This thesis investigates the existence and form of association between the technological structure of one of the most highly capital-intensive industries in the world, the paper and pulp (p&p) industry, and its dynamic behaviour in terms of market growth and development. Industrial structure issues are particularly relevant in highly capital-intensive sectors because they reflect the influence of economies of scale and changing patterns of entry and exit. The thesis draws upon two related bodies of literature: the dynamics of industrial structure, and heterogeneity within industry. It uses a quantitative hypothesis-deductive method and two panel databases. The first of these databases identifies key characteristics of the world's 150 largest p&p firms during the period 1978-2000, accounting for two-thirds of world output. The second dataset contains annual production capacity for the entire population of US p&p companies during the period 1970-2000. The US is the largest producer and consumer of p&p, accounting for one-third of world output. The main findings are as follows. Firstly, we demonstrate that p&p firms' growth is not a 'random walk' process, a generalization referred to in the literature as Gibrat's law. Nor is there a linear relation between growth and size distribution or between time and growth rates. We find that size, technology and time matter. Secondly, we demonstrate that this departure from Gibrat's law is due to the existence of three distinctive technological configurations or strategic groups of firms: 'Large & Diversified', 'Medium & Specialized', and 'Small & Very Specialized', which show persistently heterogeneous growth performance. In contrast with the findings in most of the recent empirical literature that shows smaller firms growing faster within the industry size distribution, the medium & specialized p&p companies show systematically the highest rates of growth. Thirdly, patterns of p&p firm survival and technological adoption behaviour over the last three decades are identified and related to the principal technological advances during the period, i.e. the very rapid increase in paper machine operating speed. The research contributes to the literature by providing robust new empirical evidence of the persistence over time of an intra-industry technological structure that systematically influences the heterogeneous performance of firms with different technological configurations and whose origins are linked to firms' growth processes (industrial dynamics) in the p&p industry.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Universität Zürich, 1906. / Includes bibliographical references (p. ii-iii).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Columbia University, 1945. / Published also without thesis note. Vita. Bibliography: p. [188-194].

Hot cracking is a serious problem that encounters during welding of aluminium-magnesium alloys. In the present study, solidification and liquation type of hot cracks in weld metal and the heat-affected zones of 5086-H32 aluminium alloy were investigated by using Modified Varestraint Test (MVT) with TIG-AC and TIG-DC welding. With determining the size, type and number of cracks, a relation was established between welding line energy and strain on the hot crack formation. This information was used to determine the hot crack safe parameter ranges. The hot cracking tendency as a function of applied parameters were discussed in the frame of temperature fields around the moving heat source. Moreover, the characteristic hot crack locations on the 5086-H32 MVT specimens were generalized. The results of the study indicated that the increase in line energy and strain increased the hot cracking tendency of the specified aluminium alloy. In the low line energy range, the main hot cracking mechanism is the solidification cracking which could be overcome by the use of a suitable filler material. At high line energy range, due to the increased amount of interdendritic liquid, the amount of solidification cracking decreases by healing mechanism. However, because of the enlarged-temperature-field around the weld zone, fraction of HAZ cracking increases. The comparison between the hot cracking tendencies in low and high line energies indicates that the low line energy ranges with low augmented strains resulted in hot crack safer parameters.

yes / Small arms and light weapons can enter the illicit market at many stages in their lifecycle. From manufacture, to sale/export, to import, and then to final end use, States must establish and enforce stringent and comprehensive licensing and monitoring systems to ensure that small arms and light weapons (SALW) remain under legal control. The UN Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects and ensuing follow-up process provide States with important opportunities to analyse and compare how existing systems governing the manufacture and trade in SALW are working. They further provide the context in which best practice can be agreed and implemented internationally, and for the discussion of how future trends and developments in SALW manufacture and transfer can be more effectively brought within State control. To this end, this briefing paper covers two separate but closely related issues. The first section of the report will analyse existing State and regional controls on SALW manufacture and examine how international measures, including the UN Conference, can reinforce such controls. In this regard, the growth of licensed production and co-production agreements is highlighted, together with implications for the development of adequate regulations. The second section examines those systems that are currently in place for the authorisation of SALW transfers and for the certification and monitoring of their ultimate end-use. Recommendations for best practice and implications for the UN Conference process are also discussed.