Thesis advisor: Eric Dearing / Longitudinal structural equation models of parent educational involvement (PEI) and student mathematics and literacy achievement were examined for 1364 students, followed from 54 months through 8th grade. Path analyses revealed evidence of bi directionality between PEI and achievement and moderation by economic risk. Specifically, two pathways of association were analyzed: parent socialization and child evocative effects. Parent socialization pathways confirmed the positive association of PEI with both math and literacy achievement -increased parent involvement was significantly associated with increased achievement across development. No evidence of child evocative pathways was found for the full sample. Additionally, economic risk was found to moderate pathways of parent socialization between PEI and achievement. Parent socialization pathways suggested involvement was most strongly and positively associated with high achievement for children with greatest levels of economic risk across childhood. These results underscore the argument that parent educational involvement should be an important goal of practice and policy aimed at closing the achievement gap between lower and higher income children. Indeed, PEI does matter more for some children than others. National policies and school procedures should be geared towards promoting PEI early among the low income parents of underperforming children, for these children not only have the most to gain from having their parents engaged in their education, but also have the most to lose. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2011. / Submitted to: Boston College. Lynch School of Education. / Discipline: Counseling, Developmental, and Educational Psychology.

Fossil fuels continue to deplete with use as they are irreplaceable. In addition, the environmental impact with the continuous use of these conventional fuels has generated global concern due to the production of harmful emission gases. An alternative source of energy has become inevitable. Technological advancements in the area of biomass use for both aviation and power generation are at different levels of development. There is however the need for an integrated approach to assess gas turbine engine behaviour in terms of performance, emission and economics when they are running on biofuels. The current research work is concerned with finding alternative fuel resources for use on stationary gas turbine engines for power generation with the necessary identification of suitable biofuels using a multidisciplinary approach. A techno-economic, environmental and risk assessment (TERA) model comprising the performance, emissions, economics and risk modules has been developed. There had been several simulations of two gas turbine engines (GTEs) to ascertain the effects of both ambient and operating conditions and the effect of fuel types on the engines. These simulations were done with the use of an in-house code-the Turbomatch and a code developed for the steam cycle which is employed for the combined cycle simulation. Cont/d.

Master of Science / Department of Animal Sciences and Industry / Robert L. Weaber / The dynamic environments, varying production practices, and general biological uncertainty associated with bovine reproduction makes informed, strategic decision making regarding the implementation of bovine reproductive technology a great challenge for producers. One might also argue that traditionally, ET’s primary focus of genetic improvement has greatly overshadowed any consideration of short to mid-term financial gain. To accomplish the objective of creating an economic risk analysis tool for user-defined embryo transfer (ET) programs, a circumstantial, stochastic prediction model utilizing @Risk© software to generate comparable economic values as an aid in the ET decision making process has been created. More realistic than the use of means in deterministic models, distributions defining the biological uncertainty for a multitude of reproductive outcomes are estimated through extensive literature review and limited industry sources. Applying the Latin Hypercube variation of Monte Carlo simulation, a sample value from the descriptive distribution associated with each stochastic variable is included in an iteration of the simulation. Through large numbers of iterations with dynamic combinations of variables, the process culminates in a distribution of possible values for the net present value (NPV), annuity equivalent net present value (ANPV), and return on investment (ROI) associated with the model described scenario of in-vivo derived (IVD) or in-vitro produced (IVP). Finally, using the distributions of NPV, ANPV, and ROI a decision maker can assess the economic risk linked to a user-defined ET program. To further complicate matters, cattle producers are now presented with a choice between two primary methods of ET. IVD ET describes the traditional method of ET that involves follicular stimulation and insemination of a donor female followed by the collection of fertilized embryos from the uterus. IVP commonly refers to the method of generating transferable embryos by collecting oocytes by ovarian aspiration; in-vitro fertilization of the collected oocytes; and incubated maturation of the fertilized oocytes. Encompassed within the two methods of ET exist several different sub-techniques, principally regarding the exception or inclusion of follicular synchronization and/or stimulation before ovum pick-up (OPU) in IVP procedures. Ultimately, operators must decide whether ET programs, of any type, serve as an economically viable means to increase rate of genetic improvement or take advantage of marketing opportunities. Although several economic value predictors for ET programs already exist (Beltrame et al. 2010), the opportunity remains to create more applicable models for Bos taurus beef production and varying marketing avenues in the U.S. This circumstantial, stochastic simulation model can serve as an aid in the ET decision making process by generating output that allows for the financial risk and sensitivity analysis of a user-defined ET program.

My dissertation consists of three essays in which I document trends in earnings and income volatility, estimate potential causal mechanisms for changing volatility, and examine the long-term consequences of parental income volatility for children. In essay 2 I document trends in earnings and income volatility of individuals and families using matched data in the March Current Population survey from 1973 to 2009. Essay 3 advances the literature on volatility, using matched data from the CPS to identify demographic and labor market correlates of earnings volatility within education-birth year cohorts. This study collapses the cross-sectional CPS into a pseudo-panel and then estimates the association between earnings volatility and race, local economic activity, and industry, accounting for endogeneity and sample selection bias. In essay 4 I use data linked across generations in the Panel Study of Income Dynamics to estimate the relationship between exposure to volatile income during childhood and a set of socioeconomic outcomes in adulthood. The empirical framework is an augmented intergenerational income mobility model that includes controls for income volatility. I find that family income volatility rose by 38 percent over the past four decades, likely driven both by rising volatility of earnings and non means-tested non-labor income. Rising family income volatility occurs across race, education, and family structure. From essay 3, I find that individuals with lower mean earnings have higher earnings volatility. Earnings volatility is also weakly related to race, decreases when young and then rises while workers are still within prime working years. Industry and local economic conditions are significantly related to the occurrence of earnings volatility after accounting for education, though these links differ between men and women. Finally, when examining the intergenerational consequences of volatility, a weak negative association occurs between family income instability during childhood and adult educational outcomes in essay 4.

The goal of the master´s thesis is to approach the isue of risk of investment projects and to deal with situations regarding these risks. The thesis describe the types of risks, their classification, methods of their identification, analysis, and their subsequent processing. In the practical part there will be clearly shown how the influence of some risks can affect the project and its cash flows. The subject of illustrative application is the Aquapark project in Uherské Hradiště.

This thesis deals with the evaluation of economic risk at a construction point of view of the contractor. The thesis described distribution of risks,identification and risk assessment.The practical part describes and evaluates financial risks specific construction contracts and proposes measures to offset risks.

Pandemins framfart har påverkat den svenska detaljhandeln negativt i många avseenden. Flertalet rapporter från aktörer inom fastighetsbranschen har indikerat på en negativ prisutveckling på transaktionsmarknaden och nedåtgående marknadshyror som en direkt konsekvens av pandemin. Lokalhyresmarknaden har därför ställts inför nya förutsättningar som har förändrat förhållandet mellan hyresvärd och hyresgäst. Ovissheten inför framtiden och rädslan för oönskad vakans har medfört en ekonomisk risk för avtalsparterna. Den förändrade marknaden har således skapat nya behov för att kunna hantera förändrade konsumentmönster, restriktiv investeringsvilja och nedåtgående marknadshyror. God avtalsflexibilitet har under pandemin visat sig vara ett effektivt verktyg för att dels skydda det ekonomiska värdet som ett hyresavtal implicerar men även parternas egna intressen.   Studiens syfte är att undersöka hur behovet av flexibla avtalsvillkor i standardavtalet 12.B2 har ökat som en direkt konsekvens av de nya marknadsförutsättningarna som pandemin har gett upphov till. Uppsatsen skall identifiera och belysa relevanta avvikelser i standardavtalet 12.B2 samt hur dessa förändringar har hanterat den ekonomiska risken för avtalsparterna. Studien tar även upp efterfrågan på avtalsflexibilitet som inte har kunnat tillgodoses på grund av hyresvärdens och hyresgästens skilda intressen. Behovet för föränderliga avtal diskuteras sedan i sammanhanget av upprätthållandet av det ekonomiska värdet som ett avtalsförhållande antyder. Uppsatsen har grundats på en kvalitativ metod där semistrukturerade intervjuer har varit den primära källan för underlaget som diskuteras.  Samtliga respondenter har reflekterat hur omständigheterna har sett ut under pandemin och hur avtalsparterna har gått till väga för att anpassa sig till den förändrade marknaden. Alla respondenter angav att både hyresvärd och hyresgäst har eftersökt flexibilitet. Det framgår att flexibla hyresavtal har primärt fungerat som ett ekonomiskt redskap för att driva fram det egna intresset. Studien har visat på att samtliga parter i ett avtalsförhållande bör identifiera ekonomiska fördelar för att flexibiliteten skall kunna nyttjas till sin fulla potential. Trots stor efterfrågan på anpassningsbara avtalsformer under pandemin har man inte kunnat tillgodose alla önskemål, i synnerhet inte hyresgästens behov för anpassningsbara öppettider. / The recent pandemic has had a negative impact on the Swedish retail market in many aspects. The majority of the reports about the economical consequences as a result of the pandemic have indicated negative price developments in the transaction market and falling market rents. The retail rental market has therefore been faced with new conditions that have changed the relationship between the landlord and the tenant. Uncertainty about the future and fear of unwanted vacancy have led to vast financial risks for the parties. The changed market has thus created new needs to be able to handle changing consumer patterns, restrictive investment willingness and falling market rents. During the pandemic, good contractual flexibility has proved to be an effective tool to protect the economic value of a rental agreement, but also the interests of the parties themselves.  The main aim of the study is to examine how the need for flexible contractual terms in the standard contract 12.B2 has changed as a direct consequence of the new market conditions that the pandemic has created. The thesis should identify and highlight relevant deviations in the standard agreement 12.B2 and how these changes have managed the financial risk for the parties of the agreement. The study also addresses the demand for contractual flexibility that has not been met due to the different interests of the landlord and the tenant. The need for changing contracts is then discussed in the context of maintaining the economic value implied by a contractual relationship. The essay has been based on a qualitative method where semi-structured interviews have been the primary source for the material being discussed. All respondents have reflected on the situation during the pandemic and how the parties within a contract have  adapted to the changed market. The respondents indicated that both the landlord and the tenant had sought flexibility. It can be seen that flexible rental agreements have primarily served as an economic tool to protect their own interests. The study has shown that all parties in a contractual relationship should identify economic benefits in order to make full use of flexibility. Despite strong demand for adaptable forms of contracts during the pandemic, it has not been possible to meet all requests, especially the tenants' needs for adaptable opening hours.

La plupart des études en gestion sur la performance des entreprises sont centréessur l'explication de la relation entre les facteurs internes ou des caractéristiquesintrinsèques de l'entreprise (niveau d'endettement, diversification des produits, lastratégie concurrentielle, etc.) et son performance. Cette thèse vise à déterminerquels sont les facteurs de risque exogènes qui ont un impact sur la performance desentreprises en République Dominicaine? Ces facteurs, affectent-ils différemment lesmicro, petites et moyennes entreprises en fonction de leur secteur d'activité. Quelest le risque pour chacun des plus représentatifs sous-secteurs des entreprisesDominicaines? Nous avons constaté que les facteurs de risque les plusstatistiquement significatifs sont les dépenses de consommation des ménages, letaux d'intérêt des banques commerciales, l'investissement total, le taux de changede DOP à USD et le déficit de la balance commerciale. La composition etl'importance des facteurs varient considérablement en fonction de la taille desentreprises et le sous-secteur auquel ils appartiennent. Les grandes entreprises sonten moyenne moins risqué que des moyennes, petites et micro entreprises, n’importequel que soit le sous-secteur auquel ils appartiennent. / Many of the management studies on the performance of the company are focusedon explaining the relationship between the internal factors or intrinsic characteristicsof the firm (debt level, diversification of products, competitive strategy, etc.) and itsperformance. This thesis seeks to determine, what are the exogenous risk factorsthat impact the performance of all companies in the Dominican Republic? Thesefactors differentially affect the micro, small and medium enterprises according to theirbusiness sector. What is the risk on each of the most representative sub-sectors ofthe Dominican companies? We found that the most statistically significant riskfactors are the household consumption expenditure, the interest rate of commercialbanks, the total investment, the DOP to USD exchange rate and the deficit on thetrade balance. The composition and importance of the factors significantly variesdepending on the size of the company and the sub-sector to which it belongs. Also,large firms are on average less risky than medium, small and micro regardless of thesub-sector they belong. / Muchos de los estudios de gestión sobre el performance de la empresa se enfocanen explicar la relación que existe entre los factores o características intrínsecas de laempresa (nivel de endeudamiento, diversificación de productos, estrategiacompetitiva, etc.) y el performance de la misma. Esta tesis busca determinar¿cuáles son los factores exógenos de riesgo que impactan el performance de lasempresas de la República Dominicana? Si estos factores afectan de forma diferentea la micro, pequeña y mediana empresa según su actividad empresarial. ¿Cuál es elriesgo que tiene cada uno de los sub-sectores más representativos de las empresasdominicanas? Encontramos que los factores de riesgo estadísticamente mássignificativos son el consumo de los hogares, la tasa de interés de los bancoscomerciales, la inversión total, la tasa de cambio de DOP a USD y el déficit en labalanza comercial. La importancia y composición de los factores varíasignificativamente según el tamaño de la empresa y el sub-sector al que pertenece.También, en promedio, las empresas grandes tienen menos riesgos que lasmedianas, pequeñas y micro sin importar al sub-sector que pertenezcan.