The aim of this thesis, thats title is "The monetary policy of the Czech national bank and the prospects of euro adoption. Meeting the Maastricht monetary criteria and possible complications.", is answer the question whether the Czech Republic is ready now to adopt the common european currency (euro) or not. This thesis is divided into three parts. The first part pays attention to the monetary policy of the Czech national bank in connection with the entrance of the Czech Republic into the euro area and other parts deal with the convergence of the Czech Republic to the euro area. The second part discusses the convergence from the perspective of meeting the Maastricht monetary criteria and the third part deals with the real convergence. My conclusion is that the Czech Republic is not ready now to adopt euro and should wait with the adoption of a common european currency till the moment when is prepared better.

The thesis is aimed at the evaluation of preparedness of the Czech Republic for acceptance of the common currency. Preparedness according to the convergence criteria and the state of the real convergency is evaluated in the thesis. Within the convergence criteria a state of the public finance is discussed in detail and the necessity for undertaking reforms. The real convergency is rated in the thesis according to the value of the GDP per capita, flexibility of the labour market, competitiveness and openness of the economy. In the end the recent progress in the EU is discussed, mainly in the Euro-zone. An outlook of the impact of the current events on the future of the EU is proposed.

In what ways do companies within an industry converge? We address this by combining theory on competitive strategy and supply chain strategy to understand how companies can be differentiated in these dimensions. As competitive strategies are affected by internal and external factors, these affect strategy design and resource management of a company in order to remain competitive. Convergence occurs when an industry matures, and several regulatory or non-regulatory norms arise that firms move toward and, in the process, become more similar. Through developing a framework that addresses intra-industry convergence and taking the case of the European airline industry, we aim to demonstrate the application of using competitive strategy and supply chain strategy analyses to analyze and evaluate intra-industry convergence through a standardized model.

Lee San Man. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves [86-88]). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Abstract --- p.2 / Acknowledge --- p.3 / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.5 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Literature Review --- p.7 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Open-door and Reform Policies and Trend of Regional Inequality --- p.13 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Theoretical Model --- p.23 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- Data Issue and Estimation Methods --- p.29 / Chapter Chapter 6 --- Absolute Convergence --- p.33 / Chapter Chapter 7 --- Augmented Solow Model --- p.41 / Chapter Chapter 8 --- The Contribution of Human Capital --- p.55 / Chapter Chapter 9 --- The Contribution of Open and Reform --- p.73 / Chapter Chapter 10 --- Conclusion --- p.85 / Reference --- p.86

The subject of thesis the Comparison of economic development of Slovakia and Estonia before and after the entry into euro zone, is a comprehensive analysis of the economic development of Estonia and Slovakia throughout the course of the integration process in the euro zone from 2004 to 2011. The first chapter reviews the theoretical bases of the work and discussed the theoretical bases of the processes of nominal and real convergence. In the introductory part is defined the concept of nominal convergence in the context of monetary integration and introduce each of the Maastricht criteria and its own set of macroeconomic indicators, on the bases of which ought to the development of Estonia and Slovakia in the analytical part of the work. The second part of the work is focused on the evaluation of the development of nominal and real convergence of the Estonia and Slovak economy to the states of the euro area and with each other on the basis of the development of selected indicators. The third part of the work deals with the final summary and comparison economic development ongoing nominal and real convergence in Estonia and Slovakia and assessment of the decision the timing of entry Estonia and Slovakia into the euro area.

Un certain nombre de domaines tels que les études de criticité requièrent le calcul de certaines grandeurs neutroniques d'intérêt. Il existe deux types de code : les codes déterministes et les codes stochastiques. Ces derniers sont réputés simuler la physique de la configuration traitée de manière exacte. Toutefois, le temps de calcul nécessaire peut s'avérer très élevé.Le travail réalisé dans cette thèse a pour but de bâtir une stratégie d'accélération de la convergence de la criticité dans le code de calcul TRIPOLI-4®. Nous souhaitons mettre en œuvre le jeu à variance nulle. Pour ce faire, il est nécessaire de calculer le flux adjoint. L'originalité de cette thèse est de calculer directement le flux adjoint par une simulation directe Monte-Carlo sans passer par un code externe, grâce à la méthode de la matrice de fission. Ce flux adjoint est ensuite utilisé comme carte d'importance afin d'accélérer la convergence de la simulation. / Fields such as criticality studies need to compute some values of interest in neutron physics. Two kind of codes may be used : deterministic ones and stochastic ones. The stochastic codes do not require approximation and are thus more exact. However, they may require a lot of time to converge with a sufficient precision.The work carried out during this thesis aims to build an efficient acceleration strategy in the TRIPOLI-4®. We wish to implement the zero variance game. To do so, the method requires to compute the adjoint flux. The originality of this work is to directly compute the adjoint flux directly from a Monte-Carlo simulation without using external codes thanks to the fission matrix method. This adjoint flux is then used as an importance map to bias the simulation.

Les travaux de recherche présentés dans ce manuscrit ont été menés dans le cadre du projet ClGEO de I 'Andra concernant la construction et le développement de nouveau soutènement pour les galeries d'un stockage des déchets radioactifs à une profondeur de 500m sur le site Meuse/Haute Marne à Bure. La première partie de ce travail porte sur l'établissement d'un modèle rhéologique de l'argilite du Callovo-Oxfordien nommé SC2D (Swelling Creep Diagenisis Damage). Traditionnellement, la calibration des modèles rhéologiques pour les matériaux argileux repose sur des essais de laboratoire à partir des échantillons carottés. Ces échantillons sont endommagés par la décharge hydromécanique lors du prélèvement. Cet endommagement ne peut pas être réparé par une reconsolidation sous la contrainte in situ de prélèvement. Cet endommagement va altérer durablement les caractéristiques hydromécaniques de l'argilite et engendrer des nouveaux mécanismes élasto-plastiques qui n'existent pas sur l'argilite in situ. L'originalité du travail dans ce premier temps porte sur la validation du modèle SC2D de l'argilite sain du Callovo-Oxfordien à partir de la simulation des essais de laboratoire sur échantillons carottés en prenant en compte toute l'histoire de la sollicitation depuis le prélèvement jusqu'à la rupture. Ensuite, le modèle SC2D « intégré» dans le code CLEO est appliqué aux simulations numériques des excavations des galeries du laboratoire souterrain de Bure. La deuxième partie de la thèse concerne la participation dans le programme de qualification et de mise en œuvre de l'Andra (brevet Andra et CMC) d'un nouveau soutènement compressible permettant d'absorber les convergences anisotropes des galeries creusées dans l'argilite du Callovo· Oxfordien. Ce nouveau soutènement sous forme d'anneaux est constitué d'un assemblage de voussoirs. Chaque voussoir est un sandwich comprenant • Le soutènement proprement dit par une coque de structure en béton armé.• Le matériau compressible surmontant la coque de structure. • La coque de protection pour permettre son transport et sa manipulation.La fabrication des voussoirs compressibles nécessite l'ajout de barbotine (ciment dopé avec du sable) pour la tenue de cette couche compressible. Ce voussoir compressible devait répondre à des exigences mécaniques définies par I 'Andra. Les essais présentés dans celte thèse concernent l'analyse des essais œdométrique réalisés chez EGC concernant la caractérisation mécanique à l'échelle de la couche compressible. Différentes variables ont été étudiées, ainsi que des essais de chargement uniforme sur modèle réduit d'anneau de coques. Ces essais seront présentés et commentés. Ensuite, un modèle rhéologique, qui est nommé Coqcéram, a été construit pour le matériau compressible sur la base du modèle Ganta Gravel. Les paramètres mécaniques du modèle Coqcéram sont obtenus à partir des essais œdométriques. La validation du modèle Coqcéram est réalisée par comparaison des simulations numériques avec les essais sur modèle réduit d'un anneau de voussoir compressible. Cette modélisation numérique a nécessité «l'intégration» du modèle rhéologique Coqcéram dans le code aux éléments finis CLEO. Après celte validation la modélisation a été appliqué à deux type anneaux de voussoirs en vrai grandeur mis en place dans le laboratoire souterrain Meuse/Haute Marne. La première modélisation a porté sur un anneau en voussoirs classique sans matériau compressible mis en place immédiatement après l'excavation. Cette modélisation montre une distribution des contraintes sur l'anneau très anisotrope associée à une augmentation continuelle des contraintes. En revanche, la modélisation réalisée avec des voussoirs compressibles montre une distribution des contraintes beaucoup plus faible que pour les voussoirs classiques mais surtout plus uniforme. / The studies presented in this manuscript are part of Andra's CIGEO project concerning the construction and development of a new tunnel support for the gallery of the radioactive waste repository. The structure is located at a depth of approximately 500m at the site Meuse/Haute-Marne at Bure. The first part of this work concerns the establishment of a rheological model of Callovo-Oxfordian claystone named SC2D (Swelling Creep Diagenesis Damage). Traditionally, the calibration of rheological models for clay materials is based on laboratory tests from core samples. These samples are dàmaged by the hydromechanical discharge during sampling. This damage cannot be repaired by reconsolidation under in situ stress. This damage durably allers the hydromechanical characteristics of the claystone and generate new elasto-plastic mechanisms that do not exist on in situ claystone. The originality of the work in this first phase concerns the validation of the SC2D model of Callovo-Oxfordian healthy claystone from the simulation of the laboratory tests on core samples taking into account the whole loading history since the sampling until rupture. Then, the SC2D model "integrated" in the CLEO code is applied to the numerical simulations of the tunnel excavations of the Bure underground laboratory. The second part of the thesis concerns the participation in the qualification and the implementation of Andra (patent Andra and CMC) of a new compressible support allowing to absorb the anisotropie convergences of the tunnels excavated in the Callovo-Oxfordian claystone. This is a new support by segmental ring. Each segment is a sandwich comprising: • The reinforced concrete stiff lining. • The compressible material surmounting the stiff lining.• The protective shell to allow its transport and handling.The manufacture of compressible segments requires the addition of slurry (cernent doped with sand) for the holding of this compressible layer. This compressible support had to meet mechanical requirements defined by Andra. The tests presented in this thesis concern the analysis of consolidation tests carried out at EGC concerning the mechanical characterization at the level of the compressible layer. Different variables were studied, as well as tests of uniform loading on mode! reduced of the segmental ring. These tests will be presented and commented. A rheological model is established for the compressible material based on the Ganta Gravel model named Coqceram. The mechanical parameters of the Coqceram model are obtained from consolidation tests. The validation of the Coqceram model is carried out by comparing numerical simulations with model tests of a segmental ring. This numerical modeling required the "integration" of the Coqceram rheological model into the CLEO finite element code. After this validation, the modeling has been applied to two types of real size segmental rings set up in the Meuse/Haute-Marne underground laboratory. The first modeling focused on a classic segmental ring without compressible material set up immediately alter excavation. This modeling shows a very anisotropic ring stress distribution associated with a continual increase of the stresses. On the other hand, the modeling carried out with compressible segments shows a stress distribution much lower than the classic segment, especially more uniform.

As the broadband transmission and data compression are being advanced in digital technology at the same time, these enable multimedia easily to exchange and interconnect with each other. The phenomenon to present is generally called ¡§Digital Convergence¡¨. In order to cater to the customers who demand whenever and wherever possible, ubiquitously access to converging services and networks as well, the broadband wireline and wireless access technologies have made significant progress to support and to further ICT (information and communications technology) industry to invest the research and development on the relevant technology, pruducts and services. The development trend of converging in the face of industries, services and networks, FNOs(fixed network operators), who are facing the fixed to mobile substitution(FMS), attempt with the seamless communications proposition to resolve the discontinuous problems caused when or where the user¡¦s handset roams across heterogeneous networks or switches between the fixed and mobile network, so as to motivate user demand for data and multimedia services as well as to restrain the decline of revenue from circuit-switched voice service; On the other hand, MNOs(mobile network operators) are also facing the market saturation on basic voice service gradually, in order to sustain the revenue growth, dual-mode mobile handsets enable the users access to fixed wireless network that substitutes for expensive indoor radio access to mobile network, and make differentiation from competitors to stimulate user demand for value-added services so as to raise ARPU(average revenue per user). Therefore, the business model for FMC(fixed-mobile convergence), is an innovative option to surmount the dilemma of business growth of telecommunications service operators. No matter FNOs, MNOs or SBOs(service-based operators) begin integration among the horizontally layered access networks, e.g. wireless LAN, WiMAX, broadband wireless, 3G, 3.5G and 4G, and change the existing business model varied with the shifting industrial value chain as well in face of emerging convergence and advancing wireless communications technology. The study gives the result with conclusions: 1.The introduction of FMC business is the most advantageous to full-licensed operators or telecom groups; Secondly FNOs can fight against FMS threat to restrain the revenue declined and to gain the revenue stream from MVNO services. 2.Telecom operators who provide with FMC offerings can strengthen competitive advantages with differentiation in the telecom services market to increase revenue and profitability. 3.Telecom operators offer FMC products and services, which help improvement in ARPU of existing customers and acquisition of new ones. 4.FMC offering can increase stickiness on customer retention besides lowering customer churn rate. 5.No matter incumbent or potential new entrant operators who introduce FMC service offering to market, they should take advantages of resources and competence in themselves to address their customer value proposition and positioning, and to adjust the business model to rival with advantageous competitive strategy. Besides, they should consider the timing for the investment on convergence of heterogeneous network varied with industrial environment and regulation so as to raise ROCE. 6.FMC business model is a set of architectural framework, not merely products or services portfolios, applications and selling. The operators must pay close attention to the shift of the external environment and business operation conditions, change the existing business model and strategy so as to keep the business growth and sustained development for lasting enterprises. The study finally suggests: Telecom operators, potential new entrants and the Government in Taiwan should pay close attention to the spectrum licensed for the new technology WiMAX and digital convergence which may come into being ¡§horizontally layered integration¡¨ or ¡§operation beyond the regulated business scope¡¨. The demarcation of regulation the Government takes effect can give consideration to the economic efficiency of market liberalization with fair competition. Asymmetric regulation and deregulation make sure not in implementing ¡§by waiting to become¡¨, and make distribution with choice for the radio frequency spectrum which benefits industry's development as well as adopt explicitly gradual deregulation on the policy and supplementary measure so as to can give consideration to the regulatory function, build the fair market environment and sound telecommunications industry in parallel to further the development in economy.

In literature Trefftz method normally has geometric (exponential) convergence. Recently many scholars have found that spectral method in some cases can converge faster than exponential, which is called super-geometric convergence. Since Trefftz method can be regarded as a kind of spectral method, we expect it might possess super-geometric convergence too. In this thesis, we classify all types of super-geometric convergence and compare their speeds. We develop a method to decide the convergent type of given error data. Finally we can observe in many numerical experiments the super-geometric convergence of Trefftz method to solve Helmholtz boundary value problems.

Boundary approximation method, also known as the collocation Trefftz method in engineering, is used to solve Laplace boundary value problem on rectanglular domain. Suppose the particular solutions are chosen for the whole domain. If there is no singularity on other vertices, it should have exponential convergence. Otherwise, it will degenerate to polynomial convergence. In the latter case, the order of convergence has some relation with the intensity of singularity. So, it is easy to design models with desired convergent orders. On a sectorial domain, when one side of the boundary conditions is a transcendental function, it needs to be approximated by power series. The truncation of this power series will generate an artificial singularity when solving Laplace equation on polygon. So it will greatly slow down the expected order of convergence. This thesis study how the truncation error affects the convergent speed. Moreover, we focus on the transition behavior of the convergence from one order to another. In the end, we also apply our results to boundary approximation method with enriched basis.