The discipline of International Relations is frequently depicted as an American dominated discipline. This disciplinary self-image has become so entrenched that it is rarely questioned and operates as a ‘quasi-fact’ within the field. However, the manner in which this widespread claim has been put forth is largely speculative. There is a surprising lack of data verifying the prominent notion, and indeed the ‘evidence’ that does exist is largely out-dated and methodologically problematic. As such, this thesis attempts to remedy this dearth of data by systematically investigating if and how the United States dominates the discipline of IR. Rather than speaking of a generic and ambiguous form of dominance this thesis begins by disaggregating the concept of dominance and stating the ways in which an actor can potentially dominate and how this can be measured. What this crucially means is that the US may dominate in some ways and not others. Through exploring twelve of discipline’s international journals over a ten-year period from 1999-2009, and four international conferences from 2005-2011 it becomes clear that the central issue is not whether the United States dominates the discipline but the degree and manner in which it does. Through demonstrating the numerous current trends and inclinations in the discipline a complex image of the IR emerges; an image that challenges a number of prevalent assertions about the disciplinary character of IR. The findings presented illustrate how the discipline of IR is more international and more diverse than is commonly perceived, and yet how the discipline of IR still experiences certain forms of American dominance. This thesis aims to highlight the importance of perspective and consequently how we need to be more nuanced and reflective in the ways we characterize the discipline’s dominance claims. Overall this thesis aims to highlight the many dynamics occurring at different levels of the discipline, all of which shape the contours of the field and IR’s relationship with the American academy.

Massive star formation takes place in the dense cores of molecular clouds where the stars may be obscured at optical wavelengths. An excellent signpost of a massive young stellar object is the presence of an ultra-compact HII region (UCHii), which is a dense photo-ionised cocoon of gas surrounding the newly formed star. The aim of this project is to develop an assembly of numerical tools, caravela, that can simulate realistic data streams representing high-mass star forming regions in our Galaxy. The synthetic output consists in images and photometric point source catalogues, in the IRAS and Herschel wavebands. In an era when large observational surveys are increasingly important, this tool can produce simulated infrared point-source catalogues of high-mass star forming regions on a Galactic scale. The approach used is to construct a synthetic Galaxy of star-forming regions represented by SED templates. The star-forming regions are distributed randomly along a four spiral arm morphology, although a wide range of geometries can be used including rings and different numbers of spiral arms. The caravela code then observes the synthetic Galaxy to produce simulated images and point source catalogues with appropriate sensitivity and angular resolution. caravela was first used to model the simulated Galaxy by constraining the synthetic output to observations made by IRAS. This numerical tool will allow the user to infer physical properties of the Galactic population of high-mass star forming regions from such observations. Second, the selected model was again observed with caravela in Herschel mode. These are therefore predictive results for the future Herschel observations. A model with 4.0×104 compact proto-stars embedded in larger grey-body envelopes (with T = 40 K and linear size scale lIII = 5.0 × 106 AU) is the best-fit model to the IRAS observational data set studied. We found a level of contamination from low- and intermediate-mass objects of " 90%. The modelled data set resulting from the Herschel simulation resulted in the detection of approximately twice as many Herschel objects than IRAS, which is consistent, in a limited way, with the real observed companion clump fraction (CCF) of 0.90 ± 0.07 (Thompson et al., 2006) means that on average there were observed 2 sources per one IRAS source. Our caravela and the real observed CCF are therefore consistent. caravela was coupled with an independent diffuse emission model (Paladini et al., 2007) and the resulting analysis is presented as an interesting seed for the future.

Constructing Arctic Sovereignty: Rules, Policy and Governance 1494--‐201 is a meta-narrative of the development of state sovereignty in the Arctic. It investigates the evolution of the rules of the international system over the longue durée, in so far as they frame Arctic sovereignty. It examines in particular the increasing importance of the legal dimension of territory and the transitions that have occurred with the introduction of new rules used by states to establish sovereignty. The thesis analyses the policy of the United States, Canada and Russia as they pursue their national interests in the region with reference to (and at times in contravention of) international rules and codes, and it situates governance within the framework of the international system as a mechanism for states to pursue their interests in the Arctic beyond their sovereign borders. This thesis makes an original contribution to knowledge through its distinctive methodology and theoretical approach, as well as through its analysis of primary materials. Using the pillars of a constructivist research framework including rules and interests over the longue durée to develop a meta- narrative of Arctic sovereignty, it situates contemporary Arctic foreign policy and governance within the evolving framework of the international system, identifying imperialism as a common thread in the relationship between the Arctic states and Arctic territory. It concludes that the expansion of sovereignty over this new territory represents the continuation of imperialism within the international system by states, perpetuating an asymmetric relationship that allows states to absorb this territory for the purposes of resource exploitation in the pursuit of national interests with international cooperation maintaining the primacy of the Arctic states within the region.

Current manufacturing process controls are principally based only on statistical performance. The next evolution is to make physics based models combined with the state of the art sensors and actuators to control the manufacturing processes. In this paper, metal inert gas welding is used as an example of how the first steps in developing a reliable estimation technique to implement a physics based controller. The weld bead geometry will be the main focus because it is crucial to creating a quality weld. This paper uses an IR camera to generate and evaluate multiple weld bead width estimation techniques and characterizes their corresponding standard deviations. Also a Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM) is used to fit the temperature linescan data to fit an analytical function to the numerical data. The GMM is then used to estimate the weld bead width. Finally, the optimal linescan location is calculated to produce the best possible weld bead estimation. The result is that only one of the estimation techniques actually follows a step input and vi the optimal linescan location is 4 mm from the back of the arc. Furthermore, the GMM provides an excellent fit to the temperature linescan, but does not increase the accuracy of the estimate. / text

Silicon Oxide/Oxynitride (SiO2/SiON) has been the mainstream material used for gate dielectric for MOS transistors for the past 30 years. The aggressive scaling of the feature size of MOS transistor has limited the ability of SiO2/SiON to work effectively as the gate dielectric to modulate the conduction of current of MOS transistors due to excess leakage current dominated by direct quantum tunneling. Due to this constraint, alternative gate dielectric/high-k is being employed to reduce the leakage current in order to maintain the rate of scaling of MOS transistors. However, the cost involved in the implementation of these new gate dielectric materials are high due to the requirements of a change in the process flow for device fabrication. This work presents the results of a novel processing method implementing the use of rapid thermal processing (RTP) on conventional SiO2/SiON gate dielectric to reduce the gate leakage current by three to five orders of magnitude. Electrical properties of the effect were characterized on fabricated MOS capacitors using semiconductor parameter analyzer and LCR meter. Material characterization was performed using FT-IR to understand the mechanism involved in this novel processing method, named PECE (Phonon-Energy-Coupling-Enhancement). By implementing this novel process, the use of SiO2/SiON as gate dielectric can be scaled further in conventional process flow of device fabrication.

Darbo tikslas – įvertinti, Tarptautinės funkcionavimo, negalumo ir sveikatos klasifikacijos, bei Kanadietiško veiklos atlikimo testo tinkamumą, vertinant asmenų patyrusių galvos smegenų infarktą, veiklą. Nustatyti, šių dviejų testų sąsajas ir skirtumus. Pacientus vertinant reabilitacijos laikotarpiu, po paguldymo reabilitacijos skyriuje praėjus 1-3 dienoms ir pakartotinis vertinimas atliktas po dviejų savaičių. Veiklos ir dalyvumo sutrikimų nustatymas- svarbus, paskiriant reabilitacijos specialistus ir sudarant reabilitacijos gydymo planą. / Final aim of master work - to explore International Classification for Health, Disability and Functioning (ICF) and Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) use in evaluation people’s employment after head brain infarction. To clarify these two tests conjunction and differences. Assess the patients in rehabilitation period then they come for the medical treatment in 1-3 day’s period and repeated after two weeks. Operational problems determination is important of rehabilitation professionals and the appointment of the conclusion of the rehabilitation treatment plan.

Nagrinėjant pasirinktą temą norima išsiaiškinti kokie veiksniai daro įtaką vaikų ir jaunimo klubų veiklai ir kokios veiklos gerinimo galimybės leistų tikėtis dinamiškų ir veiksmingų pokyčių. / The aim of the paper is to explore the optimum possibilities of the movement in the children and youth clubs. The methods used to reach the aim are these: the analysis of the science literature, which studies the informal education; the research with questioners.

Disertacijoje, remiantis Vilniaus pavieto pavyzdžiu, nagrinėjami smurtiniai bajorijos nusikaltimai ir bausmės XVIII a. Lietuvos Didžiojoje Kunigaikštystėje. Darbe atkleidžiama nusikaltimų struktūra: statistika, priežastys, erdvė, socialinė aukų bei nusikaltėlių sudėtis, smurto laipsnis, bausmių teorija ir praktika. Per bajorijos kaip valdančiojo luomo nusikalstamumo tyrimą siekiama pažvelgti į to meto visuomenę, tiriami jos konfliktai ir jų sprendimų būdai, bajorijos santykiai tarpusavyje ir su kitais luomais. Pagrindinis darbo šaltinis – Vilniaus pavieto pilies ir žemės teismų knygos. Disertacijoje nagrinėjami smurtiniai nusikaltimai: gyvybės atėmimo, kūno sužalojimo, skausmo suteikimo nusikaltimai (nužudymai, sumušimai, dvikovos ir kiti), nelegalus įkalinimas, seksualinė prievarta, valdų antpuoliai, miesto namų užpuolimai, plėšimas. Tiriamos garbės atėmimo, ištrėmimo, bokšto kalėjimo, mirties bausmės. Nustatyta, kad aukščiausias nusikalstamo pakilimas buvo penktame ir devintame XVIII a. dešimtmečiuose, mažiausiai nusikaltimų užfiksuota aštuntame dešimtmetyje. Daugiausia nusikaltimų vyko kaimo erdvėje. Paskutiniame amžiaus trečdalyje nusikaltimų Vilniuje skaičius smarkiai išaugo. Nustatyta, kad dažniausi nusikaltimai buvo gyvybės atėmimo, kūno sužalojimo, skausmo suteikimo nusikaltimai bei valdų antpuoliai, kiti buvo retesni. Nors Lietuvos Statuto nuostatos buvo griežtos, teisminė ir policinė kontrolė šalyje nebuvo stipri. Daugelis nusikaltimų nebūdavo išaiškinami, o... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Based on the example of Vilnius district, the thesis attempts to analyse violent crimes and punishments of the nobility in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the 18th century. It reveals the structure of crimes: statistics, motives, criminal environment, social composition of victims and criminals, level of violence, theory and practice of punishments. The study of criminal conduct of the nobility as the leading social class provides the opportunity to take a glance at the society of that time; the thesis analyses its conflicts and ways of their solving, relations within the noble class and with other social classes. The major source of the thesis is castle court and land court books of Vilnius district. The thesis analyses violent crimes: homicide, bodily injury, pain infliction (murders, contusions, duels and others), illegal imprisonment, sexual violence, estate raids, city household attacks, robbery. Sentences of deprivation of honour, exile, tower imprisonment, capital punishment fall under the scope of the thesis. It has been determined that the peak of criminal conduct was reached in the 1740s and 1780s, whereas the lowest number of crimes was recorded in the 1770s. The rural environment featured a higher prevalence of criminal activity. However, a number of crimes committed in Vilnius significantly increased in the final third of the century. The study revealed that the most common crimes were homicide, bodily injury, pain infliction and domain raids; others were less... [to full text]

Magistro darbo objektas – tautinių mažumų švietimo sistema bei aprūpinimas mokykliniais vadovėliais. Darbo tikslas – problemiškai pažvelgti į tautinių mažumų švietimo klausimą, tyrimu išsiaiškinti pagrindines tautinių mažumų aprūpinimo gimtąja tautinių mažumų kalba išleistais bei valstybinei kalbai mokytis skirtais vadovėliais problemas ir trūkumus. Darbo tikslui įgyvendinti keliami uždaviniai: išanalizuoti Lietuvos tautinių mažumų situaciją Lietuvoje; įvertinti tautinių mažumų švietimo padėtį Lietuvoje (švietimo reglamentavimas Lietuvos Respublikos įstatymuose ir kituose teisės aktuose; mokyklų tinklo situacijos kaita); išanalizuoti tautinių mažumų mokyklų aprūpinimą vadovėliais, nustatyti aprūpinimo specifiką; išanalizuoti vadovėlių repertuarą; ištirti realią aprūpinimo tautinių mažumų kalbomis išleistais vadovėliais bei valstybinės kalbos mokymui(si) skirtais vadovėliais situaciją. Norint tinkamai užtikrinti teisę išsaugoti ir vartoti savo kalbą pirmiausia tautinėms mažumoms suteikiama galimybė mokytis gimtąja kalba arba gimtosios kalbos bendrojo lavinimo mokyklose arba neformaliojo švietimo įstaigose. Tačiau bendrojo lavinimo mokyklose mokymasis gimtąja kalba yra užtikrinamas tik skaitlingoms tautinėms mažumoms. Tik rusų ir lenkų kalbomis Lietuvoje yra leidžiami vadovėliai. Išanalizavus aprūpinimo vadovėliais tautinių mažumų kalbomis procesą, mokymo(si) procese naudojamų vadovėlių repertuarą ir atlikus tyrimą, kuriuo buvo siekiama išsiaiškinti realią aprūpinimo tautinių... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The object of this master thesis is education system of the ethnic minorities and supply of textbooks to their general education schools. The main purpose – to evaluate the minorities’ education system, in the research to clarify the main ethnic minorities’ problems and shortcomings in their own supply of the textbooks which are published in minorities languages or is intended to teach state language. The main purpose is obtained by accomplishing these tasks: to analyze the situation of ethnic minorities in Lithuania, to assess the situation of minorities education (the regulation of Lithuanian ethnic minorities education in laws and other legislation; the situation of ethnic minorities schools system); to analyze supply of textbooks to general education schools of ethnic minorities; diagnose particularities of supply; analyze the repertoire of textbooks; to investigate the situation of supply of the textbooks which are published in minorities languages or is intended to teach state language. To ensure the ethnic minorities right to maintain their native language an opportunity to study in that language or learn it in general education schools or non-formal educational institutions is provided in Lithuania. However, in general education schools studying in native language is maintained only for numerous ethnic minorities. Textbooks for ethnic minorities are published only in Russian and Polish. Analysis of textbooks supply process and the repertoire, the investigation led to... [to full text]

Darbo tikslas: nustatyti augavietės, įveisimo ir apsaugos technologijų įtaką ąžuolo želdinių būklei. Darbo objektas: Kėdainių miškų urėdijos Dotnuvos bei Skaistgirio girininkijose esantys paskutinio dešimtmečio ąžuolo želdiniai. Metodai: siekiant nustatyti augaviečių, įveisimo ir apsaugos technologijų įtaką ąžuolo želdinių būklei tirti ąžuolo želdiniai Nds; Lds; Nfs; Lfs augavietėse su 2 arba 3 pakartojimais. Naudota miško želdinimo darbų, želdinių ir žėlinių apskaitos ir vertinimo metodika, esančia teisės akte Miško atkūrimas ir įveisimas (teisės aktų rinkinys) – Vilnius, 2005, 116 – 121 p. Vadovaujantis šia metodika tirti 7 metų amžiaus ąžuolo želdiniai laikinų apskaitos aikštelių metodu (100 – 400 m ploto), jas išdėstant plote galimai vienodais atstumais, tipingose vietose želdavietės įstrižainių kryptimis. Apskaitos aikštelių skaičius priklausė nuo sklypo ploto: kai sklypo plotas 3 ha ir mažesnis apskaitos aikštelės apėmė ne mažiau 5 % sklypo ploto, kai 4 – 5 ha – 4 %, kai 6 – 10 ha – 3 %, kai daugiau nei 10 ha – 2 %. Apskaitos aikštelėse vertinti šie rodikliai: - vidutinis ąžuolo želdinių aukštis (10 cm tikslumu), pridedant prie jų analogiško aukščio ąžuolo savaiminukus, augančius vienas nuo kito ne arčiau kaip 0,7 m atstumu; - gyvybingų ąžuoliukų skaičius; - elninių žvėrių pažeidimai pagal pažeidimo tipą; - ligų pažeidimai. Tyrimo rezultatai apdoroti dispersinės analizės metodais. Rezultatai: atliktais tyrimais nustatyta, kad didžiausias vidutinis aukštis ir... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The aim of our investigation: to determine the infuence of different sites tipes, planting and protecion technologies on the oak plantations quality. Object of the investigation: 7 years oak plantations in Kėdainiai State Forest Enterprise. Methods: Our investigation was carried out in 100 - 400 m sample plots according to the methodology of statute of reforestation and afforestation in different types of forest sites (Nds; Lds; Nfs; Lfs). According to this metodology sample plots were set out in the diagonal direction on the 7 years oak plantations. Sample plots were used to determine: - middle height of oak stands; - density; - the intensity of injuries made by animals and pathogens. Investigation data was processed using methods of „ANOVA“. Results: it was determined that the greatest heigth of oaks plantations is in Nds and Nfs forest sites; forest sites has no significant effect on oak seedlings density, but it was estimated significant effect on viability of oak plantations; the prevalence of foliar pathogen Oaks midlew is significantly higher in L hydrotope; there is no significant effectiveness between individual shelters and circle-shaped fence; soil preparation has significant effect on viability of oak plantations in L hydrotope.