<p> The problems of dimensional synthesis and of balancing of linkages are formulated as multifactor optimization problems. Using the new techniques developed in the thesis to solve these problems, a general computer program has been written to be a design aid for such problems. A guide to usage and a complete documentation for this computer program are included in the thesis. </p> / Thesis / Master of Engineering (MEngr)

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Yes / As major financial crises, and the rise of China have shaped the new world order, so it is inevitable that those nations, especially in South East Asia, that once looked west for stability need to reappraise their situation. With the markets so intertwined in events, studying the propagation of equity price shocks within the wider set of macroeconomic variables allows us to say more about how relations are changing, and the likely impacts of any future crash. With data reaching into 2014, this paper is better able to reflect the post global financial crisis period. Using a Global Vector Autoregressive (GVAR) model we analyse these changes and what lies in store for South East Asia, and the ASEAN 4 in particular. Isolating three distinct trade patterns in our weight matrices responses to crises are clearly identifiable, and the opening up of China readily chartable. Indirect effects of China’s rise are highlighted; impacts on the ASEAN 4 being via other nations to date, but direct impact is appearing.

This thesis presents a technique for designing planar four-bar linkages by coupling optimization, dynamics and kinematics. This synthesis technique gives the designer the ability to design linkages having a desired resistance profiles under an assumed motion profile. The design approach presented in this thesis calculates the resistance forces by using both the static and the anticipated dynamic effects of the resistance loading. Almost all research to date has assumed that the static forces in the linkage dominate the dynamic forces; hence, the dynamic effects have been neglected. This thesis shows that this assumption is often invalid. The traditional approach for designing resistance-generating mechanisms has been based on closed-form methods that attempt to exactly match the resistance at a small number of discrete positions. This work uses a numerical optimization method that allows for the matching of the entire resistance curve by approximately matching a set of positions that define the shape of the curve. This work furthers the discipline of mechanism design by combining dynamics into existing linkage synthesis methods, resulting in an improved synthesis method that includes both static and dynamic effects. While this approach can be used in many applications, this work focuses on the design of exercise equipment. This focus is because exercise equipment designed to optimally stress a specific muscle group usually have a specific &quot; strength curve &quot; used to design the resistance load. The "strength curve" is the locus of all maximum loads moveable by the exerciser in all body part positions over the full range of motion. This application ideally suits the specification of the problem addressed in this thesis. / Master of Science

This thesis study addresses the problem of overconstraint via introduction of conformal polyhedral linkages comprising revolute joints only and investigation of special geometric properties for the mobility of such overconstrained linkages. These linkages are of particular interest as deployable structures. First, planar case is issued and conditions for assembling irregular conformal polygonal linkages composed of regular and angulated scissor elements are derived. These planar assemblies are implemented into faces of polyhedral shapes and radially intersecting planes to obtain two different kind of polyhedral linkages. Rest of the thesis work relates to spatial linkages. Identical isosceles Bennett loops are assembled to obtain regular polygonal linkages and many such linkages are assembled to form polyhedral linkages. Then, Fulleroid-like linkages are presented. After these seemingly independent linkage types, Jitterbug-like linkages are introduced. Based on some observations on present linkages in the literature a definition for Jitterbug-like linkages is given first, and then a set of critical properties of these linkages are revealed. This special type of polyhedral linkages is further classified as being homothetic and non-homothetic, and geometric conditions to obtain mobile homothetic Jitterbug-like polyhedral linkages are investigated. Homohedral linkages, linkages with polyhedral supports with 3- and 4-valent vertices only, tangential polyhedral linkages are detailed as special cases and the degenerate case where all faces are coplanar is discussed. Two types of modifications on Jitterbug-like linkages are presented by addition of links on the faces and radial planes of Jitterbug-like linkages. Finally, a special class of Jitterbug-like linkages - modified Wren platforms are introduced as potential deployable structures.

What determines the value an MNC's headquarters adds to its own affiliates? In this paper, we shed light on this question by linking the embeddedness view of the multinational corporation to the literature on parenting advantage. We test our hypotheses on an original dataset of 124 manufacturing subsidiaries located in Europe. Our results indicate that the external embeddedness of the MNC is an antecedent to headquarters' value creation. We find that headquarters' investments into their own relationships with the subsidiaries' contexts are positively related to the value added by headquarters. Furthermore, this relationship is stronger when the subsidiary itself is strongly embedded. We discuss implications for the MNC literature, embeddedness research, and the literature on parenting and headquarters' roles. (authors' abstract)

The major concern of this study is to examine the current process of national development in the two African states of Mozambique and Guinea Bissau. Recognizing the fact that the problem of development is the foremost challenge to all contemporary African nations, the pursuit of an alternative approach to the process of development by the two countries, is certainly a break-away from the change in continuity of the colonial capitalist mode of production, characteristic of Africa today. Contrary to the general practice in Africa which limits the concept of development to economics, and the enrichment of the petty bourgeoisie, the process of national development in Mozambique and Guinea Bissau has rightfully been conceptualized in terms of its economic, social, political, and ideological complexities, while the uplift of the masses occupies the center of the economic activity. The study critically examined the economic dimensions of the development process in both Mozambique and Guinea Bissau. The specific concern centered on industrialization and economic integration, the design and character of agriculture, the mechanisms of distribution of national wealth, the alternative measures of unemployment control, and the strategy followed in an attempt to eliminate post-colonial linkages. Viewing the role of politics in the overall process of development as an essential one, especially with regard to structural transformation and mobilization, the study examined the political dimensions of development in these countries. The focus was placed on the role of the party, structural transformation and mass participation, the distribution of power and national integration, political consciousness and rural politicization, in addition to their various implications on the development process. The study shows that the political elements have rendered the process of development, creative and complementary, cohesive, as well as dynamic. With regard to the social dimensions of development, the study examined the particularity of education, the unique innovations in health care and housing, and the progress made so far in the attainment of self-reliance. Faced with the task of assessing the efficacity of this approach to national development, the study without pretending to provide the cure for all development problems in Africa, concluded by uncovering the commendable merits and uniqueness of the approach, but also cautions against blind copying, while at the same time it encourages others to take a critical look at this experience in an attempt to assess the extent to which it can apply to their concrete conditions.

vi Abstract The thesis investigates the linkages between macroeconomic performance and banks loans portfolio quality represented by the non-performing loans ratio in the Czech banking system in years 2003-2013. The empirical analysis evaluates how banks non-performing loans are influenced by several macroeconomic indicators such as GDP, inflation, interest rate, unemployment rate and exchange rate. First we investigate loans quality on the aggregate level, next we analyze the quality of loans of households and non-financial corporations sector separately as the macroeconomic variables may affect these two sectors of borrowers differently. Finally the analysis of mutual links is done for different loan categories according to the level of failure also. The empirical results from vector autoregression model and impulse response analysis generally suggest that favorable macroeconomic conditions improve banks loans quality by lowering the non-performing loans ratio and vice versa. The thesis also identifies the feedback effect of increasing non- performing loans ratio on economic performance. Keywords: banks loans quality, macrofinancial linkages, non-performing loans, Czech banking system

Este trabalho trata da síntese ótima de mecanismos articulados planos movidos por acionadores prismáticos. O objetivo da síntese é a geração de movimento e trajetória para três e quatro posições. A otimização se refere ao parâmetro ângulo de transmissão. Apresenta-se também, neste trabalho, como os programas de otimização funcionam em exemplos retirados da literatura de projeto de mecanismos. / This work deals with optimum synthesis of four-bar linkages. The synthesis objective is motion and path generation for the threee and four precision. The optimization concerns the parameter transmissin angle. The effectiveness of the optimization programs has been tested using examples obtained from the mechanism design literature.

Este trabalho trata da síntese ótima de mecanismos articulados planos movidos por acionadores prismáticos. O objetivo da síntese é a geração de movimento e trajetória para três e quatro posições. A otimização se refere ao parâmetro ângulo de transmissão. Apresenta-se também, neste trabalho, como os programas de otimização funcionam em exemplos retirados da literatura de projeto de mecanismos. / This work deals with optimum synthesis of four-bar linkages. The synthesis objective is motion and path generation for the threee and four precision. The optimization concerns the parameter transmissin angle. The effectiveness of the optimization programs has been tested using examples obtained from the mechanism design literature.