This thesis begins a study of principal series categories in geometric representation theory using the Beilinson-Drinfeld theory of chiral algebras. We study Whittaker objects in the unramified principal series category. This provides an alternative approach to the Arkhipov-Bezrukavnikov theory of Iwahori-Whittaker sheaves that exploits the geometry of the Feigin-Frenkel semi-infinite flag manifold. / Mathematics

No description available.

Internationalization is a key concept in today’s globalized world. Globalization has brought about a major shift in the way firms internationalize. Previously, large firms were thought to follow an incremental internationalization process. However, as a result of the rise of international new ventures, the internationalization process has seen a dramatic shift in the internationalization process of firms. Firms no longer follow the traditional models of internationalization. Instead, there are three general phases an international new venture may pass through which are identified by Leonidou and Katsikeas (1996, p. 524): namely: pre-engagement, initial, and advanced.   The change in the internationalization process of firms has led firms access networks to internationalize. The use of networks have been shown to help international new ventures to skip the traditional phases of internationalization  and expand rapidly by linking themselves to established networks (Coviello & Munro, 1995, p. 53). Participation in networks, among other benefits, includes acquiring the necessary knowledge for international operations.   Several important network forms have been identified by different authors. This raises the question what effect these network forms have at the phases of the internationalization process. Three major networks were identified, namely, social, business and intermediaries where each form has its own benefits in the internationalization process of an Small-to-Medium-Size Enterprise (SME). The forms of networks are often described as positive drivers for internationalization. We, however, think that there might also be negative aspects concerning the use of network for internationalization. This study sets out to find what the benefits of each form of network is and also how the networks are used in the internationalization process of an SME. We take into account the perspective of the entrepreneurs as to how they perceive network forms affecting SMEs’ performance at each phase of the internationalization process.  Along with that, we also aim to find out how the forms of networks interact with each other and how they evolve from one network to the other.   We use qualitative methods, in our study, by interviewing six SMEs located in northern Sweden. Multiple case studies were developed, in order to analyse the collected data from the semi-structured interviews. The collected data was transcribed and categorized in order to find the phases of internationalization, benefits of networks, interaction between networks and the negative aspects of networks. It was then analysed using the three predefined forms of networks: social, business and intermediaries.   The findings of the study show that business networks were the most widely used network form throughout the phases of the internationalization process. Social networks and intermediaries were used equally. However, social networks had a greater influence than intermediaries. Our research also identified three phases in the internationalization process. Networks were found to influence each other at all the phases of internationalization and therefore cannot be seperated from each other.

No description available.

The primary objective of this research was to explore the icewine package design by conducting two experiments. In experiment 1, there was not congruity effect between label images and bottle forms for icewine. Additionally, in terms of natural label image, opaque Bordeaux bottle form was perceived to be more luxurious and more expensive than transparent Bordeaux bottle form for icewine; these results were only found for natural label image rather than delicate label images. Furthermore, opaque Bordeaux bottle form with maple leaf label image was found to be the optimal design for Canadian icewine. In experiment 2, there was no significant difference on consumers’ evaluations for congruent and moderately incongruent designs under the moderating effect of purchase context (i.e., buying for others and buying for self). The findings not only contribute to the icewine packaging literature but also contribute to Canadian icewine manufacturers, and the industry as a whole, with a competitive advantage.

Darbe apibrėžiamos industrinių erdvių paveldo konversijos ir pritaikymo idėjos, būdai ir formos vizualiniu aspektu; analizuojami Klaipėdos pramoninės architektūros paveldo objektai, jų architektūrinė specifika, išsidėstymas urbanistinėje miesto struktūroje. Pramoninės funkcijos išsaugojimo ir realizuotų konversijų atvejų studijos rodo dabartinę Klaipėdos pramoninės architektūros objektų situaciją, industrinio paveldo pritaikymo naujoms kultūrinėms veikloms vykti pranašumus ir trūkumus. Analizė atskleidžia pramoninės architektūros paveldo pritaikymo galimybių įvairovę ir nurodo pagrindines panaudos tendencijas. Praradę savo pirminę funkciją industrinio paveldo statiniai ir jų kompleksai, buvusios pramoninės paskirties teritorijos Klaipėdoje gali tapti nesenkančiu įkvėpimo šaltiniu kūrybinei raiškai, būti prikeltos naujam gyvenimui, naujai veiklai vykti, kurti miesto išskirtinumą, tapti naujais ir kitokiais traukos centrais. Darbe sumodeliuotos vadinamojoje „Memelio miesto“ teritorijoje (uždara poindustrinė buvusios uosto įmonės „Laivitė“ teritorija, Naujoji Uosto g. 3) esančių industrinio architektūros paveldo objektų pritaikymo vizijos yra teorinio pobūdžio. Sukurtos koncepcinės objektų vizualizacijos gali būti taikomos praktiškai, ateityje įvairiai plėtojamos. / The work puts focus on visual means and ideas of application and conversion of industrial spaces heritage. Heritage objects of architectural industry of Klaipėda, architectural specifics, and arrangement in the urban structure of the city are analysed. In the case of preserving industrial function, and realized conversions, the study shows the current situation of industrial architecture objects in Klaipėda, advantages and disadvantages of applying industrial heritage to new cultural activities. The analysis reveals the variety of application of industrial architecture heritage, and indicates the main tendencies of appliance. Buildings, complexes, and former territories of industrial purpose in Klaipėda, which lost their primal purpose, can become the infinite source of inspiration and creation; these objects can be brought to life again and start being used for new activities, formation of the city’s uniqueness, and become new and different centres of attraction. The thesis provides theoretical visions of using objects of architectural industrial heritage, which exist in the territory of “Memel City” (the closed post-industrial territory of former port company “Laivitė”, Naujoji Uosto Street 3). Created conceptual visualisations of objects can be applied in practice, and developed in different ways in the future.

In unsteady flows, dune dimensions may vary considerably from fully-developed dimensions produced from a flat bed under a steady and uniform flow. Specifically, dune height and length are observed to lag discharge when the flow is non-steady, resulting in dimensions that are out of phase with the prevailing flow. This research attempts to provide some insight into the behaviour of dunes when the flow is suddenly changed, as well as the time-scale of the related dune changes. Nineteen experimental runs were carried out in the 21-m long, 0.76-m wide Sediment Transport Flume at Queen’s University. In ten of these runs the flow depth, h, was suddenly increased (h2/h1 > 1) and in nine runs the flow depth was suddenly decreased (h2/h1 < 1). In all runs, the slope of free surface was kept equal to the slope of the bed such that the change in flow rate is represented by the change in the flow depth. Seven ratios of the two flow depths, h2/h1 (varying between 0.49 and 2.29), were performed for three slopes (S = 1/792, 1/534, 1/341). The bed material was a coarse, poorly-graded silica sand (D50 = 1.0 mm). Longitudinal bed profiles were taken along the centreline of the flume approximately every 6–8 minutes to determine the transient dune dimensions and the time at which the dunes acquired their new equilibrium dimensions. This time is termed the duration of dune development, Td. Through dimensional and physical considerations, Bielenberg (2006) established that the dimensionless counterpart of Td should be a function of the material number, relative flow depth, relative flow intensity, and ratio of the flow depths h2/h1. The present experiments were carried out to investigate the influence of the relative flow intensity and h2/h1 on the duration of dune development. Results indicate that equilibrium dune dimensions do not depend on the initial shape of the bed. After the period Td, the dunes tend to be similar to those produced from a flat bed. It is found that Td is strongly dependent on h2/h1, and weakly dependent on the flow intensity. All other determining variables remaining the same, Td decreases with increasing values of flow intensity. Semi-empirical relations for the dimensionless duration of dune development are presented. / Thesis (Master, Civil Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2007-09-24 09:45:13.624

No description available.

No description available.

The main results of this thesis describe a relationship between two families of arithmetic divisors on an integral model of a Shimura curve. The first family, studied by Kudla, Rapoport and Yang, parametrizes abelian surfaces with specified endomorphism structure. The second family is comprised of pullbacks of arithmetic cycles on integral models of Shimura varieties associated to unitary groups of signature (1,1). In the thesis, we construct these families of cycles, and describe their relationship, which is expressed in terms of the ``Shimura lift", a classical tool in the theory of modular forms of half-integral weight. This relations can be viewed as further evidence for the modularity of generating series of arithmetic "special cycles" for U(1,1), and fits broadly into Kudla's programme for unitary groups.