Prediction of ground settlements have always been a big challenge for the engineers that are responsible for the design of subway tunnel projects. Since ground settlement is a crucial concept directly affecting the successfulness of a project, it must be taken seriously and should be accurately estimated. Consolidation settlements in the close proximity of Ulus-Ke&ccedil / i&ouml / ren Subway project due to groundwater drainage is the focus of this study. In this sense, the necessary data about the project characteristics and the site conditions were collected thru project descriptions and the geotechnical investigations conducted at the project site. Utilizing the generated database analytical calculations were carried out to predict the settlements. Upon completion of this stage of analysis several of the locations were numerically modeled for further investigation. Numerical analysis was conducted at four sections by using Plaxis, to determine the amount of expected displacements and the resulting groundwater situation. Despite of the differences between these two methods the resulting settlement estimations displayed consistency.

A historical study of school organization and school district consolidation enables both educators and lay citizens to have a better understanding and appreciation of schools as they are today. By studying past developments of a given institution, one can better evaluate current requirements and affect future changes as the needs arise. The Cache County School System as presently constituted has evolved over the years from a cluster of small independent village schools with separate boards of education to a highly centralized system with one board of education and consolidated schools. The purpose of this study is to trace and analyze the development of this system.

Following the dynamic capabilities perspective, I suggest that antecedents to innovation can be found at the individual, firm, and network level. Thus, I challenge two assumptions common in prior research: (1) that significant variance exists at the focal level of analysis, while other levels of analysis are assumed to be homogeneous, and (2) that the focal level of analysis is independent from other levels of analysis. Accordingly, I advance a set of hypotheses to simultaneously assess the direct effects of antecedents at the individual, firm, and network level on innovation output. I then investigate whether a firm s antecedents to innovation lie across different levels. To accomplish this, I propose two competing interaction hypotheses. I juxtapose the hypothesis that the individual, firm, and network-level antecedents to innovation are substitutes versus the proposition that these innovation mechanisms are complements. I test my multi-level theoretical model using an unusually comprehensive and detailed panel dataset that documents the innovation attempts of global pharmaceutical companies within biotechnology over a 22-year time period (1980-2001). I find evidence that the antecedents to innovation lie across different levels of analysis and can have compensating or reinforcing effects on firm-level innovative output.

The following series of three essays examine the impact of peer networks of investment banks, including those commercial banks that recently entered security underwriting, on investment banking activities. Specifically, I focus on underwriter and financial advisor peer networks in security underwriting and mergers and acquisitions advisory services, and examine how the structure of these peer networks affects the performance of initial public offerings, the shareholders' wealth in mergers and acquisitions, and the market share of underwriters. The results indicate that the peer relations of underwriters and advisors have significant implications along various dimensions.

Inhalt: Inhaltliche Schwerpunkte Die EU als politischer Akteur Die Europäische Union zwischen Vertiefung und Erweiterung Europäisierung nationalstaatlicher Politik am Beispiel Polens Danksagung Literatur

Inhalt: Der Laekener Verfassungsauftrag Der Europäische Konvent als Meilenstein der europäischen Integration Die Ratifizierungskrise Ein Elitenpoker um den Krisenausgang Schlussbemerkungen Literatur

Inhalt: Introduction: The problem at hand Approaches to EU’s external identity making Mechanisms of external identity making Theoretical approaches to the EU’s external identity making The EU’s external identity promotion The ENP policy instruments Conclusions References

Inhalt: Einleitung Das Konzept der Führungsrolle Die Führungsrolle der EU bis Kopenhagen Die Führungsrolle der EU nach Kopenhagen EU-Energiepolitik EU-Entwicklungspolitik EU-Agrarpolitik Fazit Literatur

Inhalt: NATO EU Herausforderungen

Inhalt: Maßnahmen auf nationaler Ebene Aktivitäten im Rahmen der Europäischen Union Unabhängige Aktivitäten auf internationaler Bühne Literatur