The most-discussed pairing symmetry in Sr₂RuO₄ is chiral p-wave, pₓ ± p[sub]y, whose degeneracy is protected by the lattice symmetry. When the lattice symmetry is lowered by the application of a symmetry-breaking field, the degeneracy can be lifted, potentially leading to a splitting of the superconducting transition. To lift the degeneracy, the symmetry breaking field used in this study is uniaxial stress. Uniaxial stress generated by a piezo-electric actuator can continuously tune the electronic structure and in situ lower the tetragonal symmetry in Sr₂RuO₄. Previous studies of magnetic susceptibility and resistivity under uniaxial stress have revealed that there is a strong peak in T[sub]c when the stress is applied along the a-axis of Sr₂RuO₄. In addition, it has been proposed that the peak in T[sub]c coincides with a van Hove singularity in the band structure, and measurements of Hc₂ at the maximum T[sub]c indicate the possibility of an even parity condensate for Sr₂RuO₄ at the peak in Tc. In this thesis, the heat capacity approach is used to study the thermodynamic behavior of Sr₂RuO₄ under uniaxial stress applied along the crystallographic a-axis of Sr₂RuO₄. The first thermodynamic evidence for the peak in T[sub]c is obtained, proving that is a bulk property. However, the experimental data show no clear evidence for splitting of the superconducting transition; only one phase transition can be identified within the experimental resolution. The results impose strong constraints on the existence of a second phase transition, i.e. the size of the second heat capacity jump would be small or the second T[sub]c would have to be very close to the first transition. In addition to these results, I will present heat capacity data from the normal state of Sr₂RuO₄. The experimental results indicate that there is an enhancement of specific heat at the peak in T[sub]c, consistent with the existence of the van Hove singularity. The possibility of even parity superconductivity at the maximum T[sub]c has also been investigated. However, the heat capacity measurements are shown to be relatively insensitive to such a change, so it has not been possible to obtain strong and unambiguous evidence for whether it takes place or not.

A capacidade de absorção está relacionada com a maneira pela qual uma organização desenvolve processos estratégicos e rotinas de internalizar e aplicar o conhecimento externo. Esse processo organizacional é descrito por quatro dimensões: aquisição, assimilação, transformação e aplicação. Estudos recentes colocam que o ambiente influencia o modo como às empresas se organizam, expandem e transferem conhecimento. Este estudo pretende avançar nessa linha de pesquisa; em específico desenvolve uma análise comparativa sobre a capacidade de absorção em redes de franquias brasileiras e estrangeiras que operam no Brasil. A pergunta principal da pesquisa busca compreender se as redes de franquias brasileiras e estrangeiras desenvolvem a capacidade de absorção de maneira diferente. Para resolver essa questão foi desenvolvida uma metodologia com abordagens qualitativas e quantitativas, tendo uma amostra de 103 empresas. Os resultados mostram aspectos importantes do processo de transferência de conhecimento e do desenvolvimento da capacidade de absorção das empresas analisadas. De forma geral, as unidades franqueadas em redes brasileiras apresentaram níveis menores nas variáveis relativas à aquisição e aplicação do conhecimento. Assim, esta pesquisa pretende contribuir para a literatura existente sobre o processo de gestão estratégica e do conhecimento, centrando-se sobre o desenvolvimento da capacidade de absorção em redes de franchising, especificamente em uma economia emergente como o Brasil. / Absorptive capacity is related to the way in which an organization develops strategic processes and routines to internalize and apply external knowledge. This organizational process is described by four dimensions: acquisition, assimilation, transformation and application. Since recent studies state that the institutional environment influences the way firms organize, expand and transfer knowledge. This thesis seeks to advance in that research path developing an analysis on the absorptive capacity in networks of Brazilian and foreign franchises operating in Brazil. The main research question seeks to understand: do Brazilian and foreign franchise networks develop absorptive capacity differently? To address this issue we developed a methodology with qualitative and quantitative approaches in a sample of 103 companies. The results show important aspects of the knowledge transfer process, and the development of absorptive capacity by the companies analyzed. Overall, the franchisees in Brazilian networks showed lower levels in the variables concerning the acquisition and application of knowledge. Thus, this research aims to contribute to the existing literature on the strategic and knowledge management process, focusing on the development of absorptive capacity in franchising networks, specifically for an emerging economy like Brazil.

Este trabalho avalia a influência de veículos de grande porte na capacidade de interseções rodoviárias em nível não semaforizadas, verificando as variações no comportamento de caminhões e ônibus durante manobras de cruzamento, em função de seu comprimento e de sua relação potência/peso. Foram realizadas análises das distribuições dos tempos de cruzamento e da aceitação de \"gaps\" por diferentes tipos de veículos, sendo utilizados modelos Logit para representar o comportamento desses veículos nos cruzamentos. Estes modelos serviram como base na elaboração de um simulador, para determinar a capacidade potencial das interseções e para calcular os fatores de conversão de veículos de grande porte em veículos de passageiro. / This study assesses the influence of heavy vehicles on the capacity of unsignalized rural intersections. This is done through the study of vehicle behavior during crossing maneuvers that can be attributed to length and power-to-weight ratio. Crossing time distributions and gap acceptance of diferent types of vehicles were analysed, and Logit models were used to represent their behavior. These models and a simulation model were used to determine the potencial capacity of intersections and to calculate factors to convert heavy vehicles into passenger vehicles.

by Xiaoqing Wang. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 43-45). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Acknowledgments --- p.ii / Abstract --- p.iii / Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 2 --- The General Architecture of the VoD System and the Related Issues --- p.4 / Chapter 2.1 --- A Brief Description of VoD System --- p.4 / Chapter 2.2 --- Why Video Streams in VoD Service are VBR in Nature? --- p.6 / Chapter 2.3 --- The Video Storage Media in the VoD Systems --- p.8 / Chapter 2.4 --- The Data Placement Scheme in the VoD System --- p.9 / Chapter 2.5 --- An Overview of Disk Scheduling in VoD System --- p.10 / Chapter 2.6 --- The Admission Control in VoD System --- p.12 / Chapter 3 --- Our Admission Control Algorithm for VoD System --- p.14 / Chapter 3.1 --- QoS Requirements We Choose --- p.14 / Chapter 3.2 --- System Model --- p.15 / Chapter 3.3 --- The Admission Control for the Storage Sub-system --- p.19 / Chapter 3.4 --- The Admission Control for Network Sub-system --- p.21 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- Preliminaries --- p.22 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- The Admission Control Algorithm for Network Sub-system --- p.27 / Chapter 4 --- Experiment --- p.33 / Chapter 5 --- Conclusion and Future Work --- p.41 / Chapter 5.1 --- Conclusion --- p.41 / Chapter 5.2 --- Future Work --- p.42

Lee Chung Hing. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 61-63). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Acknowledgements --- p.ii / Abstract --- p.iii / List of Figures --- p.vii / Chapter 1. --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Contributions of This Thesis --- p.3 / Chapter 1.2 --- Organizations of This Thesis --- p.3 / Chapter 1.3 --- Publication --- p.4 / Chapter 2. --- Overview of VoD Systems --- p.5 / Chapter 2.1 --- True VoD --- p.6 / Chapter 2.2 --- Near VoD --- p.7 / Chapter 2.3 --- Related Works --- p.9 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Batching --- p.9 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Patching --- p.11 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- Mcache --- p.11 / Chapter 2.3.4 --- Unified VoD --- p.12 / Chapter 2.4 --- Discussions --- p.15 / Chapter 3. --- Super-Scalar Architecture --- p.17 / Chapter 3.1 --- Transmission Scheduling --- p.20 / Chapter 3.2 --- Admission Control --- p.21 / Chapter 3.3 --- Channel Merging --- p.26 / Chapter 3.4 --- Interactive Control --- p.29 / Chapter 4. --- Performance Modeling --- p.31 / Chapter 4.1 --- Waiting Time for Statically-Admitted Clients --- p.32 / Chapter 4.2 --- Waiting Time for Dynamically-Admitted Clients --- p.33 / Chapter 4.3 --- Admission Threshold --- p.38 / Chapter 4.4 --- Channel Partitioning --- p.39 / Chapter 5. --- Performance Evaluation --- p.40 / Chapter 5.1 --- Model Validation --- p.40 / Chapter 5.2 --- Channel Partitioning --- p.42 / Chapter 5.3 --- Latency Comparisons --- p.44 / Chapter 5.4 --- Channel Requirement --- p.46 / Chapter 5.5 --- Performance at Light Loads --- p.47 / Chapter 5.6 --- Multiplexing Gain --- p.49 / Chapter 6. --- Implementation and Benchmarking --- p.51 / Chapter 6.1 --- Implementation Description --- p.51 / Chapter 6.2 --- Benchmarking --- p.53 / Chapter 6.2.1 --- Benchmarking Setup --- p.53 / Chapter 6.2.2 --- Benchmarking Result --- p.55 / Chapter 7. --- Conclusion --- p.56 / Appendix --- p.57 / Bibliography --- p.61

This Thesis presents ethnographic data collected through multi-sector, multi-level purposive sampling in a longitudinal qualitative case study between 2008 and 2010. A pilot study had discovered the changing role of government in building capacity for responses to civil emergencies, against a context of changing risks and resources for UK Emergency Management. The Thesis explored the increasing involvement of non-statutory agencies by focussing on the ‘Third Sector’: voluntary, charitable, faith, or community organisations and communities. The Thesis reports (1) the relationship between multi-organisational arrangements and resilience, (2) the role of Third Sector organisations in implementing resilience, and (3) the role of the Third Sector in community resilience. (1) The data suggested that the process of implementing resilience involved operationalising the resilience concept as a philosophy for Integrated Emergency Management [IEM], and consequent changes to the governance and organisation of Scottish and UK emergency management. The research linked the role of the Third Sector in resilience and community resilience to the dynamic between preparedness and response. It explored (2) the impact of implementing resilience on organising and organisations in the Third Sector, and (3) policy development and capacity-building for an emergent role in community resilience. The Thesis makes a distinctive contribution to the discipline of Public Management. Firstly, the findings represent a novel empirical and theoretical contribution regarding the role of the Third Sector in community resilience and in the resilience paradigm of emergency management. This data is used to extend existing theory about the proactive role of Third Sector organisations in collaborative emergency management. Secondly, the Thesis argues that the meso-level of analysis is neglected in the emerging field of resilience studies. Network and collaboration theory in Public Management are used to make a novel theoretical contribution, describing the relationship between multi-organisational arrangements and the operationalisation of ‘resilient’ emergency management. Thirdly, the Thesis contributes to the study of collaborative emergency management from this longitudinal perspective. This data is used to extend our understanding of (a) the applicability of Public Management theory to this context and (b) the relevance of data from this context to theories of collaborative public management.

Magister Artium (Development Studies) - MA(DVS) / Within the discourse of community development, the expression 'capacity development' stands out. Its common usage has somehow rendered it almost insignificant given the fact that those who use it tend to think of it in ways that hardly can be considered as having singular meaning. To be precise, there is no consensus as to its meanings; yet, it has not stopped its usage. The implication is that capacity development as a concept remains complex and has the tendency to erect difficulty in the attempt to operationalize it and apply it in evaluating development initiatives. However, this study presents an operational definition of capacity development in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria; levels of capacity development as well as dimensions used to evaluate on-going development projects/ policies in the region. The research method used to gather data was mixed. Quantitative method was more convenient due to the topography of the study area. However, qualitative method was introduced and utilized to guarantee the validity, authenticity and reliability of data collected. Mapping and an observation of government agencies/ organizations involved in capacity development in the study area (the Niger Delta region, by extension); questionnaires that spoke of practices supportive of capacity development in the region as well as resources available to Southern Ijaw LGA for capacity development; focused group discussions and in depth interviews that drew attention to factors affecting capacity development at all levels; individual, institutional and societal etc. these tools were means that efficiently helped in assessing the extent to which capacity development has been operationalized in post conflict Niger delta.

<p>In recent years, the accelerated deployment of renewable electricity generation resources, especially wind and photovoltaic (PV) solar, has added challenges to the operation and planning of the power grid. One of the challenges is that the variability of solar and wind power output may increase the variation of the load that must be followed by dispatchable resources and increase the ramping capacity needs. Moreover, the decision about the configuration of a PV solar generation systems has operational and economic implications because peak solar energy production does not always precisely occur when the wholesale electricity prices of the system are highest. Therefore, as the renewable capacity levels grow, it becomes increasingly important to examine the potential impacts on the system cost and portfolio of conventional generating units to respond to the intermittent nature of some renewable generation technologies. Three related analyses explored in this dissertation address some of the challenges of integrating utility-scale PV solar and wind projects into a power system using a case study for Indiana.</p> <p>The first analysis identifies the optimal azimuth and tilt angles of solar PV installations that alternatively maximize the annual electricity generation or the economic value of the resource. The economic implications of the configuration of solar PV installations within Indiana are estimated based on wholesale prices of electricity and simulated solar output for different combinations of angles and types of array installations. The results show that solar projects across the state would need to have azimuth angles within the 177 and 182 degrees range to obtain maximum annual energy and 180 to 190.5 degrees to maximize annual value, independently of their array types. Furthermore, southern and northwestern zones showed the highest impacts from using an optimal angle configuration of the solar installations. Nevertheless, on average, the benefits in annual electricity generated or economic value from their reconfiguration across the state are minor, amounting to less than one percent. </p> <p>The second analysis explores the effects of additional solar and wind power investments on the 2035 requirements for baseload and peaking generation capacity, the amount of energy supplied by various types of generation technologies and the costs of Indiana’s electric supply system. From a capacity planning and unit commitment/dispatch perspective, the results of this analysis indicated that with a portfolio that includes more solar and/or wind power generation, there would be need to add new peaking generation units. However, the total need for additional peaking resources declines as more renewables are added to the generation mix. Because Indiana still heavily relies on coal and other baseload resources to generate electricity, no new baseload capacity is required in the future. Generally, additions of PV solar and wind capacity amplify the variation in load net of renewable generation and create greater needs for ramping services from conventional units. However, results of the analysis show that the existing portfolio of conventional generation resources in Indiana would have sufficient operational flexibility to be able to accommodate ramping requirements even with PV solar and wind capacity penetration levels as high as 30% of total electricity generation. However, at those levels of renewables capacity there are a times during the year when the optimal operational strategy is to curtail solar and wind generation. From a technical perspective, the results indicated that larger thermal generating units are used more for load following and turned on and off (cycled) more frequently with the additional renewables than without them but mainly during days with low levels of demand and high levels of generation from renewable technologies. From the cost perspective, the results of the model support the idea that it would be cheaper in the long-term to invest in a combination of solar and wind generation resources than in solar generation resources alone. Moreover, the reductions in variable costs, driven by the zero variable cost added to the system by the additional solar and wind capacity, were not sufficient to outweigh the increases in capital costs regardless of the levels of capacity additions. </p> <p>For the third analysis, the proposed capacity expansion model was used to estimate the value of capacity of PV solar and PV solar in combination with wind capacity in terms of baseload/peaking resources from a deterministic system peak load reliability perspective and for various penetration levels of these resources. The capacity values of solar, which refer to the contribution of PV solar plants to reliably meeting the system peak demand, for all the wind capacity levels analyzed, fall as the amount of solar capacity increases. This is because as solar generation increases and closely coincides with the occurrence of the system peak load, there is a shift of the peak load net of renewable generation time to later afternoon hours, when solar installations begin to reduce their production, therefore decreasing their contribution to reliably meeting system peak demand. The calculated solar capacity values are between 2.7% and 67.3% of the corresponding solar nameplate capacity considering all zones and types of PV solar arrays in Indiana, and vary with the level of solar penetration. The range of values obtained are in line with the ones found in other studies using stochastic reliability-based methods.</p> <p>This dissertation contributes to the literature on the interaction between PV solar with other generation resources and to their economic, operational and policy implications. Furthermore, it provides another decision-making tool from a planning perspective for policymakers, utility companies and project developers.</p>

A espécie Campomanesia phaea (O. Berg.) Landrum é popularmente conhecida como \"cambuci\". É uma das diversas espécies brasileiras de Myrtaceae com fruto comestível e ocorre nos estados de Minas Gerais e São Paulo, principalmente na Serra do Mar. Os frutos possuem intenso aroma agradável e são importantes fontes de compostos fenólicos. Apesar do excelente sabor e aroma do cambuci, a alta adstringência dos frutos, devido ao elevado conteúdo de taninos, reduz a sua aceitabilidade e aplicabilidade na indústria alimentícia. Uma maneira eficaz para remoção da adstringência é submeter o fruto a um processo de destanização, tal como atualmente utilizado para o caqui. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a variabilidade dos frutos provenientes de uma mesma região e de diferentes regiões, caracterizar frutos em diferentes estádios de maturação, avaliar a eficiência de tratamentos de destanização e determinar o efeito da destanização sobre o potencial funcional, através da determinação do teor e perfil de compostos fenólicos, capacidade antioxidante in vitro e inibição das enzimas do metabolismo de carboidratos. Os tratamentos testados foram: câmaras de etileno, câmara de etanol, ambiente anóxico, etanol no cálice e imersão em etanol. Os resultados mostram que frutos de uma mesma localidade apresentam variações no tamanho e na acidez. Frutos de diferentes regiões apresentaram variação significativa nos teores de fenólicos totais, minerais e na capacidade antioxidante. Com a maturação não foi observado grande variação no teor de sólidos solúveis totais e nem na acidez, porém o conteúdo de fenólicos decresce do estádio mais jovem para o mais maduro. Os processos de destanização com vapor e imersão em etanol foram os mais eficientes na redução do conteúdo de taninos, no entanto esses processos reduziram a capacidade antioxidante e a capacidade de inibição das enzimas &#945;-amilase e &#945;-glicosidase dos frutos. / The specie Campomanesia phaea (O. Berg.) Landrum is popularly known as \"cambuci\". It is one of several Brazilian species of Myrtaceae with edible fruit and occurs in the states of Minas Gerais and São Paulo, especially in the mountains of the sea. The fruits have an intense aroma and are important sources of phenolic compounds. Despite the excellent flavor and aroma of cambuci, high astringency of the fruit, due to the high tannin content, reduces its acceptability and applicability in the food industry. An effective way to astringency removal is to submit the fruit to a deastringency process, as currently used for the persimmon. The aim of this study was to evaluate the variability of the fruits from the same region and from different regions, characterize fruits in different maturation stages, evaluate the efficiency of treatments to astringency removal, and determine the effect of astringency removal about the functional potential, by determining the content and profile of phenolic compounds, antioxidant capacity, and in vitro inhibition of enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism. Treatments tested for removing the astringency were: ethylene chamber, ethanol chamber, anoxic environment, ethanol in the cup, and immersion in ethanol. The results showed that fruit in the same locality exhibit variations in size and acidity. Fruits from different regions showed significant variation in levels of total phenolics, minerals and antioxidant capacity. During maturation it was not observed a wide variation in the content of total soluble solids and acidity, but the phenolic content decreased from the younger stage to the more mature stage. The processes of detannization with ethanol steam and dipped in ethanol were the most effective in reducing the tannin content, however these processes led to reduced antioxidant capacity and capacity of inhibition of the enzymes &#945;-amylase and &#945;-glucosidase in fruits.

Obtaining customer knowledge represents a key task across all firms given its importance for potential competitive advantage, improving service quality and achieving long-term relationships with agents. However, despite the fact that the interaction between customers and frontline employees during service encounters is considered a valuable source of customer knowledge, our understanding of the role of frontline employees as brokers in this respect remains embryonic. The purpose and motivation of this research are to explore the factors-namely, enablers and barriers-that influence frontline employees' motivation to serve as knowledge brokers. The process through which knowledge brokers transfer customer knowledge during service encounters is also considered important. This study further contributes to the theory of knowledge management by formulating a valid conceptual framework that illustrates the process of knowledge-brokering during these service encounters. This thesis adopted a qualitative research approach using an in-depth multiple case study analysis. In total, 30 semi-structured interviews with different informants (i.e. managers and employees) from three top commercial banks in Jordan were undertaken. In addition, other data sources, including documents and observations, were also informed the primary data collection. Contextually, Jordan's service-oriented economy combined with its developing nature provided a rich research environment for exploring these issues. The study reveals that frontline employees engage in knowledge-brokering during service encounters transfer through three types of customer knowledge, namely, knowledge about customers, knowledge for customers, and knowledge from customers. Furthermore, the main findings demonstrate four critical sets of factors facilitating or impeding knowledge-brokering during these events, i.e.; organisational-level factors (e.g. organisational culture, organisational structure, and organisational support), individual-level factors (e.g. job experience, prior customer knowledge, ability to understand customer knowledge, self-efficacy, and workload), technological-level factors (e.g. bank information system and a lack of a customer-relationship management system) and knowledge-level factors (e.g. tacit or explicit). It was also found that the process of knowledge-brokering during service encounters is accomplished in two ways: knowledge-brokering for the customer and knowledge-brokering for the organisation. This study also reports a set of managerial implications that provide a better understanding of the influential factors inherent in establishing and seeking to succeed in knowledge-brokering during the course of frontline bank employees' interactions during service encounters. Keywords: knowledge-brokering, frontline employees, customer knowledge, service encounters.