This thesis examines the EU arms embargo on China as a case-study, analysing the apparent paradox of the EU’s foreign and economic external policy mechanisms internally and the American involvement in the EU’s foreign and economic external policy with regard to China. The thesis firstly introduces the uniqueness of the Chinese arms embargo in contrast to the other 22 arms embargoes issued in EU’s history. In terms of the case-study, the EU’s arms embargo on China did not become a key contentious issue until the initial moves by the EU Commission to lift it surfaced in 2004. The analysis of the EU foreign and economic external policies towards China and the arms embargo focuses on the political, legal, and economic foundations of EC/EU policy and seeks to offer explanations of the evolution of events at EU institutional level, the EU member states’ level, and the wider international level. The thesis examines the evolution of the EC/EU – Chinese relationship. It also examines how the key political issue of the embargo eventually came to become a technical matter, which lost some of its importance to the Chinese. In this evolution, the thesis picks up on Chinese scholars’ fascination with the EU – the relationship between its institutions, and the member states relationship with each other and the EU institutions with regard to the arms embargo. It notes that some Chinese scholars have seen the EU as a potential role model for the developments in China and the region of Asia. The thesis notes the role of the outsider player, the United States of America, which influenced the making and implementation of foreign and economic external policy of the EU. The thesis proves that China is fully aware of the continuous influence exerted by the US onto the EU-Chinese relationship. In sum, the arms embargo is an ideal test case to examine: a) the evolution of the EU’s coherence, consistency and independence and b) the evolution of Chinese thinking about the EU model.

Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited / The Philippine government may use two methods to procure defense articles from the United States, either Foreign Military Sales (FMS) or Direct Commercial Sales (DCS). This thesis examined the differences between FMS and DCS as methods of procurement used by the Philippine government in the acquisition of U.S. defense articles. The study identified the processes involved in using each of the two methods as well as the advantages and disadvantages of each when used within the socioeconomic and political environment of the Philippines. Issues and considerations that influence selection decision are also discussed. DCS may offer the lowest fixed price, timely/earlier delivery, easier countertrade arrangements, and penalty for non-compliance to the provisions of the contract. FMS is preferable because it is a government-to-government sale, provides opportunities for Philippine military training in the United States and enhances interoperability among coalition forces. In addition, FMS allows for financing of defense articles from the U.S. using Foreign Military Financing, thus conserving Philippine government funds. / Lieutenant Colonel, Philippine Army

Within the field of multi-robot control, there is a large focus in research involving consensus. In this thesis two parts will be studied. The first development of this thesis is a consensus-based robot arm platform. To implement, two robotic arms are developed and studied. The most effective robot arm is then utilized to create a robot arm network testbed. Consensus is used to coordinate several robot arms and decentralize system computation. The research explores a platform to facilitate consensus on a group of robotic arms. The second development is in Cartesian coordinate collective motion. This collective motion control combines consensus through coupling of Cartesian coordinates. The controller is presented with simulation and experimental validation. Integration of both parts of the thesis is then discussed in application. An example is provided to demonstrate usefulness. In conclusion, this thesis provides more control to a system of ground robots using collective motion and consensus-based robot arms.

武器在第三世界的擴散基本上是東西德冷戰下的產物，但並未隨冷戰結束 而告落幕，反而構成當今國際情勢中一股潛在的不穩定因子。一九九一年 海灣戰爭更凸顯了此一問題在國際安全事務中的重要性。 供應國籍接 受國基於各自利益及需求輸出及引進武器，加上第三世界若干國家本國武 器工業的發展，都是造成第三世界武器擴散愈演愈烈的原因。而除了傳統 武器之外，核生化武器及彈道飛彈等大規模毀滅性武器的逐漸擴散，更在 海灣戰爭之後成為國際間關切的焦點。因此在戰後要求加強對第三世界武 器擴散管制的呼籲及實際措施愈來愈多，惟其真正效果如何仍有待評估。 另外，第三世界武器擴散之勢在未來數年將更更為嚴重或趨於收歛，目前 亦難論斷。然而，如何避免使第三世界武器擴散成為影響國際局勢的不安 因素，並在同時得以兼顧第三世界國家的安全，則將是後冷戰時期世界各 國致力的目標。 本文架構係分為六章。第一章導論。第二章為第三世 界武器擴散的 現狀、特色及因素之分析。第三章為第三世界武器擴散與 區域情勢的關係，並以海灣戰爭為例加以說明。第四章為第三世界武器擴 散之管制，以供應國之輸出管制，接受國的區域性管制，及國際間的全球 性管制詳 述之。地五章係針對第三世界武器擴散的晚進發展進行分析， 指出近來助長及抑制第三世界武器擴散的成因及現象，並探討武器擴散與 第三世界安全及發展的相互關聯。地六章則為結論及簡評。文中並引用美 國武器管制暨裁軍總署、瑞典斯德哥爾摩國際和平研究所、及美國國會圖 書館國會研究處對全球及第三世界武器轉移的統計資料，來加強說明。

Thesis (LL. M.)--Judge Advocate General's School, United States Army, 1993. / "April 1993." Typescript. Includes bibliographical references. Also issued in microfiche.

This thesis is comprised of a collection of stories concerning big-shot morticians and their futile quest for a perfect flute made from a pelican bone.

In this thesis the subject innovation and the change of meaning is in focus. The purpose of the study is to present a new dimension of innovation as a change of meaning together with the cases we’ve studied. It is discussed throughout the article if theories of perception and association can affect the organization and its ability to create meaning-changing innovations. The industrial robotics is a market in need of, perhaps, if not other markets but of finding new ground that results in the change of meaning. What happens when you stand at the intersection of main areas in the field of innovation? Is it possible that meaningful change can be found here, amongst radical innovation and industrial robotic arms and it’s technology? Our methods were interviews and prior research complementing the cases we’ve presented. We want to show how meaning can change various dimensions. Together with a perceptual theory and an innovation theory we’ve found out that meaning and innovation can go hand in hand.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--West Virginia University, 2002. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains viii, 225 p. : ill. (some col.). Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 210-225).

Thesis (M.S. in Operations Research)--Naval Postgraduate School, March 2004. / Thesis advisor(s): Gerald G. Brown. Includes bibliographical references (p. 43-44). Also available online.

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