Thesis (Psy. D.)--Wheaton College Graduate School, Wheaton, Ill., 2002. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 79-85).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--West Virginia University, 2006. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains vii, 110 p. : ill. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 61-73).

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2009. / Title from title screen (site viewed July 22, 2010). PDF text: viii, 255 p. ; 3 Mb. UMI publication number: AAT 3388952. Includes bibliographical references. Also available in microfilm and microfiche formats.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Rhodes University, 2004. / Title from PDF t.p. (viewed on Apr. 23, 2006). Includes bibliographical references (leaves 258-272).

Thesis PlanB (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Stout, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Oregon, 2006. / Typescript. Includes vita and abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 134-138). Also available for download via the World Wide Web; free to University of Oregon users.

Cette thèse s'efforce de comprendre l'impact de multiples orientations stratégiques sur la performance de l'entreprise micro-familiale dans un contexte d’économie en développement, en trois phases distinctes. Tout d'abord, nous avons posé la question de savoir si les micro-entrepreneurs familiaux améliorent leur performance en développant simultanément des activités axées sur l'entrepreneuriat et sur le marché. Nous avons également étudié si ces orientations stratégiques complémentaires sur la performance sont favorisées par le capital social, sous forme de liens commerciaux et sociaux. En outre, nous avons soulevé une question sur l’effet de l’intervention de la famille sur la performance dans le contexte de multiples orientations stratégiques. L'étude initiale a fourni un thème de recherche fécond sur l'entreprise familiale dans un environnement institutionnel. Nous avons montré que les micro-entreprises familiales optimisent leurs performances commerciales en investissant dans des niveaux plus élevés d'orientation entrepreneuriale et commerciale. En outre, le processus de socialisation avec l’environnement commercial augmente la performance grâce aux effets combinés des orientations entrepreneuriale et de marché dans un contexte d’économies émergentes. Contrairement à ce que l’on pourrait penser, l'étude a révélé que la performance des entreprises augmente lorsque les deux orientations sont élevées, mais seulement lorsque l'engagement familial est faible. Ce résultat a permis d'améliorer la connaissance que l’on a de l'influence de la famille sur l'élaboration de comportements stratégiques pour atteindre une meilleure performance. L'étude subséquente, examine et révèle le côté sombre et lumineux de la famille en relation avec des stratégies d'orientation entrepreneuriale et de marché et son impact sur la performance. L'étude quantitative finale contredit la recherche antérieure révélant l'importance des capacités familiales dans le soutien des comportements à risque pour accroître la richesse familiale dans un contexte émergent. / This dissertation endeavors to understand the impact of multiple strategic orientations on the performance of the micro family business in developing economy settings in three distinct phases. First, we raised a question whether family micro-entrepreneurs gain performance benefits by developing simultaneously high levels of entrepreneurial-oriented and market-oriented activities. We also investigated whether these complementary strategic orientations on performance are rewarded by cultivating high levels of firm social capital in the form of business and social network ties. In addition, we raised a question how family fits together in the context of multiple strategic orientations to achieve superior performance. The initial study, therefore, yielded a rich research theme related to family business in the context of institutionally constrained environment. We have shown that micro family businesses do maximize their business performance by investing on higher levels of entrepreneurial and market orientation. Furthermore, firm socialization process with their external business entities increase the performance benefits by combined effects of entrepreneurial and market orientations in an emerging market setting. Contrary to conventional wisdom, the study revealed that business profitability increases when both orientations are high but only when family involvement is low. This result yielded important insights into the role of family influence in shaping firm strategic behaviors to achieve better performance. The subsequent study, therefore, reviews and revealed the dark and bright side of the family in combination with entrepreneurial and market orientation behaviors and its consequent impact on performance. The final quantitative study contradicts previous research finding revealing the importance of family-based capabilities in supporting risk-taking behaviors to increase family wealth in an emerging market setting.

Telecommunication technologies and networks are constantly changing; with the introduction of the GSM system the shift from wired to wireless telephony experienced a unique boom. Since then, behaviour and communication needs of users (i.e. subscribers) have undergone rapid changes from initially the need for pure wireless voice transmission to now data and multimedia content traffic. Introduction of the 3rd Generation (UMTS/IMT 2000) promised the delivery of these services and the integration with the Internet. However, legacy technologies and networks are not likely to be replaced soon, the different wireless and wired communication and information infrastructures will co-exist and will have to work, seemingly seamless, together. The here documented research work delivers basic mechanisms supporting this integration, therefore a variety of technologies from different areas, ranging from Software Radio technology to Object-Oriented computing, have been brought together to introduce reconfigurability to mobile communication networks. Distributed object computing technologies are evaluated and their application as signalling and support platforms for reconfigureable systems is shown in different examples. Other novelties are the introduction of a protocol for download of reconfiguration software, from various software sources, these sources include Smart Cards, wired outlets and Over-The-Air. Furthermore, an object-oriented framework for flexible, 'on-the-fly' protocol exchange has been developed; the mechanisms and architecture of this framework are described within this thesis. Combining protocol reconfiguration, software download and distributed platforms and focusing on control and management of reconfiguration have led to the design and definition of a reconfiguration management architecture. Functionality and structure of this architecture are documented, and its single modules are described. Providing means and mechanisms enabling management and control of reconfiguration within reconfigureable mobile communication networks is the purpose of this thesis. KM, Guildford, July 2001 Key words: reconfiguration, reconfiguration management. Software Radio, object-orientation, middleware, CORBA, Universal Control CHannel.

Signaling systems regulate the flow of cellular information by organizing proteins in space and time to coordinate a variety of cellular activities that are critical for the proper development, function, and maintenance of cells. Signaling molecules can exhibit several levels of complexity through the utilization of modular protein interactions, which can generate simple linear behaviors or complex behaviors such as ultrasensitivity. Protein modularity also serves as the basis for the vast protein networks that form the regulatory networks that govern several biological activities. My work focuses on the importance of protein modularity in complex biological systems, in particular the regulatory pathways of spindle positioning. The first part of my work involves the construction of a synthetic regulatory network using modular protein interactions in an effort to understand the complex behavior of the natural spindle orientation regulator Pins. Utilizing well-characterized protein domains and their binding partners, I built an autoinhibited protein switch that can be activated by a small protein domain. We found that the input-output relationship of the synthetic protein switch could be tuned by the simple addition of "decoy" domains, domains that bind and sequester input signal, thereby impeding the onset of the output response to generate an input threshold. By varying the number and affinities of the decoy domains, we found that we could transform a simple linear response into a complex, ultrasensitive one. Thus, modular protein interactions can serve as a source of complex behaviors. The second part of my work focuses on elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying spindle positioning in the Drosophila neuroblast. I found that Pins orients the mitotic spindle by coordinating two opposite-polarity microtubule motors Dynein and Kinesin-73 through its multiple domains. Kinesin-73 also relies on its modular domain architecture to perform its duties in Pins-mediated spindle positioning, where its N-terminal half functions in coordinating cortical-microtubule capture while its C-terminal half functions as a region necessary for the activation of Dynein. Thus, modular protein design allows for the organization of spindle orientation regulators in space to achieve the complex biological activity that is spindle positioning. This dissertation includes previously published and unpublished coauthored material. / 10000-01-01

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