Gas nitriding is an important thermochemical surface treatment that is used to improve the wear and corrosion resistance as well as the fatigue endurance of steel parts. Accurate process control is the effective way to ensure the properties reliability of nitriding process. To realize the accurate process control, the nitriding process parameters need to be modeled and controlled to meet the specifications. There has been ongoing effort on the simulation of the gas nitriding process since 1990s. However, most of the work has been done to simulate the gas nitriding process of pure iron due to the limited thermodynamics and kinetics information available on the gas nitriding process of steels. The objective of this project is to develop an accurate and user friendly software model to simulate the gas nitriding process of steels based on the fundamental understanding of thermodynamics and kinetics. In this work, the customized Lehrer diagram which describes the phase stabilities in specified steel as a function of nitriding potential and temperature has been successfully constructed by computational thermodynamics for the first time. Based on the Lehrer diagrams for steels, the compound layer growth model is proposed to simulate the gas nitriding process of steels. By using this model, the properties of the nitrided steels based on the phase constitution, surface nitrogen concentration, nitrogen concentration profile, case depth, as well as growth kinetics can be simulated as a function of the process parameters (temperature, time, and the nitriding atmosphere). The results of the model are in excellent agreement with experimental results.

Li, Nan. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 88-90). / Abstract also in Chinese. / Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Overview --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Literature on Illegal Immigration --- p.2 / Chapter 1.3 --- Literature on Income Distribution --- p.4 / Chapter 1.4 --- Outline and Contribution --- p.5 / Chapter 2 --- The Solow Model of Illegal Immigration --- p.7 / Chapter 2.1 --- The Basic Model --- p.7 / Chapter 2.2 --- Equilibrium and Transitional Dynamics --- p.10 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Aggregate level --- p.10 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Individual level --- p.12 / Chapter 3 --- Sensitivity Analysis in the Solow Model --- p.16 / Chapter 3.1 --- Benchmark Example --- p.16 / Chapter 3.2 --- Input Shares --- p.18 / Chapter 3.3 --- Share of Unskilled Labor 0 --- p.20 / Chapter 3.4 --- Different Initial Value of Capital --- p.21 / Chapter 4 --- The Ramsey Model of Illegal Immigration --- p.23 / Chapter 4.1 --- The Basic Model --- p.24 / Chapter 4.2 --- Transitional Dynamics and Equilibrium --- p.26 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Transitional Dynamics --- p.26 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Steady State --- p.27 / Chapter 5 --- Sensitivity Analysis in the Ramsey Model --- p.28 / Chapter 5.1 --- Benchmark Example --- p.29 / Chapter 5.2 --- Input Share --- p.30 / Chapter 5.3 --- Elasticity of Substitution 0 --- p.31 / Chapter 5.4 --- Penalty Ratio r --- p.32 / Chapter 5.5 --- Different Initial Value of Capital --- p.33 / Chapter 5.5.1 --- Case 1 k10 < k20 --- p.34 / Chapter 5.5.2 --- Case 2 k10 > k20 --- p.35 / Chapter 6 --- Comparison and Conclusion --- p.36

In this dissertation, we introduce three techniques for network sciences. The first of these techniques is a series of new models for describing network growth. These models, called network specialization models, are built with the idea that networks grow by specializing the function of subnetworks. Using these models we create theoretical networks which exhibit well-known properties of real networks. We also demonstrate how the spectral properties are preserved as the models grow. The second technique we describe is a method for decomposing networks that contain automorphisms in a way that preserves the spectrum of the original graph. This method for graph (or equivalently matrix) decomposition is called an equitable decomposition. Previously this method could only be used for particular classes of automorphisms, but in this dissertation we have extended this theory to work for every automorphism. Further we explain a number of applications which use equitable decompositions. The third technique we describe is a generalization of network symmetry, called latent symmetry. We give numerous examples of networks which contain latent symmetries and also prove some properties about them

本文利用一個與Barro(1990)及Koichi et al.(1993)相類似的模型，來探討一個具有私人資本及生產性公共財的內生性成長模型，其最大的差異是利用對偶性的原理，將模型簡化，以分析複雜的兩財模型。本文的重點有三： 　　(1)探討均衡解的存在，唯一及穩定性。 　　(2)描繪出當體系受干擾時，內生變數收歛的方向。 　　(3)探討稅率的比較靜態分析。

Background: The first quarter of 2006, acquisitions at a value of 2 600 billion SEK were announced. If this trend holds for the entire year, 2006 will go to history as the most active year of acquisitions ever. The fundamentals of an acqui-sition is to generate added value through different forms of synerigies that are potentially created from the combined companies or to pay a lower price than the company is actually worth. Company valuation has because of this increased in importance to determine what the correct price of a company is. The valuation of a company performed by a business broker is not always consistent with the price a company pays for another due to different strategic circumstances that affect the purchase price. Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to analyse the valuation process in connection with acquisitions of unlisted companies. The study also aims to clearify the circumstances causing the purchase price to differ from the cashflow or book valuation. Method: To meet the purpose of this thesis, a qualitative approach based on three acquisition processes in the Jönköping region has been chosen. The collection of empirical data has been made through personal interviews with Svensk Företagsförmedling (SFF) in Jönköping with complementing telephone interviews. Conclusion: Based on the cashflow or book valuation, which is the foundation upon which the selected companies are priced, we can draw the conclusion that in every unique case the broker must be presented with several strategical variations the different acquistions presents. These strategic presumptions considered, a company should be valuated to its highest defendable value. The study also demonstrates that a company’s fundamental value alone only constitutes a guideline in coming negotiaions. The strategic categories goodwill, potential synergies and form of payment makes up the the negotiable part of the purchase price. / Bakgrund: Första kvartalet 2006 offentliggjordes företagsförvärv till ett värde av 2 600 miljarder kronor och om trenden med företagsförvärv fortsätter året ut, kommer 2006 gå till historien som det mest aktiva inom företagsförsäljningar någonsin. Det fundamentala i ett företagsförvärv är att generera mervärde genom olika former av synergier som potentiellt skapas mellan de sammanslagna bolagen eller att betala ett lägre pris än vad bolaget egentligen är värt. Företagsvärdering har därför fått ökad betydelse för att avgöra vad som är rätt pris för ett bolag i samband med ett företagsförvärv. Värderingen av ett företag stämmer inte alltid överens med det pris ett företag betalar i samband med ett förvärv på grund av olika strategiska förhållanden som påverkar köpeskillingen. Syfte: Syftet med denna uppsats är att analysera värderingsprocessen i samband med förvärv av onoterade bolag. Studien har även för avsikt att klargöra de förhållanden som gör att köpeskillingen skiljer sig från den räkenskapliga värderingen. Metod: För att uppfylla syftet med uppsatsen har vi tillämpat en kvalitativ ansats baserad på tre förvärvsprocesser i Jönköpingsregionen. Insamlandet av empiriskt material har skett genom personliga intervjuer med Svensk Företagsförmedling (SFF) i Jönköping samt kompletterande intervjuer via telefon. Slutsats: Utifrån de räkenskapliga värderingsmetoderna som ligger till fundamental grund för en prissättning av de valda bolagen, kan slutsatsen dras om att i varje unikt fall måste värderaren uppmärksammas om de variationer de strategiska förhållanden varje enskilt förvärv utgör. Med hänsyn tagen till de strategiska förutsättningarna skall ett företag värderas till det högsta motiverade värdet. Studien påvisar att ett företags fundamentala värde enbart utgör ett riktmärke i en förhandlingssituation. De strategiska områdena goodwill, potentiella synergier och betalningssätt är exempel på förhål-landen som utgör den förhandlingsbara delen av köpeskillingen.

A Formulation of Multidimensional Growth Models for the Assessment and Forecast of Technology Attributes Travis W. Danner 229 Pages Directed by Dr. Dimitri Mavris This research proposes the formulation of multidimensional growth models as an approach to simulating the advancement of multi-objective technologies towards their upper limits. These multidimensional growth models are formulated by noticing and exploiting the correlation between technology growth models and technology frontiers. Both are frontiers in actuality. The technology growth curve is a frontier between capability levels of a single attribute and time, while a technology frontier is a frontier between the capability levels of two or more attributes. Multidimensional growth models are formulated by exploiting the mathematical significance of this correlation. The result is a model that can capture both the interaction between multiple system attributes and their expected rates of improvement over time. The fundamental nature of technology development is maintained and interdependent growth curves are generated for each system metric with minimal data requirements. Being founded on the basic nature of technology advancement, relative to physical limits, the availability for further improvement can be determined for a single metric relative to other system measures of merit. A byproduct of this modeling approach is a single n-dimensional technology frontier linking all n system attributes with time. This provides an environment capable of forecasting future system capability in the form of advancing technology frontiers. In addition to formulating the multidimensional growth model, this research provides a systematic procedure for applying it to specific technology architectures. Researchers and decision-makers are able to investigate the potential for additional improvement within that technology architecture and estimate the expected cost of each incremental improvement relative to the cost of past improvements. In this manner, multidimensional growth models provide the necessary information to set reasonable program goals for the further development of a particular technological approach or to establish the need for new technological approaches in light of the constraining limits of conventional approaches.

To face the competition in the business environment, the company should continuously execute the capital investment to reinforce its competitive ability and to insure the endless business operation. Due to the capital investment involving huge money and long-term impact, the company should considerately and thoughtfully evaluate the financial feasibility of capital investment prior to making decision. Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC) is usually used as benchmark to evaluate the capital investment. WACC is made up of two key elements. The cost of equity, one of both, however, is difficult to measure. This article, taking C company as an example, is focused on how to apply 3 different models such as Dividend Growth Model (DGM), Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) and Free Cash Flow Model (FCF) to compute the cost of equity as well as on analyzing the outcomes of those models. The outcomes of DGM, CAPM and FCF are respectively 11.82%, 14.2%, and 10.50%, and the highest one is the outcome computed from CAPM. The outcomes computed from both DGM and FCF are narrowly different. As compared with actual rate of return of C company stock (11.6% adjusted from ex-cash dividend and ex-stock dividend), it is found that the outcome of DGM is the nearest to actual rate of return of C company stock, then FCF¡¦s is next one and CAPM¡¦s is most different. However, on condition that the company did not distribute cash dividend in its record or stayed on the abnormal growth stage, the DGM could not be applicable. Internal capital budgeting includes expansion of production expansion, replacement, improvement and innovation. Due to the fact that the attribute of this kind of capital investment is similar to that of the company¡¦s business of line, FCF would be the most appropriate model to estimate the cost of equity to determine the WACC for the purpose of internal capital budgeting evaluation.

<p>Background: The first quarter of 2006, acquisitions at a value of 2 600 billion SEK were announced. If this trend holds for the entire year, 2006 will go to history as the most active year of acquisitions ever. The fundamentals of an acqui-sition is to generate added value through different forms of synerigies that are potentially created from the combined companies or to pay a lower price than the company is actually worth. Company valuation has because of this increased in importance to determine what the correct price of a company is. The valuation of a company performed by a business broker is not always consistent with the price a company pays for another due to different strategic circumstances that affect the purchase price.</p><p>Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to analyse the valuation process in connection with acquisitions of unlisted companies. The study also aims to clearify the circumstances causing the purchase price to differ from the cashflow or book valuation.</p><p>Method: To meet the purpose of this thesis, a qualitative approach based on three acquisition processes in the Jönköping region has been chosen. The collection of empirical data has been made through personal interviews with Svensk Företagsförmedling (SFF) in Jönköping with complementing telephone interviews.</p><p>Conclusion: Based on the cashflow or book valuation, which is the foundation upon which the selected companies are priced, we can draw the conclusion that in every unique case the broker must be presented with several strategical variations the different acquistions presents. These strategic presumptions considered, a company should be valuated to its highest defendable value. The study also demonstrates that a company’s fundamental value alone only constitutes a guideline in coming negotiaions. The strategic categories goodwill, potential synergies and form of payment makes up the the negotiable part of the purchase price.</p> / <p>Bakgrund: Första kvartalet 2006 offentliggjordes företagsförvärv till ett värde av 2 600 miljarder kronor och om trenden med företagsförvärv fortsätter året ut, kommer 2006 gå till historien som det mest aktiva inom företagsförsäljningar någonsin. Det fundamentala i ett företagsförvärv är att generera mervärde genom olika former av synergier som potentiellt skapas mellan de sammanslagna bolagen eller att betala ett lägre pris än vad bolaget egentligen är värt. Företagsvärdering har därför fått ökad betydelse för att avgöra vad som är rätt pris för ett bolag i samband med ett företagsförvärv. Värderingen av ett företag stämmer inte alltid överens med det pris ett företag betalar i samband med ett förvärv på grund av olika strategiska förhållanden som påverkar köpeskillingen.</p><p>Syfte: Syftet med denna uppsats är att analysera värderingsprocessen i samband med förvärv av onoterade bolag. Studien har även för avsikt att klargöra de förhållanden som gör att köpeskillingen skiljer sig från den räkenskapliga värderingen.</p><p>Metod: För att uppfylla syftet med uppsatsen har vi tillämpat en kvalitativ ansats baserad på tre förvärvsprocesser i Jönköpingsregionen. Insamlandet av empiriskt material har skett genom personliga intervjuer med Svensk Företagsförmedling (SFF) i Jönköping samt kompletterande intervjuer via telefon.</p><p>Slutsats: Utifrån de räkenskapliga värderingsmetoderna som ligger till fundamental grund för en prissättning av de valda bolagen, kan slutsatsen dras om att i varje unikt fall måste värderaren uppmärksammas om de variationer de strategiska förhållanden varje enskilt förvärv utgör. Med hänsyn tagen till de strategiska förutsättningarna skall ett företag värderas till det högsta motiverade värdet. Studien påvisar att ett företags fundamentala värde enbart utgör ett riktmärke i en förhandlingssituation. De strategiska områdena goodwill, potentiella synergier och betalningssätt är exempel på förhål-landen som utgör den förhandlingsbara delen av köpeskillingen.</p>

Hazel (Corylus avellana L.) is a common feature of meadows and pastures where it can grow in large populations and become very old. Is it possible to use the size of hazel stools for age determination and is it possible to use the size distribution of a population to provide information about how the land has been used? Hazel populations on ground where the lake-water level had been lowered, has been studied to validate an already developed growth model of hazel clones. Different hazel populations, on wooded meadows affected by mowing or grazing or overgrown meadows, were studied to evaluate the method utilizing hazel as land use indicator. The growth model was used to compare the size distributions of hazel populations with historical periods, which has been important for changes in agriculture or demography. The results show that the current growth model needs to be refined, but the method itself with a growth model based on the circumference of hazel bushes seems feasible. Additional studies about the influence of, for example, soils of different fertility are needed. The results also show that the size distribution in a population depends on how much meadows have been affected by mowing or grazing and that areas with similar land use have similar size distribution. Finally, some examples are reported about how a growth model can be used to compare historical periods of changes in agriculture, for example reduced livestock, with variations of the size distribution in a hazel population.

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