and academics because favourable behavioural intentions help hotels to retain customers. The marketing literature has identified that service quality, perceived value, image, customer satisfaction and demographic variables are significant determinants of behavioural intentions. This suggests that behavioural intentions are a multi-dimensional concept. Despite the importance of behavioural intentions, there is limited research on this construct in the hotel industry. The aim of this research was to gain an empirical understanding of behavioural intentions in the Taiwan hotel sector. A multi-level model was used as a framework for the analysis. The dimensions of service quality as perceived by hotel customers were identified through the literature review and focus group discussions. Hypotheses were formulated and tested to examine the interrelationships between behavioural intentions, service quality, customer satisfaction, perceived value and image, and to determine if perceived value plays a moderating role between service quality and customer satisfaction. Finally, customer perceptions of these constructs were compared based on demographic factors such as age, gender and income. The findings of this study were based on the analysis of a sample of 580 customers who had stayed at a five-star hotel in Kaohsiung City of Taiwan. Support was found for the use of a multi-level model and the primary dimensions: Interaction Quality, Physical Environment Quality and Outcome Quality, as broad dimensions of service quality. The 12 sub-dimensions of service quality, as perceived by hotel customers, were identified. These were: Employees’ Conduct, Employees’ Expertise, Employees’ Problem-Solving, Customer-to-Customer Interaction, Décor & Ambience, Room Quality, Availability of Facility, Design, Location, Valence, Waiting Time and Sociability. The results indicated that each of the primary dimensions varied in terms of their importance to overall perceived service quality, as did the sub-dimensions of the primary dimensions. In addition, the statistical results supported a relationship between perceived value and service quality, image and service quality, customer satisfaction, perceived value, image and service quality, and behavioural intentions, image and customer satisfaction. The results also revealed that customer perceptions of the constructs were primarily affected by their purpose of travel and occupation. The results contribute to the services marketing theory by providing an empirically based insight into the service quality, perceived value, image, customer satisfaction and behavioural intentions constructs in the Taiwan hotel industry. This research also provides an analytical framework for understanding the effects of the three primary dimensions on service quality and the effect of service quality on constructs, such as, perceived value, image, customer satisfaction and behavioural intentions. This study will assist the management of the hotel industry to develop and implement a market-oriented service strategy in order to achieve a high quality of service, upgrade customers’ levels of satisfaction, and create favourable future behavioural intentions.

Many researchers have highlighted the dire prospects for biodiversity in fragmented agricultural landscapes and stressed the need for increasing the area of, and connectivity between, natural ecosystems. Some have advocated the use of naturally regenerating forest ecosystems for sequestering atmospheric carbon, with opportunities for dual restoration and carbon benefits. However, no studies have explicitly explored the feasibility of obtaining such dual benefits from a regenerating woody ecosystem. This thesis aims to provide a detailed assessment of the restoration and carbon potential of Brigalow regrowth, an extensive naturally regenerating ecosystem throughout the pastoral regions of north eastern Australia. It combines observational, experimental and modelling techniques to describe the agricultural legacy of pastoral development, identify constraints to restoration and explore methods to remove these constraints. A review of existing ecological knowledge of Brigalow ecosystems is provided in chapter 3, along with discussion of policy and socio-economic issues that are likely to influence how and to what extent regrowth is utilised for restoration and carbon purposes in the Brigalow Belt. The review found restoring regrowth is likely to have benefits for a wide range of native flora and fauna, including the endangered bridled nailtail wallaby. Knowledge gaps exist relating to the landscape ecology of Brigalow regrowth and the impacts of management and climate change on carbon and restoration potential. Also, a conflict exists between short-term carbon sequestration and long-term restoration goals. Regional demand for high biomass regrowth as a carbon offset is likely to be high but ambiguities in carbon policy threaten to diminish the use of natural regrowth for reforestation projects. A large cross-sectional study of regrowth is presented in chapter 4. Data were analysed using multi-level / hierarchical Bayesian models (HBMs). Firstly, we found that repeated attempts at clearing Brigalow regrowth increases stem densities and densities remain high over the long term, particularly in high rainfall areas and on clay soils with deep gilgais. Secondly, higher density stands have slower biomass accumulation and structural development in the long term. Spatial extrapolations of the HBMs indicated that the central and eastern parts of the study region are most environmentally suitability for biomass accumulation, however these may not correspond to the areas that historically supported the highest biomass Brigalow forests. We conclude that carbon and restoration goals are largely congruent within regions of similar climate. At the regional scale however, spatial prioritisation of restoration and carbon projects may only be aligned in areas with higher carbon potential. Given the importance of stem density in determining restoration and carbon potential, an experimental thinning trial was established in dense Brigalow regrowth in southern Queensland (chapter 5). Four treatments were applied in a randomised block design and growth and mortality of a subset of stems was monitored for two years. Data were analysed using mixed-effects models and HBMs and the latter were subsequently used to parameterise an individual-based simulation model of stand structural development and biomass accumulation over 50 years. The main findings of this study were that growth and mortality of stems is influenced by the amount of space available to each stem (a neighbourhood effect) and that thinning accelerates structural development and increases woody species diversity. The examination of neighbourhood effects is taken further by considering drought-related mortality in a Eucalyptus savanna ecosystem (chapter 6). For this work a multi-faceted approach was employed including spatial pattern analyses and statistical models of stem survival to test three competing hypotheses relating to neighbourhood effects on drought related tree mortality. The main finding of this study was that neighbour density and microsite effects both influence drought-related mortality and the observed patterns can readily be explained by an interaction between these two factors. As a whole, this thesis contributes the following scientific insights: (1) restoration and carbon goals may be aligned for naturally regenerating woody ecosystems, but the degree of goal congruence will vary across the landscape in question, (2) while some woody ecosystems retain an excellent capacity to regenerate naturally, the agricultural legacy may still have long term effects on restoration and carbon potential, (3) neighbourhood effects that operate at the stem scale strongly influence dynamics at the ecosystem scale.