The poor trust culture in the construction sector is often considered an inhibiting factor to collaboration success in the United Kingdom (UK) despite reform efforts. Numerous reform initiatives tend to have focused on improvements in client and main contractor aspects of construction supply chain relationships, prompting claims that failure to integrate subcontractors, suppliers and consultants into collaborative arrangements remains a major shortcoming. Main contractor and subcontractor relationships therefore continue to be typified by such problems as late payments, charging fees to tender for work, award of contracts based on cheapest price rather than best value, negative margins and demand of retrospective discounts and cash rebates; all of which negatively impact on trust. Some main contractor organisations however, continue to embed supply chain management practices as a strategy for levering value from subcontractors. Such collaborative practices and their implications for inter-organisational trust development, and indeed overall project outcomes, have nonetheless received limited attention in construction management research, raising significant questions on the empirical basis for their implementation. This research was thus undertaken to investigate strategic supply chain management practices adopted by UK main contractors and its implications for inter-organisational trust development during projects. The study adopts a multiple case study design so as to unravel complex subtleties of inter-organisational trust development in the main contractors’ supply chain during projects. With four purposefully selected UK main contractor organisations that had implemented strategic supply chain management, data was gathered through a supply chain workshop, semi-structured interviews, passive observations and documentary analysis. From analysis of the data, it was revealed that strategic supply chain management practices of the main contractors were instrumental for trust manifestation across cognition, system and relational based dimensions. These practices served as constitutive elements of face-to-face interactions through which inter-organisational trust developed, whilst providing the institutional framework to which respective supply chain parties directed their psychological expectations. These findings highlight the importance of maintaining a core of subcontractors from which the main contractor can leverage long-term value irrespective of economic climate. This can be achieved by adequately prioritizing relationally trusted subcontractors for sensitive and high risk work packages whilst ensuring that strategic supply chain management principles can be used to engender impersonal (cognition and system-based) trust dimensions amongst other subcontractors used on a project. Accordingly, a supply chain management oriented framework for engendering inter-organisational trust during projects has been developed based on the study findings and evaluated through semi-structured interviews with selected target participants. This framework does not only provide a systematic and coherent approach for implementing or benchmarking strategic supply chain management in a main contractor’s organisation, but can also be used to prioritize and promote different trust dimensions and their associated behavioural consequences on projects, depending on perceived work package risks.

Hydraulic main stages for off highway machines have usually electromagnetic driven pilot valves. You rarely find stepper motor driven pilot systems that are directly positioning the main spool in the sectional control valve. The presented concept shows the development of an actuator in a unique setup to fulfill the requirements of most off- highway applications. Precise positioning, strength, speed and fail safe requirements were the main goals of the concept. The concept has a two phase BLDC transversal flux motor with a single gear stage transmission. The software and control unit are specially designed for this electric motor setup. On a test bench some results of the first samples reveal the technical potential of this concept. The development of the actuator was done in-house of Thomas Magnete GmbH (mechanical, electronical, and software development).

Cette étude est hébergée par un programme hospitalier de recherche clinique. L'objectif était de développer un outil d'évaluation de la motricité de la main pour caractériser la réorganisation motrice associée à la restauration d'une paralysie radiale (technique de Tsugé). Nous avons montré que la minimisation des moments secondaires était un principe biomécanique robuste pour expliquer les interactions biomécaniques entre les doigts. Ce principe reste toutefois à mieux explorer en extension. L'utilisation du modèle biomécanique a montré la nécessité d'inclure l'équilibre du poignet dans la procédure. L'analyse de la réorganisation motrice montre la redistribution dynamique des tensions des tendons et la mise en place de co-contraction. L'ensemble de cette démarche ouvre des perspectives d'analyse de la motricité de la main intéressantes.

Teorinėje darbo dalyje aprašomi įvairus kompanijų susijungimų tipai ir būdai., daugiausia orientuojamasi į gamybinėms įmonėms tinkamas, kurios turi ne vieną departamentą ir jose dirba santykinai nemaţai ţmonių Lietuvos rinkos mastu. Analizės dalyje paţymima kad bendrovėse kyla nemaţai problemų dėl komunikacijos, bendro planavimo nebuvimo. Dviejų bendrovių veiklos efektyvumo nebuvimas dėl skirtingų strategijų, bei uţdavinių, atskiro ţaliavų valdymo, logistikos dubliavimo ir t.t.. Projektinėje darbo dalyje pateikiami veiksmai kuriant organizacinį projektą atsiţvelgiant dviejų nagrinėjamų kompanijų atvejui. kuriame aprašomi palaipsniui etapai, bei pagrindiniai rinkos veiksniai tai bendra kainodaros politika bei situacija rinkoje sujungus dvejas įmones, taip pat pateikiamos prielaidos tikėtinų rezultatų sujungus bendroves pagal vieną organizacinį projektą, pritaikant linijinę funkcinę struktūrą. / In the theoretical part is describes the various types of companies mergers, types and methods, mainly oriented to the appropriate manufacturing companies, which have more than one department and have big employment relatively to Lithuanian market level. In the analytical part is noted that the companies have many problems with communication, lack of overall planning. The two companies lack the operational efficiency of different strategies and objectives of the individual commodity management and duplication of logistics and etc. In the project part of the final summary are the steps of creating an organizational design by given of the two companies' case, which describes the progressive stages, and the basic market factors is a common pricing policy and market situation of two merging companies, it is also the assumption of expected results combined company under one organizational design, using a linear functional structure.

This work was initially launched to study the synthesis of low-valent group 13 compounds bearing the bis(imino)pyridine ligand framework. Since its inception, this project has grown beyond the boundaries of group 13 to include low valent tin, silver, and rhenium. Alongside the reports of novel coordination compounds, we utilized computational chemistry to uncover unprecedented interactions which challenge conventional concepts of bonding. Synthesis, characterization, and complimentary computational studies are presented herein. Chapter 1 presents a historical overview of the bis(imino)pyridine ligand as well as our synthetic methodology and characterization of new ligand variants we have contributed to the literature. Chapter 2 presents the synthesis of a series of In(I) and In(III) bis(imino)pyridine complexes with varied sterics. Ligand-metal interaction and effect of ligand steric bulk on complex stability, as well as computational studies highlighting weak covalent interactions will be discussed. Chapter 3 presents the synthesis of Ga(III) bis(imino)pyridine complexes. Reactivity with “GaI” synthon as well as varied-stoichiometry one-pot synthesis attempts to generate low valent Ga-bis(imino)pyridine complexes will be discussed. Chapter 4 presents the synthesis of a series of Tl(I) bis(imino)pyridine complexes with varied sterics analogous to the approach taken with indium(I). Unprecedented weak ligand-metal as well as Tl-arene interactions will be discussed. Chapter 5 presents the synthesis of a series of Sn(II) bis(imino)pyridine complexes with varied sterics and halide substituents. Preferential cation-anion pair formation and attempted reactivity will be discussed. Chapter 6 presents the synthesis of a series of Ag(I) bis(imino)pyridine complexes with varied sterics. Resulting ligand-metal interactions as well as reactivity towards Lewis basic donor ligands will be discussed. Chapter 7 presents the synthesis of first crystallographically authenticated examples of rhenium(I) pincer complexes utilizing the bis(imino)pyridine ligand. Chapter 8 presents a general conclusion to the work.

We present a new velocity-resolved survey of 2.9 mu m spectra of hot H2O and OH gas emission from protoplanetary disks, obtained with the Cryogenic Infrared Echelle Spectrometer at the VLT (R similar to 96,000). With the addition of archival Spitzer-IRS spectra, this is the most comprehensive spectral data set of water vapor emission from disks ever assembled. We provide line fluxes at 2.9-33 mu m that probe from the dust sublimation radius at similar to 0.05 au out to the region of the water snow line. With a combined data set for 55 disks, we find a new correlation between H2O line fluxes and the radius of CO gas emission, as measured in velocity-resolved 4.7 mu m spectra (R-co), which probes molecular gaps in inner disks. We find that H2O emission disappears from 2.9 mu m (hotter water) to 33 mu m (colder water) as R-co increases and expands out to the snow line radius. These results suggest that the infrared water spectrum is a tracer of inside-out water depletion within the snow line. It also helps clarify an unsolved discrepancy between water observations and models by finding that disks around stars of M-star > 1.5M(circle dot) generally have inner gaps with depleted molecular gas content. We measure radial trends in H2O, OH, and CO line fluxes that can be used as benchmarks for models to study the chemical composition and evolution of planet-forming disk regions at 0.05-20 au. We propose that JWST spectroscopy of molecular-gas may be used as a probe of inner disk gas depletion, complementary to the larger gaps and holes detected by direct imaging and by ALMA.

Mémoire numérisé par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

A Thesis submitted to The University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Medicine. / Primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH) has an extremely poor prognosis with a mean survival time of 2‐3 years from time of diagnosis. Hemodynamically, PPH is defined with a mPAP of ≥ 25 mm Hg. Currently, RHC is the gold standard for measuring the arterial pressures and diagnosing PPH; however, it is an incredibly invasive procedure. Our study will show whether CT angiography can be considered as a non‐invasive alternative for diagnosing PPH. Studies in the past have shown CT measurements of the MPAD and MPAD/AAD ratio having strong correlations with PPH. In addition to those measurements, we want to show if other CT parameters also have a correlation with PPH. Some of these novel measurements include the interventricular septal deviation and the Elizabeth Taylor sign. The interventricular septum is normally bowing to the right in a non‐pathological state. If it is straight or bowing to the left, this will indicate increased right ventricular pressures which would be indicative of PPH. Straight will indicate increased RV pressures, and bowing to the left will be considered markedly increased RV pressures. The Elizabeth Taylor sign is the ratio of the diameter of the segmental bronchi and its corresponding artery. We will hypothesize that the artery will be much larger than the bronchi in patients with PPH. Other measurements will include the left and right pulmonary arteries. This study is a retrospective review of subjects who underwent an otherwise unremarkable CT pulmonary artery angiogram. Subjects with pulmonary embolism or other acute pulmonary diseases are excluded. For each subject, the following CT findings are obtained: main pulmonary artery diameter (mPAD), ratio of mPAD to ascending aorta, right and left pulmonary artery diameters, ratio of segmental pulmonary artery to corresponding bronchus, and interventricular septal displacement. Straightening of the interventricular septum qualifies as increased right ventricular septal pressure and right‐to‐left bowing of the septum qualifies as a marked increase. Mean pulmonary artery pressure measured on any prior/subsequent RHC or echocardiogram within 3 months of the CT is recorded. Any past medical history of connective tissue disease is noted. Descriptive data are calculated and correlations are done to assess for presence and strength of associations among variables. Data from 484 subjects are collected. Incidence rate of pulmonary hypertension isv13% (n=63). 52% (n=33) of the subjects with pulmonary hypertension are female with an average age of 55 years. mPA diameter (p<0.001), mPA:AA ratio (p<0.001), right (p<0.001) and left pulmonary artery (p=0.004) diameters are predictors of pulmonary hypertension. sPA:B ratio (p=0.08) and interventricular septal displacement (p=0.96) are not predictive of pulmonary hypertension. This study supports an association of mPA diameter, mPA:AA ratio, right and left pulmonary artery diameters with pulmonary hypertension diagnosed by RHC or echocardiogram. Prospective research is warranted to confirm and establish threshold values for each variable. Currently, an invasive RHC remains the most accurate method of diagnosis. Correlating CT findings with pulmonary hypertension would allow clinicians to use CT as a noninvasive screening tool.

We perform a spectroscopic survey of the foreground population in Orion. A with MMT/Hectospec. We use these data, along with archival spectroscopic data and photometric data, to derive spectral types, extinction values, and masses for 691 stars. Using the Spitzer Space Telescope data, we characterize the disk properties of these sources. We identify 37 new transition disk (TD) objects, 1 globally depleted disk candidate, and 7 probable young debris disks. We discover an object with a mass of. less than 0.018-0.030 M-circle dot, which harbors a flaring disk. Using the Ha emission line, we characterize the accretion activity of the sources with disks, and confirm that the. fraction of accreting TDs is lower than that of optically thick disks (46% +/- 7% versus 73% +/- 9%, respectively). Using kinematic data from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey and APOGEE INfrared Spectroscopy of the Young Nebulous Clusters program (IN-SYNC), we confirm that the foreground population shows similar kinematics to their local molecular clouds and other young stars in the same regions. Using the isochronal ages, we find that the foreground population has a median age of. around 1-2 Myr, which is similar to that of other young stars in Orion. A. Therefore, our results argue against the presence of a large and old foreground cluster in front of Orion. A.

Mémoire numérisé par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.