xiii, 202 p. : ill. A print copy of this thesis is available through the UO Libraries. Search the library catalog for the location and call number. / This dissertation examines the relationship between democracy and international economic ties. The effects of economic processes on domestic politics have long been a subject for debate in the literature: some authors argue that economic liberalization advances democracy, while others advocate that economic liberalization impedes democracy. I argue that both sides of the debate omitted an important factor in the analyses of trade ties and democracy. The empirical studies predominantly used the volumes of international trade, without analyzing the structural position of trade partners in the international political arena. I argue that it is not how much a country trades, but the kind of states it trades with that determines its democracy. I analyze the current theories of democracy and identify that the main weakness of these theories is the inability to incorporate international processes and globalization in the analysis of democratization. I show that World-Systems theory (WST) can improve current theories of democracy. I employ WST and a number of alternative theories to create theoretical models of democracy. I then discuss the relevance of the former Soviet states to WST and to the analysis of democracy. I further construct a panel data set and apply pooled time-series regression, using three indexes of democracy as the dependent variables and two sets of theoretically distinct control variables. I find a negative relationship between core-periphery trade and democracy, and a positive relationship between trade openness and democracy in the periphery, which supports my main argument that trade ties must be reexamined based on the structural position of the trade partners. Contrary to conventional application of WST, the structure of the core-periphery trade shows that the core uses its economic ties to politically exploit the periphery, not the other way around. Hence, international trade is identified as a major tool for the modern hegemonies to broaden their political influence. Lastly, I found that both within- and between-states sets of control variables had influential predictors, which points out that modern theories of democracy must be restructured to incorporate multiple international processes in the analysis of the domestic politics of a state. / Advisers: Vallon Burris, Robert O'Brien

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Industrial & Manufacturing Systems Engineering / Chih-Hang John Wu / Quality is a result of product design and production control. Product design must maximize the ability to function across variations in production and environment. Production control must monitor and maintain the key design characteristics necessary for the intended function. Failure to do so results in premature part failure and increased costs. This has occurred in the production of modern cross ties. By designing quality into the product and production process, performance is maximized. This research presents a methodology for incorporating quality into the product design and production process. For product design, a relationship between product performance and design parameters is established by modeling techniques. These models provide a means to redesign the product to maximize performance and to understand the sensitivity of the design to fluctuation in production and environment. These models also establish the key design parameters that are critical for sustaining quality. For production, a method of monitoring the key design parameters is presented that provides an affordable means of automated inspection. Automated inspection removes operator error from the inspection process and allows for greater sampling rates to be achieved. The methodology presented allows for a potential of 100% inspection to be achieved with minimal impact to production costs. The research is applied to the analysis and quality control of pre-stressing steel reinforcement for concrete cross-ties. This application provides an opportunity to test and verify the research findings on a real world problem. Novel automated 3D spatial analysis algorithms are presented. This research furthers the state of the art of performing Geometrical Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T). A cost effective method of non-contact surface profiling was developed with high resolution and high density surface profiles. The combined research findings present a methodology of achieving quality by design.

A presente pesquisa apresenta um estudo comparativo a respeito dos procedimentos para o projeto de dentes de concreto. O dente de concreto é um elemento estrutural bastante utilizado em ligações de estruturas de concreto pré-moldado. Atualmente existem vários procedimentos para o dimensionamento ou estimativa da capacidade resistente dessa ligação, entre os quais destacam-se o da ABNT (NBR 9062 e NBR 6118), PCI, ACI 318-14, Eurocode 2, entre outros. Neste contexto, a presente pesquisa objetiva à análise comparativa desses procedimentos de projeto com resultados experimentais disponíveis. Assim, esses procedimentos de projeto foram aplicados em 38 modelos experimentais de uma base de dados. Normalmente, as ruínas dos dentes de concreto são: a) escoamento da armadura do tirante; b) escoamento da armadura de suspensão; c) ruptura do concreto na região do dente. A relação entre a força de ruína experimental e a força de ruína calculada, designada por Fr,exp/Fr,cal, foi um dos parâmetros utilizados para avaliar as estimativas de força de ruína dos dentes de concreto. Na análise comparativa das estimativas para força de ruína por escoamento da armadura do tirante, a ABNT (NBR 9062 e NBR 6118) apresentou uma média de 1,26 e coeficiente de variação de 16,90%. A ACI 318-14 e o Eurocode 2 forneceram estimativas com uma média de 1,29 e coeficiente de variação de 17,6%. As estimativas do PCI tiveram uma média de 1,12 e coeficiente de variação de 17,9%. Para a ruína por escoamento da armadura de suspensão, as estimativas da ABNT (NBR 9062 e NBR 6118), PCI e ACI 318-14 (Modelos II e III) tiveram uma média de 1,22 e coeficiente de variação de 12,5%. O Eurocode 2 e a ACI 318-14 (Modelo I) apresentaram uma média de 1,87 para as estimativas e coeficiente de variação igual a 17,9%. Para a ruína por ruptura do concreto na região do dente, as estimativas da ACI 318-14 (Modelos II e III) apresetaram uma média de 1,56 e coeficiente de variação de 18,8%. Com o Modelo I, as estimativas da ACI 318-14 tiveram uma média de 1,60 e coeficiente de variação de 19,0%. O Eurocode 2 forneceu estimativas com uma média de 1,63 e coeficiente de variação de 14,6%. O PCI teve a pior estimativa com uma média de 3,29 e coeficiente de variação de 32,4%. O estudo ainda serviu como subsídio para o desenvolvimento de uma proposta para verificação da tensão de compressão no concreto. Para a região do dente, a proposta foi aplicada em 9 modelos experimentais da base de dados e apresentou uma média de 1,33 e um coeficiente de variação de 14,9%. / This research presents a comparative study about procedures for the design of dapped end beam. The dapped end beam is a structural element widely used in connections of precast concrete structures. Currently there are several procedures for the dimensioning or evaluation of the strength capacity of this connection, like as ABNT (NBR 9062 and NBR 6118), PCI, ACI 318-14 and Eurocode 2. In this context, the present research objetives to the comparative analysis of these design procedures with available experimental results. Thus, these design procedures were applied 38 experimental models of a database. Normally, the dapped end beam failures were: a) reinforcement yielding of the tie; b) yielding of the hanger bars; c) concrete rupture in the nib. The relation between the experimental failure force and calculated failure force, designated by Fr,exp/Fr,cal, was one of the parameters used to evaluate the estimates of failure force of dapped end beam. The ABNT (NBR 9062 e NBR 6118) presented an average of 1,26 and a coefficient of variation of 16,90% in the comparative analysis of the estimates for failure by the yielding of the tie. The ACI 318-14 and Eurocode 2 provided estimates with an average of 1,29 and coefficient of variation of 17,6%. The PCI estimates had an average of 1,12 and coefficient of variation of 17,9%. For failure by the yielding of hanger bars, estimates of ABNT (NBR 9062 and NBR 6118), PCI and ACI 318-14 (Models II and III) had an average of 1,22 and a coefficient of variation of 12,5%. Eurocode 2 and ACI 318-14 (Model I) presented an average of 1,87 for the estimates and coefficient of variation equal to 17,9%. For the rupture of concrete in nib, the ACI 318-14 (Models II and III) estimates presented an average of 1,56 and a coefficient of variation of 18,8%. With Model I, the estimates of ACI 318-14 had an average of 1,60 and a coefficient of variation of 19,0%. Eurocode 2 provided estimates with an average of 1,63 and a coefficient of variation of 14,6%. The PCI had the worst estimate with an average of 3,29 and coefficient of variation of 32,4%. The study also served as a subsidy for the development of a proposal for checking the concrete compressive stress. For nib, the simplified proposal was applied in 9 experimental models of the database and presented an average of 1,33 and a coefficient of variation of 14,9%.

A primeira ferrovia no Brasil foi inaugurada em abril de 1854 pelo Barão de Mauá com 14,5 km de extensão. Atualmente o país possui 27980 km de ferrovias e esse modal tem participação em 25% na matriz brasileira de transporte de carga. Um dos componentes mais importantes da superestrutura ferroviária é o dormente, que pode ser fabricado utilizando-se diversos materiais como a tradicional madeira, que tem uso histórico e consagrado para esta aplicação estrutural, além do concreto e do aço, e mais recentemente, os compósitos poliméricos. As madeiras com maior tradição no uso em dormentes provêm de espécies nativas de alta densidade com consequente elevada resistência mecânica e durabilidade natural. Porém, devido às restrições impostas à extração destas espécies nativas, houve forte redução de sua oferta, sendo forçada sua substituição por madeira de florestas plantadas de eucalipto de alta densidade como E. citriodora, E. paniculata e E. tereticornis. Contudo, dormentes de diferentes espécies de eucalipto, pouco adequadas para esse uso, estão apresentando muitos problemas em via. Outra madeira de florestas plantadas muito utilizada no Brasil é o pinus e uma aplicação muito nobre para este tipo de madeira é a produção de elementos estruturais em Madeira Lamelada Colada (MLC). O objetivo do presente trabalho foi o estudo teórico e experimental de dormentes de MLC confeccionados com madeiras de Pinus spp. tratadas com CCA, coladas com adesivo poliuretano, e reforçados com tecido bidirecional de fibra de vidro. Para tanto, realizou-se um estudo teórico e experimental a partir de ensaios estáticos e dinâmicos tendo-se em vista a necessidade de utilização de novas espécies de madeira de reflorestamento com resistência adequada a tal finalidade. Os resultados obtidos nos ensaios realizados de acordo com a normalização vigente atestaram a viabilidade técnica da utilização de dormentes em MLC de Pinus spp. reforçados com fibra de vidro desde que sejam realizadas as classificações visual e mecânica das lamelas, para a obtenção das propriedades de resistência e rigidez necessárias. / Brazil\'s first railroad was inaugurated in April, 1854 by Barão de Mauá with 14.5 km of extension. Currently the country has 27980 km of railways, and this transportation modal has 25% participation in the Brazilian freight transport matrix. One of the most important elements of railway superstructure is the sleeper (or tie), which can be manufactured from several materials, such as the traditional wood, that has historical and well-established use for this structural application, as well as concrete, steel, and recently, polymer composites. The classic sleeper is made by timber from native species of high density with consequent high mechanical strength and natural durability. However, due to the restrictions imposed on the extraction of these native species, there was a strong reduction in their supply, being forced to replace them with timber from high density eucalyptus planted forests such as E. citriodora, E. paniculata and E. tereticornis. Therefore, sleepers from different eucalyptus species, that are not suitable for this use, are presenting many problems on railroad. Another wood from planted forests widely used in Brazil is the pinus, and a very noble application for this kind of wood is the production of structural elements in Glued Laminated Timber (Glulam). The aim of this work was the theoretical and experimental study based on static and dynamic tests of Glulam sleepers manufactured using Pinus spp. treated with CCA, glued with polyurethane adhesive, and reinforced with bidirectional fiberglass fabric. For that, a theoretical and experimental study was carried out from static and dynamic tests, considering the potential use of new reforestation species of wood with suitable strength to this purpose. The results show technical feasibility in the use of Glulam sleepers made with Pinus spp. reinforced with fiberglass provided that visual and mechanical classifications of the timber are realized, in order to obtain the required strength and stiffness properties.

隨著經濟的快速成長，產生了各種社會問題，而為了解決這些社會問題，許多社會企業隨之出現，這些企業希望在改善社會問題的同時，能透過盈利的方式，使組織永續經營，而本研究欲探討社會企業如何取得資源，換言之，哪些因素會影響資源擁有者提供資源的意願。 本研究參考過去的文獻資料，整理出三項會影響社會企業獲取資源難易度的因子，分別為「社交連結」、「品質信號」與「說故事」，並透過個案研究的方式，透過深度訪談及次級資料的蒐集，探討各個因子是否對社會企業取得資源有所影響。研究結果顯示，在三項因子中，社會企業最常使用說故事的方法來獲取資源，最少透用釋放釋放品質信號，然而，若社會企業有一個很強的品質信號，便會被大量的使用。最後，社會企業若有好的故事，且主動聯絡，透過多樣化的媒體管道，也能更有效的吸引資源擁有者的注意，增加獲得資源機會。 / With the rapid development of economy, a variety of social problems have arisen. As a result, many social enterprises have emerged in order to solve these social problems. These enterprises attempt to help solve social problems and meanwhile, they want to make the enterprise sustainable by making profit. This study wants to explore how social enterprises acquire resources. In other words, this study examines the factors that will affect the willingness of resource owners to provide resources. Referring to past literature about how social enterprises acquire resources, this study categorizes them into three factors that may affect the accessibility of resources for social enterprises, which are “social ties”, “quality signals” and “storytelling.” This study uses the method of case study. Through in-depth interviews and secondary information, we examine how each factor may affect social enterprises acquiring resources. Results show that among the three factors, storytelling is being used the most often to obtain resources. On the other hand, quality signals are used the least often. However, if a social enterprise has a very strong quality signal, it will be widely used. Finally, if a social enterprise has a good story and takes initiative to contact media, it can attract more media attention. Through various media channels, more resource owners will have the chance to know this social enterprise; therefore, the chance of acquiring resources may increase.

Please read the abstract in the section 00front of this document / Thesis (DPhil)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Sociology / unrestricted

>Magister Scientiae - MSc / The North West Shelf of Australia is a prolific gas province. The Thebe Gas Field is situated within the northern central Exmouth Plateau in the Northern Carnarvon Basin. The Exmouth Plateau is a submerged continental block whose culmination lies at about 800m below sea level. The seismic data used for this study is the HEX07B survey which was conducted in 2007. The objective of this study was to interpret all available seismic data, of which six horizons were picked, generating two-way-time structure maps and an average velocity map, performing depth conversion and generating various depth maps. The horizons picked were the economic basement, Triassic Mungaroo, Murat Siltstone, Muderong Shale, Gearle Siltstone and the Sea Bed. The horizon of interest was the Triassic Mungaroo Formation and therefore it was the only horizon with an average velocity map. The seismic sections were used in conjunction with the structure maps generated to identify possible locations for appraisal wells to be drilled. Prospect X was identified on the basis of amplitude and structure present within the Triassic Mungaroo Formation. The final task was to calculate the volumes present and a Monte-Carlo Simulation was used for this. The results obtained showed that Prospect X has a good petroleum system in place. The Mungaroo Formation is identified as being the possible source and reservoir rock, the Muderong Shale is the seal, structural traps are provided by large fault block and faults provided the migration pathways from the source in to the reservoir. The volumes were calculated using three areas identified on the structure maps by three closing contours. These areas are the P90, P50, P10 and the volumes for the gas in place were as follows, P90 = 893 Bcf (0.9Tcf), P50 = 1128 Bcf (1.1 Tcf), P10 = 1367 Bcf (1.4Tcf). Using the various parameters the probability of success for Prospect X was calculated to be 20%.

Les recherches que nous avons menées dans cette thèse répondent à plusieurs problématiques concernant les groupes d’entreprises. Les deux premiers chapitres présentent le cadre d’analyse des groupes d’entreprises et la littérature théorique et empirique relative aux groupes d’entreprises et à leur performance financière. Les trois derniers chapitres s’interrogent sur la performance financière des entreprises appartenant à un groupe. Le premier concerne les déterminants de la performance financière des entreprises selon le contrôle du capital à partir de leurs caractéristiques. Le deuxième est relatif à la probabilité de rachat d’une entreprise indépendante selon ses caractéristiques. Le troisième teste comment l’appartenance à un groupe pourrait modifier la performance financière d’une entreprise indépendante. Les travaux abordés dans cette thèse ont donné lieu à des études économétriques qui se sont appuyées sur un échantillon qui offre un panorama économique représentatif de l’économie française en 2012. / This dissertation addresses several issues facing business groups. The first two chapters are focusing on business group analysis framework and the theoretical and empirical literature on business groups and their financial performance. The last three chapters question the financial performance of companies belonging to a group. The first concerns the determinants of the financial performance of companies according to the control of capital from data on their characteristics. The second relates to the probability of buying back an independent business according to its characteristics. The third tests how membership in a group could change the financial performance of an independent company. The work in this thesis has given rise to econometric studies that have been based on a sample that offers a representative economic panorama of the French economy in 2012.

This thesis focuses on students’ encounters with working life. The thesis aims to contribute to an increased understanding of the potential value of digital job portals in interplay with traditional social networks by capturing students’ perceptions of their paths to working life. A qualitative research method has been applied where respondents from University West have been interviewed both individually and in groups. Both current and previous students were included in the study. Eleven semi-structured individual interviews and two group interviews were conducted and recorded with the support of field notes. Based on this combined approach, which also permitted interaction among the respondents, the study could capture a greater variety of both current and previous students’ experiences. The study contributes with knowledge based on a number of students’ experiences of their encounters with working life, both before and after completing their studies at the university. The results of the study suggest that the interplay between digital job portals and traditional contact networks is of great importance. Digital job portals seem to provide a broad picture of the job opportunities in relation to the education, while the contact networks provide more in-depth understanding as well as relationships that might contribute to actual job offers. Hence, values are created as a result of their interplay. In addition, the study shows that the practice part of the work integrated learning approach at University West is instrumental for students in enriching their contact networks and that this, in turn, often result in their first jobs. On the basis of the results, recommendations are suggested for further studies as well as for actions that might improve the students’ paths to working life.The recommendations concern capturing of previous students’ experiences, analysis of the effects of Work Integrated Learning and in particular different forms of practice, exploringmore aspects of comp / Denna studie handlar om studenters möte med arbetslivet. Syftet har varit att bidra till en ökad förståelse för digitala jobbportalers potentiella värde för studenter i samspel med traditionella kontaktnätverk i studenternas möte med arbetslivet. En kvalitativ forskningsmetod har tillämpats där respondenter i form av alumner och sistaårsstudenter från Högskolan Väst har fått svara på frågor både enskilt och i grupp. Elva semistrukturerade enskilda intervjuer samt två gruppintervjuer har genomförts och spelats inmed stöd av fältanteckningar. Detta för att få en djupare förståelse för respondenternas upplevelser och erfarenheter av vägen till arbetslivet.Studien bidrar med kunskap om ett antal studenters upplevelser och erfarenhet av mötet med arbetslivet, både innan och efter avslutade studier på Högskolan Väst. Studiens resultat tyder på att samspelet mellan digitala jobbportaler och traditionella kontaktnätverk har en stor betydelse. Ett sätt att beskriva samspelet skulle kunna vara att digitala jobbportaler bidrar till en bred bild av arbetsmarknaden kopplat till utbildningen medan kontaktnäten bidrar till djupare förståelse och relationer som kan leda vidare till jobb. Värde skapas i hur dessa kompletterar och samspelar med varandra. I tillägg visar studien på att arbetsintegrerat lärande inte endast är viktigt för att koppla samman teori och praktik utan praktikperioder bidrar även till att berika studenternas kontaktnät, som i sin tur kan skapa förutsättningar för studenterna att få ett första arbete efter studierna. Med utgångspunkt i resultatet utformades rekommendationer för fortsatt arbete. Dessa rör att ta tillvara på tidigare studenters erfarenheter av vägen till arbete, analysera effekterna av AIL och särskilt olika former av praktik, utforska fler aspekter av kompetensförsörjning och -förmedling, samt digitala jobbportalers utformning och funktion.

In my thesis I have dealt with a building plan of a winery and a boarding house located in South Moravia. It is a detached house which is embedded in a mildly steep land. The building itself is barrier free. There are two floors and a basement. There is a production of wine in the basement. It is separated into several parts such as a clean preparation room, a storeroom for wine bottles and storeroom for Nitrogen bottles, hall, emploees´area, and export. The basement and the first floor are conected with an elavator. The first floor is supposed to serve the visitors. There is a reception, a large degustation room, bar, kitchen and the sanitary facilities on the first floor. On the second floor there is acommodation for visitors. There are seven rooms adapted for two or three people. The vertical brickwork in the basement is formed by concrete blocks 50 by producer BEST. The above - grade vertical brickwork is made of ceramic blocks POROTHERM PROFI 44. The bulding is insulated with thermal insulation system Baumit open Premier. The horizontal construction is made of ceiling panels SPIROLL. A roofing above the second floor is made of nailed ties. The roof has saddle shape and is double skinned. Total height of building is thirteen metres. In front of the building there is parking lot for twelve cars and one place for disabled.